High density of tryptase-positive mast cells in patients with renal cell carcinoma on hemodialysis: correlation with expression of stem cell factor and protease activated receptor-2

Patients on hemodialysis are at higher risk of renal cell carcinoma probably because of inflammatory and immune system disorders. The aim of this study was to clarify the pathologic roles of 2 phenotypes of mast cells, mast cell tryptase and mast cell chymase, and their correlation with stem cell factor and protease-activated receptor 2 in patients with renal cell carcinoma on hemodialysis. The densities of mast cell tryptase and mast cell chymase and expressions of stem cell factor and protease-activated receptor 2 were examined in 35 patients with hemodialysis-renal cell carcinoma and 39 with non-hemodialysis-renal cell carcinoma who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital. Protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry. The proliferation index represented the number of Ki-67-positive cells. There were no significant differences in clinicopathologic features between the 2 groups. Mast cell tryptase densities in intratumoral (8.3 per high-power field) and peritumoral areas (8.7 per high-power field) were higher in hemodialysis-renal cell carcinoma than non-hemodialysis-renal cell carcinoma (2.7 and 5.3 per high-power field). No such significant correlations were detected in mast cell chymase. In hemodialysis-renal cell carcinoma, intratumoral mast cell tryptase density correlated with the proliferation index (P = .039 and P = .008, respectively) and also with stem cell factor and protease-activated receptor 2 expression. Our results emphasize the important roles of mast cell tryptase in cancer cell proliferation and recurrence in hemodialysis-renal cell carcinoma. Stem cell factor and protease-activated receptor 2 seem to up-regulate mast cell tryptase functions in these patients. The results suggest collaborative effects of stem cell factor, mast cell tryptase, and protease-activated receptor 2 on the malignant potential of hemodialysis-renal cell carcinoma.     

The spectrum of Merkel cell polyomavirus expression in Merkel cell carcinoma, in a variety of cutaneous neoplasms, and in neuroendocrine carcinomas from different anatomical sites

Most Merkel cell carcinomas display pure neuroendocrine differentiation (pure Merkel cell carcinoma), whereas a minority show combined neuroendocrine and nonneuroendocrine elements (combined Merkel cell carcinoma). Recent identification of Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA and Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen expression in a proportion of Merkel cell carcinomas has suggested viral-induced oncogenesis. To date, Merkel cell polyomavirus immunohistochemistry has shown an absence of viral large T antigen expression in combined Merkel cell carcinoma as well as select non-Merkel cell carcinoma cutaneous lesions and visceral neuroendocrine tumors. In our series, we aimed to further characterize the frequency and pattern of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen expression by CM2B4 immunohistochemistry in primary and metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (pure Merkel cell carcinoma and combined Merkel cell carcinoma) and various non-Merkel cell carcinoma lesions from patients with Merkel cell carcinoma, patients without Merkel cell carcinoma, and individuals with altered immune function. Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen was detected in 17 (63%) of 27 pure Merkel cell carcinomas and absent in all 15 (0%) combined Merkel cell carcinomas. Furthermore, complete concordance (100%) of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen expression was observed in 10 cases of primary Merkel cell carcinoma and subsequent tumor metastases. We also evaluated 70 non-Merkel cell carcinoma lesions including 15 cases each of pulmonary and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. All 70 non-Merkel cell carcinoma lesions were negative for Merkel cell polyomavirus by CM2B4 immunohistochemistry, irrespective of any known Merkel cell carcinoma diagnosis and immune status. In summary, our identification of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen expression in a subset of Merkel cell carcinoma and lack of findings in combined Merkel cell carcinomas and non-Merkel cell carcinoma lesions concur with earlier findings and implicate Merkel cell polyomavirus-independent pathogenesis in these cases. Overall, CM2B4 immunohistochemistry appears to be a specific method for Merkel cell polyomavirus detection and has the potential to play an important role in the diagnosis and classification of Merkel cell carcinoma in the future.     

非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者T细胞亚群、NK细胞检测的临床意义

目的：研究非霍奇金淋巴瘤（NHL）患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群、NK细胞检测结果的变化与该病的关系及与慢性淋巴腺炎患者细胞免疫功能的不同变化。方法：采用流式细胞仪（FCM）检测非霍奇金淋巴瘤（NHL）患者、慢性淋巴腺炎及正常人外周血T淋巴细胞亚群比例、NK细胞的变化。结果：非雹奇金淋巴瘤患者与正常人比较总的T淋巴细胞、辅助性T淋巴细胞及CD4^＋／CD8^＋比值明显下降（P〈0．05），细胞毒性T淋巴细胞明显升高（P〈0．05），NK细胞则无明显变化（P〉0．05）。非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者与慢性淋巴腺炎患者比较，细胞毒性T淋巴细胞、NK细胞明显升高（P〈0.05），而总的T淋巴细胞、辅助性T淋巴细胞无明显改变（P〉0．05），CD4^＋／CD8^＋比值略有下降但无明显统计学意义。结论：非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者细胞免疫功能明显受到抑制，T细胞亚群及NK细胞的检测对NHL的诊断、治疗、预后判断有一定的临床价值。     

Sarcomatoid conversion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma in relation to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Approximately 8% of clear cell renal cell carcinoma cases contain regions of radically different morphology, demonstrating a mesenchymal appearance histologically resembling sarcomas. These biphasic neoplasms are called sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Patients diagnosed with sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma face a considerably worse prognosis due to an increased propensity for metastasis. In the present study we investigate whether the sarcomatoid conversion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma could be interpreted as linked to the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Using 6 biphasic clear cell renal cell carcinoma cases we show that sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma shares characteristic markers associated with loss of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor with conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma and also exhibits a markedly higher proliferative index. Furthermore the sarcomatoid elements demonstrate an enhanced expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition related mesenchymal markers as compared with the clear cell renal cell carcinoma counterparts. We further selected a representative case, clinically demonstrating direct overgrowth of the sarcomatoid component into the liver and colon, for extended immunohistochemical characterization, resulting in a further set of positive and negative epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers as well as pronounced transforming growth factor β positivity, indicating that sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma may be associated to epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Transforming growth factor β1 exposure of in vitro cultured primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells resulted in cells adopting a mesenchymal morphology similar to sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Corresponding changes in RNA levels for key epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers were also seen. We therefore suggest that sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma morphologically and immunohistochemically may represent a completed epithelial-mesenchymal transition and that transforming growth factor β1 could be an important driving force during the sarcomatoid transdifferentiation of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.     

渗透压、细胞容积与鼻咽癌细胞增殖

目的:研究渗透压、细胞容积与鼻咽癌细胞增殖的关系。方法:用MTT法检测在不同渗透压培养条件下低分化鼻咽癌细胞(CNE－2Z)的增殖能力,流式细胞仪测定细胞周期分布,活细胞图像分析测量细胞容积,台盼蓝拒染法检测细胞存活率。结果:高渗(370、440mOsmol/L)培养增大细胞容积和促进细胞增殖,细胞容积分别增大8.7%、27.8%,增殖率分别提高22.2%和33.9%;而低渗(160、230mOsmol/L)培养减小细胞容积和抑制增殖,细胞容积分别减小12.8%和4.1%,增殖率分别降低34.0%和15.6%;细胞容积与细胞增殖率呈正相关。非等渗长期培养条件下,细胞周期各时相分布没有显著差异。低渗培养降低细胞生存率。结论:胞外渗透压、细胞容积与鼻咽癌细胞增殖密切相关,低渗培养可能通过减小细胞容积、促进细胞死亡而抑制细胞增殖。     

金雀黄素抑制人乳腺癌细胞系体外增殖作用机理的实验研究

目的 研究金雀黄素抑制人乳腺癌细胞株体外增殖作用的机理。方法 选用2种不同的人乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7和MDA-MB-23l体外培养，MTT法检测细胞增殖作用，Giemsa染色观察细胞形态学改变，流式细胞仪检测细胞周期及凋亡率，同时进行了原位细胞凋亡的检测。结果 金雀黄素对MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞体外生长具有明显的抑制作用。Giemsa染色显示，金雀黄素处理的MCF-7细胞呈明显的凋亡形态改变，细胞固缩、发泡，染色质凝集呈块状，并沿核周分布。流式细胞仪检测在G1峰前可见凋亡峰，且随用药时间的延长，凋亡比率递增。而金雀黄素处理的MDA-MB-231细胞未见明显的凋亡形态改变和凋亡峰的出现，细胞周期明显地阻滞于G2～M期。结论 金雀黄素通过诱导细胞凋亡或阻滞细胞于G2-M期，从而抑制乳腺癌细胞的体外增殖，为其减缓人乳腺癌细胞的体内生长提供理论依据。     

Immunophenotypic and genotypic characterisation of multiple myelomas with adverse prognosis characterised by immunohistological expression of the T cell related antigen CD45RO (UCHL-1).

AIMS: To investigate whether plasma cell expression of early B cell, late B cell/preplasma cell, T cell, and myelomonocytic antigens or myeloma associated lymphocytic infiltrates correlated with prognosis in bone marrow biopsy specimens of patients with multiple myeloma. METHODS: Bone marrow biopsy specimens of 23 patients with multiple myeloma were investigated for plasma cell expression and interstitial lymphocyte expression of T cell related antigen CD45RO (UCHL-1). RESULTS: Eight patients showed plasma cell expression of CD45RO and 16 showed increased tumour infiltrating CD45RO positive lymphocytes, which were correlated with poor survival by multivariate analyses (p = 0.005 and p = 0.04, respectively). B cell antigens (MB2, CD20) but no T cell specific antigens (CD3) or T cell receptor gene rearrangements were expressed by plasma cells in CD45RO positive myelomas. Of 16 patients with myeloma who had increased tumour infiltrating CD45RO positive lymphocytes, four had interstitial lymphocyte expression of B cell antigens and two had interstitial lymphocyte expression of the T cell specific antigen CD3. CONCLUSIONS: The recognition of plasma cell expression of CD45RO and increased interstitial CD45RO lymphocytes in bone marrow biopsy specimens of patients with multiple myeloma is an adverse prognostic finding not indicative of an aberrant T cell phenotype or genotype; it is consistent with B cell/pre-plasma cell antigen expression by myeloma cells and their lymphocytic precursors.     

The evolution of collagen expression in sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma

The development of a sarcomatoid morphotype is recognized as an extreme form of dedifferentiation in renal cell carcinoma and is associated with a poor prognosis. Although sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma shows pronounced spindle cell morphology, clear cell renal cell carcinoma may show early spindle cell change with cellular elongation, and the prognostic significance of this is debated. To determine the relationship between sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma and clear cell renal cell carcinoma showing early spindle cell change, we have investigated collagen expression using immunohistochemistry in these 2 tumor types. Both sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma and early spindle cell change tumors showed pericellular interstitial expression of collagen types I and III, whereas sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma also showed cytoplasmic expression of these collagen types. Expression of these collagen types in typical clear cell renal cell carcinoma was, in occasional cases, limited to faint and patchy staining in a pericellular interstitial distribution. Tumor cells did not stain for collagen type IV in sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, early spindle cell change, or typical clear cell renal cell carcinoma. In sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, there was diffuse pericellular expression of collagen type V and patchy pericellular expression of collagen type VI, whereas early spindle cell change tumors showed patchy pericellular staining with antibodies to collagen type V. Collagen type VI expression in early spindle cell change was largely confined to the vascular adventitia and areas of scarring, although very occasional foci of faint interstitial staining were also seen. In typical clear cell renal cell carcinoma, staining of collagen types V and VI was limited to the vascular adventitia and foci of desmoplasia, whereas no staining of tumor cell cytoplasm were seen. This study has shown that collagen expression of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma differs from that of early spindle cell change and provides validating evidence that these 2 morphotypes should not be considered together for classification purposes.     

雷公藤内酯醇诱导人淋巴细胞凋亡的作用与细胞周期的关系

目的：通过观察雷公藤仙酯醇诱导淋巴细胞发生凋亡与细胞周期的关系。探讨该化合物导致细胞凋亡作用的机制。方法;以人外周血Ｔ细胞为研究对象,选择流式细胞分析术,ＤＮＡ凝胶电泳及ＤＮＡ片段测定等作为检测细胞凋亡的方法。结果;雷公藤内酯醇只能造成活化的Ｔ细胞发生细胞凋亡,且与雷公藤内酯醇的浓度正相关;雷公藤内酯醇诱导活化Ｔ细胞发生细胞凋亡的作用与细胞活化的程度密切相关;     

Hereditary and Sporadic Papillary Renal Carcinomas with c-met Mutations Share a Distinct Morphological Phenotype

Germline mutations of c-met oncogene at 7q31 have been detected in patients with hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma. In addition, c-met mutations were shown to play a role in 13% of patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma and no family history of renal tumors. The histopathology of papillary renal cell carcinoma with c-met mutations has not been previously described. We analyzed the histopathology of 103 bilateral archival papillary renal cell carcinomas and 4 metastases in 29 patients from 6 hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma families with germline c-met mutations and 6 papillary renal cell carcinomas with c-met mutations from 5 patients with no family history of renal tumors. Twenty-five sporadic renal tumors with prominent papillary architecture and without somatic c-met mutations were evaluated for comparison. All papillary renal cell carcinomas with c-met mutations were 75 to 100% papillary/tubulopapillary in architecture and showed chromophil basophilic, papillary renal cell carcinoma type 1 histology. Fuhrman nuclear grade 1-2 was seen in tumors from 23 patients, and nuclear grade 3 was observed focally in 8 patients. Seventeen patients had multiple papillary adenomas and microscopic papillary lesions in the surrounding renal parenchyma. Clear cells with intracytoplasmic lipid and glycogen were focally present in tumors of 94% papillary renal cell carcinoma patients. Clear cells of papillary renal cell carcinoma had small basophilic nuclei, and clear cell areas lacked a fine vascular network characteristic of conventional (clear) cell renal cell carcinoma. We conclude that papillary renal cell carcinoma patients with c-met mutations develop multiple, bilateral, papillary macroscopic and microscopic renal lesions. Renal tumors with c-met genotype show a distinctive papillary renal cell carcinoma type 1 phenotype and are genetically and histologically different from renal tumors seen in other hereditary renal syndromes and most sporadic renal tumors with papillary architecture. Although all hereditary and sporadic papillary renal cell carcinomas with c-met mutations share papillary renal cell carcinoma type 1 histology, not all type 1 sporadic papillary renal cell carcinomas harbor c-met mutations.     

Anisotropic cell sheets for constructing three-dimensional tissue with well-organized cell orientation

Normal human dermal fibroblasts were aligned on micropatterned thermoresponsive surfaces simply by one-pot cell seeding. After they proliferated with maintaining their orientation, anisotropic cell sheets were harvested by reducing temperature to 20 °C. Surprisingly, the cell sheets showed different shrinking rates between vertical and parallel sides of the cell alignment (aspect ratio: approx. 3: 1), because actin fibers in the cell sheets were oriented with the same direction. The control of cell alignment provided not only a physical anisotropy but also biological impacts to the cell sheet. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secreted by aligned fibroblasts was increased significantly, whereas transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression was the same level in anisotropic cell sheets as cell sheets having random cell orientations. Furthermore, although the amount of deposited type Ⅰ collagen was different non-significantly onto between cell sheets with and without controlled cell alignment, collagen deposited onto fibroblasts sheets with cell alignment also showed anisotropy, verified by a fluorescence imaging analysis. The physical and biological anisotropies of cell sheets were potentially useful to construct biomimetic tissues that were organized by aligned cells and/or extracellular matrix (ECM) including collagen in cell sheet-based regenerative medicine. Furthermore, due to the unique thermoresponsive property, the anisotropic cell sheets were successfully manipulated using a gelatin-coated plunger and were layered with maintaining their cell alignment. The combined use of the anisotropic cell sheet and cell sheet manipulation technique promises to create complex tissue that requires the three-dimensional control of their anisotropies, as one of the next-generation cell sheet technologies.     

Pathologic study and clinical significance of Hürthle cell papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Hürthle cell papillary thyroid carcinoma is a variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Its pathologic and clinical significance has not been well documented. The authors studied the relative incidence of Hürthle cell PTC and the relationship of Hürthle cell PTC to other variants of thyroid carcinoma. Three hundred eighty consecutive cases of thyroid carcinoma were reviewed to identify cases with focal or extensive areas of Hürthle cell PTC, classic PTC, Hürthle cell carcinoma (ie, non-Hürthle cell PTC), and follicular carcinoma. In addition, the status of lymphoid infiltrate in the tumor, stromal invasion with desmoplastic reaction, vascular invasion, and distant and lymph node metastasis were noted by microscopic examination, review of clinical charts, or both. A total of 24 (HCs) and 42 PTCs with Hürthle cells were identified. The latter category was divided into pure Hürthle cell PTC or extensive Hürthle cell (HPTC) (28 cases) and PTC or Hürthle cell carcinoma with focal areas of Hürthle cell PTC (14 cases). The Hürthle cell PTC/Hürthle cell carcinoma ratio was lower than that of PTC/follicular carcinoma (39:289) (P = 0.001). Follicular or solid structures were present in all HPTCs. HPTCs were associated with frequent stromal intrathyroid and extrathyroid invasion, but they tended to have a lower rate of lymph node metastasis (8/28) compared with classic PTC with stromal invasion (108:200) (P = 0.12) and a lower rate of distant metastasis (2:28) compared with Hürthle cell carcinoma (15:24) (P = 0.02) or follicular carcinoma (13:39) (P = 0.04). Warthin-like Hürthle cell PTC (10 cases) was associated with extrathyroid invasion in five cases. In Hürthle cell PTC associated with tall cell variant (10 cases), areas of gradual transition between Hürthle cell PTC and tall cell variant were identified. The latter variant showed the highest rate of extrathyroid stromal and vascular invasion with distant metastasis and patient death compared with all Hürthle cell PTCs and classic PTCs. In conclusion, Hürthle cell PTC is frequently associated with tall cell variant. It has a higher potential for extrathyroid invasion than classic PTC and has vascular invasion and distant metastasis characteristics intermediate between those of classic PTC and Hürthle cell carcinoma with or follicular carcinoma. Hürthle cell PTC tends to show a greater likelihood of extrathyroid invasion when associated with Warthin-like features and tall cell variant PTC, and higher vascular invasion and distant metastasis when associated with tall cell variant.     

Renal tumors with clear cells. A review

The spectrum of primary renal tumors in which clear cells may appear is revisited in this review. The pathologist's viewpoint of this topic is pertinent because not all the tumors with clear cells are carcinomas and not all renal cell carcinomas with clear cells are clear cell renal cell carcinomas. In fact, some of them are distinct entities according to the new WHO classification. The morphological approach is combined with genetics. Renal cell carcinoma related to von Hippel–Lindau disease is reviewed first because many of the genetic disorders underlying this disease are also present in sporadic, conventional renal cell clear cell carcinomas. Subsequently, conventional renal cell clear cell carcinomas, familial, non von Hippel–Lindau-associated renal cell carcinomas, translocation carcinomas, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinomas, carcinomas associated to tuberous sclerosis and to Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome, chromophobe renal cell carcinomas, carcinomas associated with end-stage renal disease, and clear cell tubulopapillary carcinomas are reviewed. Finally, epithelioid angiomyolipoma is also considered in this review.     

Distinction of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma from small cell lung carcinoma: a morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analysis.

The distinction between pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small cell carcinoma is difficult in some cases. Some propose that these carcinomas should be classified as one high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma. We examined biological features of small cell carcinoma (n=23), large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (n=17), and classic large cell carcinoma (n=12). The average ratio of nuclear diameter of the tumor cells to that of lymphocytes for small cell carcinoma was smaller than that for large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (P<0.0001). The frequencies of the expressions of CD56, mASH1, TTF-1, and p16 were higher and that of NeuroD was lower in small cell carcinoma than in large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. The frequency of loss of heterozygosity at 3p was higher in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas than in classic large cell carcinoma (P=0.0002). Allelic losses at D5S422 (5q33) were more frequent in small cell carcinoma than in large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (P=0.0091). Mean fractional regional loss indices of the tumors were 0.38, 0.65, and 0.72 for patients with classic large cell carcinoma, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, respectively (P=0.0003). Five-year overall survivals of patients with classic large cell carcinoma, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small cell carcinoma in stage I were 67, 73, 60%, respectively. Patients with NeuroD expression had better survivals, and those with p63 expression had poorer survivals in large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Patients with TTF-1 expression had poorer survivals in small cell carcinoma. Our data suggest that large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small cell carcinoma are different morphologically, phenotypically, and genetically, although there are some overlapping features. Although further studies are needed to analyze the biological behavior of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas including sensitivity to chemotherapy, the pathological distinction of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma from small cell carcinoma may be necessary to treat the patients with neuroendocrine tumors.     

Urinary bladder carcinoma with a neoplastic squamous component: a mapping study of 31 cases

A mapping study of cystectomy specimens in three cases of pure squamous cell carcinoma and 28 cases with transitional cell carcinoma with squamous differentiation is described, with an emphasis on the histogenesis of pure squamous cell carcinoma. Two of the three cases of pure squamous cell carcinoma had extensive benign keratinizing mucosa and an atypical squamous metaplastic mucosa contiguous with the tumour. These pure squamous cell carcinomas seemed to be derived from the squamous metaplasia. On the other hand, in all except one of the cases of transitional cell carcinoma with squamous differentiation, there was neither benign keratinizing nor atypical squamous metaplastic mucosa in the bladder. The quantitative amounts of both the transitional cell and squamous components differed from case to case in 28 cases with transitional cell carcinoma with squamous differentiation. Five of the 28 had a tumour composed predominantly of a squamous component with minute transitional cell components at the margin. In another two cases, transitional carcinoma in situ or satellite tumours of transitional cells were present adjacent to the main tumour which was composed of squamous cell carcinoma alone. We think these seven tumours originated as a result of extensive squamous differentiation in the transitional cell carcinomas. These features may indicate two forms of histogenesis of pure squamous cell carcinoma. The first is malignant transformation on the basis of squamous metaplasia of the bladder mucosa and the second is extensive squamous differentiation in a pre-existing transitional cell carcinoma.     

Use of deoxyribonucleic acid probes in the identification of cell origin and detection of cellular contamination in human lymphoblastoid cell lines

Established lymphoblastoid cell lines have provided a valuable reference source for studying neoplastic lymphoproliferative disorders in humans. However, two major problems are associated with the establishment and growth of these cell lines: (a) the established cell line may not represent the original neoplastic clone, and (b) contamination of the established cell line with the other cell lines may occur. Lymphoblastoid cell lines "W" and "SP5" were established from splenectomy specimens of two patients with hairy cell leukemia. Both cell lines displayed B cell characteristics by immunophenotypic and Ig gene rearrangement studies. The banding patterns of the rearranged Ig genes (heavy and light chains) in the W cell line were different and in the SP5 cell line were identical with the corresponding untransformed splenic cell lines, indicating that cell line SP5 did and cell line W did not represent the original neoplastic clone. Continuous cultures of some of the subclones derived from cell line W and SP5 led to the growth of the cell lines W15T, W17T, and SP5T which all demonstrated T cell features based on immunophenotypic and T cell receptor rearrangement studies. However, the T cell receptor alpha and beta rearranged bands as well as bands generated by hybridization with highly polymorphic DNA probes p YNH24 and 0-3315-32 in these three lines and a human T cell leukemia line (CEM), were identical indicating that W15T, W17T and SP5T cell lines were contaminated with CEM. Studies of gene establishment patterns and DNA polymorphisms by Southern blotting are effective methods to establish clonal identity and to rule out cellular contamination in lymphoblastoid cell lines.     

Antral gastrin-producing G-cells and somatostatin-producing D-cells in peptic ulcer

Summary The number of G cells and D cells per area unit and the G cell/D cell ratio was studied in control subjects and patients with duodenal or gastric ulcer. A great inter-individual variation in the population density of both types of cells was observed in the three groups studied. G cell density was significantly decreased in both duodenal and gastric ulcer patients, when compared with controls; whereas no difference in G cell density was seen between duodenal ulcer patients and gastric ulcer patients. However, D cell density was significantly decreased in duodenal ulcer patients when compared with control subjects and gastric ulcer patients. In this latter group, D cell density was also lower than in control subjects. A significant positive linear correlation between G cell number and D cell number was found in the three groups studied. The G cell/D cell ratio was significantly increased in duodenal and gastric ulcer patients when compared with controls. This was mainly due to a decrease in D cell numbers. It is concluded that a local deficit in antral D cells in patients with peptic ulcer may favor the pathogenesis of ulcer disease.     

基于特征提取量化分析的体外活细胞追踪算法研究

目的:提高显微镜下序列图像细胞追踪的效率及准确度。方法:提出双阈值形态学与拓扑约束图论法相结合的 自动细胞追踪算法,用来分析体外活细胞定向迁移轨迹及参数,并从细胞数目及细胞特征两方面分析追踪算法的准确 性。在特征分析方面,从运动速度、运动距离、趋化速度、趋化指数和方向持续性5个指标与手动采样数据进行对比。结 果:该算法可以分别识别在毛细管针部灰度较高区域的细胞及其他区域灰度较低的细胞,细胞数目准确度平均达到 91.8%,分析得到的5个特征指标与手动采样分析结果基本一致,误差不超过5%。结论:双阈值形态学与拓扑约束图论法 相结合的自动细胞追踪算法可以有效提高细胞追踪的准确度。     

Association of Merkel cell polyomavirus infection with morphologic differences in Merkel cell carcinoma

Recently, it has been shown that approximately 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas harbor a novel polyomavirus named Merkel cell polyomavirus, thought to be a carcinogenic agent. However, it is not fully elucidated whether Merkel cell carcinomas differ with regard to the presence or absence of Merkel cell polyomavirus. To address this, we investigated morphologic differences between Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive and -negative Merkel cell carcinomas by morphometry. Using polymerase chain reaction and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Merkel cell polyomavirus was detected in 20 (77%) of 26 Merkel cell carcinoma cases, including 4 Merkel cell carcinomas combined with squamous cell carcinomas. Interestingly, Merkel cell polyomavirus was detected only in ordinary (pure) Merkel cell carcinomas; none of the 4 combined Merkel cell carcinomas + squamous cell carcinomas was positive for Merkel cell polyomavirus (P = .001). Morphometric analyses revealed that Merkel cell polyomavirus-negative Merkel cell carcinomas had more irregular nuclei (P < .001) and more abundant cytoplasm (P = .001) than Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive Merkel cell carcinomas, which had uniform round nuclei and scant cytoplasm. Reliability of the morphometry was confirmed using intraobserver and interobserver reliability tests. These results demonstrated statistically significant differences in tumor cell morphology between Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive and -negative Merkel cell carcinomas and reconfirmed the absence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in combined tumors. Furthermore, the results strongly suggest fundamental biological differences between Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive and -negative Merkel cell carcinomas, supporting that Merkel cell polyomavirus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma.     

CAIX高表达与肾透明细胞癌分级、分期关系的Meta分析

目的研究碳酸酐酶IX(carbonic anhydrase IX,CAIX)的高表达与肾透明细胞癌(clear cell renal cell carcinoma,CCRCC)分级分期的关系。方法用Meta分析对有关CAIX高表达与CCRCC分级分期关系的文献进行综合分析。结果在CAIX高表达与CCRCC分级关系研究中,共纳入病例对照试验5个,包括1 404例病患者,其中CAIX高表达组1 086例,CAIX低表达组318例。在CAIX高表达与肾透明细胞CCRCC分期关系研究中,共纳入病例对照试验3个,包括929例患者,其中CAIX高表达组719例,CAIX低表达组210例。Meta分析结果显示:CAIX高表达同CCRCC高分级(G3/G4)及高分期(T3/T4)有一定的相关性,合并比值比(OR)分别为0.43和0.60,95%置信区间(95%CI)分别为0.25～0.74和0.43～0.84,P值分别为0.002和0.003。结论 CAIX高表达同CCRCC分级与分期有一定相关性,且呈负相关。