S phase fraction and immunohistologic demonstration of the epithelial marker MAM-6 in orofacial tumors

Tissue samples of 9 leukoplakias, 19 oral squamous cell carcinomas, 9 basaliomas and 6 specimens of normal oral mucosa were labeled with 3H-thymidine using an in vitro technique; the size of the S-phase fraction was determined histoautoradiographically. Whereas leukoplakias (with or without dysplasia) showed an homogeneous growth pattern, carcinomas and basaliomas demonstrated significantly higher proliferative activity in the tumor periphery. In the basaliomas the pallisade cells showed significantly higher indices than the polygonal cells. The proliferative potential of the oral squamous cell carcinomas is high compared to other neoplasias and depends on the grade and type of growth. The epithelial marker MAM-6 detected immunohistologically on the same tissue, showed a stronger expression in oral carcinomas than in leukoplakias. A direct relationship between the intensity of antigen expression and the proliferative behaviour (size of the S-phase fraction) was not detectable.     

Aorticopulmonary Paraganglioma (Aortic Body Tumor): Report of a Case

A case of aorticopulmonary paraganglioma in a 57-year-old man is described. The tumor comprised nests of uniform cells in a fibrovascular stroma. Electron microscopy revealed abundant neurosecretory granules, and S-100 protein staining demonstrated scattered sustentacular cells at the periphery of typical zellballen. The findings in this case correlated with those of studies on the prognosis for extraadrenal paragangliomas.     

Aorticopulmonary paraganglioma (aortic body tumor): report of a case.

A case of aorticopulmonary paraganglioma in a 57-year-old man is described. The tumor comprised nests of uniform cells in a fibrovascular stroma. Electron microscopy revealed abundant neurosecretory granules, and S-100 protein staining demonstrated scattered sustentacular cells at the periphery of typical zellballen. The findings in this case correlated with those of studies on the prognosis for extraadrenal paragangliomas.     

Prediction of malignant behavior of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas using immunohistochemical techniques

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas arise from the adrenal glands and extraadrenal paraganglia, respectively. Malignant behavior of these tumors is uncommon and is, in part, dependent on their sites of origin, such as extraadrenal location. Morphologic criteria for malignancy of pheochromocytoma and paragangliomas have not been clearly defined. In this study, to clarify the histologic features that distinguish the benign from malignant pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, we examined metastatic and nonmetastatic tumors using immunohistochemical techniques. A total of eight cases, five pheochromocytomas from the adrenal glands (four benign and one malignant tumor) and three paragangliomas with invasion or metastasis, were studied. The markers used in this study were chromogranin A, synaptophysin, NCAM (CD56), SNAP25, neuron-specific enolase, S-100 protein, and MIB-1. Our results suggest that MIB-1 immunostaining is a useful adjunct marker to predict malignant behavior in these tumors.     

Aorticopulmonary Paraganglioma (Aortic Body Tumor): Report of a Case

A case of aorticopulmonary paraganglioma in a 57-year-old man is described. The tumor comprised nests of uniform cells in a fibrovascular stroma. Electron microscopy revealed abundant neurosecretory granules, and S-100 protein staining demonstrated scattered sustentacular cells at the periphery of typical zellballen. The findings in this case correlated with those of studies on the prognosis for extraadrenal paragangliomas.     

Endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus with a minimal deviation invasive pattern

AIMS: Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type is a rare pathological entity. We describe a variant of typical endometrioid adenocarcinoma associated with minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type. METHODS AND RESULTS: One 'pilot' case of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type associated with typical endometrioid adenocarcinoma was encountered at our institution in 2001. A second case of same type was received in consultation. We reviewed 168 consecutive hysterectomy specimens diagnosed with 'endometrioid adenocarcinoma' specifically to identify areas of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type. Immunohistochemistry was done with the following antibodies: MIB1, p53, oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), cytokeratin 7 (CK7), cytokeratin 20 (CK20), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and vimentin (VIM). Four additional cases of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type were identified. All six cases of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type were associated with superficial endometrioid adenocarcinoma. In two cases with a large amount of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type, the cervix was involved. The immunoprofile of two representative cases was ER+, PR+, CK7+, CK20-, CEA-, VIM+. MIB1 immunostaining of four cases revealed little proliferative activity of the minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type glandular cells (0-1%) compared with the associated 'typical' endometrioid adenocarcinoma (20-30%). The same four cases showed no p53 immunostaining in minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type compared with a range of positive staining in the associated endometrioid adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type more often develops as a result of differentiation from typical endometrioid adenocarcinoma than de novo. Due to its deceptively benign microscopic appearance, minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type may be overlooked and may lead to incorrect assessment of tumour depth and pathological stage. There was a tendency for tumour with a large amount of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of endometrioid type to invade the cervix.     

Investigations on the ultrastructural cytology of branchiomeric paragangliomas (author's transl)

The paragangliomas of the jugular and carotid bodies are growth processes which show varying histological and cytological patterns. The real nature of these lesions is still a matter of discussion. In this study 6 jugular and 3 carotid body tumours were investigated using the electron microscope. The main components were irregular cells with short and long cytoplasmic processes closely packed and mostly arranged in complexes. The ultrastructural cytology of the jugular and carotid bodies showed no striking differences. The great majority of the cells exhibits a clear similarity to the cells of normal paraganglia, especially to chief cells of carotid bodies (type I cells). But there were some modifications in the cellular structure including the abnormal structure of mitochondria and a greater variation in the morphology of the dense cored granules. The cytoplasm was dominated by differing populations of mitochondria comprising such of the crista type and such showing tubulus-like structures with a dense matrix and very often intramitochondrial bodies. The characteristic feature was the occurrence of randomly distributed dense cored granules measuring 700-800 A in diameter. These granules display a homogeneous electron dense or moderately dense somewhat granular core which is separated from limiting membrane by a clear electron lucent halo. A further population of granules was of a greater dimension (3,000-4,000 A) revealing an oval or cigar-like shape. In contrast to the former type the homogeneous dense cores of these granules showed a smooth contour and the lucent halo was very narrow. In general, singular exocytotic phenomena could be supposed. More frequently, however, signs of granulolysis were encountered. Free ribosomes, arranged often as polysomes, sparse, disorderly distributed microfilaments of 60-80 A diameter, few 240 A-microtubules and some lysosomal structures are also observed. Usually the cell clusters abutted directly upon the vascular connective tissue. In other cases cytoplasmic processes are intercalated resembling sustentacular cells. Fenestrated capillaries known to be typical for the paraganglionic tissues were only seldom detected. In the interstitial tissue typical collagen fibres are found showing a periodicity of 600-700 A, but occasionally fibres with a periodicity of about 1,200 A could be seen resembling fibrous-long-spacing collagen. Synaptic junctions and nerves or axons were always lacking.     

Paragastric paraganglioma: a case report with unusual alveolar pattern and myxoid component

Paragangliomas are neural crest-derived neuroendocrine tumors. Nearly 5 to 10% occur in extraadrenal sites, from the upper cervical region to the pelvis, related to the autonomic nervous system. Very few cases of gastric or paragastric paragangliomas have been reported. We report a paraganglioma attached to the stomach of an 85-year-old man. The tumor was 15 cm in diameter and was surgically resected via a subtotal gastrectomy. Fine-needle aspiration smears showed round epithelioid cells forming acini and spindle cells attached to capillaries. Occasional cells showed excentric nuclei and pale vesicular cytoplasm. Microscopically, the tumor was characterized by an alveolar and solid pattern of growth with some unusual features, such as myxoid stroma and pseudoalveoli that contained myxoid material. Spindle cells stained with vimentin and S-100 protein, whereas epithelioid cells showed diffuse cytoplasmic staining with chromogranin A. Electron microscopy of the tumor tissue revealed the presence of neurosecretory granules. To the best of our knowledge, this pattern of growth has yet to be described in the literature and may result in a misdiagnosis if sufficient immunohistochemical markers are not employed. We briefly discuss the cytomorphological features and differential diagnosis of this tumor, which was discovered in a rare location.     

Histopathology of benign versus malignant sympathoadrenal paragangliomas: clinicopathologic study of 120 cases including unusual histologic features

The clinical and pathologic features of 120 adrenal and extraadrenal paragangliomas were studied in an attempt to identify features which might predict malignant behavior. Clinical follow-up was obtained in 98 cases (82%); 64 tumors were clinically benign, and 34 were malignant as evidenced by regional or distant metastases and/or extensive local invasion. Thirty-two of the 34 malignant tumors (94%) were functionally active. Features noted more frequently in malignant tumors included male predominance (74%; P2 [two-sided P value] = .002), extraadrenal location (52%; P2 less than .0001), greater tumor weight (mean 383 g versus 73 g for nonmalignant tumors), confluent tumor necrosis, and the presence of vascular invasion and/or extensive local invasion. Intracytoplasmic hyaline globules were seen in 59% and 32% of benign and malignant tumors, respectively (P2 = .001). Logistic regression analysis of 16 nonhistologic and histologic parameters showed four of them to be most predictive of malignancy--extraadrenal location, coarse nodularity of the primary tumor, confluent tumor necrosis, and absence of hyaline globules. Most malignant paragangliomas had two or three of these features (71%), while 89% of benign tumors had only one (or none; P less than .0001). According to the statistical model developed, there was better than a 95% probability that more than 70% of tumors could be classified correctly on the basis of the four factors indicated. Although limitations still exist, results of this study provide some basis for evaluating malignant potential of these tumors.     

Paraganglioma of the Thyroid Gland: A Rare Entity

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors. The thyroid gland is one of the anatomic sites in which paraganglia are not normally located and are exceptionally rare. We report a case of a 36-year-old Hispanic woman with a soft mass measuring about 30 mm in the right thyroid lobe. Patient was operated on and the neoplasm showed microscopically a typical nesting organoid pattern (zellballen). The inmunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumor showed strongly and diffuse stain for NSE, Synaptophysin, Chromogranin A, and S-100 protein in the sustentacular cells, whereas no inmunoreactivity was detected with antibodies against thyroglobulin, calcitonin, TTF-1, CEA, and AE1-AE3. The MIB-1 labeling showed 7% of neoplastic cells. Head and neck paragangliomas usually develop slowly, and this tumor exhibited a low proliferative activity. In view of the uncertain malignant potential of paragangliomas, we recommended a careful long-term follow-up.     

Telomerase expression and proliferative activity suggest a stem cell role for thyroid solid cell nests.

Solid cell nests of the human thyroid gland are composed of main cells and C cells. In order to investigate the putative stem cell nature of the role for solid cell nests, we evaluated the histological features, and the immunohistochemical expression of p63, bcl-2, telomerase catalytic subunit, and two proliferative markers (Ki-67 and minichromosome maintenance protein 2), in a series of 24 cases of solid cell nests. Proliferative indices were determined in (a) solid cell nests, (b) thyroid follicular cells in the vicinity of solid cell nests within a low-power field, and (c) distant thyroid tissue, at a distance of at least three low-power fields from solid cell nests. In 15 cases of solid cell nests (62.5%), mixed follicles were observed; papillary formations were observed in four cases (16.6%), and ciliated cells were observed in the lining of microcysts associated with two cases (8.3%). Salivary gland-type tissue, cartilage islands, adipose and fibrous tissues, and small nerves were also associated with some cases of solid cell nests. We observed that the main cells of the solid cell nests express consistently telomerase, although at lower levels than p63, and show strong cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for bcl-2, which is associated with an increased differentiation potential. We also observed that despite their relative low proliferative index, main cells of the solid cell nests display higher proliferation than follicular cells in the vicinity and follicular cells in more distant thyroid tissue. We conclude that main cells of the solid cell nests apparently harbor the minimal properties of a stem cell phenotype (capacity for both self-renewal, conferred by telomerase activity, and differentiation to one or more than one type of specialized cells, given by the high expression of p63 and bcl-2) and may thus represent a pool of stem cells of the adult thyroid.     

Cytometric analysis of testicular seminoma and spermatocytic seminoma

DNA analysis of testicular seminoma (typical seminoma [TS] and anaplastic seminoma [AS]) and spermatocytic seminoma (SS) was performed to evaluate the relationship between the proliferative activity and clinical outcome, and also to determine the proliferative characteristics of SS. Nuclear DNA contents of 15 cases of TS, 17 of AS and three of SS were measured by flow cytometry. Cytofluorometric DNA analysis was performed on three cases of every tumor. All 35 cases showed aneuploidy in the flow cytometry. In comparison with TS, AS tended to have a higher percentage of G₂M phase in one cell cycle, having more cell cycle numbers and containing cells of various DNA values. Many mitotic figures with larger atypical cells that characterize AS could be explained by these results. In SS, the diploid formation by the small cells and the appearance of large cells with a maximum DNA value of 40C were demonstrated. These ploidy characteristics were considered to result in the morphological expression of large, small and intermediate cells. The application of both flow cytometry and cytofluorometry to the same cases was beneficial.     

皮肤间充质干细胞的体外培养和分化

从小鼠的皮肤组织中原代分离间充质干细胞,采用无血清培养基培养,经过2次传代后改为有血清培养,多次传代的细胞进行免疫细胞化学鉴定和诱导分化实验。结果表明:小鼠皮肤组织中的间充质干细胞体外可以长期培养,多次传代的细胞仍具有干细胞的特征,形态均一,体外增殖迅速,保持了向成骨细胞、脂肪细胞和神经元样细胞分化的潜能。体外长期传代培养小鼠皮肤间充质干细胞仍保持良好的干细胞特性,这为皮肤间充质干细胞的深入研究与中枢神经系统细胞移植提供了新的细胞来源。     

The proliferative cell fraction in cytology specimens. A study of human esophageal carcinoma.

Immunostaining of cell cycle-related antigens, especially Ki-67, DNA polymerase alpha, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, has become an important method to assess the proliferative activity of tumors. These three nuclear antigens were studied by immunohistochemical analysis of cytologic smears. These smears were obtained by scraping the cut surface of 10 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and were fixed and prepared by different methods. The results were compared with those of tissue sections to apply the immunocytochemical findings of these antigens to cytology specimens. Smears that were placed on Denhardt- or Neoprene-coated slides and subsequently fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and methanol exhibited the best cell adherence to the slides, had minimal loss of antigenicity, and had good preservation of cell morphologic features for all three antigens examined. The percentage of positive tumor cells in the cytology smear was generally in good agreement with that in the tissue section. For these three antigens, proliferating cell nuclear antigen demonstrated a much higher percentage of positive cells than either Ki-67 or DNA polymerase alpha, in both the smears and the tissue sections. In summary, Ki-67, DNA polymerase alpha, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen can be immunolocalized successfully in cytology smears and may become another parameter to assess the proliferative activity of tumors in the field of diagnostic pathology.     

Pericellular partial oxygen pressure (pO2) measurement in osteopenic bone-derived osteoblast cultures

In order to achieve further information on the in vitro behaviour of osteoblasts derived from osteopenic bone, in the present study comparative measurements of some parameters of cell proliferation, metabolism and differentiation and also of the pericellular partial oxygen pressure (pO2) were performed on normal and osteopenic bone derived osteoblasts from heathy and osteopenic rats. The respiration rate was increased in osteoblasts derived from osteopenic bone as compared to normal cells at 48 hours and 7 days, involving a significant decrease in pericellular pO2 in the culture medium. At 48 hours, in osteopenic bone-derived cells, a significant increase in MTT and a significant decrease of osteocalcin were observed. At 7 days, cell count highlighted a significant slowing down of the proliferation of osteopenic bone-derived osteoblasts. No significant differences were observed for alkaline phosphatase activity, nitric oxide and type I collagen production. The present preliminary results may be taken into consideration also in in vitro comparative biocompatibility or osteointegration studies of biomaterials in normal and osteopenic bone-derived cells because a decrease in pericellular pO2 in these tissue cultures could influence results on material behaviour.     

两株肺癌细胞系体外培养细胞和裸鼠体内移植瘤细胞增殖状态的比较研究

目的：比较两株肺癌细胞系（经实验证明为高、低侵袭系）体外培养细胞和裸鼠体内移植瘤细胞的增殖状态；方法：采用激光流式细胞仪，测量单个完整细胞群体的ＤＮＡ含量，分析其各细胞周期的比率；结果：体外培养的高增殖系细胞，移植入裸鼠体内后其Ｇ２／Ｍ期细胞比率反而降低，体外培养的低增殖系细胞，移植入裸鼠体内后其Ｇ２／Ｍ细胞比率反而升高，两株肺癌细胞系的增殖指数间无显著差异；结论：两株肺癌细胞系在体内、外增殖状况的差异性，说明肿瘤细胞在体外增殖速度的快慢不能准确反映其在体内的增殖状态，必须结合肿瘤细胞的其它生物学特性，才能比较准确地分析和判断肿瘤细胞的恶性程度。     

MR findings of the spinal paraganglioma : report of three cases

Extraadrenal paragangliomas involving the spine is less common and usually takes the form of intradural compression of the cauda equina. The authors report three cases of spinal paragangliomas resulting in extradural spinal cord compression and their MR findings. The MR imaging revealed a well-demarcated extradural mass with low to intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images and intermediate to high signal intensity on T2-weighted images compared to paravertebral muscles. After Gd-DTPA administration, heterogeneous and intense enhancement was found. Multiple punctate and serpiginous structures of signal void due to high-velocity flow were noted around and within the tumors on all sequences. In one case, the signal void structures were well corresponded with feeding arteries on angiography. These may be the characteristic findings of the extraadrenal paraganglioma involving the spine.     

人脂肪干细胞的分离培养与生物学特性

背景：高效、稳定地获得大量较高纯度的人脂肪干细胞,是其在组织工程学及再生医学中广泛应用的基础和前提。 目的：探索体外培养脂肪干细胞的适宜条件,从而提高其增殖能力。 方法：采用胶原酶消化的方法,从人腹部皮下块状脂肪中分离出脂肪干细胞,经贴壁筛选法纯化细胞、低糖培养基体外培养扩增。Giesam染色后观察细胞形态;绘制细胞生长曲线并进行细胞周期分析,观察分析传代后染色体核型改变;选取第3代脂肪干细胞做流式细胞鉴定、EdU细胞增殖能力检测以及克隆形成实验。 结果与结论：分离培养的原代脂肪干细胞形态不一,经传代后的细胞形态趋于长梭形,排列紧密呈漩涡状生长。细胞生长曲线呈S形,细胞周期分析及EdU掺入法结果显示体外培养的脂肪干细胞具有较强的增殖能力。经染色体核型分析结果提示,体外培养不会引起脂肪干细胞的核型改变。第3代脂肪干细胞经流式细胞仪检测CD29,CD44,CD90,CD105均呈阳性表达,而CD34和CD45呈阴性;克隆形成率为8.8%;在一定的诱导条件下,脂肪干细胞能够向脂肪细胞及成骨细胞分化。结果说明采用胶原酶消化法可成功分离培养人脂肪干细胞,且具有较强的增殖能力。     

Expression of RB2/p130 tumor-suppressor gene in AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: implications for disease pathogenesis

In this study we examined 21 cases of AIDS-related lymphomas for genomic organization and expression of RB2/p130 oncosuppressor gene and compared the results with the proliferative features of these neoplasms. We found no mutations in the RB2/p130 gene and unusually high percentages of cells expressing nuclear pRb2/p130 in tumors with a high proliferative activity, such as AIDS-related lymphomas. These findings might suggest that a molecular mechanism usually observed in viral-linked oncogenesis could be involved. We performed in vitro and in vivo binding assays to investigate whether the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gene product Tat and Rb2/p130 could interact. The results of these assays revealed that the HIV-1 Tat protein binds specifically to pRb2/p130. This may result in the inactivation of its oncosuppressive properties and the induction of genes needed to proceed through the cell cycle including p107, cyclin A, and cyclin B. Using single-cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, we found HIV-1 DNA in the neoplastic cells of only 2 of the 21 cases examined, whereas PCR on whole tissue revealed HIV-1 DNA in all of the cases. Furthermore, a diffuse and nuclear stain was observed in tissue sections with anti-Tat monoclonal antibody. These findings are in accordance with the notion that soluble Tat protein could function as a biologically active extracellular protein released by infected cells and taken up readily by uninfected B cells. In conclusion, our results seem to suggest that pRb2/p130 oncosuppressor protein may be a target in the interaction between the HIV-1 gene products and host proteins.     

次级淋巴组织趋化因子基因转染对小鼠黑色素瘤细胞生物学特性的影响

目的研究次级淋巴组织趋化因子（SLC）基因转染对小鼠恶性黑色素瘤细胞生物学特性的影响。方法采用脂质体法将小鼠SLC基因转染至小鼠恶性黑色素瘤细胞中,并通过G418筛选出转基因细胞克隆。体外检测SLC基因转染恶性黑色素瘤细胞的增殖,并通过趋化小室法检测细胞培养基上清液中SLC的趋化活性。检测野生型和基因转染的恶性黑色素瘤细胞在体内的致瘤性,并病理检测肿瘤组织中免疫细胞的浸润。结果SLC基因转染的恶性黑色素瘤细胞和野生型恶性黑色素瘤细胞在体外的增殖没有明显差别。分泌于细胞培养基上清液中的SLC表现出了趋化活性。SLC基因转染并没有降低细胞的致瘤性,但是移植瘤的生长明显慢于野生型恶性黑色素瘤细胞移植瘤的生长,并且病理证实SLC基因转染的肿瘤细胞移植瘤内呈现明显的淋巴细胞浸润。结论SLC基因转染在小鼠黑色素瘤能诱导抗肿瘤免疫,有可能被应用于恶性肿瘤的免疫治疗。