The reproducibility of two methods of studying granulopoiesis: agar culture and labelling index

The overall reproducibility of two methods of studying granulopoiesis has been investigated, i.e. study of the granulocytic progenitor cells by the agar-culture technique and study of the myeloblast labelling index by autoradiography. The results obtained indicate that these two methods are reproducible for each step involved, from the time of marrow sampling right through to the final interpretation of the results.     

Cytomegalovirus isolations from cell cultures derived from Epstein-Barr virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was isolated in cell cultures derived from 2 of 11 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biopsy specimens from North African patients. All these cases were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated NPC. Morphologic cytopathic changes and viral replication not associated with EBV were observed after 2 months in culture. Virus identification was achieved by immunofluorescence studies, and cell culture antigens were tested by the use of complement fixation and indirect hemagglutination. All these NPC patients had been infected by herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, and CMV, but the antibody titers determined by complement fixation and immunofluorescence were normal. CMV, which is not associated with this cancer, could nevertheless favor carcinogenesis in facilitating fusion between epithelial cells and EBV-positive lymphocytes.     

Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence in French pregnant women: Parity and place of birth as major predictive factors

In this study we present data on cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroprevalence in pregnant women in France. One thousand and eighteen women were enrolled in a prospective study carried out in Grenoble. The overall rate of seropositivity, using a specific IgG ELISA test, was 51.5% (95% CI: 48.5–54.5). Among a homogeneous population of 873 women born in France with high or middle socioeconomic status, CMV seropositivity increased with age and parity. The seroprevalence according to age was found to depend on parity. It increased with age in women with no children or with only one; it was higher but no more age-dependent in women with two children or more. In addition, CMV seroprevalence was significantly higher in women born in southern France (51.6%) than in those born in northern France (37.4%), these findings being consistent with the existence, within France, of a gradient in seroprevalence rate, increasing from the North to the South. A logistic regression analysis reveals the place of birth in France as a major predictive factor of CMV antibody status (OR: 3.5) followed by age (OR: 2) and parity (OR: 1.7). In this study, we show an independent effect of parity on CMV seroprevalence, arguing for the importance of child-to-mother transmission; nevertheless, the latitude of the place of birth, even within a size-limited country such as France, appears to be a major predictive factor of CMV seroprevalence.     

A simplified cytomegalovirus pp65 antigenemia assay procedure.

A simplified cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 antigenemia assay using a one-step erythrocyte lysis, fixation and permeabilization process was compared with a standard protocol, the CMV CINAkit (Argene Biosoft) assay. The results were comparable, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The new method saves time. It also provides flexibility because the cell suspension can be stored so that test completion can be deferred if so desired.     

Improved detection of urothelial carcinomas with fluorescence immunocytochemistry (uCyt+ assay) and urinary cytology: results of a French Prospective Multicenter Study

The aim of the study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of fluorescence immunocytochemistry (uCyt+ assay) as combined with urinary cytology for detection of primary and recurrent urothelial carcinomas. We analyzed 694 urinary samples from 236 new symptomatic patients and 458 patients followed after transurethral resection (TUR) for bladder tumor. Lesions suspicious for cancer at cystoscopy were sampled by biopsies or TUR. Sensitivity and specificity of tests were calculated using cystoscopy and histopathology, whether or not combined as gold standards. In new symptomatic patients, sensitivity of uCyt+ was 40%, 88.2%, and 76.7%, whereas that of urinary cytology was 30%, 70.6%, and 83.3%, respectively, in G1, G2, and G3 tumors. In follow-up cases, sensitivity of uCyt+ was 61.9%, 66.7%, and 76.9%, whereas that of urinary cytology was 38.1%, 58.3%, and 64.1%, respectively, in G1, G2, and G3 tumors. The combination of uCyt+ and urinary cytology significantly increased mean sensitivity in newly diagnosed cases (86.4% versus 71.2% with urinary cytology only, p < 0.05), as well as in patients followed after TUR (79.3% versus 55.2%, p < 0.001). Specificity of uCyt+ and urinary cytology was identical in new patients (83.3%) and was 81.9% and 86.2%, respectively, in patients followed after TUR. In patients with negative cystoscopy, positive uCyt+ tests had a strong predictive value for tumor recurrence at 1 year (47.0% versus 11.9% in patients with negative assay, p < 0.01). We conclude that combining uCyt+ with urinary cytology improves the detection of urothelial carcinomas as well in patients with symptoms suggesting bladder cancer as in those followed after treatment.