Malignant lymphomas and undifferentiated small cell carcinoma of the thyroid: a clinicopathological review in the light of the Kiel classification for malignant lymphomas

The paper reports a re-evaluation--based on the Kiel classification for non-Hodgkin lymphomas--of a group of cases initially diagnosed as undifferentiated small cell carcinomas or primary lymphomas of the thyroid. Twelve such cases were found among the 155 cases of primary malignant tumours of the thyroid recorded at the Institut Jules Bordet between 1955 and 1975. The review of the clinical charts and the histology showed that all the cases were in fact malignant lymphomas fitting easily into one of the groups described in the Kiel classification. These findings support the growing opinion that undifferentiated small cell carcinoma of the thyroid does not exist as a distinctive clinicopathological entity. Furthermore, the Kiel classification proved to be an excellent prognostic indicator, since all the cases classified as highly malignant were indeed fatal, whereas the surviving cases--three of which had shown tumoral extension beyond the thyroid capsule--fell into the group of low malignancy. Lastly, this study acknowledges the frequently observed association of malignant lymphoma of the thyroid with stigmata of Hashimoto's disease, and thus supports the concept that the continuous antigenic stimulation observed in the latter could trigger the development of a malignant lymphoma.     

Aspects of functional improvement after treatment of a pain dysfunction patient

First results of an investigation of several aspects of the function of the chewing apparatus by means of optical-electric movement scanning, EMG and occlusal sound registration on one time base, are presented. Observations made on a patient with pain-dysfunction syndrome before and after treatment has been compared with observations made on a healthy subject. It has been suggested that the method used, may be of value for objective evaluation of functional improvement and analyses of several aspects of the physiology of the chewing apparatus.     

Immunoprecipitation of antigen-associated [32P]-labelled nucleic acids from Crohn's disease mesenteric lymph nodes.

The methods of immunoselection and electrophoretic analysis of [32P]-labelled nucleic acids have been applied to the problem of defining Crohn''s disease (CD) specific antigen associated DNA or RNA, with the intention of identifying a presumptive aetiological microbial agent. Mesenteric lymph node derived cells from CD and control gastrointestinal disease cases were cultured in vitro with [32P] orthophosphate after mitogenic stimulation with phytohaemaglutinin and pokeweed mitogen. Total cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with CD and control serum IgG fractions and immune complexes recovered with pansorbin. Antigen associated [32P]-labelled nucleic acids were phenol/chloroform extracted and analysed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide and agarose gels. No immunoprecipitated nucleic acid specific to CD tissues could be detected and no differences in antigen recognition between CD and control serum IgG were observed. No evidence was obtained for nucleic acid containing antigens either of the autoimmune type or of possible viral or microbial origin in CD mesenteric lymph nodes.     

Computed Tomography During Experimental Balloon Dilatation For Calcific Aortic Stenosis. A Look into the Mechanism of Valvuloplasty

Thin-slice contiguous computed tomographic scanning was performed in four postmortem hearts with calcific aortic valve stenosis (mean weight: 583 ± 78 g; mean age: 65 ± 10 years) before, during, and after balloon valvuloplasty. Balloons of increasing diameter (15–19 mm single balloons, and 3 × 12-mm trefoil-shaped balloon) were positioned across the aortic valve and manually inflated to pressures of 3 to 4 atmospheres. During inflation of the 3 × 12-mm balloon a larger residual orifice, potentially free for blood passage, was observed in the two cases with bicuspid valves and in one case with a fused tricuspid valve, while the reverse was noted in one case with a tricuspid valve without fusion. In most cases valvular orifice enlargement only occurred with larger diameter balloons. After valvuloplasty aortic valve area increased from 0.72 (range 0.20–0.95) cm² to 2.36 (range 0.95–3.14) cm². The smallest orifice enlargement after dilatation occurred in case 1, where valvular calcified deposits had the largest volume and the highest computed tomographic attenuation value. In each patient macroscopic changes (fracture of nodular calcifications, commissural splitting, tearing of the central raphe) were noted. No calcium dislodgement or aortic ring damage was observed. In autopsy specimens computed tomography provided accurate evaluation of aortic valve morphology, extent of valve calcification, balloon-leaflet relationship during inflation, and effects of the dilatation on valve leaflets and commissures. Advances in computed tomographic cardiovascular imaging may achieve similar results in the clinical setting, and allow a more rational, individualized approach to the valvuloplasty procedure. (J Interven Cardiol 1988:1:2)     

The nylon wool adherence of rat mononuclear cells: physical, chemical and biological influences

The application of mononuclear cell populations to a nylon wool (NW) column is a common early procedure in the selection of T lymphocytes for further study. The technique as presently employed in various laboratories does not appear to be standardized, and surprisingly little is known about the effects of physicochemical alterations and biologic mediators on the interaction of lymphocytes with the NW substrate. In this study the factors controlling the adherence of rat splenocytes to NW were examined. NW adherence was shown to be independent of loaded cell concentration, column packing or pH, but was very dependent on NW column size, wash volume, incubation time and ambient temperature. The addition of protein to media did not alter lymphocyte NW adherence, and the interaction did not appear to depend on intact cellular glycolysis or protein synthesis or on microtubular or microfilament function. Because of the theoretical importance of surface adherence to cell motility, the effects of various agents that alter lymphocyte migration were tested in the lymphocyte NW assay. Of the positive chemokinetic factors tested, only casein altered (decreased) NW adherence. Of the negative chemokinetic principles tested only the human lymphokine LyMIF altered (increased) NW adherence. The studies show that the NW-nonadherent cell pool may be a heterogeneous population depending on the physical conditions of the assay, and the NW adherence of rat splenocytes is not an all-or-none phenomenon but can be altered by physical and biological factors. This makes the standardization of the assay of critical importance, particularly if one wishes to compare results of subsequent experiments between laboratories.     

Basal and LHRH-Stimulated Gonadotropin Levels and the Circadian Rhythm of Testosterone and the Effect of Exogenous Testosterone Thereon

In seven eugonadal men, aged 20-26 years, a fall in plasma and saliva testosterone (T) levels between 8.00 and 16.00 h of the day was observed, but plasma oestradiol-17 beta levels did not show a significant variation. These findings substantiate the existence of a circadian rhythm in T levels. Concurrent with the decrease of T levels over the day, a small but significant rise in basal LH, but not in LHRH-stimulated LH levels were observed. Then the fall of plasma and saliva T levels over the day was prevented by the administration of 80 mg testosterone undecanoate (Andriol, Organon) by mouth at 8.00 h. A rise in plasma T and even more in saliva T levels was measured, which persisted till at least 16.00 h. At this hour basal LH, but not LHRH-stimulated LH levels appeared to be slightly, though significantly depressed. From our data we conclude that fluctuations of T levels of the magnitude of 25% around the baseline values, affect slightly basal LH levels, but not LHRH-stimulated LH levels.     

Synthesis and biological activities of fluorescent acridine-containing HIV-1 nucleocapsid proteins for investigation of nucleic acid-NCp7 interactions

Specific interactions between the 72-amino acid nucleocapsid protein NCp7 of the human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 and the genomic RNA are essential for virus replication. Studies on the mechanism of action of NCp7 require a direct visualization of its complexes with nucleic acids and the determination of binding affinities. To facilitate these investigations, fluorescent NCp7 derivatives were developed by introduction in the NCp7 sequence of a non-natural amino acid, (S)-β-(9-acridinyl)alanine (Aca) obtained by a chiral synthetic method. Three fluorescent NCp7 derivatives were obtained by introducing this amino acid at different positions. As shown by NMR, the three-dimensional structure of NCp7 is not altered by introduction of Aca. The fluorescent peptides were found to be as potent as their precursors in interacting with nucleic acids and in promoting HIV-1 genomic RNA dimerization. Moreover, because of their fluorescent properties, these NCp7s can be used at submicromolar concentrations to directly visualize and quantify protein-nucleic acid interactions in solution or after gel electrophoresis. This could facilitate the development of new antiviral agents aimed at inhibiting the functions of NCp7 and studies on the intracellular traffic of NCp7 within the preintegration complex.