A novel antigen detected by the CBF.78 antibody further distinguishes anaplastic large cell lymphoma from Hodgkin's disease

A novel antigen detected by the CBF.78 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) is strongly expressed on cortical thymocytes and weakly expressed on resting peripheral T lymphocytes. Expression of the antigen is increased on phytohemagglutinin (PHA)- and anti-CD3-activated T lymphocytes and on Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes. The CBF.78 immunoprecipitated a protein of 116 kD from resting and PHA- activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CBF.78 MoAb did not inhibit T-cell proliferation induced by anti-CD3 antibody. This MoAb was effective for immunostaining on paraffin sections after microwave- oven heating of tissue sections. Among malignant lymphomas, the antigen recognized by CBF.78 MoAb was found to be mainly expressed by T-cell lymphomas (49+ of 74), particularly those of high-grade malignancy (31+ of 36), whereas only occasional B-cell lymphomas (4+ of 107) expressed the antigen. A distinctive pattern of reactivity was shown by 108 cases of anaplastic large cell lymphomas. Strong positivity for CBF.78 antibody was observed in 86+ of 108 cases, irrespective of B, T, or null phenotype. This multicenter study suggests that CBF.78 MoAb could be of diagnostic value in differentiating Hodgkin's-like anaplastic large cell lymphomas from cases of Hodgkin's disease rich in neoplastic cells. Only a few cases of Hodgkin's disease (13+ of 126) showed rare Reed-Sternberg cells that stained, In these few cases, staining was weak to moderate and confined to cytoplasm. CBF.78 MoAb was nonreactive with all nonhematopoietic neoplasms examined (0+ of 48). Further studies should delineate the function of this new antigen and its clinical utility.     

Connections of the ventral granular frontal cortex of macaques with perisylvian premotor and somatosensory areas: anatomical evidence for somatic representation in primate frontal association cortex

In macaque monkeys with injections of tritiated amino acids or horseradish peroxidase in the ventrolateral granular frontal cortex, we observed extensive anterograde and retrograde labeling of the premotor and somatosensory cortex in and around the lateral sulcus. Comparable labeling was not present with large and small control injections of the dorsal granular cortex. Cytoarchitectonic evaluation of the perisylvian cortex in the three cases examined in detail indicated that labeled areas included the ventral premotor cortex (area 6V); the precentral opercular and orbitofrontal opercular areas (PrCO and OFO); the second somatosensory area (S-II); the opercular cortex immediately anterior to S-II, possibly corresponding to area 2 of the S-I complex; and the central part of the insular cortex, including portions of the granular and dysgranular insular fields (Ig, Idg). Labeling was particularly dense and extensive in areas 6V, S-II, and OFO. Lighter labeling was also present in the rostral inferior parietal lobule (areas 7b and POa). The distribution of label within perisylvian areas was not uniform: certain parts were heavily labeled, while other parts were lightly labeled or unlabeled. Comparison of label distribution with published accounts of the somatotopy of these areas indicates that forelimb and orofacial representations were selectively labeled. Further, our results, taken together with other recent anatomical findings (e.g., Matelli et al.: Journal of Comparative Neurology 251:281-298, 1987; Barbas and Pandya: Journal of Comparative Neurology 256:211-228, 1987) suggest strongly that there is a network of interconnected forelimb and orofacial representations in macaque cortex, involving the ventral granular frontal cortex, area 6V, OFO, opercular area 2, S-II, the central insula, and area 7b. Each injection of frontal cortex which labeled the perisylvian somatic cortex involved the cortex of the ventral rim of the principal sulcus (PSvr). The cortex surrounding the PSvr does not stand out as a distinct area in Nissl-stained material. However, examination of myelin-stained sections prepared from uninjected hemispheres with the Gallyas technique revealed the existence of a distinct zone centered on the PSvr. This myeloarchitectonic area, which we term area 46vr, is more heavily myelinated than the ventral bank and fundus of the principal sulcus (area 46v) but is less heavily myelinated than the ventral (inferior) convexity (area 12). Involvement of area 46vr in our injections was probably responsible for the strong labeling observed in perisylvian somatic areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Programmed and programming embryogenesis using as example the egg tooth of Sauropsids

Molecular genetics don't explain the behaviour of cells. It is well known, however, that changes in behaviour precede changes of genetic manifestation. Since only soma cells are working onto-genetically throughout life, they should be thought capable of evolutionary functions. Their precedence is possible because of their surplus of genetic outfit, and the soma cells even must precede from the zygote stage on when their "struggle for life" starts. This notion of Darwin ("struggle for life") should therefore be more emphasized as motor force than his other 2 notions: "variation" and "selection". The phylogenetic development of the egg-tooth of sauropsids is taken as an example for this change-over in evolutionary theorization.     

Detection of genomic instability in lung cancer tissues by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis

Genomic instability resulting in multiple mutations is believed to be a driving force in the carcinogenic process. In this study, the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique, a simple PCR-based DNA polymorphism assay system, was used for detecting genomic instability in lung cancer tissues. DNAs from 20 lung cancer (18 non-small cell lung cancers and two small cell lung cancers) and their corresponding normal tissues were amplified individually by RAPD with seven different 10-base arbitrary primers. PCR products from RAPD were electrophoretically separated in agarose gels and banding profiles were visualized by ethidium bromide staining. The ability to detect genomic instability in 20 cancer tissues by each single primer ranged from 15 to 75%. DNA changes were detected by at least one primer in 19 (95%) cancer tissues. These results seem to indicate that genomic rearrangement is associated with lung carcinogenesis and that RAPD analysis is useful for the detection of genomic instability in lung cancer tissues.      

Computed tomography with normal chest radiograph in tuberculous infection

Children with primary tuberculosis infection without disease must be identified and treated preventively to avoid an increase in the incidence of tuberculosis in children. However, the recognition of infected cases without disease is often difficult. In particular, minimal active disease may be present in many cases but unrecognised on chest radiography. Computed tomography was therefore performed in 15 children with tuberculous infection and a normal chest radiograph to measure the size of their mediastinal lymph nodes. Ten control children without tuberculosis were also evaluated. When compared with controls it was found that nine of 15 (60%) infected children had enlarged lymph nodes. Adenopathies were more frequent in infected children less than 4 years old than in those over 8 years old. The demonstration of unrecognised active disease in many infected children raises the question of the adequate treatment for these children. It is proposed that a two drug regimen would be more appropriate than isoniazid alone in these cases.