20q13.2 Amplification in intraductal hyperplasia adjacent to in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

The 20q13 region harboring recently described putative oncogenes is frequently amplified in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). The aim of this study was to examine the 20q13 copy number in intraduct hyperplasia (IH), atypical duct hyperplasia (ADH), and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) adjacent to IDC. In 5 patients, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) after laser microdissection revealed 20q13 amplification in four of five cases of IH, in all of three cases of IH with atypia, all five of DCIS, and all five of IDC. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed the amplification at 20q13.2 in IH in the two specimens analyzed. The amplification rate, however, was higher in DCIS and IDC. In phenotypically normal ductal epithelium normal values were found for 20q13 copy number by FISH (n=2) and CGH (n=5). Although the number of cases presented here is small, our results suggest that mutations in the 20q13.2 region in IH may be associated with accelerated proliferation and hyperplasia of the ductal epithelium. Progression to DCIS and ICD is accompanied by a further increase in the 20q13.2 copy number. Received: 17 March 1999 / Accepted: 22 June 1999     

Argyrophil cell carcinoma (apudoma) of the esophagus

Summary In a series of 79 cases of primary esophageal carcinoma resected at The Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, there were six tumors with specific histopathologic features valid for the diagnosis of argyrophil cell carcinoma. Of the 6 tumors, 3 were studied electron microscopically and assay for ACTH content was performed on 4 tumors.Clinically, the ages of the 6 patients ranged from 56 to 71 years; two were women and four men. Four of the 6 patients died with widespread tumor recurrences within 9 months of operation.Microscopically, the 6 tumors were composed largely or almost entirely of small, spindle-shaped cells resembling those of oat cell carcinoma of the lung, and were characterized by the arrangement of tumor cells in solid sheets or anastomosing cords, the presence of argyrophil tumor cells, and the deposits of amyloid. Electron microscopically, the three tumors contained neurosecretory-type granules. Using bioassay or radioimmunoassay ACTH activity in the tumor tissues was detected in 3 out of the 4 tumors determined.From the light and electron microscopic characteristics and the assay evidence, it seems reasonable to conclude that the 6 tumors are endocrine polypeptide producing tumors (apudomas) that arise from argyrophil cells normally found among the basal cells of the esophageal mucosa, and that they represent a distinct histopathologic entity clearly distinguishable from other types of esophageal carcinomas.Supported in part by a Grant-in Aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, JapanThe authors are grateful to Prof. H. Imura and Dr. Y. Hirate, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine for their interest and performing the assays for ACTH on the tumor tissues.     

Undifferentiated Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland in a 10-Month-old Child

Malignant salivary gland tumors in children are very rare. This report describes the autopsy of a child with parotid gland cancer. The patient, a 10 month old girl, was admitted to the Nagoya First Red Cross Hospital with facial nerve palsy. lncisional biopsy of a post-auricular tumor was performed, and undifferentiated carcinoma was diagnosed. The patient died 6 months later of respiratory failure due to pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis. Light and electron microscopic and immunohistochemical examinations of the tumor tissue were performed. The tumor cells were arranged in a medullary, sheet-like manner. Keratinization or mucus lakes were not observed. PAS-alcian blue staining demonstrated intracytoplasmic mucus as granules, and also small intercellular droplets of mucus that might otherwise have been unnoticed. Ultrastructurally, some of the tumor cells had tonofilament-like keratin filaments, and also small hollow spaces bounded by microvilli and containing secretory particles. These were stained by antisera against CEA and keratin. These findings are suggestive of differentiation to mucoepider-moid carcinoma. We also review and discuss malignant salivary tumors of epithelial origin in children. Acta Pathol Jpn 40: 149–152, 1990.     

Neural cell adhesion molecule immunoreactivity in Merkel cells and Merkel cell tumours

We have analysed the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in normal Merkel cells of pig and human skin, and in nine neuroendocrine carcinomas of the skin (Merkel cell carcinomas). NCAM immunoreactivity was observed in virtually all Merkel cells, both in epidermis and vibrissae of pig snout skin and in human epidermis. Immunostaining surrounded the entire surface of Merkel cells and was not restricted to the contact areas between Merkel cells and nerve terminals. All Merkel cell carcinomas studied were also positive for NCAM. The immunostaining pattern of the tumour cells was similar to that observed in normal Merkel cells; the immunoreactivity was confined to the cell membranes. These results suggest that NCAM may be used as an immunohistochemical marker for both Merkel cells and Merkel cell tumours.     

The distribution of metastases in the liver

Summary Seventy-five livers with metastases were cut sagitally into 1 cm thick slices. A total number of 11,581 metastases sections was exactly mapped. There was an average of 154 metastases sections per liver. The average diameter of the metastases was 1 cm. 40% of the metastases reached to the hepatic surface, and 60% were invisible due to their deposition in the internal parenchyma. In 8% of the livers there were only superficial metastases (average 3.2 metastases), and in 12% were only deep metastases detected (average 2.6). The total number of superficial metastases increased with increasing diameter of the secondary tumors.An approximately homogeneous distribution of hepatic metastases within the liver parenchyma has been demonstrated.     

FAM19A4基因启动子甲基化检测在宫颈癌及其癌前病变筛查的研究

宫颈癌是最常见的妇科恶性肿瘤之一。目前人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)检测及细胞学检查是宫颈癌及其癌前病变(CCPL)的主要筛查手段。由于上述传统筛查方法,仍然存在对CCPL漏诊的风险,因此寻找有效识别CCPL的特异性分子标志物,具有重要临床意义。对具有序列相似性家族19成员A4(FAM19A4)基因启动子甲基化定量检测,可有效检出CCPL组织,较传统筛查方法有较高特异度,有望成为CCPL筛查的特异性分子标志物。笔者拟就FAM19A4基因启动子甲基化定量检测,在CCPL筛查中应用的最新研究现状进行阐述,旨在为进一步推进CCPL筛查方法的开发,提供思路。     

人工流产术前宫颈及子宫内膜麻醉的镇痛效果探讨

目的　探讨宫颈与子宫内膜两部位联合麻醉、普鲁卡因与利多卡因两药物配合应用在人工流产术中的镇痛效果。方法　人工流产术前对麻醉组 10 6例行普鲁卡因宫颈浸润麻醉和利多卡因子宫内膜表面麻醉。术中记录受术者腹痛程度、无阻力插入宫颈内口的扩张器号、出血量、人流综合征例数等指标。按照世界卫生组织规定疼痛标准及人工流产综合征反应进行评价 ,同期选择按传统机械扩宫法 10 4例做对照。结果　麻醉组镇痛有效率95 3% ,宫口松驰有效率 95 3% ,人流综合征无 1例发生。两组比较P均 <0 0 0 1。两组出血量比较无差异 ,无利多卡因毒性反应发生。结论　人工流产术前普鲁卡因宫颈浸润麻醉和利多卡因子宫内膜表面麻醉镇痛效果显著 ,可大大降低人流综合征的发生 ,避免利多卡因的毒性反应     

绝经前后子宫内膜癌的病理及临床特点110的分析

目的:探讨子宫内膜癌在绝经前发病与绝经后发病的临床及病理特征。方法:将1990年1月—2001年1月我院收治住院有完整资料的110例病例作一回顾性分析。结果:由于绝经后组子宫内膜癌在手术分期、细胞分化、肿瘤细胞的亚型及发生淋巴结转移的程度上均差于绝经前组,提示绝经后发生子宫内膜癌的预后差于绝经前的子宫内膜癌。     

Biofluid Aspects of Embryo Transfer

Embryo transfer (ET) is the last stage of extracorporal fertilization during which the embryo is placed in the uterine cavity with a medium-filled catheter 2–3 days after in vitro fertilization. While fertilization in the laboratory occurs at very high rates (>:90%), the overall success of the procedure (i.e., take home baby) is still very low (<25%) and assumed to be mainly due to implantation failure. A computational model was developed to simulate ET within the uterine cavity by a fluid-filled catheter inserted into a two-dimensional channel with oscillating walls. The results showed that the speed at which the embryos are injected from the catheter dominates the procedure and controls the velocity of their transport within the uterine cavity. ET at excessively high injection speeds may lead to ectopic pregnancies, while uterine peristalsis affects transverse dispersion only during injection at low injection speeds. The presence of the catheter within the uterus does not affect flow patterns downstream of its tip. The potential risks to implantation failure due to mechanical factors involved in the ET processes are discussed. © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2003: 8719-j, 8710+e     

人原发性肝细胞癌核基质蛋白的研究

目的比较正常肝与原发性肝细胞癌（ＨＣＣ）核基质蛋白的异同,观察是否有ＨＣＣ特异性核基质蛋白的存在。方法用双向电泳方法比较了３例正常肝和８例ＨＣＣ核基质蛋白成分。结果正常肝和ＨＣＣ的核基质蛋白组成极为相似,但在ＨＣＣ中发现至少有４个ＨＣＣ的特异性核基质蛋白。其中以分子量为６２０００、等电点为５．３的蛋白最具代表性,它存在于所研究的８例ＨＣＣ中。其余３个ＨＣＣ特异性蛋白亦存在于大多数ＨＣＣ中。３例正常肝组织中未见有这４个ＨＣＣ特异性核基质蛋白。结论ＨＣＣ确实有ＨＣＣ特异性核基质蛋白的存在,它的发现可能会为ＨＣＣ的发生、发展、发病机理的研究提供一个新途径。