Cell cycling in bladder carcinoma determined by monoclonal antibody Ki67

Current methods of predicting prognosis in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder fail to provide consistently reliable information about future tumour behaviour. The monoclonal antibody Ki67 recognises an antigen present in actively dividing cells and Ki67 reactivity has been shown to correlate with conventional prognostic indicators in several tumours. In this study, Ki67 antibody was used to determine the proportions of cells undergoing active division in 26 transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder. The proportion of cells stained in muscle invasive tumours (12.3 +/- 5.4%) was significantly greater than in superficial tumours (4.3 +/- 1.9%) and poorly differentiated tumours showed significantly greater proportions of cells staining compared with well or moderately well differentiated tumours. These results show that Ki67 reactivity correlates with high tumour stage and poor differentiation. Ki67 staining provides an easy method of determining tumour cell turnover that might provide additional prognostic information.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor and bladder cancer: a review.

Recently, expectations have been raised that molecular biological studies of human tumours may be of value in helping to predict future clinical behaviour, in terms of therapeutic response and long-term survival. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) is a cell surface receptor for EGF and transforming growth factor-alpha which is overexpressed by a number of human tumours. This article principally reviews previous investigations of the role of the epidermal growth factor receptor in bladder cancer and examines methods of detection, the correlation between EGFr status and known prognostic indicators and the value of assessing EGFr status in predicting clinical outcome in patients with bladder cancer. Recent studies of the c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene in bladder cancer and of cell cycling using Ki-67 are included.     

Common bile duct calculi: updated experience with dissolution with methyl tertiary butyl ether

The authors describe their experience with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in a larger series of patients than previously reported in order to acquaint physicians with both its effectiveness for dissolution of common bile duct calculi and the limitations of its use. Ten patients with 13 biliary calculi underwent percutaneous stone dissolution treatment with the experimental cholesterol solvent, MTBE. Three stones completely dissolved within 30 minutes, seven were reduced in size, and three were visibly unaffected. All stones not completely dissolved were easily extracted by means of a stone basket except for one in a patient taken to surgery. Although MTBE perfusion is an effective technique for management of biliary calculi, practitioners should be aware that its use is quite time consuming and its odor difficult to control.     

Compensation for spin-lock artifacts using an off-resonance rotary echo in T1rhooff-weighted imaging.

The origin of image artifacts in an off-resonance spin-locking experiment is shown to be imperfections in the excitation flip angle. A pulse sequence for off-resonance spin locking is implemented that compensates for imperfections in the excitation flip angle through an off-resonance rotary echo. The off-resonance rotary echo alternates the frequency offset and phase of the RF transmitter during two spin-locking pulses of equal duration. The underlying theory is detailed, and MR images demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique in agarose gel phantoms and in in vivo human brain at 3T.     

Expression of cadherins and CD44 isoforms in ovarian endometrial cysts

We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of cadherins and CD44 variants in 20 endometriomas, 20 cystadenomas, 20 borderline ovarian tumours as well as 20 ovarian carcinomas, and the serological and cystic fluid concentrations of soluble E-cadherin and soluble CD44 standard (sCD44sdt) in 20 endometriomas, 20 cystadenomas, six borderline and 11 carcinomas of the ovary. In endometriomas, immunostaining of E- and N-cadherin was negative (20 and 30% respectively). CD44 H, v3 and v6 immunostaining were detected in 63, 10 and 40% respectively. A difference in immunostaining for E-cadherin was found between endometriomas and cystadenomas (P < 0.001) and for N- cadherin between endometriomas and carcinomas (P < 0.001). A difference in CD44H immunostaining was observed between endometriomas and cystadenomas (P < 0.035) but not with borderline ovarian tumours and carcinomas. No difference in serum concentrations of soluble E- cadherins and CD44 standard was found between the four groups of tumours. Cystic fluid concentrations of E-cadherin were lower in endometriomas than in borderline tumours and ovarian carcinomas (P < 0.001). High concentrations of soluble CD44 standard cystic fluid were found in endometriomas than in other ovarian cysts. Endometriomas and borderline tumours share alterations of cadherins and CD44 isoforms which may help in the understanding of the aggressive and invasive potentials of endometriotic cells.      

Genital asymmetry in men

This study examined genital asymmetry in a large sample of men. The probands were 6544 non-delinquent men who were interviewed by the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction from 1938 to 1963. The measures were four indicators of penile and scrotal asymmetry, along with self-reported handedness, from Kinsey's interview protocol. Most men reported some degree of lateral asymmetry in their flaccid penis and in their testicles; less asymmetry was reported for their erect penis. The asymmetry typically occurred in the left direction, and this pattern occurred in both right- and nonright- handers. However, this 'leftward' pattern was significantly less pronounced in nonright-handers. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings of genital asymmetry in men, the possible relationship of genital asymmetry to functional cerebral asymmetry, and recent data suggesting genital asymmetry may predict patterns of cognitive performance and genital/sexual organ cancers.      

Electron microscopic studies of endocrine hyperplasia in duodenal adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis

Summary Electron microscopical studies on endocrine cell hyperplasia of duodenal adenomas from five patients with familial adenomatous polyposis were performed. All the endocrine cell types normally found in the duodenal mucosa were identified. A constant feature was proliferation of duodenal-enterochromaffin cells but an increase in the number of all other endocrine cell types apart from pyloricgastrin cells and somatostatin cells, was also observed. Certain types of intestinal endocrine cells (the intestinal enterochromaffin cell and the glicentin cell) are rare cells in the normal duodenal mucosa. The finding of these cells may indicate increased biological aggressivity.     

A dog model of fulminant hepatic failure produced by paracetamol administration.

Oral administration of graded doses of paracetamol to dogs produced hepatic necrosis with some similarities to the clinical syndrome seen in man following a paracetamol overdose. Coma, with raised levels of arterial ammonia, was produced and the aspartate aminotransferase levels became markedly elevated in 2 animals who survived more than 24 h. However, the extent of the hepatic necrosis and the time of survival following paracetamol administration were too variable for this model to be of value for the testing of new methods of temporary liver support. When paracetamol was given by intraperitoneal injection many of the animals died of respiratory distress. Significant methaemoglobinaemia was detected, which was associated with a reduction in the arterial partial pressure of oxygen and was partly reversed by the administration of methylene blue.