Generation of oxygen radicals in hemocytes of the snail Lymnaea stagnalis in relation to the rate of phagocytosis.

The kinetics of oxygen radical production by phagocytosing hemocytes of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis were investigated. After contact had been established between zymosan and hemocytes in monolayers at 0 degrees C, phagocytosis was initiated by a shift to room temperature. Until the internalization phase of phagocytosis was completed, oxidative activity was detected mainly extracellularly (superoxide dismutase inhibitable cytochrome C reduction and peroxidase-catalyzed phenol red oxidation were used for the detection of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, respectively). Thereafter, extracellular oxygen radical production by phagocytosing hemocytes decreased. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence activity grew and, after the internalization phase of phagocytosis, remained at a high level, suggesting continued oxygen radical activity intracellularly. These results indicate that contact between zymosan and the hemocyte's plasma membrane stimulates a membrane-bound system to generate and release oxygen radicals. After internalization, this system appears to continue oxygen radical production inside the phagosome. So far, oxygen radical production in snail hemocytes shows many similarities to the mechanism in mammalian leucocytes.     

Perforated colorectal neoplasms: correlation of clinical, contrast enema, and CT examinations

Results of clinical, contrast enema (CE), and computed tomographic (CT) examinations in 39 patients with perforated colorectal neoplasms were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty patients were toxemic at initial presentation, but in only four patients was the diagnosis of perforated colorectal neoplasm initially suspected clinically. CE study was performed in 22 patients and enabled the diagnosis of perforated neoplasm in 11 cases, neoplasm alone in eight, and neither neoplasm nor perforation in three. CT was performed in 38 patients and enabled the diagnosis of perforated neoplasm in 36; pericolic phlegmon but no mass lesion was evident in two. In 16 patients, CT also demonstrated metastatic disease. Because of its reliability in establishing the diagnosis and staging the extent of the inflammatory and neoplastic disease, CT is indicated in cases of suspected or proved perforated colorectal neoplasm and in cases in which CE study findings are indeterminate or suggestive of perforated neoplasm.     

Diagnostic efficacy of the combination of urine cytology, urine analysis and history in the follow-up of bladder carcinoma

In the follow-up of low stage, low grade transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, cystoscopy is used as a diagnostic standard. Because of the lack of well defined prognostic parameters, cystoscopic follow-up is based upon empirical grounds. In this study, 82 patients with a primary superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were studied with respect to the time interval before recurrence. The mean number of cystoscopies leading to detection of recurrence (i.e. the ratio of positive to negative cystoscopy) was reviewed. Eighteen cystoscopies had to be done to detect each recurrence. Because of this excessive number of cystoscopies, the diagnostic value of the combination of red cell count in urine, cytology and history of micturition symptoms and haematuria was assessed in a retrospective study of 86 recurrences of bladder carcinoma. The results indicated that the combination of these non-invasive diagnostic tests may constitute a sensitive procedure for the follow-up of bladder tumours. In the case of T1G3 and muscle-invasive recurrences (greater than T1), the sensitivity rate was 100%.     

Frequent ongoing T-cell receptor rearrangements in childhood B- precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: implications for monitoring minimal residual disease

Crosslineage T-cell receptor delta (TCR delta) rearrangements are widely used as tumor markers for the follow up of minimal residual disease in childhood B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The major drawback of this approach is the risk of false-negative results due to clonal evolution. We investigated the stability of V delta 2D delta 3 rearrangements in a group of 56 childhood B-precursor ALL patients by PCR and Southern blot analysis. At the PCR level, V delta 2D delta 3-to-J alpha rearranged subclones (one pathway for secondary TCR delta recombination) were demonstrated in 85.2% of V delta 2D delta 3-positive patients tested, which showed that small subclones are present in the large majority of patients despite apparently monoclonal TCR delta Southern blot patterns. Sequence analysis of V delta 2D delta 3J alpha rearrangements showed a biased J alpha gene usage, with HAPO5 and J alpha F in 26 of 32 and 6 of 32 clones, respectively. Comparison of V delta 2D delta 3 rearrangement status between diagnosis and first relapse showed differences in seven of eight patients studied. In contrast, from first relapse onward, no clonal changes were observed in six patients studied. To investigate the occurrence of crosslineage TCR delta rearrangements in normal B and T cells, fluorescence-activated cell sorter-sorted peripheral blood CD19+/CD3- and CD19-/CD3+ cell populations from three healthy donors were analyzed. V delta 2D delta 3 rearrangements were detected at low frequencies in both B and T cells, which suggests that V delta 2-to-D delta 3 joining also occurs during normal B-cell differentiation. A model for crosslineage TCR delta rearrangements in B-precursor ALL is deduced that explains the observed clonal changes between diagnosis and relapse and is compatible with multistep leukemogenesis of B-precursor ALL.     

CA 125 concentrations in ovarian 'chocolate' cyst fluid can differentiate an endometriotic cyst from a cystic corpus luteum.

In a prospective study, the concentrations of CA 125, 17 beta-oestradiol and progesterone were assayed in 52 consecutive ovarian cysts, laparoscopically suspected to be endometriomas. Cysts with dark brown 'chocolate' fluid (n = 42) were excised by CO2-laser endoscopy. Cysts with clear fluid were diagnosed by pathology as follicular cysts (n = 5) or pseudoperitoneal cysts (n = 5). Fluids (n = 53) aspirated during echo-guided puncture for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were assayed simultaneously. Of the 42 women undergoing a cystectomy, the clinical diagnosis of an endometrioma was confirmed by pathology in only 68%, the other cases being corpora lutea (27%) or follicular cysts (5%). Cyst fluids from corpora lutea had lower CA 125 concentrations (< 1000 IU/ml) together with high 17 beta-oestradiol concentrations (> 2000 pg/ml) and/or high progesterone concentrations (> 100 ng/ml). Endometriotic cysts had either very high CA 125 concentrations (> 10,000 IU/ml) as occurred in 78% or lower CA 125 concentrations (< 1000 IU/ml) together with low 17 beta-oestradiol and/or progesterone concentrations. 'Chocolate' fluid-containing cysts aspirated during IVF had similar concentration profiles of CA 125, 17 beta-oestradiol and progesterone and the diagnoses derived from these concentrations were not contradicted in 19/27 women undergoing a laparoscopy within 4 months. In eight women, however, with high CA 125 concentrations in their cyst fluid, no endometriotic cysts were found at laparoscopy. Only 68% of cysts containing 'chocolate' material were endometriotic cysts and CA 125 could be useful in making this diagnosis. This method is recommended when dark brown fluid is aspirated in IVF.