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Biomedical subjects

A Rahmy

Publications and source records attributed to A Rahmy.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Multiparameter flow cytometry as a tool for the detection of micrometastatic tumour cells in the sentinel lymph node procedure of patients with breast cancer.

AIM: To investigate whether multiparameter flow cytometry (MP-FCM) can be used for the detection of micrometastasis in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast cancer. METHODS: Formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded sentinel lymph nodes (n = 238) from 98 patients were analysed. For each lymph node, sections for haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for cytokeratin (MNF116) were cut at three levels with a distance of 500 microm. The intervening material was used for MP-FCM. Cells were immunostained with MNF116, followed by an incubation with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labelled goat antimouse immunoglobulin. DNA was stained using propidium iodide. From each lymph node 100,000 cells were analysed on the flow cytometer. RESULTS: Thirty eight of the 98 patients with breast carcinoma showed evidence of metastatic disease in the SLN by one ore more of the three methods. In 37 of 38 cases where metastatic cells were seen in the routine H&E and/or IHC, more than 1% cytokeratin positive cells were detected by MP-FCM. In 24 patients, metastatic foci were more than 2 mm (macrometastasis) and in 14 these foci were smaller than 2 mm (micrometastasis). In three of these 14 cases, MP-FCM revealed positive SLNs, although this was not seen at first glance in the H&E or IHC sections. After revision of the slides, one of these three remained negative. However, MP-FCM analysis of the cytokeratin positive cells showed an aneuploid DNA peak, which was almost identical to that of the primary breast tumour. Duplicate measurements, done in 41 cases, showed a 99% reproducibility. In five of 14 patients with micrometastasis, one or two metastatic foci were found in the non-SLN. However, in 15 of 24 macrometastases multiple non-SLNs were found to have metastatic tumour. All micrometastases except for the remaining negative one mentioned above showed only diploid tumour cells, despite the fact that their primary tumours contained both diploid and aneuploid tumour cells. In primary tumours with more than 60% aneuploid cells, predominantly aneuploid macrometastasis were found, whereas diploid primary tumours only showed diploid micrometastases or macrometastases in their SLN. Aneuploid SLN macrometastases were associated with non-SLN metastases in five of seven patients, whereas diploid cases showed additional non-SLN metastases in only seven of 16 patients. CONCLUSION: In all cases, MP-FCM was sufficient to detect micrometastatic tumour cells in a large volume of lymph node tissue from SLNs. In some cases it was superior to H&E and IHC staining. Approximately 30% of SLN micrometastases are accompanied by additional non-SLN metastases. The size of the aneuploid fraction (> 60%) in the primary tumour may influence the risk of having both SLN and non-SLN metastases.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Hydroxyapatite-coated acetabular components. Histological and histomorphometric analysis of six cups retrieved at autopsy between three and seven years after successful implantation.

BACKGROUND: Important questions remain regarding the use of hydroxyapatite-coated acetabular components in total hip arthroplasty. What is the relation of resorption of the hydroxyapatite coating to enduring fixation? Will unresorbed or dislodged hydroxyapatite particles cause adverse tissue reactions? Retrieval studies of clinically well-functioning acetabular components should help to answer these questions. METHODS: We examined six clinically successful hydroxyapatite-coated cementless acetabular components that were retrieved at autopsy between 3.3 and 6.6 years after implantation. All components were of the same design. The prostheses and the surrounding bone were prepared for qualitative histological and quantitative histomorphometric analysis. The percentage of bone growth onto the implant, the relative bone area around the implant, the extent of residual hydroxyapatite coating, and the coating thickness were measured. RESULTS: All of the cups showed bone ongrowth, with a mean bone-implant contact (and standard deviation) of 36.5% +/- 13.5%. The contact area was the same in all three zones delineated by DeLee and Charnley. The extent and thickness of the hydroxyapatite layer were much reduced in the specimens from older patients and in those associated with a longer duration of implantation. Degradation of the hydroxyapatite coating by osteoclasts was observed. We did not observe loose hydroxyapatite granules far from the coating, nor did we note any adverse tissue reaction to these granules. In contrast, polyethylene debris was noted in approximately half of the empty screw-holes. CONCLUSIONS: Cell-mediated hydroxyapatite resorption seems to be the main reason for loss of hydroxyapatite coating. The area of bone ongrowth was within a certain range (20% to 50%) of the measured surfaces, and it was independent of the amount of hydroxyapatite residue. The hydroxyapatite coating showed a slow rate of resorption with time, without any adverse tissue reactions.

Absorption↗

Intracavitary brachytherapy of cystic craniopharyngiomas.

Visual function, endocrinological status, and radiological outcome are reported in 31 patients harboring a cystic craniopharyngioma, who underwent 35 intracavitary brachytherapy procedures with yttrium-90. In 26 of these patients intracavitary brachytherapy was the primary treatment. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 80 months (41 +/- 22 months, mean +/- standard deviation). Five patients died from tumor-related causes. Endocrine recovery was modest. Prior to brachytherapy, visual acuity was diminished in 38 eyes and field defects were present in 46. Funduscopy before treatment revealed optic atrophy in 47% of the eyes. Visual acuity improved in 29% of the eyes studied, remained stable in 13%, and deteriorated in 58%. Visual field defects improved in 28% of the eyes studied, remained stable in 20%, and deteriorated in 52%. The possible causes for deterioration in visual function are discussed. Complete resolution of 10 cysts was noted. In 12 patients the size of the cyst decreased; however, in three of these patients new cyst formation took place. The cyst size stabilized in six cases and increased in three. Although there is still a substantial degree of visual function deterioration following intracavitary brachytherapy, morbidity is otherwise low, making this treatment modality a reasonable alternative to craniotomy.

Adolescent↗

Postmenopausal endometrial patterns and serum estradiol concentrations.

Eighty postmenopausal women were subjected to endometrial biopsy. Inadequate biopsy was recorded in 30 cases. In the remaining cases (n = 50) the correlation between endometrial patterns and serum estradiol (E2) was performed. These cases were presenting with uterine bleeding (n = 38) or minor gynecological symptoms (n = 12). Proliferative endometrium was the predominant endometrial pattern whereas endometrial malignancy was only present in 15.8% of the bleeding cases. Serum E2 was significantly elevated in cases having malignant endometrium or adenomatous hyperplasia compared to cases having other endometrial patterns. Serum E2 measurement is recommended as a simple screening test for the detection of postmenopausal endometrial hyperplasia and/or malignancy.

Biopsy↗

Radiological and scintigraphic findings in patients with a clinical history of chronic inflammatory back pain.

The prevalence of radiological abnormalities of the sacroiliac joints, the manubriosternal joint, and the lumbar spine were assessed, and quantitative sacroiliac scintigraphy was performed in 151 patients with a history of chronic inflammatory back pain and in 31 controls with non-inflammatory back pain. Sacroiliitis was found in 124 patients (82%), manubriosternal lesions in 84 patients (56%), and lesions of the lumbar spine in 58 patients (38%). In 19 patients (13%), manubriosternal lesions provided the sole radiological abnormality and in five patients (3%) no radiological abnormality could be demonstrated at any of these sites. Quantitative sacroiliac scintigraphy showed increased values in 69 of 137 patients examined (50%), but also in 10 out of 12 control patients with disc degeneration (83%) and is, therefore, nonspecific for inflammatory lesions. Radiological examination of the manubriosternal joint is recommended in patients with inflammatory back pain without radiographic evidence of sacroiliitis.

Adolescent↗