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B Elsner

Publications and source records attributed to B Elsner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Relation between natural killer cells and neoplastic cells in serous fluids.

Natural killer (NK) cells are capable of lysing certain tumor cells in vitro. We investigated whether the percentage of NK cells (NK%) in serous effusions has any relation with the presence of malignant cells. Fresh effusions were routinely processed, and a portion of them was submitted for lymphocyte immunophenotyping, using a flow cytometer. Fifty-one fluids (15 peritoneal, 36 pleural), from 47 patients were analyzed. Thirty-two cases were negative and 19 were positive for neoplastic cells: there were 13 adenocarcinomas, 2 malignant mesotheliomas (MM), 3 malignant lymphomas (ML), and 1 rhabdomyosarcoma (R). Negative cases showed an average NK% of 5.09% (1-16%). Effusions positive for adenocarcinoma had an average NK% of 22.08% (12-33%) (P < 0.001). MM, ML, and R had a low NK%, with an average of 3.01% (0-5%). Investigation of the NK% could be useful in cytologically doubtful cases and in the differential diagnosis between MM and adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

[Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma in a lymph node].

We report the case of a 39 years old man who presented with a rapidly enlarging, painless mass in his left side of the neck. The mass was excised and turned out to be a lymph node. Histologically, it showed a proliferation of oval to spindle cells growing in sheets and fascicles, occasionally forming a storiform pattern. Tumor cells showed large nuclei, dispersed chromatin and small evident nucleoli. Neoplastic cells were positive for immunohistochemical markers vimentin, CD 68, CD 21, CD 35 and R 4/23. Ultrastructural examination showed long cytoplasmatic processes joined by desmosomes. The patient was treated with local radiotherapy and is alive and well 18 months after the excision. Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma is a very unusual tumor that merits wider recognition.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Morphometric determination of AgNORs in breast carcinoma. Correlation with flow cytometry and proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), ploidy and proliferative activity in breast carcinomas. STUDY DESIGN: AgNOR staining was performed in 25 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, and several features were quantified by image analysis: nuclear area, mean value of the number of AgNORs (M_N_Ag), area of AgNORs (A_Ag), area of AgNOR per nucleus (A_Ag/N), A_Ag variance (A_Ag_V) and coefficient of variation of AgNOR area per nucleus (CV_A_Ag/N). These findings were correlated with ploidy and proliferative activity obtained by flow cytometry, also quantifying the latter with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Comparison of AgNORs with size of the tumor and lymph node status was also made RESULTS: We observed a good correlation between M_N_Ag and A_Ag with ploidy (P < .001), M_N_Ag and A_Ag with S-phase fraction (SPF) (P < .001), A_Ag with S+G2M (P < .02) and PCNA with M_N_Ag (P < .05). The mean value of A_Ag allowed division of the cases into two groups: diploid (D) and near diploid (ND) with low SPF (A_Ag < or = 2.50 microns2), and D and ND with high SPF and aneuploidy (A) (A_Ag > 2.50 microns2) (P < .05). There was a statistically significant correlation between M_N_Ag and A_Ag and between tumor size and lymph node metastases (P < .05). CONCLUSION: AgNORs correlate with various cell cycle and clinicopathologic features and will be used eventually as prognostic markers in breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1997

Neural networks as a prognostic tool for patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCLC) have a poor prognosis (64 and 41% survival rates in Stages I and II). It is currently not possible to predict which patients with Stage I or II NSCLC will survive the disease. Sixty-seven patients with NSCLC, including 49 patients with Stage I NSCLC and 18 with Stage II disease (11 with squamous cell carcinomas, 35 with adenocarcinomas, and 21 with large cell carcinomas) were treated with lobectomy and followed for a minimum of 5 years. The tumors were studied with DNA flow cytometry and quantitative immunocytochemical studies for proliferation cell nuclear antigen, p53 protein, and MIB-1. The data were analyzed with backpropagation neural networks, univariate analysis of variance, the Kaplan-Meier survival method, and Cox proportional hazards model. The dependent variables were "free of disease" and "recurrence or dead from disease." Twenty neural network models were trained, using all cases but one, after 1883 to 2000 training cycles. At 5 years, 30 patients were free of disease and 37 were dead or had recurrence. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen was the only statistically significant prognostic factor by univariate analysis of variance and Cox proportional hazards analysis. The S phase was statistically significant by univariate analysis of variance (P <.05). All of the 20 models classified the test cases correctly. Study with backpropagation neural networks using multiple prognostic features from patients with NSCLC suggests that this technology might be useful for prediction of survival. This preliminary study must be validated with data from a larger group of patients with NSCLC before its clinical adequacy is established.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

[Identification of Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinomas in Argentina. Its relation with p53 and the determination of proliferation indices].

Thirty-seven nasopharyngeal carcinomas were studied obtaining the tissue from nasopharyngeal biopsies that were formalin fixed and paraffin embedded. The patients were born in Argentina, 23 men and 14 women with a mean age of 50 years. Histologically the tumors were classified as queratinizing squamous cell carcinomas, 1 case (2%); non-queratinizing squamous cell carcinomas, 15 cases (41%) and undifferentiated carcinomas, 21 cases (57%). The proliferating index (PI) was determined using monoclonal antibodies against PCNA and Ki-67 (MIB-1), resulting in 26% for PCNA and 17% for Ki-67 while no differences were found comparing PI with histological type and cases with clinical stage III and IV. The PI was of 2% in the 3 cases with clinical stage II. Immunostains for p53 were positive in 30 out of the 37 cases with no differences between the histological types, exception made for the queratinizing carcinoma which was negative. With a cut off point of 7% in the 12 cases with follow up, two groups were found with a mean survival of 35 and 12 months, a finding that was not statistically significant. Epstein-Barr virus was detected by PCR using the paraffin embedded material in 31 out of the 37 cases: 21 were undifferentiated carcinomas and 15 non-queratinizing squamous cell carcinomas; the queratinizing squamous cell carcinoma was negative. These results, published for the first time in samples from Argentinian patients are similar to those found in areas of high and low incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinomas and can be of clinical use in determining the nasopharyngeal origin of a cervical metastatic lymph node of an unknown primary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Liver histology in chronic hemodialysis patients infected with hepatitis C virus].

Liver biopsies were analyzed in 21 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who tested positive for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), using Elisa II and/ or PCR. The study included 14 men and 7 women, the average age being 41 years old (range: 20-65). The average span of time under dialysis was 64 months (range: 12-192). Hbs ag. was positive in six patients. Patients underwent biopsy for showing persistent rise of transaminase for more than 6 months. The modified Knodell Index was used to grade hepatic lesions. All biopsies showed chronic hepatitis, of which 2 were associated with cirrhosis. Eight patients were infected with mild chronic hepatitis, ten were infected with moderate chronic hepatitis, and only three patients had a severe lesion. Fibrosis was mild in 13 cases, moderate in 6, and 2 had cirrhosis. Chronic Hepatitis C characteristic lesions analysis showed lymphoid nodules in 6 cases (29%), ductal epithelium lesions in 7 (33%), and steatosis in 7 (33%). Chronic HCV infection in our patients seems to have histologic characteristics similar to those reported in HCV positive non CRF patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. An infrequent cause of prolonged fever syndrome and leucocytosis in a young adult].

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare neoplasia usually associated with exposure to asbestos. The incidence in the population not in contact with asbestos is of one per million per year. The disease is most common in males over the age of 40, with signs and symptoms of neoplasic disease together with abdominal pain and ascitis with or without a palpable abdominal mass. We report the case of a young male without a history of exposure to asbestos who presented with prolonged fever, leukocytosis and a septated peritoneal exudate. With a presumptive diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis, the patient received empirical antituberculosis treatment. Because the clinical picture persisted and microbiological studies remained negative, a second exploratory laparotomy was performed which demonstrated the presence of a malignant epithelial peritoneal mesothelioma.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Is the M. Frostig perceptual training effective or not? On evaluation of the program for promoting visual perception in the German speaking areas].

Whereas the question concerning the efficacy of the Frostig program for the development of visual perception has been discussed controversely among American scientists, most German authors speak positively about the training. In this article, eight studies applying German versions of the Frostig training are shortly presented and their results summarized to find a statement about the effects of the German version of the Frostig program. The comparison of the eight studies turned out to be difficult, because the authors trained children with different handicaps. Moreover, the material was composed differently and the children were trained for different time periods. The interpretation of the positive results in the eight studies turned out more difficult because of unprecise presentation and of methodic shortcomings. The most severe shortcoming in most studies concerned the use of either no or of inappropriate control groups. Overall, the Frostig program seems to lead to improvements in different areas of performance when compared to normal school or preschool lessons. But it seems questionable if the Frostig material itself or the social interaction between trainer and child is responsible for the effects. Besides, the impact of the Frostig training on different performances may be a hint that the training not only affects visual perception, and that improved attention may be responsible for some of the effects.

Attention↗
PubMed1995

[Immunohistochemical analysis of p53 and c-erbB-2 in breast cancer].

We have studied by immunohistochemistry the nuclear expression of p53 and the finding of oncoprotein c-erbB-2 in a series of 85 breast carcinomas. The tissue was fixed in buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin. The primary antisera were obtained from Biogenex (USA), Bp53-12, monoclonal, used in a dilution of 1:100 for p53 and from Triton Diagnostics (USA), pAB-1, polyclonal, used in a dilution of 1:200 for c-erbB2. The detection system was the Vectastain Elite kit obtained from Vector Laboratories (USA). The results were compared with several morphological features of the tumors such as size and type of the tumor, extension of the intraductal component, nuclear grade, axillary lymph node metastasis and estrogen receptor data as well as with total and disease free survival. The oncoprotein p53 was detected in the nuclei in 25 (29.4%) of our cases (Fig 1). Its presence was correlated with tumor size (p < 0.01), high nuclear grade (p < 0.0001) and estrogen receptor negative tumors (p < 0.0001). There was an inverse relationship between p53 expression and 5 year disease free survival (p < 0.005). In 21 (24.7%) of the cases we found amplification of c-erbB-2. The staining pattern was membranous (Fig. 2). It was correlated significantly with the ductal type of invasive carcinoma (p < 0.05), an associated extensive intraductal component (p < 0.001), estrogen receptor negative tumors (p < 0.0001) and shortening of disease free survival in the patients with positive axillary lymph nodes (p < 0.005). In 9 cases we found staining for both markers without statistically significant relationship with the other features studied. We conclude that the presence of these genetic alterations demonstrated by immunohistochemistry were, in our series, unfavourable prognostic factors in invasive breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Immunohistochemical analysis of cathepsins D, B, and L in human breast cancer.

Cathepsins D, B, and L are acidic lysosomal proteinases involved in intracellular protein turnover. Increased levels of these enzymes have been reported to be indicators of aggressive tumor behavior in human and rodent tumors. In breast cancer increased levels of cathepsin D have been reported to be an independent prognostic factor in women with stage I disease. We used standard immunohistochemical techniques on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue to examine the levels of cathepsins D, B, and L in 80 carcinomas of the breast and compared that with other indicators of aggressive tumor behavior, including stage of disease, tumor size, nuclear grade, estrogen receptor status, disease recurrence, and 5-year survival rates. Positive granular cytoplasmic staining was detected for cathepsin D in 90% of the tumors, for cathepsin B in two thirds of the tumors, and for cathepsin L in approximately one half of the tumors. Positive staining also was seen in normal breast epithelium, areas of apocrine metaplasia, stromal fibroblasts, and macrophages. Our results did not show a correlation between the expression of cathepsins D, B, and L and other indicators of aggressive tumor behavior. We conclude that the results obtained using polyclonal anticathepsin antibodies do not support the prognostic usefulness of immunohistochemical analysis of these three proteinases in tumor cells in human breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Esthesioneuroblastomas. Clinico-pathological, immunohistochemical and nuclear ploidy study].

Nine cases of esthesioneuroblastoma were studied; 5 males and 4 females, ages ranging from 13 to 75 years (mean 46). All had polypoid masses located in the nasal cavity and/or paranasal sinuses: 8 cases had a surgical resection and 1 a biopsy due to an unresectable tumor. Histologically, all were cellular tumors composed of small round cells growing in sheets or nests with a fibrillary background. Immunohistochemical studies showed positivity for neuron-specific enolase (9/9), S-100 protein (8/9), synaptophysin (7/9), chromogranin (6/9), neurofilaments (6/9), 013 (4/9), GFAP (1/9), cytokeratin (1/9), and negativity for desmina and CD 45. PCNA index showed three tumors with high proliferative activity (30-50%) and low in 6 cases (0-20%). DNA analysis revealed three diploid and six aneuploid tumors. One patient with an unresectable tumor died and the remaining 8 are alive with a mean follow up of 83 months (6 months to 22 years). We emphasize the utility of several antibodies in the diagnosis of esthesioneuroblastoma, the predominance of aneuploid tumors and the possible unfavorable prognostic value of diploid histograms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Non alcoholic steatohepatitis].

A prospective study of 21 patients with the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was carried out. All patients had hepatomegaly and in 10 (48%) image studies were consistent with steatosis and/or fibrosis. Biochemically, there was increase of AST, ALT and cholesterol in 48%, of GGT in 52% and of alkaline phosphatase in 38%. 18 patients were obese, 2 of them diabetic, 2 others had a history of exposure to drugs (amiodarone and isopropilic alcohol) and the last one presented hypothyroidism. Liver biopsies were studied using a semiquantitative scale to evaluate the degree of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis in a scale from 1 to 3. Results showed a medium score of 2.6 for steatosis, 1.5 for inflammation and 1.8 for fibrosis. Four patients had cirrhosis and Mallory bodies were found in 11 cases (52%). NASH is an oligosymptomatic disease that can be found in different clinical conditions, mainly obesity, and is more frequent in women. It is histologically indistinguishable from alcoholic steatohepatitis. It is frequently underdiagnosed clinically and must be taken into account as a possible cause of cryptogenetic cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Transitional carcinoma of the bladder. Evaluation of prognostic factors].

This study evaluates prognostic factors in 25 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder with a minimum follow up of two years. Histologically there were 12 patients with grade I tumors according to the Mostofi's classification, 10 patients with grade II lesions and 3 grade III. The course of the grade I and II tumors was similar and the grade III worse. According to stage, there were 11 patients stage 0, 8 stage A, 3 stage B and 3 stage C. Patients with all stages recurred but only those with stage B and C died of their disease. In 18 patients the expression of the beta subunit of HCG and of the blood group isoantigens was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. There were 8 negative cases and 10 positive for the beta subunit of HCG and 10 negative and 8 positive for the blood group isoantigens. DNA analysis was done with an image analyzer on cytological smears of the urine in the 25 cases after decolorization of the smears and Feulgen staining. There were 5 diploid and 25 aneuploid cases. The DNA malignancy grade was determined with a range between 0.100 and 2.689 and the number of events more than 5c (5N). The presence of HCG, aneuploid tumors, a malignancy grade higher than 0.500 and the presence of events more than 5c were statistically significant unfavorable prognostic factors. The presence of blood group isoantigens was associated with a better evolution of the tumor but did not reach statistical significance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗
PubMed1993

[Papillary and cystic tumors of the pancreas. Clinico-pathological, cytopathological, immunohistochemical, and nuclear ploidy study].

Seven cases of PCNP were studied; 5 females and 2 males, ages ranging from 21 to 68 years (mean 39). All had asymptomatic masses located in the head (3), body (2), isthmus (1) and tail (1). In 4 of them fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was done and showed a diagnostic pattern with papillary clusters as well as isolated epithelial cells with monomorphic appearance, round nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli; 5 cases had a surgical resection and only 2 a biopsy due to unresectable tumors. Histologically, they showed the typical features of PCNP with solid, papillary, trabecular and cystic patterns. IHQ studies showed positivity for cytokeratin (n = 5), alpha-1-antitrypsin (n = 4), monoclonal NSE (n = 3), chromogranin (n = 3) and estrogen receptors (n = 1). All cases were negative for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, EMA and CEA. DNA analysis done with an image analyzer showed 4 diploid tumors, 2 diploid-tetraploid an 1 aneuploid tumor. One patient died because of postoperative complications and the remaining 6 are alive with a mean follow-up of 17 months (2-36). We emphasize the diagnostic appearance of the tumor on FNA, and the low grade malignant potential of this neoplasm supported by the predominance of diploid tumors. Our IHQ findings suggest both an exocrine and endocrine differentiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Report of a case].

The case of a 71 year old woman who developed a Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is presented, with generalized gastrointestinal polyposis, skin hyperpigmentation, onychodystrophia and alopecia. She had severe diarrhea with hypoalbuminemia and unusual dermal and articular changes. The patient had a partial remission following important protein diet therapy supplemented with vitamins and antibiotics for the intestinal bacterial over-growth. This is the first report of this entity in Argentina.

Aged↗