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Biomedical subjects

Bodil Laub Petersen

Publications and source records attributed to Bodil Laub Petersen.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Peripheral neuroblastic tumours in eastern Denmark 1972-2002.

The peripheral neuroblastic tumour group includes neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma. Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumour of childhood. We have evaluated the histological presentation, MYCN gene status, and clinical course of peripheral neuroblastic tumours diagnosed and treated in eastern Denmark from 1972-2002. 125 patients were diagnosed with peripheral neuroblastic tumour during this 30-year period. The histological material was reviewed and classified into three categories in accordance with the Shimada system: unfavourable histology, favourable histology, and benign tumours. MYCN status was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) on paraffin sections from the primary tumour. Clinical information was obtained from hospital records. Diagnostic likelihood ratios in the two groups were calculated to compare the ability of MYCN status and histological classification to predict 5-year outcome. 41 tumours showed unfavourable histology, 30 tumours showed favourable histology, 11 were benign, and 43 were unclassifiable due to limited amounts of primary tumour, bad preservation or inaccessibility of the primary tumour necessitating metastatic tumour biopsy for diagnosis. Unfavourable histology was associated with widespread disease (p<0.001). The overall 5-year survival rate was 45%, which correlates well with the European survival rate reported for this time period. The 5-year survival rate in the unfavourable group was 30% as compared to 100% in the favourable histology group (p<0.001). The survival rate in the unclassifiable group was 13%. 26% of the neuroblastomas were MYCN amplified. MYCN amplification was associated with undifferentiated histology, a histological subtype of the unfavourable histology group (p<0.001). For unfavourable histology the positive diagnostic likelihood ratio was 2.9 as compared to 4.7 for MYCN amplification. The study has confirmed the prognostic significance of the Shimada system in the peripheral neuroblastic tumour group in a retrospective material, and has also demonstrated the prognostic superiority of MYCN compared to histological classification, thus reducing the necessary amounts of tumour tissue.

Adult↗

Immunohistochemical detection of the apoptosis-related proteins FADD, FLICE, and FLIP in Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is characterized by an accumulation of dendritic Langerhans cells in granulomatous lesions in various organs. The etiology of LCH remains enigmatic. Fas/APO-1/CD95 belongs to the "death receptor" family of apoptosis regulators and has been implicated in the downregulation of immune responses. The authors examined the expression of three proteins that are engaged in the Fas signaling cascade-FADD/Fas-associated death domain-containing protein, FLICE/FADD-like interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (both pro-apoptotic), and FLIP/FLICE-inhibitory protein (anti-apoptotic)-in lesions from LCH patients. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 43 children with LCH. The infiltrates were scored according to the amount of positive pathologic Langerhans cells (pLCs). In all investigated specimens, the majority of the pLCs expressed FADD, active FLICE, and FLIP. The clinical outcome of the disease could not be correlated to the expression of the investigated proteins. This study shows a high expression of the apoptosis-related proteins FADD, active FLICE, and FLIP in pLCs. The authors previously showed that pLCs express Fas and Fas ligand. Taken together, these findings suggest that the Fas signaling pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of LCH.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Testicular neoplasia in undescended testes of cryptorchid boys-does surgical strategy have an impact on the risk of invasive testicular neoplasia?

UNLABELLED: We investigated whether or not surgical strategy has an impact on the risk of invasive testicular neoplasia in cases of cryptorchidism. We made a database study of the incidence of testicular neoplasia at surgery for cryptorchidism in childhood, and evaluated if such abnormalities were found in special categories of patients, and also of the incidence of testicular neoplasia after orchiopexy with a simultaneous testicular biopsy in childhood. At surgery for cryptorchidism the risk of testicular neoplasia was 7/182 (4%) in cases with intra-abdominal testis, abnormal external genitalia other than cryptorchidism, or diagnosed abnormal karyotype, versus no case in the 1281 patients without these characteristics (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.00005). These clinical characteristics occurred most often in bilateral cryptorchidism 82/339 (24%) versus 103/1127 (9%) in unilateral cryptorchidism (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.00005). At follow-up, the risk of testicular neoplasia was 7/830 (1%). The relative risk of testicular neoplasia was about 4. CONCLUSION: Based on our data and the literature we recommend: 1) Taking a testicular biopsy at surgery for cryptorchidism in childhood in intra-abdominally placed testes, or if the patient has abnormal external genitalia or a known abnormal karyotype. These clinical characteristics occur most often in cases of bilateral cryptorchidism. 2) Surgery for cryptorchidism before 10 years of age 3) Clinical control, after surgery for cryptorchidism. In cases of testicular atrophy orchiectomy must be considered.

Adolescent↗

Catecholaminergic activation in acute myocardial infarction: time course and relation to left ventricular performance.

AIM: The study was designed to assess (1) the time course of catecholaminergic activation in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as estimated by adrenaline (ADR) and noradrenaline (NOR) concentrations, and (2) to relate activation of these hormones to predict the outcome of cardiac performance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with first AMI were studied. Blood samples were drawn within the first 4-18 h, after 18-24 h, on day 2, day 3 and on day 6 as well as after 1 year. Radionuclide ventriculography was performed on the day of discharge and after 1 year to determine left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). RESULTS: In the study group as a whole, the concentrations of ADR decreased from (mean +/- SEM) 0.80 +/- 0.12 nmol/l on admission to 0.33 +/- 0.03 nmol/l at discharge (p < 0.05). NOR decreased from 4.19 +/- 0.78 to 2.44 +/- 0.33 nmol/l (p < 0.05). Initial peak concentrations of both ADR and NOR on admission were correlated to LVEF at discharge (r = -0.56, p < 0.05 and r = -0.72, p < 0.05, respectively). If NOR was normal (<3 nmol/l) at admission, the LVEF was normal or almost normal (= 0.46) at discharge. The mean plasma level of ADR and NOR after 1 year follow-up was 0.34 +/- 0.04 and 1.95 +/- 0.25 nmol/l, respectively. The values after 1 year were unchanged compared to values at discharge, at day 6 (n.s.). Mean LVEF was 0.50 +/- 0.03 (range: 0.23-0.69) at discharge and unchanged 0.46 +/- 0.05 (range: 0.18-0.72) at 1 year follow-up (n.s.). During hospitalisation, the group with LVEF <0.50 had an 86% higher initial ADR and an 82% higher initial NOR concentration compared to values in patients with LVEF >0.50 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: (1) Catecholaminergic activation, as measured by plasma ADR and NOR in AMI, is acute and restricted to the first 5 days. Thereafter, the hormone levels are normal and stable. (2) The magnitude of the early catecholaminergic activation correlates with left ventricular systolic performance. (3) Normal NOR values at admittance predicts normal or almost normal LVEF at discharge.

Adult↗

Increased frequency of mannose-binding lectin insufficiency among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Epidemiological data indicate that acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) could be induced by interactions between the immune system and early childhood infections. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) plays a critical role in the immune response in early childhood before specific immune protection develops. We investigated whether there may be an association between childhood ALL and low-producing MBL genotypes. Serum MBL levels depend on normal (A) or defective (O) alleles, and on normal (Y) or reduced (X) promoter activities. For this study, 137 noninfants with ALL and 250 controls were classified into 3 MBL genotype groups according to their influence on the serum level of functional MBL: group I, YA/YA and YA/XA (higher levels); group II, XA/XA and YA/O (intermediate levels); and group III, MBL insufficiency with XA/O or O/O (MBL-deficient) genotypes. Compared with controls, cases more often had low-level genotypes (I/II/III: 63 [46%]/44 [32%]/30 [22%] vs 145 [58%]/65 [26%]/40 [16%]; P =.02) and MBL deficiency (8.8% vs 2.8%; P =.009). Thus, the ALL odds ratio for MBL-deficient versus nondeficient individuals was 3.3 (95% CI, 1.3-8.7), whereas the ALL odds ratio for group I versus group II/III genotypes was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.41-0.94). MBL group III patients were significantly younger at diagnosis than patients in group I/II (median, 3.9 vs 5.2 years; P =.04). The study shows that the presence of low-level MBL genotypes is associated with an increased risk of childhood ALL, particularly with early age at onset.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of parvovirus B19 and parvovirus V9 DNA and antibodies in paired bone marrow and serum samples from healthy individuals.

Parvovirus B19 (hereafter referred to as B19) exhibits a marked tropism to human bone marrow (BM), and infection may lead to erythema infectiosum, arthropathy, hydrops fetalis, and various hematologic disorders. Recently, a distinct parvovirus isolate termed V9 with an unknown clinical spectrum was discovered. In contrast to the many studies of B19 serology and viremia, valid information on the frequency of B19 or V9 DNA in the BM of healthy individuals is limited. To develop a reference value, paired BM and serum samples from healthy subjects were tested for the presence of B19 and V9 DNA and specific antibodies. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was not found in any of the serum samples. The prevalence of IgG showed a gradual and steady increase from 37% in children aged 1 to 5 years to 87% in people aged >50 years. When 190 well-characterized subjects were examined, B19 DNA was detected in the BM of 4 individuals (2.1%; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 5.3%) while none of the paired serum samples showed evidence of circulating viral DNA. V9 DNA was not found in any of the BM or serum samples. The finding of B19 DNA probably indicated a primary infection in one 7-year-old individual and reinfection or reactivation of persistent infection in the remaining three persons, aged 47 to 58 years. Serving as a benchmark for future studies, these findings are useful when interpreting epidemiologic data, performing BM transplantation, or considering clinical implications of parvovirus infection.

Adolescent↗