Biomedical subjects

C M Betts

Publications and source records attributed to C M Betts.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

The pathogenesis of vacuoles produced in rat and mouse liver cells by a conjugate of adenine arabinoside monophosphate with lactosaminated albumin.

A conjugate of adenine arabinoside monophosphate with lactosaminated albumin produced vacuoles in hepatic cells of rats and mice when given at doses 5-10 times higher than that (35 mg/kg) capable of inhibiting hepatitis B virus replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The vacuoles were due to the swelling of secondary lysosomes probably caused by incapacity of the lysosomal enzymes to rapidly digest large amounts of conjugate into products able to cross the lysosomal membrane. Although vacuoles progressively disappeared when conjugate administration was discontinued, the present observation suggests caution in giving the conjugate to man at daily doses higher than 35 mg/kg.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Establishment of a human medulloblastoma cell line (BO-101) demonstrating skeletal muscle differentiation.

A permanent cell line, BO-101, was derived from a classic vermian medulloblastoma in a 9-year-old child. This line grew in vitro in adherent cultures and grew in athymic mice as serially transplantable intracranial and subcutaneous xenografts. Intracranial neoplasms grew as masses of small cells, which focally showed large cells with intense immunoreactivity for desmin, myoglobin and alpha-striated actin. The rhabdomyoblastic nature of these cells was confirmed ultrastructurally. The primary neoplasm showed immunoreactivity for synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase and vimentin. A large panel of monoclonal antibodies and antisera against neuronal and glial antigens failed to show glial and neuronal immunoreactivity in the cell culture and xenografts. Despite the marked genotypic and phenotypic differences, the original neoplasm and the cell line share a common chromosomal marker del (12) (p 13.1). The BO-101 line differs phenotypically and genotypically from previously established medulloblastoma cell lines and further supports the heterogeneous biologic properties of the cell populations that constitute these neoplasms.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland: a clinico-pathologic and immunohistochemical study of seven cases.

Seven cases of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland are reported. Immunohistochemical evidence for the dual (glandular secretory and myoepithelial) differentiation of the cells composing these lesions is presented. Three of the cases recurred locally and two gave rise to metastases. The biologic behavior does not appear to be correlated with the histologic features that constitute the morphologic spectrum of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Squamous cell carcinoma with prominent myxoid stroma.

Three cases of a squamous cell carcinoma with a prominent myxoid stroma are reported. One case in a 70-year-old woman had presented as a lump in the breast, the other two presented as polypoid lesions of the larynx and cervix uteri in a 65-year-old man and 61-year-old woman, respectively. The carcinomatous component was immersed in abundant extracellular mucosubstances. In addition to occasional squamous pearls, it displayed immunocytochemical evidence of high-weight keratin present in the neoplastic cells and, in one case, desmosomal attachment under electron microscopy. The extracellular mucosubstances proved to be similar to those seen in connective tissue. The differential diagnosis with histologically similar lesions has been taken into consideration, and it has been suggested that this newly described entity showing abundant myxoid stroma has to be distinguished from numerous benign and malignant myxoid soft tissue tumors.

Aged↗

PubMed1989

Primary sarcomatoid carcinoma of the adrenal gland. First case report.

The first case of a sarcomatoid carcinoma of the adrenal gland is reported. The patient, a 68-year old woman, developed a recurrence two months after presentation and died of the disease 7 months later with multiple metastases. The differential diagnosis of this entity is discussed and its aggressive behaviour is emphasized.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1979

Selective lesions of acinar pancreatic cells in rats poisoned with abrin. A morphological and biochemical study.

Rats poisoned with abrin (2.5 micrograms/100 g body weight) died within 36 h with severe necrosis of acinar pancreatic cells. Incorporation in vivo of labelled amino acids into pancreatic protein was greatly impaired 6 h after poisoning. Microsomes isolated from the pancreas of poisoned rats at 6 h had a reduced capacity for protein synthesis in vitro. Incorporation in vivo of orotic acid into pancreatic RNA was decreased 12 h after poisoning.

Abrin↗

PubMed1979

Endocrine differentiation in basal cell carcinoma.

Argyrophilic cells have been found in 2 different basal cell carcinomas (BCC), and membrane-bound endocrine-like granules, in the carcinoid range, have been observed in 4 consecutive cases of such tumors. It is postulated that BCC can occasionally display cells showing an endocrine differentiation.

Aged↗

PubMed1979

Tubular carcinoma: a variant of secretory breast carcinoma.

Fifteen cases of tubular carcinoma of the breast have been studied using histochemical methods for mucosubstances, immunocytochemical methods for casein and actin and conventional electron microscopy. Mucosubstances and casein were demonstrated lying freely in the lumina of the tubules. Occasionally, mucosubstances and casein assumed the form of target-like intracytoplasmic 'inclusions' like those characteristically seen in lobular carcinoma. The neoplastic cells did not react with antisera specific against actin. Even at ultrastructural level no myoepithelial cells were observed, whilst villi were revealed along the tubular luminal surface. It appears that, in addition to distinctive biological, histological and ultrastructural features, tubular carcinoma has an almost constant histochemical pattern. This suggests a differentiation towards epithelial secretory cells engaged in intensive milk protein production which has also been shown to be a feature of lobular carcinoma. It is concluded that though lobular carcinoma and tubular carcinoma of the breast have been traditionally regarded as two distinct entities, they have certain similar functional characteristics and it is postulated that these two tumours could represent the extreme variants fo the same entity: the infiltrative lobular carcinoma being the most undifferentiated and tubular carcinoma the most highly differentiated.

Actins↗

PubMed1978

Primary oat-cell carcinoma of the larynx.

A primary oat-cell carcinoma of the larynx in a 63-year-old man is reported. The oat-cell pattern appeared intermingled at one edge with a squamous carcinoma. The origin of this mixed tumour is considered together with the literature of extrapulmonary carcinomas having an oat-cell pattern.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

PubMed1978

Ultrastructural changes in beta-cells of pancreatic islets in alpha-amanitin-poisoned mice.

In mice poisoned by alpha-amanitin nuclear changes typical of this toxin were observed in beta-cells of pancreatic islets. The lesions became progressively more severe and at 48 h after toxin injection some cells were necrotic. The damage to these cells could have implications in the changes in glycogen metabolism which occur after alpha-aminitin poisoning.

Amanitins↗

PubMed1976

Oat-cell carcinoma of the oesophagus: a recently recognized entity.

A primary oat-cell carcinoma of the oesophagus is described with an adjacent squamous carcinoma, both parts having characteristic ultrastructure. The origin of this mixed tumour is discussed together with the literature on oesophageal carcinomas having an oat-cell pattern.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnostic value of silver-stained interphasic nucleolar organizer regions in breast tumors.

Seventy-six specimens of normal breast tissue and benign and malignant breast lesions were studied to assess the mean area occupied by silver-stained proteins of the nucleolar organizer regions (MNORA) of the nucleolus. The assessment was performed with a computer-assisted image analyzer. The results indicate that only 30% of malignant lesions have a MNORA value greater than that of normal breast tissue or benign lesions. On the other hand, MNORA values of ductal carcinoma in situ were significantly greater than those of epitheliosis (papillomatosis). MNORA values were also significantly different in grade I and grade III invasive ductal carcinomas, the latter exhibiting the highest MNORA values of all the cases observed. Evaluation of MNORA values may therefore help in differentiating benign epithelial proliferations from ductal carcinomas in situ. Furthermore, because there is evidence that MNORA values are indicative of the cell duplication rate, MNORA values may ultimately be considered an objective prognostic parameter in addition to grading for invasive ductal carcinomas.

Adenofibroma↗