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D Mink

Publications and source records attributed to D Mink.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Correlation between immunoreactivity for transglutaminase K and for markers of proliferation and differentiation in normal breast tissue and breast carcinomas.

We investigated immunohistochemically localization and expression of transglutaminase K (TGK) in normal breast tissue (n = 10) and in breast carcinomas (n = 30). Transglutaminase K was compared with the staining patterns of cytokeratin 10, Ki-67, p53, estrogen and progesterone receptors in these tumors. Weak to strong membrane bound immunoreactivity to TGK was detected in 17 out of 30 breast carcinomas analyzed. TGK staining was heterogeneous with visual differences between individual tumour cells. Ninety percent of normal breast tissues revealed no immunoreactivity to TGK. Both intensity of TGK immunostaining and number of TGK-positive cells were upregulated in breast carcinomas as compared to normal breast tissue. Analyzing coexpression of TGK with cytokeratin 10, Ki-67, p53, ER and PR, no statistically significant correlation was found. Our findings indicate that: (I) TGK is upregulated in breast carcinomas as compared to normal breast tissue. (II) Upregulation of TGK in breast carcinoma is not exclusively induced by alterations of epithelial differentiation or proliferation, but by different, unknown mechanisms. (III) Upregulation of TGK in breast carcinomas may play an important role in the regulation of tumour cell invasive properties by modulating cell-matrix interactions or by facilitating the assembly of matrix and tissue remodeling.

Antibodies, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1998

Leiomyosarcomas of the female genital tract: a clinical and histopathological study.

INTRODUCTION: Leiomyosarcomas are malignant tumours showing smooth muscle differentiation. They represent approximately 25% of all uterine sarcomas and slightly over 1% of all uterine malignancies. The purpose of the present retrospective review is to relate clinical and pathological findings of leiomyosarcomas of the female genital tract to prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During 1972-1992 eleven patients had diagnosed uterine leiomyosarcomas treated at the Department of Gynecology of the University of Saarland. The hospital records of all patients were reviewed and complete primary treatment had been performed at this center. RESULTS: The mean age was 46.92 years (SD: +/-13.85). Atypical uterine bleeding and pelvic discomfort were the most common presenting complaints (72.7%). The mean follow-up time was 59.60 months (20-96 months). Overall 2-year survival was 70% and overall 5-year survival 30%. The overall survival of patients in FIGO-stage I was 57.14%, in FIGO-stage II 100%, in FIGO-stage III 0% and in FIGO-stage IV 0%. CONCLUSION: The primary therapy should consist of an operation as radical as possible. Treatment with organ preserving seems to be reasonable if the patient desires children. Also, chemotherapy might provide a hopeful sign in the improvement of survival rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The influence of tamoxifen on the maturation index of vaginal epithelium.

PURPOSE: The estrogenic effect of tamoxifen on vaginal epithelium in postmenopausal women with breast cancer was evaluated over a period of more than 48 months. METHODS: The tamoxifen group consisted of 118 postmenopausal patients, control group I of 30 postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving no tamoxifen or hormonal replacement therapy and control group II of 40 postmenopausal women without breast cancer taking no hormones. We determined the maturation index of the vaginal epithelium. Pearson's chi-square-test and t-test for independent samples were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The maturation index increased under tamoxifen therapy within the first 24 months from 0.4026 before taking tamoxifen (n = 64) to 0.6066 (n = 162, p < 0.0001) and in the following 24 months to 0.6325 (n = 122, p < 0.0001). Under tamoxifen intake of more than 48 months, an additional small increase of the maturation index to 0.6735 (n = 42, p < 0.0001) could be noticed. The maturation index in the tamoxifen group was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than in the control groups (control group I: 0.3975, p < 0.0001; control group II: 0.4102, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: An apparent increase in the maturation of the vaginal epithelium caused by the estrogenic effect of tamoxifen could be demonstrated.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Standardized interfaces in gynecologic-obstetric documentation].

Since the introduction of the German GSG-law the usage of software for data recording in clinical departments has substantially grown. These systems should be able to exchange or replicate data, but in most cases the corresponding interfaces are absent or only incompletely implemented. The existence of functional, system-independent interfaces in a CSV-or HL-7-compatible format is a minimal requirement for modern software and should be considered.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1995

[Quantitative determination with image analysis of immunohistochemically identified steroid hormone receptors in breast carcinoma].

Oestrogen receptors were demonstrated immunohistochemically in 120 breast cancer cases; in 90 cases, progesterone receptors were additionally assessed. Immunohistochemical staining was evaluated by the so-called "immuno-reactive score" and quantified densitometrically by a method of computer-assisted image analysis. The measuring method allowed an objective evaluation of the portion of receptor-positive cells, the mean optical density and the distribution pattern of receptor concentrations within receptor-positive nuclei. Image analysis was compared with the semiquantitative evaluation by IRS. In 29 out of 58 weakly stained sections, which were scored as receptor-negative, receptor-positive cells could be demonstrated by image analysis because of the definition of an objective cut-off level for specific staining. Furthermore, three different patterns of distribution of receptor concentration could be distinguished: Type 0: receptor-negative carcinomas Type 1: homogeneous receptor expression within receptor-positive cells Type 2: heterogeneous receptor expression with high receptor concentrations in single cells. Type 2 patterns were almost exclusively found in postmenopausal patients, a dependence of expression pattern from grading was not demonstrated. These distribution patterns were found in the same manner in the expression analysis of progesterone receptor. With immunohistochemical staining only 45% of ER-negative carcinomas expressed PR, but 74% of ER-positive carcinomas. When ER was expressed heterogeneously (Type 2) PR was expressed in the same way in 62% of the cases. Beneath the exact determination of the portion of receptor-positive cells the analysis of the pattern of distribution is only possible by image analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Comparison of different methods for determination of proliferative activity of breast carcinomas].

OBJECTIVES: Different methods for evaluation of nuclear atypia and proliferative activity were compared in fifty cases of breast cancer. METHODS: Beneath histopathologic grading, ploidy of the stem cell line and S-phasefraction were measured by flow cytometry. Ki67-index was determined immunohistochemically and by image cytometry on smears grade of malignancy and 2cDI were measured. RESULTS: Only Ki67-index was correlated with histopathological grading. The various proliferative indices (Ki67-index, S-phase-fraction, 2cDI) were not correlated. Between image- and flow-cytometric DNA-analysis significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: With the immunohistochemical determination of Ki67-index in conjunction with image-cytometry a morphologic control of the material investigated is possible. So in comparison with flow-cytometry a more differentiated analysis can be performed.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1995

Demonstration of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancers with monoclonal antibodies. Different results with enzyme-immunoassay and immunohistochemical methods.

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) were measured in 120 breast cancer biopsies using the same tissue block and the same monoclonal antibody either immunohistochemically on frozen sections or quantitative by means of an enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) on the cytosol-fraction of a tumor homogenate. The immunohistochemical staining was performed by a standard PAP-method and the samples were classified according to the "immuno-reactive score" (IRS). IRS values > = 2 were regarded as receptor-positive; a cut-off-value of 15 fmol/mg protein was chosen for the EIA-test. In 90.8% of cases the findings of immunohistochemical and biochemical methods were concordant when only receptor-positivity or -negativity was regarded. Thus the results were discordant in 9.2%. Immunohistochemically positive and biochemically negative findings were observed more often (8.2% for the ER and 5.8% for the PR) than vice versa (0.8% for the ER and 3.3% for the PR). In all cases of discordant findings the relevant histological and immunohistochemical preparations were reevaluated. In total, there were 5 cases with a positive biochemical result which were classified as receptor-negative by immunohistochemistry. Of these, 3 had borderline findings by EIA together with a massive inflammatory infiltration. The other 2 cases must be interpreted as technical problems with the immunohistochemical staining. In 17 cases with a biochemically negative result receptor-positive cancer cells could be demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. In 13 of these 17 cases only a small fraction of tumor cells showed a positive reaction. Furthermore all these cases were rather acellular and partially necrotic. So the negative results of the enzyme immunoassay can be explained by a low concentration of receptor positive cells in the biopsy specimen or the measurements of necrotic tissue areas. It can be concluded that immunohistochemical receptor analysis is superior to methods using tumor-homogenates. The prognostic and predictive superiority of the immunohistochemical method is in accordance with published data. However, for immunohistochemical staining high internal and external quality standards must be applied as for similar laboratory procedures.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1995

[Comparison of dinoprostone gel and gemeprost suppositories for induction of abortion in the second and third trimester].

The results of the cervical priming with a Dinoprost-containing gel and a Gemeprost-containing vaginal suppository were compared in 68 patients, who required termination of pregnancy beyond 14 weeks because of a severe maternal disease or a fetal abnormality. The priming consisted of either an intracervical application of Dinoprost (500 micrograms) in a tylose-gel in 6-8 hour intervals or a retrocervical application of Gemeprost (1 mg) as a vaginal suppository in 12 hour intervals. Although no significant parameter variances were found in the selected patient groups, abortion was induced in 75% of cases within 24 hours, in 89% within 36 hours using Gemeprost. Mean induction time for Gemeprost was 19.5 hours. Using Dinoprost only 19% of patients had an abortion within 24 hours (44% within 36 hours, respectively), mean induction time was significantly longer (38.8 hours, p < 0.005). These differences remained unchanged, when patients who had a prior caesarean section were not evaluated. Using Gemeprost the additional systemic administration of Sulprost was necessary in 21% of cases, using Dinoprost, in 50% of cases. Severe complications did not occur and minor side effects such as nausea or vomiting were observed in single cases. These results demonstrate that Gemeprost can be used in cervical priming even after 14 weeks of pregnancy and that the longer application interval of 12 hours results in a reduction of side effects without a decrease in efficacy.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed1995

[Uterine reactions to prostaglandins in induced labor--results of a multicenter study].

During a prospective multicentric study concerning labor induction with prostaglandins 1472 prostaglandin-inductions were documented. With a Bishop Score < 5 a gel containing 0.5 mg of PgE2 was applied intracervically, with a Bishop Score > = 5 a tablet containing 3 mg of PgE2 was applied retrocervically inside vagina. In case of lacking success the application was repeated after 6 to 8 hours and after 24 hours according to the actual Bishop-Score. Coordinated labor after application of PG-gel or PG-tablet was observed in 85.2% (83.3% respectively), polycystolia or tetani in 13.9% of cases (9.1% respectively). Differences were not statistically significant. Uterine reactions started in the mean 5-6 hours after the last PG-application, but intervals showed a significant spreading among single cases. In 16.0% of the patients successfully treated with Pg-gel and in 8.3% of the patients successfully treated with a PG-tablet due to a uterine hyperstimulation a tocolytic treatment became necessary. With a ripe cervical score (Bishop-Score > 7 points) a significant shortening of the induction-interval was observed.

Administration, Intravaginal↗
PubMed1994

[PgE2 gel and PgE2 vaginal tablets for induced labor--a prospective randomized study].

In a prospective randomised study, the effects of an intracervical gel containing 0.5 mg PgE2 and an intravaginal tablet containing 3 mg PgE2 were compared in their efficiency to induce delivery at term. When only gel was used, induction failed in 45% of the cases, especially with an initially immature cervix score. However, these patients did show significant improvement of the Bishop score. The vaginal tablet was more effective with regard to the induction of delivery. When using the vaginal tablet alone, induction failed in only 5% of cases (p < 0.001). Best results, however, were obtained with a combination of both application forms. In this group there were no failures. Tablet application induced delivery within 24 hours in 56% of the cases, gel application in only 27% (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences observed in these groups during the course of labour. The length of the latency period was identical, whether a tablet or a gel was used in initiating labour. In 29% of the cases, beta-sympathicomimetics had to be used because of tetanic contractions or polysystolia. No significant differences in the occurrence of these contractions were seen in either the gel or the tablet group. Even in a high-risk collective with 25% pathological Doppler-flow findings, no higher rate of operative deliveries or fetal acidoses was observed after prostaglandin induction, if careful surveillance of the patients and early use of tocolytics in experienced hands were administered. Our results further confirm the concept of a differential induction of labour with prostaglandins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Intravaginal↗
PubMed1994

Breast cancer and prognostic factors. Tumour size, degree of differentiation, proliferation kinetics and expression of steroid hormone receptors.

In a group of 161 patients with operable cancer of the breast, tumour size, axillary node status and histopathological grading were correlated. Furthermore, steroid hormone receptor status was assessed both biochemically and immunohistochemically. The rate of Ki67-positive cells, the ploidy status and the S-phase fraction of the carcinoma, as assessed by means of flow-cytometry, were measured and correlated with tumour size and conventional histopathological grading. As expected, a significant correlation between tumour size and the frequency of axillary lymph node metastases was found (p < 0.00001). There was however, also a significant increase of undifferentiated cancers with increasing tumour size (p < 0.001). There was no correlation between steroid hormone receptor expression and grading but a slight decrease of immunohistochemically oestrogen receptor positive cancers with increasing tumour size (p < 0.02). On the other hand, there was a marked increase of both Ki67-score (p < 0.003) and S-phase fraction (p < 0.001) with increasing tumour size. Neither of the first two parameters correlated significantly with grading. The frequency of aneuploid tumours was dependent on tumour size (p < 0.05) as well as grading (p < 0.01). The findings point towards a change of biological properties of the cancer during the course of growth, such as histopathological dedifferentiation and increased proliferation fraction and frequency of aneuploid tumours. The expression of steroid hormone receptors however is virtually unchanged.

Aneuploidy↗
PubMed1992

[Use of computer-assisted image analysis for the detection of immunohistochemical receptor status in breast cancer. Immunohistochemical densitometry receptor analysis--IRDA].

A method for the evaluation of the immunohistochemical staining score of steroid receptors in breast cancer using computer-based image analysis is presented. The optical density of tumour cell nuclei was measured using kryostat sections and, using a control section as reference, an objective threshold for specific staining was defined. In intensively stained sections, a good correlation with visual scoring was achieved, but in 9 out of 16 sections, which were regarded as receptor-negative by visual scoring, a specific receptor-positive staining was demonstrated by image analysis. Next to the percentage of positive cells (PP) and the mean staining intensity (SI), a histogram of the receptor concentration in positive nuclei was calculated. The method allows, besides an objective evaluation and documentation, an exact definition of a threshold for specific receptor measurement and furthermore shows the pattern of receptor concentration in the tumour cell nuclei. Hence, the method could contribute towards a more widespread use of immunohistochemical receptor analysis.

Breast↗
PubMed1986

Effect of salt loading and salt deprivation on the vasopressin and oxytocin content of the median eminence and the neural lobe in adrenalectomized rats.

In adrenalectomized rats the influence of salt loading or salt deprivation on the vasopressin and oxytocin content of the median eminence (ME) and the neural lobe (NL) was studied by means of various methods: morphometric and microphotometric analysis of aldehyde fuchsin-stained sections of ME and NL; immunohistochemical demonstration of neurophysin, oxytocin, and vasopressin in the ME and in the NL; radioimmunological measurement of oxytocin and vasopressin in the ME and in the NL. Adrenalectomy in salt-substituted rats raised the vasopressin content of the outer layer of the ME (OLME) but had no influence on the amount of vasopressin in the inner layer of the ME and in the NL. Osmotic stimulation of adrenalectomized rats by hypertonic saline markedly diminished vasopressin and oxytocin in the inner layer of the ME and in the NL but did not, or only slightly reduced vasopressin in the OLME. Withdrawal of salt supplementation in adrenalectomized rats resulted in a decrease of plasma sodium and plasma volume. It did not change the vasopressin or oxytocin content of the inner layer of the ME and of the NL, but it was correlated with a decrease of vasopressin in the OLME. The present findings may suggest that vasopressin in the OLME is involved in salt and/or volume regulation by influencing the hypophysial-adrenal axis.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1984

Interendothelial junctions in kidney vessels.

The interendothelial junctions of all segments of the renal vasculature have been studied in eight species using the freeze-fracture technique. Three types of junctions have been found. Combinations of tight and gap junction elements are characteristic for interlobular arteries and proximal afferent arterioles. Continuous tight junction strands not subdivided into individual particles are typical for the glomerular arterioles close to the glomerulus and the vasa recta. The interendothelial junctions of glomerular and peritubular capillaries and cortical veins are characterized by slight elevations decorated with sparse arrays of particles on the P-face of the endothelial cell plasma membrane.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Placental morphometry in pregnancies with reversed enddiastolic flow in the umbilical artery or fetal aorta].

BACKGROUND: Fetuses with a reversed enddiastolic flow in the umbilical artery and/or aorta are at risk pregnancies and show a higher incidence of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathological changes in the terminal villous tree in fetuses with a reverse flow in the fetal aorta or umbilical artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 16 cases with a reverse flow in the fetal aorta or umbilical artery (Gr. 1) were compared with gestational age matched 16 healthy pregnant women (Gr. 2). The following morphometric parameters were evaluated in 50 sections in each placenta (1600 measurements): mean vessel diameter, volume density of the villous tissue, stem villi and terminal villi. Measurements were performed using a computerized Video Image Analysis system. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at birth was similar in both groups (30 + 4 weeks gestation vs. 30 + 6 weeks gestation, respectively, for Gr. 1 and Gr. 2). The birth weights (985 g vs. 1780 g) and the placental weights (216 g vs. 385 g) were significantly lower in the reverse flow group. There was a significant reduction in the proportion of total villous tissue (19 % versus 45 %) and in the diameter of tissue at the terminal villi (2.1 % versus 7.6 %) in the reverse flow group. Although the mean number of vessels at the terminal villi was lower than the control group (4.1 versus 5.6), the mean and total areas of the vessels were not different. CONCLUSION: Our observations showed a significant association between the placental morphometric parameters and reversed enddiastolic flow in the umbilical artery or fetal aorta. The reduced number of functional placental units is responsible for the diminished exchange function of the placental vessels in "reverse flow" cases. This could partially explain the adverse outcome in this clinical situation.

Adult↗