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Biomedical subjects

F Berger

Publications and source records attributed to F Berger.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Epstein-Barr virus associated lymphoproliferative diseases (B cell lymphoma) after transplantation.

We report 12 cases of lymphomas which occurred among 1670 patients with kidney or combined renal and pancreatic transplantation. Group 1 comprised nine patients presenting with the diffuse form of the disease where immunoblasts or mature plasma cells massively infiltrated all organs. The first symptom was a viral syndrome, associated with a restriction of heterogeneity of immunoglobulins; oligoclonal to monoclonal peaks of immunoglobulins appeared about 50 days after transplantation. All patients received antilymphocyte globulins (ALG), and seven were treated with cyclosporin. EBV infection could be demonstrated in almost all patients; three EBV lymphoblastoid cell lines were established, their HLA phenotype being the same as the recipient of the graft. All patients finally died with renal and hepatic failure. Group 2 comprises three patients who presented solid B cell tumours of tonsils, lungs, and spleen at onset, extending to liver, kidney graft, lymph nodes, and brain. All received cyclosporin; two patients were treated with ALG, and one with OKT3. Immunoglobulins were polyclonal, oligoclonal, or decreased. Cell surface immunoglobulins were monoclonal on two tumours. EBV-DNA was positive within two tumours. Two patients presented EBV and CMV primary infection. CD4+T lymphocytes subsets were diminished at onset, and increased after cessation of immunosuppressive therapy. One patient died because of brain involvement; the two others are alive, one with perfect graft function. Therapy consisted of stopping immunosuppressive treatment, Acyclovir, and in two patients of group 2, monoclonal antibodies to pan-B and EBV receptor antigens.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1989

[Extra-pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis presenting as an exudative enteropathy with a rapid fatal course].

We report a case of lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) which occurred in a twenty six year old woman, presenting with protein losing enteropathy and pancreatic fibrosis due to lymphostasis. Despite having no pulmonary lesion, the patient died quickly. The proliferation of smooth muscle involved the mesenteric, peripancreatic lymphatic channels but also the submucosal lymphatic vessels of the duodenum. Only one other case of LAM presenting with protein losing enteropathy has been reported, in which there were no abnormalities in the intestinal tractus or in the pancreas.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Experimental tissue lesions related to extracorporeal lithotripsy of gallbladder.

Eighteen dogs were studied to determine the presence, extent and evolution of tissue lesions related to extracorporeal lithotripsy of the gallbladder under conditions similar to those encountered in clinical practice (electrohydraulic generator, ultrasonographic localization, prone positioning and 2,500 shocks delivered per session). Twelve dogs underwent lithotripsy 14 days after implantation of a 9 to 14 millimeter human stone in the gallbladder. The dogs were sacrificed one, 14 and 28 days after lithotripsy (four dogs at each date). Two dogs underwent implantation of stone but not lithotripsy and were sacrificed 14 days later. The last four dogs received only shock wave therapy and were sacrificed one (two dogs) and 14 (two dogs) days later. All calculi were completely fragmented into pieces less than 5 millimeters. Increases in leukocyte count (11 +/- 3.7 10(9) per liter) and alanine and aspartate aminotransferase levels (206 +/- 139 and 156 +/- 164 international units per deciliter, respectively) were seen after lithotripsy (p less than 0.05), but returned to normal during the next four weeks. Macroscopic hemorrhages were noted only in the dogs having undergone lithotripsy and were exclusively located in the organs lying in the path of the shock wave. Macroscopic hemorrhages were found in all six dogs sacrificed the day after lithotripsy and in two of the six dogs sacrificed 14 days later; one dog of the four sacrificed 28 days after lithotripsy still showed a large hemorrhage in the wall of the gallbladder. Microscopic abnormalities included congestion and hemorrhage of the same organs; although more discrete, congestion and hemorrhage were still present one month after shock wave therapy. Early and localized pulmonary fibrosis at the hypercellular stage was noted in two of the four dogs sacrificed at 28 days. The clinical implications for biliary lithotripsy upon humans include the necessity for intact coagulation parameters, strict avoidance of the bases of the lungs in targeting the stone and performing an ultrasonographic assessment of the wall of the gallbladder before repeating lithotripsy sessions, month apart.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1988

An ELISA technique for the measurement of C1q in cerebrospinal fluid.

Determination of the C1q content of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be of value in understanding the immunological reactions occurring within the central nervous system (CNS). A double sandwich ELISA method has been developed for the detection of C1q in human serum and CSF. It uses polyclonal antibodies and is sensitive in the nanogram range. The mean concentrations of C1q were determined to be 127 micrograms/ml in serum and 0.4 microgram/ml in CSF. These results suggest that increased levels of C1q in the CSF play a role in some neurodegenerative disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Image analysis applied to proliferating cells in malignant lymphoma.

This study describes a method for obtaining the distribution of a given cell type in histological sections, as revealed by a specific immunological marker. Two hundred fifty-six contiguous microscopic fields were analysed, and a cellular map was automatically constructed. The resulting images were stored on magnetic media for subsequent quantification and statistical tests. The method was applied to the analysis of 20 small cleaved-cell lymphomas in which the monoclonal antibody Ki-67 was used to mark proliferating cells. Clusters of proliferative cells were observed in both diffuse and nodular lymphomas. Cellularity and the percentage of marked cells were not significantly different in the two types of tumors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1988

Electron microscope localisation of insulin-like immunoreactivity of conventionally processed human insulinomas.

Localisation of insulin-like immunoreactivity has been studied using the immunogold staining procedure on thin sections of 6 human insulinomas, conventionally processed for electron microscopy. The labelling was restricted to the secretory granules. Depending on their morphology, these either resembled B-cell granules of human adult pancreas or belonged to the atypical (non-diagnostic) group. Within the former group, those with a crystalloid core or an amorphous dense or moderately dense core were strongly immunoreactive, whereas others, filled with a pale material, were poorly labelled. Most granules of this type were stored together within the heavily granulated cells of 3 insulinomas, presenting the classical features of clinical and biological behaviour and a typical light microscopic staining pattern. In contrast, the non-diagnostic granules, characterized by their smaller size, a very dense core and a thin halo, were mainly found within the poorly granulated cells making up the other tumours, and showed a very uneven labelling. Strongly labelled granules were found in one insulinoma that also belonged to the classical type; these were stored together with a few diagnostic granules within the same cells. Only poorly labelled atypical granules were present in two cases revealing a number of unusual features; these included moderate elevation of insulinaemia, uncertain tumour histology, as well as weak immunostaining for insulin/proinsulin and variable argyrophilia of the tumour in paraffin sections. These findings suggest that human insulinomas differ not only in storage capacity but also in their degree of granule maturation. This may involve some deficiency of either the prohormone conversion or the subsequent processing of the cleavage products.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1988

Up to 9 years of follow-up after anatomic correction of simple transposition of the great arteries.

For a continued assessment of the two-stage anatomic correction, we have evaluated the postoperative results in terms of clinical status, ECG, ventricular function, aortic root size and stiffness for up to 9 years in all 18 survivors. Weight and height were normal, the ECG was normal except for complete (n = 3) and incomplete (n = 11) right bundle branch block and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias post Blalock-Hanlon septectomy (n = 1) and p-wave abnormalities (n = 6). The pressures and ejection fraction of the left and right ventricles were within normal limits. The end-diastolic and endsystolic left ventricular volume and the muscle volume index were elevated. Six of 17 patients were outside the normal range of the left ventricular ejection fraction-endsystolic stress relationship. The diameter of the aortic root was larger than normal in all patients. There was a relation between the size of the patients at banding and the stiffness of the aortic root after anatomic correction. Patients with simple transposition of the great arteries up to 9 years after anatomic correction develop normally without atrio-ventricular conduction delay, arrhythmias or signs of coronary and myocardial insufficiency. The stiff and enlarged aortic roots do not seem to dilate. The reasons for the elevated left ventricular volumes and muscle volume indices are not clear at present. Primary anatomic correction may prevent these abnormalities.

Aorta↗
PubMed1988

Laser treatment of tumors of the papilla of Vater.

Tumors of the papilla of Vater, should be separated from periampullary tumors. They are not always malignant, and recent data from endoscopy series, and pathology studies, supports the adenoma-carcinoma sequence at this level. Adenomas are tubular or villous and are classified according to the degree of dysplasia. The endoscopic pattern separates exophytic tumors, sessile and easily detected, from intracanalar tumors usually detected after sphincterotomy. The malignancy of an exophytic tumor is suspected when it is ulcerated or large (over 3 cm), and is easily confirmed by biopsies. The typing of intracanalar tumors is more difficult. In a 5-year period, an ampullary tumor was detected by ERCP in 52 patients: the tumor was exophytic in 33 and intracanalar in 19. Adenocarcinoma was confirmed in 26 and adenoma in 26, resulting in a 50% ratio. Among the adenomas, 18 were fully benign and 8 had a superficial cancer focus. Therapeutic procedures included: laser photodestruction in 16, snare resection in 16, sphincterotomy in 47, stenting in 8, surgical bypass in 7, cephalic duodenopancreatectomy in 16. The 16 patients treated by laser (Nd:YAG mainly) included 8 adenomas: a complete tumor destruction was obtained in 7 (follow up from 14 to 53 months). Adenomatous recurrence was observed at 2 years in one patient. In 8 other patients the tumor was an adenocarcinoma; Laser photodestruction failed to completely destroy the tumor in 1 patient (operative control), in 7 others it was adopted as a complement to sphincteromy and stenting in palliation, but was not found very effective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

T-cell lymphomas: immunologic, histologic, clinical, and therapeutic analysis of 63 cases.

Sixty-three patients with T-cell lymphoma (TCL) were analyzed to correlate morphological and immunological features with clinical presentation, response to therapy, and survival. Clinical presentation was severe, with 59% of patients having stage IV disease, 60% B symptoms, 35% poor performance status, 44% large tumoral mass, and 40% a high number of extranodal localizations. Morphological subtypes were small-cell in four cases, diffuse-mixed in 29 cases, monomorphic medium-sized in two cases, immunoblastic in 21 cases, anaplastic large-cell in four cases, and unclassified in three cases. Immunological phenotypes were immature T in 11 cases, CD4 in 26 cases, CD8 in 13 cases, and undefined (CD4 + CD8) in ten cases. Response to therapy was poor except for the 39 patients treated by an intensive and sequential regimen (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [LNH]-80 or LNH-84) that gave a 77% complete remission (CR) rate with a 23% relapse rate. Median survival was 35 months. No correlation was found between morphological subtypes and other variables. Helper (CD4) phenotype seemed to have a better prognosis than other phenotypes. Variables associated with long survival for all the patients were localized disease and absence of large tumoral mass and for the subgroup of patients treated by the LNH regimens CD4 phenotype, absence of B symptoms, absence of a large tumoral mass, and less than two extranodal sites of disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Electrophysiological characterization of the class III activity of sotalol and its enantiomers. New interpretation of use-dependent effects.

1. Sotalol (Sotalex) and both its optical isomers were studied in electrophysiological experiments with respect to their class III activity of antiarrhythmic drugs. The three substances prolonged action potentials (AP) of guinea-pig papillary muscle and left atrium in concentrations greater than or equal to 3 mumol/l, whereas other AP parameters (resting potential, amplitude and upstroke velocity) remained unchanged. Similar results were observed if papillary muscles were partially depolarized by elevating the extracellular potassium concentration from 4.7 mmol/l to 10-12 mmol/l. 2. The effects of sotalol showed marked frequency dependence (0.017-2 Hz): At slow driving rates sotalol brought about an enhanced AP prolongation as measured by APD30 and APD90. 3. The results were compatible with numerical AP simulation studies on the basis of the assumption that sotalol inhibits time-dependent K-outward current. This leads to the consequence that longer control APs (at low driving rates) are prolonged more effectively by sotalol than shorter ones (at high driving rates). 4. Sotalol effects dynamically followed APD changes due to alterations of driving rate: If APD was decreased under increasing driving frequencies, AP prolongation was diminished. 5. Paired pulse experiments showed that class III activity of sotalol was preserved in premature or delayed single action potentials.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1987

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with malignant transformation during long-term remission of ocular melanoma.

A 52-year-old woman presented with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy five years after undergoing enucleation for ocular melanoma. She was first treated by corticotherapy and azathioprine and had two successive remissions over an 18-month period. Lymph node biopsy performed when lymphadenopathy relapsed for the second time showed focal malignant transformation of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy. Intensive polychemotherapy induced a complete remission. Three months after completion of chemotherapy, the patient presented with hepatic metastases from her melanoma and died shortly thereafter. This is believed to be the first documented association between angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and melanoma. Issues regarding the relationship between angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and nonlymphoid malignancies are raised.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1987

Gastrointestinal lymphomas. Immunohistologic study of 23 cases.

Twenty-three primary gastrointestinal lymphomas were studied morphologically and immunologically on fresh frozen tissue, and on cell suspension for 16 of them. Polyclonal antibodies reactive with immunoglobulin chains and a panel of 16 monoclonal antibodies reactive with B- and T-cells, histiocytes, and epithelial cells were used. According to the Working Formulation, 5 cases were low grade, 12 intermediate grade, and 5 high grade; 1 case was an extramedullary plasmocytoma. Forty-seven percent were large cell lymphomas and 13% follicular lymphomas. There were 20 (86%) B-cell lymphomas and 2 T-cell lymphomas; one case lacked detectable markers for B-, T-, or histiocytic cells. Monoclonality was demonstrated in 13 out of the 20 B-cell lymphomas, whereas the other 7 expressed pan-B antigens. It is concluded that immunologic studies on frozen surgical material are of precise diagnostic value in gastrointestinal lymphomas, whereas fixed endoscopic biopsies only permit the distinction between lymphomas and undifferentiated carcinomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Intensive chemotherapy in aggressive lymphomas: updated results of LNH-80 protocol and prognostic factors affecting response and survival.

One hundred patients with aggressive malignant lymphomas treated with the LNH-80 regimen were evaluated for long-term survival and pretreatment characteristics predictive of response and survival. LNH-80 consists of three intensive courses of adriamycin cyclophosphamide vindesine bleomycin (ACVB) followed by sequential consolidation and final intensification. Eighty-four patients went into complete remission (CR), eight had a partial response (PR), three failed to respond, and five died during induction. Twenty-three patients (27%) relapsed, in two of whom a prolonged second remission was obtained. Sixty-three patients are currently alive, two of them with disease. Four patients died in CR. Median survival and median freedom from relapse survival were not reached with a median follow-up of 4 1/2 years. Characteristics negatively associated with response in multivariate analysis were: poor performance status, bone marrow involvement, and two or more extranodal sites of disease. Duration of CR was associated with splenic involvement. Three characteristics were negatively associated with survival in multivariate analysis: age, high grade subtypes, and bone marrow involvement.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗