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Biomedical subjects

K E Higgy

Publications and source records attributed to K E Higgy.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Identification of the hairy cells of leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis by an esterase method.

A distinctive pattern of alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase positivity was observed in all of a series of 14 patients with HCL. This pattern was not observed in a range of other haematological malignancies including nine cases of CLL, two cases of Sézary's syndrome, six cases of null cell ALL, two cases of Schilling-type monocytic leukaemia and one case of lymphosarcoma cell leukaemia. The potential diagnostic value of this simple cytochemical test is discussed in relation to existing methods.

Acid Phosphatase

Hairy-cell leukemia with T-cell features.

A case of clinically and hematologically typical hairy-cell leukemia has been presented in which, at the various times of testing, 52%-95% of peripheral blood and 73% of splenic mononuclear cells formed spontaneous sheep erythrocyte (E) rosettes. Many of the rosetting cells were shown to be typical morphologic hairy cells by light and electron microscopy. It was found that 70%-75% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stained with an anti-T antiserum, and this antiserum also abolished E-rosette formation. A variable percentage of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was also shown to bear surface (IgDK) and internal (IgMK and IgGK) immunoglobulins. Additional B-cell features demonstrated included possession of the P29/34 la-like antigen and formation of mouse rosettes. It was demonstrated by a variety of blocking and inhibition studies that the E-rosette formation was not attributable to chance antigen specificity of the surface membrane immunoglobulin. These marker studies suggest that this is a case of true hybrid cell HCL. Despite these unusual marker characteristics, the patient showed no distinctive clinical or hematologic features.

Animals

Discrimination of B, T and null lymphocytes by esterase cytochemistry.

A technique has been devised which optimally demonstrates non-specific esterase activity in human blood lymphocytes. The reaction is carried out on smears fixed with formalin vapour, using alpha-naphthol butyrate as substrate at pH 8 and at a low concentration for a short incubation period. The pattern of esterase activity revealed by this method provides a discriminating marker for mature T-lymphocytes, which show dense, localised, dot-like positivity, and a probable marker for 'null' cells in the form of scattered granular positivity. B cells appear to be negative. Monocytes show a clearly different pattern of granular positivity.

Acid Phosphatase

Surface marker and other characteristics of Gaucher's cells.

A full surface marker study of the splenic storage cells in a case of Gaucher's disease largely substantiates the monocyte/histiocyte nature of Gaucher's cells. In addition, an apparent T-lymphocyte deficiency is demonstrated in the spleen and peripheral blood, and the possible significance of this finding is discussed.

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