PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Alavaikko

Publications and source records attributed to M Alavaikko.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Familial occurrence of malignant lymphoepithelial lesion of the parotid gland in a Finnish family with dominantly inherited trichoepithelioma.

A rare malignant lymphoepithelial lesion (MLEL) of the parotid gland is described in a mother and daughter within one Finnish family. Several cases of dominantly inherited trichoepithelioma were observed in the same family. This is the third published case of familial MLEL, and the first in whites. The simultaneous occurrence of MLEL with hereditary trichoepithelioma is a new finding and may suggest a common genetic background and/or etiology.

Female↗

Characterization of extracellular matrix in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Basement membrane proteins laminin, type IV collagen and aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen (type III pN-collagen) are important components of extracellular matrix of normal lymph nodes; they are present in reticular fibres and in the walls of blood vessels and sinuses. We have studied the distribution of these proteins in 45 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas representing different types of Kiel classification. Light microscopic immunohistochemistry was used on sections from formalin fixed, paraffin embedded biopsy specimens. Reticular cells were identified by using antibodies against S-100 protein, a marker for dendritic and interdigitating reticulum cells, and against cystatin A for the demonstration of follicular dendritic reticulum cells. The findings of the immunohistochemical stainings were generally similar in the different lymphoma types. Thus the method for the demonstration of extracellular matrix proteins could not give obvious aid for lymphoma classification. BM stainings proved to be efficient in the demonstration of sinuses. Marginal and medullary sinuses of the nodal cases were either totally or partly spared and open also in the cases in which there was extracapsular growth. The fibre content was variable, but generally the distribution of all the three extracellular matrix proteins was comparable with each other and mainly corresponded with the pattern seen in conventional Gomori's reticulin stain. This also holds for the tumor tissue infiltrated through the capsule and for extranodal cases. Areas of sclerosis of some cases contained only type III pN-collagen. Reticular fibres were at places seen to be closely associated with cells of spindle or dendritic shape. A few reticulum cells could be found to show cytoplasmic staining for laminin, type IV collagen and type III pN collagen. This finding suggests that the cells are synthetizing these proteins. The amount of cells staining for cystatin A or S-100 protein did not generally correlate with the amount of fibres, and most of the stained cells were not closely associated with fibres. The results show that in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas basement membrane proteins and type III pN-collagen are important components of reticular fibres. Results also indirectly support the main role of fibroblastic reticulum cells in the production of the fibres.

Adolescent↗

Sucralfate versus placebo in treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia.

One hundred fifty-one patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia, defined as chronic epigastric pain without concomitant symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome and with no evidence of any organic disease other than macroscopic or microscopic gastritis/duodenitis seen at endoscopy on entry into the trial, were randomly assigned to treatment for four weeks with sucralfate or a placebo, 1 g three times a day one-half hour before meals, according to a double-blind model. Seventy-nine patients received sucralfate and 72 patients received a placebo. According to patients' subjective assessment of their symptoms at four weeks, 61 patients (77 percent) in the sucralfate group and 40 patients (56 percent) in the placebo group had become symptom-free or showed improvement, whereas the condition of 18 (23 percent) in the former group compared with 32 (44 percent) in the latter group remained unchanged or deteriorated. The difference between the groups was significant (p less than 0.01). The best response to sucralfate treatment (84 percent or more symptom-free or improved) was achieved in patients with mild or moderate symptoms and without macroscopic or microscopic inflammation of their gastric mucosa--a typical patient with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Our results indicate that sucralfate is significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Adult↗

Altered basement membrane structure of the spleen in hairy cell leukaemia. Demonstration of laminin in hairy cells.

Changes in five spleens affected by hairy cell leukaemia were characterized using immunohistochemical staining for the basement membrane (BM) components laminin and type IV collagen. The ring fibres had not been totally destroyed, and were well preserved in places. The spaces filled by abnormal blood or hairy cells were assigned to the categories of altered sinus and two types of pseudosinus. In an altered sinus the staining pattern of the ring fibres had gained attenuations and the sinus was sometimes lined by a continuous BM of uneven thickness. The number of altered sinuses was related to the size of the spleen. The pseudosinuses were larger than normal sinuses and usually also larger than altered sinuses. One of the two types seemed to be derived from ruptured Billroth's cords and entailed spaces of irregular size and shape bounded by strips of fibres containing BM proteins. No ring fibres were seen in the wall. The other type of pseudosinus occurred in those spleens where no white pulp remained. These spaces were large, located around arteries and bounded by irregular strips of BM material. In three cases a number of hairy cells could be demonstrated which showed positive staining for laminin either in the surface or in the cytoplasm. Adhesive properties of hairy cells would be conceivable on the basis of the presence of laminin on the surface of the cells.

Adult↗

Tumour DNA ploidy as an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer.

We determined nuclear DNA content from 308 archival paraffin-embedded malignant breast tumours and evaluated the survival of the patients by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. The overall 8-year survival rate of stage I-III breast cancer patients was 74.3% in DNA-diploid and 51.2% in DNA-aneuploid tumours (P less than 0.0001). DNA ploidy had prognostic significance in both node-negative and node-positive breast cancer, primarily in cases with steroid receptor-positive tumours. In a Cox multivariate analysis DNA ploidy (P = 0.001), primary tumour size (P = 0.0007), nodal status (P = 0.04) and the content of progesterone receptors (P = 0.0008) emerged as significant independent prognostic factors, whereas oestrogen receptor status, age and menopausal status of the patients had no significant independent prognostic value. If the histological grade of ductal carcinomas was also included in the Cox model, both grade and DNA ploidy had independent prognostic effect. In conclusion, our results indicate that the analysis of DNA ploidy is a useful adjunct in the assessment of prognosis for breast cancer patients.

Aged↗

Nuclear DNA content of non-endemic Burkitt's lymphoma.

The nuclear DNA content of 26 non-endemic Burkitt's lymphomas was studied by flow cytometry. Eighteen of the tumours showed a pattern characteristic for diploid chromosome distribution, while eight of the tumours were aneuploid. Six of the aneuploid tumours showed an almost diploid, aneuploid DNA index, while two were tetraploid tumours. Patients with aneuploid tumours had a significantly worse prognosis (p less than 0.005) than those with diploid tumours. One of the aneuploid tumours was positive for Epstein-Barr virus DNA.

Adolescent↗

[Small non-cleaved follicular cell lymphoma].

A retrospective clinical and histologic analysis of data on 60 cases of lymphoma of small non-cleaved follicular center cells (Lukes-Collins classification) was carried out. 19 cases were classified as Burkitt's lymphoma and 41 as non-Burkitt's. Non-Burkitt's lymphomas showed more diverse cellularity. Age distribution was bimodal in both subgroups. Half the patients irrespective of histology had stage III or IV disease. GI tract involvement was similarly frequent in both groups. Lymphadenopathy was slightly more frequent in patients with non-Burkitt's lymphoma. Median survival time was as low as 9.2 months for Burkitt's and 14.8 months for non-Burkitt's lymphoma (difference not statistically significant).

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

[Reproducibility of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma classification].

In a retrospective reclassification of 148 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas the reproducibility of the Lukes--Collins classification used was tested by comparing a joint diagnosis with that of each author separately. The cases of disagreement were usually proved to have happened within lymphoma groups with an equivalent prognosis. An exception was the relatively high disagreement rate between the subclasses of small lymphocytic and small non-cleaved lymphomas, and this represents the most important finding clinicopathologically.

Female↗

Damage to secondary lymphoid follicles in AIDS-related persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, as revealed by the behaviour of dendritic reticulum cells possessing immunoreactive acid cysteine-proteinase inhibitor.

It has been shown previously that dendritic reticulum cells (DRC) in human secondary lymphoid follicles possess an immunoreactive acid cysteine-proteinase inhibitor (ACPI). In the present study, lymph nodes from 12 patients with AIDS-related persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) were investigated in order to detect whether or not any alterations occur in ACPI-immunoreactive DRC in this disorder. In the majority of PGL cases, profound alterations were found, the main characteristics of which were erosion, partial or total disruption of lymphoid follicles. However, similar though much less marked alterations were also found in some control cases. It is concluded that this type of follicular damage is a common and characteristic feature in PGL. It is not specific to PGL, however, but represents rather a special type of reaction in lymphatic tissue. The advantage of ACPI immunohistology for demonstrating the DRC pattern is that it can be performed on routinely fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Immunoelectron microscopical location of the acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor in the lymphatic tissue of the tonsils.

Previous studies have shown the acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor (ACPI) to be a common characteristic of human squamous epithelial cells and dendritic reticulum cells (DRC) in lymphoid secondary follicles. In the present study, we used the PAP-preembedding technique for the immunoelectron microscopic identification of ACPI in DRC in palatine tonsillar tissue. ACPI appeared to be located in the cytoplasm of perikaryon and of dendritic processes of DRC on the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and the outer membrane of mitochondria. Further more, the tonofilaments and the desmosomal membranes exhibited a strong ACPI reactivity.

Adolescent↗

Immunohistochemical study of basement membrane proteins and type III procollagen in myelofibrosis.

In this study the distribution of type IV collagen in the marrow is compared with that of laminin, another basement membrane protein. In addition, incompletely processed type III procollagen is identified with specific antibodies. In normal bone marrow the distribution of the type III procollagen antigen closely resembles that of reticulin staining. In all the myelofibrotic samples, representing both early and advanced disease, the fibrous tissue stains heavily for this antigen. Thus type III procollagen which has not completely lost its aminoterminal propeptide is a genuine component of the extracellular matrix fibres in human bone marrow. Laminin is found with type IV collagen in continuous basement membranes in arterial walls, whereas only discontinuous strips of staining are seen along the sinusoids in normal marrow. In myelofibrosis the dilated or obliterated sinusoids have thickened or continuous basement membranes, visible with both stainings. Neovascularization also increases the extent of basement membrane staining in fibrotic marrow. With respect of these antigens, there is no difference between primary and secondary myelofibrosis. These changes warrant the use of serum antigens related to type IV collagen and to type III procollagen as markers for developing myelofibrosis.

Adult↗

Basement membrane proteins in the spleen: immunohistochemical demonstration and relation to reticulin.

In the present study immunohistochemical staining has shown that the ring fibres of the human spleen contain the major basement membrane components, type IV collagen and laminin. The superiority of immunohistochemical methods in demonstrating basement membrane material in the spleen is emphasized. The results are compared with the demonstration of reticular fibres by Gomori's reticulin stain. The findings provide further information about the relationship between basement membrane material and reticular fibres in human spleen. The nature of splenic ring fibres is discussed in the light of the scientific literature.

Adult↗

Distribution of basement membrane laminin and type IV collagen in human reactive lymph nodes.

The location of two basement membrane components, laminin and the 7-S domain of type IV collagen, was studied in human lymph nodes using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Basement membrane antigens were present on the walls of blood vessels and of marginal, trabecular and medullary sinuses. Thin, fragmented fibre-like staining was present also in parenchyma outside the germinal centres, in a pattern overlapping with reticular fibres as seen on conventional reticulin stains. This finding suggests that basement membrane components are a part of the reticular fibres of lymph nodes, or are closely associated with them.

Basement Membrane↗

[Low-molecular cysteine protease inhibitors in the human palatal tonsil].

2 low-molecular cysteine-proteinase inhibitors were purified from human tonsillar tissues: an acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor (ACPI), and a neutral cysteine proteinase inhibitor (NCPI). Their biochemical and immunological characteristics appeared to be identical to those inhibitors which we have identified in other human tissues in previous studies (epidermis and spleen). An immunohistological analysis revealed in tonsillar squamous epithelium a strong and consistent immunoreactivity for both inhibitors. In the tonsillar lymphatic tissue, ACPI-immunoreactivity appeared to be a characteristic mainly of dendritic reticulum cells whereas a prominent NCPI-immunoreactivity was confined mostly for the histiocytic reticulum cells in lymphoid secondary follicles. We also compared the distribution of the 2 immunoreactive inhibitors with the immunohistology as revealed by antisera raised against keratin and muramidase. Limitations of the immunohistochemistry of cysteine proteinase inhibitors are discussed in the light of an extensive trial of various fixation procedures. We deem that proposal of Barrett (1984) for the nomenclature of cysteine proteinase inhibitors is appropriate. According to it the ACPI is the cystatin A, and the NCPI is the cystatin B.

Child↗

[Immunohistochemical detection of acid cysteine proteinase inhibitors in lymphatic infiltrates of the thyroid gland].

Thyroid tissues containing lymphoid secondary follicles were studied immunohistochemically for the presence of acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor (ACPI). Reticulum cells in the lymphoid secondary follicles, mainly dendritic reticulum cells, exhibited a positive reaction. In addition, in 2 cases a positive reaction could be detected in some of the thyroid epithelial cells, adjacent to the lymphoid secondary follicles. The possible function of ACPI generally and its role in the function of those cells containing it, is discussed.

Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors↗

Dendritic reticulum cells in AIDS-related lymphadenopathy.

One of two cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related persistent generalized lymphadenopathy revealed a profoundly altered pattern of dendritic reticulum cells as demonstrated by immunoreactive acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor. The alterations could be related to totally or partially destructed lymphoid secondary follicles.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗