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Biomedical subjects

P Heitz

Publications and source records attributed to P Heitz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Frequent detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA by the polymerase chain reaction in lymph node biopsies from patients with Hodgkin's disease without genomic evidence of B- or T-cell clonality.

This study of 52 Swiss patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD), including 17 cases with a high content of Sternberg-Reed (SR) and Hodgkin (H) cells, was performed to determine the percentage of cases harboring Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and/or clonal rearrangements of Ig and T-cell antigen receptor (TcR) genes in diagnostic lymph node biopsies. Special attention was drawn to the heavily infiltrated cases to detect a possible relationship between clonality and EBV DNA identification. EBV DNA was detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using three different sets of specific primers. The viral origin of the amplification products was confirmed by hybridization with a radiolabeled internal probe or demonstration of a specific Sma I restriction site. Genomic rearrangement of Ig and TcR genes was studied by Southern blot analysis. EBV DNA was identified by PCR in 38 of 48 cases (79%). Clonal rearrangements were identified in only 4 of 52 cases (Ig genes) and were independent of the degree of infiltration by SR cells and the presence of EBV DNA. The absence of EBV DNA in three cases with numerous SR cells (only one of them showed clonal rearrangement) and the presence of only a few viral copies in four further cases with numerous SR cells (semiquantitative analysis of viral DNA by PCR was performed in 26 EBV-positive cases) suggests that this virus is modulating rather than an etiologic agent in a considerable proportion of HD cases.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1990

Morphological and immunohistochemical investigations of the utriculus prostaticus from the fetal period up to adulthood.

We investigated the utriculus prostaticus from the fetal period up to adulthood in 148 prostates. During the second half of gestation the utriculus had a simple tubular or a cystic form and was lined with metaplastic squamous epithelium which showed immunohistochemical positivity for different keratins, carcinoembryonic antigen, and peanut agglutinin binding sites. After birth, alveolar outgrowths of the utriculus developed. After puberty, the utriculus had become a complicated and variable structure. The epithelium no longer differed from that of the prostate glands either morphologically or immunohistochemically. Within the epithelium numerous endocrine cells were found containing neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, and serotonin. The utriculus and ejaculatory ducts were embedded in a fibrous stroma with, after birth, numerous plexus-like blood vessels. This fibrous zone was peripherally bordered by a layer of smooth muscle. There was no evidence for a function of the utriculus differing from that of the prostate glands. Since the epithelium of both structures is identical immunohistochemically, the epithelium of the sinus urogenitalis most likely particpates in the lining of the utriculus during embryogenesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Escape of the response to a long-acting somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995) in patients with VIPoma.

Two patients with severe secretory diarrhea due to metastatic vasoactive intestinal peptidoma were treated with a synthetic somatostatin analogue in an attempt to control the patients' vasoactive intestinal peptide-related symptoms. In both patients, a good initial response to this treatment could be demonstrated; not only did diarrhea subside but there was also a dramatic fall in vasoactive intestinal peptide plasma levels. However, after 11 and 4 days respectively, diarrhea recurred accompanied by a rise in vasoactive intestinal peptide plasma levels. In fact, under treatment with the somatostatin analogue and with natural somatostatin, a significant rebound state was observed regarding diarrhea as well as vasoactive intestinal peptide levels, which caused considerable difficulty in the clinical management in 1 patient. This patient had to undergo surgery. In the second patient, the responsiveness to somatostatin analogue returned a few days after discontinuation of the treatment, lasting, however, for a short period only. The possible mechanism of this escape and rebound with somatostatin treatment is discussed.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1978

Adrenoleukodystrophy. Preliminary report of a connatal case. Light- and electron microscopical, immunohistochemical and biochemical findings.

This is the first description of a connatal case of adrenoleukodystrophy. The clinical picture consisted of severe psychomotor retardation, convulsions and hypsarrhythmia, but no obvious signs of adrenal insufficiency. Pathologically, the adrenals were small. The entire cortex was largely replaced by large round cells. Ultrastructurally, some cells in the adrenal cortex contained inclusions with electron-lucent clefts surrounded by a membrane. The anterior pituitary lobe could be demonstrated to have produced ACTH. The central nervous system showed extensive zones of demyelination in the brainstem, the cerebellum and the right-sided capsula interna. In the demyelinated areas there was sudanophilic breakdown and an intense gliosis. Ongoing demyelination could also be demonstrated by the chemical analysis. In the gray matter there waere micropolygyria of the insular cortex and swollen nerve cells in the nucleus arcuatus. Ultrastructure revealed the type of inclusions in the microglia of the same type as in the adrenals, and a different type of inclusions in unidentifiable cells, possibly neurons. These latter inclusions consisted of loosely stacked lamellar material. The findings are interpreted as further evidence of storage taking place in this disease.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1978

The endocrine pancreas in chronic pancreatitis. Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural studies.

The endocrine pancreatic tissue from patients with severe primary chronic pancreatitis (n=6). secondary chronic pancreatitis due to duct obstruction by carcinoma (n=6) and non-diabetic, non-pancreatitic controls (n=4) was studied qualitatively and quantitatively using specific immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Grouping of variously sized islets in the sclerotic tissue (sclerosis islets), islet neoformation by ductuloinsular proliferation, and intrainsular fibrosis were the main qualitative findings. Immunocytochemical quantitation of the distribution of insulin (B), glucagon (A), somatostatin (D) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) producing cells revealed a significant relative increase in the number of A cells and a decrease in the number of B cells of the sclerosis islets in primary chronic pancreatitis ((B-44.1+/-9.3%:A-38.3+/-2.4%:D-8.6+/-5.1%:PP-4.6+/-4.1%) as well as in secondary chronic pancreatitis B-38.0+/-14.3%:A-38.4+/-19.0%:D-9.1+/-5.8%:PP-14.5+/-23.4%) compared with controls (B-71.1+/-8.1%:A-24.3+/-5.5%:D-8.0+/-2.8%:PP-0.5+/-0.4%). The number of PP cells was significantly increased in primary chronic pancreatitis only. It is suggested that scarring of the exocrine pancreas affects islet composition, probably by impairment of the local circulation and of glucose diffusion, thus leading to reduction of the number and glucose sensitivity of B cells. The hyperplasia of A and PP cells appears to be a secondary phenomenon due to the loss of B cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Pathophysiology and surgery of the parathyroid glands].

The treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism consists in a teamwork between the physician, pathologist and surgeon. The endocrinologist must be able to motivate the surgeon to perform an often tedious exploration of the neck, while the pathologist may influence the tactics of surgery by his analysis of the frozen sections. The surgeon needs much experience, a sound knowledge of anatomy, a good surgical technique and enough time and leisure for the operation.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1977

[Differentiation of lymphocyte populations in the blood of breast-cancer patients].

The number of T lymphocytes has been determined in the peripheral blood of 90 women (65 patients with breast cancer and 25 healthy controls) using a sheep-erythrocyte rosetting technique and a cytochemical method for intracellular localization of a nonspecific acid esterase. Both tests were in agreement in showing a significant depression of T-cell percentage in a group of patients with progressive disseminated breast cancer under hormonal and chemotherapeutic treatment. After radiotherapy a fall in T cells was observed only with the rosetting method. Possible reasons for this phenomenon are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Mouse epidermal growth factor: light and electron microscopical localisation by immunocytochemical staining.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) has been localised by immuno-staining to granules of the convoluted duct cells of the submaxillary glands of mice. Improved techniques of freeze drying and formaldehyde vapour fixation have resulted in a light microscopical localisation sharper than was achieved by previous methods. EGF has also been identified by electron immunocytochemistry using the unlabelled antibody enzyme method. EGF is present in greater quantities in male mice than in female mice but in pregnant females the level of EGF in the submaxillary gland is equal to that of the male. It declines gradually during the three weeks of lactation. In view of the chemical similarity between mouse EGF and human Urogastrone these improved methods of identification may be useful in the localisation of the human substance.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Immunoelectron cytochemical localization of motilin and substance P in rabbit bile duct enterochromaffin (EC) cells.

Using an immunoreactive technique the two peptides, motilin and Substance P, have been localized at the ultrastructural level in enterochromaffin (EC) cells. Motilin occurs in cells containing a mixed population of biconcave and round secretory granules whereas Substance P is found in cells with exclusively round granules. These observations confirm the existence of at least two functionally and morphologically different types of EC cell in rabbit bile duct, both of which contain 5-hydroxytryptamine. Classification of the endocrine cells of the gut on a purely morphological basis is clearly impossible, however.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Scapulo-peroneal muscular atrophy. Full autopsy report. Unusual findings in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. Lipid storage in muscle.

Morphological findings of 3 cases of Kaeser's scapulo-peroneal muscular atrophy are described. 1 of them is the first complete autopsy report on this disease. While the number of motor neurons in the spinal cord was grossly normal, the neuropil of the anterior horn exhibited axonal swellings, accumulations of possibly pathological lipofuscin and intra-axonal corpora amylacea. In the muscles, changes were partly those of neurogenic atrophy, partly of a primary myopathy. There was also an accumulation of neutral fat in the muscle fibres, mainly of those of type I.

Aged↗