OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility of a correct cytologic diagnosis of cervical and endometrial carcinoma with other genital organ involvement. STUDY DESIGN: From uteri removed during hysterectomy due to cervical (33 cases) and endometrial (44 cases) cancer, samples were taken by cytobrush or spatula from the ectocervix, endocervix and endometrium of uteri opened longitudinally. Smears and cytosediments were stained by the Papanicolaou polychrome method. Moreover, acid beta-galactosidase activity was demonstrated in serial cytosediments by the indigogenic method of Lojda. From quenched tissue samples taken from the same sites as those for cytology, a series of cryostat sections was prepared and stained by hematoxylin and eosin or azure A, or subjected to the reaction for acid beta-galactosidase. RESULTS: In 17 of 33 patients with cervical cancer, the same type of cancer was also found in smears of the endocervix and endometrium. In six patients the type of cancer was different. Of 44 patients with endometrial cancer, 16 had an endocervical malignancy of the same type. In seven cases the type of cancer was different. The reaction for acid beta-galactosidase helped in the differentiation between squamous (negative reaction in cancer cells) and cylindrocellular (positive reaction) cancer in cytologic preparations. CONCLUSION: Before treatment, it is necessary to determine if there is involvement of the endocervix in endometrial cancer and of the endometrium in cervical cancer. Routine cytologic examination supplemented by the reaction for acid beta-galactosidase proved to be useful for this purpose.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) was measured in the serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The number of DPP IV positive (DPP IV+) lymphocytes in blood smears was determined cytochemically in groups of patients with active, moderate and inactive disease. Compared with healthy subjects, serum DPP IV activity was significantly decreased regardless of the level of disease activity. DPP IV activity in MNC was markedly decreased only in the patients with the active disease. Moreover, marked differences in the number of DPP IV+ lymphocytes could be detected between the groups of patients with the inactive and/or moderately active forms of the disease and those with active disease. The percentages of DPP IV+ lymphocytes, as well as DPP IV activity in MNC, showed significant correlations with the percentages of E-rosetting cells. Evaluation of DPP IV in SLE patients represents a new approach in the study of the pathological process of this disease.

Adult↗