PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Lymph node”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

Diurnal rhythm in ornithine decarboxylase activity and noradrenergic and cholinergic markers in rat submaxillary lymph nodes.

Diurnal variations in lymph node ornithine decarboxylase activity were examined in submaxillary lymph nodes of rats injected with Freund's complete adjuvant or its vehicle. After immunization, lymph node ornithine decarboxylase activity increased by about 10-fold. Both in immunized and non-immunized rats, a significant diurnal variation in ornithine decarboxylase activity was found, with a maximal activity at early (i.e. 13.00 h, vehicle) or late afternoon (i.e. 17.00 h, Freund's adjuvant). Injection of Freund's adjuvant during daylight or at night resulted in similar day-night differences in submaxillary lymph node ornithine decarboxylase activity. In rats subjected to the sympathetic postganglionic denervation (by ipsilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy) or the preganglionic parasympathetic decentralization (by chorda tympani section) of submaxillary lymph nodes, nyctohemeral variations in ornithine decarboxylase were still present, showing a maximum at 17.00 h. Superior cervical ganglionectomy augmented lymph node ornithine decarboxylase while chorda tympani section decreased it. When a unilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy plus chorda tympani section was performed, the diurnal changes in ornithine decarboxylase were abolished. [3H]Norepinephrine uptake and tyrosine hydroxylase activity attained their maxima in submaxillary lymph nodes at early night. After immunization, these two presynaptic indicators of sympathetic activity in submaxillary lymph nodes augmented significantly. Neuronal [3H]choline uptake and [3H]choline conversion into acetylcholine (two indicators of cholinergic activity) also augmented in lymph nodes of rats injected with Freund's adjuvant. In immunized rats, maxima in [3H]choline uptake and [3H]acetylcholine synthesis were found at 13.00-17.00 h while in non-immunized rats, a maximum in acetylcholine synthesis was found at 17.00 h. The results are compatible with the view that the autonomic nervous system plays a role in circadian changes of immune responsiveness in lymphoid tissue and that a significant augmentation of presynaptic autonomic activity takes place during immunization in lymphoid tissue.

Animals↗

Specificity of tyrosinase and HMB45 PCR in the detection of melanoma metastases in sentinel lymph node biopsies.

AIMS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an increasingly established procedure in the primary staging of high-risk melanoma patients. However, the laboratory evaluation of sentinel lymph node biopsies is a matter of controversy. The aim of this study was to determine the specificity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the evaluation of lymph nodes with regard to melanoma metastases in comparison with histology and immunohistology. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sentinel lymph nodes (n = 41) from 29 melanoma patients and 29 lymph nodes from 27 patients without melanoma were analysed by histology (H&E) and immunohistology (Melan A, HMB45). cDNA of these lymph nodes was subjected to LightCycler PCR amplification using primers specific for tyrosinase and HMB45. Two melanoma sentinel lymph nodes contained naevus cells by histology and immunohistology and were therefore excluded from further evaluation. Eight (20.5%) of the remaining 39 melanoma sentinel lymph nodes were positive by histology and immunohistology and tyrosinase PCR, 15.4% (6/39) were positive only by tyrosinase PCR, 2.6% (1/39) were positive only by histology and immunohistology. HMB45 PCR revealed positive results in 7.7% (3/39) sentinel lymph nodes, which were also positive by tyrosinase PCR and histology and immunohistology. Of non-melanoma lymph nodes 13.8% (4/29) and 14.8% (4/27) of non-melanoma patients were positive by tyrosinase PCR but negative by histology and immunohistology and HMB45 PCR. Thus, tyrosinase PCR had a specificity of only 85.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The specificity of tyrosinase PCR and the sensitivity of HMB45 PCR are too low to recommend these PCR examinations for the guidance of therapy, in particular complete regional lymph node dissection.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Clearance technique for the detection of lymph nodes in colorectal cancer.

Lymph node metastases are an important determinant of prognosis following surgery for colorectal cancer. A xylene alcohol clearance technique has been employed in Guildford to facilitate the identification of lymph nodes in the mesorectum of rectal cancer specimens. The numbers of lymph nodes and lymph node metastases were compared with seven other centres and St. Mark's Hospital, where clearance techniques were not employed in patients undergoing a randomized trial of pre-operative radiotherapy for rectal cancer. The total number of lymph nodes identified per patient in the mesorectum of patients at Guildford (mean = 23.1 +/- 1.18) was significantly higher when compared with patients at St. Mark's Hospital alone (mean = 13.1 +/- 0.86) and the seven combined "non-cleared' centres (mean = 10.5 +/- 0.6) (P less than 0.001). The number of lymph node metastases per patient was significantly higher in the Guildford series (mean = 3.21 +/- 0.58) when compared with the seven combined centres (mean = 1.9 +/- 0.3) (P less than 0.05). The numbers of lymph node metastases found in the lowest part of the specimen close to the levator ani were significantly higher in the Guildford patients (mean = 1.2 +/- 0.4) compared with St. Mark's Hospital (mean = 0.13 +/- 0.1) and the seven combined 'non-cleared' centres (mean = 0.56 +/- 0.1). This clearance technique identified not only a greater number of lymph nodes but also more metastases within those nodes, particularly in the supralevator area of the mesorectum.

Colonic Neoplasms↗

A half a node or a whole node: a comparison of methods for submitting lymph nodes.

For many neoplasms, the status of regional lymph nodes is a critical prognostic factor with direct therapeutic implications. Despite the importance of lymph node status, there is no consensus on whether lymph nodes from node dissections should be submitted in their entirety. To study this issue, for a 4-month period, all lymph nodes from node dissections were submitted in their entirety. The larger nodes were submitted systematically to determine whether the additional tissue blocks contained metastases that were not identified in the initial tissue block. We also analyzed the cost of submitting, processing, and interpreting these extra blocks. During the study period, 149 patients underwent lymph node dissections, yielding a total of 2,915 lymph nodes. Submitting the larger nodes in their entirety resulted in processing 808 additional tissue blocks that demonstrated a total of 9 additional metastases in 7 patients. In 2 of these patients, the additional metastases changed the stage of the neoplasm and may have contributed to an alteration in therapy. By using median salary figures, the estimated cost for submitting, processing, and interpreting the additional blocks was $5,935.62. Whether the additional positive nodes justify this cost should be determined by individual pathology practices.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

Lymphatic drainage patterns on early versus delayed breast lymphoscintigraphy performed after injection of filtered Tc-99m sulfur colloid in breast cancer patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy.

The axillary lymph node status is the most important predictor of prognosis and aids in breast cancer treatment planning. Patients with breast cancer now frequently undergo sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy rather than axillary lymph node dissection to determine the status of the regional lymph nodes. However, the optimal timing of radionuclide injection relative to the timing of SLN biopsy remains controversial. The objective of this study was to compare the lymphatic drainage patterns on lymphoscintigraphy performed at 15 minutes to 4 hours and at 18 to 24 hours after injection of filtered Tc-99m sulfur colloid, and to determine whether, over time, radiocolloid migrates to second-echelon nodes that are not the SLNs. Fifteen women with breast cancer (mean age, 55 years; range, 38-78 years) were scheduled to undergo SLN biopsy after each received an injection of 18.5 MBq (0.5 mCi) filtered Tc-99m sulfur colloid into the breast parenchyma surrounding the tumor or biopsy cavity. Both early (15 minutes to 4 hours after radionuclide injection) and delayed (18-24 hours after radionuclide injection) lymphoscintigraphy was performed in each patient. SLN biopsy was performed, followed by completion axillary lymph node dissection and planned breast surgery. In each patient the patterns of distribution of the radionuclide in the lymph nodes were the same on early and delayed lymphoscintigrams. These findings, that the distributions of radionuclide in lymph nodes are identical on early and delayed images obtained after injection of filtered Tc-99m sulfur colloid, suggest that performing SLN biopsy on the day after injection does not diminish the accuracy of the technique in predicting the potential site of metastasis in the regional lymph nodes in patients undergoing this procedure for breast cancer.

Adult↗

Functional anatomy of lymph nodes. II. Peripheral lymph-borne mononuclear cells.

In the rabbit a number of large mononuclear cells with ruffled surface membranes travel from the skin and superficial tissues of the leg, via the lymphatics, to the popliteal lymph node: they constitute 40-50% of the total cell population in the afferent lymph. About 10% of these cells are actively phagocytic when tested in vitro and about 3% are found to contain Langerhans granules. After isotopic labelling the majority of lymph-borne mononuclear cells can be detected within the regional node for at least 24 hours; most being located in the paracortex and a few in the interfollicular cortex. It is proposed that these cells, including those containing Langerhans granules, belong to the "mononuclear phagocyte system." Possible functions of these lymph-borne cells are discussed with particular reference to antigen transport.

Adenosine↗