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[Differential diagnosis of posttraumatic pulmonary infiltrates].

The differential diagnostic value of radio-morphological criteria as well as the prognostic fate of pulmonary infiltrates was studied in 377 patients presenting with major traumatic infiltrates in the thorax. We found that neither the character of the infiltrates (alveolar/interstitial) nor their morphology (homogeneous/inhomogeneous, dense/dispersed) were suitable for differentiation owing to extensive overlapping. The localization of infiltration, otherwise a good diagnostic indicator, provided little reliable information either. Conversely, the time course of the infiltrates, especially the time of their first visualization, turned out to be the only criterion usable for differentiation. Patients studied immediately after or within hours of an accident exhibited contusion and aspiration infiltrates, with a delay of 1-2 days the infiltrates were mostly caused by fat embolism and ARDS, while pneumonic infiltrates appeared after at least 2 days. The course of the infiltrates further permits certain diagnostic conclusions, but it is of little help in establishing the primary diagnosis and may be usable for corrections at best. The relatively high specificity of the criterion "first appearance of infiltrates" may be reduced by the coincidence of several lesions or ensuing complications. In retrospect, it seems that a reliable radiological differential diagnosis of posttraumatic infiltrates is not possible, but satisfactory results can be achieved if specific X-ray criteria are viewed against an extensive clinical back-ground.

Adult↗

Peripheral corneal infiltrates associated with contact lens wear.

PURPOSE: A retrospective study was performed to review the clinical characteristics of peripheral corneal infiltrates in contact lens wearers. METHODS: The charts of all contact lens patients with peripheral corneal infiltrates 1.5 mm or less in size who presented to the office from 1987 to 1994 were reviewed. RESULTS: The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of peripheral corneal infiltrates associated with contact lens wear were reviewed in 52 patients (64 infiltrates). Forty-four patients presented with a single infiltrate, while the remaining 8 patients had multiple infiltrates. While there was no predilection for a specific quadrant of the cornea, when a subgroup of patients who wore extended wear lenses was analyzed, 19 of the 40 infiltrates were located in the superior quadrant. Forty percent of the patients were wearing disposable extended wear contact lenses, 21% were wearing conventional extended wear lenses, 33% were wearing conventional or frequent replacement/disposable daily wear contact lenses and 6% were wearing rigid gas permeable lenses. The majority of patients had minimal conjunctival inflammation, an anterior stromal cellular reaction and minimal anterior chamber activity. A subgroup of 16 patients had corneal cultures of their infiltrates. In this group, 8 of the 16 had positive cultures. All patients had a resolution of the infiltrates without complications and the majority were refitted to daily wear soft or rigid contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Peripheral corneal infiltrates in contact lens wearers appears to be more common in patients wearing extended wear soft contact lenses. While often considered "sterile" in the literature, a significant number have been shown to be culture-positive. The organisms that have been associated with peripheral infiltrates appear to be less "pathogenic" than those that have been reported to be associated with central corneal ulcer. However, it is probably advisable that patients with peripheral corneal ulcers secondary to contact lens wear should be initially treated with topical antibiotics.

Adolescent↗

[The frequency of cellular infiltration in fetal membranes and the umbilical cord and its dependence on the time of membrane rupture, transmission and EPH-gestosis].

The determination of the frequency of the histological severity of cellular, predominantly leukocytic infiltration in the fetal membranes and umbilical cord and its dependence upon the time of rupture of the membranes, the transmission, and the EPH gestosis yielded the following results: (1) Cellular infiltration of the decidua, the severity of which ranged from low to high, was observed in almost 90 percent of the placentae included in this investigation, with infiltration being not detected in only about 10 percent. (2) There was observed a continuous decrease in the frequency of low- and high-severity infiltration in the fetal membrane layers toward the choriodecidual space, so that high-severity infiltration of the amnion could be detected in about 3 percent only. (3) The percentages of infiltrates detected were roughly 13 percent in the umbilical vein wall and only 8 percent in the umbilical arterial walls. (4) Cellular infiltration of the umbilical vein may be observed significantly more frequently in those cases in which the time from the rupture of the membranes to the delivery of placenta is longer than three hours than in cases where this time is shorter than three hours. (5) In the case of transmission the frequency of cellular infiltration of the amnion and umbilical vein wall is significantly higher than in the cases of normal gestations. (6) High-severity forms of cellular infiltration of the umbilical vein and arteries are significantly more frequent in the case of EPH gestosis than low-severity forms. (7) The differences in frequency of cellular infiltration in fetal membrane layers and umbilical vessel walls not mentioned under (4) through (6) above are not significant for different times between the rupture of the membranes and the delivery of placenta, transmission, and EPH gestosis. (8) Hypoxidosis and chemotaxis due to acidification of the amniotic fluid rather than bacterial infection are considered to be the causes of cellular infiltration in the majority of cases of increases in time between the rupture of the membranes and the delivery of placenta, transmission, and EPH gestosis.

Extraembryonic Membranes↗

Immunohistochemical analysis of glioma-infiltrating leucocytes after peripheral therapeutic immunization with interferon-gamma-transfected glioma cells.

We have shown previously that rejection of preinduced rat brain tumours is possible following therapeutic immunizations with interferon-gamma (IFN gamma)-transfected glioma cells (N32-IFN gamma). In the present study we have used the same model to evaluate whether quantitative differences in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes can be detected between animals receiving therapeutic immunizations with either IFN gamma-transfected glioma cells, wild-type glioma cells or no treatment. Since leucocyte transpedesis into the tumour can be anticipated to depend on the state of vascularization, we have mapped the development of microvessels in the tumour in parallel with the leucocyte infiltration. Our results show that microvessels start to form at day 7 and then gradually increase in number and size, indicating the establishment of an extensive vascularization by day 24. Leucocyte infiltration displays a biphasic pattern after tumour grafting. We have therefore studied the infiltration kinetics after an early immunization (1 day after intracerebral isografting) and compared the effects with those of a late immunization (10 days after intracerebral isografting) with N32-IFN gamma or wild-type N32. Our results show (1) an early infiltration of granulocytes 3 days after isografting; (2) a T-cell-receptor-positive (TCR+) T-cell infiltration starting on day 10; (3) a macrophage infiltration starting on day 13; (4) a CD8+ cell infiltration starting on day 13. The proportions of TCR+ T cells, CD8+ cells and natural killer cells differs significantly between animals immunized with N32-IFN gamma and those receiving wild-type N32, when analysed 14 days after immunization at day 10. This difference can only be detected when animals are immunized at later stages of tumour growth. We propose that this could depend on an early-immunization-independent leucocyte infiltration during tumour establishment. This has to be considered when evaluating studies of leucocyte infiltration in experimental tumours.

Animals↗

Histologic patterns of lung infiltration of B-cell, T-cell, and Hodgkin lymphomas.

Secondary lung infiltration by lymphomas occurs frequently. To our knowledge, however, no recent studies have attempted to discriminate histologic patterns of lung infiltration in the lymphoma subtypes. We retrospectively evaluated the frequency of lung infiltration and the respective infiltration patterns by lymphomas at autopsy, during an 11-year period. Lymphomas were classified according to the 2001 World Health Organization Classification of hematologic malignancies in B-cell, T-cell, and Hodgkin lymphomas (HLs). In 21,157 autopsies, 414 reports with lymphoma diagnosis were reviewed histologically, and 85 showed lung infiltration (20.5%). We studied 14 HLs, 43 B-cell lymphomas, and 20 T-cell lymphomas. Five infiltration patterns were identified: peribronchial-perivascular, nodular alveolar, interstitial, and pleural. Approximately half of the lymphomas had more than 1 infiltration pattern (mean, 1.7); peribronchial-perivascular and pleural were the most frequent. The frequency of nodular infiltration was larger in HL than in B-cell lymphomas. T-cell lymphomas had a larger frequency of the interstitial infiltration pattern compared with B-cell lymphomas. Recognizing the frequency and patterns of lung infiltration in the light of a more recent classification is certainly useful for physicians dealing with lymphoma diagnostic procedures, such as radiologists and pathologists.

Adolescent↗

[Expression of SDF-1alpha and its receptor CXCR4 in acute leukemias and their relationship with extramedullary infiltration].

The study was aimed to explore the expression of stromal cell derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) and its receptor CXCR4, and their relationship with the extramedullary infiltration in acute lymphoblastic, grannulocytic and monocytic leukemia. 66 cases of acute leukemia included 31 cases of acute lymphoblatic leukemia (ALL), 20 cases of acute grannulocytic leukemia (M(2)) and 15 cases of acute monocytic leukemia (M(4)+M(5)). There were 41 cases with extramedullary infiltration and 25 cases without-extramedullary infiltration. Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry were used to determine expression of SDF-1alpha and CXCR4 respectively on leukemia cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow of different groups. The results showed that average plasma level of SDF-1alpha in the ALL, M(4)+M(5), M(2) patients and the normal control were 1317.87 +/- 220.76, 1339.79 +/- 187.06, 1063.70 +/- 190.74, 1908.34 +/- 135.55 (pg/ml) respectively. The average levels in the ALL, M(4)+M(5) and M(2) patients groups were lower than those in normal control group. Both levels in ALL and M(4)+M(5) patient groups were higher than that in M(2) patient group. The average levels of SDF-1alpha in patient group with extramedullary infiltration and patient groups without-extramedullary infiltration were 1252.49 +/- 263.12, 1234.91 +/- 185.50 (pg/ml) respectively. The former seemed as if higher than the latter, but without statistical significance. The MFI of CXCR4 expression in ALL, M(4)+M(5), M(2) patient group were 78.47 +/- 33.96, 67.21 +/- 24.29, 41.66 +/- 17.18, respectively. CXCR4 expression in ALL and M(4)+M(5) patient groups were higher than that in M(2) patient group (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the ALL and M(4)+M(5) patient group (P > 0.05). The MFI of CXCR4 expression in patients with extramedullary infiltration and patients without extramedullary infiltration were 81.72 +/- 27.63, 36.94 +/- 11.86 respectively. The former was higher than the latter (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the higher expression of CXCR4 on acute lymphoblatic and monocytic leukemia cells may be one of the molecular mechanisms of extramedullary infiltration in both kinds of leukemia. The average plasma levels of SDF-1alpha decreased in leukemia patients and this decrease not related to the extramedullar infiltration, which may be due to the SDF-1alpha local expression in the organ infiltrated.

Acute Disease↗

Infiltrator Angioplasty Balloon Catheter: a device for combined angioplasty and intramural site-specific treatment.

OBJECTIVES: We describe a new angioplasty device (Infiltrator Angioplasty Balloon Catheter; IABC) with intramural drug delivery capability. The conventional balloon part of the device, when inflated, dilates the vessel or has three rows of longitudinally mounted infiltrator nipples to penetrate the tunica media. Through an independent infiltrator port and nipples, drugs can be infiltrated directly into the vessel wall. METHODS: The device was tested in 117 normal coronary arteries of 58 farm pigs. RESULTS: (1) The infiltration procedure does not damage the vessel angiographically or histologically. At the infiltration site, the endothelial layer and the internal elastic lamina has a controlled interruption, and the infiltrated fluid is distributed among the medial layers, causing a mild focal edema and medial thickening (1.8 times on average). (2) Rhodamine tracer is circularly and evenly distributed through the whole width of the vessel wall within 10 min after infiltration. (3) Two weeks after the infiltration procedure, the medial layer reveals mild local thickening and remodelling without luminal narrowing. (4) Of the intramurally infiltrated Tcm99-labeled surfurcolloid, 83.8% is detectable at 5 min after the delivery procedure by gamma camera. (5) The IABC, if oversized, is able to achieve angiographic dilatation in normal pig coronary arteries, causing histologic damage similar to or less than that induced by conventional balloon dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: The IABC can deliver fluid-phase substances directly into the vessel wall with microliter accuracy and with 90% efficiency without significant acute and subacute damage to the vessel wall. It is also suitable for combined dilatation and local drug delivery.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Thymostimulin enhancement of T-cell infiltration into head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) produces immunosuppressive low-molecular-mass factors (LMMFs) responsible for defects in the cell-mediated immune system. These defects include impaired monocyte chemotaxis and an impaired capability of dendritic cells (DC) to form cellular clusters. It has been shown previously that the immunomodulating drug thymostimulin (TP1) restores these defects in vitro. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study was performed on tumors of 18 patients with HNSCC who had preoperatively been treated with TP1 in one of three dosages (0.5 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, 2.0 mg/kg body weight). Additionally, tumors of 4 patients who had been treated with a placebo and 12 patients who had not received any preoperative treatment were studied. A relative surface area of infiltration, meaning the percentage of stromal or epithelial tissue covered by infiltrating cells in histological sections, was calculated using an image analysis system (VIDAS RT) for CD3+ T-cells, CD14+/CD68+ monocytes/macrophages and L25+/CD1a+ dendritic cells for each tumor. RESULTS: A highly significant, denser T-cell infiltration into the stromal tissue area of tumors of patients who had been treated with TP1 when compared with tumors of non-TP1-treated patients was observed for all three dosages. None of the other tumor-infiltrating cell types was affected by TP1. In addition, a correlation was found between the tumor T-cell infiltration and capability of DCs in the peripheral blood to form clusters with T-cells. No correlation existed between CD3+ T-cell numbers in peripheral blood and T-cell infiltration into the tumor; nor were monocyte chemotactic functions in peripheral blood correlated with tumor infiltration by monocytes or monocyte-derived macrophages and DCs. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative treatment of HNSCC patients with TP1 appears to strongly enhance tumor--T-cell infiltration. The number of tumor-infiltrating DCs was not affected by TP1, but a positive correlation between tumor--T-cell infiltration and DC clustering capability suggests that the functional status of DCs is important in improved cell-mediated immunity.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Morphometric analysis and identification of infiltrating leucocytes in regressing and progressing Shope rabbit papillomas.

Spontaneous regressions of papillomavirus lesions frequently occur in both human and animal infections. The mechanism by which this occurs is currently unknown. Mononuclear infiltrates are found in regressing human and rabbit papillomas. To assess the potential functional role of these infiltrates in regression, we have characterized and quantitated the cell types present in regressing rabbit lesions. Forty New Zealand white rabbits were inoculated with cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) at 2 sites on the dorsal skin. All tumors on 6 rabbits markedly decreased in volume within 6 to 8 weeks of inoculation. Tumors on 4 of these 6 regressor rabbits were studied by immunohistochemistry. Regressor papillomas had conspicuous leucocytic infiltrates, most concentrated at the epithelial basement membrane, and often obliterating the basal cells of the germinal layer. Infiltrating leucocytes were also concentrated in the subjacent dermis immediately beneath the basement membrane. The infiltrates gradually lessened at increased depths in the dermis. In contrast, progressor papillomas contained fewer leucocytes, which were randomly distributed in the dermis. The phenotype of the infiltrating leucocytes was examined in 4 regressing and 12 progressing papillomas. In regressing papillomas, infiltrating leucocytes were predominantly T cells (68.0%), with relatively few B cells (7.4%). Progressing papilloma dermis contained fewer T cells and B cells than regressing papillomas. Most of the infiltrating T cells in regressing papillomas were labelled with a rabbit MHC-class-II-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) (2C4), in contrast to only a small number in progressing papillomas. In addition to the leucocytic infiltrates, keratinocytes in regressing, but not in progressing, papillomas, frequently exhibited strong 2C4 staining. These results demonstrate that infiltration with T cells expressing rabbit class II is characteristic of regressing Shope papillomas and strengthens the assertion that cell-mediated immunity is the mechanism of Shope papilloma regression.

Animals↗

2D SPLASH: a new method to determine the fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff muscles.

The objective of this paper is to quantify the fatty degeneration (infiltration) of rotator cuff muscles with a new spectroscopic FLASH (SPLASH) sequence. Before planned surgery (reconstruction or muscle transfer), 20 patients (13 men, 7 women; 35-75 years) with different stages of rotator cuff disease underwent an MR examination in a 1.5-T unit. The protocol consists of imaging sequences and a newly implemented SPLASH, which allows an exact quantification of the fat/water ratio with a high spatial resolution in an arbitrarily shaped region of interest (ROI). The percentages of fat in the rotator cuff muscles were determined. To determine statistically significant differences between the different stages of rotator cuff tear, a Kruskal-Wallis H test was used. Fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus muscle was correlated with cross-sectional area (CSA) measures (Bravais-Pearson). We found significant differences between different stages of rotator cuff disease, the fatty infiltration and the volume loss (determined by the occupation ratio) of the supraspinatus muscle. With the increasing extent of rotator cuff disease, fatty infiltration increases significantly, as does the volume loss of the supraspinatus muscle. Comparing fatty infiltration and the occupation ratio individually, there was only a moderate inverse correlation between fatty infiltration and the occupation ratio, with considerable variation of data. Fatty infiltration of the infraspinatus muscle occurred when the infraspinatus tendon was involved to a lesser extent. The SPLASH sequence allows exact quantification of fatty infiltration in an arbitrarily shaped ROI. The extent of atrophy and fatty infiltration correlates with the size of the tear. Atrophy and fatty infiltration correlate only moderately and should be evaluated separately.

Adipose Tissue↗

Atrazine distribution measured in soil and leachate following infiltration conditions.

Atrazine transport through packed 10 cm soil columns representative of the 0-10 cm soil horizon was observed by measuring the atrazine recovery in the total leachate volume, and upper and lower soil layers following infiltration of 7.5 cm water using a mechanical vacuum extractor (MVE). Measured recoveries were analyzed to understand the influence of infiltration rate and delay time on atrazine transport and distribution in the column. Four time periods (0.28, 0.8, 1.8, and 5.5 h) representing very high to moderate infiltration rates (26.8, 9.4, 4.2, and 1.4 cm/h) were used. Replicate soil columns were tested immediately and following a 2-d delay after atrazine application. Results indicate atrazine recovery in leachate was independent of infiltration rate, but significantly lower for infiltration following a 2-d delay. Atrazine distribution in the 0-1 and 9-10 cm soil layers was affected by both infiltration rate and delay. These results are in contrast with previous field and laboratory studies that suggest that atrazine recovery in the leachate increases with increasing infiltration rate. It appears that the difference in atrazine recovery measured using the MVE and other leaching experiments using intact soil cores from this field site and the rain simulation equipment probably illustrates the effect of infiltrating water interacting with the atrazine present on the soil surface. This work suggests that atrazine mobilization from the soil surface is also dependent on interactions of the infiltrating water with the soil surface, in addition to the rate of infiltration through the surface soil.

Adsorption↗

[Evaluation of infiltrations performed in primary care].

OBJECTIVES: To describe the evolution of the pain and the functional impotence in the articular and periarticular pathology after to infiltrate with local corticosteroid and anaesthetic; to analize the number of discharge certificates that maybe to give in the patients with employment transitory incapacity (ETI) during the first week post-infiltration. DESIGN: Intervention without control group. SETTING: Semiurban primary care physician's practices (ABS Piera). PARTICIPANTS: Men and women elder than 18 years old, with articular and periarticular pathology. INTERVENTION: Were infiltrated with local triamcinolone acetonid and bupivacain 2% 65 patients. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Were gathered socio-demographic factors, diagnostic, response, number of infiltrations for patient, secondary effects, and number of discharge certificates that were given in the patients in ETI situation during the first week post-infiltration. RESULTS: Were infiltrated predominantly men (57%) with 31-65 years old (67.7%), employed (70.7%) in manual works (78.4%). Rotary joint tendinitis (46.2%) and epicondylitis (27.7%) were the most common diagnostics. Mean and CI (95%) obtained in the VAS for pain were: initially, 8.8 (7.4-9.8); week, 1.4 (1-1.8); 3 months, 2.2 (1.3-3.1), and year, 2.3 (1.1-3.5). Mean and CI (95%) found for functional impotence were: initially, 8.2 (6.7-9.7); week, 0.9 (0.7-1.1); 3 months, 1.2 (0.9-1.5), and year, 1.6 (1.4-1.8). The number of infiltrations for patient was 1.6. Hadn't important secondary effects. Were given 19 discharge certificates in 25 patients with ETI in the first week post-infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: The patients diminished the pain and the functional impotence in the articular and periarticular pathology after of the infiltration, allowing to give an elevate number of discharge certificates during the first week post-infiltration.

Adolescent↗

Clinicopathologic analysis of macrophage infiltrates in breast carcinoma.

We compared macrophage density, assessed by enumeration of peritumoral mononuclear cell immunoreactivity for HAM 56, to clinicopathologic features and to immunostaining for two "invasion-associated" proteases (Cathepsin D and Urokinase plasminogen activator) in 80 breast carcinomas. Diffuse (2+) infiltrates of HAM 56- positive mononuclear cells were present in 27 cases (34%) and 43 (54%) exhibited focal (1+) infiltrates. Presence of 2+ macrophage infiltrates correlated significantly with poor differentiation. None of the seven well-differentiated cases exhibited 2+ infiltrates, whereas 9/43 (21%) moderately differentiated and 18/30 (60%) poorly differentiated tumors were diffusely infiltrated (p = .001). Wide-spread macrophage infiltrates were also more frequent in cases with advanced stage (23% of node negative vs 40% of node positive cases, p = NS). Forty-four percent of the cases with diffuse macrophage infiltrates were cathepsin D positive (i.e. in host derived cells) vs only 18% with focal macrophage infiltrates (p = .002). A similar relationship was observed between staining for HAM 56 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (p = .02). Disease recurrences (50 months median follow-up) were more frequent in patients with 2+ (17/27, 63%) as opposed to 0+ (1/10, 10%) macrophage infiltrates (p = .01). We conclude that the density of stromal macrophage infiltrates is associated with clinical aggressiveness in breast carcinomas. Further, this relationship may reflect contribution of host derived macrophages to invasion and metastasis through elaboration of proteases which putatively mediate degradation and remodeling of extracellular matrix.

Breast Neoplasms↗

HLA-DR expression and lymphocytic infiltration in metastatic and non-metastatic papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Thyrocyte HLA-DR expression in association with lymphocytic infiltration has been demonstrated in autoimmune diseases of the thyroid. HLA-DR expression has been noted both in association with lymphocytic infiltration and in its absence. However, no prognostic significance was attributed to these findings. The purpose of this study on papillary carcinoma of the thyroid was to examine how tumour behaviour relates independently to HLA-DR expression and lymphocytic infiltration. Fifty patients with papillary carcinoma with known metastatic status were examined for HLA-DR expression utilizing the immunoperoxidase conjugated indirect method. The patients were divided into three groups: no metastases (n = 16), regional lymph node metastases only (n = 25), and distant haematogenous metastases (n = 9). Overall HLA-DR expression was noted in 6, 36 and 55% of the respective groups. Tumour HLA-DR expression without lymphocytic infiltration was noted in 0, 4 and 33% of the respective groups. Tumour HLA-DR expression with lymphocytic infiltration occurred in 6, 32 and 22% of the respective groups. From these findings we conclude that HLA-DR expression with lymphocytic infiltration occurs more frequently than HLA-DR expression in the absence of infiltration. The concurrence of HLA-DR expression and lymphocytic infiltration is most commonly associated with regional lymph node metastasis. HLA-DR expression in the absence of lymphocytic infiltration occurs in tumours with distant haematogenous metastases and is an uncommon feature of tumours that have not metastasized or have metastasized only to lymph nodes. Tumour HLA-DR expression in the absence of lymphocytic infiltration may indicate the potential for more aggressive behaviour.

Adolescent↗

Arabidopsis ovule is the target for Agrobacterium in planta vacuum infiltration transformation.

The visual marker GUS has been utilized in this study to understand the Arabidopsis thaliana vacuum infiltration transformation process by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. High transformation frequencies of up to 394 transgenic seeds per infiltrated plant were achieved. The results showed that the majority of the transgenic seeds from single infiltrated plants were from independent transformation events based on Southern analysis, progeny segregation, distribution of transgenic seeds throughout the infiltrated plants and the microscopic analysis of GUS expression in ovules of infiltrated plants. GUS expression in mature pollen and anthers was monitored daily from 0 to 12 days post-infiltration. In addition, all ovules from a single infiltrated plant were examined every other day. GUS expression frequencies of up to 1% of pollen were observed 3-5 days post-infiltration, whereas frequencies of up to 6% were detected with ovules of unopened flowers 5-11 days post-infiltration. Most importantly, transgenic seeds were obtained only from genetic crosses using infiltrated plants as the pollen recipient but not the pollen donor, demonstrating Agrobacterium transformation through the ovule pathway.

Arabidopsis↗

Morphological changes and stress responses in neurons in cerebral cortex infiltrated by diffuse astrocytoma.

Local dysfunction in cerebral cortex infiltrated by astrocytoma can cause epilepsy and focal neurological deficits, but the cellular pathology of peritumoral cortex remains poorly defined. The aims of the present study were to define the morphological changes which occur in neurons in tumor-infiltrated cerebral cortex, and to determine whether peritumoral neurons show expression of cell stress-related proteins. Archival specimens of diffuse astrocytoma (n = 28) were identified with areas of both tumor-infiltrated cortex and apparently non-infiltrated cortex. Immunohistochemistry was performed to structural neuronal proteins (MAP-2, neurofilament proteins), beta-amyloid precursor protein, growth associated protein-43 and to injury response proteins (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, poly(ADP-ribose), c-fos, and c-jun). Tumor-infiltrated cortex revealed neuronal loss and architectural disarray compared to non-infiltrated cortex. Pyramidal neurons showed thinning of the cytoplasmic rim and their neuritic processes showed increasing tortuosity, varicosity, fragmentation and loss, with axonal spheroid formation and dendritic beading. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, poly(ADP-ribose) and c-fos were up-regulated in both infiltrated and non-infiltrated cortex, but c-jun expression was greater in areas of tumor-infiltrated cortex. Surviving neurons in cortex infiltrated by astrocytoma demonstrate, therefore, a sequence of morphological alterations in their dendritic, somatic and axonal compartments, and demonstrate a cell stress response. The patterns of cellular pathology identified suggest possible mechanisms, by which neurons are damaged and eventually lost in peritumoral brain.

Astrocytoma↗

PCR analysis of IgH-gene rearrangements in small lymphoid infiltrates microdissected from sections of paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsy specimens.

The differentiation of benign lymphoid infiltrates from nodular infiltrates of B-cell lymphoma is difficult in bone marrow (BM) biopsy specimens taken from patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We investigated whether the determination of clonality by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) genes could be of help for the distinction of benign and malignant lymphoid infiltrates. BM biopsy specimens of 28 patients were studied, comparing PCR of entire bone marrow sections with microdissected nodular lymphoid infiltrates. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to morphologic criteria: group 1 (n = 12), positive for B-NHL infiltration; group 2 (n = 5), suspicious for infiltration by known B-NHL; group 3 (n = 5), morphologically benign infiltrates in patients with B-NHL; group 4 (n = 6), benign lymphoid infiltrates in patients without history of B-NHL. PCR products were analyzed using polyacrylamide gels and a fragment length analysis system (Genescan). PCR of whole sections showed clonal amplification products in all cases of group 1 and 1 case of group 2. PCR analysis from microdissected nodular infiltrates showed the presence of a clonal B-cell population in 5 additional cases of groups 2 and 4. In 3 of these cases, clonal rearrangements of corresponding size were obtained from the primary lymphoma biopsy specimens. None of the cases of group 3 showed evidence of a clonal population with either technique. The results indicate that microdissection of small nodular lymphoid infiltrates from paraffin-BM sections increases the sensitivity of IgH gene rearrangement analysis. To avoid detection of biologically irrelevant clonal populations, comparison of PCR products obtained from the BM and the primary lymphoma biopsy is advisable.

Biopsy↗

Quantitative assessment of salivary gland inflammatory infiltration in primary Sjögren's syndrome: its relationship to different demographic, clinical and serological features of the disorder.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between the degree of inflammatory infiltration of salivary glands in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and the different demographic, clinical and serological features of the disease. A quantitative assessment of the extension of the infiltrates was performed on histology samples from the labial salivary glands (LSG) of 82 patients with primary SS, by calculating the ratio of the infiltrated area to the total area of glandular tissue in the samples. The correlations between the amount of inflammatory infiltrate and the main features of the disorder were then analysed. A significant negative correlation between the degree of LSG infiltration and the patient's age at disease onset was observed (P < 0.05). In contrast, the percentage of infiltrate did not correlate with the disease duration. A significant correlation was found between the degree of infiltration of the salivary tissue and (i) the total number of extraglandular features (P < 0.01) and (ii) the presence of specific extraglandular features such as Raynaud's phenomenon (P < 0.05), vasculitis (P < 0.0001), lymph node or spleen enlargement (P < 0.05) and leucopenia (P < 0.02). Finally, patients with antinuclear antibodies, anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, or anti-SSA/Ro plus anti-SSB/La antibodies showed a more widespread inflammatory infiltration in the LSG tissue than patients without these autoantibodies (P < 0.01). The degree of infiltration in the salivary tissue was significantly greater in those patients with anti-SSA/Ro plus anti-SSB/La antibodies in their sera than in patients with anti-SSA/Ro antibodies alone (P < 0.05). In conclusion, patients with SS and active inflammatory infiltration of the salivary glands usually experience an earlier disease onset and a larger number of systemic extraglandular manifestations. In addition, the antibodies directed against certain nuclear/cytoplasmic specificities, and particularly those which react with the SSB/La antigen, seem to play a key role in enhancing the autoimmune process in the salivary glands.

Adolescent↗