Contribution of cervical cytology in the diagnostic work‐up of patients with endometrial cancer

Introduction

Abnormal cervical cytology in patients with endometrial cancer (EC) has been associated with poor outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cervical cytology could contribute to an improved preoperative identification of high‐grade EC (serous, clear cell, carcinosarcoma, high‐grade endometrioid EC) in final histology.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed in five hospitals in the Netherlands. A total of 554 patients with EC that underwent primary surgical treatment between 2002 and 2010 were included. Primary outcome was defined as the contribution of abnormal cervical cytology in the preoperative identification of high‐grade EC. As secondary outcome, recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and disease‐specific survival were determined based on preoperative cervical cytology, and compared to the currently established risk factors: myometrial invasion, high‐grade and lymph vascular space invasion.

Results

Abnormal cervical cytology was present in 45.1%. For patients with preoperative inconclusive and high‐grade histology, the presence of abnormal cervical cytology contributed to an improved identification of high‐grade EC in final histology (odds ratio [OR] 6.40 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.92‐21.26]; OR 2.86 [95% CI: 1.14‐7.14]), respectively. Patients with abnormal cervical cytology had a significant worse 5‐year median RFS. Abnormal cervical cytology was independently related to RFS (hazard ratio 1.67 [95% CI: 1.04‐2.68]) and disease‐specific survival (hazard ratio 3.15 [95% CI: 1.74‐5.71]).

Conclusions

Abnormal cytology contributes to the preoperative identification of patients with high‐grade EC, and is associated with compromised outcome. Future studies are warranted to determine whether cervical cytology could be incorporated into preoperative prediction models for lymph node metastasis.     

Urinary cytology and the Paris system for reporting urinary cytology: Implications for urological management

By reducing the rate of indeterminate (atypical) diagnoses and standardising reporting terminology, The Paris System for Reporting Urine Cytology helps focus the application of cytology towards the detection primarily of high‐grade urothelial carcinoma. We present a urology‐based perspective of how the new system has influenced clinical decision‐making.     

Quantitation of peptide hormone in single cultured secretory neurons of the crab,Cardisoma carnifex

The content of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) in single cultured neurons of the crab Cardisoma carnifex was determined by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using purified CHH (1–50 pg) of the crab Carcinus maenas as standard. The somata were dissociated from the group of 150 peptidergic neurons that form the X-organ—sinus gland neuroendocrine system. As previously reported, the neurons show immediate regenerative outgrowth in defined culture conditions, and develop, generally, into one of two morphological types: cells that produce broad, lamelliform growth cones (veils), and others that are characterized by branching of neurites. In this study, all but one of 64 veiling cells taken after various times in culture up to 12 days contained CHH. They could be readily categorized as having high (>33 pg; mean 86±5, S.E., n=47) or low (33pg; mean 22±2.5; n=17) Carcinus CHH equivalents. Thus, CHH is associated with neurons showing veiling outgrowth, but veiling neurons with low CHH form a distinct, but not morphologically distinguishable group. They may contain an isoform of CHH with limited cross-reactivity. In 24 branching neurons assayed, Carcinus CHH equivalents averaged 7.2±2 pg. This figure includes 14 neurons in which CHH was undetectable, and one that had 40 pg of Carcinus CHH equivalents. There was no significant change of the hormone content in cells of either type during 6 days of culturing.     

胃镜对咽喉部恶性病变诊断的临床应用价值

目的:探讨胃镜在对于咽喉部恶性疾病诊断的临床应用价值。方法:对2013年11月至2014年9月因声音嘶哑或咽部异物感或吞咽困难为主诉就诊的患者,给予电子喉镜或间接喉镜检查,以在喉镜下发现咽喉部肿物或喉镜下发现黏膜异常增生不能明确判定病灶性质的12例患者为研究对象。继而给予窄带成像(Narrow-band imaging,NBI)及放大胃镜检查,对病灶进行性质及病变范围的判定。病理结果作为金标准,比较喉镜及胃镜两种方式对咽喉恶性病灶的正确诊断率。结果:12例患者中共发现15处病灶,其中炎性反应5处,单纯性鳞状上皮增生3处,鳞状细胞癌6处,神经纤维瘤1处。喉镜对病灶的正确诊断率是40.0%(6/15),NBI放大胃镜对病灶的正确诊断率是93.3%(14/15),两者差异有统计学意义(x~2=9.60,P=0.005)。结论:NBI放大胃镜对咽喉部肿瘤诊断正确率高于普通喉镜,充分证明了胃镜在咽喉部恶性疾病的诊断方面的临床价值。在行胃镜检查时,同时对咽喉部进行仔细观察检查是十分必要的。     

Bombesin-like peptides and receptors in human tumor cell lines

Human cancer cell lines were assayed for bombesin-like peptides and receptors. Acid extracts derived from small cell lung cancer, but not other types of cancer had high levels of immunoreactive bombesin. Regardless of patient treatment, site of tumor origin (bone marrow, lymph node, or pleural effusion) or culture conditions, small cell lung cancer cell lines had high levels of bombesin-like peptides. Thus, bombesin levels in small cell lung, but not other types of human cancer, are routinely elevated. Also, small cell lung cancer lines in contrast to other cell lines have a high density of binding sites for a radiolabeled bombesin analogue. The presence of high concentrations of bombesin-like peptides and receptors suggests that bombesin may function as an important regulatory agent in human small cell lung cancer.     

Neuroendocrine regulation of corpus allatum activity in Manduca sexta: The endocrine basis for starvation-induced supernumerary larval moult

When newly-ecdysed 5th instar larvae of Manduca sexta were starved for 3 days and thereafter fed on standard diet the majority (90%) of the surviving larvae moulted into 6th instars. Allatectomy prior to starvation abolished the supernumerary moult, while denervation of the corpora allata (CA) had no effect.Cautery of medial neurosecretory cells, but not of the lateral cells, prevented supernumerary moulting and pupation ensued. Transplantation of brains from young 5th instar donors into larvae, whose medial neurosecretory cells were cauterized prior to starvation, restored the extra larval moult. Neither CA nor corpora cardiaca (CC) could be substituted for the medial neurosecretory cells.For induction of the supernumerary moult the medial neurosecretory cells are required only until day 1 after refeeding whereas the CA are required until day 3 after refeeding. Allatectomy on day 3 after refeeding resulted in the production of black 6th instar larvae.We conclude that starvation-induced supernumerary moulting is due to activation of the CA by allatotropin produced by medial neurosecretory cells in the brain. The anteromedial cells (group II) appear to be the source of allatotropin.     

Cytophotometric analysis of glycogen,protein and DNA of a glycogen-storing rat hepatoma (N13) cell line

This study examines the behavior of glycogenstoring rat hepatoma (N13) in vitro using cytophotometric techniques. A significant increase in glycogen is observed in these cells after 30 min incubation in a buffered solution containing 0.1 mM glucose, that is 80 times lower than the physiological glucose concentration in rat blood. N13 hepatoma cells grow exponentially in culture using RPMI 1640 tissue culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. During the first day in culture these cells store a large amount of glycogen and this increase is also observed in serum-free cultures. In more prolonged cultures the amount of glycogen per cell gradually becomes lower, although the culturing conditions are maintained. Similar variations of protein are also observed during the initial period of culture. DNA distribution does not show significant changes, although in serum-free cultures an increase in the proportion of cells in S and G₂/M phases is observed. The addition of glucagon, epinephrine and cyclic AMP derivatives to serum-free cultures does not impede the storage of glycogen. Nevertheless, addition of either 2 mM N⁶,O²-dibutyryl cyclic AMP or 0.1 mM 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cyclic AMP blocks the cell cycle at G₀/G₁ and glycogen content does not decrease after the first day in culture. We believe that this cell line offers an appropriated model to study glycogen metabolism and its involvement in the neoplastic process.     

Immunoreactivity to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and thyreotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in hypothalamic neurons of the domesticated pigeon (Columba livia). Alterations following lactation and exposure to cold

Summary The distribution of VIP- and TRH-immunoreactivity in neurons and processes within the hypothalamus of the pigeon was investigated with light-microscopic immunocytochemical techniques. Most of the VIP-containing neurons are concentrated in the middle and caudal parts of the hypothalamus, with the greatest concentration of perikarya occurring in the medial and lateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus and the infundibular nucleus. These cells give rise to axons that seem to extend into the median eminence. An extensive network of VIP-immunoreactive fibers and varicosities occupy the external layer of the median eminence. The majority of TRH-containing neurons is found in the anterior hypothalamus with the greatest concentration of cells in the magnocellular preoptic, medial preoptic, suprachiasmatic and paraventricular nuclei. TRH-immunoreactive fibers and varicosities form a dense arborization in the external layer of the median eminence. Lactation seems to induce substantial changes in VIP as well as in TRH-immunostaining in the median eminence and other hypothalamic regions as compared to control, sexually active animals. Furthermore, TRH-immunoreactivity decreased in the median eminence following 60-min exposure to cold. These results suggest that VIP- and TRH-containing pathways in the pigeon hypothalamus are involved in the mediation of neuroendocrine responses.     

The incidence and histo-pathological characteristics of colorectal cancer in a population based cancer registry in Zimbabwe

BackgroundData on colorectal cancer (CRC) in sub-Saharan Africa is mainly based on hospital series which suggest low incidence and frequent early onset cancers. This study characterises colorectal cancer in a population-based cancer registry in Zimbabwe.MethodsCases of CRC recorded by the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry between 2003 and 2012 were analysed. Demographic and pathological characteristics were compared according to ethnicity and age. Trends in age standardised incidence rates (ASR) were determined.ResultsThere were 886 and 216 cases of CRC among black Africans and Caucasians respectively, and 26% of the black Africans were younger than 40 years. Signet ring cell carcinomas were more common among black Africans compared to Caucasians (4% vs 1%, p = 0.027). ASR increased by 1.9%/year and 3.9%/year among black African males and females respectively.ConclusionCRC incidence is rising among black Africans and has unique demographic and pathological characteristics.