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Biomedical subjects

A Roth

Publications and source records attributed to A Roth.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Bitemporal palsy of the pupillary sphincters. A sign of diffuse circulatory insufficiency.

Two patients with generalized arteriosclerotic changes presented with oval-shaped pupils in both eyes. Sectorial palsy of the iris sphincters, essentially in the lower temporal segments, was demonstrated. Paralyzed sectors did not react to 2% pilocarpine. There was no dilator weakness, and the iris did not exhibit atrophy or synechia. We consider the sectorial palsy of the sphincters in these patients to be due to circulatory insufficiency of the iris. We reviewed previously published cases of diffuse or multifocal circulatory insufficiency with ischemic iris changes, and analyzed the accompanying photographs. We found that temporal segments of the iris are predominantly involved in these patients. Predisposition to this sectorial palsy, especially in the pupillary temporal region, might be explained by several anatomical particularities of the vascular network in the iris. Bitemporal palsy of the pupillary sphincters may be a sign of generalized circulatory insufficiency.

Aged↗

[Modification of the expressivity of blood group antigens in urothelial bladder tumors. Prognostic value].

On the basis of 30 bladder tumours treated neither by radiotherapy nor chemotherapy, the authors undertook a study of changes in the expressivity of blood groups A and B in cases of urothelial bladder tumours. The study was carried out by indirect immunofluorescence by contact between the bladder tumour and immunoglobulins (human IgG anti-A and anti-B antibodies) and a polyvalent anti-immunoglobulin coupled with fluorescein. The conventional microscopy of these tumours uses a classification based upon that of the WHO (4 classes: I, II, III, IV) and 4 stages (0, A, B, C). The authors distinguish four types on the basis of the degree of the presence on tumour cell membranes of blood group antigens. Their findings were as follows: - the study of BGA in the epithelium near to the tumour is as important as the study of the tumour itself; - class II, stage 0 papillomatous bladder tumours retain BGA as well as in the surrounding urothelium; - carcinomatous tumours (class IV) lose in great part (type C) or completely (type D) their BGA. Tendency to recurrence or the immediate gravity of the tumour is all the greater when the expressivity of BGA is less in the surrounding epithelium; - in intermediate bladder tumours (class III), recurrences seem all the less frequent when the expressivity of BGA in the tumour and surface urothelium is better. Convinced as to the importance of this immunological study, the authors feel that it would be appropriate to continue these studies and extend labelling to H antigen and carcino-embryonic antigenic.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Reduced uptake and esterification of free fatty acids during prolonged fasting.

Nine obese women without hyperinsulinemia fasted 22 +/- 2 d under controlled conditions. Blood was drawn weekly and lipids, lipoproteins, and insulin were determined. In five patients an open fat biopsy was performed before and after fasting and the incorporation of free fatty acids (FFA) into total lipids, diglycerides (DG), and triglycerides (TG) was measured. Glycerol release into the medium was also determined. During fasting triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, glucose, and insulin fell considerably. The uptake and esterification of FFA decreased under both basal and stimulated (norepinephrine) conditions (-11 percent to -23 percent). Basal lipolysis increased slightly by 11 percent. Results indicate that fasting-induced changes in adipose tissue metabolism do not account for the decrease in serum triglycerides. The diminished triglyceride synthesis and the enhanced breakdown of triglycerides in adipose tissue do, however, explain the reduction in adipose tissue mass during fasting.

Adipose Tissue↗

[Epididymo-deferens anastomosis. Experimental study in the rat].

Fifty Wistar rats underwent right epididymo-deferens anastomosis by microsurgery, 1 to 4 weeks after ligation of the right epididymo-deferens loop. The left testis was removed in the first 32 rats. The others also underwent anastomosis but without prior ligation. Amongst the 25 rats now studied by mating, vaso-epididymography and dye injection, we have found 14 obstructions, 5 cases of permeability without fertilisation and 6 fertile and permeable animals. This series demonstrates for the first time the possibility of success of such anastomosis in the animal. They are designed to replace the classical latero-lateral anastomosis. The latter causes a spermatic granuloma by epididymal fistula. Recanalisation of the granuloma explains the frequency of postoperative oligospermia in patients with normal testes. The first results in man are very encouraging.

Animals↗

Organization of highly repetitive satellite DNA of two Cucurbitaceae species (Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus).

The prominent satellites of the Cucurbitaceae Cucumis melo (melon) and Cucumis sativus (cucumber) have been characterized, in actinomycin/CsCl gradients where the satellite sequences can be separated from ribosomal, organelle, and main band DNA the location of the satellites is different indicating a different GC content. The purified satellite of C. melo is cut by HindIII into a repeat unit of 380 bp; AluI digestion gives rise to two bands (about 80 and 220 bp in size). The HindIII repeat unit if cloned into pBR325 exhibits new recognition sites for HpaII leaving two bands with 150 and 80 bp suggesting methylation of the C/CGG cutting site in the uncloned material. The restriction pattern indicates an internal sequence repeat within the 380 bp HindIII fragment. The C. sativus satellite is cut by AluI to a repeat unit of 180 bp showing no other recognition site for the restriction enzymes tested so far. About 10% sequence homology has been determined between the C. melo and C. sativus satellites by cross hybridization studies. A high methylation degree of cytosines has been measured for both satellites and the ribosomal DNA of C. sativus (about 30%). No transcription products of the C. melo satellite were found during seedling development.

Base Composition↗

Phase II clinical trial of cis dichlorodiammine platinum (Cis DDP) in metastatic brain tumors.

The aim of this study was to examine antitumorigenic Cis DDP properties in metastatic brain tumors. Thirty-four untreated patients with brain metastases recorded by CAT scans or radionuclide scans plus neurological examinations underwent the treatment. Pathohistology of primary tumors mainly showed breast [8] and lung [8] carcinomas and melanomas [10]. Other localizations of primary tumors were infrequent. Cis DDP was administered in doses of 30 mg/m2 body surface daily over 4 days. All the patients received at least two cycles and 33 have been evaluated. No corticosteroids were administered concurrently. An objective response (seven complete and seven partial remissions) was observed in 14 out of 33 patients (42%). Six stable disease cases were also noted. A complete response (5-14 months) was observed in breast cancer [4], lung cancer [1], and melanoma [2]. Seven partial responses lasted 2-5 months. Antitumorigenic activity of Cis DDP was also noted in extracerebral tumor lesions, especially in breast cancer patients. Toxicity was moderate but tolerable. The results of this study have shown Cis DDP to possess antitumorigenic properties also in patients with metastatic brain tumors, a point that has not been proved so far.

Adenocarcinoma↗

IgE screening in 1701 newborn infants and the development of atopic disease during infancy.

IgE screening was done using the Phadebas IgE PRIST technique on the cord blood of 1701 newborn infants. Of these 8.3% developed obvious or probable atopic disease, predominantly atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma, during the first 18 months of life. Of infants with a family history of atopic disease 10.5% developed such illness; the corresponding figure for infants with an initially high IgE concentration was 70%. Atopic disease developed in 73% of infants with a high IgE concentration in cord blood and a family history, but in only 3% of infants with a low IgE and no family history. A high IgE concentration in cord blood was associated with a high IgE and a positive radioallergosorbent test at between ages 18 and 24 months more often than was a low initial IgE level, indicating that in man as in animals there are high and low IgE responders already genetically coded at birth. IgE screening in cord blood is recommended if there is obvious atopy in both parents or if severe atopic disease if present in a sibling or in one parent.

Fetal Blood↗

[Diagnosis, prevalence, prognosis and treatment of the trophoblastic component in germinal tumours of the testis in the adult].

The authors report a series of 97 germinal tumours of the testis in the adult, studied first in terms of conventional histological data. Of 33 seminomas, 2 secreted HCG. The 5-year actuarial survival at stage I was 93%, and at stage II 75%. Stage II deaths revealed the existence of not purely seminomatous tumours. Amongst dysembryomas, half secreted HCG, with 3 histological groups: predominant choriocarcinomas, tumours with a trophoblastic component and "apparently pure" dysembryomas. The 3-year actuarial survival for dysembryomas was 90% at stage I and 58% at stage II. 51 patients of the series were studied retrospectively by sections with HCG peroxidase, a technique which reveals the intracytoplasmic synthesis of the hormone. Two types of cells have proved capable of such synthesis: syncytial cells, of syncytial-trophoblastic type, and small mononuclear cells. One third of seminomas and 90% of dysembryomas proved to have a trophoblastic component as demonstrated by HCG immunoperoxidases. All patients secreting HCG were HCG peroxidase positive. This equally applied to all patients with syncytial cells. Furthermore, all the indications are that HCG secretion is above all by the syncytial cells. From a diagnostic standpoint, any rise in beta HCG is synonymous with an HCG immunoperoxidase trophoblastic component. Detection of such a component using immunoperoxidase would seem to be essential for non-secreting tumours. From a prognostic standpoint, seminomas with a trophoblastic component are in fact dysembryomas and lymph node dissection should be performed, this being the only way of not missing a non-seminomatous metastasis. Therapeutically, pure seminomas are distinguished by the possibility of cure by radiotherapy. For all other tumours, orchidectomy must be followed by lymph node dissection. Subsequent treatment is decided on the basis of the results of the latter, with the exception of tumours with visceral metastases where chemotherapy must come first.

Adult↗

[Malignant histiocytosis simulating histiocytosis with massive sinusal lymphadenopathy, on the first lymph node biopsy (author's transl)].

The case of a 36 year old man who presented prominent bilateral cervical lymphadenopathies is reported. The diagnosis of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai and Dorfman, 1969) was retained on account of a massive hyperplasia of foamy histiocytes with PAS + inclusions, lipidic storage and hemocytophagy in the sinuses and cords of the lymph nodes. The patient died after 34 months evolution. At the autopsy an important proliferation by large atypical sometimes multinucleated cells in the lymph nodes, liver, bone and spleen was found, as observed in malignant histiocytosis. The ultrastructural study confirmed the histiocytic nature of the cells. The interest of immunohistochemical studies on paraffin embedded material with characterization of tumor histiocytes with lysozyme and alpha 1 antichymotrypsin is discussed. This report described an unusual form of malignant histiocytosis simulating on his early phase sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy.

Adult↗