Biomedical subjects

C Decaestecker

Publications and source records attributed to C Decaestecker.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Algorithm analysis of lectin glycohistochemistry and Feulgen cytometry for a new classification of nasal polyposis.

The aim of this study is to present a new classification of nasal polyps. This classification is based both on morphologic criteria relating to morphonuclear features from isolated Feulgen-stained nuclei and on glycohistochemical characteristics from histologic slides submitted to three lectins (peanut, wheat germ, and gorse seed agglutinins) and one neoglycoconjugate glycohistochemical stain. While the morphonuclear features (including 30 variables) relate essentially to chromatin pattern, the glycohistochemical stains (including 16 variables) are linked to the presence of specific carbohydrate moieties in cell membranes and cytoplasm. Forty-nine nasal polyps, including single polyps, diffuse polyposis, cystic fibrosis-related polyposis, and aspirin idiosyncracy-related polyposis associated with asthma, were thus characterized. All the variables were obtained quantitatively by means of computer-assisted microscopy. Two complementary methods of data classification were used to determine the actual diagnostic value contributed by each quantitative variable, namely, discriminant analysis, which forms part of multifactorial statistical analysis, and the decision tree technique, which is an artificial intelligence-related algorithm. The data so obtained show that our morphologic classification of nasal polyps fits in with the classification of nasal polyps defined on the basis of clinical criteria.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1997

Nearest-neighbor classification for identification of aggressive versus nonaggressive low-grade astrocytic tumors by means of image cytometry-generated variables.

The authors investigated whether cytometry-related variables generated by means of computer-assisted microscopic analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei can contribute significant information toward the characterization of low-grade astrocytic tumor aggressiveness. This investigation was conducted using the nearest-neighbor rule (a traditional classification method used in pattern recognition) to analyze a series of 250 supratentorial astrocytic tumors from adult patients. This series included 39 low-grade astrocytomas and 211 high-grade astrocytic tumors (including 47 anaplastic astrocytomas and 164 glioblastomas multiforme [GBMs]). The results show that the 3-nearest-neighbors rule enabled a subgroup of "atypical" astrocytomas to be distinguished from the "typical" tumors. The atypical astrocytoma species exhibited a DNA content (DNA ploidy level) and morphonuclear characteristics that were statistically more similar to the characteristics of GBMs than to those exhibited by the typical astrocytomas. An analysis of survival data revealed that patients with atypical astrocytomas survived for a significantly shorter period (p < 0.001) than patients with typical lesions of this kind. In fact, patients with atypical astrocytomas had a survival period similar to that of patients with anaplastic astrocytomas, whereas patients with typical astrocytomas had a survival period significantly longer (p < 0.0001) than those associated with anaplastic astrocytomas and GBMs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Decision tree induction: a useful tool for assisted diagnosis and prognosis in tumor pathology.

The aim of the present work is to show that decision tree induction algorithms are a useful tool for extracting reliable information from data series, with the objective of assisting pathologists in identifying specific diagnostic and prognostic markers in various types of tumor pathologies. In terms of accuracy, we show that the decision tree technique exceeds other more sophisticated techniques, such as multilayer neural networks. Furthermore, because of the case with which decision tree results can be interpreted (logical classification rules), new methodologies can be readily developed to further assist in analyzing complex data that mix heterogeneous features. In this paper, we illustrate such capabilities in the context of different complex diagnostic and/or prognostic problems in tumor pathology relating to bladder, astrocytomas, and adipose tissues.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Contribution of quantitative lectin histochemistry to characterizing well-differentiated, dedifferentiated and poorly differentiated liposarcomas.

OBJECTIVE: To find new diagnostic markers in the group of lipomatous tumors. STUDY DESIGN: The histochemical lectin staining pattern was characterized in a series of 45 lipomatous lesions, including 10 typical lipomas, 6 atypical lipomas, 8 well-differentiated, 6 myxoid, 5 dedifferentiated and 10 pleomorphic liposarcomas. Three lectins were used-peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutinin, which binds to terminal Gal(beta 1,3)GalNAc residues; wheat germ (Triticum vulgare) agglutinin (s-WGA, the succinylated form of WGA), which binds to ((1-4)-D-GlcNAc)n and Neu5NAc residues; and jack bean (Concanavalia ensiformis) agglutinin which binds to alpha-D-Man and alpha-D-Glc residues. Histochemical staining was quantitatively measured by means of a cell image processor. RESULTS: In the case of certain carbohydrate residues, typical lipomas closely resemble atypical lipomas, which in turn closely resemble well-differentiated liposarcomas; typical lipomas differ significantly from well-differentiated liposarcomas. This indicates that atypical lipomas, or at least some of them, could represent a biologic link between typical lipomas and well-differentiated liposarcomas. While well-differentiated and pleomorphic liposarcomas differed significantly from each other, the poorly differentiated component of dedifferentiated liposarcomas included histochemical lectin properties, which were common to both well-differentiated and pleomorphic liposarcomas. CONCLUSION: Some atypical lipomas exhibit glycohistochemical characteristics that are common to those of well-differentiated liposarcoma. The poorly differentiated component of dedifferentiated liposarcomas remains more differentiated in terms of glycohistochemical markers than do poorly differentiated pleomorphic liposarcomas.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Methodological aspects of using decision trees to characterise leiomyomatous tumors.

The aim of the present work is to present the potential uses of a classification technique labeled the "decision tree" for tumor characterisation when faced with a large number of features. The decision tree technique enables multifeature logical classification rules to be produced by determining discriminatory values for each feature selected. In this report, we propose a methodology that used decision trees to compare and evaluate the information contributed by different types of features for tumor characterisation. This methodology is able to produce a set of hypotheses related to a diagnosis and or prognosis problem. For example, hypotheses can be producted (on the basis of a set of descriptive features) to explain why tumor cases belong to a given histopathological group. To illustrate our purpose, this methodology was applied to the difficult problem of leiomyomatous tumour diagnosis. The aim was to illustrate what kind of diagnostic information can be extracted from a sample data set including 23 smooth muscle tumors (14 benign leiomyomas and 9 malignant leiomyosarcomas) described by a large set of computer-assisted, microscope-generated features. Three groups of features were used relating to: (1) ploidy level determination (10 features), (2) quantitative chromatin pattern description (15 features), and (3) immunohistochemically related antigen specificities (6 features). All these features were quantified by digital cell image analysis. The results suggest that an objective distinction between leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas can be established by means of simple logical rules depending on only a few features among which the immunohistochemically revealed antigen expression of desmin plays a preponderant part. One of the combinations of features proposed by the methodology is interesting for pathologists, because it includes two features describing the appearance of a nucleus in terms of chromatin distribution homogeneity and density, two features widely used by pathologists in tumor-grading systems.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

The use of the decision tree technique and image cytometry to characterize aggressiveness in World Health Organization (WHO) grade II superficial transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder.

The aggressiveness of human bladder tumours can be assessed by means of various classification systems, including the one proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the WHO classification, three levels of malignancy are identified as grades I (low), II (intermediate), and III (high). This classification system operates satisfactorily for two of the three grades in forecasting clinical progression, most grade I tumours being associated with good prognoses and most grade III with bad. In contrast, the grade II group is very heterogeneous in terms of their clinical behaviour. The present study used two computer-assisted methods to investigate whether it is possible to sub-classify grade II tumours: computer-assisted microscope analysis (image cytometry) of Feulgen-stained nuclei and the Decision Tree Technique. This latter technique belongs to the Supervised Learning Algorithm and enables an objective assessment to be made of the diagnostic value associated with a given parameter. The combined use of these two methods in a series of 292 superficial transitional cell carcinomas shows that it is possible to identify one subgroup of grade II tumours which behave clinically like grade I tumours and a second subgroup which behaves clinically like grade III tumours. Of the nine ploidy-related parameters computed by means of image cytometry [the DNA index (DI), DNA histogram type (DHT), and the percentages of diploid, hyperdiploid, triploid, hypertriploid, tetraploid, hypertetraploid, and polyploid cell nuclei], it was the percentage of hyperdiploid and hypertetraploid cell nuclei which enabled identification, rather than conventional parameters such as the DI or the DHT.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Image cytometry analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei in 72 lipomatous lesions including atypical lipomas and well-differentiated liposarcomas.

Well-differentiated lipomatous tumors constitute a histopathologic category whose nomenclature has been controversial, particularly with respect to the distinction between atypical lipomas of the extremities and well-differentiated liposarcomas of the retroperitoneum. To determine whether there were differences in image analytic parameters between these neoplasms, 72 lesions including 21 typical lipomas, 7 atypical lipomas, 16 retroperitoneal and 5 nonretroperitoneal well-differentiated, 9 dedifferentiated, and 14 pleomorphic liposarcomas were submitted to the computer-assisted microscopic analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. This methodology enabled four groups of variables to be calculated. These included: (1) quantitative chromatin pattern description (14 variables); (2) the measurement of proliferative activity (1 variable); (3) nuclear DNA content (DNA ploidy level, 5 variables); and (4) the measurement of cell density and topographical cell nuclei organization (2 variables). The results strongly suggest that atypical lipomas, whether superficial or deep, and well-differentiated liposarcomas, whether retroperitoneal or not, belong to the same category in terms of the variables analyzed.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

The value of nuclear DNA and texture analysis by digital image processing in the diagnosis of lipomatous and leiomyomatous tumours.

The present study investigates whether the quantitative chromatin pattern description carried out by means of the digital cell image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei can contribute valuable diagnostic information on sarcomas. A series of 77 soft tissue tumours was consequently studied. This series included 9 benign lipomas versus 26 malignant liposarcomas and 26 benign leiomyomas versus 16 malignant leiomyosarcomas. Of the 26 liposarcomas, 14 were primary and 12 recurrent tumours. Of the 16 leiomyosarcomas, 13 were primary and three recurrent tumours. The results show that the combined use of principal-components analysis and the discriminant analyses of digital data obtained by means of the computer-assisted microscope analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei made it possible to obtain a clear-cut distinction between the three histopathological groups relating to the lipoma/liposarcoma group of soft tumours. In contrast, while a clear-cut distinction could be made between the recurrent leiomyosarcomas and the primary leiomyosarcomas, such a distinction was not possible between the benign leiomyomas and the malignant primary leiomyosarcomas. This feature, along with previous ones obtained through DNA ploidy level determination, suggests to us that leiomyomas, or at least some of them, are in the process of malignant transformation. In other words, leiomyomas might be the pre-malignant counterpart of leiomyosarcomas, a feature that the present results do not suggest for lipomas versus liposarcomas.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

The computer-assisted microscope analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei linked to a supervised learning algorithm as an aid to prognosis assessment in invasive transitional bladder cell carcinomas.

The aim of the present work is to ascertain whether additional information to grading and staging can be obtained for the prognosis of invasive bladder tumours (T2, T3, T4) by means of two computer-assisted methodologies. The first methodology relates to the digital image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei and the second to a supervised learning algorithm named Decision Tree. The digital image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei generated 11 variables for nuclear DNA content and 15 for quantitatively describing chromatin pattern. These 26 variables were submitted to a Decision Tree technique which produces multi-attribute logical classification rules by selecting informative variables and determining discriminatory values for each of them. A series of 41 patients for which the majority of the T2 bladder tumours (68%) were associated with a 'good' prognosis (remission) while the majority of the T3-T4 ones (77%) were associated with a 'bad' one (clinical progression or death) were submitted to the proposed approach. The results show that the decision tree was able to characterise the tumours associated with a 'bad' prognosis in the T2 sub-group (32%) and the tumours associated with a 'good' prognosis in the T3-T4 one (23%), by using only few image-generated variables (added to the clinical stage).

Adult↗

PubMed1996

The contribution of image cytometry and artificial intelligence-related methods of numerical data analysis for adipose tumor histopathologic classification.

Thirty-five lipomatous tumors were quantitatively described using 47 variables generated by means of computer-assisted microscope analysis. Of these 47 quantitative variables, 27 were computed on Feulgen-stained specimens (25 on cytologic and 2 on histologic samples) and, of the remaining 20, 8 related to vimentin and S-100 protein immunostaining patterns and the other 12 to the glycohistochemical staining patterns of peanut agglutinin, succinylated wheat germ agglutinin, and concavalin A agglutinin. The 35 lipomatous tumors included 6 atypical lipomas and 8 well differentiated, 5 dedifferentiated, 6 myxoid, and 10 pleomorphic liposarcomas. The actual diagnostic value contributed by each of the 47 variables with respect to the 5 lipomatous tumor groups was determined by means of the decision tree technique, an artificial intelligence-related algorithm that forms part of the supervised learning algorithms. Of the 47 quantitative variables, the decision tree technique retained 8: i.e., 2 tissue architecture-, 2 DNA ploidy level-, 2 morphonuclear-, 1 lectin histochemical-, and 1 vimentin immunostain-related variables. The decision tree technique made use of these 8 variables to set up logical rules that make it possible to identify atypical lipomas from well differentiated liposarcomas, on the one hand, and dedifferentiated liposarcomas from those that are well differentiated and pleomorphic, on the other. Thus, the combination of an artificial intelligence algorithm analyzing quantitative variables generated by means of the computer-assisted microscope analysis of cytologic and histologic samples from lipomatous tumors can be considered an expert system contributing significant diagnostic information to conventional diagnosis.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1996

Quantitative measurements of desmin and vimentin immunostains and cell density in leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas.

The distinction between benign and malignant smooth muscle tumours relying on histological features such as the mitotic index and pleomorphism remains a generally acknowledged difficulty in modern pathology. A cell image processor was therefore used to quantitatively assess the desmin and vimentin immunostain in 39 smooth muscle tumours which included 26 benign (leiomyomas) and 13 malignant (leiomyosarcomas) cases. The 13 leiomyosarcomas were primary (non-recurrent and non-metastatic). Ploidy level and cell density were also assessed on each of these 39 tumours by means of the computer-assisted microscopic analysis of 5-microns thick Feulgen-stained histological sections. The results show that while neither the ploidy level determination nor the quantitative assessment of the vimentin immunostain made it possible to distinguish between leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas, cell density determination and the quantitative assessment of the desmin immunostain enabled such a distinction to be made. Indeed, the leiomyomas exhibited a much higher level of desmin positivity than the leiomyosarcomas, as did diploid tumours as compared to the aneuploid (benign or malignant) ones. Furthermore, the leiomyoma group exhibited a significantly lower mean cell density value than the leiomyosarcoma group. The present study further confirms the lack of relationship between ploidy level and cytological malignancy in smooth muscle tumours.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Does any correlation exist between the Gleason classification system and the computer-assisted microscope analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei features in human prostate adenocarcinoma?

Grading prostatic adenocarcinomas remains an important problem. Various systems exist (including those proposed by Gleason) but none of these systems seems able to reliably predict either the lethal potential of a tumor in an individual patient or the responsiveness of an individual tumor to various forms of therapy. The most frequently used grading system, as proposed by Gleason, is essentially based on the description of tumor growth pattern. The aim of the present work is therefore to investigate whether the quantitative description of morphonuclear features (including cell anaplasia) and the DNA ploidy level can contribute significant information to the Gleason grading, thus partly at least reducing its subjective nature. This quantitative description was carried out by means of the Feulgen-stained nuclei image cytometry computation of 24 variables in 101 prostatic adenocarcinomas. The results show that both DNA ploidy- and morphonuclear-related variables were weak discriminators for the various grades of the Gleason classification system, and particularly between the high (Gleason 4 and 5) and the other Gleason-grades, i.e. the low (Gleason 1 and 2) and intermediate (Gleason 3) ones. The morphonuclear evidence of anaplasia is thus not redundant data on tumor growth pattern and may be expected to provide additional diagnostic information.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1995

Identification of high versus lower risk clinical subgroups in a group of adult patients with supratentorial anaplastic astrocytomas.

The present work investigates whether computer-assisted techniques can contribute any significant information to the characterization of astrocytic tumor aggressiveness. Two complementary computer-assisted methods were used. The first method made use of the digital image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei, making it possible to compute 15 morphonuclear and 8 nuclear DNA content-related (ploidy level) parameters. The second method enabled the most discriminatory parameters to be determined. This second method is the Decision Tree technique, which forms part of the Supervised Learning Algorithms. These two techniques were applied to a series of 250 supratentorial astrocytic tumors of the adult. This series included 39 low-grade (astrocytomas, AST) and 211 high-grade (47 anaplastic astrocytomas, ANA, and 164 glioblastomas, GBM) astrocytic tumors. The results show that some AST, ANA and GBM did not fit within simple logical rules. These "complex" cases were labeled NC-AST, NC-ANA and NC-GBM because they were "non-classical" (NC) with respect to their cytological features. An analysis of survival data revealed that the patients with NC-GBM had the same survival period as patients with GBM. In sharp contrast, patients with ANA survived significantly longer than patients with NC-ANA. In fact, the patients with ANA had the same survival period as patients who died from AST, while the patients with NC-ANA had a survival period similar to those with GBM. All these data show that the computer-assisted techniques used in this study can actually provide the pathologist with significant information on the characterization of astrocytic tumor aggressiveness.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Stereotactic biopsies from astrocytic tumors. Diagnostic information contributed by the quantitative chromatin pattern description.

OBJECTIVE: To reduce the problem of heterogeneity in astrocytic tumors by means of computer-assisted microscope analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-eight glial tumors for which we obtained 227 stereotactic biopsies were subjected to digital cell image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. This series of 38 glial tumors included 36 supratentorial astrocytic tumors (13 astrocytomas, 7 anaplastic astrocytomas and 16 glioblastoma multiformes) and 2 grade 3 astrocytic tumors of the cerebellum. RESULTS: The results suggest a new methodology, enabling the biologic characteristics of the brain parenchymal area surrounding a given glial tumor to be characterized. This methodology relies on the performance of three successive steps. The first is quantitative characterization of nuclear morphology and its chromatin pattern by means of 15 morphonuclear variables. This characterization is carried out by means of the computer-assisted microscope analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. The second step consists of setting up morphonuclear data banks, with each process giving the precise portrait of a given cell nuclear population. This process is carried out by means of multivariate analysis, taking into account the 15 variables mentioned above. Multivariate analysis includes principal components analysis followed by the canonical transformation of the data. The third step consists of testing unknown cases against these morphonuclear data banks. This is carried out by means of linear discriminant analysis, which enables the various cell nuclear types in the stereotactic biopsy to be quantified. CONCLUSION: The present methodology makes it possible to investigate whether infiltrating tumor cells are present in or absent from the parenchymal brain area surrounding a glial tumor. It can therefore contribute additional information to that contributed by computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging with respect to the precise delineation of the volume of a brain tumor. This delineation must be as precise as possible to allow total surgical resection of the tumor and prevention of its recurrence.

Astrocytoma↗

PubMed1988

Indirect evidence of glomerular/tubular mixed-type postexercise proteinuria in healthy humans.

Hypothetical mechanisms have been postulated to explain the presence of proteins in urine after severe exercise. Recently, it has been shown that several amino acids inhibit tubular protein reabsorption. Seven healthy men, hyperhydrated, were studied during a 2-min bicycle exercise at supramaximal load. The subjects were tested without or with lysine perfusion (0.4 g/kg body wt iv). In both testing conditions, blood lactate increased to 13.8 mmol/l. Total protein urinary excretion increased to 1.10 and 1.67 mg/min, without and with lysine perfusion, compared with 79 micrograms/min at rest. In the meantime, albumin excretion increased 48- and 74-fold, respectively, while beta 2-microglobulin excretion increased 97- and 1,043-fold compared with basal values. The renal clearance of albumin increased to 8.4 microliters/min without lysine and to 12.0 microliters/min with lysine perfusion (rest 0.18). beta 2-Microglobulin clearance increased to 10.0 and 39.3 ml/min, respectively (rest 0.05). These data clearly demonstrate that postexercise proteinuria is of mixed type after exhaustive short-term exertion. Both increased glomerular permeability and partial tubular reabsorption inhibition to proteins appear to be involved.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of TNP-470-induced modifications to cell functions in HUVEC and cancer cells.

The aim of the present work is to characterize (both in vitro and in vivo) the influence of TNP-470 on different cell functions involved in angiogenesis and, more particularly, on endothelial cell growth, cell migration and vessel formation. In addition, a possible direct anti-tumor activity was investigated. To this end, we made use in vitro of human umbilical cord endothelial vein (HUVEC) cells and two human cancer cell lines. The TNP-470 effects on the growth of cancer cell lines were compared to those of Taxol (an inhibitor of microtubule depolymerization), a cytotoxic reference which also displays strong antiogenic activity at low (non-toxic) doses. The in vitro effects were characterized on the mouse mammary MXT adenocarcinoma, on which we also characterized the influence of three clinically active anti-tumor compounds (as cytotoxic references). The purpose of this part of the study was to determine the actual TNP-470-related anti-tumor activity and to evaluate the possible toxic side-effects at the doses at which this compound induces tumor growth inhibition. These investigations were completed by analyzing the TNP-470 effects on HUVEC cell motility and in vitro and in vivo vessel formation. The results show that in vitro, TNP-470 inhibited the growth not only of HUVEC, but also of neoplastic cells. Furthermore, TNP-470 clearly inhibited in vitro endothelial cell motility (p<10(-5)). However, it had only a minor effect (p=0.02) on the formation of HUVEC cell networks on Matrigel(R). In vivo, TNP-470 was able to inhibit tumor growth (on the MXT model) at a dose (50 mg/kg) associated with toxic side-effects. Histological examination showed a significant inhibition of vessel formation (p<0.001) at high (toxic) and intermediary (non-toxic) doses (50 and 20 mg/kg). However, we also observed that TNP-470 stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. Thus, care must be taken with the TNP-470 compound in combination with other anti-tumoral agents in order to avoid certain unfortunate clinical complications.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The differential expression of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 in normal lymphoid tissue and non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkin's lymphomas.

The WHO classification of lymphomas was established on the basis of clinical, morphological, immunohistochemical and genetic criteria. However, each entity displays its own spectrum of clinical aggressiveness. Treatment success varies widely and is not predictable. Since galectins are involved in oncogenesis and the physiology of immune cells, we investigated whether galectin-1 and galectin-3 immunohistochemical expression could differ in 25 normal lymphoid tissues, 42 non-Hodgkins and 14 Hodgkins lymphomas. Immunohistochemical galectin expression was submitted to semi-quantitative and quantitative (computer-assisted microscopy) evaluations. This study is completed by an analysis (by means of quantitative RT-PCR) of galectin-3 mRNA expression in 3 normal lymph nodes, 3 follicular lymphomas (FLs) and 3 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). The data show that in normal lymphoid tissue, lymphocytes do not express galectin-1 and rarely express galectin-3. In contrast, galectin-3 was expressed in 8 of the 16 DLBCL cases and in 1 of the 8 FL cases. Furthermore, galectin-3 mRNA was expressed 3 times more in the DLBCLs than in the FLs. While the blood vessel walls of the lymphomas expressed galectin-1, the vessel walls of normal lymphoid tissues did not. This expression of galectin-1 in blood vessel walls was correlated with vascular density. The present study thus shows that DLBCL can be distinguished from normal lymphoid tissue and other lymphomas on the basis of galectin-3 expression.

Galectin 1↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sialic acid residues in the labial salivary glands from Sjögren's syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the composition and expression of sialic acid in the labial salivary glands (LSG) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: LSG of 19 patients with primary SS (n = 11) or secondary SS (n = 8) were studied. Specimens from 7 healthy women served as controls. Computer-assisted microscopy was employed to quantitatively determine the percentage of positive structures, the staining intensity and the heterogeneity for the 4 biotinylated plant lectins Tritricum vulgaris L. (WGA), Maackia amurensis (MAA), Sambucus nigra (SNA) and Canavalia ensiformis L. (Con A). RESULTS: In the acini there was a significant decrease in the staining heterogeneity of WGA in SS compared to controls; the same was observed with respect to MAA staining in the connective tissue and extralobular ducts. In the intralobular ducts, primary SS differed from normal and secondary SS mainly in terms of a decrease in the percentage of positively labeled MAA tissue. In addition, Con A stained acinar cells were significantly more numerous in secondary SS compared with primary SS. CONCLUSION: Differences in the degree of glycoconjugate sialylation were found in SS labial salivary glands, and may play a role in the disease process.

Diagnosis, Differential↗