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Biomedical subjects

D Francis

Publications and source records attributed to D Francis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Determination of estrogen receptor status in breast cancer by immunocytochemical examination of fine-needle aspirates].

Estrogen receptor status was determined by immunocytochemical examination of fine-needle aspirates in 109 cases of primary invasive breast carcinoma. The results were compared with those from biochemical determination performed on tumor cytosols. Positive agreement was found between qualitative determination (positive/negative) by the two methods in 83% of the cases, and after semiquantitative stratification into three groups the results corresponded in 76%. The predictive value of a positive result on fine-needle aspirate was 96%, and 57% of a negative result. It is concluded that immunocytochemical determination of estrogen receptor status of breast carcinomas on fine-needle aspirate with the applied technique cannot replace the current standard biochemical method.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

The evolution of human chromosome 21: evidence from in situ hybridization in marsupials and a monotreme.

We have mapped five human chromosome 21 (HSA 21) markers in marsupials and a monotreme, two major groups of mammals that diverged from eutherians 130-150 and 150-170 million years before present (MYrBP), respectively. We have found that these genes map to two distinct autosomal sites, one containing SOD1/CBR/BCEI and the other containing ETS2/INFAR, in the marsupials Macropus eugenii and Sminthopsis macroura (which belong to orders that diverged 40-80 MYrBP), as well as in the monotreme Ornithorhynchus anatinus (the platypus). Since marsupials and monotremes diverged independently from eutherians, these data suggest that HSA 21 genes were originally located in two separate autosomal blocks. In another Sminthopsis species, SOD1 is linked to TRF (a marker on HSA 3q), suggesting that the ancestral SOD1/CBR/BCEI region also included HSA 3 markers. We suggest that these blocks became fused early in the eutherian evolution to form a HSA 3/21 chromosome, which has remained intact in artiodactyls, but has been independently disrupted in both the primate and rodent lineages.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

High frequency jet ventilation: use of the Bain system for entrainment.

The use of a Bain system to convey anaesthetic gases for entrainment during high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) was evaluated by examining the effect of varying the fresh gas flow (Vf) on the end-tidal carbon dioxide (PECO2) in 46 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Anaesthesia was induced with methohexitone (1-2 mg.kg-1), fentanyl (1-1.5 micrograms.kg-1) and vecuronium (0.1 mg.kg-1). After endotracheal intubation with a Mallinckrodt Hi-Lo Jet cuffed endotracheal tube, the patient was immersed in a water bath and HFJV at 150 breaths per minute was instituted with an Acutronic AMS 1000 jet ventilator attached to the side channel of the Hi-Lo tube. A Bain system was attached to the proximal end of the endotracheal tube to provide gases for entrainment. Anaesthesia was maintained with an intravenous infusion of methohexitone (5 mg.kg-1.h-1) and 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen for both the jetted and entrained gases. PECO2 was determined at 5-min intervals by a single-breath technique using a calibrated Engstrom Eliza capnograph. Thirty patients were randomly allocated to receive Vf's of 50 (Group 1), 75 (Group 2) and 100 (Group 3) ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively. A further eight patients (Group 4) received a Vf of 100 ml.kg-1.min-1 for 15 min, 75 ml.kg-1.min-1 for the next 15 min and 50 ml.kg-1.min-1 thereafter. In a further group of eight patients (Group 5), Vf was initially 25 ml.kg-1.min-1 for 10 min and was then switched off for the remainder of the procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pulmonary hamartoma.

Eighty-nine cases of pulmonary hamartoma were studied. There were 51 men and 38 women, with a mean age of 57.5 years (range 14 to 76 years). A histologic diagnosis from examination of the resection specimens was obtained in all patients who had operations. Moreover, transthoracic needle aspiration biopsies were performed in 40 patients, with a diagnostic result in 34 (85%). The hamartomas were equally distributed in the pulmonary lobes; mean transverse diameter at the time of diagnosis was 21.7 +/- 16.2 mm. Tumor size was independent of the anatomic localization, but it correlated with the age of the patients (p less than 0.01). Tumor growth was recorded in 15 of 31 patients who had follow-up (45%); mean expansion in transverse diameter was 3.2 +/- 2.6 mm per year during an average observation time of 4.1 years (range 1 to 20 years). Pulmonary symptoms were present in 35 patients (39%). Seventy-five patients underwent operations as follows: enucleation (54), resection (11), lobectomy (5), pneumonectomy (4), and bronchoscopic removal (1). Since most pulmonary hamartomas are nonexpanding or slowly growing neoplasms, it is concluded that operation is necessary only when expansion is recorded in young or middle-aged patients and in patients with pulmonary symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Three genes which affect founding of aggregations in Polysphondylium pallidum.

PN6024 is an extraordinary mutant strain of the cellular slime mold Polysphondylium pallidum, characterized by having defects in many unlinked genes. New strains with altered development appeared spontaneously as aberrant clones of PN6024. Genetic crosses using the macrocyst sexual cycle were used to show that PN6030 (a clone like PN6024 in phenotype) carries mutations at two loci, emm and hge, whereas PN6031 (a clone of altered morphology) carries in addition a mutation at a third locus, mgt. hge and possibly mgt are linked to the mating type locus mat. The relatively high frequency of recombination between mat and hge is strong evidence that meiosis precedes macrocyst germination. The mutant genes themselves are of interest. A major effect of the emm-1 mutation is to remove the requirement for light to trigger aggregation. hge-1 greatly reduces the frequency of aggregation, whereas mgt-1 greatly increases it under standard conditions. None of these mutations interrupts later development leading to stalks and spore cells. It is hypothesized that all three genes act on steps immediately preceding the differentiation of the founder cells which initiate aggregation.

Crosses, Genetic↗
PubMed1990

Immunohistochemical identification of neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, chromogranin and endocrine granule constituent in neuroendocrine tumours.

Immunohistochemical identification of neuroendocrine tumour markers in paraffin embedded material from 22 tumours (5 small cell carcinomas of the lung (SCCL), 12 carcinoids, 2 medullary thyroid carcinomas, 2 pheochromocytomas and one paraganglioma) with electron microscopically verified dense-core granules revealed neuron-specific enolase in all but one tumour, synaptophsin in 15/22 (2 SCCL and 6 carcinoids negative), chromogranin in 16/22 (all SCCL and one carcinoid negative), and endocrine granule constituent in 18/22 (4 SCCL negative). The Grimelius silver methods stained 13/22 (all cases of SCCL and 4 carcinoids negative).

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

Transthoracic aspiration biopsy. Occurrence of non-neoplastic cells in biopsies from malignant and non-malignant lesions.

In the search for a possible distinction between false and true negative biopsies, an analysis of the distribution of the non-neoplastic cells has been performed in 100 randomized transthoracic aspiration biopsies in so many histologically verified cases. Aspiration biopsies from malignant lesions often contain many giant cells, alveolar epithelial cells, and mast cells, but a significant differences was only found for the mast cells. A negative biopsy containing many inflammatory cells and mast cells and showing a pronounced degree of necrosis may represent a chronic obstructive pneumonitis, and such a finding should always prompt further investigation.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1978

Transthoracic aspiration biopsy. The distribution of the non-neoplastic cells in aspiration biopsies from different types of malignant lung tumours.

In an earlier paper concerning classification of aspirated May-Grünwald-Giemsa stained malignant tumour cells from lung lesions, we found the sensitivity to be 80--95 per cent for adenocarcinomas, undifferentiated carcinomas and small cell carcinomas. For epidermoid carcinomas the sensitivity was only 64 per cent. It was therefore found of interest to see if a registration of the non-neoplastic cells could be an aid in the cytological tumour cell classification. An analysis has been performed of the distribution of the non-neoplastic cells in 71 aspiration biopsies from six different types of malignant lung tumours. A variegated population of many and different types of infalmmatory cells, mast cells and alveolar epithelial cells was a characteristic finding in biopsies from neoplasms with an epidermoid differentiation.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1978

Transthoracic aspiration biopsy. The occurrence and significance of alveolar epithelial cells.

Alveolar epithelial cells in pulmonary aspirates sometimes appear with a pronounced nuclear atypism which may give rise to diagnostic difficulties. An analysis has been performed of the occurrence and morphology of alveolar epithelial cells in a series of histologically-verified transthoracic aspiration biopsies not containing clear-cut malignant tumour cells. Alveolar epithelial cells, as well as atypism of these cells, are more often seen in biopsies from histologically malignant cases than in benigh cases. Their presence in a pulmonary aspirate may be due to a chronic obstruction atelectasis. In cases with tumour-like configuration of the alveolar epithelial cells, an open pulmonary biopsy is recommended, as it seems impossible to decide whether such findings represent a neoplastic or a reactive process.

Adolescent↗