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Biomedical subjects

E Agapitos

Publications and source records attributed to E Agapitos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

A morphometric study of neovascularization in colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Neovascularization reportedly is correlated with metastasis, recurrence, and prognosis in some types of tumors. Microvessel quantification in so-called "hot spots" has been studied extensively as the only factor reflecting angiogenesis in various malignant tumors. The objective of this report was to evaluate multiple morphometric microvascular characteristics in addition to microvessel density (MVD) in colorectal carcinomas to provide a better approach to examining the relation between angiogenesis and clinicopathologic factors and prognosis. METHODS: Histologic sections from 106 colorectal adenocarcinomas and 17 adenomas, immunostained for factor VIII, were evaluated by image analysis for the quantification of MVD, total vascular area (TVA), and microvascular branching, as well as several morphometric parameters related to the vessel size or shape. RESULTS: MVD gradually decreased with progressing Dukes stage. The vascular branching counts were significantly higher in carcinomas than in adenomas, and remained unaffected through progressing Dukes stages. Shape-related parameters showed significant differences between carcinomas and adenomas and between different grades of differentiation. Branching counts and TVA were the only factors found to be of prognostic significance. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that neovascularization is an early critical event in colorectal tumorigenesis, reaching a maximum level early in the malignant process. Its prognostic significance is better assessed by quantification of TVA and the branching pattern of microvessels, whereas MVD does not provide significant prognostic information for colorectal carcinoma patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Determination of CMV placentitis. Diagnostic application of the polymerase chain reaction.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection constitutes an important cause of intrauterine death. In the present study CMV infection of placentas resulting from intrauterine deaths was assessed by immunohistochemistry and by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among 32 cases of chronic villitis examined, 7 were found by PCR to be associated with CMV infection, although light microscopic examination revealed only 3 of them, while 4 had shown positive immunohistochemical staining. In conclusion, CMV may be considered to be a relatively common cause of placentitis, and PCR is a helpful tool in confirming the nature of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Ooplasmic injection of elongating spermatids for the treatment of non-obstructive azoospermia.

We applied the technique of ooplasmic elongating spermatid injection to the treatment of non-obstructive azoospermia. Mature oocytes were injected with elongating spermatids isolated from testicular biopsy material obtained from 13 non-obstructed azoospermic men. Seventy-three oocytes were successfully injected with elongating spermatids and were then cultured for 36 h. At 13 h post-injection 68 oocytes were found to be activated and 52 of them were fertilized. Forty-one 2- to 4-cell stage embryos developed from normally fertilized oocytes were transferred. At least two embryos were transferred to each female partner. Two pregnancies were achieved. Elongating spermatid injection may have a role in the treatment of non-obstructive azoospermia.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cell proliferation rate and nuclear morphometry in Roberts syndrome.

Roberts syndrome (RS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized primarily by symmetric reduction anomalies of all limbs, growth retardation and craniofacial abnormalities. Most RS patients are reported to present a typical abnormality of their constitutive heterochromatin, accompanied by abnormal cytological growth characteristics. We present an extremely severe case of an RS fetus, karyotypically documented, with a clinical presentation including growth deficiency, tetraphocomelia, frontal meningocele, craniofacial abnormalities and penile enlargement with hypospadias. Nuclear morphometrical analysis in tissues of various organs revealed a reduced nuclear size in RS as compared to normal controls, and statistically significant differences in morphometric parameters related to the nuclear shape. Immunohistochemical study of the same organs showed a reduced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the presented case, thus indicating a decreased cell proliferation rate in RS. Our results reconfirm previously reported findings in cultured fibroblasts of RS cases, thereby reinforcing on a histologic level, the hypothesis that reduced cell proliferation may be involved in the growth retardation and the reduction abnormalities observed in RS.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1997

Prenatal ultrasonographic detection of the tracheal atresia sequence.

We report a rare case of tracheal atresia, without fistula, in a 19 weeks' female fetus. The abnormality was detected by prenatal ultrasonography, which demonstrated a bilateral and uniform hyperechogenicity and enlargement of the lungs, associated with ascites and moderate oligohydramnios. We suggest that oligohydramnios may be helpful in distinguishing the upper respiratory tract obstruction from congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lungs, type III. A morphometric study revealed a three-fold more dense pulmonary vasculature in comparison with two control cases of the same gestational age. The pathological finding of pulmonary and vascular hyperplasia as well as the pathophysiology of the syndrome are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy (Leigh's disease): a clinicopathologic study of ten cases.

Archival material and clinical data of 10 autopsy cases of Leigh's disease (LS), aged from 44 days to 9 years at death, were reviewed. Development delay, irregular respiration, feeding difficulty, and abnormal eye signs were the most common symptoms. Seizures (five of ten cases) were also frequent. In most patients, the diagnosis of LS was established postmortemly by the presence of symmetrical spongiform lesions affecting several brain centers at autopsy. The histologic examination disclosed associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in six cases, while fatty infiltration of the hepatocytes was observed in four cases. Microvesicular degeneration of the renal tubular epithelial cells was also seen in four cases. Our observations suggest that liver and kidney involvement is a component of LS and that this rare entity has to be considered as a polysystematic disorder, able to affect other organs besides the nervous system and the heart, a fact which has not been emphasized enough in the existing literature.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1997

The application of image analysis in the measurement of the myocardial infarct area in an experimental model.

BACKGROUND: Thrombolytic therapy improves left ventricular ejection fraction and survival. Using the image analysis method, the study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of intraaortic balloon pump used in conjunction with reperfusion in reducing infarct size by measuring the infarct area. Also, the usefulness of image analysis as an objective method for the measurement of myocardial infarct area is evaluated. METHODS: 22 dogs were subjected to proximal left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. The dogs were classified into 3 groups. In group I (n = 7), occlusion lasted for 6 hours. In group II (n = 6), 2 hours of occlusion were followed by reperfusion. In group III, (n = 9) after 2 hours of occlusion, the dogs were assisted with the intraaortic balloon pump throughout the 4 hours of reperfusion. The measurement of the infarcted area components (fragmentation, edema, hemorrhage and polymorphonuclear infiltrations) was followed by a semiautomatic method including in connection a microscope photographic camera, a scanner and a computer with the appropriate software. The results were analyzed statistically using the t-test. RESULT: In group I, the mean value of fragmentation was 28.2%, in group II, 10.1% (p < 0.01 versus group I) and in group III, 3.9% (p < 0.01 versus I and p < 0.05 versus group II). CONCLUSION: Reperfusion and intraaortic balloon pump increased the salvage of the ischemic myocardium over that achieved by reperfusion alone in a canine occlusion - reperfusion model. Image analysis could be considered as an accurate and objective method for the measurement of the myocardial infarct area in the experimental model of our study and it could be used in any other experimental study in which the accurate measurement of myocardial infarct area is needed.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of brain occurring after cardiac transplantation.

This case report concerns a case of NHL which affected a 56 year-old patient after cardiac transplantation. The patient was hospitalized because of worsening congestive failure. Despite maximal medical treatment the patient continued to be in NYHA Class III-IV and underwent orthotopic cardiac allograft transplantation. The NHL developed in the CNS eighteen months after surgery and had a very quick lethal progression.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

The myocardial fibrosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The application of image analysis in the myocardial biopsies.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study is to investigate whether myocardial fibrosis measured by image analysis may be considered as an important and accurate index of dilated cardiomyopathy and its prognosis. METHODS: The study group consisted of 24 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, which was diagnosed by echocardiography, radionuclide ventriculography, cardiac catheterization, and left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. The patients' overall disability was conventionally expressed with the criteria for functional capacity. Using image analysis, the percentage of fibrosis in a total of 35 myocardial biopsies was accurately measured, followed by a study comparing the percentage of myocardial fibrosis and the clinical parameters (left ventricular ejection fraction and overall functional capacity), showing the degree of each patient's heart failure. RESULTS: A correlation was found among fibrosis, left ventricular ejection fraction, and overall functional capacity. The cases with small values of fibrosis (< 10%) have big values of ejection fraction and belong to Class I of overall functional capacity. The cases with big values of fibrosis (> 10%) belong to Classes III and IV of overall functional capacity and have small values of ejection fraction. The results of the comparative study were graphically presented and considered significant. CONCLUSION: Myocardial fibrosis measured by image analysis might be considered an important prognostic index of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Epithelial, possibly precancerous, lesions of the lung in relation to smoking, passive smoking, and socio-demographic variables.

We have undertaken an autopsy-based study to evaluate the etiologic importance of active and passive smoking, as well as socio-demographic variables, in the development of pathologic precursors of lung cancer. Lung specimens were taken at autopsy from 531 persons who had died within four hours from a cause other than respiratory or cancer in Athens (Greece) or the surrounding area. Specimens were examined blindly for basal cell hyperplasia, squamous cell metaplasia, cell atypia and mucous cell metaplasia, i.e., pathological entities considered as epithelial, possibly precancerous, lesions (EPPL). Interviews were conducted with next of kin of the deceased. Suitable autopsy specimens as well as completed interviews were eventually available for 275 subjects. EPPL score was regressed on the available independent variables. EPPL score was higher among active smokers than among nonsmokers, while ex-smokers occupied an intermediate position. Conditional on smoking habits, EPPL score was higher among women than among men and higher among manual than among non-manual workers, in agreement with the corresponding patterns with respect to lung cancer. Nonsmoking women married to ever smokers had significantly higher EPPL score than those married to never smokers. The overall findings of this study suggest that EPPL is a valuable indicator of lung cancer risk and that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is associated with higher EPPL levels and therefore with higher lung cancer risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Primary Sjögren's syndrome complicated by hemolytic uremic syndrome.

We describe a case of primary Sjögren's syndrome complicated by hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), possibly the first report of this association. The immunohistochemical findings suggest that immune complexes may have contributed to the endothelial injury and the pathogenesis of HUS in this case.

Female↗
PubMed1996

The contribution of pathological examination of the placenta in the investigation of the causes of foetal mortality.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of histological examination of the placenta during routine post-mortem examination of foetal, perinatal and early neonatal deaths with particular reference to the cause of death. Three hundred (300) placentas were examinated over a period of three years (1988-1991). The clinical history, autopsy examination and placental histological examination were taken into account to determine the cause of death. Autopsy findings revealed the cause of death in only 33 cases (12.9%). In contrast, placental examination allowed us to determine the cause of death in 123 cases (48.4%) especially in abortions (54.4%). The most frequent abnormalities found were vascular insufficiency in intrauterine deaths (16.47%) and acute chorioamnionitis with foetal involvement in abortions (31.4%). Fifty six (56) cases with diagnoses of acute chorioamnionitis, chronic villitis of unknown aetiology and erythroblastosis were classified in the highrisk group for a subsequent pregnancy. Routine histological examination of the placenta following a perinatal death constitutes a necessary complement to autopsy examination, as it provides essential information for the cause of death and therefore helps in planning and more effective prenatal monitoring of a future pregnancy.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1996

The role of factor XIIIa in the mesenchymatogenesis of the human placenta: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Human placentas from normal pregnancies [9], interrupted pregnancies due to congenital anomalies of the fetuses [7] and legal abortions [9] were examined immunohistochemically using monoclonal antiserum for factor XIIIa. Hofbauer cells of the chorionic villi were strongly positive for factor XIIIa. Deeper staining in early pregnancy reflects the greater numbers of Hofbauer cells in this period of gestation. Our findings support the hypothesis that the presence of factor XIIIa in the Hofbauer cells promotes the maturation of the chorionic villi.

Chorionic Villi↗
PubMed1996

Estimation of the percentage of carotid atheromatous plaque components and investigation of a probable correlation with the neurologic status of the patients.

The aim of this study was to estimate the percentage of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque components using image analysis in 50 cases of carotid endarterectomies as well as the search for a probable correlation with the neurologic status of the patients. According to their preoperational neurologic status, the patients were classified as asymptomatic (Group I), symptomatic-TIA (Group II) and symptomatic-previous stroke (Group III). For the image analysis and the exact estimation of the carotid plaque components, special algorithms were developed. The following plaque components were measured: fibrous component, calcium, cellular infiltrations, cholesterol and hemorrhage. Between the groups I-III, there was not found any statistically significant difference of the mean value of all the estimated parameters. Our results indicate that the morphology of the carotid atheromatous plaque seems not to be correlated with the neurologic status of the patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Cystadenolymphoma of the parotid gland an immunohistochemical study of the epithelial component of twenty cases.

Carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, Keratin, Desmin, Vimentin, CD30, lysozyme, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, somatostatin and glucagon were looked for using immunohistochemical methods in the epithelial component of 20 parotid gland cystadenolymphomas and 20 normal parotid glands. Carcino-embryonic antigen, ephithelial membrane antigen, S-100 protein, and somatostatin were found in the epithelial cells of most of the cystadenolymphomas. In normal parotid tissue, carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, Keratin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, and S-100 protein were found in all three types of ductal cells, somatostatin only in intercalated and striated ductal cells, and lysozyme only in acinar and intercalated ductal cells. Desmin and CD30 were found in the epithelial component of seven of the 20 tumors versus none of the 20 normal parotid glands. Glucagon and Vimentin were negative both in tumor epithelial cells and in normal parotid ductal cells. Our results support the theory that cystadenolymphomas arise from epithelial cells. The presence of lysozyme in the epithelial tumor cells and in the intercalated ductal cells of normal parotid tissue suggest that cystadenolymphomas may arise from the intercalated ducts. The presence of S-100 and somatostatin may indicate that the tumor derives from neuroendocrine structures, but further studies are needed to clarify this point.

Adenolymphoma↗