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Biomedical subjects

H Fox

Publications and source records attributed to H Fox.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Placentation in the fallopian tube.

The processes of implantation and placentation have been studied in 105 tubal pregnancies. Successful placentation occurred only with plicomural or mural implantations and in these the early development of the placenta occurred in the tube in exactly the same way as it does in the uterus, although tubal placentation was usually membranaceous in nature, possibly because of an inadequate blood supply. Invasion of the placental bed by interstitial extravillous cytotrophoblast occurred in the tube in the same manner as it does in the uterus whereas extravillous trophoblast invaded tubal vessels in the same fashion as it does the spiral arteries in the uterus. Subsequent development of the placenta in the tube differed from that in the uterus in so far as villous invasion of the tubal tissues, with consequent development of the placenta in the subserosa or on the serosa, was common. The ability of the blastocyst to implant in the tube with subsequent normal placentation indicates that these processes are purely a function of trophoblastic tissue, with maternal tissues playing only a passive role.

Decidua↗
PubMed1987

The prognostic significance of lymphatic vascular space invasion in endometrial adenocarcinoma.

In a histopathological review of 171 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma, 42 neoplasms demonstrated lymphatic and/or vascular invasion. This finding was significantly correlated with depth of myometrial involvement and stage of disease at operation. Tumour cell type, and histological grade were correlated to a much lesser extent, whilst the patient's age bore no relation. Prognosis was significantly poorer in patients whose adenocarcinomas had invaded lymphatic and/or vascular spaces compared to those whose neoplasms had not. These observations emphasize the importance of considering lymphatic/vascular invasion in staging endometrial adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

An immunohistochemical study of steroid binding by endometrial glandular epithelial cells throughout the menstrual cycle.

An immunohistochemical technique was used to demonstrate oestrogen and progesterone binding by endometrial glandular epithelial cells at various stages of the menstrual cycle. A cross-section of steroid binding sites, including low affinity, concentration dependent Type II and III binding sites, were demonstrated but only in cells which contain the classical high affinity receptor. The technique demonstrated both free binding sites and receptor-hormone complexes within the cytoplasm but was poorly effective in demonstrating nuclear complexes. Oestrogen binding sites were shown to reach a peak during the late proliferative and early secretory phases of the cycle: oestrogen binding capacity remained high during the mid and late secretory phases. Progesterone binding capacity rose progressively throughout the proliferative and early secretory phase.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Genesis and regression of the figures of Eberth and occurrence of cytokeratin aggregates in the epidermis of anuran larvae.

In tadpoles of Rana temporaria, Bufo bufo and Xenopus laevis the development of the massive skeins of tonofilaments (cytokeratin intermediate filaments) that form the figures of Eberth follows a similar sequence in all species studied. Increase in the number of filaments is preceded by increase in polyribosomes and rER in the basal layer cells of the epidermis. A filamentous zone develops proximally in the cells concurrently with hemidesmosomes, which assume the typical larval bobbin form as the skeins occupy more of the cytoplasm. The figures of Eberth are at maximum development throughout mid-larval life. The first signs of regression appear before the climax stages, when aggregates of cytokeratin material are found among the filaments of the skeins. Such cytokeratin aggregates have previously been reported only from mitotic mammalian cultured or tumour cells, or in experimental situations. At metamorphic climax they are numerous in the basal layer cells and in some other cells of the epidermis, even when not dividing. This condition persists into the postmetamorphic stage when the figures of Eberth and the bobbin-type hemidesmosomes have gone. The formation of cytokeratin aggregates can be enhanced by chilling the animals before fixation, but does not depend on a drop in temperature, and takes place even if fixation is carried out at room temperature.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

An immunohistochemical study of the incidence and significance of human gonadotrophin and prolactin binding sites in normal and neoplastic human ovarian tissue.

An immunoperoxidase technique has been utilised for the demonstration of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) binding sites in normal human ovaries and in a wide range of benign and malignant epithelial tumours of the ovary. The incidence of FSH, LH and PRL binding was, respectively, 32%, 41% and 39% in normal ovaries, 30%, 18.5% and 22.5% in benign epithelial tumours and 51%, 32% and 43% in malignant epithelial neoplasms. The incidence of FSH binding was significantly higher in malignant epithelial neoplasms than in either normal ovaries or benign epithelial tumours but otherwise no correlation was found between hormone binding capacity and the degree of malignancy of epithelial ovarian tumours, the histological type of the tumour, the degree of differentiation of the malignant epithelial tumours or the presence or absence of metastatic disease. Well differentiated malignant tumours did, however, tend to stain more strongly than did poorly differentiated neoplasms, thus suggesting that the number of binding sites per cell tends to decrease with decreasing degrees of differentiation.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Human serum Cohn fraction IV (alpha-globulin [correction of globin] enriched) inhibits ligand binding at neurotransmitter receptors in human brain.

Human serum proteins are found in significant density in the neuropil in brains of demented individuals. The functional significance of these abnormally distributed proteins has been unknown. We now report that alpha-globulin-enriched fractions of human serum decrease the specific binding of [3H]spiroperidol at its binding sites in postmortem human frontal cortex and caudate. The substances in this serum fraction apparently exert their effect by a direct action on the binding site. Since [3H]spiroperidol labels serotoninergic and dopaminergic among other neurotransmitter receptors, these results suggest that components of human serum inhibit the binding of ligands at neurotransmitter receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Pathology of the placenta.

The placenta has a considerable functional reserve capacity, easily repairs ischaemic damage, is able to compensate for toxic injury and does not appear to age. Most of the macroscopically visible abnormalities of the placenta are of no functional significance, the major exception to this general banality being the uncommon large haemangioma which can cause complications in the mother, fetus and neonate. Most of the histological abnormalities seen in the placental villi represent a reaction to alterations in either maternal or fetal blood flow through the placenta, but a failure of adequate maturation of the villous tree may impair the functional efficiency of the placenta, as may defective trophoblastic differentiation. Infections of the placenta are important but do not influence placental function, whilst there is currently no firm evidence that the placenta ever suffers immune-mediated damage. Intrinsic placental 'insufficiency' is extremely rare and it is becoming increasingly clear that this clinical syndrome is usually due to a restricted supply of maternal oxygen and nutrients as a result of inadequate transformation of the spiral arteries into uteroplacental vessels. This failure of placentation represents an abnormality of the relationship between fetal and maternal tissues at a relatively early stage of pregnancy, and it is only by gaining a better understanding of this relationship that the problems posed by such conditions as pre-eclampsia and idiopathic intrauterine growth retardation will be answered.

Female↗
PubMed1985

The hormonal effects of pituitary surgery and irradiation: a review of 59 cases.

The endocrine function of 59 patients with pituitary tumours who were treated in our unit between 1962 and 1982 is reviewed. There were 20 patients with growth hormone (GH) secreting adenomas, 17 with prolactinomas (1 tumour secreted both GH and prolactin), 14 corticotrophin (ACTH) secreting adenomas and nine non-functioning pituitary adenomas. Patients were treated with pituitary surgery and/or irradiation, with and without the addition of drugs. Patients treated with drugs alone were not included. Following combined surgery, radiotherapy and bromocriptine therapy only two acromegalic patients had persistently raised growth hormone levels and five continued to be hyperprolactinaemic. Pituitary irradiation alone was associated with the development of hypothyroidism in three of eight patients. A delayed but significant fall in free thyroxine index (p less than 0.01) was noted in patients receiving 4500 cGy radiotherapy and surgery. Four patients also developed delayed ACTH deficiency at times varying from one to six years after treatment. It is concluded that patients who have received pituitary surgery or irradiation require regular long-term endocrine assessment.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1985

A new definition of Alzheimer's disease: a hippocampal dementia.

Preliminary data support the hypothesis that the decline of all higher cognitive functions in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type is attributable to histopathological changes in the hippocampal formation, with or without neocortical neuronal lesions. Previous literature amply supports the critical role of this "locus minoris resistentiae" in memory processing and cognitive physiology. New observations include quantitative morphometric evaluations of the hippocampal formation from a longitudinal study of prospectively tested patients and histological and neurochemical data from patients with a clinical presentation consistent with typical Alzheimer's disease, in whom the only neuropathological abnormality was devastating nerve cell loss and gliosis in the hippocampi.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Sex cord-stromal tumours of the ovary.

The aim of this review is to give a reasonably concise resumé of our knowledge of the sex cord-stromal tumours of the ovary. Lipoid cell tumours of the ovary are often included within this broad category but this poorly defined and heterogenous group of neoplasms will not be considered here. This review is a selective one and no attempt is made to cover all aspects of sex cord-stromal tumours or to provide a complete bibliography. The histological features of many of the neoplasms in this group, particularly those which have been recently defined, are discussed but a consideration of differential histological diagnosis is excluded. The ultrastructural characteristics of the various neoplasms are considered only in terms of their relevance to histogenesis or metabolic activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Correlative studies in Alzheimer's disease.

An approach is described for establishing and maintaining a correlative study of Alzheimer's Disease. A sample of the findings by the University of Western Ontario (U.W.O.) Dementia Study Group is provided.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Stages in the evolution of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a critique of the concepts of "dysplasia" and "cancer".

A clinically detectable, frankly invasive, squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix evolves through a series of step-like stages, at any one of which, except the last, its progress can be arrested. These stages are intraepithelial neoplasia, early stromal invasion, microcarcinoma and, eventually and irreversibly, invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Crucial to this concept of a series of plateaus in tumour development is the recognition that "dysplasia" is a differentiated intraepithelial neoplasm and the discarding of the term "cancer" in favour of the less emotionally loaded expression "neoplastic process".

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1985

Expression of MHC products and leucocyte differentiation antigens in gynaecological neoplasms: an immunohistological analysis of the tumour cells and infiltrating leucocytes.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against monomorphic determinants of Class I and Class II products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and against leucocyte differentiation antigens were used in an indirect immunoperoxidase technique to compare their expression in normal and malignant disease of the ovary, cervix and endometrium. MHC Class I products, strongly expressed on normal ovarian epithelium, were uniformly absent from 7/8 ovarian carcinomas of varying histology. Lack of Class I expression was also a feature of 6/10 cervical carcinomas and of 4/8 endometrial carcinomas, in comparison with their respective normal tissues. Relative to normal tissue epithelium MHC Class II products, could be either lost or gained, the pattern of expression being either uniform or heterogeneous. Leucocytes were sparse in normal ovary but more numerous in cervix and endometrium. In tumours, with few exceptions, they were abundant, though usually confined to the stroma. T cells, largely of cytotoxic/suppressor (OKT8) phenotype, tended to predominate though in some tumours, particularly cervical carcinoma, large numbers of macrophages and to a lesser extent, B cells were sometimes detected. By contrast, leucocytes of natural killer (NK) phenotype were virtually non-existent in any tumour or normal tissue. The ingress of leucocytes into gynaecological neoplasms does not appear to be a random event and may be evoked by an immune response against tumour-associated antigens. However, the relationship between in situ mononuclear cell infiltration and MHC expression on epithelial tumour cells is complex and remains to be elucidated.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

An immunohistochemical study of the incidence and significance of sex steroid hormone binding sites in normal and neoplastic human ovarian tissue.

An immunocytochemical double horseradish peroxidase-anti-horseradish peroxidase (PAP) technique has been developed for localising estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone binding sites in normal ovaries and in epithelial ovarian neoplasms. Estrogen binding sites were present in 45% of normal ovaries, in 45% of benign epithelial neoplasms, and in 58.5% of ovarian adenocarcinomas. The equivalent figures for progesterone binding sites were 49%, 65%, and 45.2%, whilst those for testosterone binding sites were 43%, 40%, and 60.5%. Steroid binding was related neither to the grade of malignancy in epithelial neoplasms nor to the presence of metastases in cases of ovarian adenocarcinomas. The simultaneous presence of both estrogen and progesterone binding sites or of both estrogen and testosterone binding sites in ovarian adenocarcinomas was, however, associated with good differentiation. Evidence is presented to suggest that the binding sites demonstrated were specific, and it is suggested that the immunohistochemical demonstration of sex steroid hormone binding capacities in ovarian adenocarcinomas may be of value as a predictive marker for response to hormonal therapy.

Female↗