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Biomedical subjects

H Van den Berghe

Publications and source records attributed to H Van den Berghe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Physical appearance and voice in male-to-female transsexuals.

It has been suggested that sex judgments of male-to-female transsexuals based on the voice may be influenced by the physical appearance of the clients. To explore this hypothesis, a listener experiment was designed in which a panel of 22 laypersons and 22 students in speech-language pathology rated the "femaleness" of fourteen male-to-female transsexuals from video-recorded speech samples in three modes of presentation: auditory-only presentation, visual-only presentation, and audiovisual presentation. Results indicate that appearance and voice are indeed interacting factors. Ratings from the auditory-only presentation were significantly lower than ratings from the audiovisual presentation and ratings from the visual-only presentation were significantly higher than those from the audiovisual presentation. It follows that the success of voice training in male-to-female transsexuals is not solely dependent on vocal characteristics and that speech pathologists should consider incorporating physical appearance as a treatment and outcome variable in the voice training of male-to-female transsexuals.

Adult↗

Recurrent chromosome aberrations in fibrous dysplasia of the bone: a report of the CHAMP study group. CHromosomes And MorPhology.

The nosologic status of fibrous dysplasia (FD), a well-known and relatively common bone lesion, is controversial. Information collected by the CHromosomes And MorPhology (CHAMP) study group on published and unpublished cases of fibrous dysplasia shows the presence of clonal chromosome changes in at least a proportion of these lesions. The chromosome aberrations found in FD lesions have been quite variable and have included both structural and numerical changes. Two of the three cases investigated at the study group had trisomy 2 as the sole acquired anomaly. Combined with previously published data, +2 and rearrangements involving chromosome band 12p13 have each been detected in 3 of 8 cases with abnormal karyotype of 11 in which chromosomal analysis has been performed, suggesting that FD is a neoplastic lesion rather than a "dysplastic" process, as has been generally believed and as implied by its very name.

Adolescent↗

Analysis of the P53, RB/D13S25, and P16 tumor suppressor genes in marginal zone B-cell lymphoma: An interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization study.

The genetic mechanisms underlying the genesis, disease progression, and high-grade transformation of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZBCL) are poorly understood. We analyzed 33 cases of histologically and immunophenotypically well-characterized MZBCL (12 extranodal, 11 nodal, and 10 splenic MZBCL; 27 at primary diagnosis and six during the course of disease) by dual-color interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for deletions of tumor suppressor genes. We investigated loci known to play a role in the genesis or disease progression of other subtypes of lymphoid malignancies, namely the P53 gene (17p13), the retinoblastoma gene (RB, 13q14), the D13S25 locus (13q14), and the P16(INK4A) gene (9p21). Heterozygous deletions of P53 were detected in three out of the 33 cases, including two splenic and one extranodal MZBCL. One of these patients was analyzed at primary diagnosis and two during the course of disease. Heterozygous deletions of the RB gene (nodal MZBCL) and D13S25 (splenic MZBCL) were found in one case each. P16 deletions were not detected in any of our cases. We conclude that deletions of the analyzed tumor suppressor genes are relatively rare in MZBCL, which contrasts with the findings in some other subtypes of NHL.

Aged↗

Regional fine mapping of HMG17 to chromosomal band 1p35.

HMG17, a member of the high-mobility group of proteins, is ubiquitously expressed in higher eukaryotes. This protein has been shown to enhance transcriptional activity of many other genes. Recently, the HMG17 gene has been mapped to chromosomal band 1p36.1. Because this region is frequently involved in chromosomal aberrations of various human neoplasms, two PAC clones containing an HMG17 sequence were isolated. By fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on prometaphase spreads, HMG17 was mapped to chromosomal band 1p35.

Chromosome Banding↗

Myofibroblastoma of the breast: genetic link with spindle cell lipoma.

Mammary myofibroblastoma is a rare tumour, mainly occurring in male patients. This paper describes two cases of mammary myofibroblastoma, with typical histological features, including the presence of fat cells and mast cells. Immunohistochemically, the spindle cells stained positively for desmin and CD34. Cytogenetically, both tumours showed partial monosomy 13q and in case 1, there was, in addition, partial monosomy 16q. Rearrangements affecting 13q and 16q occur typically in spindle cell lipomas. In addition to histological similarities, the hitherto unreported chromosomal changes in mammary myofibroblastoma, which are similar to the chromosomal aberrations in spindle cell lipoma, strongly suggest a link between these two tumours and are not in favour of myofibroblastoma being a primary solitary fibrous tumour of the breast.

Aged↗

Cytogenetic-morphologic correlations in aneurysmal bone cyst, giant cell tumor of bone and combined lesions. A report from the CHAMP study group.

Aneurysmal bone cyst and giant cell tumor of bone are relatively rare bone tumors that sometimes coexist. We examined the karyotypes of 3 aneurysmal bone cysts, 12 giant cell tumors, and 3 combined lesions. All aneurysmal bone cysts showed involvement of chromosome segments 17p11-13 and/or 16q22. In addition, in 1 of the 3 giant cell tumors with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst, both chromosome bands were rearranged as well, albeit not in a balanced translocation. Seven out of 12 giant cell tumors were characterized by telomeric associations. One giant cell tumor showed a dup(16)(q13q22), suggesting the presence of a (minor) secondary aneurysmal bone cyst component, despite the absence of histological proof. Our results, combined with literature data further substantiate that segments 16q22 and 17p11-13 are nonrandomly involved in at least some aneurysmal bone cysts, irrespective of subtype (primary, secondary, intra/extraosseous, solid or classic). These findings strongly suggest that some aneurysmal bone cysts are true neoplasms. In addition, telomeric associations are the most frequent chromosomal aberrations in giant cell tumor of bone, the significance of which remains elusive. In combined giant cell tumor/aneurysmal bone cyst each component seems to retain its own karyotypic abnormality.

Adolescent↗

Cytogenetic investigation of transitional cell carcinomas of the upper urinary tract.

Cytogenetic investigation was attempted on 44 tumors from 44 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper urinary tract (pelvis and ureter), and karyotypes were obtained in 27 tumors. Numerical changes prevailed, but are not specific for this type of tumor (trisomy 7, -Y, or both). In the light of previously reported data on TCC, the finding of a del(9q) as the only anomaly in one of the cases may be meaningful. Patients showing -Y and/or trisomy 7 had a poor prognosis.

Adult↗

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with HMGIC rearrangement.

Inflammatory pseudotumors or inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) are lesions of extreme heterogeneity showing a highly variable mixture of bland-looking spindle cells, inflammatory cells, and collagen fibers. We describe our results of molecular cytogenetic and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE-PCR) studies on an IMT characterized by a translocation involving 12q15. Chromosomal aberrations involving this region are very frequent among other benign tumors, such as lipomas, uterine leiomyomas, or pulmonary chondroid hamartomas. Recently, we have shown that, by these structural chromosomal aberrations, the HMGIC gene is affected. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis and 3' RACE-PCR on cells of the present case of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor indicated an intragenic rearrangement of HMGIC, resulting in an aberrant transcript of that gene. Clonal cytogenetic aberrations have been described in very few cases of IMT. The results presented herein indicate that this case of IMT represents a true benign mesenchymal neoplasm associated with, or due to, a rearrangement of HMGIC.

Adult↗

Cytogenetic investigation of chordomas of the skull.

We report the first cytogenetic investigation of cranial chordoma. Three cranial chordomas were examined, two of which could be further histopathologically classified as chondroid chordomas. In addition, we have included a case of chordoma of a cervical vertebra to compare the cytogenetic abnormalities. Diagnosis was made at histological and immunohistochemical levels. The three cases of cranial chordoma showed a normal karyotype, while one vertebra showed 46,XY,t(6;11)(q12;q23). Chordomas, particularly those containing cartilage, have to be distinguished from chondrosarcomas of the skull base. Such a distinction is normally based on expression of epithelial markers which usually are lacking in chondrosarcoma. Cytogenetic investigation may eventually prove to be useful in the distinction of the two lesions, if chromosome anomalies are consistently absent in chordoma, although some chondrosarcomas may also present a normal karyotype. Such a distinction has clinical implications because chondroid chordomas show better survival, whereas chondrosarcomas show a propensity to infiltrate the surrounding tissues.

Adult↗

The apoptosis inhibitor gene API2 and a novel 18q gene, MLT, are recurrently rearranged in the t(11;18)(q21;q21) associated with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas.

Marginal zone cell lymphomas of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) are the most common subtype of lymphoma arising at extranodal sites. The t(11;18)(q21;q21) appears to be the key genetic lesion and is found in approximately 50% of cytogenetically abnormal low-grade MALT lymphomas. We show that the API2 gene, encoding an inhibitor of apoptosis also known as c-IAP2, HIAP1, and MIHC, and a novel gene on 18q21 characterized by several Ig-like C2-type domains, named MLT, are recurrently rearranged in the t(11;18). In both MALT lymphomas analyzed, the breakpoint in API2 occurred in the intron separating the exons coding respectively for the baculovirus IAP repeat domains and the caspase recruitment domain. The breakpoints within MLT differed but the open reading frame was conserved in both cases. In one case, the translocation was accompanied by a cryptic deletion involving the 3' part of API2. As a result, the reciprocal transcript was not present, strongly suggesting that the API2-MLT fusion is involved in the oncogenesis of MALT lymphoma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Trisomy 7 and trisomy 8 in dividing and non-dividing tumor cells in Dupuytren's disease.

Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis is reported in a series of 40 tissue samples from 36 patients with Dupuytren's disease, presenting as palmar and/or finger nodules. No consistent structural chromosome changes could be found. Instead, recurrent clonal numerical abnormalities were demonstrated in 22 of 40 tissue nodules, involving trisomies of chromosome 7 or 8 and loss of the Y chromosome. In addition, we showed that trisomy 7 and trisomy 8 were also present in non-dividing cells.

Adult↗

Deletion of HMG17 in uterine leiomyomas with ring chromosome 1.

Uterine leiomyomas are characterized by several subgroups with characteristic chromosomal aberrations, mainly 12q14-15, 6p21, or interstitial deletions of chromosomes 3 and 7. For the first two subgroups, aberrations of the HMGIC and HMGIY genes have been described and are held responsible for tumor initiation. For other subgroups no molecular findings have been described as of yet. We focus here on a smaller subgroup of uterine leiomyomas with a ring chromosome 1 either as the only karyotypic deviation or occurring along with other abnormalities. In the p-arm of chromosome 1 HMG17, another member of the high-mobility group of proteins has been localized to the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p35) with two PAC clones on metaphase spreads of a uterine leiomyoma ring(1). Hybridization signals for these probes were not detected within the ring chromosome consistent with loss or deletion of HMG17. These findings suggest that HMG17 does not play a mechanistic role in leiomyoma similar to that observed with other high-mobility proteins.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1↗