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J H Beckstead

Publications and source records attributed to J H Beckstead.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Alkaline phosphatase histochemistry in human germ cell neoplasms.

Alkaline phosphatase is a useful and reliable marker of germ cell neoplasia that has been almost completely overlooked in the recent medical literature and in the practice of surgical pathology. Its presence in immature germ cells and in germ cell cancers was noted as early as 1953, but a systematic study of its use in the diagnosis and classification of germ cell tumors has not appeared in the literature. Using a recently developed plastic embedding technique combined with enzyme histochemistry, a large series of germ cell tumors and gonadal specimens were examined for the presence of alkaline phosphatase. The neoplastic germ cells in all cases of seminoma and embryonal carcinoma showed strong plasma membrane positivity for alkaline phosphatase. Choriocarcinomas (gestational and nongestational) and mature teratomas were negative. These findings suggest that the alkaline phosphatase reaction is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of germ cell cancers.

Adult↗

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia in homosexual men with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) is a well-described clinicopathologic entity that tends to occur in older persons. A recently described syndrome, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), occurring predominantly in young homosexual men, shows considerable clinical overlap with AILD. We studied two cases clinically typical of AIDS in which lymph node biopsies revealed AILD.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Hairy cell leukemia with bone marrow hypoplasia.

This article reviews the authors' experience with hairy cell leukemia to determine the incidence of hypoplastic marrows in this disease and the utiity of embedding marrow biopsy specimens in plastic, which allows the sections to be stained for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). It was found that the presence of hairy cells in the peripheral blood, marrow aspirate, or both established the diagnosis in eight of 11 patients; in the remaining three patients, the marrow biopsy specimen was necessary for definitive diagnosis. The bone marrow was markedly hypocellular in three patients, including one in whom the marrow morphologic results were essential for diagnosis. Embedding the marrow biopsy specimen in plastic and staining the sections for TRAP was noted to be a useful technique in establishing the diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia. In all cases in which this was performed, the authors found abundant TRAP-positive cells in the marrow biopsy specimen; even in those cases with markedly hypocellular marrows, this technique revealed the presence of hairy cells. In one patient, TRAP staining of the marrow biopsy specimen proved essential for definitive diagnosis. The authors concluded that the occurrence of marrow hypocellularity is not rare in patients with hairy cell leukemia and that TRAP-staining of plastic-embedded marrow biopsy specimens is a helpful and sometimes essential technique in diagnosing hairy cell leukemia.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Bone involvement in hairy-cell leukemia.

Destructive bone involvement is a rarely recognized complication of hairy-cell leukemia (leukemic reticuloendotheliosis). We report a case in which localized hip pain and lytic bone lesions were the presenting manifestations. A second case of bone involvement in a patient with previously diagnosed hairy-cell leukemia is also described. These cases are compared with the nine cases of hairy-cell leukemia with bone involvement previously published in the medical literature.

Adult↗

Granulocytic sarcoma of the brain after renal transplantation.

A case of granulocytic sarcoma of the brain in a renal transplant recipient treated with immunosuppressive agents is presented. While the increased risk of malignant lymphoma, particularly large-cell lymphoma (reticulum cell sarcoma, histiocytic lymphoma, immunoblastic sarcoma) in these patients is well known, this appears to be the first report of a granulocytic sarcoma. Granulocytic sarcoma, a rare tumor composed of immature granulocytic elements, almost never involves the parenchyma of the brain. Histochemical examination may be necessary to distinguish this lesion from other poorly-differentiated neoplasms.

Adult↗

Histochemistry of Hodgkin's disease.

The histochemistry of Hodgkin's cells is controversial. Limited numbers and the variety of techniques used make comparisons difficulty. Acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterase have been the two enzymes most frequently tested because the presence of these enzymes has been thought to be characteristic of histiocytes. Despite the controversial results, these studies have frequently figured prominently in arguments about the cell of origin in Hodgkin's disease. Authors identifying the presence of acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterase have generally favored a mononuclear phagocyte origin; those with negative results have favored a lymphoid origin. We have evaluated a series of 21 cases of Hodgkin's disease using tissues embedded in plastic and tested for acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterase. We found that Hodgkin's cells were frequently positive for acid phosphatase (20 to 21 cases) and/or nonspecific esterase (18 of 21). The reactions are weak and sensitive to inhibition by processing procedures. The reaction patterns are unusual for lymphoid cells and histiocytes. The finding is similar to that seen in interdigitating reticulum cells, a specialized cell found in the paracortex of human lymph nodes.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Vitamin E-enriched lipoproteins increase longevity of neurons in vitro.

Vitamin E-enriched human lipoprotein fractions were used to supplement the standard feeding medium of organotypic, reaggregate, fetal rat brain cultures. The neurons in control cultures, which were fed with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium containing 15% fetal calf serum, began to degenerate after 27 days. Those in test cultures, which were supplemented with 5-15 micrograms vitamin E/ml, survived until the end of the experiment (49 days). We conclude that differentiated, membrane-rich neurons and glia need a lipid-enriched and/or antioxidant-supplemented medium for prolonged survival in organotypic culture.

Animals↗

Enzyme histochemistry and immunohistochemistry on biopsy specimens of pathologic human bone marrow.

We have systematically investigated a variety of fixation and plastic embedding procedures and arrived at a method that allows processing of approximately 2-micron sections of bone marrow biopsies for examination by light microscopy. More importantly, this method permits the use of enzyme histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures that are rapidly becoming mandatory in the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies. Over 200 full-length bone marrow biopsy specimens were fixed in a mixture of paraformaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and acrolein, dehydrated in acetone, and embedded in a mixture of methyl and glycolmethacrylate. All procedures were carried out at 4 degrees C. Decalcification was unnecessary. Sections 2-micron thick were cut and incubated for peroxidase, naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, acid phosphatase (with and without tartrate), or alkaline phosphatase and then examined by light microscopy. Specimens could be prepared for examination within 48 hr. This approach, which provides definitive markers for various hematopoietic cell lines in intact tissues, is invaluable when aspirated material is unavailable. It is also useful in the analysis of focal lesions of bone marrow due to inflammation or neoplasia and shows potential as an investigative tool. For example, we have discovered that early myelofibrosis is accompanied by a marked increase in the number of alkaline-phosphatase-positive reticulum cells.

Bone Marrow↗

Acute promonocytic leukemia with ocular involvement.

A 3-month-old male infant had bilateral redness of the eyes. Large, immature blast cells were noted in material obtained by anterior chamber tap, and the diagnosis of acute promonocytic leukemia was confirmed by bone marrow aspiration and autopsy. Detailed clinical, histopathological, histochemical, and electron microscopic studies were carried out. The case showed forcibly that children with sterile hypopyon should be investigated for malignancy.

Autopsy↗

Neuroblastoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy.

Small-cell malignancies of childhood are a source of diagnostic difficulty, both in cytology and histology. Four cases of neuroblastoma are presented that were diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology. The importance of a complete history, physical examination and laboratory evaluation is stressed. In addition to the usual description of cytologic detail obtained by routine methods, a new method of study is introduced: the potential use of plastic embedding and histochemical studies in small-cell tumors is discussed.

Adolescent↗