Intravascular bronchio-alveolar tumor: radiographic findings.
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
J Prat
Publications and source records attributed to J Prat.
Evaluation of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) for the detection of rotaviruses: applications of the assay.
Our aim was to evaluate the reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) technique for the detection of rotavirus shedding by infected children as a routine diagnostic procedure, in comparison to the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), electron microscopy (EM) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of rotavirus double-stranded RNA. Two-hundred and twenty stool specimens were collected from infants and young children with diarrhoea, and 10-20% faecal suspensions were made. Several methods of rotavirus dsRNA extraction were assayed. Electrophoretic analysis of viral RNA was carried out on 10% polyacrylamide gels followed by silver staining. RT/PCR was performed using oligonucleotide primers specific for both 3' and 5' ends of the rotavirus gene encoding VP7 which are highly conserved among group A rotaviruses. Following RNA extraction with phenol-chloroform and ethanol precipitation, RT/PCR could detect rotaviral RNA in only 11 of 25 samples known to contain rotaviruses by conventional methods. The purification of RNA extracts by CF11 cellulose and the application of the RNAID method were equally effective in extracting RNA and/or removing inhibitory substances from the faecal samples. RT/PCR led to the detection of 66 positive samples from 220 specimens tested (30%), whilst 64 specimens were positive by ELISA (29%), 59 (26.8%) by PAGE and 56 (25.4%) by EM. In our study, RT/PCR was 100 times more sensitive than the ELISA test in detecting rotaviruses serially diluted in a faecal suspension. Although RT/PCR is theoretically much more sensitive than ELISA, PAGE and EM for detection of rotaviruses, great care must be taken to remove inhibitory substances from the enzymatic reactions. We do not consider that RT/PCR should replace immunoassays with high sensitivity and specificity for rotavirus testing in faecal samples, although this technique has other applications, like the search for rotavirus in different clinical specimens (sera, cerebrospinal fluid, respiratory secretions, etc.) and in environmental samples, as well as the typing of viral strains using serotype-specific primers.
Child↗
Burden of myocardial damage in cardiac allograft rejection: scintigraphic evidence of myocardial injury and histologic evidence of myocyte necrosis and apoptosis.
BACKGROUND: Because myocardial damage determines morbidity and outcomes in heart transplant rejection, assessment of total burden of myocardial damage is highly desirable. In addition to myocyte necrosis, programmed cell death, or apoptosis, has recently been shown to contribute to cardiac allograft rejection. In the present study, we noninvasively determined myocardial damage by antimyosin scintigraphy and compared it with necrotic and apoptotic myocardial damage in endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) specimens. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty scintigraphic and histologic studies were simultaneously performed. Of these, 19 patients had no EMB evidence of allograft rejection (group I, International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation [ISHLT] grade 0/4), 12 had mild rejection (group II, ISHLT grades 1A and 1B), and 9 had evidence of moderate allograft rejection (group III, ISHLT grades 2, 3A, and 3B). None of the biopsies demonstrated severe allograft rejection (ISHLT grade 4/4). The severity of global myocyte damage in 40 patients was assessed by antimyosin scintigraphy. Endomyocardial biopsies were performed in these patients within 48 hours of imaging study; biopsy specimens were characterized for presence of myocyte necrosis and apoptosis. Evidence of myocyte necrosis was observed in 9 (23%) of 40 EMB specimens. Nineteen EMB specimens of group I had no inflammation and no myocyte necrosis, 12 of group II specimens showed interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration (only) but no myocyte necrosis, and all 9 of group III specimens had evidence of cellular infiltration and myocyte damage. Myocyte necrosis was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin and trichrome staining of EMB specimens. On the other hand, apoptosis of myocytes, as assessed by TUNEL staining of DNA fragments, was seen in 22 (55%) of the 40 biopsy specimens: 47%, 58%, and 67% in groups I, II and III, respectively. Abnormal antimyosin scan findings, indicating presence of myocardial damage, were observed in 9 of the 19 patients in group I and in all patients in groups II and III. Although positive antimyosin scan results in group III patients are concordant with the presence of histologic myocardial necrosis, myocardial uptake of antimyosin antibodies in groups I and II (no apparent myocyte damage at light microscopic examination) could reflect either sampling error of the biopsy or ongoing apoptotic myocyte damage. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis of myocytes is frequently observed during cardiac allograft rejection. The presence of apoptotic myocytes in the absence of histologic rejection activity in patients with antimyosin uptake suggests that apoptosis could be an additional mechanism of transplant-associated myocardial damage.
Adult↗
Aspiration cytology of lung metastasis of monophasic synovial sarcoma. Report of a case.
BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma usually arises in the extremities of young adults and metastasizes in about 50% of the cases. Fine needle aspiration can reveal those metastases. CASE: A 65-year-old female presented with a solid mass in the left lung from which a fine needle aspirate was taken. Five years earlier her left foot was amputated because of a diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. Aspiration cytology from the lung revealed numerous groups of spindle cells with scant cytoplasm and ovoid nuclei with fine, homogeneous chromatin. Only vimentin was positive. Based on the clinical, cytologic and immunocytochemical studies, a metastasis from synovial sarcoma was considered to be the most accurate cytologic diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the utility of aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of a metastatic tumor, especially in those organs in which a core or open biopsy might be too aggressive.
Aged↗
Fine needle aspiration cytology in pancreatic pathology.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of pancreatic fine needle aspiration. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred five fine needle aspirates were obtained from 149 patients over seven years. After excluding 40 patients lacking biopsy or follow-up, 125 aspirates from 109 patients were selected to analyze the accuracy of this method. (male:female ratio, 1.4:1; age range 43-79 years). RESULTS: The cytologic diagnosis was true positive in 50 studies (45.9%), false positive in 0, true negative in 25 (22.9%), false negative in 19 (17.4%) and suspicious for malignancy in 17 (15.6%); 14 aspirations (12.8%) yielded material unsatisfactory for a diagnosis. Of the 17 suspicious studies, 15 were from patients in whom a malignancy was confirmed later. The other two patients had chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: The efficiency was 79.8%, sensitivity 72.5%, and specificity and predictive value of a positive result 100%. Cell blocks provided sufficient material in 96.8% of cases and smears in 90.4%. No major complications were reported after fine needle aspiration.
Adult↗
Ultrastructure of an endometrial stromal nodule with skeletal muscle.
The ultrastructural appearance of an endometrial stromal nodule with prominent smooth and skeletal muscle differentiation is described. This is the first reported case of endometrial stromal nodule with a heterologous skeletal muscle component and emphasizes the value of electron microscopy and its correlation with immunohistochemistry in the study of rare or complex lesions.
Adult↗
[Hypothalamic plasma cell granuloma causing panhypopituitarism].
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Adult↗
[Validation of a test of neurological knowledge for general practitioners].
In order to evaluate the degree of neurological knowledge in a general practitioner (GP), and given the lack of a useful instrument with which to do so, we propose the drawing up of a neurological knowledge test which would give adequate psychometric guarantees. By using a broad-based sample of professionals working in Neurology (GPs, non-specialised paediatricians, and neurologists), along with sixth year medical students, and the combined work of a family doctor, a psychometry expert, a professor of neurology and two clinical neurologists, we managed to develop a multiple choice test (MCT) with 36 items that were both objective, valid, and reliable. This could be a useful means of evaluating the neurological knowledge of a GP.
Family Practice↗
Stability of vinblastine sulphate in 0.9% sodium chloride in polypropylene syringes.
The stability of vinblastine sulphate diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride solution for injection was studied. Vinblastine sulphate was reconstituted with 0.9% sodium chloride solution for injection to concentration of 1.0 mg/mL and stored in polypropylene syringes at 25 degrees C +/- 1 degree C protected from light. On different days the solutions were analysed and the vinblastine concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. An high-pressure liquid chromatographic method is described for the quantitative determination of vinblastine in the presence of its degradation products. The degradation of vinblastine was studied by examining the percentage changes from the theoretical concentrations for each solution. The results of these studies indicate that vinblastine solutions in 0.9% sodium chloride solution for injection (1 mg/mL) in polypropylene syringes at 25 degrees C +/- 1 degree C protected from light are stable for up to one month.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗