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Biomedical subjects

J Rapola

Publications and source records attributed to J Rapola.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

DNA-based prenatal diagnosis of the infantile form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL, CLN1).

Eleven fetuses at risk for the infantile form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL, CLN1) were studied using DNA markers and the results were compared with the results of electron microscopy (EM) of chorionic villus specimens from pregnancies in the first or early second trimester of pregnancy. In four cases, the prenatal diagnosis was made independently with both methods, and in seven cases, the EM diagnosis was confirmed postnatally or from autopsy material using RFLP analysis. The two methods gave concordant results in all cases. The DNA analysis based on RFLP haplotypes also for the first time facilitates reliable carrier diagnostics. RFLP analysis based on polymorphic markers closely linked to the INCL locus is now available for prenatal diagnosis of this fatal brain disease, whose biochemical background is totally unknown and for which no treatment is available.

Chorionic Villi Sampling↗

The spectrum of Jansky-Bielschowsky disease.

A series of five patients with a variant type of Jansky-Bielschowsky disease is presented. The disease initiated between four and a half and seven years with mental and slight motor symptoms. The additional neurological symptoms and signs, i.e. visual failure, retinal degeneration, ataxia, myclonia and epilepsy developed in all children before the age of ten years. The present series differs from our previous series of 16 cases especially in regard of neurophysiological findings (photic spikes, high visual evoked potential, VEP and high somatosensory evoked potential, SEP). VEP became abnormally high between 8.0 and 9.5 years instead of being an early finding as in the previous series. Photic spikes appeared also later in the present series. Electromicroscopic investigation revealed cytosomes with fingerprint profiles (FP) in the autonomic ganglion cells and cytosomes with both FP and curvilinear (CP) profiles in many extraneural cells including smooth muscle, Schwann cells, capillary endothelium and macrophages. In the light of our 21 Finnish patients and the literature, the spectrum of Jansky-Bielschowsky disease seems to be much wider than previously assumed. The diagnosis should be based on clinical, ophthalmological, neurophysiological and ultrastructural findings. Repeated neurophysiological studies may be necessary.

Age Factors↗

Cell-surface ganglioside GD2 in the immunohistochemical detection and differential diagnosis of neuroblastoma.

The expression of the disialoganglioside GD2 was analyzed in 67 solid tumors and normal tissues from children by using the GD2-specific murine monoclonal antibody 3A7 and the indirect immunoperoxidase method. GD2 was expressed in all of 28 neuroblastomas and was most abundant in stroma-poor tumors. In differentiating stroma-rich neuroblastomas, neuroblastic clusters, neurofibrils, and most ganglion-like cells were positive, whereas Schwann's-cell stroma did not express GD2. In ganglioneuromas, only a few ganglion-like cells showed GD2, whereas all other structures were negative. Scattered foci of ganglioside GD2 also were found in some non-neuronal tumors, such as rhabdomyosarcomas and osteosarcomas, but not in lymphomas, Askin tumors, or most Wilms' tumors. The monoclonal antibody 3A7 is a useful aid in the immunohistochemical diagnosis of neuroblastoma. In addition, the intense cell surface staining of neuroblastoma cells by this reagent makes it potentially useful for detecting residual neuroblastoma in bone marrow samples and lymph node biopsies.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Prenatal diagnosis of the infantile type of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis by electron microscopic investigation of human chorionic villi.

Chorionic villus biopsy specimens were studied electron microscopically in six pregnancies at risk of the infantile type of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL). The biopsy was performed in all cases in the first trimester of pregnancy (8-10 gestation weeks) by the transcervical route. In one case, the biopsy was repeated at 17 weeks by the transabdominal procedure. In two pregnancies, the endothelial cells and, to a lesser extent, the mesenchymal cells of the chorionic villi contained unit membrane-bound inclusions typical of INCL. In both cases, the pregnancy was terminated and in one of them identical inclusions were found in the brains and kidneys of the fetus at 20 weeks of gestational age. The children from the remaining four pregnancies are healthy and have shown no signs of the disease.

Chorionic Villi Sampling↗

The rectourogenital connection in anorectal malformations is an ectopic anal canal.

Histological investigation of the rectal blind pouch and rectourogenital or rectoperineal connection was performed in 10 patients with high or intermediate anorectal malformations. Nine of the patients underwent postoperative manometric evaluation. In nine of the 10 patients, transitional epithelium typical of the normal anal canal could be found in the distal rectum or rectal end of the fistulous connection. The zone of transitional epithelium was aganglionic and showed abnormally strong acetylcholinesterase reaction. A positive rectoanal inhibitory reflex was found manometrically in all cases in which the distal rectal pouch was utilized in the reconstruction of the anal canal. The slow pressure wave activity of the reconstructed anal canal was characteristic of a normal anal canal. The manometric evidence strongly suggests that there is a functional internal sphincter in high and intermediate anorectal malformations. The present study shows that in anorectal malformations the distal rectal pouch with the fistulous connection is actually an ectopic anal canal.

Anal Canal↗

Cell differentiation in sacrococcygeal teratomas. An immunohistochemical and follow-up study.

The cell differentiation properties of thirty-four sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCT) and their five recurrences were immunohistochemically studied for the expression of different classes of intermediate filament proteins, muscle actin (MA) and S-100 protein. Out of thirty-nine tumors twenty-three were SCTs with only mature tissue elements, seven immature teratomas, five pure endodermal sinus tumors (EST) and four ESTs or embryonal carcinomas (EC) combined with mature components. Cytokeratin positivity was found in all epithelial structures and sometimes also in smooth muscle and primitive mesenchymal cells. An intense cytokeratin immunoreactivity was observed in EC and EST components. Muscle markers, desmin and MA were present in smooth and striated muscle cells. Focal desmin positivity was also found in some epithelial structures in two cases. Glial tissue positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was found in twenty-eight out of thirty-nine tumors. Some cases with no apparent glial tissue in hematoxylin and eosin staining showed glial differentiation as proved by GFAP positivity. In six out of eleven choroid plexus-like tissues GFAP positive cells were observed. S-100 protein showed an intense distribution of immunoreactivity outside neural tissue, and focal positivity was observed in malignant epithelial structures. Immunohistochemical markers did not reveal any prognostic significance in teratomas. Our findings, however, showed some aberrant features of cell differentiation from normal mature tissue components but closely parallel to those found in normal fetal development.

Actins↗

X linked neonatal myotubular myopathy: one recombination detected with four polymorphic DNA markers from Xq28.

A three generation family with X linked myotubular myopathy (MTM1) was studied with several polymorphic markers from the distal long arm of the X chromosome. A recombination between the disease gene and four markers (loci DXS52, DXS134, DXS15, F8C) from the Xq28 cluster was detected. A new polymorphic marker (U6.2) defining the locus DXS304 in the Xq27-28 region proximal to the Xq28 cluster did not show any recombination with MTM1. These results suggest the following order of loci in distal Xq: cen-DXS42-DXS105-(DXS304, MTM1)-(DXS52, DXS134, DXS15, F8C)-tel.

Cell Nucleus↗

Genetics of congenital nemaline myopathy: a study of 10 families.

In order to investigate the inheritance in congenital nemaline myopathy (CNM), we studied the family histories and pedigrees of 13 patients with CNM from 10 families, and the 20 patients, by physical examination, single fibre electromyography, ultrasonography of muscles, measurement of serum creatine kinase, muscle biopsy, and electrophoresis of muscle proteins. None of the parents was affected. In three families there were two affected children. Of the parents, 15 showed deficiency of type 2B muscle fibres, and all except one father showed some other minor neuromuscular abnormality. These may represent heterozygous manifestations of recessive gene. Most of the ancestors came from sparsely populated rural communities in the west of Finland. We conclude that in the Finnish CNM patients, the mode of inheritance appears to be recessive. Apart from a few instances of dominant inheritance, most cases published also seem compatible with recessive inheritance.

Adolescent↗

Bronchial epithelial inflammation in children with chronic cough after early lower respiratory tract illness.

We studied the ultrastructural findings in biopsies from the main carina of seven school-aged children who had had chronic cough for at least 3 months and who all had a history of early lower respiratory illness (LRI). They had their first LRI between birth and 7 yr of age (range, 5 to 11 yr). The cross-sectional area of the epithelium was quantified by point counting for the percentage area of intercellular spaces (ICS) denoting edema, and the numbers of both inflammatory cells (leukocytes, including eosinophils, and mast cells) and ciliated cells. The children (excluding the one using inhaled steroids) demonstrated nearly 17- and more than sevenfold increases in the mean area of ICS and number of inflammatory cells per epithelial area, respectively, and a nearly three-fold decrease in the mean number of ciliated cells per epithelial area compared with the biopsy specimens from the orifice of the right upper lobe bronchus of two healthy adults. In the children, the increase in inflammatory cells (greater than 91% were lymphocytes) was more prominent in the children with two LRI before the age of 1 yr. Our findings imply a close association of early LRI and later epithelial inflammation during chronic cough. Allergic mechanisms in the epithelial inflammation cannot be ruled out as six of the patients had, either alone or in combination, signs of atopia, positive family history of allergic rhinitis or asthma, and eosinophils or mast cells in the epithelium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Polycystic disease of the kidney. Evaluation and classification based on nephron segment and cell-type specific markers.

The usefulness of various segment and cell-type specific antibody, lectin and functional markers in the study of cystic renal lesions was evaluated. For this purpose, kidneys from recessive polycystic kidney disease (RPKD), thought to involve mainly the collecting ducts, and cystic kidneys of Meckel's syndrome (MS), which show dilation randomly along the nephron, were studied. The segment (and differentiation-stage)-specific anti-brush-border (specific for proximal tubules) antibodies stained morphologically normal proximal tubules, failed to react with cyst wall epithelium in RPKD, but readily stained some cysts in MS. Immunostaining for Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (distal tubules) similarly revealed normal tubular profiles, and also stained moderately dilated tubules, but not the large cysts in either disease type. Lectin markers of the distal tubules and collecting ducts (peanut agglutinin, Helix pomatia agglutinin and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin) reacted with both dilated tubules and with the cyst walls in RPKD and Meckel kidneys, suggesting that in RPKD, the dilations also occur in the distal nephron in addition to the collecting duct, and in MS in any part of the renal tubule. The cell type-specific functional marker of the collecting duct, anti-NaK-ATPase reactivity (found in principal cells) could be seen in RPKD but not in Meckel kidney cysts, suggesting a minor involvement of principal cells in MS. Consistent with this, only occasional carbonic anhydrase (found in intercalated cells) or band 3 (bicarbonate-chloride exchanger molecule of intercalated cells) of collecting ducts positive cells in the cysts could be seen, suggesting that intercalated cells are only sparsely seen in these lesions. The results show the usefulness of a panel of independent markers in studying the segment, cell-type and function-specific features of renal cystic lesions as a basis for their classification.

Biomarkers↗

Characterization of high endothelial-like properties of peritubular capillary endothelium during acute renal allograft rejection.

Acute allograft rejection is characterized by leukocyte infiltration. Previously we suggested that the site of entry of lymphocytes into rejecting kidney allografts is the peritubular but not other capillary endothelium. Here we confirm this observation in a frozen section ex vivo binding assay and further characterize the peritubular capillary endothelium during acute kidney allograft rejection. The increase in lymphocyte binding to peritubular capillaries precede the peak of inflammation (leukocyte accumulation) in the graft. Pretreatment of lymphocytes with antibodies against CD 11a and CD 18 (LFA-1 alpha and beta chain, respectively) could decrease the lymphocyte binding, whereas ICAM-1 pretreatment of tissue sections was ineffective. Light- and electromicroscopy revealed a marked activation of peritubular capillary endothelial cells in allografts, whereas these alterations were less severe or absent in syngeneic controls and normal kidneys. Finally our data suggest that the ligand responsible for the binding of lymphocytes to kidney peritubular areas is organ specific. Only mannose-1 phosphate, but not mannose-6 phosphate, could decrease the lymphocyte binding. Y-1, an antibody staining rat lymph node high endothelial venules (HEV), did not react with allograft peritubular capillaries having functional and morphologic similarities to HEV.

Animals↗

Neuronal intestinal dysplasia.

A series of 21 patients with NID is presented. A histologic and histochemical picture of NID was seen in an heterogenous group of patients. NID was associated with bowel obstruction and/or perforation in six neonates and infants. One neonate died. During follow-up the bowel histology gradually normalized in four of the five patients. NID was found incidentally in four patients with anorectal malformations and two with Hirschsprung's disease. Three patients with Hirschsprung's disease and associated NID had chronic proctitis; one patient with an anorectal anomaly had chronic obstipation and megacolon and one proctitis. Two children with multiple endocrine neoplasia 2b syndrome and chronic obstipation had typical NID in their rectum biopsies, as did a 50-year-old woman with CIIP. The clinical heterogeneity of patients with NID suggests that NID may not be a distinct clinical entity but rather a reaction of the neuronal network of the bowel wall and could be caused either by congenital or secondary factors.

Anal Canal↗

Muscle-eye-brain disease (MEB)

Clinical features of a rare congenital myopathy, muscle-eye-brain (MEB) disease, are described in 19 patients. The pedigree data suggest an autosomal recessive inheritance. The patients presented with congenital hypotonia and muscle weakness. Serum CK was elevated, EMG was myopathic and muscle biopsy showed slight or moderate changes compatible with muscular dystrophy. Ophthalmological findings included severe visual failure and uncontrolled eye movements associated with severe myopia. The flash VEPs were exceptionally high, whereas non-corneal ERG was unrecordable. The EEG showed progressive abnormalities after the age of 6 months. Psychomotor development was slow during the first years of life, and mental retardation was severe. Most patients began to deteriorate around age 5 years. This change included spasticity and joint contractures. CT scans showed ventricular dilatations and abnormally low white matter density in several patients. Spasticity, high VEPs and ocular manifestations differentiate MEB from the Fukuyama type congenital muscular dystrophy.

Adolescent↗

Immunohistochemical spectrum of rhabdomyosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma-like tumors. Expression of cytokeratin and the 68-kD neurofilament protein.

Twenty-five rhabdomyosarcomas (RMSs), including 12 alveolar and 13 embryonal types, were immunohistochemically studied for the presence of different classes of intermediate filament proteins and muscle actins (MAs). For the most part, formaldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue was used in immunostaining. All RMSs showed desmin and MAs, usually in a major portion of tumor cells. The number of MA-positive cells was sometimes higher than that of desmin-positive cells. Vimentin was present in all tumors studied in frozen sections. Eight of 12 alveolar RMSs showed small number of cytokeratin-positive neoplastic cells. Cytokeratin-positive cells were present less commonly in embryonal RMS (3/13 cases). The 68-kD neurofilament protein was found in frozen sections of two embryonal RMSs. The cytokeratin and neurofilament immunostaining could be reproduced by immunofluorescence technique. In addition, we studied three childhood sarcomas, which showed abundant desmin and MA immunostaining but did not conform to the ultrastructural criteria of RMS. Scattered cytokeratin-positive cells were found in two of these tumors, and neurofilaments were found in the two cases for which frozen sections were available. The results show that typical RMS may demonstrate immunohistological pleomorphism with cytokeratin and neurofilament immunoreactivity suggesting the presence of multidirectional differentiation. In addition, there are tumors that by morphology look like RMS and have muscle cell markers but cannot be verified as RMS by electron microscopy; also, these tumors seem to show immunohistological pleomorphism. The presence of nonmyoid markers in RMS should be considered when making immunohistological diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas.

Adolescent↗

Characterization of neoplastic and reactive cells in T-cell lymphomas with cytogenetic, surface marker, and DNA methods.

Three patients with T-cell lymphoma were studied with a combined cytogenetic-immunological analysis (MAC) as well as by Southern blotting analysis. The MAC method, which allows simultaneous study of both chromosomes and immunophenotype of a mitotic cell, revealed that in each case the karyotypically abnormal and, therefore, neoplastic cells originated from different stages of T-cell maturation. In one case the abnormality was seen in cells expressing CD3 and CD10, in the second in cells expressing CD3 and CD8, and in the third case in cells expressing CD4 but not CD3. Mitoses were frequent also in non-neoplastic cells, but these mitoses were normal. Southern blotting analysis revealed TCR beta rearrangements in all patients. In addition, one patient displayed TCR gamma rearrangement, and one patient a rearrangement in the IgH joining region.

Aged↗