Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) were synthesized by a modified Merrifield method using several improvements. Activation by O-[benzotriazol-1-yl]-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate in combination with in situ neutralization of the resin allowed efficient coupling of all four Boc-protected PNA monomers within 30 min. HPLC analysis of the crude product obtained from a fully automated synthesis of the model PNA oligomer H-CGGACTAAGTCCATTGC-Gly-NH2, indicated an average yield per synthetic cycle of 97.1%. N1-benzyloxycarbonyl-N6(3)-methylimidazole triflate substantially outperformed acetic anhydride as a capping reagent. The resin-bound PNAs were successfully cleaved by the 'low-high' trifluoromethanesulphonic acid procedure.

Base Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Co-existence of osteogenesis imperfecta and hyperparathyroidism.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and hyperparathyroidism (HTP) are disorders affecting the skeletal system and calcium metabolism not evidently related to one another. We report a case in which both OI and HPT were present. Our female patient presented with hypercalcaemia (S-Ca2+ 1.59 mmol/l; normal range 1.15-1.30) and 4-gland parathyroid hyperplasia at 30 years of age. Since her first year she had fractures, blue sclera, hypermobile joints, short stature (height 1.51 m, weight 49.5 kg) but normal hearing, and dentiogenesis imperfecta (tooth disease caused by defective formation of dentin) was absent. This patient bears many similarities with the 5 patients reported previously but it is the only patient, to our knowledge, with OI and early onset of HPT (30 year old female). We have found the OI to be type 1. A minor improvement of the rate of bone turnover 10 months after parathyroidectomy indicates the HPT to be primary and suggests the OI type 1 and pHPT to be two different calcium metabolic diseases incidentally occurring in the same patient.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Spontaneous afternoon plasma cortisol in depression.

Spontaneous plasma cortisol was measured in the interval from 15.00-18.00 h 74 hospitalized depressed patients (56 endogenously and 18 non-endogenously depressed according to the Newcastle index). The cortisol value at the individual time points correlated well with the mean cortisol concentration with the best correlation in the interval between 16.00 and 17.00 h (RHO = 0.89-0.92). For most patients maximum cortisol concentration was found early in the sampling period. Plasma cortisol was high during depression and was reduced after recovery in both diagnostic groups. Correlation between plasma cortisol during depression and type of depression or degree of depression was poor indicating that spontaneous plasma cortisol might have only a limited diagnostic value. However, among the endogenously depressed patients those not responding to treatment with cyclic antidepressants alone had significantly higher cortisol levels prior to treatment than responders. Afternoon plasma cortisol thus may be used as a predictor of the outcome of treatment with cyclic antidepressants.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Myofibroblastoma of breast: evidence favoring smooth-muscle rather than myofibroblastic differentiation.

A histopathological study of two cases of the tumor known in the literature as myofibroblastoma of the breast is presented. The tumors occurred in Caucasian males aged 57 and 62 years. Histologically, these were moderately cellular, lobulated spindle-cell lesions, each with a reasonably well-delineated edge with surrounding fatty connective tissue. No breast ducts or lobules were present. Tumor cell nuclei were bland, with small nucleoli and some nuclear grooving. Nuclear atypia and mitoses were absent. Immunostaining revealed positivity for a-smooth-muscle actin, desmin, and CD34. Tumor cells contained rough endoplasmic reticulum, bundles of myofilaments with focal densities, intermediate filaments, attachment plaques alternating with plasmalemmal caveolae, and focal lamina. Ultrastructural findings pointed to true smooth-muscle differentiation, and the cell-surface in particular lacked surface features of myofibroblasts (fibronectin fibrils [microtendons] and fibronexus junctions). These and published data suggest that at least some of the lesions referred to in the literature as myofibroblastoma may not be myofibroblastic and may be better designated as myogenic stromal tumors or as variants of leiomyoma.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Leiomyosarcoma versus myofibrosarcoma: observations and terminology.

Two spindle cell sarcomas, which showed similarities in light microscopic histology and immunostaining and were diagnosed as leiomyosarcomas by these criteria, were compared ultrastructurally to show the value of electron microscopy in subtyping these neoplasms. Both were subcutaneous, case 1 occurring in the nasolabial fold and case 2 in the upper calf. Both consisted of fascicles of spindle cells, and both stained positively for vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin; only case 2 stained additionally for desmin. Case 1 showed strong and case 2 weak or negative staining for fibronectin. By electron microscopy, case 1 contained prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum, peripheral fine filaments with focal densities, and fibronexus junctions. By contrast, case 2 was characterized by an external lamina and well-developed bundles of fine filaments with focal densities. Case 2 was considered a typical leiomyosarcoma, and case 1 was interpreted as showing myofibroblastic differentiation. The nomenclature for these myofibroblastic tumors is discussed, and myofibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma, myofibroblastic variant are suggested as suitable terms.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intranodal myofibroblastoma: report of a case.

Palisaded myofibroblastoma (hemorrhagic spindle cell tumor) is a recent addition to the group of benign primary spindle cell lesions of lymph nodes. These tumors are characterized histologically by hemorrhage, palisading, and foci of collagen called amianthoid fibers. We report a further typical example with the aim of discussing its differentiation. Tumor cells were positive for smooth-muscle actin and vimentin. The cytoplasm contained moderate numbers of rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae and some smooth-muscle type myofilaments. Subplasmalemmal densities and plasmalemmal caveolae, as well as material interpreted as external lamina, were identified at the cell surface, whereas the fibronexus junctions typical of myofibroblasts were not seen. Immunostaining for type IV collagen was positive. Intranodal myofibroblastomas have largely been considered as myofibroblastic, but the observations presented here raise the alternative possibility of simple smooth-muscle differentiation. The foci of collagen widely referred to as amianthoid fibers contained fibrils mostly of conventional diameter, 50-83 nm. The giant collagen fibrils typical of true amianthoid change were absent. It is suggested that the term amianthoid be used only after ultrastructural confirmation of the presence of giant collagen fibrils.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neovascular glaucoma: a new surgical approach.

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Anterior Chamber↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of the frequency and occurrence of breast cancer for treatment. Essential aspects of new Danish studies of the natural history of breast cancer.

The natural history of breast cancer (BC) has been evaluated by two entirely different types of consecutive and unselected materials: The general female population. Females with the breast cancer disease. The frequency of in situ carcinoma in the general female population is about 25 per cent. The growth pattern of the in situ carcinomas is predominantly microfocal contrary to findings in mammography selected surgical materials where tumor forming and/or diffuse types contribute to more than 30 per cent. Evidence is established of three different stages of the development of invasive breast carcinoma: The benign epithelial hyperplastic stage, the microfocal in situ carcinoma stage and the cancer stage. Among females with the BC-disease the residual breast glandular tissue in the contralateral breast develops a new primary invasive carcinoma in 33 per cent and furthermore in situ carcinoma in another 35 per cent. Death of disseminated metastases and axillary lymphnode metastases is significantly related to these new primaries. Residual breast glandular tissue left behind after total mastectomy contributes to new primary invasive carcinoma. Thus among clinical chest-wall recurrences not less than 20 per cent were primary invasive cancers. Our investigations have considerable impact on treatment: As concern microfocal in situ lesions they support a conservative attitude as regard treatment, providing the females are included in prospective follow-up studies including mammography. As concern the contralateral breast they support a more active attitude, but more studies are needed. Meanwhile a close follow-up program is an inevitable consequence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗