Reports on health facility development and education. The United Kingdom.
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Hospital Administration↗
Biomedical subjects
M Wells
Publications and source records attributed to M Wells.
Gastrin-producing ovarian mucinous cystadenomas: a cause of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
An ovarian gastrinoma would appear to be an extremely rare cause of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Nevertheless, two consecutive cases of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome seen at our institution each proved to be caused by a gastrin-producing ovarian mucinous cystadenoma. That the ovarian tumor was the source of gastrin production was established by preoperative and postoperative gastrin and gastric secretory studies and by specific immunocytochemistry of the excised tissue. After oophorectomy, each patient was apparently cured of the disease. Ovarian gastrinomas may not be as uncommon as is generally believed and should be considered as a possible cause of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in any female patient in whom a primary gastrointestinal or pancreatic tumor cannot be located.
Adult↗
Endotoxaemia in racehorses following exertion.
Endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides-LPS) and anti-endotoxin IgG antibodies were measured in racehorses before and after races of 1,000, 2,000 and 2,800 m. Results show that the mean plasma concentration of endotoxin increased significantly (p less than 0.02) while the anti-LPS IgG concentration decreased significantly (p less than 0.005) in all horses following the races. Pre-race and post-race anti-LPS IgG levels in racing-fit racehorses were significantly higher than in untrained horses (p less than 0.05). The possibility therefore exists that training-induced stress leads to leakage of LPS into the systemic circulation which results in self-immunisation against LPS. The effects of plasma LPS and anti-LPS IgG concentrations on performance of racehorses require further studies.
Animals↗
Mucosal changes associated with abomasal ulceration in veal calves.
The pyloric region of the abomasum of nine calves reared for veal and four conventionally reared calves aged from 12 to 18 weeks was examined. An increase in the depth of the mucosa with a loss of mucins in the region of erosions and ulcers was observed in the calves reared for veal. In the adjacent mucosa there was an increase in sulphated mucins in five of the seven veal calves with lesions. Focal areas of mucin loss without evidence of erosion or ulceration were recognised in one calf reared for veal and one conventionally reared calf.
Abomasum↗
Disposal of plastic insulin syringes and needles.
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Attitude to Health↗
Cytoplasmic reactivity with the monoclonal antibody HMFG1 as a marker of cervical glandular atypia.
Cervical adenocarcinomas show cytoplasmic reactivity with the monoclonal antibody HMFG1 in contrast to the luminal border (cuticular) staining seen in normal endocervical glands and microglandular hyperplasia. HMFG1 was applied to 15 cases of cervical glandular atypia: thirteen showed cytoplasmic reactivity similar to that seen in overt endocervical neoplasia. This pattern of reactivity seems to be a useful marker of cervical glandular atypia and further supports its suggested place in the development of adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Demonstration of human papillomavirus types in paraffin processed tissue from human ano-genital lesions by in-situ DNA hybridisation.
A sensitive in situ hybridization technique for the demonstration of human papillomavirus (HPV) employing a biotin-streptavidin polyalkaline phosphatase complex has been successfully applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin processed tissue obtained from a selected series of patients with ano-genital lesions. Benign condylomata from males and females showed the presence of HPV 6 and 11. Two cases of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia showed HPV 16. Four cases of squamous carcinoma of the anal canal also showed HPV 16 in the tumour or in the adjacent pre-invasive neoplastic epithelium. A case of malignant transformation in a cervical condyloma was associated with HPV 6 and 11. This technique permits the retrospective evaluation of routinely processed material thus widening the investigative spectrum for HPV.
Adolescent↗
Demonstration of human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 in juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis by in-situ DNA hybridization.
A study is reported in which an in situ hybridization technique for the demonstration of human papillomavirus (HPV) employing a biotin--streptavidin polyalkaline phosphatase complex has been successfully applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-processed tissue obtained from ten patients with juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis. In all cases, positive results were obtained for either HPV type 6 or 11. Normal vocal cord epithelium was negative.
DNA, Viral↗
Complement component deposition in uteroplacental (spiral) arteries in normal human pregnancy.
There is conflicting evidence for the deposition of complement in spiral arteries in normal and abnormal human pregnancies. The immunogold silver staining (IGSS) technique was used to investigate the distribution of C1q, C3d, C4, C6 and C9 within the spiral arteries of formalin-fixed normal pregnancy hysterectomy specimens ranging in gestational age from 4 to 40 weeks. Deposition of complement components studied was observed in all cases suggesting classical pathway activation. Reactivity was not confined to vessels showing endovascular trophoblast though the latter showed a characteristic linear deposition subjacent to the trophoblast. Reactivity was most intense for C3d and C9. An appreciation of complement deposition as a feature of normal pregnancy is essential before significant immunopathology can be recognised in placental bed vessels in abnormal pregnancy.
Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗
Investigation of the expression of amnion antigens by spiral arteries in human utero-placental tissues.
Two monoclonal antibodies raised against human amnion, GB3 and GB5, were used in an indirect immunoperoxidase method to investigate the expression of amnion antigens by spiral arteries in pregnant and nonpregnant uterine tissues. GB3 showed focal reactivity with occasional spiral arteries in the placental bed throughout pregnancy, but no GB3-staining was observed in nonpregnant endometrium. In contrast, GB5 showed bandlike circumferential reactivity with spiral arteries at all gestational ages examined. GB5-positivity showed no relation to the presence of endovascular or perivascular trophoblast. In nonpregnant endometrium, GB5 labeled rare spiral arteries. However, in a premenstrual specimen showing pseudodecidual change, there was circumferential reactivity with GB5 resembling that in pregnancy. The reaction patterns of GB3 or GB5 were not similar to those for two other basement-membrane components, fibronectin and type IV collagen. The results suggest that expression of the GB5 antigen may in part be regulated by hormones.
Amnion↗
Oestrogen receptor in glands and stroma of normal and neoplastic human endometrium: a combined biochemical, immunohistochemical, and morphometric study.
Cryostat sections of unfixed human endometrial tissue from normal, hyperplastic, and carcinomatous endometrium were assayed for oestrogen receptor content using a radiolabelled oestradiol binding assay with isoelectric focusing to separate receptor proteins. The proportions of myometrium, stroma, and glandular tissue were estimated in adjacent sections by point counting. Further cryostat sections were stained for oestrogen receptor immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody and the relative staining intensity of the various tissue components assessed. The area proportions and relative immunohistochemical staining intensity of each tissue component in the cryostat sections were then used to adjust the biochemical results and derive separate values of oestrogen receptor content in myometrium, glands, and stroma. The greatest difference in oestrogen receptor content through the menstrual cycle and between normal, hyperplastic, and malignant endometrium occurred in the glandular element.
Endometrial Hyperplasia↗
Sensitive in situ hybridisation technique using biotin-streptavidin-polyalkaline phosphatase complex.
A sensitive in situ hybridisation technique, using a biotin-streptavidin-polyalkaline phosphatase complex detection system, was successfully applied to smears of fresh cultured cells, frozen sections, and formalin fixed paraffin processed tissue: the procedure was successful for DNA-DNA hybridizations using a variety of DNA probes. The detection method is rapid, reliable, and economical producing a purplish-blue precipitate at the site of hybridisation and clearly visible by low power light microscopy.
Alkaline Phosphatase↗
Diagnosis of molar pregnancy and persistent trophoblastic disease by flow cytometry.
Histopathological assessment and flow cytometric analyses were carried out on 32 placentas (representative of each trimester) and 88 molar pregnancies. Three first trimester placentas were triploid, and the remaining 29 placentas were diploid. Of the 88 cases originally diagnosed as molar pregnancies, 26 were triploid (two complete moles, 20 partial moles, and four hydropic abortions); 59 were diploid (46 complete moles, 10 partial moles, three hydropic abortions); one was tetraploid (partial mole); and two were DNA aneuploid (one partial mole, one complete mole). A significantly increased hyperdiploid fraction (a measure of cell proliferation) was detected in diploid complete moles (p less than 0.0001) and cases of persistent trophoblastic disease (p less than 0.001) when compared with diploid placentas and diploid partial moles. All seven cases of established persistent trophoblastic disease, for which follow up was available, were diploid and showed high hyperdiploid fractions within the range for diploid complete moles. These findings suggest that flow cytometric DNA measurements may be an important aid in the diagnosis of molar pregnancy. The high degree of cell proliferation found in this study may explain the premalignant potential of complete hydatidiform moles.
Diploidy↗
Anti-pseudomonas activity of anti-lipopolysaccharide hyperimmune equine plasma.
Passive immunotherapy with anti-lipopolysaccharide hyperimmune equine plasma (Anti-LPS) is effective in treating experimental Gram-negative bacterial infections. The bactericidal activity of anti-LPS towards five different Pseudomonas species, including two multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates was tested here, as well as the ability of anti-LPS to inhibit the quantitative chromogenic limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. Anti-LPS caused a mean reduction of 84.4 +/- 3.2% (P less than 0.001) in the number of colony forming units (cfu) of all isolates, whereas saline and complement inactivated anti-LPS induced no reduction. Nonimmune control plasma caused a small reduction in % cfu but much less than anti-LPS hyperimmune plasma (13.5% vs 84.4%, P less than 0.001). In order to cause 99% inhibition of the LAL test of 5 ng/ml Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS, IgG antibodies were required in 10(5)-fold excess. These results suggest that anti-LPS has potential in the therapy and prophylaxis of Gram-negative bacterial infections, especially where LPS is involved in the disease process.
Animals↗
Ovarian cysts in pregnancy: does ultrasound make traditional management inappropriate?
In a retrospective series of 131 ovarian tumors associated with pregnancy, 81 (including one carcinoma and six tumors of borderline malignancy) were removed. Eighty-three cysts were examined by ultrasound. All 15 of less than 5 cm in diameter resolved spontaneously. Of 68 larger than 5 cm in diameter, 39 had a simple internal echo pattern and a smooth wall; 19 of these disappeared, and the histology of seven others suggested they might have resolved if treated conservatively. Three of the tumors of borderline malignancy also showed a simple ultrasound pattern, but higher-resolution machines may have differentiated two of these. We suggest a policy of selective conservative management of ovarian cysts during pregnancy on the basis of the ultrasound appearance.
Adult↗
Halothane-induced changes in acetylcholine receptor channel kinetics are attenuated by cholesterol.
The single-channel recording technique was used to investigate the role of membrane lipids in the action of general anesthetics on ion channels. We examined the effects of halothane on acetylcholine receptor channels in Xenopus laevis myocytes in which the plasma membrane cholesterol level had been changed by pretreatment with cholesterol-rich or cholesterol-free liposomes. We found that the alteration in acetylcholine receptor channel kinetics, elicited in the presence of clinically-relevant concentrations of halothane, is attenuated when membrane cholesterol is increased and enhanced when membrane cholesterol concentration is decreased. These findings support the idea that general anesthetics interact with synaptic receptor channels indirectly through the lipid domains in which these synaptic proteins are embedded.
Animals↗
Low molecular weight cytokeratin proteins in cervical neoplasia.
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Adult↗
Glandular lesions of the uterine cervix: the present state of our knowledge.
The assessment of squamous lesions of the uterine cervix is a major preoccupation of diagnostic histopathologists and this can overshadow the recognition of significant abnormalities affecting the adjacent endocervical glands. This review gives an account of recent advances in our knowledge of the histology and histochemistry of endocervical glands. The review of benign lesions concentrates on those that continue to cause diagnostic difficulty. Adenocarcinoma in situ, lesser degrees of possibly pre-malignant cervical glandular atypia and histological subtypes of adenocarcinoma are outlined. The increasing awareness that glandular and squamous lesions often co-exist is emphasized. Finally, adenocarcinoma metastatic to the cervix is discussed.
Adenocarcinoma↗