Immunohistochemical detection of progesterone receptor in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue using a monoclonal antibody

The potential for immunohistochemical detection of progesterone receptors (PRs) in routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded cancer tissues by use of the monoclonal antibody Mi 60-10 (mPR1, Dianova GmbH, Hamburg) was evaluated. The PR content of breast cancer tissue was investigated in 170 cases. A positive reaction to Mi 60-10 was found exclusively in the nuclei of benign or malignant epithelial cells. The distribution of PRs was heterogeneous. Immunohistochemical reaction was scored by multiplying the percentage of positive tumour cells by their prevalent degree of staining (Immunoreactive Score or IRS). The IRS values of formalin-fixed tissues (n = 170) were compared with those in snap frozen tissues (n = 82), with the PR content assayed by a DCC (dextran-coated charcoal) method (n = 170), with histopathological grading according to Bloom and Richardson and with the menopausal status of the patient. There was an acceptable ranked correlation (r = 0.74) between IRS in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded parts and snap frozen parts of the same carcinoma. A good correlation (r = 0.72) was also found, when the semiquantitative results of immunohistochemical PR detection in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues were compared to PR concentrations measured by a DCC method in tumor cytosols. There was an 80% concordance between the two methods for qualitative discrimination of PR-negative and PR-positive carcinomas. IRS correlated significantly with the degree of histological differentiation of the tumors (P less than 0.001) but not with the menopausal status of the women (P greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The status of prenatal lung ripening]

Morbidity and mortality of low-weight infants depend mainly on the respiratory-distress syndrome (RDS) and its complications, such as neonatal asphyxia and intraventricular haemorrhage. This underlines the importance of prenatal prevention of RDS. The results of the present multicentre studies demonstrate successful acceleration of fetal lung maturation by glucocorticoids and ambroxol. Both agents lower the RDS-rate two to threefold. The effectiveness in accelerating fetal lung maturation is comparable. In contrast to glucocorticoids, ambroxol seems to have no severe potential maternal or fetal side effects. We believe that prenatal prevention of RDS remains the treatment of choice even if neonatal surfactant therapy is expected to open up new aspects for the future.

[Multifocal carcinoma of the upper female genital tract: diffuse Müllerian neoplasia]

The simultaneous occurrence of moderately differentiated mesonephroid adenocarcinomas of the endocervix and the ovary and a well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the endometrium in a 46-year-old woman are reported. The problems of classification as multiple primary neoplasma or as metastatic spread are discussed. Histogenesis of multiple primary epithelial malignancies of the female genital tract is explained by the theory of area response of embryologically related organs to an unknown carcinogenic stimulus.

[Clinical relevance and pathognomonic significance of Actinomycetes colonization of intra-uterine devices]

Microbiological investigations were carried out on 524 intrauterine pessaries (IUP) from 488 patients. All patients underwent a gynecological examination on the occasion of IUP extraction. An actinomycete colonization of the extracted IUPs could be detected by culture in 8% of the cases. Actinomyces israelii was cultured most frequently. The raised detection of anaerobic bacteria in the endocervix of patients with actinomycin detection constitutes a potential danger for these women with regard to the development of genital actinomycosis. In addition, the clinical parameters document a higher susceptibility of these patients to ascending genital infections. The infectious morbidity is significantly raised.

[The significance of cytotoxic activity of maternal lymphocytes for the etiology of intrauterine growth retardation]

Natural lymphocyte cytotoxicity of 99 pregnant women delivering intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) babies was compared to that of 460 women with normal pregnancies. Lymphocytes separated from maternal blood were used as effectors in the in vitro cytotoxicity test using human embryonic fibroblast cells as target. The cytotoxicity test was based on the assessment of endogenous alkaline phosphatase activity of the target cells. A definite shift towards IUGR pregnancies was observed in the distribution of patients when analyzed according to step by step increase of lymphocyte cytotoxicity values. The incidence of increased cytotoxic activity (greater than or equal to 40%) was three times higher in the group of women with IUGR pregnancies than that in the control group. Within the group of women showing increased immunoreactivity during pregnancy the participation of IUGR pregnancies was 40.4%, while only 9.7% of the women with normal cytotoxicity belonged to the IUGR group. Combined analysis of ponderal indices and cytotoxicity values suggests that increased immunoreactivity is associated with a nutritive insufficiency resulting in the disproportionate form of IUGR.

[Electronic data processing of the patient record for computer-assisted evaluation of pregnancy and labor]

This article describes an EDP-adequate data collection system which can also be used in the conventional way. The relational data base system used is PROFESSIONAL ORACLE, Revision 5.1.; the requisite hardware consists of 3 IBM-AT-compatible personal computers with a main storage comprising 4 MB, system MS/PC-DOS, and a hard disk of at least 20 MB. The standardized case history compiles the user to collect the data carefully and completely. Besides formulating research problems the system automatically prepares the discharge report. By means of statistical analysis a continuous internal quality assessment was realized.

Detection of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in normal squamous epithelia and in squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen is a subfraction of tumor antigen TA-4 isolated from a cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The specificity of SCC antigen and the factors influencing its release into serum were evaluated. Antigen concentrations were measured in 157 tissue extracts and in 188 sera of patients with nonmalignant or malignant gynecologic diseases. A commercial radioimmunoassay based on polyclonal antibodies (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago) was used. Cytosol concentrations were significantly higher (P less than 0.005) in normal squamous epithelia (means = 6040 ng/mg cell protein [CP]) and in squamous cell carcinomas (means = 2483 ng/mg CP) of the exocervix than those in normal columnar epithelia and in adenocarcinomas of the endocervix, endometrium, ovary, and breast (means = 1-508 ng/mg CP). Despite the high antigen concentrations in normal squamous epithelia, elevated serum levels (greater than 2.5 ng/ml) were almost exclusively found in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinomas. The sensitivity of SCC antigen as a marker for primary carcinomas was 61%, increasing from 29% in Stage I to 89% in Stage IV. The positivity rate was higher in women with well-differentiated (78%) and moderately differentiated carcinomas (67%) than in those with poorly differentiated tumors (38%). The results show that SCC antigen is not tumor specific. The release into serum is independent of local tissue content, but is apparently influenced by the infiltrative growth, the mass, and the degree of histologic differentiation of the tumor.

Severe intra-uterine growth retardation: obstetrical management and follow up studies in children born between 1970 and 1985

Peri- and postnatal data of 263 children with severe intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) born between 1970-75 (n = 145) and between 1976-85 (n = 118) are presented. The incidence of premature delivery in IUGR patients rose from 15% (1970-75) to 34% (1976-85). The rate of perinatal asphyxia in premature children with IUGR decreased from 64% during 1970-75 to 45% during 1976-85. Perinatal mortality in preterm SFD babies was higher in 1976-85 (20%) than in 1970-75 (14%), due to an 8-fold higher incidence of very low birth weight (less than or equal to 1000 g) SFD babies. Without this high-risk group perinatal mortality ranged between 2 and 3% in both groups. The incidence of deliveries by Cesarean section increased from 19 to 45% while vaginal deliveries decreased from 73 to 52% during 1976-85 compared with the 1970-75 age group. Follow up studies were carried out in 63 patients (1970-75) and in 41 patients (1976-85). Deficits of body height and weight persisted in one third of the patients, being severe in 10-20%. Infantile developmental milestones were retarded in 22-32%. Neurologic sequelae mostly of a mild degree were seen in 29% (1970-75) and 37% (1976-85). Psychologic testing showed abnormalities in 38% of the older age group, using the Göttinger Formreproduktionstest and in 21% of the younger age group, where the Denver Developmental Screening Test was performed. EEG investigations demonstrated unspecific abnormalities of a mild to moderate degree in one third of the patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

CA 125 in normal tissues and carcinomas of the uterine cervix, endometrium and fallopian tube. I. Immunohistochemical detection

The distribution of cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) has been investigated in normal tissues and carcinomas of the Müllerian duct by immunohistochemical methods using the monoclonal antibody OC 125. Detection of CA 125 was most intense in cryostat sections and decreased in formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissues according to the duration of fixation. Enzymatic digestion with neuraminidase or alkaline hydrolysis abolished specific staining suggesting the antigen is a sialylsaccharide bound to protein by alkali-labile linkage. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the presence of CA 125 in all normal glandular epithelia of the endocervix, endometrium and fallopian tube in different distribution patterns. In normal endometrium the cellular distribution pattern was related to the menstrual cycle. In endocervical, endometrial and tubal adenocarcinomas CA 125 was found in 73% of cases. In glandular structures the antigen was concentrated at the luminal surface of the tumour cells, in solid tumour areas it was spread throughout the cytoplasm or concentrated in large cytoplasmic vacuoles. The expression of CA 125 was considerably lower in solid tumour areas. These data show that CA 125 is not a true "tumour marker", but a product of female genital mucosae and of their cancerous derivates provided their synthesizing ability is not lost in the course of pathologic differentiation.

[Clinical aspects and prognosis of granulosa cell tumors of the ovary]

Symptoms, tumour morphology and clinical course were reviewed in 26 women treated at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of the University of Cologne between 1965 and 1986 for granulosa cell tumours of the ovary. At the time of diagnosis 8 women were in a pre- and 18 in a postmenopausal state. The most common symptoms were irregular haemorrhages, in rare cases lower abdominal pain. Effects of raised estrogen stimulation were seen in 80% of patients. In 24 pre-operative patients, a lower abdominal tumour was diagnosed. 20 patients had lesions of stage I, 5 of stage III and one of stage IV. 21 tumours exceeded 5 cm median diameter. Polymorphic tumours were seen in 16 cases. 14 tumours had a high mitotic activity. Hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoovariectomy were performed in most cases, followed by additional irradiation in 9 and by chemotherapy in 4 cases. Only 3 patients were treated by unilateral salpingoovariectomy. To date 14 patients have no evidence of disease, one suffers from tumour progression and 9 died of the tumours. 2 women died for other reasons. The 5-year survival rate is 70%, the 10-year survival rate 64%. Old age, late progression of tumour stage, tumour diameter exceeding 5 cm, polymorphic tumours and high mitotic index correlated to the worsening prognosis. However, a poor result was also seen in monomorphic tumours with low mitotic activity. The nature of granulosa cell tumours can not be predicted by clinical or morphological criteria. Therefore it is suggested, that all granulosa cell tumours should be considered as malignant.

[Symptom of "urinary incontinence" as an indication of tubal cancer]

Discontinuous vaginal discharge in two patients, caused by a carcinoma of the fallopian tube, was misinterpreted as urinary incontinence for months. Complexes of atypical glandular epithelia in the cervico-vaginal smears and detection of adnexal tumors indicated the correct diagnosis.

Immunohistochemical study of distribution of estrogen receptors in corpus and cervix uteri

An immunohistochemical assay based on monoclonal antiestrophilin antibodies has been used to localize estrogen receptor (ER) in frozen sections of normal human endometrial, myometrial and cervical tissues from menstruating, hormonally treated, pregnant and postmenopausal women. Specific staining was confined to the cellular nuclei. In proliferative phase endometrium, postmenopausal emdometrium, and endometrium from patients treated with hormone ERs were easily detected in most glandular and stromal cells. After ovulation and in early pregnancy a quick and distinct decrease of ER expression was noted. This was especially the case with the more superficial layers of endometrium (endometrium functionalis), the majority of whose cells had either weak localization of ER or none at all. In the endometrium basalis, however, the reduction of ER localization turned out to be more moderate. More then half of the epithelial and stromal cells displayed nuclear staining, partly strong. The myometrium of the corpus uteri showed a similar ER localization and dependence on hormonal stage when compared with the endometrium functionalis. The endocervical mucosa displayed a high degree of ER expression in the proliferative phase, in postmenopausal women and in women who had been treated with hormones. Unlike the endometrium and myometrium, the endocervical glands underwent minimal changes in nuclear ER content during the menstrual cycle. Although the endocervical stroma showed cyclic alterations in ER levels, their reduction after ovulation was less marked than in the corresponding endometria. In cervical squamous epithelium ER localization was predominantly confined to the basal layers. In the course of cellular maturation, specific nuclear staining vanished. In the proliferative phase, after the menopause and in early pregnancy, the basal, parabasal and intermediate cells were specifically stained. In the postovulatory phase, However, nuclear staining was confined to the basal and parabasal cells. Hormonally treated squamous epithelia almost completely lacked nuclear ER localization.

[Effect of competitive sports on the menstrual cycle and sexuality--results of a survey of the West German team for the Olympic games in Los Angeles]

The present investigation attempts to analyse exact data on the menstruation cycle, contraception and the sexual behavior of competitive sportswomen. Since the West German participants at the Olympic Games of 1984 in Los Angeles were chosen for this investigation, the patients are unquestionably highly selected. For this reason, the results cannot claim to be representative in all respects. The objective of this study was primarily to register and to analyse the gynecological aspects of women's competitive sport, to reveal interrelationships and if appropriate to point out disadvantageous tendencies. The Olympics participants were subdivided into five different groups on the basis of the type of sport: I. take-off power/speed II. anaerobic endurance III. aerobic endurance IV. technique/dexterity V. team games. A control group was formed of middle-distance and long-distance runners. The data were analysed with regard to competitive sport and age, number of days of training and training minutes per week, menarche, duration and length as well as intensity of menstrual bleeding, menstruation symptoms, influence of menstrual bleeding on sport performance, dependence of peak performance on the menstruation cycle, sexual behavior, contraception behavior.

[Presacral malignant schwannoma]

In a woman patient who was 69 years of age and who was free from complaints and symptoms we identified a cystic solid and partly calcified tumour of 11 X 9 X 7 cm size in the lower abdomen, as well as two circular pulmonary foci that were suspected of being malignant. Clinical, sonographical and radiological findings led to the suspected diagnosis of a pulmonary metastasizing ovarian carcinoma. However, laparotomy revealed that the tumour site was presacral and retroperitoneal. The tumour was extirpated, and the histological diagnosis was that of a malignant schwannoma. No radiotherapy or chemotherapy was initiated because of the slender changes of success and the considerable side effects. Clinical pattern, problems of diagnosis and the prognosis of these rare malignomas are discussed.

[Child development following severe intrauterine growth retardation--results of follow-up studies]

94 prenatally severely dystrophic newborn (year of birth: 1970 to 1982) of the Department of Gynaecology of the University of Cologne were catamnestically investigated when they 2 to 12 years of age; follow-up examinations were performed by paediatricians, neurologists, EEG specialists and by test psychology. In more than one-half of the children followed up in this manner delays in early childhood development were seen; there were no conspicuous differences between the two groups (classified according to years of birth). On comparing the age brackets 1970-1975 and 1976-1982 about one-third of the children in both groups presented at follow-up clearly evident signs of retarded growth. In 32% of the children born between 1970 and 1975 mostly mild neurological deficits or slight impairments of nerve function were observed, whereas in the 1976-1982 group this figure was 26%. The incidence of cerebral pareses was 7% and 9%, respectively. Disturbances of fine motor response were most frequently seen. Mild to moderate EEG changes occurred in both patient groups at about the same rate of incidence (34% and 32% respectively); one child in each group presented with definitely pathological electroencephalographic findings. Pathological test psychology results were seen in 38% (1970-1975) and 21% (1976-1982) of the followed-up children; the tests employed were the Göttingen form reproduction test in children born between 1970 and 1975 and the Denver development test in the younger children born between 1976 and 1982.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Obstetric management in severe fetal growth retardation. Report of experiences based on 278 newborn infants with severe dystrophy 1970-1985]

The article discusses and reviews the obstetrical modalities in confirmed severe growth retardation and the effects exercised by marked dystrophy of newborn (less than or equal to 3rd percentile of weight) at the Department of Gynaecology of the University of Cologne between 1970 and 1985 on perinatal mortality, rate of asphyxiation and neonatal complications. In view of the optimal diagnostic possibilities available during the past decade, the examinations were subdivided into two groups (1970-1975 and 1976-1985). In severe foetal growth retardation-mainly confirmed sonographically-the proportion of primary Caesarean sections increased from 10% to 38%, whereas indication for inducing labour clearly dropped from 25% to 6%. The desired slight reduction in incidence of prenatally severely dystrophic newborn from 1.6% to 1.2% is regarded as the beginning of the effect of ultrasound screening during pregnancy. The higher perinatal mortality of the severely dystrophic newborn of the years 1976-1985 is explained by the increased incidence of dystrophic newborn who are considerably underweight (less than 1000 g) from 1.3% (1970-1985) to 10.4% (1976-1985). If perinatal mortality rate is corrected accordingly, perinatal mortality for both groups is about equal, namely, 3.3% and 3.2% respectively. Among the severely dystrophic newborn there were distinct differences on comparing the two groups in respect of the degree of maturity depending on the pregnancy period, and of the weight at birth. In 1970-75 85% of the dystrophic children were born after the 37th pregnancy week, i.e. mature-dystrophic, and only 15% showed in addition the signs of immaturity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Determination of the SCC antigen in the serum of patients with cervical cancer]

SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) antigen is a fraction of the tumor antigen TA-4, obtained from squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri. In a retrospective study the clinical significance of SCC antigen was investigated in sera of 119 controls, 30 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I-III), 170 women with cervical carcinoma, and 82 patients with other malignant gynecological tumors. Radioimmunoassay was performed with a kit manufactured by Abbott Diagnostics. The limit of the normal range was 2.5 ng/ml. Elevated serum concentrations of SCC antigen were measured in 5% of blood donors, 3% of patients with uterus myomatosus, and 13% of women with CIN I-III. Pathologic SCC antigen concentrations were found in 62% of patients with primary and 73% of women with recurrent cervical squamous cell carcinomas. Only one out of eleven patients with a primary or recurrent adenocarcinoma of the cervix had a slightly elevated antigen level. The positivity rates depended on the spread of the cervical squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix and rose from 32% at FIGO stage I to 83% at stages III/IV. Only 2% of the patients with no evidence of recurrent disease after successful primary treatment of a cervical carcinoma had SCC antigen concentrations exceeding 2.5 ng/ml. The positivity rates were 33% in cases of primary vulval and vaginal carcinomas, 8% in primary endometrial carcinoma, and 15% in primary ovarian carcinoma. None of the women with primary breast cancer had a serum level above 2.5 ng/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Psycho- and neurovegetative effects on the ECG of children and adolescents]

In six patients between 10 and 21 years of age vegetative function disorders were diagnosed. All of them showed an inversion of T in lead II and/or III and in V4 to V6. After exercise-testing the ECG signs normalized. Other clinical investigations, echocardiography, and in one case heart-catheterization revealed no pathological findings. It is necessary to distinguish these rare ECG findings from pathological ECG changes.

[Incidence and significance of chromosomal translocations in prenatal diagnosis]

In the study reported here the incidence and significance of translocations in antenatal diagnosis are described with reference to data of the cytogenic laboratory of Cologne University Gynecological Clinic. During the last 10 years 19 translocations were found in 4532 amnion cell cultures (0.44%), without exception in single pregnancies. In 18 cases the chromosome aberrations were balanced, i.e., the location of the genetic material was changed without loss or addition of parts of chromosomes. In one case the diagnosis of an unbalanced translocation in the form of a translocation mongolism led to termination of pregnancy. All of the other pregnancies were continued to term. Phenotypically and clinically the children were normal. The translocations were inherited in 78.9% (n = 15; 11 from the mother, 4 from the father), and de novo in 21.1% (n = 4). The results are in agreement with those of the DFG study, which identified 0.66% translocations in over 10,000 antenatal diagnoses. Of the balanced chromosome aberrations all of the newborns but one were clinically and phenotypically healthy. In cases of inherited translocations in particular, no increase in risk to the child could be determined. In cases of de novo chromosome aberrations there is a slight increase in the residual risk due to loss of minute portions of the gene. With careful technique this risk may be assumed to be very slight, so that in such cases also there is no indication for termination of pregnancy.