[Renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11 translocation involving the gene]

The paper describes a clinical case of the rare tumor renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11 translocations involving the TFE3 gene in a 53-year-old male patient. It provides the detailed characteristics of current diagnostic techniques.

Study of optical parameters of the nucleoli under the effect of transcription inhibitors by coherent phase microscopy

The use of coherent phase microscopy for online quantitative registration of nucleolar reaction to transcription inhibition is validated. Reduction of phase thickness of the nucleoli was detected during the first minutes of the experiment; 30 min after addition of the drug rarefaction zones predominated and areas of condensation were seen. These changes reflect the dynamics of disorders in the nucleolar ultrastructure during transcription inhibition.

Expression of argyrophilic proteins in the nucleolar organizer regions of human thymocytes and thymic epitheliocytes under conditions of coculturing with vilon and epithalon peptides

Vilon stimulated and Epithalon suppressed the expression of argyrophilic proteins in nucleolar organizer regions of thymocytes and epithelial cells, stimulating or reducing, respectively, the formation, assembly, and transport of ribosomes into the cytoplasm and thus determining the intensity of protein synthesis in these cells. A direct mitogenic effect of Vilon was also revealed: this peptide promoted thymocyte transformation into proliferating blast cells.

Ultrastructural criteria of malignancy of adrenal medullary tumor

Histological analysis and electron microscopy of 12 benign pheochromocytomas and 9 malignant pheochromoblastomas showed that there are no reliable histological differences between cells of benign and malignant tumor of the adrenal medulla. The ratio of ultrastructurally differentiated and undifferentiated cells in the tumor can reflect their maturity; the more ultrastructurally undifferentiated and less differentiated cells in the tumor, the higher is the malignant potential of this tumor.

Detection and typing of human papillomavirus in cervical carcinomas in Russian women: a prognostic study

BACKGROUND

The correlation between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and tumor prognosis in 159 Russian women with cervical carcinoma was investigated. The presence of various HPV types was correlated with the histologic parameters of the carcinomas and with their immunoreactivity with antibodies to p53, Ki-67-Ag, and bcl-2.

METHODS

Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue specimens representing 159 cases of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage I and II were used. HPV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a general primer set that targets the L1 region and synthesizes a product of only 65 base pairs. The HPV types were determined by direct sequencing and compared with known HPV types.

RESULTS

All 159 carcinomas were positive for HPV. HPV 16 (64.8%) was most frequently found, followed by HPV 18 (10.7%) and HPV 45 (8.2%). In 6 patients (3.8%), HPV types could not been further classified, and these cases were therefore categorized as HPV X. Although a trend was noted toward poorer prognosis for women with carcinomas harboring HPV types 16, 18, and 45 than for patients with carcinomas harboring HPV types 31, 33, 35, 52, 56, 58, and 68, the differences were not statistically significant. The prevalence of adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma was higher among HPV 18 positive patients than among patients with the other known HPV types (P=0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of HPV positivity in these 159 cervical carcinomas was 100%. These findings challenge the assumption that HPV negative cervical carcinomas exist. This high rate might be attributed to the use of a new broad-spectrum HPV PCR test. HPV typing in cervical carcinoma was not significantly related to clinical outcome. HPV 18 was significantly more frequently found in adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. The possibility of classifying HPV 45 as an oncogenic high risk type should be considered.

Two types of death of poliovirus-infected cells: caspase involvement in the apoptosis but not cytopathic effect

The death of poliovirus-infected cells may occur in two forms: canonical cytopathic effect (CPE) (on productive infections) or apoptosis (when the viral reproduction is hindered by certain drugs or some other restrictive conditions). Morphological manifestations of the CPE and apoptosis, being distinct, share some traits (e.g., chromatin condensation and nuclear deformation). It was shown here that a permeable caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-(OMe) fluoromethyl ketone (zVAD.fmk), prevented the development of the poliovirus-induced apoptosis on abortive infection. The apoptotic pathway could be dissected by an inhibitor of chymotrypsin-like serine proteases, N-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), which prevented the cleavage of DNA to oligonucleosome-sized pieces and nuclear fragmentation but did not suppress cellular shrinkage, cytoplasmic blebbing, and partial chromatin condensation. These results demonstrate that caspase activation is involved in the execution phase of the viral apoptosis and suggest that a nuclear subset of the apoptotic program is under a separate control, involving a TPCK-sensitive event. Neither zVAD.fmk nor TPCK, at the concentrations affecting the apoptotic response, exerted appreciable influence on the virus growth or cellular pathological changes on productive infection, indicating that the pathways leading to the poliovirus-evoked CPE and apoptosis are different.

Apoptosis-inducing and apoptosis-preventing functions of poliovirus

Data showing that an apoptotic reaction (the exit into the cytoplasm and nucleolytic internucleosomal degradation of chromosomal DNA, compaction and fragmentation of chromatin, cellular shrinkage, and cytoplasmic blebbing) developed in a subline of HeLa-S3 cells upon nonpermissive poliovirus infection with either a guanidine-sensitive poliovirus in the presence of guanidine, a guanidine-dependent mutant in the absence of guanidine, or certain temperature-sensitive mutants at a restrictive temperature are presented. Essentially, no apoptotic reaction occurred upon permissive infection of these cells. Both permissive and nonpermissive infections resulted in the inhibition of host protein synthesis. Actinomycin D or cycloheximide also elicited a rapid apoptotic reaction in uninfected cells. However, preinfection or coinfection with poliovirus prevented the apoptotic response to the addition of actinomycin D, and preinfection blocked cycloheximide-induced apoptosis as well. These data fit a model in which the cells used are prepared to develop apoptosis, with their viability due to the presence of certain short-lived mRNA and protein species. Poliovirus infection turns on two oppositely directed sets of reactions. On the one hand, the balance is driven toward apoptosis, probably via the shutoff of host macromolecular synthesis. On the other hand, viral protein exhibits antiapoptotic activity, thereby preventing premature cell death. To our knowledge, this is the first description of an antiapoptotic function for an RNA virus.

Uterine sarcomas in CBA mice induced by combined treatment with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and estradiol dipropionate. Light and electron microscopy

Three uterine sarcomas induced by combined treatment (1,2-dimethylhydrazine and estradiol dipropionate) in CBA mice were examined by light and electron microscopy. Histologically the tumours consisted either of loose areas with stellate cells or of solid cellular areas. These were formed of elongated cells of the fibroblastic type and rounded cells with clear nuclei and abundant cytoplasm without clearly discernible bodies. Ultrastructurally, undifferentiated mesenchymal cells and cells with the features of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts were distinguished. The tumours described bear resemblance to human endometrial stromal sarcomas and are interpreted as sarcomas originating from immature mesenchymal cells differentiating mainly in the direction of cells of the fibroblastic type. Certain similarities with fibrous histiocytomas are noted.

Ultrastructural ultracytochemical investigation of human gastric carcinomas

We describe the ultrastructure of various types of gastric carcinoma cells as well as their histochemical properties as visualized at the electron-microscope level. The histochemical properties of tumour cells were compared with those of homologous normal epithelial cells. The localization and activity of ATPase, IDPase, acidic phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase as well as of the oxidoreductases (cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase and NADH-dehydrogenase) were studied. Our findings demonstrated that, in tumour cells, a complicated process of structural-functional restructuring takes place. It seems that a number of ultracytochemical properties may be preserved or may disappear altogether; also, such properties may become enhanced or weaker. This heterogeneity of the histochemical properties of tumour cells is discussed with regard to the role of the stem (polypotent) cell in the process of the histogenesis (cytogenesis) of human gastric carcinomas.

Connective tissue reactions in early phases of spontaneous regression of experimental malignant histiocytomas. An electron microscopic study

Interactions between cancer and host are said to comprehend immunologic processes and stromal reactions including an angiofibroblastic response. We studied the latter phenomenon in spontaneously regressing experimental malignant histiocytomas produced by inoculation of an established macrophage-like cell line (WEHI-3) into baby rats. Light and electron microscopic investigations of the tumor tissue showed that there was a clear proliferation of fibroblasts and capillary vessels beginning from the 8th-10th day of the experiment. The vascular structures seemed to be somewhat changed and fibroblasts often displayed close contacts to tumor cells. The significance of these connective tissue reactions is discussed and, finally, the observations led to the conclusion that the angiofibroblastic reaction in the malignant histiocytoma model presented here may actively contribute to tumor breakdown and should not be interpreted as being only a secondary phenomenon after irreversible damage of tumor cells.

[Ultrastructural characteristics of the lymph node cells in lympho- and reticulosarcomas]

Electron-microscopic studies of the lymphatic nodes in lympho- and reticulosarcomas of man showed that tumoral cells retained the ultrastructural signs of initial normal cells (lymphoid or reticular) in the degree sufficient for their utilization in differential diagnosis of these two forms of the disease.

The functional significance of oncocytes (the "B" cells)

Oncocytes independently of their localization in this or that organ contain serotonin and high activity of succinate dehydrogenase. Hence oncocytes are not afunctionally dying cells, as was before believed, but a group of serotoninocytes, represented as a widely spread in the body diffused peripheral system of neuroendocrine system, which activity is bound with the function of the given biogenic monoamine. It seems reasonable to call oncocytes "B" cells after the first letter of the phrase "biogenic monoamines" which fully corresponds to their functional significance.

Melatonin and enterochromaffine cells

As a result of investigations active biosynthesis of melatonin was found in enterochromaffin cells of gastrointestinal tract. It is suggested to unify epiphysis and enterochromaffine cells into a united functionally active neuroendocrine system, which plays an important role in the control of rhythms of biological processes in the body.

[5-Methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine (melatonin) in enterochromaffin cells]

As evidenced from the action of acetone extracts of the mucous layer of the human appendix, these extracts contain a substance capable of bleaching the frog's skin. Model experiments with 0.1% adrenaline, 0.2% noradrenaline, 2.5% hydrocortisone and solutions of various concentrations of synthesized melatonin permitted to identify the above substance as melatonin. The bleaching aciton dependence on the number of enterochromaffin cells (Ec-cells) in the mucous layer of the appendix, and the presence of serotonin in Ec-cells reveal a connection between melatonin and Ec-cells. An average content of 5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine in the human appendix amounts to 0.004 mg per 100 Ec-cells. It is suggested that the epiphysis and enterochromaffin cells compose a common functional neuroendocrine system playing a definite role in maintaining the homeostasis of the organism.

[Inhibition and stimulation of ATPase activity and the nonenzymatic hydrolysis of ATP in electron histochemistry (author's transl)]

In rat liver, homogenized and fractionated, ATPase activity was studied both histochemically and biochemically in the presence of lead ions and with addition of cysteine, EDTA, 2,4-DNP, sodium cyanide, sodium fluoride and p-chloromercuribenzoate. None of the inhibitors concerned permitted to obtain a complete inhibition of ATP hydrolysis. A practically complete inhibition of ATPase was possible only through heat inactivation or after double prefixation with formaldehyde and ethanol. Nonenzymatic ATP hydrolysis plays a negligible role in ATPase histochemistry since phosphate yield taking place due to lead action is insignificant against enzymatic hydrolysis of ATP.

Ultrastructural demonstration of NAD-pyrophosphorylase activity in mouse liver nuclei

Ultrastructural demonstration of NAD-pyrophosphorylase activity (E.C.2.7.7.1) in isolated mouse liver nuclei was investigated with the use of an electronhistochemical procedure based on the precipitation of pyrophosphate ions with lead ions under conditions permitting simultaneous ATPase inhibition by formaldehyde/ethanol prefixation. In isolated mouse liver nuclei activity of NAD-pyrophosphorylase was found in nucleoli, in interchromatin granules, coiled bodies and strand-like structures in nucleoplasm.