William E. Triest

Angiogenesis in endometrial hyperplasia and stage I endometrial carcinoma

Objective To evaluate angiogenesis in endometrial hyperplasia and stage I endometrial carcinoma, and to investigate the relationship between angiogenesis and tumor grade and depth of invasion. Methods Three groups of patients were analyzed: control patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign conditions (n = 19), patients with endometrial hyperplasia (n = 24), and patients with stage I endometrial carcinoma (n = 34). All hysterectomy specimens were stained immunohistochemically for factor VIII-related antigen as a sensitive and specific marker for vascular endothelium. Areas close to the deepest myometrial invasion or those with the highest grade of endometrial hyperplasia and the highest angiogenic intensity were selected. Three fields (× 400) were selected for each slide, and the mean microvessel count was calculated. Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and Dunn post hoc procedure. P < .05 was considered significant. Results A significant difference was found between the microvessel count of controls versus the group with complexendometrial hyperplasia (median 21, range 16–80, versus median 38, range 20–130; P < .05). Microvessel counts of complex endometrial hyperplasia were significantly higher than those of simple hyperplasia (median 25, range 16–42; P < .05) and significantly lower than counts of endometrial carcinoma (median 77.5, range 19–189; P < .05). Microvessel counts in complex hyperplasia were not significantly different than those of noninvasive stage I endometrial carcinoma (median 38, range 20–130, versus median 44, range 19–119; P = .5). In cases of stage I endometrial carcinoma, a higher number of microvessels was noted in specimens with myometrial invasion than in those without myometrial invasion (median 44, range 19–119, versus median 83, range 19–189; P < .01). A higher number of microvessels was noted in cases with grade 2 than in those with grade 1, stage I endometrial carcinoma (median 44, range 19–98, versus median 96, range 63–189; P < .001). Conclusion Complex endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma are angiogenic. Furthermore, in stage I endometrial carcinoma, greater depth of invasion and higher tumor grade are directly correlated with angiogenic intensity.

Angiogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma in situ and microinvasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Objective To evaluate angiogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma in situ (CIS) and microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and to investigate the relations among angiogenesis, stromal inflammation, and depth of invasion. Methods Three groups of women were studied: 22 controls who had undergone hysterectomy for benign conditions; 18 with squamous cell CIS of the cervix who under-went cone biopsy, hysterectomy, or both; and 14 with microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma who underwent conization of the cervix and subsequent surgical management according to depth of invasion. All specimens were stained immunohistochemically for factor VIH-related antigen. Areas below the basement membrane with the highest angiogenic density were selected. The degree of stromal inflammatory reaction was assessed. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis, analyses of variance and covariance, Scheffe and Bonferroni-Dunn post hoc procedures, and Pearson correlation analysis. P Results Microvessel counts per high-power field (×400) of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix differed significantly from those of controls and squamous cell CIS (median 34.5 per high-power field, range 9–76 versus median 17, range 7–47, and median 19, range 8–39, respectively; P P = .91). Among patients with microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, no significant correlation was found between microvessel counts per high-power field and the depth of invasion ( r = 0.19, P = .51). Stromal inflammatory reaction (graded 0–3) differed significantly among controls, squamous cell CIS, and microinvasive carcinoma (mean 0.40, 0.83, and 1.64, respectively; P Conclusions Microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is angiogenic, but depth of invasion is not associated with increased angiogenicity. Squamous cell CIS is not angiogenic.

Prevalence of CagA, VacA antibodies in symptomatic and asymptomatic children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background. Limited data are available on the prevalence of CagA and VacA Helicobacter pylori antibodies in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibody prevalence to the H. pylori virulence factors CagA and VacA in symptomatic and asymptomatic children with H. pylori infection and to correlate these antibodies with the severity of gastric inflammation or density of H. pylori organisms in the gastric mucosa.

Comparison between a rapid office-based and ELISA serologic test in screening for Helicobacter pylori in children.

The rapid diagnostic serological test for detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children has a significant advantage over the standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method, for its simplicity and rapid availability of results in a physician’s office setting. We compared the immunochromatographic test with a standard enzyme immunoassay test in the pediatric population.

Bilateral Epidermoid Cysts of the Testis: Report of a Case with Preservation of 1 Testis

Epidermoid cysts of the testis are rare, benign lesions. Of approximately 200 reported cases only 1 was bilateral. We report a case of bilateral epidermoid cysts treated with preservation of a testis. Diagnostic criteria, ultrasound evaluation and surgical management are discussed. The potential for testicular conservation is emphasized.

T AND B CELL REPERTOIRE IN GASTRIC LYMPH FOLLICLES IN CHILDREN WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION

Helicobacter pylori infection has been implicated in the development of gastrointestinal malignancy in adults and children. The histopathological processes that lead to such development are unknown. We compared the immune cell repertoire of mucosal lymph follicles in children with H. pylori infection to B cell type mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-lymphoma of adults. The B and T cell populations residing within the lymph follicles and/or within B cell type MALT-lymphoma were characterized by an immunohistochemical technique, utilizing B and T cell markers including: CD3, CD4, CD8 (Tcells); CD20, CD40, CD74, BLA36, CD80, CD86 (B cells). Stain intensity was compared between the samples. T cell repertoire was observed within the lymph follicles, but not in the B cell MALT-lymphoma specimens. No significant difference was observed between the staining of CD40, CD74, CD8, and BLA36. The B cell markers, CD80 and CD86, were found within the centrocytic zone of the lymph follicle. In the B cell repertoire, no significant difference was observed between the lymph follicles of children with H. pylori infection and the adult MALT-lymphoma specimens except in CD20. B and T cells were in close anatomicalproximity, enabling them to interact and exchange immunological information.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) levels in children with reflux esophagitis

Reflux esophagitis is a common disease in infants and can be diagnosed largely by esophageal biopsy. In adults, chronic esophagitis may lead to Barretts esophagus, a premalignant condition for esophageal cancer development. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is used as an early marker for colon cancer development. No data are available on the role of ODC in reflux esophagitis in the pediatric population. In this study we retrospectively analyzed ODC activity in esophageal biopsies of children who underwent upper endoscopy. According to the esophageal histology, patients were divided into three groups: normal mucosa, mild, and moderate/severe esophagitis. None of our patients had esophageal metaplasia or cancer. ODC level was significantly higher in the moderate/severe esophagitis group compared to mild and normal mucosa group. We conclude that ODC activity is directly proportional to the severity of the esophageal inflammation/regenerative process in children with reflux esophagitis.

T and B Cells Repertoire in Gastric Lymph Follicles in Children with Helicobacter Pylori Infection

T and B Cells Repertoire in Gastric Lymph Follicles in Children with Helicobacter Pylori Infection

ANGIOGENESIS IN SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA IN SITU AND MICROINVASIVE CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX

Objective To evaluate angiogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma in situ (CIS) and microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and to investigate the relations among angiogenesis, stromal inflammation, and depth of invasion. Methods Three groups of women were studied: 22 controls who had undergone hysterectomy for benign conditions; 18 with squamous cell CIS of the cervix who under-went cone biopsy, hysterectomy, or both; and 14 with microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma who underwent conization of the cervix and subsequent surgical management according to depth of invasion. All specimens were stained immunohistochemically for factor VIII-related antigen. Areas below the basement membrane with the highest angiogenic density were selected. The degree of stromal inflammatory reaction was assessed. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis, analyses of variance and covariance, Scheffe and Bonferroni-Dunn post hoc procedures, and Pearson correlation analysis. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results Microvessel counts per high-power field (x400) of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix differed significantly from those of controls and squamous cell CIS (median 34.5 per high-power field, range 9–76 versus median 17, range 7–47, and median 19, range 8–39, respectively; P < .005). Microvessel counts per high-power field in squamous cell CIS did not differ significantly from those of controls (P = .91). Among patients with microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, no significant correlation was found between microvessel counts per high-power field and the depth of invasion (r = 0.19, P = .51). Stromal inflammatory reaction (graded 0–3) differed significantly among controls, squamous cell CIS, and microinvasive carcinoma (mean 0.40, 0.83, and 1.64, respectively; P < .005). Conclusions Microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is angiogenic, but depth of invasion is not associated with increased angiogenicity. Squamous cell CIS is not angiogenic.

IS DUODENAL METAPLASIA A CONSEQUENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI(HP) ASSOCIATED GASTRITIS IN CHILDREN? 694

IS DUODENAL METAPLASIA A CONSEQUENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI(HP) ASSOCIATED GASTRITIS IN CHILDREN? 694