Intralaboratory quality assurance in cervical/vaginal cytology: evaluation of intercytologist diagnostic reproducibility.

Diagnostic reproducibility and accuracy in evaluating cervical/vaginal smears were the focus of this study concerning intralaboratory quality control. A set of 120 cytological samples was evaluated by 15 cytopathologists whose experience ranged from 3-29 yr. The study report form was based on the 1988 Bethesda System. Intercytologist reproducibility (with respect to sample adequacy, epithelial cell abnormalities, and presence of cellular changes associated with HPV, Human Papilloma virus) was evaluated using the Kappa statistic. Poor reproducibility in defining sample adequacy was observed (K = 0.24). The agreement on epithelial cell abnormality definition was good (K = 0.64); the lowest reproducibility was observed for High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia HSIL/CIN II (specific K = 0.37) and Atypical cells of undetermined significance ACUS (specific K = 0.44). The agreement in detecting cellular changes associated with HPV was fair (K = 0.49). Diagnostic accuracy for epithelial cell abnormalities, assessed by comparison with a consensus reference diagnosis, was good (K = 0.74).

Interlaboratory reproducibility in reporting inadequate cervical smears--a multicentre multinational study.

A set of 300 vaginal smears was interpreted by 13 cytologists from six European laboratories, who were requested to report inadequate and suboptimal smears. The set had been appropriately seeded to reach approximately 10% inadequate and 20% suboptimal smear frequency. According to the majority report, 230 smears were classified as adequate (76.7%), 43 as inadequate (14.3%), and 27 as suboptimal (9.0%). Agreement with the majority report ranged from 52% to 91% (average 78%). Kappa statistics for reporting inadequate smears showed a high level of agreement for five cytologists, and fair to good agreement for eight. In contrast, kappa statistics for reporting suboptimal smears showed fair to good agreement with the majority report only in five instances, whereas agreement was poor for eight cytologists. 'Inadequate smear' rates may be used to compare the quality of smears received in different laboratories, as there is a high level of agreement among cytologists as to what constitutes an inadequate smear. However, this is not true for "suboptimal smear" rates, and more precise reporting criteria must be defined and tested if an intermediate category is to be retained to report poor quality smears: more precise reporting criteria must be defined and tested if an intermediate category is to be retained to report poor quality smears.

External quality assurance in cervical/vaginal cytology: Interlaboratory agreement in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic agreement between seven cervical/vaginal cytology laboratories participating in the first external quality assurance (EQA) scheme developed in Italy. STUDY DESIGN: Between 1991 and 1993, 110 cytologic smears were selected and classified by a committee and circulated and reported on by the laboratories according to the 1988 Bethesda System. Agreement was evaluated with the kappa statistic. Systematic disagreement was assessed by means of the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Interlaboratory kappa values varied between .01 and .29 (group score, .11) for sample adequacy and between .53 and .78 (group score, .67) for epithelial abnormalities. The lowest specific kappa values were observed for the three classes of sample adequacy (unsatisfactory, .07; less than optimal [LTO], .10; satisfactory [SAT], .14) and for the class of atypical cells of undetermined significance (ACUS), (.29). As compared with the study committee, 5/7 laboratories showed a systematic (P<.01) tendency to undercall sample adequacy. Agreement on epithelial abnormalities was also analyzed according to the pattern of adequacy reported by paired laboratories (LTO/LTO, LTO/SAT, SAT/SAT). As compared with smears designated SAT/SAT, those classified as LTO/SAT were associated with lower specific kappa values for agreement on the presence of carcinoma and ACUS and with equal or greater values for agreement on the other classes, suggesting an arbitrary use of notations of LTO inversely related to the severity of epithelial lesions. CONCLUSION: EQA schemes, as applied to cervical/vaginal cytology, can shed light on major deficiencies in specific diagnostic areas.

Malignant sarcomatoid mesothelioma of the pleura: a histological and immunohistological study of a case.

The authors describe the case of a 70 year-old asymptomatic female, who showed nodular pleural growths at an occasional chest roentgenogram. Histological examinations and laboratory findings excluded the possibility of an inflammatory granulomatous process, but they did not allow differentiation between malignant sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Only at immunohistochemistry was the differential diagnosis made. In fact, the co-expression of vimentin and cytokeratins by neoplastic cells, along with their negativity for macrophage markers strongly supported the hypothesis that the neoplastic growth originated from subpleural mesenchymal stem cells.

Acute idiopathic interstitial giant cell myocarditis. A histological and immunohistological study of a case.

The Authors report on a case of acute idiopathic giant cell myocarditis, which occurred in a young man without previous history of immunodeficiency or tumours, and displayed a rapidly fatal clinical course. Autoptic examination showed diffuse damage to the myocardium, with myocytolysis, granuloma formation and abundant giant cell reaction. No significant changes were observed in the other organs and systems . Immunohistochemistry revealed that the giant cells strongly reacted with the antibody KP1--raised to the macrophage-associated antigen CD68--whereas they did not stain with the monoclonal against the muscle-specific marker desmin. In the light of their findings and previous reports in the literature, the Authors discuss the possible origin of giant cells, along with the pathogenesis of the condition.

The molar ratio of C-peptide to insulin after two consecutive stimulations with glucagon in obesity.

The same dose (1 mg) of intravenous glucagon, administered in two consecutive pulses, demonstrates that insulin and C-peptide secretory responses in obese patients exceed those of normal weight subjects. The analysis of the molar ratio of serum immunoreactive C-peptide (IRCP) to serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) which revealed significant differences between obese and control groups suggests that higher plasma insulin levels in obesity may result not only from a greater response to glucagon loads and from an impaired sensitivity to endogenous insulin by target tissues, but also from a decreased hepatic removal and destruction of the hormone. Perhaps an anomaly in the hepatic handling of insulin exists in obese subjects and thus a greater amount of the hormone reaches the periphery contributing to hyperinsulinemia, as observed in hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic obese (ob/ ob) mice.

Effects of the interaction between methysergide and clonidine on growth hormone and prolactin secretion in normal man.

The effects of methysergide (1 mg, p.o.), clonidine (50 micrograms, i.m.) and methysergide plus clonidine on growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion in 8 normal male volunteers have been studied. Both methysergide and clonidine were found to enhance GH and to lower PRL plasma levels. The effects of methysergide are explained on the basis of a preferential action of methysergide metabolites on dopamine receptors, whereas the effects of clonidine are attributed to a stimulatory action on adrenaline receptors. The combined treatment methysergide plus clonidine resulted in a potentiation of the effects caused by the drugs when administered alone.

[Continuous-infusion ketamine]. / Contributo clinico all'uso della ketamina per infusione continua.

An investigation was made of the employment of ketamin as the sole anaesthetic in general surgery, using continuous infusion of a 1% solution for both induction and maintenance in 118 cases. ECG was monitored and arterial pressure was measured invasively. Central venous pressure was also determined in 10 cases. Changes in serum enzyme values during and after surgery were examined in 35 patients. Blood samples were withdrawn before induction, after the return to consciousness, and 24 hr after the operation. Side-effects were common, but slight. Five patients suffered from nightmares, but these were persons with marked imaginative activity and a melancholic nature. Cardiocirculatory function was satisfactory. In particular, peripheral perfusion was excellent in all cases.

[Critical analysis of the radioimmunological methods of determining creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), myoglobin (MG) and of LDH (H4) in ischemic cardiopathy]. / Analisi critica delle metodiche radioimmunologiche per la determinazione della CK-MB, della MG e della LDH (H4) nelle cardiopatie ischemiche.

We have studied 135 subjects of whom 100 were normal individuals; 10 with diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI); 10 with angina pectoris; 10 undergoing cardiac catheterism; 5 who underwent open heart surgery. To verify the radioimmunoassay usefulness of CPK cardiac isoenzyme (CK-RIA), of lactate dehydrogenase [LDH (H4)], of myoglobin (MG) in the diagnosis of ischemic disease, we have determined for serum samples: LDH (H4) by radioimmunoassay and HBDH by biochemical assay; CK by biochemical assay; CK-MB by biochemical and radioimmunological assay; MG by radioimmunoassay. The results indicate MG as a sensitive marker for the diagnosis of AMI. In fact serial serum determinations in patients with AMI showed myoglobin levels in 60% of the cases within 1 h after the onset of pain. The CK-RIA is the most sensitive test to evaluate infarct size and LDH (H4) conditioned by the amount of intracellular lactate is an useful test to evaluate myocardial anoxia.