Significance of histologic pattern of carcinoma and sarcoma components on survival outcomes of uterine carcinosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: To examine the effect of the histology of carcinoma and sarcoma components on survival outcome of uterine carcinosarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted to examine uterine carcinosarcoma cases that underwent primary surgical staging. Archived slides were examined and histologic patterns were grouped based on carcinoma (low-grade versus high-grade) and sarcoma (homologous versus heterologous) components, correlating to clinico-pathological demographics and outcomes. RESULTS: Among 1192 cases identified, 906 cases were evaluated for histologic patterns (carcinoma/sarcoma) with high-grade/homologous (40.8%) being the most common type followed by high-grade/heterologous (30.9%), low-grade/homologous (18.0%), and low-grade/heterologous (10.3%). On multivariate analysis, high-grade/heterologous (5-year rate, 34.0%, P = 0.024) and high-grade/homologous (45.8%, P = 0.017) but not low-grade/heterologous (50.6%, P = 0.089) were independently associated with decreased progression-free survival (PFS) compared with low-grade/homologous (60.3%). In addition, older age, residual disease at surgery, large tumor, sarcoma dominance, deep myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, and advanced-stage disease were independently associated with decreased PFS (all, P < 0.01). Both postoperative chemotherapy (5-year rates, 48.6% versus 39.0%, P < 0.001) and radiotherapy (50.1% versus 44.1%, P = 0.007) were significantly associated with improved PFS in univariate analysis. However, on multivariate analysis, only postoperative chemotherapy remained an independent predictor for improved PFS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27-0.43, P < 0.001]. On univariate analysis, significant treatment benefits for PFS were seen with ifosfamide for low-grade carcinoma (82.0% versus 49.8%, P = 0.001), platinum for high-grade carcinoma (46.9% versus 32.4%, P = 0.034) and homologous sarcoma (53.1% versus 38.2%, P = 0.017), and anthracycline for heterologous sarcoma (66.2% versus 39.3%, P = 0.005). Conversely, platinum, taxane, and anthracycline for low-grade carcinoma, and anthracycline for homologous sarcoma had no effect on PFS compared with non-chemotherapy group (all, P > 0.05). On multivariate analysis, ifosfamide for low-grade/homologous (HR 0.21, 95% CI 0.07-0.63, P = 0.005), platinum for high-grade/homologous (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22-0.60, P < 0.001), and anthracycline for high-grade/heterologous (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.14-0.62, P = 0.001) remained independent predictors for improved PFS. Analyses of 1096 metastatic sites showed that carcinoma components tended to spread lymphatically, while sarcoma components tended to spread loco-regionally (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Characterization of histologic pattern provides valuable information in the management of uterine carcinosarcoma.

Fibrous tumor of the breast in a postmenopausal woman receiving estrogen.

Fibrous tumor of the breast is a rare, benign stromal proliferation with atrophy of the epithelial component. Almost all patients who develop fibrous tumors are premenopausal. An unusual example of fibrous tumor of the breast is reported in a 62-year-old postmenopausal woman. The mass, first noted 1 year previously, progressively enlarged over the year. The patient noted a history of taking exogenous estrogens for 10 years. Intense estrogen administration during the year of enlargement may be associated with accelerated growth of the tumor. In addition, positive nuclear staining for estrogen receptor antibodies in stromal cells was demonstrated by immunohistochemical methods.

[Dermatomyositis complicated by sarcoidosis].

We encountered a patient with dermatomyositis complicated by sarcoidosis. A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever dry cough, and myalgias. There were reticular shadows on her chest X-ray film. Although the typical skin rash and myositis suggested the diagnosis of dermatomyositis biopsy specimens from a salivary gland, muscle, and lung revealed noncaseating granulomas as well. Uveitis was also noted. These findings suggested the coexistence of sarcoidosis with dermatomyositis. Examination of the lung-biopsy specimens showed interstitial pneumonia compatible with dermatomyositis, except for the granuloma. The typical rash of dermatomyositis and pathological findings of the lung specimen were inconsistent with sarcoidosis. Therefore we concluded that this patient had both dermatomyositis and sarcoidosis. This case sheds new light on the importance of pathological examinations.

Effects of the beige mutation on respiratory tract infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice.

The role of neutrophil proteinases in the pathogenesis of respiratory tract infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated by studying the course of murine respiratory tract infection with a clinical isolate of P. aeruginosa mucoid strain developed by the agarose beads method in C57BL/6J(bg/bg) mice (beige mice). Neutrophils of beige mice are known to have defects in elastase and cathepsin G, but to have normal ability to produce reactive oxygen species. Contrary to the reported high susceptibility of beige mice to bacterial infections, we found that intratracheal inoculation of approximately 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU) of P. aeruginosa enmeshed in agarose beads resulted in lower mortality (0/16 versus 16/16, p < .01), fewer CFU counts in the lungs on day 5 (p < .05), and fewer elastolytic lung tissue injuries in beige mice compared with C57BL/6(+/+) mice. In vitro bactericidal study, however, revealed that beige neutrophils killed fewer bacteria than those of C57BL/6(+/+) mice (p < .05). Neutrophil elastase activities in the supernatants of pulmonary lavaged fluids measured using methoxysuccinyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl-valine-4-methylcoumar-7-amide were lower (p < .05) in beige mice than those in the normal littermates, whereas neutrophil recruitment into the airways and production of superoxide anion measured as the superoxide dismutase inhibitable rate of cytochrome c reduction were not impaired. These results suggest that neutrophil proteinases play a key role in tissue injuries in the respiratory tract infection with P. aeruginosa.

[A case of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease in the early phase].

A 51-year-old female was admitted to our hospital due to hemoptysis. Chest radiography revealed infiltrations in the middle lobe. Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax showed clusters of small nodules associated with a small cavity in the middle lobe, ligula and lower lobe of the right lung. Bronchiectasis was not detected. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimen (B4a) showed epithelioid cell granulomas with giant cells, and Mycobacterium avium was isolated in 4-week cultures of bronchial washings. This could be a case of early phase of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a patient without a so-called underlying condition. CT findings were characteristic and useful for the early diagnosis of MAC infection.

[Effect of cytokines on anti-Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) activities of human alveolar macrophages].

The macrophage is an essential component of the host defense against intracellular pathogens including MAC. Especially alveolar macrophages act as a first line defense in the lungs against MAC infection. Some cytokines were reported to activate mouse peritoneal macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages to inhibit growth or kill MAC. But we could find only one report describing the effect of cytokines on anti-MAC activities of human alveolar macrophages (PAM). Thus, we investigated the effect of several cytokines on anti-MAC activities of PAM. PAM were recovered from 12 healthy subjects by bronchoalveolar lavage and cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 with 10% heat-inactivated human AB serum. After 2 hours incubation nonadherent cells were discarded by vigorous washing to from monolayers of PAM (2 x 10(5) PAM in each 11-mm diameter tissue culture dish). Then we added 2 x 10(6) viable MAC bacteria (31F093T) and each cytokine to the wells simultaneously. We prepared the well without cytokines as control. After 96 hours incubation, PAM were disrupted by sonication, then all bacteria that had located inside and outside of the cells were plated onto 7H10 agar. The results are reported as mean colony forming units per each well. We had determined the optimal dose of each cytokine to prime PAM for enhanced O2- release and we used that optimal dose in this experiment. PAM with TNF-alpha pretreatment, and PAM with IFN-gamma pretreatment could release increased amount of O2- significantly, compared with control. PAM with IL-2 pretreatment and PAM with GM-CSF pretreatment also released somewhat increased amount of O2-.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A case of acute lupus pneumonitis followed by high-resolution CT].

A 43-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever and dyspnea. She had facial rash, hair-loss, arthralgia, urinary casts, thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, and deposits of IgG, IgM, C3 in the epidermis. SLE was diagnosed. She also had severe dyspnea, which gradually progressed. In spite of steroid pulse therapy and cyclophosphamide, she eventually died about two months after admission. Chest X-ray film showed bilateral ground-glass shadow and volume-loss. High-resolution CT of the lung showed marked high density area with airbronchogram in the posterior part and a gradually enlarging slight high density area in the anterior area. Pathological findings of the posterior area were atelectasis and dense fibrosis. The findings of the anterior area were collapsed alveoli and dilated alveolar ducts. These findings might suggest that alveolar collapse play a major role in the course of pulmonary fibrosis of this patient.

[Bronchiectasis with normal paranasal sinus roentgenogram].

Bronchiectasis has come to be considered as a type of sinobronchial syndrome in Japan, but there exist some cases without chronic sinusitis. We studied the clinical features of 14 cases of bronchiectasis with definitely normal paranasal sinus roentgenogram, diagnosed during the past ten years. There were eleven middle-aged women and three men. Ten patients (71%) complained of hemoptysis, one (7%) of dry cough, one (7%) of productive cough, and the two (14%) had no complaint. In seven patients (50%) CT and bronchography showed localized cylindrical bronchiectasis in the right middle lobe and/or left upper lobe lingular division. They were considered to be middle lobe lingular syndrome. Three patients (22%) with localized varicose or cystic bronchiectasis had a history of pneumonia or pertussis in their infancy, so their bronchiectasis were considered secondary to infantile bronchopulmonary disease. Two patients (14%) had diffuse cystic bronchiectasis and were almost asymptomatic. They might be cases congenital bronchiectasis or Williams-Campbell syndrome. Pulmonary function tests were normal in most of the cases and sputum culture revealed no cases of persistent bacterial infection. These clinical features are quite different from those of bronchiectasis reported as sinobronchial syndrome, in which chronic productive cough, poor pulmonary function, persistent bacterial infection, etc. are significant. So we conclude that there are two distinct groups in bronchiectasis.

[A case of desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP) suggesting a relationship to chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP)].

A 43-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of cough and dyspnea. His chest X-ray showed bilateral basal infiltrative shadows. The increased eosinophils in BAL suggested chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), whereas the TBLB specimens showed findings compatible with desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP). The open lung biopsy specimens showed typical findings of DIP with a peripheral zone, suggestive of CEP. These two diseases may be only phasal differences of reaction to the same extrinsic stimulation.

[A clinical study of terminal pneumonia].

A total of 210 cases of terminal pneumonia were studied out of 1183 autopsied cases at Tenri Yorozu Hospital from 1978 to 1985. Underlying diseases included lung cancer (77 patients), gastric cancer (26 patients), leukemia (24 patients). There was no statistical significance between the time from death until autopsy and the bacterial examination of autopsied lung and blood. P. aeruginosa and Klebsiella sp. were the most frequently isolated organisms. Seventy percent of isolated organisms were gram negative bacilli. In spite of administration of antibiotics, bacteria isolated from specimens before death were sometimes the same as the one isolated from specimens after death. In addition it was recognized that multiple intensive examinations of sputum are necessary for rapid diagnosis of pneumonia. It was also noted that the longer the duration of antibiotic administration, the more frequently P. aeruginosa was isolated. Finally the possibility of pneumonia should be kept in mind in compromised hosts.

Relation between the ordinary and extraordinary index profiles of ion-exchanged glass waveguides.

The relation between the ordinary and extraordinary index profiles of ion-exchanged glass waveguides is investigated on the basis of the stress-optic law and the Clausius-Mossotti relation. For K(+) exchange and Ag(+) exchange, the experimental results are consistent with our analysis. The values of the coefficient that relates the ordinary and extraordinary index profiles are presented.

Honeycomb optical-waveguide networks for parallel signal processing.

A honeycomb waveguide network for parallel signal processing, consisting of single-mode symmetrical Y junctions, is proposed. In this waveguide network, input guided-wave amplitudes are divided and then combined with the amplitudes of the adjacent waveguides. It is shown that the operations of spatial filtering, such as smoothing, edge extraction, and edge enhancement, can be performed. An example of the honeycomb waveguide network is discussed.