Loss of cellular cohesion in cytology composes a special subgroup of breast tumors - analysis of 37 cases.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed smears by fine needle aspiration (FNA) from 37 cases that displayed numerous dissociated cells and correlated the results with histological findings. STUDY DESIGN: Between 1996 and 2005, 1,583 patients underwent breast FNA and resection. Loss of cellular cohesion was observed in 37 of these cases. RESULTS: From the cytological findings, we classified cases into 3 groups according to cell size and shape. Type A: numerous isolated spindle cells with a necrotic background. Four cases were classified into this group (3 cases of intraductal papilloma and 1 case of adenomyoepithelioma). Type B: lymphocytes and large isolated cells such as medullary carcinoma. Five cases were classified into this group [1 case of classic medullary carcinoma, 1 case of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 3 cases of invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST)]. Type C: numerous uniform small round cells. Twenty-eight cases were classified into this group (2 cases of lobular carcinoma, 1 case of DCIS, 22 cases of invasive carcinoma NST, and 3 cases of solid papillary carcinoma). CONCLUSION: Numerous isolated cells are sometimes seen in both benign and malignant cytology.

Colonic Lymphoid Follicle Hyperplasia after Gastrectomy in Rats.

Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH) of the human colon has been associated with multiple diseases and symptoms. Causes include food allergies, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, and immunodeficiency, and gastrectomy is not usually considered to be the etiology. Nine rats two weeks after total gastrectomy and 12 control rats were sacrificed and submitted for histological examination. In the gastrectomy group, we found lymphoid hyperplasia throughout the entire colon mucosa. The cross-sectional area of lymphoid follicles was increased to be five-fold larger than that in the rats in the control group (sham surgery). Lymphoid follicles were classified into primary and secondary follicles according to the presence/absence of germinal centers; the gastrectomy group had a significantly larger number of secondary follicles. When T cell and B cell classification of lymphocytes was performed, there was no difference between gastrectomy and control groups at T:B = 40:60. When the lymphoid follicles were classified, the proportion of T lymphocytes increased in the secondary follicle (T:B = 40:60) compared with in the primary follicle (T:B = 20:80). Gastrectomy significantly activated lymphocytic intestinal immunity by altering the intestinal environment, causing colonic NLH. Gastrectomy in rats is a good animal model for the study of NLH in colorectal diseases.

Two Japanese pepper (Zanthoxylum piperitum) fruit-derived compounds attenuate IgE-mediated allergic response in vitro and in vivo via inhibition of mast cell degranulation.

Zanthoxylum piperitum (ZP, 'Japanese pepper') is a traditional medicine and pepper used in Asian countries such as Japan. Hydroxy-α-sanshool, a pungent-tasting substance contained within ZP, has been reported to slightly suppress immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated mast cell degranulation. The current study aims to newly identify anti-allergic compounds derived from ZP. We examine the inhibitory mechanisms behind IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation. By inhibitory effect-guided isolation, we identified degranulation inhibitory compounds derived from ZP fruit: 1-acetoxy-7-hydroxy-3, 7-dimethylocta-2E, 5E-diene (ZP1) and 8-hydroxygeranyl acetate (ZP2). ZP1 and ZP2 inhibited IgE-mediated degranulation and A23187-mediated degranulation in RBL-2H3 mast cells. Our findings suggest the inhibition of degranulation by ZP1 and ZP2 was by inhibition of Lyn phosphorylation, followed by inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, protein kinase C alpha phosphorylation, membrane ruffling, and granule-to-plasma membrane fusion. Oral administration of ZP1 or ZP2 attenuated an IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction in mice. Histological observation suggests that this effect occurred via inhibition of mast cell degranulation. These findings indicate that ZP1 and ZP2 attenuate allergic reaction via inhibition of IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation.

Biological and epidemiological evidence of anti-allergic effects of traditional Japanese food ume (Prunus mume).

Japanese apricot (Prunus mume; ume) is a traditional food in Japan that has been shown to have various beneficial health effects. There is some evidence to suggest that ume is also effective against allergic disease. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological pilot study to examine the association between ume intake frequency and allergic symptoms including rhinitis in 563 adults (288 men and 275 women) who resided in Wakayama, Japan. After adjusting for age, present illness and medication, women with high ume intake had significantly lower odds ratio (OR) for the presence of symptoms of allergy [OR: 0.49 with 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25-0.97]. Therefore, we investigated the anti-allergic effect of ume on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-sensitized mice. The animal study demonstrated that oral administration of ume extract attenuated the PCA reaction and mast cell degranulation. Furthermore, RBL-2H3 mast cells were used to identify anti-allergic ume compounds. The following ume compounds inhibited IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation: vanillin, syringic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, lyoniresinol and p-coumaric acid. These results suggested that ume has the potential to inhibit mast cell degranulation and may be associated with reduced risk of allergic symptoms in women.

Immunolocalization of glucose transporter 1 and 3 in the placenta: application to cytodiagnosis of Papanicolaou smear.

A positive immunostaining for glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) was exclusively localized in microvilli on the free surface of syncytiotrophoblasts in the placenta. An enhanced immunoreaction for glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) was elicited in the cell membrane of intermediate trophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts. Neither GLUT1 nor GLUT3 was positive in decidual cells and epithelial components from cervical dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. Cervicovaginal smears from six pregnant women containing atypical cells of unknown origin were subjected to immunocytochemical testing with antibodies against GLUT1 and GLUT3. Atypical cells in smears from two pregnant women were found to be positive for GLUT3 while no specific immunoreaction for GLUT1 was elicited, indicating their origin from either intermediate trophoblasts or cytotrophoblasts. Through the use of antibodies against vimentin and cytokeratin 17, GLUT3-negative atypical cells were further sorted into decidual cells and epithelial components from cervical dysplasia, respectively.

Loss of cell cohesion in breast cytology as a characteristic of neuroendocrine carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize a specific group of breast cancers displaying a scattered single cell pattern in cytology and correlate it with histologic and immunohistochemical findings. STUDY DESIGN: Of 135 consecutive malignant breast cytologic specimens, 12 cases were selected for their scattered single cell pattern on aspiration cytology. Immunohistochemical staining for neuroendocrine markers and prognostic parameters was performed on paraffin sections of corresponding primary breast carcinomas. RESULTS: In the smears of the 12 cases, highly cellular neoplastic cells with a single cell pattern were observed predominantly. The tumor cells had relatively wide, granular cytoplasm and a low to moderate nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Histologically, they were arranged mainly in relatively large, solid nests and occasionally contained a tubular pattern with small amounts of stromal tissue. Five of the 12 cases demonstrated neuroendocrine differentiation with a positive immunoreaction for chromogranin A and synaptophysin. Except for the small mean size of the tumors (P < .01), no significant differences were identified among the prognostic parameters, including a nodal status, estrogen receptor status, growth fraction by Ki-67 or immunoreactivity for c-erbB-2, as compared with the other 123 cases. CONCLUSION: Loss of cell cohesion in breast cytology is a good morphologic marker for identifying neuroendocrine breast carcinoma.

3,4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde Derived from Prunus mume Seed Inhibits Oxidative Stress and Enhances Estradiol Secretion in Human Ovarian Granulosa Tumor Cells.

Granulosa cells form ovarian follicles and play important roles in the growth and maturation of oocytes. The protection of granulosa cells from cellular injury caused by oxidative stress is an effective therapy for female infertility. We here investigated an effective bioactive compound derived from Prunus mume seed extract that protects granulosa cells from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis. We detected the bioactive compound, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (3,4-DHBA), via bioactivity-guided isolation and found that it inhibited the H2O2-induced apoptosis of granulosa cells. We also showed that 3,4-DHBA promoted estradiol secretion in granulosa cells and enhanced the mRNA expression levels of steroidogenic factor 1, a promoter of key steroidogenic enzymes. These results suggest that P. mume seed extract may have clinical potential for the prevention and treatment of female infertility.