Subject(s)
Hemangiopericytoma/pathology , Lipoma/pathology , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/pathology , Soft Tissue Neoplasms/pathology , Spinal Neoplasms/pathology , Thoracic Vertebrae/pathology , Actins/analysis , Adult , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Male , Middle Aged , Spinal Cord Compression/pathologyABSTRACT
The Multicenter Morphometric Mammary Carcinoma Project (MMMCP) has been set up to investigate prospectively the prognostic value and reproducibility of routine assessments of the morphometric Multivariate Prognostic Index (MPI) and other quantitative parameters in comparison with classical prognosticators and steroid receptors in breast cancer patients. In this project, 34 hospitals participate, divided over six geographically different regions. Of each patient entering in the study, multiple clinical and classical pathological parameters (including tumor size and lymph node status) as well as several quantitative parameters such as mean nuclear area, DNA index and mitotic activity index will be evaluated. Of all patients, the MPI will be assessed with tumour size, lymph node status and mitotic activity index. The quantitative assessments are performed in all consecutive breast cancers which enter the participating pathology laboratories, and all measurements are controlled in Amsterdam. The patient intake time will be from January 1, 1988 until January 1, 1990. It is expected that 3000 patients will enter in this study. Follow up data will be gathered up to 10 years. However, two to five years after the initiation of the Project, a first evaluation of the reproducibility and prognostic significance of routine MPI and other assessments in breast cancer patients will be possible. A detailed description of this project is given.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Information Systems , Cell Nucleus/pathology , Female , Humans , Mitosis , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Netherlands , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , Quality Control , Reproducibility of Results , Specimen HandlingABSTRACT
Because of the lack of agreement about the effects of topically applied antiviral agents on herpes simplex virus (HSV) skin infections in humans and in animals, an in-vivo human skin model of infection was developed. Human skin was grafted on to congenitally athymic nude mice and the therapeutic effects of topically applied viral DNA polymerase inhibitor phosphonoformate (foscarnet) on the course of the disease were studied. Following infection with HSV, the human skin grafts developed herpes vesicles similar to those seen in human skin in situ. Vesicles developed within three days of inoculation, and coalesced and crusted over by the fifth day post-inoculation. Healing of the wound did not occur and non-treated animals died approximately 13 days after inoculation. Treatment with topically applied foscarnet starting 24 h after inoculation suppressed both the development of the clinical signs of the disease and the replication of HSV in the grafted human skin. However, when therapy was withdrawn the symptoms of the disease proceeded to develop. Late onset (day two post-inoculation) of the foscarnet treatment was without effect on the course of the disease. Because foscarnet showed an antiviral effect when applied to infected human skin, the lack of effect of foscarnet in clinical studies on recurrent genital or labial herpes may be due to differences in the pathogenesis of the primary and recurrent infections.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage , Herpes Simplex/drug therapy , Organophosphorus Compounds/administration & dosage , Phosphonoacetic Acid/administration & dosage , Administration, Cutaneous , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Foscarnet , Herpes Simplex/pathology , Humans , Male , Mice , Mice, Nude , Phosphonoacetic Acid/analogs & derivatives , Skin Transplantation , Transplantation, HeterologousABSTRACT
An investigation of the specific localization of estrogen receptors in frozen sections of mammary tumors using an estrogen-BSA-FITC complex is presented. The results are discussed in relation to the existing literature. Although the fluorescence is certainly not due to interaction with type I receptors, the reaction is not as non-specific as is suggested sometimes in the literature. It is likely that type II receptors are involved, which are probably localized at the same site as type I receptors.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism , Animals , Cattle , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism , Estrogens/metabolism , Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate , Fluoresceins/pharmacology , Frozen Sections , Histocytochemistry , Humans , Nafoxidine/pharmacology , Serum Albumin, Bovine/metabolism , Tamoxifen/pharmacology , Thiocyanates/pharmacology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The mammogenic and lactogenic effect of various hormones on rat mammary gland has been studied in vitro using an organ culture technique. The effects have been assessed mainly by light microscopy. The study has been confined mainly to the effects and interactions of the lactogenic protein hormones, corticosteroids and progesterone. It establishes the importance of the presence of insulin and serum and of the type of serum for the hormonal effects in vitro. These effects have been studied mainly on the explants obtained from 13 days pregnant rats. In addition explants from non-pregnant rats and at various stages of pregnancy and lactation were studied.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/pharmacology , Mammary Glands, Animal/drug effects , Pituitary Hormones, Anterior/pharmacology , Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/pharmacology , Aldosterone/pharmacology , Animals , Culture Media , Drug Interactions , Estradiol/pharmacology , Female , Gonadal Steroid Hormones/pharmacology , Growth Hormone/pharmacology , Insulin/pharmacology , Lactation/drug effects , Mammary Glands, Animal/metabolism , Mammary Glands, Animal/pathology , Mitosis/drug effects , Organ Culture Techniques , Placental Lactogen/pharmacology , Pregnancy , Progesterone/pharmacology , Prolactin/pharmacology , Rats , Testosterone/pharmacology , Thyroxine/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The mammotrophic activity of various serum samples was assessed on the mammary gland of pregnant rats, in organ culture. Insulin was added to the medium. Serum samples from virgin rats showed little activity, and variation in mammotrophic activity during the oestrous cycle was slight. During pregnancy a significant increase in proliferative activity was not seen during the first week, but around day 8-9 mammotrophic activity increased sharply. The activity showed maxima around days 12 and 19. A decrease in the activity between these maxima was not consistently observed. Mammotrophic activity was still present in sera collected during parturition, and 30 min after parturition. It had disappeared completely within 24 h. The mammotrophic factor detectable by organ culture in the serum of pregnant rats could be rat chorionic mammotrophin. Activity in the serum on day 0 and 1 of lactation was comparable to that of virgin rats, but some activity appeared on day 2. High actvities were foound frequently around day 4 to 6 of lactation. On other days the activity showed fluctuations without a definite pattern. Litter size was of minor importance but the combination of a larger litter size and fasting-overnight seemed to suppress the presence of mammotrophic activity in the serum. Nursing was important: after weaning the activity has disappeared, while renewed nursing after weaning resulted in the appearance of high levels of activity. The mitotic activity obtained with lactating rat serum in the culture was suppressed by addition of rabbit anti-rat prolactin serum to the medium. This suggests that the main mammotrophic factor detectable by organ culture in the serum of lactating rats, is prolactin.