Expression of the proapoptotic protein Bid is an adverse prognostic factor for radiotherapy outcome in carcinoma of the cervix.

The Bcl-2 family of apoptotic regulators is thought to play an essential role in cancer development and influence the sensitivity of tumour cells to radiotherapy. Bid is an abundantly expressed Bcl-2 family protein playing a central role in various pathways of apoptosis by integrating and converging signals at the mitochondria. The relevance of apoptotic modulation by Bcl-2 and related proteins in tumour development and radiation response for human tumours remains undefined. Therefore, a study was made regarding the expression of Bid in patients with locally advanced cervix carcinoma who received radiotherapy. Bid expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry in pretreatment archival biopsies from 98 patients. The data were correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment outcome. Pretreatment tumour radiosensitivity data were available for 60 patients. Strong Bid expression was associated with a patient age less than the median of 52 years (P=0.034) and poor metastasis-free survival. In multivariate analysis, after allowing for stage, Bid expression was a significant prognostic factor for both disease-specific and metastasis-free survival (P=0.026). It is concluded that strong tumour Bid expression is associated with poor outcome following radiotherapy regardless of intrinsic tumour cell radiosensitivity, and is adverse prognostic for disease-specific and metastasis-free survival in younger patients.

Immunohistological detection of human herpes virus 6 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissues.

Human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6) infection is widespread in healthy individuals. The only definite disease association is with exanthem subitum in infants though the virus has been linked with a variety of other diseases including interstitial pneumonitis in bone marrow allograft recipients. In order to investigate the role of HHV-6 in the latter disease we have developed an optimised staining method for the demonstration of specific antigen in routinely processed post-mortem tissues. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissue from 8 immunocompromised patients who died from interstitial pneumonitis was subjected to immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibodies against HHV-6, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and adenovirus, using a modified avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method. Staining for HHV-6 was obtained in 6 of the 8 patients studied and was present in pneumocytes and macrophages. CMV and adenovirus antigens were identified in 4 and 6 patients, respectively. Whilst the lung tissue of 6 patients contained more than one virus, there was no evidence of cross-reactivity between the monoclonal antibodies. We demonstrated that accurate localisation of HHV-6 using monoclonal antibodies is possible in post-mortem lung tissue and conclude that either HHV-6 alone or in combination with other viruses may play a role in the development of interstitial pneumonitis following bone marrow transplantation or chemotherapy.

Effects of prolonged processing in standard and isotonic trichloroacetic acid (TCA) on cellular preservation in bone marrow trephines.

The effects of a combined fixing and decalcifying solution, trichloroacetic acid, on prepared bone marrow specimens were evaluated to try to improve the speed of trephine biopsy processing in our laboratory. The morphological preservation obtained immediately after decalcification was complete was assessed, and also after prolonged immersion in each of two solutions. Trichloracetic acid was made up in the standard manner using distilled water and in an isotonic form by the addition of sodium chloride. Prolonged immersion was performed to assess any possible adverse effects of this acidic solution. By the time decalcification was complete, each solution gave morphological preservation sufficient for diagnostic purposes. However, after prolonged immersion, only the isotonic solution performed adequately.

Paraspinal muscle fibrosis: a specific pathological component in ankylosing spondylitis.

The histological appearance of percutaneous superficial paraspinal muscle biopsy specimens from eight patients with ankylosing spondylitis was compared with that of biopsy specimens from 13 control patients with similar degrees of disability and spinal immobility due to severe, chronic mechanical back pain. In both groups marked type II muscle fibre atrophy was shown. Additionally, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis there were obvious increases in perifibre connective tissue in association with central migration of cell nuclei but without evidence of inflammation. Qualitative electromyography failed to show denervation changes in either group. Paraspinal muscle fibrosis, occurring over and above atrophic changes due to disuse, seems to be a specific pathological component of ankylosing spondylitis which may be of particular importance in early disease as it may contribute towards back stiffness and weakness.

[Acute muramyl dipeptide-induced arthritis in the baboon Papio cynocephalus]. / Akute Muramyl-Dipeptid-induzierte Arthritis beim Pavian Papio cynocephalus.

Daily subcutaneous injections of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) for 14 days into yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) caused polyarthritis with a prolific fibrinous exudate, but slight synovial lymphocytosis. In contrast, a single injection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) induced only a low-grade synovitis of the ipsilateral knee. When the schedules were combined the histological features suggested an additive effect between the reactions to BSA and to MDP. Larger amounts of MDP diminished the severity of the synovitis but provoked visceral granulomata.

Immunohistological characterisation of amyloid deposits in renal biopsy specimens.

The amyloid deposits in 21 renal biopsy specimens were subjected to a detailed immunohistochemical analysis using a panel of antibodies against recognised constituents of tissue amyloid. This was a retrospective study of material originally submitted during the investigation of various renal abnormalities and studied by a routine protocol including histochemistry, electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence. The presence of an amyloid was confirmed in all 21 cases. Seventeen cases contained P component and either amyloid A (AA) (11 cases) or an immunoglobulin light chain associated amyloid (six cases). Four cases contained amyloid material with unusual immunohistochemical findings; one case had AA and P-component (PC) in the interstitium, one case had lambda light chain and beta-2 microglobulin, one case had kappa light chain and Clq, and one case had lambda light chains only. It was possible, therefore, to identify precisely the amyloid constituents and thereby "type" the amyloid by immunohistochemical means. The availability of the antibodies used and their application using these techniques could simplify the confirmation of clinically suspected amyloidosis.

Aortic intimal sarcoma: an unusual case with pulmonary vasculature involvement.

A disseminated intravascular tumour, presenting initially with splenic and small bowel infarction, caused both clinical and histological diagnostic difficulty. At subsequent autopsy the main tumour mass was identified within the aorta. Dissemination of this tumour was confirmed histologically and lectin and immunohistochemical staining performed. On the basis of the clinical and pathological features, we believe this represents a further case of aortic intimal sarcoma.