Expression of cathepsin D and pS2 in imprint smears of breast carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to add to existing information on the effects of certain tumour markers expressed by breast cancers on tumour malignancy as evidenced by size of primary and occurrence of lymph node invasion. One hundred freshly resected breast cancers were examined by immunocytochemical staining of imprint smears for Cathepsin D and pS2. Oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were tested for by dextrose-coated charcoal (DCC) assay and the results correlated with tumour size, histology and presence or absence of lymph node metastases at the time of surgery using chi(2) analysis. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated between Cathepsin D positivity and ER, PR and pS2 positivity. In tumours < 2 cm in diameter at surgery a positive correlation was observed between Cathepsin D positivity and the presence of lymph node metastases. The findings support the hypothesis that Cathepsin D may promote early metastasis, possibly by its proteolytic activity.

Antigen expression of alveolar macrophages in smokers and patients with lung diseases.

Alveolar macrophage function was studied immunocytochemically using three monoclonal antibodies--macrophage CD 68 KP 1 (M), protein CD 11C (P), and anti-elastin (EL)--and three polyclonal antibodies--lysozyme (LZ), alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (AACT). The material for study was smears obtained from bronchial washings from 15 healthy persons and 60 patients with respiratory infections or primary or secondary malignant lung infiltration. Eight of the healthy group and 40 of the patient group were smokers (SM). The percentage of cells obtained from the washings which were macrophages was also measured. The intensity of staining reactions for each of the six antigens was noted and in general more intense staining was noted in smokers than in non-smokers. More intense staining was observed in patients with pulmonary infections (group II PI) and metastatic pulmonary infiltrations (group IV MP Ca) than in controls (group IC), while patients with primary lung cancer (group III PP Ca) had highly reduced staining reactions. The number of macrophages was similarly increased in all groups in comparison with the IC group for non-smokers and in all groups except III PP Ca for smokers. It is concluded that smoking, pulmonary infections, and metastatic infiltration of the lung are associated with an increase in the number and activity of alveolar macrophages, while patients with primary lung cancer have an increase in the number of macrophages which are functionally incompetent.

CPPD crystal deposition disease as a cause of unrecognised pyrexia.

We describe three cases of CPPD crystal deposition disease in elderly patients whose main symptom was fever. Misdiagnosis of such cases is possible because of the similarity of the clinical picture to that of septic fever. The probable mechanisms causing the fever are discussed. There was spectacular improvement in these patients after a high dose of oral colchicine and loperamide and no relapse was observed during the long term administration of colchicine in a conservative dose together with supplementary magnesium.

Detection of c-Ha-ras oncogene expression in pleural and peritoneal smear effusions by in situ hybridization.

This study was undertaken to determine the presence of the c-Ha-ras protooncogene in pleural and peritoneal effusions. Cells from 40 pleural and peritoneal fluids from patients with malignant and nonmalignant diseases were studied by in situ DNA hybridization utilizing a biotinylated probe. The results were correlated with those obtained by conventional cytological methods. A cytological diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma was established in 67% of the patients with malignancy and effusion, and in 6% of the patients with benign disease accompanied by effusion. On the other hand, a relatively high proportion of ras expression was observed in 38% of the cases representing benign and reactive effusions and as high as 88% in the cases with malignant tumor and effusion. These results suggest that the ras oncogene may have an important role in differentially diagnosing benign and reactive mesothelial cells from malignant cells.

Cytological evaluation of the effect of Tamoxifen in premenopausal and post-menopausal women with primary breast cancer by analysis of the karyopyknotic indices of vaginal smears.

The influence of Tamoxifen on the vaginal epithelium of 33 premenopausal and 99 post-menopausal women with primary advanced breast cancer was investigated. The karyopyknotic index (KPI) values were assessed before starting therapy and at monthly intervals during therapy with Tamoxifen. A decrease in the KPI in menstruating women and a slight but definite increase in KPI values in post-menopausal women were observed.