Ploidy analysis on Wilms' tumour touch imprints using ethidium bromide and automated image analysis integrated confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Although image analysis (IA) is increasingly being used to quantitate nuclear DNA, comparative data between fluorescence methods of IA and flow cytometry (FCM) is limited. In this study fluorescence IA was compared with FCM data in a series of Wilms' tumour touch preparations. Airdried touch imprints that had previously been Giemsa stained were restained with ethidium bromide. Confocal fluorescence images were obtained with a confocal laser scanning microscope and assessed by a fully automated IA package. Data was collected from 400 nuclei per imprint. The resulting DNA histograms were analysed and ploidy status and DNA indices determined using standard criteria. Results were compared with those derived from FCM analysis of nuclear suspensions. Ten of twelve tumours were concordant by both techniques. However in two cases assessed as diploid by FCM, IA identified aneuploidy. Excellent correlation between DNA indices as assessed by both techniques was observed (r = 0.987). In the three cases for which both unstained and Giemsa stained touch imprints were available for IA, the histogram configurations did not differ significantly. Fluorescence IA is an accurate and sensitive technique for DNA quantitation, which appears at least comparable to FCM assessment and which has a number of important advantages.

PCNA Ki-67 dissociation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. An immunofluorescent laser confocal scanning microscopical study.

Cell proliferation rates of diagnostic marrow aspirate cells of 21 children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and 16 controls were compared using immunocytochemical labelling of PCNA and Ki-67 antigen as assessed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. The results showed an unexpected, highly significant degree of dissociation between PCNA and Ki-67 expression in ALL blasts. The PCNA labelling indices of ALL patients were significantly increased (mean 44, range 24-77) compared with normal reactive marrow cells (mean 13.8, range 4-26) (p < 0.000001, Mann Whitney U two tailed test), suggesting an abnormal commitment to proliferation. Ki-67 expression was raised to a lesser extent in ALL cells (mean 14.8, range 1.2-35) when compared to non-malignant proliferations (mean 6.6, range 1.7-25) (p < 0.02). PCNA/Ki-67 LI ratios in ALL (mean 7, range 1.1-35) were higher than in controls (mean 2.7, range 1.04-6.5, p < 0.09). As cell proliferation rates actually achieved in the bone marrow do not differ as strongly as suggested by the extreme difference in PCNA labelling, a pathological dissociation of PCNA/Ki-67 expression exists, suggesting immortalisation.

Removal of status offenders from the juvenile justice system: the Florida experience.

In 1975 Florida transferred jurisdiction over runaway, truant or ungovernable children from the juvenile justice system to the child welfare system. This paper reports on the results of decriminalization.