Enhancement of Above Threshold Ionization in Resonantly Excited Helium Nanodroplets.

Clusters and nanodroplets hold the promise of enhancing high-order nonlinear optical effects due to their high local density. However, only moderate enhancement has been demonstrated to date. Here, we report the observation of energetic electrons generated by above-threshold ionization (ATI) of helium (He) nanodroplets which are resonantly excited by ultrashort extreme ultraviolet (XUV) free-electron laser pulses and subsequently ionized by near-infrared (NIR) or near-ultraviolet (UV) pulses. The electron emission due to high-order ATI is enhanced by several orders of magnitude compared with He atoms. The crucial dependence of the ATI intensities with the number of excitations in the droplets suggests a local collective enhancement effect.

Real-Time Dynamics of the Formation of Hydrated Electrons upon Irradiation of Water Clusters with Extreme Ultraviolet Light.

Free electrons in a polar liquid can form a bound state via interaction with the molecular environment. This so-called hydrated electron state in water is of fundamental importance, e.g., in cellular biology or radiation chemistry. Hydrated electrons are highly reactive radicals that can either directly interact with DNA or enzymes, or form highly excited hydrogen (H^{*}) after being captured by protons. Here, we investigate the formation of the hydrated electron in real-time employing extreme ultraviolet femtosecond pulses from a free electron laser, in this way observing the initial steps of the hydration process. Using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy we find formation timescales in the low picosecond range and resolve the prominent dynamics of forming excited hydrogen states.

Bilirubin conjugates in bile of man and rat in the normal state and in liver disease.

Conjugates of bilirubin were studied in normal bile of man and rat, and in bile of liver patients. In general human bile was obtained by duodenal intubation. In addition T-tube bile was examined in patients operated on for mechanical obstruction. The bile pigment compositions of duodenal and T-tube bile were similar in two patients where comparison was possible. Obstruction of the bile duct in rats was used as an animal model for obstructive jaundice. Diazotized ethyl anthranilate was used for determination of total conjugated bile pigment and for thin-layer chromatography (t.l.c.) analysis of the derived azopigments. The available t.l.c. procedures are versatile and allow rapid and quantitative analysis. A variety of conjugated azopigments can be distinguished. With chloroform, negligible amounts of unconjugated bilirubin are extracted from bile of man. Therefore, the percentage of monoconjugated bile pigments present in the initial bile sample can be calculated from the percentage of azodipyrrole found after diazotization. Normal bile from man and rat yields similar azopigment patterns. The dominant component is azopigment-delta (azodipyrrole beta-D-monoglucuronoside). Small amounts of azopigments with complex conjugating structures (gamma-azopigments) are present in both cases. Human bile further yields small amounts of azopigments containing xylose or glucose (called azopigments-alpha(2) and -alpha(3), respectively). Monoconjugated bilirubin (estimated from the percentage of azodipyrrole) amounts of 22% of total bile pigments in human bile and to 39% in murine bile. In both, the bulk of bile pigment is bilirubin diglucuronoside. From bile of patients with acquired liver diseases a new azopigment group (beta-azopigment) was derived. The gamma-azopigment group was increased; the delta-azopigment group (containing azodipyrrole beta-D-monoglucuronoside) was decreased. No differentiation was possible between intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis. The percentage of beta-azopigment showed a positive correlation with serum bilirubin concentration (r = 0.6). Recovery of the diseases was accompanied by normalization of the azopigment patterns. In rats, hydrostatic or mechanical obstruction induced increases in beta- and gamma-azopigments and a decrease in delta-azopigment similar to the changes observed in bile of liver patients. Complete normalization was obtained 6 hr after relieving the hydrostatic obstruction (duration 15-21 hr). In contrast, with man after surgery for extrahepatic obstruction, T-tube bile was not normalized when the T-tube was withdrawn (10 days after operation). Hydrostatic obstruction in rats provides an easy model when postobstructive bile pigment composition and parameters have to be investigated. The present investigations stress the importance of the physiopathological state when studying bilirubin conjugation. Hindrance to bile secretion induced heterogeneity of bilirubin conjugates and stimulated the formation of complex structures.

CD 15 antigen in Hodgkin's disease.

A retrospective analysis of 117 cases of Hodgkin's disease treated at the Centre G.F. Leclerc between 1976 and 1985 was performed with three objectives: 1): to re-evaluate the histologic subtype by the Lukes-Rye classification according to recent data; 2): to demonstrate the frequency of CD 15 antigen by an indirect, three stage immunoperoxidase technique on initial node biopsy histologic sections; 3): to study the prognostic value of this antigen. Histologic reclassification disclosed that 9 cases were in fact non Hodgkin's lymphoma. The remaining 108 cases were classified as lymphocyte predominant (n = 11), nodular sclerosis (n = 77), and mixed cellularity (n = 17), with no cases of either lymphocyte depletion or nodular paragranuloma of Poppema and Lennert identified. In these specimens, fixed in Bouin's solution and embedded in paraffin, CD 15 antigen was detected in the Reed-Sternberg cells and the mononuclear variety of Hodgkin cells in 64 patients (59%). The presence of this antigen was independent of histologic subtype, patient age or sex, clinical stage and the presence of systemic symptoms. Both actuarial disease-free and overall survivals showed that the prognosis of Hodgkin's disease is more favorable in CD 15 positive cases.

Report of a primary lymphoma of the conjunctiva. A lymphoma of MALT origin?

A case of primary conjunctival lymphoma is reported herein. A 47-year-old woman presented with an indolent salmon-coloured tumour of the lower epibulbar conjunctiva. Histologically, we found a lymphoid infiltrate in the epithelium and subepithelium consisting of two components. One component was characterized by centrocytic-like cells and the other by lymphocytic, plasmacytoid and plasma cells. An immunohistological study demonstrated a light chain restricted immunoglobulin expression of the tumour cells as well as some residual polytypic follicles exhibiting reticular dendritic cells. Tumour cell proliferation was associated with a T cell reactive population. A comprehensive investigation (in particular an orbital scan) did not demonstrate any other localization of this lymphoma. Such a lesion raised the question of a possible MALT origin, by analog with MALT-lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract described by Isaacson and colleagues.

Ciliated bodies in gynecologic cytopathology: parasite or cellular debris?

Ciliated bodies, similar to the ones described originally by Gaudefroy and Coliche, were discovered in fluid from an ovarian cyst and fluid in the Douglas pouch. These were reproduced experimentally by mucosal scraping of Fallopian tubes. In fact, they were of cellular origin from desquamation of the ciliated apical portion of columnar cells.

[Malignant lymphomas in Burgundy, France (1976--1977): a new approach using computerized pathological diagnoses (author's transl)]. / Les lymphomes malins en Bourgogne (1976--1977). Etude de leur fréquence par la méthode informatique anatomopathologique.

Pathology laboratories in the Burgundy region have recently been equipped with mini-computers using the same software and working method. This report brings together their histological records, stored on magnetic discs, and describes the first results of this regional data base. Malignant lymphomas were chosen as a pilot study and evaluated between January 1976 and December 1977. After a brief presentation of the method, 246 cases of malignant lymphoma are analysed: 95 of Hodgkins disease, 103 of non-Hodgkins malignant lymphoma of the nodes and 48 cases of extranodal non-Hodgkins malignant lymphoma. The distribution of patients in terms of sex and ten year age groups is analysed, together with the various incidence rates for a year in Burgundy and in its four administrative units (Cote-d'Or, Nievre, Saone-et-Loire and Yonne).

[Factors determining the choice between mastectomy and conservative treatment in the Côte-d'Or department (France). The Côte-d'Op6 register of gynecological cancers]. / Facteurs ayant déterminé le choix entre mammectomie et traitement conservateur pour cancer du sein entre 1982 et 1990 dans le département de la Côte-d'Or. Registre des cancers gynécologiques de Côte-d'Or.

The aim of this study is to check, for a defined period and within a geographic area, whether the increased use of breast conserving treatment was related to changes in tumor characteristics, or whether changes in therapeutical practice persisted after adjustment on patients and tumor characteristics. From 1982 to 1990, 1,952 women with invasive carcinomas were registered in the French "departement" of Côte-d'Or. Seventeen hundred and seven non metastatic patients were treated by loco-regional surgery. A breast conserving surgery was performed in 60% of cases. The incidence of this treatment raised from 32% in 1982 to 73% in 1987. In univariate analysis, factors determining the type of tumor excision were: age, hormonal status, tumor size, tumor location, "clinical seriousness", nodal status, multiple tumors, inflammatory tumors, neoadjuvant treatments and year of diagnosis. Age and tumoral factors remained significant in a logistic regression analysis. Other factors being constant, the odds ratios of mastectomy was 12.9 times lower in 1987-1990 than in 1982, and 2.1 times lower than in 1985-1986, showing a "period effect". Ninety four percent of patients treated by breast conserving surgery were irradiated post operatively, showing that the clinical research recommendations were well transferred to the clinical practice in this department.

[Cancers of the corpus uteri on the Côte-d'Or 1982-1990. Incidence, clinical stage and survival]. / Cancers du corps de l'utérus dans le département de la Côte-d'Or 1982-1990. Incidence, stade clinique et survie.

In the French administrative "departement" of Côte-d'Or, between 1982 and 1990, the crude incidence rate and the age-adjusted world standardised incidence rate (ASR) for corpus uteri cancer were respectively 16.0 +/- 0.8 and 10.7 +/- 0.6 per 100,000 women per year. The incidence increased after 50 years of age, reaching a maximum of 66.7 per 100,000 women per year at the age of 70-74 and thereafter declined. Ninety-six percent of the patients were older than 50. The 5- and 10-year crude survival rates (all histologic types) were 66 +/- 3% and 61 +/- 4%. The 5- and 10-year relative survival rates were 76%. Histologic types were specified in 99.7% of cases, categorized as follows: 92.7% carcinomas (333 cases), 6.7% sarcomas (24 cases) and 0.3% lymphoma (one case). Carcinomas were clinically evaluated according to FIGO staging: stage I: 61.4% (205 cases); stage II: 7.7% (59 cases); stage III: 7.8% (26 cases); stage IV: 6.6% (22 cases) and unspecified stage: 6.6% (22 cases). The ASR by stage, were 6.4 +/- 0.5 (stage I); 0.8 +/- 0.2 (stage II); 1.3 +/- 0.2 (stages III and IV); 0.6 +/- 0.2 (unspecified stage). The 5-year relative survival rates related to FIGO stage were 90% (stage I); 85% (stage II); 25% (stage III) and 0% (stage IV). Elderly patients (> 75) had significantly lower survival rates. With respect to localized disease (stages I and II) the relative risk of death associated with age older than 75 was 4.9. The 5-year relative survival rate of patients with sarcoma was 37%.

An uncommon apudoma: a functional chemodectoma of the larynx. Report of a case and review of the literature.

The authors report a case of laryngeal chemodectoma in a 53-year-old man who died from general dissemination and lymphatic and subcutaneous metastases. This functional neoplasm secreted calcitonin revealed by fluorescence and biochemical tests and perhaps adrenaline-like substances. Its cells looked like the light chief cells of the human carotid body; they contained secretory granules and lysosomal formations. Thirty similar cases had been previously reported. The superior laryngeal glomi and more occasionally the inferior ones were the seat of these tumours which occurred with an equal frequency in both sexes. A hoarseness was often the unique symptom noticed during the several months or years preceding the first examination of this slow growing neoplasm. Nevertheless among the chemodectomas of the head and the neck region those arising in the larynx had the highest incidence of malignant evolution. Five of the patients presented a general dissemination, two had lymphatic metastases and one a local recurrence. The ultra-structural features and sometimes the rarely detected functional activity of these chemodectomas are those of apudomas whose cells might originate from the cephalic portion of the neural crests.

[Papillary and cystic tumor of the pancreas. Histological, immunohistochemical and flow cytometric study]. / Tumeur papillaire et kystique du pancréas. Etude histologique, immunohistochimique et par cytométrie en flux.

The authors are reporting a case of papillary and cystic neoplasm of the pancreas. This rare malignant epithelial neoplasm occurs mostly in young women and has a more favorable prognosis than the adenocarcinoma. Radiologic investigations showed a well demarcated, heterogeneous, hypovascular mass. The histological study showed the proliferation of epithelial cells in a papillary pattern. The immunochemistry was negative for markers of adenocarcinoma but positive for vimentin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and neuron specific enolase. Receptors of progesterone were also detected. By flow cytometric analysis, the tumours was hypoploid. The histogenesis of these tumours remained controversed. Ultrastructural details of the neoplastic cells suggest that these tumours originate from small duct cells; detection in several cases of markers for endocrine neoplasm suggests that they originate from primitive multipotential cells, that may show exocrine or endocrine differentiation.

[Is the Tru-Cut needle more efficient than the fine needle in the diagnosis of hepatic lesions? Comparative study of 45 echography-guided punctures]. / L'aiguille Tru-Cut est-elle plus efficace que l'aiguille fine dans le diagnostic des lésions hépatiques? Etude comparative de 45 ponctions guidées par l'échographie.

A comparison of diagnostic efficiency of fine needle biopsy (22 G) versus coarse needle biopsy (Tru-Cut 14 G) was performed on ultrasound-guided liver biopsies in 45 patients. Diagnosis was established through clinical, paraclinical and pathologic features. For each patient pathologic examination of both fine needle biopsy (cytology and histology) and coarse needle biopsy (histology) were performed by a pathologist unaware of any clinical data. Of 36 malignant tumors, diagnosis of malignancy was made in 83 percent of the cases by fine needle biopsy and in 81 percent of the cases by Tru-Cut biopsy, and distinction between primary and secondary cancer, in 83 and 86 percent of cases respectively. Specificity was 100 percent with both techniques. Of 9 benign lesions, the 6 focalized fatty infiltrations were diagnosed by both fine and coarse needle biopsies. As fine needle biopsy is less invasive than coarse needle biopsy and gave equally satisfying results, we suggest that it should be used preferentially in the diagnosis of focalized liver lesions.

[An incidence study of digestive cancers in a well defined population. Results of two years registration in the departement of Côte d'Or (author's transl)]. / Incidence des cancers digestifs dans une population bien définie. Bilan de deux années d'enregistrement dans le département de la Clote-d'Or.

A systematic registration of mortality and morbidity from digestive cancers was started in January 1976 in the French department of COTE-D'Or (population 455,727). In the course of two years 913 new cases of digestive cancers were recorded. Nearly half of these cancers were colorectal cancers. The survey gives informations on histology, stage of the disease and survival. The morbidity survey allows comparison with the incidence rate of digestive cancers in other countries.

[Epilepsy and bilateral occipital calcifications: 3 cases]. / Epilepsie et calcifications occipitales bilatérales: 3 cas.

We report 3 cases of epilepsy with bilateral occipital calcifications followed up for several years. These cases were compared with 21 published cases and were found to differ from the classical Sturge-Weber syndrome on several points: 1) the disease appeared around the age of 5 years and consisted of focal epilepsy without neurological or mental disorders; 2) the epilepsy was easy to control during 2 to 5 years. This was followed by a diffuse encephalopathy with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy, Gerstmann's syndrome, optic ataxia, cerebellar syndrome and slow activity at EEG. It appears from these 3 cases that: 1) occipital calcifications may be unilateral at the onset of the disease; 2) visual evoked potentials are affected at a late stage, and 3) CT scans are of considerable value in the prognosis of benign epilepsy in childhood.

[Glandulo-cystic polyps of the stomach. Apropos of 12 cases and review of the literature]. / Les polypes glandulo-kystiques de l'estomac. A propos de 12 cas et revue de la littérature.

We report 12 cases of cystic glandular fundic polyps detected in 7 women and 5 men. As in the 238 similar previously reported cases these lesions were always located in the fundic gastric mucosae and did not involve the muscularis mucosae. They were discovered by endoscopy in patients with minor abdominal discomfort. They were less than 5 mm in diameter and were more often multiple and sessile; only a few of them were pedunculate. They consisted of mucosal cysts lined with cuboidal, parietal or chief cells and surrounded with a normal lamina propria. If in 213 cases, these polyps were not associated with polyposis coli in 37 cases they occurred with a Gardner's syndrome or a familial adenomatosis coli. These benign lesions are without malignant potential. Careful gastroscopic follow up with biopsy is recommended for all patients with multiple gastric polyps. The etio-pathogenesis of these polyps is still unknown. Their relationship to familial polyposis coli or to Gardner's syndrome is obscure.

[Production of a monoclonal anti-Cryptosporidium sp. antibody for paraffin-embedded sections]. / Production d'un anticorps monoclonal anti-cryptosporidium sp. utilisable sur coupe en paraffine.

Since the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, human Cryptosporidiosis has received increased attention. A provisional histological diagnosis can be made on gastrointestinal tract biopsy specimens by light microscopy by showing small round organisms of 2-5 microns attached to the epithelial cell apex. The definitive diagnosis of certitude can only be made by electron microscopy with the identification of various developmental stages of the parasites. We have produced a monoclonal antibody specific to Cryptosporidium sp. usable in paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Such a monoclonal antibody would be an important tool for histological diagnosis of human Cryptosporidiosis.

[Does Ming's classification of gastric carcinomas have epidemiologic or prognostic value?]. / La classification de Ming dans les carcinomes gastriques a-t-elle un intérêt épidémiologique ou pronostique?

The population based registry of digestive tract tumours of the country of Cote-d'Or was used to assess the epidemiological and prognostic value of Ming classification. The 211 gastric carcinomas operated or autopsied between 1976 and 1981 in this population were reviewed on a pathological basis. The expansive type (46.0%) was nearly as frequent as the infiltrative type (47.9%). In 6.2% of the cases it was impossible to classify carcinomas in one of these two types. The male/female ratio was higher in the expansive type (3.0) than in the infiltrative type (2.2) and the mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis was higher in the expansive type (69.5 years) than in the infiltrate type (66.4 years p less than 0,05). Ming classification was difficult to use with superficial carcinomas: 9 out of 12 could not be classified. Among invasive cancers only 1.5% were not classified in one of the two types. Polypoid and fungating carcinomas were more often of the expansive type (70.1%). On the contrary infiltrative carcinomas (ulcerated or not) corresponded to the infiltrative type of Ming in 65.6%. It was not possible to extrapolate the WHO classification to the Ming classification. Infiltrative carcinomas were more often associated with hyperplastic stroma (38.1%) than did expansive carcinomas (5.2%) the proportion of carcinomas limited to the digestive wall was higher in the expansive type (21.7%) than in the infiltrative type (5.0%). The survival rate was better in the expansive type (41.4%) than in the infiltrative type (30.1%) but the difference was not significant. The prognosis depended partly on the time of diagnosis. The results suggest that Ming classification has an epidemiological interest. It allows us to distinguish two types of carcinomas that appear quite different on basis of their growth and penetration capacity. However its prognostic interest appears limited.

[A case of liver angiosarcoma arising in a pre-existing cavernous hemangioma]. / Un cas d'angiosarcome hépatique développé sur un hémangiome caverneux pré-existant.

A 36-year-old woman presented with a solitary hepatic tumor. Macroscopically, the tumor measured 9 cm in greatest diameter, and was well encapsulated; it was reddish, and showed multiple foci of hemorrhage. Microscopic examination revealed two different patterns: a peripheral angiosarcoma surrounding a centrally located cavernous haemangioma. To our knowledge, such an entity has not been reported up to now. Possible pathomechanisms, radiological and pathological findings of this angiosarcoma of liver arising within a cavernous haemangioma are commented.

[Lympho-epithelial lesions induced by plasma cells in a pulmonary MALT lymphoma]. / Lésions lympho-épithéliales induites par des plasmocytes dans un lymphome MALT du poumon.

One case of pulmonary lymphoma of MALT origin is reported. The diagnosis was made by histological and immunohistological study of surgical specimen. Cytologically, the tumoral proliferation was made by an admixture of centrocyte-like cells, small lymphocytes and vacuolized plasma cells. Lympho-epithelial lesions were particular because induced by tumoral plasma cells. From this case, problems of diagnosis and physiopathology of pulmonary MALT lymphomas are discussed.

[Systematic cytological examination of discharges from the breast in young women. The value of screening for cancer of the breast and for borderline states (author's transl)]. / L'examen cytologique systématique de l'écoulement du sein chez la femme jeune. Intérêt dans le dépistage du cancer du sein et des états frontières.

The authors have used the cytological investigation of the liquid discharge from the breast to search systematically for cancerous states and, more usually, for borderline conditions in the breast. Using a simple technique it has been possible to obtain some discharge from the breast more or less easily. In 15 per 1000 cases cytological abnormalities have been found, which means that there were 39 pathological discharges in the 2490 women who were examined over five years. 27 of these were benign lesions and 12 of them were suspect. Of these latter three borderline conditions were found and one invasive cancer was found. All four were asymptomatic. It is therefore worth while examining discharges from the breast in screening for borderline conditions in young women.