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Aim of the present study was to investigate the immunocytochemical expression of Epidermal Growth Factor receptor (EGFr) in normal oral mucosa and in 12 oral papillomas in which the presence of Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) had been ascertained through in situ hybridization. The study reveals that in normal oral mucosa EGFr is usually expressed in basal cell layers whereas in oral papillomas EGFr is detectable throughout the whole thickness of the lesions. Furthermore, when HPV type 6 is present (10 cases) in the lesion, the pattern of expression of EGFr is almost exclusively membranous whereas in two HPV type 16-induced papillomas the reaction product with monoclonal anti-EGFr Antibodies appears confined to the intracytoplasmic paranuclear area. The present investigation, therefore, seems to show a peculiar correlation between HPV infection and EGFr immunoreactivity in papillomas of the oral mucosa. The pattern of immunoreactivity appears to be related to the specific type of HPV detectable in the lesion and it may possibly depend on the interactions between host and viral genomes. Those interactions might be different for HPV 6 and HPV 16 and may consequently lead to divergent expression of EGFr.

The authors applied a silver colloid technique to identify Argyrophilic Organiser Region (AgNOR) to 8 groups of hepatic lesions: alcoholic hepatitis with dysplasia (3 cases); chronic active hepatitis with dysplasia (4 cases); cirrhosis with dysplasia (5 cases); focal nodular hyperplasia (4 cases) and hepatocellular carcinomas (3 cases of grade I, 3 cases of grade II and 5 cases of grade III of Edmondson). Four cases of non-specific reactive hepatitis were used as control. This work suggests the simplicity and utility of simultaneous application of clumps per cell, AgNORs per clump and total AgNORs counts in the evaluation of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of the liver. The results show, in hepatocellular carcinomas, a relationship between the number of clumps, the AgNORs per clump, the total number of AgNORs and the grading of Edmondson. The nodular lesions that can be considered in the differential diagnosis with carcinoma are sufficiently well discriminated using the two parameters AgNORs per clump and total number of AgNORs.

Eight cases of primary gastric lymphomas have been investigated by AgNORs method to individualize the patterns of distribution of NORs. Modifying and exemplifying the scheme of Nikicicz and Norback, previously applied to blood smears and bone marrow in patients affected by leukaemia, the authors found 8 principal distribution patterns of AgNORs. Recording the percentage of the single patterns in every case it was possible to individualize two quite homogeneous groups. The authors maintain that in this way, avoiding complex numerical evaluations and statistical analysis, it is possible to easily classify the gastric lymphomas. We suggest that an improvement of the results could be achieved by comparing the immunophenotype of the cellular lymphomatous populations, and the AgNORs pattern with patients survival.

A silver colloid technique to identify Argyrophilic Organizer Region (AgNOR) was applied to 5 hyperplastic polyps, 5 adenomas with low grade dysplasia, 5 adenomas with high grade dysplasia and 15 adenocarcinomas of the large bowel (5 well differentiated, 5 moderately differentiated and 5 poorly differentiated). The authors suggest the plainness and usefulness of simultaneous application of clumps per cell, AgNORs per clump and total AgNORs counts in the evaluation of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of the colon. In fact the results show that the number of clumps per cell is useful to distinguish hyperplastic polyps from adenomas with high grade dysplasia and from all the adenocarcinomas. Using the number of AgNORs per clump there is significant difference between hyperplastic polyps and adenomas with high grade dysplasia and between adenomas with low grade dysplasia and well differentiated adenocarcinomas. Finally the total number of AgNORs can discriminate hyperplastic polyps from adenomas with high grade dysplasia and these from adenomas with low grade dysplasia.

The true nature of Nucleolar Organizer Regions Argyrophilic related proteins (AgNORs) is still unknown, but there is wide agreement that their number expresses the nuclear activity. We undertook an investigation on fifty cases of gastric adenocarcinomas (previously grouped morphologically into well and poorly differentiated) applying together with the AgNOR technique, histochemical (Alcian Blue/PAS, High Iron Diamine) and immunohistochemical methods (alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and lysozyme). AB/PAS was more frequently positive in well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. On the contrary HID was prevailingly positive in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. alpha 1 ACT was expressed in all poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and in a few well-differentiated adenocarcinomas, whereas lysozyme and alpha 1 AT were never expressed. The AgNORs were more numerous, larger, clumped and irregular in shape in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. Considering that alpha 1 ACT reactivity seems to be well correlated with survival and given that there is a good correlation between the aforementioned characteristics of AgNORs and the expression of alpha 1 ACT, our investigation suggests that the four techniques used in this study could be useful to predict the prognosis.

The Authors report histochemical findings about rabbit's duodenal mucosa. The present study has been carried out using five different lectins (Peanut Agglutinin (PNA), Dolichos Biflorus Agglutinin (DBA), Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA), Soybean Agglutinin (SBA), Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin I (UEA-I). These lectins have been labelled with Horseradish Peroxidase and binding sites have been stained with 3-3' Diaminobenzidine, according to Farragiana et al. The PNA reacted with the glandular cells, while the reaction was negative in the superficial cells. The DBA reacted exclusively with the glandular cells. The superficial and the glandular cells showed strong positive binding sites to the WGA and slight positive binding sites to the SBA. The UEA-I did not react with the epithelial cells. The presence of binding sites for the lectins we have used in the present study, shows a different glycoprotein composition of the cellular secretion, in comparison with the other animals we have already studied. In addition, these lectins can not be used as cellular differentiation markers in the epithelial cells of the rabbit's duodenal mucosa.

The aim of the present paper is to find analytical parameters to distinguish severe dysplasia from cancer. A population of 150 nuclei was selected randomly from: 5 cases of large bowel carcinoma, 5 cases of adenomatous polyps with severe dysplasia--according to Kozuka's criteria--(without any reference to the architecture: tubular, tubulo-villous and villous) and 5 cases of normal mucosa as control. The files of the coordinates of the nuclear contours were submitted to the S.A.M. (Shape Analytical Morphometry) work-station, which produces quantitative parameters (area, perimeter, maximum diameter and Roundness Factor) as well as analytical shape-descriptors. The latter were extracted by the S.A.E. (Shape Asymmetry Evaluator) procedure, which evaluates the symmetry of each contour studied, and by Fourier harmonic analysis which breaks up each curve into a defined set of harmonics which are then used to perform statistical tests. In the comparison between normal and severe dysplastic nuclei, normal and carcinomatous nuclei and severe dysplastic and carcinomatous nuclei univariate statistical evaluation (Student t test) proved to be highly significant for the most of the analytical parameters.

Shape of seminiferous tubuli in maturation arrest, is investigated by harmonic Fourier analysis and upper degree polynomials as attempt to find morphometric parameters useful in morphological diagnosis. Inner luminal contour is considered as a closed curve in a reference system and scattered in a series of points whose coordinates are automatically calculated. Then a software named S.A.M. (Shape Analytical Morphometry) is utilized to find the Kth-order equation and calculate the best-fit curve. Moreover an ellypse is drawn with the same barycenter and axes of original curve. These three curves (real curve, best-fit curve and ellypse) are considered as periodic functions and submitted to Fourier analysis to evaluate the coefficients of the series and the spectrum of harmonics. Among 20 contributors, the subsets of greatest amplitude are selected for comparison and classification in terms of fundamental shape and its perturbations.

Four cases of Down's syndrome in new-born have been thoroughly studied on the histological and morphometrical point of view. It is outlined the presence in the seminiferous tubules of abnormal spermatogonia, sometimes multinucleated and characterized by a prominent nucleolus. The Authors emphasize the conspicuous number of these hypertrophic (H) spermatogonia (usually very scanty in normal new-born) never reported in the Down's syndrome before, whose significance is not easy to explain: if they represent anomalous forms of spermatogonial cells, related to the malformative condition, or a premalignant aspect is then discussed. Morphometrical measurements of the average tubular diameter (D.T.M.) and spermatogonia content have been calculated; furthermore a microprocessor system is employed for evaluating nuclear diameter, perimeter and area not only in H spermatogonia, but also in the other germ cells observed (A and P).

Three cases of so called tubular adenoma in cryptorchid subjects are reported. The histological findings were tubules with a particularly small diameter containing Sertoli cells (similar to the precursor type). No elastic fibres were present in the basement membrane giving a picture similar to last term fetal and neonatal testicles. These findings are regarded as hypoplastic foci of tubules which have not developed. The relationship between Pick's adenoma and malignant Sertoli cells neoplasia is also discussed.

Follicular growth and egg deposition were induced in the Grey Partridge (Perdix Perdix) after stimulation with Gn-RH and artificial light. The experiment was carried out from November to December 1983, during the short day period, and during the non egg laying period for this bird-sp. Two groups consisting of ten pairs of Grey Partridge each (female and male), received 3.8 mcg of Gn-RH (pGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2) every 8 hours for 10 and 15 days, respectively. With interruption of the Gn-RH treatment we observed follicular regression. For this reason the birds were stimulated with artificial light daily from the 15th day of treatment until egg deposition. Fifty-five days after the start of the Gn-RH treatment the Grey Partridge laid eggs. Forty days of this period the birds were supplemented with artificial light. Twenty pairs of Grey Partridge were used as controls. Periodically two experimental female subjects (treated and control) were sacrificed to observe the development of ovary and oviducts.

Luminal tubular measurements are executed in testis with normal spermatogenesis to individuate, by computerized morphometric method, the ratio between these two values. Statistical evaluations and calculation of the regression curves demonstrate that this ratio is well described by means of an exponential equation which coefficients are determined. This parameter results very useful in the diagnosis of Sertoli cell only syndrome and maturation arrest both characterized by tubular lumen modification.

The AA. have done an accurate study on 41 patients affected by retained testicles and they arrive to the conclusion that to obtain an exact evaluation of the surgical treatment to perform it is necessary a bioptic examination of both the testes.

Breast cancer nodule shape has been investigated by two analytical procedures: upper degree polynomials and harmonic Fourier analysis. An automized method (TV camera interfaced with a computer) has been employed to find the coefficients of kth order equation giving the best fit. Then the difference between real node contour and function curve has been calculated and submitted to harmonic analysis. This gives the sine/cosine coefficients of the two series and the amplitude of the harmonics. The results point out that no difference exists between metastatic and non metastatic tumors and suggest that parametrized descriptors calculated may represent a peculiar behaviour in the growth of the tumor.

Computerized densitometry was utilized to carry out a quantitative and distributive study of dentin transparency in dental roots from different age individuals. By means of original software S.A.M. (Shape Analytical Morphometry) a densitometric reading of transilluminated whole dental root was performed and so obtained densitometric matrixes were worked for grey level classification and correspondent areas evaluation, false colour restitution, pseudotridimensional and row/column barr graphs, isodensity outlines and density inclination maps. Results are discussed for both age evaluation in forensic application and for altered dentin recognition in pathological conditions.

The histopathological aspects of the testis in rat after intra-serous proximal hemideferentectomy and end-to-end tubulo-vasostomy are evaluated. The histomorphometric variations of the convoluted seminiferous tubules and the quantitative modifications of the stages of spermatogenesis are correlated with the obstruction's degree of the tubulo-deferential anastomosis.