Pathological variables determining the prognosis of non-Hodgkin''s lymphomas

The aim of the study was to assess the role of pathological grade, cell proliferation, ploidy, immunophenotype and site in determining the prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Of particular interest was the relative value of grades derived from the Kiel classification as opposed to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) working formulation. The study consisted of 181 cases, treated in a relatively uniform way over an 18-month period spanning 1986. Using life table analysis, both NCI working formulation grade and Kiel grade correlated strongly with survival. However, the differences between grades were entirely due to an excess of early deaths in the high-grade and intermediate-grade categories. In patients surviving greater than 0.1 years (37 days), phenotype, site, ploidy and cell proliferation had no effect on survival. There was no evidence that intermediate-grade tumours, when subdivided into Kiel low- and high-grade types, differed in survival from tumours graded as low- or high-grade by both methods. However, NCI working, formulation high-grade tumours, especially those with a high proliferation rate, formed a group with a very high likelihood of death within 0.1 years.     

Incidental prostatic carcinoma: Morphometry correlated with histological grade

Summary The histological grades of prostatic carcinoma, as defined by Gleason, were correlated with three methods of morphometry in 254 step-sectioned prostates obtained at autopsy. The variables studied were 1) the number of tumours in each prostate; 2) bilaterality and 3) tumour volume. Each characteristic yielded a statistically significant correlation with histological grade. The strongest correlations were obtained using tumour volume. These autopsy studied help to explain the inconsistent results obtained from morphometric analyses of surgical material, and lend support to the Gleason system as a means of predicting tumour behavior.Supported in part by research contracts PH 64-10, NCI-72-3213, N01-CP-53521; Grant R01-CA-33644; and the Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research (33) from the Ministry of Health and Welfare     

Web-based virtual microscopy in teaching and standardizing Gleason grading

Gleason grading forms the basis of prognostic and therapeutic assessment in prostatic carcinoma despite its subjective nature and substantial interobserver variation. The accuracy of Gleason grading can be improved by the use of educational tools such as reference images. However, conventional microscopy images are of limited educational value because it is neither possible to view the sample at different magnifications nor to navigate into different areas of the specimen. This limitation can be overcome by the use of virtual microscopy, which allows viewing entire digitized microscope slides. We created an interactive Web site ( www.webmicroscope.net/gleason ) featuring a comprehensive set of prostatic needle biopsies as virtual slides, which can be viewed with a standard Web browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape). To evaluate the validity of Web-based virtual microscopy for Gleason grading, an experienced uropathologist (TK) scored a series of 62 biopsies from the original glass slides and 6 weeks later from virtual slides on the Web site using an ordinary desktop computer. The intraobserver agreement was excellent, with identical Gleason scores found in 48 of the 62 cases ( kappa = 0.73). The 14 remaining scores differed only by 1 point on the Gleason scale (2-10). The virtual slides were viewed by 2 other uropathologists (PM and HH), with interobserver kappa coefficients ranging from 0.55 to 0.62, which is within the range of previously reported studies using glass slides. The 3 uropathologists' Gleason scores were included as reference scores on the Web site, which now serves as a publicly open platform for self-testing and learning of Gleason grading. We conclude that Web-based virtual microscopy is a promising new tool for teaching and standardizing Gleason grading.     

The Oxford Clinical Cataract Classification and Grading System

A composite slit-lamp based system for the clinical classification and grading of cataract is described. Cataract features are classified morphologically, and individual features are graded by comparison with standard diagrams mounted adjacent to the slit-lamp. Attention has been paid to relevant aspects of measurement theory, with equal interval steps between the grades. The image degrading effect of the cataract is assessed using a resolution target projection ophthalmoscope. The method may be used in conjunction with photographic and image analysing techniques.     

Polyamine metabolism in gliomas

Summary Biosynthesis of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine has been found to be activated in tissues with cellular proliferation. In the present study we have investigated polyamine levels and the activity of the first rate-limiting enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in tumour samples obtained during operation of 202 patients with gliomas. Biochemical data were closely related to the grading of malignancy and to the morphological characteristics of each sample. Mean ODC activity was significantly higher in all gliomas as compared to peritumoural non-neoplastic brain. Furthermore, it was significantly higher (p 0.001) in anaplastic gliomas who grade III and IV (9.0 ± 9.6 nmol/g/h) than in gliomas WHO grade I and II (3.3 ± 4.2 nmol/g/h). Highest enzyme activity (58.5 nmol/g/h) was found in solid and vital parts of malignant tumours, whereas predominantly necrotic areas exhibited low ODC activity (< 1 nmol/g/h). Thus, intra- and interindividual variability of ODC activity corresponded well to histomorphological heterogeneity in high-grade gliomas. Putrescine levels also increased with rising grade of malignancy, whereas spermidine and spermine levels did not correlate with the histological grading. In conclusion, high ODC activity represents a biochemical marker of malignancy in gliomas, but low values do not prove benignity. The present study reinforces the need of further and more extensive tumour sampling closely related to follow-up investigations in the heterogeneous group of gliomas.     

Contribution of thallium-201-SPECT to the grading of tumorous alterations of the brain

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with thallium-201-chloride (²⁰¹TI) was used in 22 patients to assess the grade of malignancy of brain tumors.Low- and high-grade malignant gliomas could be well differentiated by calculating the Grade Index (GI), i.e., ²⁰¹TI uptake in the tumor area relative to a contralateral brain region. Low-grade gliomas (WHO-grade I–II) usually showed a GI of <1.5. Tumors classified histologically as high-grade malignant (WHO-grade III–IV) had GI values greater than 1.42 and a mean value of 1.89.Until labelled amino-acid tracers for gamma-cameras become commercially available, thallium-201 brain-SPECT can provide an independent and complementary method to CT/MRI for the differential diagnosis of grading of brain tumors. This simple technique can help to reduce sampling errors during needle biopsies of brain tumors, particularly of high-grade lesions incorrectly graded as low-grade tumors due to inadequate biopsy material. In addition, pre- and post-therapy studies can influence the strategy of therapy itself and allow an early detection of recurrences.     

喉癌组织恶性度与颈淋巴结转移关系

采用五因素评点法对４０例喉鳞癌进行组织学和临床方面的研究。结果表明，组织恶性度与Ｔ分期无相关性，浸润方式弥散及恶性度高（评分≥１１）的肿瘤发生颈淋巴结转移率显著高于有完整肿瘤边界者及恶性度低（评分≤１０）者。提示喉癌组织恶性度在预测颈淋巴结转移上有实用价值，可临导临床治疗方案的选择。     

Population Pharmacokinetics of Oxycodone in Patients With Cancer-Related Pain

ABSTRACT

Oxycodone is an opioid widely prescribed to cancer patients for pain relief. However, the pharmacokinetics of oxycodone has not been sufficiently examined. Therefore the aim of this work was to study population pharmacokinetics of oxycodone in patients with cancer pain. The authors analyzed 108 serum oxycodone samples of 33 individuals with nonlinear mixed-effects model (NONMEM). Population pharmacokinetics was calculated using the one-compartment model of clearance, volume of distribution, bioavailability, absorption constant rate, and lag time. An exponential error model was used to determine interindividual variability and a relative error model was applied to assess residual variability. Population pharmacokinetics of oxycodone at the end point were as follows: CL(L/h) = 10.7 × [1 + (2 ? Child-Pugh Classification)] (Class: A = 0, B = 1, C = 2); V_d (L) = 193; k_a (h^?1) = 0.336; T_lag (h) = 0.859; F (%) = 63.9. Interindividual variability was CL: 30.5%, V_d: 44.6%, and F: 37.0%, and residual variability was 16.2%. As the total clearance in patients with liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh class B) was reduced to 33.3%, serum concentration of oxycodone increased by 1.5. Therefore, it became clear that dose adjustments are essential when treating patients with liver dysfunction. These findings suggest that population parameters are useful for evaluating pharmacokinetics of oxycodone in patients with cancer pain.     

不同Child-Pugh分级的肝硬化患者73例凝血功能分析

目的：分析不同Child-Pugh分级的肝硬化患者凝血功能并探讨其意义。方法回顾性分析我院2015年1月—2016年1月住院的73例肝硬化患者,按Child-Pugh分级分为A级、B级、C级3组,分别测量各组患者凝血四项和D-二聚体。结果肝硬化患者随着Child-Pugh分级积分的增加其凝血四项与D-D水平也有所不同,且APTT、PT、TT与D-D指标水平均有明显上升,而FIB指标水平则呈现逐级下降。结论肝硬化患者的血液呈低凝状态,凝血功能检测可以反映肝硬化患者的出凝血状态,为临床治疗提供依据。     

前列腺癌患者术前分期分级偏低的相关危险因素

目的 探讨前列腺癌根治术患者术前分期分级偏低的相关危险因素。方法 对55例前列腺癌根治术患者手术前后分期分级的资料进行比较，分析术前临床分期低于术后病理分期的危险因素。结果 55例患者术前临床分期T1～T250例，其中21例术后病理分期为T3～T4，占42％。26例术前穿刺活检病理Gleason评分2-6分者中11例术后病理分级为7-10分，占42％。Logisatic回归分析筛选出血清PSA（P＝0．0159)及前列腺穿刺阳性针数的百分率(P＝0．0013)是预测术前临床分期低于术后病理分期的危险因素。结论 对于临床分期为T1～T2而血清PSA≥20ng／ml或前列腺穿刺阳性针数≥50％的患者应考虑到临床分期偏低的可能。