Histopathologic spectrum of vaginal adenosis and related changes in stilbestrol-exposed females

A total of 98 colposcopically directed biopsies were obtained from the vagina, cervix, and cervicovaginal ridge (hood) of 80 young women believed to have had intrauterine exposure to stilbestrol (DES). Specific investigation of the patient's medical records corroborated the history of maternal stilbestrol administration in 36 patients (45%), while in the remainder the drug history was regarded as presumptive since medical records were unavailable for review. The findings did not differ significantly in those biopsies taken from patients with confirmed or presumptive drug histories. Histologic evidence of vaginal adenosis was detected in vaginal biopsies from 43 patients. In 30 cases (70%) benign Müllerian-type glandular epithelium was in the superficial vaginal wall, residing on the mucosal surface and/or in the lamina propria. The glandular epithelium predominantly was of endocervical type, but in six instances it resembled endometrial or fallopian tubal epithelium. The glands were accompanied by varying degrees of squamous metaplasia in 22 cases. When extensive the metaplasia produced transformation zones similar to those seen in the normal cervix. Vaginal biopsies of adenosis from the other 13 patients (30%) revealed squamous metaplasia without demonstrable glands due to complete transformation of all antecedent glandular epithelium by squamous metaplasia. Our studies indicate that squamous metaplasia is a component of major importance in the natural history of adenosis and that the concept of adenosis should be broadened to include those examples comprised exclusively of metaplastic epithelium. In such examples metaplasia is identified by the immaturity and poor glycogenation of the squamous cells and their accompanying squamous pegs which often contain residual gland openings or squamous "eddies." Similar findings were present in biopsies of seven cervicovaginal ridges and in cervical biopsies from 37 patients, except for the absence of endometrial or tubal type glands in the latter site. Although no adenocarcinomas were detected, six patients had squamous dysplasia of the vagina and/or cervix. In no case were premalignant or dysplastic changes of glandular cells found. Our findings support the thesis that stilbestrol-associated adenosis represents anomalous embryologic localization of the original squamocolumnar junction in the vagina rather than in the cervix. It is closely related to so-called cervical "erosions." The development of squamous metaplasia accounts for modifications in the clinical and histologic appearances by producing transformation zones which then may be subject to the same oncogenic stimuli for squamous neoplasia as are their counterparts in the cervix.     

Human thyroid adenyl cyclase-stimulating activity in immunoglobulin G of patients with Graves' disease

We have studied the characteristics of the stimulation of adenyl cyclase (AC) activity in human thyroid plasma membranes by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and by immunoglobulin G (IgG) from the sera of patients with Graves' disease. AC activity was measured as adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) generated by membranes in a 10 minute incubation. IgG from two patients with Graves' disease possessed particularly potent human thyroid AC-stimulating activity; the dose-response curves with these IgGs were essentially parallel to those obtained with TSH. As little as 30 mug of the IgG of one patient with Graves' disease or 8 muU of TSH caused significant AC stimulation. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of the data suggested similarity in the site of action of both TSH and human thyroid adenyl cyclase stimulator (HTACS) in Graves' IgG. Submaximal doses of HTACS and TSH had additive effects on AC stimulation, but a large dose of a Graves' IgG with potent AC stimulating activity did not enhance AC stimulation by a maximal dose of TSH. The effect of HTACS on AC was slower in onset and longer in duration than an equipotent dose of TSH. HTACS was detectable in IgGs of 9 of 15 untreated hyperthyroid Graves' disease patients; its concentration, however, did not correlate significantly with tests of thyroid function, nor with long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS) activity. In another 11 treated patients with Graves' disease, selected for the presence of LATS, HTACS and LATS were significantly correlated. We observed no inhibition of LATS activity in a Graves' IgG chosen for such testing because of its high titer of HTACS and no detectable LATS. However, an inhibitor of HTACS was detected in 2 of 4 IgGs; one of these two IgGs also inhibited AC stimulation by TSH. Conclusions: 1) Some Graves' disease IgGs contain a human thyroid AC stimulator (HTACS), probably different from LATS. 2) HTACS may act via a common pathway with TSH; it differs from TSH, however, in having a slower onset and a greater effect during more prolonged incubation with plasma membranes. 3) There is also an inhibitor of HTACS activity in some Graves' disease IgGs.     

Hatching of Schistosoma mansoni eggs and observations on motility of miracidia

Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni were obtained from livers of mice and hatching was observed under varying conditions of light and ionic composition of the medium. Hatching occurred equally well in light and in darkness. Eggs also hatched readily in 1- to 50-m OsM solutions of urea, sucrose, sodium chloride, and glycerol, but hatching was inhibited at higher concentrations unless the eggs were left in solutions for long periods of time. Hatching readily occurred in deionized water, but the emerged miracidia did not swim longer than 5 to 10 min unless Na+ was added. Histochemistry of the egg showed DNA-positive egg granules and a polysaccharide-positive vacuole matrix. Acid mucopolysaccharides were stained in the vacuolar matrix and in the anterior sac of the miracidium. Longitudinal alignment of constituents of the egg shell is suggested by the predominance of longitudinal rents in the shell at hatching. A mechanism of hatching involving an osmotic stimulus is proposed.     

Usefulness of chromosome examination in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions

To determine whether chromosome analysis could facilitate the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions, we examined chromosomes in effusions from 104 unselected patients. An effusion was regarded as malignant if at least three of 30 metaphase cells were hyperdiploid or contained a marker chromosome. Results were compared with standard cytologic diagnoses. All 22 benign effusions were diagnosed correctly by cytologic examination, but one nosed correctly by cytologic examination, but one (acute rheumatoid lung disease) was misclassified as positive by chromosome criteria. Of the 82 malignant effusions, 53 (65 per cent) were diagnosed correctly by cytologic tests, as compared with 58 (71 per cent) by chromosome analysis (P greater than 0.2). Among patients with malignant neoplasms, 13 had leukemia or lymphoma; only four of these (31 per cent) were diagnosed by cytologic tests as compared with 11 (85 per cent) by chromosome analysis (P less than 0.01). The combination of standard cytologic and chromosome analyses correctly identified 83 per cent of the neoplasms, a result significantly better than that with either technic alone (P less than 0.01).     

Preparation of Low Free Gossypol and High Available Lysine Cottonseed/Soybean Blends

Cottonseed/soybean blends (50/50) were ground in an Alpine pin mill with or without previous cooking in a Brady low-cost extruder. Free gossypol decreased with increasing amount of water added prior to extrusion and number of passes through the extruder. Available lysine increased with decreasing amount of added water but was unaffected by number of passes through the extruder. Type of soybean raw material utilized had no effect on free gossypol. Blends prepared from defatted cottonseed meal, however, had lower free gossypol than those made from cottonseed kernels. A blend similar to full-fat soy flour but of lower cost was prepared from unextruded 50% defatted cotton-seed meal/50% extruded soybean flakes, without added water, and ground in the Alpine mill.     

PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CASHEW APPLE (ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE L.) AND GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) FRUIT POWDERS

Cashew apple and guava residues from fruit juice processing industry were prepared as dehydrated fruit powders. Differences in compositional and physicochemical characteristics between both fruit powders were significant at the 5% probability level, with exception to ash content. It is important to point out that despite the dehydration process, both samples can still be considered good sources of vitamin C. In addition, the results show that the guava and cashew apple powders may be useful in the food industry as high dietary "fiber ingredients." Higher lipid (14.05%) content was observed in guava powder. The guava powder could be an alternative source of lipid. The data also indicated that these materials are good sources of ash. The results suggest further utilization of these residues as valuable food ingredients or as a resource for nutraceuticals.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Large quantity of agro-industrial residues formed by fruit juice extraction represents a major disposal problem. An alternative to recycling the fruit-industrial residue is to submit it to drying processes and transform into value-added products as dehydrated fruit powder. In this way, this process contributes to diminish the problem and to recover valuable biomass and nutrients. The purpose of this study was to develop a technology to obtain guava and cashew apple powders with the objective of finding alternatives to the exploitation of these residues as valuable sources of vitamin C, as ashes and lipid that should also be regarded as potential nutraceutical resources in future or functional ingredients.     

BERRY SEEDS: A SOURCE OF SPECIALTY OILS WITH HIGH CONTENT OF BIOACTIVES AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE

Selected berry seed oils from blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, strawberry, red raspberry and kiwi were characterized for their quality and nutritional characteristics. These oils are by-products of berry juice production that have only recently gained commercial interest. Free fatty acid content was below 1.6% for all examined oil samples. Peroxide value ranged between 0.6 and 44 mg O₂/kg oil for blackberry and kiwi seed oils, respectively, and p -anisidine value varied from 6 in cranberry to 23 in strawberry. Linolenic acid content ranged from 17.53% in blackberry seed oil to 57.60% in kiwi seed oil. The oxidative stability of all oils was rather low (0.17 h for kiwi to 8.4 h for blackberry at 97.8C). Phytosterol contents ranged between 403 and 692 mg/100 g for blackberry and cranberry, respectively. The content of tocols (tocopherol  +  tocotrienol) varied from 34.4 for kiwi to 2,133 mg/kg for red raspberry seed oils.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

A waste stream of fruit processing is used to extract the oil from berry seeds. Such oils are particularly rich in essential fatty acids (with a favorable low n-6/n-3 ratio) and antioxidants. They are incorporated in cosmetic preparations such as hand and body creams, and shampoos. Their composition is also interesting from a nutritional point of view. As the commercial interest is growing, chemical studies are necessary to elucidate the composition, activity and stability of different berry seed oils.