Phenotypic characterization of human skin mast cells by combined staining with toluidine blue and CD antibodies.

Mast cells (MC) are important cellular components of the immune network in diverse organs. The skin MC has likewise been implicated in IgE- and complement-mediated cutaneous reactions. Such reactions supposedly involve specific cell surface membrane receptors. In this study, the cell surface marker profile of human skin MC was established using monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) against defined CD antigens. MC were isolated from juvenile foreskin (n = 55) and adult mammary skin (n = 5). The reactivity of MC with MoAb was assessed by a combined toluidine blue/immunofluorescence staining technique. Confirming our previous analyses on lung MC, foreskin MC reacted with MoAb against CD9, CD29, CD33, CD43, CD44, CD45, CD46, CD51, CD54, CD55, CD58, CD59, CD61, and CD117 (c-kit). Foreskin MC were also recognized by MoAb to CD47, CD48, CD49d, CD53, CD60, CD63, CD81, CD82, CD84, CD87, CD92, CD97, CD98, and CD99. Recently clustered CD antigens detectable on foreskin MC were CD147 (neurothelin), CD149 (MEM133), CD151 (PETA-3), and CD157 (BST-1). In contrast to lung MC and MC from adult skin, foreskin MC were found to express CD88 (C5aR). Also, cutaneous MC (from both juvenile foreskin and adult mammary skin), but not lung MC, were found to bind the CD32 MoAb IV.3, 2E1, and FLI8.26 (Fc gammaRII). The CD50 antigen (ICAM-3) was detectable on lung MC, but not on foreskin MC or MC of adult mammary skin. In summary, our data show that cutaneous MC and lung MC express an almost identical phenotype; however, in contrast to lung MC, cutaneous MC appear to express substantial amounts of CD32 and to lack CD50. In addition, foreskin MC, unlike MC from adult skin or lung, express CD88.

Penetration capacity of spermatozoa from patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia into bovine cervical mucus before and after therapy with kallikrein.

Due to the high degree of subjectivity involved in quantifying sperm motility by light microscopy, it appeared of interest to compare the results obtained with a bovine mucus penetration test (Penetrak) to those of routine laboratory measurement before and after therapy with kallikrein (600 U/day). The study included 45 patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT syndrome) in the absence of genitourinary pathology or abnormal serum hormone levels. Infertile partnership has lasted for a mean of 3.2 years. Analysis of spermiograms and the penetration test were performed before and after 3 months of treatment. Neither of these techniques revealed significant alteration after treatment, nor was there a demonstrable success during the observation period in terms of pregnancy. Judging from these results, (1) kallikrein has no effect in patients with OAT syndrome and (2) the penetration test provides no additional information on the biological quality of ejaculate.

Epidermoid cysts of the testis: organ-preserving surgery following diagnosis by ultrasonography.

Epidermoid cysts of the testes are rare, benign tumours that can be visualised by high frequency ultrasonographic transducers. Their echo patterns are characteristic but not pathognomonic, so that inguinal exposure of the testis is required to confirm the diagnosis. However, sonography facilitates the planning of surgery, since excision of the tumour can be performed in an organ-preserving manner. In 6 patients with epidermoid cysts treated in this way between 1986 and 1989, no recurrence was seen during a mean follow-up period of 37 months.

Is transrectal ultrasonography needed to rule out prostatic cancer with normal findings at digital rectal examination and normal serum prostate-specific antigen?

In a prospective study, 288 consecutive patients without evidence for prostatic carcinoma at digital rectal examination (DRE) and scheduled for prostatectomy because of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were examined by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement prior to surgery. 46 patients were found to have a carcinoma at histological examination of the surgical specimens. 14 carcinomas were detected preoperatively by TRUS and biopsy (10 pT1, 3 pT2, 1 pT3) of 32 patients with suspicious, i.e., hypoechoic, lesions at TRUS. Among the remaining 256 patients with normal findings at TRUS, another 32 carcinomas were found at histological examination of the surgical specimen. Of the 14 carcinomas detected by TRUS, 13 were found within a group of 57 patients with PSA levels > 7 ng/ml corresponding to a cancer detection rate of 22.8% in this group. In 231 patients with PSA < 7 ng/ml, the use of TRUS was successful in detecting only 1 carcinoma (cancer detection rate 0.4%). These results suggest that the use of TRUS is dispensible in 80% of palpably normal patients without affecting the cancer detection rate.

Goitrogenic effects in offspring of swine fed sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim in late gestation.

Effects of feeding sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim to sows and gilts in late gestation were evaluated. One sow and 2 gilts were randomly selected and were fed 1 of 3 rations: (1) a gestation ration from farm A, where congenital goiter in newborn pigs was a problem, (2) gestation ration from farm A containing 275 g of sulfadimethoxine and 55 g of ormetoprim/100 kg of ration, or (3) standard swine gestation ration containing 275 g of sulfadimethoxine and 55 g of ormetoprim/100 kg of ration. Sows and gilts were fed the appropriate ration for 22 to 58 days before farrowing. The numbers of stillborn or weak pigs did not increase in any group. However, congenital goiter was detected in all pigs from swine fed medicated rations 2 and 3. Congenital goiter was not present in pigs from swine given gestation ration 1.