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Showing papers by "Chris J.L.M. Meijer published in 1990"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate that GP‐PCR is a powerful approach for detecting as yet uncharacterized HPV types associated with neoplastic transformation of cervical squamous cell epithelium.
Abstract: A newly developed general primer-mediated polymerase chain reaction (GP-PCR) was used for the detection of a broad spectrum of Human Papilloma-virus (HPV) genotypes, including unsequenced types, in cytologically normal and abnormal cervical smears and in biopsies of cervical carcinomas. This PCR method used different general primer sets, located in strongly conserved E1 and L1 regions of the HPV genome. Comparison between results of GP-PCR and HPV-type-specific PCR (TS-PCR) revealed an increase in overall HPV prevalence to 25%, 80% and 88% in scrapes with normally, slightly and severely dysplastic cells, respectively. Unsequenced HPV types were detected in 11% of cytologically normal swabs and in up to 30% of scrapes with dysplastic cells. Further characterization showed that unsequenced types concern HPV 13, 30, 31, 45, 51 and some other, possibly unknown HPV types. More than 90% of carcinomas in situ and invasive cervical carcinomas contained HPV. In the latter, only HPV16 and HPV18 were present. HPV16 was most frequently found in both normal and dysplastic cells, the rate being highest in neoplastic tissue. These results indicate that GP-PCR is a powerful approach for detecting as yet uncharacterized HPV types associated with neoplastic transformation of cervical squamous cell epithelium.

181 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: In this article, the microenvironmental relationship of dendritic cells with endothelial cells, lymphocytes and macrophages in the rheumatoid synovial membrane was studied.
Abstract: Since dendritic cells are believed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) we studied the microenvironmental relationship of these cells with endothelial cells, lymphocytes and macrophages in the rheumatoid synovial membrane. With the monoclonal antibodies OKIa (MHC Class II determinants), RFD1 and L25 (both specific for "active" human dendritic cells) we identified large numbers of dendritic cells. With the monoclonal antibody HECA 452 [specific for a putative adhesion molecule notably present on high endothelial venules (HEV)], a subset of dendritic cells could be detected. HECA-452 positive dendritic cells were found in 2 basic patterns: (1) associated with small lymphoid cell clusters in the neighborhood of vessels with flat, HECA-452 negative endothelium, (2) at the periphery of dense organoid lymphoid infiltrates, surrounding HECA-452 positive HEV-like vessels. Our data suggest that the influx of HECA-452, L25, RFD1 and MHC Class II positive dendritic cells is an early event in the development of the inflammatory infiltrate found in the rheumatoid synovial membrane. The formation of organoid lymphoplasmacellular infiltrates with high endothelial venules would be secondary to this event.

104 citations


Journal Article
01 May 1990-Leukemia
TL;DR: It was found that CD44 exhibits a trimodal distribution on developing lymphocytes of both the T and B lineage that closely matches the recirculatory versus sessile nature of lymphoid cells at consecutive phases of their development, and thus apparently reflects its homing receptor function.
Abstract: Lymphocyte adhesion to high endothelial venules, a central step during extravasation into lymphoid tissues, involves an 85 to 95-kD class of lymphocyte surface glycoproteins, which fall in the cluster of CD44 antigens. In this paper we describe the expression of this homing receptor glycoprotein during lymphoid development. CD44 expression was examined on a large panel of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (n = 234) and lymphoid leukemias (n = 44). These tumors, which are the malignant counterparts of normal lymphoid cells "frozen" at a certain stage of maturation/activation, are thought to represent a complete spectrum of lymphoid development from stem cell to mature, activated T and B lymphocyte. It was found that CD44 exhibits a trimodal distribution on developing lymphocytes of both the T and B lineage: the CD44 antigen is expressed at relatively high levels during early stages of lymphoid differentiation, i.e., on prothymocytes and immature precursor B cells (null acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and common ALL). Subsequently, at the stage of the immature/common thymocyte, the pre-B cell and early B cell (pre-B-ALL and B-ALL), the CD44 antigen is temporarily lost from the cell surface to be reacquired during further T and B cell maturation. At the activated (germinal center) B cell stage. CD44 is heterogeneously expressed. This distribution pattern of the CD44 molecule closely matches the recirculatory versus sessile nature of lymphoid cells at consecutive phases of their development, and thus apparently reflects its homing receptor function. In addition, the relatively high expression of the CD44 antigen in the earliest phases of T and B cell development suggests that the molecule may also be involved in the migration of bone marrow derived lymphoid precursors to their site of maturation.

82 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
15 May 1990-Cancer
TL;DR: The favorable prognosis of this type of cutaneous lymphoma implies that lack of systemic lymphoma after a five‐year follow‐up cannot be used as a diagnostic criterion in retrospective studies.
Abstract: The authors report the clinical and histologic features of 22 cases of lymphadenosis benigna cutis (LBC) and 35 cases of primary cutaneous follicular center cell (FCC) lymphoma The differential diagnostic accuracy of criteria generally used for differentiating between benign and malignant cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates was evaluated The clinical and histologic findings in these two groups showed many similarities Except for a characteristic clinical presentation of patients with a primary cutaneous FCC lymphoma on the trunk, there was no single clinical or histologic criterion that reliably differentiated between both conditions in all cases Follow-up data showed that only a small number of patients of the malignant group developed (four of 35 cases) or died of (two of 35 cases) systemic lymphoma The favorable prognosis of this type of cutaneous lymphoma implies that lack of systemic lymphoma after a five-year follow-up cannot be used as a diagnostic criterion in retrospective studies

76 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
15 Jun 1990-Cancer
TL;DR: It is estimated that immunocytochemistry contributed to the diagnosis of approximately 50% of the cases, supplying either additional or essential information on cytologic preparations, and there was a good concordance with immunohistology.
Abstract: This study reports on the use and evaluation of immunocytochemistry in diagnostic cytology by correlation with (immuno)histology. The cytologic material was collected during a period of 3 years. Sixty-four patients were selected and studied retrospectively. The reactivity of a number of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies was investigated and applied to a diverse group of tumors. Marker expression on routine cytologic and histologic material was compared and the use of immunocytochemistry in diagnosis was evaluated. Immunocytochemistry proved to be an easy and valuable technique for the identification and classification of tumor cells, and there was a good concordance with immunohistology. A discrepancy in marker expression was found in 10% of the slides that were investigated. Immunocytochemistry led to a misdiagnosis in only four cases; however, in these cases cytology alone would not have led to the correct diagnosis. The causes for the discrepancies are discussed. It is estimated that immunocytochemistry contributed to the diagnosis of approximately 50% of the cases, supplying either additional or essential information. A wide variety of markers can be applied reliably on cytologic preparations. The use of panels of antibodies is mandatory.

58 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In a patient with complete DiGeorge's syndrome normal HEV developed, indicating that the presence of T lymphocytes is not a requirement for HEV development, and a subpopulation of venules located in the thymic medulla near the corticomedullary junction expressed the HECA‐452 antigen.
Abstract: In the present report we have studied the expression of a lymphocyte homing receptor, the CD44 antigen, and of HECA-452, a high endothelial-specific antigen, during the development of the human immune system. We found that prothymocyte immigrants of the thymus already expressed the CD44 antigen. Similarly, the first peripheral T lymphocytes in fetal lymph nodes, tonsils and gut-associated lymphoid tissue were also CD44+. Cortical thymocytes and germinal center cells were CD44-. CD44 antigen expression was, thus, not limited to mature recirculating lymphocytes. This suggests that CD44 may not only be involved in recirculation of mature lymphocytes but also in the migration of prothymocytes to their site of maturation, i.e. the thymus. High endothelial venules (HEV) were not demonstrable at the early onset of lymphocyte immigration into the developing lymphoid organs. However, when large-scale influx of lymphocytes occurred, it paralleled HEV development. HECA-452 antigen expression preceded the morphological transformation of endothelium into a HEV phenotype. Expression of this antigen therefore, independently reflected the specialized nature of high endothelium. In a patient with complete DiGeorge's syndrome normal HEV developed, indicating that the presence of T lymphocytes is not a requirement for HEV development. Interestingly, a subpopulation of venules located in the thymic medulla near the cortico-medullary junction expressed the HECA-452 antigen. These vessels, which had flat or intermediately high endothelium, are probably involved in lymphocyte migration to the thymus.

56 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that all types of primary noncutaneous T-cell lymphoma are to be considered high grade and that primary localization and stage of disease at presentation appear to be more important as predictors of clinical outcome than morphologic or immunophenotypic subtype.
Abstract: The authors reviewed 28 primary noncutaneous T-cell lymphomas, referred to the Comprehensive Cancer Center Amsterdam, using the updated Kiel classification. Clinical course was related with stage of disease, morphologic subtype, and immunophenotype of the tumor cells. The incidence of primary noncutaneous T-cell lymphomas was 4.1 cases per 1,000,000 people per year. Morphologic classification was difficult and arbitrary, lmmunohistochemistry contributed considerably in diagnosis of this group of tumors. All primary noncutaneous T-cell lymphomas had a poor prognosis, with no significant difference between predominantly small cell (low-grade) and large cell (high-grade) tumors. The only parameter significantly correlating with survival was the stage of the disease at presentation. The results suggest that all types of primary noncutaneous T-cell lymphoma are to be considered high grade and that primary localization (cutaneous vs. noncutaneous) and stage of disease at presentation appear to be more important as predictors of clinical outcome than morphologic or immunophenotypic subtype.

39 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings demonstrate the supplementary value of selective nuclear morphometry to tumor grading and staging, especially in the heterogeneous group of grade 2 carcinomas and the group of superficial tumors (stages Ta and Tl).

32 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A group of 12 large-cell lymphomas seen in the period January 1983 to January 1985 were restudied phenotypically with a much more extensive range of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and genotypically analyzed with respect to rearrangements of genes coding for the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains.

31 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A proposal is given for the diagnostic approach for infants with RRRMs detected in the antenatal period by means of ultrasonography, enabling an informed prognosis and subsequent genetic counselling.
Abstract: Radial-ray reduction malformations (RRRMs) may occur isolated or in association with other anomalies. The data of seven fetuses born with RRRMs were collected. Six fetuses had associated lethal abnormalities of the central nervous system, urogenital system, and/or heart, detected by ultrasound. In five cases, it was possible to establish the precise diagnosis, enabling an informed prognosis and subsequent genetic counselling. The diagnoses were: Edwards syndrome (n = 3), VACTERL association (n = 1), and Poland-Moebius-like complex (n = 1). In two cases, a complete diagnosis was not possible because of inadequate evaluation of these fetuses before and/or after birth. A proposal is given for the diagnostic approach for infants with RRRMs detected in the antenatal period by means of ultrasonography.

30 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: Analysis of first trimester extraembryonic tissues of normal and androgenetic origin and homeobox genes from the chromosome 12-encoded Hox-3 cluster by non-autoradiographic in situ hybridization with biotinylated RNA probes demonstrate the existence of tissue- and cell-specific use of transcriptional (Alternative gene promoters) or post-transcriptional (alternative splicing) regulation of homeobbox genes in extraembriesonic tissues.
Abstract: Human first trimester extraembryonic tissues of normal and androgenetic origin (molar pregnancies) were investigated for the expression of 6 homeobox genes from the chromosome 12-encoded Hox-3 cluster by non-autoradiographic in situ hybridization with biotinylated RNA probes. By comparative in situ hybridization involving the use of exon- or region-specific RNA probes, analysis included the cellular distribution of alternative Hox-3 transcripts in chorionic villous tissues. A bias in extraembryonic distribution was seen between transcripts of the three most upstream Hox-3 genes (Hox-3.7, -3.6, and -3.1) versus transcripts of the 3 most downstream genes (Hox-3.3, 3.4, and 3.5). Only genes from the latter group are transcribed in human extraembryonic tissues including extraembryonic tissues of androgenetic origin. Moreover, comparative in situ hybridization showed that distinct alternative transcripts of Hox-3.3, Hox 3.4 and Hox-3.5 are exclusively found in trophoblast cells while others are present in chorionic villous stromal cells as well. These data demonstrate the existence of tissue- and cell-specific use of transcriptional (alternative gene promoters) or post-transcriptional (alternative splicing) regulation of homeobox genes in extraembryonic tissues.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It can be concluded that measurements of bones from standardized post-morten radiographs in cases of questionable gestational age or defects of bone development can be compared with ultrasonographic measurements.
Abstract: Post-mortem radiography of fetuses with skeletal dysplasia is essential for diagnostic classification. Interpretation of the radiographs should be based on the knowledge of morphology and dimensions of the normal skeleton in all stages of development. A retrospective post-mortem radiographic study is presented with measurements of the lengths of the long bones and thoracic and lumbar spine. The study included 69 fetuses and neonates with a normal skeleton, whose gestational age ranged from 13–42 weeks and who died perinatally or lived for less than one week. The measurements of the long bones were plotted on growth curves obtained from a prospective longitudinal ultrasonographic investigation of another group of 63 normal fetuses from 12–40 weeks of gestation. Thoracic and lumbar spine measurements by ultrasonography were not available. The radiographic data of thoracic and lumbar spine were, therefore, compared to radiographic studies from the literature. No disagreement with these studies was found. It can be concluded that measurements of bones from standardized post-morten radiographs in cases of questionable gestational age or defects of bone development can be compared with ultrasonographic measurements. To illustrate the usefulness of the graphs, 13 fetuses with various types of skeletal dysplasia were evaluated retrospectively.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The intraperitoneal/intrasplenic protocol was found to be superior over the other protocols because of minimal antigen dose and immunization time, as well as a higher frequency of hybridoma formation.
Abstract: • For therapeutic or diagnostic use of monoclonal antibodies in clinical oncology, high-affinity IgG antibodies to tumorassociated antigens have to be generated. In order to find out by what immunization schedule the chance to generate such antibodies is increased, we evaluated three different immunization protocols with and without attempts to induce tolerance to common tissue antigens. Mice were immunized either (1) by repeated intraperitoneal injections, (2) by a single intrasplenic injection, or (3) by an intraperitoneal injection followed by an intrasplenic booster. Whereas a single intrasplenic immunization resulted in low-affinity antibodies to tumor-associated antigen, high-affinity antibodies were generated with the other two protocols, although at a lower frequency. No benefit was seen from tolerance induction. The intraperitoneal/intrasplenic protocol was found to be superior over the other protocols because of minimal antigen dose and immunization time, as well as a higher frequency of hybridoma formation. ( Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg . 1990;116:181-185)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The clinical applicability and usefulness of nine ratios that express the relation between particular fetal growth parameters were tested in ten fetuses affected by skeletal dysplasia, and the results were compared with the ratios calculated from five growth-retarded fetuses without structural anomalies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Data indicate that MAb K 112 recognizes a protein belonging to the class of cell‐cycle‐related nuclear antigen molecules that is associated with recurrent laryngeal squamous‐cell carcinoma.
Abstract: Monoclonal antibody (MAb) K 112 was generated after a single intrasplenic immunization with a recurrent laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma. The antibody detects a 43-kDa nuclear antigen, with a pI of 5.4, which is expressed only in cycling cells. Expression is typically seen in a granular pattern excluding the nucleoli. During mitosis the bulk of the antigen is diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm. Identical reactivity was observed for tissues or cells of all mammalian species tested. These data indicate that MAb K 112 recognizes a protein belonging to the class of cell-cycle-related nuclear antigen molecules.