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Different prognostic parameters (labeling index, chromosomal pattern, DNA content) were studied in 32 cases of lung tumour. A great variability was observed in the proliferative activity and karyotype, and there was a lack of correlation between these parameters and the histologic type. It was possible to demonstrate that a diploid DNA content does not necessarily correspond to a normal karyotype. A more precise evaluation of the prognostic significance of data obtained will be possible in correlation with an extensive follow-up of the patients studied.

We studied 18 patients who underwent skin expansion. In 3 patients the prostheses had been inserted in anatomical areas previously expanded: in 3 other patients scarring tissue had been involved in the expansion. The DNA content of sections of epidermis, before and after the implantation of expanders, were analysed using an image analyzer (IBAS 2000). The preliminary data demonstrate that, at the end of the expansion, epidermis enters a phase of quiescency and is not affected by dysplastic processes.

Cultures of bone marrow obtained from patients with various forms of leukemia have been stained by the Giemsa-11 technique. The results suggest that this method can be utilized for the constant monitoring of numerical and structural anomalies in chromosome 9. Furthermore, by varying the pH, this technique can be applied not only to freshly prepared slides but also to stained preparations stored for many months.

The potential proliferative activity, expressed as labelling index, has been studied in 24 cases of bladder transitional cell carcinomas. The data showed a wide range of values, varying between 0.4 and 36%. The average proliferative activity was 3.2%. An analysis of the connection between the labelling index and the histological grading has also brought out the existence of a gradient of proliferative activity; average values of 1.6-2.53% and 3.49%, respectively, were found for grades I-II and grade III.

We have examined sixty-seven surgically removed allograft kidneys to identify the different leukocyte subsets of interstitial infiltration and the early vascular lesions which characterize renal allograft rejection. Histochemical and immunohistochemical results (mouse monoclonal antibodies anti: Leu 1, Leu 3a-3b, Leu 7, Leu 2a, OK Ia-Dr, OKB2, Leu M1, Leu M3; rabbit heteroclonal antibodies anti -: IgA, IgG, IgM, C3, fibrinogen, lysozyme; lectins-ABC: RCA, WGA, UEA) and routine histochemical staining have shown an increase of T-helper and T-activated lymphocyte subsets in acute rejection. Neutrophilic leucocytes were present in hyperacute rejection; macrophages were also noted. In chronic rejection, several lymphocyte subsets, in different ratios, were identified. Monocyte/macrophage leukocytes were the most abundant cell population. IgA deposits were noted on tubular epithelia in hyperacute and chronic rejections. IgM deposits were observed in vascular walls in chronic rejection. C3 and fibrinogen deposits were seen in glomerular capillaries and in arterial walls, although in different ratios, in all cases of renal allograft rejections. We have generally seen weak reactions to IgG deposits. Histochemical analysis of lectin receptors has given different results according to the type of rejection considered. In hyperacute rejection, receptors for WGA were found both on glomerular endothelial cells and on the tubular brush border. In the latter, receptors for RCA were also found. In acute rejection, receptors for UEA and WGA were found in a lower number of cases of acute vascular rejection. In acute cellular rejection, receptors for RCA, UEA and WGA were recognized in tubular epithelia. In acute vascular rejection, as well as in chronic rejection, only receptors for WGA were present on tubular epithelia and on capillary loop endothelium. The use of anti-human lysozyme antibodies has yielded the following results: in acute and hyperacute rejection, when renal failure occurred, we saw a high ratio of lysozyme, either coarsely granular or diffuse in the proximal tubular epithelia. Lysozyme was found in myelocyte/macrophage cells within capillary loops and arterial walls, when acute necrotizing vasculitis was present. In acute rejection, proximal tubular cells were lysozyme-negative or lysozyme-positive only segmentally, especially when obliterative vasculitis by fibrointimal proliferation was present and renal function progressively failed. In most of the chronic rejections, tubular cells were lysozyme-negative.

The presence of lysozyme in ovarian tumors has been detected for the first time using the immunoperoxidase technique. A study of the distribution of this enzyme in 50 primary ovarian neoplasms revealed its presence exclusively in mucinous and mixed (serous-mucinous) cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas. The secretion of lysozyme seems to be correlated to the production of strongly acidic mucins.

Cell kinetics in transitional cancer of the bladder was studied in 35 patients by using the in vitro 3H-thymidine labeling index. The proliferative activity was remarkably lower than that observed for other human histotypes. Analysis of the relation between cell kinetics and histologic grading showed a value for grade III tumors two-fold that of grade I and grade II tumors. Cytogenetic analysis was possible in 15 cases, and different chromosome numbers from 40 to 120 and the presence of various structural aberrations were observed. When cytogenetic features were analyzed in relation to cell kinetics, higher proliferative activities were always associated with a loss of chromosome 13 and, except for one case, with a loss of chromosome 22.