Because histologically prominent microvascular proliferation is frequently present in glioblastoma multiforme, it has been hypothesized that this neoplasm is particularly dependent on neovascularization for its continued growth and that antiangiogenic therapy might be especially useful. To quantify the histological aspects of microvascular proliferation in glioma, a feasible and reproducible method was developed for computer-assisted image analysis of the visualized microvasculature in glial tissue. This method was used to compare several vascular parameters in histological whole-tumor sections of untreated human glioblastoma multiforme with those in histologically normal cerebral cortex and white matter. There was a significant increase in mean number, area, and perimeter of blood vessels per microscopic field in glioblastoma multiforme compared to normal cerebral white matter. In a substantial number of tumor fields, however, the vascular density was in the same range as that of normal cerebral white matter. The striking heterogeneity of the microvasculature within glioblastoma multiforme was illustrated by the significantly higher standard deviation for the vascular parameters in tumor tissue. The results of this study suggest that many regions of glioblastomas multiforme are not overtly angiogenesis dependent and may be difficult to treat by antiangiogenic therapy alone.

Replens did have an effect on vaginal morphology. The automated procedure may be useful for the assessment of maturation in vaginal smears and is more sensitive to small (subvisual) changes.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence rate ratio of squamous lesions in women with recent smears without endocervical component (ECC-) versus women having a smear with ECC+ and to estimate the true prevalence of these lesions in women with ECC- smears by addition of short-term follow-up results of negative ECC- smears. Results of initial smears in a 3-year period, as well as follow-up results of negative ECC- smears in the same period were retrieved. Women were categorized into two groups: having ECC- and ECC+ smears. The data were analysed for three outcome parameters, ASCUS or higher (ASCUS+), LSIL or higher (LSIL+) and HSIL or higher (HSIL+). Squamous abnormalities occurred far less frequently in women with initial ECC- than with ECC+ smears. Prevalence rate ratio (PRR) was 0.27 for ASCUS+, 0.39 for LSIL+ and 0.36 for HSIL+. Addition of follow-up results of negative ECC- smears, as a correction for false-negative ECC- smears, results in PRRs which are still significantly lower than 1, and most marked in subset HSIL+ (PRR = 0.60). We conclude that the true prevalence of squamous lesions in women with recent ECC- smears is significantly lower as compared with ECC+ smears. These findings lent support to the decision to abolish the repeat of ECC- smears in the Dutch population screening programme.

Cytophotometric analysis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade I11 (CIN 111) was performed in 22 cytological smears (CS) and in 22 corresponding cytospin specimens retrieved from selected areas of paraffin-embedded tissues (PEC). The average time interval between cytological and histological diagnosis was 6 weeks. CIN I11 nuclei in CS and PEC specimen were Thionin-Feulgen stained and digitized. Beside the visual classification of DNA ploidy patterns, the 2 . 5~ and 5c exceeding rates and the specimen mean and standard deviation values of 21 photometric features were also analyzed. It was shown that, although there was a significant correlation between DNA ploidy patterns in corresponding PEC and CS specimen, the DNA patterns were dissimilar in eight of 22 cases. The DNA index, as represented by 2 . 5~ and 5c exceeding rates, was significantly higher in the CS specimen. High-resolution cytophotometric analysis of cell nuclei in CS and PEC specimens showed significant differences for a large number of nuclear photometric features. These findings can possibly be explained by differences in selection of CIN I11 cells from CS and PEC specimens and by differences between fixation procedures as used for the two techniques. It was concluded that cytophotometric data of CS and PEC specimens representing CIN I11 lesions should not be regarded as interchangeable.

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