Tissue detection of natural killer cells in colorectal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells represent a first line of defence against a developing cancer; however, their exact role in colorectal cancer remains undetermined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of CD16 and CD57 [immunohistochemical markers of natural NK cells] in colorectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Presence of NK cells was investigated in 82 colorectal adenocarcinomas. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed, using 2 monoclonal antibodies (anti-Fc Gamma Receptor II, CD16 and an equivalent to Leu-7, specific for CD-57). The number of immunopositive cells (%) was evaluated by image analysis. The cases were characterized according to: patient gender and age, tumor location, size, grade, bowel wall invasion, lymph node metastases and Dukes' stage. RESULTS: NK cells were detected in 79/82 cases at the primary tumor site, 27/33 metastatic lymph nodes and 3/4 hepatic metastases; they were detected in levels similar to those reported in the literature, but their presence was not correlated to the clinical or pathological characteristics of the series, except for a negative association with the patients' age (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support an association of NK cell tissue presence with clinical or pathological variables of colorectal adenocarcinoma, except for a negative association with the patients' age; this might possibly be attributed to decreased adhesion molecule expression in older ages

Non-healing tongue ulcer in a rheumatoid arthritis patient medicated with leflunomide. An adverse drug event?

Leflunomide is a member of the disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs group used as a treatment modality in active rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. “Oral ulcers” are reported in 3-5% of leflunomide medicated rheumatoid arthritis patients with adverse events, but they are not described in detail in the literature. We present a case of an ulcer in the tongue of a rheumatoid arthritis patient managed with leflunomide and contemplate on its pathogenesis

Giant liposarcoma of the back with 4 types of histopathology: a case report

The incidence of soft tissue tumours, both malignant and benign, is very common. However, the coexistence of 4 types of histopathology is rare and the aim of this article is to present one treated in our Department. An 87-year-old Greek man was treated in our Department for a huge tumour on his back, under local anaesthesia. The pathology report of the specimen referred 4 types of neoplasia. This case represents this incidence in a giant liposarcoma of the back

Properties of Biomimetic Artificial Spider Silk Fibers Tuned by PostSpin Bath Incubation

Efficient production of artificial spider silk fibers with properties that match its natural counterpart has still not been achieved. Recently, a biomimetic process for spinning recombinant spider silk proteins (spidroins) was presented, in which important molecular mechanisms involved in native spider silk spinning were recapitulated. However, drawbacks of these fibers included inferior mechanical properties and problems with low resistance to aqueous environments. In this work, we show that ≥5 h incubation of the fibers, in a collection bath of 500 mM NaAc and 200 mM NaCl, at pH 5 results in fibers that do not dissolve in water or phosphate buffered saline, which implies that the fibers can be used for applications that involve wet/humid conditions. Furthermore, incubation in the collection bath improved the strain at break and was associated with increased β-sheet content, but did not affect the fiber morphology. In summary, we present a simple way to improve artificial spider silk fiber strain at break and resistance to aqueous solvents

Antik és középkori gyógynövénylisták = Ancient and medieval herbal lists

In ancient history, the most prominent writer on plant drugs was Dioscorides, “the father of pharmacognosy”. Between about 50-70 A.D. he wrote his fundamental work “De Materia Medica.” It was destined to be one of the most famous books on pharmacology and medicine but is also rich in horticulture and plant ecology. This classical work of ancient medicine, translated many times, offers plenty of data on the medical plants constituting the basic materia medica until the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The famous illustrated Greek recensions reorganized the information alphabetically: the Juliana Anicia Codex completed in 512 and the Codex Neapolitanus considered to be late 6th or early 7th century, and Morgan 652 produced between 927 and 985. „De Materia Medica” played a key role in the development of Tacuinum Sanitatis, which was written Ibn Buṭlān in the 11. century. These two books have had a great impact on Ms. 459 (Biblioteca Casanatense)

Decreased Hsp90 expression in infiltrative lobular carcinoma: an immunohistochemical study

Background: Elevated Hsp90 expression has been documented in breast ductal carcinomas, whereas decreased Hsp90 expression has been reported in precursor lobular lesions. This study aims to assess Hsp90 expression in infiltrative lobular carcinomas of the breast. Methods: Tissue specimens were taken from 32 patients with infiltrative lobular carcinoma. Immunohistochemical assessment of Hsp90 was performed both in the lesion and the adjacent normal breast ducts and lobules; the latter serving as control. Concerning Hsp90 assessment: i) the percentage of positive cells and ii) the intensity were separately analyzed. Subsequently, the Allred score was adopted and calculated. The intensity was treated as a

Heat shock protein90 in lobular neoplasia of the breast

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) overexpression has been implicated in breast carcinogenesis, with putative prognostic and therapeutic implications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of Hsp90 and to examine whether Hsp90 expression is associated with estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) and beta (ER-beta) immunostaining in lobular neoplasia (LN) of the breast.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tissue specimens were taken from 44 patients with LN. Immunohistochemical assessment of Hsp90, ER-alpha and ER-beta was performed both in the lesion and the adjacent normal breast ducts and lobules; the latter serving as control. As far as Hsp90 evaluation is concerned: i) the percentage of positive cells, and ii) the intensity was separately analyzed. Additionally, the Allred score was adopted and calculated. Accordingly, Allred score was separately evaluated for ER-alpha and ER-beta. The intensity was treated as an ordinal variable-score (0: negative, low: 1, moderate: 2, high: 3). Statistical analysis followed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Hsp90 immunoreactivity was mainly cytoplasmic in both the epithelial cells of normal breast (ducts and lobules) and LN. Some epithelial cells of LN also showed nuclear staining, but all the LN foci mainly disclosed a positive cytoplasmic immunoreaction for Hsp90. In addition, rare intralobular inflammatory cells showed a slight immunoreaction. The percentage of Hsp90 positive cells in the LN areas was equal to 67.1 ± 12.2%, whereas the respective percentage in the normal adjacent breast tissue was 69.1 ± 11.6%; the difference was not statistically significant. The intensity score of Hsp90 staining was 1.82 ± 0.72 in LN foci, while in the normal adjacent tissue the intensity score was 2.14 ± 0.64. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.029, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test). The Hsp90 Allred score was 6.46 ± 1.14 in the LN foci, significantly lower than in the normal adjacent tissue (6.91 ± 0.92, p = 0.049, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test). Within the LN foci, the Hsp90 Allred score was neither associated with ER-alpha, nor with ER-beta percentage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Hsp90 was lower in LN foci both at the level of intensity and Allred score, a finding contrary to what might have been expected, given that high Hsp90 expression is detected in invasive breast carcinomas. Hsp90 deregulation does not seem to be a major event in LN pathogenesis.</p