Human chorionic gonadotropin and its relation to grade, stage and patient survival in ovarian cancer

Background: An influence of gonadotropins (hCG) on the development of ovarian cancer has been discussed. Therefore, we quantified serum hCG levels in patients with benign and malignant ovarian tumors and the hCG expression in ovarian cancer tissue in order to analyze its relation to grade, stage, gonadotropin receptor (LH-R, FSH-R) expression and survival in ovarian cancer patients. Methods: Patients diagnosed and treated for ovarian tumors from 1990 to 2002 were included. Patient characteristics, histology including histological subtype, tumor stage, grading and follow-up data were available. Serum hCG concentration measurement was performed with ELISA technology, hCG tissue expression determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: HCG-positive sera were found in 26.7% of patients with benign and 67% of patients with malignant ovarian tumors. In addition, significantly higher hCG serum concentrations were observed in patients with malignant compared to benign ovarian tumors (p = 0.000). Ovarian cancer tissue was positive for hCG expression in 68%. We identified significant differences in hCG tissue expression related to tumor grade (p = 0.022) but no differences with regard to the histological subtype. In addition, mucinous ovarian carcinomas showed a significantly increased hCG expression at FIGO stage III compared to stage I (p = 0.018). We also found a positive correlation of hCG expression to LH-R expression, but not to FSH-R expression. There was no significant correlation between tissue hCG expression and overall ovarian cancer patient survival, but subgroup analysis revealed an increased 5-year survival in LH-R positive/FSH-R negative and hCG positive tumors (hCG positive 75.0% vs. hCG negative 50.5%). Conclusions: Serum human gonadotropin levels differ in patients with benign and malignant ovarian tumors. HCG is often expressed in ovarian cancer tissue with a certain variable relation to grade and stage. HCG expression correlates with LH-R expression in ovarian cancer tissue, which has previously been shown to be of prognostic value. Both, the hormone and its receptor, may therefore serve as targets for new cancer therapies

Nitric oxide synthases and tubal ectopic pregnancies induced by Chlamydia infection: basic and clinical insights

Human ectopic pregnancy (EP) remains a common cause of pregnancy-related first trimester death. Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine by three NO synthases (NOS) in different tissues, including the Fallopian tube. Studies of knockout mouse models have improved our understanding of the function of NOS isoforms in reproduction, but their roles and specific mechanisms in infection-induced tubal dysfunction have not been fully elucidated. Here, we provide an overview of the expression, regulation and possible function of NOS isoforms in the Fallopian tube, highlighting the effects of infection-induced changes in the tubal cellular microenvironment (imbalance of NO production) on tubal dysfunction and the potential involvement of NOS isoforms in tubal EP after Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection. The non-equivalent regulation of tubal NOS isoforms during the menstrual cycle suggests that endogenous ovarian steroid hormones regulate NOS in an isoform-specific manner. The current literature suggests that infection with C. trachomatis induces an inflammatory response that eventually leads to tubal epithelial destruction and functional impairment, caused by a high NO output mediated by inducible NOS (iNOS). Therefore, tissue-specific therapeutic approaches to suppress iNOS expression may help to prevent ectopic implantation in patients with prior C. trachomatis infection of the Fallopian tube

Morphological, anatomical and genetic differentiation of Cornus mas, Cornus officinalis and their interspecific hybrid

Cornus mas L., C. officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. and their putative interspecific hybrid specimens were examined in order to describe their morphological, anatomical and genetic differentiation. Petiole length, number of leaf veins, pedicel and bract length, stone size, thickness of pericarp layers, the size and number of locules and the number of cavities were measured. Pedicels and bracts were shown to be significantly longer for C. mas (7.22 and 6.95 mm) and for the putative hybrid (9.11 and 6.61 mm) than for C. officinalis (6.86 and 5.81 mm, respectively). Average values of stone width and thickness, exocarp and mesocarp thickness, the number of cavities in the endocarp obtained for the putative hybrid differed significantly in comparison to C. mas and were similar to C. officinalis. Genotypes of the examined species were evaluated for genetic relationships using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Initial screening of the bulks of C. mas and C. officinalis compared with their putative hybrid using 72 decamer random primers resulted in the identification of 24 primers differentiating both species and their putative hybrid and showing reliable polymorphisms. Among a total of 485 amplified fragments, 89.7% were polymorphic, 18.8% were specific to C. mas individuals, and 18.6% were specific to the individuals of C. officinalis. In obtained profiles of the examined hybrid individual specific products absent in the genotypes of both parents were observed. The phylogenetic tree revealed two separate clusters including C. mas and C. officinalis accessions, respectively. The biggest genetic distance was observed for hybrid specimens, although the hybrid belonged to the C. mas cluster

Selected elements of the assessment of eating habits on the example of 2nd and 3rd classes of high school

Aim The aim of this paper is the assessment of eating habits of high school students from grades 2 and 3, including eating habits, self-evaluation of diet and the most common nutrition mistakes committed by the members of the studied group. Materials and methodology The study involved 333 high school students between the age of 17 and 19. The group consisted of 150 girls and 183 boys. Data was collected using an original survey which consisted of questions dealing with diet and respondent’s particulars. The study was anonymous. The results have been subjected to statistical analysis using Pearson’s chi-squared test. The statistical differences recognized as significant were those with probability of p<0.05 Results The majority reaching nearly 40% of respondents declared that they eat 4 meals a day. Over 60% eat breakfast every day. The number of students who declared that they do not eat breakfast at all amounted to 48. Over 55% do not pay attention to their eating habits, whereas 45 students consider them unhealthy. About 60% of respondents declare that they do not drink energy drinks. Within the group of students who consume such drinks the most often declared frequency was 1-2 times a week. The answers, however, vary between the female and the male group (chi-square=82.72121, p≤0,05); 75% of males do not consume energy drinks, among females the percentage amounts to mere 43%. Conclusions The students taking part in the study commit nutrition mistakes which might be a sign of unsufficient level of health education within that field. The nutritional education of the youth should start in primary school and be adapted to the needs and possibilities of the target group. In the face of poor diet, it seems justified to analyze the sources of information on nutrition used by the youth in terms of their credibility