Gene expression profiles of human endometrial cancer samples using a cDNA-expression array technique: assessment of an analysis method

The recently developed cDNA expression array technique can be used to generate gene-expression fingerprints of tumour specimens. To gain insight into molecular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of cancer, this cDNA expression array technique could be a useful tool, however, no established methods for interpreting the results are yet available. We used the Atlas cancer cDNA expression array (Clontech, USA) for analysing total RNA isolated from four human endometrial carcinoma samples (two cell-lines and two tissue samples), one benign endometrial tissue sample and a human breast cancer cell-line, in order to develop a method for analysing the array data. The obtained gene-expression profiles were highly reproducible. XY-scatterplots and regression analysis of the logarithmic transformed data provided a practical method to analyse the data without the need of preceding normalization. Three genes (Decorin, TIMP3 and Cyclin D1) were identified to be differentially expressed between the benign endometrial tissue sample and the endometrial carcinoma samples (tissue and cell-lines). These three genes may potentially be involved in cancer progression. A higher degree of similarity in gene-expression profile was found between the endometrial samples (tissue and cell-lines) than between the endometrial samples and the breast cancer cell-line, which is indicative for an endometrial tissue-specific gene-expression profile. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Alternative surgical exposure of the rat heart in vivo using a simple abdominal approach

Access to the heart in laboratory rats is usually performed via a median sternotomy or a lateral thoracotomy. An alternative, less traumatic approach to the in vivo rat heart with improved survival is described. The technique uses an upper median laparotomy extending alongside the xyphoid bone. The xyphoid bone is retracted in a rostral direction, and a T-shaped cut is made in the diaphragm thus opening the thoracic cavity. Using a retractor the opening in the diaphragm is spread and the heart is exposed. We performed this abdominal approach in 23 anaesthetised and mechanically ventilated (for 2 h) rats and found physiologic intra-operative haemodynamics, a good postoperative recovery and 0% mortalit

The old spontaneously hypertensive rat as a model for transmyocardial laser revascularisation research

Animal models used in transmyocardial laser revascularisation (TMLR) research lack the increased fibrosis observed in patients with chronic myocardial ischaemia. This pathology has also been described in patients with chronic elevated afterload, and therefore we evaluated the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) as a model for TMLR research. We compared (1) the myocardial pathology of SHR with the pathology of three TMLR patients, (2) the reaction to TMLR in SHR and human myocardium using three different lasers, and (3) myocardial hypoxia in SHR myocardium and (healthy) Wistar rat myocardium. SHR and human myocardium both showed increased fibrosis and a similar myocardial reaction to TMLR (comparable morphology of fibrotic TMLR channel scars). More hypoxic cells were observed in SHR than in Wistar control rat myocardium. The similarities between SHR and human chronic ischaemic myocardium make the SHR a suitable model for TMLR researc

Transmyocardial laser revascularisation and other treatment modalities for angina pectoris

Ischaemic heart disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the western world. This paper provides an overview of the different treatments for one of the most common manifestations of ischaemic heart disease: angina pectoris. Besides the currently available conventional methods, several alternative treatments are described, with a special focus on transmyocardial laser revascularisatio