Altered expression of adhesion molecules in inflammatory cervical smears

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of pan-cadherin and β-catenin in cervical smears with various types of infectious agents. Patients and Methods: Cervical smears obtained from 53 women, aged 21-65 years, with a diagnosis of specific inflammation were examined in our study. Eighteen subjects were infected by Candida albicans, 18 by Gardnerella vaginalis, nine by Bacteroides spp. and eight by Chlamydia trachomatis. All infectious agents found in the smears were at the same time confirmed by the microbiological laboratory methods. We performed a biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase immunocytochemical method using anti-β-catenin (Clone 12F7) and anti-pan-cadherin (pan, polyclonal) antibodies. Results: Aberrant expression of pan-cadherin was found in the cytoplasmic membrane of glandular, metaplastic, superficial and intermediate squamous cells in all types of infections. With regard to β-catenin, this was expressed in majority (90%) of glandular and metaplastic cells in all types of infections and in a small proportion (15%) of superficial and intermediate squamous cells in infections caused by C. albicans and G. vaginalis. Conclusion: Our data show that infectious agents may cause alterations in the expression and distribution of these adhesive molecules, which can be recognized in cervical smears. Additional studies in larger sets of patients should help clarify this issue further. © 2007 The Authors

Extracellular regulated kinase-2 immunoreactivity increases in parallel with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade in cervical neoplasia

The cell cycle control system includes cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK), and their inhibitors (CDK1). Extracellular regulated kinase (ERK1/2) (p44 and p42 mitogen-activated protein kinases [MAPKs]) is a component of the MAPK pathway, which is associated with cyclin D1 and CDK. It is a critical signaling system for the induction of cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell survival. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of ERK2 expression as a marker of biological aggressiveness complementary to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade as well as to compare its expression in preinvasive lesions with that in invasive carcinoma. Paraffin-embedded sections of 146 CIN lesions (32 CIN I, 49 CIN II, and 43 CIN III) and 22 invasive cervical carcinomas (13 squamous and 9 adenocarcinomas) were used for the standard immunohistochemical procedure with the application of the ERK2 monoclonal antibody. ERK2 staining displayed a cytoplasmic and nuclear pattern. The staining intensity was gradually increased according to the severity of the dysplastic lesions; ERK2 immunoreactivity was significantly increased in high-grade dysplastic lesions (CIN II and CIN III) and invasive carcinomas by comparison to low-grade dysplastic lesions (CIN I) (P < 0.001). When high-grade lesions were separately assessed, the differences between each one of them and CIN I retained their statistical significance: CIN II versus CIN I (P < 0.001) and CIN III versus CIN I (P < 0.001). In conclusion, our study found a direct relationship between the increasing grade of the dysplastic cervical lesions and the intensity of ERK2 staining, thus implying a role of ERK2 as an early event in cervical carcinogenesis. © 2007, Copyright the Authors

Parity is associated with lower cervical E-cadherin expression in postmenopausal women

Aim: Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in calcium-dependent homophilic cell-cell adhesion, is expressed aberrantly during cervical carcinogenesis. E-cadherin expression and putatively implicated predictors in healthy women remain a rather under-investigated area. The objective of this study is to evaluate the possible associations between E-cadherin expression and reproductive/lifestyle factors in cervical epithelial cells from postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 105 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 45-68 years old) attending a university menopause clinic were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Pap smears were derived and E-cadherin immunostaining was evaluated in squamous, glandular and squamous metaplastic cells, using a semi-quantitative method (rating scale: 0-3). Reproductive and lifestyle factors were obtained from patients' chart review. Results: In squamous cells, women with a history of 0-1 deliveries presented with a higher score vs women with 2-4 deliveries (P = 0.003). Social drinkers and women drinking alcohol daily exhibited a higher E-cadherin immunostaining score in squamous cells vs non-drinkers (0.96 ± 0.72 vs 0.56 ± 0.65, P = 0.004). A higher dietary calcium intake was marginally correlated with a lower staining score in squamous cells (0.94 ± 0.78 for low, 0.71 ± 0.70 for average, 0.45 ± 0.52 for high consumption, P = 0.073). Conclusions: E-cadherin expression seems to be associated with reproductive history and lifestyle habits in squamous cervical cells from healthy postmenopausal women. E-cadherin might participate in the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of parity as a risk factor for cervical cancer. © 2008 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

A reflective conversation with Kobus Maree, Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Always regarded as somewhat of an ‘outsider’ (the child of an Englishspeaking (Catholic) mother and an Afrikaans (Protestant) father in an exclusively Afrikaans milieu) and growing up extremely poor, seeing the hardship of others and realising howmuch talentwas going to waste, Kobus Maree took a particular interest in gifted disadvantaged persons. A marginalised loner, he almost inevitably developed creative abilities and took a keen interest in creativity, giftedness and the education of gifted, disadvantaged learners. As an adult, his research showed that many teachers in South Africa have to contend with the generally poor socioeconomic background of learners. A dire need for appropriate teacher and learner support materials, and school environments that are not conducive to achievement (including inadequate facilities, overcrowded classrooms, lack of teacher and learner support materials). SouthAfrica is at a critical stage in its education. It is therefore important for educators to teach emotional intelligence in their classrooms. Our biggest challenge will be tomaintain and enhance vitality in gifted education in a dynamic, ever-evolving environment. A combination of scholarly leadership and strategic management to support gifted learners is important. We should do all we can to promote societal transformation and diversity, focussing anew on underrepresented groups (women and ethnic groups) who show promise and support them. The widest array of partners possible including the big institutional players, the entire teaching fraternity (including government departments), nongovernmental organisations and miscellaneous interest groups together should develop strategic, rolling five-year plans and make gifted education a priority.http://gei.sagepub.comam201