Stream-scanning laser system, electric sensing counter and settling grain size analysis: a comparison using reference materials and marine sediments.

Surface and deep-sea core sediments and two sets of standards were measured by three different techniques - Galai Cis I laser system, Coulter Counter TAII, and Micromeritics SediGraph 5000D - in order to compare the Galai results with the other two. The differences between the three types of measuring device turned out to be greater in sediments than in standards, and were attributed to the physical properties, shape, density and composition of the particles (complexity of the matrix). Comparison between moment statistics showed that the Galai determines coarser grain sizes than the Coulter and finer than the SediGraph, particularly as regards analysis of surface sediments. The relationships between Galai and SediGraph were estimated using analysis of variation/residuals within individual intervals. The analysis showed a higher variability of residuals for the coarser fractions (8-16 µm and 16-32 µm) with respect to the finer (2-4 µm and 4-8 µm) fractions. The <2 µm SediGraph fraction, with a cut-off at 0.49 µm, showed good correspondence with the <2.5 µm Galai analysis

Reelin expression in human prostate cancer: a marker of tumor aggressiveness based on correlation with grade.

Reelin is a glycoprotein that plays a critical role in the regulation of neuronal migration during brain development and, since reelin has a role in the control of cell migration, it might represents an important factor in cancer pathology. In this study, 66 surgical specimens of prostate cancer were analyzed for reelin expression by immunohistochemical method. The reelin expression was correlated with Gleason score and individual Gleason patterns. Reelin expression was found in 39% prostate cancers. Stromal tissues, normal epithelial cells and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) of any grade around and distant from cancer were always negative for reelin. Reelin was found in malignant prostatic epithelial glands of 50% cases Gleason score 10, 52% Gleason score 9, 56% Gleason score 8, 18% Gleason score 7, while no sample of prostate cancers with Gleason score 6 showed reelin expression (P=0,005). As reelin staining is frequently found in high Gleason score prostate cancers, we explored whether reelin expression is influenced by single Gleason patterns

Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 and carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: expression differences in tumour histotypes

The human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) is the major means by which gemcitabine enters human cells; recent evidence exists that hENT1 is expressed in carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and that it should be considered as a molecular prognostic marker for patients with resected ampullary cancer. Aim of the present study is to evaluate the variations of hENT1 expression in ampullary carcinomas and to correlate such variations with histological subtypes and clinicopathological parameters. Forty-one ampullary carcinomas were histologically classified into intestinal, pancreaticobiliary and unusual types. hENT1 and Ki67 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and apoptotic cells were identified by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) method. hENT1 overexpression was detected in 63.4% ampullary carcinomas. A significant difference in terms of hENT1 and Ki67 expression was found between intestinal vs. pancreaticobiliary types (P=0.03 and P=0.009 respectively). Moreover, a significant statistical positive correlation was found between apoptotic and proliferative Index (P=0.036), while no significant correlation was found between hENT1 and apoptosis. Our results on hENT1 expression suggest that classification of ampullary carcinoma by morphological subtypes may represent an additional tool in prospective clinical trials aimed at examining treatment efficacy; in addition, data obtained from Ki67 and TUNEL suggest a key role of hENT1 in tumour growth of ampullary carcinoma

PML as a potential predictive factor of oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine-based first line chemotherapy efficacy in colorectal cancer patients

PML regulates a wide range of pathways involved in tumorigenesis, such as apoptosis, which is also one of the main mechanisms through which oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine exert their antineoplastic activity. The present study aims to investigate PML expression as a predictive factor of oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine therapy efficacy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: 74 metastatic colorectal cancer patients who received oxaliplatin/floropyrimidine-based first line therapy have been included in this retrospective study. PML expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: PML down-regulation was detected in 39 (52.7%) patients (14 complete and 25 partial PML loss). RR was significantly lower (25.6%) in patients with PML down-regulation than in patients with preserved PML expression (60%) (P\u2009=\u20090.006). Median TTP was 5.5 months when PML was down-regulated versus 11.9 months in case of preserved PML expression (P\u2009<\u20090.0001). A statistical significant difference was also detected in OS (15.6 and 24.5 months respectively, P\u2009=\u20090.003). The impact of PML down-regulation on TTP and OS was statistically significant also in a multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first evidence of a possible correlation between PML protein expression and outcome of metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine-based first line therapy

Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene expression is a prognostic factor in ampullary cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) tumor suppressor gene plays a key role in acute PML pathogenesis but its involvement in pathogenesis and prognosis of solid cancers has not been defined yet. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 62 ampullary adenocarcinoma patients who underwent curative surgery between 1996 and 2005 were included. Expression analysis of PML was carried out by immunohistochemical staining and correlated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: In 24 tumor specimens (38.7%), PML was classified as absent, in 16 (25.8%) as focally expressed and in 22 (35.5%) as diffusely expressed. By univariate analysis, DFS was significantly influenced by pathological T stage (P=0.03), lymph nodal involvement (P=0.002), and PML expression (P=0.001). DFS in patients without PML expression was 28.0 months versus 45.1 and 75.5 for patients with focal and diffuse expression, respectively. OS in the group of patients without PML expression, with focal expression, and with diffuse expression was 40, 48, and 77 months, respectively (P=0.002). By a multivariate analysis, PML expression was the strongest prognostic factor for DFS (P=0.003) and the only statically significant prognostic factor for OS (P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data suggest PML as a novel prognostic tool for ampullary cancer patients

Cetuximab and irinotecan as third-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer patients: a single centre phase II trial

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which participates in signalling pathways that are deregulated in cancer cells, is frequently mutated in colorectal-cancer cells. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks the EGFR. We evaluated the efficacy of cetuximab in weekly combination with irinotecan in metastatic colorectal cancer patients refractory to previous treatments based on oxaliplatin or irinotecan. We included 55 heavily pretreated patients (colon/rectum: 34/11, M/F: 16/29, median age 63 years, range: 27–79) whose disease had progressed during or within an oxaliplatin-based first-line chemotherapy and a irinotecan-based second-line regimen. Patients were followed for tumour response and were also evaluated for the time to tumour progression, and safety of treatment. Cetuximab was given at an initial dose of 400 mg m−2, followed by weekly infusions of 250 mg m−2. Irinotecan was administered weekly at the dose of 90 mg m−2. All patients were assessable for treatment efficacy and safety response rate was 25.4% (95% CI: 21.7–39.6%); 38.2% (95 CI: 18.6–39.8%) of patients showed a disease stability as the best response. As a consequence, the overall tumour control rate was 63.6% (95% CI: 46.4–70.6%). The median time to progression was 4.7 months (95% CI: 2.5–7.1 months) and the median survival time was 9.8 months (95% CI: 3.9–10.1 months). The most common G3-4 noncutaneous side toxicities were: diarrhoea (16.4%), fatigue (12.7%) and stomatitis (7.3%). 89.1% of patients developed skin toxicity and 32.6% of cases was of grade 3–4. No allergic reactions were identified at any courses in any patients. Fever was documented in 27.3% of patients and was most commonly recorded after the first administration. Cetuximab has clinically significant activity even in heavily pretreated colorectal cancer patients progressed after both oxaliplatin and irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimens

Adult-onset Still’s disease, the most internistic of the rheumatic diseases: current concepts and a report of six cases

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown origin. It is characterized by spiking fever, evanescent rash, arthralgia/arthritis, and leukocytosis. The differential diagnosis includes a number of other conditions, and management is complicated by the lack of course predictors and the risks associated with complications and treatments. This report examines recent advances in our understanding of adult-onset Still’s disease (pathogenesis, diagnosis, complications, treatment). Current research in this field is focused on the significance of serum ferritin in AOSD, mechanisms underlying the hemophagocytic syndrome, and use of biologic therapies in patients who are refractory to conventional treatment. Six cases of AOSD diagnosed by our staff between 2002 and 2009 are also analyzed and compared with other cases reported in the literature. This analysis showed that Still’s rash and serum ferritin levels were not essential elements for diagnosis. In addition, the course of the disease showed little relation to the severity / characteristics of the presenting picture, but the evolution worsened with the age of the patient at diagnosis

De Quervain’s thyroiditis: current concepts and a report of four cases

Introduction: De Quervain’s subacute thyroiditis is a self-limiting granulomatous inflammatory disorder, which is thought to be virally induced in genetically predisposed individuals. It is characterized by thyroid pain and thyrotoxicosis, as well as by systemic symptoms like fever, hepatic cytolysis, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is often mistaken for an upper respiratory tract infection. Materials and methods: The authors review recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of De Quervain’s subacute thyroiditis; risk factors for complications, with emphasis on relapses and end-stage hypothyroidism; differential diagnosis and the exclusion of other subtypes of thyroiditis; and current treatment options. Four cases of De Quervain’s thyroiditis are then analyzed and compared with cases in the literature. Discussion: In three of the patients, onset occurred in June and was probably related to a small, seasonal epidemic cluster. These cases were quite different from the fourth one, which occurred in October, suggesting that two distinct viruses might be involved. One of the patients presented a very rare complication, vocal-cord paralysis, which responded well to glucocorticoid therapy. Another presented with an even rarer post-partum form of painful thyroiditis