Angiogenesis in gliomas.

Brain gliomas are characterized by invasive growth and neovascularisation potential. Angiogenesis plays a major role in the progression of gliomas and its determination has a great prognostic value. The aim of the study was to assess the vascularisation of chosen brain gliomas and to estimate how it is correlated with tumour histological type, malignancy grade, location and size, and with age and sex of patients. Tumour vascularisation analysis was based on the determination of microvascular proliferation (MVP) and microvessel density (MVD). Microvascular proliferation was measured with immunohistochemical methods using mouse monoclonal antibodies to detect cell proliferation antigens. The following antibodies were used Ki-67 and PCNA (DAKO). Identification of vessels was performed by CD31 antibody and anti-human von Willebrand factor (DAKO). The highest microvascular proliferation and microvascular density were observed in multiform glioblastomas and the lowest in oligodendrogliomas. Significant correlation was observed between the vascularisation and malignancy grade

Ekspresja markerów komórek śródbłonka na powierzchni wewnętrznej poliestrowych przeszczepów naczyniowych u ludzi

Background. The presence of endothelial cells on the luminal surface of synthetic vascular grafts in human beings is still a controversial issue. It is commonly accepted, that these cells are present in human grafts close to the graft to artery anastomosis. The aim of the study was to assess the presence of main endothelial cell markers on the luminal surface of polyester vascular grafts in humans. Material and methods. The studied material consisted of aorto-femoral grafts obtained from 8 patients had been operated on due to false aneurysms of a distal anastomosis 3 to 5 years after prosthesis implantation. Graft segments were harvested 4–5 cm above the anastomosis and fixed according to the AMeX method. Immunohistochemical labeling was performed with the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against endothelial cell markers: surface molecule CD31 and von Willebrand factor (vWf). Results. Intensive (+++) expression of CD 31 antygen was found on the luminal surface of 5 investigated grafts, whereas in 3 others only moderate, focal (++) expression of CD 31 antygen was shown. In normal aorta intensive (+++) expression of CD 31 antygen was demonstrated on its surface, as well as in vasa vasorum. Intensive (+++) expression of vWf was found on the luminal surface of all investigated grafts. Intensity and localization of vWf staining in vascular grafts was similar to that demonstrated in normal aorta. Conclusions. Expression of main endothelial cell markers indicates that endothelial cells may be present on luminal surface of knitted polyester vascular grafts in humans, not only close to the graft to artery anastomosis.Wstęp. Obecność komórek śródbłonka na powierzchni wewnętrznej syntetycznych przeszczepów naczyniowych u człowieka jest wciąż problemem kontrowersyjnym. Dominuje pogląd, że komórki te w przeszczepach u ludzi występują wyłącznie w okolicy zespolenia protezy z tętnicą. Celem badań jest ocena głównych markerów komórek śródbłonka na powierzchni wewnętrznej przeszczepów poliestrowych u ludzi. Materiał i metody. Materiał do badań stanowiły aortalno-udowe przeszczepy poliestrowe 8 chorych operowanych z powodu tętniaków rzekomych zespoleń dystalnych. Odcinki przeszczepów pobrano w odległości 4–5 cm powyżej zespolenia po upływie 3–5 lat od wszczepienia protezy i utrwalono zgodnie z metodą AMeX. Następnie wykonano barwienia immunohistochemiczne z użyciem monoklonalnych i poliklonalnych przeciwciał przeciwko swoistym markerom komórek śródbłonka: antygenowi błonowemu CD31 i czynnikowi von Willebranda (vWf). Wyniki. Intensywną (+++) ekspresję antygenu CD 31 stwierdzono na powierzchni warstwy wewnętrznej 5 badanych przeszczepów poliestrowych, w pozostałych wykazano umiarkowaną, ogniskową (++) ekspresję antygenu CD 31. W aorcie prawidłowej intensywna (+++) ekspresja antygenu CD 31 występowała zarówno na powierzchni błony wewnętrznej, jak i w naczyniach odżywczych. Intensywną (+++) ekspresję vWf stwierdzono na powierzchni warstwy wewnętrznej wszystkich badanych przeszczepów poliestrowych. Ekspresja vWf na powierzchni wewnętrznej przeszczepów była zbliżona pod względem intensywności i rozmieszczenia odczynu do ekspresji vWf w aorcie prawidłowej. Wnioski. Ekspresja głównych markerów komórek śródbłonka wskazuje, że komórki te mogą występować na wewnętrznej powierzchni dzianych poliestrowych przeszczepów naczyniowych u ludzi, nie tylko bezpośrednio w okolicy zespolenia protezy z tętnicą

Cytological picture of the oral mucosa in patients with gastric and colon cancer

The incidence of malignant gastrointestinal cancers in Poland has been constantly growing, which hasled to an intensification of the search for new markers of the early clinical stage of this disease. The oral cavity,as the first part of the gastrointestinal tract, has a very important role. The oral cavity presents symptoms of bothtypically stomatological and systemic diseases. Oral cancers, benign or malignant, may originate and grow in anyof the tissues of the mouth, and within this small area they may be of varied clinical, histological and biologicalfeatures. These can be lesions typically observed in the oral cavity, but also characteristic of cases where thesymptoms occur both in the mouth and in other body parts. The aim of this study was to present a cytologicalpicture of the oral mucosa in patients with gastric and colon cancer and to compare the cytological picture withthat obtained from a group of patients with no cancer, using the Papanicolaou classification and the Bethesdasystem. The study was conducted in 126 patients treated surgically in the II General and GastroenterologicalSurgery Clinic between 2006 and 2008. All patients were divided into two groups based on the type of lesions. Inboth of the studied groups, more than half of the patients did not present any abnormalities in the mucosa of themouth, lips and cheeks in the physical examination. None of the patients had erosion, ulceration or lesionstypical of leukoplakia or lichen planus. No malignant cells were detected in either of the studied groups, andthere were no well-defined lesions found in the oral cavity that would distinguish the patients with gastrointestinalcancer. (The incidence of malignant gastrointestinal cancers in Poland has been constantly growing, which hasled to an intensification of the search for new markers of the early clinical stage of this disease. The oral cavity,as the first part of the gastrointestinal tract, has a very important role. The oral cavity presents symptoms of bothtypically stomatological and systemic diseases. Oral cancers, benign or malignant, may originate and grow in anyof the tissues of the mouth, and within this small area they may be of varied clinical, histological and biologicalfeatures. These can be lesions typically observed in the oral cavity, but also characteristic of cases where thesymptoms occur both in the mouth and in other body parts. The aim of this study was to present a cytologicalpicture of the oral mucosa in patients with gastric and colon cancer and to compare the cytological picture withthat obtained from a group of patients with no cancer, using the Papanicolaou classification and the Bethesdasystem. The study was conducted in 126 patients treated surgically in the II General and GastroenterologicalSurgery Clinic between 2006 and 2008. All patients were divided into two groups based on the type of lesions. Inboth of the studied groups, more than half of the patients did not present any abnormalities in the mucosa of themouth, lips and cheeks in the physical examination. None of the patients had erosion, ulceration or lesionstypical of leukoplakia or lichen planus. No malignant cells were detected in either of the studied groups, andthere were no well-defined lesions found in the oral cavity that would distinguish the patients with gastrointestinalcancer.

Imbalance in Coagulation/Fibrinolysis Inhibitors Resulting in Extravascular Thrombin Generation in Gliomas of Varying Levels of Malignancy.

Neoplastic processes are integrally related to disturbances in the mechanisms regulating hemostatic processes. Brain tumors, including gliomas, are neoplasms associated with a significantly increased risk of thromboembolic complications, affecting 20-30% of patients. As gliomas proliferate, they cause damage to the brain tissue and vascular structures, which leads to the release of procoagulant factors into the systemic circulation, and hence systemic activation of the blood coagulation system. Hypercoagulability in cancer patients may be, at least in part, a result of the inadequate activity of coagulation inhibitors. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of the inhibitors of the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems (tissue factor pathway inhibitor, TFPI; tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 TFPI-2; protein C, PC; protein S, PS, thrombomodulin, TM; plasminogen activators inhibitor, PAI-1) in gliomas of varying degrees of malignancy. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on 40 gliomas, namely on 13 lower-grade (G2) gliomas (8 astrocytomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas) and 27 high-grade gliomas (G3-12 anaplastic astrocytomas, 4 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas; G4-11 glioblastomas). A strong expression of TFPI-2, PS, TM, PAI-1 was observed in lower-grade gliomas, while an intensive color immunohistochemical (IHC) reaction for the presence of TFPI antigens was detected in higher-grade gliomas. The presence of PC antigens was found in all gliomas. Prothrombin fragment 1+2 was observed in lower- and higher-grade gliomas reflecting local activation of blood coagulation. Differences in the expression of coagulation/fibrinolysis inhibitors in the tissues of gliomas with varying degrees of malignancy may be indicative of their altered role in gliomas, going beyond that of their functions in the hemostatic system

Heterogeneous Expression of Proangiogenic and Coagulation Proteins in Gliomas of Different Histopathological Grade.

Brain gliomas are characterized by remarkably intense invasive growth and the ability to create new blood vessels. Angiogenesis is a key process in the progression of these tumors. Coagulation and fibrinolysis factors play a role in promoting angiogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of proangiogenic proteins (VEGF and bFGF) and hemostatic proteins (TF, fibrinogen, fibrin, D-dimers) associated with neoplastic cells and vascular endothelial cells in brain gliomas of various degrees of malignancy. Immunohistochemical tests were performed using the ABC method with the use of mono- and polyclonal antibodies. The obtained results indicated that both neoplastic cells and vascular endothelial cells in gliomas of various degrees of malignancy are characterized by heterogeneous expression of proteins of the hemostatic system and angiogenesis markers. The strongest expression of proangiogenic factors and procoagulant factors was demonstrated in gliomas of higher-grade malignancy

Mutations in the von Hippel-Lindau Tumour Suppressor Gene in Central Nervous System Hemangioblastomas

Central nervous system hemangioblastomas (cHAB) are rare tumours which most commonly arise in the cerebellum. Most tumours are sporadic, but as many as one third of cHABs occur in the course of the hereditary disorder - von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL). In order to diagnose new VHL families in Poland we performed sequencing of the entire VHL gene in archival material (paraffin embedded hemangioblastoma tissues) in a large series of 203 unselected patients with cHAB. VHL gene mutations were detected in 70 (41%) of 171 tumour samples from which DNA of relatively good quality was isolated. We were able to obtain blood samples from 19 of mutation positive cases. Eight (42%) of these harboured germline mutations in persons from distinct undiagnosed VHL families

Prevalence nutritional disorders among patients hospitalised for stroke and discopathy in the neurology department

Introduction: Nutritional disorders pose a huge health problem worldwide. In Poland, symptoms of malnutrition are found on admission to hospital in approximately 30% of patients. Among neurological disorders that predispose to malnutrition, brain injuries are the most frequent. The disease leads to difficulties with self-care, disorientation, reduced intellectual capacity, and dysphagia. Acute spinal pain syndromes affect weight loss because of persistent severe pain, and frequent dizziness and headaches accompanying cervical discopathy. Aim of the research: To assess the degree of malnutrition in patients with stroke and discopathy hospitalised in the neurology ward. Material and methods : The study group consisted of 141 patients, including 90 with stroke and 51 with discopathy, hospitalised in the neurology ward. Research material was collected based on medical records and a proprietary questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and assessed for each patient on admission and after hospitalisation. Results and conclusions: The study sample consisted of a similar group of women (49%) and men (51%) aged from 30 to over 70 years. Ischaemic stroke was diagnosed more often in women (66.2%), whereas discopathy was more common in men (43.4%). The differences in BMI present on admission and after hospitalisation in men and women indicated a falling tendency. A slightly greater drop in BMI was found in women after hospital stay (from 24.1 to 23.3 kg/m 2 ). The lowest BMI on admission was observed in students and pensioners. Long-term hospitalisation significantly affected weight reduction – the longer the patients were hospitalised, the lower their BMI was. Preliminary assessment of the nutrition status on admission to a hospital ward and customising individual diets may help reduce the effects of malnutrition

Prevalence nutritional disorders among patients hospitalised for stroke and discopathy in the neurology department

Introduction: Nutritional disorders pose a huge health problem worldwide. In Poland, symptoms of malnutrition are found on admission to hospital in approximately 30% of patients. Among neurological disorders that predispose to malnutrition, brain injuries are the most frequent. The disease leads to difficulties with self-care, disorientation, reduced intellectual capacity, and dysphagia. Acute spinal pain syndromes affect weight loss because of persistent severe pain, and frequent dizziness and headaches accompanying cervical discopathy. Aim of the research: To assess the degree of malnutrition in patients with stroke and discopathy hospitalised in the neurology ward. Material and methods : The study group consisted of 141 patients, including 90 with stroke and 51 with discopathy, hospitalised in the neurology ward. Research material was collected based on medical records and a proprietary questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and assessed for each patient on admission and after hospitalisation. Results and conclusions: The study sample consisted of a similar group of women (49%) and men (51%) aged from 30 to over 70 years. Ischaemic stroke was diagnosed more often in women (66.2%), whereas discopathy was more common in men (43.4%). The differences in BMI present on admission and after hospitalisation in men and women indicated a falling tendency. A slightly greater drop in BMI was found in women after hospital stay (from 24.1 to 23.3 kg/m 2 ). The lowest BMI on admission was observed in students and pensioners. Long-term hospitalisation significantly affected weight reduction – the longer the patients were hospitalised, the lower their BMI was. Preliminary assessment of the nutrition status on admission to a hospital ward and customising individual diets may help reduce the effects of malnutrition

Cytological picture of the oral mucosa in patients with gastric and colon cancer

The incidence of malignant gastrointestinal cancers in Poland has been constantly growing, which has<br />led to an intensification of the search for new markers of the early clinical stage of this disease. The oral cavity,<br />as the first part of the gastrointestinal tract, has a very important role. The oral cavity presents symptoms of both<br />typically stomatological and systemic diseases. Oral cancers, benign or malignant, may originate and grow in any<br />of the tissues of the mouth, and within this small area they may be of varied clinical, histological and biological<br />features. These can be lesions typically observed in the oral cavity, but also characteristic of cases where the<br />symptoms occur both in the mouth and in other body parts. The aim of this study was to present a cytological<br />picture of the oral mucosa in patients with gastric and colon cancer and to compare the cytological picture with<br />that obtained from a group of patients with no cancer, using the Papanicolaou classification and the Bethesda<br />system. The study was conducted in 126 patients treated surgically in the II General and Gastroenterological<br />Surgery Clinic between 2006 and 2008. All patients were divided into two groups based on the type of lesions. In<br />both of the studied groups, more than half of the patients did not present any abnormalities in the mucosa of the<br />mouth, lips and cheeks in the physical examination. None of the patients had erosion, ulceration or lesions<br />typical of leukoplakia or lichen planus. No malignant cells were detected in either of the studied groups, and<br />there were no well-defined lesions found in the oral cavity that would distinguish the patients with gastrointestinal<br />cancer. (The incidence of malignant gastrointestinal cancers in Poland has been constantly growing, which has<br />led to an intensification of the search for new markers of the early clinical stage of this disease. The oral cavity,<br />as the first part of the gastrointestinal tract, has a very important role. The oral cavity presents symptoms of both<br />typically stomatological and systemic diseases. Oral cancers, benign or malignant, may originate and grow in any<br />of the tissues of the mouth, and within this small area they may be of varied clinical, histological and biological<br />features. These can be lesions typically observed in the oral cavity, but also characteristic of cases where the<br />symptoms occur both in the mouth and in other body parts. The aim of this study was to present a cytological<br />picture of the oral mucosa in patients with gastric and colon cancer and to compare the cytological picture with<br />that obtained from a group of patients with no cancer, using the Papanicolaou classification and the Bethesda<br />system. The study was conducted in 126 patients treated surgically in the II General and Gastroenterological<br />Surgery Clinic between 2006 and 2008. All patients were divided into two groups based on the type of lesions. In<br />both of the studied groups, more than half of the patients did not present any abnormalities in the mucosa of the<br />mouth, lips and cheeks in the physical examination. None of the patients had erosion, ulceration or lesions<br />typical of leukoplakia or lichen planus. No malignant cells were detected in either of the studied groups, and<br />there were no well-defined lesions found in the oral cavity that would distinguish the patients with gastrointestinal<br />cancer.