Otkrivanje delecije kromosoma 1 pomoću tehnike FISH na otiscima ependimoma ukazuje na regiju izvan kromosoma 22 važnu za recidiv tumora

Ependymomas are glial tumors. They constitute approximately 5%-10% of intracranial tumors. Ependymomas are tumors which can recur. Predictive factors of outcome in ependymomas are not well established. Karyotypic studies are relatively scarce and loss of chromosome 22 has been described to correlate with recurrence. We are unaware of any reports involving chromosome 1 aberrations in the malignant progression of ependymomas. Cytogenetic analysis of 4 ependymomas was performed using double-target fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and focusing on chromosomes 1 and 22. One patient had recurrent tumor. FISH was performed on 500 nuclei/tumors. All four cases showed a loss of chromosome 22q, while only one showed an additional loss of chromosome 1p, and it was the one with tumor relapse. We support the presence of tumor suppressor gene on 1p associated with relapse in ependymomas and suggest that the chromosome 1p status by FISH may identify a high risk group of patients harboring this tumor. Additional studies in this direction are needed, as our results refer to a minimal number of individuals analyzed.Ependimomi su glialni tumori. Oni čine otprilike 5%-10% intrakranijskih tumora. Ependimomi su tumori koji se mogu ponavljati. Čimbenici koji bi ukazivali na ishod ependimoma nisu dobro utvrđeni. Kariotipska ispitivanja su relativno rijetka, a opisano je kako gubitak kromosoma 22 korelira s ponovnom pojavom tumora. Nisu nam poznata izvješća o upletenosti aberacija kromosoma 1 u malignoj progresiji ependimoma. U ovoj studiji je citogenetska analiza 4 ependimoma provedena pomoću dvociljne fluorescentne in situ hibridizacije (FISH) i fokusiranja na kromosomima 1 i 22. U jednog se bolesnika radilo o ponovnoj pojavi tumora. FISH je izvedena na 500 jezgara/tumora. Sva četiri slučaja pokazala su gubitak kromosoma 22q, dok je samo jedan, i to onaj s ponovnim razvojem tumora, pokazao dodatni gubitak kromosoma 1p. Priklanjamo se mišljenju kako je prisutnost gena tumorske supresije na 1p udru žena s recidivom kod ependimoma i ukazujemo na to da bi status kromosoma 1p utvrđen pomoću FISH mogao identificirati visoko rizičnu skupinu bolesnika koji nose ovaj tumor. Potrebne su daljnje studije u ovom smjeru, jer se naši rezultati odnose na mali broj analiziranih osoba

Intrahepatična cistična bolest s kongenitalnom fibrozom (Carolijev kompleks) - prikaz slučaja i pregled literature

A female patient affected by Caroli\u27s disease with congenital fibrosis (Caroli\u27s complex), aged 27 years, is described. Caroli\u27s disease had been asymptomatic to the present. It was recognized as an intraoperative finding during the left hepatectomy procedure after an acute abdominal crisis episode. The main reason for this surgery was the incidence of malignant transformation to cholangiocarcinoma of the cells of the cystic walls. The complex Caroli\u27s disease is more common than other forms. The case report is supplemented with literature review and discussion on the etiopathogenetic mechanisms hypothesized.Opisan je slučaj 27-godišnje bolesnice s Carolijevom bolešću i kongenitalnom fibrozom (Carolijev kompleks). Carolijeva bolest dotad je bila asimptomatska. Prepoznata je kao intraoperacijski nalaz tijekom postupka lijevostrane hepatektomije nakon akutne epizode abdominalne krize. Glavni razlog za operacijski zahvat bila je maligna pretvorba u kolangiokarcinom stanica cističnih stjenka. Carolijev kompleks češći je od drugih oblika bolesti. Prikaz slučaja je dopunjen pregledom literature i raspravom o pretpostavljenim etiopatogenetskim mehanizmima

Study of D-star mesons produced in electron positron annihilations at 4.14 GeV center of mass energy

Charmed D* mesons produced in e+e-annihilations at a center of mass energy of 4.14 GeV are observed by the Mark III detector at SPEAR. The recoil mass spectrum of the D mesons is used to extract the branching fractions of the charged and neutral D*. Measurements are presented for the two decay modes of the D*O (-'yDo, and :71'0DO) and the three decay modes of the D*+ (-'yD+, :71'0D+ , and :71'+ DO). The quasi-two-body D* D+iY'D, D* D* and two-body DD cross sections are measured. The decay of the D*+ to :71'+ DO is exploited in a search for wrong strangeness events.U of I OnlyThesi

Pancreatic-Polypeptide in the Human Pancreas: Expression and Quantitative Variation During Development and in Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Aim: To determine the immunoreactivity of pancreatic-polypeptide (PP) during the development of the human fetal pancreas and ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma, given that, PP positive cells were demonstrated either into its embryonic anlage or into pancreatic cancer. Methods: Tissue sections from 15 pancreatic fetal specimens, and equal number of ductal adenocarcinoma specimens, were assessed. Results: The density of positive cells in the primitive exocrine ductal epithelium and endocrine epithelium was significantly higher than the relevant density in the neoplastic pancreatic tissue of mixed (ductal – endocrine) and pure ductal type (p1=0.001, p2<0.0005, p3 =0.046 and p4<0.0005 respectively). The above values were estimated during the 10th to 12th week. There was no significant difference in the density of positive cells in the mantle zone of the islets from the 13th to the 24th week, and the neoplastic tissue of mixed (p5=0.11) and pure ductal type (p6=0.23). Conclusion: The immunostaining for PP identifies a subgroup of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas with a neuroendocrine component, initially considered as pure ductal tumors, and mixed ductal and neuroendocrine tumors. This pattern of expression in neoplasms recapitulates the normal pattern during the embryonal development of the organ, raising the question of therapeutic efficacy of PP and analogues as potential adjuvant treatment of pancreatic cancer

Does Neoplastic Cholecystokinin Expression Reflect the Embryonal Pattern of the Protein? A Study in Human Pancreas

Aim: To determine the immunoreactivity of cholecystokinin (CCK) during the development of the human fetal pancreas and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, given that, CCK positive cells were demonstrated either in its embryonic anlage or in pancreatic cancer. In order to obtain possible parallels in the expression pattern of neoplastic cells in adults (well – moderately – poorly differentiated), we investigated the pattern of CCK expression in the pancreatic tissue during the various stages of development and compared these with the proliferation of tissue assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry. Experimental design: Tissue sections from 15 pancreatic fetal specimens, and equal number of ductal adenocarcinoma specimens, were assessed using immunohistochemical methods for CCK. Results: The density of positive cells in the primitive exocrine ductal walls and outgrowing buds was significantly higher than the relevant density in the neoplastic pancreatic tissue of mixed (ductal – endocrine) and pure ductal type (p1=0.004, p2<0.0005, p3<0.0005 and p4=0.023 respectively). The above values were estimated from 20th to 22nd weeks of gestation. There was no significant difference in the density of positive cells in the islet cell epithelium from 25–30 weeks, and the neoplastic tissue of mixed (p5=0.10) and pure ductal type (p6=0.15). Conclusions: The immunostaining for CCK identifies a subgroup of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas with a neuroendocrine component (initially considered as pure ductal tumors), and mixed ductal-endocrine tumors. This pattern of expression in neoplasms recapitulates the normal pattern during the embryonal development of the organ, and may be important for the development of new therapeutic approaches with eventual clinical utility

National Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation = Εθνικό Στρατηγικό Πλαίσιο Έρευνας & Καινοτομίας (ΕΣΠΕΚ) 2014-2020

SAFE Professor Michalis Haliassos was a member of the National Council for Research and Technology (ESET) established by the Government of Greece for the period 2010-2013. The council, consisting of eleven scientists from a range of disciplines, has now published their communiqué "National Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation 2014 -2020". To promote the advancement of research, technology and innovation in Greece, the strategic plan proposed by the authors seeks to identify areas of existing research strength and excellence that can be further advanced to become engines for progress and growth in Greece, as well as flaws inherent to the present system. The authors stress the need to address current constraints to growth, which include the declining education system; the confusion and weaknesses of R&D governance and management; the discontinuities and inefficiencies of resource allocation and investment; the lack of adaptation to clearly-defined national priorities; and the inadequate opportunities and funding for high-quality research and development to flourish. They stress the need for prioritisation and efficient allocation; stability of the policy frame; predictability of planning; provision of opportunity; recognition of excellence; and responsiveness to current and future needs