Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas: is there any correlation with angiogenesis or clinicopathologic parameters?

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) products have been implicated in the regulation of immune system, tumor cell apoptosis, and angiogenesis in many human tumors. In this study, we investigated the expression of COX-2 and iNOS in ovarian carcinomas by immunohistochemistry and correlated the results with other prognostic parameters. Specimens from 100 ovarian carcinomas were studied by immunohistochemistry for COX-2 and iNOS expression, and angiogenesis microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated by CD34-stained microvessels. High COX-2 expression was observed in 85% of carcinomas. No correlation was found between COX-2 expression and clinicopathologic variables. Patients with high COX-2-expressed tumors had shorter overall survival, but it is not statistically significant. Expression of iNOS in serous and low-grade carcinomas was significantly higher than that in nonserous and high-grade carcinomas (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between COX-2 and iNOS expression (P= 0.009). No correlation of COX-2 and iNOS expression with MVD was found. Expression of iNOS showed no effect on survival of the patients. We found that iNOS expression might act in the first steps of carcinogenesis, whereas COX-2 expression was seen in more advanced tumors. Shorter overall survival of patients with high COX-2 expression might indicate new targets for therapy.     

Dimethyl sulfoxide blocks herpes simplex virus-1 productive infection in vitro acting at different stages with positive cooperativity. Application of micro-array analysis

Background  

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is frequently used at a concentration of up to 95% in the formulation of antiherpetic agents because of its properties as a skin penetration enhancer. Here, we have analyzed the effect of DMSO on several parameters of Herpes Simplex Virus replication.     

Interferon Production in Children with Respiratory Diseases

ABSTRACT. In 110 children aged between 6 months and 18 years the ability of leukocytes to produce the leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha) in vitro was studied. The decrease or disappearance of IFN-alpha production was observed in some children with chronic or repeated respiratory diseases and in the majority of children who had been treated with prednisone. Increased production of IFN-alpha was found in a child with hypogammaglobulinemia and bronchopneumonia. In children affected by allergic or autoimmune diseases or bacterial infections IFN-alpha production was mostly normal. Age and sex had no influence on the production of IFN-alpha.     

Metallic hip implants: CT with multiplanar reconstruction

Thirty consecutive patients with metallic implants in the hip were evaluated with both standard transaxial computed tomography (CT) and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) to assess the contribution of MPR. The metallic devices included total hip replacements (n = 6), one or more surgical plates with screws (n = 9), acetabular pins or screws (n = 9), and Knowles pins (n = 6). The metallic implants were on the side of interest in 25 hips and in the contralateral hip in five cases. One patient had bilateral hardware. MPR reformats axially acquired data into other planes. The reconstruction program weights the true signal over the randomly distributed artifacts by integrating adjacent axial images. Examination using standard transaxial imaging was graded as excellent in five cases, adequate in 15 cases, and inadequate in ten cases. After MPR, 19 studies were classified as excellent, 11 were classified as adequate, and none were classified as inadequate. It is concluded that MPR significantly reduced artifacts caused by metal present in transaxial images.     

Juvenile dermatitis herpetiformis and chronic acquired bullous disease in children

Eight children with chronic acquired bullous disease were studied by direct immunofluorescence. Multiple jejunal biopsies were examined as well as tissue antigens (HLA-andthcDRw₃ B cell allo-antigen). Juvenile dermatitis herpetiformis (JDH) was diagnosed in seven patients and chronic bullous disease of childhood (CBDC) in one. The use of these different laboratory techniques may make it possible to differentiate more clearly between the different chronic acquired bullous diseases seen in childhood.