Cyclin D1 protein tissue detection in laryngeal cancer

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) is a set of periodic regulatory proteins that is believed to govern cell cycle transit from G1 into S phase. Overexpression of CCND1 leads to abnormal cellular proliferation which underlies processes of tumorigenesis; CCND1 can thus function as a cooperative oncogene in cell transformation. In the present study we investigate the immunohistochemical expression of CCND1 in a well-documented series of 58 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC) and search for statistical associations between CCND1 index and various clinicopathological parameters including several immunomarkers' expression as well as patients' disease-free survival. Tissue sections from archival paraffin blocks were stained using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method; the H-295 rabbit polyclonal antibody was applied at dilution of 1:150. The percentage of CCND1 immunoreactive tumor cells for each tumor was counted by an image analysis system. CCND1 staining was confined to cell nuclei and, in the examined samples, ranged from undetectable (i.e. 0% of tumor cells, n = 6) to the majority of tumor cells (i.e. 89% of tumor cells) with mean value: 15.73%. In tumor adjacent, non invasive lesions, strong CCND1 staining was noticed in areas with cellular atypia. In cases with nodal metastases, no change in CCND1 expression in the nodal metastases compared with the primary tumors was observed. p53 protein accumulation in malignant cells was positively linked with CCND1 index (Mann-Whitney U: 205.5, p = 0.034). CCND1 expression appears to be an early event in processes of tumorigenesis and tumor progression in some LSCC. Apart from p53 protein accumulation, CCND1 immunohistochemical expression does not seem to correlate with nodal metastasis, disease recurrence or any other clinicopathological prognostic indicator.     

Prospective reevaluation of the association between thrombotic diathesis and legg-perthes disease

BACKGROUND: Legg-Perthes disease is associated with ischemia of the capital femoral epiphysis in children. Thrombophilia has been implicated as a potential cause of the condition, and screening of patients with Legg-Perthes disease for thrombophilia has been recommended. We analyzed the value of screening for inherited thrombophilia in patients with Legg-Perthes disease by examining the association between Legg-Perthes disease and abnormalities in the thrombotic pathway. METHODS: A random series of consecutive patients with Legg-Perthes disease were prospectively enrolled in this study. Assays for the detection of factor-V Leiden mutation and the plasma concentrations of protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, and lipoprotein (a) were performed on plasma samples from children with Legg-Perthes disease, and the results were compared with those for pooled plasma from normal controls. Plasma concentrations below the 95% midrange of the control values were classified as protein deficiencies. The estimated population frequency of each coagulation abnormality was compared with the proportion of the study group with the corresponding abnormality. RESULTS: The proportion of abnormalities observed in the study group did not differ from the estimated population frequency for protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, or factor-V Leiden mutation. A lipoprotein (a) level of >30 mg/dL (>1.07 micro mol/L) was found in 16% of the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not suggest that thrombotic diatheses due to deficiency of protein C, protein S, or antithrombin III or due to factor-V Leiden mutation are major causes of Legg-Perthes disease. The elevated levels of lipoprotein (a) in children with Legg-Perthes disease suggest that they may be at risk for atherosclerosis as adults.     

Cochlear implantation in atelectasis and chronic otitis media: long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To report the long-term results of cochlear implantation in cases with chronic otitis media or atelectasis using a single surgical technique performed in a single cochlear implant center. PATIENTS: Nine patients who were implanted using the blind-pit closure of the external ear canal technique (4 patients with adhesive otitis media and 5 with radical mastoid cavities). Follow-up ranged from 18 months to 12 years (mean, 7.05 yr). INTERVENTION: The surgical procedure was performed in 2 stages. The first stage included canal wall down or lowering any high facial ridge in previous mastoidectomies, removal of all skin, and blind-pit closure of the external ear canal without mastoid cavity obliteration or eustachian tube obliteration. Cochlear implantation was performed 6 months after the first surgical procedure. RESULTS: All operations were uneventful, and during cochlear implantation, as a second stage, no epithelia or other problems were encountered. No serious complications were encountered during the follow-up period. One case had a minor disruption of the external canal closure that was reclosed successfully under local anesthesia. All patients were using the device at the last follow-up interval with no device problems. CONCLUSION: Blind-sac closure of the external ear canal without obliteration is a rather safe surgical procedure in cases with chronic otitis media or atelectasis. Meticulous surgical technique and proper patient selection are of paramount importance. However, a 2-stage procedure may not always be necessary and might best be confined to those patients who have active inflammatory disease at the primary procedure.     

Cockayne syndrome in three sisters with varying clinical presentation

We report three sisters showing the clinical features and investigational findings of Cockayne syndrome (CS). In the rehabilitation unit of Northwest Armed Forces Hospital (N.W.A.F.H.), Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, there was a 12-year-old girl with typical features of CS. The girl had no apparent problems until the end of the first year when growth and developmental delay prompted medical evaluation. Brain CT, bone X-rays, auditory and ophthalmological evaluation confirmed the clinical impression of Cockayne syndrome. Two of her 13 sibs, both sisters, were later found to have the same syndrome. The sisters varied in clinical severity, as two of them had cataracts and early global delay and died early of inanition and infection. The third showed the disease manifestations at a relatively later age, did not have cataract, exhibited milder manifestations of the disease, and remains alive. The parents are not related by any way and the father is married to two other wives with 11 unaffected children. This report documents variable degrees of manifestations in sibs who presumably have the same gene mutation.     

Adamantiades-Behcet's syndrome and pregnancy: a case report

Is introducing a case study on a 20 year old female first time pregnant who presents with rare case of Adamantiadis-Bechet syndrome. These symptoms first appeared at the age of 9. The patient refers that from this age she has suffered from recurrent relapses of ulcerations of the mouth and genital organs, vescicular exanthema of the upper and lower extremities and severe headaches that would not subside with analgetic therapy. The patient upon the first trimester presented with a relapse of the disease and significant improvement during the remainder of the pregnancy. She delivered on the 39th week of her pregnancy a neonate male, alive and weighing 3640 gr. The Apgar--score 9 and 10 the 1st and 5th minute. Mother and neonate were discharged from the clinic on the 3rd postpartum day in good health. This case is also being discussed in international bibliography. Adamantiadis-Behcet syndrome constitutes systemic angiitis of unknown etiology that is characterized mainly by recurrent ulcers of the mouth and genital organs, serum negative arthritis, central nervous system disorders as well as ulcerations of the epidermis, nodular erythema, thrombophlebitis and vision disorders. It usually affects people in early adulthood, more often those in their 30s. Geographically it is seen more often in Japan, Korea, Turkey, Israel and other Mediterranean countries. Familial prevalence is also common.     

Down-regulation of the human kallikrein gene 5 (KLK5) in prostate cancer tissues

BACKGROUND: Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases with diverse physiological functions. Many kallikrein genes are differentially expressed in various malignancies and prostate specific antigen (PSA; encoded by the KLK3 gene) is the best tumor marker for prostate cancer. Human glandular kallikrein (hK2; encoded by the KLK2 gene) is an emerging tumor marker for prostate cancer. KLK5 is a newly discovered human kallikrein gene which shares a high degree of homology and is located adjacent to KLK2 and KLK3 genes on chromosome 19q13.4. Like KLK2 and KLK3, the KLK5 gene is regulated by steroid hormones in the BT-474 breast cancer cell line. We have previously shown that KLK5 is differentially expressed in ovarian and breast cancer. METHODS: We compared the expression of KLK5 in 29 pairs of histologically confirmed normal and prostate cancer tissues by quantitative RT-PCR using the LightCycler technology. RESULTS: KLK5 expression was significantly lower in cancer tissues compared to their normal counterparts. Lowest levels of expression were found in T3 stage tumors compared with T1 and T2. Also, a significant negative correlation was found between Gleason score and KLK5 expression. CONCLUSIONS: KLK5 should be further studied as a potential new prognostic marker in prostate cancer, whose expression is negatively correlated with cancer aggressiveness.     

Patterns of locoregional failure in patients with operable breast cancer treated by mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy with or without tamoxifen and without radiotherapy: results from five National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project randomized clinical trials.

PURPOSE: To assess patterns of locoregional failure (LRF) in lymph node-positive (LN+) breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy (+/- tamoxifen) and without postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in five National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 5,758 patients enrolled onto the B-15, B-16, B-18, B-22, and B-25 trials. Median follow-up time was 11.1 years. Distribution of pathologic tumor size was < or = 2 cm, 2.1 to 5 cm, and more than 5 cm in 30%, 52%, and 11% of patients, respectively. Distribution of the number of LN+ was one to three, four to nine, and > or = 10 in 51%, 32%, and 16% of patients, respectively. Ninety percent of patients received doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. RESULTS: The overall 10-year cumulative incidences of isolated LRF, LRF with or without distant failure (DF), and DF alone as first event were 12.2%, 19.8%, and 43.3%, respectively. Cumulative incidences for LRF as first event with or without DF for patients with one to three, four to nine, and > or = 10 LN+ were 13.0%, 24.4%, and 31.9%, respectively (P < .0001). For patients with a tumor size of < or = 2 cm, 2.1 to 5.0 cm, and more than 5.0 cm, these incidences were 14.9%, 21.3%, and 24.6%, respectively (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed age, tumor size, premenopausal status, number of LN+, and number of dissected LN as significant predictors for LRF as first event. CONCLUSION: In patients with large tumors and four or more LN+, LRF as first event remains a significant problem. Although PMRT is currently recommended for patients with four or more LN+, it may also have value in selected patients with one to three LN+. However, in the absence of a randomized trial examining the worth of radiotherapy in this group of patients, the value of PMRT remains unknown.