Apocrine carcinomas of the breast in Turkish women: hormone receptors, c-erbB-2 and p53 immunoexpression

The aims of this study were twofold: (i) to determine the occurrence frequency of apocrine carcinoma of the breast (ApBCa) in Turkish breast cancer (BCa) patients; and (ii) to evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), gross cystic disease protein-15 (GCDFP-15), c-erbB-2, and p53 in these cases. Six hundred and twenty-six cases of BCa were studied immunohistochemically (streptoavidin-biotin horseradish peroxidase method). The results of ApBCa were compared with those of invasive ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified type (IDC-NOS) cases of similar grade. Thirteen cases of ApBCa were encountered, accounting for 2.1% of all BCa cases. Immunohistochemically, ApBCa positivity was as follows: GCDFP-15 (100%), ER (39%), PR (8%), AR (54%), p53 (39%), and c-erbB-2 (85%). In the IDC-NOS group, GCDFP-15* was expressed in less than 50% of the tumors. The occurrence frequencies of the other markers were as follows: ER (69%), PR (69%)*, AR (46%), c-erbB-2 (0%)*, and p53 (31%), (*) indicating significant differences between the two groups.

For Turkish BCa patients, (i) the occurrence rate of ApBCa (2.1%) was high; and (ii) the following combination would allow for an immunohistochemical identification of ApBCa: GCDFP-15⁺, c-erbB-2⁺, and PR⁻.     

Molecular investigations of Hepatozoon species in dogs and developmental stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus

The occurrence and distribution of Hepatozoon species in stray dogs, and the developmental stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus detached from the same dogs in Diyarbak?r Province, Turkey is reported. A total of 328 ticks, including 133 adults (55 males and 75 females consist of 63 partially engorged and 15 fully engorged) and 195 nymphs (91 partially engorged and 104 fully engorged) were detached from the dogs. Fully engorged nymphs and females were incubated at 27 °C and relative humidity of 85 % to molt to adult stage and recover eggs. The ticks were pooled according to sex and developmental stage. No Hepatozoon gamonts were found, whereas, by PCR, 15.87 % (10/63) of the dogs were infected with Hepatozoon canis. Of the 68 tick pools tested, 14 (20.58 %) pools were infected with Hepatozoon spp., an overall maximum likelihood estimation of prevalence of 4.9 % (95 % confidence intervals (CI)?=?2.85–7.93 %) per 100 ticks. Maximum likelihood estimation of the infection rate varied by tick sex and developmental categories, ranging from 1.75 % (95 % CI?=?0.11–8.11 %) in fed males to 6.81 % (95 % CI?=?2.07–17.46 %) in unfed females. One amplicon from a fed adult female was 99 % identical to the sequence for Hepatozoon felis. The remaining sequences isolated from both dogs and ticks shared 99–100 % similarity with the corresponding H. canis isolates. This is the first detection of H. canis and H. felis in the tick R. sanguineus in Turkey.     

Modeling polychlorinated biphenyl congener patterns and dechlorination in dated sediments from the Ashtabula River,Ohio, USA

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were analyzed in four deep, dated sediment cores from the Ashtabula River (OH, USA), for the purpose of identifying relevant PCB sources and congener patterns. The time span for three of the cores is from the mid 1960s to 1998, whereas the fourth has a time span of six years. The total PCB concentrations are in the range of 0.4 to 6.8 microg/g dry weight, with the highest concentrations observed in samples from the 1970s. A factor analysis (FA) model with nonnegative constraints was used to investigate the sources and patterns of PCBs. Additionally, a new model, based on a least squares method, was developed to identify possible patterns of anaerobic dechlorination of PCBs in the sediments, and to quantify the relevant dechlorination pathways. Both models were validated successfully either by artificially created data sets (FA model) or by using laboratory data from the literature (dechlorination model). The FA model revealed two significant sources. The first was identified as a slightly altered Aroclor 1248. The second did not resemble any Aroclor closely, but was very similar to the overall average congener profile of all samples. Simulation of anaerobic dechlorination on an Aroclor 1248 profile from the literature, according to dechlorination activities H/H', as defined in the literature, yielded a congener profile very similar to that of the second pattern. This indicates the likelihood of anaerobic dechlorination of PCBs in Ashtabula River sediments.     

Cardiovascular effects of chronic treatment with a β2-adrenoceptor agonist relieving neuropathic pain in mice

Neuropathic pain is often a chronic condition, disabling and difficult to treat. Using a murine model of neuropathic pain induced by placing a polyethylene cuff around the main branch of the sciatic nerve, we?have shown that chronic treatment with β-AR agonists is effective against neuropathic allodynia. β-mimetics are widely used against asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may offer an interesting option for neuropathic pain management. The most prominent adverse effects of chronic treatment with β-mimetics are cardiovascular. In this study, we compared the action of low doses of the selective β(2)-AR agonist terbutaline and of a high dose of the mixed β(1)/β(2)-AR agonist isoproterenol on cardiovascular parameters in a neuropathic pain context. Isoproterenol was used as a positive control for some heart-related changes. Cardiac functions were studied by echocardiography, hemodynamic measurements, histological analysis of fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy, and by quantitative real time PCR analysis of atrial natriuretic peptide (Nppa), periostin (Postn), connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf) and β-myosin heavy chain (Myh7). Our data show that a chronic treatment with the β(2)-AR agonist terbutaline at low antiallodynic dose does not affect cardiovascular parameters, whereas the mixed β(1)/β(2)-AR agonist isoproterenol induces cardiac hypertrophy. These data suggest that low doses of β(2)-AR agonists may provide a suitable treatment with rare side effects in neuropathic pain management. This study conducted in an animal model requires clinical confirmation in humans.     

Effects of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine lesion of the dorsal raphe nucleus on the antidepressant-like action of tramadol in the unpredictable chronic mild stress in mice

Rationale To facilitate in vivo characterization of the mu antagonist Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH₂ (CTAP), the present study characterized CTAP selectivity in vivo. Objectives CTAP, the classical antagonist naltrexone, the kappa-selective antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (BNI), and the delta-selective antagonist naltrindole were compared as antagonists of representative mu, kappa, and delta agonists in a warm water tail-withdrawal assay. Materials and methods Male Sprague–Dawley rats were pretreated with CTAP (0.01 to 10.0 μg, i.c.v.), naltrexone (0.1 to 10 mg/kg s.c.; 0.1 to 10 μg i.c.v.), nor-BNI (1 mg/kg s.c.), or naltrindole (0.01 to 1 μg, i.c.v.) and tested with cumulative doses of agonist in 50 or 55°C tail-withdrawal assays. Results At 55°C, morphine and DAMGO produced dose-dependent antinociceptive effects that were antagonized by CTAP or naltrexone (s.c. or i.c.v.) in a surmountable, dose-dependent manner. Neither kappa agonists (bremazocine, spiradoline, U69,593; all s.c.) nor the delta agonist DPDPE (i.c.v.) produced antinociception at 55°C, but all produced full antinociception at 50°C. CTAP did not antagonize effects of spiradoline, U69,593, or DPDPE, whereas nor-BNI produced insurmountable antagonism of effects of kappa agonists, and naltrindole produced surmountable antagonism of effects of DPDPE. Apparent pA ₂ estimates for naltrexone, CTAP, and naltrindole agreed with published estimates, although Schild slopes diverged from predictions for simple competitive antagonism. Conclusions CTAP produces dose-dependent antagonism selective for mu-agonist effects in a standard 55°C tail withdrawal antinociceptive assay.     

Evaluating Choroidal Characteristics in Systemic Sclerosis Using Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To evaluate choroidal thickness (CT) and investigate the involvement of choroidal circulation in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: A total of 120 eyes of 60 SSc patients and 60 eyes of 30 healthy controls were evaluated. CT measurements were performed at the subfoveal region, 1000 µm nasal and 1000 µm temporal to the fovea, using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. CT measurements were compared between the patients and controls.

Results: The average subfoveal, parafoveal nasal and parafoveal temporal CT were significantly thinner in SSc patients when compared with healthy controls (297.77 ± 60.8 µm vs 339.8 ± 50.4 µm; 267.32 ± 51.1 µm vs 308.65 ± 49.9 µm; 270.63 ± 46.3 µm vs 309.22 ± 42.4 µm, respectively; p<0.001 for all).

Conclusions: Reduced CT in SSc patients supports the hypothesis of widespread vascular injury, including the ocular microcirculation.     

Thoracic duct variations may complicate the anterior spine procedures

The aim of this study is to localize and document the anatomic features of the thoracic duct and its tributaries with special emphasis on the spinal surgery point of view. The thoracic ducts were dissected from nine formaldehyde-preserved male cadavers. The drainage patterns, diameter of the thoracic duct in upper, middle and lower thoracic segments, localization of main tributaries and morphologic features of cisterna chyli were determined. The thoracic duct was detected in all cadavers. The main tributaries were concentrated at upper thoracic (between third and fifth thoracic vertebrae) and lower thoracic segments (below the level of ninth thoracic vertebra) at the right side. However, the main lymphatic tributaries were drained into the thoracic duct only in the lower thoracic area (below the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra) at the left side. Two major anatomic variations were detected in the thoracic duct. In the first case, there were two different lymphatic drainage systems. In the second case, the thoracic duct was found as bifid at two different levels. In formaldehyde preservation, the dimensions of the soft tissues may change. For that reason, the dimensions were not discussed and they may not be a guide in surgery. Additionally, our study group is quite small. Larger series may be needed to define the anatomic variations. As a conclusion, anatomic variations of the thoracic duct are numerous and must be considered to avoid complications when doing surgery.