Assessment of cell proliferation based on group analysis of Ki-67 index in serous ovarian cancers

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian neoplasms are very important problems in medicine, because they account for 23% of all female genital neoplasms, and they are the cause of 47% deaths among women suffering from cancers of the female reproductive organs. Growth of the neoplasms depends on the speed of cells' reproduction. Monoclonal antibody Ki-67 detects specific antigen--nonhistonic protein of cellular nucleus, which is characteristic for dividing cells. It gives the possibility of using Ki-67 to establish proliferating index, especially in intensely proliferating neoplasm tissues. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was the evaluation of clinical parameters compared with histological and laboratory findings in serous carcinomas. The research analysed the level of proliferating index Ki-67 in patients with ovarian cancers and in control group. MATERIALS: The material used consisted of 41 cases of serous ovarian cancer. For clinical examinations we chose only patients who underwent primary surgical operation. The control group for Ki-67 levels were 15 patients with benign serous ovarian adenomas. METHODS: For showing Ki-67 reacting antigen in paraffin samples of ovarian cancer we used DAKO Serum (Rabbit Anti Human Ki-67 Antigen N 1574 LSAB). Tissue proliferation activity called proliferation index--IP Ki-67 was measured as a proportion of numbers of cells reacting with antigen to the total number of cells in the sample. RESULTS: Mean level of IP Ki-67 in examined group was 29.01%, compared to 5.84% in the control group and that was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of cells' proliferative activity differentiates benign adenomas from ovarian serous carcinomas. But I didn't find this kind of correlation among analysed clinical and laboratory parameters and the level of Ki-67 index in ovarian serous cancers.     

The prevalence of trypanosomes in bream Abramis brama in Gosławskie and Gopło lakes

20 individuals of Abramis brama from Gos?awskie Lake and 10 individuals from Gop?o Lake, central Poland, were investigated on the presence of trypanosomes. The infections of Trypanosoma abramidis LAVERAN and MESNIL, 1904 were detected in three breams from Gos?awskie Lake and two in Gop?o Lake. The question of the distinctivity of T. abramidis from T. carassii Mitrophanow, 1883 found in other Cyprinidae in Poland is discussed.     

Some enzymes associated with lipid catabolism in the Fasciola hepatica larvae--Galba truncatula system. I. Esterases and lipases

Histochemical and cytofotometric techniques were used to detect esterase and lipase in the hepatopancreas of the snail Lymnaea truncatula and in larval stages of its parasite Fasciola hepatica. Activities of both enzymes were shown to increase in the infected hepatopancreas, compared with the control. The effect is ascribed by the authors to compensation processes emerging as a defence mechanism in the snail. Both enzymes, esterase and lipase proved to be highly active in tissues of sporocysts, rediae and cercariae, thus demonstrating the larvae to be capable of katabolism of lipids and utilising them as an energy source.     

Using of Therma-Choice system in treatment of metrorrhagia in case of porphyria

The authors present the use of Uterine Balloon Therapy in the long term metrorrhagia resistant to conservative treatment, in the case of porphyria. The method was used on a 44 year old female, suffering from acute intermittent liver porphyria for 9 years.     

Expanded Role of a Dietitian in Monitoring a Gluten-Free Diet in Patients with Celiac Disease: Implications for Clinical Practice

Access to a registered dietitian experienced in celiac disease (CD) is still limited, and consultation when available focuses primarily on the elimination of gluten from the diet. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in adult CD patients before, and one year after, the standard dietary education. The study included 72 CD patients on a GFD and 30 healthy controls. The dietary intake of both groups was assessed through a 3-day food diary, while adherence to a GFD in celiac subjects was assessed using Standardized Dietician Evaluation (SDE). Subsequently, all CD patients received detailed education on gluten sources, and 48 of them participated in a one-year follow-up. Results: Comparison with the control group showed that consumption of plant protein in CD patients was significantly lower, whereas fat and calories were higher. At baseline, only 62% of CD patients adhered to a GFD, but the standard dietary education successfully improved it. However, the nutritional value of a GFD after one year did not change, except for a reduced sodium intake. The CD subjects still did not consume enough calcium, iron, vitamin D, folic acid or fiber. In conclusion, while the standard dietary education improved GFD adherence, it did not significantly alter its nutritional value. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the role of a dietitian in the treatment of CD.     

Paclitaxel (Taxol®)-induced apoptosis in human epithelioid sarcoma cell lines is enhanced by upregulation of CD95 ligand (FasL/Apo-1L)

Purpose

Metastasizing epithelioid sarcoma (ES) is an extremely aggressive tumor, because conventional chemotherapy and irradiation are largely ineffective. Here, we analyzed the impact of the CD95-mediated drug-induced apoptosis in ES cell lines.

Methods

The effects of paclitaxel (Taxol^®) and 5-FU were determined by MTT assay. The extent of apoptosis was analyzed by light microscopy and Annexin V staining (flow cytometry). The expression of death receptors and ligands was defined by RT-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry.

Results

All cell lines expressed CD95, but not the CD95 ligand. The CD95 activation resulted in apoptosis and cell death in all cell lines. Both paclitaxel and 5-FU are able to trigger apoptosis, and furthermore, to upregulate CD95, whereas only paclitaxel increases CD95 ligand expression. Neutralizing antibodies directed against CD95 ligand effectively inhibited paclitaxel-induced cell death, thereby providing evidence for a direct involvement of the CD95 system in paclitaxel-induced apoptosis.

Conclusions

Concomitant upregulation of CD95 receptor and ligand may significantly enhance the response of ES to anticancer drugs. As evident from the differential response of our clonal ES subpopulations to paclitaxel and 5-FU, effective activation of the CD95 system depends on intrinsic properties of both the chemotherapeutic agent and target cell population.     

Influence of Molybdenum on the Microstructure,Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Ti20Ta20Nb20(ZrHf)20−xMox (Where: x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20) High Entropy Alloys

The presented work was focused on investigating the influence of the (hafnium and zirconium)/molybdenum ratio on the microstructure and properties of Ti₂₀Ta₂₀Nb₂₀(ZrHf)_20−xMo_x (where: x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 at.%) high entropy alloys in an as-cast state. The designed chemical composition was chosen due to possible future biomedical applications. Materials were obtained from elemental powders by vacuum arc melting technique. Phase analysis revealed the presence of dual body-centered cubic phases. X-ray diffraction showed the decrease of lattice parameters of both phases with increasing molybdenum concentration up to 10% of molybdenum and further increase of lattice parameters. The presence of two-phase matrix microstructure and hafnium and zirconium precipitates was proved by scanning and transmission electron microscopy observation. Mechanical property measurements revealed decreased micro- and nanohardness and reduced Young’s modulus up to 10% of Mo content, and further increased up to 20% of molybdenum addition. Additionally, corrosion resistance measurements in Ringers’ solution confirmed the high biomedical ability of studied alloys due to the presence of stable oxide layers.