TP53, Bcl-2 and growth hormone receptor expression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

The incidence and prevalence of premalignant and malignant skin lesions including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin are increasing worldwide. The aim of the study was to determine TP53, Bcl-2 and growth hormone receptor (GHR) expression in SCC and to investigate relative importance of these proto-oncogenes in its biological behavior. Expression of TP53, Bcl-2 and GHR was determined by immunohistochemistry in 27 SCC specimens and adjacent perilesional skin. The relative proportion of immunoreactive cells was counted with semiquantitative method. TP53 positivity was detected in 24 (89%), Bcl-2 in 18 (67%) and GHR in 25 (93%) of 27 SCC specimens investigated. In comparison with perilesional skin, TP53 and GHR positivity was significantly increased, and Bcl-2 positivity significantly decreased in SCC. Increased TP53 expression in SCC lesions implies that Tp53 mutation is an early and crucial event in its development. Increased GHR expression suggests a role of growth hormone in the development of SCC.     

The privilege to be old

BACKGROUND: Ample evidence has proven that the functional property of cells decreases over the years. Nevertheless, although it has taken decades to convince ourselves that elderly people belong to a specific age group both biologically and medicinally, and in whom special criteria have to be taken into consideration, it seems that even they themselves do not present an homogenous group. OBJECTIVE: Today we often hear of authors of studies speaking of two subpopulation groups--one group that ages by all the laws of aging that we have encountered and accepted thus far, and the other group that seems to postpone aging due to 'programmed death', or more specifically due to low mastery/low emotional support or because of additional reasons; however, the existence of the two groups seems eminent. METHODS: The identification of these two groups would allow us to find more realistic results in studies, and therefore a more efficient therapy for certain diseases. RESULTS: This hypothesis does not contradict the theories of aging that we have accepted (at least not the majority) and also does not contradict the fact that there is a large interindividual variability. This hypothesis doubts and claims there are exceptions to the initial assumption of geriatrists and gerontologists that 'parallel to the aging process, the functions of all organs and organ systems lessen.' CONCLUSION: The identification of these two groups would allow us to find more realistic results in studies, and therefore more efficient therapy for certain diseases.     

Extrapancreatic Glucagon and Glucagonlike Immunoreactivity in Depancreatized Dogs: A QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SECRETION RATES AND ANATOMICAL DELINEATION OF SOURCES

The anatomical sites and the rates of extrapancreatic secretion of glucagon and of glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) were assessed in dogs 2 h after pancreatectomy by catheterization of the gastrosplenic and mesenteric veins.     

Fetal aneuploidy and umbilical cord thickness measured between 14 and 23 weeks' gestational age.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare umbilical cord thickness of aneuploid fetuses with umbilical cord diameter nomograms generated from euploid fetuses between 14 and 23 weeks' gestational age. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in which 56 fetuses and neonates had diagnoses of abnormal karyotypes, of which 46 fetuses had numerical chromosomal abnormalities. Among these cases, 26 subjects with adequate umbilical cord sonographic images were included in the study. The umbilical cord thickness was measured and plotted against the umbilical cord diameter nomogram that was generated from previously published data. RESULTS: From 26 evaluated fetuses and neonates, in 14 subjects (53.8%), the umbilical cord thickness was greater than the 95th percentile for gestational age. A thick umbilical cord was observed in 57.8% of fetuses with trisomy 21 and 50% of subjects with trisomy 18 and monosomy 45,XO. One fetus with trisomy 2 had umbilical cord thickness within the normal range. The largest number of aneuploid fetuses with thick umbilical cords (87.5%) was observed between 16 and 17 gestational weeks. CONCLUSION: Aneuploid fetuses have thicker umbilical cords than euploid fetuses. The umbilical cord thickness can be related to an increased amount of Wharton jelly. Because of the smaller number of thick umbilical cords in aneuploid subjects at later gestational ages, we speculate that abnormal cord thickness has a natural tendency toward its own resolution with the advancement of gestational age.     

The assessment of normal early pregnancy by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography

Transvaginal color Doppler was performed in 198 volunteer pregnant women whose menstrual age ranged from the fifth to the twelfth week. In all patients an attempt was made to obtain signals from both uterine arteries, peritrophoblastic/retroplacental vessels, umbilical arteries, fetal aorta, intracranial vessels, and corpus luteum flow. With the combination of color and pulsed Doppler transvaginal sonography, detection of vascular structures was greatly facilitated and the amount of time for examination significantly reduced. Flow velocity waveforms were measured and results were analyzed by calculation of the Resistance Index. During the early stage of pregnancy, we were able to locate both uterine arteries in all cases and continuous diastolic shift signal was found. Flow in the peritrophoblastic/retroplacental area was observed with an overall success rate of 94%. Blood flow in the umbilical artery and fetal aorta was visualized by color Doppler starting from the seventh week. Intracranial blood flow could be visualized starting from the tenth week in some cases. Diastolic flow in these vessels was detectable starting from the twelfth week. Corpus luteum flow was found in 148 cases (75%) and the Resistance Index decreased as pregnancy progressed © 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.