Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in association with clinicopathological prognostic factors and molecular markers in epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES: This study examines whether expression of COX-2 is associated with clinicopathological features and other molecular markers of ovarian cancer. METHODS: Sixty-four paraffin-embedded tissue specimens were obtained from patients with ovarian cancer who received cytoreductive surgery and combination chemotherapy. Tissue specimens were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies to COX-2, p53, and VEGF. RESULTS: Increased COX-2 expression significantly correlated with histologic type (mucinous 5.6% vs. non-mucinous 65.2%, P<0.001). COX-2 expression was also significantly associated with stage, tumor grade, residual disease status, and presence of ascites. COX-2 expression correlated positively with expression of p53 (P=0.006) and VEGF (P=0.025). Although survival was lower in patients with high COX-2 expression than in those without high COX-2 expression (P<0.001), only tumor grade and stage were independent prognostic indicators. In patients with non-mucinous cancer, COX-2 expression correlated with stage (P<0.001) and presence of ascites (P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that expression of COX-2 in ovarian cancers is specific to histologic type of tumor and is associated with poor clinicopathologic prognostic factors. Expression of COX-2 also correlates well with expression of p53 and VEGF.     

Association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Gastric Disease Risk: Findings from a Korean Population-Based Cohort Study

Evidence suggests that diets with high pro-inflammatory potential may play a substantial role in the origin of gastric inflammation. This study aimed to examine the association between the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII^TM) and gastric diseases at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 7.4 years in a Korean population. A total of 144,196 participants from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study_Health Examination (KoGES_HEXA) cohort were included. E-DII scores were computed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess the association between the E-DII and gastric disease risk. In the prospective analysis, the risk of developing gastric disease was significantly increased among individuals in the highest quartile of E-DII compared to those in the lowest quartile (HR_quartile4vs1 = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.08–1.38). Prospective analysis also showed an increased risk in the incidence of gastritis (HR_quartile4vs1 = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04–1.37), gastric ulcers (HR_quartile4vs1 = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.16–1.85), and gastric and duodenal ulcers (HR_quartile4vs1 = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.17–1.81) in the highest E-DII quartile compared to the lowest quartile. In the cross-sectional analysis, the E-DII score was not associated with the risk of gastric disease. Our results suggest that a pro-inflammatory diet, indicated by high E-DII scores, is prospectively associated with an increased risk of gastric diseases. These results highlight the significance of an anti-inflammatory diet in lowering the risk of gastric disease risk in the general population.     

A Case of Linear Exacerbation of Atopic Dermatitis with Secondary Prurigo Nodularis

Inflammatory acquired Blaschko-linear dermatoses (IABLD) are a continuous concept involving diseases such as lichen striatus, blaschkitis, and atopic dermatitis. However, atopic dermatitis that showed increase in severity along Blaschko lines is rarely reported on its own. Herein, we report a rare case of atopic dermatitis with secondary prurigo nodularis along Blaschko lines, which may be valuable in broadening the concept of IABLD. A 28-year-old male presented with multiple, pruritic, brownish nodules on the left lower extremity along Blaschko lines for 3 to 4 years. The patient had atopic dermatitis since childhood. Histopathologic findings revealed compact orthohyperkeratosis, hypergranulosis, spongiosis, and irregular acanthosis in the epidermis. Fibrosis with vertically arranged collagen fibers and perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltration were shown in the upper dermis. We diagnosed the case as secondary prurigo nodularis along Blaschko lines, accompanied by the preceding atopic dermatitis. We hypothesized that the patient’s underlying atopic dermatitis increased in severity along Blaschko lines, and prurigo nodularis occurred due to frequent scratching. The lesions improved with topical methylprednisolone cream, oral antihistamines and intralesional triamcinolone injection.     

Geschlechts-Krankheiten

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Differential Effects of Obesity,Hyperlipidaemia, Dietary Intake and Physical Inactivity on Type I versus Type IV Allergies

Background: Alongside metabolic diseases (esp. obesity), allergic disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent. Since both obesity and allergies are highly impacted by environmental determinants, with this study we assessed the potential link between metabolic implications and two distinct types of allergies. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the German FoCus cohort, n = 385 allergy cases, either hay fever (=type I allergy, n = 183) or contact allergy (=type IV allergy, n = 202) were compared to age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (1:1 ratio, in total n = 770) regarding their metabolic phenotype, diet, physical activity, sleep, gut microbial composition, and serum metabolite profile using suitable BMI-adjusted models. Results: Obesity and metabolic alterations were found significantly more prevalent in subjects with allergies. In fact, this relation was more pronounced in contact allergy than hay fever. Subsequent BMI-adjusted analysis reveals particular importance of co-occurring hyperlipidaemia for both allergy types. For contact allergy, we revealed a strong association to the dietary intake of poly-unsaturated fatty acids, particularly α-linolenic acid, as well as the enrichment of the corresponding metabolic pathway. For hay fever, there were no major associations to the diet but to a lower physical activity level, shorter duration of sleep, and an altered gut microbial composition. Finally, genetic predisposition for hyperlipidaemia was associated to both contact allergy and hay fever. Conclusions: Reflected by higher allergy prevalence, our findings indicate an impaired immune response in obesity and hyperlipidaemia, which is differentially regulated in type I and type IV allergies by an unfavourable lifestyle constellation and subsequent microbial and metabolic dysfunctions.     

All cis-5,8,11,14,17 eicosapentaenoic acid and triene prostaglandins: potential anti-thrombotic agents

Koskinen P, Viikari J, Irjala K, Kaihola H-L, Seppälä P. C-peptide determination in the choice of treatment in diabetes mellitus. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1985; 45: 589-597.

The predictive value of the intravenous glucagon test in assessing the requirement of insulin therapy in diabetes mellitus was evaluated in 105 adult diabetics. Basal and stimulated C-peptide concentrations and increments of C-peptide concentration were examined separately among newly and previously diagnosed diabetics. The poststimulatory C-peptide concentration of 0.6 nmol/1 (Novo, antibody M 1230) proved to be the most reliable basis for the choice of therapy. Adequate therapy could have been assessed in 70 cases (67%) without glucagon stimulation. To derive maximal information of plasma C-peptide concentrations, a biphasic scheme of the use for C-peptide determinations and glucagon stimulation is presented. Basal and stimulated C-peptide levels of insulin-requiring diabetics correlated negatively with the duration of diabetes but they did not correlate with the relative body weights. Basal and stimulated C-peptide levels of non-insulin-requiring diabetics did not correlate with the duration of diabetes, but they correlated positively with the relative body weights.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicaemia in burns

Out of 1415 patients treated as inpatients at Al-Babtain Center for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait spanning over a period of 6 years from June 1992 to June 1998, 102 developed clinically and microbiologically proven septicaemia. Only 15 out of them had either single or multiple episodes of septicaemia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were studied during their stay in the hospital. Five of them were males and 10 females, with a mean age of 26 years (range 3-51 years) and mean total body surface area of burns (TBSA) of 66% (range 25-90%). All of them had flame burns and resuscitation was found to be difficult in eight patients either due to delayed hospitalization or accompanied inhalation injury. Seven patients were intubated, four due to inhalation injury and three for septicaemic complications. Among the 15 patients under study, a total of 36 septicaemic episodes were detected of which 21 were due to P. aeruginosa. This organism was found in the first episodes in nine patients, in second episodes in six, in third episodes in three and fourth, fifth and sixth episodes in one patient, each at a variable postburn day. Ten patients had 38 sessions of excision and skin grafting, six of them survived. Nine of the 15 patients under study died due to septicaemia, but only six of them had P. aeruginosa as the last isolate. Except for one, all patients had > 40% TBSA burn, two had difficult resuscitation and four were intubated. The day of death varied between 3 to 52 days postburn (mean 19 days). This study showed that females with flame burns are susceptible to P. aeruginosa septicaemia. Difficult resuscitation and intubation also proved to be important risk factors. Septicaemia could occur quite early in the postburn days and the mortality due to this organism was quite high. Early excision and grafting with other effective management may result in a better outcome.     

急性肠系膜动脉栓塞9例的诊断与治疗分析

目的　探讨肠系膜动脉栓塞易误诊的原因及早期诊断和治疗。方法　总结 1 985— 2 0 0 0年间收治的 9例急性肠系膜动脉栓塞的诊治经验。结果　就诊时明确诊断 1例。9例均行手术治疗 ,抢救成功 3例 ,死亡 6例。结论　该病诊断困难 ,预后较差。只有提高认识 ,早期诊断 ,及时正确施治 ,方能提高疗效