HPV genotyping in cervical cancer in Northern Thailand: adapting the linear array HPV assay for use on paraffin-embedded tissue

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to review our experience with abdominal radical trachelectomy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent an abdominal radical trachelectomy at the Instituto de Cancerologia—Clinica las Americas in Medellin, Colombia, between April 2002 and January 2008. Data collected included age, stage, histopathologic subtype, tumor size, evidence of lymph-vascular space invasion, estimated blood loss, number of perioperative blood transfusions, number and disease status of lymph nodes removed, disease status of surgical specimen, length of hospital stay, intraoperative and postoperative complications, follow-up time, and fertility outcomes.ResultsFifteen patients underwent an abdominal radical trachelectomy during the study period. The median patient age was 30 years (range, 25–38). Three patients had stage IA2 and 12 had stage IB1 cervical cancer. Eleven patients had squamous cell carcinoma and 4 had adenocarcinoma. Thirteen patients were diagnosed by cervical conization and 2 by colposcopically directed biopsy. All patients had tumors smaller than 2 cm. The median estimated blood loss was 400 ml (range, 200–1000). The median surgical time was 265 min (range, 210–330). The median number of units of packed red blood cells transfused per patient was 2. The median number of lymph nodes removed was 26 (range, 11–48). The median length of hospitalization was 3 days (range, 2–7). The median follow-up time was 32 months (range, 5–32). There was 1 intraoperative complication and 6 postoperative complications in 4 patients. No patient has had a recurrence. Three patients were able to conceive spontaneously; 1 delivered at 31 weeks' gestation, and 2 delivered at term.ConclusionAbdominal radical trachelectomy is feasible and can be performed safely in a developing country in well-selected patients with early cervical cancer who wish to preserve their fertility.     

Pathophysiology of fibroid disease: angiogenesis and regulation of smooth muscle proliferation

Uterine fibroids are the most common tumours presenting in women. The pathophysiology of fibroids is poorly understood, but disordered angiogenesis and altered smooth muscle cell proliferation are believed to play a role. In this review, current knowledge of both of these processes will be summarized. Differences between 'normal' adjacent myometrium and fibroid tumours within the same uterus are outlined. Exploiting these differences represents one of the best opportunities for the development of medical treatments that target fibroid tissue selectively.     

The anti-diabetic properties of Guazuma ulmifolia Lam are mediated by the stimulation of glucose uptake in normal and diabetic adipocytes without inducing adipogenesis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: Guazuma ulmifolia Lam (Sterculiaceae) is a plant extensively used in México for the empirical treatment of type 2 diabetes. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the anti-diabetic mechanisms of Guazuma ulmifolia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-toxic concentrations of Guazuma ulmifolia aqueous extracts (GAE) were assayed on adipogenesis and 2-NBDglucose uptake in the murine 3T3-F442A preadipose cell line. RESULTS: GAE added to adipogenic medium (AM) did not affect adipogenesis at any of the tested concentrations (1-70 microg/ml), whereas in AM lacking insulin GAE 70 microg/ml induced triglyceride accumulation by 23%. On the other hand, GAE 70 microg/ml stimulated 2-NBDG uptake by 40% in insulin-sensitive 3T3-F442A adipocytes and by 24% in insulin-resistant adipocytes, with respect to the incorporation showed by insulin-sensitive adipocytes stimulated with the hormone. CONCLUSION: Guazuma ulmifolia exerts its anti-diabetic effects by stimulating glucose uptake in both insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant adipocytes without inducing adipogenesis.     

Effects of TGFbeta1 and extracts from Cervus korean TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe on acute and chronic arthritis in rats

AIM OF THE STUDY: To elucidate the pharmacological activities of deer antler acupuncture and TGF61538;1 on the acute and chronic phases of rheumatoid arthritis diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyarthritis rats were administered with TGF61538;1 and water extract of deer antler acupunture (DAA), prepared from the pilose antler of Cervus korean TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe. TGF61538; (0.1 to 2 61549;g/animal) and DAA (5-100 61549;g/kg animal) were initiated 1 day before an arthritogenic dose of streptococcal cell wall fragments to see the effects on the joint swelling and distortion during the acute phase and the chronic phase of the disease. Arthritic index suppression of rat arthritis model was examined by TGF61538; and DAA administrations. RESULTS: TGF61538;1 and DAA diminished the polyarthritis development in rats. TGF61538; and DAA eliminated the joint swelling and distortion observed during the acute phase and the chronic phase of the disease. The TGF61538; and DAA suppressed the arthritis progress when administration was begun after acute phase of arthritis. DISCUSSION: Consistent with the inhibition of inflammatory cell recruitment into the synovium, TGF61538;1 and DAA reversed the leukocytosis associated with the chronic phase of the arthritis, respectively.     

淫羊藿对哮喘大鼠肺组织RANTES及MCP-3表达的影响

目的 观察补肾中药淫羊藿对哮喘大鼠肺组织调节激活正常T细胞表达和分泌因子(regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted,RANTES)、单核细胞趋化蛋白3（monocyte chemotactic protein-3,MCP-3）表达的影响,进一步探讨淫羊藿防治哮喘的作用机制。 方法 将挪威大鼠随机分成6组：正常组、模型组、阳性药组（给地塞米松）、淫羊藿低、中、高剂量组（分别给淫羊藿0.125、0.5、2.0 g/mL)。用Real-time PCR法检测肺组织RANTES、MCP-3 mRNA的表达,ELISA法检测各组血清中肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素（IL）4、5的含量。结果 与模型组比较,各用药组大鼠肺组织RANTES、MCP-3 mRNA的表达下调（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）,TNF-α水平均明显降低（P=0.000）,阳性药组和淫羊藿中、高剂量组IL-4水平均明显下降（P=0.007,P=0.047,P=0.033）, IL-5水平仅见阳性药组和淫羊藿高剂量组显著下降（P=0.003,P=0.005）。结论 哮喘发作期给予淫羊藿可减轻哮喘气道炎症,并且其与抑制肺组织RANTES、MCP-3表达有关。     

Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with heterologous gastrointestinal epithelium as a source of alpha-fetoprotein: a case report

Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCT) are rare sex cord stromal neoplasms. To date there have been approximately 25 case reports of ovarian SLCT expressing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). In such cases, AFP was immunohistochemically detected in the Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, or hepatocytes. This case report confirms heterologous gastrointestinal epithelium expression of AFP. A 20-year-old woman presented with complaints of abdominal enlargement and irregular menstrual cycles over one year. A right ovarian tumor was detected and the patient's serum AFP was elevated. A right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. On microscopic examination, the tumor was composed of a fibrosarcoma-like area and a poorly differentiated SLCT area with heterologous gastrointestinal epithelium. Immunohistochemical analysis detected AFP in the gastrointestinal epithelium only. Postoperatively, serum AFP levels fell to normal. A recurrent tumor was discovered in the omentum after adjuvant chemotherapy, but serum AFP remained normal. A second laparotomy was performed and the recurrent tumor showed only fibrosarcoma-like features. The patient received second line chemotherapy and is currently in remission. This is the first case of AFP production by heterologous gastrointestinal epithelium in SLCT.     

Ovarian stromal luteoma in a patient with endometrial carcinoma

A 65-year-old patient with endometrial adenocarcinoma underwent hysterectomy. Pathological examination of the right ovary revealed a coexisting stromal luteoma. The possible relationship between the two neoplasms as well as the intriguing pathogenesis and controversial nomenclature of ovarian steroid cell tumors are discussed. The incidental discovery of a stromal luteoma in a total hysterectomy specimen removed for endometrial carcinoma raises interesting questions about the perceived innocuous nature of these rare lipid cell tumors.