Lack of prognostic significance of the monoclonal antibody Ki-S1, a novel marker of proliferative activity,in node-negative breast carcinoma

In a series of 205 node-negative breast cancers (NNBC), we determined staining by the novel antibody Ki-S1, a marker of tumor cell proliferation, in order to test its association with other prognostic variables and its prognostic significance. Ki-S1 was determined in routinely formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples. Ki-S1 gave a nuclear staining in the majority of the carcinomas (188 of 205), with percentages of reacting nuclei ranging from 2% to 90% (median value of 7%). In 107 tumors frozen sections were available to also assess the Ki-67 antibody. Among these, 94 had a nuclear staining of cancer cells ranging from 5% to 80% (median value of 7%). In 46 tumors we also determined the MIB-1 antibody. The percentage of MIB-1 nuclear staining ranged from 1% to 50% (median value of 20%). There was no significant relationship between Ki-S1 and the other two cell kinetic markers. Ki-S1 labeling was significantly associated only with tumor size (p = 0.03).With a median follow-up of 6 years, Ki-S1 had no significant prognostic value for either relapse-free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS)(Ki-S1 as continuous logarithmic variable; p = 0.86 and p = 0.23, respectively). For RFS the following variables had a significant prognostic value: Ki-67 ( 10% vs > 10%; p = 0.037); progesterone receptor (PgR) expression (– vs +/++; p = 0.041); tumor size (pT1 vs pT2–3; p = 0.042) and grading (GI vs GII–III; p = 0.047). For OS, tumor size (p = 0.0044), age (continuous variable; p = 0.0060), and Ki-67 (p = 0.043) were significantly prognostic.In multivariate analysis (final model), only tumor size retained a significant and independent prognostic value for RFS (p = 0.0042). For OS, both tumor size (p = 0.0029) and age ( 55 years vs > 55 years; p = 0.041) retained significance in the multivariate model.In conclusion, Ki-S1 does not seem to have prognostic relevance in this series of NNBC. Possible hypotheses to explain this observation are discussed.     

Sensitivity and specificity for primary Sjögren's syndrome of IgA and IgG anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies detected by ELISA

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies in patients with primary Sj?gren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: IgA and IgG anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies were measured in the sera of 80 patients with pSS, 60 blood donors matched for age and sex, 50 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 30 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 20 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 10 with polymyositis or dermatomyositis (PM/DM) by an ELISA method employing recombinant human alpha-fodrin as antigen. RESULTS: The sensitivity of IgA and IgG anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies for pSS was 32.50% and 21.25%, respectively. When the prevalence of these antibodies in patients with SLE, RA, SSc, and PM/DM was evaluated, we observed specificity of these antibodies of 68.18% and 79.09%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for pSS of the combined determination of IgA and IgG anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies were 40% and 58.18%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalences of IgA and IgG anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies in our patients with pSS and other chronic autoimmune diseases have induced us to doubt their use as diagnostic markers of pSS.     

Cicatricial iatrogenic lower eyelid malposition in skin cancer surgery: results of a combined approach

PurposeMalposition of the lower lid, including rounding of the lateral canthal angle, lower eyelid retraction with inferior scleral show, and ectropion, is a relatively frequent complication in the surgical treatment of skin cancer of the cheek and zygomatic areas. The tarsal strip technique, in association with a vertical vector cheek lift, is a reliable method for correcting lower lid malposition.Materials and patientsFrom January 2008 to January 2010, we treated 19 patients with lower eyelid malposition after skin cancer surgery of the cheek and zygomatic areas. To correct lower eyelid malposition, we used the tarsal strip technique and a vertical vector cheek lift in all patients.ResultsEleven patients had scleral show and eight patients had ectropion. Sixteen patients obtained satisfactory correction of the eyelid malposition in a single surgical procedure, while three patients required a second surgical step to correct the remaining scleral show. Good esthetic and functional results were achieved in all cases.ConclusionsThe surgical treatment of skin cancer of the cheek and zygomatic areas has the potential for postoperative sequelae. The tarsal strip technique, in association with a vertical vector cheek lift, is a relatively simple technique for correcting scleral show and ectropion.     

The Role of Carbon Nanotube Pretreatments in the Adsorption of Benzoic Acid

Four different types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used and compared for the treatment of benzoic acid contaminated water. The types of nanotubes used were: (1) non-purified (CNTs^UP), as made; (2) purified (CNTs^P), not containing the catalyst; (3) oxidized (CNTs^OX), characterized by the presence of groups such as, –COOH; (4) calcined (CNTs⁹⁰⁰), with elimination of interactions between nanotubes. In addition, activated carbon was also used to allow for later comparison. The adsorption tests were conducted on an aqueous solution of benzoic acid at concentration of 20 mg/L, as a model of carboxylated aromatic compounds. After the adsorption tests, the residual benzoic acid concentrations were measured by UV-visible spectrometry, while the carbon nanotubes were characterized by TG and DTA thermal analyses and electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the type of nanotubes thermally treated at 900 °C has the best performances in terms of adsorption rate and amounts of collected acid, even if compared with the performance of activated carbons.     

Exhaled air temperature in asthmatic children: a mathematical evaluation

Recently, the exhaled breath temperature has been proposed as a potential marker for the evaluation of airway inflammation in asthma. The purpose of this study was to verify the ability to distinguish asthmatics from normal controls by a dedicated detailed mathematical evaluation of the exhaled air curve. Analysis was performed in the different phases of the curve of exhaled temperature, i.e. the rate of temperature increase (Δ e ° T ) and the mean plateau value. Principal components analysis (PCA) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used for the evaluation of the data in 90 asthmatic children and in 33 healthy age-matched controls. Both PCA and ANNs showed that a separation between patients and controls can be obtained only by the evaluation of the plateau phase of the curve, which better reflects the periphery of the airway.     

Widening of the clinical spectrum of Bartonella henselae infection as recognized through serodiagnostics

The recently improved diagnostics have widened, in children, the spectrum of clinical manifestations recognisable as Bartonella henselae infection. We report here the clinical features of 20 (14 males) consecutive children with serologically proved B. henselae infection observed within 12 months in the Paediatric Department of the University of Pisa. The patients had a mean age of 7 years 4 months (range 1.1–14.1 years). All children but one had a history of contact with kittens. Clinical manifestations included regional lymphadenopathy in 14 patients, representing in five the only clinical manifestation at onset, infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome in six, erythema nodosum in three, and Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome in one. In five patients a severe disorder was first suspected: fever of unknown origin in two with multiple hepatosplenic granulomatosis in one; osteolityc lesion suggesting bone neoplasm, marked inguinal lymph-node enlargement, suggesting Burkitt lymphoma, and an acute encephalopathy in one each. Bartonella henselae IgG antibody was positive in all patients with a titre ranging from 1:128 to 1:8590. IgM antibody was present in all except one child with an IgG titre of 1:2048. All patients recovered, some spontaneously. Conclusion Bartonella henselae infection is frequent in Tuscany and probably underdiagnosed due to the high frequency of atypical onset of the clinical manifestations. An accurate clinical history and a reasonably wide use of the serological test may allow a rapid and accurate diagnosis, reassuring the family of the patient and avoiding invasive and expensive diagnostic procedures. Received: 14 June 1999 and in revised form 16 October 1999 / Accepted: 22 November 1999