Search

According to the ToGA trial, HER2 has been shown to be predictive for the success of treatment with trastuzumab in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). A number of studies have analyzed HER-2/neu overexpression in gastric carcinoma and identified the rate of HER2 positivity to be markedly varied. To date, the prevalence of HER2 overexpression in Sicilian people with AGC is unknown. Therefore, in the present study, a retrospective immunohistochemical analysis of HER2 was performed in a cohort of 304 AGC samples that were obtained from the archives of 10 Sicilian anatomopathological diagnostic units in order to verify the positive rate of HER2-positive cases. Furthermore, the characteristics of histotype, grade, stage and Ki-67 expression were also analyzed. HER2 overexpression was encountered in 17.43% of all the gastric adenocarcinomas, which was consistent with the results that have been reported elsewhere in the literature. A progressive increase in HER2 overexpression was observed, from the poorly cohesive histotype to the tubular adenocarcinomas and gastric hepatoid adenocarcinomas. HER2 overexpression was significantly associated with a high grade, advanced stage and high Ki-67 labeling index. Further investigations performed jointly by pathologists and oncologists within the geographical area of the present study should conirm that the association of trastuzumab with chemotherapy results in an improvement of survival in patients with AGC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The effects of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), an agonist of the A2A adenosine receptors which when activated positively influences sperm activity, were tested in an experimental testicular ischaemia/reperfusion injury model. Anaesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to testicular torsion-induced ischaemia, followed by reperfusion (TI/R). Immediately after detorsion, randomized animals, including SHAM, received intraperitoneal injections of: (i) vehicle (1 mL/kg 0.9% NaCl solution); (ii) PDRN (8 mg/kg); (iii) DMPX (3,7-dimethyl-1-propargilxanthine, 0.1 mg/kg); or (iv) PDRN (8 mg/kg) + DMPX (0.1 mg/kg). Animals were euthanized at 1, 7 and 30 days following reperfusion. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression is normally associated with adenosine A2A receptor stimulation. After treatment, VEGF mRNA/protein expression quantified by qPCR and Western blot, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA measured by qPCR, VEGF and VEGFR1 assessed using immunohistochemical methods, histological staining and spermatogenic activity were all analysed. Testis ischaemia-reperfusion (TI/R) injury caused increases in VEGF mRNA and protein, VEGFR1 and eNOS mRNA, histological damage and reduced spermatogenic activity. Immunostaining showed a lower expression of VEGF in germinal epithelial cells and a strong expression of VEGFR1 in Leydig cells after TI/R. PDRN administration increased significantly VEGF message/protein, VEGFR1 and eNOS message, decreased histological damage and ameliorated spermatogenic activity. PDRN might be useful in the management of testicular torsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a study that evaluated the early effects of systemic metabolic changes, renal histologic morphology and histological changes of rats' ileal patch after experimental ileocystoplasty. The study developed an animal model of female Wistar species of rats in which bladder augmentation using ileum and a sham operation were performed. It showed that the augmented group's urinary pH was higher in treated rats than in shams while the bladder calculi was formed in 28.6 percent of ileocystoplasty. It concludes that treated rats showed significant improvement of serum creatine, sign of glomerular overload and depletion.

Background and Purpose: Acute pancreatitis is an autodigestive process resulting in acute inflammation of the pancreas. Accumulating evidence indicates the essential contribution of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) to acute pancreatitis. We studied the effects of flavocoxid, a plant-derived dual inhibitor of COX-2 and 5-LOX, in a model of caerulein (CER)-induced acute pancreatitis.Experimental Approach: Rats were given CER (80 µg·kg⁻¹ for each of four injections at hourly intervals) or vehicle (Sham-CER). Animals were then randomized to receive flavocoxid (20 mg·kg⁻¹ i.p.) or vehicle, 30 min after the first CER injection. Two hours after the last CER injection, we evaluated damage to the pancreas by histological methods; serum levels of amylase, lipase, leukotriene (LT)B₄ and prostaglandin (PG)E₂ ; pancreatic expression of COX-2 and 5-LOX and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction.Key Results: Caerulein induced inflammatory changes in the pancreas and raised values of the other variables measured. In CER-treated animals, but not in those given saline, flavocoxid inhibited COX-2 and 5-LOX expression, reduced serum levels of lipase and amylase and the degree of pancreatic oedema. Treatment with flavocoxid blunted the increased pancreatic TNF-α mRNA expression, serum leukotriene B₄ and prostaglandin E₂ levels, and protected against histological damage in terms of vacuolization and leukocyte infiltration.Conclusions and Implications: Our results confirm the key role of both COX-2 and 5-LOX in the inflammatory response to acute pancreatitis. Flavocoxid may provide a potential therapeutic approach to the treatment of patients at high risk of developing this life-threatening condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aberrant Wingless type 1 glycoprotein (Wnt) pathway in ameloblastomas and a role of syndecan-1 (SDC1) in activating Wnt signalling were perspected. SDC1 shifting from epithelium to stroma was reported in invasive non-odontogenic neoplasms. The aim of this study was to reveal the role of SDC1 and Wnt1 in intraosseous ameloblastomas (IAs). Methods: SDC1 and Wnt1 expressions were investigated in 29 ameloblastoma subtypes and seven tooth buds. Results: SDC1 immunostaining strongly depicted stromal cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membranes of ameloblastomas. It also showed epithelial tumour cells in the acanthomatous and plexiform subtypes, and it often occurred in stellate reticulum cells and basal ameloblasts of tooth buds. Parallel Wnt1 expression occurred in ameloblastomatous epithelial cells, but it was common in basal cells of tooth buds too. Statistically, a significant correlation was found between the percentage of IAs-bearing SDC1-positive stromal cells and ECM and the percentage of IAs-bearing Wnt1-positive epithelial cells. Conclusions: A role of SDC1 in stromal cells and ECM can be hypothesized as a critical factor for carcinogenesis and local invasiveness of IAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]