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BACKGROUND. Innate immunity represents the first way of protection against different pathogenic agents. Recently, it has been a permanent interest regarding an innate immune molecule, that is known as palate, lung, nasal epithelial clone (PLUNC). PLUNC is a specific result found in the airways, of approximately 25 kDa, whose encoding is realized by adjacent genes located within a region of 300 kb in chromosome 20; these proteins must be detected predominantly in the superior respiratory tract. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We performed a prospective clinical study on 34 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and 10 controls, in order to investigate the expression of this protein in nasal tissue of patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis. We tested the correlation between the existence of this disease and PLUNC proteins positivity. RESULTS. 100% of controls have a+++ rated PLUNC proteins positivity, while cases have a lower percentage of positivity. There were no differences statistically significant between patients with CRSwNP and those with CRSsNP. CONCLUSION. As a response to different irritating agents (bacteria, viruses, chemical factors), nasal mucosa will react by producing PLUNC proteins. PLUNC proteins have a defensive role in the upper airways mucosa [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Innate immunity is the first protection against microorganisms. Nowadays, there is a growing interest in innate immune molecule known as palate, lung, nasal epithelial clone (PLUNC). PLUNC is a specific product of the airways, of approximately 25 kDa, encoded by adjacent genes found within a 300 kb region of chromosome 20; these proteinsmust be detected predominantly in the upper respiratory tract. Materials and Methods.We performed a case-control study to investigate the presence of this protein in nasal tissue of patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis. 59 patients were enrolled (44 cases, 15 controls).We have examined the correlation between the presence of pathology and the PLUNCproteins positivity. Results. 100%of controls havea+++ rated PLUNC proteins positivity, while cases have a lower percentage of positivity.We used χ² statistical test to analyze the results of the study and there is a difference statistically significant between cases and controls in PLUNC proteins positivity. Conclusions. These observations suggest that, in response to agents or chemical factors, nasalmucosal epithelium will react and produce PLUNC proteins. So PLUNC proteins have a protective function on upper airways mucosa, as we can see by evaluating the high positivity in control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most common primary mesenchymal tumors of gastrointestinal, more frequently located in the stomach (60-70%), followed by small intestine (20-25%), colon and rectum (5%), and esophagus (< 5%). They typically express CD117, CD34, S100 and SMA. This study is aiming to characterize GISTs immunoprofile and to establish correlations between morpho-patological and immunohistochemical parameters. Material and methods: Tissue samples of 141 GISTs, from "Victor Babes" Institute files, were evaluated using H&E stain and immunohistochemistry for CD117, CD34, SMA and S100. Statistical analysis was made by Student t-test, "paired two samples for mean" variant. Results: The patients (M : F = 77 : 64), aged from 32 to 84 (mean = 56, SD = 1.6), had spindle cells GISTs in 53.18 %, epithelioid in 29.8% and mixed pattern in 17.02% of tumors. Immunohistochemically, CD117 was positive in 72.34% of GISTs, CD34 in 79.4%, SMA in 56.02% and S-100 in 69.5% of cases. A female predominance was encountered in all antibodies immunohistochemical expressions, except S100. The fusiform pattern was the most frequent for all tested antibodies and the small intestine was the favorite site for all studied markers. Statistical analysis revealed no significant correlation between antibodies. Conclusions: Our results confirm CD117 and CD34 as sensitive markers for GISTs diagnosis. Immunohistochemical expressions of all tested markers, except S100, were more frequently encountered in women and in the spindle cell type GISTs; the small intestine was the most frequent localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]