Search

Objectives: Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 was firstly described as an epididymis-specific protein but more recently it has been demonstrated to be a putative serum tumor marker for different malignancies, especially ovarian epithelial cancers. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between tissue Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 expression and the clinicopathological features of uterine cervical tumors., Material and Methods: This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the differences of tissue expressions of Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 protein in a spectrum of cervical neoplasms. One hundred and seven patients recently diagnosed as having cervical intraepithelial neoplasm or invasive squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma based on pathology databases., Results: Decreased or negative Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 expressions were determined in both normal cervical epithelia and in intraepithelial carcinomas, while increased HE4 expression was observed in invasive tumors., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that altered expression of Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 may involve in tumorigenesis in the uterine cervix. Our findings also suggested the presence of a correlation between Human Epididymal Secretory Protein 4 expression and the invasive potential of uterine tumors. Therefore it may be thought that the tissue expression of HE4 can be used to differentiate high grade intraepithelial tumors from carcinomas.

Gene expression during oocyte maturation and early embryogenesis up to zygotic genome activation requires translational activation of maternally-derived mRNAs. EPAB [embryonic poly(A)-binding protein] is the predominant poly(A)-binding protein during this period in Xenopus, mouse and human. In Xenopus oocytes, ePAB stabilizes maternal mRNAs and promotes their translation. To assess the role of EPAB in mammalian reproduction, we generated Epab-knockout mice. Although Epab(-/-) males and Epab(+/-) of both sexes were fertile, Epab(-/-) female mice were infertile, and could not generate embryos or mature oocytes in vivo or in vitro. Epab(-/-) oocytes failed to achieve translational activation of maternally-stored mRNAs upon stimulation of oocyte maturation, including Ccnb1 (cyclin B1) and Dazl (deleted in azoospermia-like) mRNAs. Microinjection of Epab mRNA into Epab(-/-) germinal vesicle stage oocytes did not rescue maturation, suggesting that EPAB is also required for earlier stages of oogenesis. In addition, late antral follicles in the ovaries of Epab(-/-) mice exhibited impaired cumulus expansion, and a 8-fold decrease in ovulation, associated with a significant down-regulation of mRNAs encoding the EGF (epidermal growth factor)-like growth factors Areg (amphiregulin), Ereg (epiregulin) and Btc (betacellulin), and their downstream regulators, Ptgs2 (prostaglandin synthase 2), Has2 (hyaluronan synthase 2) and Tnfaip6 (tumour necrosis factor α-induced protein 6). The findings from the present study indicate that EPAB is necessary for oogenesis, folliculogenesis and female fertility in mice.

Purpose: To determine if IVM of oocytes from unstimulated cycle is a treatment option for patients who did not deliver after standard IVF-ET., Method: Twenty three women with PCO, thirteen of them with normal cycles and all <35 years old, who failed IVF served as their own control. During the control IVF cycle patients were stimulated with 1730.7 ± 639.5 IU recombinant FSH, a long Buserelin acetate protocol was used and embryo transfer was performed on day 2 or 3 after ICSI. After failed IVF immature oocytes were aspirated transvaginally from antral follicles during spontaneous menstrual cycle. Embryo transfer was performed 2 or 3 days later., Result: 11.4 ± 4.8 mature oocytes and 6.7 ± 3.2 embryos were produced with IVF, which served as the control, compared to 9.7 ± 4.5 mature oocytes and 6.2 ± 3.2 embryos with IVM. There was one clinical pregnancy in the IVF group which did not result in a live birth where as five singleton and one pair of twins with healthy live births and one miscarriage in the IVM group., Conclusion: IVM does not involve ovarian stimulation with possible financial and health consequences. İt may be an useful treatment after unsuccessful IVF.

The kinase VRK1 has been implicated in mitotic and meiotic progression in invertebrate species, but whether it mediates these events during mammalian gametogenesis is not completely understood. Previous work has demonstrated a role for mammalian VRK1 in proliferation of male spermatogonia, yet whether VRK1 plays a role in meiotic progression, as seen in Drosophila, has not been determined. Here, we have established a mouse strain bearing a gene trap insertion in the VRK1 locus that disrupts Vrk1 expression. In addition to the male proliferation defects, we find that reduction of VRK1 activity causes a delay in meiotic progression during oogenesis, results in the presence of lagging chromosomes during formation of the metaphase plate, and ultimately leads to the failure of oocytes to be fertilized. The activity of at least one phosphorylation substrate of VRK1, p53, is not required for these defects. These results are consistent with previously defined functions of VRK1 in meiotic progression in Drosophila oogenesis, and indicate a conserved role for VRK1 in coordinating proper chromosomal configuration in female meiosis., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This report describes the use of in vitro oocyte maturation in two patients with history of repeated oocyte maturation arrest (OMA) from in vitro fertilization. Based on these two cases, in vitro oocyte maturation from unstimulated cycles seems not an alternative treatment option for the patients with history of OMA.

A key step in assisted reproduction is the assessment of embryo viability in order to identify the embryo(s) most likely to result in pregnancy. Currently used embryo assessment systems are largely based on morphology and cleavage rate. While these systems have been pivotal in improving implantation and pregnancy rates and reducing multiple gestations, their precision is still insufficient. The limitations of strategies based on morphology have led to the investigation of adjunctive technologies for non-invasive assessment of embryo viability in assisted reproduction. These include the measurement of glucose, pyruvate, or amino acid levels in the embryo culture media, assessment of oxygen consumption by the embryo, genomic and proteomic profiling, and most recently, analytical examination of the embryonic metabolome. As the number of ART cycles increases worldwide, improvements in the ability to quickly and non-invasively identify the best embryos for transfer become an increasingly more important goal for reproductive medicine.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor is an unusual primary tumor of the pancreas with a low potential for malignancy and unknown cell origin, seen mostly in young women. Although it is discussed among pancreatic epithelial tumors, many cases do not express cytokeratin but show neuroendocrine differentiation. Three cases (2 female, 1 male, aged 24, 45 and 50 years, respectively) of solid pseudopapillary tumor localized in the pancreas are presented. All cases displayed a well-circumscribed tumor, with an average diameter of 6 cm and a red-brown colored, hemorrhagic, cystic cut surface. Microscopically they were encapsulated with large areas composed of thin papillary formations and solid areas focally. Tumor cells were dyscohesive with small, round- to-oval, central nuclei, and vacuolated, clear or eosinophilic cytoplasm without mitotic activity. NSE, vimentin, synaptophysin, ER, PR, Ki-67, S-100, Pan CK, a1-antitrypsin, a2-antichymotrypsin, and antibodies were used in the immunohistochemical study. Vimentin, synaptophysin, NSE, PR, and a1-antitrypsin showed expression in all cases, while Pan-CK was expressed in two cases. Ki-67 expression was below 1% in all cases. Morphologic features of solid pseudopapillary tumor may be confused with pancreatic endocrine neoplasm and ductal adenocarcinoma. All cases showed features of histiocytic and neuroendocrine differentiation. Epithelial differentiation was identified in two cases. We conclude that immunohistochemistry is incapable of giving additional information for the diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor due to different lines of differentiation of tumor cells. We believe that macroscopic and microscopic features (using hematoxylin and eosin stain) are more important for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this tumor.

Pituitary tumors invade the cavernous sinus via the medial wall. Researchers have speculated that this wall is composed of dura and that substances secreted by tumors might damage this barrier. In contrast to the lateral wall, little is known about the structure of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus (MWCS). This study provides the first detailed quantitative (thickness) and qualitative (histological) assessment of the MWCS. Eighteen sellar-parasellar tissue blocks were obtained from adult human autopsies. Ten specimens were used for microsurgical dissection and macroscopic anatomical description. Eight specimens were used for histopathological study and for recording computer measurements of MWCS thickness. Each of these eight specimens was divided into three approximately equal-sized pieces, with cuts made in the coronal plane from posterior to anterior starting at the anterior level of the pituitary stalk. Wall thicknesses were compared in the three different regions (posterior, middle, anterior), and also on the left vs. the right sides. The investigations showed that the MWCS is a distinct dural layer that forms a barrier between the medial venous space of the cavernous sinus and the pituitary gland. The mean thickness of the 48 total (left and right) MWCS observed in the 24 sections examined was 0.195 +/- 0.066 mm (range = 0.080-0.387 mm). This wall is composed of loosely arranged collagen fibers that comprise a specific layer known as "meningeal dura." The posterior third of the MWCS was significantly thinner than the middle third (P = 0.0014) or anterior third (P = 0.0001). No macro- or microscopic defects were observed in any of the MWCS in the 18 specimens. The thinness of the posterior MWCS suggests that this is the most likely path for extension of pituitary tumors into the cavernous sinus., (Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Carcinosarcoma is a rare, biphasic and malignant tumor having a mixture of carcinoma and sarcoma containing differentiated mesenchymal elements. It may occur in such diverse locations as the uterus, breast, thyroid, lung, and upper gastrointestinal system. However, to date a primary mediastinal carcinosarcoma has not been reported in the literature.