Association between Degree of Anaplasia and Degree of Inflammation with the Expression of COX-2 in Feline Injection Site Sarcomas.

Feline injection site sarcomas (FISSs) are mesenchymal neoplasms that develop at the sites of delivery of vaccines or other injectable products. Vaccine adjuvants can trigger an intense and persistent inflammatory response that may lead to neoplastic transformation. The proinflammatory role of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 is well known and its overexpression has prognostic value in multiple neoplastic processes. One hundred and seventeen FISSs were evaluated for the degree of inflammation and anaplasia. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of COX-2 in these sarcomas. There was a significant association between the degree of inflammation and the expression of COX-2 by neoplastic cells. COX-2 expression was lower in tumours with higher degrees of anaplasia. These findings may be useful in predicting the sensitivity of FISSs to treatment with COX-2 inhibitors. The potential therapeutic use of such agents could then be restricted to tumours with lower degrees of anaplasia.

HLA-G expression and role in advanced-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Non-classical human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-G class I molecules have an important role in tumor immune escape mechanisms. We investigated HLA-G expression in lymphonode biopsies taken from 8 controls and 20 patients with advanced-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), in relationship to clinical outcomes and the HLA-G 14-basepair (14-bp) deletion-insertion (del-ins) polymorphism. Lymphnode tissue sections were stained using a specific murine monoclonal HLA-G antibody. HLA-G protein expression was higher in cHL patients than controls. In the group of PET-2 positive (positron emission tomography carried out after 2 cycles of standard chemotherapy) patients with a 2-year progression-free survival rate (PFS) of 40%, we observed high HLA-G protein expression within the tumor microenvironment with low expression on Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells. Conversely, PET-2 negative patients with a PFS of 86% had higher HLA-G protein expression levels on HRS cells compared to the microenvironment. Lower expression on HRS cells was significantly associated with the HLA-G 14-bp ins/ins genotype. These preliminary data suggest that the immunohistochemical pattern of HLA-G protein expression may represent a useful tool for a tailored therapy in patients with cHL, based on the modulation of HLA-G expression in relation to achievement of negative PET-2.These preliminary data suggest that the immunohistochemical pattern of HLA-G protein expression may represent a useful tool for a tailored therapy in patients with cHL, based on the modulation of HLA-G expression in relation to achievement of negative PET-2.

Lithium use from 2000 to 2010 in Italy: a population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Lithium is a highly specific and evidence-supported drug for the acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to calculate the prevalence and incidence of lithium use and to investigate the prescribing patterns of other mood-stabilizing agents in lithium users. We analyzed lithium utilization from 2000 to 2010 in a large area in Italy on the basis of dispensing data drawn from the regional administrative database. For each calendar year those who had at least one recorded dispensation of lithium were defined as lithium users. Those who received more than 4 dispensations per year were defined as lithium-treated. RESULTS: Rates of lithium utilization did not change during the observation period, but the amount of drug prescribed increased as a result of longer treatment and higher doses. The prevalence of use showed an initial increase of 8% (2000-2002), followed by a 13% decrease (2002-2006) and a subsequent rise of 11% (2006-2010). The prevalence of treatment grew by 38% during the whole observation period. The proportion of former lithium users who received other drugs or discontinued any treatment increased from 41% in 2002 to 52% in 2006, and then fell to 40% in 2010. CONCLUSION: The initial decline (2002-2006) and the subsequent rise (2006-2010) of lithium use can be explained by a fall and rise of new prescriptions. This finding together with a similar but opposite change in prescriptions of the other mood-stabilizing agents suggests a temporary change in prescribing attitudes which was subsequently reconsidered.

Postobturation pain and associated factors in adolescent patients undergoing one- and two-visit root canal treatment.

OBJECTIVES: This prospective study evaluated the frequency and intensity of postobturation pain and associated factors in adolescents undergoing one- and two-visit root canal treatment. METHODS: 121 patients aged 11-18 years presenting with molars with pulp necrosis were assigned randomly into two treatment groups: one- and two-visit (including interappointment dressing with calcium hydroxide paste). The canals of all teeth were prepared using a preflaring (2/3 middle-cervical) and step-back (1/3 apical) preparation techniques and filled with laterally compacted gutta-percha and sealer. Postobturation pain was recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 0-5. Data were statistically analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The frequencies of postobturation pain were 10.5% (6/57) in the one-visit group and 23.0% (14/61) in the two-visit group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups (p=0.07). The intensity of the pain was similar in both groups, particularly flare-ups, with a prevalence of 1.75% in the one-visit group and 1.65% in the two-visit group. Postobturation pain was significantly associated with the presence of preoperative pain (p=0.04; OR=3.54; CI 95%=1.02-12.30) and a positive culture at the time of obturation (p=0.00; OR=9.43; CI 95%=2.93-30.35). CONCLUSIONS: Postobturation pain was more present in the two-visit group, but was not statistically significant. The intensity of postobturation pain was similar. Effective microbiological control and the presence of preoperative pain may influence the postobturation pain in adolescents.