Synaptonemal complex protein 3 is associated with lymphangiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer patients with lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The interaction of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C)/VEGF-D/VEGF receptor-3 is considered to be a major driver of lymphangiogenesis, however the mechanism of this process remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the possible lymphangiogenic significance of synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The expression of SCP3, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D were measured and examined a correlation between SCP3 and VEGF-C or VEGF-D in various human lung cancer cell lines. Subsequently, we assessed SCP3, VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D expression in archival tumor tissues from 89 NSCLC patients with lymph node (LN) metastasis by combined immunohistochemistry with quantitative digital image analysis. RESULTS: Positive correlations between SCP3 and VEGF-C expression (R 2  = 0.743) and VEGF-D expression (R 2  = 0.932) were detected in various human lung cancer cell lines. The high expression of SCP3, VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D were detected in 24 (27.0%), 22 (24.7%), 27 (30.3%), 27 (30.3%), and 24 cases (27.0%), respectively. Notably, SCP3 positively correlated with VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression (for both, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with VEGF-A and VEGF-B expression (P = 0.029 and P = 0.026, respectively). In multivariate analysis of patients with LN metastasis, SCP3 expression predicted worse overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.86, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: SCP3 is associated with lymphangiogenesis and provides insight into the SCP3-VEGF-C/VEGF-D axis based cancer therapy strategy.

Spatial patterns of metals, PCDDs/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs and chemical status of sediments from a coastal lagoon (Pialassa Baiona, NW Adriatic, Italy).

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) establishes a framework for the protection and improvement of all water bodies including transitional waters; its final objective is to achieve at least 'good status' by 2015. In the present work, a hierarchical sampling design was applied to analyze the influence of anthropogenic inputs on the spatial distribution of metals, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment at four areas in Pialassa Baiona coastal lagoon. In order to assess the chemical status, levels of priority substances and other pollutants were compared with the recently developed national Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) and site specific background levels for metals. Levels of mercury and PCBs were particularly high and exceeded their national EQS values at all sampled areas, thus not contributing to the achievement of a good chemical status of this transitional water body according to the WFD classification.

Cellular responses on anodized titanium discs after laser irradiation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the laser is one of the widely used systems in dental field, literature about the biological effects of laser irradiation on the titanium surface is rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the responses of osteoblast-like cells seeded onto laser irradiated anodized titanium discs, using a CO(2) (carbon dioxide) and Er,Cr:YSGG (erbium chromium-doped yttrium scandium gallium garnet) laser, with reference to cellular proliferation and differentiation in vitro. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osteoblast-like HOS cells were cultured on four differently treated anodized titanium disc surfaces. Group 1, anodized (control); group 2, CO(2) laser irradiated; group 3, Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiated (150 J/cm(2)); group 4, Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiated (300 J/cm(2)). MTS-based cell proliferation assay and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity test were used to compare cellular responses after 1 and 3 days. Three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc method were carried out to determine the statistical significance of the differences. RESULTS: The cells proliferated actively on all substrates; greatest cellular proliferation was observed in group 4, followed by groups 2, 3, and 1, respectively (P<0.05). The test groups also presented significantly higher ALP activities than the control group (P<0.05) except group 3. For both tests, measured optical densities at 3 days were greater than that of 1 day in control and all test groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The data shows that irradiation with a CO(2) laser or Er,Cr:YSGG laser may induce a measurable positive effect on osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.