Comparison of metallothionein (MT) and Ki-67 antigen expression in benign and malignant thyroid tumours.

Thyroid carcinomas are the most frequently occurring tumours in the endocrine system. Metallothioneins (MT) and Ki-67 proteins are present in intensely proliferating cells, and their expression has been observed in numerous tumours, including thyroid tumours. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between intensity of MT expression and Ki-67 antigen on one hand and histological features of the examined thyroid tumours on the other. The investigated material included 186 archival paraffin blocks with samples of various thyroid tissues, obtained from the Chair and Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Wroclaw. In paraffin sections, immunohistochemical reactions were performed with the use of monoclonal anti-MT (I/II) and anti-Ki-67 antibodies. Intensity of MT and Ki-67 antigen expression was evaluated using a light microscope using the semi-quantitative method of Remmele. A significant difference in MT expression was noted between different tumours of the thyroid: the highest expression was detected in follicular carcinoma and the lowest was detected in medullary carcinoma. Expression of MT was also significantly elevated in follicular carcinoma as compared to follicular adenoma. On the other hand, no significant differences were seen between expression of Ki-67 antigen in follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma. Moreover, these investigations detected no correlation between the expression of MT and Ki-67 antigen in follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma. In view of the obtained results, the expression of MT can be considered as a potential marker of differentiation between the two types of thyroid tumours, which are otherwise difficult to differentiate.

Retroperitoneal tumours--analysis of own clinical material--a six-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Primary retroperitoneal tumours and retroperitoneal organs' tumours represent a variety of lesions that require different treatments and have various prognoses. The aim of this study was to present the author's observations of the histological tumors types occurrence and their surgical treatment. METHODOLOGY: One hundred twenty-three cases of retroperitoneal tumours were studied retrospectively in a 6-year period. All cases were investigated for haematological and biochemical parameters. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal cavity and pelvis were done in the all cases. All cases were subjected to laparotomy with an aim to resect the tumour completely. RESULTS: In the present study we observed primary retroperitoneal tumours like malignant neuroblastoma, paraganglioma, primitive neuroectodermal tumour, cavernous haemangioma and mucinous cystadenoma. Among retroperitoneal organs' tumours pancreatic lesions present the majority of them. There were 6 cases of neuroendocrine pancreatic tumours. We had two cases of retroperitoneal fibrosis in patients with ulcerative colitis. In adrenal glands we observed benign and malignant lesions like pheochromocytoma and fibrosarcoma. All primary retroperitoneal tumours, except two cases of retroperitoneal fibrosis, were an bloc removed. CONCLUSIONS: Primary retroperitoneal tumours in contrast to retroperitoneal organs' tumours occur very rare. Their anatomical location makes early detection difficult and as a result they are usually quite extensive when first detected. The clinical manifestations of all retroperitoneal tumours are not specific, so it causes a lot of difficulties in early diagnosis. This is the main reason that contributes to treatment failure.

[Clinical significance of oxidation and acetylation genetic polymorphism in patients with hyperthyreosis]. / Kliniczne znaczenie fenotypu oksydacji i fenotypu acetylacji u chorych na nadczynnosc tarczycy.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between genetically determined polymorphic oxidation and acetylation and susceptibility to some disease was aroused much interest. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether patients with hyperthyreosis differ from healthy persons in their ability to oxidize sparteine and acetylate sulphadimidine as model drugs. Oxidation and acetylation were estimated in 48 patients with hiperthyreosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The control group consisted of 160 healthy volunteers for comparison of oxidation phenotype and 60 healthy volunteers for comparison of acetylation phenotype. The phenotyping of oxidation revealed two distinct populations among 40 patients with hyperthyreosis: 38 persons (95%) were extensive metabolizers (EM) of sparteine and 2 persons (5%) was poor metabolizers (PM). In 160 healthy persons (91.2%) were EM and 14 persons (8.8%) were PM. The difference between frequency distribution of PM and EM in healthy persons and in patients with hyperthyreosis was not statistically significant. RESULTS: The phenotyping of acetylation showed among 48 patients with hyperthyreosis 8 persons (13%) were rapid acetylators (RA) and 40 persons (87%) were slow acetylators (SA). In 60 healthy volunteers the phenotype of rapid acetylation was observed in 31 persons (51%) and slow acetylation in 29 persons (49%). Relative risk (odds ratio) of development of thyroid diseases was 5.34 times higher for SA in comparison to RA. The prevalence of SA among patients with hyperthyreosis in comparison to healthy volunteers was statistically significant (p < 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study may suggest that slow acetylation phenotype is associated with increased risk of the development of hyperthyreosis.

[Cavernous hemangiomas of the adrenal glands--rare incidentaloma type tumors]. / Naczyniaki jamiste nadnerczy--rzadkie guzy z grupy incidentaloma.

Cavernous hemangiomas of the adrenal glands are extremely rare benign lesions and most are incidental findings. The increasing frequency of the adrenal masses detection is due to the widespread use of the contemporary imaging techniques. We review incidence, pathology, clinical features, diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of the adrenal cavernous hemangiomas.

Alterations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6 production and activity of the reticuloendothelial system in experimental obstructive jaundice in rats.

BACKGROUND: Immunological changes are well recognised in obstructive jaundice. The aim of this study was to monitor plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in rats with obstructive jaundice. METHODS: The ability of splenocytes and peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) to produce these cytokines both spontaneously and on induction with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), was compared in rats with and without obstructive jaundice (OJ). The activity of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) was also measured. RESULTS: Serum cytokine levels in OJ rats were higher than in control rats. PEC cultures produced significantly more IL-6, compared with control rats, declining thereafter. TNF-alpha activity in the splenocyte cultures of OJ rats was also higher than in the control group. Pronounced differences were found in the ability to produce TNF-alpha by PEC, i.e., TNF-alpha production was much stronger on day 7 in OJ rats than in controls. On day 14 TNF-alpha production was much lower and the spontaneous response was equal to the LPS-induced one. On day 21 the cells of OJ rats partially regained the ability to produce TNF-alpha RES activity of OJ rats was significantly suppressed in the liver and spleen, whereas the phagocytic activity in the lungs was elevated. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that the immune reactivity of OJ rats, initially elevated, underwent subsequent depression. The study also revealed a major effect of the operation alone on the studied parameters.