Angiogenesis in psoriatic skin and its modifications after administration of etanercept: videocapillaroscopic, histological and immunohistochemical evaluation.

Several studies suggest that microangiopathy plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. TNFalpha up-regulates the genetic transcription of VEGF, a pro-angiogenetic cytokine over-expressed in psoriatic skin, which promotes micrangiopathic modifications in psoriatic plaque. Etanercept is a chimeric protein used in the treatment of psoriasis and other immunomediated disorders, which blocks inflammatory response by interfering in the binding of TNF-alpha to its receptors. Starting from this data, we retain that etanercept can improve microangiopathy in psoriatic skin by reducing the synthesis of pro-angiogenetic chemokine VEGF. The aims of the study are: to verify the effect of etanercept on cutaneous en plaque capillaries in vivo using intra-vital videocapillaroscopy analysis, to evaluate the relation between the en plaque videocapillaroscopic pattern and the immunohistochemical cutaneous expression of VEGF in psoriasis, and finally to correlate all these in data with clinical disease activity. Eighteen patients (10 male and 8 female, mean age 51, range 21-60) suffering from stable, en plaque type psoriasis, involving at least 10 percent of body surface area (BSA), and not responsive to conventional therapy were included in the study. All the enrolled patients received etanercept 50mg/twice/week, subcutaneously, for 12 weeks, and were carefully followed up for clinical response with PASI score and DLQI index both before (T0) and after 12 weeks (T12) of treatment with etanercept. A well demarcated psoriatic plaque of the extensor surface of upper extremities was chosen to perform an intra-vital videocapillaroscopy analysis (IVCP), and a skin biopsy for immunohistochemical study both at T0 and T12 in all the included patients, in order to evaluate the presence of microangiopathy and its modification after therapy. All the patients experienced a clinical improvement of cutaneous disease with a significant decrease of PASI score (p<0.0001) and DLQI level (p<0.0001), throughout the twelve weeks of treatment. On IVCP analysis, microangiopathy dramatically decreased (p<0.0001), this modification being significantly related with PASI and DLQI decrease at T12. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGF decreased significantly from T0 to T12 (p<0.0001), and was related with a reduction of psoriatic microangiopathy at T12. The results of our videocapillaroscopic and immunohistochemical investigation confirm that the therapeutic potentiality of etanercept is based also on its capability to promote the regression of psoriatic microangiopathy. Moreover, according to these considerations, videocapillaroscopic evaluation of psoriatic plaque, both before and after treatment with etancercept, may be a useful tool to objectively demonstrate its effect on microcirculation.

In situ localization of three cDNA sequences associated with the later stages of aposporic embryo sac development of Brachiaria brizantha.

Brachiaria brizantha is a forage grass of African origin, highly cultivated in the Brazilian tropics for beef cattle production. We have analyzed the temporal and spatial expression of cDNA sequences by in situ hybridization in ovaries of apomictic and sexual plants. The studied sequences share molecular identity with myosin, aquaporin, and mitogen-activated protein kinase and were named BbrizMYO, BbrizAQP, and BbrizMAPK, respectively. BbrizMYO was expressed in apomictic and sexual embryo sacs, but somewhat later in the Polygonum type embryo sacs of sexual plants. BbrizAQP and BbrizMAPK transcripts were restricted to the Panicum type embryo sacs of apomictic plants; BbrizMAPK, in synergids; and BbrizAQP, also in different ovular cells during development. The common feature that arose from the analysis of the expression patterns of these three sequences was significant expression in the synergids. Their putative role in the maturation of Panicum type embryo sacs of apomictic plants and embryo development is discussed in view of the characteristics of apomictic reproduction.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a developing alternative to axillary dissection and may prove to be accurate in the detection of micrometastases in lymph nodes of breast cancer patients. Limited studies exist in the use of SLNB after neoadjuvant therapy. This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with stage I or II breast cancer underwent SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Lymphatic mapping was performed by radioisotope, blue dye, or both techniques. Sentinel nodes (SN) were identified in 29 patients (93.5%). The SN was positive in 11 patients (38.0%), and was the only positive node in 5 patients (45.5%). There were no false negative SN by hematoxyin and eosin stain or immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node identification rate is similar to that in nonneoadjuvant studies. The sentinel node accurately predicted metastatic disease in the axilla. IHC studies failed to detect any additional micrometastases. This diagnostic technique may provide treatment guidance for patients after neoadjuvant therapy.

Transgenic plants of ramie (Boehmeria nivea Gaud.) obtained by Agrobacterium mediated transformation.

A regeneration and transformation protocol for ramie (Boehmeria nivea Gaud.) is presented. Regeneration was obtained from leaf discs placed on solid B-5 medium (Gamborg et al. 1968) containing adequate concentrations of auxin and cytokinin. Co-cultivation of leaf discs with Agrobacterium tumefaciens and subsequent regeneration resulted in transgenic plants as shown by Southern blot and analysis of expression of the GUS-marker gene.