Makorin Ring Finger Protein 1 as Adjunctive Marker in Liquid-based Cervical Cytology.

To assess the utility of makorin ring finger protein 1 (MKRN1) as a marker of cervical pathology.A PROspective specimen collection and retrospective Blinded Evaluation study was conducted. Liquid-based cytology samples were collected from 187 women, embedding all residuals as cell blocks for immunohistochemical staining of MKRN1 and P16 . Results of liquid-based cervical cytology, immunostained cell block sections, and human papillomavirus (HPV) hybrid capture (with real-time polymerase chain reaction) were analyzed. Clinical outcomes were analyzed overall and in subsets of specimens yielding atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.Makorin ring finger protein 1 positivity and grades (1-3) of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) increased in tandem (CIN1, 32.4%; CIN2, 60.0%; and CIN3, 80.0%), reaching 92.3% in invasive cancer. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in detecting CIN2+ via MKRN1 were 73.8%, 76.8%, 75.6%, and 75.0%, respectively. The performance of liquid-based cytology was poorer by comparison (61.3%, 69.5%, 66.2%, and 64.8%, respectively), and HPV assay (versus MKRN1 immunohistochemical staining) displayed lower specificity (67.7%). Combined HPV + MKRN1 testing proved highest in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (71.8%, 85.5%, 82.3%, and 76.5%, respectively), whereas corresponding values for cytology + HPV (60.6%, 81.8%, 75.4%, and 69.2%) and cytology + MKRN1 (58.8%, 84.1%, 78.3%, and 67.7%) were all similar. In instances of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, the HPV + MKRN1 combination performed best by above measures (100%, 72.7%, 73.9%, and 100%), followed by cytology + MKRN1 (100%, 50.0%, 60.7%, and 100%).Makorin ring finger protein 1 displayed greater sensitivity and specificity than liquid-based cytology and proved more specific than HPV assay. In combination testing, MKRN1 + HPV showed the highest sensitivity and specificity levels. The MKRN1 biomarker may be a useful adjunct in primary cervical cytology screening.

Aldose reductase inhibitor ameliorates renal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

PURPOSE: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression of podocyte is one of the well-known major factors in development of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we investigated the effects of aldose reductase inhibitor, fidarestat on diabetic nephropathy, and renal VEGF expression in a type 1 diabetic rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty four Sprague-Dawley male rats which were performed intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and normal six rats were divided into four groups including a normal control group, untreated diabetic control group, aldose reductase (AR) inhibitor (fidarestat, 16 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) treated diabetic group, and angiotensin receptor blocker (losartan, 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) treated diabetic group. We checked body weights and blood glucose levels monthly and measured urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) at 8 and 32 weeks. We extracted the kidney to examine the renal morphology and VEGF expressions. RESULTS: The ACR decreased in fidarestat and losartan treated diabetic rat groups than in untreated diabetic group (24.79 +/- 11.12, 16.11 +/- 9.95, and 84.85 +/- 91.19, p < 0.05). The renal VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression were significantly decreased in the fidarestat and losartan treated diabetic rat groups than in the diabetic control group. CONCLUSION: We suggested that aldose reductase inhibitor may have preventive effect on diabetic nephropathy by reducing renal VEGF overexpression.