Clinical significance of neoangiogenesis and index of proliferation in the signet ring type of gastric adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether microvascular density and the level of proliferation in gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) are important factors in the locoregional control of the disease. METHODS: Over a period of eight years, gastric resection specimens from 37 patients were examined. The proliferative index (labelled by Ki67) and microvascular density (MVD) index (mvdIDX) (labelled by CD105) were determined for each case of SRCC. RESULTS: Gastric SRCC was diagnosed more often in female than in male patients (21 females, 16 males ; p≤0.05) . The average age of female patients was 63 years, while the male patients were 62 years old on average (p=0.702). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the median numbers of Ki67 positive cells and CD105 positive blood vessels were higher in tumors compared to surrounding non-tumor tissue. Higher proliferative index and higher mvdIDX were also established relative to tumor stage. Correlation analysis showed a high positive correlation between proliferation index and microvascular density (MVD) index (mvdIDX) (correlation coefficient=0.784). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed progression of both indices examined. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that, although both proliferative and mvdIDXs are reliable, the former had better performance in identifying of disease progression (AUC=0.970).

Comparison of cytological categories atypical (C3) and suspected (C4) with histopathological diagnoses of breast lesions.

PURPOSE: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a diagnostic method characterized by high sensitivity, specificity and predictive value. In order to obtain uniformed results of FNAC breast changes, the following categories are introduced: C1 (non-representative), C2 (benign), C3 (atypical), C4 (suspected) and C5 (malignant). The purpose of this study was to establish which pathological processes are most frequently diagnosed as C3 and C4 categories, which carry a malignant tumor risk. METHODS: The frequency of all cytological categories was determined in a retrospective analysis which included 1605 patients, all of whom had undergone FNAC of breast lesions, over a period of 5 years (2012-2016). Furthermore, histopathological diagnoses of 212 patients with cytological categories C3 (77) or C4 (135) were compared. RESULTS: In the sample of 1605 patients, 212 belonged to C3 or C4 cytological category ( frequency for C3 4.8%, for C4 8.4%). Also, in the group of patients with cytological categories C3 and C4 there were 208 women. The patients with C3 were younger than C4 patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of benign and malignant diagnoses in patients diagnosed with C3 or C4 cytological category (p<0.001). In C3 category, in 57.1% of the cases a benign condition was histopathologically diagnosed, while in C4 category, in 90.4% of the cases malignant tumor was histopathologically diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: After histopathological analysis, C3 category in FNAC breast lesions is most commonly diagnosed as a fibrocystic breast disease or fibroadenoma, while C4 category is diagnosed as well-differentiated malignant tumor.

Vitamin B complex mitigates cardiac dysfunction in high-methionine diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemia.

This research is designed to test the hypothesis that elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels in vivo, caused by a deficit in vitamin B complex, promote changes in cardiac function and redox status that lead to heart failure. In order to conduct the study, we used adult male Wistar albino rats (n = 30; 4 weeks old; 100 ± 15 g body weight). Hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy) in these animals was achieved by dietary manipulation. For 4 weeks, the animals were fed with a standard rodent chow (control, CF), a diet enriched in methionine with no deficiency in B vitamins (i.e., folic acid, B6 and B12) (HMNV) or a diet enriched in methionine and deficient in B vitamins (HMLV). After 28 days of dietary manipulation, all animals were killed. The rat hearts were isolated and retrogradely perfused according to the Langendorff technique at a gradually increasing perfusion pressure. We found a negative correlation between elevated serum Hcy and total body and heart weight. The maximum rate of left ventricular pressure development was significantly increased in the HMNV group compared with in the other groups. Systolic left ventricular pressure was significantly changed in all groups. HHcy induces remodelling of the cardiac tissues, as moderate HHcy is associated with more prominent interstitial and perivascular fibrosis. Our results suggest that a high methionine diet without vitamin B complex causes profound negative effects associated with HHcy.

Clinical significance of microvessel density and proliferation in prostate cancer core biopsy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the microvessel density (MVD) and proliferation in prostate cancer (PC) core biopsies. METHODS: Core biopsy samples of PC tissue from 45 patients were routinely processed and embedded in paraffin. The samples of PC formed the investigated group (n=25), while samples of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) served as controls (n=20). From paraffin blocks, 3-5 µm-thick sections were made and routine hematoxylin-eosin method and immunohistochemical ABC method with Ki67 and CD34 antibodies were applied. Immunohistochemical expression of Ki67 and CD34 was stereometrically quantified. RESULTS: The median number of Ki67 and CD34 positive cells per mm2 in PC were significantly higher in comparison to the median of these cells in BHP. The average age and Gleason score in patients with high proliferation index (proIDX) and MVD index (mvdIDX) was significantly greater in comparison to those with low proIDX and low mvdIDX. The absolute values of Ki67 expression were in highly positive and significant correlation with the absolute values of CD34 expression. Highly significant correlation was found between Gleason score and proIDX and mvdIDX. CONCLUSION: This study showed that PC expressed significantly higher values of Ki67 and CD34 in comparison to BPH. The values of proIDX and mvdIDX obtained by core biopsy could clearly show the level of cancer progression expressed through highly correlated Gleason score. In this way it is possible to identify the patients at high risk for disease progression.