Olfactory bulbectomy and raphe nucleus relationship: a new vision for well-known depression model.

Background/aim: The olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) technic is a well-known animal model for depression. According to serotonin hypothesis of depression, one of the possible explanations to this mechanism is the destroying effect of OBX on raphe nuclei which especially include serotonergic neurons. In this study, we aimed to explore histopathological findings in raphe nuclei in OBX rats.Materials and methods: Forty-eight rats (8 control group, 10 sham group, and 30 as the study group) were used. No procedure was applied to the control group. Only frontal burr holes were performed at the level of olfactory bulbs (OBs) on the sham group. Mechanical OBX by compression was applied to 20 rats and the OBs of 10 rats were cauterized. Their OBs, olfactory cortices, raphe nuclei were extracted, tissue specimens were taken than examined by using histopathological methods including hematoxylin and eosin, S-100, and TUNEL staining. Physical dissector method was used to evaluate the number of living and apoptotic neurons in the raphe nuclei.Results: Prominent neuronal loss and morphological changes in the dorsal raphe nuclei were detected in study groups.Conclusion: Raphe nuclei degeneration, related alterations in neurotransmitter system activities and functional brain connectivity might be related to neurobiology of depression.

Cone beam computed tomography and ultrasonography imaging of benign intraosseous jaw lesion: a prospective radiopathological study.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether ultrasonography (US) can be used in combination with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to image intraosseous jaw lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using CBCT and US, we evaluated 123 lytic intraosseous jaw lesions diagnosed in 121 patients with guidance from the CBCT findings. The lesions were classified into two groups based on histopathological evaluation: (1) cysts and (2) tumors and tumor-like lesions. US and histopathological findings on the lesions of the two groups and their relationships with each other were also assessed. Results are reported as means ± standard errors, and p < 0.001 was accepted as indicating statistical significance. RESULT: In total, 123 lesions were evaluated; 74 (60.2%) were cysts and 49 (39.8%) were tumors or tumor-like lesions. The CBCT and US findings were compatible as far as dimensional measurements of the lesions in the three planes (p < 0.001). The US and histopathological findings on the content of the lesions correlated (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CBCT provides useful information for diagnosing intraosseous jaw lesions. Because it offers no valid Hounsfield unit (HU) value, it does not differentiate between solid and cystic masses. Thus, US can be used with CBCT to image intraosseous jaw lesions caused by buccal cortical thinning or perforation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: US provides useful information about intraosseous jaw lesions and can be used with CBCT to image such lesions caused by buccal cortical thinning or perforation. Clinicians can take this information into consideration when evaluating intraosseous jaw pathology.

Correction to: Cone beam computed tomography and ultrasonography imaging of benign intraosseous jaw lesion: a prospective radiopathological study.

In the original version of this article, '123 lytic intraosseous jaw lesions diagnosed in 112 patients' was incorrectly presented as '123 lytic intraosseous jaw lesions diagnosed in 121 patients' and 'an average age of 31.7 ± 15.4 (range, 6-72)' was incorrectly presented as 'average age of 15.4 ± 31.7 (range, 6-72)'.

A new update for radiocontrast-induced nephropathy aggravated with glycerol in rats: the protective potential of epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

Contrast media (CM) is known to have nephrotoxic adverse effects. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant and active catechin in green tea, and has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated whether EGCG can reduce contrast-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN), alone or with glycerol (GLY)-induced renal damage, and to understand its mechanisms of protection against toxicity, using models of GLY and CIN in rats. The rats were separated into eight groups (n = 6 in each), as follows: Healthy, GLY, CM, GLY + CM, CM + EGCG 50 mg/kg (po), GLY + CM + EGCG 50 mg/kg (po), CM + EGCG 100 mg/kg (po), and GLY + CM + EGCG 100 mg/kg (po). Both doses of EGCG protected against CM-induced renal dysfunction, as measured by serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). In addition, EGCG treatment markedly improved CIN-induced oxidative stress, and resulted in a significant down-regulatory effect on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nuclear factor (NF)-κB mRNA expression. Moreover, histopathological analysis showed that EGCG also attenuated CM-induced kidney damage. Considering the potential clinical use of CM and the numerous health benefits of EGCG, this study showed the protective role of multi-dose EGCG treatment on CIN and GLY-aggravated CIN through different mechanisms.

Evaluation of the effects of fulvestrant and micronized progesterone on the post-operative adhesion formation and ovarian reserve in rat model with immunohistochemical and biochemical analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of fulvestrant and micronized progesterone on post-operative adhesion formation and ovarian reserve in a rat uterine horn adhesion. METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, 32 female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups including control group (Group 1), the control adhesion group (Group 2), 1 mg/kg daily intramuscular fulvestrant received group (Group 3) and 1 mg/kg daily oral micronized progesterone received group (Group 4). The extent and severity of adhesions were scored and samples were taken from adhesion areas to investigate the grades of adhesions according to the immunohistochemical scoring system. Ovarian reserves were measured with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and histological ovarian follicles count. RESULTS: The extent, severity and total adhesion scores were reduced in all treatment groups compared to control adhesion group (Group 2). Similarly, immunohistochemical adhesion scores were lower in the treatment groups. AMH and follicle count were significantly found lower in adhesion groups compared with control group. However, treatment groups were found to have higher ovarian reserve compared to control adhesion group (Group 2). CONCLUSIONS: Fulvestrant and micronized progesterone were found to reduce post-operative adhesion formations and have decreased detrimental effects of adhesion formation on ovarian reserve.

The protective effects of IgM-enriched immunoglobulin and erythropoietin on the lung and small intestine tissues of rats with induced sepsis: biochemical and histopathological evaluation.

CONTEXT: Sepsis continues to be a significant problem for critical care patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of IgM-enriched immunoglobulin and erythropoietin on pulmonary and small intestine tissues in a rat model of intra-abdominal sepsis induced via the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Control group (n = 6): surgical procedure was not performed. Laparotomy was only performed in the sham group (n = 6) and CLP was only performed in the sepsis (CLP) group (n = 30). After erythropoietin (2000 U/kg, intraperitoneal) was given in the sepsis + erythropoietin (CLP + EPO) group (n = 30), IgM-enriched immunoglobulin (600 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was given in the sepsis + pentaglobin (CLP + PEN) group (n = 30), CLP was created. Intracardiac blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis; lung and small intestine tissue samples were removed for histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Plasma TNF-α levels (pg/ml) were similar among CLP, CLP + EPO, and CLP + PEN groups (204.0 ± 52.4, 198.5 ± 17.3, and 214.6 ± 93.6, respectively). The CLP group had higher plasma IL-1ß levels (pg/ml) compared with CLP + EPO and CLP + PEN groups (325.1 ± 134.1, 164.3 ± 25.6, and 186.3 ± 26.0, respectively) (p < 0.05). Rats in CLP + EPO and CLP + PEN groups had abolished histopathologic appearance of lung and small intestine tissues compared with rats in the CLP group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our findings support the use of EPO and IgM-enriched immunoglobulin in the prevention of lung and small intestine injuries associated with sepsis.

Changes in number of water-filled vesicles of choroid plexus in early and late phase of experimental rabbit subarachnoid hemorrhage model: the role of petrous ganglion of glossopharyngeal nerve.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion may be increased in the early phases of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), possibly via ischemic glossopharyngeal nerve discharges, and decreased due to glossopharyngeal nerve degeneration in the late phase of SAH; but this reflex pathway has not been definitively investigated. We studied the relationship between petrous ganglion of the glossopharyngeal nerve (GPN) and water vesicles of the choroid plexus (CP) in the early and late phases of SAH. METHODS: This study was conducted on 30 rabbits, divided into four groups, with five rabbits in the control group (group I), five rabbits in the sham group (Group II), and 20 rabbits in the SAH group. In the SAH group, five of the animals were decapitated after 4 days of cisternal blood injections (Group III), and the other 15 animals were decapitated after 20 days of injections (Group IV). The Petrous Ganglia and CPs of lateral ventricles were removed and stained for stereological analysis. RESULTS: The mean number of follicles per cubic millimeter was 5.3 ± 1.2 the in control group (Group I), 4.5 ± 0.9 in the sham group (Group II), 16.60 ± 3.77 the in early decapitated group (Group III), and 4.30 ± 0.84 in the late decapitated group (Group IV). The mean number of degenerated neuron density of petrous ganglions was 6 ± 2, 50 ± 6, 742 ± 96, and 2.420 ± 350 in the control (Group I), sham (Group II), early decapitated (Group III), and late decapitated group (Group IV), respectively. The mean number of water vesicles was statistically different after SAH between the early decapitated group (group III) and the late decapitated group (group IV) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We studied the relationship between petrous ganglion cells of the GPN and water vesicles of CP in the early and late phases of SAH, and found that CP vesicles are increased in the early phase of SAH due to irritation of GPN, and decreased in the late phase due to ischemic insult of the petrous ganglion and parasympathetic innervation of the CP.

The role of sympathectomy on the regulation of basilar artery volume changes in stenoocclusive carotid artery modeling after bilateral common carotid artery ligation: an animal model.

BACKGROUND: Stenoocclusive carotid artery disease causes important histomorphologic changes in all craniocervical vasculatures, such as luminal enlargement, vascular wall thinning, elongation, convolutions, and aneurysm formation in the posterior circulation. Although increased pressure, retrograde blood flow, and biochemical factors are described in the pathogenesis of vascular remodelisation, the vasoregulatory role of the autonomic nervous system has not been investigated thus far. We investigated the relationship between the sympathetic nervous system and the severity of histomorphologic alterations of basilar arteries after bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCAL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 21 rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: baseline group (n = 5), sympathectomy non-applied group (SHAM; n = 8), and sympathectomy applied group (n = 8) before bilateral common carotid artery ligation. Permanent ligation of the prebifurcations of the common carotid arteries was performed to replicate stenoocclusive caroid artery disease. Basilar artery volumes were measured after ligation. Volumes of the basilar arteries were estimated by stereologic methods and compared between groups. RESULTS: Luminal enlargement, wall thinning, elongation, convolutions, and doligoectatic configurations were detected in the majority of basilar arteries. The mean basilar arterial volume was 4.27 ± 0.22 mm3 in the baseline group; 5.28 ± 0.67 mm(3) in the SHAM group, and 8.84 ± 0.78 mm3 in the study group. The severity of basilar enlargement was significantly higher in the study group compared with the SHAM (p < 0.005) and baseline groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sympathectomy causes basilar artery enlargment, which is beneficial for maintaining cerebral blood flow; however, it also causes wall thinning, elongation, convolution, and aneurysm formation, which may be hazardous in stenoocclusive carotid artery disease. Sympathectomy can prevent new vessel formation and hyperthyrophic changes at the posterior circulation. Neovascularisation is not detected adequately in sympathectomised animals.

An investigation about the inhibition of acute ischemia/reperfusion damage by dexmedetomidine in rat ovarian tissue.

Reperfusion has always been "the emergency intervention" to ischemic tissue. For a given period of time, tissue injury due to ischemia and reperfusion is more serious than injury due to ischemia only. Groups were as: Group 1: 25 µg/kg dexmedetomidine + ischemia/reperfusion group. Group 2: 10 mg/kg yohimbine +25 µg/kg dexmedetomidine + ischemia/reperfusion group. Group 3: Ischemia/reperfusion (control) group. Group 4: Healthy rats. Rat ovaries were exposed to a 3-hour ischemia and then reperfusion ensured for 2 hours. After ischemia/reperfusion, total glutathione, malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxyguanine levels and histopathological investigation were studied. The highest total glutathione and the lowest malondialdehyde and DNA damage levels were determined in dexmedetomidine group when compared to control group. The difference between yohimbine + dexmedetomidine and the control group was insignificant. Dexmedetomidine protects the ovarian tissue of the rat from I/R injury. It is hypothesized that this protective effect of dexmedetomidine is mediated by the α-2 adrenergic receptors. Dexmedetomidine could be useful for attenuation of tissue damage after I/R and prevention of I/R-related complications.

Purification of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes from tumour and nontumour human stomach and inhibitory effects of some heavy metals on enzymes activities.

In this study, glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme was purified from nontumour and tumour human gastric tissue and in vitro effects of heavy metals on the enzyme were examined. GST was purified 3089 fold with a specific activity of 20 U/mg and a yield of 78% from gastric tumour tissue; and 1185 fold with a specific activity of 5.69 U/mg and a yield of 50% from nontumour tissue by using glutathione-agarose affinity column, respectively. Enzyme purity was verified by SDS-PAGE and subunit molecular mass was calculated around 26 kDa. The molecular weight of the enzyme was calculated as 52 kDa by using Sephadex G-75 gel filtration column. Then, inhibitory effects of metal ions on the enzymes were investigated. Mg(2+) and Cd(2+) had inhibitory effect on the enzymes activities. Other kinetic properties of the enzymes were also determined.

Stereological evaluation of the kidneys of anencephalic and normal fetuses.

The aim of this study is to test the glomerular and other quantitative parameters of kidneys of anencephalic fetuses and comparing those to "normal" fetuses. In this study, 20 kidneys of human fetuses (5 boys and 5 girls of anencephalic fetus, and 5 boys and 5 girls of normal fetus), at gestational ages of 25-30 weeks, were examined. This study is based on two basic research methods: one is a conventional anatomical measurement at the macroscopical level; the other is a design-biased stereological method at the microscopical level. Physical dissector and Cavalieri principle were used to estimate the total and numerical density of glomerulus and the volume of kidney, respectively. The results of the two types of investigation were compared based on anencephalic/normal and boy/girl kidneys at both the macroscopical and microscopical levels. There was no significant difference found between the quantitative features of kidneys (volume of kidneys and mean number and/or height of glomerulus) belonging to anencephalic and normal fetuses. The results of this study suggest that anencephalic fetuses did not differ from normal fetuses in respect of kidneys.

The relationship between smoking and exercise among physical education teachers in Turkey.

We studied the relationship between smoking and exercise among physical education teachers in Turkey. An online questionnaire was used to collect data. The responses of 1,995 teachers who completed the questionnaire were evaluated. The mean age of the participants was 31.0 +/- 4.7 years; 67.4% of the participants were male. The smoking rate was 65.2%. The mean age of onset of smoking was 16.6 +/- 2.6 years. The age of starting smoking increased with higher parental education level. There were no differences between smokers and nonsmokers with respect to gender. Of smokers, 51.2% were married; 52.4% were in the 30-39 year old age group. The most common reasons for starting smoking were the influence of friends and emulation. The most common reason for trying to quit smoking among men was future health concerns and among women was current health concerns. We found smoking was less common among participants who exercised regularly. The level of nicotine dependence was significantly lower among participants who exercised regularly compared to those who did not. This study suggests physical education teachers, who are role models for their students, have a high smoking rate. We believe urgent action is needed to reduce the smoking rate and increase the quit rate among physical education teachers.

Right Common Femoral Vein Invasion: A Unique Case of Inguinal Ectopic Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Ectopic breast cancer may present anywhere in the milk line, from the axilla to the groin which is extremely rare in the inguinal region. Despite morphologic differences, ectopic breast tissue presents characteristics related to orthotopic breast tissue in terms of function and pathologic degeneration. The case report describes the treatment of a unique ectopic breast carcinoma which was located in the inguinal region with a common femoral vein invasion. METHODS: We present a unique case of an ectopic breast carcinoma presenting in an unusual anatomic location along the milk line. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee (protocol no: 12.01.2023-2023/02) Informed consent was obtained from the patient. RESULTS: The patient is surgically treated and supplemented with neoadjuvant chemotherapy,radiotherapy and endocrine therapy. Histopathological examination revealed the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma. The right common femoral vein was reconstructed with bovine pericardial patch after totally removal of the mass. CONCLUSIONS: This report alerts the reader to be cognizant of the unusual location of an ectopic breast cancer which was detected in the inguinal region with a common femoral vein invasion and discusses the treatment, suggesting novel therapeutic advice that could bring considerable clinical advantages. A multidisciplinary approach should be warranted in such cases to confirm a complete remission.

Correlation of E-cadherin, VEGF, COX-2 expression to prognostic parameters in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Thyroid cancer represents approximately 1% of all human malignancies. papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignant tumor of the thyroid gland, accounting for 70-80% of all thyroid cancers. In the US, the incidence of thyroid cancer is 4 per 100,000 individuals. It is two to four times as frequent in women as in men. The development of PTC is influenced by many factors including genetic alterations, growth factors, and physical agents such as radiation. In order to recognize the prognosis for PTC, a lot of clinic and pathological parameters such as; age, tumor size, extra-thyroid tumor spread, lymph node, distant metastases, gender, tumor stage are used. As most of these parameters are subjective, more objective and useful prognostic factors are needed for determining biologic behavior, providing an initial assessment. In this study, we aimed to compare the expressions of COX-2, E-cadherin, VEGF to classical prognostic factors, and to investigate the correlation with prognosis. Operation records from 79 PTC cases were examined retrospectively. In the study, we aimed to investigate the whole tissue by means of stereology method, which is an impartial one, and we indicated the expression COX-2, VEGF, E-cadherin immunohistochemically in 79 resection diagnosed with PTC. We determined correlations between the expressions of COX-2 and VEGF, E-cadherin, and age, gender, and stage.

Occurrence of anticancer activity of prednisolone via adrenalectomy and inhibition of adrenaline in rats.

In this study, the anticancer effect of prednisolone was investigated using rats with normal endogen adrenaline levels (intact), reduced adrenaline levels (metyrosine-induced) and adrenaline deficiency (adrenalectomized) via gastric adenocarcinoma model. Gastric adenocarcinoma was induced with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). According to our experimental results, prednisolone could not prevent MNNG-induced adenocarcinoma when used alone in intact rats. There were neither macroscopic nor microscopic signs of cancer in the rat groups that received metyrosine and prednisolone. However, dysplasia occurred in the stomachs of 2 of 10 rats that received metyrosine and prednisolone. There was no adenocarcinoma genesis in the stomachs of adrenalectomized rats that received prednisolone alone. However, yohimbine (a selective blocker of alpha2-adrenoreceptors) pretreatment in adrenalectomized rats negated the anticancer effect of prednisolone. In conclusion, prednisolone was shown not to be an anticancer agent in intact rats when used alone; however, it has anticancer effects in rats whose adrenaline levels were reduced via adrenalectomy or metyrosine, which is a catecholamine synthesis inhibitor.

The frequency of depression and menopause-related symptoms in postmenopausal women living in a province in Eastern Turkey, and the factors that affect depressive status.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine depression in women in the postmenopausal stage in Elazig city, located in Eastern Turkey, and determine the factors affecting depressive status. MATERIAL/METHODS: The sample included 546 women and of these, 519 could be contacted. A questionnaire was conducted with the women who were included in the study. This included demographic properties, which are thought to affect depression. Subjects were given the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: In total, 97.7% of women reported that they experienced a problem or had complaints during menopause, while 54.9% reported that they experienced problems in their sexual lives. The mean BDI score of women was 17.01+/-8.75. The ratio of women whose total scores were higher than the breakpoint of 17 was 42.2%. Single, widowed, and divorced women had higher ratios than married women; primary school or lower education women had higher ratios than high school or lower education graduate women; the women who reported that they had problems in their sexual lives had higher ratios than the other women within the survey; the women who were subject to violence at any time during their lives had higher ratios than the women who had not experienced violence (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of depression symptoms in women living in Elazig is high. The information and services that the local women receive about menopause are inadequate.

Prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among urban school children in Elazig city, Eastern Turkey, 2007.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity is increasing dramatically all over the world. Very little data are currently available on the prevalence of childhood obesity in Turkey, and more research on the risk factors is required before preventive public health programmes can be put into practice. AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and related factors in primary school students in Elazig, a city in eastern Turkey. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In March-June 2007 a cross-sectional study of children aged 6-11 years old was performed. A total of 1782 girls and 1860 boys were observed. Weight and height were measured. Overweight and obesity using age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off points as defined by the International Obesity Taskforce were used. RESULTS: Prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.2% and 1.6%, respectively. According to gender, the prevalence of obesity in boys was 2.0% and overweight was 13.9%, while in girls, obesity was 1.2% and overweight was 12.5%. We found that overweight and obesity may be related to factors such as eating while watching television, and eating fast food. CONCLUSION: It was noted as a health problem that there are overweight students aged between 6 and 11 years attending primary schools in Elazig province.

The effects of polymicrobial sepsis with diabetes mellitus on kidney tissues in ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVES: Sepsis model was used to understand the role of sustained hyperglycemia and ovariectomy, either separately or concomitantly, on the response of the activity of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and the oxidative response in kidney. SUBJECTS: Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Diabetes was induced in female rats using administration of alloxan. The rats were divided into five groups: sham control (group 1), ovariectomy (group 2), ovariectomy + sepsis (group 3), ovariectomy + diabetes (group 4), and ovariectomy + diabetic + sepsis (group 5). RESULTS: In kidney tissues, the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glutathione (GSH) and the activity of catalase (CAT) were higher for groups 3, 4, 5 than the control groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower for groups 3, 4, 5 than the control groups. We determined that CLP produced injury evident in the kidneys of rats when compared to the control group, whereas the severity of the injury was higher in the diabetes + ovariectomy + CLP group when compared to the CLP group. In immunohistochemical staining, we determined that CLP operation increased NF-kappaB activation. In the ovariectomized, septic, and diabetic group, NF-kappaB activation was significantly higher than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia and ovariectomy severely increased NF-kappaB activation and oxidant levels with the stages of our sepsis model. Ovariectomy resulted in general changes in metabolism, which are seen in the kidney with diabetes under sepsis conditions.

Epithelial healing in experimental corneal alkali wounds with nondiluted autologous serum eye drops.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the topical application of nondiluted autologous serum on epithelial healing as an adjuvant therapy in rabbit corneal alkali wounds. METHODS: Central corneal alkali wounds were produced on the right eye of 16 rabbits, by a 60-second application of a 6-mm round filter paper soaked in 1 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH). One group of rabbits (n=8) was treated with non-diluted autologous serum, the other control group (n=8) was treated with physiologic saline, topically 4 times a day. The epithelial healing of the wounds was followed on a slit lamp with and without fluorescein staining daily for 1 week. On day 7, both corneas of each rabbit were excised and assessed histopathologically. RESULTS: A significant increase in the epithelial healing rate was observed in the autologous serum-treated corneas compared with the controls. Epithelial hyperplasia was noticed in specimens with thickened surface cells with multilayers, revealing disorganization in both groups. The autologous serum-treated epithelium showed a relatively well-organized appearance. CONCLUSION: Nondiluted autologous serum eye drops could be used as an adjuvant therapy for promoting the epithelial healing process during the repair stage of corneal alkali wounds.

The expression of MCM-2 in invasive breast carcinoma: a stereologic approach.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine the expression of MCM-2 and conventional proliferation marker Ki-67 in breast carcinoma by stereologic technique and to compare it with various clinicopathologic parameters. METHODS: The expression of MCM-2 and Ki-67 on paraffin-embedded tumor tissue sections of patients with invasive breast carcinoma was analyzed immunohistochemically. Stereologic method was used for evaluation of the percentage of positively stained tumor cells. RESULTS: Significant positive correlation was found between the expression of MCM-2 and that of Ki-67 (r = 0.74, p < 0.001). MCM-2 and Ki-67 expression was significantly associated with histologic grade (p < 0.05), and negative correlation was observed between MCM-2 or Ki-67 expression and estrogen status (p < 0.05). No significant association was observed between MCM-2 or Ki-67 expression and patient age, tumor size, lymph node status, clinical stage and menopausal status. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MCM-2 expression is significantly associated with histologic grade of breast carcinoma and with cell proliferation capacity (Ki-67 labelling index). Additional studies are required using the stereologic method to compare and understand the utility of Ki-67 and MCM-2 expression in invasive breast carcinoma (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 34). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.