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).

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and microvascular density assessment in different histotypes of basal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor microvascular density (MVD) in different histotypes of basal cell skin carcinoma (BCC). METHODS: We used a total 101 histological archival specimens, including superficial, nodular, cystic, keratinocytic, adenoid infiltrative types and cases of metatypical BCC. Routine hematoxylin/eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical ABC method with NOT AE1/AE3, anti VEGF anti CD34 antibodies were used. VEGF expression in tumor cells was studied in relation to the BCC histotype and demographic characteristics. For statistical analysis ANOVA (F test), Student's t-test, and Karl Pearson coefficient were used. RESULTS: VEGF expression was significantly lower in the superficial histotype compared to all other types of BCC. No significant difference in VEGF expression between infiltrative, metatypical, adenoid and nodular types was found, but the highest expression of VEGF was seen in the infiltrative and metatypical types. Significantly higher MVD was found in infiltrative, adenoid, metatypical and nodular types. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the angiogenic potential of BCC correlated with tumor histotype, and histological growth pattern BCC enable distinction of the patients with increased risk of recurrence and / or metastasis.

Comparative spectroscopic studies on liposomes containing chlorophyll a and chlorophyllide a.

Chlorophyll a (Chla) and chlorophyllyde a (Chlida) - a derivative of Chla, have been incorporated in the lipid bilayers of two types of liposomes, small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) and multilamelar vesicles (MLV). The objective of the present work was to compare the spectral behaviour of Chla and Chlida incorporated in the lipid bilayers and their sensing behaviour at molecular level. The VIS absorption and fluorescence emission presented differences depending on the type of liposomes and inserted pigment, reflecting the different localization of porphyrin macrocycle in the lipid moieties. The temperature dependence of emission anisotropy and fluorescence intensity, for both Chla and Chlida incorporated in DPPC SUV, revealed the presence of different lipid phases. The degree of incorporation of quercetin (QCT) in liposome membrane was studied by using Chla and Chlida as molecular sensors. The fluorescence polarisation data and the fluorescence quenching process provided arguments for the insertion of the QCT at the interface lipid/water, in the vicinity of lipid polar heads and porphyrin macrocycle. The phytyl chain of Chla penetrating in the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayers is responsible for the observed differences among Chla and Chlida in sensing the lipid phase transition and the fluorescence quenching process induced by QCT.

The proposed criteria for high perceived misophonia in young healthy adults and the association between Misophonia symptoms and noise sensitivity.

Context: The association between noise sensitivity and misophonia has not been explored in any population, according to the available literature. Aims: To assess the proportion of misophonia symptoms among young healthy adults, to propose the criteria for high perceived misophonia, and to explore the association between misophonia with noise sensitivity with adjustment for sex, age, perceived anxiety, and depression. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study on 1132 medical students, aged 21.4 ± 2.1 years. Methods and Material: Misophonia symptoms were self-reported using the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale. Nine criteria for high perceived misophonia are proposed. Noise sensitivity was measured with Weinstein scale. Perceived anxiety and depression were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, respectively. Statistical Analysis Used: Multiple logistic regression. Results: Almost half of the students reported the feeling of irritation against people making provoking sounds. Only one in 10 claimed the feeling of loss of self-control when exposed to provoking sounds. High noise sensitivity and high depression were associated with higher odds of meeting the criteria for high perceived misophonia. Conclusion: Noise-sensitive students are at higher risk of reporting misophonia symptoms and of being classified with high perceived misophonia. The combination of at least four or more symptoms, which classifies every 10th student with high perceived misophonia, is proposed as a self-assessment tool for epidemiological studies among young healthy adults.

Influence of stathmin 1 (STMN1) expression on neoangiogenesis in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Stathmin1 is a microtubular regulatory protein. The expression disorders of this protein result in significant changes in cell migration, invasion, adhesion and colony formation in many malignant tumors. The aim of our research was to investigate the effects of Stathmin1 expression on neoangiogenesis in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Biopsy material that was obtained by the resection of colorectal carcinoma was used. The experimental group consisted of operative biopsies of colorectal cancer (n = 72), and the control group (n = 72) consisted of biopsies of adjacent non-tumor colon tissue. The biopsy material was taken from an operative preparation submitted to the Department of Pathology. After histopathological treatment, classical Hematoxylin- Eosin and immunohistochemical ABC methods with anti-Stathmin1, anti-VEGF and anti CD105 antibodies were applied on 4 µm thick sections. High expression of Stathmin1 is associated with severe (91.9%) and moderate (8.1%) expression of VEGF in a significantly high number of cases. This relation is defined by a highly significant correlation coefficient (r = 0.768; p = 0.000). High expression of Stathmin1 is associated with a high microvascular density index (mvdIDX) in a significant number of cases (73.0%) while low expression of Stathmin1 is in relation with low mvdIDX in a significant 73.7% of cases. This relationship is also defined by a highly significant correlation coefficient (r = 0.566; p = 0.000). ROC analysis showed that the sensitivity for Stathmin1 was 97.4% and the specificity was 91.4%. Based on Stathmin1 expression, it is possible to differentiate patients with increased risk for metastatic disease. The highly significant association of Stathmin1 expression with VEGF expression and microvascular density (MVD) suggests that Stathmin1 may be a serious candidate for therapeutic target.

Left handedness and spine deformities in early adolescence.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between laterality and spine deformities in early adolescence, with special reference to sex differences. Interviews, anthropometric measurements and clinical examinations of body posture were carried out on a sample of 2546 schoolchildren, aged from 11 to 14 years, in seven elementary schools in the centre of Belgrade. Possible confounding factors (age, sex, body weight and body height) were controlled for. The overall prevalence of spine deformities (scoliosis and/or thoracic hyperkyphosis) in the investigated population was 11.8%, out of which there were 7.8% adolescents with scoliosis, 4.0% with thoracic hyperkyphosis, and 0.3% with both spine deformities. The prevalence of scoliosis was 2.7 times higher in girls compared to boys (11.7% vs. 4.3%) while the prevalence of thoracic hyperkyphosis was 1,6 higher among boys (5.0% vs. 3.2%). We found 7.6% of the schoolchildren examined to be left-handed. Left handedness was significantly related to scoliosis in girls (crude OR = 1.60 and 95% confidence interval = 1.01-2.54). Multivariate analysis showed that significant independent factors for scoliosis were female sex (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.01) and left handedness (p = 0.02). We did not find any appreciable relation between left handedness and thoracic hyperkyphosis in both sexes.