Estimation of maspin's subcellular localization in invasive ductal breast cancer via light microscopy and computerized image analysis: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: Contradictory results have been reported concerning the role of maspin and its cellular distribution in breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the subcellular localization (nuclear-cytoplasmic) of maspin in breast cancer and to compare the evaluation of maspin immunostaining via light microscopy (LM) to the estimation via computerized image analysis (CIA) system. We also examined correlations between maspin expression and several clinicopathological parameters. METHODS: The sample consisted of 48 primary invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) of the breast. Maspin immunostaining was quantified and graded via LM by two pathologists, separately in the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. Total maspin expression was also estimated via CIA system. Univariate non-parametric statistics and stepwise multivariate ordinal logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Both maspin components (nuclear and cytoplasmic) were closely associated with each other (p<0.001). Total maspin score was positively and closely associated with nuclear maspin (p<0.001) and cytoplasmic maspin (p<0.001). Total maspin , nuclear maspin and cytoplasmic maspin did not correlate significantly with either age, grade, T, N and M status, stage, micro vessel density (MVD) (CD34), ki-67, p53, estrogen receptor (ER) and HER-2 status, or with any of the 4 groups of the molecular classification. The only factor that showed a borderline inverse correlation with nuclear maspin (p=0.059) was progesterone receptors (PR) positivity. CONCLUSION: The cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of maspin seem to be closely interwoven. Evidently, both mutually intertwined counterparts were independently reflected upon the total maspin levels measured by CIA. Future studies should ideally encompass all three approaches (nuclear, cytoplasmic, total) adopted herein.

Common risk factors of breast and ovarian cancer: recent view.

Clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health specialists tend to examine breast and ovarian cancer separately. Although this seems fairly rational and expected, both malignancies are estrogen related and thus share many risk factors. In this review, we investigate the common familial, reproductive, anthropometric, nutritional, and lifestyle risk factors of breast and ovarian cancer. We believe that the parallel examination of the two cancer types could significantly contribute to an improved prevention of "gynecological cancer" as a whole.

Nursing students' and faculty's perceptions of the characteristics of 'best' and 'worst' clinical teachers: a replication study.

This replication study described and compared the characteristics of 'best' and 'worst' clinical teachers as perceived by 185 Greek students of nursing and 31 clinical teachers. It is a replication of Mogan & Knox's (1987) study, which has also been replicated by Nehring (1990). The Nursing Clinical Teacher Effectiveness Inventory (NCTEI) was used for data collection. This tool is a 48-item seven-point-scale checklist which describes discrete teacher characteristics grouped in five categories or subscales. Subjects were invited to rate their 'best' clinical teacher using the NCTEI, and then their 'worst' clinical teacher. Faculty's and students' perceptions agreed with most of the highest-rated characteristics of the 'best' clinical teachers. There was less agreement in the lowest-rated characteristics of the 'worst' teachers. There were not significant differences between the rating of students and faculty when categories of characteristics were compared, with the exception of the category 'interpersonal relationship' of the 'worst' teachers. The most distinguishing characteristics between 'best' and 'worst' clinical teachers for students and faculty in this study and in both Mogan & Knox's and Nehring's samples, were being a good role model and encouraging a climate of mutual respect.