Correlation analysis of c-myc, p21(WAF/CIP1), p53, C-erbB-2 and COX-2 proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal cancer is one of the most frequently occurring malignancies and the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common histological type of esophageal cancer worldwide. Our goal in this study was to detect c-myc, p21(WAF/CIP1), p53, C-erbB-2 and COX-2 immuno-expression in ESCC. Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 18 cases of ESCC (13 biopsies and 5 surgical specimens) were studied, retrospectively, by immunohistochemistry. p53 protein was observed in 50% of the cases, while c-myc was found in 6 of 18 samples (33.33%). All samples (100%) were negative for p21(WAF/CIP1). C-erbB-2 oncoprotein and the COX-2 protein were detected in 5.5% (1/18) and 16.66% (3/18) of the cases, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that c-myc, p53, C-erbB-2 and COX-2 proteins do not correlate with cancer stage or follow-up in ESCC as revealed by immunohistochemistry.

Immunohistochemical expression of collagen type IV antibody in the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint of human fetuses.

The objective of this paper was to study the morphology of the articular disc and analyze the immunohistochemical expression of the marker of type IV collagen in the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of human fetuses of different gestational ages. Twenty TMJ from human fetuses aging from 21 to 24 weeks of intrauterine life were studied. The TMJ were supplied by the Federal University of Uberaba. The ages of the fetuses were determined by measuring the crown-rump length (CRL). Macroscopically, the fetuses were fixed in a formalin solution at 10% and dissected by removing the skin and the subcutaneous tissue, exposing the deep structures. An immunohistochemical marker of type IV collagen was used in order to characterize the presence of blood vessels in the central region of the temporomandibular joint disc. Analysis of the immunohistochemical marker of type IV collagen showed the presence of blood vessels in the central region of the temporomandibular disc in human fetuses.

Alterações histoquímicas das glicosaminoglicanas na cérvice uterina no final da prenhez da rata albina após ministração local de hialuronidase / Histochemical changes of the glycosaminoglycans in the uterine cervix of pregnant rats after local injection of hyaluronidase

OBJETIVO: estudar as alterações histoquímicas relacionadas às glicosaminoglicanas da cérvice uterina da rata albina, após ministração local de hialuronidase no final da prenhez. MÉTODOS: dez ratas com teste de prenhez positivo foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em dois grupos, numericamente iguais. O Grupo Controle (Gc) foi constituído pelas ratas que receberam 1 mL de água destilada, dose única, no 18° dia da prenhez, sob anestesia, ministrado na cérvice uterina. O Grupo Experimental (Gex) constou de ratas que receberam, sob as mesmas condições do Gc, 0,02 mL de hialuronidase, diluído em 0,98 mL de água destilada (total de 1 mL). No 20° dia de prenhez, as ratas foram novamente anestesiadas e submetidas à dissecção, preparando-se a cérvice uterina para estudo histoquímico com coloração de alcian blue e seus bloqueios (pH=0,5, pH=2,5, metilação e saponificação). RESULTADOS: verificou-se na lâmina própria no Gc, reação fortemente positiva (+3) e, no Gex, reação negativa, na coloração de alcian blue no pH=0,5. Em pH=2,5 a coloração também se apresentou fortemente positiva (+4) no Gc e fracamente positiva (+1) no Gex. Após metilação, tanto o Gc quanto o Gex mostraram reação negativa após coloração de alcian blue no pH=2,5. Com a reação de metilação seguida de saponificação e na digestão enzimática em lâmina, a coloração da lâmina própria se mostrou negativa em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: há uma nítida predominância de glicosaminoglicanas sulfatadas no Gc em relação ao Gex e uma tênue quantidade de glicosaminoglicanas carboxiladas identificadas no Gex. As modificações evidenciadas na matriz extracelular sugerem que a hialuronidase injetada localmente na cérvix uterina promoveu alterações bioquímicas compatíveis com maturação cervical.

PURPOSE: to study the histochemical changes related to the uterine cervix glycosaminoglycan of the albino female rat, after local ministration of hyaluronidases at the end of pregnancy. METHODS: ten female rats with positive pregnancy tests were randomly distributed in two numerically equal groups. The control group (Cg) was built up with rats that received a single dose of 1 mL of distilled water in the uterine cervix, under anesthesia, at the 18th pregnancy day. In the experimental group (Exg), the rats received 0.02 mL of hyaluronidase, diluted in 0.98 mL of distilled water (1 mL as a total), under the same conditions as the Cg. At the 20th pregnancy day, the rats were anesthetized once again and submitted to dissection, and the cervix prepared for histochemical study with alcian blue dye and its blockades (pH=0.5, pH=2.5, methylation and saponification). RESULTS: strongly positive reaction in the lamina propria (+3) has been seen in the Cg, and negative reaction in the Exg, with pH=0.5 alcian blue staining. With pH=2.5, staining has also been strongly positive (+4) in the Cg, and weakly positive (+1) in the Exg slide. After methylation, both groups have shown negative reaction, with pH=2.5 alcian blue staining. The lamina propria staining became negative after methylation in both groups, followed by saponification and enzymatic digestion on slide. CONCLUSIONS: there is clear predominance of sulphated glycosaminoglycans in the Cg as compared to the Exg and a small amount of identified carboxylated glycosaminoglycans in the Exg. The changes evidenced in the extracellular matrix have suggested that the hyaluronidase injected in the uterine cervix has promoted biochemical changes compatible with cervix maturation.

[Histochemical changes of the glycosaminoglycans in the uterine cervix of pregnant rats after local injection of hyaluronidase]. / Alterações histoquímicas das glicosaminoglicanas na cérvice uterina no final da prenhez da rata albina após ministração local de hialuronidase.

PURPOSE: to study the histochemical changes related to the uterine cervix glycosaminoglycan of the albino female rat, after local administration of hyaluronidases at the end of pregnancy. METHODS: ten female rats with positive pregnancy tests were randomly distributed in two numerically equal groups. The control group (Cg) was built up with rats that received a single dose of 1 mL of distilled water in the uterine cervix, under anesthesia, at the 18th pregnancy day. In the experimental group (Exg), the rats received 0.02 mL of hyaluronidase, diluted in 0.98 mL of distilled water (1 mL as a total), under the same conditions as the Cg. At the 20th pregnancy day, the rats were anesthetized once again and submitted to dissection, and the cervix prepared for histochemical study with alcian blue dye and its blockades (pH=0.5, pH=2.5, methylation and saponification). RESULTS: strongly positive reaction in the lamina propria (+3) has been seen in the Cg, and negative reaction in the Exg, with pH=0.5 alcian blue staining. With pH=2.5, staining has also been strongly positive (+4) in the Cg, and weakly positive (+1) in the Exg slide. After methylation, both groups have shown negative reaction, with pH=2.5 alcian blue staining. The lamina propria staining became negative after methylation in both groups, followed by saponification and enzymatic digestion on slide. CONCLUSIONS: there is clear predominance of sulphated glycosaminoglycans in the Cg as compared to the Exg and a small amount of identified carboxylated glycosaminoglycans in the Exg. The changes evidenced in the extracellular matrix have suggested that the hyaluronidase injected in the uterine cervix has promoted biochemical changes compatible with cervix maturation.

Expressão imunoistoquímica do anticorpo de colágeno tipo VII no disco articular da articulaçãotemporomandibular de fetos humanos / Immunohistochemical expression of collagen type VII antibody in the human fetal temporomandibular joint discs

Objetivo: Estudar a morfologia do disco articular e analisar a expressãoimunoistoquímica do marcador de colágeno tipo VII no disco articular daarticulação temporomandibular de fetos humanos em diferentes idadesgestacionais. Métodos: Vinte articulações temporomandibulares defetos humanos entre 13 e 24 semanas de vida intra-uterina foram estudadas. As articulações temporomandibulares foram provenientesda coleção da Universidade Federal de Uberaba. As idades dos fetosforam determinadas pela mensuração do comprimento cabeça–nádega.Macroscopicamente, os fetos foram fixados em solução de formalina a10% e dissecados pela remoção da pele e tela subcutânea, expondo asestruturas profundas. Um marcador imunoistoquímico do colágeno tipoVII foi utilizado a fim de determinar sua presença na membrana basaldo disco articular da articulação temporomandibular. Resultados: Aanálise imunoistoquímica do marcador de colágeno tipo VII demonstroua presença desta proteína na região central e na porção superior dodisco articular da articulação temporomandibular de fetos humanos.Conclusão: A marcação de colágeno tipo VII no disco articular daarticulação temporomandibular no segundo trimestre de gestaçãodemonstrou que o disco articular, do ponto de vista biológico estrutural,é provido de membrana basal em suas porções central e superior.

Morphology and ultrastructure of the temporomandibular joint disc in human fetuses 21 to 28 weeks old

Ultrastructure of human fetuses temporomandibular joint is poorly understood specially by scanning electron microscopy and cryofracture techniques. In this work, the morphology of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) articular disc and its insertions was examined in 12 human fetuses. Four TMJs were sectioned in the frontal and sagittal planes and five were cryofractured prior to examination using light and scanning electron microscopy. The three remaining TMJs were fixed, embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained with HE and NMC trichrome. The articular disc inserted into the mandibular head, temporal bone, joint capsule and upper head of the lateral pterygoid muscle. The fibrous architecture of this disc was complex, with longitudinal fibers predominating in the upper and lower regions, and interposed transverse and oblique fibers predominating in the central region.