Immunohistochemical analysis of p16 expression in uterine smooth muscle tumors.

The expression of p16 as a tumor suppressor protein was evaluated in a retrospective analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of leiomyosarcoma (LMS), leiomyoma (LM) and normal myometrium. In this study, we investigated by immunohistochemistry p16 expression in 15 LMSs, 15 LMs and ten normal myometrium. Strong expression of p16 was found in 12 of the 15 LMSs and in three cases weak expression; three LMs had focal and weak p16 staining but none of the normal myometrium. A statistically significant difference regarding the frequency of p16 protein expression was observed between LMS and LM (p: 0.0001). We concluded that the results of this study confirm the overexpression of p16 in LMS. Therefore, the present study suggests that p16 might be a useful immunohistochemical marker which could help in distinguishing uterine LMS from LM and its benign variants.

The effects of interferon alpha2b on chemically-induced peritoneal fibrosis and on peritoneal tissue MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels in rats.

This study investigated the effect of interferon alpha2b on chlorhexidine gluconate (CH)-induced peritoneal fibrosis (PF) in rats and assessed peritoneal tissue levels of metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-2. Wistar albino rats (n = 8 per group) were treated as follows: control group, 3 ml/day of 0.9% saline intra-peritoneally for 28 days; CH group, 0.1% CH (200 g[3 ml]/day) in 15% ethanol and 0.9% saline intra-peritoneally for 28 days; CH + interferon (IFN) group, CH (as above) plus pegylated IFN-alpha2b 1.5 mug/kg per week subcutaneously on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28; IFN group, pegylated IFN-alpha2b (as above). Parietal peritoneum samples were obtained from the left anterior abdominal wall after 35 days. Parietal thickness, degree of vascular proliferation and inflammation, and MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels were determined. The mean peritoneal thicknesses of the control, CH, CH + IFN and IFN groups were 7.02 +/- 3.89, 156.86 +/- 29.13, 59.88 +/- 22.1, 9.27 +/- 2.03 mum, respectively. Pegylated IFN-alpha2b decreased CH-induced expression of MMP-2 in the parietal peritoneum, but had no effect on TIMP-2 levels. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dosage and duration for pegylated IFN-alpha2b treatment.

Multiple uterine angioleiomyomas mimicking an ovarian neoplasm: a case report.

Angioleiomyoma is a rare benign neoplasm that originates from smooth muscle cells and contains thick-walled blood vessels. A 69-year-old woman had been complaining of progressive abdominal distention for the last five years. At the exploration, a tumoral mass that could not be differentiated as to whether it had its origin from the uterus or ovary was specified. The patient underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH+BSO). On pathologic examination of the specimen, the tumor was diagnosed as an angioleiomyoma. Here, we present a case of giant-multiple uterine angioleiomyomas mimicking an ovarian neoplasm.

The management of lichen planus with low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin).

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of low-dose, low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin) in the treatment of lichen planus (LP). Twenty-four patients clinically and histopathologically diagnosed as LP with intense pruritus were treated with 3 mg of enoxaparin (Clexane), subcutaneously once a week for 4-14 weeks. Complete remission was observed in 20 of 24 patients (83%) who had widespread cutaneous involvement, but no or minimal effect was observed in four of 24 patients, three of whom had chronic hypertrophic LP. Low-dose enoxaparin was observed to be effective in the treatment of LP without any side-effects. Enoxaparin may be an effective and simple alternative therapy for LP.

P53, c-erbB-2 expression and steroid hormone receptors in breast carcinoma: correlations with histopathological parameters.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the p53 tumor suppressor gene, c-erbB-2 and steroid hormone receptor expression in breast carcinoma by immunohistochemistry and to correlate them with different histopathologic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: p53, c-erbB-2, steroid hormone receptors and their correlation with age, tumor size, histological grade, axillary lymph-node status, and menopausal status were investigated in 65 breast carcinoma cases. All markers were measured immunohistochemically on paraffin sections. Association between estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), p53 and c-erbB-2 expression and clinicopathologic variables were assessed by the chi-square test for qualitative parameters. RESULTS: c-erbB-2 staining was found in 35.3% of breast carcinomas and was associated with ductal subtype and age under 35 (p = 0.022, p = 0.003, respectively); p53 staining was seen in 27.6% of cases and was associated with high histological grade and postmenapausal status (p = 0.038, p = 0.002, respectively). Progesterone receptor expression was associated with positive axillary status (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: We concluded that expressions of c-erbB-2, p53, ER, and PgR may be used in the evaluation of breast carcinoma. Therefore the present study suggests that p53 expression is a marker of high histological grade in postmenopausal status, and that c-erbB-2 expression is associated with histologically ductal subtype.

Cervical biopsy specimens and human papilloma virus positivity in patients with external genital warts.

Cervical biopsy specimens were taken from 16 women with external genital warts in order to diagnose concomitant cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) according to pathology. Positive HPV infection was detected 56% (9/16) of the patients. Among those patients 66% (6/9) had concurrent subclinical low-grade CIN lesions. One of those patients had a high-grade CIN lesion. It is concluded that cervical HPV infection was rather common in women with external genital warts and it is valuable to examine cervical HPV infection by biopsy to detect concomitant CIN.

Experimental study on effects of deferoxamine mesilate in ameliorating cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

PURPOSE: Cisplatin (CCDP), an indispensable agent of several chemotherapy protocols, has serious dose limiting side effects, including nephrotoxicity. In this experimental study, we used deferoxamine mesilate (DFO), an iron chelating agent, to ameliorate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty adult male bulb-c mice were divided in 6 equal groups. Group 1 received distilled water, group 2 received 100 mg/kg DFO, group 3 received 0.9 mg/kg CCDP, group 4 received 100 mg/kg DFO one hour before 0.9 mg/kg CCDP, group 5 received 1.8 mg/kg CCDP, and group 6 received 200 mg/kg DFO one hour before 1.8 mg/kg CCDP transperitoneally for 10 days. The next day, blood and urine samples were obtained, and all the animals were sacrificed, the kidneys and testes were removed, and histopathologic and biochemical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Low-dose and high-dose CCDP treated mice had significantly more extensive proximal tubular degeneration (p < 0.001) when compared to control animals. Moreover, these changes were significantly less extensive in the mice taking DFO than mice taking CCDP. DFO showed no effect on cisplatin induced testicular histopathology. The cisplatin administration significantly increased the serum urea and plasma creatinin concentrations, and DFO administration prior to CCDP significantly decreased serum urea and plasma creatinin concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that DFO administration may be safe and useful for ameliorating cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Castleman's disease (giant lymph node hyperplasia) of the neck: a case report.

Castleman's disease (giant lymph node hyperplasia) is an uncommon cause of neck mass. Its cause and pathogenesis are still unknown. Giant lymph node hyperplasia (GLH) usually presents as an asymptomatic solitary mass and can occur anywhere in the head and neck. Diagnostic test results are always inconclusive. Excision and histopathological evaluation are the only ways to make a definitive diagnosis. The disease is curable by surgical excision. A case of GLH presenting as a solitary neck mass in a 68-year-old man is reported. There has been no recurrence during about 7 months.

Mucinous tumors of the ovary: analysis of 38 cases.

Ovarian mucinous tumors stem from ovarian surface epithelium and are divided into benign, borderline and malignant. It is difficult to differentiate borderline and malignant mucinous tumors. Thirty-eight cases of ovarian mucinous tumors which were diagnosed at the Pathology Department of Dicle University Medical Faculty were reviewed. Of these, 18 (47.3%), six (15.7%) and 14 (36.8%) were benign, borderline and malignant, respectively. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 67 (average 44.5) years. Bilaterality was detected in 1/18 (5.5%), 0/6 and 4/14 (28.5%) of benign, borderline and malignant mucinous tumors, respectively. Mean tumor size was 26.4 cm. Microscopically, there was no stratification in the benign tumors. The borderline tumors had papillary infoldings and 2-3 layers of atypical epithelial cells but no invasion of the stroma. Malignant tumors had four or more layers of atypical epithelial cells and stromal invasion.

Survival and reproductive function after treatment of immature ovarian teratoma.

We conducted a clinical and pathologic review of nine patients with immature ovarian teratoma. The histologic grade of the tumor seemed to be a reliable indicator of prognosis. Low stage and low grade immature ovarian teratomas have an excellent prognosis. Platinum-based chemotherapy has been confirmed to be effective in the management of patients with ovarian germ cell tumors. Low grade pure ovarian immature teratoma is a potentially curable disease and a fertility-sparing surgical approach is possible.

Teratogenic effects of propineb on rat skin.

The dithiocarbamates are known to cause dermatitis, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis and bronchitis in humans. The experimental group received Propineb (obtained from Bayer) concentrations of 400 ppm in distilled water five days a week (treatment time three weeks) administered orally by gasric pit. Acute oral LD50 for male rats has been found to be 8,500 mg/kg (Worthing, 1983). The control group (n = 10) received only distilled water. At ultrasonographical examination, there were no resorbed fetuses or stillborns during or after propineb administration. It can be clearly seen that the body weights of the experimental group of litters are lower than those of the control group (p < 0.001). However, the mean length of the experimental litters was identical to the control group of litters (p > 0.05). Under microscopical examination, increased keratinization and hyperplasia were observed in the epidermal cells.

Castleman's disease in the porta hepatis.

We report the CT, ultrasonographic, and pathologic features of a localized forms of Castleman's disease in the porta hepatis due to their unusual location. Our report suggests that the CT and the ultrasonographic features of Castleman's disease in these locations without calcifications is nonspecific.