Ezrin immunoexpression in gastric cells of domestic cats infected with Helicobacter spp.

The aim of this study was to evaluate de immunoexpression of ezrin in gastric cells of domestic cats infected with Helicobacter spp. and with chronic gastritis. Twenty paraffin-embedded gastric samples were selected based on previous positive results for Helicobacter spp. in the Rapid Urease Test, Warthin-Starry staining and cytology. Haematoxylin-eosin stained sections was done to evaluate inflammatory cell infiltrates. Immunohistochemical analysis was done using anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-Ezrin antibodies. The analysis of inflammatory infiltrates revealed 8/20 (40%) in score 0, 11/20 (55%) in score 1 and 1/20 (5%) in score 2. The labelling observed in the immunohistochemical analysis using anti-Helicobacter spp. antibody showed no samples with score 0; 4/20 (20%) with score 1; 7/20 35% with score 2 and 9/20 (45%) with score 3. Ezrin overexpression on the cytoplasm of parietal cells was revealed in 18 out of 20 samples (90%). Of these, 10 cases (45%) achieved the score 1; 6 cases (30%) the score 2 and 2 cases (10%) the score 3. On the surface and pit cells there was an increase in Ezrin immnoexpression in 12 out of the 20 samples (60%), of which 8 samples (40%) achieved the score 1 and 4 samples (20%) the score 2. No sample were classified in score 3. Statistically significant differences (p = 0.026) were observed between the inflammatory infiltrate in the gastric mucosa and the immunoexpression of Ezrin in the cytoplasm of parietal cells. It was concluded that ezrin had an increased immunoexpression in the gastric mucosa of cats with chronic gastritis.

Evaluation of Bcl-2, Bcl-x and cleaved caspase-3 in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and neurofibromas.

AIMS: To study the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, as well the presence of cleaved caspase-3 in neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x and the presence of cleaved caspase 3 were compared to clinicopathological features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and their impact on survival rates were also investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluation of Bcl-2, Bcl-x and cleaved caspase-3 was performed by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays in 28 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and 38 neurofibromas. Immunoquantification was performed by computerized digital image analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis is altered in neurofibromas and mainly in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. High levels of cleaved caspase-3 are more common in tumors with more aggressive histological features and it is associated with lower disease free survival of patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

Evaluation of compressive strength in the first premolars between young and elderly people: ex vivo study.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the compressive strength of first maxillary premolars from young and elderly people. BACKGROUND: Findings have revealed that changes happening on dental structure lead to a higher susceptibility of tooth fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty teeth were divided into four groups as follows: G I (n = 7) premolars of elderly patients with fused roots, G II (n = 8) premolars of elderly with separate roots, G III (n = 7) pre-molars of young people with fused roots and G IV (n = 8) premolars of young people with roots separated. The roots were placed in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinder and embedded in acrylic resin. Afterward, the samples were subjected to fracture by compressive strength in a universal testing machine. Loads were applied in continuous and progressive speed of 0.5 mm/min until the moment of fracture. The values found underwent statistical analysis (ANOVA α = 0.05). RESULTS: With regard to age, there was a statistical difference, the teeth of the elderly being more susceptible to fracture (p < 0.05). With regard to root morphology, no significant differences between both groups were observed (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that with the methodology employed, the age factor was important with regard to fracture resistance to compression.

Reproducibility of immunostaining quantification and description of a new digital image processing procedure for quantitative evaluation of immunohistochemistry in pathology.

Quantification of immunostaining is a widely used technique in pathology. Nonetheless, techniques that rely on human vision are prone to inter- and intraobserver variability, and they are tedious and time consuming. Digital image analysis (DIA), now available in a variety of platforms, improves quantification performance: however, the stability of these different DIA systems is largely unknown. Here, we describe a method to measure the reproducibility of DIA systems. In addition, we describe a new image-processing strategy for quantitative evaluation of immunostained tissue sections using DAB/hematoxylin-stained slides. This approach is based on image subtraction, using a blue low pass filter in the optical train, followed by digital contrast and brightness enhancement. Results showed that our DIA system yields stable counts, and that this method can be used to evaluate the performance of DIA systems. The new image-processing approach creates an image that aids both human visual observation and DIA systems in assessing immunostained slides, delivers a quantitative performance similar to that of bright field imaging, gives thresholds with smaller ranges, and allows the segmentation of strongly immunostained areas, all resulting in a higher probability of representing specific staining. We believe that our approach offers important advantages to immunostaining quantification in pathology.

Detecção de papilomavírus humanos pela técnica de captura do híbrido no trato genital masculino / Human papillomavirus detection by the hybrid capture assay in the male genital tract

Estudo das infecções genitais causadas pelo HPV, determinando a prevalência dos tipos de HPV noa pacientes masculinos

Comparative analysis of the polymerase chain reaction and the hybrid capture assay for the detection of human papillomavirus infection

Avalia o emprego de métodos moleculares a fim de comprovar a presença dos HPV no trato genital para utilização em combinação com a citopatologia, método utilizado para rastreamento das lesões causadas pelo HPV

Estudo de infecçöes por papilomavírus humanos em pacientes do sexo feminino, detectados pela técnica de captura do híbrido: levantamento dos casos / Study of human papilomavirus infections in feminine sex patients, detected by hybrid capture assay in: survey of the cases

Estudo das infecçöes genitais causadas pelo HPV, determinando a prevalência dos tipos de HPV em pacientes do sexo feminino, atendidas pelo Laboratório Sérgio Franco do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, no ano de 2001, pela técnica de captura do híbrido