Durdik S

Collagen type IV in epithelial tumours of colon.

Collagen type IV in the lamina propria mucosae is one of the main components of the basement membrane of normal and transitional colon mucosa. The aim of the present study was to assess the use of anti-collagen type IV antibodies in the evaluation of biological activity of epithelial tumours of the colon. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of polyps and carcinomas of the colon from 14 patients were analyzed. In transitional mucosa around epithelial tumours, only minor deformities of the evenly thick collagen type IV-containing basement membranes were found. This pattern was different in polyps where collagen type IV-positive basement membrane components extended between basolateral membranes of epithelial cells. Local changes of collagen type IV positivity in basement membranes of polyps were observed. Positivity of epithelial basement membranes disappeared in adenocarcinomas but there was an increased positivity in fibrillar components of stroma. Basement membranes of microvessels in lamina propria mucosae were also positive for collagen type IV. Similar observations were made in the stroma of polyps. Our results indicate that loss of collagen type IV in basement membranes of adenocarcinomas is related to loss of differentiation and the malignant potential of epithelial tumours of colon.

Mast cell infiltration in the wall of varicose veins

Varicose veins of the lower extremities are abnormally dilated, tortuous and elongated. The exact cause of vein dilatation has still not been established. Mast cells produce, store and release various types of vasoactive compounds (histamine, tryptase, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cytokines). Histamine enhances local vasopermeability and smooth muscle cell proliferation, leading to thickening of the intima. Tryptase can contribute to local vascular injury and subsequent weakness of the vascular wall causing varix formation. The aim of the present study was the comparison of mast cell infiltration in the wall of varicose and non-varicose veins. The mean mast cell density in the wall of varicose veins was 0.86 mast cell per mm2 and in healthy non-dilated vein walls, density was 1.23 mast cell per mm2. This difference was not statistically significant, therefore we could not confirm our hypothesis. Nevertheless, we suggest that mast cells could play an important role in the development of varices and the factor released by the mast cells should be further examined.

Recent patterns in cutaneous melanoma descriptive epidemiology in the Slovak Republic.

An increase in melanoma incidence in the Slovak Republic (SR) is evident during approximately the same time and maybe caused by changes in socio-economic status. The paper analyses national trends in incidence, mortality, survival and clinical stages of invasive cutaneous melanoma in the SR from 1968-2007. The trends in incidence and mortality have been extracted between 1968-2007 period by the joinpoint regression analysis, clinical stages were analysed in 1978-2003. Survival data were extracted from the national database resources. Socio-economic changes, which reflected in increase in the number of holiday makers to seaside and mountainous destinations happened in the country in the y.1989. Subsequently, according to joinpoint in 1997, acceleration of increment of the incidence values of melanoma was recorded in both sexes. Mortality was increasing in males continuously, in females the stabilization was registered after the year 1999. Lower rates of relative survival might be influenced by delayed accessibility to adjuvant treatment. The number of cases diagnosed in clinical stage I increased significantly. The changes in the intensity and excessive sunbathing during vacations might be one of many factors that participate in subsequent acceleration of the increment of incidence not only in the SR.

Fetus in fetu from newborn’s mediastinum: case report and a review of literature

Fetus in fetu is a rare congenital anomaly, when the malformed monozygotic twin is found within the body of a living child or sometimes in an adult. We report a case of fetus in fetu diagnosed during the early third trimester of pregnancy, in the medial and inferior portions of anterior mediastinum of the dominant twin. The diagnosis was suspected by prenatal ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging. It was postnatally confirmed by CT and RTG, surgically removed after birth and histologically examined. Histologically we found well-developed organs and tissues derived from all germ layers. To our knowledge, we describe the fourth case of fetus in fetu located in the thorax, and the second case located in the anterior mediastinum. This case highlights the usefulness of prenatal ultrasound and MRI in the diagnosis of mediastinal masses, and the usefulness of complete histological examination for confirmation of diagnosis of fetus in fetu. We also reviewed the possible embryologic backgrounds of this congenital anomaly.

Expression of Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthase Isoforms in Varicose Vein Wall; Preliminary Results

There are conflicting findings in literature about the structural changes of the primary varicose veins. NO (a potent vasodilatator) is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). From 3 known NOS isoforms the two are constitutional: eNOS (endothelial NOS) and nNOS (neuronal NOS). 10 varicose and 10 control vein samples were processed by standard light microscopy and immuno-histochemica techniques using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against eNOS and nNOS. Antibodies expression was evaluated semiquantitatively and proved morphometrically by 2D-image analysis. total area of NOS isoforms expressions was determined by color analysis and color digital subtraction. The results showed discontinuous and significantly lower expression of both NOS isoforms the in the tunica media of varicose veins compared with the control group. For the statistical analysis the unpaired t-test was used. Our results suppose lower NO levels in varicose vein wall, deducing that varicose dilatation is due to other mechanism, and they contradict the results of previously published similar works.

Silencing by blasting: combination of laser pulse induced stress waves and magnetophoresis for siRNA delivery

A new method is developed for efficient delivery of short interference RNA into cells using combination of magnetophoresis for pre-concentration of siRNA-magnetic nanoparticle complex on the surface of cells with subsequent nanosecond laser pulse generating stress waves in transfection chamber, which is able to permeabilize cell membrane for the facilitated delivery of siRNA into the cell interior. As has been shown using siRNA inducing cell apoptosis, combination of these two physical factors increased the efficiency of three different human carcinoma cells transfection to 93%, 89%, and 84%, for HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast carcinoma), and UCI-107 (ovarian carcinoma) cells, respectively. This new physical method of siRNA delivery may have therefore far reaching applications in biotechnology and functional genomics.

Surgical management of breast cancer liver metastases.

We analyzed the treatment results in patients who underwent hepatic resection for breast cancer liver metastases(BCLM).Between 1/2003 and 12/2012, 15 patients underwent hepatic resection for BCLM. All primary breast tumors were diagnosed as invasive breast cancer. Synchronous BCLM ocurred in 2 patients and 13 patients presented with metachronous BCLM. Median age of patients at the time of BCLM diagnosis was 51 years(range from 31 to 73 years). All resections were considered as R0. From among 15 resections we performed 10 major hepatic resections according to Couinaud classification(≥3 segments) and the rest were minor ones. There was no postoperative mortality within 60 days . All postoperative complications were managed conservatively. Median hospital stay was 10,5 days, ranging from 7-14 days.Standard therapy for patients with BCLM remains systemic chemo- and hormonal therapy. Hepatic resection as a part of multimodal treatment in tertiary HPB centers can offer in a selected group of patients a safe option for improved survival. Keywords: breast cancer, liver metastases, hepatic resection.

Influence of naturally occurring antioxidants on magnetic nanoparticles: risks, benefits, and possible therapeutic applications.

We have studied interaction of well known antioxidant L-ascorbic acid with magnetic nanoparticles containing insoluble Fe(III) in their core. In analogy with ferritin, mobilization of iron in the form of water soluble Fe(II) was observed, especially pronounced at higher temperatures. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals are produced. These results suggest possible harmful effects of widely used magnetic nanoparticles as a MRI contrast agents in combination with overload of organism with ascorbic acid in some specific conditions, like fever of patient. On the other hand combination of magnetic nanoparticles and ascorbic acid may be used for a cancer therapy using alternating magnetic field for the release of Fe(II) via Néel relaxation of magnetic moment of used nanoparticles. We have further found that lipoic acid is an efficient antioxidant scavenging hydroxyl radicals produced by Fenton reaction from Fe(II).

Transoral application of EEA stapler after subtotal oesophagectomy.

OBJECTIVE To describe a new transoral technique of cervical oesophagogastric and oesophagojejunal anastomoses using the EEA stapler. DESIGN Prospective clinical study. SETTING University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia. SUBJECTS Two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the middle and distal third of the oesophagus. INTERVENTIONS Transhiatal subtotal oesophagectomy without thoracotomy, and cervical oesophageal anastomosis by transoral EEA stapling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Morbidity and mortality. RESULTS Transoral stapling was successful in both patients with no anastomotic leaks. The patients were discharged on the 14th and 21st postoperative days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Transoral stapling of the cervical anastomosis gave good results in two patients. More development and evaluation are needed.

Applications of magnetoliposomes with encapsulated doxorubicin for integrated chemotherapy and hyperthermia of rat C6 glioma

Abstract There is substantial evidence regarding enhanced antitumor cytotoxicity of selected chemotherapeutic agents by appropriate heat exposure (40–44°C). Based upon these results, the integration of hyperthermia as an additional treatment modality given simultaneously with systemic chemotherapy is currently of considerable interest. Hyperthermia can be induced by alternating magnetic field and magnetic nanoparticles. Thus, we have used thermosensitive magnetoliposomes that contained superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and doxorubicin for in vitro and in vivo therapy of rat glioma C6. The results showed that magnetoliposomes can be specifically heated to 43°C (phase transition temperature of a used lipid composition) in a few minutes, and during this, the encapsulated doxorubicin is released in a controllable manner. The in vitro experiments showed that the cell viability decreased to 79.2% after heat treatment alone and to 47.4% for doxorubicin-loaded magnetoliposomes without application of alternating magnetic field, while the combined treatment resulted in 17.3% cell viability. Also, in vivo results demonstrated that magnetic drug targeting has a strong antiglioma effect with a tumor volume growth inhibition and complete regression. Such targeted delivery and controlled release of anticancer agents would provide clinical advantages compared with currently available methods.