Eduardo Walker Zettler

Immunohistochemical expression of p16 and p53 in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

This study was undertaken to examine the expression of p16 and p53 in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva. We also analyzed the relationship between p16 and p53 immunoexpression in women younger vs. older than 55 years of age. Seventyseven histologic samples of vulvar tissue, treated surgically between June 2000 and November 2004 at the Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa (Porto Alegre, Brazil), were investigated. We analyzed 28 cases of VIN, 37 cases of SCC and 12 normal vulvar tissues. The percentage of immunohistochemical positivity for p16 had the following distribution across the groups: VIN: 21.4% (6/28), cancer: 24.3% (9/37) and control: absent (p=0.202). p53 expression showed the following percentages: VIN: 60.7% (17/28), cancer: 18.9% (7/37) and control: 8.3% (1/12) (p=0.01). p16 expression in the cancer group (mean age: 63.4 years) was positive in 6 and 3 cases of women younger or older than 55 years, respectively (54.5% vs. 11.5%, p=0.01). p53 expression was not detected in young females with cancer, while it was expressed in 7/26 (26.9%) cases of the group of females older than 55 years of age (p=0.08). Our results suggest an increase in the immunohistochemical expression of p16 protein in young women with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva, and a possible association with a low expression of p53. (Pathology Oncology Research Vol 12, No 3, 153–157)

Prognostic value of the immunohistochemistry correlation of Ki-67 and p53 in squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx

UNLABELLED Prognostic histological factors may contribute to determine the evolution of this neoplasia. AIM To correlate p53 and Ki-67 immunohistochemical expression with age, histological degree, lymph node involvement and pathological staging in patients with laryngeal epidermoid carcinomas. METHODS We assessed thirty consecutive cases of laryngeal epidermoid carcinomas submitted to immunohistochemistry to check the expression of p53 e Ki-67 antibodies. RESULTS Mean age was of 56.2 years and the immunoexpression of the markers was observed in the group with more than 50 years of age, especially that o the ki-67 antibody (p=0.032). There was no relation between p53 and Ki-67 with lymph node involvement. Ki-67 was expressed in 70% of the high histology level cases and in 80% in the low histology ones; while p53 was of 70% only in the high level cases. Pathology staging showed that in the group of advanced carcinomas, p53 expression was of 61.5%, while Ki-67 proved positive for the early cases (100%) and advanced (73.1%). CONCLUSION There were no significant differences between p53 and Ki-67 immunoexpression in laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma, except in the group of patients with more than 50 years of age, when Ki-67 expression was significantly higher.

Valor prognóstico da correlação imunoistoquímica do Ki-67 e p53 em carcinomas epidermóides da laringe

Prognostic histological factors may contribute to determine the evolution of this neoplasia. AIM: To correlate p53 and Ki-67 immunohistochemical expression with age, histological degree, lymph node involvement and pathological staging in patients with laryngeal epidermoid carcinomas. METHODS: We assessed thirty consecutive cases of laryngeal epidermoid carcinomas submitted to immunohistochemistry to check the expression of p53 e Ki-67 antibodies. RESULTS: Mean age was of 56.2 years and the immunoexpression of the markers was observed in the group with more than 50 years of age, especially that o the ki-67 antibody (p=0.032). There was no relation between p53 and Ki-67 with lymph node involvement. Ki-67 was expressed in 70% of the high histology level cases and in 80% in the low histology ones; while p53 was of 70% only in the high level cases. Pathology staging showed that in the group of advanced carcinomas, p53 expression was of 61.5%, while Ki-67 proved positive for the early cases (100%) and advanced (73.1%). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences between p53 and Ki-67 immunoexpression in laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma, except in the group of patients with more than 50 years of age, when Ki-67 expression was significantly higher.

Estudo fenotípico e genotípico da resistência aos macrolídeos de "Streptococcus pneumoniae" isolados em hospitais de Porto Alegre - RS

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalencia do S. pneumoniae resistente aos macrolideos e identificar suas caracteristicas fenotipicas e genotipicas. METODOS: Amostras de S. pneumoniae isoladas entre maio de 2002 e agosto de 2004, em Porto Alegre (RS), a partir de materiais clinicos coletados de diferentes sitios anatomicos foram analisadas. Para o teste de difusao em agar foram utilizados discos de eritromicina, claritromicina, azitromicina e clindamicina. As concentracoes inibitorias minimas de eritromicina foram determinadas nos isolados resistentes aos macrolideos pelo metodo de diluicao em agar. Os fenotipos dos isolados resistentes aos macrolideos foram investigados pelo teste de difusao em agar e a genotipagem pela reacao em cadeia da polimerase. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 229 isolados de pneumococos, e 12 mostraram-se resistentes aos macrolideos (5,2%). Entre estes, 9 apresentaram o fenotipo MLSB (75%) e 3 o fenotipo M (25%). A reacao em cadeia da polimerase indicou que 8 isolados com o fenotipo MLSB portavam apenas o gene ermB, enquanto que o gene mefE estava presente em todos os 3 isolados com o fenotipo M. Um isolado com o fenotipo MLSB apresentou ambos os genes. CONCLUSAO: A resistencia aos macrolideos do S. pneumoniae em Porto Alegre permanece baixa, sendo devida principalmente a presenca do gene ermB, com expressao do fenotipo MLSB.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae and to identify its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Methods: Strains of S. pneumoniae isolated in the city of Porto Alegre between May 2002 and August 2004 from samples collected from different anatomical sites were analyzed. For the agar diffusion test, disks of erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin and clindamycin were used. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of erythromycin were determined for macrolide-resistant isolates by the agar dilution method. Macrolide- resistant isolates were phenotyped by agar diffusion test and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total of 229 pneumococcal strains were evaluated, 12 (5.2%) of which were macrolide-resistant. Among the 12 resistant strains, 9 (75%) presented the MLSB phenotype, and 3 (25%) presented the M phenotype. Polymerase chain reaction testing indicated that 8 MLSB phenotype isolates harbored the ermB gene only, whereas the mefE gene was present in all 3 M phenotype isolates. One MLSB phenotype isolate presented both genes. Conclusion: In Porto Alegre, the S. pneumoniae resistance to macrolides is still low since such resistance is due primarily to the presence of the ermB gene expressing the MLSB phenotype.