Ferda Dagli

Ghrelin immunohistochemistry of gastric adenocarcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary gland

Ghrelin (G-HH) synthesized in several tissues including salivary and stomach glands stimulates appetite in humans by modulating neuropeptide Y neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Loss of appetite is one of the most important symptoms of stomach cancer. We conducted a study using immunohistochemistry to determine whether salivary glands and stomach cancer tissues produce ghrelin. We determined that negative ghrelin immunohistochemistry discriminates tumors from normal tissues and may therefore further our understanding of the clinically important problem of reduced food intake and anorexia in cancer patients. Radioimmunoassay analyses confirmed that cancer cells do not produce a G-HH peptide, whereas normal cells yield this peptide.

Uterine primitive neuroectodermal tumor: a case report

BackgroundPrimitive neuroectodermal tumors of uterus (PNET) are extremely rare in tumors of the female genital system and therefore there is no sufficient information about their diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.CaseThe case is a 32-year-old, operated in emergency conditions due to intra-abdominal hemorrhage, and discusses our diagnosis and treatment approaches in the light of literature data.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is first report of uterine PNET that presented with intraabdominal hemorrhage due to uterine rupture. Despite advances in therapy, the prognosis is poor. The low number of these cases precludes accurate standardization of therapy.

Ghrelin in plants: What is the function of an appetite hormone in plants?

In the present work, we provide compelling evidence for the expression of a ghrelin-like peptide hormone that has only been associated with animals, in various plant tissues. Ghrelin, the appetite stimulating hormone, has been identified from a number of different species including humans, rat, pig, mouse, gerbil, eel, goldfish, bullfrog and chicken. The study here was conducted using an immunohistochemistry assay to screen whether plants have any ghrelin immunoreactivity. In this respect, Prunus x domestica L. and Marus alba were examined. Immunohistochemistry results showed that there is a strong human ghrelin immunoreactivity substance in the parenchyma cells of these plants. This was entirely unexpected since this hormone was considered to be present solely in animals. Thus, this study is the first to report the presence of a peptide with ghrelin-like activity in plants, a finding that has only been observed in the animal kingdom. RIA analysis confirmed that these plants contain significant amounts of this substance. Furthermore, reverse-phase HPLC analyses of plant extracts showed an elution characteristic of the peptide identical to that of human ghrelin. In general, fruit from both plants had higher levels of the peptide than the vegetative parts.

Impact of ghrelin on vitreous cytokine levels in an experimental uveitis model

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of intraperitoneal ghrelin on vitreous levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and to compare its effects with those of intraperitoneal infliximab in an experimental uveitis model. Methods Twenty-four male rats were assigned to four groups of six rats in each. All the rats, except for those in group 1 (controls), were injected intravitreally with concanavalin A to induce experimental uveitis. Rats in group 2 (sham) were not given any treatment after uveitis was induced. Rats in group 3 were given intraperitoneal infliximab 0.5 mg/100 mL on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 following induction of uveitis on day 14 of the study. Rats in group 4 were given intraperitoneal ghrelin 10 ng/kg/day for 7 days following induction of uveitis. On day 21 of the study, enucleated globes were subjected to histopathologic examination. Vitreous levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Vitreous levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly increased in the sham group relative to the control group (P < 0.05), but showed a significant decrease in the group treated with infliximab (P < 0.05). Cytokine levels also decreased in the ghrelin-treated group, but the decrease was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion Ghrelin failed to decrease the IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α levels that play a critical role in the pathogenesis of uveitis.

Ghrelin and obestatin expression in serous ovarian tumours.

Objective: To investigate ghrelin and obestatin expression in serous ovarian tumours. Materials and methods: Preparations of deparaffinized blocks obtained from the pathology archives of a total of 47 previously diagnosed cases of benign serous tumour (n = 20), borderline serous tumour (n = 7) and malignant serous tumour (n = 20) were subjected to immunohistochemical examination to find out ghrelin and obestatin expressions. Results: Mean ghrelin expressions decreased significantly in the benign group, relative to the malignant group (p < 0.05), while there was no significant change in mean obestatin expression. It was established that rates of preparations with moderate and severe ghrelin and obestatin expression displayed a significant increase from benign to malignant ones (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The fact that rates of preparations with severe expression correlated with an increase in malignancy suggests that ghrelin and obestatin may be effective in the malignant transformation in at least some cases.

Localized Palmar-Plantar Epidermal Hyperplasia Associated with Use of Sorafenib

A 45-year-old man receiving oral sorafenib 400 mg twice daily for metastatic renal cell carcinoma developed pain and rash on his hands and feet 3 weeks after commencement of treatment. Dermatological examination revealed hyperkeratotic plaques surrounded by erythema and with a callus-like brownish-yellow appearance centrally, together with bullae with purulent content under the plaques. Histopathological examination revealed intense hyperkeratosis in the upper part of the epidermis and parakeratosis beneath the epidermis. The integrity of the epidermis was therefore compromised and intense neutrophilic infiltration was seen. The patient was diagnosed on clinical and histopathological grounds as having localized palmar-plantar hyperplasia associated with use of sorafenib, representing the second case reported in the literature. The patient’s skin lesions improved markedly after the sorafenib dose was decreased to 200 mg twice daily, a regimen that he continues to take. In the authors’ opinion, use of the term localized palmar-plantar hyperplasia, as diagnosed in this patient, is more appropriate in this clinical setting than related terms such as palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia or hand-foot syndrome.