Huseyin Baloglu

Alterations of serum lipids and lipoproteins in breast cancer

Serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels were quantified in Stage I and Stage IV breast cancer patients in order to evaluate the changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins in the early and advanced stages of the disease. When compared with data from age-matched healthy females, fasting serum triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol levels were found to be significantly increased and HDL cholesterol levels significantly decreased in patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, a significant increase in triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol and decreases in total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were demonstrated in patients with Stage IV disease when compared to those with Stage I breast cancer. No significant difference was found in total and LDL cholesterol between Stage I breast cancer patients and healthy controls.

Tissue sialic acid and fibronectin levels in human prostatic cancer.

We investigated the tissue concentration of sialic acid and fibronectin in patients with prostatic cancer. The mean sialic acid and fibronectin levels in patients with prostatic cancer were 19.02 +/- 6.30 micrograms/mg protein, respectively versus 13.01 +/- 4.53 micrograms/mg protein and 11.77 +/- 6.74 micrograms/mg protein for normal prostatic tissues. Sialic acid and fibronectin levels in cancerous patients were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05).

Investigation of human papillomavirus DNA in colorectal carcinomas and adenomas

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been considered to be an etiological agent for anogenital cancers, such as cervical cancer and possibly a subset of cancers of the aerodigestive tract. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of human papillomavirus DNA in colorectal carcinomas and adenomas. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded archival tissue samples were used for DNA extraction. One hundred and six colorectal carcinomas and 62 adenomas were screened by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HPV DNA with a control group of 49 cervical tissues with invasive cervical carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). In the study group, we did not find HPV DNA positivity in any of all the colorectal carcinomas and adenomas. In the control group with cervical lesions, 34 out of 49 (69.4%) samples were positive for the HPV DNA. These results indicated that there was no correlation between HPV infection and colorectal carcinomas and adenomas.

Tissue and serum sialidase levels in breast cancer

Breast cancer is both one of the most common and one of the most treatable of all human malignancies. It has been suggested by various investigators that sialic acid increases in the sera of cancerous patients. In cancer patients, an increase in the levels of serum sialic acid may also be due to an increase in the activity of serum or tissue sialidase. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether the concentration of sialidase in serum and breast tissue could be used as a tumor marker in breast cancer. In this study; serum sialidase levels in 26 patient with breast cancer and 31 controls were found to be 77.04+/-25.07 U/l and 55.56+/-7.50 U/l, respectively. The mean tissue sialidase levels in 26 breast cancer patients and 13 controls were 39.76+/-17.03 U/g protein and 14.30+/-7.09 U/g protein, respectively. Serum and tissue sialidase levels in breast cancer were significantly higher than those found in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean serum and tissue sialidase levels in 14 Grade I-II and 12 Grade III breast cancer patients were found to be 67.73+/-11.87 U/l and 33.41+/-12.17 U/g protein and 87.89+/-31.94 U/l and 47.17+/-19.30 U/g protein, respectively. Also we found a significant difference between the levels of serum and tissue sialidase in Grade I-II and III (P < 0.05).

The effects of tissue fixation alternatives on DNA content: a study on normal colon tissue.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different fixatives on DNA, and to evaluate the fixation options for molecular studies including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). Three normal-looking colonic segments from surgical resections were used for tissue sampling. The full thickness of the colonic tissues (3 mm diameter) was sampled. Tissues were fixed in 70% ethanol, 10% neutral-buffered formalin, Hollande, B5, Bouin, and Zenker solutions for 1, 2, 5, 12, 24, and 48 hours, and processed and embedded in paraffin in a standard protocol. Quantitative measurements of the extracted DNA were carried out. DNA quality was tested by PCR for the human β globin gene. Tissue sections were also tested for the availability of FISH, by using a Her-2/neu protocol. All fixation alternatives were found to be reasonable sources of DNA for molecular studies, and they enabled the successful PCR amplification of a housekeeping gene. DNA yields were predominantly over 1000 bp in 70% ethanol and 24-hour 10% neutral-buffered formalin fixations. As for B5 and Hollande, the DNA molecules obtained were almost all smaller than 100 bp. All tissues fixed in formalin, ethanol, and Hollande were found suitable for Her-2/neu visualization after standard FISH applications, but tissues fixed in Zenker, B5, and Bouin were not found suitable.

In vivo inefficiency of pentoxifylline and interferon-alpha on hepatic fibrosis in biliary-obstructed rats: Assessment by tissue collagen content and prolidase activity

Background and Aim: To evaluate the possible antifibrotic effects of two drugs, pentoxifylline (PTX) and interferon (IFN)‐α as well as their combination, on a bile‐duct‐ligated rat hepatic fibrosis model.

Role of human papillomavirus in the development of urothelial carcinoma

It has been estimated that almost 10% of the worldwide cancer burden is linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Although the association between HPV and bladder carcinoma has been extensively investigated, data on the role of HPV in bladder carcinogenesis are controversial. The aim of the study was to assess the possible role of human papillomavirus in the development of urothelial bladder carcinomas. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded archival tissue samples were used for DNA extraction. Seventy urothelial bladder carcinoma tissues were screened by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HPV DNA with a control group of total 18 cervical tissues with invasive cervical carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III (CIN III). In the study group, we did not find HPV DNA positivity in any of the urothelial carcinomas. In the control group, 15 out of 18 (83.3%) samples were positive for the HPV DNA. These results indicated that there was no association between HPV infection and urothelial carcinomas.

Mitochondrial DNA common deletion is not associated with thyroid, breast and colorectal tumors in Turkish patients

Recently, efforts have been focused on mitochondrial DNA changes and their relation to human cancers. Among them, a 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA, named “common deletion”, has been investigated in several types of tumors, with inconsistent results. In this study, we investigated the presence of the common deletion in tissues from 25 breast, 25 colorectal and 50 thyroid tumors and in the adjacent healthy tissues from Turkish patients. Samples from healthy volunteers were also evaluated for comparison. Two PCR-based methods were used for the detection of the common deletion. First, two pairs of primers were used to amplify wild-type and deleted mtDNA. Then, a highly sensitive nested-PCR was performed, to determine low amounts of deleted genomes. By the first method, wild-type mtDNAs were observed in all samples, but a deletion was observed in only six thyroid samples, by using the nested-PCR method. In conclusion, the mitochondrial common deletion was very rare in our study group and did not appear to be not related with cancer.

Cytologic diagnosis of complicated pulmonary unilocular cystic hydatidosis. A study of 131 cases.

OBJECTIVE To determine the value of cytochemical stains and microscopic techniques for the detection of true hydatid elements (primary cytologic criteria) and to evaluate the efficacy of granulomatous elements (secondary cytologic criteria) for the diagnosis of complicated pulmonary unilocular cystic hydatidosis (CPUCH). STUDY DESIGN Sputum, bronchial washing and bronchial brushing specimens obtained from 131 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of CPUCH were reviewed. RESULTS CPUCH was histopathologically proven in 111 of 131 patients. Scolices were found in 11 patients in Papanicolaou-EA65 (PAP-EA65)-stained slides. Special stains and dark field microscopy (DFM) did not make any additional contribution to specifying the nature of the scolexlike objects. Hooklets were found in 26 patients in PAP-EA65-stained slides. Massons trichrome stain and DFM revealed hooklets in 37 and 50 cases, respectively. Laminated membrane fragments were found in 14 patients in PAP-EA65-stained slides. Gomoris methenamine silver stain and DFM demonstrated laminated membrane fragments in 25 and 33 cases, respectively. Secondary cytologic criteria, such as multinucleated giant cells, degenerated squamous cells, dyskaryotic squamous cells, excessive amounts of eosinophils, plasma cells, lymphocytes, histiocytes, necrotic debris, fibrinoid material and erythrocytes, were considered to be suggestive of hydatid disease when there are more than three such factors in patients with a presumptive diagnosis of CPUCH. CONCLUSION Though DFM examination is superior to cytochemical stains used in this study, both cytochemical stains and DFM are useful in increasing the sensitivity of cytologic detection of true hydatid elements, especially hooklets and laminated membrane fragments. They should be used as auxiliary techniques. Secondary cytologic criteria are suggestive of the diagnosis of CPUCH, and special care should be taken when there are more than three such factors in cytologic specimens.

Clinical significance of miR-140-5p and miR-193b expression in patients with breast cancer and relationship to IGFBP5

The functional role of IGFBP5 in breast cancer is complicated. Experimental and bioinformatics studies have shown that IGFBP5 is targeted by miR-140-5p and miR-193b, although this has not yet been proven in clinical samples. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of miR-140-5p and miR-193b in breast cancer and adjacent normal tissue and assess its correlation with IGFBP5 and the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors. IGFBP5 protein expression was analyzed immunohistochemically and IGFBP5, miR-140 and miR-193b mRNA expression levels were analyzed with real-time RT-PCR. Tumor tissue had higher miR-140-5p expression than adjacent normal tissue (p = 0.015). Samples with no immunohistochemical staining for IGFBP5 showed increased miR-140-5p expression (p = 0.009). miR-140-5p expression was elevated in invasive ductal carcinomas (p = 0.002), whereas basal-like tumors had decreased expression of miR-140-5p compared to other tumors (p = 0.008). Lymph node-positive samples showed an approximately 13-fold increase in miR-140-5p expression compared to lymph node-negative tissue (p = 0.049). These findings suggest that miR-140-5p, but not miR-193b, could be an important determinant of IGFBP5 expression and clinical phenotype in breast cancer patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the expressional regulation of IGFBP5 by miR-140-5p.