Musiatowicz B

Expression of Leptin, Leptin Receptor, and Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor 1α in Human Endometrial Cancer

Abstract:  Recent studies suggested that Ob (Ob) and its receptor (ObR) could be involved in the pathogenesis of various human malignancies, among others in endometrial cancer. Moreover, hypoxia, which is associated with solid tumors, might stimulate, through hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α), expression of Ob and ObR. In this article, we analyzed by immunohistochemistry the expression of Ob, ObR, and HIF‐1α in 60 cases of human endometrial cancer tissues as well as in 25 cases of normal endometria. Additionally, we assessed correlations among studied proteins as well as relationships with selected clinicopathological features of endometrial cancer. Immunoreactivity for Ob, ObR, and HIF‐1α protein was observed in 56.7%, 30.0%, and 78.3% of endometrial cancers, respectively. The expression of HIF‐1α showed a significant positive correlation with Ob (P < 0.0001, r= 0.573) and ObR (P= 0.020, r= 0.299). Moreover, we noted positive correlation between Ob and ObR (P= 0.001, r= 0.429). No statistically significant relationship was revealed between Ob, ObR, and HIF‐1α protein in regard to patients age, histological grade, and extent of tumor growth (pT). In conclusion, HIF‐1α, which is related to tissue hypoxia in endometrial cancer, seems to be associated with overexpression of Ob and ObR. Ob could exert autocrine effect to stimulate endometrial cancer progression. Thus the autocrine Ob loop should be taken into consideration as a novel potential target in endometrial cancer prevention and treatment.

The presence of sex hormone receptors in the vesicouterine fistula

Although the traditional management of vesicouterine fistula is surgical, a recent review of world data showed high efficacy of hormonal manipulation by the induction of amenorrhea. The prerequisite for the action of sex hormones is the presence of target receptors in the given tissue. The current study examined the histology of the vesicouterine fistula in order to identify the possible cellular components containing sex hormone receptors. The presence of an epithelium similar to endometrium containing sex hormone receptors was demonstrated immunohistochemically and by hematoxylin-eosin staining, a finding in agreement with the definition of endometriosis. Our paper provides an explanation for the high efficacy of hormonal manipulation in the treatment of this relatively rare type of fistula.

Expression of Bcl-xL, Bax, and p53 in Primary Tumors and Lymph Node Metastases in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract:  Disturbances in expression of apoptosis‐associated proteins take part in the development and progression of many human malignancies. The aim of this study was the assessment of correlations among proteins involved in apoptosis—Bcl‐xL, Bax, and p53—as well as relationships of these proteins with selected clinicopathological features in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Consequently, we examined by immunohistochemistry, using the avidin–biotin–peroxidase method, Bcl‐xL, Bax, and p53 expression in 56 samples of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma and in 22 matched pairs of primary and metastatic tumors. The evaluation of immunostaining of Bcl‐xL, Bax, and p53 was analyzed in 10 different tumor fields, and the mean percentage of tumor cells with positive staining was evaluated. The significance of the associations was determined using Spearman correlation analysis and the chi‐square test. We found positive Bcl‐xL, Bax, and p53 immunostaining in 44.6%, 28.6%, and 58.9% of the studied primary tumors and in 63.6%, 45.5%, and 72.7% of lymph node metastases, respectively. Analysis of associations among studied proteins revealed positive correlation between Bcl‐xL and Bax in primary tumors (P < 0.03, r= 0.307). Statistically significant relationship between p53 expression in primary oral cancers and its expression in lymph node metastases (P < 0.02) as well as increased expression of Bcl‐xL, Bax, and p53 in metastatic sites compared with primary tumors could indicate an association of these proteins with oral cancer progression and development of metastases. Moreover, we suppose that knowledge about heterogeneity between primary and metastatic tumor might help to understand mechanisms of oral cancer progression.

Study of borderline and invasive mucinous ovarian tumors using Ki-67 (MIB 1) antibodies and nucleolar organizer region (NOR) staining.

Abstract Extensive application of new methods in histopathology has resulted in large quantities of data on molecular markers in different types of human tumors. The main purpose has been to obtain additional parameters for the characterization of various types of malignancy to give more precise information on their biological behavior. In this study we tested AgNOR and Ki-67 (MIB1) staining in 39 ovarian mucinous tumors to evaluate its diagnostic potential in distinguishing between borderline tumors and well-differentiated carcinomas at stage I of FIGO classification. In general, there was an increase in AgNOR median values from benign (1.83 ± 0.8) to well-differentiated carcinomas (2.91 ± 1.3) with an intermediate value in borderline (2.3± 1.6). The lowest Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was found in benign cystadenomas (5.7% ± 3.4%) and papillary mucinous cystadenomas (7.9 ± 5.8%). In borderline tumors mean LI was 12.2 ± 10.9% whereas well-differentiated carcinomas had higher LI (16.8 ± 10.2%). There were no statistically significant differences between the evaluated tumors and techniques applied. In our opinion the AgNOR count and Ki-67 LI do not appear useful for assessing differences between borderline and well-differentiated mucinous ovarian tumors at stage I of clinical advancement.

Papillary Hürthle cell tumor of thyroid : Report of a case with a cytomorphologic approach to diagnosis

BACKGROUND Hürthle cells are founded often in fine needle aspirates of the thyroid from nonneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Papillary Hürthle cell tumors of the thyroid are composed of oxyphilic cells with a prominent papillary component. Papillary Hürthle cell carcinoma is a relatively uncommon type of thyroid carcinoma. CASE A 42-year-old man had two asymptomatic nodules (2.5 and 3.5 cm) in the left lobe and one (2.5 cm) in the right lobe of the thyroid. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the tumor in the left lobe showed large cells in monolayers and papillary clusters with moderate to abundant eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm with sharp borders, a granular nuclear enlargement with pleomorphism and single nucleoli. Histologic examination showed capsular invasion and infiltration of vessels. CONCLUSION The cytologic appearance of papillary Hürthle cell carcinoma is not specific but can be suspected on fine needle aspiration.

Changes of myocardial capillary density in progression of experimental lung emphysema

A morphometrical analysis of changes in the heart of rats with experimental lung emphysema due to single intratracheal administration of papain solution has been done. Special attention has been paid to quantitative changes of capillaries and to the cardiomyocyte diameter in respective regions of the myocardium after one, three and six months following the administration of papain. A histological and morphometrical analysis of changes in the lungs has also been carried out and partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the arterial blood of the examined animals have been marked. It has been found that a single administration of papain caused emphysematous changes in the lungs, growing more intense until the third month of the experiment. The progression of these changes corresponded to a capillary density increase in the right ventricle, interventricular septum and in the subendocardial layer of the left ventricle. The increase in the number of capillaries was interpreted as the first adaptive stage of cor pulmonale development and explained by the occurrence of angiogenesis. The changes co-existed with a decrease in partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood. After six months of the experiment, a reduction in capillary density in the heart regions mentioned above and a simultaneous increase in the cardiomycyte transversal diameter were observed, being the exponents of evident myocardial hypertrophy. Development of ultrastructural changes in the hearts of rats has been analysed too. Simultaneous development of changes in the right ventricle muscle and in the subendocardial layer of the heart left ventricle myocardium was observed. The role of hypoxia as a one of essential factors responsible for the observed morphologic changes has been discussed.