Sirin Baspinar

The expression of p63 in basal cell carcinomas and association with histological differentiation

Background:  We aim to examine p63 expression in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and to investigate association with their histopathological differentiation subtypes.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in primary and recurrent pterygium.

Background: Pterygia are common, benign, fibrovascular, and infiltrative processes of the corneo- conjunctival junction of unknown pathogenesis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mediates the rate-limiting step in arachidonic acid metabolism. Extensive evidence indicates that the COX-2 prostanoid pathway is involved in inflammation. The aim of the study was to document the immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 in primary and recurrent pterygia. Materials and Methods: In this study, 21 primary pterygia and 12 recurrent pterygia from subjects undergoing pterygium surgery and six normal corneal-scleral tissue specimens were studied immunohistochemically for COX-2 expression. Results: COX-2 was expressed in primary pterygia and recurrent pterygia specimens. There was a statistically significant difference in COX-2 expressions in fibroblasts between primary and recurrent pterygium cases (P = 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in COX-2 expressions in surface epithelium (P = 0.028) and stromal inflammatory cells (P=0.000) between control tissues and primary pterygia tissues. We also detected statistically significant differences in COX-2 expressions in surface epithelium (P=0.000), stromal fibroblasts P=0.000 (stromal fibroblasts and inflammatory cells), vessels (P = 0.027) and inflammatory cells (P=0.001) between control tissues and recurrent pterygia tissues. Conclusions: This is the first study to document the expression of COX-2 in primary and recurrent pterygia. In our opinion after excision of pterygia, fibroblastic proliferation continues and this contributes to recurrence.

Beclin 1 and bcl-2 expressions in bladder urothelial tumors and their association with clinicopathological parameters.

Beclin 1 plays a critical role in the regulation of autophagy, apoptosis, differentiation, as well as in the development and progression of cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of beclin 1 and bcl-2 in bladder urothelial tumors, and to investigate the relationship between these two markers and clinicopathological parameters. Our study included 84 bladder urothelial tumors and 10 non-tumoral bladder tissues. Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue microarray (TMA) sections and was evaluated semiquantitatively on the basis of the percentage of positively stained cells (proportion) and staining intensity. A significant association was found between the expression score of beclin 1 and pT stages of the urothelial tumors (p=0.012). Also, the level of beclin 1 expression inversely correlated with histological grade and pT stages (p=0.009, r=-0.284; p=0.001, r=-0.361, respectively). The bcl-2 expression level positively correlated with histological grade and pT stages of the urothelial tumors (p=0.026, r=0.243; p<0.0001, r=0.491, respectively). In addition, the level of beclin 1 expression tended to be inversely correlated with the bcl-2 expression level in urothelial tumors (p=0.055, r=-0.210). According to our data, down-regulation of beclin 1 expression and also bcl-2 overexpression seem to play an important role in the progression and aggressiveness of bladder urothelial tumors.

The relation of beclin 1 and bcl-2 expressions in high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate adenocarcinoma: a tissue microarray study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expressions of beclin 1 and bcl-2 in prostate cancer (PC) and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), and to investigate their relationship with clinicopathological parameters. The study included 30 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 40 HGPIN and 106 primary PC cases. The expressions of beclin 1 and bcl-2 were assessed semiquantitatively based on both the percentage and intensity of positive staining cells. Beclin 1 was positive in 27 (90%) BPH, 37 (92.5%) HGPIN, and 90 (84.9%) PC cases (p>0.05). Bcl-2 immunostaining was detected in 99 (93.4%) PC, 37 (92.5%) HGPIN, and 9 (30%) BPH cases (p<0.0001). Regarding expression scores, beclin 1 was significantly lower in PC cases than in the HGPIN and BPH groups (p<0.0001), and it was also negatively correlated with Gleason score (p=0.004, r=-0.274). Bcl-2 expression score was significantly higher in PC than in the other groups (p<0.0001), and also positively correlated with Gleason score (p<0.0001, r=0.425). Furthermore, a negative correlation was found between bcl-2 and beclin 1 expression scores in PC cases (p=0.006, r=-0.265). Our results suggest an association between bcl-2 and beclin 1 expressions in malignant transformation of prostate tissue and also in regulating PC cell differentiation, progression and the aggressiveness of PC.

Increased expression of COX-2 in recurrent basal cell carcinoma of the skin: A pilot study

INTRODUCTION Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent malignant skin tumor. BCC rarely metastasizes, but it is often locally aggressive. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is critical for tumor formation, angiogenesis and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the members of the family of zinc (Zn)- and calcium-dependent endopeptidases that degrade the extracellular matrix. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our study, we used immunohistochemical methods for the evaluation of COX-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in tissue samples of 30 primary and 10 recurrent skin BCC cases. RESULTS Immunohistochemical COX-2 expression was significantly higher in the infiltrating pattern of BCC compared with the nodular (P = 0.005) and superficial (P = 0.041) subtypes in the primary BCC group. There was not a significant difference between nodular and superficial BCCs for COX-2 expression. In addition, COX-2 expression was significantly higher in the recurrent BCC group than in the primary BCC group (P = 0.030). There was no statistically significant difference between the histological subtypes of primary BCCs and between primary and recurrent BCCs for MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions. CONCLUSIONS Our data confirm previous findings that COX-2 and MMP-9 expressions are increased in BCC. Our results revealed an elevated COX-2 expression in recurrent BCCs. We suggest that COX-2 inhibition might have beneficial effects in BCCs, especially for the tumors with a higher level of COX-2 expression or aggressive phenotype.

Expression of NGF, GDNF and MMP-9 in prostate carcinoma

The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of NGF, GDNF and MMP-9 in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and prostate cancer (PC), and to analyse their association with the clinicopathological parameters in PC cases. Immunohistochemistry was performed on the tissue microarray (TMA) sections of 30 BPH, 40 HGPIN and 121 primary PC tissues. There was a significant difference regarding the expression of NGF and GDNF between PC and HGPIN (p<0.0001; p<0.0001), and PC and BPH (p=0.001; p<0.0001), but not between HGPIN and BPH (p>0.05). Furthermore MMP-9 expression was significantly different among all groups (PC vs. HGPIN, p<0.0001; PC vs. BPH, p<0.0001; HGPIN vs. BPH, p=0.001). NGF, GDNF and MMP-9 expression was significantly stronger in cases with high Gleason score (p<0.0001, p=0.004, p<0.0001 respectively) and pT stage (p=0.046, p=0.004, p=0.001, respectively) in PC cases. All these markers were also associated with perineural, lymphovascular and extraprostatic invasion (p <0.05). In addition, a positive correlation was found between NGF and MMP-9 (p<0.0001, r=0.435), NGF and GDNF (p<0.0001, r=0.634), and GDNF and MMP-9 (p<0.0001, r=0.670) in PC cases. According to our results we suggest an interaction between NGF, GDNF and MMP-9 during the transition to malignancy in PC. Also this interaction may involve in regulating PC cell differentiation, tumor invasion, progression, and the agressiveness of PC.

The correlation between preputial blood flow and microvessel density in distal hypospadias: A prospective clinical study

OBJECTIVE A prospective clinical study was designed to investigate the correlation between preputial blood flow (BF) and microvessel density (MVD). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 44 children were included in the study. The hypospadias group consisted of 16 children undergoing distal hypospadias repair, and the control group consisted of 28 age-matched healthy children undergoing circumcision. BFs were measured using a laser Doppler flowmeter on the most distal part of the dorsal prepuces, and then the tissue samples were harvested from the same location. They were immunostained with an antibody against CD31 in order to assay MVD. The statistical analyses were carried out using Students t test and Pearsons correlation analysis. RESULTS The preputial MVD was found to be significantly decreased in the patients with hypospadias compared with the healthy children (33.95 ± 9.79 vs. 48.25 ± 10.08; p < 0.05), whereas there was no difference in terms of the BF (40.58 ± 16.16 vs. 33.09 ± 19.65; p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We found no correlation between the preputial MVD and BF in the present study. This result suggests that reduced preputial MVD does not have any influence on BF in distal hypospadias.

Comparison of Clinical, Microbiological, and Histopathological Effects of Topical Caspofungin, Anidulafungin, and Voriconazole in Candida albicans Keratitis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, microbiological, and histopathological effects of topical caspofungin, anidulafungin, and voriconazole in the treatment of Candida albicans keratitis. Methods: Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) was inoculated on the mechanically de-epithelialized corneas of 28 male New Zealand White rabbits. Topical treatment was initiated after 72 h of inoculation. The rabbits were randomly assigned to treatment with 0.9% NaCl (control group), 0.5% caspofungin, 0.5% anidulafungin, or 1% voriconazole (n=6 rabbits per group). Eye drops were instilled every 30 minutes for the first 12 h, then hourly for 3 days. Clinical evaluations were done after 36 and 72 h of treatment. Clinical evaluation scores were calculated. Twelve hours after the final topical application, corneal tissue was removed under general anesthesia. In sterile conditions, the excised corneas were divided into two pieces for histopathological and microbiological examination. The efficacies of the treatments were measured by clinical assessment, fungal culture, and histopathology. Results: After 72 h of treatment, mean clinical assessment scores of the control, caspofungin, anidulafungin, and voriconazole groups were 9.60 ± 0.54 (9-10), 4.66 ± 1.63 (3-7), 2.50 ± 0.83 (1-3), and 6.50 ± 1.64 (4-8), respectively. Viable cell counts of the groups were 5549.20 ± 5113.54 (857.14-13333.33), 809.52 ± 1120.00 (0-2857.14), 0, and 8678.57 ± 10078.62 (0-25000) CFU/g, respectively. Histopathological analysis yielded mean hyphal densities of 50 μm, 20 μm, 0 μm, and 85 μm, respectively. Conclusions: According to clinical, microbiological, and pathological data, the most effective agent against Candida albicans keratitis was anidulafungin, followed by caspofungin.

L-carnitine reduces acute lung injury in experimental biliary obstruction

Objectives: To investigate the protective effects of L-carnitine (LC) on lungs in an experimental obstructive jaundice (OJ) model. Methods: This was conducted for 2 months between May 2011 and July 2011 at Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Isparta, Turkey. Thirty-eight Wistar-Albino rats with an average weight of 250-300 g were divided into 3 groups of control, OJ, and OJ + L-carnitine treatment (LCT). L-carnitine was injected intravenously into the tail vein at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 10 days to the LCT group. Animals were sacrificed 10 days later. Enzyme levels were measured in the lung tissue; malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Tumor necrosis factor-alfa, interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, and C-reactive protein levels were studied in plasma samples. Histopathological changes in the lungs were examined. Results: There was a decreased in GSH-Px, MPO, and IL-8 levels (p<0.05) in the LCT group. The histopathological examination showed that neutrophil leukocyte infiltration and edema formation decreased and destruction of lung parenchyma disappeared following the treatment with LC (p<0.05). Conclusion: L-carnitine has a protective effect against lung damage due to experimental obstructive jaundice, possibly by altering anticytokine and antioxidant activity, and by decreasing the neutrophil migration.

Protective effect of theophylline on renal functions in experimental pneumoperitoneum model

Abstract Our objective in this experimental study is to research the effect of the intra-abdominal pressure which rises following pneumoperitoneum and whether Theophylline has a possible protective activity on this situation. In our study, 24 Wistar Albino rats were used. Rats were divided into two groups. The first group was set for only pneumoperitoneum model. The second group was given 15 mg/kg of Theophylline intraperitoneally before setting pneumoperitoneum model. Then urea, creatinine, cystatin-C, tissue and serum total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant capacity and oxidative stress index in two groups were measured and compared with each other. Apoptosis and histopathological conditions in the renal tissues were examined. The differences between the groups were analyzed with the Mann–Whitney U test. Results were considered significant at p < 0.05. No statistically significant difference was determined between tissue and serum averages in two groups in terms of TAS, TOS and OSI values (p > 0.05). The mean value of urea were similar in pneumoperitoneum and pneumoperitoneum + theophylline groups (p = 0.12). The mean cystatin-C value was 2.2 ± 0.3 µg/mL in pneumoperitoneum, 1.74 ± 0.33 µg/mL in pneumoperitoneum + theophylline (p = 0.002). According to our study, lower cystatin-C levels in the group, where Theophylline was given, are suggestive of lower renal injury in this group. However, this opinion is interrogated as there is no difference in terms of tissue and serum TAS, TOS, OSI and urea values between the groups.