Estrogen recceptor-beta in cancer prostate: clincal and immunohistochemical study

The role of estrogen and its receptors in the etiology and progression of prostate cancer [PC] is poorly understood. This study was designed to determine the patterns of estrogen receptor-beta [ER-beta] expression in malignant human prostate and its association with the clinical outcome. Fifty radical prostatectomy specimens from patients with clinically localized PC were assessed for ER-beta expression using immunohistochemistry [IHC]. Out of the 50 cancer specimens, only 8/50 [16%] were ER-beta positive. Statistically, the ER-beta presence in PC specimens was studied in relation to the different prognostic variables. The ER-beta positivity was statistically significant in association with the prostate gland-confined tumor [p=0.4794], the seminal gland invasion [p=0.0001], pelvic lymph node metastasis [p=0.0080] and Gleason grade [p=0.0044]. The disease relapse was significant in association with the ER-beta immuno-positivity [p=0.1179]. On the other hand there was no significant association with prostatic specific antigen [PSA] level and surgical margins invasion [p=0.9746 and 0.9017 respectively]. We demonstrated that the ER-beta expression in prostate cancer is associated with higher Gleason grade tumours and with higher metastatic potential. The ER-beta could be one of the key processes leading to uncontrolled growth of prostate epithelial cells

Myoview [technetium-99m tetrofosmine] scintigraphy of parathyroid gland in primary hyperparathyroidism

Minimal surgical techniques are increasingly used to remove parathyroid adenomas. Such surgery depends on accurate preoperative localization of the parathyroid swelling. The preoperative accuracy of Tc-99m tetrofosmin was evaluated in 45 patients presented with primary hyperparathyroidism and compared with ultrasonography and Tc-99m pertechnetate studies / Thallium-201 [Tc-O[4]/TL-20I] subtraction. The overall sensitivity of Tc-99m tetrofosmin was 88.8% for double phase study and 91.1% for dual tracer subtraction and that for Tc-99mO[4]/TL-201 subtraction was 80% and US was 73.3% with high significant difference. High reliability and accuracy of Tc-99m tetrofosmin in pre-operative localization of parathyroid adenoma

Apoptosis suppressing protein Bcl-2 expression in rheumatoid synovium

It has been suggested that defective apoptosis plays a role in the development of autoimmune. The aim of this study is to investigate the apoptosis suppressing protein Bcl-2 in the rheumatoid synovum. Twenty synovium biopsy specimens were studied histopathologically and immuno-histochemically. Positive immunoreactivity was observed in 16 cases [80%] the infiltrated lymphocytes and in 11 cases [55%] in the lymphoid follicles, while, in 8 cases [40%] deep synovial fibroblasts showed marked Bcl-2 positively. The superficial synovial cell lining was only positive in 5 cases [25%].The apoptotic process is suppressed in rheumatoid arthritis as triggered by Bcl-2 oncoprotein. The defective control of apoptosis. [programmed cell death] as well excessive proliferation may he of central importance in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis