Immunoexpression of estrogen receptor-? and progesterone receptor in prostate adenocarcinoma, does it inhibit neoplastic proliferation and invasion?

Context: The roles of estrogen and progesterone in human prostate carcinogenesis have been only recently recognized. Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the expressions of esterone receptor-beta (ER-?), progesterone receptor (PR), and Ki-67 in benign and malignant lesions of the prostate. Settings and Design: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. It was an analytical cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: We selected a total of 39 cases including 26 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia and 13 cases of adenocarcinoma prostate. The proportion of cases showing expression for ER-?, PR, and Ki-67 was noted for both groups. A difference in immunoexpression between benign and malignant cases was evaluated. Association between receptor expression and Gleason grade was evaluated for malignant cases. Statistical Analysis Used: To compare the difference in expressions of ER-?, PR, and Ki-67 Mann–Whitney U test was used. Association between ER-?, PR, and Ki-67 expression and Gleason grade was analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: ER-? expression was seen in all benign and malignant cases, whereas the majority of the malignant cases (61.54%) were negative for progesterone expression. Epithelial expressions of ER-? and PR were significantly higher in benign as compared with malignant lesions. Malignant cases showed a significantly higher expression of Ki-67. However, we did not find any association between the expressions of these markers with Gleason grade. Conclusions: The expressions of ER-? and PR were significantly higher in the epithelium in benign cases as compared with malignant cases. Ki-67 expression was significantly higher in the malignant group as compared with the benign group.

Effect of combination of thalidomide and sulfasalazine in experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease in rats.

Thalidomide provided significant protection against tri nitro benzene sulfonic acid induced colitis. Combination therapy also reduced colonic inflammation and all the biochemical parameters (myeloperoxidase assay, malondialdehyde assay and tumor necrosis factor- , estimation) were significant as compared to control as well as thalidomide alone treated group. Combination therapy showed additive effect of thalidomide which restored lipid peroxidation as well as reduced myeloperoxidase and TNF- towards the normal levels. Morphological and histological scores were significantly reduced in combination groups. In experimental model of colitis, oral administration of thalidomide (150 mg/kg) alone as well as its combination with sulfasalazine (360 mg/kg) significantly reduced the colonic inflammation. The results indicate the additive effect of thalidomide with sulfasalazine in rat colitis model which requires further confirmation in human studies.

Genetic basis of HIV-1 resistance and susceptibility: an approach to understand correlation between human genes and HIV-1 infection.

HIV infection is the serious medical and public health issue of present generation. By 2005, it has already infected a cumulative total of more than sixty million people worldwide and the number of HIV positive cases are rising day by day. India is currently estimated to have about 5.1 million infected persons with HIV-1 or AIDS (second only to South Africa) and this number could increase to 24 million in the next ten years. This pandemic situation of the AIDS stimulated a plethora of longitudinal cohort studies which are designed to document medical heterogeneity as well as to mitigate the factors that regulate the HIV-1 infection, disease progression and the immune defenses. In recent years these genetic studies have led to the discovery of various MHC and non MHC encoded genes, which directly or indirectly influence the susceptibility and resistance to HIV infection and AIDS. These genes and their mutated forms and their products which play a major role in determining the susceptibility or resistance to HIV-1 infection and AIDS. These genes have been categorized into MHC or non MHC encoded genes. The MHC encoded genes which determine HIV resistance or susceptibility are HLA-B57, HLA-B58, HLA-B27, HLA-Bw4 and HLA-A11 in Southeast Asians. On the other hand, non MHC encoded genes are CCR5, CCR2, RANTES, CXCL12, CXCR6, CCL3L1, Interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon gamma. The site specific mutations in these genes determine the susceptibility or resistance to HIV-1 infection and AIDS. In future the study of host genes in relation to HIV-1 infection may provide the researchers to develop newer chemotherapeutic approaches to prevent or cure HIV-1 infection effectively.

Glycosuria in organophosphate and carbamate poisoning.

OBJECTIVE: Puzzled by the observation of occurrence of transient glycosuria in several patients admitted with organophosphate and carbamate compound poisoning, we undertook a critical analysis of this observation. METHODS: Of the fifty-one consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit with organophosphate and carbamate compound poisoning, in 23 subjects the nature of the compound consumed was known; these were studied. The occurrence and duration of glycosuria, its magnitude, associated hyperglycemia if any, and correlation thereof were recorded. RESULTS: Sixteen out of the 23 subjects (69%) demonstrated transient glycosuria. There were 13 men and 10 women. 10 subjects had euglycemia associated with glycosuria; 6 subjects had transient glycosuria with hyperglycemia (defined as random glucose over 160 mg%). None of the subjects had diabetes mellitus and the pre-hospital-discharge blood sugars were in the normal range. CONCLUSION: Glycosuria (renal), albeit transient, was noted in a proportion of subjects admitted with organophosphate and carbamate poisoning. The exact etiology of this is unclear but in the light of recent literature, it is likely that oxidative stress at the renal tubular level leading to renal tubular damage may be the most likely explanation. Further, larger studies are needed to elucidate this is detail.

Significance of serum immunoglobulin levels in conglomeration with trans-sternal phlebography in the phlebography management of breast cancer.

The study was conducted on 63 patients with breast lump and twenty normal healthy females. In benign breast disease, a significant (P < 0.001) rise in serum IgA, significant (P < 0.001) decrease in IgG and no change in IgM levels was seen before operation. A significant decrease (P < 0.001) in serum IgA and significant increase in IgG and IgM was observed post operatively. In carcinoma breast, a significant (P < 0.001) elevation in IgA, IgG and IgM levels was found pre-operatively with a concomitant decrease in serum IgA and IgG and increase in serum IgM levels, post operatively. Trans-sternal phlebography (TSP) carried out with 95.23% success has revealed significant (P < 0.001) change in the staging of carcinoma breast. The increased levels of serum immunoglobulins associated with the patients of carcinoma breast with metastasis has led to conclude that these levels, if punctuated with TSP findings can lead to better assessment of the staging of carcinoma breast and thereby its management.

Immunotherapy in allergic conjunctivitis.

Eighty patients with allergic conjunctivitis were treated with immunotherapy employing specific allergens. Sixty-two percent of these showed beneficial response. In cases of vernal conjunctivitis needing topical steroid preparations frequently for control of symptoms, immunotherapy is worth attempting to cause remission of symptoms.

Evaluation of beneficial effects of nonnutritive sucking in preterm infants.

The effects of nonnutritive sucking (NNS) were studied in 40 preterm infants weighing less than or equal to 1800 g and of less than or equal to 35 weeks gestation by using a pacifier. The provision of NNS accelerated the maturation of sucking resulting in a faster transition from gavage to oral feedings. Treated infants (20) were ready for bottle feeds 1.54 days earlier, took their bottle feeds 1.5 min/30 ml faster and were transferred out of the nursery on an average .5 days earlier than the control infants. No adverse effects due to NNS were observed throughout the period of study. This resulted in an earlier union with their mother, less maternal deprivation and decreased work load on the nursery staff. Used judiciously this simple and safe modality of providing a pacifier for NNS during tube feeding may be useful in the management of preterm infants.