The Correlation between QRS Dispersion and Coronary Artery Disease Severity in Patients with Non ST Elevation Myocardial Infraction

Non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) has been the subject of numerous studies. Risk stratification is a fundamental element for the management of NSTEMI; therefore, several scores have been established in this direction, particularly prognostic markers derived from the ECG. Aims: The aim of our study is to correlate the dispersion of the QRS with the severity of coronary lesions assessed by the GENSINI score in patients admitted for NSTEMI at the University Hospital of Marrakech. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the cardiology department of Mohammed VI university hospital of Marrakech from January 01, 2022 to March 31, 2022. Data was derived from the hospitalization register, including 30 patients (16 women and 14 men). Age ranged from 56 to 74 years with an average of 64.6 ± 9.3. Data was analyzed by SPSS, the level of significance set at p <0.05. Results: We found, in our study, a highly significant positive correlation between QRS dispersion (considered important if >20 ms) and admission heart rate (p=0.003) as well as the level of ultrasensitive troponins (p=0.003). There is also a very significant correlation between QRS dispersion and corrected QT interval (p=0.005), Moreover, we concluded that in patients admitted for NSTEMI, the greater the dispersion of the QRS, the higher the score of GENSINI (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The dispersion of the QRS is a simple marker on the ECG that can have a predictive value in different clinical contexts, particularly in acute ischemic heart disease. Further studies are needed, however, to validate its usefulness in routine practice.

Evaluation of tumor budding and its correlation with histomorphological prognostic markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its association with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process

Objective: To evaluate the association of tumor budding (TB) with prognostic histomorphological parameters in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to investigate the correlation of TB intensity with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Material and Method: A total of 200 cases diagnosed as OSCC were selected and their TB status was reviewed using Hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Correlation with histomorphological prognostic parameters was done. Also, IHC for Vimentin and E-cadherin was performed to look for EMT. Results: On H and E examination, TB was observed in 154/200 (77%). About 88/154 (57.14%) cases showed a high TB (>5 TB/10 hpf) which increased to 100/154 (64.9%) cases on IHC staining. The intensity of TB was significantly associated with tumor grade and depth of invasion. It was also significantly associated with reduced expression for E-Cadherin and upregulation of Vimentin establishing a pathogenetic correlation between the TB and EMT. Conclusion: Therefore, our results suggest that TB is associated with poor prognosis and histologically represents EMT in OSCC which further adds to the aggressiveness of the tumor.

miR-155-5p Expression, Function and Regulation in Tumors / 肿瘤防治研究

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, single-stranded non-coding RNAs that act as important regulators of gene expression and are involved in a number of important processes in life. A large number of studies have suggested that dysregulation of miRNA expression may be an important part of the mechanism of human tumorigenesis and progression. MiR-155-5p is mainly regarded as an oncomiR that acts on multiple target genes to participate in tumor progression, although it has been suggested to possess cancer growth suppressor effects. In this paper, we summarize the effects of miR-155-5p on cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and drug resistance in various tumor types and elucidate its value as a possible potential marker in assisting diagnosis.

Advances in Drug Resistance Mechanisms and Prognostic Markers of Targeted Therapy in ALK-positive Non-small Cell Lung Cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

Echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) fusion accounts for 3%-5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. With the in-depth study of the EML4-ALK driver gene, ALK inhibitors represented by crizotinib have been gradually developed and applied in the clinic. However, the response to ALK-targeted therapy is heterogeneous among different patients. Most patients with ALK-targeted therapy will inevitably develop drug resistance, leading to tumor progression. Monitoring the efficacy of patients with prognostic markers to change the treatment in time, and selecting individualized follow-up treatment according to the mechanism of drug resistance, can effectively improve the prognosis of patients. This article will review the mechanism of ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ALK-TKI) resistance and related prognostic markers to discuss the prediction for ALK-targeted therapy and the choice of subsequent treatment for drug-resistant patients.
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White blood cell count on admission as prognostic marker for assessment of severity of acute myocardial infarction

Background:High white blood cell/leucocyte counts were predicted as important biomarkers for future cardiovascular events in both healthy individuals and are having history myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was to assess the role of leucocytes as predictors of morbidity and mortality during the hospitalization of patients with acute myocardial infarction.Methods:This was a prospective study conducted on 79 patients with evolving STEMI attending the emergency department of Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Hospital, Indore during the period from November 2004 to July 2005. Blood total leucocyte count (TLC) was done in all the patients. All-cause mortality rate during the follow up period was defined as the primary end point of the study. Composite of death, reinfarction and heart failure till follow up day were defined as the secondary outcomes.Results:The mean age of the patients was 55.9±10.4 years. Male dominance was (86%) seen in the study. The mean TLC in the study population was 12345±4922/cumm. A total of 16 (20.2%) patients were died during 3 months of follow up. Statistically significant difference (p<0.001) was seen for characteristics such as age, risk index score,mean blood pressure heart rate and the Kilip class between survivors and non-survivors. The mean difference of TLC and mean CKMB was greater in non-survivors compared to survivors but the difference was not significant (p=0.177). Age, risk index, Kilip class, serum creatinine and baseline TLC, was found to affect the occurrence of the events significantly with a p value of less than 0.05. Conclusions: The findings conclude that the high blood leucocyte count was proved to be an important prognostic factorfor assessing the severity of acute myocardial infarction in study population

Outcome and prognostic markers of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and cut-off value of Ki-67 in 158 breast cancer patients / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Ki-67 in breast can-cer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and explore the association of chemotherapy regimens and cycles with the outcome of NAC. Methods:Clinical data of cancer patients receiving NAC were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were admit-ted in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2015 to December 2015. All statistical analyses were per-formed using SPSS version 19.0. The relationship among the outcome of NAC, molecular subtype, expression levels of ER, PR, and Ki-67, and chemotherapy regimens and cycles was investigated. Results:Only five HER-2(+) patients accepted the addition of trastuzum-ab in treatment, and few cases were excluded from the statistical analysis based on the effect of chemotherapy regimens. The effec-tiveness of NAC was positively correlated with the expression of Ki-67 whereas negatively correlated with the expression levels of ER and PR (P<0.05). In patients receiving NAC, the patients with Luminal subtype had worse outcome than those with non-Luminal sub-type (P=0.033). The invalid efficacy of pathologic evaluations of Luminal and non-Luminal NAC were 10.1%and 1.3%, respectively. No significant difference was found in the outcome among patients receiving TE, TEC, or EC-T;however, patients who received more than four cycles of NAC had better outcome than others (P=0.016). The outcome was statistically significant when the cut-off value of Ki-67 was 25%. Conclusion:Ki-67 proliferative index could be used as a prognostic marker to NAC in breast cancer patients. The cut-off value of Ki-67 should be determined on the basis of the data of each cancer patient. The curative effect of NAC was poor, and Luminal pa-tients with chemotherapy were insensitive and could be considered for surgical treatment. Patients who received less than four cycles of NAC had worse outcome than others, and prompt NAC foot treatment could improve the efficiency.

Prognostic implications of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma: overexpression of p-mTOR indicates an adverse prognosis

Background: The development of oral cavity cancer is related to the accumulation of genetic alterations. The activation of AKT is associated with the proliferation and progression of many malignancies. It is thought that MAP kinases, together with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, promote uncoordinated proliferation via inhibition of PTEN, thus increasing cell survival and mediating cancer progression. However, there are few studies regarding the expression of these proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: The expression of PI3K, p-mTOR, p-AKT, p-MAPK, and PTEN in 125 oral SCCs, including gingival, palate hard, and alveolar ridge tumors, was examined by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological data and survival rates. Results: We observed PI3K, p-mTOR, p-MAPK, p-AKT, and PTEN positive staining in the cytoplasm of most SCC (92.4%, 88.2%, 88.3%, 94.2%, and 25%, respectively). Positive nuclear staining was observed for p-mTOR, PTEN, p-AKT, and p-MAPK (42.9%, 72%, 64.2%, and 58.2%, respectively). Only p-mTOR protein expression was observed on the cell membrane and was present in 44.5% of cases. A statistically significant correlation was found between p-MAPK expression and SCC clinicopathological stages III and IV (p = 0.0042). Lower rates of disease-free survival were found in patients with SCC III / IV (p = 0.001). Patients with positive nuclear staining of p-mTOR displayed a significant increase in disease-free survival rates. Discussion: The identification of prognostic and predictive markers is clinically important because oral cancer is a group of heterogeneous diseases with various biological and clinical characteristics. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the PI3K/AKT pathway is activated in gingival, hard palate, and alveolar ridge SCCs. We have demonstrated that p-mTOR expression can function as a biomarker for survival in oral SCCs and could be a promising therapeutic target in oral SCC treatment (AU)

ADENOSINE DEAMINASE ACTIVITY AND SERUM C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AS PROGNOSTIC MARKERS OF CHAGAS DISEASE SEVERITY / Atividade da adenosina deaminase e níveis de proteina C reativa sérica como marcadores de gravidade na doença de Chagas

SUMMARY Chagas disease is a public health problem worldwide. The availability of diagnostic tools to predict the development of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. Here we analyze the prognostic value of adenosine deaminase serum activity (ADA) and C-reactive protein serum levels (CRP) in chagasic individuals. One hundred and ten individuals, 28 healthy and 82 chagasic patients were divided according to disease severity in phase I (n = 35), II (n = 29), and III (n = 18). A complete medical history, 12-lead electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and M-mode echocardiogram were performed on each individual. Diagnosis of Chagas disease was confirmed by ELISA and MABA using recombinant antigens; ADA was determined spectrophotometrically and CRP by ELISA. The results have shown that CRP and ADA increased linearly in relation to disease phase, CRP being significantly higher in phase III and ADA at all phases. Also, CRP and ADA were positively correlated with echocardiographic parameters of cardiac remodeling and with electrocardiographic abnormalities, and negatively with ejection fraction. CRP and ADA were higher in patients with cardiothoracic index ≥ 50%, while ADA was higher in patients with ventricular repolarization disturbances. Finally, CRP was positively correlated with ADA. In conclusion, ADA and CRP are prognostic markers of cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in Chagas disease.

Introdução e objetivo . A Doença de Chagas é um problema de saúde pública mundial. A disponibilidade de ferramentas diagnósticas para prever o desenvolvimento de miocardiopatia chagásica crônica é fundamental para reduzir a morbidade e a mortalidade. Aqui estudamos o valor prognóstico da atividade sérica da adenosina deaminase (ADA) e dos níveis de proteína C reativa (PCR) em indivíduos chagásicos. Métodos : 110 indivíduos: 28 saudáveis e 82 pacientes chagásicos foram divididos de acordo com a gravidade da doença em fase I (n = 35), II (n = 29) e III (n = 18). Para cada indivíduo foram feitos uma história médica, eletrocardiograma, radiografia de tórax e ecocardiografía transtorácica. O diagnóstico de Chagas foi confirmado por ELISA e MABA utilizando antígenos recombinantes, a atividade sérica da enzima ADA foi determinada por espectrofotometria, e os níveis séricos de PCR por ELISA. Resultados : os níveis de PCR e da atividade da ADA aumentaram linearmente em relação à fase da doença, sendo a PCR significativamente maior na fase III, e a ADA em todas as fases. Além disso, PCR e ADA foram correlacionados positivamente com parâmetros ecocardiográficos de remodelamento cardíaco e alterações eletrocardiográficas, e negativamente com a fração de ejeção. PCR e ADA foram mais elevadas em pacientes com índice cardiotorácico ≥ 50%, enquanto que a ADA foi maior em pacientes com alterações da repolarização ventricular. Finalmente, os níveis de PCR foram correlacionados positivamente com a atividade da ADA. Conclusão : ADA e PCR são marcadores prognósticos de disfunção e remodelamento cardíaco na Doença de Chagas, e devem ser incluídos na avaliação e acompanhamento dos pacientes.

Prognostic Significance of ACE and PAI-1 Genes Polymorphisms with Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Non-Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: ACE a renin-angiotensin system that regulates blood pressure, balance of fluids and salts in body and PAI-1 is a serine protease inhibitor, which inhibits tissue plasminogen activator andurokinase.They are thought to play an important role in pathophysiology of kidney disease in diabetes. Aim: In our present study, we studied the association of altered ACE-gene and PAI-1 gene with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and NDR in 592 samples consisted of (cohort I; 196 DR patients, cohort II; 200 diabetic nonretinopathy (DNR) and cohort III, 196 respective controls. Methods: For genotyping of ACE-gene and PAI-1 gene, genomic DNA was isolated and purified which was then amplified by PCR, and thePCR products analyzedwere by Agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: In first part, the ACE genotype and allele frequency distribution was studied. For ACE gene polymorphism, the genotype and allele frequency distribution were analyzed in DR subjects and respective controls. The results indicated that there is no statistically significant difference between DR males and females compared to respective controls. The results were significantly high between genotype frequencies of DR and DNR in males. The recessive model was found to be significantly associated with the DR male subjects (OR=0.45 [95% CI=0.20-0.99], p<0.05), whereas in females these are non-significant as compared to respective controls individuals. In second part of study, the disease status analysis of ACE gene on basis of DR stages (NPDR and PDR) was observed. The χ2 analysis indicated that results are significantly different between NPDR and respective controls (χ2=8.75, p=0.01) .And in third part of present study, disease status analysis for PAI-1 gene on the basis of DR stages (NPDR and PDR) was studied, which indicated statistically nonsignificance. The χ2 analysis values for DNR and NPDR and for DNR and PDR was (χ2=0.48, p>0.05)(χ2 =2.00, p>0.05) respectively, Conclusion: Our present study suggests that changes in genetic polymorphisms of ACE-gene and PAI-1 gene in DR, DNR and T2D Patients are risk factors, which may serve as useful prognostic markers.

Análise de sobrevida e fatores prognósticos de cães com mastocitoma cutâneo / Survival analyses and prognostic markers in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors

O mastocitoma é a neoplasia cutânea maligna de maior frequência em cães. Apesar do estudo e do desenvolvimento de diversos marcadores prognósticos na tentativa de prever o comportamento biológico deste tipo de neoplasia, a graduação histológica continua sendo utilizada como principal delineador prognóstico para os animais acometidos, mesmo não conseguindo prever o comportamento de mastocitomas de diferenciação intermediária. Diferentes marcadores de proliferação e atividade celular vêm sendo testados com resultados promissores, entretanto, em sua maioria, demandam técnicas específicas de coloração e imuno-histoquímica que, ainda hoje, são de alto custo e muitas vezes não estão facilmente disponíveis. O índice mitótico é um método indireto de mensuração da atividade proliferativa celular, que pode ser contabilizado em uma lâmina comum de avaliação histológica e estudos vêm determinando-o como importante marcador prognóstico para o mastocitoma canino. Dada a recente publicação sugerindo nova graduação em dois graus (alto e baixo) e indisponibilidade das técnicas específicas utilizadas na determinação de outros fatores prognósticos, objetivou-se avaliar o poder prognóstico das diferentes classificações, associando-as à sobrevida destes animais e comparando com o índice mitótico. Apesar de isoladamente ambas as classificações histológicas apresentarem associação com a sobrevida (P<.001) dos animais acometidos, na análise multifatorial nenhuma foi significativamente associada com a sobrevida (P>0,05)...

Mast cell tumor (MCT) is the most common malignant cutaneous neoplasm in dogs. Even with several prognostic markers being studied, in attempt to previse the biological behavior of these tumors, the histological grading is still commonly used to predict behavior, however, it is not significant to predict intermediately differentiated MCT behavior. Different prognostic and cell proliferation markers are being tested with promising results however, the majority of then requires specific staining and immunohistochemical techniques that even nowadays are expensive and not suitable for all veterinarians. Mitotic index is an indirect measure of cell proliferation and it can be established in a common histological microscope slide, and studies indicate it as an important prognostic marker for MCT in dogs. Given the recent publication of the novel two-tier histologic grading system, this study objective to evaluate the prognostic value of the different grading systems associating with survival and compare it with the mitotic index. Even though both grading systems associate with survival in the univariable analyses (P<.001), at the multivariable analyses neither was associated with survival (P>0,05)...

Vitamin D deficiency at pediatric intensive care admission / Deficiência de vitamina D em internações na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica

OBJECTIVE: to assess whether 25hydroxivitaminD or 25(OH)vitD deficiency has a high prevalence at pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, and whether it is associated with increased prediction of mortality risk scores. METHOD: prospective observational study comparing 25(OH)vitD levels measured in 156 patients during the 12 hours after critical care admission with the 25(OH)vitD levels of 289 healthy children. 25(OH)vitD levels were also compared between PICU patients with pediatric risk of mortality III (PRISM III) or pediatric index of mortality 2 (PIM 2) > p75 [(group A; n = 33) vs. the others (group B; n = 123)]. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as < 20 ng/mL levels. RESULTS: median (p25-p75) 25(OH)vitD level was 26.0 ng/mL (19.2-35.8) in PICU patients vs. 30.5 ng/mL (23.2-38.6) in healthy children (p = 0.007). The prevalence of 25(OH)vitD < 20 ng/mL was 29.5% (95% CI: 22.0-37.0) vs. 15.6% (95% CI: 12.2-20.0) (p = 0.01). Pediatric intensive care patients presented an odds ratio (OR) for hypovitaminosis D of 2.26 (CI 95%: 1.41-3.61). 25(OH)vitD levels were 25.4 ng/mL (CI 95%: 15.5-36.0) in group A vs. 26.6 ng/mL (CI 95%: 19.3-35.5) in group B (p = 0.800). CONCLUSIONS: hypovitaminosis D incidence was high in PICU patients. Hypovitaminosis D was not associated with higher prediction of risk mortality scores. .

OBJETIVO: avaliar se a deficiência da 25-hidroxivitamina D, ou 25 (OH) vitD, tem prevalência elevada em internações na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica, e se estaria relacionada à previsão de escores de risco de mortalidade. MÉTODO: estudo observacional prospectivo comparando níveis de 25 (OH) vitD de 156 pacientes, mensurados nas primeiras 12 horas da internação em terapia intensiva, com níveis de 25 (OH) vitD de 289 crianças saudáveis. Os níveis de 25 (OH) vitD também foram comparados entre pacientes na UTIP com escore PRISM III ou PIM 2 > p75 (Grupo A; n = 33), e o restante, (Grupo B; n = 123). A deficiência de vitamina D foi definida como níveis < 20 ng/mL. RESULTADOS: o nível médio (p25-p75) de 25 (OH) vitD foi 26,0 ng/mL (19,2-35,8) em pacientes internados na UTIP, em comparação a 30,5 ng/mL (23,2-38,6) em crianças saudáveis (p = 0,007). A prevalência de 25 (OH) vitD < 20 ng/mL foi de 29,5% (IC 95%, 22,0-37,0), em comparação a 15,6% (IC 95%,12,2-20,0) (p = 0,01). Os pacientes em terapia intensiva pediátrica apresentaram uma razão de chance (RC) para hipovitaminose D de 2,26 (IC 95%, 1,41-3,61). Os níveis de 25 (OH) vitD foram 25,4 ng/mL (IC 95%, 15,5-36,0) no grupo A, em comparação a 26,6 ng/mL (IC 95%, 19,3-35,5) no grupo B (p = 0,800). CONCLUSÕES: a incidência de hipovitaminose D foi elevada em pacientes em terapia intensiva pediátrica, mas não foi associada à maior previsão de escores de risco de mortalidade. .

Sodium iodide symporter, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor expression in carcinoma breast - An immunohistochemical analysis.

Background: Sodium iodide symporter (NIS), a transporter of iodine is essential for thyroid hormone biosynthesis. It also plays a role in the radioiodine treatment of thyroid cancers. NIS mediated radioiodine transport to breast cancers is under active investigation due to its potential therapeutic utility. Cellular localization and quantification using immunohistochemistry may provide clues for its utility in management of carcinoma breast. Materials and Methods: Human NIS (hNIS) expression was therefore assessed by utilizing a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against a cloned hNIS in different grades of infiltrating duct carcinoma of breast and its metastatic deposits namely in lymph nodes, bone marrow, and endometrium. Further, hNIS expression was compared with prognostic markers namely estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR). Results: hNIS was positive in 90.6% cases (29/32) and Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grading was done in 25 cases and 23 cases were NIS positive. Among nongraded cases, 2/2 cases of carcinoma in-situ were positive and 4/5 were positive in cases having post therapy residual tumor status. The strong positivity for hNIS was seen irrespective of ER or PR status and of grade of breast carcinoma and correlated well with western blot analysis. In all the three metastatic sites, NIS was positive in the tumor. Conclusion: These findings indicate the utility of immnohistochemistry for NIS as a new potential prognostic marker and may provide guidance for possible radio iodine therapy in breast cancer patients.

Usefulness of hemoglobin and albumin as prognostic markers for highly active antiretroviral therapy for HIV-1 infection.

Background: Usefulness of hemoglobin and albumin as prognostic markers for highly active anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-1 infection. Introduction: Anemia and hypoalbuminemia are common complications in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We aimed to investigate the changes in hemoglobin and albumin levels in response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Further, we evaluated the appropriateness of using hemoglobin and albumin as HIV disease progression markers. Materials and Methods: A prospective longitudinal study of 122 subjects was carried out. Pre-treatment, one year, and two year post-treatment hemoglobin, and albumin levels were correlated with respective CD4+ T cell counts. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of each marker against CD4+ T cell counts were calculated in order to establish the appropriateness of use of these parameters as surrogate disease progression and prognostic markers. Results: Mean hemoglobin and albumin levels pre-, one, and two year post HAART were 9.7 g/dL, 12.1 g/dL, and 13.1 g/dL, respectively, P = 0.001; albumin: 3.7 gm%, 4.4 gm%, and 4.7 gm%, respectively, P = 0.001. There was a positive correlation between hemoglobin, albumin, and CD4+ T cell count at pre-treatment, one year, and two year post-treatment visit. Both albumin and hemoglobin had high sensitivity when compared to CD4+ T cell counts. Conclusions: Hemoglobin and albumin levels were found to increase after initiation of HAART. Hemoglobin and albumin were seen to be a strong prognostic marker of HIV disease progression at pre-, one, and two year post-treatment. Therefore, hemoglobin and albumin may be used together along with CD4 + T cell counts in HIV management, particularly in resource-poor settings.

Avaliação da proliferação celular como indicador prognóstico para mastocitomas cutâneos caninos / Evaluation of cellular proliferation as prognostic indicator for canine cutaneous mast cell tumors

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o valor prognóstico de marcadores de proliferação celular em casos de mastocitomas cutâneos caninos. Vinte e três casos foram analisados quanto à expressão imuno-histoquímica de Ki67 e do Antígeno Nuclear de Proliferação Celular (PCNA), sendo subsequentemente acompanhados clinicamente. Observou-se que a expressão de Ki67 mantém relação negativa com a tradicional graduação histopatológica (p= 0,0418; p<0,05 entre os graus I e III), sendo um indicador confiável para o tempo de sobrevida pós-cirúrgica (p=0,0089). A imunoexpressão de PCNA, apesar de estar correlacionada à marcação por Ki67, não apresentou valores estatisticamente significantes na predição da mortalidade em função da doença e do tempo de sobrevida pós-cirúrgico. Os resultados obtidos confirmam que informações sobre a atividade proliferativa tumoral pela detecção imuno-histoquímica de Ki67 podem incrementar a classificação de mastocitomas cutâneos caninos quanto à malignidade.

This study evaluated the prognostic value of cell proliferation markers for canine cutaneous mast cell tumor cases. Twenty-three cases were analyzed with regard to immuno-histochemical expression of Ki67 and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), and were clinically followed up. Ki67 expression was related to the traditional histopathological grading (p= 0.0418; p<0.05 between grades I and III), and was a reliable indicator of post-surgical survival (p=0.0089). PCNA immunoexpression did not show statistically significant values in the prediction of disease-related mortality and survival, although it is correlated to Ki67 expression. These results confirm that information about tumoral proliferative activity through Ki67 immunohistochemical detection can improve canine cutaneous mast cell tumor grading with regard to malignancy.

Expression of VEGF, HGF, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9, Telomerase in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the telomerase expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the relationship between the serum level of several soluble factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and matrix metallopeptidase-9 and the clinicopathological features of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 50 HNSCC patients and 15 normal controls. The telomerase activity in the PBMCs was measured by Telomere Repeat Amplification Protocols. The serum levels of the soluble factors were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The expression of telomerase in the PBMCs of HNSCC patients was significantly correlated with the N and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages. The serum VEGF level was significantly higher in the patients with an advanced T stage, N stage and AJCC stage. Serum VEGF was significantly related with the expression of telomerase in the PBMCs. The telomerase expression and the VEGF expression were shown to be independent factors associated with poor survival. CONCLUSION: The telomerase expression in the PBMCs and the serum VEGF level of HNSCC patients were significantly correlated with the N stage, the AJCC stage and the prognosis.

Clinical Study on Prognostic Markers in IgA Nephropathy / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy is the most common type of glomerulonephritis to progress to the end-stage renal disease. The variable course and long natural history of the disease make it difficult to predict prognosis. The aim of the present study was to search for significant predictive factors at the time of biopsy. METHODS: Authors investigated the association between prognosis of IgA nephropathy and clinical (age, sex, hypertension, compliance), laboratory (serum creatinine and uric acid, proteinuria, selective proteinuria index, IgA/C3 ratio), and histologic findings at the time of biopsy from 50 patients who were biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy and followed for more than 5 years at our hospital. Two outcomes were analysed. The first, only 46 cases (initial GFR > or =60) were divided into two groups:group 1 (last GFR > or =60 mL/min), group 2 ( or =30% and GFR <90 mL/min). RESULTS: Risk factors for chronic renal failure by multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazards model) were compliance. And histopathologic classification as Haas has predictive value for rapid deterioration of GFR (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: Compliance may be predictors for renal survival in the patients with IgA nephropathy by multivariate analysis. Histopathologic classification as Haas was related with rapid reduction of renal function. And hyperuricemia seems to be related with prognosis of IgA nephropathy. But these outcome may need further evaluation by long-term and large cohort study.

A Study of the Correlation between Prognostic Factors of Human Gastric Carcinomas and the Expression of CD44

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between CD44 expression and depth of, tumor invasion histopathologic differentiation, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and proliferating capacity of tumor cells in the gastric carcinoma. In 20 cases of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) and 40 cases of advanced gastric carcinoma (AGC), the immunohistochemical staining for CD44v3, CD44v5, and PCNA gave the following results. 1) In all 60 cases, the positive rates for CD44v3 and CD44v5 were 18.3% and 71.7%, respectively. 2) CD44v5 was expressed in 45% of EGC and 85% of AGC. 3) Larger tumors exhibited higher positive rates for CD44v5. 4) There were 28 cases of lymph node metastases out of 43 cases of CD44v5- positive primary gastric carcinomas (65.1%), and there were 4 cases of lymph node metastases out of 17 CD44v5-negative cases (23.5%). 5) There was no relationship between CD44v5 expression and PCNA index. Because the tumors that exhibit deep invasion, and large in size and have lymph node metastses tend to have more frequent expression of CD44v5, CD44v5 may be one of the useful prognostic markers for gastric carcinoma.