The Effects of Transforming Growth Factor beta1 on Apoptosis in Rat Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Based upon the concept that carcinogenesis is associated with apoptosis, specific therapies designed to enhance the susceptibility of cancer cells to undergo apoptosis could be developed. Thus, in this paper, it was designed to investigate whether, using rat animal model with chemical-induced hepatocellular carcinoma, TGF-1 in vivo could induce apoptosis in cancer. The chemical hepatocarcinogenic procedure of Solt-Farber method was used on Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental groups were divided into group A treated with the standard Solt-Farber regimen of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-Acetaminofluorene (AAF), group B TGF-, group C TGF-1, and group D adriamycin after hepatocellular carcinoma developed. For detection of apoptotic cells, apoptotic indices were examined by the in situ end DNA labelling method. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Apoptosis of rat hepatocellular carcinoma cells increased significantly to 4.92+/-2.32/HPF in the group C compared with the control group (A) (2.54+/-1.13/HPF; P<0.05). Two distinctly different populations of proliferating hepatocellular carcinoma cells were identified. The cells at G1/S boundary (weak granular staining) increased to 15.75+/-6.19/HPF and 6.45+/-2.93/HPF in the groups C and D, respectively, but decreased to 2.42+/-2.06/HPF in the group B compared with the control group (A) (6.38+/-2.18/HPF; p<0.05). The cells at S phase (strong granular staining) increased to 3.37+/-2.69/HPF in the group B but decreased to 0.32+/-0.47/HPF in the group D (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that the TGF-1 may be used as an effective anticancer agent.

Malignant Eccrine Poroma of Abdomen Brief case report

Eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare tumor of the skin. A case report of an eccrine porocarcinoma metastasizing to epidural space of spinal cord and inguinal area with a nine year follow up is described. The patient had a nodular growth of the abdomen with both inguinal lymphadenopathy three years before its first excision. After a follow up of nine years, he complained a weakness of lower extremities and back pain. Extradural mass of 10th thoracic vertebra and left inguinal mass were found. Subsequently, the masses histologically identical to the skin tumor were found.

Polypoid Ganglioneuromatosis of Colon: A case report

Gastrointestinal ganglioneuromatosis is an extremely rare lesion which typically occurs with a significant systemic syndrome. It is known to be a major component of multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2b. We presented a case of polypoid ganglioneuromatosis of the colon in a 3-year-old female with abdominal pain and diarrhea. She had no clinical evidence of the systemic syndrome or von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis, conditions in which intestinal ganglioneuromatosis can occur. Gross examination showed diffuse polypoid masses in ascending and transverse colons with normal-appearing mucosa. Microscopic examination revealed a proliferation of spindle-shaped neuronal cells containing multiple clusters of mature ganglion cells in the mucosa, submucosa and proper muscle. We describe a case of colonic ganglioneuromatosis without any component of multiple endocrine neoplasia or family history.