effect of prostate tissue inflammation in benign prostatic hyperplasia on enhancer of zeste homolog 2 ribonucleic acid expression

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 [EZH2] has been recently found to regulate several genes involved in immunoresponse and autocrine inflammation network. The aim of the study was to quantitate EZH2 messenger ribonucleic acid [mRNA] expression, evaluate its relation to conditions of prostatitis associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH], and correlate it with the levels of the inflammatory marker interlukin 6 [IL-6]. Cross-sectional study in Middle Eastern men with BPH and prostatitis or BPH only. Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies were collected from 106 patients suspected of having prostate cancer; however, the histology revealed BPH. Upon further pathological examination, 56 of these cases were identified as BPH with prostatitis and classified as: acute prostatitis [n=13]; active chronic prostatitis [n=32]; and, chronic inactive prostatitis [n=12]. Serum IL-6 levels and EZH2 mRNA expression were measured and compared between patient groups. EZH2 mRNA was overexpressed in BPH with prostatitis patients compared to BPH only patients [P<.0001]. BPH with active chronic prostatitis had higher EZH2 expression than BPH with acute or chronic inactive prostatitis compared to BPH only [P=.05 and .73, respectively]. EZH2 mRNA expression showed a negative correlation with IL-6 concentrations in BPH with prostatitis patients [rs=-0.31, P=.02]. EZH2 overexpression was associated with an increased risk of having BPH with prostatitis [crude odds ratio 0.20, 95% CI 0.06-0.65, P=.0076]. EZH2 mRNA expression correlates positively with prostatitis conditions associated with BPH and negatively with serum IL-6 levels. This supports the possible involvement of EZH2 mRNA overexpression in the development of prostate inflammation, and its new regulatory role in suppressing the expression of some inflammatory network genes

Urinary survivin mRNA expression and urinary nuclear matrix protein 22 BladderChek[R] and urine cytology in the detection of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

To compare the diagnostic performance of urine cytology [UC], survivin mRNA expression, and the NMP22 BladderChek[R] [NMP22BC] test for the detection, grading and staging of transitional cell carcinoma [TCC] of the bladder. Voided urine samples collected from 25 healthy controls and 80 patients diagnosed with TCC of the bladder were subjected to UC, the NMP22BC test and reverse-transcription real-time PCR for survivin mRNA expression. Survivin mRNA expression showed the highest sensitivity [87.5%] followed by the NMP22BC test [61.3%] while UC exhibited the lowest sensitivity [40%]. All three urine markers had a similar specificity of 96% [95% CI 80.5-99.3%]. Survivin mRNA expression was the only urine marker that showed a significant difference in relation to tumour histological grade [X[2] 8.5, p = 0.015]. None of the three urine markers was significantly related to tumour pathological stages. The diagnostic sensitivity of urinary urviving mRNA expression was superior to that of UC and the NMP22BC test and correlates with tumour pathological grade but not stage

Survivin downregulation is associated with vasectomy-induced spermatogenic damage and apoptosis

To evaluate the expression of the apoptotic genes survivin, Bax and Bcl-2 in vasectomized rabbits and to determine their relation with vasectomy-induced spermatogenic impairment and germ cell apoptosis. Twelve adult rabbits [6-12 months old] were divided into three groups: sham control, unilateral vasectomy or bilateral vasectomy. Six months after vasectomy, testicular tissue was analyzed for germ cell apoptosis and DNA fragmentation by the TUNEL assay and gel electrophoresis, respectively. Spermatogenesis was assessed using the Johnsen score. The relative gene expression of survivin, Bax and Bcl-2 was measured using reverse transcription followed by reAl time PCR. Compared to sham animals, a significant decrease in testicular survivin mRNA levels was measured in the two vasectomy animal groups [p<0.05]. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio in the vasectomized animals [p<0.05]. In addition, these data showed positive correlation with enhanced apoptotic index, damage to spermatogenesis and DNA fragmentation after vasectomy. These findings demonstrate that vasectomy-induced damage to spermatogenesis due to testicular apoptosis may be associated with survivin downregulation and Bax overexpression

Experimental colitis is associated with ultrastructural changes in inflamed and uninflamed regions of the gastrointestinal tract

The objective of this study was to examine theultrastructural changes in cell organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum [ER] and Golgi apparatus in inflamed colon and uninflamed ileum in colitic rats. Colitis was induced in rats by intracolonic administration of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid [TNBS]. The animals were sacrificed on day 5 after TNBS administration and colonic and ileal samples were used for estimation of myeloperoxidase [MPO] activity, malondialdehyde [MDA] concentration, histologic examination and transmission electron microscopy. TNBS caused a significant reduction in body weight and an increase in MPO activity in colonic, but not in the ileal samples in animals with colitis. MDA levels were increased both in inflamed colon and the uninflamed ileal segments in colitis. Electron microscopy revealed swelling of mitochondria with broken cristae and disruption of the inner membrane. Colitis also caused fragmentation of the ER with loss of ribosomes and swelling of the Golgi apparatus with distended vesicles in both smooth muscle and epithelial cells in the ileal and colonic segments. These changes were absent in the control rats without colitis. These findings demonstrate ultrastructural deformities in both the mucosa and smooth muscle in inflamed and uninflamed regions of the gastrointestinal tract in experimental colitis. The structural changes in mitochondria are responsible for reduced ATP, while abnormalities in the ER and the Golgi apparatus may explain a generalized effect on protein synthesis, trafficking and targeting mechanisms, and may account for physiological changes seen in experimental colitis

Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of swelings in the salivary gland regions: a study of 712 cases

A mass in the salivary gland region often presents a diagnostic challenge with regard to its site of origin [salivary versus nonsalivary], benign or malignant nature, and tissue-specific diagnosis. The present study describes the utility of fine-needle aspiration [FNA] cytology in the diagnosis of these lesions. Subjects and Over a 6-year period [January 1994 to December 1999], 712 patients aged between 6 months and 91 years [median, 37 years] were subjected to FNA of swellings in their salivary gland regions. Male:female ratio was 1.28:1. The swellings were mostly located in the parotid [323 cases], submandibular [343 cases], and upper cervical region [27 cases]. Swellings of oral [5 cases] and sublingual [2 cases] sites were rare. The lesions diagnosed by FNA cytology were compared among the major salivary glands. Cytologic diagnoses were correlated with histology in 45 cases. Benign nonneoplastic lesions were the most common [73%], followed by neoplasms [20%], and those with atypical cytology [1%]. Cytologic material was inadequate in 6% cases. Parotid gland region was involved more frequently by neoplasms [27.1%] than the submandibular gland region [13.7%, p < 0.0001]. Inflammatory processes affected the submandibular gland region more commonly [42.0%] than the parotid [32.6%, p = 0.0164]. Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common neoplasm [61.5%], followed by Warthin's tumor [12.6%]. Malignancies accounted for 10.5% of neoplasms. Frequency of involvement of parotid by Warthin's tumor [16.7%] was significantly higher than that of submandibular gland [2.3%, p = 0.0191]. However, the submandibular gland was more commonly affected by malignancy than the parotid gland [p = 0.0003]. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of FNA cytology for all neoplastic lesions of the salivary gland were 94.6, 75.0, and 91.1%, respectively. The corresponding figures for malignancies were 60.0, 95.0, and 91.1%, respectively. FNA cytology is very useful for the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. However, sampling and interpretation errors may occur. The low specificity for the diagnosis of neoplasms as a whole and the poor sensitivity for malignancies found in our study can be attributed to the relatively small number of benign nonneoplastic and malignancy cases with available histopathologic diagnoses

Fistula-in-ano: a pathological study

A review of 229 cases of fistula-in-ano in our institution has shown that nonspecific inflammatory tissue lines the majority of tracts. Epithelial lining was present in 50 cases and was encountered proportionately more frequently in subjects under 10 years of age, thus supporting a congenital origin as well as infection of anal glands, earlier proposed by other workers. Intestinal contents may have a role in the foreign body response seen in many cases. Locally endemic infectious conditions do not appear to play a significant role in the cause of the disease

Fetus acardius amorphous

An amorphous variety of the acardiac monster is described with a brief review of the literature. Its rarity is emphasized to our knowledge this is the first documented case in Saudi Arabia. Increased awareness of this condition will aid in its antenatal detection using sonographic techniques especially in the presence of polyhydramnios