Efficient in vivo microRNA targeting of liver metastasis.

Targeting oncogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) is emerging as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. In this study, we provide proof of principle for the safety and efficacy of miRNA targeting against metastatic tumors. We tested the impact of targeting miR-182, a pro-metastatic miRNA frequently overexpressed in melanoma, the in vitro silencing of which represses invasion and induces apoptosis. Specifically, we assessed the effect of anti-miR-182 oligonucleotides synthesized with 2' sugar modifications and a phosphorothioate backbone in a mouse model of melanoma liver metastasis. Luciferase imaging showed that mice treated with anti-miR-182 had a lower burden of liver metastases compared with control. We confirmed that miR-182 levels were effectively downregulated in the tumors of anti-miR-treated mice compared with tumors of control-treated mice, both in the liver and in the spleen. This effect was accompanied by an upregulation of multiple miR-182 direct targets. Transcriptional profiling of tumors treated with anti-miR-182 or with control oligonucleotides revealed an enrichment of genes controlling survival, adhesion and migration modulated in response to anti-miR-182 treatment. These data indicate that in vivo administration of anti-miRs allows for efficient miRNA targeting and concomitant upregulation of miRNA-controlled genes. Our results demonstrate that the use of anti-miR-182 is a promising therapeutic strategy for metastatic melanoma and provide a solid basis for testing similar strategies in human metastatic tumors.

Inverse association between hepatic stellate cell apoptosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Perisinusoidal hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the principal fibrogenic cells in the liver. In animal models, HSC apoptosis is the predominant clearance mechanism of activated HSC, although data evaluating whether the same processes occur in humans are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the association between HSC apoptosis and fibrosis stage in subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (n = 44) and HCV-negative controls with normal liver histology (n = 9). We used immunohistochemical techniques to identify activated (alpha-smooth muscle actin+), proliferative (Ki-67+) and apoptotic (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT]-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling+) HSC in liver biopsy specimens from all subjects. The same pathologist enumerated positive cells per high-power field (HPF, x 200) in 20 periportal/lobular areas. HSC apoptosis was decreased in HCV-positive subjects compared with controls (median 0.4, range 0.0-3.1 vs 1.1, 0.2-3.5 cells/HPF, P = 0.02). Among HCV-positive subjects, HSC apoptosis was decreased in those with moderate to advanced fibrosis (P = 0.04) compared with those with mild fibrosis. By multivariate analysis, HSC apoptosis decreased by an average of 0.14 cells/HPF (95% confidence interval 0.01-0.28 cells/HPF) per increase in fibrosis stage (P = 0.04). While the number of activated and proliferative HSC was significantly increased in HCV-infected subjects compared with that in uninfected controls, the numbers of these cells did not differ between HCV-infected subjects with mild vs moderate/advanced fibrosis. In conclusion, the number of apoptotic HSC was significantly decreased in HCV-infected subjects with advanced fibrosis. In chronic HCV infection, inhibition of HSC apoptosis may be one mechanism by which fibrosis progresses.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral mapping of the cervical transformation zone, and dysplastic squamous epithelium.

OBJECTIVES: This paper is aimed at establishing infrared spectral patterns for the different tissue types found in, and for different stages of disease of squamous cervical epithelium. Methods for the unsupervised distinction of these tissue types are discussed. METHODS: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) maps of the squamous and glandular cervical epithelium, and of the cervical transformation zone, were obtained and analyzed by multivariate unsupervised hierarchical cluster methods. The resulting clusters are correlated to the corresponding stained histopathological features in the tissue sections. RESULTS: Multivariate statistical analysis of FTIR spectra collected for tissue sections permit an unsupervised method of distinguishing tissue types, and of differentiating between normal and diseased tissue. By analyzing different spectral windows and comparing the results with histology, we found the amide I and II region (1740-1470 cm(-1)) to be very important in correlating anatomical and histopathological features in tissue to spectral clusters. Since an unsupervised, rather than a diagnostic, algorithm was used in these efforts, no statistical analysis of false-positive/false-negative results is reported at this time. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of FTIR micro-spectroscopy and multivariate spectral processing provides important insights into the fundamental spectral signatures of individual cells and consequently shows potential as a diagnostic tool for cervical cancer.

Microphthalmia transcription factor: a sensitive and specific marker for malignant melanoma in cytologic specimens.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of melanoma can be difficult because of shared cytomorphology with other malignant neoplasms. The most commonly used melanocytic markers, anti-S-100 protein and HMB-45 antigen, have limited specificity and sensitivity, respectively. Microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf) is a nuclear transcription factor critical for the development and survival of melanocytes and has been shown as a sensitive and specific marker for melanoma in histologic specimens. METHODS: To evaluate the efficacy of Mitf as a marker for melanoma in cytologic preparations, 81 cell blocks from 44 patients with melanoma and 37 patients with nonmelanoma malignancies (29 patients with carcinoma, 4 patients with mesotheliomas, 2 patients with lymphoma, and 2 patients with islet cell tumors) were stained with monoclonal antibodies against Mitf (clone D5), S-100 protein, and HMB-45 antigen. The staining was evaluated blindly by three independent observers. The presence of nuclear staining for Mitf and cytoplasmic staining for S-100 protein or HMB-45 antigen in > 10% of tumor cells was considered positive staining for each antigen. RESULTS: Forty-four melanomas (100%), including all 3 spindle-cell melanomas, were positive for Mitf. All nonmelanoma neoplasms were negative with only one exception: One mammary carcinoma showed rare (< 10%), weak nuclear staining with Mitf. The sensitivity and specificity of Mitf as a marker for melanoma were both 100%, whereas the sensitivity of HMB-45 antigen was 90.4%, and the specificity of S-100 protein was 70.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Mitf is a sensitive and specific marker for malignant melanoma, including the spindle-cell variant, in cytologic specimens and may be superior to the current standard melanocytic markers, S-100 protein and HMB-45 antigen.

Motility-related proteins as markers for head and neck squamous cell cancer.

HYPOTHESIS: Increased cell motility is a hallmark of cancer cells. Proteins involved in cell motility may be used as molecular markers to characterize the malignant potential of tumors. METHODS: Molecular biology and immunohistochemistry techniques were used to investigate the expression of a selected panel of motility-related proteins (Rho A, Rac 2, Cdc42, PI3K, 2E4, and Arp2) in normal, premalignant, and squamous cell cancer cell lines of human head and neck origin. To assess the clinical potential of these proteins as molecular markers for cancer, immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-fixed head and neck cancer specimens (n = 15). RESULTS: All six motility-associated proteins were overexpressed in the premalignant and squamous cell cancer cell lines relative to normal keratinocytes. Immunohistochemistry with Rho A and Rac 2 showed increased staining in areas of cancer but not in normal tissue. CONCLUSION: Proteins involved in cell motility can be used as markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The head and neck cell lines used in this study may be used as a model to further investigate cell motility. Molecular markers of motility could have a significant impact on the diagnosis and staging of cancers originating from differentiated non-motile cells.

Aerosol infection of mice with recombinant BCG secreting murine IFN-gamma partially reconstitutes local protective immunity.

To better understand the contribution of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to the immune response during the first 60 days of mycobacterial infection in the lungs, IFN-gamma gene disrupted (IFN-gamma-/-) mice were infected via aerosol with recombinant Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) secreting murine IFN-gamma (BCG-IFN-gamma) and compared to mice infected with recombinant BCG containing the vector only (BCG-vector). When IFN-gamma-/- mice were infected with BCG-vector, increasing bacillary loads and large undifferentiated granulomas that did not express inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were observed in the lungs. In contrast, infection with BCG-IFN-gamma resulted in reduced bacillary load and better differentiated granulomas containing epithelioid macrophages expressing iNOS as well as reduced levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10) mRNA. However, local production of IFN-gamma by the recombinant BCG did not protect IFN-gamma-/- mice from subsequent challenge with M. tuberculosis. Infection of IFN-gamma-/- peritoneal macrophages in vitro with BCG-IFN-gamma led to induction of iNOS expression and lower IL-10 mRNA levels. Nevertheless, the growth of the intracellular BCG was unaffected. Since IFN-gamma induced-iNOS protein and reduced IL-10 production were insufficient to control mycobacterial growth in vitro, the results suggest that additional mediator(s) present in vivo are required for control of mycobacterial growth.

Infrared spectroscopy of human cells and tissue. VIII. Strategies for analysis of infrared tissue mapping data and applications to liver tissue.

Experimental and computational methods of infrared microspectroscopy (IRI-MSP) and infrared spectral mapping (ISM) are presented. These methods are subsequently applied to the analysis of cirrhotic liver tissue. The sensitivity of infrared spectral mapping toward spectral changes caused by disease will be demonstrated. In addition, the excellent agreement between ISM data and histopathological information will be discussed.

Calretinin staining pattern aids in the differentiation of mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma in serous effusions.

BACKGROUND: The differentiation between malignant mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma based on morphology alone can be a diagnostic challenge. The majority of the available antibodies recognize molecules expressed by adenocarcinoma whereas to the authors' knowledge specific markers for mesothelial cells are lacking. Calretinin, a calcium-binding protein, has been reported to be a selective marker for mesothelioma and largely is absent from adenocarcinoma on histologic material. The results with cytologic preparations have been inconsistent. METHODS: To evaluate the specificity of calretinin in differentiating mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma in cytologic preparations, 21 paraffin embedded cells blocks of serous effusions from 15 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma and 16 cell blocks from 9 patients with malignant mesothelioma were stained with a monoclonal antibody against calretinin. The immunoreactivity was evaluated blindly by two observers. Positive staining was defined as nuclear and cytoplasmic staining with or without intense membranous decoration. The former resulted in a characteristic "fried egg" appearance. RESULTS: Calretinin staining was positive in all but 2 cases of mesothelioma (14 of 16 cases; 87.5%). The latter contained predominantly spindle-shaped neoplastic mesothelial cells in the cell block preparations. All adenocarcinoma specimens were classified as negative for calretinin staining; 9 (42.9%) lacked any immunoreactivity and 12 (57.1%) showed weak, sparse, coarse, granular cytoplasmic staining without nuclear or membranous staining. Benign reactive mesothelial cells, when observed in association with adenocarcinoma, also showed the characteristic "fried egg" appearance. The difference in the staining pattern of calretinin between cells of mesothelial origin and adenocarcinoma cells was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Calretinin is a useful marker in differentiating mesothelioma of the epithelial type from adenocarcinoma in serous effusions. The "fried-egg" appearance or cytoplasmic and nuclear staining pattern is characteristic of cells of mesothelial origin.

The canals of Hering and hepatic stem cells in humans.

Small, extraportal, hepatic parenchymal cells, positive for biliary-type cytokeratins, may represent hepatic stem cells, canals of Hering (CoH), and/or ductal plate remnants. We evaluated these cells 3 dimensionally in normal human liver and massive necrosis. Tissues from normal human livers and from 1 liver with acetaminophen-induced massive necrosis were serially sectioned, immunostained for cytokeratin 19 (CK19), and sequentially photographed. Images were examined to determine 3-dimensional relationships among CK19-positive cells. Immunostains for other hepatocyte and progenitor cell markers were examined. In normal livers, intraparenchymal CK19-positive cells lined up as linear arrays in sequential levels. One hundred of 106 (94.3%) defined, complete arrays within levels examined, most having 1 terminus at a bile duct, the other in the lobule, beyond the limiting plate. In massive necrosis, there were 767 individual CK19-positive cells or clusters around a single portal tract, 747 (97.4%) of which were spatially related forming arborizing networks connected to the interlobular bile duct by single tributaries. C-kit was positive in normal CoH. CK19 co-expressed with HepPar1, c-kit, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in parenchymal cells in massive necrosis. Small, extraportal, biliary-type parenchymal cells represent cross-sections of the CoH that radiate from the portal tract, usually extending past the limiting plate into the proximate third of the hepatic lobule. The 3-dimensional structure of ductular reactions in massive necrosis suggests that these reactions are proliferations of the cells lining the CoH. Therefore, the CoH consist of, or harbor, facultative hepatic stem cells in humans.

Infrared spectroscopy of human tissue. IV. Detection of dysplastic and neoplastic changes of human cervical tissue via infrared microscopy.

Infrared absorption spectra of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human cervical tissue are reported for normal, dysplastic and neoplastic samples. The spectral differences found in this study between these states of the tissues are far less than those observed for single cells by us and others. Nevertheless, we find a direct correspondence between spectral data from tissue sections, obtained from biopsies, and individual exfoliated cells, typically obtained during a pap procedure. We also find that spectra due to dysplastic samples fall about halfway between the spectral features of normal and cancerous samples.

Infrared spectroscopy of human tissue. I. Differentiation and maturation of epithelial cells in the human cervix.

Infrared spectral results for the different epithelial layers of human cervical squamous tissue are reported. The layers, representing different cellular maturation stages, exhibit quite different spectral patterns. Thus, infrared spectroscopy presents a powerful tool to monitor cell maturation and differentiation. Furthermore, a detailed understanding of the spectra of the individual layers of tissue permit a proper interpretation of the state of health of cells exfoliated from such tissue. Part II of this series describes the use of the spectral information presented here to interpret the infrared spectra of exfoliated cells.

Infrared spectroscopy of human tissue. II. A comparative study of spectra of biopsies of cervical squamous epithelium and of exfoliated cervical cells.

A comparison of infrared absorption spectra obtained from the different layers of squamous epithelium from the human cervix, and infrared spectra obtained from exfoliated cervical cells, is presented. Infrared spectroscopy has been shown (in part I of this series) to be a sensitive tool to monitor maturation and differentiation of human cervical cells; therefore, this spectroscopic technique provides new insights into the composition and state of health of exfoliated cells.

HLA-DQA1 and polymarker allele frequencies in two New York City Jewish populations.

Allele and genotype frequencies were determined for the HLA-DQA1 and Amplitype Polymarker loci (low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), glycophorin A (GYPA), hemoglobin G gammaglobin (HBGG), D7S8, and group-specific component (Gc)) in Hasidic and non-Hasidic Ashkenazi New York City Jewish subpopulations. For all loci tested, except HBGG, the 2 subpopulations meet the assumption of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Comparison of various allele and genotype frequencies for the Hasidic and the non-Hasidic groups showed no significant differences. Comparison of the various allele frequencies in the two subpopulations to another Caucasian group revealed significant differences at the HLA-DQA1 and D7S8 loci in the Hasidic group. These frequency data can be used for comparison to other populations and for frequency estimates in DNA profiling.

Evaluación del tratamiento de las fracturas diafisarias de tibia con enclavado endomedular fresado y encerrojado a cielo cerrado con clavos / Evaluation of the processing of the diafisarias fractures of tibia with eclavado to endomedular milling and blocked to sky closed with nails

La cantidad de variantes en el tratamiento de fracturas de la diáfisis tibial a pesar de los adelantos en a asistencia operatoria y no operatoria indican que no se ha llegado a un consenso que nos refiera el tratamiento ideal, creemos que su tratamiento demanda diferentes maneras de encarar el mismo problema conforme a las distintas circunstancias. El presente es un estudio descriptivo con observación indirecta de fuente documental aplicando técnicas extensivas, realizado en 70 pacientes, entre Enero de 1992 y Diciembre de 1993 que ingresaron al servicio de Ortopedia y Traumatología del Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín con diagnóstico de fractura diafisaria de tibia, los mismos que fueron tratados con enclavado endomedular fresado y encerrojado a cielo cerrado con clavos AO y Grosse-Kempf observándose una consolidación temprana (84,8 20,1 días), sin importar el tipo de fractura, la edad o el sexo del paciente, aunque este se prolonga en presencia de infección. Se encontró un bajo índice de complicaciones tanto intra como postoperatorias, independientemente del tipo de fractura tratada, además de un tiempo de incapacidad laboral corto (63,5 17,2 días) independientemente de la edad, sexo o tipo de fractura (p 0,05). En base a los resultados obtenidos en los pacientes objeto de este trabajo, el empleo de esta técnica en los mismos, aseguró un tiempo de consolidación corto, un bajo índice de complicaciones intra y postoperatorias así como una integración temprana a las actividades laborales, resultados que concuerdan con los obtenidos por Koval KJ. et al en 1991 y Kempf y col. quien revisó 397 fracturas tratadas con clavo Grosse-Kempf en Francia...

Mycosis fungoideslike T-cell cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates in patients with HIV infection.

Cutaneous patch and plaque lesions, and erythroderma may suggest mycosis fungoides both clinically and histopathologically in HIV+ patients. However, in some cases, this diagnosis is questionable. Five such cases are presented. When we compared these cases with cases of mycosis fungoides unassociated with HIV infection, we found less concordance among dermatopathologists in making a histopathological diagnosis, a greater proportion of CD8 than CD4 T cells in the cutaneous infiltrates, and no instances of demonstrated clonality of the cutaneous T-cell infiltrates in the HIV+ group. We conclude that CD8 T-cell predominant dermatoses may simulate mycosis fungoides in HIV+ patients.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism and polymerase chain reaction-HLA DQ alpha analysis of casework urine specimens.

DNA was isolated from casework urine samples previously submitted for toxicological analysis. The quality and quantity of DNA isolated was determined by spectrofluorometry and agarose yield gel electrophoresis. Hae III restricted samples were then resolved by analytical agarose gel electrophoresis, transferred to a membrane by Southern blotting and hybridized with a chemiluminescently-labelled (D2S44) probe. The DNA fragment banding patterns were indistinguishable from the DNA banding patterns of blood specimens collected from the same donor. Only 5 of 20 samples yielded banding patterns and the banding intensity relative to background was low. Genomic DNA was also obtained from casework samples by Chelex extraction, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then genotyped for human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DQ alpha. Of 20 specimens, 13 (65%) were typed correctly producing identical results for urine and blood specimens obtained from the same donor. Aging studies of casework samples and normal samples (from a non-drug using population) were also conducted with PCR-HLA DQ alpha analysis. Results of these studies indicate that amplification by PCR was more likely to produce positive results. Based on these findings, we conclude that PCR-initiated analysis is more suitable than RFLP analysis for individualization of urine samples.