c-Kit (CD117) expression in classic Kaposi's sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma is a multicentric, low-grade, vascular neoplasia. Human herpesvirus 8 is associated with all epidemiological forms of KS and has been shown in vitro to induce the tyrosine receptor kinase c-Kit in infected cells. AIM: To investigate the expression of c-Kit in cases of classic KS and to clarify its association with clinicopathological parameters and HHV8 latency-associated nuclear antigen-1 expression. METHODS: In total, 35 cases of classic KS at various histological stages were included in the study. Age and gender of the patients and location and histological stage of the tumours were recorded. Formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded tissue sections were stained by immunohistochemistry with antibodies to c-Kit and HHV8. RESULTS: c-Kit immunoreactivity was found in 22 cases and HHV8 immunoreactivity was present in all cases. There was no correlation in c-Kit immunoreactivity between clinicopathological parameters and HHV8 immunoreactivity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that in cases of classic KS there is a high rate of c-Kit immunoreactivity, but c-Kit expression does not show any correlation with HHV8 immunoreactivity.

Experimental obstructive jaundice results in oxidized low-density-lipoprotein accumulation in surgical wound of rats.

INTRODUCTION: Mounting evidence suggests that impaired wound healing is a well-defined consequence in obstructive jaundice and, as redox-regulated processes are relevant to wound healing, it is not unreasonable to suppose that oxidative stress associated with lipid peroxidation in cholestasis might be a systemic phenomenon probably comprising all tissues and organs, including wounds. The aim of the present investigation was to analyse the lipid peroxidation status of surgical wounds, in terms of oxidized low-density-lipoprotein (oxLDL) accumulation in experimental obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Sixteen Wistar-Albino rats weighing 200-230 gr were randomly divided into two groups. Group I (n = 8) was designed as the prolonged obstructive jaundice group and was subjected to bile duct ligation. Group II (Sham-control, n = 8) rats underwent laparotomy alone and bile duct was just dissected from the surrounding tissue. Histopathological evaluation, immunohistochemical screening and immunoflourescent staining of the surgical wound was conducted to the bile-duct ligated rats and control group on the 21st postoperative day. RESULTS: Wound healing was found to be impaired in jaundiced rats histopathologically. When compared with the control group, significant positive oxLDL staining and intracellular accumulation of TNF-alpha, IL-2 and IL-6 was detected in the wound sections of the prolonged obstructive jaundice group. CONCLUSION: Our present data is the first in the literature, indicating significant oxLDL accumulation in surgical wounds of cholestatic rats, which might be one of the results of systemic oxidative stress leading to deficient healing capacity as a consequence of persistent inflammation.

Common variable immunodeficiency in an adult with recurrent pneumonia.

Primary immunodeficiency syndromes are rarely diagnosed among adults. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a congenital immunological disorder characterized by defective antibody production. In this report, we describe a 35-year-old male suffering from a common variable immunodeficiency, referred to us because of a lobar pneumonia. He had a history of recurrent pulmonary infections, which was present months before presentation, suggesting hypogammaglobulinemia. We found a severe hypogammaglobulinemia, which confirmed the diagnosis of CVID. His immunoglobulin profiles upon admission before infusion of immunoglobulin (normal ranges) were: IgG < 1.41 (8-17) g/l, IgA 0.25 (0.85-4.9) g/l, IgM 0.182 (0.5-3.7) g/l, and IgE < 2 (< 120) IU/ml. His HLA profiles were HLA A2 A26, B18 B38, Cw7, DR11 and DQ7 DQ9. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. After this regimen, his IgG was maintained at > 6.0 g/L. On follow up, he has been free of opportunistic infections. In conclusion, CVID should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent pneumonia in adults.

Safety of colonic anastomosis following portal triad occlusion in rats.

Traumatic colon injuries frequently coexist with liver injury. Stopping the bleeding from hepatic pool may require complete portal triad occlusion. The possible effects of portal venous occlusion on healing of colonic anastomosis were examined using a rat model. A colo-colonic anastomosis following resection of a 1 cm segment of the transverse colon was done with just a simple manipulation on the liver and portal triad in the group A. In the group B the portal triad was clamped for 15 minutes. Then, the clamp was released for a thirty minutes reperfusion time. Subsequently, the same technique in the control group for colonic resection and anastomosis was applied. Ischemia/reperfusion resulted in histologically proven alterations in the large bowel in the group B. However, colonic tissue superoxide dismutase values showed no significant differences between the groups. On day 7, no differences were recorded in bursting pressures of the anastomoses and the hydroxyprolene levels of the anastomotic tissues of the two groups. These findings suggest that colonic anastomosis after portal triad occlusion is safe in the absence of peritonitis.