Expression of the Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 in primary tumors and lymph node metastases in breast cancer: correlations with Bcl-xL and Bax proteins.

In our previous investigation Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS-1) correlated with proliferation marker Ki-67 in human breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to assess relationships between IRS-1 expression and anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL as well as proapoptotic Bax proteins, assessed by immunohistochemistry, in primary tumors and lymph node metastases of breast cancer. IRS-1 is positively associated with both Bcl-xL and Bax in primary and metastatic tumors. Thus, our results could suggest that IRS-1 might affect turnover of cancer cells and breast cancer progression through activation of mitogenesis and participation in the regulation of the balance between anti- and proapoptotic pathways.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of cathepsin D expression in colorectal cancer.

Cathepsin D is one of the main proteolytic enzymes contributing to the development of cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of cathepsin D in 48 colorectal adenocarcinomas at pT3 stage of clinical advancement and G2 histologic grade. The correlation between cathepsin D expression, anatomo-clinical advancement and the presence of chosen anatomo-clinical properties of the tumours was also analysed. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues were investigated with anti-cathepsin D antibody. Immunolocalisation of cathepsin D was performed using Labelled Streptavidin Biotin (LSAB) method. A statistical correlation was found between high catepsin D expression in the cells of the main mass of the cancer and low cathepsin D expression in low-differentiated cancer cells which formed nests at the border of cancer invasion. There was no correlation between cathepsin D expression in the cells of colorectal cancer and other anatomo-clinical parameters of the tumours.

Correlation between chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin expression, and some clinico-pathological features of colorectal cancer.

Several studies employing various techniques have demonstrated the occurrence of neuroendocrine cells in colorectal cancers. Chromogranin A (CGA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin (SYN) are general markers of neuroendocrine cells. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the possible correlations between CGA and/or NSE and/or SYN expression in colorectal cancer and some of its clinico-pathological features. The study was conducted on 48 patients with colorectal cancer treated with surgery only at the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Medical Academy and District Oncology Center, Bialystok. There were no statistically significant relationships between colorectal cancer CGA and/or NSE and/or SYN expression and tumor site, histopathological type, grading, lymph node metastases, age and sex of patients. However, high ratio of lymph node metastases in colorectal cancers with neuroendocrine cells suggests their more agressive clinical course.

CD44 expression in colorectal cancer. An immunohistochemical study including correlation with cathepsin D immunoreactivity and some tumour clinicopathological features.

CD44 is a cell adhesion molecule involved in tumour growth and progression. This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of CD44 standard protein in a series of 54 colorectal adenocarcinomas in correlation with cathepsin D immunoreactivity and some other clinicopathological variables. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues were investigated with anti-CD44 standard protein and anti-cathepsin D antibody. Immunolocalisation of CD44 protein and cathepsin D was performed using LSAB method. 13 (41.9%) out of 31 carcinomas without lymph-node metastases had positive CD44 expression, whereas only 6 (26.1%) out of 23 carcinomas with lymph-node metastases were found positive for CD44 expression. CD44 expression in carcinomas was positively correlated with tumour cells cathepsin D (p<0.01) immunostaining. statistically significant correlation was found between the expression of CD44 standard protein and the tumour site, age and sex of the patients. These results suggest that the standard-type CD44 protein lymph-node metastases, probably with cooperation of cathepsin D.

Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix--an uncommon variant of cervical cancer with neuroendocrine features.

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix represents an uncommon variant of cervical cancer with an extremely aggressive biologic behavior, minimum survival chances and rapid and fatal clinical course. This retrospective study included 73 cases of patients treated for invasive squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix at stages Ib and IIa at the Department of Gynecology in the years 1996-2000. Six patients (8%) with SCC were identified among all cases, sharing the clinical features of young age and early failure of appropriate radical treatment in the presence of apparently low stage disease. Neuroendocrine cellular characteristics were assessed by the biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase (LSAB) method using antibodies against neuron-specific enolase (NSE; DAKO), chromogranin A (CGA; DAKO) and synaptophysin (SYN; DAKO). All tumors examined were positive for NSE and/or CGA and/or SYN. Although the presence of neuroendocrine features appears to correlate with decreased survival, the number of patients is not large enough to determine statistical significance. However, the results confirm that SCC of the uterine cervix is one of the most aggressive tumors of the female genital tract.

Cathepsin D activity in colorectal cancer.

Cathepsin D is one of the main proteolytic enzymes involved in the neoplastic process. The aim of the study was to evaluate the activity of cathepsin D in 36 colorectal adenocarcinomas (of the colon and rectum) at stage pT3 of clinical advancement and histological grade G2. The correlation of cathepsin D activity with the stage of anatomo-clinical advancement and the presence of chosen anatomo-clinical properties of the tumour was also analysed. The activity of cathepsin D was found to be statistically significantly higher both in the neoplastic tissue cytosol and homogenate, compared to the cytosol and homogenate of adjacent healthy tissue. No correlation was noted between the activity of cathepsin D in neoplastic cells and other parameters analysed.

Ultrastructural changes in rat hepatocytes in acute intoxication with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).

The hepatotoxic effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was investigated. Ultrastructural changes were evaluated in transmission electron microscope. The experiment used 60 male Wistar rats divided into two groups: I--control-18 animals and II--42 animals which received chemically pure 2,4-D acid by gastric gavage in a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. The animals were sacrificed after 12, 24, 48 hours and 4, 10 and 30 days of the experiment. The results obtained indicate that the administration of 2,4-D acid to rats in a dose inducing acute intoxication leads to ultrastructural changes in the liver, which suggest nonspecific reversible adaptative-type damage to parenchymal cells. The changes observed indicate disorders in energetic processes in hepatocytes and are morphological exponents of detoxicative processes there.

Morphological changes in mitochondria and lysosomes of hepatocytes in acute intoxication with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).

The hepatotoxic effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was investigated. Ultrastructural changes were evaluated under a transmission electron microscope. Certain histoenzymatic reactions were examined (to acid phosphatase according to Gomori (AP) and to succinic dehydrogenase (SD) according to Nachlas) in parenchymal cells of the rat liver in acute intoxication induced by this herbicide. The experiment used 60 male Wistar rats divided into two groups: I-control--18 animals and II--42 animals which received chemically pure 2,4-D acid by gastric gavage in a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. The animals were sacrificed after 12, 24, 48 hours and 4, 10 and 30 days of the experiment. The results indicate that the administration of 2,4-D acid to rats in a dose inducing acute intoxication leads to histoenzymatic and ultrastructural changes in the liver, which suggest nonspecific reversible adaptive-type damage to parenchymal cells. The changes observed indicate disorders in energetic processes in hepatocytes and are morphological exponents of intense detoxicative processes.

Pathological changes in rats hepatocytes on acute lindane poisoning.

Histological, histochemical and ultrastructural examinations of the liver were carried out on rats. The animals were given crystalline lindane intragastrically, in a dose evoking acute intoxication, (1/3 LD50). Then the rats were decapited after 1, 3, 10, 20 and 36 days following pesticide administration. The obtained results indicate, that acute lindane intoxication produces morphological changes in the rat liver, which evidence a disturbance inenergetic processes of hepatocytes and they are reversible and adaptative.

The effect of a herbicide--sodium salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on guerin carcinoma.

The effect of sodium salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, being an active component of herbicide "PIELIK", upon the development of Guerin carcinoma implanted in male Wistar rats, was studied. 192 animals were divided in to 6 equal groups: I-animals which obtained physiological salt solution; II-rats exposed to the herbicide in postlactational period; III-animals with Guerin carcinoma, non exposed to the herbicide; IV- rats exposed to the herbicide in postlactational period+Guerin carcinoma; V-animals exposed to the herbicide from prenatal period to the end of an experiment, without Guerin carcinoma; VI-the same as in V group, but with Guerin carcinoma. The effect of the herbicide on tumor growth dynamism (diameters and mass), degree of tumour malignancy (metastases to lymph nodes), animals survival time and morfological changes in the primary tumour and in metastases was evaluated. Basing of the results obtained, it was stated that this herbicide accelerates the development of Guerin carcinoma and reduces the survival time in the rats exposed to it in the prenatal and postnatal period. However, it does not significantly influence the growth of the carcinoma in the rats exposed only in the postlactational period.

Megakaryocytes in the acute stage of experimental hemorrhagic shock. Part I. Megakaryocytes circulating in the blood.

Megakaryocytes were evaluated in the blood of the caval vein of rats in the acute stage of hemorrhagic shock. The number and morphological types of MK were analysed. Millipore filters were used for the evaluation. MK were found to be a physiological element of the blood. An increase in the MK number leaving the bone marrow in rats with the acute stage of hemorrhagic shock was observed. A rise in the total MK number was accompanied by an increase in the percentage of mature and "naked nucleus" MK.

Megakaryocytes in the acute stage of experimental hemorrhagic shock. Part II. Megakaryocytic regulation of cell release from the bone marrow.

The contribution of MK to the release of other marrow cells to the blood was evaluated in rats subjected to experimental hemorrhagic shock. The analysis was based on the frequency of emperipolesis phenomenon in megakaryocytes, which was evaluated in a light microscope on marrow smears and in ultrastructural examinations. A considerable increase was found in the number of marrow cells in the MK cytoplasm in the animals examined, which indicates a significant part of MK in the release of these cells to the blood and in the marrow-blood barrier formation by MK.

Megakaryocytes in the acute stage of experimental hemorrhagic shock. Part III. Histomorphometrical evaluation of megakaryocytes.

The authors presented the morphometrical evaluation of the bone marrow MK in rats in the acute stage of experimental hemorrhagic shock. The experiments used a semiautomatic computer programme. The total number of MK per 1 mm2 of the bone marrow was analysed with regard to various morphological forms of MK, their surface area, shape disorders, nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio and cluster forms. A considerable shift was observed in the MK parameters examined, suggesting a significant effect of hemorrhagic shock upon megakaryocytopoiesis.

[Circulating megakaryocytes in blood during experimental acute hemorrhagic shock in rats]. / Megakariocyty krazace we krwi w doswiadczalnym wstrzasie krwotocznym u szczurów.

The circulating megakaryocytes (MK) in the central venous blood of rats during haemorrhagic shock have been studied. Nucleopore polycarbonate membranes with a pore size of 5 microns were used to isolate circulating MK. Different morphologic types of MK were analysed. The results showed an increased number of MK migrating from the bone marrow to blood and confirm that circulation MK are a normal physiologic component of blood. The number of the rise during haemorrhagic shock, especially large MK and MK with scant cytoplasm ("naked nuclei" MK).

Cor pulmonale in experimental lung emphysema. II. An ultrastructure of myocardium.

Development of ultrastructural changes in the hearts of rats with experimental lung emphysema, induced by proteolytic enzyme--papain, has been analysed. Simultaneous development of changes in the right ventricle muscle and in the subendocardial layer of the heart left ventricle myocardium was observed. After 1 month from papain administration in the muscle cells of the right ventricle a significant increase of mitochondria number and their polymorphism were observed. After 3 and 6 months similar changes were observed in both ventricles, however they were more pronounced in the cells of the right ventricle. Mitochondria showed significant damage in the form of clearning up of matrix and destruction of cristas and breaking of their membranes. An enlarged number of irregular intercalated discs was observed too. 6 months after papain administration in some of the right ventricle muscle cells a significant damage of myofibrils and increase in the number of sarcomeres as well as decrease of mitochondria number in these cells were noticed. Focally proliferation of connective tissue was observed too. The role of hypoxia as an essential factor, responsible for the observed morphologic changes has been discussed.

[Evaluation of agreement between brushing cytology diagnosis and histology evaluation of biopsy from gastric mucosa based on analysis of 362 cases]. / Ocena zgodnosci rozpoznan cytologicznych materialu szczoteczkowego z ocena histologiczna wycinków z blony sluzowej zoladka na podstawie analizy 362 przypadków.

Retrospective analysis is presented for the diagnoses basing on brushing cytology and biopsy histology in 362 patients selected from the total number of 8600 cytologic examinations of gastric mucosa performed in this Department in the years 1984-1992. Endoscopy suggested neoplasma in 58 cases, peptic ulcer in 146 and gastritis in 158 cases. In 64 cytologic specimens neoplastic cells were found (17.7%). Histologic evaluation, in addition to brushing cytology, was possible in 316 cases; in 186 on gastroscopy, in 82 in surgical specimens, in 48 on postmortem. In one case only of positive brushing cytology the diagnosis of cancer was confirmed (1.7%). In 16 cases (8.2%) the brushing cytology is stressed, especially in monitoring subjects of high risk.

[The study of platelet count and phagocytic activity in experimental hemorrhagic shock. I. Comparison of platelet count in blood of left and right heart ventricles]. / Badanie liczby i aktywnosci fagocytarnej plytek krwi w doswiadczalnym wstrzasie krwotoczym. Czesc I. Porównanie liczby plytek we krwi lewej i prawej komory serca.

The evaluation of the number of blood platelets in the left and right heart ventricle observed during haemorrhagic shock has been carried out. It has been stated that the number of blood platelets of the left ventricle outnumber that of the right heart ventricle. The difference is more intense with the prolongation of the time of the survival in the state of shock.