Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) supraexpression in the mammary tumors.

A series of morphological and molecular factors can be used in order to appreciate the prognostic of mammary cancer. A multitude of molecular factors has been investigated in order to identify a prognostic factor, one of the most studied factors being HER2 (human epidermal receptor growth factor). For this purpose, we have carried out an immunohistochemical research, in order to determine the correlation between the presence of morphological factors in tumor formation, different stages of evolution, and the response to therapy. We have correlated HER2 expression with the histological type of carcinomas, the histological differential degree, ER, PR immunohistochemical expression, as well as the available clinical data. Within the studied carcinomas, we have identified a number of 98/156 (62.8%) carcinomas HER2/neu negative, out of which 74/156 (47.4%) did not reveal the presence of HER2/neu and 24/156 (15.4%) have been quantified as being 1+. The HER2/neu supraexpression was encountered in 58/156 (37.17%) cases: in 34/156 (21.8%) cases the immunostaining was interpreted as being 2+ and in 24/156 (15.4%) cases it was interpreted as being 3+. HER2/neu supraexpression should be routinely determined through immunohistochemical methods in all primary mammary tumors, especially in those poorly differentiated.

Enteric nervous system development in cavitary viscera allocated to the celiac plexus.

Enteric nervous system (ENS) is a network made of neuronal cells and nervous fibers. There are two plexuses: myenteric of Auerbach and sub mucous of Meissner and Henle. Many substances are involved in neurotransmission at ENS level. ENS assures all gastrointestinal system functions: digestion, absorption, etc. Our study is made on 23 human fetal specimens at different ages of evolution with crown-rump lengths from 9 to 28 cm, and three new born human specimens. We used the Trichrome Masson stain technique and the argental impregnation Bielschowsky on block technique for microscopic evidence. Our study concerned the cavitary viscera allocated to the celiac plexus, involving all layers of each studied viscera.

The morphology and topography of the superior laryngeal artery.

The aim of this study was to investigate and correlate the anatomical parameters of the superior laryngeal artery (SLA). For the study, 50 adult, human specimens were used; laryngeal pieces were drawn from 16 cadavers and the arteries were dissected intralaryngeally. In 68%, the SLA originated from the superior thyroid artery and in 32%, directly from the external carotid artery. In five sides, an aberrant superior laryngeal artery (ASLA) was entering the larynx through a foramen thyroideum. The normal superior laryngeal artery (NSLA) had a short extralaryngeal part and continued intralaryngeally, with two segments and a point of inflexion; the first segment ran along the superior border of the thyroid cartilage, the point of inflexion of the NSLA was at a minimal distance of 1.1 cm anterior to the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage and from this point the NSLA continued in the paraglottic space. The ASLA had a constant origin from the superior thyroid artery; it then traversed the foramen thyroideum and reached the paraglottic space-at the superior border of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, it ended in two terminal branches. We constantly evidenced the following collateral branches of the NSLA: superior, anterior and postero-medial. The terminal branches are the antero-inferior branches that constantly anastomose with the cricothyroid artery and the postero-inferior branch anastomosed with the inferior laryngeal artery. Occasionally, additional branches of the NSLA were found. In conclusion, the intralaryngeal branching patterns of the NSLA and the ASLA are similar, the differences being given by the entry point into the larynx that will make the superior and anterior branches of the ASLA longer, will eliminate the transversal segment of the NSLA, and will shorten the descending segment in the paraglottic space in the case of ASLA. The base of the upper horn of the thyroid cartilage, the oblique line and its tubercles, the cricothyroid membrane and the cricothyroid joint are constant landmarks that allow a precise intralaryngeal identification of the SLA. These findings can improve performances during surgical manipulations of the larynx and laryngeal transplants.

Study of the celiac ganglia development.

The celiac ganglia and the visceral plexus are complexes structures, disposed in the proximity of the main collateral branches of the aorta. Pre visceral ganglia are sympathetic ganglia chains between the lateral vertebral sympathetic chain and viscera. Our study is made in the anatomy lab on 30 adult human bodies, one of new born and 10 human fetal specimens with crown-rump lengths from 9 to 28 cm. It was used the argental impregnation by Bielschowsky on block and Trichrome Masson methods for microscopic evidence. Prenatal, celiac ganglia are not a good defined morphological unit. They show a delay of neuroblastic maturation, comparing with the par vertebral ganglia. The nervous functional unit is represented by the neuron. The ontogenesis of the celiac ganglia follows several stages. Then, the neuronal specialization and the functional neuronal maturation are processes based on the numeric and morphological remodeling of the neuronal connecting figure, pre ganglia and post ganglia.

Study of the diameter and number of the pulmonary veins orifices.

The present study was made in the anatomy laboratory on 100 heart specimens. It was studied the morphological parameters about diameter and number of the atrial orifices of the pulmonary veins. The number of the orifices and their diameter depends on the lungs weight. Generally (70% of the cases) the orifices number is four and rarely three or five. An increased number of orifices are more frequently in the right side and a decreased number especially in the left side. The orifices diameter is much larger at the male's veins than the female's ones, and much larger in the right than the left side and also much larger at the superiors than the inferior veins.

Considerations on the sinus node microangioarchitecture.

The importance of the sinus node as the cardiac pacemaker is well known. The aim of the present study was to investigate the microangioarchitecture at the level of the sinus node. Ten human adult hearts were injected with India ink in the initial segments of the coronary arteries. Pieces were drawn and diaphanized. The results of the study can be summarized: (1) the sinus node is rather an irregularly shaped structure, with peripheral strands intermingling with strands of the atrial myocardium; at this level two vascular patterns can be recognized: (a) the myocardial capillary networks that parallels the muscular bundles, and (b) the peripheral nodal networks built upon dichotomizing arterioles; (2) it seems that while the thick and large sinus node artery does not branch in the nodal tissue, the blood supply of this tissue is ensured by the peripheral nodal networks; (3) characteristically, in the periphery of the nodal tissue are largely present glomeruli made by capillaries with pericellular dispositions. The results strongly suggest that the nodal tissue is mainly supplied from its periphery and the sinus node artery is rather a scaffold than a supplier of that tissue.

Considerations on the left papillary muscles microangioarchitecture.

The aim of the present study was to bring macroscopic and microscopic evidence on the left papillary muscles blood supply in human hearts. For the study were used human adult hearts from patients without clinically known cardiac ischemic history. Ten hearts were used for injecting China ink in the coronary arteries and other twenty hearts were dissected to evidence the characteristics of the main arteries of the left papillary muscles. Pieces - left papillary muscles - were drawn from the injected hearts and diaphanised. In all dissected hearts the left anterolateral papillary muscles were supplied by the left coronary system: anterior interventricular artery, second diagonal branch and left (obtuse) marginal artery. In 70% the left posteromedial papillary muscles were supplied by the right coronary system (posterior interventricular artery, left retroventricular artery) and in 30% by the left coronary system (circumflex artery). The left papillary muscles were supplied each by one or two main arteries that penetrated the muscles longitudinally. The ventricular wall attaching the papillary muscles was supplied by the subepicardial vessel sending the main arteries of the papillary muscles but also by neighbor subepicardial vessels distributed in that wall. The mural vessels were finer than the papillary muscles main arteries. Injected papillary muscles presented each with two systems of blood perfusion: one represented by segmental centers of arterial branching and distribution of the main arteries of the muscle and other represented by capillary extensions of the mural networks at that level. From the segmental branching centers were perfused the neighbor segments of the papillary muscles and intrasegmental anastomoses were recognized. The microvascular study of the left papillary muscles proves the usual overlapping of sources for segmental supply; this overlapping is reinforced by the high capillary density to ensure the vascularisation of the papillary muscles.

Former and present aspects in upper level of viscero-skull architecture.

The classical reference material describes two resistance arcs, the maxillary arc and the mandibulary arc, from which the masticatory forces direct themselves towards the functional resistance structures of the viscero-skull. From the maxillary arc, three pairs of vertical pillars ascend (that is fronto-nasal, zygomatic and pterygoid). Certain authors add to these a median arc--the bony part of the nasal septum. From the mandibulary arc, the lines of force make for the cordyle and the coronoid process of the mandible. In terms of the new outlook, at the upper level of the viscero-skull, there are five vertical blades described: one median, two medial and two lateral, those last including the pillars from the classical descriptions. These vertical blades are joined by three horizontal laminae: the upper one, the middle one--interrupted by the median line and the lower one--included in the concavity of the maxillary arc. These structures of laminae induce the formation of some resistance cylinders and cones. Within the lower level of the viscero-skull there are three mandibulary arcs described: the upper one (the classic mandibulary arc), the middle one (with an oblique direction) and the lower one.

Former and present aspects in neuro-skull architecture.

The classical authors considered the functional resistance of the neuro-skull to consist of arcs at the arch level, rafters at the base and pillars at the joint of the arcs and rafters, those last also connecting the neuro-skull framework and that of the viscero-skull. The new outlooks replace the term pillar with that of resistance node and assemble the arcs and rafters within common structures, named resistance belts. The belts are: one in transversal, three sagittal, two in frontal plane and two oblique positions. At the intersection of the belts, the resistance nodes are placed.

Correlations between anomalies of jugular veins and areas of vascular drainage of head and neck.

The study conducted on 60 human cadavers preserved in formalin, in the Anatomy Laboratory of the "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, during 2000-2006, observed the internal and external jugular veins from the point of view of their origin, course and affluents. The morphological variability of the jugular veins (external jugular that receives as affluents the facial and lingual veins and drains into the internal jugular, draining the latter's territory--3.33%; internal jugular that receives the lingual, upper thyroid and facial veins, independent--13.33%, via the linguofacial trunk--50%, and via thyrolinguofacial trunk--33.33%) made possible the correlation of these anomalies with disorders in the ontogenetic development of the veins of the neck. Knowing the variants of origin, course and drainage area of jugular veins is important not only for the anatomist but also for the surgeon operating at this level.

Aspects referring to the morphological variability of the abdominal branches of pneumogastric nerve (nervus vagus).

Terminal part and the abdominal branches of pneumogastric nerve were and still is an up-to-date problem not only through the anatomic importance but also through its implications in surgical practice. The study was done on 50 corpses using the dissection method. We are looking after torsion variants of pneumogastric nerves around the esophagus, morphological variability of the periesophageal pnemogastric plexus among witch the pnemogastric nerves loose theirs individuality through the mixture and the anastomoses of the fibers and the morphological variability of abdominal branches of the nerve, grouped by us in anterior and posterior branches.

Correlations between the colic branches of the mesenteric arteries and the vascular territories of the colon.

The study, done on 100 corpses from the dissection rooms of anatomy laboratory, hinted the morphological variability of the colic arteries and their territories. Morphological variability of the colic branches derived from the mesenteric arteries (superior right colic artery -- 98%; middle right colic artery -- 88%; inferior right colic artery -- 100%; middle colic artery - 36%; superior left colic artery -- 100%; middle left colic artery -- 50%; inferior left colic artery -- 100%) allows us to give out a morphogenetic supposition related their ramification and number. Analyze of the results guide us to a tentative of setting down the vascular territories of the colon. In the beginning were established the territories of the mesenteric arteries (superior and inferior) and after that, were marked the subterritories for each colic artery. Establishing the vascular territories of the colic arteries have not only anatomical importance but also a surgical one, been known the difficult postoperatory colon's revitalization.

Photodynamic occlusion of ocular neo-vascularization with B2 vitamin.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer has been known for over twenty years and is based on the dye-sensitized photooxidation of different biological targets in the tumoral tissue yielding to a photochemically induced cell's death via apoptotic pathways. Several parameters affect clinical trials in PDT and influence the therapeutic outcome. A potentially major application of PDT in a non-cancer field is its use in treatment of age-related macular degeneration. This condition, caused by proliferation of neovasculature in the retina, is the major cause of blindness in the over 50s. Using a photosensitiser which enters neovasculature very rapidly following administration and is subsequently quickly moved from the circulation. Ocular neovascular disease represents an important cause of blindness today. In this paper, was used an animal model (rabbit) to evaluate the vaso-occlusive potential of photodynamic therapy with B2 vitamin. Neovascularization induced in the rabbit cornea consists of an easily accessible monolayer-like neovascular net within a transparent matrix. This fact allows studying the efficiency of occlusion in an isolated neovascular structure.