Expression of stem-cell markers (cytokeratin 15 and nestin) in primary adnexal neoplasms-clues to etiopathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: The overlap in histopathologic features and immunoprofile of eccrine and apocrine neoplasms confounds basic issues relating to lineage of these entities. METHODS: We evaluated expression of follicular stem-cell markers, cytokeratin (CK) 15 and nestin, in 78 benign and 23 malignant adnexal neoplasms. RESULTS: CK15 and nestin expression were noted in 39 of 78 (50%) and 36 of 78 (46%) cases in the benign group, respectively (8 cutaneous mixed tumor, 10 hidradenoma papilliferum, 9 apocrine cystadenoma, 11 cylindroma and/or spiradenoma, and 9 poroma/dermal duct tumor). CK15 and nestin expression were noted in 11 of 23 (48%) and 7 of 23 (30%) cases in the malignant group, respectively (6 microcystic adnexal carcinoma, 7 porocarcinoma, and 9 eccrine carcinoma). Except 1, both markers were negative in 4 syringocystadenoma papilliferum, 10 hidradenoma, 1 syringofibroadenoma, 10 syringoma, 1 eccrine adenoma, 8 poroma/dermal duct tumor, 5 eccrine hidrocystoma, and 1 apocrine carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Given that follicular germinative cells give rise to the folliculosebaceous apocrine unit, expression of CK15 and nestin in the majority of cutaneous mixed tumor, hidradenoma papilliferum, apocrine cystadenoma, and cylindroma/spiradenoma is suggestive of an apocrine origin/differentiation of these neoplasms. Reinforcing this and a novel finding of our study is the preferential expression of nestin in myoepithelial cells of these lesions.

Identifying the bond responsible for the fluorescence modulation in an amyloid fibril sensor.

An ultrafast intramolecular bond twisting process is known to be the responsible mechanism for the sensing activity of the extensively used amyloid fibril sensor thioflavin T (ThT). However, it is not yet known which one of the two possible single bonds in ThT is actually involved in the twisting process. To resolve this fundamental issue, two derivatives of ThT have been designed and synthesized and subsequently their photophysical properties have been studied in different solvents. It is understood from the present study that the rotation around the central C-C single bond, and not that around the C-N single bond, is primarily responsible for the sensor activity of ThT. Detailed viscosity-dependent fluorescence studies revealed that the ThT derivative with restricted C-N bond rotation acts as a better sensor than the derivative with free C-N bond rotation. The better sensory activity is directly correlated with a shorter excited-state lifetime. Results obtained from the photophysical studies of the ThT derivatives have also been supported by the results obtained from quantum chemical calculations.

Ninety-day toxicity and one-generation reproduction study in rats exposed to allethrin-based liquid mosquito repellent.

Rats exposed to liquid mosquito repellent (LMR) containing allethrin (3.6% w/w) 8-hrs/ day for a period of ninety days did not produce any signs of toxicity or death. Significant increases in relative weight of liver and adrenal in males, brain and thyroid in females were observed. No significant changes were noticed in clinical enzyme profile, gonadal enzymes and histopathology of vital organs except mild changes in the activities of liver and serum alkaline phosphates (ALP), testicular glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PDH) and epididymal sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). Rats exposed to LMR for one generation had not produced changes in their reproductive indices such as fertility index, gestation index, live pups/ dam and sex ratio. There was no change in the preweanling evaluation of pups such as survival and growth index on post-natal days (PND) 0, 4, 7,14 and 21. No significant pathomorphological changes were observed in liver, brain, kidney and gonads of PND 21 pups. Absences of any major adverse effects in the adult as well as weanling rats suggest the safe use of allethrin-based LMR.