Response of Mouse Breast Cancer Cells to Anastrozole, Tamoxifen, and the Combination.

The murine breast cancer cells (4T1) grown both in female BALB/c mice and in culture were treated with anastrozole (50 $\mu$ g/mL), tamoxifen citrate (5 $\mu$ g/mL), and the combination of the two drugs in order to determine treatment efficacies, toxic potential, and the mechanism of cell death. The in vivo treatments were evaluated by monitoring tumor growth, development, and life span. The in vitro effects were measured through cell growth kinetics, cell proliferation, mitochondrial membrane potential disruption assay, and light and scanning electron microscopy. All drug treatments extended the mean life span of the 4T1-inoculated tumor-bearing mice; however, only tamoxifen and combination treatments statistically increased the life span when compared to untreated mice. Although the most drug inhibitory effect on cell multiplication was observed in the combination treatment, both anastrozole and tamoxifen individually inhibited cell proliferation significantly at most time periods in this mouse breast cancer cell line. The mitochondrial membrane potential disruption assay demonstrated significant increase in the percent of cells undergoing apoptosis in all treatment groups. However, the combination treatment was the most effective in inducing cell death via apoptosis. Light and scanning electron microscopy of the treated cells revealed characteristics such as rounding, clumping, and shrinkage of the cells as well as formation of cell surface blebbing and apoptotic bodies suggestive of cell death via apoptotic pathway.

Morphological study of development and functional activity of palatine tonsils in embryonic age.

Palatine tonsils play an important role in the development of the immune system, being the first organ in the lymph system which analyses and reacts to antigenic stimulation. In this study, the peritonsillar area of Waldeyer's ring was investigated in 88 normal human embryos which were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. The progressive development of palatine tonsils during embryonic life is discussed. The first appearance of tonsils is in about the 14th-15th week followed by a parallel development of B- and T-cell regions which accounts for the high incidence of non mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas among all tonsillar lymphomas and the higher incidence of T-cell-lymphomas, in comparison to the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the digestive system. The way in which the human body develops the palatine tonsils quickly and prepares them to react to the first antigenic stimulation, are discussed.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the maxillary sinus. Case report.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas are rare tumors that often affect head and neck region. Because of the non-specific associated symptomatology, they frequently are misdiagnosed. We briefly describe a 69-year-old woman who developed solitary plasmacytoma in the left maxillary sinus and was initially treated as having sinusitis. We also report the diagnostic work-up that is necessary to establish a correct diagnosis in such cases. This case highlights that an appropriate investigation for neoplastic disease should be performed in patients presenting with persistent symptoms that resemble those of sinusitis, especially if these do not resolve after conservative medical treatment.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome presenting as a cranial polyneuropathy.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is herpes zoster of the facial nerve, frequently associated with VIII cranial nerve involvement, but on rare occasions other cranial nerves are affected as well. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with RHS with involvement of V, VII, VIII, IX, and XII cranial nerves. The patient showed significant improvement after treatment with acyclovir and prednisolone. RHS should be recognized as a polycranial neuritis characterized by damage to sensory and motor nerves, including the facial nerve and the auditory-vestibular apparatus. Early institution of treatment with antiviral agents may help hasten healing. Involvement of the XIIth cranial nerve has not been reported previously.

Testicular tumor metastatic to the nose. A case report.

In this paper we present an uncommon tumor found in the nasal cavity, the result of a metastasis from primary tumor of testis (embryonal carcinoma) in a young patient of 24 years of age. For this uncommon tumor we discuss the case with the Greek and foreign bibliography.

Intraparotid facial nerve neurilemmoma: a case report.

A case report of intraparotid facial nerve neurilemmoma is presented. The survey of this pathology is reviewed.

Gastrin secretion in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Gastrin (1--17) concentration was estimated under basal conditions in 12 menstruating women, and 42 women with normal pregnancy. In 10 women with normal pregnancy this hormone was also measured 10 days after delivery. In addition, gastrin was determined after stimulation with a standard protein meal in 7 menstruating women, 12 women with normal pregnancy and 14 women with complicated pregnancies. Umbilical vein blood levels of gastrin were also determined in 5 cases while, in 3 women serial hormone estimations were carried out for 24 hours after normal delivery. The mean (+/- SEM) basal gastrin concentration was 36.1 +/- 2.9 pg/ml in the productive and 45.4 +/- 2.0 in the secretory phase of the cycle (p less than 0.02). The mean basal concentration in normal pregnancy (60.4 +/- 5.4) was higher than that of the normal cycle as a whole (p less than 0.001), showed no significant variations related to the progress of pregnancy, and fell to normal cycle levels after delivery (42.1 +/- 2.9). In complicated pregnancies the mean hormone concentration (47.0 +/- 2.3) was lower than that of normal pregnancies (p less than 0.05) and similar to that of the secretory phase of the cycle. Gastrin responses to protein meal were similar in all 3 groups studied, with maximal concentration at 30 min, and a gradual decline thereafter. Umbilical vein blood levels of gastrin were generally higher than in maternal circulation but not significantly so. Serial estimations of gastrin after delivery failed to show any uniform pattern of changes. It is concluded that variations of gastrin secretion related to the phase of the menstrual cycle or the reproductive state may occur in women.