[The influence of low-intensity laser irradiation on the loach embryo cells].

The ultrastructural organization of loach embryo cells (Misgurnus fossilis L) at the stage of the first and the tenth embryo divisions was investigated in the control and under the influence of low intensity helium-neon laser irradiation of 5 min exposure. The effect of laser irradiation led to ultrastructural changes in cell organelles, increasing the number and size of mitochondria, and as a result their shape changes. Under the influence of laser irradiation, the activation of cellular digestion processes took place, the number of vacuoles and lysosomes increased. The results explain the possible mechanism laser irradiation impact at the cellular level.

[The influence of potassium 4-toluenethiosulfonate on membrane potential and ATPase activity of plasmatic membranes of loach embryos].

The influence of novel biologically active substance potassium 4-toluenethiosulfonate in concentration of 4 x 10(-5) M on the changes of electrophysiological parameters of embryonic cells in early development of fish (Misgurnus fossilis L.) was investigated including the changes of membrane potential (TMP) and enzyme activity of plasmatic membranes of loach embryos during the period of synchronous division of blastomers in the early period of development. The evaluation of influence of these matters was studied and aperiodic changes of the level of TMP were shown. The diminishing of amplitude in every period by 7/12 mV and diminishing of growth of maximal values of vibrations of TMP by 39 mV in comparison to control was noticed. It was related to inhibition of some biosynthetic processes and results in the decline of activity of membrane enzyme (Na+, K(+)-ATPase) by 75.5 +/- 4.1% and 78.4 +/- 10.4% both at the action of high (4 x 10(-3) M) and low (4 x 10(-9) M) concentrations, accordingly, at first hours of development with subsequent renewal of its activity to the level of control only for the actions of low concentration.

Immunohistochemical analysis and prognostic value of cathepsin D determination in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Cathepsin D, a protease with the capability of degrading matrix proteins, is implicated in the process of breast and colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis. Biochemical studies in laryngeal cancer have shown a potential prognostic significance of cathepsin D content determination. We studied immunohistochemical positivity of cathepsin D in tumor epithelium and stroma of 61 surgical specimens of squamous cell laryngeal cancer. Immunohistochemical reaction was quantitatively assessed using a PC-based image analysis system SFORM-VAMS. The results were correlated to clinical and morphological parameters and survival. Immunohistochemical positivity was noted in neoplastic cells and tumor stroma. Significant prognostic value for cathepsin D was established separately for epithelial tumor component and tumor stroma using log-rank test, the Cox proportional hazards regression model, and C4.5 machine learning system. In all groups, patients above the median cathepsin D staining showed significantly shorter survival time. C4.5 machine learning system extracted cutoff values for the decision tree that defines the probabilities of patients survival and death with high sensitivity (92.8% alive, 73.6% dead), 100% specificity, and 86.9% accuracy. This makes immunohistochemical cathepsin D estimation an independent prognostic parameter in laryngeal carcinomas within a 5-year period from the time of tumor surgery.

Increased activity of nm23-H1 gene in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is associated with advanced disease and poor prognosis.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether the nm23-H1 gene is expressed in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and whether the level of nm23-H1 protein or mRNA in cells vary as they progress to a more malignant phenotype. Of the 120 SCCHN studied 54 (45%) stained positively for nm23-H1 protein. Protein expression was significantly higher in more advanced stages of disease. Expression of nm23-H1 was significantly higher in cancer tissues than in normal, adjacent tissue, dysplasia, or carcinoma in situ. The nm23-H1 rate increased with progression of synchronous lesions from dysplasia to carcinoma in situ and finally to carcinoma (P<0.05). Northern blot analyses of tissues with various clinicopathological characteristics also revealed differences in nm23-H1 mRNA expression. When levels of nm23-H1 mRNA were compared to tumor stage, intensity of expression was found to be higher in stages 3 and 4 than stages 1 and 2 (P<0.01). Malignant tumors had a higher level of mRNA nm23-H1 expression than normal or premalignant tissues. The nm23-H1 negative patients survived significantly longer than nm23-H1 positive ones (P<0.05). To study the possible relationship between nm23-H1 gene expression and cell growth rate in tumor cells, the mRNA level in each tumor was compared to proliferative activity. The nm23-H1 gene expression levels were directly related to the [3H]thymidine labeling index in tumor cells (R=0.6681). Our results strongly indicate that the nm23-H1 gene is involved in progression of SCCHN. Together with results obtained on lung cancer, our observations suggest that increased expression of nm23-H1 in cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract may have different implications than elsewhere in the body.

Fibrous dysplasia in paranasal cavities.

Presentation is made of 2 boys and a girl with fibrous dysplasia involving the frontal and ethmoidal sinuses and the maxilla. This tumor-like growth of the bone was not restricted to the sinus alone but expanded to the orbit, adjacent sinus, skull base and infratemporal or pterygoid fossa. In such cases, surgical therapy is the treatment of choice, with maximal preservation of healthy tissue and avoidance of major devastations that may result in undesired cosmetic defects. The etiology of the disease is still unknown. However, it should be emphasized that all 3 patients had suffered an injury to the adjacent bony structures at various time points preceding the disease manifestation. That is why we are inclined to believe that trauma might be a factor responsible for the onset of fibrous dysplasia.

Implication of tumour antigens and immune complexes in laryngeal cancer.

In the last 3 years tumour antigens (TA) and immune complexes (IC) were examined in 33 respectively 83 patients with cancer of the larynx. These tests were repeated several times during treatment and during the checking period. Tumour antigens were prepared from squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx using a modification of the methods by Bloom et al. and Halliday. Immune complexes in the serum were determined by the polyethylene glycol (PEG) test. In some cases the sensitivity to antigen was changed during the observation period. Constantly elevated immune complexes speaks in favour of recurrence in most of our cases.