Coexistent choriocarcinoma and malignant mixed mesodermal tumor of the uterus.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to report a case of coexisting uterine choriocarcinoma and uterine malignant mixed mesodermal tumor (MMMT). The relevant literature is reviewed and possible pathogenesis discussed. METHODS: The clinical course and histopathology of the case were reviewed and a Medline literature search for other cases was performed. RESULTS: The patient's uterine tumor contained syncytiotrophoblastic and cytotrophoblastic cells that stained positively for the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin consistent with uterine choriocarcinoma. Pathology also revealed a second distinct neoplasm composed of adenocarcinoma admixed with sarcoma, compatible with a uterine MMMT. The patient experienced metastatic choriocarcinoma to her lungs, lymph nodes, and brain. She suffered a complicated clinical course and died 7 months after her initial diagnosis. The literature search revealed that various gynecologic and nongynecologic carcinomas with trophoblastic differentiation have been described, but an association with uterine MMMT has not been previously reported. CONCLUSIONS: Trophoblastic differentiation and choriocarcinoma associated with gynecologic and nongynecologic tumors is rare. We document the presence of uterine MMMT coexisting with uterine choriocarcinoma that followed an aggressive clinical course and review the possible pathogenesis of this lesion.

Phosphorylation of protein kinase C-related kinase PRK2 during meiotic maturation of starfish oocytes.

The resumption of meiosis in the developing starfish oocyte is the result of intracellular signaling events initiated by 1-methyladenine stimulation. One of the earliest detectable kinase activities during meiotic maturation of starfish oocytes is a protein kinase C or PKC-like activity. In this study, several isoforms of protein kinase C were cloned from the oocyte; however, the most abundant PKC-like maternal transcript corresponds to protein kinase C-related kinase 2 (PRK2). PRK2 is expressed in the immature oocyte and at least until germinal vesicle breakdown. Subcellular localization of PRK2 revealed a cytoplasmic distribution in the immature oocyte, which, during meiotic maturation, remained in the cytoplasm but also localized to the disintegrating germinal vesicle. Significantly, PRK2 is phosphorylated in vivo in response to 1-methyladenine which precedes MPF activation, making PRK2 a candidate regulator of early signaling events of meiotic maturation.

Correlation between the levels of antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA antibodies, and complement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titres, anti-native DNA levels, serum haemolytic complement (CH50), and complement components C3 and C4 were determined in 550 serum samples taken from patients with active (311 samples) or inactive (239) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Increased anti-DNA levels were shown in 82% of the samples from patients with active and in 57.8% of those from inactive, disease. Decreased levels of CH50, and C3, C4 were found in 37, 50, and 80% of the samples taken from active and in 22, 29, and 67% of those from inactive, disease, respectively. Positive ANA test was found in 94.7% of the patients with active and 87.9% of those with inactive, disease. Significant differences were found between the two groups for all parameters. The correlations were close between the values of anti-DNA antibodies and CH50, as well as between the levels of CH50 and C3. Relationship between anti-DNA antibodies and C3 levels, as well as between CH50 and C4 levels was also demonstrated. Six subgroups for expressing the positivity of five parameters, 32 patterns of positive parameters were found and their possible application were suggested. In combining these parameters and using appropriate patterns, their determination may be helpful not only for the diagnosis but also for the assessment of disease activity.

[Serial tests of the change in concentration of circulating immune complexes in healthy subjects and in tumor patients]. / Serienuntersuchung der Konzentrationsänderung zirkulierender Immunkomplexe bei Gesunder und Tumorpatienten.

Authors performed by using various tests serial examinations of the circulating immune complex (IC) concentration in healthy persons, untreated rats, as well as in patients with multiple myeloma or leukemia, and in immunocytoma bearing rats. A characteristic fluctuation of the IC values has been observed in the untreated rats and the healthy persons. The discrepant IC values obtained in the identical sample with the different tests suggest the heterogeneity of IC components. As compared to healthy individuals a significantly higher fluctuation of IC values has been found characteristic in immunocytoma. Authors analyzed the composition of IC and discussed the possible importance of the tumor specific antigens and the natural antibodies reacting with them.