Evaluation of Her-2 protein in histologically tumor-free margins of oral squamous cell carcinoma: An immunohistochemical study.

Background: The status of the 5-year survival rate and loco-regional recurrence in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has remained unchanged over the decades. Recent advances in oral cancer research have revealed that the presence of molecular alterations in histologically tumor-free margins of OSCC has a prognostic significance and can aid in designing therapeutic strategies. However, the literature on molecular studies on histologically tumor-free margins is scant, especially in the Indian population. Considering the prognostic implications of Her-2 in malignancies of the breast, ovary, and OSCC, we aimed to assess the expression of Her-2 protein in histologically tumor-free margins of OSCC and to establish correlation with clinico-pathological parameters. Methods: 4 µ m thick sections from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 40 histologically tumor-free margins of OSCC affecting the buccal mucosa and/or lower gingiva-buccal sulcus and 40 normal oral mucosa samples were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for the Her-2 antibody. The obtained data were analyzed statistically. Results: The mean ages in study and control groups were 49.83 years (SD ± 10.43) and 37.28 years (SD ± 8.61), respectively, with male predominance. Local recurrence was seen in 52.5% of patients. Follow-up data revealed that a total of 71.4% of patients succumbed to mortality and all of them had reported local recurrence. Overall, the presence of local recurrence and the status of survival showed a statistically significant association (p = 0.0001). All the samples in the study and control groups were negative for Her-2 immuno-expression. Conclusion: The study indicated the lack of Her-2 immuno-expression in histologically tumor-free margins of OSCC with several speculated explanations. As it is a preliminary study, further studies employing both immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene amplification in histologically tumor-free margins of OSCC affecting different anatomical sites are warranted. This will aid in identifying the subset of patients that may benefit from targeted therapy.

A Study of Lipid Profile in Non-Diabetic Ischemic Stroke in Young Patients.

Cerebrovascular accident is the most important non communicable disease resulting in 2nd leading cause of death and 3rd leading cause of disability worldwide. Lipoproteins are considered as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. The atherogenecity of diabetics and non-diabetics are different. To study fasting serum lipid profile in patient with non-diabetic stroke and to determine significant correlation between them. MATERIAL: The prospective observational study was done in the Department of Medicine M.R Medical College between 1st October 2019-31th March 2021. Fasting serum lipid profile was done on 50 patients of non-diabetic ischemic stroke in young patients. OBSERVATION: In this study 62 %of patients had HDL<40 mg/dl, 42% had total cholesterol >200 mg/dl, 70 % of them had LDL cholesterol > 100 mg/dl and 44 % of patients had VLDL >30 mg/dl. In this study total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were significantly associated with risk of stroke. CONCLUSION: This study showed significant association of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in non-diabetics with stroke. Dyslipidemia modifiable risk factor, routine screening with lipid profile and early initiation of treatment of lipid lowering drugs will reduce the incidence of ischemic stroke.

Design of a Novel Theranostic Nanomedicine (III): Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Tumor-Targeting Cisplatin Conjugated to a Hydrophilic Polyphosphazene.

PURPOSE: A new theranostic nanomedicine involving anticancer-active cisplatin moiety was designed to study its tumor-targeting properties as well as its drug efficacy and toxicity. METHODS: A cisplatin carrier polymer was prepared by grafting equimolar polyethylene glycol of a molecular weight of 550 (PEG550) and aminoethanol to the poly(dichlorophosphazene) backbone. Cisplatin was conjugated to the carrier polymer using cis-aconitic acid as a linker. RESULTS: The cisplatin-loaded polyphosphazene, named "Polycisplatin" was found to be amphiphilic in aqueous solution and self-assembled into nanoparticles with an average particle size of 18.6 nm in diameter. The time-dependent organ distribution study of Cy5.5-labeled Polycisplatin in the A549-tumor-bearing mice exhibited a high tumor selectivity of Polycisplatin by EPR effect despite the relatively small particle size. In order to compare the in vivo efficacy of Polycisplatin and cisplatin, their xenograft trials were performed using nude mice against the human gastric cell line MKN-28. Polycisplatin exhibited slightly less tumor suppression effect compared with cisplatin at the same dose of 1.95 mg Pt/kg, which is the maximum tolerate dose of cisplatin, but at the higher double dose of 3.9 mg Pt/kg, Polycisplatin exhibited a little better efficacy than cisplatin. Furthermore, mice treated with cisplatin at the dose of 1.95 mg Pt/kg exhibited severe body weight decrease by about 25%, while mice treated with Polycisplatin did not show serious body weight decrease even at its double dose of 3.9 mg Pt/kg. Furthermore, kidney indicators including kidney index, BUN, and creatinine values measured displayed that Polycisplatin is much less nephrotoxic than cisplatin. CONCLUSION: Nanoparticular Polycisplatin was successfully prepared by conjugating cisplatin to a hydrophilic polyphosphazene carrier polymer using the acid-cleavable cis-aconitic acid. Polycisplatin nanoparticles exhibit excellent tumor-targeting properties by EPR effect. The xenograft trials exhibited excellent antitumor efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity of Polycisplatin.

Annexin A2 and its downstream IL-6 and HB-EGF as secretory biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of Her-2 negative breast cancer.

Background AnnexinA2 (AnxA2) membrane deposition has a critical role in HB-EGF shedding as well as IL-6 secretion in breast cancer cells. This autocrine cycle has a major role in cancer cell proliferation, migration and metastasis. The objective of the study is to demonstrate annexinA2-mediated autocrine regulation via HB-EGF and IL-6 in Her-2 negative breast cancer progression. Methods Secretory annexinA2, HB-EGF and IL-6 were analysed in the peripheral blood sample of Her-2 negative ( n = 20) and positive breast cancer patients ( n = 16). Simultaneously, tissue expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry. The membrane deposition of these secretory ligands and their autocrine regulation was demonstrated using triple-negative breast cancer cell line model. Results Annexina2 and HB-EGF expression are inversely correlated with Her-2, whereas IL-6 expression is seen in both Her-2 negative and positive breast cancer cells. RNA interference studies and upregulation of annexinA2 proved that annexinA2 is the upstream of this autocrine pathway. Abundant soluble serum annexinA2 is secreted in Her-2 negative breast cancer (359.28 ± 63.73 ng/mL) compared with normal (286.10 ± 70.04 ng/mL, P < 0.01) and Her-2 positive cases (217.75 ± 60.59 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). In Her-2 negative cases, the HB-EGF concentrations (179.16 ± 118.81 pg/mL) were highly significant compared with normal (14.92 ± 17.33 pg/mL, P < 0.001). IL-6 concentrations were increased significantly in both the breast cancer phenotypes as compared with normal ( P < 0.001). Conclusion The specific expression pattern of annexinA2 and HB-EGF in triple-negative breast cancer tissues, increased secretion compared with normal cells, and their major role in the regulation of EGFR downstream signalling makes these molecules as a potential tissue and serum biomarker and an excellent therapeutic target in Her-2 negative breast cancer.

Rehabilitation of orbital defect with silicone orbital prosthesis retained by dental implants.

Orbital defects can result from cancer, birth anomalies, or trauma leading to an onslaught of problems in the function and psyche of the patient. These defects are restored by surgical reconstruction and followed by placement of orbital prosthesis for cosmetic makeup. The use of dental implants in retaining orbital prosthesis improves patient acceptance of the prosthesis owing to better retention and stability than conventional adhesive retained prosthesis. This case report describes a custom-made magnetic retentive assembly anchored by a dental implant which offers the orbital prosthesis the simplicity of self-alignment and ease of use.

Genomic DNA of MCF-7 breast cancer cells not an ideal choice as positive control for PCR amplification based detection of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus-Like Sequences.

The identification of the etiology of breast cancer is a crucial research issue for the development of an effective preventive and treatment strategies. Researchers are exploring the possible involvement of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV) in causing human breast cancer. Hence, it becomes very important to use a consistent positive control agent in PCR amplification based detection of MMTV-Like Sequence (MMTV-LS) in human breast cancer for accurate and reproducible results. This study was done to investigate the feasibility of using genomic DNA of MCF-7 breast cancer cells to detect MMTV-LS using PCR amplification based detection. MMTV env and SAG gene located at the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences were targeted for the PCR based detection. No amplification was observed in case of the genomic DNA of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. However, the 2.7 kb DNA fragment comprising MMTV env and SAG LTR sequences yielded the products of desired size. From these results it can be concluded that Genomic DNA of MCF-7 cell is not a suitable choice as positive control for PCR or RT-PCR based detection of MMTV-LS. It is also suggested that plasmids containing the cloned genes or sequences of MMTV be used as positive control for detection of MMTV-LS.

Spectroscopic, magnetic and thermal studies of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of 3-acetylcoumarin-isonicotinoylhydrazone and their antimicrobial and anti-tubercular activity evaluation.

Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with a new heterocyclic Schiff base derived by the condensation of isonicotinoylhydrazide and 3-acetylcoumarin have been synthesized. ¹H, ¹³C and 2D HETCOR NMR analyses confirm the formation of title compound and existence of the same in two isomeric forms. The metal complexes were characterized on the basis of various spectroscopic techniques like electronic, EPR, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR studies, elemental analysis, magnetic properties and thermogravimetric analysis, and also by the aid of molar conductivity measurements. It is found that the Schiff base behaves as a monobasic tridentate ligand coordinating in the imidol form with 1:1 metal to ligand stoichiometry. Trigonal bipyramidal geometry has been assigned for Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes, while tetrahedral for Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes. The compounds were subjected to antimicrobial and anti-tubercular activity screening using serial broth dilution method and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) is determined. Zn(II) complex has shown significant antifungal activity with an MIC of 6.25 µg/mL while Cu(II) complex is noticeable for antibacterial activity at the same concentration. Anti-TB activity of the ligand has enhanced on complexation with Co(II) and Ni(II) ions.

Transition metal complexes of 3-aryl-2-substituted 1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives: new class of analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents.

Five-coordinate, neutral transition metal complexes of newly designed pyridine-2-ethyl-(3-carboxylideneamino)-3-(2-phenyl)-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one (L) were synthesized and characterized. The structure of ligand is confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The compounds were evaluated for the anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model while their analgesic activity was determined by acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice wherein the transition metal complexes were found to be more active than the free ligand.

Antimicrobial Study of Newly Synthesized Lanthanide(III) Complexes of 2-[2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl]-3-[2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylamino]-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one.

New lanthanide(III) complexes with 2-[2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl]-3-[hydroxyl-3-methoxybenzylamino]-1,2-dihydroquin- azoline-4(3H)-one (Hmpbaq) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurements, magnetic susceptibilities, spectroscopic (IR, NMR, UV, EPR), and thermal studies. Molar conductance studies indicate 1 : 1 electrolytic behavior for these complexes. IR spectra indicate that Hmpbaq acts as a tridentate ligand coordinating through carbonyl oxygen, benzyl amine nitrogen, and deprotonated phenolic oxygen. TG and DTA studies of La(III) and Pr(III) complexes indicate the presence of two coordinated water molecules. Based on these studies, the complexes have been formulated as [La(mpbaq)(2)(H(2)O)(2)].NO(3), where Ln = La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Th(III), Dy(III), and Y(III). The ligand, lanthanide(III) salts, and the corresponding complexes have been simultaneously screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities and compared with the drugs in use.