Heterogeneous Expression of Proangiogenic and Coagulation Proteins in Gliomas of Different Histopathological Grade.

Brain gliomas are characterized by remarkably intense invasive growth and the ability to create new blood vessels. Angiogenesis is a key process in the progression of these tumors. Coagulation and fibrinolysis factors play a role in promoting angiogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of proangiogenic proteins (VEGF and bFGF) and hemostatic proteins (TF, fibrinogen, fibrin, D-dimers) associated with neoplastic cells and vascular endothelial cells in brain gliomas of various degrees of malignancy. Immunohistochemical tests were performed using the ABC method with the use of mono- and polyclonal antibodies. The obtained results indicated that both neoplastic cells and vascular endothelial cells in gliomas of various degrees of malignancy are characterized by heterogeneous expression of proteins of the hemostatic system and angiogenesis markers. The strongest expression of proangiogenic factors and procoagulant factors was demonstrated in gliomas of higher-grade malignancy.

Imbalance in Coagulation/Fibrinolysis Inhibitors Resulting in Extravascular Thrombin Generation in Gliomas of Varying Levels of Malignancy.

Neoplastic processes are integrally related to disturbances in the mechanisms regulating hemostatic processes. Brain tumors, including gliomas, are neoplasms associated with a significantly increased risk of thromboembolic complications, affecting 20-30% of patients. As gliomas proliferate, they cause damage to the brain tissue and vascular structures, which leads to the release of procoagulant factors into the systemic circulation, and hence systemic activation of the blood coagulation system. Hypercoagulability in cancer patients may be, at least in part, a result of the inadequate activity of coagulation inhibitors. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of the inhibitors of the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems (tissue factor pathway inhibitor, TFPI; tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 TFPI-2; protein C, PC; protein S, PS, thrombomodulin, TM; plasminogen activators inhibitor, PAI-1) in gliomas of varying degrees of malignancy. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on 40 gliomas, namely on 13 lower-grade (G2) gliomas (8 astrocytomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas) and 27 high-grade gliomas (G3-12 anaplastic astrocytomas, 4 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas; G4-11 glioblastomas). A strong expression of TFPI-2, PS, TM, PAI-1 was observed in lower-grade gliomas, while an intensive color immunohistochemical (IHC) reaction for the presence of TFPI antigens was detected in higher-grade gliomas. The presence of PC antigens was found in all gliomas. Prothrombin fragment 1+2 was observed in lower- and higher-grade gliomas reflecting local activation of blood coagulation. Differences in the expression of coagulation/fibrinolysis inhibitors in the tissues of gliomas with varying degrees of malignancy may be indicative of their altered role in gliomas, going beyond that of their functions in the hemostatic system.

Myometrial Responses to Beta-Adrenoceptor Antagonists in Gynecological Malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of beta-adrenoceptor (ADRB) antagonists on contractile activity of the nonpregnant human uterus in patients affected by gynecological malignancies. DESIGN: This was a controlled and prospective ex vivo study. SETTING: The work was conducted as a collaboration between 4 academic departments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Myometrial specimens were obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynecological disorders (reference group; N = 15), and ovarian (N = 15), endometrial (N = 15), synchronous ovarian-endometrial (N = 3), and cervical cancer (N = 10). Contractions of myometrial strips in an organ bath before and after applications of ADRB antagonists (propranolol, bupranolol, SR 59230A, and butoxamine) were studied under isometric conditions. RESULTS: Propranolol and bupranolol attenuated contractions in the endometrial and cervical cancer groups similar to that in the reference group (all p < 0.05), whereas opposite effects were observed in the ovarian and synchronous ovarian-endometrial cancer groups. SR 59230A and butoxamine significantly increased contractions in the ovarian cancer group (both p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: These results require now to be placed into a firm clinical context. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that ovarian cancer considerably alters contractile activity of the nonpregnant human uterus in response to ADRB antagonists. This suggests a pathogenetic role of beta-adrenergic pathways in this malignancy. Furthermore, propranolol and bupranolol substantially influence spontaneous uterine contractility.

Review on significance of GDNF, PTCH1 and RNF213 in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma illustrated by the case of 71-years-old man.

Here we review the role of GDNF, PTCH1, RNF213 illustrated by a case of renal cell carcinoma, chromophobe type (pT2a 8th pTNM edition) of the left kidney of 71-year-old man. Status of potential hotspots in 409 tumor genes were studied by means of next generation sequencing (NGS) technology (IonTorrent - Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) using Ion AmpliSeq™ Comprehensive Cancer Panel. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed mutations of GDNF (NM_001190468: c. 328C>T, p.R110W, allelic frequency 46%), PTCH1 (NM_001083607:c. 2969C

Insulin receptor substrate 1 may play divergent roles in human colorectal cancer development and progression.

BACKGROUND: Despite effective prevention and screening methods, the incidence and mortality rates associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) are still high. Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), a signaling molecule involved in cell proliferation, survival and metabolic responses has been implicated in carcinogenic processes in various cellular and animal models. However, the role of IRS-1 in CRC biology and its value as a clinical CRC biomarker has not been well defined. AIM: To evaluate if and how IRS-1 expression and its associations with the apoptotic and proliferation tumor markers, Bax, Bcl-xL and Ki-67 are related to clinicopathological features in human CRC. METHODS: The expression of IRS-1, Bax, Bcl-xL and Ki-67 proteins was assessed in tissue samples obtained from 127 patients with primary CRC using immunohistochemical methods. The assays were performed using specific antibodies against IRS-1, Bax, Bcl-xL, Ki-67. The associations between the expression of IRS-1, Bax, Bcl-xL, Ki-67 were analyzed in relation to clinicopathological parameters, i.e., patient age, sex, primary localization of tumor, histopathological type, grading, staging and lymph node spread. Correlations between variables were examined by Spearman rank correlation test and Fisher exact test with a level of significance at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis of 127 CRC tissue samples revealed weak cytoplasmatic staining for IRS-1 in 66 CRC sections and strong cytoplasmatic staining in 61 cases. IRS-1 expression at any level in primary CRC was associated with tumor grade (69% in moderately differentiated tumors, G2 vs 31% in poorly differentiated tumors, G3) and with histological type (81.9% in adenocarcinoma vs 18.1% in adenocarcinoma with mucosal component cases). Strong IRS-1 positivity was observed more frequently in adenocarcinoma cases (95.1%) and in moderately differentiated tumors (85.2%). We also found statistically significant correlations between expression of IRS-1 and both Bax and Bcl-xL in all CRC cases examined. The relationships between studied proteins were related to clinicopathological parameters of CRC. No significant correlation between the expression of IRS-1 and proliferation marker Ki-67, excluding early stage tumors, where the correlation was positive and on a high level (P = 0.043, r = 0.723). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that IRS-1 is co-expressed with both pro- and antiapoptotic markers and all these proteins are more prevalent in more differentiated CRC than in poorly differentiated CRC.

Analysis of mutations of PARP1, RNF213, PAX8, KMT2C, MTRR in malignant mesothelioma of testicular tunica vaginalis testis.

Molecular next gene sequencing was used to evaluate mutations in 409 common mutated cancer-related genes in malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis testis (MMTVT) of 81-year-old man. Multifocal papillary-solid areas contained necrosis among highly cellular fields with multiple mitoses. It was positive for WT1, CKAE1/AE3, calretinin, CK7 with negativity for CK5, PSA, TTF-1. Following mutations were revealed in PARP1 (NM_001618: c.2285TG, p.K135R), MTRR (NM_024010: c.147A>G, p.I49M) and two sorts of mutations in structure of KMT2C gene (NM_170606: c.2447_2448insA (c.2447dupA), p.Y816fs and NM_170606: c.1042G>A, p.D348N) for the first time in MMTVT.

Review of Potential Significance of Mutations of ADAMTS20, NF1 and PKHD1 Detected Using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) in Dermal Fibrosarcoma Arising in Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans.

We examined a status of fibrosarcoma arising in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of 64-year-old male patient. A dermal, solid, grayish-yellow, desmin-negative trichrome-bluish tumor measured 1.5 cm in diameter pT1a (edition 8 pTNM). It was composed of spindle cells. It was consistent with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (ICD-O3: 8832/3) in areas of low mitotic activity, low atypia and sustained CD34 positivity. CD34-negative texture with high mitotic index and atypia was consistent with the high grade sarcoma apparently of fibrous origin, given category of poorly differentiated fibrosarcoma. The high grade component was graded (G3) and scored according to French Federation of Cancer Centers Sarcoma Group (FNCLCC): total score of 6 points: tumor differentiation: 3 points + Mitotic count: 3 points (up to 26 mitoses/ 10HPF in high-grade fields), + no necrosis: 0 points. In low grade sarcomatous component ADAMTS20 (NM_025003: c.1661C>T, p.P554L) NF1 (NM_001042492: c. 2173G>T, p.E725X) and PKHD1 (NM_138694: c. 11074C>T, p.R3692X) were revealed with following allelic frequencies: 25%, 27% and 17%. In high grade component allelic frequencies of the same mentioned mutations were 30%, 30% and 14% respectively. In the light of our findings, none of detected mutations can be regarded as a mutation that would definitely induce phenotype of high malignancy, because ADAMTS20, NF1 and PKHD1 mutations were detected both in high grade sarcoma and in low grade areas of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. It also points that these mutations appeared on early stages of tumor development.

Heritage of Stanislaw Ciechanowski (1869-1945)-Discoverer of pathogenesis of prostatic hyperplasia-passionis insignia signis fulgent mirificis .

BACKGROUND: Prostatic enlargement was first correctly recognized as a prostatic hyperplasia by professor of anatomic pathology, Stanislaw Ciechanowski (1869-1945) in Cracow on contrary to Parisian urologist Jean Casimir Félix Guyon's concepts of progressing atherosclerosis as a morphological cause of prostatic overgrowth and mechanical insufficiency of lower urinary tract. METHODS: Primary resources were analyzed about Stanislaw Ciechanowski mainly from depositories of the Section of Special Collection, Stanislaw Konopka Main Medical Library Warsaw and Polish bibliograhy of Estreichers at Jagiellonian University. RESULTS: Professor of anatomic pathology, Stanislaw Ciechanowski (1869-1945) was the first to state that chronic inflammation induced overgrowth of parenchymatous and stromal prostate components in course of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ciechanowski preformed also pioneer and notable studies in the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and classification of cancer in Poland. As one of the major Polish medical editors and a father of Polish modern medical language he was also very prolific author in the field of congenital pathology, sclerosis of pulmonary arteries, endemic goiter, intestinal emphysema, etc. Due to magnitude of autopsies, he preformed, Stanislaw Ciechanowski was a perfect candidate to complete the first edition of several volumes of main Polish handbook on anatomy of a human body after tragic death of professor Adam Bochenek. CONCLUSIONS: Ciechanowski gained such a high authority, that his opinion was found crucial in prewar Poland in the field of medical publications, but his world-famous achievement was scientific explanation of prostate overgrowth as inflammation induced hyperplasia.

Review on Retinal Gliosis Illustrated with a Series of Massive Glioses and Focal Nodular Gliosis Cases in Regard to Potential Pitfalls of Ocular Reactive Tumor-like Lesions of this Type.

This paper presents a review on retinal gliosis illustrated by series of three cases of patients (a 39-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman with massive retinal gliosis (MRG) and a 51-year-old man with truly focal nodular gliosis of retina) with intraocular tumor-like masses and loss of vision, who recently suffered from painful inflammation of eyeball and who classically had a history of remote ocular trauma, onset of blindness early in lifetime or gradual but progressive loss of sight. The diagnosis of this pathological entity is given for the lesions that are composed of GFAP strongly positive, elongated, fusiform cells consistent with fibrillary astrocytes. As illustrated in cases from our pathological practice, PAS gave positive patchy disseminated reaction in form of cellular densely purplish granules in minority of cells representing glycogen storing. This feature could be consistent with PAS-positive Müller cells that also constitute retinal gliosis as one of cellular components of normal retina that is induced to reactive proliferation. Thus, the paper presents histological background and differential diagnosis of the entity.

Protection of Children's Human Rights and Health: A Legacy of Julian Kramsztyk, Janusz Korczak, and Ludwik Rajchman.

Tutor of generations of Warsaw medical doctors, Julian Kramsztyk (1851-1926) was son of Rabbi Izaak Kramsztyk, Polish patriot and fighter for independent Poland. Julian Kramsztyk graduated in medicine from Warsaw University in 1873 to soon work as a supervisor of the Internal Diseases Department of Bersohns and Baumans Children's Hospital from 1878 to 1910, and despite of refusing professorship from Imperial Warsaw University, he worked as a lecturer of pediatric disorders from 1880 with strong association of his medical practice with scientific and editorial tasks as well as engaging in charity. This article focuses on selective retrieval of biographical data of social and scientific achievements of followers of Julian Kramsztyk: his student, pioneer of children human rights, and pioneer of healthy patterns of nutrition of children, pediatrician Janusz Korczak (Henryk Goldszmit; 1878 or 1879-1942); and a skilled bacteriologist and a brilliant epidemiologist who was a prominent activist of the League of Nations (later United Nations Organization), cofounder of the UNICEF (United Nations Children's Emergency Fund), and the first chairman of the Organization from 1946 to 1950, which was primarily dedicated to "provide emergency food and health care to children in postwar time," Ludwik Rajchman (1881-1965). Janusz Korczak works laid foundation for international recognition of children rights to health, respect, education, privacy, and all the other human rights to be included in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). In 1989, nutrition and vaccination issues were the main medical interests of these medical doctors and still remain major fields of UNICEF actions.

Jakub Chlebowski, Rector Magnificus Exultus - A Distinguished Professor of Internal Medicine in Postwar North-East Poland.

Jakub Chlebowski (Jakub Frydman) (1905-1969) was a distinguished professor of internal medicine and skillful organizer of health care system in Bialystok region in the North east Poland. He graduated medicine in 1929 and worked at local university in prewar Vilnius. During World War Two, arrested by the Soviets and exiled to Siberian work camps he managed to return to Poland with Kosciuszko Division of Polish Army. Then, he continued to serve as a military and university medical doctor in Cracow and Lodz, finally to take over position of director of Internal Diseases Department in 1951 in Bialystok, holding an office of rector magnificus of Medical University of Bialystok from 1959 to 1962. Chlebowski trained generations of internal medicine specialists, who later became eminent representatives of emerging branches of internal medicine as distinct subspecialties in the field of cardiology, endocrinology and gastroenterology in Bialystok. In course of anti-Semitic campaign during March Events in 1968, he was disposed from the post of director of the university hospital department. Constantly harassed, he immigrated with the family to Israel to die in public traffic accident in 1969. Jakub Frydman, who survived not only hunger of food, but also metaphorical "hunger of humanity" during World War Two, turned out to be as good and useful as daily bread for Polish community after wartime. He was so devoted in this action, that he even changed his surname into Chlebowski (Polish: Chleb=English: Bread). In this way, due to similar experience and experience-shaped mentality, Chlebowski could be counted among medical authorities of the time, the individuals with such a high moral standard as Janusz Korczak (1878 or 1879-1942) or Julian Kramsztyk (1851-1926).

Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (clear cell sarcoma-like tumor of the gastrointestinal tract) of the small intestine in a 12-year-old boy.

The aim of this paper is a clinical and anatomopathological demonstration of a malignant lesion, a gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (GNET), as an exceedingly rare cause of ileus in the pediatric population. Specifically, we present the case of a 12-year-old boy who showed dramatic weight loss, hypochromic anemia, fever, dehydration, exaggerated granulation of the terminal ileum, and mechanical ileus due to the obstruction by an intramural tumor of the small intestine. A 50cm-long part of the small intestine with pathological stricture was surgically removed, sampled and routinely fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The additional immunostains that were preformed were: PAS, S-100, HMB-45, NSE, LCA, CK AE1 / AE3, desmin, SMA, vimentin, CD99, NSE, synaptophysin, WT-1, calretinin, and DOG-1. Moreover, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with the EWSR1 Break Apart FISH Probe was applied. The neoplasm was composed of nests and alveolar patterns of frankly malignant clear cells with immunoreactivity to S-100, vimentin, and CD 99. The FISH technique detected chromosomal breaking at 22q12. The tumor metastasized to both the mesenteric lymph nodes and a number of hepatic segments. With several chemotherapy protocols, repeat laparotomies, and liver thermal ablations, the patient had a 1.5-year-long survival from the moment of diagnosis. The diagnosis of this malignancy requires both histopathological evaluation and molecular analysis, and the follow-up is based on careful clinical imaging of the neoplastic spread in order to apply proper surgical and oncological treatments. In conclusion, the clinical course of GNET was highly aggressive.

Comparison of E-cadherin with STAT3 and apoptosis regulators: Bak and Bcl-xL in endometrioid adenocarcinomas of different ER-alpha immunoprofile.

E-cadherin is a factor of good prognosis in endometrioid adenocarcinomas, while STAT3 is an oncogenic driver of carcinogenesis. E-cadherin, Bak, Bcl-xL and STAT3 were immunohistochemically detected in 78 human endometrioid adenocarcinomas. E-cadherin correlated with STAT3 (p <. 001, r = 0.537) as well as Bak (p = .005, r = 0.314) and Bcl-xL (p = .002, r = 0.340) in the whole study group. In G2 tumors, E-cadherin associated with Bak (p = .021, r = 0.319), Bcl-xL (p = .026, r = 0.309) and STAT3 (p <.001, r = 0.513) but not in G3 adenocarcinomas. E-cadherin correlated with Bak and Bcl-xL in both G1- and estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumors with significant relation of E-cadherin and STAT3 in G1- and ER-negative tumors. Antigrowth synergy of expression was preserved for antiapoptotic Bak and proliferation-suppressing E-cadherin in IA adenocarcinomas (p = .031, r = 0.342) with no significance between Bak and E-cadherin or STAT3 and emerging correlation between E-cadherin and Bcl-xL in IB + II tumors instead (p = .003, r = 0.472). E-cadherin correlated with Bak and Bcl-xL in ER-positive adenocarcinomas (p = .002, r = 0.382 and p <.001, r = 0.439, respectively) but not in ER-negative tumors. In conclusion, expression deregulation of studied proteins is reflected in selective loss of correlation between suppressors of tumor growth (E-cadherin and Bak) presumably due to progressing impairment of growth-inhibitory properties of clone of neoplastic cells within higher staging and poorer differentiation.

Structural arrangement of vesicouterine fistula revisited: An immunohistochemical study documenting the presence of the endometrium.

Previous research has described a woman of reproductive age who presented with a vesicouterine fistula (VUF) of 20 months' duration. The VUF was lined with a metaplastic glandular epithelium containing both estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) in abundance. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the histology of the VUF canal when exposure to urine of the cellular elements within the fistula was of much shorter duration. A 41-year-old woman who developed a VUF during her third cesarean section was treated with transvesical fistula excision, electrocoagulation, and subsequent attempted hormonal treatment. Later, the patient underwent open surgery fistula repair. Postoperative specimens were subjected to anatomopathological examination together with immunohistochemical staining for ER and PR using monoclonal anti-human antibodies. Herein, we present for the first time detailed microscopic evidence that, at two separate timepoints, the fistulous tract was lined with the endometrium, which covered approximately 80% of the length of the VUF canal. In its intermediate segment, the urothelium formed an additional layer on the surface of the endometrium. At both timepoints, in the columnar epithelial and stromal endometrial cells lining the fistula, both ER and PR were present in abundance. In conclusion, VUF in subjects of reproductive age fulfill criteria for endometriosis. This study provides a rationale for the conservative treatment of VUF consistent with the hormonal treatment of endometriosis.

Stat proteins as intracellular regulators of resistance to myocardial injury in the context of cardiac remodeling and targeting for therapy.

The roles of STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) proteins are widely discussed in relation to other agents like IFN-γ that are involved in cardiovascular diseases. STAT3 protects cardiomyocytes during endotoxic shock and ischemia and prolongs survival of these cells by activation of antiapoptotic genes like Bcl-2 and c-Fos. Moreover, IL-6 dependent expression of STAT3 is probably responsible for hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes. On the contrary, STAT1 mediates cell death by induction of caspase-1. STAT6 probably enhances cellular damage in myocardial infraction, which is significantly reduced in mice with the knockout STAT6 gene. Considering these facts, we attempted to review in this paper the role of STAT proteins in myocardial remodeling, highlighting STAT3 as a potent mediator of cardioprotection. Our review also aims to acquaint a broad audience of internal medicine practitioners with the STAT3-related molecular mechanisms that underlie the therapeutic properties of such widely administered drugs as angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, such as losartan and lovastatin.

Morphology with immunohistochemical and genetic profiling of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of colon - a case report with review of literature.

Here we present a challenging case of a hepatic flexure colon tumor of 61-year-old woman with no primary lesion of lung cancer. Immunohistochemistry was applied and 50 genes were analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The tumor contained medium to large size neoplastic cells with evident nucleoli to be diagnosed poorly differentiated neuroendocrine predominantly large cell carcinoma of colon [G3: World Health Organization (WHO) 2010] (pT3 N0: 7th edition pTNM). Cytokeratin (CK) AE1÷AE3 staining was predominantly membranous with partial distribution in "dot-like" pattern in perinecrotic cancer fields to be reminiscent of small cell carcinoma. Ki67 labeled over 90% of cancer cells with partial positive nuclear staining for thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1). Using NGS, the following mutations were detected: nonsense mutations in four tumor suppressor genes [APC R1114X (molecular argument that the cancer was a primary tumor of colon), TP53 R213X, RB1 E137X and FBWX7 R393X & S282X], mutations in three receptor tyrosine kinases (RET A919V of high transforming activity, EGFR E114K and FLT3 L601I) well known as oncogenes.

Detailed analysis of research and practice in the life of a pediatric surgeon in East Central Europe in the 20th century - an example of prof. Zofia Umiastowska-Sawicka

Professor Zofia Umiastowska Sawicka laid the foundations for modern pediatric surgery in Poland, first in Bialystok, and subsequently in Kielce. She was a student of Prof. Jan Kossakowski from Warsaw Medical University to be counted among his most talented and skilled disciples. Professor Umiastowska became the head of the first Department of Pediatric Surgery in Bialystok, which was later incorporated into the Medical Academy of Bialystok. In 1977 she moved to Kielce to run the Department of Pediatric Surgery until her retirement in 1991. In these locations she was the one who trained generations of pediatric surgeons with special emphasis on surgical management of exstrophy of the bladder, vaginal labial adhesion (synechia), injuries of the male urethra, liver and hepatic ligament. During her professional lifetime she focused on congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Meckel's diverticulum, and some aspects of pediatric oncology as well. Every school she attended enriched her with the best of knowledge and skills that made her a perfect teacher for others. However, the Warsaw Medical University essentially played the main role at the core of her surgical training: here she was taught and she learnt how to be pediatric surgeon for good of public health of the society in concord with the motto of the Warsaw Medical University: Saluti publicae.

Altered uterine contractility in response to ß-adrenoceptor agonists in ovarian cancer.

We aimed to prospectively examine ß-adrenoceptor-mediated uterine contractility in women suffering from gynecological malignancies. Myometrial specimens were obtained from non-pregnant women undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynecological disorders, and ovarian, endometrial, synchronous ovarian-endometrial, and cervical cancer. Contractions of myometrial strips in an organ bath before and after cumulative dosages of ß2- and ß3-adrenoceptor agonists with preincubation of propranolol, SR 59230A, and butoxamine were studied. All agonists induced a dose-dependent attenuation for uterine contractility in endometrial or cervical cancer, similar to that observed in the reference group. Contradictory effects were observed for ovarian cancer alone or in combination with endometrial cancer. CL 316243 or ritodrine abolished the relaxation, whereas BRL 37344 increased the uterine contractility in ovarian cancer. Moreover, ß-adrenoceptor antagonists caused varied effects for ß2- or ß3-adrenoceptor agonists. Our experiments demonstrate that ovarian cancer, alone or as synchronous ovarian-endometrial cancer, substantially alters uterine contractility in response to ß-adrenoceptor agonists.

Professional interest in dermatopathology of Stanislaw Ostrowski - the only one State Polish President among physicians.

President of prewar Lvov and Polish Republic on Exile, associate professor Stanislaw Ostrowski was a dermatologist with a keen interest in dermatopathology. This study was based on original resources, which - mainly reports of his own authorship - were focused on dermatopathology. Stanislaw Ostrowski provided excellent description of naevus epitheliomatosus sebaceus Wolters-Friboes both in Polish and German to be cited after decades in renowned handbooks of dermatopahtology published by Springer Verlag. His scientific output also includes meticulous presentation of Fox-Fordyce disease (apocrine miliaria) as well as gold-induced skin changes to Polish readership. Thus, this study documents dermatopahtological achievements of Stanislaw Ostrowski - the unifying statesman of society of Lvov and Polish emigration in London.