Abstract. Many studies have demonstrated that both normal and malignant prostate cells respond to a variety of growth factors, while several significant differences were found between normal and tumoural cells. The aim of this study was to focus on the localization and distribution of the immuno-reactivity for neurotrophins (NTs) and neurotrophin receptors (NTRs) in normal, hyperplastic and prostate cancer cells, obtained from 40 subjects. We studied samples obtained from 16 prostate cancer (PC, retropubic radical prostatectomy), 20 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, supra-pubic prostatectomy) and normal peripheral prostate tissue from four fresh male cadavers. Samples were examined via immunohistochemical techniques in order to detect the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3) and their own receptors TrkA, p75, TrkB and TrkC. We observed a high expression of BDNF and TrkB in PC and BPH, though no immuno-reactivity was found for p75. Low expression was reported by other NTs and NTRs in the normal peripheral prostate zone, BPH and PC. These data suggest a possible predictive role for NTs and NTRs, especially for BDNF and TrkB, in the diagnosis and/or management of prostate cancer. The absence of p75 expression confirms its supposed role in apoptotic phenomenon.
Abstract. Compared to the normal epidermal epithelium, cholesteatomas have altered growth properties characterized by the excessive growth of keratinocytes leading to mucosal destruction. Either congenital or acquired, these lesions, which grow in the middle ear space, the petrous apex or the mastoid of temporal bones, are mostly considered benign skin tumoral lesions. However, many questions remain concerning their pathophysiology. Numerous studies have been proposed to identify those cholesteatoma lesions at risk of recurrence, a possible event that may cause hearing loss. We examined patients with petrous apex or mastoid cholesteatoma in order to analyze the expression of various neurotransmitters, neurotrophins and their receptors and the Ki-67 antigen for identification of a possible relationship between clinical outcome and histopathological behaviour in terms of the proliferative activity of cholesteatomas. Expression of the analyzed molecules was studied using immunohistochemical methods in seven adult patients with petrous apex cholesteatoma who underwent surgical removal of the lesion. Our results, in accordance with published data, confirm that Molecular Immunology Borstel-1 (MIB-1) and certain neurotransmitters could be useful in the prognostic evaluation of the risk of recurrence of aggressive forms of cholesteatoma.
The entry into force of DPR n. 87 of 7 th April 2016 relating to the DNA Data Bank requires an implementation upgrade of the Forensic Genetics analysis to ensure the quality of results by the control of the pre-analytical and analytical processes. The decree provides the opportunity to define the operational guidance elements, shared by Italian laboratories in the Forensic Genetics field, aimed at ensuring the quality of data and at producing useful genetic profiles: for this reason, the laboratories who want to contribute to the Bank of DNA data need accreditation in accordance with ISO/ IEC 17025. This document represents a brief technical document of the Italian Society of Human Genetics in the aim of supporting laboratories seeking accreditation as well as the Italian National Accreditation Body appointed by the State to perform accreditation activity (ACCREDIA).
Abstract. The immunohistochemical profile of neurotrophins and their receptors in the human cranial dura mater was studied by examining certain dural zones in specimens harvested from different regions (frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital). Dural specimens were obtained during neurosurgical operations performed in ten patients for surgical treatment of intracranial lesions (meningiomas, traumas, gliomas, vascular malformations). The dural fragments were taken from the area of the craniotomy at least 8 cm from the lesion as well as from the area in which the meningioma had its dural attachment. Immunohistochemical characterization and distribution of neurotrophins, with their receptors, were analyzed. The concrete role played by these neurotrophic factors in general regulation, vascular permeability, algic responsivity and release of locally active substances in the human dura mater is still controversial. Our study revealed a general structural alteration of dural tissue due to the invasivity of meningiomatous lesions, together with an improved expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in highly proliferating neoplastic cells and an evident production of nerve growth factor (NGF) in inflammatory cells, suggesting that BDNF has a role in supporting the proliferation rate of neoplastic cells, while NGF is involved in the activation of a chronic inflammatory response in neoplastic areas. IntroductionMeningiomas are the most common benign intracranial tumors, but some meningiomas show malignancy with invasion into the surrounding structures, as well as a high recurrence rate and extracranial metastases (1). Meningiomas arise from arachnoidal cells, most of which lie in close proximity to the venous sinuses: in fact, this is the most common site for meningioma formation. They are most frequently attached to the dura mater over the superior parasagittal surface of the frontal and parietal lobes, along the sphenoid ridge, in the olfactory grooves, the Sylvian region, superior cerebellum along the falx cerebri, cerebellopontine angle and spinal cord. The tumor is usually well-circumscribed, with the base lying on the dura mater.Histologically, the cells are relatively uniform, with a tendency to form highly-circumscribed whorls and to generally disrupt the distribution and the structure of collagen fibers (main component of dural tissue) and to originate 'psammoma bodies' (laminated concretions) which can calcify and are often strongly vascularized.The remarkable proliferation rate and vascularisation which determine a rapid replacement of normal dural tissue by the neoplastic cells, is regulated by several different growth factors, such as NGF related to an increased activation of the inflammatory cells at the beginning of the neoplastic invasion and BDNF, involved in the increased activation of the tumoral cells.Neurotrophins (NTs), also known as neurotrophic factors, constitute a family of dimeric proteins working as polypeptidic growth factors and acting like extracellular ligands. NTs, including ...
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