Conclusions-These findings support the suggestion that MVD is a reliable prognostic marker in SCC of the oesophagus. Moreover, MCD may have a role in the angiogenesis of these tumours and might be responsible for their aggressive behaviour. (J Clin Pathol 2001;54:940-944)

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on the role of the small heat-shock protein group hsp27, hsp70 and hsp90 in the clinical outcome of several malignancies. However, conflicting data exist regarding the prognostic role of hsp27 expression in ovarian carcinoma, and the prognostic significance of hsp70 and hsp90 expression still remains unknown in these tumours. The purpose of this study was to investigate immunohistochemically whether hsp27, hsp70 and hsp90 expression was associated with clinicopathological parameters and survival in 52 epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Among clinicopathological parameters, hsp27, hsp70 and hsp90 expression was only correlated with FIGO stage; hsp70 and hsp90 positivity failed to detect survival. However, the overall survival rate of patients with hsp27 expression was 13%, which was significantly worse than that of patients without hsp27 expression (47%) (p<0.01). The prognosis was also adversely affected by FIGO stage (p<0.01) and presence of ascites (p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, hsp27 expression and FIGO stage were independent prognostic variables. Our results indicate that hsp70 and hsp90 expression had no prognostic relevance in epithelial ovarian carcinomas. However, hsp27 expression and FIGO stage in these tumours could be reliable indicators of prognosis.

No abstract

CDw75, a B lymphocyte surface antigen, is a sialylated carbohydrate epitope, which is generated by the enzyme beta galactosyl alpha 2,6 sialyltransferase (Sia-T1). In colon carcinomas, although higher levels of Sia-T1 has been described and found to be correlated with metastatic potential of tumor cells, the expression of CDw75 antigen still remains unknown. To address this issue, we investigated immunohistochemically CDw75 antigen expression in 195 colorectal adenocarcinomas and their nodal metastases. The correlation between CDw75 antigen expression with selected clinicopathologic variables was analyzed by using Chi-square and Fisher s exact tests. Positive staining was observed in 101 cases. Non-neoplastic mucosa was negative consistently. The frequency of positivity was decreased according to the degree of differentiation (p<0.001). Antigen expression was found to be associated with deeper penetration (p<0.006), positive lymph nodes (p<0.001), distant metastases (p<0.006) and advanced stage (p<0.001). Same relationships were detected in well and moderately differentiated tumors when CDw75 immunoreactivity was evaluated in each histologic grade separately. Our findings indicate that CDw75 antigen expression may be a good indicator of the biological aggressiveness of colorectal adenocarcinomas especially in tumors with well and moderately differentiated morphology.

Liver biopsy can be recommended for diagnosing suspected visceral leishmaniasis in children when serology and bone marrow aspiration are inconclusive.

The aim of the present study was to immunohistochemically investigate the prognostic value of neovascularization (expressed as microvessel count-MVC) and tumor cell proliferation (expressed as PCNA labeling index PLI and Ki-67 labeling index KLI) in gastric adenocarcinoma. Correlations with clinicopathologic features were also evaluated. Tumor specimens from 74 patients diagnosed as gastric adenocarcinoma were included in this study. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections stained immunohistochemically with F-VIII, PC10 and MIB-1 monoclonal antibodies. By ocular grid subdivided into 100 areas, number of microvessels and PC10, MIB-1 positive and negative cells were counted at x400 magnification. Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method and cox regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that, MVC and PLI had a significant correlation with invasion and lymph node metastasis. The prognosis was significantly worse in patients with high MVC (>14 ) and with high PLI (>49%). However any relationship was not observed between KLI (38%) and clinicopathologic parameters, so KLI failed to predict the prognosis. Cox model showed that, MVC and PLI were independent prognostic variables. Ki-67 labeling index in gastric carcinomas has no prognostic relevance. However, the evaluation of microvessel count and proliferating cell nuclear antigen index in gastric carcinomas could be reliable indicators of prognosis.

Recent studies have clearly reported that there is a relationship between endotoxemia and acute renal injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment with the new potent PARP inhibitor PJ34 could prevent the acute renal injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Endotoxemia was induced by LPS injection (10 mg/kg, i.v.). LPS increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels from 22 ± 0.54 mg/dL to 45.7 ± 5.79 mg/dL (p < 0.05). The plasma creatinine levels were 0.38 ± 0.02 mg/dL and 0.47 ± 0.03 mg/dL for the control and LPS groups, respectively. In addition, urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-dglucosaminidase (NAG, a marker of renal tubular damage) was increased after LPS injection. By light microscopy, structural renal damage was observed in the LPS-treated group. However, PJ34 treatment (10 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated LPS-induced renal injury, as indicated by plasma BUN and creatinine levels, urinary NAG excretion, and renal histology. These results indicated that the overactivation of the PARP pathway may have a role in LPSinduced renal impairment. Hence, pharmacological inhibition of this pathway might be an effective intervention to prevent endotoxin-induced acute renal injury.

These findings support the view that p27LI is a reliable marker in predicting recurrence and recurrence-free survival in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Moreover, the concordance of high KLI together with low p27LI, and vice versa, might allow us to measure the aggressiveness of these tumors.