Histology and histopathology Vol.14, nº 2 (1999)

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  • Publication
    Open Access
    lmmunohistochemical analysis for cell proliferation-related protein expression in small cell carcinoma of the esophagus a comparative
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1999) Okudela, K.; Ito, T.; Kameda, Y.; Nakamura, N.; Kitamura, H.
    Small cell carcinoma is a rare neoplasm in the esophagus. To evaluate cell proliferation activity and its underlying mechanisms in this tumor, we examined immunohistochemically 5 cases of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) for expressions of tumor suppressor proteins, oncoproteins and cell proliferation markers including p53, p21WAF1/C1P1r,e tinoblastoma (Rb) protein, bcl-2, Ki-67 and PCNA, and compared the results with those of 5 cases of small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) and 10 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SQCE). The prevalence and labeling index of p53-immunoreactivity tended to be higher in SCCE (415; 56.6%) and SCCL (415; 79.9%) than in SQCE (6110; 48.8%). Expression of p21wAFl/C1P1w as observed in 2 of 10 cases of SQCE. In contrast, its expression could not be detected in any cases of SCCE and SCCL examined. Expression of Rb protein was observed in 9 out of 10 cases of SQCE, but not in any cases of SCCE and SCCL. SCCE and SCCL showed more frequent and intense immunoreactivity for bcl-2 than SQCE. In expression of cell proliferation markers (Ki-67 and PCNA), no remarkable difference was observed among SCCE, SCCL and SQCE. These results suggest that SCCE and SCCL could share some genetic alternations including mutation of p53, loss of Rb gene and overexpression of bcl-2, and these may be related to the similar biological potentials between the two. Futhermore, SCCE was different from SQCE in expression of Rb protein and bcl-2, and these two types of esophageal carcinoma could arise through different molecular mechanisms.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Induction of NADPH diaphoraselnitric oxide synthase in the spinal cord motor neurons of rats following a single and multiple non-penetrative blasts
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1999) Kaur, C.; Singh, J.; Moochhala, S.; Lim, M.K.; Lu, J.; Ling, E. A.
    The present study has demonstrated the induction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) reactivity and nitric oxide synthase-like immunoreactivity (NOS-LI) in the ventral horn motoneurons of the spinal cord in rats subjected to a single or multiple underground, or a single surface blast. Both enzyme activities were first detected in some motoneurons in laminae V111 and IX of Rexed, 3 hours after the blast. Some NADPH-d and NOS-L1 positive neurons were also distributed in laminae V1 and V11. The number and intensity of the labelled cells appeared to increase progressively, peaking at 2-3 days after the blast but were drastically reduced thereafter, so that at 7 days after the blast only a few positive neurons were observed. In rats killed at 2 weeks and in longer surviving intervals, i.e. up to 1 month, NADPH-d/NOS reactivity in the ventral horn motor neurons had diminished. The functional significance of the transient expression of neuronal NADPH-d/NOS after the blasts remains uncertain, although from a speculative point of view, the induction of these enzymes probably would reflect an increased production of nitric oxide (NO). In view of the lack of atrophic changes in most, if not all, of motor neurons, it is suggested that the increased levels of NO production after the blast injury may be involved in a neuroprotective function.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    T-2 toxin-induced acute skin lesions in 3 Wistar-derived hypotrichotic WBNIILA-Ht rats
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1999) Albarenque, S.M.; Shinozuka, J.; Iwamoto, S.; Nakayama, Hiroyuki; Doi, K.
    Acute lesions in the dorsal skin topically applied with T-2 toxin (10 p1 of 0.5 mg/ml-solution to lcm2) were examined in Wistar-derived hypotrichotic WBNIILA-Ht rats up to 24 hours after treatment (24HAT). In the epidermis, depression of basal cell proliferating activity was detected at 3HAT by immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the percentage of PCNA-positive basal cells decreased thereafter. At 12HAT, in addition to intracytoplasmic edema of spinous cells, acidophilic degeneration of basal cells characterized by shrinkage of cell body with acidophilic cytoplasm and pyknotic or karyorrhectic nuclei became prominent. Most of these nuclei were positive for TUNEL which is a widely used immunostaining for the in situ detection of fragmented DNA, i.e. apoptosis, and the percentage of TUNELpositive basal cells increased thereafter. The nuclei of these basal cells also showed ultrastructural changes characteristic for apoptosis. On the other hand, in the dermis, infiltration of inflammatory cells including mast cells started at 3HAT and increased thereafter. In addition, capillary and small vessel endothelial degeneration developed at 6HAT and progressed thereafter. These results suggest that T-2 toxin directly affects the epidermis and produces apoptosis in basal cells.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Cytokeratin expression patterns in normal and malignant urothelium, a review of the biological and diagnostic implications
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1999) Southgate, J.; Harnden, P.; Trejdosiewicz, L.K.
    The cytokeratins are the intermediate filament proteins characteristic of epithelial cells. In human cells, some 20 different cytokeratin isotypes have been identified. Epithelia1 cells express between two and ten cytokeratin isotypes and the consequent profile which reflects both epithelial type and differentiation status may be useful in tumour diagnosis. The transitional epithelium or urothelium of the urinary tract shows alterations in the expression and configuration of cytokeratin isotypes related to stratification and differentiation. In transitional cell carcinoma, changes in cytokeratin profile may provide information of potential diagnostic and prognostic significance. The intensification of immunolabelling with some CK8 and CK18 antibodies may underly an active role in tumour invasion and foci of CK17-positive cells may represent proliferating populations. Loss of CK13 is a marker of grade and stage and de novo expression of CK14 is indicative of squamous differentiation and an unfavourable prognosis. However, perhaps the most important recent finding is the demonstration that a normal CK20 expression pattern is predictive of tumour non-recurrence and can be used to make an objective differential diagnosis between transitional cell papilloma and carcinoma. This review will consider cytokeratin expression in urothelium and discuss the application of cytokeratin typing to the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with TCC.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Detection and significance of minimal residual disease in colorectal cancer
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1999) Merrie, A.E.H.; Yun, K.; van Rij, A.M.; McCall, J.L.
    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of cancer death in the developed world. Although the primary treatment for CRC is surgical, disease relapse due to minimal residual disease (MRD) following apparently curative surgery occurs in up to fifty percent of patients. Most patients who develop overt metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes eventually die of the disease. At present adjuvant chemotherapy is used to improve survival in patients with metastases to regional lymph nodes demonstrated by routine histopathology with no other evidence of spread. The ability to identify metastatic disease at an earlier stage could be of considerable benefit in directing adjuvant therapy to patients at high risk of relapse who are not identified by current methods. Several techniques have been developed for the detection of MRD, including immunohistochemical and molecular methods, however their role in clinical practise is not yet established. The purpose of this paper is to review these techniques and their potential clinical use in the management of CRC.