Search

Background. Endometrium carcinoma ranks fourth among female carcinomas. Therefore, early diagnosis of endometrium pre-malignant lesions is emphasised, and attempts are made to identify the risk factors. Since hyperplasias, particularly those with atypia, are held responsible for the development of the most common endometrium carcinomas, it is important to definitely distinguish between well-differentiated carcinomas and hyperplasia with atypia. In the present study, we aimed to explore whether ghrelin expression had a role in distinguishing between benign, pre-malignant and malignant lesions of endometrium. Methods. Tissue ghrelin expressions of a total of 60 cases, who were diagnosed in the Pathology Department Laboratory of Fıırat University Medical School, and of whom 10 were in the proliferation phase, 10 had simple hyperplasia without atypia, 10 had simple hyperplasia with atypia, 10 had complex hyperplasia without atypia, 10 had complex hyperplasia with atypia and 10 had endometrioid carcinoma cases, were examined using immunohistochemical method. Additionally, tissue samples were homogenised to analyse tissue ghrelin levels in the supernatants according to RIA method. Samples from the parotid glands were used as positive control for ghrelin. Cells that exhibited cytoplasmic staining with ghrelin antibody were evaluated as positive. Results. Immunohistochemical examination showed that ghrelin expression increased markedly in the proliferation phase, relative to hyperplasias and carcinoma. These results were parallel to ghrelin levels in tissue supernatants. Immunohistochemical and RIA analysis results indicate that ghrelin expression either markedly decreases or is entirely depleted in endometrial carcinomas. Conclusions. Therefore, we think that ghrelin expression can be useful in differentiating not only endometrium carcinomas from benign lesions but also complex hyperplasias with atypia, which pose diagnostic difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binding activity of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) to promoters of the majority of steroidogenic genes in response to gonadotropins is a critical mechanism that regulates steroidogenesis in gonads. Thus, the modulation of SF-1 action may be essential for the differential regulation of formation of sex steroids in the ovary. Aromatase P450 (P450arom) is the rate-limiting enzyme for estrogen formation. In this study, we characterize another nuclear receptor half site in the gonadal aromatase promoter which we show to be important for aromatase regulation. We also show herein that the stimulation of P450arom promoter activity by SF-1 in ovarian granulosa, testicular Sertoli and JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells is inhibited by two transcription factors, Wilms’ tumor suppressor gene (WT1) and dosage sensitive sex reversal adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome gene 1 (DAX-1). Given the characterized roles of these transcription factors in gonadal development and function, modulation of SF-1 action by WT1 and DAX-1 may represent an important key mechanism in steroidogenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses a medical case study of a 72-year-old woman who has a basal cell carcinoma and its treatment.

Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate [PDTC; a nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitor] and bortezomib (Velcade; a proteasome inhibitor) on the development of experimental endometriotic implants in rats., Methods: Endometriosis was surgically induced in 30 rats using the method of Vernon and Wilson. Three weeks later the viability and volume of the implants were recorded and classified. Afterwards, rats were put into three groups with equal numbers. The groups were labelled as the control, the PDTC and the bortezomib groups. Seven days after treatment, a third laparotomy was done and the volume of implants was measured again. The animals were then sacrificed, and the implants were stained with Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), CD34, CD31 and Masson's trichrome histochemical staining., Results: In 80% of the implanted rats, vesicles at the suture region were observed, and the rats graded according to average vesicle diameter (D) as: Grade 1 (no vesicle, 20% of rats), Grade 2 (D < 2 mm, 33.3% of rats), Grade 3 (2 mm 4.5 mm, 26.7% of rats) and Grade 4 (D > 4.5 mm, 20% of rats). After treatment with PDTC or bortezomib, these percentages were decreased for Grades 3 and 4, and increased in Grade 1. The post-treatment implant volumes were decreased in the PDTC and bortezomib groups (P < 0.002 and P < 0.001), and slightly increased in the control group (P = 0.279). In the PDTC and bortezomib groups, CD34, CD31, PCNA and Ki67 expression levels were similar but were significantly reduced compared with the control group., Conclusions: PDTC and bortezomib may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of endometriosis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of circadian rhythm changes on fetal-placental development in pregnant rats., Material and Method: Pregnant rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups with 10 rats in each group. Group 1: 12 hours light 12 hours dark period (n:10, Control Group); Group 2: 6 hours light 6 hours dark period (n:10); Group 3: constant light group (n:10); Group 4: constant dark group (n:10). Rats were made to deliver by cesarean birth at the end of their pregnancy and their placenta, number and weight of the offspring, and placental histopathological changes were examined., Finding: Fetal number in the constant dark group was found significant in comparison to constant light group (p<0.01). Fetal weight in all groups with altered circadian rhythm was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.01). The decrease in fetal weight was more evident in the constant light group than in the constant dark group (p<0.01). Comparison of the histopathological findings of the placenta showed that placental edema, fibrin accumulation and leukocyte infiltration were significantly higher in constant light and constant dark groups than in other groups (p<0.01)., Conclusion: Circadian rhythm change in pregnancy adversely affects the fetal-placental development. More detailed studies are needed to clarify this mechanism.