HER Family Protein Expression in a Greek Population with Gastric Cancer. A Retrospective Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group Study.

Background: Gastric cancer is a relatively common malignancy. Recently, the presence of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) was identified as a molecular target in a proportion of patients who benefited from the addition of appropriate anti-HER2 treatments. Our study explored the clinical and prognostic role of known HER family members, human epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR or HER1), HER2, HER3 and HER4.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction in cirrhosis: Current concepts in pathophysiology and clinical implications.

The intestinal lumen is a host place for a wide range of microbiota and sets a unique interplay between local immune system, inflammatory cells and intestinal epithelium, forming a physical barrier against microbial invaders and toxins. Bacterial translocation is the migration of viable or nonviable microorganisms or their pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as lipopolysaccharide, from the gut lumen to the mesenteric lymph nodes, systemic circulation and other normally sterile extraintestinal sites. A series of studies have shown that translocation of bacteria and their products across the intestinal barrier is a commonplace in patients with liver disease.

Facial nerve palsy, headache, peripheral neuropathy and Kaposi's sarcoma in an elderly man.

We present a case of an elderly man, who initially presented with right facial nerve palsy, ipsilateral headache, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and no fever. A presumptive diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was made and the patient was treated with high-dose steroids. A temporal artery biopsy was negative.

Expression of claudins-1, -4, -5, -7 and occludin in hepatocellular carcinoma and their relation with classic clinicopathological features and patients' survival.

Background: Occludin and claudins are integral constituents of tight junction proteins and are de-regulated in various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated whether expression of claudins 1, 4, 5, 7 and occludin may be used as prognostic markers for overall and disease-free survival in patients with HCC after hepatectomy.

Patients And Methods: The study included 67 hepatectomy specimens obtained from an equal number of patients with HCC who underwent partial hepatectomy at the Patras University Hospital for therapeutic reasons.

Intestinal mucosal proliferation, apoptosis and oxidative stress in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background: Intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction in liver cirrhosis and its implicated mechanisms is of great clinical importance because it is associated with the development of serious complications from diverse organs through promotion of systemic endotoxemia.

Aim: The present study was designed to investigate whether enterocytes' proliferation, apoptosis and intestinal oxidative stress are altered in the intestinal mucosa of patients with compensated and decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Material And Methods: Twelve healthy controls (group A) and twenty four cirrhotic patients at a compensated (n = 12, group B) or decompensated condition (n = 12, group C) were subjected to duodenal biopsy.

Biomarkers of benefit from cetuximab-based therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer: interaction of EGFR ligand expression with RAS/RAF, PIK3CA genotypes.

Background: More than half of patients with KRAS-wild type advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) fail anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. We studied EGFR-axis messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and RAS, RAF, PIK3CA mutations in order to identify additional biomarkers of cetuximab efficacy.

Methods: Previously genotyped (KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA mutations) formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour biopsies of 226 cetuximab-treated CRC patients (1st to 3rd line therapy) were assessed for mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its ligands EGF, Transofrming Growth Factor-a (TGFA), Amphiregulin (AREG) and Epiregulin (EREG) with real time quantitative PCR.

B-cell depletion therapy in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis associates with a significant decrease in PDGFR expression and activation in spindle-like cells in the skin.

Introduction: Recently, several studies assessing the clinical efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) have reported encouraging results. We aimed at exploring whether RTX exerts its beneficial effects on fibrosis through attenuation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) pathway activation.

Methods: We immunohistochemically assessed skin biopsies obtained from eight patients with SSc prior to and 6 months following RTX treatment, three control SSc patients (at the same time points) and three healthy subjects.

Effect of long-term treatment with rituximab on pulmonary function and skin fibrosis in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of long-term treatment with rituximab (RTX) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Eight patients with SSc-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) received 4 cycles of RTX and had a follow-up of 2 years. Lung involvement was assessed by pulmonary function tests and chest HRCT.

Stimulation of oval cell and hepatocyte proliferation by exogenous bombesin and neurotensin in partially hepatectomized rats.

Aim: To investigate the effect of the neuropeptides bombesin (BBS) and neurotensin (NT) on oval cell proliferation in partially hepatectomized rats not pretreated with a known hepatocyte inhibitor.

Methods: Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: I = controls, II = sham operated, III = partial hepatectomy 70% (PHx), IV = PHx + BBS (30 μg/kg per day), V = PHx + NT (300 μg/kg per day). Forty eight hours after liver resection, portal endotoxin levels and hepatic glutathione redox state were determined.

Altered intestinal tight junctions' expression in patients with liver cirrhosis: a pathogenetic mechanism of intestinal hyperpermeability.

Background: Increased intestinal permeability in cirrhosis exerts a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and other complications of cirrhosis through promotion of systemic endotoxemia. This study was designed to investigate whether the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins, which regulate gut paracellular permeability, is altered in the intestinal mucosa of patients with liver cirrhosis and study its potential association with the stage of liver disease and the development of systemic endotoxemia.

Design: Twenty-four patients with cirrhosis at a decompensated (n = 12, group A) or compensated condition (n = 12, group B) and 12 healthy controls (group C) were subjected to duodenal biopsy.

T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood and liver tissue of patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

Aim: To evaluate the immune response in peripheral blood and liver tissue, through the measurement of T-cell subsets, in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC).

Patients And Methods: Thirty-four patients with CHB (21 with active HBV infection and 13 inactive HBV carriers) and 20 patients with CHC were included in the study. We also evaluated 21 biopsies from patients with active CHB infection and 20 patients with CHC.

Bombesin and neurotensin exert antiproliferative effects on oval cells and augment the regenerative response of the cholestatic rat liver.

The regenerative capacity of the cholestatic liver is significantly attenuated. Oval cells are hepatic stem cells involved in liver's regeneration following diverse types of injury. The present study investigated the effect of the neuropeptides bombesin (BBS) and neurotensin (NT) on oval cell proliferation as well as on hepatocyte and cholangiocyte proliferation and apoptosis in the cholestatic rat liver.

The prognostic value of frozen section preimplantation graft biopsy in the outcome of renal transplantation.

Introduction: Preimplantation biopsy provides a window on the state of the renal allograft. In this study, the prognostic value of frozen section preimplantation graft biopsy was estimated and compared to regularly processed formalin-fixed biopsy.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-four renal allograft recipients were studied.

Is there a role for B-cell depletion as therapy for scleroderma? A case report and review of the literature.

Objectives: Rituximab (RTX) has been successfully used in the treatment of several rheumatic diseases with an acceptable safety profile. We present herein a patient with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who exhibited significant improvement of his lung function and skin fibrosis following RTX administration, and review the literature regarding the role of B-cells in SSc and the potential efficacy of RTX in its treatment.

Methods: We performed an internet search using the keywords systemic sclerosis, scleroderma, rituximab, B-cells, fibrosis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and therapy.

Histologic-type specific role of cell cycle regulators in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Background: Lung cancer is the most lethal type of cancer in humans. Cell cycle alterations have commonly been encountered in lung cancer and may have prognostic value.

Materials And Methods: This study investigates the immunohistochemical expression of the important cell cycle regulators phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), p27, Cks1, and Skp2 in 128 non-small cell lung carcinomas (64 adenocarcinomas, 46 squamous cell carcinomas, and 18 large cell undifferentiated carcinomas) and adjacent non-neoplastic lung tissue.

Tuberculosis of the parotid gland.

Tuberculosis (Tbc) presented as an isolated parotid mass is rare. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult and the symptomatology is nonspecific. In the majority of the cases an initial diagnosis of a parotid tumor, often a pleomorphic adenoma, is made.

Experience with rituximab in scleroderma: results from a 1-year, proof-of-principle study.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in SSc.

Methods: Fourteen patients with SSc were evaluated. Eight patients were randomized to receive two cycles of RTX at baseline and 24 weeks [each cycle consisted of four weekly RTX infusions (375 mg/m(2))] in addition to standard treatment, whereas six patients (control group) received standard treatment alone.

The potential role of Bcl-2 expression, apoptosis and cell proliferation (Ki-67 expression) in cases of gastric carcinoma and correlation with classic prognostic factors and patient outcome.

Background: This study investigated the presence of apoptosis and proliferation in gastric cancer and assesses their possible correlation with classic prognostic markers and patients' survival.

Patients And Methods: The study comprised 110 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent gastrectomy for therapeutic reasons, and did not receive any pre- or postoperative treatment. Patients were followed up for 3.

Metastatic adenocarcinoma of parotid gland originating from the ampulla of vater: case report and review of the literature.

Aim: To report a rare case of metastasis from an adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater to the parotid gland.

Patients And Methods: In February 2004, a 61-year-old male underwent Whipple surgery due to a grade II adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (stage IB:pT2N0M0). Post surgery, the patient did not receive any adjuvant treatment, but was followed up regularly.

Expression of cell cycle inhibitors p21, p27, p14 and p16 in gliomas. Correlation with classic prognostic factors and patients' outcome.

Gliomas are among the most aggressive and treatment-refractory of all human tumors. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of the expression of cell cycle molecules as prognostic indicators in gliomas. We immunohistochemically analyzed the expression of p21, p27, p14, p16, p53 and proliferation marker Ki67, in 67 low and high grade astrocytic tumors.

Oval cell proliferation in cirrhosis in rats. An experimental study.

Aim: Oval cells are liver stem cells involved in liver regeneration following liver damage. Previous studies have shown that pretreatment with a hepatocyte inhibitor is required to allow full oval cell activation. This study investigates whether oval cells develop and proliferate in a model of experimental liver fibrosis without pretreatment with a known hepatocyte inhibitor.

Bcl-2, bax and p53 expression in rectal adenocarcinoma. Correlation with classic pathologic prognostic factors and patients' outcome.

Background: Bcl-2 oncoprotein inhibits apoptosis, whereas bax protein promotes apoptosis by enhancing cell susceptibility to apoptotic stimuli. This study examined the bcl-2, bax and p53 expression in rectal adenocarcinomas and their relationship with tumor prognosis.

Patients And Methods: Paraffin-embedded 4-microm tumor sections obtained from patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent colectomy for therapeutic reasons, were analyzed with a standard streptavidin biotin peroxidase method, using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.