The influence of irradiation on autophagy process in normal and malignant colorectal epithelia.

Aim: The authors assessed the influence of preoperative radiotherapy on autophagy process using a quantitative assessment of LC3 expression on both normal and tumoral colorectal tissues.

Materials And Methods: Normal and malignant tissue samples were taken from 50 patients that underwent surgery for colorectal adenocarcinoma of which 11 received preoperative radiotherapy. Tissue samples were included in paraffin and sections were immunomarked for LC3 expression.

Prenatal and postnatal findings in a 10.6 Mb interstitial deletion at 10p11.22-p12.31.

Interstitial deletion of the proximal short arm of chromosome 10 represents a rare genetic alteration. Literature review revealed that only 10 postnatal diagnosed clinical cases with deletions overlapping 10p12p11 were published until present. We report the first prenatal diagnosis and postnatal findings in a male fetus with a 10.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, neuroendocrine tumours and chronic pancreatitis.

Objective: Angiogenesis is a crucial event for pancreatic carcinogenesis, and it also plays an important role in chronic pancreatitis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in chronic inflammatory or malignant pancreatic pathology in order to elucidate the differences in expression patterns and potential clinical implications.

Methods: Thirty-five patients who had undergone endoscopic ultrasonography followed by endoscipic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of focal pancreatic masses were included in the study.

IL-1RN +2018T>C polymorphism is correlated with colorectal cancer.

Epidemiological and experimental evidence indicates chronic inflammation as a risk factor for colorectal cancer. We investigated whether IL-1B -511C>T (rs16944), IL-1B +3954C>T (rs1143634) and IL1-RN +2018T>C (rs419598) cytokine polymorphisms are correlated with colorectal cancer. Blood samples were obtained from 377 Romanian subjects: 144 patients with sporadic colorectal cancer and 233 healthy controls.

VEGF-A and VEGF-B mRNA expression in gastro-oesophageal cancers.

Introduction: Angiogenesis is essential for the local growth, invasion and metastasis of the tumours. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) play a crucial role in tumour angiogenesis. The aim of our study was to quantify the expression of several VEGF family molecules in human gastro-oesophageal cancers and to analyse possible correlations between genes expression and clinico-pathological features.

MMR gene expression pattern in sporadic colorectal cancer.

Background And Aims: Colorectal carcinoma is the second leading cause of death by cancer in Europe as its incidence increases with life span. Continuing research to detect new highly sensitive and specific noninvasive biomarkers is essential. The aim of this study was to compare 9 mismatching repair (MMR) genes activation levels in normal, polyp and malignant tissues in order to detect a MMR gene expression pattern in sporadic colorectal malignant pathology.

Recurrent partial hydatidiform mole, with a first twin pregnancy, after treatment with clomiphene citrate.

We present a patient, treated for 3 months with clomiphen citrate after 5 years of infertility. This treatment resulted in a twin pregnancy, one degenerated into a partial hydatidiform mole and the other into a very early embryo death. The karyotype was a mosaic one: 63% of metaphases showed triploidy - 69 XXX and 37% diploidy - 46 XX.

Noninvasive detection through REMS-PCR technique of K-ras mutations in stool DNA of patients with colorectal cancer.

Background And Aims: Tumor exfoliated cells that shed into stool are attractive targets for molecular screening and early detection of colon malignancies. Many studies have suggested that the detection of activated ras may have diagnostic or prognostic importance. The aim of this study was to establish the suitability for use in diagnostic laboratories of the noninvasive screening test of K-ras mutation determination in the stool and its routine prognostic value in colorectal cancer.

Paternity analysis in special fatherless cases without direct testing of alleged father.

The ability to establish the biological father, in which the father of a person is not available, named "reverse paternity determination", is based on the determination of STR alleles in mother and her child, other children and brothers of the alleged father, and deduction of genetic constitution of the father by the basis of genetic laws. Presented herein are two cases of reverse paternity determinations. Mother and parenthood DNA was isolated from 300 microl of fresh blood collected into tubes containing the EDTA, using Wizard Genomic DNA purification kit (Promega).