The effect of chemotherapy on status of estrogen receptors in primary tumors and lymph node metastases of human ductal breast cancer.

The aim of the study was the evaluation of ERalpha and ERbeta expression in primary tumors and lymph node metastases of breast cancer as well as the assessment of the influence of preoperative chemotherapy on these receptors with regard to changes in morphological appearance of primary tumors and their metastases. Immunohistochemical examinations were conducted on surgically removed ductal invasive breast cancers and their lymph node metastases of 135 patients. Seventy-one patients were spared preoperative chemotherapy which was administered to other 64 patients.

Increased expression of connexins 26 and 43 in lymph node metastases of breast cancer.

Background: Gap junctions are intercellular channels composed of connexins, which mediate the direct passage of small molecules between neighbouring cells. They are involved in regulation of cell cycle, cell signalling, and differentiation, and probably invasion and metastasis. The role of connexins in the metastatic process is controversial, because some studies indicate that connexin expression is inversely correlated with metastatic capacity.

[Effects of simvastatin only or in combination with continuous combined hormone replacement therapy on lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic women].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of simvastatin only or combined with continuous transdermal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the serum lipid profile in hypercholesterolaemic women.

Material And Methods: The study population consisted of 75 women after menopause, ranging in age from 45 to 62. The patients were divided into five groups: group I--women receiving HRT (Systen Sequi, Cilag); group II--HRT + statin (Systen Sequi, Cilag + Zocor, MSD); group III--HRT (Systen Conti, Cilag); group IV--HRT + statin (Systen Conti, Cilag + Zocor, MSD) and group V--statin only (Zocor, MSD).

Prognostic significance of CD34 expression in early cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

The aim of the study was to evaluate angiogenesis as an independent prognostic factor and to determine the correlation of the microvessel density (MD) with lymph node metastases and survival rate in 73 women operated because of invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix at clinical stages lb and IIa (FIGO). The patients were divided into two groups: I--25 (34.4%) with survival rate <5 years and II--48 (65.

Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix--an uncommon variant of cervical cancer with neuroendocrine features.

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix represents an uncommon variant of cervical cancer with an extremely aggressive biologic behavior, minimum survival chances and rapid and fatal clinical course. This retrospective study included 73 cases of patients treated for invasive squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix at stages Ib and IIa at the Department of Gynecology in the years 1996-2000. Six patients (8%) with SCC were identified among all cases, sharing the clinical features of young age and early failure of appropriate radical treatment in the presence of apparently low stage disease.

Patterns of immunohistochemical staining for p53 expression in hyperplastic endometrium and adenocarcinoma.

The p53, a tumour suppressor gene, is the most commonly mutated gene human cancer. In this study, we performed immunohistochemical investigations of the expression of p53 protein in hyperplastic endometrium and adenocarcinoma. Positive immunostaining was detected in 7 (30%) cases of invasive adenocarcinoma, 2 (12%) cases of simple hyperplasia with atypia and 2 (14%) cases of complex hyperplasia with atypia.

Tissue expression of VEGF as a prognostic factor in early cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether the intensity of tumor angiogenesis, expressed as microvessel density (MD), is indeed an important parameter predicting lymph node metastasis and survival rate in 73 women operated on for early invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in stages Ib and IIa (FIGO). Angiogenesis was quantified by light microscope (LM) using an assay for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In the study, differences were revealed by comparing the MD between both groups.

Angiogenesis as a prognostic factor in invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

The aim of the study was to evaluate angiogenesis as an independent prognostic factor and to determine the correlation between the angiogenic index (AI) and histologic grade of the neoplastic process in patients operated on for invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Angiogenesis was assessed with immunohistochemical technique using a monoclonal antibody against human factor VIII--(F8/86 M0616, DAKO, Denmark). A positive correlation was revealed between the intensification of angiogenesis and the incidence of lymph node involvement and survival rate.

Proliferative activity in endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma.

Studies on the proliferative activity of cells in endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma were performed using techniques detecting Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) and Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NORs). PCNA expression was defined as the percentage of nuclei showing reactivity in 200 cells per sample. The mean AgNOR count per cell was calculated following the analysis of at least 100 nuclei per sample at a magnification of x 400.

Expression of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in ovarian epithelial tumors.

AgNOR staining technique was tested in ovarian epithelial tumors to evaluate its diagnostic potential in distinguishing between borderline tumors and well-differentiated carcinomas. In our opinion, the AgNOR count appears useful for assessing differences only between borderline and well-differentiated serous ovarian tumors at stage I of FIGO clinical advancement.

[Heterogeneity of ovarian epithelial tumors in analysis of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) expression].

Nonhistone proteins associated with the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) can be visualized by a silver-staining technique on paraffin-embedded tissues. The number of black dots (AgNORs) appearing on the nuclei are thought to reflect cell differentiation and can be used as a measurement of cellular proliferative activity. In this study we tested AgNOR staining in ovarian epithelial tumors to evaluate its diagnostic potential in distinguishing between borderline tumors and carcinomas.

[Expression of PCNA antigen in cellular proliferative activity of cervical carcinoma].

The proliferative activity of cervical carcinoma was examined using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining. Labelling index (LI) have been counted in sections of routinely processed paraffin embedded tissue blocks. Significant variation in PCNA LI were observed between study groups (p < 0.

[Serum lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic post-menopausal women treated with transdermal sequential combined hormone replacement therapy only or in combination with simvastatin].

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of transdermal sequential combined hormone replacement therapy alone or combined with simvastatin on the serum lipid profile in hypercholesterolaemic post-menopausal women.

[Immunohistochemically expression of the protein p53 evaluated in invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix].

The p53 protein expression in the invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix was evaluated immunohistochemically. Its predictive role in the correlation with histological grading and staging was analyzed. 13.

[Analysis of the frequency of prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma based on own material in the year 1975, 1985 and 1995].

We analysed the frequency of prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma in the years 1975, 1985 and 1995. Significant differences between endometrial simple hyperplasia and complex hyperplasia with atypia was found. There were no statistic differences in the frequency of the prevalence of endometrial adenocarcinoma between analysed years.

Study of borderline and invasive mucinous ovarian tumors using Ki-67 (MIB 1) antibodies and nucleolar organizer region (NOR) staining.

Extensive application of new methods in histopathology has resulted in large quantities of data on molecular markers in different types of human tumors. The main purpose has been to obtain additional parameters for the characterization of various types of malignancy to give more precise information on their biological behavior. In this study we tested AgNOR and Ki-67 (MIB 1) staining in 39 ovarian mucinous tumors to evaluate its diagnostic potential in distinguishing between borderline tumors and well-differentiated carcinomas at stage I of FIGO classification.

[Epidemiological analysis of congenital infections in newborns].

The aim of this study was to review 2567 deliveries in the District Hospital in Białystok in 1997. In 2388 term labours and 179 preterm ones we noticed the congenital infections; in 90 (3.8%) and in 58 (32.

Nucleolar organizer regions in differentiated preneoplastic and neoplastic endometrial lesions.

The aim of the study was the quantitative assessment of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in the cells of preneoplastic and neoplastic endometrial lesions. Retrospective analysis included tissue material obtained from 87 patients with simple and complex hyperplasia with or without atypia and well-differentiated stage-I endometrial adenocarcinoma. Sections were made from routine paraffin blocks and stained with AgNO3.

[The evaluation of the use of transvaginal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma].

In our study we estimated the uses of transvaginal ultrasonography in the diagnostic of endometrial carcinoma. There was noted that the most characteristic symptoms of this neoplasma in USG is the thickening of the endometrium and the absence or distortion of "central echo" (imaging of the endometrial cavity). We confirmed the co-existence of common epidemiologic factors of carcinoma endometrium too.

[Amniotic fluid disease: a case report].

A rare case of amniotic disease with extensive malformations of fetus was described. A data obtained from literature was done with special consideration of etiopathology.

[Diagnostic value of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix].

The proliferative activity of CIN and SCC lesion was examined using silver-binding argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining. AgNORs have been counted in sections of routinely processed paraffin embedded tissue blocks. The specimens consisted punch biopsies, cones or surgery.

[Clinical analysis of women with cervical carcinoma treated in the years 1989-1994].

Investigation covered 112 women treated for invasive cervical carcinoma. Standard clinical data were analysed: age, residence, number of pregnancies and deliveries. According to FIGO classification clinical development level and histological type of the carcinoma were assessed.

[Uroflowmetry in diagnosis of urinary stress incontinence in women].

The authors' aim was to evaluate the range of uroflowmetry in diagnostics of stress urinary incontinence (sui) in women. The examinations were carried out in 59 women with sui, aged from 35 to 45 years (group I). The control group consisted of 20 asymptomatic women (group II).