Calretinin expression as a reliable prognostic marker in different molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma.

Background: Calretinin (CR), a known mesothelial marker, is expressed in both epithelial and mesenchymal malignancies including breast cancer.

Aims: We aimed to measure the frequency of CR expression in correlation with other clinicopathological parameters of different molecular subtypes of invasive breast carcinoma and to study its prognostic implications in this common cancer.

Study Design: Tissue microarrays were constructed from 225 tissue samples of breast carcinoma cases.

Pleiotropic effects of statins in distal human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

Background: Recent clinical data suggest statins have transient but significant effects in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. In this study we explored the molecular effects of statins on distal human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and their relevance to proliferation and apoptosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods: Primary distal human PASMCs from patients and controls were treated with lipophilic (simvastatin, atorvastatin, mevastatin and fluvastatin), lipophobic (pravastatin) and nitric-oxide releasing statins and studied in terms of their DNA synthesis, proliferation, apoptosis, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and endothelin-1 release.

Postpartum culture negative endocarditis: a case report and review of the current guidelines.

Culture-negative endocarditis (CNE) presents physicians with diagnostic and treatment challenges. Postpartum endocarditis is rare and usually culture negative. Empirical antimicrobial regimes lead to the risk of aggressive treatment with potentially toxic drugs.