Cathepsin D expression in human colorectal cancer: relationship with tumour type and tissue differentiation grade.

Objective: Cathepsin D (CD) is one of the main proteolytic enzymes contributing to the development of cancer. The aim of this study was to CD activity assay in the homogenates of tissues from the centre of the tumour (0) and tumour free area 2 cm, and 5 cm from the tumour border in human colorectal cancer. Activity in the centre of the tumour was compared with immunohistochemical expression CD.

Expression of cystatin C in clinical human colorectal cancer tissues.

We studied the relation between the antipapain activity of cysteine proteinase inhibitors (CPI) and immunohistochemical staining for cystatin C, using anti-chicken cystatin antibodies, in the colorectal cancer tissues. In primary tumour tissues immuno-peroxidase reactivity was present in the cytoplasm and on the cell surface membranes. Sections of non malignant tissues showed no staining.

Actin content and actin polymerization in hepatoma Morris 5123 tumor bearing rats after treatment with cysteine protease inhibitor and vitamin E.

Aim: Actin microfilaments are components of cytoskeleton, the structure involved in many cellular functions, including cell motility, and morphology, its necessary for tumor progression and metastasis. We investigated the effects of vitamin E and human placetal cysteine protease inhibitor (CPI) on actin content and polymerization after implantation the hepatoma Morris 5123 tumor in Buffalo rat.

Methods: We measured the size and survival animals treated with human placental cysteine protease inhibitor (CPI) plus vitamin E and none treated rats.

Determination of cysteine peptidases-like activity and their inhibitors in the serum of patients with ovarian cancer treated by conventional chemotherapy and vitamin E.

Enzymatic activity of cysteine peptidases (cathepsins B and L) --associated with carcinogenesis is controlled by their specific inhibitors. The study was objected to the effects enhanced by taxol and cisplatin in patients pretreated with the vitamin E, by determining the levels of cathepsins B and L in sera of patients with ovarian cancer. The activity of cysteine peptidase (CP) and their inhibitors (CPI) in serum from patients with ovarian cancer and noncancerous patients were measured by using fluorogenic substrate before and after the routine anticancer chemotherapy, and a complementary combination of chemotherapy with vitamin E.

Cysteine peptidase and its inhibitor activity levels and vitamin E concentration in normal human serum and colorectal carcinomas.

Aim: Cysteine peptidase (CP) and its inhibitor (CPI) are a matrix protease that may be associated with colorectal carcinoma invasion and progression, and vitamin E is also a stimulator of the immunological system. Our purpose was to determine the correlation between the expression of cysteine peptidases and their endogenous inhibitors, and the level of vitamin E in sera of patients with colorectal cancer in comparison with healthy individuals.

Methods: The levels of cysteine peptidases and their inhibitors were determined in the sera of patients with primary and metastatic colorectal carcinoma and healthy individuals using fluorogenic substrate, and the level of vitamin E was determined by HPLC.

Effect of vitamin E and human placenta cysteine peptidase inhibitor on expression of cathepsins B and L in implanted hepatoma Morris 5123 tumor model in Wistar rats.

Aim: To examine the effectiveness of human placental inhibitors, by injecting vitamin E to rats with transplanted Morris-5123 hepatoma, on the expression of cathepsins B and L in tumor, liver, lung and blood sera after transplantation of Morris 5123 hepatoma.

Methods: Animals were divided into 10 groups receiving three different concentrations of vitamin E and inhibitors along or in combination and compared with negative control (healthy rats) and positive control (tumor rats). Effectiveness of treatment was evaluated with regard to survival time, tumor response and determination of the activities of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors using flurogenic substrates.

Enhancement of photodynamic therapy by use of aminolevulinic acid/glycolic acid drug mixture.

5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a precursor in synthesis of endogenous porphyrins used to sensitize tumor tissues in photodynamic therapy (PDT). It is administered topically into a tumor which after the certain time, required for porphyrins to accumulate, is irradiated with visible light from the proper source at established wavelength. Our main aim in the present study was to increase the penetration of 5-ALA through the skin and other tissues by addition of glycolic acid (GA) to 5-ALA on cell lines in vitro and on animals.

Cysteine peptidases in health and diseases.

Many investigators studied the expression and activity of peptidases in critical steps of tumor progression, invasion and metastasis processes. Recent studies, however, indicate that cysteine peptidases are involved earlier in progression in tumor growth and metastatic sites. Extracellular peptidases probably co-operatively influence matrix degradation and tumor invasion through participation of "proteolytic cascades" in many carcinogenesis processes.

Evaluation of changes in the activity of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors in the processes that accompany the growth of gastric cancer.

Background: Many investigators have observed a correlation between the aggressiveness of malignant tumor growth and the levels of cysteine peptidases and their autogenous inhibitors. Cathepsins B and L are activated by pepsin in an acidic pH. This fact encouraged us to measure the activity of these enzymes in tissue samples of gastric cancer.

Regulation of cathepsin B and L expression in vitro in gastric cancer tissues by egg cystatin.

Background: Degradation of the basement membrane and surrounding extracellular matrix is likely to represent a key step in cancer invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether gastric cancer tissues demonstrate higher cysteine proteases activities: cathepsins B and L during cancer progression in compression with non-cancerous tissues.

Methods: We measured the expression of both cathepsins B and L in 30 patients with gastric cancer tissues and non-cancerous tissues activities by a fluorescence assay and immunohistochemical staining.

Inhibition of cathepsin B activity in human breast cancer tissue by cysteine peptidase inhibitor isolated from human placenta: immunohistochemical and biochemical studies.

Cysteine peptidases and their endogenous inhibitors (CPI) have been shown to be involved in tumor progression and metastasis. Since their activity has been found to be changed in tumor tissue and/or body fluids of cancer patients, the determination of the peptidase/inhibitor levels is considered as a procedure of diagnostic value. Determination of cathepsin B, its precursor and inhibitor activity in homogenates of tumors and control breast tissue samples of patients with invasive ductal and lobular breast carcinoma and with benign breast disease (BBD) was performed using fluorometric assay.

Expression of high molecular weight cysteine proteinase inhibitor in ovarian cancer tissues: regulation of cathepsin B expression by placental CPI.

Mouse polyclonal antibodies against placental cysteine proteinase inhibitor (CPI) react with the placental 67 kDa CPI on Western blots, and CPI present in ovarian cancer homogenate and serum was shown by double immunodiffusion to react with the same antiserum. By immunohistochemical staining, positive expression of high molecular weight CPI was observed on the tumour cell surface in serous and endometrioid ovarian carcinomas with metastasis. Normal endometrioid tissue was not stained with anti-placental CPI antibodies.

Effects of combined in vivo treatment of transplantable solid mammary carcinoma in wistar rats using vitamin E and cysteine peptidase inhibitors from human placenta.

Cysteine cathepsin B and its endogenous inhibitor play an important role in tumor progression. Increase in cathepsin B expression and reduced levels of its inhibitors were associated with tumor malignancy in breast cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a new therapy combining vitamin E and placental inhibitor on the level of endogenous protease inhibitor in sera and tumor tissues with mammary cancer.

The combined treatment of transplantable solid mammary carcinoma in Wistar rats by use of photodynamic therapy and cysteine proteinase inhibitor.

Numerous studies have shown that lysosomal proteinases play an important role in carcinogenesis. The enzymatic activity of tumor-associated proteases is counter-balanced by specific inhibitors. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a technique which involves photoexcitation of sensitizing drugs retained in neoplastic tissue that is subsequently destroyed.

[Temporal lobe epilepsy: effect of focus side on the autonomic regulation of heart rate?].

Epileptic activity can modulate reactions of the autonomic nervous system. Although there is some evidence of a differential left/right hemispheric influence on the cardiovascular system, diverse investigations have shown controversial results. In our study, complex partial seizures of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy were recorded using subdural electrodes, thus providing reliable information on the focus side.

Resistance of some common fungi to gamma irradiation.

Ten species of fungi representing the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Caldosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, and Penicillium were examined for their relative resistance to gamma irradiation from a 137Cs source. Inactivation doses for dematiaceous fungi in agar medium ranged from 0.6 to greater than 1.

Ruptured renal artery aneurysm in pregnancy. Case report.

A patient who survived rupture of a renal artery aneurysm in pregnancy is described. The aneurysm was caused by fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal artery.