Impairments in set-shifting but not reversal learning in the neonatal ventral hippocampal lesion model of schizophrenia: further evidence for medial prefrontal deficits.

The executive function processes of set-shifting and reversal learning in rodents are mediated by the medial prefrontal cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex, respectively. Here, we investigated both set-shifting and reversal learning in a developmental animal model of schizophrenia, the neonatal ventral hippocampal lesion (NVHL) model. The NVHL manipulation is known to disrupt development of the medial prefrontal cortex, and to impair behaviors dependent on this area, but potential orbitofrontal abnormalities and reversal learning deficits are less well studied.

Complete loss of PTEN expression as a possible early prognostic marker for prostate cancer metastasis.

The EGF/IGF growth factors are potent mitogens that regulate cell proliferation and cell survival and are involved in prostate cancer development. Using laser microdissection technology and real-time PCR, together with immunohistochemistry, we have explored the growth factor and integrin dependent PI3-kinase/PTEN/Akt signalling pathway in prostate cell lines and tumour samples by analysing EGF-R, IGF1-R, ILK, beta3 integrin, PTEN and p-Akt protein expression. We provide evidence that loss of PTEN expression rather than upregulated EGF/IGF1 receptor expression was responsible for increased p-Akt in neoplastic prostate cells.

Thyroid cancer in Luxembourg: a national population-based data report (1983-1999).

Background: Twenty years after the nuclear accident in Chernobyl (Eastern Europe), there is still a controversial debate concerning a possible effect of the radioactive iodines, especially I-131, on the increase of thyroid carcinomas (TCs) in Western Europe. Time trends in incidence rates of TC in Luxembourg in comparison with other European countries and its descriptive epidemiology were investigated.

Methods: The population-based data of the national Morphologic Tumour Registry collecting new thyroid cancers diagnosed between 1983 and 1999 at a nation-wide level in the central division of pathology were reviewed and focused on incidence rates of TC.

ILK as a potential marker gene to ascertain specific adenocarcinoma cell mRNA isolation from frozen prostate biopsy tissue sections.

A major technical challenge related to gene expression profiling of tissue samples is the difficulty of procuring selected cell populations from tissues that by nature are heterogeneous, such as prostate tissue. In this study we have examined the expression of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) mRNA in prostate adenocarcinoma cells versus normal prostate epithelial cells in order to determine whether ILK could be used as a reference marker gene for prostate adenocarcinoma cell mRNA isolation. Using laser microdissection (LMD) technology and real-time PCR, together with immunohistochemistry, we have analyzed ILK mRNA expression in epithelial cells isolated from frozen prostate biopsy specimens as well as 4 prostate cell lines (RWPE-1, LNCaP, PC-3 and DU 145) and correlated ILK mRNA expression with ILK protein expression.

Atypical glandular cells in conventional cervical smears: incidence and follow-up.

Background: Atypical glandular cells on cervical smears are often associated with clinically significant uterine lesions. The frequency and accuracy of AGC-NOS (i.e.