Chimeric mice reveal clonal development of pancreatic acini, but not islets.

Intestinal crypt stem cells establish clonal descendants. To determine whether the pancreas is patterned by a similar process, we used embryonic stem (ES) cell chimeric mice, in which male ES cells were injected into female blastocysts. Fluorescence in situ hybridization for the Y chromosome (Y-FISH) revealed clonal patterning of ES-derived cells in the adult mouse small intestine and pancreas.

Von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene loss in renal cell carcinoma promotes oncogenic epidermal growth factor receptor signaling via Akt-1 and MEK-1.

Objectives: Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most prevalent form of kidney cancer and is frequently associated with loss of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene function, resulting in the aberrant transcriptional activation of genes that contribute to tumor growth and metastasis, including transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), a ligand of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase. To determine the functional impact of EGFR activation on RCC, we suppressed critical components of this pathway: EGFR, Akt-1, and MEK-1.

Methods: Stable transfection of RCC cells with plasmids bearing shRNA directed against each of these genes was used to individually suppress their expression.

Response of Mouse Breast Cancer Cells to Anastrozole, Tamoxifen, and the Combination.

The murine breast cancer cells (4T1) grown both in female BALB/c mice and in culture were treated with anastrozole (50 $\mu$ g/mL), tamoxifen citrate (5 $\mu$ g/mL), and the combination of the two drugs in order to determine treatment efficacies, toxic potential, and the mechanism of cell death. The in vivo treatments were evaluated by monitoring tumor growth, development, and life span. The in vitro effects were measured through cell growth kinetics, cell proliferation, mitochondrial membrane potential disruption assay, and light and scanning electron microscopy.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the maxillary sinus. Case report.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas are rare tumors that often affect head and neck region. Because of the non-specific associated symptomatology, they frequently are misdiagnosed. We briefly describe a 69-year-old woman who developed solitary plasmacytoma in the left maxillary sinus and was initially treated as having sinusitis.

Morphological study of development and functional activity of palatine tonsils in embryonic age.

Palatine tonsils play an important role in the development of the immune system, being the first organ in the lymph system which analyses and reacts to antigenic stimulation. In this study, the peritonsillar area of Waldeyer's ring was investigated in 88 normal human embryos which were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. The progressive development of palatine tonsils during embryonic life is discussed.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome presenting as a cranial polyneuropathy.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is herpes zoster of the facial nerve, frequently associated with VIII cranial nerve involvement, but on rare occasions other cranial nerves are affected as well. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with RHS with involvement of V, VII, VIII, IX, and XII cranial nerves. The patient showed significant improvement after treatment with acyclovir and prednisolone.

Testicular tumor metastatic to the nose. A case report.

In this paper we present an uncommon tumor found in the nasal cavity, the result of a metastasis from primary tumor of testis (embryonal carcinoma) in a young patient of 24 years of age. For this uncommon tumor we discuss the case with the Greek and foreign bibliography.

Intraparotid facial nerve neurilemmoma: a case report.

A case report of intraparotid facial nerve neurilemmoma is presented. The survey of this pathology is reviewed.

Gastrin secretion in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Gastrin (1--17) concentration was estimated under basal conditions in 12 menstruating women, and 42 women with normal pregnancy. In 10 women with normal pregnancy this hormone was also measured 10 days after delivery. In addition, gastrin was determined after stimulation with a standard protein meal in 7 menstruating women, 12 women with normal pregnancy and 14 women with complicated pregnancies.