Laminin-5 immunohistochemical mapping for analysis of local extension in hypopharyngeal cancer: A preliminary report.

Objective: Laminin-5 γ2 chain (LNγ2) plays an important role in cancer differentiation and migration. Using a novel immunohistochemical mapping technique to investigate whole mucosal strips of total laryngopharyngectomy specimens using iodine, H-E, and LNγ2 stainings, we investigated the locoregional behavior of hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: Surgical specimens from two patients with pyriform sinus cancer were investigated.

Intercalated duct cells in the rat parotid gland may behave as tissue stem cells.

This study was conducted to determine whether intercalated duct cells in the rat parotid gland have the properties of tissue stem cells. After induction of cellular proliferation by repeated administration of isoproterenol (IPR), a beta-adrenergic agonist, proliferation activity in acinar, intralobular, and intercalated ductal cells was quantified using Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. The total number of each type of component cell in a gland was also estimated in the course of IPR treatment.

Interaction between cyclooxygenase (COX)-1- and COX-2-products modulates COX-2 expression in the late phase of acute inflammation.

Prostanoid production depends on the activity of two cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms. It is appreciated that COX-1 plays a role in physiological processes, whereas COX-2 acts in pathological conditions. However their roles, particularly roles of COX-1, have not yet been fully established in inflammation.

The effect of backbone structure on polycation comb-type copolymer/DNA interactions and the molecular assembly of DNA.

A series of comb-type copolymers comprised of various polycation backbones and dextran (Dex) side chains were prepared to study the DNA/copolymer interaction. While the cationic copolymers with a lower degree of dextran grafts maintained an ability to condense DNA molecules into a globule form those with a higher degree of dextran grafting interacted with DNA without inducing DNA condensation. The structural differences in cationic backbones diversely influenced DNA hybridization as evaluated by circular dichroism (CD) spectrometry and UV-melting analyses.

Increased expression of laminin-5 and its prognostic significance in hypopharyngeal cancer.

Objectives: We investigated the clinicopathologic significance of laminin-5 gamma2 chain (LNgamma2) expression in 26 surgically removed hypopharyngeal cancers and compared the results with conventional prognostic factors elicited from hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) stained whole-mount laryngeal sections.

Study Design: Stainability of LNgamma2 was mainly evaluated at the invasive front of the cancer nests. Scoring was performed on the basis of a semiquantitative scale defined according to the number of immunopositive cancer cells (score 3, 2, 1, and 0).