Antioxidant Defense and Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome: An Updated Review.

Oxidative stress (OS) affects the anterior ocular tissues, rendering them susceptible to several eye diseases. On the other hand, protection of the eye from harmful factors is achieved by unique defense mechanisms, including enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants could be the cause of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEXS), a condition of defective extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling.

c-FOS Expression Analysis in Pterygia Cell Spot Arrays.

Background/aim: Mechanisms of c-FOS activation in the onset and progression of pterygia remain under investigation. This study aimed to comparatively analyze c-FOS proto-oncogene expression levels in neoplastic pterygia and normal epithelia.

Materials And Methods: We used a liquid-based cytology assay on thirty (n=30) pterygia cell populations and normal epithelia (n=10) extracted by a smooth scraping of conjunctiva epithelia.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression Patterns in non- Human Papillomavirus - Related Pterygia: An Experimental Study on Cell Spot Arrays Digital Analysis.

Purpose: The role of angiogenic factors -such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) - in the development and progression of pterygia lesions remains under investigation. In the current study, we analyzed VEGF protein expression in a series of pterygia and normal conjunctiva epithelia.

Methods: Using a liquid-based cytology assay, thirty ( = 30) cell specimens were obtained by applying a smooth scraping on conjunctiva epithelia and fixed accordingly.

Impact of Topoisomerases Complex Deregulation on Head and Neck Carcinoma Genomic Instability.

Head and neck carcinoma (HNC) comprises a variety of pathological entities. Among them, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is histo-pathologically prominent. Specific malignancies, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) arise also from the same anatomical region.

Impact of K-Ras Over-expression in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Oncogene up-regulation combined with suppressor gene down-regulation is a crucial genetic combination that promotes cell neoplastic phenotype and progressively malignant transformation in solid malignancies, including laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Among oncogenes, the Kirsten ras oncogene homolog (K-Ras) is involved in LSCC onset and progression.

Patients And Methods: Sixty (n=60) primary LSCC tissue sections were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Comparative E-Cadherin Digital Expression Analysis in HPV and non-HPV Related Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity.

Background/aim: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) demonstrates aggressive biological behavior in subgroups of patients with specific molecular characteristics. Concerning metastatic potential, disruption of cell to cell adhesion is a critical event in epithelial malignancies including OSCC. Our aim was to investigate the role of E-Cadherin expression in OSCC patients as a valuable protein marker.

Cyclin D1 Gene Numerical Imbalances in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Tissue Microarray Grid Based Analysis.

Background: Deregulation of critical proteins involved in cell cycle stability, such as cyclins, is a frequent genetic event in the development and progression of solid malignancies. Concerning laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), cyclin D1 oncogenic transformation leads to an aberrant protein expression and seems to affect the biological behaviour of the neoplasm. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of cyclin D1 numerical imbalances with the corresponding protein expression levels in LSCCs.

Numerical Imbalances of Chromosome 7 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive neoplasm. Many chromosomal and gene alterations have been identified in OSCC, including structural and numerical changes. In this study, we implemented a molecular assay of chromosome 7 (Chr7) in order to investigate the level of its numerical instability in OSCC.

Deregulation of PTEN Expression in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Tissue Microarray Digital Analysis.

Background/aim: Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) (gene locus: 10q23.3) -a tumor suppressor gene- is deleted, mutated or epigenetically hyper-methylated in a variety of malignancies. PTEN acts as a negative regulator in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling transduction pathway.

Chromosome 7 Multiplication in EGFR-positive Lung Carcinomas Based on Tissue Microarray Analysis.

Background/aim: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) over-activation is observed in significant proportions of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Our aim was to investigate the role of chromosome 7 multiplication with regard to its influence in EGFR expression, combined or not with gene amplification.

Materials And Methods: Using tissue microarray technology, fifty (n=50) primary NSCLCs were cored and re-embedded into the final recipient block.

Ollier's Disease of the Iliac Bone with Sacroiliac Joint Involvement in an Adolescent Patient.

Ollier's disease of the hip bone involving the sacroiliac joint has not yet been reported in the English-language literature in both the mature and immature skeletons. The authors present such a unique case in an adolescent girl that posed a significant diagnostic challenge secondary to the rarity of the lesion and atypical clinical picture.

An unusual pattern of three major components of the cardiovascular system: multimodality imaging and review of the literature.

Introduction: Coronary artery anomalies are found in 0.4% to 1.4% of patients who undergo coronary angiography.

Chromogenic in situ hybridization analysis of EGFR gene copies in colon adenocarcinoma based on intra-operative imprints and tissue microarrays.

Background: Although Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) over expression is a frequent event in colon adenocarcinoma (CA), identification of EGFR gene deregulation mechanisms--combined to k-ras mutations--remains the basic criterion for rational application of anti-EGFR targeted therapeutic strategies.

Aim: To detect EGFR gene numerical alterations in CA based on a combination of intra-operative imprints and the corresponding tissue microarrays.

Methods: 60 paraffin embedded primary CAs were cored at 1.

Evaluation of topoisomerase IIa expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a pilot study using chromogenic in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays.

Background/aims: To co-evaluate topoisomerase IIa (Topo IIa) protein expression and gene status in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, determining the potential prognostic impact of its alterations.

Methods: Using tissue microarrays, 50 sporadic, primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were cored twice and re-embedded into one paraffin block with a core diameter of 1 mm. Immunohistochemistry and chromogenic in situ hybridization were performed in serial tissue sections for the detection of protein expression levels, chromosome 17 and Topo IIa gene status, respectively.

Simultaneous EGFR and VEGF alterations in non-small cell lung carcinoma based on tissue microarrays.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is observed in significant proportions of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Furthermore, overactivation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) leads to increased angiogenesis implicated as an important factor in vascularization of those tumors.

Patients And Methods: Using tissue microarray technology, forty-paraffin (n = 40) embedded, histologically confirmed primary NSCLCs were cored and re-embedded into a recipient block.

HER2/neu expression and gene alterations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a comparative immunohistochemistry and chromogenic in situ hybridization study based on tissue microarrays and computerized image analysis.

Context: HER2/neu overexpression is observed in many cancers including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Although immunohistochemistry remains the basic method for evaluating HER2/neu protein expression, significant information regarding gene status cannot be assessed.

Design: Using tissue microarray technology, fifty histologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were cored twice and re-embedded in one paraffin block.