Interplay between the key proteins of serotonin system in SSRI antidepressants efficacy.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most effective and most used antidepressant drugs. Acting by inhibiting serotonin (5-HT) transporter, SSRIs display a typical 3-4-week delay in their therapeutic effects, with nearly 40% of depressed patients remaining treatment-resistant. Recent evidence suggests complex interplay between 5-HT receptors and key proteins of 5-HT metabolism in molecular mechanisms of such delay and resistance to SSRIs.

Unusual Clinical Presentation of Gastrointestinal Clear Cell Sarcoma.

Background: Use of molecular assays is gradually becoming a mandatory part of the clinical management of soft tissue tumors, however the choice and the interpretation of these tests may present a challenge.

Summary: This report demonstrates an unusual presentation of sarcoma, which was initially diagnosed as a tumor of unknown primary site. Given the presence of vimentin, Fli-1, CD99 and S100 markers, lack of immunostaining for melan A, HMB45, MITF, synaptophysin, CD56, myf4, CKAE1/3 and WT-1, as well as the presence of EWSR1 translocation determined by a break-apart FISH assay, Ewing's sarcoma (ES) diagnosis seemed to be well justified.

[The immunohistochemical features of ovarian serous adenocarcinoma cells, which determine a disease course and survival rates in patients].

Objective: To study a relationship of survival rates to the expression of major genes (p53, PTEN, COX2, pRb and others) involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer.

Subjects And Methods: The trial enrolled 23 patients with Stages III-IV ovarian serous adenocarcinoma. Of them, 11 patients showed a long overall survival (median 50 ± 2.

RECORD-2: phase II randomized study of everolimus and bevacizumab versus interferon α-2a and bevacizumab as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: The open-label, phase II RECORD-2 trial compared efficacy and safety of first-line everolimus plus bevacizumab (EVE/BEV) with interferon plus bevacizumab (IFN/BEV) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Previously untreated patients were randomized 1:1 to bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks with either everolimus 10 mg/day (EVE/BEV) or interferon (9 MIU 3 times/week, if tolerated) (IFN/BEV). Tumor assessments occurred every 12 weeks.

[Prognostic values of the clinical, morphological and molecular biological characteristics of colon adenocarcinoma].

Objective: to estimate the predictive and prognostic factors using morphological studies in patients with colon cancer to increase survival rates.

Subjects And Methods: Immunohistochemical examination was made in 582 patients with colon adenocarcinoma, by determining 11 different indicators relating to the development of the tumor and its treatment.

Results: The simultaneous determination of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and proliferative activity (Ki-67 expression) can define disease prognosis in view of relapse-survival rates in patients with Stage II colon cancer after radical surgical treatment.

Blood DNA radiosensitivity may be predictive for efficacy of experimental glioma irradiation: an animal study.

Objective: An animal study was conducted to evaluate the -association between blood DNA radiosensitivity, assessed by determining the original S-index, and the response of experimental gliomas to irradiation. Possible modifications of the latter after administration of iron-containing water (ICW) were also explored.

Methods: The study was performed on Wistar rats with subcutaneously implanted experimental glioma-35.

IgM and its receptors: structural and functional aspects.

This review combines the data obtained before the beginning of the 1990s with results published during the last two decades. The predominant form of the IgM molecule is a closed ring composed of five 7S subunits and a J chain. The new model of spatial structure of the pentamer postulates nonplanar mushroom-shaped form of the molecule with the plane formed by a radially-directed Fab regions and central protruding portion consisting of Cµ4 domains.