The AP-2 transcription factor plays a pivotal role in regulating the expression of several genes involved in tumor growth and progression of melanoma. We determined, by Western blot, variation in the level of expression of AP-2 and three of its downstream targets, c-kit, E-cadherin, and p21 in several human melanoma cell lines and, by immunohistochemistry, in a group of 99 histological samples including benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. A significant negative correlation between AP-2 expression level and tumor thickness was found. Moreover, AP-2 expression was positively associated with E-cadherin and c-kit expression. In contrast, there was a significant negative association between AP-2 and p21 expression levels. These findings suggest that p21 is independent of AP-2 transactivator function during the latest phases of melanoma progression. Finally, AP-2, c-kit, E-cadherin, and p21 expression levels did not show to be able to distinguish between dysplastic nevi and nevi without dysplasia. We conclude that changes in the expression of these proteins are involved in the later phases of melanoma progression, and may be responsible for the transition from local invasive melanoma to metastasis.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Topical treatment of postvitrectomy fibrin formation with tissue plasminogen activator.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is able to dissolve any fibrin material that forms in the anterior chamber or vitreous humor. This property has been reported by various experimental studies performed in rabbits. The authors demonstrate the tPA eye drops administered to patients with postoperative hyphema, which did not respond to traditional therapy, gave rapid clearance of the clot. Following its topical administration for the first time in patients, the harmless nature of the drug is emphasized as well as its efficacy. This study indicates the promising features of this drug which deserve further investigation.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytidin-5'-diphosphocholine enhances the effect of part-time occlusion in amblyopia.

Cytidin-5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) has been shown to improve visual acuity (VA), Contrast Sensitivity and Visual Evoked Responses at least temporarily, in amblyopic patients beyond the plastic period of the visual system. In this paper results are presented of a study conducted on forty-five patients with amblyopia in one eye, aged 5-9 years and followed for one year. Of them, 15 (Group A) were treated with CDP-choline (500 mg daily for 10 days every six months); 15 (Group B) were treated with CDP-choline plus one hour of occlusion daily; 15 (Group C) were treated with one hour of occlusion daily. The final VA values were statistically different from the initial ones, for all three groups. Eleven of the Group A patients showed an improvement in VA after the first treatment; a gradual deterioration took place in 6 patients at the end of the fourth month; VA further improved in 9 patients after the second treatment. At the end of the year, VA was higher than at the beginning in 12 of the 15 patients. Group B had an improvement of VA in 13 patients, starting 10 days from the beginning of treatment. This improvement continued throughout the observation period. Group C had an improvement after one month, which continued for 8 months, without deteriorating. In conclusion CDP-choline enhances the effect of part-time occlusion. CDP-choline could be employed also in younger patients. Longer observation periods are still needed and better means of administration have to be found.

Amblyopia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics of heptastigmine in rats.

Heptastigmine is a new long acting cholinesterase inhibitor that affects behaviour in a number of cognitive tests in animals. We have studied its pharmacokinetics in rats: plasma kinetics were evaluated after single intravenous dose (2 mg/kg), intramuscular (4 mg/kg) and oral (4 and 8 mg/kg) administration. Tissue distribution (heart, liver, kidney and brain) was studied after single intramuscular (4 mg/kg) and oral (8 mg/kg) administration. Plasma and tissue kinetics were also investigated after repeated oral doses (8 mg/kg b.i.d. for 7 days). Heptastigmine levels in plasma and tissues were determined using an HPLC method with an electrochemical detector. After a single dose, heptastigmine remained for a long time in plasma (the terminal half-life was about 12 h), distributed widely in tissues (the volume of distribution was about 61) and brain concentrations were very high (4-22 times those found in plasma). After repeated oral doses, the drug levels increased in plasma and, to a lesser extent, in liver and kidney.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Does amblyopia protect against age-related maculopathy?

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Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chondroid chordoma of the lateral skull base.

A rare case of chondroid chordoma of the lateral skull base with laterocervical extension is reported. Clinical, radiological and pathological features of the tumor are described. This unusual location of chondroid chordoma enabled total resection of the neoplastic tissue through a combined laterocervical and far lateral transjugular approach.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Atypical fibroxanthoma with osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells.

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AF) is generally considered as a low grade superficial variant of fibrohistiocytic neoplasm. In this report we present an unusual variant of this neoplasm arising from actinic damaged skin of an elderly individual. The case was characterized by numerous multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells uniformly scattered through a pleomorfic cellular proliferation. The osteoclasts giant cell observed represent multinucleated histiocytes rather than true osteoclasts.

Actins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neuroendocrine differentiation in non-small cell lung carcinomas.

The immunohistochemical expression of ten neuroendocrine and neural differentiation-related antigens in 200 specimens from patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung carcinomas were evaluated. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and undifferentiated large cell carcinomas showed the highest percentage of positive samples (30%-60%) for the markers evaluated with diffuse and intense immunostaining. Poorly differentiated squamous carcinomas bronchioalveolar adenocarcinomas, and giant cell carcinomas showed a lower percentage of positive samples (20%) with moderate immunostaining. Well differentiated tumors were very rarely positive for the neuroendocrine markers. It is concluded that neoplasms positive for the neuroendocrine markers can be considered as non-small cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine features, even if they do not have the histological appearance of neuroendocrine lung neoplasms.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of intestinal hemorrhage caused by post-appendectomy granuloma of the cecum].

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Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Colonic type adenocarcinoma of male urethra.

A case of rare primary adenocarcinoma of the bulbomembranous portion of the male urethra is presented. The histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of this tumor are identical to those of colon adenocarcinomas. The pathogenesis can be explained either by neoplastic degeneration of globet cells found in the urethral epithelium or by malignant degeneration of persistent glandular elements that are embryonal residues. The patient was successfully treated with transurethral prostatectomy and with a high dose of radiation therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗