• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2745-2748
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• 2012

Aims: To study KIT (CD117) expression in thymic epithelial tumors in China, and investigate diagnostic and clinical significance. Material and Methods: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) from 102 patients (3 type A, 29 type AB, 5 type B1, 22 type B2, 29 typeB3 and 16 thymic carcinomas) were examined. Immunohistochemical staining with an antic-kit monoclonal antibody was performed on a tissue microarray. Relationships between KIT positive expression and the TET clinical characteristics (WHO histologic classification and Masaoka stage system) were analysed. Results: The KIT positive expression rate was significantly higher in thymic carcinoma (60%, 9/16) than in thymoma (8%, 7/86), a strong correlation being found with the WHO classification, but not the Masaoka tumor stage. The overall survival for patients with KIT positive lesions was significantly worse. Conclusions: KIT is a good molecule marker to differentially diagnose thymic carcinoma from thymoma, while also serving as a predictor of prognosis for TETs. Further research into KIT mutations in Chinese TETs should be conducted to assess the efficacy of targeted therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7237-7242
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• 2015

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the commonest malignancy involving the ovaries. Maximum surgical cytoreduction (MCR) followed by adjuvant taxane-platinum chemotherapy are the standard of care treatments. Aims: To study treatment outcomes of EOC patients that were maximally cyto-reduced and received adjuvant paclitaxel-carboplatin (PC) chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 174 patients with EOC treated at the Egyptian National Cancer Institute between 2006 and 2010. For inclusion, they should have had undergone MCR with no-gross residual followed by adjuvant PC chemotherapy. MCR was total abdominal hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy [TAH/BSO] or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy [USO] plus comprehensive staging. Results: The median age was 50 years. Most patients were married (97.1%), had offspring (92.5%), were postmenopausal (53.4%), presented with abdominal/pelvic pain and swelling (93.7%), had tumors involving both ovaries (45.4%) without extra-ovarian extension i.e. stage I (55.2%) of serous histology (79.9%) and grade II (87.4%). TAH/BSO was performed in 97.7% of cases. A total of 1,014 PC chemotherapy cycles were administered and were generally tolerable with 93.7% completing 6 cycles. Alopecia and numbness were the commonest adverse events. The median follow up period was 42 months. The 2-year rates for disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 70.7% and 94.8%, respectively. The respective 5-year rates were 52.6% and 81.3%. Advanced stage and high-grade were significantly associated with poor DFS and OS (p<0.001). Age >65 years was associated with poor OS (p =0.008). Using Cox-regression, stage was independent predictor of poor DFS and OS. Age was an independent predictor of poor OS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.453-459
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• 2004

Chick embryos from stage 14 to stage 31 were studied by means of serial section and light microscopy in order to learn the relationship between the settlement sites of the primordial germ cells (PGCs) and the forming genital ridge. The results showed that: when embryo hatched for 53-56 h, the PGCs reached the coelomic epithelial tissue where gonad would be formed, meanwhile the epithelial tissue began thicker before the PGCs reached. Before stage 19, the final region the PGCs arrived was the thickened portion of the coelomic epithelium, the glycogen in the PGCs cytoplasm maintenance remained unchanged. However at the 3.5-5th hatching day, the glycogen in the PGCs cytoplasm reduced gradually. On the 6th hatching day, the gonad of the embryo appeared the feature of ovary, and the glycogen in the PGCs cytoplasm reduced further. On the 7th hatching day, the differentiation of ovary or testis was obvious and the glycogen in the PGCs cytoplasm later disappeared.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 1999

To elucidate the mechanism of age-related development in FGS/NgaKIST mice with spontaneous glomerulosclerotic lesion, we examined expression and localization of various cytokine mRNA in the kidney in the progression of diseases. This mouse model is the first to develop spontanously occuring glomerosclerotic lesion in the kidney. In this study, we detected the up-regulation of local cytokine genes such as IL-1$\beta$, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-$\alpha$, TGF-$\beta$, and IFN- $\gamma$ in the kidneys. In RT-PCR and Southern blot analysis, we detected gradual expressions of cytokine mRNA of IL-1$\beta$, IL-2, IL-6, IFN- $\gamma$, and TNF $\alpha$ mRNA during the course of disease. Other cytokines including IL -10 and TGF -$\beta$ were found to be appeared the slightly expressed level at 3 to 12 weeks before onset of inflammatory lesion but they are highly expressed at the end-stage of the disease accompaning high proteinurea and wasting. In situ RT-PCR, each cytokine mRNA were specifically localized in a variety of cells including mesangial, endothelial, parietal epithelial, tubular epithelial, arterial muscle cell, and infiltrated inflammatory cells. In addition, TNF - $\alpha$was detected moderately in the visceral and parietal epithelial cell, but weakly in endothelial and mesangial cells, whereas IL-1 $\beta$ and IL -6 were strong in mesangial regions. IL-6 and TNF- $\alpha$ was highly localized in the damaged proximal and collecting tubules. Especially, TGF -$\beta$ mRNA was highly found in mesangial cells within glomerulus and interstitium during the end-stage of this disease.. These results indicate that pro inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 $\beta$, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF- $\alpha$ were gradually expressed from the early stage of this disease to the end-stage, and that IL-10 and TGF-$\beta$ may be important in the accumulation of extracellular matrix(ECM) within glomerulus and periglomerular fibrosis in the progression of this disease as well as tissue destruction in end-stage of this disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.799-803
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• 2009

The killing of male germ cells by radiation and other toxicants has recently been attributed to apoptosis, but a critical evaluation of the presence of the different features of apoptosis in each epithelial stage has not been performed. In this study, mouse testes exposed to radiation were examined by light microscopy and terminal transferase-mediated end labeling (TUNEL) with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stains to determine whether the cells were apoptotic according to several criteria. Apoptosis was easily recognized by the presence of peroxidase-stained, entirely apoptotic bodies. In the TUNEL-positive cells or bodies, the stained products correlated precisely with the typical morphologic characteristics of apoptosis as seen at the light microscopic level. The changes that occurred from 0 to 24 hours after exposing the mice to 2 Gy of gamma-rays (2 Gy/min) were examined. The numbers of apoptotic cells reached a peak at 12 hours after irradiation and then declined. The mice that received 0-8 Gy of gamma-rays were examined 8 hours after irradiation. Dose-response relationships were generated for each stage of the epithelial cycle by counting TUNEL-positive cells. The dose-response curves were linear- quadratic [y=(-0.014${\pm}$0.009)$D^{2}$+(0.31${\pm}$0.697)D+0.3575. Where y=the number of apoptotic cells per seminiferous tubule, and D=the irradiation dose in Gy, $r^{2}$=0.9] and there was a significant relationship between the frequency of apoptotic cells and the radiation dose. Although the maximum response was produced by 8 Gy, even 0.5 Gy induced marked changes. These changes were most pronounced in B spermatogonia of stage V and the spermatocyte at the mitotic cells of stage XII.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 1987

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of a calcinogen, aflatoxin B1 on the ultrastructural changes of ciliary epithelial cells in mice infected with Clonerchis sinensis. A total of 93 male albino mice(BALB/c strain) was divided into 3 groups; group I, treated with 1.0 ppm aflatoxin Bl for 12 weeks; group II, given 50 C. sinensis n;etacercariae, and group III, given 50 metacercariae and treated with 1.0 ppm aflatoxin Bl for 12 weeks. Three mice served for untreated-uninfected controls. From 4 weeks after the treatsment and/or in(ection, three mice from each group were sacrificed at 4 week intervals up to the 40th week, and their hepatobiliary tissues were prepared for transmission electron microscopy. The most prominent ultrastructural changes in group I were remarkable enlargement of nuclear size, separation of nucleolus, dispersed chromatin granules in nuclei and increased dense granules along the inner membrane of nuclei. In the cytoplasm there was slight proliferation of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at earlier stage. At the 12th week separation of fibrillar and granular components of the nucleolus was a characteristic finding. As the time elapsed, epithelial cells showed fiattened-cuboidal form and a tendency of atrophy. Most of the nuclei were elongated and polygonal in shape. In group II the appearance of elaborate interwoven folds of lateral cytoplasm forming a labyrinth of interconnected intercellular space and variety in nuclear shape were the prominent fadings at earlier stage. The cytoplasm showed slight proliferation and dilatation of mitochondria and ER, and a small number of mucin droplets. In the basement membrane scanty fibrous cells were seen. With time, variety in nuclear shape, marked proliferation and dilatation of rough ER and some collagen fibrils were demonstrated. Other features of intracellular organelles and mucin droplets persisted. In group III cuboidal epithelial cells showed their remarkably enlarged and irregular nuclei, increased chromatin granules in the nuclei, separated nucleoli, proliferated and dilated rough ER. With time, sequestered mitochondria showed blob-like evaginations which lacked cristae and dense matrix, and were limited by a single membrane. Since the 20th week, microvilli were relatively scanty and poorly developed. Organelles and inclusions in the cytoplasm of metaplastic cells were poor. Nuclei were variable in shape. The nlost prominent changes at later stage were separation of nuclei from the cytoplasm, and appearance of numerous and irregularly angled electron dense granules in the nuclei.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.726-731
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• 1999

Background: The distinction between non-invasive and invasive or thymic carcinoma has been severely compromised by lack of objective morphological criteria. A reliable biological marker of tumor aggressiveness is, therefore, mandatory for predicting tumor behavior. Material and Method: Thirty thymic epithelial tumors, including 7 non-invasive thymoma, 10 invasive thymoma, and 13 thymic carcinoma of the Rosai's classification; and 5 stage I, 7 stage II, 2 stage III, and 3 stage IVa of the Masaoka stage of thymoma were investigated for expression of bcl-2 and p53 proteins by immunohistochemistry. Result: The thymic epithelial cells showed positive immunostain for bcl-2 in 0 (0%), 3 (30%), 8 (61.5%) of categories in the Rosai's classification respectively and in 0 (0%), 1 (14.3%), 2 (100%), 0 (0%) of stage I, II, III, IVa of the Masaoka stage respectively. Thymic carcinoma, and high stage thymoma had significantly higher proportion of bcl-2 expression than thymoma (p=0.021) and low stage thymoma (p=0.011). However, p53 showed no correlation with the histological subtypes nor with clinical aggressiveness. Bcl-2 expression appeared to be positively correlated with p53 immunoactivity (p=0.007, kappa=0.525). Conclusion: These date indicate that bcl-2 expression correlates with aggressiveness in thymic epithelial tumors, but further studies on mutation of p53 protein is necessary because bcl-2 expression appeared to be positively correlated with p53 immunoactivity.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.255-265
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• 2022

The cellular communication network factor (CCN) family proteins regulate many biological events such as angiogenesis, tumor growth, placentation, implantation, and embryogenesis. The expression and function of CCN1, CCN2, and CCN3 at the maternal-conceptus interface are established in humans and rodents, but little is known about the role of CCN4 to CCN6 in the reproductive organs in any other species. Several studies in transcriptome analysis in pigs have shown that the expression of CCN4 and CCN6 increases in the endometrium during early pregnancy. However, their expression, regulation, and function in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy have not been fully understood in pigs. Thus, we determined the expression, localization, and regulation of CCN4 and CCN6 during the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs. We found that the levels of CCN4, but not CCN6, changed during the estrous cycle. The levels of CCN4 were greater during mid- to late pregnancy than in the early stage, and the levels of CCN6 were greatest on Day 15 of pregnancy. CCN4 and CCN6 were detected in conceptus tissues during early pregnancy and in chorioallantoic tissues during the later stage of pregnancy. CCN4 mRNA was mainly localized to epithelial cells, CCN6 mRNAs to epithelial and stromal cells in the endometrium. In endometrial explant cultures, CCN4 expression was increased by progesterone, and CCN6 expression by interferon-𝛾. These results suggest that CCN4 and CCN6 may play roles in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy by regulating the endometrial epithelial cell functions in pigs.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2002

Dioxin represents a group of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons of which 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorod-ibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is well known for its extremely toxic properties as well as ubiquitous presence in our environment and ecosystems. In order to better assess the carcinogenic mechanism of dioxin, we should utilize the reliable biomarkers that can precisely and correctly reflect multi-stage carcinogenesis. When MCF10A cells were exposed to TCDD (10 nM), expression of both CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 was induced in a time-related manner. The expression as well as activity of ornithine decarboxylase was transiently induced by TCDD treatment. In contrast, the induction of COX-2 that is implicated in carcinogenesis as well as inflammation, was not induced by TCDD. In another study, gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) was attenuated by TCDD treatment as revealed by the dye-transfer assay. Based on these findings, TCDD has both tumor initiating and promoting potential in human breast epithelial cells in culture. Also, treatment of MCF10A cells with the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene plus TCDD resulted in malignant cell transformation as revealed by increased anchorage-independent growth of exposed cells. Additional studies may be necessary to assess the effects of TCDD on multi-stage carcinogenesis in vivo.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.847-850
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• 2012

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8 or TIPE) is a recently identified protein considered to be associated with carcinogenesis. To investigate its expression pattern in pancreatic cancer patients and to analyse its correlation with clinicopathological significance and the expression levels of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the TNFAIP8 and EGFR proteins in pancreatic cancers, pancreatitis tissues, and healthy controls. The results showed stronger staining of TNFAIP8 protein in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with normal pancreas tissue. Furthermore, in 56 patients with pancreatic cancer, the expression levels of TNFAIP8 in patients with low tumor stage was higher than that with high tumor stage, and correlated with tumor staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Furthermore, TNFAIP8 expression positively correlated with EGFR levels (r=0.671135, P<0.05). These results indicate that TNFAIP8 may play important roles in the progression of pancreatic cancer.