Prognostic value of GLUT-1 expression in ovarian surface epithelial tumors: a morphometric study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reported increase in the expression of the glucose transporter GLUT-1 in borderline and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors and its relationship to prognosis. STUDY DESIGN: In this study, areas in which immunohistochemical membranous staining with GLUT-1 were most evident were selected, and the proportions of GLUT-1 expression in 46 benign, 11 borderline and 42 malignant cases of ovarian epithelial tumors were determined quantitatively with a computer and Zeiss Vision KS 400 3.0 (G?ttingen, Germany) for Windows (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington, U.S.A.) image analysis. RESULTS: GLUT-1 expression was determined in all borderline tumors (11 of 11) and in 97.6% of malignant tumors (41 of 42). No GLUT-1 expression was observed in benign tumors. The intensity of GLUT-1 staining was lower in borderline tumors than in malignant cases. This was statistically significant (p = 0.005). As differentiation in malignant tumors increased, proportions of GLUT-1 expression showed a relative increase, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.68). CONCLUSION: When GLUT-1 expression in borderline and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors was analyzed against prognosis, no statistically significant difference was identified. Assessment of GLUT-1 expression using the image analysis program was more reliable, with higher reproducibility than in previous studies.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol, a key intermediate of HIV protease inhibitor, indinavir

The synthesis of (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol, a key component of HIV protease inhibitor is accomplished in four steps starting from indanone efficiently and with high levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The starting material is converted into 2-acetoxy-1-indanone involving Manganese (III) acetate oxidation . The 2-acetoxyketone is hydrolyzed to 2-hydroxy-1-indanone enantioselectively using Rhizopus oryzae. Selective reduction of 2-hydroxyoxime derivative, derived from the 2-hydroxyketone, gives the amino alcohol up to 98% diastereo- and enantioselectivity.     

Aortic Elasticity is Impaired in Patients with Endemic Fluorosis

Sixty-three patients with endemic fluorosis (36 males/27 females; mean age 33.9 ± 8.6 years) and 45 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls (30 males/15 females; mean age 32.7 ± 8.8 years) were included in this study. Aortic stiffness indices, aortic strain (AS), aortic distensibility (AD), and aortic strain index (ASI) were calculated from the aortic diameters measured by echocardiography and blood pressure obtained by sphygmomanometry. The urine fluoride levels of fluorosis patients were significantly higher than control subjects as expected (1.9 ± 0.1 mg/l vs. 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/l, respectively; P < 0.001). AS and AD were significantly lower in fluorosis patients than in the controls (for AS 5.3 ± 3.6 vs. 8.0 ± 3.4%; P < 0.001 and for AD 0.2 ± 0.1 vs. 0.3 ± 0.1 cm² dyn⁻¹ 10⁻³; P < 0.001, respectively). In contrast, signicantly higher ASI was observed in fluorosis patients than in the controls (3.4 ± 0.6 vs. 3.0 ± 0.4; P < 0.001, respectively). The results of our study demonstrate that elastic properties of ascending aorta are impaired in patients with endemic fluorosis.     

HER2 Ile655Val and PTEN IVS4 polymorphisms in patients with breast cancer

Although HER2/PTEN pathway is commonly disrupted in cancer, association of HER2 and PTEN polymorphisms with breast cancer (BC) remains controversial. We investigated the HER2 Ile655 Val and PTEN IVS4 polymorphisms in patients with BC in Turkish population. HER2 Ile655Val (rs 1136201) and PTEN IVS4 (rs 3830675) polymorphisms were determined using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) in blood samples of 118 BC patients and 118 age-matched healthy controls. We found that the frequency of the Ile/Val genotype of HER2 Ile655Val gene was significantly higher in BC patients (p < 0.009; OR: 1,983 95 % CI: 1.181—3.328). The presence of ATCTT insertion (+/+) genotype at downstream of exon 4 in intron 4 of PTEN IVS4 gene was also associated with 1.83 fold decreased risk of BC development (p < 0.033; OR: 1.83, 95 % CI: 1.11—3.03). Analysis on clinico-pathological parameters showed neither HER2 Ile655Val nor PTEN IVS4 genotypes were not associated with any of the variables (p > 0.05).In conclusion, our findings suggest that the Ile/Val genotype of HER2 and ATCTT insertion (+/+) genotype of PTEN IVS4 gene may play an important role as genetic markers for breast cancer risk, but both genes genotypes may not be useful for predicting tumor prognosis in Turkish population.     

Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase 1 (Ido1) Is Involved in the Control of Mouse Caput Epididymis Immune Environment

The epididymis maintains a state of immune tolerance towards spermatozoa while also protecting them and itself against infection and acute inflammation. The immunosuppressive enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (Ido1) participates in this delicate local equilibrium. Using the mouse Ido1^−/− model, we show here that the absence of IDO1 expression leads in the epididymis but not in serum to (1) an increase in the inflammatory state as evidenced by changes in the content of cytokines and chemokines, (2) the engagement of a Th1-driven inflammatory response as evidenced by changes in the Th17/Treg as well as Th1/Th2 equilibria, as well as (3) differences in the content of lipid intermediates classically involved in inflammation. Despite this more pronounced inflammatory state, Ido1^−/− animals succeed in preserving the local epididymal immune situation due to the activation of compensatory mechanisms that are discussed.     

A skeletochronological analysis of a population of the Anatolia Newt,Neurergus strauchii (Steindachner, 1887) (Caudata: Salamandridae), in Eastern Anatolia,Turkey

This study presents data on age, growth and longevity of a population of Neurergus strauchii in Eastern Anatolia (Bingöl, Turkey) based on skeletochronological data. The phalangeal diaphyseal cross-sections of 54 individuals studied (12♂, 42♀) showed that females are on average older than males: the ages ranged from 6 to 14 years, with an average age of 8.8 years in males and 10.9 years in females. Sexual maturity is reached at an age of 4-5 years in both sexes. The slow growth and the longevity make the species vulnerable.