Molecule-substrate interaction channels of metal-phthalocyanines on graphene on Ni(111) surface

Molecule-substrate interaction channels of metal-phthalocyanines (MPcs, including NiPc, CuPc, ZnPc, FePc, and CoPc) on graphene on Ni(111) were investigated by employing high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Except the expected IR-active modes, some Raman-active modes were also observed in all of MPcs, which are considered in this study. From the origination of the Raman-active features, it was deduced that MPcs are coupled with the substrate mainly through their central metal atom. The Raman-active modes appear as symmetric peaks in the HREELS in the case of MPcs with Ni, Cu, and Zn, whereas they are asymmetric and appear as a Fano line shape in the case of MPcs with Fe and Co. This spectroscopic difference indicates that the molecule-substrate coupling is completely different in the two cases mentioned above. The molecule-substrate interaction strength is considerably weak and comparable with the π-π interaction between molecules in the case of MPcs with Ni, Cu, and Zn, whereas it is much stronger in the case of MPcs with Fe and Co. From the HREELS observations, it can be suggested that the whole molecule can be effectively decoupled from the underneath Ni(111) by inserting a single layer of graphene between them in the case of MPcs with Ni, Cu, and Zn, whereas only benzene rings can be completely decoupled in the case of MPcs with Fe and Co.

Tumor necrosis factor-α and mortality in patients infected with Vibrio vulnificus

Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was evaluated in Vibrio vulnificus-infected patients at admission. The median TNF-α concentration in the non-survivor group was determined to be 261.0 pg/mL, in contrast to 69.5 pg/mL in the survivor group (P = 0.001). Hence, serum TNF-α concentration may potentially be an early predictor of the mortality in patients with Vibrio septicemia.

Single-crystalline ZnTe nanowires for application as high-performance green/ultraviolet photodetector

Single-crystalline ZnTe nanowires were prepared by a simple vapor transport and deposition method. Photodetectors of individual ZnTe nanowires were fabricated to study photoconductivity of the nanowires. It was observed the nanowire photodetectors show the highest visible-light photoconductive gains among all reported photodetectors based on 1D nanostructure semiconductors, including CdS, CdSe, ZnSe, etc. The high photosensitivity and relatively fast response speed are attributable to the high crystal quality of the ZnTe nanowires. These results reveal that such single-crystalline ZnTe nanowires are excellent candidates for optoelectronic applications.

Antihypertensive effectiveness of aliskiren for the 'real-world' management of hypertension: multilevel modelling of 180-day blood pressure outcomes (the Belgian DRIVER Study)

AIMS

The 'DRIVER' study was designed to investigate the 'real-world' effectiveness of aliskiren-based treatment of hypertension. This article reports the 180-day blood pressure (BP) outcomes, and the multilevel (physician- and patient-level) determinants thereof.

METHODS AND RESULTS

DRIVER was a prospective, observational, open-label, multi-centre, pharmaco-epidemiologic study of hypertensive patients treated with aliskiren in whom prior treatment failed or was not tolerated. 2070 patients (enrolled by 426 physicians) were enrolled; 1695 patients (81.9%) completed the 180-day aliskiren treatment period. Mean patient age was 64.2 ± 12.1 years; 53.7% were men, 25.3% diabetic and 40.7% had a high or very high cardiovascular (CV) risk. At 180 days, the mean ± SD reductions in systolic and diastolic BP were -22.9 ± 16.7 mmHg and -10.5 ± 10.9 mmHg respectively (both p < .001). 2007 and 2009 guideline-defined BP control was achieved in 36.4% and 56.3% of patients, respectively (both p < .001). 64.2% of eligible patients had a reduction in CV risk (p < .001). A physician-level class effect was responsible for 22.8% and 28.1% of variability in systolic and diastolic BP, respectively, for 20.1% of variability in BP control, and for 16.1% of variability in the reduction of CV risk. Both patient- (e.g. adherence) and physician-related factors (e.g. age and knowledge) were significant in profiling best response to treatment with aliskiren. Adverse events reported in this article were consistent with the aliskiren scientific leaflet.

CONCLUSION

Aliskiren is safe and effective in reducing BP, improving BP control and reducing global CV risk in a 'real-world' setting and for patients in whom prior treatment failed or was not tolerated. Optimising treatment adherence and strategic medical education may be ways of improving BP outcomes in patients with hypertension.

Vibrio vulnificus DNA load and mortality

We determined the association between DNA load and mortality in patients with Vibrio vulnificus infection. Real-time PCR performed on sera of 27 culture-positive patients showed a significantly higher median DNA load in nonsurvivors than in survivors. Hence, real-time PCR can be used as an early prognostic factor in V. vulnificus septicemia.

Bioprocessing papaya processing waste for potential aquaculture feed supplement--economic and nutrient analysis with shrimp feeding trial

Papaya processing waste (PPW), a major fruit processing waste in the Hawaii islands, served as substrate for yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) growth. The fermented PPW products containing nutrients of 45% crude protein and various fat, fiber, lignin, cellulose, and minerals were advantages to nutrients of yeast alone. Three experimental diets controlled at 35% protein formulation containing different levels of inclusion of PPW products and a commercial control diet were fed to shrimps for 8 weeks. The 50% inclusion of PPW diets were comparable to commercial feed in weight, growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survival rate. Such bioprocess treatment system would be economically feasible with the control of annual cost and increase of the amount of PPW treated. The selling price of PPW products and annual operation and maintenance cost were the most influential factors to additional profits. This study presented a promising alternative for environmental-friendly treatment of organic wastes as well as the sustainability of local agriculture and aquaculture industries.

Radiological findings and clinical features of thoracic immunoglobulin G4-positive plasma cell granuloma: two cases

Plasma cell granulomas, inflammatory pseudotumours and myofibroblastomas are synonymous with characteristic plasma cell infiltration in various body organs including the pancreas, liver, retroperitoneum and mediastinal structures causing idiopathic fibrosclerosis. Recently, a new concept has arisen regarding the relationship between immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-positive cell infiltration and idiopathic systemic fibrosclerosis. We report two cases showing IgG4-positive cell infiltration in the lung presenting as lung nodules with or without extrapulmonary manifestations.

Bacteria from drinking water supply and their fate in gastrointestinal tracts of germ-free mice: a phylogenetic comparison study

Microorganisms in drinking water sources may colonize in gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and this phenomenon may pose a potential health risk especially to immunocompromised population. The microbial community diversity of the drinking water was compared with the GI tracts of the mice using phylogenetic and statistical analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences. A group of germ-free mice were fed with drinking water from public water supply that passed through an automated watering system with documented biofilm accumulation. From drinking water and GI tracts of the germ-free mice, 179 bacteria were isolated and 75 unique 16S rRNA gene phylotypes were sequenced as operational taxonomic unit (OTU, >97% similarity). Three major groups of the genus Acidovorax (21%), Variovorax (42%) and Sphingopyxis (15%) were found in drinking water. Three major groups of the genus Ralstonia (24%), Staphylococcus (20%) and Bosea (22%) were found in GI tracts. Ralstonia (6%, 24%), Sphingopyxis (15%, 2%), Bacillus (3%, 5%), Escherichia coli (3%, 2%) and Mesorhizobium (3%, 5%) were found in both sources - drinking water and GI tract. A lineage-per-time plot shows that the both bacterial communities have convex shape lines, suggesting an excess of closely related ecotypes. A significant F(ST) test (0.00000-0.00901) coupled with an insignificant P test (0.07-0.46) implies that the tree contained several clades of closely related bacteria. Both phylogenetic and statistical results suggest a correlation between the bacterial communities originating in the drinking water and those associated with the GI tracts. The GI tract showed a higher genetic diversity than the drinking water, but a similar lineage-per-time plot was obtained overall. It means a sudden evolutionary transformation and colonization occurred with high selective forces.

Tunable electrical properties of silicon nanowires via surface-ambient chemistry

p-Type surface conductivity is a uniquely important property of hydrogen-terminated diamond surfaces. In this work, we report similar surface-dominated electrical properties in silicon nanowires (SiNWs). Significantly, we demonstrate tunable and reversible transition of p(+)-p-i-n-n(+) conductance in nominally intrinsic SiNWs via changing surface conditions, in sharp contrast to the only p-type conduction observed on diamond surfaces. On the basis of Si band energies and the electrochemical potentials of the ambient (pH value)-determined adsorbed aqueous layer, we propose an electron-transfer-dominated surface doping model, which can satisfactorily explain both diamond and silicon surface conductivity. The totality of our observations suggests that nanomaterials can be described as a core-shell structure due to their large surface-to-volume ratio. Consequently, controlling the surface or shell in the core-shell model represents a universal way to tune the properties of nanostructures, such as via surface-transfer doping, and is crucial for the development of nanostructure-based devices.

Field electron emission of ZnO nanowire pyramidal bundle arrays

A facile hydrothermal method was adopted to in situ grow ZnO nanowire pyramidal bundle arrays on zinc substrates at low growth temperature without the assistance of catalysts and templates. The bundle arrays were shown to form by sticking of nanowires at their tips. Field electron emission characterization of nanowires bundle arrays revealed a very low turn-on electric field of about 2.3 V/microm and a threshold electric field (corresponding to the field electron emission current density of 10 mA/cm2) of 6.8 V/microm, which are comparable to those observed in carbon nanotube arrays. The bundle arrays also show pronounced long-term field electron emission stability at a high current density. In addition, the formation mechanism of the pyramidal bundled arrays and the origin of the peculiar field electron emission properties were discussed.

Proteins from the Wnt pathway are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of mammary phyllodes tumours

BACKGROUND

The Wnt pathway is important in cell signalling transduction and is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple tumour types. A comprehensive analysis of the expression of Wnt signalling pathway proteins in mammary phyllodes tumours (PTs) has not been previously performed.

AIMS

To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of Wnt pathway proteins in a cohort of PTs, to determine their role in tumour pathogenesis and to identify any associations with patient outcome.

METHODS

65 PTs (34 benign, 23 borderline and 8 malignant) diagnosed at a single institution between 1990 and 2006 were analysed. Immunohistochemical stains were performed on tissue microarrays for beta-catenin, Wnt1, Wnt5a, SFRP4 and E-cadherin. Stroma and epithelium were scored separately.

RESULTS

Stromal cytoplasmic Wnt5a and SFRP4 expression showed significant progressive increases in expression with increasing grade (p = 0.002 and p = 0.02 respectively). Epithelial membranous and stromal nuclear beta-catenin, epithelial cytoplasmic Wnt1 and epithelial E-cadherin all also showed increasing expression with increasing tumour grade, however, the differences were not significant. Disease-free survival was significantly decreased (p = 0.0017) with positive epithelial E-cadherin staining.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that alterations in the Wnt pathway are important in the progression and in the epithelial and stromal interactions in PTs. They have important implications for understanding the pathogenesis of these uncommon but clinically important tumours.

Efficacy and tolerability of pegylated interferon-alpha2a plus ribavirin versus pegylated interferon-alpha2b plus ribavirin in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C patients

OBJECTIVES

The authors compared the efficacies and tolerabilities of pegylated interferon-alpha2a (PEG-IFN-alpha2a) + ribavirin and pegylated interferon-alpha2b (PEG-IFN-alpha2b) + ribavirin for the initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

A total of 126 treatment-naive patients (29.4% genotype 1, 70.6% genotype non-1) were treated with PEG-IFN-alpha2a 180 microg/week (group A, n = 79) or PEG-IFN-alpha2b 1.5 microg/kg/week (group B, n = 47) with ribavirin (800 mg/day for genotype non-1 or 1,000-1,200 mg/day for genotype 1) for 24 (genotype non-1) or 48 weeks (genotype 1).

RESULTS

End-of-treatment virologic response, sustained virologic response, and biochemical response were not significantly different in groups A and B (84.8 vs. 89.4%, 70.9 vs. 72.3%, and 70.9 vs. 74.5%, respectively; p > 0.05). In patients with the HCV genotype 1 or non-1, treatment responses were not significantly different. Multivariate analysis showed that HCV genotype only was an independent factor that affected sustained virologic response (p = 0.048). The proportions of treatment discontinuations in groups A and B were similar (10.1 vs. 10.6%; p = 1.000).

CONCLUSIONS

PEG-IFN-alpha2a or PEG-IFN-alpha2b + ribavirin combination therapies showed similar efficacies and tolerabilities as initial treatments for chronic hepatitis C.

Oestrogen receptor beta expression in pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland

AIMS

Pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary gland have gender and age distributions suggesting that oestrogen has a causal role. However, oestrogen receptor (ER)alpha is expressed at low levels in normal salivary gland tissues and data from salivary gland tumours are conflicting. There is preliminary evidence that the recently described ERbeta may be the major ER in salivary gland tissue. The aim of this study was to determine the nature and extent of ERbeta expression in pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary gland.

METHODS

Pleomorphic adenomas and normal tissues of the parotid gland from 49 patients were tested for ERalpha and ERbeta expression by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry. Associations were sought with patient age and gender.

RESULTS

ERalpha and ERbeta expression was localised mainly to the nuclei of ductal cells in normal tissues and the epithelial components in pleomorphic adenomas. Within each tissue and receptor type there were no associations between ER positivity and patient age or gender. ERbeta was expressed in almost twice as many normal tissues and pleomorphic adenomas as ERalpha. Expression of ERbeta was also significantly higher in tumour compared with normal tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

This is thought to be the first study of ERbeta in pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary gland. Findings support ERbeta as the major ER in salivary glands, and provide evidence that ERbeta may have a role in the development of pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary gland.

Coaxial nanocables of p-type zinc telluride nanowires sheathed with silicon oxide: synthesis, characterization and properties

Coaxial nanocables with a single-crystalline zinc telluride (ZnTe) nanowire core and an amorphous silicon oxide (SiO(x)) shell have been synthesized via a simple one-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method on gold-decorated silicon substrates. The single-crystal ZnTe nanowire core is in zinc-blende structure along the [111] direction, while the uniform SiO(x) shell fully covers the core with no observable pin-hole or crack. Formation mechanisms of the ZnTe-SiO(x) nanocables are discussed. The ZnTe nanowire core shows p-type electrical properties while the SiO(x) shell acts as an effective insulating layer. The ZnTe-SiO(x) nanocables may have potential applications in nanoscale devices, such as p-type FETs and nanosensors.

"Real-life" effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with severe persistent allergic asthma: The PERSIST study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the 16- and 52-week effectiveness of add-on omalizumab treatment under real-life heterogeneity in patients, settings, and physicians in an open-label, multicenter, pharmaco-epidemiologic study of patients with severe persistent allergic asthma in Belgium.

METHODS

Effectiveness outcomes included improvement in 2005 global initiative for asthma (GINA) classification, physician-rated global evaluation of treatment effectiveness (GETE), quality of life (Juniper asthma-related quality of life (AQLQ) and European quality of life questionnaire 5 dimensions (EQ-5D)), and severe asthma exacerbations. Patients studied included both intent-to-treat and per-protocol populations.

RESULTS

The sample (n=158) had a mean age of 48.17+/-17.18 years, and a slight majority were female (53.8%). Despite being treated with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2-agonists, all patients experienced frequent symptoms and had exacerbations in the past year. At 16 weeks, >82% had good/excellent GETE (P values <0.001), >82% had an improvement in total AQLQ scores of > or =0.5 points (P<0.001), and >91% were severe exacerbation-free (P<0.001). At 52 weeks, >72% had a good/excellent GETE rating (P<0.001), >84% had improvements in total AQLQ score of > or =0.5 points (P<0.001), >56% had minimally important improvements in EQ-5D utility scores (P=0.012), and >65% were severe exacerbation-free (P<0.001). Significant reductions in healthcare utilization compared to the one year prior to treatment were noted.

CONCLUSION

The PERSIST study shows better physician-rated effectiveness, greater improvements in quality of life, greater reductions in exacerbation rates, and greater reductions in healthcare utilization than previously reported in efficacy studies. Under real-life conditions, omalizumab is effective as add-on therapy in the treatment of patients with persistent severe allergic asthma.

High-quality Graphenes via a facile quenching method for field-effect transistors

Single- and few-layer graphene sheets with sizes up to 0.1 mm were fabricated by simply quenching hot graphite in an ammonium hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution. The identity and thickness of graphene sheets were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. In addition to its simplicity and scalability, the present synthesis can produce graphene sheets with excellent qualities in terms of sizes, purity, and crystal quality. The as-produced graphene sheets can be easily transferred to solid substrates for further processing. Field-effect transistors based on individual graphenes were fabricated and shown to have high ambipolar carrier mobilities.

Vertically aligned p-type single-crystalline GaN nanorod arrays on n-type Si for heterojunction photovoltaic cells

Vertically aligned Mg-doped GaN nanorods have been epitaxially grown on n-type Si substrate to form a heterostructure for fabricating p-n heterojunction photovoltaic cells. The p-type GaN nanorod/n-Si heterojunction cell shows a well-defined rectifying behavior with a rectification ratio larger than 10(4) in dark. The cell has a high short-circuit photocurrent density of 7.6 mAlcm2 and energy conversion efficiency of 2.73% under AM 1.5G illumination at 100 mW/cm2. Moreover, the nanorod array may be used as an antireflection coating for solar cell applications to effectively reduce light loss due to reflection. This study provides an experimental demonstration for integrating one-dimensional nanostructure arrays with the substrate to directly fabricate heterojunction photovoltaic cells.

Factors that affect longevity of intravenous cannulas: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Few guidelines exist to guide medical personnel on the most successful means of achieving sustained intravenous cannulation. This study examines the impact of gauge and site of intravenous cannulas (IC) on the longevity of ICs in hospitalized patients.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted on 500 ICs inserted into patients of St Vincent's Private hospital from December 2005 to June 2006. Patients were followed until the IC had been removed or changed. Statistical analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards.

RESULTS

Of the 500 ICs inserted, 37% were 18 g, 46% were 20 g and 18% were 22 g. Gauge of IC was the most significant predictor of increased longevity of IC (P = 0.0002, RR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.08-1.27). The median survival of 18, 20 and 22 g were 57 h (95% CI 49-72), 43 h (95% CI 36-48.5) and 29 h (95% CI 24-40.5), respectively. The site of IC placement influenced the longevity of ICs (P = 0.005, RR= 0.7, 95% CI 0.55-0.9), as did male gender (P = 0.03, RR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.6-0.97). However in subgroup analysis, the most marked effect on IC longevity was evident in those patients with 18 g placed in the forearm/wrist (median 72 h) with less marked changes in other site/gauge combinations. In contrast, 22 g ICs placed in the hand had a median lifespan of 29 h.

CONCLUSION

IC gauge and site of placement are important factors in determining IC longevity. 18 g ICs placed in the forearm/wrist can considerably increase the longevity of ICs and should be attempted in patients who require sustained cannulation.

p-Type ZnO nanowire arrays

Well-aligned ZnO nanowire (NW) arrays with durable and reproducible p-type conductivity were synthesized on alpha-sapphire substrates by using N2O as a dopant source via vapor-liquid-solid growth. The nitrogen-doped ZnO NWs are single-crystalline and grown predominantly along the [110] direction, in contrast to the [001] direction of undoped ZnO NWs. Electrical transport measurements reveal that the nondoped ZnO NWs exhibit n-type conductivity, whereas the nitrogen-doped ZnO NWs show compensated highly resistive n-type and finally p-type conductivity upon increasing N2O ratio in the reaction atmosphere. The electrical properties of p-type ZnO NWs are stable and reproducible with a hole concentration of (1-2) x 10(18) cm(-3) and a field-effect mobility of 10-17 cm2 V(-2) s(-1). Surface adsorptions have a significant effect on the transport properties of NWs. Temperature-dependent PL spectra of N-doped ZnO NWs show acceptor-bound-exciton emission, which corroborates the p-type conductivity. The realization of p-type ZnO NWs with durable and controlled transport properties is important for fabrication of nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Phylogenetic analysis of swine influenza viruses recently isolated in Korea

Several influenza A viral subtypes were isolated from pigs during a severe outbreak of respiratory disease in Korea during 2005 and 2006. They included a classical swine H1N1 subtype, two swine-human-avian triple-recombinant H1N2 subtypes, and a swine-human-avian triple-recombinant H3N2 subtype. In the current study, genetic characterization to determine the probable origin of these recent isolates was carried out for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all the recent Korean isolates of H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 influenza are closely related to viruses from the United States. Serologic and genetic analysis indicated that the Korean H1N2 viral subtypes were introduced directly from the United States, and did not arise from recombination between Korean H1N1 and H3N2. We suggest that the H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 viral subtypes that were isolated from the Korean swine population originated in North America, and that these viruses are currently circulating in the Korean swine population.

Post-operative health related quality of life assessment in scoliosis patients

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is a spinal deformity which affects patients' self image and confidence. Surgery is offered when the curve is more than 50 degrees based on its likelihood of progression. Studies on the radiological outcome of scoliosis correction are abundant. Therefore, it is the objective of this study to evaluate the health related quality of life in scoliosis patients who had undergone surgical correction in University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) patient questionnaire. This is a prospective evaluation of SRS-22 scores of thirty eight patients operated in our center over the past five years with a minimum follow up of one year. There were thirty two females and six males. Twenty six (68.4%) were Chinese, eight (21.1%) Malay and four (10.5%) Indian patients. The age of the patients ranged from twelve to twenty eight years, with a mean age of 18.4 +/- 3.5. Based on the King and Moe's classification, sixteen patients had King's 3 curve. The mean pre-operative Cobb angle was 68.6 degree and post-operative Cobb angle was 35.8 degree. The average curve correction was 48.5%. The overall score for SRS-22 was 4.2. The SRS-22 scores were highest for the pain domains and lowest for the functional domains. Satisfaction domain scored 4.3. The function domain scored significantly higher in those who have twenty four months or less follow up duration. Curve magnitude and the amount of correction did not significantly alter the SRS scores. In conclusion, patients were satisfied with the outcome of their operation. Although pain was common, the intensity of the pain was minimal. The amount of curve correction did not correlate with the quality of life after operation.

One-step multiplex RT-PCR for detection and subtyping of swine influenza H1, H3, N1, N2 viruses in clinical samples using a dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) system

The swine influenza virus (SIV) H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 subtypes circulate in Korean farm. A novel multiplex RT-PCR (m-RT-PCR) was developed to detect and subtype swine influenza viruses. This m-RT-PCR assay could identify H1, H3, N1 and N2 from clinical samples in single tube reaction using DPO system. Korean SIVs are closely related to the United States influenza viruses, and primers were developed for SIV from North American viruses and recently Korean isolates. The sensitivity of the m-RT-PCR was 10TCID(50)/ml for H1N1, H1N2 or H3N2. The lowest viral concentrations detected by single PCR were 1TCID(50)/ml for each subtype. Non-specific reactions were not observed when other viruses and bacteria were used to assess the m-RT-PCR. The results of m-RT-PCR were more effective than virus isolation or hemagglutination (HA) test. This assay using a DPO system provides a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective laboratory diagnosis for detecting and subtyping of SIV in pigs.

Cyclin D1 and p16 expression in pleomorphic adenoma and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland

AIMS

To compare cyclin D1 and p16(ink4) (p16) expression in normal tissue, pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) of the parotid gland.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry was used to examine cyclin D1 and p16 expression in 43 parotid tumours (29 PAs and 14 CXPAs). Cyclin D1 and p16 were both significantly more likely to be expressed in the neoplastic than in the normal epithelial and stromal components of PA and CXPA (P < 0.001 and P < 0.005, respectively). Cyclin D1 was more likely to be expressed in the malignant components of CXPA than in the benign components of PA (50% versus 31% and 31%, respectively), but the trend was not statistically significant. There was no evidence of this association for p16 (corresponding positivity rates 69% versus 81% and 52%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide preliminary evidence of roles for cyclin D1 and p16 in the development of PA and for cyclin D1 in the progression of PA to CXPA.