Polarization of THP-1-Derived Macrophage by Magnesium and MAGT1 Inhibition in Wound Healing

Background  Macrophages play a major role in wound healing and prevent infection from the outside. Polarization conversion of macrophages regulates aspects of inflammation, and two macrophages, M1 (classically activated) and M2 (alternatively activated), exist at both ends of broad-spectrum macrophage polarization. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether macrophage polarization can be artificially regulated. To this end, MgSO4 and small-interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting magnesium transport 1 (MAGT1) were used to investigate the effects of intracellular magnesium (Mg2+) concentrations on the differentiation of macrophages in vitro. Methods  THP-1 derived macrophages maintained in a culture medium containing 5 mM MgSO4 and siRNA to inhibit the expression of MAGT1. As comparative groups, THP-1 derived macrophages polarized into M1 and M2 macrophages by treatment with M1, M2 inducer cytokine. The polarization status of each group of cells was confirmed by cell surface antigen expression and cytokine secretion. Results  We found that MgSO4 treatment increased CD163 and CD206, similar to the effect noted in the M2 group. The expression of CD80 and HLA-DR was increased in the group treated with MAGT1 siRNA, similar to the effect noted in the M1 group. Functional assays demonstrated that the group treated with MgSO4 secreted higher levels of IL-10, whereas the MAGT1 siRNA-treated group secreted higher levels of IL-6 cytokines. Additionally, the conditional medium of the Mg2+ treated group showed enhanced migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Conclusion  Mg2+ can help to end the delay in wound healing caused by persistent inflammation in the early stages.

Extracellular Vesicles From a Three-Dimensional Culture of Perivascular Cells Accelerate Skin Wound Healing in a Rat

BACKGROUND

Soluble proteins and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial wound repair mediators in cell-based therapy. Previous studies reported that EVs of perivascular cells stimulated migration and proliferation of cell types involved in the dermatological wound healing process. However, these studies only show effects of EVs from perivascular cells (PVCs) for in vitro models.

METHODS

EVs were collected from 3D-cultured PVC (PVC-3D-EV) and compared with EVs from 2D-culture PVC (PVC-2D-EV) to investigate effects on wound contraction, angiogenesis, activation of myofibroblast, and collagen deposition.

RESULTS

PVC-3D-EV was significantly improved in terms of wound contraction compared with PVC-2D-EV and the control. Activation of myofibroblast and collagen deposition in a rat skin wound model was significantly stimulated by PVC-3D-EV. In addition, angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression were also highly stimulated by PVC-3D-EV. These results suggest that PVC-3D-EV was regulated in granulation tissue formation, angiogenesis, and wound contraction in healing of a rat skin wound. These results indicate a pivotal role of PVC-3D-EV in wound healing through multiple mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

3D-culture using a polystyrene scaffold is demonstrated to be a better system for providing better physiological conditions than the 2D-culture system, and EVs from 3D-cultured PVC could be a promising option for healing skin wound.

NO LEVEL ASSIGNED

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Phylogenetic group distributions, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance properties of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections in South Korea

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common diseases by which humans seek medical help and are caused mainly by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Studying the virulence and antibiotic resistance of UPEC with respect to various phylogenetic groups is of utmost importance in developing new therapeutic agents. Thus, in this study, we analysed the virulence factors, antibiotic resistance and phylogenetic groups among various UPEC isolates from children with UTIs. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that majority of the strains responsible for UTIs belonged to the phylogenetic groups B2 and D. Of the 58 E. coli isolates, 79·31% belonged to group B2, 15·51% to group D, 3·44% to group A and 1·72% to B1. Simultaneously, the number of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance exhibited were also significantly high in groups B2 and D compared to other groups. Among the isolates, 44·8% were multidrug resistant and of that 73% belonged to the phylogenetic group B2, indicating the compatibility of antibiotic resistance and certain strains carrying virulence factor genes. The antibiotic resistance profiling of UPEC strains elucidates that the antimicrobial agents such as chloramphenicol, cefoxitin, cefepime, ceftazidime might still be used in the therapy for treating UTIs.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

As the antibiotic resistance pattern of uropathogenic Escherichia coli varies depending on different geographical regions, the antibiotic resistance pattern from this study will help the physicians to effectively administer antibiotic therapy for urinary tract infections. In addition, the frequency of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes among various phylogenic groups could be effectively used to draw new targets for uropathogenic Escherichia coli antibiotic-independent therapies. The study emphasizes need of public awareness on multidrug resistance and for more prudent use of antimicrobials.

Inhibitory effect of chlorine and ultraviolet radiation on growth of Listeria monocytogenes in chicken breast and development of predictive growth models

The inhibitory effect of chlorine (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was investigated with and without UV radiation (300 mW·s/cm(2)) for the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in chicken breast meat. Using a polynomial model, predictive growth models were also developed as a function of chlorine concentration, UV exposure, and storage temperature (4, 10, and 15°C). A maximum L. monocytogenes reduction (0.8 log cfu, cfu/g) was obtained when combining chlorine at 200 mg/kg and UV at 300 mW·s/cm(2), and a maximum synergistic effect (0.4 log cfu/g) was observed when using chlorine at 100 mg/kg and UV at 300 mW·s/cm(2). Primary models developed for specific growth rate and lag time showed a good fitness (R(2) > 0.91), as determined by the reparameterized Gompertz equation. Secondary polynomial models were obtained using nonlinear regression analysis. The developed models were validated with mean square error, bias factor, and accuracy factor, which were 0.0003, 0.96, and 1.11, respectively, for specific growth rate and 7.69, 0.99, and 1.04, respectively, for lag time. The treatment of chlorine and UV did not change the color and texture of chicken breast after 7 d of storage at 4°C. As a result, the combination of chlorine at 100 mg/kg and UV at 300 mW·s/cm(2) appears to an effective method into inhibit L. monocytogenes growth in broiler carcasses with no negative effects on color and textural quality. Based on the validation results, the predictive models can be used to accurately predict L. monocytogenes growth in chicken breast.

The relationship between mast cell density and tumour grade in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

This study investigated the relationship between mast cell numbers and the grade of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Bladder TCC biopsies were obtained via transurethral resection and 45 stage T1 specimens were included in the study. Specimens were sorted into two groups, low grade (grade I) and high grade (grades II and III). Samples were stained using haematoxylin and eosin, toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining for tryptase. Mast cells were examined by light microscopy and cell density was recorded. Mast cell density was significantly higher in high-grade TCC than low-grade TCC. There was also a significant relationship between the number of mast cells identified using toluidine blue staining or immunohistochemical staining for tryptase. Detailed studies of mast cell function will enable the development of more effective antitumour therapies via mast cell manipulation.

Pancreatic carcinoid tumor with obstructive pancreatitis: multislice helical CT appearance: case report

Carcinoid tumor of the pancreas is rare. Moreover, obstructive pancreatitis secondary to a pancreatic carcinoid tumor is extremely rare. We report a case of pancreatic carcinoid tumor in a 50-year-old male who presented with pancreatitis. On multislice helical computed tomography, the main pancreatic duct was obstructed by a small round tumor, and the main pancreatic duct proximal to the tumor was dilated. The correlation between the main pancreatic duct and the tumor was well depicted on minimum intensity projection image. This is the first report of multislice helical computed tomorgraphic and minimum intensity projection image findings of a pancreatic carcinoid tumor presenting with pancreatitis.

Screening of Korean herbal medicines used to improve cognitive function for anti-cholinesterase activity

Methanolic extracts of seven herbs (Acorus calamus, Acorus gramineus, Bupleurm facaltum, Dioscorea batatas, Epimedium koreanum, Poria cocos and Zizyphi jujuba) used in traditional Korean medicine for improvement of memory and cognition in old age were tested for cholinesterase inhibitory properties using the Ellman colorimetric method. Significant inhibition of the enzyme at 200 microg/ml was observed for extracts from A. calamus and E. koreanum. The possible bases for the reputation of these and the other herbs tested are discussed in the light of previous investigations into their chemistry and biological activity.

A human case of gastric infection by Pseudoterranova decipiens larva

We report a case of gastric pseudoterranoviasis proven by gastrofiberscopy on Dec. 13, 1994. The 34-year-old male patient, residing in Chungju-shi, was admitted to Konkuk University Hospital complaining of prickling epigastric pain. The symptoms suddenly attacked him two days after eating raw marine fish at Chonan-shi. By the gastrofiberscopic examination, a long white-yellowish nematode was found from the fundus region of stomach. The worm was 34.50 x 0.84 mm in size, and was identified as a 3rd stage larva of Pseudoterranova decipiens judging from the position of the intestinal cecum. This is the 12th confirmed case of human pseudoterranoviasis in Korea.

A case of retroperitoneal lipoleiomyoma

We report a case of lipoleiomyoma which arose in retroperitoneum and presented with progressively distended abdomen in a 56-yr-old woman. The tumor was well encapsulated and consisted of two components, benign smooth muscle cells and mature adipose tissue without any atypia. It is likely to be mistaken as extrarenal angiomyolipoma, well-differentiated liposarcoma and leiomyoma with fatty change. We review the histologic characteristics of previously reported myolipoma and describe essential points of differential diagnosis.

A case of localized persistent interstitial pulmonary emphysema

Interstitial pulmonary emphysema is a well-documented complication of assisted mechanical ventilation in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Localized persistent interstitial pulmonary emphysema (LPIPE) confined to a single lobe was incidentally presented in a 4-day-old female infant. This patient was a normal full-term baby with no respiratory distress symptom and no experience of assisted mechanical ventilation. Chest radiograph showed radiolucent area in right lower lobe zone, which needed differential diagnosis from other congenital lesions such as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation and congenital lobar emphysema. CT scan showed irregular-shaped air cystic spaces and pathologically, cystic walls primarily consisted of compressed lung parenchyma and loose connective tissue intermittently lined by multinucleated foreign body giant cells.

Recombinant brassinosteroid insensitive 1 receptor-like kinase autophosphorylates on serine and threonine residues and phosphorylates a conserved peptide motif in vitro

BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) encodes a putative Leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase in Arabidopsis that has been shown by genetic and molecular analysis to be a critical component of brassinosteroid signal transduction. In this study we examined some of the biochemical properties of the BRI1 kinase domain (BRI1-KD) in vitro, which might be important predictors of in vivo function. Recombinant BRI1-KD autophosphorylated on serine (Ser) and threonine (Thr) residues with p-Ser predominating. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry identified a minimum of 12 sites of autophosphorylation in the cytoplasmic domain of BRI1, including five in the juxtamembrane region (N-terminal to the catalytic KD), five in the KD (one each in sub-domains I and VIa and three in sub-domain VIII), and two in the carboxy terminal region. Five of the sites were uniquely identified (Ser-838, Thr-842, Thr-846, Ser-858, and Thr-872), whereas seven were localized on short peptides but remain ambiguous due to multiple Ser and/or Thr residues within these peptides. The inability of an active BRI1-KD to transphosphorylate an inactive mutant KD suggests that the mechanism of autophosphorylation is intramolecular. It is interesting that recombinant BRI1-KD was also found to phosphorylate certain synthetic peptides in vitro. To identify possible structural elements required for substrate recognition by BRI1-KD, a series of synthetic peptides were evaluated, indicating that optimum phosphorylation of the peptide required R or K residues at P - 3, P - 4, and P + 5 (relative to the phosphorylated Ser at P = 0).

Arrangement of the systemic and pulmonary venous components of the atrial chambers in hearts with isomeric atrial appendages

BACKGROUND

The morphological definition of atrial chambers, and the determination of atrial laterality, are based on analysis of the structure of the atrial appendages. The systemic and pulmonary venous connections to the heart, nonetheless, are important in the management of patients having isomeric appendages. In this study, therefore, we analysed the morphology of the postero-superior walls of the atrial chambers so as to provide evidence concerning the morphogenetic background of those hearts, and to improve operative management.

METHODS

We reviewed 15 autopsied specimens with isomeric right appendages, and 10 with isomeric left appendages, paying particular attention to the morphology of the systemic and pulmonary venous connections. The postero-superior walls of the atrial chambers can be made up of the atrial body, the systemic venous components, or the pulmonary venous component. We analysed the contributions made by each of these components.

RESULTS

The postero-superior walls of the atrial chambers were markedly variable, but could be grouped into five patterns. Bilaterally well-developed systemic venous components and absence of the pulmonary venous component within the hypoplastic atrial body were present in 9 hearts with extracardiac pulmonary venous connections in the setting of right isomerism. Bilaterally well-developed systemic venous components, and a hypoplastic pulmonary venous component within the hypoplastic atrial body, were present in 5 hearts with intracardiac pulmonary venous connections in right isomerism. Bilaterally well-developed systemic venous components, and a hypoplastic pulmonary venous component within the sizable atrial body, were present in 1 heart with an intracardiac pulmonary venous connection in right isomerism. A well-developed pulmonary venous component within the atrial body, and hypoplasia of one systemic venous component, were present in 7 hearts with left isomerism. A well-developed pulmonary venous component within the atrial body, and hypoplasia of bilateral systemic venous components, were present in 3 hearts with left isomerism.

CONCLUSIONS

The postero-superior walls of the atrial chambers in hearts with isomeric atrial appendages can be analysed on the basis of a compound structure made of bilateral systemic venous components, a central pulmonary venous component, and the body of the atrium. Hearts with isomeric right appendages have absence or hypoplasia of the pulmonary venous component, while hearts with isomeric left appendages have hypoplastic systemic venous components.

Inhibitory effect of meconium on pulmonary surfactant function tested in vitro using the stable microbubble test

Meconium aspiration syndrome is related to mechanical obstruction of the airways and subsequent chemical pneumonitis. It has also been suggested that meconium causes inhibition of surfactant function. To assess its inhibitory effect on surfactant function in vitro, we used a stable microbubble (SM) test that was thought to reflect the adequacy of pulmonary surfactant. The mixtures were prepared by adding serial dilutions of human meconium to various concentrations of Surfactant-TA (Surfacten). The SM count at each concentration of surfactant significantly increased with the increasing concentration of surfactant. This shows that the SM test closely reflects the quantified function of surfactant. When various concentrations of meconium were added to the surfactant concentration of 0.05 mg/ml and 0.25 mg/ml, the SM test results were decreased even at low concentrations of meconium. Also the increase in the meconium concentration caused a decrease in the SM test result, which was dependent on the surfactant and the meconium concentration, accordingly. These results suggest that meconium inhibits surfactant function.

CONCLUSION

The stable microbubble test is an effective indirect method that tests the changes in surfactant quantity. In the in vitro experiment, we observed an inhibitory effect of meconium on the surfactant activity using the stable microbubble test.

Rheological Evidence for the Silica-Mediated Gelation of Xanthan Gum

In the present study, the conformational effects of the adsorbed polyelectrolyte xanthan gum on the stability of colloidal silica suspensions were investigated by monitoring the rheological responses. The conformational transition of xanthan molecules was induced by changes in pH, added salts, and annealing temperature. The suspension stability was probed by examining the rheological behavior such as shear viscosity versus shear rate and shear moduli versus oscillatory frequency. The oscillatory shear measurements provided useful information on the structural change in the suspension. The results showed that the silica particles dispersed in the xanthan solution remained stable at pH 9 for a long period, whereas at pH 2, the gel network structure formed within a few days. When the gel structure formed, the storage modulus was larger than the loss modulus over the entire frequency range considered here and exhibited a thixotropic behavior. The heat treatment temperature best for stabilizing the silica suspension was shown about 60 degrees C and the silica sol treated at this temperature sustained its stability for more than 6 weeks. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Alteration of acetaminophen metabolism by sulfate and steroids in primary monolayer hepatocyte cultures of rats and mice

Sulfotransferase (ST) is considered to be generally not induced by xenobiotics. However, it has been reported that steroids such as dexamethasone (DEX) and pregnenolone-16a-carbonitrile (PCN) are effective ST inducers in rats, and sulfation of xenobiotics is quite different in rats and mice. The present study is primarily aimed at determining the effect of sulfate and steroids on the metabolism of acetaminophen (AA) in vitro using monolayer cultured hepatocytes of Sprague-Dawley rats and ICR mice. Hepatocytes of rats and mice were incubated with inorganic sulfate (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mM) and AA in SO4-depleted media. AA sulfation rates increased as the sulfate concentration was raised to 1.0 mM in rats, whereas the addition of inorganic sulfate to the media had a lesser effect in mice hepatocytes. After pretreatment with DEX (0.1, 1.0, 10, 100 microM) and PCN (0.1, 1.0, 10 microM) for 3 d, hepatocytes were incubated with AA in media containing 4.0 mM SO4-. Pretreatment of the hepatocytes with DEX caused an increase in the glucuronidation and sulfation of AA by 2-3 folds in rats, but to a lesser extent in mice. PCN significantly enhanced the formation of AA-glucuronide and AA-sulfate in mice, but had a minimal effect on rat hepatocytes. In summary, sulfate and DEX markedly enhanced the formation of AA-sulfate in rats hepatocytes, and DEX and PCN increased the sulfation of AA in mice hepatocytes. These results partially support the claim that DEX and PCN are effective ST and uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase inducers in vivo.

The roles of the N-linked glycans and extension regions of soybean beta-conglycinin in folding, assembly and structural features

Beta-conglycinin, one of the dominant storage proteins of soybean, is a trimer composed of three subunits, alpha, alpha' and beta. All subunits are N-glycosylated and alpha and alpha' contain extension regions in addition to the core regions common to all subunits. Non-glycosylated individual subunits and deletion mutants (alpha(c) and alpha'(c)) lacking the extension regions of alpha and alpha' were expressed in Escherichia coli. All recombinant proteins were purified to near homogeneity and appeared to have the correct conformation, as judged by CD, density-gradient centrifugation and gel-filtration profiles, indicating that the N-linked glycans and extension regions are not essential for the folding and the assembly into trimers of beta-conglycinin. Density-gradient centrifugation, gel-filtration and differential scanning calorimetry profiles of the recombinant proteins and the native beta-conglycinin indicated that the N-linked glycans and extension regions contribute to the dimension of beta-conglycinin but not to the density and the thermal stability. Comparing the solubilities of the individual subunits with those of deletion mutants, only the alpha and alpha' subunits were soluble at lower ionic strength (mu < 0.25) at around the pH value of the endoplasmic reticulum. This suggests that the extension regions play an important role in the prevention of aggregation in the endoplasmic reticulum in analogy with the N-linked glycans.

Control of oxidative phosphorylation, gluconeogenesis, ureagenesis and ATP turnover in isolated perfused rat liver analyzed by top-down metabolic control analysis

We have analyzed the control exerted by the pathways of oxidative phosphorylation, gluconeogenesis, ureagenesis, and maintenance ATP consumption over each other's rates in isolated, perfused rat liver using top-down metabolic control analysis. The livers from fasted rats were perfused with 3-hydroxybutyrate as respiratory substrate, lactate as substrate for gluconeogenesis, and ammonium as substrate for urea synthesis, in conditions where these pathways were only linked by their common intermediates: ATP, ADP, and Pi. The rates of oxygen consumption, glucose and urea synthesis were measured continuously. The pathways were perturbed either by adding specific inhibitors or by adding new pathways that consumed ATP, and the relative changes in pathway rates were used to calculate the flux control coefficients of each pathway over all pathway rates. When the liver was in a relatively inactive metabolic state, where ATP was only being used by the maintenance ATP-consuming pathways, then essentially all the control over ATP production and consumption was located in the maintenance ATP consumers with ATP production having no control. Whereas, when the liver was in a highly active state using extra ATP for both glucose and urea synthesis, then ATP production (from oxidative phosphorylation) had strong control over its own rate and the rates of glucose and urea synthesis, but gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis still had strong control over their own rates and negative control over each others rates, i.e. they competed for the limited ATP supply. The rate of the maintenance ATP consumers is remarkably insensitive to changes in ATP production and consumption, but exerts considerable control over all other pathways. These results indicate that the general assumption that the rates of ATP production and consumption are controlled exclusively by ATP consumers is false under conditions where a significant amount of ATP is used for biosynthetic processes, such as glucose and urea synthesis, and indicate that the latter processes may be partly controlled by regulators of ATP production and by other ATP-consuming pathways.

Abnormal morphological patterns of the left ventricular myocardium in the critical stenosis of the aortic valve and the intact ventricular septum

The evaluation of prognostic factors in infants with critical stenosis of the aortic valve and intact ventricular septum is often misleading due to a complex interaction among lesions in the mitral and aortic valves, and the left ventricular myocardium. The clinical parameters on the left ventricular function, such as ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic volume, are of particular interest as their effects on survival are very controversial. We performed a clinicopathologic analysis of two autopsied cases of this disease. Besides the morphological hallmarks of the aortic and mitral valves, these two cases showed two extreme types of pathology in the left ventricular myocardium, which might have significant impacts on the clinical evaluation of the left ventricular function. Case 1 showed endocardial fibroelastosis associated with abnormal intertrabecular spaces (so-called spongy myocardium), obscuring accurate estimation of the left ventricular end-diastolic volume. Case 2 showed ischemic necrosis of the apical part of the left ventricular myocardium. This infarct was associated with acute and chronic subendocardial ischemia and mild endocardial fibroelastosis. Aggravation of the left ventricular failure could be caused by the recent ischemic insult. The evaluation of the left ventricular function, therefore, should include the evaluation of the morphologic status of the myocardium as regards to whether there is ischemia, endocardial fibroelastosis or hypertrophied trabeculae in addition to stenotic lesions in the aortic and mitral valves.

Isolation of a root-specific cDNA encoding a ns-LTP-like protein from the roots of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings

A root-specific cDNA clone, PVR3, was isolated from a bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root cDNA library by a differential screening procedure. The nucleotide sequence of PVR3 contains an open reading frame coding for an 11.14 kDa polypeptide of 102 amino acid residues; the first 25 amino acids correspond to the sequence characteristic of a signal peptide. Comparison of the deduced PVR3 polypeptide sequence with the polypeptide sequences of previously cloned genes indicates that PVR3 may encode a ns-LTP-like protein. Molecular modelling of the PVR3 protein predicts that it has a three-dimensional structure that is similar to the three-dimensional model determined from the maize ns-LTP. The PVR3 mRNA accumulated mainly in the roots of young seedlings. It can be detected at low levels in flowers, but it is not detected in other organs. Genomic Southern blot analysis indicates that the genomic DNA corresponding to PVR3 cDNA is encoded by a single gene or small gene family in the bean genome.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in Wilms' tumor: a comparative study of pre- and post-chemotherapy specimens

A total of 36 Wilms' tumors were immunohistochemically analyzed for proliferative (proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labeling) index (PI) with special reference to the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on the proliferative potential of tumors and differences in PI according to the histologic components (epithelial, blastemal and stromal). The cases were divided into two groups according to the status of chemotherapy at the time of surgical removal of the tumors. In group I (n = 12, cases with pre-operative chemotherapy), the mean PI +/- s.d. values of epithelial, blastemal and stromal types were 19.5 (n = 1), 10.1 +/- 5.28 (n = 8), and 16.2 +/- 13.49 (n = 3), respectively, and in group II (n = 24, cases without preoperative chemotherapy), 45.2 +/- 15.41 (n = 3), 28.5 +/- 16.92 (n = 10), and 23.2 +/- 4.45 (n = 2), respectively. The cases with mixed histology in group II (n = 9) had comparable PI values for each histologic component. The mean PI +/- s.d. was 12.1 +/- 7.76 in group I and 31.9 +/- 15.95 in group II. The PI value of group II was significantly higher than that of group I (P < 0.001). Alterations in the PI value following chemotherapy implied that the interpretation of tumor histology following chemotherapy should be more prudent because alteration of the PI, which reflects the proliferative potential of tumor cells, suggests modified biology of viable cells in pretreated cases as a consequence of chemotherapy.