Basal expression of the inducible transcription factors c-Jun, JunB, JunD, c-Fos, FosB, and Krox-24 in the adult rat brain

Jun, Fos, and Krox proteins are inducible transcription factors contributing to the control of gene expression. The elucidation of their individual expression patterns in the nervous system provides new insights into the ability of neurons to react with changes of gene expression to external stimulation under physiological or pathological conditions. The expression of c-Jun, JunB, JunD, c-Fos, FosB, and Krox-24 was investigated in the brain of untreated male Sprague-Dawley and female BDIX rats by immunocytochemistry using specific antibodies. JunD immunoreactivity (IR) labeled the highest number of neurons, being present in almost all neurons of the brain. JunD was expressed at high levels in those areas that also exhibit c-Jun, JunB, c-Fos, and FosB-IR, such as locus coeruleus, periolivary nuclei (ncl.), pontine and central gray, lateral lemniscal ncl., inferior and superior colliculi, leaflet of geniculate ncl., midline nuclei of thalamus, dorsomedial and paraventricular ncl. of hypothalamus, ncl. supraopticus, dorsolateral part of caudate putamen and lateral septal ncl. In contrast to the high number of JunD-positive neurons, c-Jun, JunB, c-Fos, and FosB proteins were detected in rather low numbers of neurons in these brain areas; the rank of the number of immunopositive neurons was c-Fos > JunB > c-Jun > FosB. Particularly high levels of expression were observed for c-Jun in medullary motoneurons, medial geniculate ncl., arcuate ncl., and dentate gyrus, and for JunB in the CA-1 area of the hippocampus and islands of Calleja. The zinc finger protein Krox-24 was expressed in many neurons of these brain areas, with only discrete Jun- and Fos-IR; additionally, many intensely labeled nuclei were present in spinal ncl. of the trigeminal ventromedial ncl. of the hypothalamus and the CA-1 area of the hippocampus. In the cerebellum, nuclear labeling was detected only for c-Jun, JunD, and Krox-24 in granule cells. JunD-IR was also found in glial cells of gray matter and fiber tracts, whereas glial c-Jun-IR was observed only in fiber tracts. Apart from a weak JunD-IR, some areas did not express Jun, Fos, and Krox proteins such as cuneate and gracile ncl., venterobasal complex of thalamus, globus pallidum, and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Our data indicate that inducible transcription factors of the fos, jun, and krox gene families show patterns of individual expression in untreated animals, thereby reflecting different mechanisms and/or thresholds for induction under physiological conditions.

Computed tomography guided core needle biopsy diagnosis of pelvic actinomycosis

BACKGROUND

Pelvic actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative inflammatory disease caused by the anaerobic Gram-positive bacilli Actinomyces israelii. The propensity of this disease to simulate gynecological malignancies has been described previously. The great majority of these patients were diagnosed with actinomycotic diseases during or after exploratory laparotomy, but rarely preoperatively. We reviewed the literature pertaining the management of pelvic actinomycosis.

CASE

A nulliparous woman with a long history of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) and recent Papanicolaou smear findings consistent with the presence of actinomyces presented with chronic vague lower abdominal pain, weight loss, poor appetite, and recent increase in abdominal girth associated with a large immobile pelvic mass. Transcutaneous computed tomography guided core needle biopsy established the diagnosis of pelvic actinomycosis obviating immediate surgical intervention. Intravenous and subsequent long-term oral penicillin therapy was constituted and resulted in a significant decrease in the size of the pelvic mass.

CONCLUSION

In patients presenting with pelvic masses and a history of IUD placement, actinomycotic infection should be considered and diagnosis attempted by imaging guided needle biopsy. Furthermore, this case suggested that correct nonsurgical diagnosis of pelvic actinomycosis followed by prolonged antibiotic therapy might eliminate the need for extensive extirpative surgery and assist in maintaining future fertility.

The efficacy of cervical conization in the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-positive women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cervical conization in the treatment of CIN in HIV-positive women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-six HIV-positive women treated with cervical conization for CIN were stratified into four groups based on surgical margin and endocervical curetting (ECC) status (group 1: -margin/-ECC, group 2: +margin/-ECC, group 3: +margin/+ECC, group 4: -margin/+ECC). The rate of histologically proven recurrent CIN was calculated for each group and compared using chi(2) analysis. The effect of +margins, +ECC, degree of dysplasia, and CD4 count on the risk of recurrence was determined by logistic regression.

RESULTS

Forty-nine percent of patients with negative margins and negative ECC experienced recurrence, most within 36 months. There was no significant difference in recurrence rate for patients with positive margins (69.2%, P = 0.19), positive ECC (50%, P = 0.97), or positive margins and ECC (66.7%, P = 0.41) when compared to patients with complete excision of dysplasia. No significant difference in the mean CD4 count of patients with and without recurrent dysplasia (316 vs. 390 cells/mm3, P = 0.37) was observed. Logistic regression showed only degree of dysplasia in the cone specimen to have a marginally significant linear relationship with recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Cervical conization is not an effective method for eradicating CIN in HIV-positive women. Most patients will recur despite complete excision of dysplasia. Surgical margin status, ECC status, and CD4 count appear to have no effect on recurrence rate. Although multiple procedures were necessary in some patients, cone biopsy was effective in preventing progression to invasive cervical cancer in all cases.

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma of the vulva

BACKGROUND

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) is a subset of sweat gland carcinoma first described as a specific entity by D. J. Goldstein, R. J. Barr, and D. J. Santa Cruz (Cancer 1982;50:566-72). We report the first case of MAC occurring on the vulva and review the literature pertaining to this rare tumor.

CASE

A 43-year-old multiparous black woman presented initially to Kings County Hospital Medical Center with a chief complaint of a vulvar lesion arising on the left labia majora which she had noted for 4 years prior to presentation. Aside from increasing paresthesia in the area, she denied any constitutional symptoms. Her past medical history was significant only for hyperthyroidism and mild hypertension and surgical history was noncontributory. Gynecologic history was unremarkable, with sporadic care over the last 20 years. Physical examination revealed a 1.5 x 2.0-cm raised, well-circumscribed, firm mobile lesion on the left labia majora. It was noted to be yellow in color with the surrounding tissue being unremarkable in character. The remainder of her gynecologic examination and lymph node survey was unremarkable. Preoperative chest X ray was negative as was the CAT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. All laboratory values were within normal limits. A Pap smear done preoperatively was significant for atypical squamous and glandular cells of undetermined significance. Subsequent colposcopic examination of the cervix was remarkable for cervicitis and was adequate, with the entire transformation zone visualized. Both endocervical curettage and endometrial biopsy were normal. Initially, an excisional biopsy was performed with final pathology demonstrating microcystic adnexal carcinoma with positive surgical margins. She subsequently underwent a left radical hemivulvectomy with bilateral inguinal groin lymph node dissection. At the time of surgery, the left labia majora was noted to be well healed, with a residual surgical scar easily discernible. No areas of discoloration were noted and digital palpation of the area was unremarkable. Microscopic residual tumor was noted; however, all surgical margins and lymph nodes were negative for tumor. Her postoperative course was unremarkable. The patient has continued to do well since the time of her surgery and is being followed conservatively.

CONCLUSION

Radical vulvectomy should be performed when MAC occurs in the vulva to secure negative margins of resection. Groin dissection should be reserved for cases in which the inguinal lymph nodes are clinically suspicious or in cases of tumor recurrence.

Autoantibodies to double-stranded DNA-Intermethod comparison between four commercial immunoassays and a research biosensor-based device

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often develop a wide variety of serological manifestations including the presence of antibodies to double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA). Positivity for anti-dsDNA constitutes one of the laboratory criteria for the diagnosis of SLE and is therefore clinically relevant. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracies of four commercial anti-dsDNA immunoassays and compared the results with a recently established surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor chip with covalently chip-immobilized dsDNA. The anti-dsDNA measurements were performed retrospectively in 50 patients with clinically proven SLE, 39 patients with other autoimmunopathies and 20 healthy controls. Data were evaluated by Receiver-Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis, with special regard to SLE patients suffering from lupus nephritis. The ROC analyses for the four immunoassays and the SPR biosensor resulted in the following area-under-the-curve (AUC) and diagnostic efficiency (DE) values in descending order: Bindazyme AUC, 0.89; DE, 0.88; ELiA AUC, 0.89; DE, 0.86; SPR biosensor AUC, 0.82; DE, 0.80; Farrzyme AUC, 0.77; DE, 0.77; Farr AUC, 0.77; DE, 0.70. When considering the 22 nephritis SLE patients the following AUC were observed: Bindazyme 0.98; EliA 0.95; SPR biosensor 0.93; Farr 0.89; Farrzyme 0.88. Although various methodologies for the determination of anti-dsDNA were compared, the overall diagnostic accuracy was found satisfactory in all immunoassays. Best data were found for the Bindazyme assay. We referenced the measurements to our in-house SPR biosensor device which showed good AUC and DE values. When optimized, this technique, allowing to monitor antigen/ antibody interactions in real-time, may add a new analytical quality to the existing methods, potentially beneficial in diagnosis and clinical monitoring of SLE.

The significance of ASCUS cytology in HIV-positive women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of dysplasia associated with a cytologic diagnosis of atypical cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of cervical cytology, colposcopic impression, and cervical biopsy results was performed on 261 HIV-positive women diagnosed with ASCUS. The prevalence and grade of histologically documented cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was determined. Patients with CD4 counts above and below 200 cells/mm(3) were compared using chi(2) analysis to determine any effect of worsening immunosuppression on the rates of associated dysplasia.

RESULTS

Seven hundred sixty-one Pap smears were performed during the study period. Two hundred nine (27%) were diagnosed as ASCUS. All patients (pts) received colposcopic evaluation. The incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) effect, low-grade CIN (I), and high-grade CIN (II, III, and carcinoma in situ) documented by cervical biopsy, cervical conization or endocervical curettings was 40, 17, and 15%, respectively. No cases of invasive cancer were found. These results are similar to those of previous cytohistologic studies of ASCUS in HIV-untested populations. There was no significant difference in frequency or severity of CIN in pts with severe immunosuppression (P = 0.4).

CONCLUSION

A cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS in HIV-positive women identifies a group at significant risk for histologic abnormalities. The majority of pts will be diagnosed with HPV or low-grade CIN. HIV infection and severe immunosuppression do not appear to increase the frequency or severity of CIN associated with ASCUS. Given the 32% risk of associated CIN, all HIV-positive women with ASCUS cytology should undergo colposcopic evaluation.

Rapid progression of primary vaginal squamous cell carcinoma in a young HIV-infected woman

BACKGROUND

The association of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with rapid progression of cervical and anal squamous cell carcinoma has been clearly established by several studies. Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection of the anogenital tract is believed to be the causative agent of cervical, anal, vaginal, and vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. While a myriad of reports exist in the literature pertaining to the rapid progression of cervical and anal carcinoma in HIV-infected patients, no association of HIV infection and vaginal carcinoma has been reported. We present an unusual case of a young woman infected with HIV who was diagnosed with advanced vaginal carcinoma and succumbed to her disease shortly thereafter despite aggressive treatment.

CASE

A 40-year-old woman with a 2-year history of HIV infection presented with Stage IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina and a large vesicovaginal fistula from the tumor eroding through the posterior bladder wall. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a large tumor replacing the vagina with mild hydronephrosis and diffuse pelvic and inguinal lymphadenopathy. She underwent urinary diversion with a transverse colon conduit followed by pelvic radiation with weekly cisplatin chemosensitization. A repeat CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis upon completion of her treatment revealed progression of disease with multiple liver metastases and gastrohepatic ligament adenopathy. She subsequently died of advanced metastatic vaginal carcinoma 2 months after completion of treatment.

CONCLUSION

Due to the rarity of primary vaginal carcinoma, the clinical behavior of this neoplasm in the HIV-infected patient is poorly understood. Our case indicates that, although vaginal carcinoma is a disease of the elderly, young women infected with HIV and HPV are predisposed not only to develop cervical or anal carcinoma but also may be at increased risk for vaginal carcinoma with more aggressive and less responsive disease. Furthermore, although vaginal carcinoma is usually a slow-growing neoplasm, this case illustrates the aggressive behavior of such a tumor when associated with HIV infection.

Cone biopsy and pathologic findings at radical hysterectomy in stage I cervical carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between cone biopsy and pathologic findings at radical hysterectomy in stage I cervical carcinoma.

METHODS

Fifty-four patients diagnosed by cone biopsy with stage I cervical carcinoma and treated with radical hysterectomy comprised the study group. The association between the depth of invasion on conization, lymph-vascular invasion, positive cone margins, positive endocervical curettage (ECC), and the depth of residual invasion in the radical hysterectomy specimen was examined using Pearson r and point biserial correlation. Independent predictors of the depth of residual invasion were determined by multiple regression.

RESULTS

The depth of residual invasion correlated significantly with the depth of invasion (r =.374) and presence of lymph-vascular invasion (r(pb)=.372) in the conization specimen, post-cone ECC status (r(pb) =.669), and age at diagnosis (r =.347). The same factors were jointly assessed using multiple regression (R(2) =.636, P<.001). Depth of invasion on conization, lymph-vascular invasion, and ECC status were identified as independent predictors of the depth of residual invasion. Patients with deep (5 mm or greater) stromal invasion and lymph-vascular invasion on conization had significantly higher rates of positive parametrial margins (22% compared with zero, P =.001) and adjuvant radiation (66.7% compared with 20%, P =.004) compared with all other patients.

CONCLUSION

Depth of invasion, presence of lymph-vascular invasion, and age at diagnosis were independent predictors of the depth of residual invasion in the subsequent hysterectomy specimen. These factors should be considered in treatment planning. Patients with a combination of these factors may have increased risk for deep residual invasion, positive hysterectomy margins, and adjuvant radiation.

[Implementing change--steps toward living environment-oriented support for gerontopsychiatric patients and their caregivers, DGGG Congress, September 2001, Kiel]

The change which is necessary in home and long-term institutional elderly care, first of all, concerns the attitudes, values and norms and the acquisition of key competencies in dealing with people who have a gerontopsychiatric disease. Elderly care and attention of people suffering from dementia therefore requires a principal change in thought. The feeling of well-being is the pre-conditioning and starting point of the caring action, not its result. People suffering from dementia need the feeling of trust and security in order to be able to accept measures which seem to be illogical for them. The adjustment is therefore required from outside by shaping an environment, which provides security and orientation, and by building on caring attention relating to the patients' past interests and history. Participants of the conference could gather information about such innovative approaches in professional elderly care for people suffering from dementia in various workshops, gallery walk and a poster session. All presentations showed an approach, which was oriented towards the living environment and in which questions about the quality and continuity of life were considered to be as important as the aspects of the necessary elderly care. It is not a lack of knowledge about a subject and value oriented care for elderly people suffering from gerontopsychiatric diseases, but rather a deficit in putting this knowledge into practice, as the examples clearly showed. Gerontopsychiatric competencies have to be broadly developed and implemented.

[MR imaging of lymph nodes using Gadofluorine M: feasibility in a swine model at 1.5 and 3T]

PURPOSE

To investigate the potential of Gadofluorine M for targeted lymph node imaging in a human size animal model and on a clinical MR scanner at 1.5 and 3 T.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pelvic and cervical lymph nodes in a swine model were investigated prior to and 24 hours after intravenous administration of 50 micromol/kg body weight Gadofluorine M, an experimental contrast agent. MR imaging was carried out on clinical 1.5 T and 3 T whole-body MR systems using clinically available coils and T 1-weighted sequences. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) with respect to the surrounding tissue were assessed and compared using the Student's t-test. The Gd concentration in the lymph nodes (n = 43) was measured post mortem by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES).

RESULTS

Gadofluorine M allowed for high signal and high contrast visualization of lymph nodes in all stations on post-contrast images with a significantly increased SNR and CNR (SNR pelvic lymph nodes post vs. pre: 46 +/- 7 vs.14 +/- 3, SNR cervical lymph nodes post vs. pre: 105 +/- 64 vs. 32 +/- 21; CNR pelvic lymph node vs. muscle post vs. pre 28 +/- 5 vs. 0.2 +/- 0.5, CNR cervical lymph node vs. muscle post vs. pre 76 +/- 53 vs. 11 +/- 15, p < 0.05 for all comparisons). The SNR and CNR in the pelvis were further improved using 3 T compared to 1.5 T scanners (SNR lymph nodes 3 T vs. 1.5 T 84 +/- 6 vs. 46 +/- 7, CNR lymph node vs. muscle 3 T vs. 1.5 T 53 +/- 9 vs. 28 +/- 5 respectively, p < 0.05). A high concentration of Gd in the lymph nodes was found (149 +/- 25 mmol Gd/L).

CONCLUSION

Gadofluorine M accumulates in the lymph nodes and allows for selective targeted high contrast MR imaging of lymph node tissue in a large animal model using clinically available MR imaging techniques. 3 T further improves SNR and CNR compared to 1.5 T.

The impact of pretreatment staging laparotomy on survival in locally advanced cervical carcinoma

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the effect of pretreatment surgical staging on survival of patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma. Two hundred and seventy-four women with cervical cancer stages IIB-IVA treated with primary radiotherapy comprised the study group. Eighty-nine patients underwent pretreatment staging laparotomy (group 1) and 172 patients underwent clinical staging (group 2). Thirteen patients underwent CT guided biopsy of paraaortic adenopathy. Paraaortic metastases were detected in 12.3% and intraabdominal metastases were found in 4.5% of patients in group 1. Extended field radiotherapy and/or systemic chemotherapy were given in these cases. The median survival of patients in group 1 was statistically longer than that of patients in group 2, 29 months vs 19 months, respectively (p=.01). Multivariate analysis controlling for both stage and age showed pretreatment staging laparotomy is a significant predictor of survival (p=.03). Our data suggest that surgical staging may be beneficial in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma.

Magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative determination of tumor resectability in previously irradiated groin tumor

We present an unusual case in which magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was utilized in the preoperative determination of resectability of a large inguinal tumor. The patient had previously presented with a large fungating, surgically nonresectable mass, which impinged upon the anterior ramus of the pubic bone. Following chemotherapy and radiation, the mass appeared more mobile and surgically resectable. Due to fibrosis and induration, the relationship of the tumor and underlying femoral vascular bundle were unclear. MR imaging clearly depicted that the tumor was sufficiently distant from the vessels, to allow safe resection with an adequate surgical margin. Resection was performed with clear lateral and deep margins. Histopathology demonstrated squamous cell carcinoma of the inguinal skin replacing subcutaneous tissue.

Multimodal Associations of FKBP5 Methylation With Emotion-Regulatory Brain Circuits

BACKGROUND

Understanding the biological processes that underlie individual differences in emotion regulation and stress responsivity is a key challenge for translational neuroscience. The gene FKBP5 is a core regulator in molecular stress signaling that is implicated in the development of psychiatric disorders. However, it remains unclear how FKBP5 DNA methylation in peripheral blood is related to individual differences in measures of neural structure and function and their relevance to daily-life stress responsivity.

METHODS

Here, we characterized multimodal correlates of FKBP5 DNA methylation by combining epigenetic data with neuroimaging and ambulatory assessment in a sample of 395 healthy individuals.

RESULTS

First, we showed that FKBP5 demethylation as a psychiatric risk factor was related to an anxiety-associated reduction of gray matter volume in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a brain area that is involved in emotion regulation and mental health risk and resilience. This effect of epigenetic upregulation of FKBP5 on neuronal structure is more pronounced where FKBP5 is epigenetically downregulated at baseline. Leveraging 208 functional magnetic resonance imaging scans during a well-established emotion-processing task, we found that FKBP5 DNA methylation in peripheral blood was associated with functional differences in prefrontal-limbic circuits that modulate affective responsivity to daily stressors, which we measured using ecological momentary assessment in daily life.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, we demonstrated how FKBP5 contributes to interindividual differences in neural and real-life affect regulation via structural and functional changes in prefrontal-limbic brain circuits.