Prognostic significance of DNA ploidy pattern and nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) in colorectal carcinoma

AIM

To investigate the prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and silver stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR), as well as their relation to the histological grade and Dukes' stages of colorectal carcinomas, and the relation of tumor cells proportion in the S-phase and Dukes' stage, histologic grade, DNA ploidy, or AgNOR count.

METHODS

DNA flow cytometric analysis and AgNOR were performed on 94 surgically removed colorectal carcinomas. The mean AgNOR count was calculated in 200 tumor cells for each case. Survival rates and tests for significance were evaluated using the log-rank test and Cox regression model.

RESULTS

There were no significant correlations between the ploidy pattern, histological grade, and Dukes' stage. Diploid tumors had a significantly lower AgNOR count (median 2.5, range 2.1-7.7) than aneuploid (median 6.2, range 2.0-7.9). Dukes' C stage tumors exhibited higher AgNOR count than Dukes' A or B stages. The proportion of tumor cells in S-phase did not correlate with any other parameter. Each of these parameters failed to show any correlation with survival. After dividing the tumors into those with high (>5) and low AgNOR count (<5), no correlation was found in the latter group between AgNOR and any other studied parameters, whereas in the group with high AgNOR count correlations to Dukes' stage, DNA ploidy, and histological grade were established.Conclusions. The difference in survival between well, moderately, and poorly differentiated tumors were significant in the group with high AgNOR counts. Dukes' C stage and aneuploid tumors had the worst prognosis.

Tributaries of the human and canine coronary sinus

The coronary sinus is an anatomic landmark and conduit for many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. We studied 40 human and 40 canine coronary sinuses of the heart in order to ascertain various functional anatomic features of the coronary sinus and its tributaries. We performed a comparative analysis of human and canine cardiac veins. We also studied the formation, tributaries, length, diameter and the ostium of the coronary sinus. The tributaries of the coronary sinus were highly variable in human and dog. The main and constantly present tributaries of both the human and canine coronary sinus were the great and the middle cardiac veins. We also found a rare case of a small cardiac vein connecting two cardiac venous systems--the coronary sinus and its tributaries and the anterior cardiac veins. In two cases we found a common trunk of the small cardiac vein and middle cardiac vein which opened into the coronary sinus. An intramyocardial course of the anterior interventricular vein was found in 2 cases and in 1 case the vein curved twice around the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery. The Thebesian and Vieussens valves and ostial valves of other cardiac veins were also found.

Unilateral renal agenesia in the angiographic material and renovascular hypertension

Analysis of 1216 abdominal aortographies and selective renovasographies undertaken at the Institute of Radiology, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka during the period 1979-1985, was performed 39 (3.2%) unilateral renal agenesias were established, a percentage that is significantly higher than reported by other authors. Analysis of all angiographic parameters of a single kidney was also worked out. A significantly high percentage (66.7%) of hypertension was diagnosed in this group. Congenital renal failures make their appearance in the early embryological development and are discovered, if compatible with life, most frequently at an advanced age. Statistical data on the frequency during a lifetime are less reliable because a great number of anomalies are never discovered during a person's life. The etiology of variations and congenital failure of renal arteries is unknown in 90% of the cases, and most of the malformations are without characteristic symptomatology. Since the anatomic relations in anomalous kidney are disturbed, the sign of the disease can develop atypical forms causing frequent errors in diagnosis. The kidney is supplied by numerous lateral branches of the medial sacral artery, i.e. the aorta, during embryological development. Later, some of them degenerate or mutually connect themselves, and the definitive kidney has been usually penetrated by only one artery and one vein on the same side.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vascular complications of the transplanted kidney--angiographic study

The applied angiographic examination technique of the renal homotransplants performed during a 14-year period has been reported. 101 patients underwent 132 angiographic examinations in the course of 1971-1985. Thirty-two various vascular complications were diagnosed. Arterial stenoses during anastomoses were most frequent. Thromboembolic complications were second (4 arterial, 2 venous). One thrombosis of the iliac artery as a consequence of a wound infection following renal transplantation is described. In addition there were a few other single pseudoaneurysms of the arterial anastomoses and arteriovenous fistulas subsequent to renal biopsies. The importance of this examination technique and the diagnostic use of angiographic investigation of the transplanted kidney is pointed out.