Evaluation of the value of p53 protein expression in the extra-capsular extension of prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to identify the nuclear expression of the p53 protein in prostate cancer and to determine its relationship with clinico-pathological variables.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The research included 83 patients, 43 of whom are patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy and a control group of 40 patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate in whom a transurethral resection or a transvesical prostatectomy was undertaken. In all cases the nuclear expression of p53 protein was evaluated. A hystopatological evaluation of the tumour characteristics and the data of the local progression of the cancer were undertaken in the research group.

RESULTS

The results show that the expression of the p53 protein does not have an important correlation with the preoperative PSA, but that it is in direct correlation with the malign potential of the cancer (Gleason score, Gleason sum, primary tumour) and with the features of the disease (metastatic lymph nodes, stage of the disease).

CONCLUSION

p53 protein could be used as a valid biomarker in determining the malignant potential of the tumour and the prognosis of the disease. There is no practical use in predicting the extraprostatic extension.

Quantitative expediency assessment of the zeta sedimentation ratio and the plasma viscosity in arterial hypertension research

Accepted methods of the ESR methodology (the Westergren mode and ZSR mode) and its alternative the plasma viscosity were tested for diagnostic utility in pregnancy induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia. The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis approved moderate diagnostic accuracy for the ESR methodology and supplied support for its preliminary estimated cutoff values but failed to indicate cogent discernment of pathology by values of plasma viscosity. Likely pathological whole blood alterations boost the erythrocyte aggregation while the concomitant depletion of macromolecules degrades plasma viscosity values.

Radical retropubic prostatectomy for prostate carcinoma; first results of the Clinic of Urology in Skopje

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this retrospective study is to present our experience and results in the management of prostate carcinoma, with radical retropubic prostatectomy, for a period of seven years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From December 1997 to April 2005, 61 radical retropubic prostatectomies for prostate carcinoma were performed at the Clinic of Urology in Skopje. Mean age of the treated patients was 66.4 years. Mean serum PSA level was 32.75 ng/ml. None of the patients had distant or bone metastases. Mean operative time was 160 minutes and from 2 to 4 units of blood were transfused intra and postoperatively. Mean follow up time was 39 months.

RESULTS

In all of 61 patients, the RRP was performed for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The pathological findings postoperatively showed the following pTNM grade: pT2a in 8, pT2b in 10, pT3a in 10, pT3b in 27and pT4 in 6 patients. Positive lymph nodes were found in 14 cases. Intraoperative complications occurred in 6 patients. Early postoperative complications were seen in 12 patients. Urine leakage was seen in 2 patients, incontinence (day and night) in 8 and pulmonary embolia in 2 patients. Late postoperative complications occurred in 11 patients. Stenosis of the vesicourethral anasthomosis was seen in 3 patients and incontinence (during the night only) in 8 patients. The rate of potency was not evaluated but in the last 30 cases we insisted on preservation of the neurovascular bundles in the cases that it was possible.

CONCLUSION

Radical retropubic prostatectomy is the method of choice and the golden standard for treatment of organ confined prostate carcinoma in patients with long life expectancy, no neither local nor distant metastases and good overall status. With this technique complication rates are minimal, the cure rate is very big and the patients have high quality of life. The experience of the surgeon is very important since the learning curve is crucial for diminishing operative time, postoperative complications and blood transfusions.

On the interrelationships between erythrocyte aggregation, plasma viscosity and the total peripheral resistance in arterial hypertension

A probable conjunction of hemodynamic- and rheological variables was tested in hypertensive patients. Most pronounced correlation was fixed for some indices (sizable in value for plasma viscosity and small but distinct for blood pressure and ZSR) vs. total peripheral resistance. These results of a small scale elaboration are encouraging to get up a study extension.

[Intermediate substrates in different stages of compensation of diabetes mellitus]

In this research there were studied the changes in the concentrations of pyruvate, lactic acid, maleate, beta-oxybutyric acid oxyacetyc acid, blood fats, triglycerides, cholesterol blood lipoproteins in patients in different stages of compensation of diabetes mellitus. Studied were 44 patients during ablatio retinae during latentive diabetes, 16 patients with decompensated, 12 with subcompensated, and 8 with compensated diabetes. The average age of the studied patients was 54 years. The control group of 35 healthy people was of average age 52 years. All the groups show decreasing of the blood maleat. In the group of decompensated diabetes decreasing of keto-bodies, piruvat acid and lipid fractions was present. These factors were normalized, when diabetes was compensated. In this study, the diagnostic value of the investigation metabolites for compensation of diabetes mellitus is discussed.

Prevalence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A variant in Bulgarian patients with pulmonary thromboembolism and deep venous thrombosis

Factor V Leiden mutation and prothrombin variant 20210 A are well-known risk factors for venous thrombosis (DVT). Recent papers have reported a lower prevalence of factor V Leiden in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) than in patients with deep venous thrombosis. The aim of the present study was to compare the prevalence of factor V Leiden and the prothrombin 20210 G <-- A mutation in patients with DVT and in patients with PTE. We studied 128 consecutive patients (45 with DVT, 40 with PTE, and 43 with DVT and PTE) for factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A. One hundred healthy persons matched by age and sex were used as controls. Factor V Leiden was present in five of the patients with PTE [12.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5-23.5%; not significant], 15 of the patients with DVT (33.3%; 95% CI, 9.6-38.7%; P < 0.001), and 12 of the patients with DVT and PTE (27.9%; 95% CI, 4.8-33%; P = 0.001). Results for the prothrombin 20210 A mutation were as follows: four of 40 patients with PTE (10%; 95% CI, 0-13.3%; P = 0.46), nine of 45 (20%) of the patients with DVT (95% CI, 0.5-25.5%; P < 0.05) and eight of 43 with DVT and PTE were heterozygous (18.6%; 95% CI, 0-23.9%; P = 0.02). In conclusion, there is a significantly higher frequency of factor V Leiden among patients with DVT than in patients with PTE. However, there is no significant difference of factor V Leiden or 20210 A prothrombin mutation in patients with DVT than in patients with combined DVT/PTE, therefore patients with DVT, carriers of the mutations, do not appear to be at lower risk for pulmonary embolism.

[Epidemiology of the major histocompatibility complex-human leukocyte antigen in the Madeconian population]

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) at loci A (14 antigens) and loci B (29 antigens) were determined in 2,385 healthy Macedonians, using the microlymphocytotoxicity test. Results were compared with those obtained in Caucasians. The most common HLA antigens in the Macedonian population are: A2 (51.65%), A1 (25.87%), A3 (17.14%) and A24 (20.41%) for loci A and B51 (32.03%), B35 (23.98%), B8 (12.11%), B44 (12.11%), B7 (11.48%) and B18 (10.23%) for loci B. These frequencies are similar to those found in Caucasians. However, antigens B12, B44, B7, B8 and especially B15 are more common in Caucasians, while B51 and B35 antigens are more common in the Macedonian population. The most common haplotypes in the Macedonian population are: A2/B51 (15.68%), A2/B35 (10.35%), A2/B12 (7.79%), A9/B51 (7.50%) and A1/B8 (7.50%). The frequencies of HLA antigens were also determined in 348 patients with chronic renal disease and compared with those observed in the healthy population (2,385 subjects). No significant differences was observed between HLA frequencies depicted in patients and those described in healthy individuals. Results should therefore make easier the finding of compatible kidney transplants in the Macedonian population.