The aim of the present study was to evaluate angiogenesis by determining the micro vascular density (MVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor samples, and to analyze their associations with clinical parameters and survival. Tumor tissue specimens of fifty patients (41 males and 9 females), who underwent radical surgical treatment for NSCLC in stage IIIA (T1-3N2) were collected for immunohistochemical analysis. MVD evaluation was performed using an anti-CD31 monoclonal antibody and VEGF-A expression using a polyclonal anti-VEGF-A antibody. The results were associated with two-year survival. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations in the level of angiogenesis (high MVD) and shorter survival of patients with NSCLC (P=0.0007). VEGF-A expression showed no association with micro vascular density (P=0.51) or survival (P=0.68). There was no significant association between MVD and VEGF-A. The measurable, clinical MVD parameters could be used as a reliable prognostic factor for the survival of patients with advanced NSCLC.

The aim of this study was to characterize and compare changes in subcutaneous fat in the malar, brachial and crural region in a cohort of HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral therapy. This prospective longitudinal study included 77 patients who were selected from the initial cohort evaluated in 2007 and 2008. We examined reversibility of lipoatrophy measured by ultrasound over at least five-year period and factors related to its reversibility. All 46 patients who used stavudine switched from stavudine to another combination. Of 58 patients on zidovudine, 16 (28%) were on a zidovudine based regimen at the second follow up. There was evidence for subcutaneous fat increase in the malar area (p<0.001) and no increase in the brachial and crural areas. Patients who were smokers and had poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a thinner malar area at the follow up measurement (p=0.030) and smaller increase in subcutaneous malar fat compared to others (p=0.040). Our study suggested that modest increase of subcutaneous fat in malar area coincided with stopping stavudine and fewer usage of zidovudine. Lifestyle with non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet and smoking were associated with a smaller increase in subcutaneous malar fat.

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