Background Reduced expression of prostate-derived Ets transcription factor (PDEF) leads to morphologic change as well as increased migration and invasiveness of prostate cancer cells. However, the clinical relevance of PDEF expression and its relationship to anti-apoptotic protein survivin is yet to be determined. Methods Tissue microarrays of 73 prostate carcinomas and their adjacent benign prostate tissue, as well as 50 benign prostates were evaluated for PDEF expression by immunohistochemistry. Results were confirmed in available tumor tissues using Western blot and RT-PCR. Expression of survivin in prostate carcinoma and benign tissues were determined using Western blot. Results and correlation with clinical data were statistically analyzed. Results Patients’ specimens with low Gleason scores (GS<5) expressed higher levels of PDEF protein and lower levels of survivin protein when compared with moderate to high Gleason scores tumors (GS >6). Patients with PDEF-positive tumor survived significantly longer (p<0.0001) than patients with PDEF-negative tumor, and the 8-year survival rate was 94% and 40%, respectively. PDEF expression was detected at the highest levels in benign tissues and was down-regulated or lost in 30 recently diagnosed prostate carcinomas. Re-expression of PDEF in prostate cancer cells inhibited survivin expression. Treatment of prostate cancer cells with methylseleninic acid resulted in restoration of PDEF expression, down-regulation of survivin and inhibition of tumor cell growth when compared with untreated controls (p< 0.05). Conclusions These studies demonstrated an inverse correlation between PDEF and survivin expression, and that up-regulation of PDEF was associated with a favorable prognosis in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

Sclerosing stromal tumor is a rare ovarian tumor, occurring in young adults in the second and third decade of life. We report clinical and histopathological features of three cases of sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary with a review of literature. The tumor has distinct histological features and is easily recognizable when a high index of suspicion is maintained in young patients presenting with an ovarian mass. These tumors are benign and can be treated successfully by enucleation or unilateral ovariotomy.

BackgroundThis study is aimed to determine the clinical and radiological corellations of adult patients with Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormalities (SCIWORA).MethodsThe study population consisted of all adult patients with suspected cervical spine injury. SCIWORA was defined as the presence of either no injury or a neural injury on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the absence of radiographic or Computed Tomographic (CT) Scan findings suggestive of trauma in patients with neurological deficit. Purely extra neural compressive lesions were excluded from the study.ResultsTwelve of ninety seven (12.4%) patients had a neural injury on MRI with normal radiographs and CT scan. These included cord contusion in five cases, cord edema in five cases and cord hemorrhage in two cases. Ten patients were managed conservatively and two patients with disc prolapse were managed surgically. All patients showed at least one ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) grade improvement and three patients (25%) recovered completely.ConclusionsParenchymal spinal cord injury is the single most important determinant in the long term outcome of adult SCIWORA patients. Cord hemorrhage has the worst prognosis and cord edema has the best. Longitudinal signal extension and associated extra neural injuries are also associated with poorer outcomes. Cases with purely neural injuries can be managed conservatively, but associated extra neural injuries, especially disc prolapse and ligamentous instability, warrant surgical management.KeywordsPost Traumatic Myelopathy; Spinal Cord Trauma; Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging; SCIWORA

No abstract

No abstract