The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the increased levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) could be used to demonstrate failed placentation in pre-eclamptic mothers. Twenty pregnant females with (pre-eclampsia group) or without pre-eclampsia (control group) were included in the present study. Antenatal and post-delivery HIF-1α transcription factor levels were measured. A significant increase was observed in the HIF-1α levels in the pre- and post-natal pre-eclampsia mothers. The findings suggest that the levels of HIF-1α in the blood of mothers with pre-eclampsia decrease after delivery of the placenta. The results confirm that there is increased HIF-1α in pre-eclampsia and a steady increase in the levels of HIF-1α could be commensurate with the possibility of a patient developing pre-eclampsia at a later trimester.
PURPOSE: To study histomorphological and immunohistochemical patterns of gastro-intestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) in Malaysia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 29 GIST cases from Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar, Seremban ,were studied retrospectively over a period of 10 years from January 2002 to December 2011. Patient demographic data like age, sex and etnicity were collected. Tumour characteristics like site, maximum dimension and specimen type were analysed. Evaluation was according to established criteria into very low, low, intermediate and high-risk categories. Immunohistochemical characteristics were also analysed.
RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 59.7 years. Males (59%) were found to be more commonly affected than females (41%). The Chinese (45%) were commonly affected than Malays (41%), and Indians (10%). The most common symptom was pain in the abdomen (13.8%). More than half of the cases were seen in stomach (53%). The tumour size ranged from 1.5 cm to 17 cm with a mean of 6.94cm. Microscopic findings revealed that the spindle cell type was the most common (76%). It was observed that the majority of the cases (48%) were categorised in the intermediate risk group. Immunohistochemical staining showed positivity for CD117 (78.6%), CD34 (71.4%), vimentin (86.2%), S-100 (27.6%), SMA (35.7%), PKC THETA (46.4%) and PDGRFA (67.9%).