Unfortunately, several factors make it difficult to define a comprehensive salivary and lachrymal panel of markers of SS, as the lack of a comprehensive proteomic analysis of human tears and saliva of healthy subjects, the lack of uniform protocols to collect and treat these samples, and the high grade of posttranslational modification of the proteins in these fluids.
Class: 9th grade Biology (with the possibility of modification and extension).
Relevant clinical data at diagnosis, such as age, clinical stage (AJCC TNM staging system), histological grade (Nottingham modification of the Bloom and Richardson histological grading system (Bloom and Richardson, 1957; Elston, 1984)) and hormone receptor status were obtained from medical records.
The reactivity of the rubber phase was modified using different strategies, including the use of commercial terpolymer grades, modification of E-MA-GMA E-MA-GMA E-MA-GMAGMA terporymers with non-reactive ethene-(methyl acrylate) (E-MA) copolymer.
The severity of mucositis was graded using a modification of the Macpherson and Pfeiffer histopathological grading system [ 20] previously described [ 21], considering microscopic findings such villus and crypt integrity, inflammatory cell influx, vacuolization and edema.
The results were graded on a modification of functional grading system given in the literature [1].
The slides were evaluated by an experienced pathologist (AJN) and graded according to the Nottingham grading system (Nottingham modification of the Bloom-Richardson system) [ 25].
Special features of the interaction, e.g. vertical transmission of symbionts, grade of dependency of partners and physiological modifications have been considered in terms of extent of co-evolution and adaptation.
ER, estrogen receptor; grade, Elston-Ellis modification of Bloom grade; NS, not significant; PR, progesterone receptor.
The grade of recurrent invasive carcinoma was based on the Nottingham modification of Bloom and Richardson grading (Elston and Ellis, 1991).
Dyspnoea was graded using a modification of the Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale [ 20].
