Search Results (4,703)

Atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APA) is a benign uterine lesion with a premalignant potential and occurs in women of reproductive age. The histological pattern is characterized by irregular epithelial proliferation and muscular stroma. Based on a case report, we performed a systematic review of the literature to assess the main immunohistochemical and molecular markers that contribute to its differential diagnosis against endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC). The distinction is essential for offering to patients a conservative treatment compared to the radical management required for endometrial cancer, a critical issue for the significant physical and psychological consequences that one procedure or another can have on women’s health. We performed a meta-analysis of the immunohistochemical markers used for the histological diagnosis of APA, comparing it with our case study. The evaluated markers were beta-catenin, h-caldesmon, desmin, vimentin, smooth muscle alpha-actin, CD10, Ki67, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), pan-cytokeratin, PTEN, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6, p53, MLH1, and p16. Discrepancies were observed in the expression of CD10, h- caldesmon, and p16 when comparing APA with EC. The results of the case evaluated by our team showed beta-catenin nuclear expression and positive immunostaining for pan-cytokeratin, ER, and PR in the glands; smooth muscle actin and desmin positive expression in stromal muscle; and p16 positive immunostaining in squamous morules. Moreover, the c.94G>T p. (Asp132Tyr) mutation in the CTNNB1 gene was detected. This study supports the combination of appropriate immunohistochemical and molecular markers, along with the presumptive histological diagnosis, and determines the correct classification of the lesion as APA and not as other malignant pathologies, allowing for the establishment of a treatment protocol adjusted to the biological reality of this pathology. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland. Recent evidence indicates that the inflammation may extend beyond the thyroid. The study aims to explore the potential of complete blood count (CBC)-derived indices as markers of systemic inflammation in HT. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study from 1 January 2015, to 31 December 2023 included 147 pediatric HT patients and 144 apparently healthy controls. Thyroid profiles, antibodies, CBC, and protein electrophoresis data were collected from patient records. CBC-derived indices were calculated and compared between the HT and control groups, as well as among HT subgroups. Results: The median age of HT patients was 13.6 years (range: 11.2–15.5 years), with 66% being girls. The control group had a similar age and gender distribution, with a median age of 13.7 years (range: 11–15.8 years) and 70.8% girls. Of the HT patients, 50% had subclinical HT, 15% were euthyroid, and 34% had overt thyroid dysfunction. HT patients showed significantly higher neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, as well as all evaluated CBC-derived indices than controls (p < 0.001)). These differences were not significant among HT subgroups. Logistic regression indicated a strong association between an elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and HT diagnosis (p < 0.001), while ROC analysis confirmed NLR as the most accurate CBC-derived marker for distinguishing HT from controls. Conclusions: Elevated NLR levels in pediatric HT patients provide additional evidence that inflammation may extend beyond the thyroid gland. These results support the potential of NLR as a reliable and accessible biomarker for evaluating inflammation in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Full article

Background/Objectives: The muscular base of the oral cavity is formed of the mylohyoid muscle, which forms a sling inferior to the tongue. The muscle is often discontinuous, and defects may include salivary tissues, fat, and/or blood vessels. Hypertrophic sublingual glands located in mylohyoid defects can be herniated into bilateral submandibular spaces and present as palpable masses. The etiology of this condition may be congenital or acquired, and although such anatomical variations are common, they often go unrecognized in clinical practice. Sialoceles are cyst-like structures that result from chronic inflammation or ductal injury, indicating underlying problems with drainage efficiency. Methods: In this case series, we present two patients. Results: The first patient is a 44-year-old female who presented with a slowly enlarging right submandibular mass for two years, while the second is a 70-year-old female who presented with nonspecific neck discomfort, lacking palpable masses. In both, initial imaging (ultrasound and CT) was inconclusive. MRI revealed right sublingual gland herniation through a mylohyoid defect (mylohyoid boutonniere) in both cases. Conclusions: This highlights the importance of comprehensive imaging in the diagnosis of submandibular masses and emphasizes the need for considering mylohyoid boutonniere in cases of bilateral submandibular masses. Further research is warranted into the sialoceles associated with salivary gland abnormalities. Full article

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection. Currently, there is no effective therapy for sepsis due to an incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis. Scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor that plays a key role in HDL metabolism by modulating the selective uptake of cholesteryl ester from HDL. Recent studies, including those from our laboratory, indicate that SR-BI protects against sepsis through multiple mechanisms: (1) preventing nitric oxide-induced cytotoxicity; (2) promoting hepatic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) clearance and regulating cholesterol metabolism in the liver; (3) inhibiting LPS-induced inflammatory signaling in macrophages; and (4) mediating the uptake of cholesterol from HDL for inducible glucocorticoid (iGC) synthesis in the adrenal gland, which controls systemic inflammatory response. In this article, we review the roles of SR-BI in sepsis. Full article

Phytomonas is the only kinetoplastid that can parasitize plants, causing economically relevant issues. Phytomonas serpens share similarities with pathogenic trypanosomatids, including surface enzymes that are involved in adhesion to the salivary gland of their experimental host, the insect Oncopeltus fasciatus. Ectophosphatases are cell surface enzymes involved in host–parasite interactions that are widely distributed among microorganisms. This work aimed to perform the biochemical characterization of P. serpens ectophosphatase activity, investigating and discussing its possible physiological role. This activity presented an acidic profile, and its kinetic parameters K_m and V_max were calculated as 1.57 ± 0.08 mM p-NPP and 10.11 ± 0.14 nmol p-NP/(h × 10⁸ flagellates), respectively. It was stimulated by cobalt, inhibited by zinc, and insensitive to EDTA, a divalent metal chelator. The inhibitor sodium orthovanadate was able to decrease P. serpens ectophosphatase activity and growth, suggesting its involvement in cell proliferation. Given that P. serpens can uptake inorganic phosphate (P_i) from the extracellular medium, it is likely that its ectophosphatase activity acts together with the transport systems in the P_i acquisition process. The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in this process emerges as a relevant perspective, providing new strategies for controlling Phytomonas infection. Full article

Although light microscopy (LM) images are widely used to observe various bodily tissues, including salivary glands, reaching a satisfactory spatial resolution in the final images remains a major challenge. The objective of this study was to model a robust blind deconvolution algorithm using the extracted structure and analyze its applicability to LM images. Given LM images of the salivary glands, the proposed robust blind deconvolution method performs non-blind deconvolution after estimating the structural map and kernel of each image. To demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed algorithm for LM images, the perceptual sharpness index (PSI), Blanchet’s sharpness index (BSI), and natural image quality evaluator (NIQE) were used as evaluation metrics. We demonstrated that when the proposed algorithm was applied to salivary gland LM images, the PSI and BSI were improved by 7.95% and 7.44%, respectively, compared with those of the conventional TV-based algorithm. When the proposed algorithm was applied to an LM image, we confirmed that the NIQE value was similar to that of a low-resolution image. In conclusion, the proposed robust blind deconvolution algorithm is highly applicable to salivary gland LM images, and we expect that further applications will become possible. Full article

The eggshell quality traits in avian species, including Yunnong chickens (YN), are crucial for commercial and breeding purposes. The use of advanced biotechnologies, such as gene sequencing, has become increasingly common for identifying genetic markers and comparing specific traits in livestock. However, genetic markers related to eggshell traits in YN chickens remain unexplored. This study aimed to compare eggshell quality traits and identify genetic markers in YN chickens versus commercial Jingfen chickens (JF). A total of 400 chicks (200 per breed) were reared for 300 days under controlled conditions. At the end, 60 eggs from each breed were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to examine eggshell cross-sections and mammillary layer structure. Tissue samples from kidneys and eggshell glands were collected from six hens per breed for RT-qPCR analysis to study gene expression profiles. Results showed that YN chickens had significantly higher eggshell strength, thickness, mammillary density, and effective layer thickness than JF chickens (p < 0.01). Despite this, YN chickens had a thinner mammillary layer. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed five candidate genes related to eggshells (LSS, NSDHL, MSMO1, SQLE, and FDFT1) that play an important role in this process. Pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment in several biological processes, including steroid biosynthesis, glycerolipid metabolism, purine metabolism, and thiamine metabolism. Based on these results, the YN chickens have strong eggshells with better thickness, mammillary density, and effective layer thickness. In addition, genomic and pathways analysis suggest a complex interaction of metabolic, immune, and cellular processes potentially influencing eggshell quality traits in poultry. Full article

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) poses a major risk to shrimp aquaculture, and filter-feeding bivalves on shrimp farms may contribute to its persistence and transmission. This study investigated the bioaccumulation and vector potential of WSSV in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), and manila clams (Venerupis philippinarum) cohabiting with WSSV-infected shrimp. Sixty individuals of each species (average shell lengths: 11.87 cm, 6.97 cm, and 5.7 cm, respectively) cohabitated with WSSV-infected shrimp (Penaeus vannamei, average body weight: 16.4 g) for 48 h. In the experiments, bivalves accumulated WSSV particles in both the gill and digestive gland tissues, with the digestive glands exhibiting higher viral load (average viral load, 3.91 × 10⁴ copies/mg), showing that the viral concentrations in bivalve tissues are directly influenced by seawater WSSV concentrations, reaching levels sufficient to induce infection and 100% mortality in healthy shrimp using tissue homogenates. After a 168 h release period in clean water, the WSSV levels in bivalve tissues decreased below the detection thresholds, indicating reduced transmission risk. These results highlight the role of bivalves as temporary reservoirs of WSSV in aquaculture settings, with the transmission risk dependent on the viral concentration and retention period. Our findings suggest that the management of bivalve exposure in WSSV-endemic environments could improve the biosecurity of shrimp farms. Full article

Background: Endometriosis is a systemic, inflammatory, estrogen-dependent condition characterized by endometrial stroma and gland-like lesions outside of the uterus. It causes a range of symptoms, notably chronic pelvic pain, infertility and organ dysfunction. Thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES) has been described as endometriosis that is found in the lung parenchyma, pleura and diaphragm. It may be asymptomatic or present with symptoms of catamenial pneumothorax, hemothorax, hemoptysis, isolated chest pain, shoulder pain or findings of lung nodules. Aim: The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES), including its clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and current management strategies. This review aims to highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of TES, emphasizing conservative management and the role of minimally invasive surgical techniques for refractory cases. Conclusions: Thoracic endometriosis syndrome appears to be a marker of severe endometriosis. As much as possible, the patient with TES is managed conservatively, with surgery reserved for refractory cases. When surgery is recommended, the procedure is conducted through a multidisciplinary minimally invasive approach, with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and video-assisted laparoscopy. Meticulous intraoperative survey, the removal of endometriosis implants with and without robotic assistance and post-operative hormonal therapy may be recommended to prevent recurrence. Full article

Thyroid cancer (TC), due to its heterogeneous nature, remains a clinical challenge. Many factors can initiate the carcinogenesis process of various types of TC, which complicates diagnosis and treatment. The presented review gathers current information on specific types of TC, taking into account the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is likely that COVID-19 has influenced and continues to influence the function of the thyroid gland. A high percentage of patients with COVID-19 showing simultaneous pathological changes in the thyroid suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may disrupt the function of this gland and initiate pro-oxidative mechanisms, inflammatory states, and autoimmune diseases, thereby promoting the formation of neoplastic changes. Furthermore, changes in the expression of the ACE2, TMPRSS2, CLEC4M and DPP4 genes, observed in TC, also occur in COVID-19. Therefore, it is probable that the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with thyroid cell receptors may initiate carcinogenesis in this gland. Additionally, some drugs used in TC therapy (e.g., levothyroxine) may increase the affinity of SARS-CoV-2 for cells, which could contribute to a more severe course of COVID-19 and the emergence of long-term symptoms (post-COVID-19). Moreover, the consequences of sanitary restrictions (limited access to medical services, reduction in endocrinological and oncological procedures) that took place in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic may lead in the future to an increased number of missed diagnoses and the emergence of aggressive cancers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Since 2013, eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori gastritis (Hp-ET) has been covered by the National Health Insurance of Japan. Recently, the risk of post-eradication gastric cancer (pE-GC) has increased. pE-GC includes cancers that develop immediately and several years after Hp-ET. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the endoscopic and histological characteristics of late types of pE-GCs. Method: One hundred patients with differentiated cancers detected after Hp-ET who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection from 2015 to 2023 were compared. Patients were divided into two groups; the immediate group (n = 69), with cancer detected within 6 years, and the delayed group (n = 31), with cancer detected within >6 years after Hp-ET. The background mucosa and tumor mucosa were examined individually. The endoscopic findings were as follows: enlarged folds, map-like redness, intermediate zone irregularity, and the presence of a regular arrangement of collecting venules and a light blue crest (background); an irregular surface structure, an irregular vascular pattern, an irregular surface pattern, and a gastritis-like appearance (tumor). The histological findings were as follows: a low remnant rate of the fundic glands, intestinal metaplasia (IM), crypt enlargement, and neutrophil infiltration (background); mosaicism, the elongation of noncancer ducts, and an overlying non-neoplastic epithelium (tumor). Results: There was no significant difference regarding the background mucosa and tumor mucosa between the two groups. In the delayed group, the remnant rate of the fundic glands was 19.8 ± 15.6%, and IM was 87.1% (27/31). Further, 90.3% (28/31) of the patients exhibited persistent neutrophil infiltration. Conclusion: This study suggested that patients with a low remnant rate of the fundic gland and IM and persistent mucosal inflammation were at high risk for developing pE-GCs. Full article

PRAME (PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma) is a tumor-associated antigen first identified in tumor-reactive T-cell clones derived from a patient with metastatic melanoma. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for PRAME is useful for diagnostic purposes to support a suspected diagnosis of melanoma. Anecdotally, PRAME has been observed to stain sebaceous units in glands in background skin. We examined the expression of PRAME in adnexal lesions and common skin cancers to determine whether it is of potential diagnostic utility in supporting the differentiation between sebaceous and non-sebaceous lesions. IRB approval from Mount Sinai Medical Center (MSMC) was obtained. This is a single-center retrospective cohort analysis over a ten-year period (1 January 2012, and 31 December 2023). We used the pathological database of skin lesions, including sebaceous, sweat gland, and follicular lesions, in addition to basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), from 81 patients who underwent shave/punch biopsies or surgical excisions. We evaluated the IHC staining percentage positivity and intensity for PRAME. Staining intensity was subcategorized into negative, weak, moderate, and strong, whereas expression percentage positivity was subcategorized into 0%, 1–25%, 26–50%, 51–75%, and 76–100%. Most sebaceous versus non-sebaceous lesions exhibited cytoplasmic staining of moderate to strong intensity in >75% of cells. PRAME has a sensitivity and specificity of 100.0% and 86.7%, respectively, to support distinguishing between sebaceous and non-sebaceous adnexal lesions (regardless of whether they are benign or malignant). BCCs and SCCs showed weak to moderate nuclear staining for PRAME in >75% of cells. None of the 13 lesions of hair follicle origin showed any staining. A total of 26 of the 32 lesions of sweat gland origin were negative while 6 (18.75%) showed positive staining. In conclusion, we confirm the potential utility of PRAME for supporting the distinction between sebaceous and non-sebaceous adnexal lesions on one hand, and on the other, distinguishing BCC and SCC that may show nuclear staining from sebaceous carcinoma that shows cytoplasmic staining. Full article

Pituitary adenoma is a common neoplasm of the pituitary gland. Although most pituitary adenomas are benign, they can pose significant challenges in terms of their consequences and prognosis due to their tendency to invade surrounding tissues and their effects on hormone secretion. The management of pituitary adenomas typically involves surgery, medical therapy, and radiotherapy, each of which has its own limitations. Mitochondria play a crucial role in tumor development and progression by regulating various metabolic processes and signaling pathways within tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Multiple studies have indicated that mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in human pituitary adenomas. Furthermore, several compounds with therapeutic effects on pituitary adenomas have been reported to target mitochondrial function. In this review, we summarize recent studies that highlight the involvement of mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance in the biology of pituitary adenomas. We conclude that mitochondria may represent a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of pituitary adenomas. Full article

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is the specific tumor marker for epithelial thyroid cancer. It holds significant value in the postoperative period, and somehow, the goal of surgery in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) undergoing total thyroidectomy is to achieve undetectable levels of postoperative thyroglobulin (uTg). Methods: This is a retrospective single-center study in which first basal Tg values were evaluated post-surgery in PTC patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. Patients with elevated antithyroglobulin antibodies were excluded. The impact of various demographic, clinical, therapeutic, tumor-stage related, and histopathological variables on the achievement of undetectable thyroglobulin levels (uTg, <1 ng/mL) was studied. A descriptive and logistic regression-based bivariate and multivariate analysis was planned using STATA vs. 16.1. program. The significance level was stated at 0.05. Results: Basal athyroglobulinemia was obtained in 89.6% of 202 patients operated on between January 2015 and June 2023 in a single referral institution. Due to the limited number of cases with detectable Tg, multivariate analysis could not be performed. The main factors that favored its achievement on bivariate analysis were a smaller tumor size (p = 0.003), no need for extended resections due to local invasion beyond the thyroid gland (p = 0.003) or neck dissection (p = 0.039), absence of distant metastases (p = 0.000), and a lower MACIS score (p < 0.000). Conclusions: The achievement of uTg was closely related to factors related to tumor stage (tumor diameter, lymph node spread, and metastatic disease), and it was not influenced by differences in epidemiological data, clinic manifestations, preoperative diagnosis, multifocality, or the presence of aggressive cytological variants. Full article

The hemoflagellate parasite Trypanosoma rangeli is transmitted by triatomine kissing bugs and may co-infect humans together with its Chagas disease-causing congener T. cruzi. Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and antimicrobial assays, we studied (i) the temporal and spatial distribution of T. rangeli in common bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, following oral ingestion and hemocoelic injection of T. rangeli, and (ii) the immune responses of bed bugs induced by T. rangeli infections. Irrespective of infection mode, no live T. rangeli were present in the bed bugs’ hemolymph, salivary glands, or feces. On day 1 following infection, the bed bugs strongly upregulated the antimicrobial peptide CL-defensin. Following hemocoelic injection of T. rangeli, live parasites were absent in any bed bug tissues examined throughout the 10-day study period. The ingestion of T. rangeli-infected blood had no significant effect on bed bug survival. Our findings indicate that bed bugs disable the development of T. rangeli within their body, in stark contrast to triatomine kissing bugs, which allow the development and transmission of T. rangeli. Our findings help unravel the intricate relationships between bed bugs and trypanosomes, and they contribute to our understanding of vector biology. Full article