Romanian Journal of Morphology and Embryology最新文献

Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis (CSS), currently included in the group of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related diseases, is an under-recognized inflammatory lesion that afflicts mostly the submandibular gland of 40-60 years adults. To our knowledge, only one case of CSS located in the submandibular gland has been reported in childhood to date. We present a case of CSS in a 5-year-old male child. He presented with bilateral submandibular swellings that clinically resembled discrete lumps, suspected to be tumors. The completely resected tumors composed predominantly of dense lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate rich in IgG4-positive cells [77-90 IgG(+) cells per high-power field; IgG4(+)∕IgG(+) cells ratio of 42.77%]. We discuss the peculiarities of this case, and we also review the literature on CSS.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, MMP9, MMP11, and MMP13 are overexpressed in malignant melanoma (MM), being associated with tumor invasive phase, metastases, and more aggressive neoplastic phenotypes.

Aim: The main objective of the current study was to correlate the expression of the MMPs with the evolution of MM toward distant metastasis.

Patients, materials and methods: We designed a retrospective cohort study, including 13 patients with metastatic MM. Data concerning age, sex, localization of the primary lesion and metastasis, and histological and immunohistochemical features (intensity of expression and percent of positive cells for MMPs) were statistically processed.

Results: The time between the diagnosis of primitive melanoma and the diagnosis of metastasis ranged between 0 and 73 months, with a mean value of 18.3 months. The metastases rich in MMP1- and MMP9-positive cells occurred earlier than the metastases with low levels of positive cells. The mean period until metastasis was shorter for the MMP1-expressing tumors than the ones without MMP1 expression. MMP13 expression in the tumor and its metastasis was significantly linked with the time until the metastasis occurrence.

Conclusions: This study emphasizes the roles of MMP1, MMP9, and MMP13 in the process of metastasis in melanoma and the opportunity to use them as therapeutic targets and surveillance molecules.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a general term used in scientific literature for a heterogeneous group of small round-cell malignant tumors primarily arising from neural crest cells. These are extremely aggressive neoplasms which usually occur within soft tissue or bone of young adults. Ovarian tumors composed of primitive neuroectodermal elements are extremely rare, with only few case reports in scientific literature. Due to being so exceedingly rare, PNETs are frequently misdiagnosed and there are no standard therapeutic guidelines. Young patients seem to have better prognoses and individualized strategy is recommended. Limited data suggests that various gene deletions as well as amplifications may be crucial factors for tumorigenesis and the aggressive behavior of PNET. In this paper, we performed a brief review of all cases of primary ovarian PNETs published in the scientific literature to date, in regard to their clinical, histopathological, and therapeutic aspects, with the aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this exceedingly rare pathology.

Introduction: The bladder cancer has some characteristics: the sixth most incident neoplasm in the United States, the majority of diagnosed cases in those 55 years of age and older, four times more common in man than women, a reduced five-year survival rate in case of metastatic disease. Despite the beneficial effects of the combination therapy and immunotherapy, the low response rate and drug resistance were reported. The main goal of this work was evaluation of the endothelial cell proliferation from urothelial carcinomas.

Patients, materials and methods: Fifty-two cases of T2-T4 infiltrative bladder tumors, aged between 46 and 78 years, were investigated. Morphological, simple and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31)∕Ki67, CD31∕smooth muscle actin (SMA) double immunostaining were performed.

Results: In all the analyzed infiltrative bladder tumors, three types of vessels were noticed: immature, intermediate and mature. In the central part of the tumor area, the following distribution of vessel types was noticed: immature (62.25%), intermediate (35.1%), and mature vessels (2.65%). In the peripheral tumor area, the intermediate vessels increase numerically, up to 54% and the mature ones, up to 18.6%. The peritumoral area was characterized by the absence of immature vessels and the presence of intermediate and mature ones only. It was found the presence of endothelial cell nuclei stained for Ki67 only for immature and intermediate vessels, and never for mature ones.

Conclusions: The vascular patterns may contribute to a better stratification of the patient subgroups and antiangiogenic treatment algorithms.

This paper highlights a clinical case of sepsis caused by soft tissue infection. Peripheral blood smear, plasma value of inflammatory biomarkers and the white blood cells count were performed. Significant morphological changes were revealed through peripheral blood smear test two days after patient admission. Patient developed septic shock after the third day in intensive care unit (ICU). Laboratory results showed major morphological changes (erythrocytes deformity, abnormal neutrophils); these were correlated with elevated plasma value of interleukin-6 and procalcitonin.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an alkylating chemotherapeutic agent commonly used in cancer treatments. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of 4-Hydroperoxy cyclophosphamide (4-HC), which is active form of CP, on glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), phospho-protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum (ER) kinase (p-PERK), phospho-inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (p-IRE1α), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α), and caspase-3 messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) and proteins that play roles in the ER stress pathway and apoptosis in U87 and T98 human glioblastoma cell lines. U87 and T98 human glioblastoma cell lines were divided into control and 4-HC-treated groups. Cell viability assay was used to detect the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for 24 hours of 4-HC. Immunocytochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods were used to evaluate the levels of proteins and their mRNAs. The IC50 values of U87 and T98 cells were calculated as 15.67±0.58 μM and 19.92±1 μM, respectively. The levels of GRP78, ATF6, p-PERK, p-IRE1α, eIF2α, and caspase-3 protein expressions in the 4-HC-treated group compared to that in the control group. These increased protein expressions also were correlated with the mRNA levels. The ER stress signal pathway could be active in 4-HC-induced cell death. Further studies of ER-related stress mechanisms in anticancer treatment would be important for effective therapeutic strategies.

Acrania is a fetal malformation characterized by complete or partial absence of the calvaria above the orbits and supraciliary ridge. No exact mechanism is demonstrated for this anomaly but disturbances in mesenchymal migration during the fourth week of development are the most documented. The key sonographic features of acrania are absent calvaria and dorsally bulging brain (Mickey Mouse head). Due to the normal process of ossification of cranial bones, the diagnosis can be established only after 11 weeks of gestation. Early detection is extremely important. The prognosis is extremely poor so elective termination of pregnancy is the treatment of choice. In this paper, we discuss the things we know about pathogeny and ultrasonographic features of fetal cranial malformations based on a case diagnosed late during gestation.

Obesity can cause respiratory disorders inflicted by adipose tissue accumulation and the numerous cytokines adipocytes produce. Smoking is, first of all, associated with a wide range of lung diseases characterized by diffuse changes in the lung tissue and a decrease in the respiratory volume of the lungs. The study aimed to investigate the ultrastructural changes in the lungs of sexually mature male rats under conditions of experimental obesity and smoking. The total sample of experimental animals consisted of 120 rats, divided into four groups: the control group (n=30) - conditionally healthy rats fed on a standard diet; a group of rats subjected to isolated exposure to tobacco smoke (n=30); a group of experimentally obese rats (n=30) and a group of experimentally obese rats simultaneously exposed to tobacco smoke (n=30) - feeding using a high-fat diet with exposure to a chamber with tobacco smoke. The revealed ultrastructural features of the lungs in the group of rats with experimental obesity and the group of rats with experimental obesity that were simultaneously exposed to tobacco smoke did not differ qualitatively, which indicates that pathological changes in the ultrastructure of the lung tissue developed regardless of the presence or absence of a direct damaging effect on the lung tissue of passive smoking.

The present research study aimed to assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes and histological findings in the therapeutic effects of microfractures in the treatment of complex animal knee lesions resulting from osteochondral and meniscal defects resulting from non-total meniscectomies. The anterior cruciate ligament lesions are also proven to facilitate the development of osteoarthritis in the knee and worsen the prognosis. Surgery was performed on the right knee joint of 22 male rabbits in order to partially remove the anterior horn of the internal meniscus and to induce an osteochondral defect at the level of the internal femoral condyle. The induced lesion complex was aimed to simulate a clinical situation that occurs frequently in orthopedic practice when young adults undergo partial meniscectomy and at the time of surgery, an osteochondral defect is diagnosed. Rabbits were separated into two study groups: the control (C1) group and the microfractures (MF2) group. After the induced cartilage defect and partial meniscectomy, both groups were followed-up for six months using detailed MRI. Also, anatomical specimens were histologically analyzed to show modifications and signs of healing process, along with complications, in the study group. The results showed that the microfracture group had better results concerning articular surface defect healing in comparison to the control group. Our results suggest that microfractures do improve results concerning surface contact healing and serial MRI studies can be useful in observing the remodeling process in dynamics.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer, after basal cell carcinoma, representing about 10-20% of all malignant skin tumors. The mortality rates of CSCC approach those of renal and oropharyngeal carcinomas, as well as melanoma, with the increasing of the risk once metastases and perineural invasion occur. Both actinic keratosis (AK) and Bowen's disease (BD) are direct precursors with the potential for progression to CSCC. In this study, we analyzed the expression of Ki67, P16 and Beta-catenin in the precursor lesions of CSCC in relation to histological prognostic parameters, respectively between them, with the aim of identifying possible correlations with a role in prognosis. Ki67 and P16 presented higher scores in advanced precancerous lesions, such as keratinocyte intraepithelial neoplasia (KIN) III and BD and low scores in seborrheic keratosis (SK). The immunoreactivity to the investigated markers confirms the multistage skin carcinogenesis, and their involvement starting from the initiation phase of the cancer process. The importance of the studied markers in the evolution and prognosis of precancerous lesions of CSCC is also supported by the linear correlations revealed between the immunoexpressions of P16, Ki67 and the membranous immunoexpression of Beta-catenin in AK.