Isin Dogan Ekici

miR-1 and miR-133b Are Differentially Expressed in Patients with Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is currently the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in the western countries. It is more prevalent in older men with 75% of the incident cases above 65 years old. After radical prostatectomy, approximately 30% of men develop clinical recurrence with elevated serum prostate-specific antigen levels. Therefore, it is important to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying PCa progression to develop novel diagnostic/therapeutic approaches. In this study, it is aimed to compare the microRNA (miRNA) profile of recurrent and non-recurrent prostate tumor tissues to explore the possible involvement of miRNAs in PCa progression. Total RNA from 41 recurrent and 41 non-recurrent PCa tissue samples were used to investigate the miRNA signature in PCa specimens. First of all, 20 recurrent and 20 non-recurrent PCa samples were profiled using miRNA microarray chips. Of the differentially expressed miRNAs, miR-1, miR-133b and miR-145* were selected for further validation with qRT-PCR in a different set of 21 recurrent and 21 non-recurrent PCa samples. Data were statistically analyzed using two-sided Students t-test, Pearson Correlation test, Receiver operating characteristic analysis. Our results demonstrated that miR-1 and mir-133b have been significantly downregulated in recurrent PCa specimens in comparison to non-recurrent PCa samples and have sufficient power to distinguish recurrent specimens from non-recurrent ones on their own. Here, we report that the relative expression of miR-1 and mir-133b have been significantly reduced in recurrent PCa specimens in comparison to non-recurrent PCa samples, which can serve as novel biomarkers for prediction of PCa progression.

Overexpression of miR-145-5p inhibits proliferation of prostate cancer cells and reduces SOX2 expression.

ABSTRACT We aimed to perform functional analysis of miR-145–5p in prostate cancer (PCa) cells and to identify targets of miR-145–5p for understanding its role in PCa pathogenesis. PC3, DU145, LNCaP PCa, and PNT1a nontumorigenic prostate cell lines were utilized for functional analysis of miR-145–5p. Its overexpression caused inhibition of proliferation through apoptosis and reduced migration in PCa cells. SOX2 expression was significantly decreased in both mRNA and protein level in miR-145–5p-overexpressed PCa cells. We proposed that miR-145–5p, being an important regulator of SOX2, carries a crucial role in PCa tumorigenesis.

Age-related changes in the rat hippocampus.

The human brain is uniquely powerful in its cognitive abilities, yet the hippocampal and neocortical circuits that mediate these complex functions are highly vulnerable during aging. In this study, we analyzed age-related changes in the rat hippocampus by studying newborn (1 month), middle-aged (12 months), and older (24 months) male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. We evaluated neuronal dystrophy, neuron scattering, and granulovacuolar degeneration in the hippocampal area using light microscopy, according to age and gender. We detected significant neuronal dystrophy in the CA1, CA2, and CA3 areas in male rats, and in the CA1, CA3, and CA4 areas in female rats. Degenerative changes, indicated by neuron scattering, were observed in the CA1, CA2, and CA3 areas of male and the CA2 and CA4 areas of female rats. Changes in all areas of the hippocampus were observed with increasing age; these changes included neuronal dystrophy and neuron scattering and did not differ significantly between male and female rats.

Xanthogranulomatous cystitis: a challenging imitator of bladder cancer.

Xanthogranulomatous cystitis is a rare, benign, chronic inflammatory disease of the bladder, mimicking malignancy with unknown etiology. Herein, we report a 57-year-old man who presented with pollakiuria, nocturia, dysuria, left flank pain, and a palpable mass on the right lower abdomen. Computerized tomography demonstrated an obstructing 10-mm stone in the lower third of the left ureter and a 6-cm solid mass on the right at the anterolateral wall of the bladder. The mass presented local perivesical invasion at the anterolateral side. Cystouretroscopy revealed a mass protruding into the bladder cavity with edematous smooth surface. Frozen section analysis of the partial cystectomy specimen could not rule out malignancy. Therefore, radical cystoprostatectomy and ureterolithotomy were performed. Histologically, fibrosis, numerous plasma cells, eosinophils, and, immunohistochemically, CD68-positive epithelioid and foamy macrophages were detected. Localized prostatic adenocarcinoma was also found. The present case of xanthogranulomatous cystitis is the 23rd to be reported in the world literature.

Hyperoxaluria-induced tubular ischemia: the effects of verapamil and vitamin E on apoptotic changes with an emphasis on renal papilla in rat model

An experimental study in rats was performed to evaluate the presence and the degree of both tubular apoptotic changes and crystallization at cortical, medullar and papillary regions of the kidney during hyperoxaluric phase and assess the possible protective effects of vitamin E and verapamil on these pathologic changes (particularly in papillary part of the affected kidneys). A total of 32 rats have been included into the study program. Hyperoxaluria was induced by continuous administration of ethylene glycol (0.75%). In addition to hyperoxaluria induction, animals in Groups 2 and 3 did receive a calcium channel-blocking agent (verapamil) and vitamin E, respectively. Histologic alterations of the kidneys including crystal formation together with apoptotic changes were evaluated on days 1, 14 and 28, respectively. Both apoptotic changes and the presence and degree of crystallization were assessed separately in renal cortical region, medulla and particularly papillary parts of the removed kidneys. Although verapamil did well limit the degree of crystal formation and apoptosis and brought it to the same levels observed in control group animals in all parts of the kidneys during intermediate phase, addition of vitamin E was failed to show the same protective effect during both intermediate and late phase evaluations. As demonstrated in our study, the limitation of both crystal deposition and apoptotic changes might be instituted by calcium channel-blocking agents. Clinical application of such agents in the prophylaxis of stone disease might limit the formation of urinary calculi, especially in recurrent stone formers.

Unicentric mixed variant Castleman disease associated with Hashimoto disease: the role of PET/CT in staging and evaluating response to the treatment.

Abstract Castleman disease (CD) is a rare atypical lymphoproliferative disease, pathologically classified as hyaline vascular, plasma cell type and mixed type variant. The underlying cause of CD is unknown, however several theories including autoimmunity have been proposed. We describe a patient diagnosed with unicentric mixed variant CD and Hashimoto thyroiditis, concurrently. She was staged with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and the disease was localized to the mediastinum. After 6 cycles of chemotherapy consisting of vincristine and prednisone, the mediastinal lymph nodes regressed, but did not disappear from the CT scan. However, FDG-PET/CT showed complete metabolic response. Although the role of FDG-PET/CT in staging and evaluation of treatment response is controversial, this case shows that PET/CT can be effective and even better for staging and response evaluation. This case is also unique as there no case of CD in association with Hashimoto thyroiditis has been reported previously. However, the possibility of a coincidental association must be raised, especially when the high prevalence of Hashimoto thyroiditis is considered.

Severe odynophagia in a patient developing after azithromycin intake: a case report

IntroductionDrug-induced esophageal ulcers most commonly cause heartburn, midsternal pain and dysphagia. In our clinic azithromycin is a relative widely used antibiotic for respiratory tract infections and otitis media because of its activity against Haemophilus influenzae and atypical pathogens, and its ease of administration. After a thorough search in Pubmed the present case is the first one to report azithromycin-induced esophageal ulcer and associated symptoms in the literature.Case presentationA 61-year-old Caucasian man was admitted to our endoscopy unit for the investigation of odynophagia and retrosternal pain of new onset. His past medical history was unremarkable but had used azithromycin 500 mg/d for three days in the previous week. An upper endoscopy revealed an extensive serpiginous midesophageal ulcer in the presence of a normal squamocolumnar junction and biopsies from the edges and center of the lesion disclosed no neoplasia or infectious causes but a dense acute inflammatory infiltrate. The patient was put on a liquid diet, sucralfate proton pump inhibitor treatment and was symptom-free within two weeks. After four weeks on therapy a repeated upper endoscopic control examination demonstrated normal findings.ConclusionTo our knowledge this is the first such a case of azithromycin -induced esophageal ulceration. We think that a little time taken by the physician to warn the patients for taking every oral drug with sufficient amount of water might prevent this kind of complications.

Coincidence of follicular lymphoma and hurtle cell thyroid carcinoma in a patient at presentation: which one is the source of bone metastasis? Case report and review of the literature

Thyroid incidentaloma is defined as a new identified thyroid lesion occasionally detected during imaging studies. Incidence of thyroid incidentalomas is relatively rare in patients with lymphoma. Because of high rate of malignancy, these lesions with high intensity focal 18FDG uptake detected on positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) should undergo to biopsy regardless of size.

Cauda equina cavernous hemangioma: very rare pediatric case

Dear Editor: Cavernous hemangiomas (CH) are rare vascular malformations in the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by abnormally dilated blood vessels, lined by a thin endothelium, without intervening normal nervous tissue. Intramedullary cavernomas are very rare [1]. They are usually solitary; although, they may be associated with CH in other organs or in the central nervous system. The most common clinical presentation is represented by a slowly progressive myelopathy, but subarachnoid hemorrhage and hematomyelia have also been described. The hemorrhage rate of symptomatic intramedullary CHs is 1.4–4.5% per lesion and per year [2]. A 13-year-old girl was admitted with the complaint of a 4-week history of back pain and right-side lower extremity weakness. A neurological examination revealed right extensor halluces longus (EHL) and anterior tibialis (AT) muscle weakness. Lumbar MRI revealed L1 intradural extramedullary lesion (Fig. 1a–c). We have also screened the entire neuroaxis, but we did not see any other intramedullary CH. After preoperative routine tests, we operated on the patient under general anesthesia. We excised the intradural CH after left-sided L1, L2 partial hemi-laminectomy, as described by Yasargil et al. for the removal of extramedullary and intramedullary tumors and AVMs (supplemental video file) [3]. A posterior midline longitudinal incision was made, and the subcutaneous tissues and lumbodorsal fascia of the affected side were divided. The supraspinal ligaments, interspinal ligaments, and tendinous insertions of the contralateral muscles were retained. The paraspinal muscles of the affected side were stripped, exposing the unilateral lamina to the inner edge of the articular process. Corresponding segments of the lamina were removed by a high-speed burr. Ligamentum flavum was removed and the dural sac was exposed. The oblique tilting of the operating table to the contralateral side (15–20 degrees) ensured an adequate surgical field for the procedure [3]. We used intraoperative ultrasound to localize the CH before opening the dura during surgery. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring was used to check nerve root potentials in order to preserve neural tissue. After opening the dura, we exposed the tumor. It was highly vascular with a prominent pulsation of the feeding arteries. The tumor was originating from a single nerve root, but it was adherent to the other cauda equina nerves. Using microneurosurgical technique under microscopic magnification, we dissected the tumor away from Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00381-016-3286-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.