Marie Ludvíková

Relevance of miR-21 and miR-143 expression in tissue samples of colorectal carcinoma and its liver metastases

MicroRNAs, which are endogenously expressed regulatory noncoding RNAs, have an altered expression in colorectal cancer. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship of miR-21 and miR-143 expression to the prognostic/clinicopathological features of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and colorectal liver metastases (CLM). The estimation was performed in 46 paired (tumor and control) tissue samples of CRC. Further, we studied 30 tissue samples of CLM. MiR-21 and miR-143 expressions were quantified by using the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. Relation of miR-21 and miR-143 expression to disease-free interval (DFI) (Wilcoxon; P = 0.0026 and P = 0.0191, respectively) was recorded. There was shorter DFI in patients with a higher expression of miR-21 and, surprisingly, also in patients with a higher expression of miR-143, which is a putative tumor suppressor. There was a higher expression of miR-21 and lower expression of miR-143 in CRC tissue in comparison with adjacent normal colon tissue (P < 0.0001; P < 0.0001, respectively). Similarly, we observed a higher expression of miR-21 and a lower expression of miR-143 in CLM in comparison with normal colon tissue (P < 0.0001; P < 0.0001, respectively). Our results support the hypothesis about oncogenic function of miR-21 and show its relation to DFI. The role of miR-143 in carcinogenesis seems to be more complex.

Oncocytic papillary carcinoma with lymphoid stroma (Warthin-like tumour) of the thyroid: a distinct entity with favourable prognosis

Oncocytic papillary carcinoma with lymphoid stroma (Warthin‐like tumour) of the thyroid: a distinct entity with favourable prognosis

Epithelioid haemangiosarcoma of the thyroid gland. Report of six cases from a non‐Alpine region

Aim : To report a series of six cases of thyroid haemangiosarcoma (HAS) from a non‐Alpine region.

Gastric lipoma presenting as upper gastrointestinal obstruction

Abstract: A 61-year-old man presented with an upper gastrointestinal obstruction caused by a submucosal gastric lipoma in the prepyloric area. The diagnosis was made coincidentally during his admission for another disease. Gastric resection was performed because of a large lipoma combined with florid gastric ulcers. The frequency of gastric lipoma, its differential diagnosis, means of diagnosis, and treatment are discussed.

Nodular mucinosis of the breast: Report of three cases

Three cases of nodular mucinosis of the breast are presented. They occurred in one male and two female patients. The patients had no signs of Carneys syndrome. All lesions were located under the nipple. They were poorly circumscribed and unencapsulated. They were soft and had a gelatinous consistency and white color. No patient had any evidence of recurrence or metastasis 6 months, 3 years and 6 years, respectively, after the surgical excision. The mucinous tissue consisted of acid mucopolysaccharldes, which stained Alcian blue, Hales colloidal iron positively, and they were periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) negative. Muci‐carmine reaction was only faintly positive. The lesion should be distinguished particularly from mucocele‐like lesions of the breast by the location, nodular arrangement, absence of accompanying ductal hyperplasia and staining properties of the mucous substances.

Hyalinizing Spindle Cell Tumors with Giant Rosette-like Structures

We report two cases of hyalinizing spindle cell tumors with giant rosettes arising in the pararectal space and soft tissues of the wrist in a 46-year-old man and 22-year-old-woman, respectively. Microscopically, the tumors exhibited a varied morphology, including hyalinizing hypocellular and cellular fibromatosis-like areas. The most striking morphologic feature was the formation of giant rosette like structures with collagen cores scattered throughout the tumors. Most of the tumor spindle cells were diffusely immunoreactive for lysozyme, CD-68, factor XIII and vimentin. Reactivity for smooth muscle actin, desmin and S-100 protein was not found. Ultrastructural examination of the rosettes in one case only showed normal native collagen.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV expression in thyroid cytology: retrospective histologically confirmed study

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid gland is a well‐established method. However, it has inherent limitations, especially in the diagnosis of follicular and oncocytic tumours and in distinguishing between nuclear atypia in colloid goitre with regressive changes and cystic papillary carcinoma. The aim of our study was to evaluate dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) as a marker of malignancy in FNAC. We tested 254 thyroid specimens (intraoperative imprint smears) for DPP IV. The sensitivity was 71%, the specificity was 96%, and the diagnostic accuracy was 93%, respectively, with a threshold of 50% of positive cells. To the best of our knowledge it is the largest histologically confirmed study reported in the literature. We suggest the assessment of DPP IV as an adjunct diagnostic marker of malignancy in thyroid specimens suspicious of papillary carcinoma. However, the value of the marker in follicular lesions is very limited.

Pigmented microcystic chromophobe cell carcinoma: a unique variant of renal cell carcinoma.

Five cases of pigmented chromophobe renal cell carcinoma are presented. The patients included four men and one woman between the ages of 60 and 73 years (median age, 66.5 years), who presented with symptoms due to their renal mass. Surgical resection of the renal mass was performed in all patients. Grossly, the tumors were well encapsulated, yellow to dark gray, with a vague nodular pattern on cut surface. The tumors varied between 2.5 and 9 cm in greatest diameter. Histologically, all tumors shared similar features, namely, a malignant cellular proliferation composed of deeply eosinophilic to clear cytoplasm with round nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli. The cellular proliferation was arranged in a microcystic and/or microalveolar pattern. In one tumor, conventional areas of clear cell carcinoma in association with the chromophobe component were present. In addition, all tumors contained pigmented areas, which were shown by light microscopy to have features of lipochrome pigment. Ultrastructural studies of these areas demonstrated the presence of intracytoplasmic polygonal to round, electron-dense pigment granules, which in some areas seemed to coalesce to form larger granules. In addition, numerous mitochondria and cytoplasmic vesicles were present. The cases described herein highlight an additional morphologic variant of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.

Pathobiology of MicroRNAs and Their Emerging Role in Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration.

Objective: MicroRNAs (miRs) are noncoding, single-stranded regulatory RNA molecules involved in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. They control the development and maintenance of the diverse cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, motility and apoptosis. Expression of miRs is tissue-specific and each alteration of the tissue miR profile is associated with a distinct disease status. Study Design: We reviewed the literature on the expression of miRs in thyroid tumors, focusing on methodology and diagnostic and prognostic output. Separately, we analyzed 11 studies on miR profiles in thyroid cytological material. Results: Numerous studies have evaluated the miR profiles of thyroid tumors in an attempt to find a possible diagnostic and prognostic role. Both downregulation and upregulation of numerous miRs was found, but differences between the surgical pathology specimens and corresponding fine-needle aspirates in the expression of the same miRs were also reported. Conclusions: The results from surgically resected material cannot be extrapolated into preoperative use without validation. For diagnostic use, the strong overlap between follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma miR profiles is challenging. In summary, miR-221 and miR-222 are consistently upregulated in different types of thyroid carcinomas and might be used as markers of malignancy.

Focal Sarcoid-like Change of the Thyroid Gland. A Possible Consequence of Aspiration Cytology?

An unusual case of focal accumulation of sarcoid-like granulomas occurring within the thyroid gland of a 43-year-old female patient is reported. The granulomas were found solely at the site of previous fine needle aspiration biopsy. The follow-up did not show any symptoms of systemic granulomatous disease. The pathogenesis of this lesion is discussed.