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Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of small bowel wall in childhood: Report of a case and a review of the literature

Benign intestinal tumors are rare in children, however we describe an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the jejunum in a 2‐year‐old girl who presented with an intestinal obstruction. During laparotomy, an annular mass around the jejunum was resected, from which a histological diagnosis of IMT was made. A review of the literature for this rare entity emphasizes the importance of histological confirmation of its benign nature. Because of the risk of local recurrence, IMT cases should have a long‐term follow up.

Value of p53 protein in biological behavior of basal cell carcinoma and in normal epithelia adjacent to carcinomas.

Mutations in p53 gene are the most frequent gene alterations in human cancer. In this study, we have used the monoclonal antibody (DO7) to evaluate the role of the p53 gene mutation in the progression of basal cell carcinomas towards invasion. We tested the positivity for p53 protein in tumor cells in six cases of basosquamous cell carcinoma (BSCC), in twelve cases of infiltrative basal cell carcinoma (IBCC) and twenty-four cases of non-infiltrative basal cell carcinoma (NIBCC) in order to evaluate its potential prognostic significance. We also tested the expression of p53 protein in normal epithelia adjacent to carcinomas in order to determine its role in tumor progression. p53 protein staining with some peripheral accentuation was identified in 42,9% of all groups. No correlation was found between the immunreactivity of p53 protein and recurrence, pattern of tumor, diameter of the tumors and sex. However, there were statistically significant differences in positivity of p53 protein in normal epithelia adjacent to carcinomas and age of patients (t value: 2,21; p: 0,034). Results of the study suggest that the increase in p53 mutation frequency of morphologically normal epidermis was related to age and was independent of the degree of differentiation of BCC.

Effects of Tempol, a Membrane-Permeable Radical Scavenger, on Local and Remote Organ Injuries Caused by Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rats

BACKGROUND Tempol is a stable piperidine nitroxide of low molecular weight that permeates biological membranes and scavenges superoxide anions in vitro. In a variety of animal models, deleterious effects of reperfusion injury on both local and remote organs have been demonstrated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of a membrane-permeable radical scavenger, Tempol, on local and remote organ injuries caused by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Male Wistar-albino rats were randomized into three groups: (I) Sham-operated control group, laparotomy without I/R injury (n = 12); (II) Intestinal I/R group, 60 min of ischemia by superior mesenteric artery occlusion followed by 2-h of reperfusion (n = 12); and (III) I/R + Tempol-treated group, identical to I/R group except for Tempol administration, 30 mg/kg bolus injection 5 min before reperfusion, followed by an infusion of 30 mg/kg/h intravenously (n = 12). Histopathologically, intestinal mucosal lesions were assessed by Chius classification, and pulmonary parenchymal damage was appraised by pulmonary neutrophil infiltration and acute lung injury scaling. Biochemically, myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde, glutathione, and nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) levels were determined in both intestinal mucosa and lung parenchyma. Evans blue dye concentration and organ wet/dry weight ratios were used as a marker of organ edema. Animal survival was observed up to 1 week. RESULTS Intestinal mucosal lesions and pulmonary parenchymal damage were significantly attenuated with Tempol treatment, histopathologically (P < 0.05). Tempol administration significantly reduced myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde levels, and also significantly increased glutathione and NO(x) levels of both intestinal and lung tissues, biochemically (P < 0.05). Evans blue dye extravasation and wet/dry weight ratios of organs were significantly reduced with Tempol injection (P < 0.05). The survival rates of rats in Tempol-treated group were significantly higher than that of I/R-treated group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that Tempol administration significantly reduces both local and remote organ injuries caused by intestinal I/R before and throughout the reperfusion period. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify whether Tempol may be a useful therapeutic agent to use in particular operations where the reperfusion injury occurs.

Experimental Sinusitis in a Rhinogenic Model

Objectives/Hypothesis: The objectives were to determine the optimal sinusitis induction period and to examine microbiological and histopathological changes of sinusitis recovery stage in a rhinogenic sinusitis model.

Immunohistochemical expression of β-catenin, E-cadherin, cyclin D1 and c-myc in benign trichogenic tumors

Background:  β‐catenin gene mutations have been reported in vast majority of pilomatrixomas (PMXs). β‐catenin, a component of the adhesion molecules of the cytoskeleton, is degraded at the cytoplasm. Excess cytoplasmic β‐catenin enters into the nucleus and activates the transcription of several genes encoding c‐myc, cyclin D1 and others. Sublocation of β‐catenin has been demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. The aim of this study was to determine the role of β‐catenin‐related proteins in various benign trichogenic tumors.

Reticulohistiocytosis: different dermatoscopic faces and a good response to methotrexate treatment

The reticulohistiocytoses are a rare group of non‐Langerhans cell histiocytic disorders. Recently, dermatoscopic features have been reported for some of the xanthomatous disorders. We report a case of diffuse cutaneous reticulohistiocytosis with 29 reticulohistiocytomas. On dermatoscopy of these lesions, we saw three typical features: a homogeneous pattern with various shades of yellow (defined previously as a ‘setting‐sun’ pattern), brown reticular structures, and central white scar‐like patches and streaks. The setting‐sun pattern was most commonly seen in combination with brown reticular structures. In four lesions, brown reticular structures surrounded a central white scar‐like patch resembling that of a dermatofibroma. However, the presence of the setting‐sun pattern in the background gave a different hue to that of the peripheral network seen in a dermatofibroma. A marked clinical improvement was associated with 6 months of systemic methotrexate treatment. Dermatoscopy may aid in the diagnosis of xanthomatous diseases. For this patient, methotrexate was beneficial.

Gastric Histopathological Findings and Ghrelin Expression in morbid Obesity Morbid Obezitede Gastrik Histopatolojik Bulgular ve Ghrelin Ekspresyonu

Abstract Objective: Th e role of Ghrelin, also known as the appetite hormone, is not fully explained in the development of morbid obesity. Plasma Ghrelin level is low in obese and high in slim subjects. Ghrelin-expressing cells were investigated histopathologically in the stomach of morbid obese patients in this study. Tissue Ghrelin expression was also compared with various parameters such as the distribution of endocrine cells, age, gender, body mass index, preoperative plasma Ghrelin level and presence of accompanying diseases. Material and Method: Th e study included 33 morbidly obese patients, and 8 non-obese control patients. Plasma Ghrelin levels were measured preoperatively. Sleeve gastrectomy resection materials of 33 cases were evaluated with histopathological and immunohistochemical (Ghrelin and Chromogranin-A) techniques. Th e results were statistically evaluated by nonparametric tests. Results: Histopathological findings observed in sleeve gastrectomy resection materials were interstitial lymphocytic infiltration (63.6%), hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles in the lamina propria (60.7%) and microvesiculation / dilatation of parietal cells (57.6%). Th e number of Ghrelin immunopositive cells in the gastric mucosa in females was significantly higher compared to males (p=0,007). Additionally, the number of Ghrelin immunopositive cells was significantly higher at the fundus-proximal corpus compared to the distal corpus of the stomach (p=0.0001). No significant correlation was found between Ghrelin-chromogranin immunopositive endocrine cell distribution and preoperative plasma Ghrelin levels and endocrine cell hyperplasia. Conclusion: Our study confirms that Ghrelin producing cells are most dense in the proximal stomach. Increased number of Ghrelin expressing cells in the gastric mucosa in females compared to males suggests that gender may also be a factor in determining the method for treatment of morbid obesity. ÖZ Amaç: İştah hormonu olarak da bilinen Ghrelin hormonunun morbid obezite gelişimindeki rolu tam olarak acıklanamamıştır. Plazma Ghrelin duzeyi obezlerde duşuk, zayıflarda yuksektir. Bu calışmada; morbid obezitede midede gorulen histopatolojik değişiklikler, Ghrelin eksprese eden hucreler araştırılmış, doku Ghrelin ekspresyonu; doku endokrin hucre dağılımı, yaş, cinsiyet, vucut kitle indeksi, preoperatif serum Ghrelin duzeyi ve eşlik eden hastalık varlığı gibi parametrelerle karşılaştırılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Calışmaya morbid obezite nedeniyle laparoskopik ”sleeve” gastrektomi uygulanan 33 olgu ve obez olmayan 8 kontrol hastasının mide rezeksiyon materyalleri dahil edildi. Olguların preoperatif plazma Ghrelin duzeyleri olculdu. Sleeve gastrektomi materyalleri prospektif olarak histopatolojik ve immunohistokimyasal yontemlerle (Ghrelin ve Kromogranin-A) değerlendirildi. Bulgular istatistiksel olarak nonparametrik testlerle karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Sleeve gastrektomi materyallerindeki histopatolojik bulgular; interstisyel lenfosit infiltrasyonu (%63,6), lamina propriyada lenfoid folikul hiperplazisi (%60,7) ve pariyetal hucrelerde mikrovezikulasyon/ dilatasyon (%57,6) olarak saptandı. Kadınlarda gastrik mukozadaki Ghrelin immunopozitif hucre sayısı erkeklere kıyasla anlamlı duzeyde yuksekti (p=0,007). Ayrıca Ghrelin immunopozitif hucre sayısının, midenin fundus-proksimal korpus kısmında distal korpusa gore anlamlı olarak yuksek olduğu gozlendi (p=0,0001). Ghrelin ekspresyonu ile kromogranin-A immunopozitif endokrin hucre dağılımı, araştırılan diğer parametreler veya preoperatif plazma Ghrelin duzeyi ile endokrin hucre hiperplazisi arasında anlamlı ilişki saptanmadı. Sonuç: Calışmamız, Ghrelin ureten hucrelerin midenin proksimalinde daha yoğun olduğunu doğrulamaktadır. Kadınlarda gastrik mukozadaki Ghrelin eksprese eden hucre sayısının erkeklerden yuksek olması ise morbid obezite tedavisi icin secilecek yontemde cinsiyet faktorunun de etkili olabileceğini duşundurmektedir.

A focus on differential diagnosis of lichen planus and plasma cell balanitis

746 JEADV 2006, 20, 735–767

The investigation of the possible relationship between Coxsackie viruses and pemphigus

Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune bullous diseases on which the etiopathogenesis of several viruses has been blamed. Coxsackie viruses (CVs) are the causative agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease, and herpangina, which have been strongly associated with several autoimmune diseases. The onset of pemphigus after CV infection and cephalosporin use has been reported.

Conjunctival melanoma in a six-year-old female.

Conjunctival melanoma (CM) is a highly malignant tumor that derives from melanocytes and is rarely seen in children. This report describes a 6‐year‐old female diagnosed with CM. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:384–386.