Nil Çomunoğlu

Determination of Potential Cellular Proliferation in the Odontogenic Epithelia of the Dental Follicle of the Asymptomatic Impacted Third Molars

PURPOSE The aim of this study is to determine the proliferative potentials of dental follicles (DF) of radiographically asymptomatic impacted third molar teeth by using Ki-67 and mini-chromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM-2) proliferation markers, and to discuss whether there is any necessity for the removal of all impacted third molars by detecting the potential of the developing cysts and tumors of its DF. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study involved 59 DF of 54 patients referred for clinically and radiographically asymptomatic lower impacted third molars. Thirteen healthy gingiva tissues obtained during the impacted third molar operation in 13 patients served as a control group. DF widths on periapical radiographs below 2.5 mm were included in the study. The epithelial and mesenchymal components of DF were examined histologically. All specimens were stained with periodic acid Schiff, Alcian blue, and mucin for the evaluation of mucous cell prosoplasia. Epithelial cell proliferation was determined by using immunohistochemical labeling. RESULTS The histologic examinations showed 11.9% mucous cell prosoplasia, 55.9% squamous metaplasia, 15.3% glandular epithelium, and 33.9% inflammation. Ki-67 expression was found to have higher values than MCM-2 expression in controls 6.15 (3.18) and 10.53 (5.77) and in DF 4.46 (1.39) and 5.89 (2.89), respectively. The expression of both proliferation markers in the basal epithelial cells, mucous, and squamous epithelium and inflammatory cells were statistically significant (P < .01). CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that the odontogenic epithelium in DF of asymptomatic impacted third molars might be actively proliferating and may be an indicator for the differentiation potential of DF. It would also seem that the inflammation observed in the mesenchymal components of DF up-regulate the cell turnover of odontogenic epithelium and lead to proliferation. Based on these observations, we support prophylactic removal of impacted third molars.

Occult papillary thyroid carcinoma: prevalence at autopsy in Turkish people.

The epidemiological features of occult papillary thyroid carcinoma (OPTC) at autopsy have not previously been reported in Turkish people. This study provides data on the prevalence of OPTC in people from the Marmara region in Turkey. The study includes thyroid glands from 93 male and 15 female cadavers between 18 and 80 years of age. The thyroid glands were removed, fixed and sectioned at 2-mm intervals. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and were examined by a single pathologist. A total of 108 thyroid glands were examined. Macroscopic lesions were found in 36 (33.3%) glands (95% confidence interval=24–42). OPTC was found in four (3.7%) cases (95% confidence interval=1.0–7.5). It was concluded that in the Turkish people from the Marmara region, the prevalence of OPTC found at autopsy was relatively low. No age or sex predilection was detected.

An unusual cause of sudden death : Cardiac myxoma

Primary tumors of the heart are rare; the most common cardiac tumor is atrial myxoma. Sudden death may occur in patients with atrial myxoma, tumor embolization, or obstruction of blood flow at the mitral or tricuspid valve. This report describes an unusual cause of sudden death and the autopsy findings for a 73-year-old man with left atrial myxoma.

Ki-67 and MCM-2 in Dental Follicle and Odontogenic Cysts: The Effects of Inflammation on Proliferative Markers

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is any association between inflammation and the expression of markers of cell cycle entry (Ki-67 and MCM-2) in dental follicle (DF) of asymptomatic impacted teeth and odontogenic cysts. The study consisted of 70 DFs and 20 odontogenic cysts (radicular cyst (RC), dentigerous cyst (DC) and keratocytic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) located at posterior mandibular region. Histological findings of inflammation for all specimen and mucous cell prosoplasia, squamous metaplasia, glandular epithelium for all DFs were stained with hematoxyline and eosin, periodic acid schiff, alcian blue, and mucin. Epithelial cell proliferation was determined by using immunohistochemical labeling for Ki-67 and MCM-2. The histologic examinations showed 16% mucous cell prosoplasia, 54% squamous metaplasia, 20% glandular epithelium, 37% inflammation. Inflammation was detected in all RCs and %62 in DF, %43 in DC and KCOT. Positive correlation was found between the inflammation of DF and odontogenic cysts (P < 0.01). The mean Ki-67 and MCM-2 expressions were found 9, 64 ± 5, 99 and 6, 34 ± 3, 81 in DF, 11, 85 ± 9, 01 and 13, 6 ± 9, 94 in odontogenic cysts, respectively. While the mean Ki-67 expressions were statistically significant in DF and KCOT (P < 0.01), MCM-2 were significant in RC and KCOT (P < 0.01). MCM-2 expresion in RCs were statistically significant than KCOT (P < 0.01). The results of this study indicated that the higher MCM-2 expressions in RC than the KCOT might be related to the inflammation and this protein might be more sensitive to inflammation.

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.

Mammary Pseudoangiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia Composed of Predominantly Giant Cells: An Unusual Variant

Abstract:  Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is a benign proliferative lesion of mammarian stroma that presents as a localized mass. We describe the clinical, radiologic, cytologic, and histopathologic features of a case of PASH with giant cells that presented as a rapidly growing localized mass in the breast in a 32‐year‐old woman. An unusual feature of our case was the presence of multinucleated giant cells lining pseudovascular spaces and dispersing in collagenous stroma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case in the English literature and PASH with predominance of multinucleated giant cells has never been described previously in a female patient.

Müllerian Adenosarcoma with Sarcomatous Overgrowth of the Cervix

Müllerian adenosarcoma (MS) is a rare neoplasm of uterine cervix composed of benign epithelial and malignant stromal components. An aggressive variant of adenosarcoma, müllerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO) is extremely rare. The difference between MS and MASO is the pure high grade sarcoma features in MASO. In this report we present a MASO case, derived from uterine cervix of a 60 year-old-female patient presenting as a cervical polypoid mass, to our knowledge the second case of the English literature. In spite of sarcomatous overgrowth, high mitotic activity and huge tumor size of 12,5 cms, it displayed no myometrial invasion, vascular invasion and heterologous elements. The patient has been clinically free of disease for 14 months of follow up after total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy. The difficulties in diagnosis and treatment of this entity will be evaluated in this report.

Ethylene Glycol Induced Hyperoxaluria Increases Plasma and Renal Tissue Asymmetrical Dimethylarginine in Rats: A New Pathogenetic Link in Hyperoxaluria Induced Disorders

PURPOSE The pathogenesis of kidney stones remains elusive. There is some evidence that hyperoxaluria may effect vascular endothelium and many studies link renal stones to atherosclerosis. Also, renal vascular endothelial cells regulate proximal tubular epithelial cell function. We determined the effect of hyperoxaluria on plasma and tissue levels of asymmetrical dimethylarginine. The secondary aim was to determine the effect of verapamil on asymmetrical dimethylarginine. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 42 Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the study. In groups 1A, 1B and 1C hyperoxaluria was induced with ethylene glycol for 2 weeks. Groups 2A, 2B and 2C received ethylene glycol for 14 days and verapamil for 28 days. Control group 3 received no specific medication but distilled water. Blood samples were obtained at 24 hours and at study end, and kidney samples were obtained at 24 hours, and 7 and 28 days for histopathological evaluation. RESULTS Plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine increased early in the hyperoxaluric group (p = 0.0002). The effect was retained at the end of the study period (p = 0.01). There was no increase in asymmetrical dimethylarginine in the verapamil group on short-term and long-term followup. Hyperoxaluria induced a significantly dense staining pattern in renal tissue asymmetrical dimethylarginine vs controls (p = 0.01). Asymmetrical dimethylarginine staining did not differ in the control and verapamil groups. CONCLUSIONS Increased systemic and local tissue asymmetrical dimethylarginine may help explain the pathogenetic mechanisms of hyperoxaluria induced disorders such as nephrolithiasis and atherosclerosis.

Spinal Cord Glioneuronal Tumor with Rosetted Neuropil-Like Islands in Pediatric Age Group

Glioneuronal neoplasms are rare tumors. Recently, an unusual glioneuronal tumor histologically showing neuropil-like islands has been described. Here, we present such a tumor originating from spinal cord of a 14-year-old girl, who has scoliosis and urinary incontinence. Microscopically, the glial component was chiefly fibrillary astrocytic, punctuated by neuropil-like islands. Immunohistochemically, glial tissue was GFAP positive, and neuropil-like areas and big neurons were synaptophysin reactive. For astrocytic component Ki-67 proliferation index was 1% and p53 was immunonegative. This case is unique in that in the literature it is the second reported case in pediatric age group that is located at spinal cord.

Vocal fold bridge: a complication of a sulcus cyst surgery.

Vocal fold bridges are rare pathologies and mostly coincidentally discovered in direct laryngoscopy. Although the pathophysiology of formation is not well established, it is attributed as a primary pathology that accompanies sulcus and related vocal fold disorders. This paper presents a vocal fold bridge formation in a professional singer after surgical removal of a sulcus cyst formed as a sequela with typical histologic findings resembling the primary bridges. This case report addresses a very rare unpublished complication of a phonomicrosurgical procedure and implicates the evidence of trauma in the etiology.