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BACKGROUND: The risk of recurrence is overestimated by the Kaplan-Meier method when competing events, such as death without recurrence, are present. Such overestimation can be avoided by using the Aalen-Johansen method, which is a direct extension of Kaplan-Meier that accounts for competing events. Meningiomas commonly occur in older individuals and have slow-growing properties, thereby warranting competing risk analysis. The extent to which competing events are considered in meningioma literature is unknown, and the consequences of using incorrect methodologies in meningioma recurrence risk analysis have not been investigated. METHODS: We surveyed articles indexed on PubMed since 2020 to assess the usage of competing risk analysis in recent meningioma literature. To compare recurrence risk estimates obtained through Kaplan-Meier and Aalen-Johansen methods, we applied our international database comprising ~ 8,000 patients with a primary meningioma collected from 42 institutions. RESULTS: Of 513 articles, 169 were eligible for full-text screening. There were 6,537 eligible cases from our PERNS database. The discrepancy between the results obtained by Kaplan-Meier and Aalen-Johansen was negligible among low-grade lesions and younger individuals. The discrepancy increased substantially in the patient groups associated with higher rates of competing events (older patients with high-grade lesions). CONCLUSION: The importance of considering competing events in recurrence risk analysis is poorly recognized as only 6% of the studies we surveyed employed Aalen-Johansen analyses. Consequently, most of the previous literature has overestimated the risk of recurrence. The overestimation was negligible for studies involving low-grade lesions in younger individuals; however, overestimation might have been substantial for studies on high-grade lesions.

Inclusion body myositis is a rare, late-onset myopathy. Both inflammatory and myodegenerative features play an important role in their pathogenesis. Overlapping clinicopathological entities are the familial inclusion body myopathies with or without dementia. These myopathies share several clinical and pathological features with the sporadic inflammatory disease. Therefore, better understanding of the genetic basis and pathomechanism of these rare familial cases may advance our knowledge and enable more effective treatment options in sporadic IBM, which is currently considered a relentlessly progressive incurable disease.

Although tumour recurrence is an important and not infrequent event in meningiomas, predictive immunohistochemical markers have not been identified yet. The aim of this study was to address this clinically relevant problem by systematic retrospective analysis of surgically completely resected meningiomas with and without recurrence, including tumour samples from patients who underwent repeat surgeries. Three established immunohistochemical markers of routine pathological meningioma work-up have been assessed: the proliferative marker Ki-67 (clone Mib1), the tumour suppressor gene p53 and progesterone receptor (PR). All these proteins correlate with the tumour WHO grade, however the predictive value regarding recurrence and progression in tumour grade is unknown. One hundred and fourteen surgical specimens of 70 meningioma patients (16 male and 54 female) in a 16 years' interval have been studied. All tumours had apparently complete surgical removal. On Mib1, PR and p53 immunostained sections, the percentage of labelled tumour cells, the staining intensity and the multiplied values of these parameters (the histoscore) was calculated. Results were statistically correlated with tumour WHO grade, (sub)type, recurrence and progression in WHO grade at subsequent biopsies. Our results confirmed previous findings that the WHO grade is directly proportional to Mib1 and p53 and is inversely proportional to the PR immunostain. We have demonstrated that Mib1 and p53 have a significant correlation with and predictive value of relapse/recurrence irrespective of the histological subtype of the same WHO grade. As a quantitative marker, Mib1 has the best correlation with a percentage of labelled cells, whereas p53 with intensity and histoscore. In conclusion, the immunohistochemical panel of PR, p53, Mib1 in parallel with applying standard diagnostic criteria based on H&E stained sections is sufficient and reliable to predict meningioma recurrence in surgically completely resected tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary angiosarcoma of the pancreas is an extremely rare neoplasm that often mimicks severe acute pancreatitis. A 58-year-old man was admitted with clinical and laboratory signs of severe acute pancreatitis. Contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrated haemorrhagic necrotizing inflammation of the pancreas involving the pancreatic tail, splenic hilum and small bowels with multiple peripancreatic and free abdominal fluid collection. Percutaneous drainage was performed. After 13 days, laparotomy was indicated because of persistent intra-abdominal bleeding, fever and a palpable, rapidly growing mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. During the operation a necrotic, haemorrhagic mass was found in the pancreatic tail; a frozen section showed malignancy, although the tumour was unresectable. Despite all conservative and surgical therapeutic attempts, the patient died within four weeks after diagnosis. Final histology justified primary angiosarcoma of the pancreas. If a patient with signs of severe acute pancreatitis has fever without elevated PCT, the presence of a malignant tumour of the pancreas should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningiomas are one of the most frequent intracranial tumours, with 13 histological types and three grades according to the 2007 WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System. p53, as one of the most potent tumour suppressor proteins, plays a role in nearly 50% of human tumours. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a DNA repair enzyme with high ATP demand. It plays a role in apoptosis by activating an apoptosis inducing factor, and in necrosis by consuming NAD+ and ATP. Only PARP1 has been investigated in detail in tumours out of the 17 members of the PARP superfamily; however, its role has not been studied in meningiomas yet. The aim of this study was to determine the role ofp53 and PARP1 in meningiomas of different grade and to establish whether there is any correlation between the p53 and PARP1 expression. Both PARP1 and p53 have been expressed in all examined meningiomas. PARP1 labelled grade II tumours with a higher intensity as compared to grade I and III neoplasms, respectively. An increased p53 expression was noted in grade III meningiomas. There was no statistical correlation between p53 and PARP1 expression. Our data indicate that both PARP1 and p53 activation is a feature in meningiomas of higher grade, PARP1 overexpression being an early, whereas p53 overexpression, a late event in tumour progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion body myositis is a slowly progressive myopathy affecting predominantly the middle-aged and older patient population. It is a major form of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies which are chronic systemic autoimmune diseases characterized by symmetrical proximal muscle weakness. Unfortunately, there is no effective therapy yet; however, the early diagnosis is essential to provide treatment options which may significantly slow the progression of the disease. In our case-based clinicopathological study the importance of the close collaboration between the clinician and the neuropathologist is emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been unclear whether ischemic stroke induces neurogenesis or neuronal DNA rearrangements in the human neocortex. Using immunohistochemistry; transcriptome, genome and ploidy analyses; and determination of nuclear bomb test-derived 14C concentration in neuronal DNA, we found neither to be the case. A large proportion of cortical neurons displayed DNA fragmentation and DNA repair a short time after stroke, whereas neurons at chronic stages after stroke showed DNA integrity, demonstrating the relevance of an intact genome for survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncobiotic transformation of the gut microbiome may contribute to the risk of breast cancer. Recent studies have provided evidence that the microbiome secretes cytostatic metabolites that inhibit the proliferation, movement, and metastasis formation of cancer cells. In this study, we show that indolepropionic acid (IPA), a bacterial tryptophan metabolite, has cytostatic properties. IPA selectively targeted breast cancer cells, but it had no effects on non-transformed, primary fibroblasts. In cell-based and animal experiments, we showed that IPA supplementation reduced the proportions of cancer stem cells and the proliferation, movement, and metastasis formation of cancer cells. These were achieved through inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, inducing oxidative and nitrosative stress, and boosting antitumor immune response. Increased oxidative/nitrosative stress was due to the IPA-mediated downregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and enhanced mitochondrial reactive species production. Increased oxidative/nitrosative stress led to cytostasis and reductions in cancer cell stem-ness. IPA exerted its effects through aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) receptors. A higher expression of PXR and AHR supported better survival in human breast cancer patients, highlighting the importance of IPA-elicited pathways in cytostasis in breast cancer. Furthermore, AHR activation and PXR expression related inversely to cancer cell proliferation level and to the stage and grade of the tumor. The fecal microbiome's capacity for IPA biosynthesis was suppressed in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, especially with stage 0. Bacterial indole biosynthesis showed correlation with lymphocyte infiltration to tumors in humans. Taken together, we found that IPA is a cytostatic bacterial metabolite, the production of which is suppressed in human breast cancer. Bacterial metabolites, among them, IPA, have a pivotal role in regulating the progression but not the initiation of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In breast cancer patients, the diversity of the microbiome decreases, coinciding with decreased production of cytostatic bacterial metabolites like lithocholic acid (LCA). We hypothesized that LCA can modulate oxidative stress to exert cytostatic effects in breast cancer cells. Treatment of breast cancer cells with LCA decreased nuclear factor-2 (NRF2) expression and increased Kelch-like ECH associating protein 1 (KEAP1) expression via activation of Takeda G-protein coupled receptor (TGR5) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). Altered NRF2 and KEAP1 expression subsequently led to decreased expression of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3), an antioxidant enzyme, and increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The imbalance between the pro- and antioxidant enzymes increased cytostatic effects via increased levels of lipid and protein oxidation. These effects were reversed by the pharmacological induction of NRF2 with RA839, tBHQ, or by thiol antioxidants. The expression of key components of the LCA-elicited cytostatic pathway (iNOS and 4HNE) gradually decreased as the breast cancer stage advanced. The level of lipid peroxidation in tumors negatively correlated with the mitotic index. The overexpression of iNOS, nNOS, CAR, KEAP1, NOX4, and TGR5 or the downregulation of NRF2 correlated with better survival in breast cancer patients, except for triple negative cases. Taken together, LCA, a metabolite of the gut microbiome, elicits oxidative stress that slows down the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The LCA–oxidative stress protective pathway is lost as breast cancer progresses, and the loss correlates with poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women worldwide. Dysbiosis, an aberrant composition of the microbiome, characterizes breast cancer. In this review we discuss the changes to the metabolism of breast cancer cells, as well as the composition of the breast and gut microbiome in breast cancer. The role of the breast microbiome in breast cancer is unresolved, nevertheless it seems that the gut microbiome does have a role in the pathology of the disease. The gut microbiome secretes bioactive metabolites (reactivated estrogens, short chain fatty acids, amino acid metabolites, or secondary bile acids) that modulate breast cancer. We highlight the bacterial species or taxonomical units that generate these metabolites, we show their mode of action, and discuss how the metabolites affect mitochondrial metabolism and other molecular events in breast cancer. These metabolites resemble human hormones, as they are produced in a "gland" (in this case, the microbiome) and they are subsequently transferred to distant sites of action through the circulation. These metabolites appear to be important constituents of the tumor microenvironment. Finally, we discuss how bacterial dysbiosis interferes with breast cancer treatment through interfering with chemotherapeutic drug metabolism and availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed at finding a mechanistic relationship between the gut microbiome and breast cancer. Breast cancer cells are not in direct contact with these microbes, but disease could be influenced by bacterial metabolites including secondary bile acids that are exclusively synthesized by the microbiome and known to enter the human circulation. In murine and bench experiments, a secondary bile acid, lithocholic acid (LCA) in concentrations corresponding to its tissue reference concentrations (< 1 μM), reduced cancer cell proliferation (by 10–20%) and VEGF production (by 37%), aggressiveness and metastatic potential of primary tumors through inducing mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition, increased antitumor immune response, OXPHOS and the TCA cycle. Part of these effects was due to activation of TGR5 by LCA. Early stage breast cancer patients, versus control women, had reduced serum LCA levels, reduced chenodeoxycholic acid to LCA ratio, and reduced abundance of the baiH (7α/β-hydroxysteroid dehydroxylase, the key enzyme in LCA generation) gene in fecal DNA, all suggesting reduced microbial generation of LCA in early breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient tissue perfusion in malignancies results in hypoxic areas, favoring neoplastic progression. Tumor cells under hypoxia undergo an adaptive program by activating alternative metabolic pathways, which is regulated by hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF1) in order to overcome microenvironmental changes. The expression of carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a prominent protective mechanism against intracellular acidosis occurring in cancer cells suffering from hypoxia. Due to the activity of CAIX, the restored intracellular pH (pHi) supports tumor cell proliferation and migration, while the compensatory extracellular acidosis contributes to immunoprotection and to chemo- and radioresistance. In vitro and animal model experiments showed that the chemotherapeutic efficiency could be significantly improved by the selective inhibition of CAIX, thus, its adjuvant therapeutic potential is under active investigation.

Meningiomas represent nearly one-third of all adult primary brain tumours. According to their clinical and histologic appearance, they can be divided into WHO grades I-III. Almost 90% of meningiomas are benign, showing favourable response to conventional therapies, however, patients diagnosed with grade 2 and 3 tumours may have a poor prognosis. In addition, high frequency of tumour recurrence renders treatments more challenging even in benign meningiomas. Molecular-pathological profiling of meningiomas could lead to development of more effective therapies. Although the cytogenetic background of these tumours are already well-characterised, the majority of related genes and mutations is still unknown. Recently, high-throughput techniques enabled better characterisation of mechanisms involved in meningioma development, progression and recurrence. Furthermore, epigenetic dysregulation could offer new opportunities for both diagnosis and treatment of meningiomas. We provide a comprehensive overview of cytogenetic and molecular genetic defects as well as epigenetic alterations in meningiomas. Many of these may serve as biomarker or therapeutic target in the near future.

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are systemic, chronic autoimmune diseases characterized by proximal symmetrical muscle weakness. One of the main diseases in this group is inclusion body myositis (IBM), an underdiagnosed, progressive muscle disease characteristically affecting the middle-aged and older population. It has a slow, relentlessly progressive course. The precise pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown. In most of the cases it is diagnosed a few years after the appearance of the first symptoms. The muscle biopsy typically shows endomysial inflammation, with invasion of mononuclear cells into the non-necrotic fibers, and also rimmed vacuoles. It appers, that both inflammation and degeneration are present at the onset of the disease. Our aim is to raise awareness about this disease which leads to severe disability, with clinicopathological case presentations and literature overview, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the clinician and the neuropathologist. No effective therapy is currently available but the rapid diagnosis is essential to slow disease progression. Although this is a relatively rare disease, patients are presenting not only in immunology outpatient clinics; our reports aims to raise awareness and facilitate accurate early diagnosis of IBM.

Primary angiosarcoma of the pancreas is an extremely rare neoplasm that often mimicks severe acute pancreatitis. A 58-year-old man was admitted with clinical and laboratory signs of severe acute pancreatitis. Contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrated haemorrhagic necrotizing inflammation of the pancreas involving the pancreatic tail, splenic hilum and small bowels with multiple peripancreatic and free abdominal fluid collection. Percutaneous drainage was performed. After 13 days, laparotomy was indicated because of persistent intra-abdominal bleeding, fever and a palpable, rapidly growing mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. During the operation a necrotic, haemorrhagic mass was found in the pancreatic tail; a frozen section showed malignancy, although the tumour was unresectable. Despite all conservative and surgical therapeutic attempts, the patient died within four weeks after diagnosis. Final histology justified primary angiosarcoma of the pancreas. If a patient with signs of severe acute pancreatitis has fever without elevated PCT, the presence of a malignant tumour of the pancreas should be considered., (Copyright © 2014 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are systemic, autoimmune diseases characterized by proximal symmetrical muscle weakness. We review the myositis-associated and myositis-specific autoantibodies, among them the anti-SRP autoantibody. Among those autoimmune myopathy cases, that are associated with autoantibodies, we can detect anti-SRP autoantibody positive myositis cases. We describe the role of signal recognition particle, its structure and role in protein biosynthesis. We review how necrotizing autoimmune myopathy is identified, and the differences from classical polymyositis. The anti-SRP titer correlates with disease activity. We present some cases to show how the disease appears in childhood and also some rare cases from the literature. Finally we present a case to draw attention to the importance of this disease.

Background: Glial tumours represent the most frequent type of primary brain cancers. Gliomas are characterized by heterogeneity that makes the diagnosis, histological classification and the choosing of correct therapy more difficult. Despite the advances in developing therapeutic strategies patients with malignant gliomas have a poor prognosis; therefore glial tumours represent one of the most important areas of cancer research. There are no detailed data on the epidemiology of gliomas in Hungary., Methods: In the first section of our publication, we analysed the histological diagnosed cases between 2007 and 2011 at the Institute of Pathology, University of Debrecen Medical and Health Science Centre. We analyzed the incidence of 214 high-grade gliomas by tumor grades, gender, age, and the anatomical localization., Results: The majority of cases were glioblastoma (182 cases), and the remaining 32 cases were anaplastic gliomas. The mean age of patients was 57 years (+/- 16.4), and the male:female ratio was 1.1:1. The most frequent area of tumors was the frontal lobe followed by the temporal, parietal and occipital lobe. We include new findings published recently about glioma pathogenesis, molecular pathways, mutant genes and chromosomal regions. We explain briefly the role of selected important genes in glioma genesis and give an update on knowledge provided by modern molecular methods, which could beneficially influence future therapy and the diagnosis of gliomas.

Background: The WHO grade I. and II. low-grade gliomas represent nearly the 15% of all primary brain tumors. These tumours contain clinically, histologically and molecularly distinct tumor types. According to their histologic characteristic, grade II glial tumours are the diffuse astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma and oligoastrocytoma subgroups; ependymal tumors are not included in this study., Methods: In our publication, we analysed the histologically diagnosed glioma cases between 2007 and 2011 at our institution., Results: Low-grade gliomas were diagnosed in 127 cases (62 male / 65 female), and the mean ages were 39 years (+/- 20.3). More than half of the cancers were localized in the frontal lobe, and the second most frequent area was the temporal lobe. Finally, we complete our report with an overview of major molecular pathways in low-grade gliomas.

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) is a rare and life-threatening infection. The clinical signs are diverse and often misleading regarding the aetiology. However, focal seizure with fever and typical CT/MRI finding should always raise the possibility of HSVE as early diagnosis and antiviral therapy is crucial. Before the advent of molecular techniques and high-tech imaging histological examination from multiple brain biopsies were often necessary. Although nowadays PCR and other molecular methods may provide an aetiological diagnosis some cases need neuropathological verification. Due to the high IgG seropositivity rate in the population the plasma IgG titer is not diagnostic and elevation of its plasma level requires several weeks. We report the case of a 25-years old male patient who initially presented with epileptic seizures. There was no final diagnosis and no causal treatment in the district general hospital. The patient was admitted to our institution in comatose state on day 9; the initiated diagnostic tests and therapy could not save the patient who died next day. The autopsy and subsequent neuropathological examination revealed HSVE. We present a flowchart on diagnostic work-up and special techniques to aid diagnosis in suspected viral encephalitis.

Objective: We investigated whether red cell infiltration of atheromatous lesions promotes the later stages of atherosclerosis., Methods and Results: We find that oxidation of ferro (FeII) hemoglobin in ruptured advanced lesions occurs generating ferri (FeIII) hemoglobin and via more extensive oxidation ferrylhemoglobin (FeIII/FeIV=O). The protein oxidation marker dityrosine accumulates in complicated lesions, accompanied by the formation of cross-linked hemoglobin, a hallmark of ferrylhemoglobin. Exposure of normal red cells to lipids derived from atheromatous lesions causes hemolysis and oxidation of liberated hemoglobin. In the interactions between hemoglobin and atheroma lipids, hemoglobin and heme promote further lipid oxidation and subsequently endothelial reactions such as upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 and cytotoxicity to endothelium. Oxidative scission of heme leads to release of iron and a feed-forward process of iron-driven plaque lipid oxidation. The inhibition of heme release from globin by haptoglobin and sequestration of heme by hemopexin suppress hemoglobin-mediated oxidation of lipids of atheromatous lesions and attenuate endothelial cytotoxicity., Conclusions: The interior of advanced atheromatous lesions is a prooxidant environment in which erythrocytes lyse, hemoglobin is oxidized to ferri- and ferrylhemoglobin, and released heme and iron promote further oxidation of lipids. These events amplify the endothelial cell cytotoxicity of plaque components.