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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant condition of lymphoid progenitor cells that primarily affects the pediatric population, but also adults. The 5-year survival rate is 90% in children and approximately 40% in adults, with survival increasing through the use of peripheral stem cell allotransplantation (SCT). The relapse rate after stem cell transplantation (SCT) in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients ranges from 35% to 45%, making relapse a major cause of death in this population. Background: We present an atypical case of late testicular involvement in ALL in a 50-year-old man diagnosed with ALL pro-T in remission post-chemotherapy (GMALL 2003 protocol) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) from a related donor. Methods: This case describes a 50-year-old male with ALL pro-T who experienced three rare extramedullary relapses post-chemotherapy and alloSCT. Five years after remission, he had a unilateral testicular relapse confirmed by immunophenotyping of spermatic fluid. Results: Despite no bone marrow involvement, he was treated with chemotherapy, intrathecal therapy, and bilateral testicular radiotherapy. He later relapsed in the orbit, controlled by radiotherapy, followed by a third relapse in the heart and colon. Conclusions: This case highlights the unusual sites and consecutive nature of extramedullary relapses in adult ALL.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) became the leading therapeutic strategy for aortic valve replacement in older patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Echocardiographic parameters that mark the left ventricle and right ventricle reverse remodeling after the TAVR are not well established. The aim of the current study is to describe the dynamics of both left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) strain derived from speckle tracking echocardiography in elderly patients at 3-months after the TAVR procedure., Methods: We enrolled 52 consecutive patients (77 ± 4.9 years old, median STS score of 3.1) who underwent transfemoral TAVR at our tertiary care center. All patients were evaluated at baseline and 3 months following TAVR., Results: The LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) 3-month following TAVR was significantly improved compared with baseline values (-16 ±4.2% vs -16 ±4.2%; p < 0.001) but no significant changes in the RV GLS 3 and 6 segments model following TAVR were registered. The LV ejection fraction was significantly improved 3-months after the TAVR procedure. LV-GLS at baseline demonstrated a strong positive correlation with LV-GLS at 3 months (r = 0.69) and a moderate correlation with RV strain parameters (r = 0.38 and r = 0.56), but also a negative correlation with LVEF at follow-up (r=-0.61). Interestingly, in contrast to LVEF, none of the strain parameters correlated with age. NT-proBNP values were correlated with both LV-GLS (r = 0.37) and LVEF (r=-0.5) at baseline. However, at follow-up, baseline NT-proBNP values remained correlated only to LV-GLS at 3-months (r = 0.24), but the correlation was weak., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 Dadarlat-Pop et al.)

Background: Teratomas can occur in the umbilical cord, and may or may not be associated with other congenital abnormalities. Case report: This 35-year-old primigravida gave birth 37-38 weeks to a 3290-g normal female. The umbilical cord, at 10 cm from the abdominal insertion, had an 8 cm mature teratoma. Work-up revealed no other abnormalities. Discussion: Mature teratomas may occur in the umbilical cord, and may or may not have additional clinical sequalae.

Designing appropriate materials destined for the removal of dyes from waste waters represents a great challenge for achieving a sustainable society. Three partnerships were set up to obtain novel adsorbents with tailored optoelectronic properties using silica matrices, Zn 3 Nb 2 O 8 oxide doped with Eu 3+ , and a symmetrical amino-substituted porphyrin. The pseudo-binary oxide with the formula Zn 3 Nb 2 O 8 was obtained by the solid-state method. The doping of Zn 3 Nb 2 O 8 with Eu 3+ ions was intended in order to amplify the optical properties of the mixed oxide that are highly influenced by the coordination environment of Eu 3+ ions, as confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The first proposed silica material, based solely on tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with high specific surface areas of 518-726 m 2 /g, offered better performance as an adsorbent than the second one, which also contained 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMOS). The contribution of amino-substituted porphyrin incorporated into silica matrices resides both in providing anchoring groups for the methyl red dye and in increasing the optical properties of the whole nanomaterial. Two different types of methyl red adsorption mechanisms can be reported: one based on surface absorbance and one based on the dye entering the pores of the adsorbents due to their open groove shape network.

Giant cell glioblastoma is a rare tumor entity of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. It is usually found in the pediatric population. We describe a particular case of a female patient diagnosed histopathologically with giant cell glioblastoma, who had two recurrences in different lobes of the same cerebral hemisphere, despite positive prognostic factors and appropriate treatment. We performed an immunohistochemical characterization of giant cell glioblastoma as well as an analysis of its aggressiveness using the cytogenetic markers TP53, CDKN2A, and TP73 using the FISH technique. The clinical picture was inconsistant, the suspicion being completely different initially. Paraclinical examination and imaging initially suggested a metastasis to the insular lobe. After surgery, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were the basis for the diagnosis. Despite the prognostic factors known so far in the literature, the aggressiveness denoted by multiple relapses and morphogenetic tests particularizes the case and improves the literature by bringing new information about this rare neoplasm of the central nervous system.

A new class of magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) particles, coined as "Single Crystalline Micrometric Iron Oxide Particles" (SCMIOPs), were obtained by hydrothermal synthesis. Both the single Fe 3 O 4 phase content and the particle sizes range, from 1 µm to 30 µm, can be controlled by synthesis. The notable finding states that these particles exhibit vanishing remanent magnetization (σr=0.28 emu/g) and coercive force (Hc=1.5 Oe), which indicate a superparamagnetic-like behavior (unexpected at micrometric particles size), and remarkably high saturation magnetization (σs=95.5 emu/g), what ensures strong magnetic response, and the lack of agglomeration after the magnetic field removal. These qualities make such particles candidates for biomedical applications, to be used instead of magnetic nanoparticles which inevitably involve some drawbacks like aglommeration and insufficient magnetic response. In this sense, cytocompatibility/cytotoxicity tests were performed on human cells, and the results have clearly indicated that SCMIOPs are cytocompatible for healthy cell lines HaCaT (human keratinocytes) and HEMa (primary epidermal melanocytes) and cytotoxic for neoplastic cell lines A375 (human melanoma) and B164A5 (murine melanoma) in a dose-dependent manner., (Copyright © 2020 Farcas, Macasoi, Pinzaru, Chirita, Chirita Mihaila, Dehelean, Avram, Loghin, Mocanu, Rotaru, Ieta, Ercuta and Coricovac.)

Plasma cell features are encountered in a variety of non-plasma cell neoplasias, especially carcinomas of a discohesive type, such as those occurring in the digestive tract and breast. Lobular carcinomas of the breast present themselves in a variety of architectural patterns and many cell morphologies, including plasmacytoid types. A matching plasma cell phenotype is sometimes an associated feature. We report a case of a moderate grade invasive lobular carcinoma with focal plasmacytoid morphology and aberrant expression of plasma cell markers in a patient previously diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Paradoxical plasma cell immunoprofiles can be encountered in many malignancies, causing serious diagnostic problems, even more so with those occurring in discohesive carcinomas in multiple myeloma patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Although there are many published data in the literature about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), there are only few data on the long term evolution of patients with post infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) and associated conditions., Aims: The purpose of our research was to study the evolution of PI-IBS patients in a single tertiary center over a period of four years., Study Design: Our research was a longitudinal retrospective study., Methods: We carried out this study based on the survey of the patients records. We recruited two groups of patients: patients with classical IBS and patients with PI-IBS. The IBS diagnosis was established using ROME III criteria, which were used at that time. We compared the two groups of patients by analyzing the demographic data, comorbidities, treatment that was prescribed, and evolution after treatment for a period of 48 month on average., Results: From a total of 592 patients that were diagnosed with IBS between 2013-2016, we identified a subgroup of 64 patients with PI-IBS. These patients were also divided into two subgroups, depending on the main symptoms, 51 with PI-IBS - diarrhea and 13 of them with PI-IBS-constipation. IBS is the most commonly diagnosed among women, 45 patients were women and 15 were men. Regarding the frequency of occurrence of a certain subtype by gender, no significant differences were observed in both IBS and PI-IBS. We noticed a higher incidence of patients residents of an urban community in both groups.The main symptoms were: abdominal pain and bowel disorders (constipation, diarrhea).There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding the onset of the symptoms. From the total of 64 patients with PI-IBS, 88.3% presented a sudden onset of symptoms (mainly abdominal pain) unlike the other group where 81% of them presented a progressive onset, with an insidious progress and sporadic exacerbation. Most patients (65.63%) presented an improvement after the treatment, 25.56% oscillating periods but with a significant decrease of intensity of symptoms, and 7.8% did not show improvement after treatment.The most common associated diseases were depression and anxiety (34.37%)., Conclusion: IBS is generally present in approximately 11% of the population, with PI-IBS patients accounting for approximately 10% of them. Female gender is more common in both IBS and PI-IBS. Patients with PI-IBS are a burden in the health system in terms of the important economic resources used for diagnosis and treatment.

Pancreatic panniculitis represents a rare dermatological manifestation mainly due to a pancreatic disorder, but other etiologies are possible. Even rarer, it can occur prior to the clinical signs of the underlying disease, and its presence must orientate the investigations especially towards pancreas, liver and neuroendocrine system. We report a rare case of a 47-year-old male patient who presented to the Emergency Unit complaining about a two weeks-long-persistent pain in the upper abdomen and biliary vomiting. The medical history included alcohol abuse. Several days prior to the onset of these symptoms, the patient has noticed the occurrence of a nodular inflammatory lesion of 5∕3 cm on the right calf (this makes the case even rarer). Based on clinical aspect and high levels of pancreatic enzymes, acute pancreatitis was diagnosed. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic pancreatic mass and dilated intrahepatic biliary ducts. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a cystic tumor of the pancreatic head and thrombosis of the portal vein, which increased the suspicion of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Biopsy was performed from the calf nodular lesion, with the diagnosis of panniculitis. This case, besides its rarity, supports the clinical important value of a pancreatic workup in case of histologically proved panniculitis, even without pancreatic related symptoms.

Pyloric duodenal stenosis is usually caused by pyloric, juxtapyloric or duodenal ulcer, or by postbulbar ulcer. Gallbladder cancer (GBC), duodenal diverticula, annular pancreas and superior mesenteric artery syndrome (Wilkie's syndrome) are rare causes of pyloric duodenal stenosis. The case of a 66-year-old female patient is presented. The patient was admitted to hospital presenting anorexia, repeated alimentary vomiting, epigastric pain, and weight loss. Objective clinical examination upon admission: clapotage à jeun is present, triggered by tapping the epigastric region. Laboratory tests reveal moderate anemia, hypokalemic alkalosis, increased levels of cholestatic enzymes and of tumor markers. Gastroendoscopy: Stomach presenting stasis fluid in large quantity. Deformed antropyloric region caused by extrinsic compression. Abdominal native magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and with contrast medium: cholecyst lumen entirely obstructed with calculi; thickened wall, with heterogeneous gadolinophilia; gadolinophilic mass erasing the bordering limit in relation to the cholecyst wall and the colon hepatic angle, and leaving a print on the pyloric region. During surgery, upon opening the peritoneal cavity, a tumoral pericholecystic block was observed, including the pyloric-duodenal region and the transverse mesocolon. Histopathology tests of tissue samples showed adipose conjunctive tissue with invasive adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical tests [cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK17, CK19, CK20, CDX2, mucin (MUC) 1, MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC6, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)] were consistent with infiltrating neoplastic carcinoma, originating in the gallbladder epithelium. Gastrointestinal obstruction cases caused by gallbladder carcinoma are rare. The pyloric-duodenal region is more frequently affected, as compared to the small intestine or the colon.

Malignant melanoma of the larynx is a rare cancer that can appear as a primary tumor or as a metastasis from a cutaneous head and neck primary lesion. We present a new case of primary laryngeal malignant melanoma diagnosed by histological examination of an excisional biopsy specimen. The patient was a 53-year-old man with a history of smoking and hoarseness but without any clinical evidence of other cutaneous malignant melanocytic lesions. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of polygonal-epithelioid cells admixed with more elongated, spindle-shaped cells. Some of the tumoral cells demonstrated dark brown cytoplasmic and nuclear melanin. Despite significant ulceration and disruption of the epithelium, in situ malignant melanocytes were recognized within the remaining epithelium. Immunohistochemical stains were strongly positive for S-100 protein, HMB-45 and Melan-A. On the other hand, cytokeratin stains were negative. Based on the clinical and histological findings, a diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma of the larynx was established.

Cutis laxa (CL) or elastolysis is a rare inherited or acquired connective tissue disorder in which the skin becomes inelastic and hangs loosely in folds (Mitra et al., 2013). The clinical presentation and the type of inheritance show considerable heterogeneity (Shehzad et al., 2010). We aimed to present the atypical case of a young male patient diagnosed at 36-year-old with CL with systemic involvement. The complex medical history, with a suspected but unconfirmed progeria at nine months, repeated lung and urinary infections, complicated inguinoscrotal hernia, prostatic hypertrophy, bilateral entropion, colorectal diverticula and heart failure, suggested a systemic genetic disease, but the absence of family history made the diagnosis of CL difficult. The skin biopsy and the characteristic features discovered during anatomopathological exam made possible the positive and differential diagnosis, creating the link between the various organ involvement and CL diagnosis. Because of the age of our patient, of normal growth and mental development, and negative family history, we suspected an autosomal dominant form of CL with early onset and severe manifestation. Of course, we cannot exclude a recessive form, due to the heterogeneity of this disease.

Aim: Multi-organ resection for colorectal malignancy is a topic of interest nowadays as it raises the issue of benefits versus increased morbidity. This study aims to identify factors that may influence the development of postoperative complications and death following multivisceral resection., Methods: The study included 107 patients hospitalized in the Surgical Clinic III of Cluj-Napoca, who underwent multivisceral resections for colorectal cancer pathology. This is a retrospective study covering the period between 2006 and 2010. This study compares the morbidity and mortality following multi-organ resections for locally advanced colorectal cancer, with results in patients with uncomplicated colorectal resections. The study also highlights the impact that certain factors have on the development of postoperative complications., Results: This study shows a higher incidence of death and postoperative complications in the case of multiorgan resections. The differences were found to be statistically significant as follows: postoperative complications: 26% after multiorgan resection and 14% after uncomplicated resection respectively (p = 0.001); postoperative death: 11% after multi-organ resection and 3% after uncomplicated resection respectively (p < 0.001). The factors that have influenced in a negative way the postoperative evolution of the patients were: diabetes, personal history of malignant disease, associated heart disease, major abdominal surgery prior enrolling, the number of resected organs and increased intraoperative blood loss (over 500 ml)., Conclusion: In cases of locally advanced colorectal neoplasm, multiorgan resection should become the standard indication, as it offers patients their only chance of survival, comparable to that obtained in less advanced stages of the disease. This indication is underlined by the high resecability rate (R0) accomplished in our service. Preoperative compensation of the associated pathologies, the surgery performed by experienced teams, as well as providing an adequate intensive care are required to reduce the postoperative risks.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the morbidity and mortality in the surgical treatment of gastric cancer and the factors that could influencing them. We made a retrospective analysis of a group of 468 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma which have been operated in the 3RD Surgical Clinic-Cluj Napoca--01.01.1998-31.12.2003. We analyzed parameters related to patient, pTNM stage and type of treatment. Morbidity was significantly higher in these circumstances: elder patients, cases with lower serum levels of hemoglobin and total proteins, after Billroth II procedures; we found no significant differences of morbidity depending on gender, pTNM stage, type of intervention: simple or multiorgan resection, subtotal or total gastrectomy, radical or palliative procedure or only exploratory laparotomy, presence or absence of splenectomy or caudal pancreatectomy, D1 or D2 lymphadenectomy (in radical procedures), palliative resection or gastrojejunal bypass. Elder patients and male patients have had a mortality significantly higher; we found no significant differences of mortality depending on serum levels of hemoglobin and total proteins, pTNM stage, type of intervention: simple or multiorgan resection, subtotal or total gastrectomy, radical or palliative procedure or only exploratory laparotomy, presence or absence of splenectomy or caudal pancreatectomy, D1 or D2 lymphadenectomy (in radical procedures), type of restoring of the digestive continuity after subtotal gastrectomy, palliative resection or gastrojejunal bypass.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the value of cytokeratin (CK) MNF116 and vimentin in the differential diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions. There were evaluated smears from 30 patients with pleural effusions stained with May-Grünwald Giemsa and Papanicolaou techniques for the routine cytological diagnosis. Additional smears were immunostained with CK MNF116 and vimentin using LSAB2 technique. Two independent observers evaluated all smears. Smears were classified first by cytological examination in seven cases (23.33%) as benign, and in 23 cases (76.67%) as malignant pleural effusions. Mesothelial cells expressed CK MNF116 in 96.67% (29/30) of cases and vimentin in 33.33% (10/30) of cases. Malignant cells expressed CK MNF116 in 52.17% (12/23) of cases and vimentin in 30.43% (7/23) of cases. The pattern of immunostaining was diffuse cytoplasmic. In conclusion, CK MNF116 and vimentin may be used as a part of the panel of antibodies for differential diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions with primary unknown.

Pleural effusions occur in many benign and malignant conditions. The differentiation of mesothelial hyperplasia, malignant epithelial mesothelioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma in cytologic specimens is often difficult. Because many immunohistochemical studies had suggested that HBME-1 has a high sensibility but a low specificity for mesothelial differentiation, the authors investigate its utility in cytological specimens. In this study, immunostaining was performed on 30 smears from seven patients with inflammatory pleural effusions, 21 patients with metastatic pleural effusions and two patients with malignant epithelial mesothelioma. The immunoreactivity was evaluated by two independent observers. Benign mesothelial cells expressed HBME-1 in 13 (46.43%) cases with thick and thin membrane pattern and with thin membrane and cytoplasmic pattern in 11 (39.29%) cases. One of the malignant mesothelioma was positive for HBME-1 with thick and thin membrane pattern. Metastatic tumor cells were positive for HBME-1 in seven (33.33%) cases; the staining pattern in metastatic adenocarcinoma cells was thin membrane and focal cytoplasmic. HBME-1 has a moderate sensibility and specificity for mesothelial cells and can be used as part of a panel for differentiation of malignant and reactive mesothelial cells from adenocarcinoma in pleural effusions.

Unlabelled: We examined the prognostic value of free malignant cells in the peritoneal cavity of patients with colon adenocarcinoma. In 1996-1999, 88 patients underwent peritoneal washing with cytologic analysis immediately before elective colon resection for adenocarcinoma with no evidence of peritoneal metastases. Peritoneal washing fluid was collected before abdominal exploration centrifuged immediately and stained with the May-Grünwald-Giemsa and Harris-Shorr methods. Malignancy was defined as recommended by Papanicolaou. Free malignant cells in peritoneal fluid were found in 25 of 88 (28%) patients (Dukes A 0, of 11, Dukes B 10 of 31, Dukes C 11 of 37, Dukes D 4 of 9). The positive rate was 24 of 75 (32%) among patients with tumors involving the serous layer and 1 of 13 (8%) among the others (p = 0.00989). Positive peritoneal washing was not significantly associated with survival in multivariate analysis., Conclusion: The presence of free malignant cells in the peritoneal cavity of patients with colon cancer provided no further prognostic information relative to the Dukes classification in this study. The 5 years survival rates were 48% among patients with positive and negative peritoneal washing respectively (p = 0.09).