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Saffron is a spice that has been traditionally used as a regimen for a variety of diseases due to its potent antioxidant attributes. It is well documented that impaired systemic oxidative status is firmly associated with diverse adverse effects including retinal damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of saffron administration against the retinal damage in apoE −/− mice fed a high-fat diet, since they constitute a designated experimental model susceptible to oxidative stress. Twenty-one mice were allocated into three groups: Group A (control, n = 7 c57bl/6 mice) received standard chow diet; Group B (high-fat, n = 7 apoE −/− mice) received a high-fat diet; and Group C (high-fat and saffron, n = 7 apoE −/− mice) received a high-fat diet and saffron (25 mg/kg/d) through their drinking water. The duration of the study was 20 weeks. Lipidemic profile, glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), and total oxidative capacity (PerOX) were measured in blood serum. Histological analysis of retina was also conducted. Administration of saffron resulted in enhanced glycemic control and preservation of retinal thickness when compared with apoE −/− mice fed a high-fat diet. The outcomes of the study suggest the potential protective role of saffron against retinal damage induced by oxidative stress. Nevertheless, verification of these results in humans is required before any definite conclusions can be drawn. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Aims To determine the incidence and the causes of sudden death (SD) in persons aged 1-35 years old and the diagnostic yield of clinically guided genetic screening in the sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) victims' families. Methods and results Incidence and causes of SD in the Attica region of Greece in 2002-10 were determined using death certificates and autopsy reports. We evaluated clinically consecutive families of SADS victims and if a clinical diagnosis was established, we proceeded to targeted genetic analysis. Out of 6030 deaths, 56% were due to traumatic or violent causes, 40.5% were natural deaths, and 3.3% were of undetermined cause. There were 349 SD cases. Cardiovascular causes accounted for 65%, non-cardiovascular causes for 17%, and SADS for 18%. Clinical evaluation identified an inherited heart disease in 5/20 SADS families (25%). Targeted genetic analysis identified a causative mutation in all of the five screened families and reconfirmed the diagnosis in three of five proband victims. Clinical and genetic evaluation of 28 family members identified eight affected carriers and eight non-affected carriers. Molecular autopsy failed to identify any of these families. Conclusion Sudden death in the young is of cardiovascular origin in the majority of cases. A considerable rate of SD cases remains of unknown cause on post-mortem. Apart from channelopathies, subclinical forms of inherited structural heart diseases would appear to be implicated in SADS. Clinically guided genetic screening has a significant diagnostic yield and identifies affected families that would have been missed by the current suggested molecular autopsy panel. © The Author 2017.

Hu-antigen R (HuR) is considered to play a central role in tumor formation, growth, and metastasis by binding to messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding proteins such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducing their expression via mRNA stabilization and/or altered translation. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of HuR and COX-2 protein expression in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). HuR and COX-2 expression was assessed immunohistochemically on tissue microarrays of 81 surgically resected NSCLC and was analyzed in relation with clinicopathological characteristics and patients’ survival. Enhanced total HuR expression was significantly associated with tumor histological type and presence of lymph node metastases, as well as with increased tumor proliferative capacity and poor patients’ outcome (p = 0.039, p = 0.017, p = 0.033, and p = 0.022, respectively). Enhanced COX-2 expression was significantly associated with the presence of lymphovascular invasion and increased tumor proliferative capacity (p = 0.031 and p = 0.023, respectively). Concomitant elevated HuR/COX-2 expression levels were significantly associated with tumor histological type and increased proliferative capacity (p = 0.002 and p = 0.045, respectively). Enhanced total HuR expression, as well as its cytoplasmic localization, was significantly associated with increased COX-2 expression (p = 0.015 and p = 0.001, respectively). The present study supported evidence that HuR may participate in malignant transformation of NSCLC, reinforcing its usefulness as potential therapeutic target in this type of neoplasia. © 2014, International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM).

Introduction: Ephrin (Eph) receptors and their membrane-anchored ligands, the ephrins, participate in a wide spectrum of pathophysiological processes, regulating cellular adhesion, migration or chemo-repulsion and tissue/cell boundary formation. Recent evidence has further extended the role of Eph receptors and their ligands as critical regulators of vascular remodelling during embryogenesis. The role of Ephs/ephrins signalling in the angiogenic development of murine placentas and in the invasion of the maternal tissues and the development of the placental vasculature in humans has currently attracted considerable interest. Areas covered: A literature review summarising the most recent data in terms of the role of Ephs/ephrins in normal placental development and disease, highlighting on their expression status in the different cellular populations of the placental vascularity. Expert opinion: Despite the fact that the role of Eph/ephrins signalling in normal placental development is still unclear, some studies tried to investigate their potential implication in placental pathologies, such as preeclampsia and placenta accreta. Even though no evidence for their direct implication occurred, their role is an interesting field for future research. © 2014 Informa UK, Ltd.

CCN1 (CYR61) is a member of the CCN family of secreted matricellular proteins; it can regulate the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis and matrix remodeling. The latter mechanisms seem to be of vital importance in the pathophysiology of sudden cardiac death. We performed an immunohistochemical analysis on 62 cardiac tissue specimens derived from individuals of young and middle age who had died of sudden cardiac death. CCN1 immunopositivity was detected in 80.6% of all specimens. Semiquantitative statistical analysis of the staining results revealed that CCN1 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with ischemic morphology and hypertrophy of myocardial fibers, interstitial edema, and atheromatosis of coronary arteries in more than 10% of the myocardial fibers. Taking the previously mentioned correlations into account, ischemia seems to induce myocardial expression of CCN1; therefore, CCN1 immunostaining could be evaluated as a complementary tool in the assessment of ischemic areas when no tissue evidence of necrosis is available. Copyright © 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Purpose: To evaluate the retinal toxicity of intravitreal trastuzumab in a rabbit model. Methods: Fourteen New Zealand albino rabbits, weighing between 2.5 and 3 kg were used for this study. In the first group (n=6), 0.1 mL trastuzumab 10 mg/mL was injected into the vitreous. In the second group (n=6), the same volume of sterile balanced saline solution was injected intravitreally (sham injection). Additionally, 0.1 mL of 2 other concentrations of trastuzumab (7.5 and 5 mg/mL, respectively), was injected into the vitreous of 2 rabbits. Slit-lamp and funduscopic examinations were performed and the animals were observed for 2 weeks for signs of inflammation, infection, and toxicity. An electroretinogram (ERG) was performed at baseline and 14 days after the injection. The animals were killed on day 14 and a histological examination was performed in the enucleated eyes. Results: The clinical examination was unremarkable on either sham or intravitreal injection of trastuzumab. Conversely, the ERG was greatly affected and in 2 cases extinguished 14 days after trastuzumab injection. Consistent with electrophysiological abnormalities of the retina, signs of retinal edema in experimented eyes, suggesting morphologic retinal damage, were observed. In contrast, in the sham injected eyes, the ERG was normal without histopathologic retinal changes. Conclusions: Intravitreal trastuzumab seems to be toxic to the retina in albino rabbits even at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety of intravitreal trastuzumab in models of choroidal neovascularization, as well as to obtain experience concerning the intravitreal toxicity of trastuzumab in primates too and not only in rabbits. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2013.

Background: Minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins are essential components of DNA replication, being related to cell proliferation, and serve as useful biomarkers for cancer screening, surveillance and prognosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of MCM-2 and MCM-5 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma in comparison with Ki-67 proliferative marker. Methods: MCM-2, MCM-5 and Ki-67 expression was assessed immunohistochemically in 66 tumoral samples of gastric adenocarcinoma patients and was statistically analyzed in relation to clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival. Results: MCM-2 expression did not show significant associations with any clinicopathological parameters, while Ki-67 expression was merely significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.0150). MCM-2 and Ki-67 expression were more frequently in intestinal (median values: 67.5 and 60%) compared to diffuse-type (median values: 60 and 45%) gastric adenocarcinoma cases without though reaching statistical significance (P > 0.05). MCM-5 expression was significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.0295), presence of lymph node metastases (P = 0.0216) and tumor histopathological stage (P = 0.0098). Patients presenting high MCM-5 expression had significantly shorter survival times (log-rank test, P = 0.0042), whereas neither MCM-2 nor Ki-67 expression showed significant prognostic value (log-rank test, P = 0.9618 and P = 0.7174, respectively). In multivariate analysis, patient age, histopathological stage and grade of differentiation, but not MCM-5 expression, were identified as independent prognostic factors (Cox regression analysis, P = 0.0097, P = 0.0195, P = 0.0035 and P = 0.3245, respectively). Conclusions: The present study showed that MCM-5 expression was associated with clinicopathological parameters in gastric adenocarcinoma. However, further studies highlighting the distinct impact of the two histopathological types, intestinal and diffuse, are warranted to delineate whether MCMs could be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers in gastric neoplasia. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Simon-Emmanuel Duplay was a distinguished example of the French clinicopathological school and his researches on cancer inaugurated the modern period in oncology. In his book entitled Les tumeurs, he presents and analyses his research and those of his contemporaries on cancer contagion. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

Several observational and experimental studies have investigated the potential anabolic effects of statins on undisturbed bone but only a few recent studies have examined the effect of statins on skeletal repair. The goal of the study is to investigate any potential early anabolic effect of the systemic administration of simvastatin in low doses (based on earlier safety and efficacy studies on undisturbed bone) on fracture healing. Fifty-four skeletally mature male New Zealand White rabbits were used for the study. The rabbits were assigned to one of three experimental groups: a control group, and two groups that were orally administrated a diet with 10 and 30 mg/kg/day of simvastatin, respectively. A complete biochemical blood count was performed to exclude drug-induced complications. Half of the animals of each group were sacrificed at 15 days and the other half at 30 days after surgery at which time intervals healing quality was assessed. The bones were subjected to biomechanical testing, histomorphometric analysis and peripheral quantitative computed tomography. In animals received simvastatin of 30 mg/ kg/day a significant reduction of BMD, stiffness, and energy absorbed to failure were observed. At 15 days, the amount of cartilaginous callus formation was reduced, and the void space was significantly increased, in the animals of both groups that received simvastatin when compared to the control group (p < .05). Our results suggest that simvastatin doses of 30 mg/kg/day may have a negative anabolic effect on callus formation in rabbits, whereas doses of 10 mg/kg/day seem not to produce a significant positive or a negative effect, especially at the early stages of fracture remodeling. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objectives: Pentasomy 49,XXXXY is a rare sex chromosome polysomy usually diagnosed postnatally by the combina- tion of mental retardation, facial dysmorphism, and genital, cardiac and skeletal malformations. Prenatal detection of 49,XXXXY is unusual and may be incidental due to non-specific ultrasound (US) findings. We report a case of 49,XXXXY diagnosed prenatally and present a literature review of the few prenatally diagnosed cases. Methods: We searched the PubMed electronic database without year and language restriction, using the keywords 'Prenatal', 'Diagnosis', and '49,XXXY', performing a systematic review. Results: We report a 35-year-old patient with normal first-trimester US but increased combined risk for trisomies 18 and 13. Amniocentesis at 16 weeks of gestation revealed a 49,XXXXY karyotype. Pregnancy was terminated at 19 weeks' gestation, and a male fetus with facial dysmorphism and hypospadia was delivered. A total of 12 articles were identified in the systematic review. All were case reports and dated from 1980 until 2008. The mean maternal age was 34.8 years (range 30-41). The most common prenatal US feature was cystic hygroma, present in 5 cases. Hypogenitalism was the most common macroscopic clinical feature identified after pathology examination in 7 cases. In 2 cases, there was an increase in first-trimester combined risk for trisomy 21. Conclusions: Pentasomy 49,XXXXY is associated with a variety of non-specific US findings, of which cystic hygroma was the commonest. No specific sequence of findings could be identified in this review. © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The authors report the unique case of a 20-year-old patient with prolapsed uterus didelphys with noncanalized horns, who complained of primary amenorrhea. Clinical examination revealed a rudimentary noncanalized cervix with a third degree prolapse and no palpable uterus. A small prolapsing remnant of a uterus didelphys with 2 noncanalized uterine horns was excised by laparotomy. Ultrastructural examination of subepithelial cervical connective tissue revealed collagen of normal structure, but of low concentration. The etiologies of both the Müllerian ducts anomalies and the genital prolapse are probably multifactorial. Low collagen concentration indicates a constitutional tissue weakness contributing to the development of genital prolapse. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Probelm: Increased peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells are associated to immune-mediated abortion, but their diagnostic value when measured at the time of miscarriage is unknown. Method of study: In women with therapeutic (A = 79) or elective (C = 34) pregnancy termination, the NK-cell percentage was measured before and 5days after curettage. Additionally, immune-mediated lesions (scored 0-3) and CD56+ and CD16+ decidual NKs (scored 1-3) were detected on the abortion material. Results: Aborters differed from controls in histological scores (P = 0.000) and in NK percentage (>12%) only in the measurement 5days after the operation (P = 0.038). In comparison to histological lesions, NK measurement was found to have sensitivity 70%, specificity 73.68%, positive prognostic value 89.39% and negative prognostic value 43.75%. Conclusion: An Increased NK-cell percentage 5days after the pregnancy termination could be a marker of immune aetiology of miscarriage, as the probability of an aborter with NK >12% to have an immune-mediated abortion is almost 90%. © Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard.

PROBLEM: Increased peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells are associated to immune-mediated abortion, but their diagnostic value when measured at the time of miscarriage is unknown. METHOD OF STUDY: In women with therapeutic (A = 79) or elective (C = 34) pregnancy termination, the NK-cell percentage was measured before and 5 days after curettage. Additionally, immune-mediated lesions (scored 0-3) and CD56(+) and CD16(+) decidual NKs (scored 1-3) were detected on the abortion material. RESULTS: Aborters differed from controls in histological scores (P = 0.000) and in NK percentage (>12%) only in the measurement 5 days after the operation (P = 0.038). In comparison to histological lesions, NK measurement was found to have sensitivity 70%, specificity 73.68%, positive prognostic value 89.39% and negative prognostic value 43.75%. CONCLUSION: An Increased NK-cell percentage 5 days after the pregnancy termination could be a marker of immune aetiology of miscarriage, as the probability of an aborter with NK >12% to have an immune-mediated abortion is almost 90%. Am J Reprod Immunol

An imbalance between apoptotic and proliferative processes is believed to underlie colorectal neoplasia. We evaluated the expression of bcl-2, p53, mdm2 proteins, and apoptosis in colorectal neoplasms, as well as their correlation with clinico-pathological parameters, using image analysis. Biopsies from 46 colorectal cancers, 121 adenomas, and 25 controls were studied using monoclonal antibodies against p53, bcl-2, mdm2 and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl- transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method for apoptosis. P53 and bcl2 protein expression was higher in adenomas ≥1 cm (P < 0.03) and tubulovillous-villous adenomas (P < 0.03), and correlated with dysplasia (P < 0.03). In Cox regression analysis, Dukes' stage was the most significant independent prognostic indicator of a worse survival (P < 0.019), whereas when stage was eliminated, bcl-2 expression was also a powerful predictor for bad prognosis (P = 0.02). In conclusion, both bcl-2 and p53 immunohistochemical profiles may be useful adjuncts in detecting adenomas with a malignant potential, whereas bcl-2 could be used in combination with Dukes' stage as a predictor of prognosis in colorectal cancer. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

The ontogeny of the innervation of human lymphoid organs has not been studied in detail. Our aim was to assess the nature and distribution of parenchymal nerves in human fetal thymus and spleen. We used the peroxidase immunohistochemical technique with antibodies specific to neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilaments (NF), PGP9.5, S100 protein, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and evaluated our results with image analysis. In human fetal thymus, NSE-, NF-, S100-, PGP9.5-, and TH-positive nerves were identified associated with large blood vessels from 18 gestational weeks (gw) onwards, increasing in density during development. Their branches penetrated the septal areas at 20 gw, reaching the cortex and the corticomedullary junction between 20 and 23 gw. Few nerve fibers were seen in the medulla in close association with Hassall's corpuscles. In human fetal spleen, NSE-, NF-, S100-, PGP9.5-, and TH-positive nerve fibers were localized in the connective tissue surrounding the splenic artery at 18 gw. Perivascular NSE-, NF-, S100-, PGP9.5-, and TH-positive nerve fibers were seen extending into the white pulp, mainly in association with the central artery and its branches, increasing in density during gestation. Scattered NSE-, NF-, S100-, PGP9.5-, and TH-positive nerve fibers and endings were localized in the red pulp from 18 gw onward. The predominant perivascular distribution of most parenchymal nerves implies that thymic and splenic innervation may play an important functional role during intrauterine life. © The Histochemical Society, Inc.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), a ligand-activated transcription factor, is a key regulator of adipogenic differentiation and glucose homeostasis. PPAR-γ ligands have recently been demonstrated to affect proliferation and differentiation in cancer cells lines. The aim of the present work was to examine PPAR-γ expression in colon cancer cases. PPAR-γ expression was examined immunohistochemically in 86 colon cancer cases and was correlated with clinicopathological parameters, tumor proliferative capacity, cell cycle-related molecule expression, and patient survival. Positive PPAR-γ immunostaining was prominent in 48 of 86 cases (56%). PPAR-γ positivity was not correlated with Dukes' stage, histological grade of differentiation, lymph node and liver metastasis, venous invasion, tumor proliferative capacity, or patient survival. A statistically significant correlation was found between PPAR-γ and the expression of cell cycle-related molecules pRb (P < 0.016), cyclin D1 (P

A series of 212 prostate specimens of men dead between August 2002 -August 2004, have been sectioned in consecutive autopsies and subjected to whole mount analysis in purpose to determine the epidemiology of impalpable prostate cancer in Greece. Impalpable prostate carcinomas were found in 40 cases (18.8%) most in the peripheral region. In all, 29 of 40 impalpable cancers (70.7%) had volume less than 1cm3. Most of impalpable carcinomas were of favorable (Gleason score 2-4) or intermediate (Gleason score 5 and 6) histological type (55 and 27.7%7, respectively) while only five (12.5%) were undifferentiated (Gleason score 7 and 8). In all, 24 (60%) of the 40 impalpable carcinomas were multifocal and consisted of two or more foci, most of small size (

Seminal vesicle belongs to the unusual sites of the hydatid cyst presentation. Even though the patient had a history of surgically treated hydatid disease of the liver, however, solitary echinococcal cyst of the seminal vesicle is a rare condition. Surgical removal of the cyst intact is the treatment of choice.

The objective of the study was to investigate the alterations of aortic function after interposition of a tubular graft in the descending porcine thoracic aorta. Eight healthy Landrace pigs were subjected to thoracotomy under sterile conditions. A 5-cm-long segment of descending thoracic aorta was replaced with a Dacron graft. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using simultaneous recordings of electrocardiogram and Doppler pressure waveforms, which were received from right carotid and femoral arteries. Then, the recordings were fed to a computer for analytical estimation of PWV in several occasions: right after the interposition (D0), and after 15 (D15) and 30 (D30) days time. Euthanasia was performed after the D30-recordings and the aortic graft area was removed. "Before graft" (BG) as well as "after graft" (AG) aortic regions were examined under light microscopy in order to determine the aortic thickness (T) and number of lamellar units (LU). Eight sham-operated pigs were used as controls. The results showed that PWV decreased as soon as the graft interposition took place and was maintained, until the end of experiment (P < 0.05). Aortic wall thickness was increased both at pregraft and postgraft areas (P < 0.05), and LUs were also increased at the same regions. It is concluded that the interposition of a tubular graft in the descending thoracic aorta resulted in a decrease in PWV, which may improve left ventricular performance and enhance myocardial perfusion, due to a delay in the arrival of the reflecting diastolic wave. © 2006, Copyright the Authors.

Hydatid disease mainly affects the liver and the lungs. Pelvic involvement have been rarely reported in the literature. Herein we present a rare case of isolated hydatid cyst of pelvis attached to the urinary bladder.

OBJECTIVE. The present study investigates the incidence of impalpable carcinoma of the prostate and the pathological findings of impalpable prostate carcinoma (PC) detected in autopsy material. The frequency of pre-carcinomatous and non-carcinomatous lesions as well as their relationship to the impalpable PC, were also examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Data were obtained from 212 autopsy specimens of the prostate gland, of men aged above 30 and under 98 years of age, born and living in Greece, who died (between 8/2002 and 8/2004), of causes other than carcinoma of the prostate. RESULTS. The age-independent frequency of histological PC in our study’s population is 18.8% (ranging from 0% to 56.2% according to different age groups), whereas the age-independent frequency of histological benign prostate hyperplasia is 65.5% (ranging from 27.7% to 90.6%), of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia 15.5% (ranging from 5.5% to 25%), of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) 26.4% (ranging from 5.5% to 47.2%) and of prostate atrophy (PA) 10.3% (ranging from 0% to 43.7%). There was a statistically significant correlation between PIN and PC volume. Most impalpable carcinomas found within necropsy material were characterized by small volume, favorable histological type, and relatively low aggressiveness. The prevalence of PC and pre-carcinomatous lesions in our study population appears to be lower than that of most autopsy studies. CONCLUSIONS. The frequency of clinical PC in a certain population could be related to the frequency and prevalent model of impalpable carcinoma as well as to the frequency of pre-carcinomatous lesions.

We report the case of a 44-year-old white man who presented with progressively worsening crampy abdominal pain and distention. Deterioration of his clinical picture along with leukocytosis and radiographic evidence of severe colonic dilation rendered exploratory laparotomy necessary. Greatly distended and inflamed transverse and descending colon were evident and an extended left colectomy was performed. Characteristic changes of leukocytoelastic vasculitis in the serosal and muscular layers of the resected colon were demonstrated at histopathologic examination. Systemic leukocytoclastic vasculitis, usually coexisting with Henoch-Schonlein purpura, commonly affects the small bowel with clinical evidence of ischemia or bleeding. Colon involvement is infrequently reported in the context of systemic disease. Isolated colonic leukocytoclastic vasculitis without extraintestinal manifestations is rare. A previously unreported case of localized leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the left colon resulting in the impressive presentation of megacolon, without the presence of any precipitating factor or associated systemic disease is presented here, with an overview of the related literature.

Background: Lower vaccination coverage among foreign-born children is of concern because they live in households and communities characterized by more intense exposure to infectious diseases. Because of their higher prevalence rates, there is an increasing occurrence of infectious diseases imported into developed countries. This case report emphasizes the emerging necessity for new clinicians and pathologists of having competence with old infectious disease pathology. Case presentation: A three and a half year old girl, who presented with croup history of 5 days and has been in severe respiratory distress, was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in shock and acute respiratory failure. The patient was immediately intubated, and a grayish nonadherent membrane extending through the glottis down into the larynx was apparent during the procedure. Echocardiographic findings, which were consistent with acute myocarditis, confirmed poor left ventricular contractility despite escalating high doses of inotropes. Autopsy showed numerous strains of toxigenic corynobacterium diphtheriae, which also grew on the Loeffler cultures of membranes received during the intubation. Conclusion: It is critical that new generations of clinicians and bio-pathologists not only be trained in the subspecialty of infectious disease pathology, but that they also be willing participants in the diagnosis and investigation of infectious diseases. © 2005 Briassoulis et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Gastrointestinal duplication is an uncommon congenital abnormality in two-thirds of cases manifesting before the age of 2 years. Ileal duplication is common while colonic duplication, either cystic or tubular, is a rather unusual clinical entity that remains asymptomatic and undiagnosed in most cases. Mostly occurring in pediatric patients, colonic duplication is encountered in adults only in a few cases. This study reports two cases of colonic duplication in adults. Both cases presented with rectal bleeding on admission. The study was focused on clinical, imaging, histological, and therapeutical aspects of the presenting cases. Gastrografin enema established the diagnosis in both cases. The cystic structure and the adjacent part of the colon were excised en-block. The study implies that colonic duplication, though uncommon, should be included in the differential diagnosis of rectal bleeding. (c) 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

We evaluated the effects of paternal smoking on testicular function, sperm fertilizing capacity, embryonic development, and blastocyst capacity for implantation. Rats of group A were exposed to cigarette smoke for 10 weeks. Rats of group B were exposed to the smoke of incense sticks for 10 weeks. Rats of group C served as a control group. Rats of group D were exposed to cigarette smoke for 7 weeks only. Experimental period was 10 weeks in all groups. At the end of the experimental period serum testosterone responses to human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation, androgen-binding protein activity in testicular cytosols, epididymal sperm motility, and oocyte fertilization rate, oocyte cleavage rate, and blastocyst development rate after in vitro fertilization (IVF) trials were significantly smaller in group A compared with groups B and C. In contrast, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and blastocyst development rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures were not significantly different among groups A, B, C, and D. Both after IVF trials and ICSI techniques, the proportion of the alive offspring to the number of transferred oocytes was significantly smaller in group A than in groups B and C. Cigarette smoke-exposure results in a secretory deficiency of Leydig and Sertoli cells leading to an impaired epididymal sperm maturation process and diminished capacity of spermatozoa to penetrate oocytes. In addition paternal cigarette smoke exposure affects the embryonic ability for implantation.

Objective-Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) have been associated with human atherosclerosis. The reported rates of detection within atherosclerotic lesions by PCR vary widely for all of these pathogens. We investigated their presence in carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Methods and results-Eighty-three carotid atherosclerotic specimens were available for examination. The highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction method was employed with primers specific for each agent. The presence of CMV DNA was not detected in any of the examined samples (0%), whereas the presence of H. pylori DNA was observed in two out of eighty-three cases (2.4%). C. pneumoniae DNA was found in eighteen (21.6%) of the plaques studied. Conclusions-H. pylori DNA was detected in a very small subset of atherosclerotic plaques, whereas CMV DNA was not detected in any of the plaques studied. C. pneumoniae DNA was found in a significant number of our atherosclerotic plaques. Further studies are needed to clarify the possible causal relation between infection by these organisms and atherosclerosis.

Background: There are few reports of the histological changes in rosacea, and little attempt has been made to correlate such changes with clinical findings. In the present study, we describe in detail the histopathological features of rosacea in a large number of patients and simultaneously investigate the aetiopathogenesis of the disease based on the comparative assessment of epidemiological, clinical and histological findings. Methods: The study included 73 patients with rosacea. A skin biopsy with a 4-mm punch was performed in each case. All biopsy specimens included subcutaneous tissue. In 10 randomly selected patients, facial biopsy specimens were obtained from both involved and uninvolved (nonlesional) skin. Demodex mite presence was estimated semi-quantitatively under light microscopy. Patients with self-reported gastro-intestinal symptoms were submitted to upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy, and a rapid urease test was performed. Serological antibodies, IgG and IgA, against Helicobacter pylori were also detected. Results: The patients had a broad clinical spectrum of lesions. No specific histological features associated with either erythematous-telangiectatic or papulopustular showed that there is no histological pattern unique to rosacea. Three different types of granulomas were observed: small palisaded ones around altered collagen and other granulomas of elastolytic and non-specific epithelioid type, all coexisting in 5 cases. The deep dermis and subcutis were frequently involved. Comparative study in 10 rosacea patients between lesional and nonlesional skin biopsies revealed almost the same histological changes to the latter biopsies, to a lesser degree though. Conclusion: Rosacea seems to be a reaction pattern to which a variety of pathogenetic routes may lead. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Objectives:. To evaluate the effect of bone marrowpluripotent stem cell mobilization with granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GMCSF) on infarct size and left ventricular function, in the setting of acute myocardial infarction, with a protocol easily applicable in clinical practice. Methods:. Ten pigs underwent left thoracotomy and left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion for 1 h, followed by reperfusion. After 50 min of arterial occlusion, the animals were randomly divided between treatment with placebo (Group 1) and subcutaneous GM-CSF (Group 2). The thoracotomy was closed and the animals recovered. In Group 2, GM-CSF, 20 mug/kg, was administered daily, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks. Echocardiograms were obtained at 5 and 28 days after acute myocardial infarction. At 30 days, infarct size, expressed as a percentage of the whole left ventricular mass, was measured. Results:. The white blood cell count increased from 13000 +/- 3338/mul to 28700 +/- 4916/mul (p = 0.001) in the GM-CSF-treated group. Infarct size was 7.8 +/- 6.1% in Group 1 vs 7.5 +/- 7.7% in Group 2 (ns). Similarly, no significant difference was observed between the 2 study groups in any of the echocardiographic measurements made at 28 days. Conclusions:. Subcutaneous GMCSF administered during the early post acute myocardial infarction period neither decreased infarct size nor improved left ventricular function. Other protocols for mobilization of stem cells and their concentration in the injured area should be developed to combine efficacy and clinical applicability.

We aimed to define, for the first time, the ontogeny of intrarenal innervation and to assess the distribution and nature of parenchymal nerves in the human fetal kidney. Our material consisted of routinely-processed renal tissue sections from 17 human fetuses, six of 20-24 gestational weeks (gw) and 11 of 25-40 gw, and three adults. We used immunohistochemistry with antibodies to the pan-neural markers neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilaments (NF), PGP9.5, S100, and the adrenergic marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). NSE-, NF-, S100-, and PGP9.5-positive nerves, associated with arterial and venous vasculature, were identified in the renal cortex from 20 gw onwards, and their density appeared to increase with gestation, reaching adult levels at 28 gw. Most of the intrarenal nerves were TH-positive. Nerve fibers extended from the corticomedullary region to the outer cortex, reaching the renal capsule in the 3rd trimester. In detail, NSE-, NF-, S100-, PGP9.5-, and TH-immunoreactive fibers were observed in close apposition to the renal artery and its branches, occasionally reaching the afferent and efferent arteriole (3rd trimester). Nerve fibers were detected in close apposition to the juxtaglomerular apparatus in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. In the renal medulla, NSE-, PGP9.5-, S100-, and TH-positive nerve fibers were detected close to tubular cells as early as 20 gw. However, their density gradually decreased during the 3rd trimester, and they were not observed in the medulla of the adult kidney. In conclusion, the human fetal kidney appears richly innervated during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. There is a progressive increase in the density of parenchymal nerve fibers towards term from the corticomedullary region to the cortex. Most intrarenal nerves are adrenergic and have a predominant perivascular distribution, implying that renal innervation plays an important functional role during intrauterine life.