Mutual regulation of TGF-ß1, TßRII and ErbB receptors expression in human thyroid carcinomas.

The role of EGF and TGF-ß1 in thyroid cancer is still not clearly defined. TGF-ß1 inhibited the cellular growth and migration of follicular (FTC-133) and papillary (B-CPAP) thyroid carcinoma cell lines. Co-treatments of TGF-ß1 and EGF inhibited proliferation in both cell lines, but displayed opposite effect on their migratory capability, leading to inhibition in B-CPAP and promotion in FTC-133 cells, by a MAPK-dependent mechanism. TGF-ß1, TßRII and EGFR expressions were evaluated in benign and malignant thyroid tumors. Both positivity (51.7% and 60.0% and 80.0% in FA and PTC and FTC) and overexpression (60.0%, 77.7% and 75.0% in FA, PTC and FTC) of EGFR mRNA correlates with the aggressive tumor behavior. The moderate overexpression of TGF-ß1 and TßRII mRNA in PTC tissues (61.5% and 62.5%, respectively), counteracted their high overexpression in FTC tissues (100% and 100%, respectively), while EGFR overexpression was similar in both carcinomas. Papillary carcinomas were positive to E-cadherin expression, while the follicular carcinomas lose E-cadherin staining. Our findings of TGF-ß1/TßRII and EGFR overexpressions together with a loss of E-cadherin observed in human follicular thyroid carcinomas, and of increased migration ability MAPK-dependent after EGF/TGF-ß1 treatments in the follicular thyroid carcinoma cell line, reinforced the hypothesis of a cross-talk between EGF and TGF-ß1 systems in follicular thyroid carcinomas phenotype.

Surgical approach for nodular neck lesions mimicking primitive thyroid neoplasms Report of three cases.

AIM: The finding of a neck nodular lesion provides strong suspicion of primary thyroid malignancy. Direct extension into the thyroid parenchyma of carcinomas arising from pharynx, larynx, trachea or esophagus, nervous structures has been also observed in the minority of cases. The intent of our study is to present and discuss rare conditions presenting asymptomatic neck masses, with particular emphasis on pre-operative characteristics and diagnostic criteria. MATERIAL OF STUDY: In our retrospective analysis, we present three cases of nodular neck lesions that have mimicked primitive thyroid pathologies at the first diagnosis. RESULTS: A 53-mm nodular mass in the right thyroid lobe was observed in one patient. The definitive diagnosis was Castleman's disease. The second case presented a 20-mm hypoechoic lesion in the contest of a multinodular goiter. The pre-operative suspect was thyroid carcinoma with lymphnode metastases but the definitive histology documented an 'ancient schwannoma'. A further patient presented bilateral supra-clavear and cervical lymphnodes in a multinodular goiter, initially interpreted as thyroid carcinoma with loco-regional spread. After a total thyroidectomy and cervical lymphadenectomy, the definitive histology documented foci of poorly differentiated carcinoma in cervical lymphnodes and a multinodular goiter without atypical cellularity. The patient is considered to have an occult tumor, probably arising from the breast, and she was scheduled in an oncological program. CONCLUSIONS: Nodular neck lesions are frequently misdiagnosed as primitive thyroid nodules in the common clinical practice. In these rare conditions, surgical exploration is advocated to reach the definitive diagnosis, to indicate the most appropriate treatment and to avoid unnecessary thyroidectomy. KEY WORDS: Ancient Schwannoma, Castleman's disease, Nodular neck lesion, Thyroid nodule.

Age-dependent impairment of number and angiogenic potential of adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells.

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) are being recognized as a source of stem cells potentially useful for cardiovascular repair. We analysed the abundance and angiogenic activity of adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells (PCs) in elderly patients most likely to benefit from this novel source of stem cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two subjects (aged 68 ± 13 years) with variable degrees of cardiovascular risk underwent abdominal surgery for intercurrent diseases. Visceral adipose tissue (3 ± 1 g visceral fat per patient) was processed with type-1 collagenase to obtain ADSCs from the stromal-vascular fraction. Adipose tissue-derived PCs were quantified by flow cytometry as %CD45(-)/CD34(+)/CD133(+) cells of total ADSCs. Matrigel angiogenesis assay was used to analyse the ability of ADSCs to form tubes or networks. RESULTS: We found no correlations between number of CD45(-)/CD34(+)/CD133(+) or total ADSCs and quantitative risk parameters including total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, waist circumference, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic arterial pressure. However, increasing age (r = -0·31, P < 0·05) significantly and inversely correlated with levels of adipose tissue-derived CD45(-)/CD34(+)/CD133(+) cells in Matrigel angiogenesis assays; increasing age (r = -0·29, P < 0·05) was related to a reduction of ADSC-derived tubulization. CONCLUSIONS: Ageing may alter the availability of adipose tissue-derived CD45(-)/CD34(+)/CD133(+) cells and their angiogenic functional capacity. Such changes may impair the use of adipose tissue as source of autologous PCs in elderly patients.

Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the gallbladder: case report.

A patient with epithelioid angiosarcoma of the gallbladder is described. This is only the second case of an extremely rare but highly aggressive tumor reported in the international literature. Pathophysiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects are discussed in relation to the available data on angiosarcomas of the gallbladder.

[Indications and efficacy of parathyroidectomy in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic renal failure: our experience]. / Indicazioni e validità della paratiroidectomia nel trattamento dell'iperparatiroidismo in corso di insufficienza renale cronica: nostra esperienza.

Although secondary hyperparathyroidism is improved by pharmacological therapy; 10-30% of patients with chronic renal failure undergo parathyroidectomy. The authors report on their experience with 66 cases of secondary hyperparathyroidism surgically treated over the period from January 1991 to December 2002. The surgical indications included: persistent hypercalcaemia, osteodystrophy with bone fractures, joint pain, itching and ectopic calcifications. The median preoperative parathyroid hormone level was 400 pg/ml. The operations performed were: subtotal parathyroidectomy (PTX 7/8) in 43 cases; total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation (PTXt + At) in 13 cases; total parathyroidectomy (PTXt) alone in 6 cases and incomplete parathyroidectomy (PTXi) in 4 cases. The immediate results were satisfactory in each group. Calcium levels reverted to normal 24-48 hours postoperatively in 37 patients with PTX 7/8, in 11 patients with PTXt + At, in 5 patients with PTXt; 4 patients with PTXi showed a reduction, but no normalization, of calcium levels. Almost all patients, except those undergoing PTXi, showed an acceptable reduction in PTH levels in 25-35 days. Secondary hyperparathyroidism relapsed in 3 cases with PTXt + At and in 2 cases with PTX 7/8, while it proved persistent in 50% of patients with PTXi and in 7% of patients with PTX 7/8. Patients with PTXt mainly showed a substantial reduction of calcium levels. Parathyroidectomy is indispensable for the treatment of secondary hyper-parathyroidism. In our opinion, PTX 7/8 is the surgical treatment of choice because it is the easiest technique to perform and has the lowest relapse rate.