Linear and nonlinear parameters of heart rate variability in ischemic stroke patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular system presents cortical modulation. Post-stroke outcome can be highly influenced by autonomic nervous system disruption. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a simple non-invasive method to assess sympatho-vagal balance. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate cardiac autonomic activity in ischemic stroke patients and to asses HRV nonlinear parameters beside linear ones. METHODS: We analyzed HRV parameters in 15 right and 15 left middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke patients, in rest condition and during challenge (standing and deep breathing). Data were compared with 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: There was an asymmetric response after autonomic stimulation tests depending on the cortical lateralization in ischemic stroke patients. In resting state, left hemisphere stroke patients presented enhanced parasympathetic control of the heart rate (higher values for RMSSD, pNN50 and HF in normalized units). Right hemisphere ischemic stroke patients displayed a reduced cardiac parasympathetic modulation during deep breathing test. Beside time and frequency domain, using short-term ECG monitoring, cardiac parasympathetic modulation can also be assessed by nonlinear parameter SD1, that presented strong positive correlation with time and frequency domain parameters RMSSD, pNN50, HFnu, while DFA α1 index presented negative correlation with the same indices and positive correlation with the LFnu and LF/HF ratio, indicating a positive association with the sympatho-vagal balance. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac monitoring in clinical routine using HRV analysis in order to identify autonomic imbalance may highlight cardiac dysfunctions, thus helping preventing potential cardiovascular complications, especially in right hemisphere ischemic stroke patients with sympathetic hyperactivation.

EFFECT OF EXPERIMENTAL DYSGLYCEMIA ON UNDER-CARBOXYLATED OSTEOCALCIN PRODUCTION IN HUMAN PRIMARY OSTEOBLAST-LIKE CELL CULTURES.

CONTEXT: The undercarboxylated form of osteocalcin (ucOC) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are bone-derived molecules involved in the endocrine crosstalk governing the bone, the adipose tissue and the pancreas. In addition, glucocorticoids are major determinants of both insulin resistance and osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the response of ucOC and OPG to dysglycemia and/or dexamethasone (DXM) in primary human osteoblastic cell (HOC) cultures. DESIGN AND METHODS: Third-passage sub-confluent primary HOC cultures were treated with glucose: 2.8 mmol/L, 5.6 mmol/L, 11.1 mmol/L and 28 mmol/L, respectively. Alternatively, HOC cultures were subjected to DXM 1 µmol/L. In more complex experiments, HOC cultures were pre-treated with glucose (5.6 mmol/L) with/without insulin (1 pmol/L) followed by DXM (1 µmol/L). 24-hours post-treatment, culture medium ucOC and OPG were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: ucOC production differed significantly (p<0.05) between cell groups, decreasing in a dose-dependent manner as glucose concentration in the medium increased. Insulin prevented this effect. OPG levels appeared not to be significantly influenced by the hyperglycemic culture medium and were not related to ucOC concentration (p>0.05). Addition of DXM resulted in significantly lower ucOC concentrations compared to vehicle-treated cells (p<0.05). However, the effect of insulin co-treatment on ucOC was not counteracted by DXM (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An obvious alteration of OC production/metabolism was observed as glucose levels changed in the bone microenvironment, to potentially be involved in diabetes-related osteopenia. DXM suppressed ucOC levels however not in insulin-rich environment.

SURGERY OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AND IMPACT OF INTRA-OPERATIVE PTH MEASUREMENT.

CONTEXT: The current therapeutical management of secondary hyperparathyroidism (S-HPTH) is difficult to obtain due to the lack of kidney donors. Surgical intervention on the pathologic parathyroid tissue has been suggested as a method to alleviate symptoms in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcomes of parathyroid surgery in patients with S-HPTH and the advantages of intraoperative quick PTH (iqPTH) to improve surgical results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a real-life study, we compared one group of S-HPTH with iqPTH performed after removing all suspected glands and before wound suture (Group 1) and one group in that iqPTH was not assessed (Group 2). When iqPTH dropped less than 50%, additional exploration followed. RESULTS: Eight out of the 34 patients from Group 1, who underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy, showed elevated levels of serum PTH and calcium, which remained elevated during follow-up, thus, suggesting disease persistence. From the 21 patients in Group 2, none showed early postoperative disease persistence. Serum calcium, but not PTH was increased in one patient from the iqPTH group but normalized after one month. Overall, iqPTH allowed detection of a supplementary parathyroid gland in one case, thereby increasing early post-surgery remission to 100% in Group 2 compared to 76.47% in Group 1. Late postoperative remission of hyperparathyroidism with no further increase in the rate of hypoparathyroidism was obtained in Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of intra-operative PTH levels proved to be a useful tool in augmenting the outcome of S-HPTH surgery. In patients which are eligible for renal transplantation who undergo a subtotal resection, iqPTH can enhance the post-operative quality of life by lowering disease recurrence rates until the kidney transplant procedure.

ASSOCIATION OF COL1A1 SP1 AND FOK-I VDR GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS IN YOUNG MALE IDIOPATHIC OSTEOPOROSIS.

INTRODUCTION: Primary osteoporosis during childhood and adolescence represents an uncommon condition, and secondary forms are more likely to manifest at this age due to chronic disease and adverse effects of medical treatment. CASE REPORT: The authors report the case of a young male patient with a history of multiple idiopathic non-vertebral fragility fractures in addition to a family history of maternal osteoporosis and fracture, in whom osteoporosis was confirmed according to 2013 International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) criteria. Bone markers indicated low bone formation marker osteocalcin. Genetic testing revealed homozygosity for Sp1 COL1A1 gene polymorphism in combination to Fok-I vitamin D receptor (VDR) heterozygous polymorphism, to contribute to low bone mass and increased fracture risk. Severe premenopausal osteoporosis was present in the patient's mother, who was also tested positive for both gene polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the association between COL1A1 and VDR candidate gene polymorphisms and fragility fractures in a family. Individual genetic testing might be of clinical value in idiopathic osteoporosis in young patients, identifying subjects at increased fracture risk.

VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR SERUM LEVELS IN WOMEN WITH ADVANCED ENDOMETRIOSIS.

CONTEXT: Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease, characterized by ectopic deposits of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity, and it is associated with pelvic pain and infertility, with an important impact on the quality of life. At this point there is a controversy regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of endometriosis and it seems that pro-angiogenic growth factors might be involved, but their role is not completely understood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the serum concentration of the main growth factors in patients with diagnosed endometriosis compared to healthy controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 157 women were divided into two study groups (Group I - endometriosis; Group 2 - healthy women). Serum levels of VEGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, b-FGF, EGF, and HGF were measured with Human Multiplex Cytokine Panels. RESULTS: VEGF serum levels were significantly lower in women with endometriosis compared to controls (1.924±0.145 compared to 1.806±0.078 pg/mL, p<0.001). Serum levels of GM-CSF, b-FGF, EGF, and HGF respectively did not differ significantly between patients with endometriosis and healthy controls. G-CSF had a very low detection rate. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that VEGF serum levels are significantly lower in endometriosis patients compared to healthy controls, indicating a possible role in endometriosis pathogenesis.

Prehepatocholedochal proper hepatic artery. Rare anatomical variant. Surgical considerations. Case report.

In classical anatomic variants, the proper hepatic artery (PHA)continues the common hepatic artery (CHA) after the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) detaches itself and divides into the right hepatic artery (RHA) and left hepatic artery (LHA), the proper hepatic artery being located to the left of the hepatocholedochal duct (HCD). This paper presents an abnormal positioning of the PHA placed before the HCD with an increased diameter of about 5-7 mm, which could be confused with the HCD. We present the case of a 57 year-old woman diagnosed with acute lithiasic cholecystitis, associated with hypersplenism and hypertension. The literature mentions manifold anatomical variants of arterial liver vascularization,including PHA. For this reason, this paper presents an overview of similar cases that can be found in medical literature. The aforementioned case is a rare topographic anatomy for the PHA that can easily pass for HCD especially during celioscopy, therefore it is crucial for this to be acknowledged by all surgeons.

A rare case of acute abdomen: Garengeot hernia.

The association of acute appendicitis with femoral hernia,strangulated or incarcerated, represents a rare but well documented pathology in the specialized medical literature,also known as Garengeot hernia. The development of an acute appendicitis in the femoral hernia sac becomes a surgical emergency of acute abdomen. The diagnosis is always mistaken for the one of incarcerated or strangled hernia, the correct diagnosis being established intraoperatively, occasion which exposes the cecal appendix by opening the herniary bag, found in different morphological stages of inflammation that can go as far as gangrene or even perforation. In this paper, we have reported the case of a 76 year-old female that presented with femoral tumours, incarcerated, painful and initially considered as an incarcerated femoral hernia, the final diagnosis being made intraoperatively. The treatment for these "hernias" is generally simple, when there are no complications of acute appendicitis as the presence of pus in the hernia sac, and consists in appendectomy and herniorrhaphy. The absence of symptoms for an acute appendicitis often delays the surgery which leads to frequent complications and increased rate of morbidity.

Multiple benign symmetric lipomatosis -- a differential diagnosis of obesity.

Benign symmetrical lipomatosis (BSL), or Madelung's disease, is a rare disease characterized by the progressive growth of diffuse, painless, non-enveloped symmetric lipomas. The etiology of this disease remains unknown, although it was associated in the medical literature with alcohol and nicotine abuse, metabolic disorders and a number of malignancies. It is assumed that there is a genetic predisposition for this affliction. The management in such cases is surgical removal of the lipomas, most times in several sessions, but this is often followed by relapse. However, surgical removal of the lipomas can provide satisfactory patient functionality and cosmetic results. The differential diagnosis is made with morbid obesity, Cushing syndrome, angiolipomatosis, encapsulated lipomas, neurofibromatosis, myxoid liposarcoma, lymphoma, salivary gland disease, Frolich and lipomatosis syndrome in patients infected with HIV. The current paper reports the case of a 55 year-old man, who presented with several large lipomatous masses, arranged symmetrically on the front and back of the trunk, and several smaller lipomas in the upper and lower limbs. Treatment consisted of resection of these lipomas in several sessions, without recurrence at one year after the last operation.

[Quantitative microscopic modifications of the diaphragm and the paraesophageal structures in hiatal hernia. Clinical aspects]. / Modificarile microscopice cantitative ale diafragmei si structurilor anatomice periesofagiene în herniile hiatale. Corelatii clinice.

In the last decade has seen an increase in hiatal hernia diagnosis. These issues led us to study and deepen the anatomic substrate of the changes that occur in the diaphragm muscle and periesophageal structures for optimum management of the disorder. The studied material was represented by fragments of the thoraco-abdominal diaphragm and tissues around the esophagus, biopsy sampling by classic open approach or celioscopic in patients with hiatal hernia, compared with a control group. Histological processing was carried out by current or special methods. After qualitative examining of the selected structures, quantification was performed using an interactive digital program. In the adult diaphragm with hiatal hernia was found in percentage volume reduction pillar of the diaphragm muscle fibers, increased the percentage of vascular lumina in the muscle portion of the crura, while the percentage volume of interstitial spaces increase. The changes of the percentage volume of connective tissue are significant, both crura suffering a fibrous transformation of muscle portions. Microanatomic changes are their quantitative objectivity suggest loss of elasticity and reduced functional capacity of diaphragm muscle in hiatal hernias.

The association between treatment and systemic inflammation in acromegaly.

OBJECTIVE: Acromegaly is characterized by an excess of growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth-factor 1 (IGF1), and it is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Both acute and long-lasting pro-inflammatory effects have been attributed to IGF1. Previous results suggest the presence of systemic inflammation in treated patients. Here we assessed the association between treatment of acromegaly, systemic inflammation and vascular function. DESIGN: Ex vivo cytokine production and circulating inflammatory markers were assessed in peripheral blood from treated and untreated acromegaly patients (N = 120), and compared them with healthy controls. A more comprehensive prospective inflammatory and vascular assessment was conducted in a subgroup of six treatment-naive patients with follow-up during treatment. RESULTS: Circulating concentrations of VCAM1, E-selectin and MMP2 were higher in patients with uncontrolled disease, whereas the concentrations of IL18 were lower. In stimulated whole blood, cytokine production was skewed towards a more pro-inflammatory profile in patients, especially those with untreated disease. Prospective vascular measurements in untreated patients showed improvement of endothelial function during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Acromegaly patients are characterized by a pro-inflammatory phenotype, most pronounced in those with uncontrolled disease. Treatment only partially reverses this pro-inflammatory bias. These findings suggest that systemic inflammation could contribute to the increased risk of CVD in acromegaly patients.

[Soft tissue sarcoma--problems of diagnosis and treatment]. / Sarcoamele de parti moi--probleme de diagnostic si tratament.

Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare group of cancers compromising 1% of all malignancies and there has been a slight increase in incidence. We present 3 cases of soft tissue sarcomas (the tumors were located to the right axilary region, perianal and dorsale face of the left leg) hospitalized in 2nd Surgical Clinic of Emergency Hospital of Craiova and we discuss the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment. The classification and characterization of soft-tissue sarcomas have evolved as the information supplied by histologic analysis has been supplemented with that provided by immunohistochemical analysis. Surgical resection involving wide margins, with or without radiotherapy, offers the best chance of cure in the absence of metastatic disease. There is little evidence that local recurrence increases the likelihood of metastatic spread, although debate on this point continues. Except for rhabdomyosarcomas and Ewing's sarcomas, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy generally does little to influence the natural history of the disease. In conclusion surgical treatment is mainstay of treatment for soft-tissue sarcomas and is usefull the prompt diagnosis for decrease the risk of local recurrence and metastatic disease.

[External biliary fistulas selectively managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with sphincterotomy and/or stent placement]. / Rolul tratamentului individualizat prin colangiografie endoscopica retrograda cu sfincterotomie si/sau plasare de proteze in fistulele biliare externe.

External bile duct fistulas are inherent postoperative complications that usually appear after biliary tract surgery, traumatic bile duct injuries and liver surgery for hepatic hydatid disease or liver transplant. The management is highly individualized, while the success and long-term results of endoscopic and surgical techniques are conflicting. The study included 32 cases with external bile duct fistulas managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) with sphincterotomy and/or stent placement, including "rendez-vous" procedures in 2 cases. The causes of the external fistula were represented by cholecystectomy with/without retained common bile duct stones or strictures (22 cases), cholecystectomy and drainage of a subphrenic abscess caused by severe acute pancreatitis (1 case) and surgical interventions for hepatic hydatid disease (9 cases). Due to the prospective protocol of the study we were able to apply an individualized endoscopic treatment: sphincterotomy with proper relief of the bile duct obstruction (stone extraction) or sphincterotomy with large-size (10 Fr) stent placement for large-sized bile duct defects. The results consisted in closure of the fistula in 3.5 +/- 1.7 days for the subgroup of patients with sphincterotomy alone. Among the patients with stent insertion, fistulas healed slower in 14 +/- 3.5 days. There were no complications after endoscopic treatment; however the stent could not be passed in one patient that required subsequent surgery. In conclusion, endoscopic intervention is the treatment of choice for small external biliary fistulas complicating biliary tract surgery or liver surgery for hepatic hydatid disease. When the fistula is large, the placement of a 10 Fr endoprosthesis becomes necessary, while failure of endoscopic treatment leads to surgery with hepatico-jejunal anastomosis.

Histopathological Study on Conservatively Operated Breast Carcinomas.

In this histopathological study we looked at 303 cases of breast carcinomas, managed though conservative breast surgery and later analysed with the help of a classical histopathological technique, paraffin embedding. The carcinomas were assessed in terms of tumor size, lymph node status, histological type, correlation between invasive tumors and an situ carcinoma component, resection margins, grading and patients age. Following assessment, we looked at associations between above morphological and clinical parameters and ipsilateral local recurrences. We concluded that more than half of our cases were carcinomas, measuring between 2 cm and 5 cm, with no associated lymph node involvement, in keeping with pTNM criteria for stage II. By far, in our study, the most frequent histopathological type was type NOS (63.37%) followed by invasive lobular carcinoma (10.56%) and mixed ducto-lobular invasive carcinoma (6.27%). Other types of invasive carcinoma were rarer, each representing less than 4% of cases. In regards to in situ carcinomas we noted the most common histological types to be both cribriform intraductal carcinoma and comedocarcinoma, each identified in 1.65% of cases. Amongst invasive breast carcinomas, infiltrating ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS) was found to be most commonly associated with in situ ductal carcinoma lesions. This was seen in 34.9% of cases, and was the only type associated with an extensive in situ component. Analysing the grading of mammary carcinomas in our study showed that the vast majority of cases (63.04%) were grade 3 tumors. In regards to surgical resection margins, ¾ of cases were noted to have negative margins. Tumor recurrences were noted in 12 cases. These cases were most commonly noted to reoccur following initial poorly differentiated, infiltrating ductal carcinomas, not otherwise specified (NOS), with positive resection margins, measuring less than 2 cm. Patiens tended to be under the age of 40 and had positive lymph nodes. The emergence of local recurrences after conservative surgery for early breast cancer is singnificantly linked to poorly differentiated primary tumors (p <0.05) but not correlated with histological type, presence of extensive intraductal carcinoma component, size of primary breast tumor or lymph node status ( p> 0.05). In terms of increasing the risk of ipsilateral recurrence the most important aspect highlighted in our sudy was the status of the resection margins. Patients with positive resection margins had a significantly high risk to develop recurrences after the conservative surgery, compared to those with negative margins (p <0.001).

Morphoclinical study of intracerebral haemorrhage with intraventricular extension.

AIMS: The study is an integrated assessment of clinical, image and morphological parameters in severe intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH) complicated with intraventricular extension (IVE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studied group had 93 cases of patients with ICH and IVE who were hospitalized in the Emergency County Hospital of Craiova and died during hospitalization. The parameters evaluated were clinical (relation with the seasons, age, sex, arterial blood pressure, the motor deficit, degree of coma, Glasgow score at admission and medical care) and morphological (the sites of the intraparenchymal haematoma and IVE, the size of the intraparenchymal haematoma, the presence of the mass effect, perilesional oedema and subarachnoid effusion). The latter were assessed on CT films and during autopsy. RESULTS: The presence of IVE as a complication of ICH showed a predilection for cold seasons, especially autumn. From the 93 studied cases 51 were men and 42, women. 52.6% of the patients were in the fifth and sixth life decade. Almost 80% of the patients had IIIrd stage arterial hypertension at admission, over 80% motor deficits and almost 60% Glasgow scores lower than 6. The ventricular effusion involved at least one of the lateral ventricles. The hematomas had huge dimensions as compared to hosting encephalic structures, in lobar sites involving more than one lobe. Other risk factors as mass effect and perilesional oedema were constantly present. CONCLUSIONS: The association of IVE with other independent risk factors such as hypertension, low Glasgow scores volume of intraventricular bleeding, dimensions of haemorrhagic foci, presence of mass effect and perilesional oedema results in the death of patient despite any sustained therapeutic intervention.

Study of cerebral vascular structures in hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage.

AIMS: The study was performed in order to assess the alterations of extra-parenchymal and intraparenchymal vascular structures in 82 hypertensive patients suspected of primary intraparenchymal hematoma, which died and were autopsied in order to confirm the diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studied material consisted of nervous tissue situated near and distant from the haemorrhagic lesion. The specimens of nervous tissue were processed by the classical histological technique and stained with the usual stainings and with immunohistochemical stains for basement membranes and endothelial cells. RESULTS: Extra-parenchymal arteries showed classic lesions of atherosclerosis. Atheromatous lesions were of all types, even the extension towards the media being encountered a complication with thrombosis. At the level of the intraparenchymal blood vessels, the spectrum of the lesions due to arterial hypertension included all steps of vascular wall degeneration, from hypertrophy of smooth muscle layer to complete hyalinization of arterial wall, but with a focal irregular distribution, not related with the proximity of haemorrhagic focus. High arterial blood pressure also influenced the capillary walls which showed focal or circumferential thickening due to the densification of the type IV collagen material from the basement membrane structure. The CD34 immunostaining showed that endothelial cells kept their structural integrity. CONCLUSIONS: The sequence of degenerative lesions of the cerebral vascular wall culminates with the hyalinization of excessive fibrillar material form arteriolar wall or from basement membranes. Hyalin material is weakening the wall resistance to the stress determined by the high values of blood pressure in hypertension, and, correlated with a minimal resistance of the surrounding cerebral parenchyma, can explain why the cerebral parenchyma is the only tissue in which blood pressure variations can determinate vascular rupture and cerebral haemorrhage. The more adequate term for describing the vascular wall changes seems to be sclerosis (arteriolar and even capillary) with hyalinosis.

Glycemic profile in patients with acromegaly treated with somatostatin analogue.

HYPOTHESIS: The growth hormone (GH) excess displayed in acromegaly induces insulin resistance up to diabetes mellitus (DM). The somatostatin analogues (as octreotide LAR) are useful in controlling the GH levels but disturbances of glucose metabolism might be seen. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the acromegalic glycemic profile under octreotide. METHODS & RESULTS: Out of the total number of patients (N=34) diagnosed with active acromegaly, only some were followed (N=25; male/ female ratio: 6/ 19; mean age: 51.8 years) by testing GH, IGF1 (Insulin Growth Factor 1), basal glucose and oral glucose tolerance test (OCGTT) at baseline, 6 and 12 months under Octreotide (first 6 months with 20 mg/ 28 days + 6 months with 30 mg/ 28 days). Pre-treatment values were 17.6% of patients had DM, 14.7% - impaired glucose tolerance, 26.5% - impaired fasting glucose, and 41.2% - normal assays. From the statistical point of view, the DM patients were significantly older and had higher GH levels than the acromegalic without glycaemia disturbances. They did not achieve significant changes in basal blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin after 6 months, neither after 12 months. After 6 months, there were no significant changes in basal glycaemia in patients with normal baseline glycaemia but 2-hours OGTT glucose values were significantly lower than initially (82.35 mg/ dl vs. 93 mg/ dl, p=0.005) consistent with reduced levels of GH and IGF1. After 12 months, both basal and 2-hours glucose levels in OGTT were similar to baseline despite the significant lower GH (3.3 vs. 6.61 ng/ mL, p=0.003) and IGF1 (332 vs. 713 ng/ mL, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Octreotide therapy induces an improvement in glycemic profile in patients with active acromegaly without diabetes mellitus consistent with decreased levels of GH and IGF1. In patients with diabetes, partial control of glucose metabolism is due to inadequate suppression of GH and IGF1 after one year of treatment.

Current Role of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Rectal Cancer Evaluation During Multidisciplinary Therapy.

We report the case of a patient presenting in the Gastroenterology Department with intermittent rectal bleeding during the past year. A diagnosis of a low rectal adenocarcinoma was based on colonoscopy examination with biopsies, and staging procedures included transrectal endoscopic ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis (cT2N0M0). Consequently the patient was referred for pre-operative chemoradiotherapy, achieving a complete clinical response as documented by repeated EUS and MRI examinations. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery with pathological assessment of the resected specimen revealed residual adenocarcinoma, highlighting the limitations of current imaging methods, and the constant need of technological improvements.

Endomicroscopy with Fluorescent CD105 Antibodies for "In Vivo" Imaging of Colorectal Cancer Angiogenesis.

The aim of this case report was to evaluate the feasibility of in vivo acquisition of microscopic images using fluorescent CD105 antibodies for molecular imaging in human colorectal cancer. After excluding the presence of tissue autofluorescence, the antibody solution was topically administered through a spray-catheter. The targeted area was analyzed by eCLE and images were recorded. The fractal dimension of tumor vessels and the vessel density were determined using ImageJ software. Immunohistochemistry was used as a gold standard. In vivo CLE analysis of CD105 expression enabled the study of tumor vascular network, revealing a chaotic structure.

Clinical and Pathological Analysis of Two Cases of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma.

The purpose of this study was the clinical and histo-immunohistochemical analysis of two cases: a cutaneous pigmented facial malignant melanoma and a lumbar congenital nevus with malignant transformation. A series of clinical elements raised the suspicion of some malignant melanocytic lesions and the histopathological analysis through the paraffin embedding technique confirmed the clinical suspicion. The immunohistochemical analysis using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxydase method of the facial malignant melanoma showed: S100 protein intense and diffuse positive, Tyrosinase diffuse positive, HMB45 strong and focal positive, Cyclin D1 positive in approximately 40% and Ki-67 positive in almost 70% of the tumor cells. The malignant melanoma developed on the nevocellular nevus displayed: S100 protein intense and diffuse positive, both in the nevus cells and in the malignant melanocytes as well, Tyrosinase intense and diffuse positive in the malignant melanocytes, poor and focal positive in the nevus cells and HMB45 intense and focal positive in the malignant cells and positive in the isolated nevus cells. Cyclin D1 was positive in about 70% of the malignant cells, but negative in the nevus area and Ki-67 was found positive in relatively 30% of the malignant melanocytes, also in less than 1% of the nevus cells. The pattern and the intensity of the Tyrosinase and HMB45 immunoexpression are important in the differentiation of the nevus cells from the malignant melanocytic cells. The immunoexpression of Cyclin D1 does not correlate directly with the proliferating activity of the malignant melanocytic cells in all types of malignant melanomas.

Long-term prognosis of surgically-treated aortic aneurysms and dissections in patients with and without Marfan syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Aortic aneurysms and dissections are the leading causes of premature death in Marfan syndrome (MfS). This study aims to compare long-term results of surgically treated aortic aneurysms and dissections in patients with and without MfS in respect to early and late prognosis. METHODS: From March 1975 to August 1994, 33 patients with classic MfS (group A, age 34.2 +/- 9 years) and 298 patients with non-fibrillinopathic aortic disease (group B, age 54 +/- 13 years) underwent aortic surgery. Acute dissections occurred in 57.6 (A) versus 37.9% (B). A total of 54.6% of patients in group A were treated with a composite graft versus 16.4% in B. The aortic arch and the descending aorta was replaced in 30.4% of MfS patients and 24.9% of patients without MfS. RESULTS: We observed 7 (25.0%, A) versus 35 (14.2%, B) late deaths among the 28 (A) versus 247 (B) early survivors. In 5 patients (17.9%) of A and 8 patients (3.2%) of B, late death was caused by redissection or recurrent aneurysm (P < 0.001). Long-term survival after 5, 10 and 15 years in group A was 82 +/- 7, 60 +/- 11 and 30 +/- 22%, and 75 +/- 3, 69 +/- 3 and 64 +/- 4% in group B. A total of 22 reoperations were performed in 11 MfS patients, 17 reoperations were due to recurrent aortic diseases. Three of the 8 patients underwent reoperation after Wheat procedure because of sinus valsalva aneurysm. None of the patients with composite graft replacement needed reoperation in this segment, but 3 patients suffered from redissection at the proximal aortic arch. In group B, reoperations were significantly less frequent (10.7%) compared to MfS patients (66.7%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of aortic disease in MfS patients is associated with a high risk of redissection and recurrent aneurysm. If the ascending aorta needs to be replaced, we recommend the composite graft technique and a more aggressive approach to reduce the frequency of distal reoperations. In order to reduce the high reoperation rate in MfS patients, frequent clinical follow-up may contribute to improve life expectancy in MfS patients.