Expression of S100B Protein in Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Brain Injury After Cyclosporine Therapy: A Biochemical Serum Marker with Prognostic Value?

BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence has indicated that S100B protein may be involved in the pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion brain injury. Cyclosporine has been shown to have neuroprotective functions. This study investigated the effect of cyclosporine on S100B serum levels and the severity of brain tissue damage in a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). MATERIAL AND METHODS Twelve-week-old Wistar male rats were randomly divided into Control I/R and Cyclosporine I/R groups (n=10 each). Cyclosporine was given orally by gavage for 5 days prior to cerebral I/R, at a total volume of 15 mg/kg/day. The Control group received an equal volume of saline. Body weight was measured and all animals were subjected to 60-min focal ischemia by filament occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. ELISA was used to assess the concentrations of serum S100B and development of brain infarct size and neurological outcomes were determined at 2 and 24 h after occlusion withdrawal. RESULTS Cyclosporine improved the neurological deficit score and decreased the cerebral infarct size and body weight. S100B serum levels were significantly elevated in Cyclosporine-treated rats compared with untreated Control rats during the reperfusion phase. Total infarct size was positively associated with S100B serum levels in the Control I/R group, but no significant correlation was observed in the Cyclosporine I/R group. CONCLUSIONS Cyclosporine seems to affect both ischemia-reperfusion brain tissue damage and S100B protein serum levels. S100B serum level appears to be a state marker for the severity of the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, rather than a trait marker for Cyclosporine responsiveness.

When the endometrioid adenocarcinoma and the endometrial stromal sarcoma meet: A report of an extremely rare case.

Introduction: Collision tumors are characterized by the coexistence of two adjacent, but histologically distinct tumors. This entity can occur between tumors originating from the same organ or between metastases from other sites. Case presentation: A 49-year-old postmenopausal female with abnormal vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain was diagnosed with two coexistent tumors, a grade 1 endometrioid carcinoma and a pT2 undifferentiated stromal sarcoma (USS). On the first time, the patient underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy and one month later, she was diagnosed with recurrence. Then, a second surgical excision of the recurrent tumor was performed including exploratory laparotomy and anterior pelvic exenteration. She had an uneventful postoperative period, but unfortunately a month following the second operation she passed away. Conclusion: We aim to raise awareness of these rare synchronous malignancies and highlight the importance of having a broad differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Further studies with larger patient populations are needed to shed light in etiology and pathogenesis of the concurrence of two malignancies with different embryological origin in the same organ, in order to optimize management of these patients.