Microparticles expressing myeloperoxidase as potential biomarkers in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV).

To investigate presence of circulating myeloperoxidase-positive microparticles (MPO+MPs) in relation to disease activity in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Forty-six patients with AAV and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Vasculitis disease activity was assessed using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). MPs were analyzed in citrate plasma by flow cytometry and phenotyped based on MPO expression and co-expression of pentraxin-3 (PTX3), high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), and tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK). Serum levels of PTX3, sTWEAK, and HMGB1 were also determined. Twenty-three patients had active vasculitis (BVAS ≥ 1). Concentrations of MPO+MPs expressing PTX3, HMGB1, and TWEAK were significantly higher in patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively), while concentrations of PTX3+ and HMGB1+MPO+MPs were significantly higher in active AAV compared to patients in remission. MPO+MPs expressing either PTX3 or HMGB1 were associated with BVAS (r = 0.5, p < 0.001; r = 0.3, p = 0.04, respectively). Significantly higher serum PTX3 levels were found in active- than in inactive AAV (p < 0.001), correlating strongly with BVAS (r = 0.7, p < 0.001). Serum levels of sTWEAK and HMGB1 did not differ between patients and controls. Concentration of MPO+MPs is increased in plasma from AAV patients compared to healthy individuals. PTX3 in serum as well as PTX3 and HMGB1 expressed on MPO+MPs were associated with disease activity in the investigated patients. KEY MESSAGES: Myeloperoxidase-positive microparticles (MPO+MPs) are increased in plasma from patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis. Concentrations of MPO+MPs expressing PTX3, HMGB1, and TWEAK were significantly higher in patients compared to healthy controls. MPO+MPs expressing PTX3 and HMGB1 are associated with disease activity in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

[X-ray and CT presentation of advanced gastric carcinomas of different locations].

We presented the X-ray and CT findings characteristic for gastric cancers of different localizations (localized in different parts of the stomach). Particularly, esophagogastric junction (EGJ) carcinomas and antral carcinomas are singled out, as two localizations of gastric cancer that we usually meet in everyday clinical and radiological practice, and which have completely different radiological presentation. Advanced carcinomas of esophago-gastric junction, whose incidence is on the rise, usually affect the distal segment of the esophagus, cardia, and proximal part of the stomach, in different proportions. Siewert's, and the Japanese classification of these tumors are listed. Due to the involvement of the distal esophagus, scanning region, besides the abdomen, should be expanded to the chest. Advanced cancer of the antral part of the stomach is presented by the X-ray as a fungating, infiltrative, or combined form, often capturing the entire wall circumference. Possible infiltration of the left liver, the body and neck of the pancreas, colon and anterior abdominal wall should be estimated by CT.

Analysis of selected genes in neuroendocrine tumours: insulinomas and phaeochromocytomas.

Insulinomas and phaeochromocytomas are neuroendocrine tumours that may be either sporadic or manifestation of a familial cancer syndromes and are both derived from the neural crest. In the present study, gene components of different signalling pathways were investigated in sporadic human insulinomas and phaeochromocytomas to identify the responsible candidates. Ret and k-ras were tested for activating point mutations, and NF1, p53, BRCA1, nm23-H1, SDHB and SDHD for loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Twenty-two sporadic insulinomas and 15 phaeochromocytomas were analysed by the polymerase chain reaction using restriction fragment length polymorphism or dinucleotide repeat polymorphism methods. The results of our analysis demonstrate that the most frequent changes were point mutations of k-ras: 23% of insulinomas and 62% of phaeochromocytomas harboured k-ras mutations. The analysis also showed two phaeochromocytomas with point mutations of the ret oncogene. Only one insulinoma showed LOH of NF1, and another showed LOH of p53. Allelic loss of BRCA1 was detected in two insulinomas, and of nm23-H1 in another insulinoma. Allelic losses of the SDHB gene were present in two phaeochromocytoma and one insulinoma cases and allelic losses of SDHD were present in one phaeochromocytoma case. The changes observed in phaeochromocytomas were more homogenous and confined to k-ras and ret oncogenes, whereas insulinomas showed more heterogenic situation. Our findings may contribute to a better understanding of the genetic profile of neuroendocrine tumours.