EMT in salivary gland tumors: the expression of microRNAs miR-155 and miR-200c is associated with clinical-pathological parameters.

BACKGROUND: Epithelial to mesenchymal transition promotes cell adhesion loss, enabling invasion and metastasis. MicroRNAs are a class of small non-codifying RNAs that regulate gene expression. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of microRNAs that could regulate the expression of EMT factors in salivary gland tumors (SGTs). METHODS AND RESULTS: The expression of microRNAs miR-9, miR-34a, miR-101, miR-138, miR-155, and miR-200c-described in the literature to target EMT factors-was evaluated by Real-time RT-PCR (qPCR) in pleomorphic adenoma (PA), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) samples. Bioinformatics tools were applied to identify miR targets and immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of the proteins E-cadherin, Twist, ZEB-1, ß-Catenin, and c-Kit. Comparing miR expression among SGT types, we observed increased expression of miR-9, and miR-138 in PAs, and increased miR-155 expression in MECs. Low-grade MECs exhibited increased miR-155 expression (p = 0.032). MECs that generated lymph node metastases had increased miR-200c levels (p = 0.018). MECs tended to have decreased expression of EMT-related proteins when compared to the other SGT types (c-Kit p < 0.001, Twist p = 0.014, and ZEB p = 0.012). Notably, increased c-Kit expression was associated with the presence of perineural infiltration in ACC (p = 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of alterations in the expression of EMT-factors regulating miRs, especially of miR-9, miR-138, miR-155, and miR-200c. No significant relationships were found between the expression of these miRs and proteins associated with EMT in SGTs.

In vivo assessment of antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antimutagenic effects of bark ethanolic extract from Spondias purpurea L.

Medicinal plants have always been used for therapeutic purposes; however, some plants may contain toxic and mutagenic substances. The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antimutagenic effects of the bark ethanolic extract of Spondias purpurea L. using male and female Swiss albino mice. To determine the protective effects of the extract, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and cyclophosphamide (CP) were selected as cell damage inducers. The extract was examined at doses of 500, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg body weight (BW)via gavage alone or concomitant with B[a]P or CP. Oxidative stress was measured by quantification of blood catalase activity (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in total blood, liver, and kidney, and concentrations of malondiadehyde (MDA) in liver and kidney. Genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity were evaluated by the comet assay using peripheral blood. Cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and antimutagenicity were determined utilizing the micronucleus test in bone marrow and peripheral blood. The S. purpurea L extract increased CAT activity and GSH levels accompanied by a decrease in MDA levels after treatment with B[a]P and CP. No genotoxic, cytotoxic, or mutagenic effects were found in mice exposed only to the extract. These results indicate that the extract of S. purpurea exhibited protective effects against oxidative and DNA damage induced by B[a]P and CP.

CYSTIC PANCREATIC LESIONS: IMAGING VERSUS ANATOMOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS-HOW TO IMPROVE DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY?

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cystic lesions are a group of pancreatic neoplasms with different behavior and risk of malignancy. Imaging diagnosis and differentiation of these lesions remain a challenge. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging and post-operative pathologic diagnoses of Pancreatic cystic lesions in a University Hospital of São Paulo State. METHODS: A total of 39 patients with surgically diagnosed Pancreatic cystic lesions were enrolled, as a study cohort from 2009 to 2019. Preoperative radiological and final pathological diagnosis was correlated to measure computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, choledochal pancreatic cyst, mucinous cystadenoma, serous cystadenoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, and pancreatic pseudocyst were classified as neoplastic cysts. RESULTS: It was noted that 27 patients (69.23%) had preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, 11 patients (28.20%) had preoperative computed tomography only, and 1 patient had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging only. The values for diagnoses made only with computed tomography (p=0.47) and from the combination of computed tomography+magnetic resonance imaging (p=0.50) did also point to moderate agreement with the anatomopathological findings. The values pointed to a fair agreement for the diagnosis of mucinous cystadenoma (p=0.3), moderate agreement for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (p= 0.41), good agreement for serous cystadenoma (p=0.79), and excellent agreement for choledochal pancreatic cyst (p=1), pancreatic pseudocyst (p=0.84), and Frantz tumor (p=1) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging have an equivalent diagnostic agreement with an anatomopathological diagnosis for differentiating benign from malignant Pancreatic cystic lesions and in suggesting a specific diagnosis. There is no statistical difference between the use of computed tomography alone and computed tomography+magnetic resonance imaging in the improvement of diagnostic accuracy.

Cystic pancreatic lesions: imaging versus anatomopathological findings-how to improve diagnostic accuracy? / Lesões císticas do pâncreas: imagens versus achados anatomopatológicos. como melhorar a acurácia diagnóstica?

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cystic lesions are a group of pancreatic neoplasms with different behavior and risk of malignancy. Imaging diagnosis and differentiation of these lesions remain a challenge. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging and post-operative pathologic diagnoses of Pancreatic cystic lesions in a University Hospital of São Paulo State. METHODS: A total of 39 patients with surgically diagnosed Pancreatic cystic lesions were enrolled, as a study cohort from 2009 to 2019. Preoperative radiological and final pathological diagnosis was correlated to measure computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, choledochal pancreatic cyst, mucinous cystadenoma, serous cystadenoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, and pancreatic pseudocyst were classified as neoplastic cysts. RESULTS: It was noted that 27 patients (69.23%) had preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, 11 patients (28.20%) had preoperative computed tomography only, and 1 patient had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging only. The values for diagnoses made only with computed tomography (p=0.47) and from the combination of computed tomography+magnetic resonance imaging (p=0.50) did also point to moderate agreement with the anatomopathological findings. The values pointed to a fair agreement for the diagnosis of mucinous cystadenoma (p=0.3), moderate agreement for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (p= 0.41), good agreement for serous cystadenoma (p=0.79), and excellent agreement for choledochal pancreatic cyst (p=1), pancreatic pseudocyst (p=0.84), and Frantz tumor (p=1) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging have an equivalent diagnostic agreement with an anatomopathological diagnosis for differentiating benign from malignant Pancreatic cystic lesions and in suggesting a specific diagnosis. There is no statistical difference between the use of computed tomography alone and computed tomography+magnetic resonance imaging in the improvement of diagnostic accuracy.

RESUMO RACIONAL: Lesões císticas pancreáticas são um grupo de neoplasias pancreáticas com diferentes comportamentos e riscos de malignidade. O diagnóstico por imagem e a diferenciação dessas lesões constituem um desafio. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a concordância entre o diagnóstico de imagem pré operatório obtido através da tomografia computadorizada e/ou da ressonância nuclear magnética e o diagnóstico anátomopatológico das lesões císticas pancreáticas, no Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto - SP. MÉTODOS: Trinta e nove pacientes com lesões císticas pancreáticas, comprovados cirurgicamente, foram incluídos para o estudo, de 2009 a 2019. O diagnóstico radiológico pré-operatório e o diagnóstico anatomopatológico final foram correlacionadas para medir a acurácia da tomografia computadorizada e/ou da ressonância nuclear magnética. O adenocarcinoma pancreático, o cisto pancreato-coledociano, o cistoadenoma mucinoso, o cistoadenoma seroso, a neoplasia mucinosa papilar intraductal, e o pseudocisto pancreático foram classificados como cistos neoplásicos. As informações foram comparadas e estatisticamente analisadas. RESULTADOS: Vinte e sete pacientes fizeram tomografia computadorizada e ressonância nuclear magnética pré-operatórios (69,23%), 11 pacientes fizeram apenas tomografia computadorizada (28,20%), e 1 paciente fez apenas ressonância nuclear magnética (2,57%). Os achados de tomografia computadorizada para diagnóstico (p=0,47) e para a combinação tomografia computadorizada+RM (p=0,50) mostraram moderada concordância com os achados anatomopatológicos. Houve leve concordância para o diagnóstico de cistoadenoma mucinoso (p=0,3), moderada concordância para intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (p=0,41), boa concordância para cistoadenoma seroso (p=0,79) e excelente concordância para pseudocisto pancreático (p=0,84), cisto pancreato-coledociano (p=1) e tumor de Frantz (p=1) (p<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Os achados de imagem da tomografia computadorizada e/ou ressonância nuclear magnética apresentaram concordância diagnóstica com os exames anatomopatológicos na diferenciação de lesões císticas pancreáticas benignas e malignas, porém a diferença entre o uso apenas da tomografia computadorizada e tomografia computadorizada+ressonância nuclear magnética na melhora da acurácia diagnóstica não apresentou relevância estatística tal como a literatura.