The effect of Tarantula cubensis D6 on zone of stasis in a rat burn model.

AIM: Burn injuries are one of the most devastating injuries. Saving the zone of stasis decreases burn size, morbidity, and mortality. Tarantula cubensis (TC) increases epithelization of wounds, and increases wound contraction. In this study, we investigated the effects of TC on the stasis zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36 Wistar albino female rats were divided into 3 groups. Using brass comb burn model, at days 0 and 3, physiological serum solution in group 2, TC injection in group 3and no injection in group 1 was applied. Thermal and normal images were taken on day 10 and rats were sacrificed for histopathological examination. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant difference between the 1st and 3rd group, 2nd and 3rd group regarding viable wound areas (p < 0.05), temperature difference (body-stasis zone) and mean body temperature (p < 0.05). We found no statistically significant difference between groups regarding neovascularization, inflammatory density, and vital cutaneous appendages. We found a statistically significant difference in epithelial layer thickness between the1st and 3rd groups, 2nd and 3rd groups(p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TC increases stasis zone viability macroscopically, increases epithelial layer thickness histopathologically, thus it promotes wound healing in burn wounds. This increase in stasis zone viability was also established with thermal imaging.

The Relationship of Clinicopathological Findings and PDGFR-ß Expression With Tumor Recurrence in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Considering the difficulty in predicting the biological behavior of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) based on histological findings alone, genetic abnormalities have recently become an area of focus. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), with 2 isoforms (α and ß) is one of the mutations that play a role in the development of GIST. There are very little data determining the relationship of GIST with PDGFRß which is associated with poor prognosis in other mesenchymal and epithelial tumors. In this study, we aimed to show the relationship between clinicopathological criteria and recurrence. We also wanted to evaluate the effect of PDGFRß expression on recurrence and clinicopathological findings. METHODS: We evaluated 40 GIST patients retrospectively for detailed clinicopathological findings, postoperative immunohistochemical tumor markers (CD117, Ki67), and also for tumor recurrence. Immunohistochemical examination for PDGFRß was performed for the all GIST cases. RESULTS: Tumor recurrence was related to male gender (P = .003), serosal localization (P = .004), surgical margins positivity (P = .001), risk group (P = .011), mitotic activity (P = .000), and Ki67 proliferation index (P = .000). PDGFRß was not significantly associated with tumor recurrence (P = .277). CONCLUSION: We can say that the most important parameters related with recurrence of GISTs are mitotic activity and the Ki67 proliferation index. The determination of the cut-off value of the Ki67 proliferation index as 13% instead of 10% would be much more specific and sensitive. Although PDGFRß may be used for the diagnosis of GIST as an alternative for PDGFRα in cases with cKIT negativity, it is not an indicator of tumor recurrence as in other tumors.

May the morphological findings in the first-trimester abortion materials be indicative of inherited thrombophilia?

PURPOSE: Inherited thrombophilia is associated with severe pregnancy complications including recurrent spontaneous abortion. In the light of this strong association, the impact of thrombophilic mutations on the placenta and their morphological reflections has aroused attention of both clinicians and pathologists. In the present study, we aimed to show the association between placental abnormalities with thrombophilia by examining the morphological findings in a wide range of first-trimester chorionic villi. METHODS: We performed a histological examination on the abortion specimens obtained from 129 patients with recurrent pregnancy losses that were evaluated with respect to inherited thrombophilia based on the presence of Factor V Leiden (G1691A), Prothrombin G20210A and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene mutations detected by genetic analysis. Abortion materials either with and without thrombophilia were evaluated in terms of the morphological parameters such as hydropic change, vascularity, fibrosis, fibrinoid degeneration, Hofbauer macrophage, syncytiotrophoblast knotting, villitis, calcification, villous contour and villous size, hemorrhage, thrombus, proliferation of trophoblasts, villous stromal or villous vascular karyorrhexis. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the patient groups with and without thrombophilia in terms of morphological findings except vascularity of chorionic villi. The avascular chorionic villi (<3 vessels per villus) were found in 62.9% and 16.9% obtained from the women with and without thrombophilic mutation, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: As a conclusion, it could be stated that the analysis of morphological findings in the abortion specimen is not a time-wasting process. Particularly, data related with vascularity of chorionic villi would be precious and beneficial. We suggest that highlighting the presence of avascular villi in the pathology report as a parameter would be guiding for clinicians regarding the impact of the thrombophilic gene mutations.

Is Subdivision of Atypia of Undetermined Significance AUS/Follicular Lesion of Undetermined Significance Cases According to Detailed Nuclear Features Vital for Assessing the Risk of Malignancy?

BACKGROUND: It has been known that the "atypia of undetermined significance (AUS)/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS)" category is the most problematic category in Bethesda system due to its highly heterogeneous morphological features. Recently, it has been reported that aspirates including nuclear atypia in the AUS/FLUS category have a higher risk of malignancy. AIMS: This study aimed to assess each nuclear property in aspirates with cytological atypia and also to determine the relationship with the risk of malignancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 980 AUS/FLUS fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) performed between '2012 and 2019' at a single institution. We classified these aspirates into four groups: AUS-N (nuclear atypia), AUS-A (architectural atypia), AUS-H (Hurthle cell change), and AUS-O (other). Nuclear features were detailed sub-classified; size and shape (enlargement, elongation, and overlapping), membrane irregularities (irregular contours, grooves, pseudoinclusion), and chromatin characteristics (pale chromatin). The estimated risk of malignancy (ROM) was calculated for each subgroup. RESULTS: Of 980 AUS/FLUS cases, follow-up histological outcome data were available for 209 cases. Among these cases, the estimated ROM was 27.8%. The ROM were 26.4%, 15.4%, and 22.5% for AUS-N, A, and H, respectively. The most common nuclear findings associated with ROM were nuclear groove (67.9%); irregular contours (76.9%) suspected pseudoinclusion (100%) and overlapping (56%) (P < 0,001). But nuclear findings such as nuclear enlargement, mild pleomorphism, or pale chromatin have a similar ROM as architectural atypia. CONCLUSION: Although it is known that the presence of cytological atypia in an AUS/FLUS nodule increases the estimated risk of malignancy, all nuclear properties are not equally effective in predicting malignancy risk. Emphasizing nuclear atypia details in reports of AUS case may be a more sensitive way to identify nodules with a high risk of malignancy.

The effect of an antifibrotic agent, pirfenidone, on penile erectile function in an experimental rat model of ischemic priapism.

To date, no effective medical approach for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to ischemic priapism (IP) has been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antioxidant effects of pirfenidone (PFD) on cavernosal tissue in a rat model of IP. Forty-eight male albino rats aged 8-10 months, with mean weights of 410 ± 18.6 g were randomized into four groups (n = 12 in each group): no IP (group 1); IP for 1 h, followed by intracavernosal pressure (ICP) measurements using electrical cavernous nerve stimulation (CNS) (group 2); IP for 1 h, followed by ICP measurements using electrical CNS 6 weeks later (group 3); and IP for 1 h, oral PFD (30 mg/kg once daily) treatment by oral gavage, followed by ICP measurements using electrical CNS 6 weeks later (group 4). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione levels were measured spectrophotometrically. In a histological evaluation, cavernosal collagen/smooth muscle ratios were calculated. The intracavernosal pressure values of group 1 were higher than those of groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05) but similar to those of group 4 (p > 0.05). The mean MDA level was significantly higher in group 3, as compared with that in group 4 (p = 0.004). The mean collagen/smooth muscle ratio in groups 1-4 was 24%, 42%, 65%, and 48%, respectively. Physiological, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations of the PFD effect on cavernosal tissue in a rat model of IP were the strengths and the lack of molecular and immunohistochemical analysis were the limitations of this study. In this study, we examined the effects of PFD on cavernosal tissue in a rat model of IP. We found that PFD reduced cavernosal fibrotic activity and improved erectile function. We conclude that PFD may represent a new treatment option in IP treatment.

A Retrospective Evaluation of the Epithelial Changes/Lesions and Neoplasms of the Gallbladder in Turkey and a Review of the Existing Sampling Methods: A Multicentre Study.

OBJECTIVE: As there is continuing disagreement among the observers on the differential diagnosis between the epithelial changes/lesions and neoplasms of the gallbladder, this multicentre study was planned in order to assess the rate of the epithelial gallbladder lesions in Turkey and to propose microscopy and macroscopy protocols. MATERIAL AND METHOD: With the participation of 22 institutions around Turkey that were included in the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Study Group, 89,324 cholecystectomy specimens sampled from 2003 to 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. The numbers of adenocarcinomas, dysplasias, intracholecystic neoplasms/adenomas, intestinal metaplasias and reactive atypia were identified with the review of pathology reports and the regional and countrywide incidence rates were presented in percentages. RESULTS: Epithelial changes/lesions were reported in 6% of cholecystectomy materials. Of these epithelial lesions, 7% were reported as adenocarcinoma, 0.9% as high-grade dysplasia, 4% as low-grade dysplasia, 7.8% as reactive/regenerative atypia, 1.7% as neoplastic polyp, and 15.6% as intestinal metaplasia. The remaining lesions (63%) primarily included non-neoplastic polypoids/hyperplastic lesions and antral/pyloric metaplasia. There were also differences between pathology laboratories. CONCLUSION: The major causes of the difference in reporting these epithelial changes/lesions and neoplasms include the differences related to the institute's oncological surgery frequency, sampling protocols, geographical dissimilarities, and differences in the diagnoses/interpretations of the pathologists. It seems that the diagnosis may change if new sections are taken from the specimen when any epithelial abnormality is seen during microscopic examination of the cholecystectomy materials.

Assessment of the effectiveness of platelet rich fibrin in the treatment of Schneiderian membrane perforation.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of Platelet rich fibrin (PRF) treatment of maxillary sinus membrane perforation on bone formation and new vascular supply and the success of dental implant survival rate. METHODS: The dataset for this retrospective study consists of patients who received sinus augmentation using the lateral wall technique. A total of 16 patients (20 sinuses) the patients without sinus membrane perforation (10 maxiller sinus area with sinus floor augmentation) and with Schneiderian perforation (10 maxiller sinus area repairing with PRF and augmented sinus floor area) were included in this study. The bone height was measured by comparing the preoperative and postoperative dental CBCT scans. Histological sections were evaluated for possible vasculogenesis augmented sinuses area. RESULTS: In both groups, it was observed that the possible vasculogenesis augmented sinuses area increased. Implant survival rates in both groups found that one hundred percent and any bone loss around implants were not observed. An apparent increase in alveolar bone height was observed and measured in CBCT scans. CONCLUSIONS: PRF can be considered as an alternative material for repairing sinus perforations because it is fully autogenous and easy manipulated.

Evaluation of MUC1 and P53 expressions in noninvasive papillary urothelial neoplasms of bladder, their relationship with tumor grade and role in the differential diagnosis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the usability of MUC1 and p53 for differential diagnosis of noninvasive papillary urothelial neoplasias, especially for distinguishing papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP) from low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (LGPUC) when the histologic signs are not obvious. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen biopsy specimens of the patients with PUNLMP, 20 with LGPUC and 13 with high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (HGPUC) were stained for MUC1 and p53 protein by immunohistochemical methods. Histological grading was performed according to an algorithm, which allows histological parameters used in 2004 WHO/ISUP 1998. RESULTS: We had obvious statistical difference for aberrant expression pattern of MUC1 between PUNLMP and LGPUC-HGPUC (P = 0.007). Positivity of MUC1 expression in cytoplasm of basal cells was more observed in HGPUC and LGPUC, whereas PUNLMP was more often showing apical and superficial positivity of MUC1 expression (P = 0.001 and 0.011). Nuclear p53 protein in HGPUC was obviously more frequent than that in LGPUC and PUNLMP (P < 0.001). Measures showed statistical difference among aberrant MUC1 expression, p53 overexpression, and tumor grade (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MUC1 and p53 may be helpful immunohistochemical markers for distinguishing PUNLMP from LGPUC and HGPUC, when the histologic signs are not obvious.