Novel CAF-identifiers via transcriptomic and protein level analysis in HNSC patients.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a prominent component of the tumor microenvironment, play an important role in tumor development, invasion, and drug resistance. The expression of distinct "CAF-markers" which separates CAFs from normal fibroblasts and epithelial cells, have traditionally been used to identify them. These commonly used CAF-markers have been reported to differ greatly across different CAF subpopulations, even within a cancer type. Using an unbiased -omic approach from public data and in-house RNAseq data from patient derived novel CAF cells, TIMP-1, SPARC, COL1A2, COL3A1 and COL1A1 were identified as potential CAF-markers by differential gene expression analysis using publicly available single cell sequencing data and in-house RNAseq data to distinguish CAF populations from tumor epithelia and normal oral fibroblasts. Experimental validation using qPCR and immunofluorescence revealed CAF-specific higher expression of TIMP-1 and COL1A2 as compared to other markers in 5 novel CAF cells, derived from patients of diverse gender, habits and different locations of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). Upon immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of FFPE blocks however, COL1A2 showed better differential staining between tumor epithelia and tumor stroma. Similar data science driven approach utilizing single cell sequencing and RNAseq data from stabilized CAFs can be employed to identify CAF-markers in various cancers.

Pulmonary mucormycosis presenting with vocal cord paralysis.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is a relatively uncommon infection. It can present in various forms. Very few cases of pulmonary mucormycosis presenting as vocal cord paralysis have been described in the literature. We report a case of pulmonary mucormycosis presenting as vocal cord paralysis in an uncontrolled diabetic patient.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a rare disease of unknown cause. We report a case in a young boy who presented with history of failure to thrive and chest X-ray finding suggestive of miliary mottling. Open lung biopsy revealed pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis.

Malignant hypertension, dissection of aorta, cardiac tamponade and monoparesis--unusual presentation of Takayasu's arteritis: clinicopathological correlation.

We report a case of a 24-year-old woman with an unremarkable past medical history who was presented to the emergency department with acute onset of breathlessness and weakness of right lower limb. Clinical examination was suggestive of malignant hypertension with acute left ventricular failure and acute ischemia of right lower limb. Colour Doppler and CT findings were consistent with dissection of entire aorta with extension into its major branches. She died in less than 18 h after admission following cardiac tamponade. Autopsy revealed left renal artery stenosis with features of Takayasu's arteritis with intimal rupture in the abdominal aorta with Stanford type A dissection of aorta extending to all the major branches of aorta, and hemopericardium. This case demonstrates a rare example Takayasu's arteritis involving left renal artery leading to secondary hypertension presenting as malignant hypertension with fatal dissection of aorta with cardiac tamponade and emphasizes the varied presentations of this disease and importance of early diagnosis and interventions to prevent these fatal complications.

Colonic cancer in young adults--a report of two cases.

Colonic carcinoma in young adults are rare and has a higher mortality and morbidity because of poor histological type and delay in diagnosis. We are reporting two cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma of caecum and sigmoid colon in young males.

Multiple primary malignancies: synchronous and metachronous presentation--case report.

Reporting three rare cases of multiple primary cancers. Case one and two were a synchronous presentation of primary gastric carcinoma and renal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma and papillary carcinoma thyroid. Case 3 was metachronous presentation of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hemangiopericytoma of mesentery: a case report.

Mesenteric tumors are rare, most commonly encountered lesions are fibromatoses and leiomyoma. A case of hemangiopericytoma of mesentery in a 38 years old female is reported for its rarity. The classical histological findings and recticulin stain to demonstrate blood vessels & recticulin fibers, encircling individual tumor cells aids in the correct diagnosis.