Radiological Profile of 18,430 Vascular Anomalies: Incidence and Demographic Distribution in an Adult Population.

BACKGROUND: Most studies on focusing on the prevalence of vascular anomalies are either aimed to determine the individual occurrence of a specific type among known bearers of abnormalities or propose an estimation of prevalence for the general population by extrapolating from the paediatric population. In this scenario, we intended to assess the profile of vascular anomalies in a group of patients subjected to imaging studies, throughout a long period of time, to evaluate the frequency of abnormal findings in a consecutive, nonselected population. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 996,569 computed tomography and magnetic resonance studies between 2009 and 2019. Findings were grouped as vascular tumours (hemangiomas; vascular tumours), cavernomas, and vascular malformations. Positive findings were evaluated with regard to patients' demographic characteristics and anatomic distribution and the subset of vascular malformations was also evaluated with regard to size, classification in accordance to flow pattern, and Hamburg Classification. RESULTS: Eighteen thousand four hundred thirty positive examinations were evaluated (mean age, 55.82 ± 15.43 years; 8,188 men). Vascular anomalies were present in 18.49 per 1,000 examinations (17.41 hemangiomas; 0.69 cavernomas and 0.39 vascular malformations per 1,000 examinations). Hemangiomas and cavernomas were homogeneous in anatomic location between sexes throughout the age groups. Complex malformations were heterogeneous in anatomic distribution between the sexes in each age group, with intracranial findings decreasing for female patients in older groups. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular anomalies were found in 18.49 per 1,000 examinations. Hemangiomas and cavernomas were homogenously distributed, whereas complex malformations displayed a heterogeneous anatomic distribution pattern between sexes in each age group.

Profile of MicroRNAs Associated with Death Due to Disease Progression in Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common neoplasm of the endocrine system and has an excellent long-term prognosis, with low rates of distant metastatic disease. Although infrequent, there are cases of deaths directly related to PTC, especially in patients with metastatic disease, and the factors that could be associated with this unfavorable outcome remain a major challenge in clinical practice. Recently, research into genetic factors associated with PTC has gained ground, especially mutations in the TERT promoter and BRAF gene. However, the role of microRNAs remains poorly studied, especially in those patients who have an unfavorable outcome at follow-up. This paper aims to evaluate molecular markers related to the different pathological processes of PTC, as well as the histological characteristics of the neoplasm, and to compare this profile with prognosis and death from the disease using an analysis of patients treated for metastatic disease in a single tertiary cancer center. Evaluation of microRNA expression in paraffin-embedded tumor specimens was carried out by quantitative PCR using the TaqMan® Low Density Array (TLDA) system. Metastatic patients who died from progression of PTC had higher expressions of miR-101-3p, miR-17-5p, and miR-191-5p when compared to patients with stable metastatic disease. These findings are of great importance but should be considered as preliminary because of the small sample.

CHRONIC USE OF PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS AND THE QUANTITY OF G, D, AND ECL CELLS IN THE STOMACH.

BACKGROUND: Acid inhibition from chronic proton pump inhibitor use and a possible increase in gastrin can lead to changes in the regulation of hydrochloric acid production. However, it has not known whether such chronic use changes the presence of gastrin, delta, and enterochromaffin-like cells in the stomach or the relationship between gastrin and delta cells. AIM: To analyze the number of gastrin-producing gastrin cells, somatostatin-producing cells, and histamine-producing cells in patients who were chronic users of proton pump inhibitor, with or without related Helicobacter pylori infection. METHODS: Biopsies from 105 patients, including 81 chronic proton pump inhibitor users (experimental group) and 24 controls, were processed immunohistochemically and subjected to counting of gastrin, delta, and enterochromaffin-like cells in high-magnification microscopic fields and in 10 glands. RESULTS: Gastrin cell, delta cell, and enterochromaffin-like cells counts were similar across the groups and appeared to be unaffected by Helicobacter pylori infection. The ratio between gastrin cells and delta cells was higher in the chronic users of proton pump inhibitor group than in controls. CONCLUSION: Chronic users of proton pump inhibitor does not affect gastrin cell, delta cell, and enterochromaffin-like cell counts significantly, but may alter the ratio between gastrin cells and delta cells.

Chronic use of proton pump inhibitors and the quantity of g, d, and ecl cells in the stomach / Uso crônico de inibidores de bomba de prótons e a quantidade de células g, d e ecl no estômago

ABSTRACT Background: Acid inhibition from chronic proton pump inhibitor use and a possible increase in gastrin can lead to changes in the regulation of hydrochloric acid production. However, it has not known whether such chronic use changes the presence of gastrin, delta, and enterochromaffin-like cells in the stomach or the relationship between gastrin and delta cells. Aim: To analyze the number of gastrin-producing gastrin cells, somatostatin-producing cells, and histamine-producing cells in patients who were chronic users of proton pump inhibitor, with or without related Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: Biopsies from 105 patients, including 81 chronic proton pump inhibitor users (experimental group) and 24 controls, were processed immunohistochemically and subjected to counting of gastrin, delta, and enterochromaffin-like cells in high-magnification microscopic fields and in 10 glands. Results: Gastrin cell, delta cell, and enterochromaffin-like cells counts were similar across the groups and appeared to be unaffected by Helicobacter pylori infection. The ratio between gastrin cells and delta cells was higher in the chronic users of proton pump inhibitor group than in controls. Conclusion: Chronic users of proton pump inhibitor does not affect gastrin cell, delta cell, and enterochromaffin-like cell counts significantly, but may alter the ratio between gastrin cells and delta cells.

RESUMO Racional: A inibição ácida pelo uso crônico de inibidores de bomba de prótons e o possível aumento da gastrina podem ser seguidos de alterações na regulação da produção do ácido clorídrico. Ainda não está definido se o uso crônico altera a quantidade de células G, D e ECL no estômago ou a razão células G/D. Objetivo: Avaliar o número de células G - produtoras de gastrina -, células D - produtoras de somatostatina - e células ECL - produtoras de histamina -, em pacientes com uso crônico de inibidores de bomba de prótons, com ou sem infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori. Método: Trata-se de estudo retrospectivo avaliando 105 pacientes, 81 usadores crônicos de inibidores de bomba de prótons e 24 controles, através de biópsias com contagem das células G, D e ECL por estudo imunoistoquímico, de forma quantitativa onde havia maior número de células positivas por campo microscópico de grande aumento e em 10 glândulas. Resultados: Não houve diferença estatística comparando-se o número de células G, D e ECL. A razão entre as células G e D foi maior nos pacientes usadores crônicos de inibidores de bomba de prótons. Conclusão: O uso crônico de inibidores de prótons parece não interferir na contagem das células G, D e ECL, porém, interfere na razão entre as células G e D.