Ribosome-binding protein-1 (RRBP1) expression in prostate carcinomas and its relationship with clinicopathological prognostic factors.

INTRODUCTION: Studies in recent years have shown that ribosome-binding protein-1 (RRBP1) is expressed at high rates in many cancers and that it may be a potential prognostic biomarker. The objective of the present study is to determine the RRBP1 expression level in prostatic carcinoma and neighboring non-neoplastic prostate tissue, the relationship between its expression level with prognostic factors, and the role of RRBP1 in the development of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 45 patients who were diagnosed with prostatic carcinoma and underwent radical prostatectomy in our center between the years 2010 and 2021. Pathology reports were reviewed. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of RRBP1 and GADPH values of the cases (control and tumoral tissue) between the primary tumor stage (pT) and Gleason score (GS) groups. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to explain the effective variables in explaining the RRBP1 value of the research cases. RESULTS: According to the Mann-Whitney U test, mean and median RRBP1-T values of the cases with GS ≥ 8 were detected to be statistically significantly higher than the mean and median RRBP1-T values of the cases with GS < 8. CONCLUSION: We found out that RRBP1 was expressed at higher rates in patients with high GS and advanced-stage patients. This result indicated that RRBP1 expression may be important in predicting the prognosis of prostate carcinoma.

The Effect of Slime Factor in the Treatment of Spinal Implant Infections.

AIM: To investigate the effect of the biofilm-forming ability of the bacteria on treatment in rats by using biofilm-forming and nonbiofilm- forming strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty rats were divided into four equal groups as Group 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B. All rats underwent single distance lumbar laminectomy, and titanium implants were introduced. Group 1 rats were inoculated with Slime factor (-) S. aureus, while Group 2 rats were inoculated with biofilm Slime factor (+) S. aureus. None of the rats were given antibiotics. One week later, the surgical field was reopened and microbiological samples were taken. The implants of rats in Groups 1A and 2A were left in place, while the implants of rats in Groups 1B and 2B were removed. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups inoculated with slime factor (+) S. aureus; although, Groups 1A and 2A showed statistically significant difference. Statistical analysis with respect to bacterial count also showed a statistically significant difference between Groups 1A and 2A. There was a statistically significant difference between Group 1B and 2B. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the present study reveal that in case of implant-dependent infection, the first sample taken can be checked for slime factor, and if there is infection with slime factor-negative bacterium, treatment without removing the implant may be recommended. S. aureus was used in the study because it is the most common cause of implant-related infection at surgical sites. Further studies using different bacterial species are needed to reach a definitive conclusion.

A Case of Leishmania Infantum Mimicking Lymphoma.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection caused by an obligate intracellular protozoon transmitted by infected sand flies. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a skin disease known in our country as oriental sore, which heals, leaving a scar in place, mainly on the skin and sometimes in the mucous membrane. Demonstration of the parasite in chronic CL is difficult. Moreover, differential diagnosis from other granulomatous dermatitides such as lupus vulgaris, sarcoidosis and deep mycosis is growing difficult. A case of CL was presented in an 84-year-old female patient who had a pre-diagnosis of lymphoma and a nodule lesion on her forehead for 2.5 months. In the smear of the sample taken from the lesion, amastigote forms of the parasite were diagnosed and typed as L. infantum by the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method.

Prognostic value of Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) for 5-year recurrence-free survival in surgically resected gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have investigated the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammation index (SII), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) on prognosis for various malignancies. However, the value of these markers in determining the prognosis for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) remains controversial. We investigated the effect of NLR, PLR, SII, and PNI on 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with surgically resected GIST. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients (n=47) who had undergone surgical resection for primary, localized GIST at a single institution between 2010 and 2021. The patients were divided into two groups according to the recurrence status in the 5-year period as 5-year RFS(+) (patients with no recurrence (n=25) and 5-year RFS(-) (patients with recurrence (n=22) groups. RESULTS: In univariate analyses, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS), tumor localization, tumor size, PNI, and risk category were significantly different between the RFS(+) and RFS(-) groups while NLR, PLR, SII were not. Multivariate analyses revealed that only the tumor size (HR =5.485, 95% CI: 0.210-143.266, p=0.016), and PNI (HR= 112.020, 95% CI: 8.755-1433.278, p<0.001) were independent prognostic factors for RFS. The patients with a high PNI (≥46.25) had a higher 5-year RFS rate than the patients with low PNI (<46.25) (95.2% to 19.2%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A higher preoperative PNI is an independent positive predictor for 5-year RFS for patients with surgically resected GIST. However, NLR, PLR, and SII have no significant effect. KEY WORDS: GIST, Prognostic Nutritional Index, Prognostic Marker.

Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma in the Tongue: A Rare Case Report.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare malignant vascular neoplasm caused by the proliferation of neoplastic endothelial cells. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma may develop in any organ, but it is commonly observed in the extremities. The tongue is a very unusual location for epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. A 55-year-old male patient presented to the outpatient head and neck clinic with lumps in the tongue, pain, and limitation of motion. The polypoid mass detected in the anterior midline of the tongue was excised. Microscopically, the tumor cells included slightly pleomorphic oval or round vesicular nuclei with an eosinophilic cytoplasm that variably contained vacuoles. There were 4 mitoses per 10 high power fields and there was no necrosis. In immunohistochemical study, the tumor cells were positively stained with CD31 and CD34 whereas they were negatively stained with TFE3, SMA, S-100, HHV-8 and EMA. The patient was diagnosed with "epitheloid hemangioendothelioma". Only ten cases have been reported in the tongue in the literature. Our case was the eleventh case, and we aimed to report this case as a rare entity with an unusual location.

PD-L1 Expression in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Is Associated With the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

OBJECTIVES: Colorectal carcinomas are the third-most common tumors in the world, and colorectal cancer ranks second in cancer-related deaths. Our aim in this study was to investigate the correlation between programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and clinicopathologic parameters in colorectal carcinomas and their relationship to the tumor immune microenvironment, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and microsatellite instability. We also investigated the predictive and prognostic role of PD-L1. METHODS: One hundred patients with a diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy were included in the study. The relationships among the altered expression of PD-L1; vimentin; E-cadherin; mismatch repair status; and pathologic microenvironmental features, including the presence of tumor budding and CD8-positive tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), were assessed. RESULTS: Increased PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was associated with increased TILs (P = .013), high histologic grade (P = .011), advanced pathologic T stage (P = .007), lymph node metastasis (P = .002), distant metastasis (P < .001), perineural invasion (P = .009), high bud score (P = .023), EMT (P < .001), and shorter disease-free survival (P = .029). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, PD-L1 expression in colorectal carcinoma tumor cells is a marker of poor prognosis, and the positive correlation detected between EMT status and PD-L1 expression suggests that patients with the mesenchymal phenotype may be more likely to benefit from programmed cell death 1 protein/PD-L1 immunotherapy.

Should a fourth category be added to the international tumor budding consensus conference tumor budding scoring system in colorectal adenocarcinomas?

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tumor budding (TB) and clinicopathologic prognostic criteria in colorectal adenocarcinomas and to discuss the inclusion of the fourth group in the scoring system. A total of 131 cases were included in the study. TB was scored according to the classical 3-tiered scoring system and our proposed 4-tiered scoring system: BD0 (no buds), BD1* (1-4 buds), BD2 (5-9 buds), and BD3 (≥10 buds). Cytokeratin staining was applied to 80 randomly selected cases and TB scoring was re-evaluated. TB was not observed in 31 (23.7%) of 131 cases and was categorized as BD0. Patients with BD0 budding had lower pT category, AJCC stage, tumor grade, less lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, tumor deposits (p < 0.05), and longer overall survival than BD1* patients (log-Rank p: 0.018). There was significant compatibility between the evaluation of TB with H&E and cytokeratin (kappa: 0.727, p < 0.001). In conclusion, we think it is valuable to add the "BD0" category to the International Tumor Budding Consensus Conference (ITBCC) scores. However, more research with larger cohorts is needed for clinical applicability. H&E staining is sufficient for the assessment of budding, except in conditions such as increased inflammation where the tumor-stroma interface may be obscured.

Protective effect of dexpanthenol on cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Cisplatin (CIS) is an antineoplastic agent used for treating solid organ tumors. Toxic side effects of CIS treatment include nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, ototoxicity, myelosuppression and hepatotoxicity. Dexpanthenol (DEX) exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and protective effects against free oxygen radicals. We investigated the protective effects of DEX on CIS induced nephrotoxicity. Animals were divided into four groups of 10. The control group was given saline. The DEX group was treated with DEX for 10 days. The CIS group was treated with a single dose of CIS. The DEX + CIS group was given a single dose of CIS followed by DEX for 10 days. We found increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, while superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were decreased in the CIS group. MDA, BUN and creatinine levels were decreased, while SOD, CAT, GPx and MPO levels were increased in the DEX + CIS group. Renal tubule damage, inflammation and histopathology scores were significantly higher in the CIS group than the control. The DEX + CIS group exhibited less renal tubule damage and inflammation, and lower histopathological assessment scores than the CIS group. Significant cortical tubule damage and interstitial inflammation were observed in the CIS group. Tubule damage was slightly less, and mild tubule dilation and less cast formation were observed in the DEX + CIS group; also, inflammation was less severe than for the CIS group. DEX may have therapeutic potential for treating CIS induced nephrotoxicity due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The Preventive Effect of Systemic Honokiol and Systemic Pentoxifylline on Epidural Fibrosis.

AIM: To investigate the preventive effects of systemic honokiol and pentoxifylline treatments on epidural fibrosis (EF) in the experimental laminectomy model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two rats were divided into four equal groups. Laminectomy was performed in all rats except for the control group. One group was kept as the negative control group. Moreover, 10 mg/kg pentoxifylline and 10 mg/kg honokiol were administered intraperitoneally for 5 days, respectively, to the other two groups. The rats were sacrificed after 4 weeks. The samples were examined biochemically in terms of oxidative stress and inflammation induced by tissue damage. Histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations were also performed to detect EF severity. RESULTS: In honokiol and pentoxifylline groups compared with the negative control group, tumor necrosis factor-beta and interleukin-10 levels (indicating inflammation); myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde, and hydroxyproline levels (indicating oxidative stress); and intercellular adhesion molecule levels (indicating fibrosis) were decreased. Histopathologically and immunohistochemically, EF was significantly reduced in the pentoxifylline and honokiol groups. Biochemical findings were consistent with the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. CONCLUSION: Both pentoxifylline and honokiol prevent EF formation. However, this effect is more pronounced in honokiol.

Pregabalin does not Cause Midline Closure Defect but is not as Innocent as It is Thought.

AIM: To investigate the effects of pregabalin on neural tube closure, and other potential effects on other organ systems in a chick embryo model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fertilized chicken eggs were divided into groups, and different doses of pregabalin was administered. All embryos were harvested in the 8th day of incubation, and investigated both macroscopically and microscopically against any developmental malformations caused by Pregabalin. RESULTS: Macroscopically not any malformations were detected but macrosomia was statistically significant in medium and high dose groups. Microscopically, vertebral lamina ossification was delayed in some embryos in high dose group but not interpreted as midline closure defect and also not statistically significant. Decrease in the number of renal glomerulus and increase in the tubular damage was statistically significant in medium and high dose groups. Cardiomegaly was also found in some embryos in middle and high dose groups but not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The use of pregabalin does not cause neural tube closure defect in the embryo unless not exceed recommended maximum dose. Causing macrosomia instead of developmental retardation by Pregabalin is in conflict with the literature. This study revealed that Pregabalin causes fetal nephrotoxicity and macrosomia. These findings indicate that the use of Pregabalin in pregnancy still needs to be accounted as suspicious.

Investigation of Neuroprotective and Therapeutic Effects of Hesperidin in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury.

AIM: To investigate the neuroprotective and therapeutic efficacy of hesperidin against secondary damage following traumatic spinal cord injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 32 male Wistar albino rats weighing 250?300 g were randomly divided into four groups (n=4): group I, control group; group II, sham group; group III, preconditioning group, and group IV, treatment group. A rat model of spinal cord injury was established by dropping a weight of 100 g/cm on the spinal cord exposed at T7?T10 with dorsal laminectomy. In neurological examination after the trial period, inclined planed test, modified Tarlov scale, and finger extension test were performed. Furthermore, the bioefficacy of hesperidin was investigated histopathologically, biochemically, and immunohistochemically using blood and tissue samples obtained from the experimental animals. RESULTS: Neurological examination following spinal cord injury revealed that hesperidin significantly contributed to improvement in the 24-hour period. Biochemical analyses revealed that hesperidin showed anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing IL-1? and TNF-? levels at the 24th hour as well as strong antioxidant activity by increasing TAS levels in groups III and IV. Histopathologically, hesperidin reduced hemorrhage, laceration, axonal and neuronal degeneration, necrosis, inflammatory reaction, and edema in groups III and IV. Immunohistochemically, hesperidin reduced the number of caspase 3-positive apoptotic cells in groups III and IV. CONCLUSION: Hesperidin showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects during the acute period following spinal cord injury; thus, hesperidin shows neuroprotective and therapeutic efficacy in spinal cord injury.

The Investigation of the Association of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Biopsy Specimens of the Patients with Granulomatous Disease and Skin Cancer Using the Molecular Method.

BACKGROUND: Clinically, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) can be confused with granulomatous diseases and skin cancers, and it may lead to erroneous diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis based and histopathology can have some difficulties due to low number of parasites, especially in chronic CL cases. We aimed to emphasize the necessity of considering CL in the differential diagnosis for cases of granulomatous diseases and basal cell carcinoma, particularly in areas where CL is endemic. METHODS: One hundred and seven paraffin-embedded tissue biopsy specimens were selected from the archive, as of 2002, of Pathology Department, School of Medicine, University of Hatay Mustafa Kemal in Hatay, Turkey. After DNA isolation, performed with the samples were used for PCR analysis with specific 13A, 13B primers targeting kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA) found in all Leishmania species. Another PCR was performed with LITSR and L5.8S primers targeting ITS-1 internal-transcribed-spacer-1 (ITS-1) region to subtype positive samples. Then these samples were further analyzed for subtyping with PCR-RFLP using HaeIII enzyme (BsuRI). RESULTS: Ten out of 107 tissue specimens were positive via kDNA-PCR. Lupus vulgaris, sarcoidosis, skin lymphoma and Leishmania cutis appeared in 9 out of 10 positive specimens. One of the cases presented with a mass on the cheek and was pre-diagnosed with hemangioma, but leishmaniasis did not appear. All of 10 specimens were diagnosed as granulomatous dermatitis. Two out of 10 samples, found positive with kDNA-PCR, were analyzed with ITS-1-PCR and identified as L. infantum/donovani after RFLP. CONCLUSION: Molecular methods should be utilized in the differential diagnosis of CL to eliminate false diagnoses of granulomatous diseases and skin cancers.

The histopathological effect of tissue adhesive on urethra wound healing process: An experimental animal study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the histopathological effect of Tisseel tissue adhesive on the urethral wound healing process after urethroplasty in a rat model. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 24 animals were randomly allocated into three groups: Group 1; control group (n = 6); Group 2; suture-closure group (n = 9); and Group 3; suture + adhesive group (n = 9). In group 2, an incision 4 mm long was made on the ventral skin of the penis along the midline from the glans penis, to open the dartos muscle, corpus spongiosum, and urethra. Next, initially, the urethra alone, and then the layers up to the skin were covered in layers with 8/0 vicryl interrupted sutures. Group 3 underwent the same procedures as group 2, but after the urethra was repaired 0.1 cc of Tisseel tissue adhesive was applied over the urethra. Penile tissue samples were obtained 21 days later, and tissue samples were sent for histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Urethral epithelial thickness and connective tissue thickness in group 3 were higher than in group 1 and group 2. Fibrosis in group 3 was higher than in group 2. The difference in inflammation between group 3 and group 2 was not significant. There was no significant difference in microvessel density between group 2 and group 3. DISCUSSION: Both increased fibrosis and connective tissue thickness were noted in group 3 compared to group 2 and group 1. These increases may have been caused by the hemostatic effect of the Tisseel adhesive and its triggering of fibroblast growth factors. The epithelial thickness increased significantly in group 3 and group 2 compared to group 1. This increase in tissue thickness without an increased number of epithelial cells can be explained by the development of oedema. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that while Tisseel tissue adhesive increases connective tissue thickness and fibrosis, it does not demonstrate a prolonged inflammation or increased neovascularization in the urethral wound at 3 weeks after surgery. The data obtained in our study does not support the use of Tisseel in urethroplasty surgery. The results obtained in this study demonstrate a significantly higher formation of fibrosis (scar tissue), which underlines the importance of new studies to identify new treatments for urethral wound healing after urethra trauma or surgery.

Retinal teratogenicity of pregabalin in chick embryo model.

BACKGROUND: Pregabalin is a gamma-aminobutyric acid analog that binds to the α2-δ subunits of the pre-synaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels of nerves with a high affinity and selectivity. In this study, the retinal teratogenic potential of pregabalin was investigated in a chick embryo model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fertilised chicken eggs were divided into groups for administration with different doses of pregabalin. All eggs were opened on the 10th day of incubation. The embryos were dissected and the effects of pregabalin on the retina were investigated histopathologically, morphometrically, and immunohistochemically (Caspase-3). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the low dose pregabalin, control, or vehicle control groups in terms of the number of retina layers and retinal thickness. Medium and high dose pregabalin caused a statistically significant decrease in the number of retina layers, as well as sensory retinal and pigment epithelium layer thicknesses. The outer nuclear and outer plexiform layer did not form in the group administered a medium dose. Similarly, the outer nuclear, outer plexiform, inner nuclear, and inner plexiform layer did not form in the high-dose group. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of cellular damage and Caspase-3 expression. CONCLUSION: The use of pregabalin during pregnancy compromises retinal development in a dose-dependent manner. The use of pregabalin in pregnancy causes the aforementioned defects in this system and it may have developmental effects that needs to be further evaluated.