Deep inside of gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma

The histology of signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRC) of the stomach has been revisited with the support of current immunohistochemical techniques in order to explain particular features of this tumor; its great capacity of local diffusion and lymph node metastasis, also through a neo-lymphoangiogenesis. An observational retrospective study on 50 cases of SRC in stage II and III has been performed with the addition of histochemical (Alcian Blue, DDD-Fast Blue B, Mercury Orange) and immunohistochemical (cytocheratin, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD10, CD56, CD68, perforin, granzyme B, podoplanin, collagen type IV) investigations for each case. The signet ring cells, typical for this tumor, show abundant content of electro-negative sialomucins and demonstrate a great capacity of diffusion through the gastric wall. They evoke production and deposition of collagen type IV in the sub-mucosa layer through the local action of fibroblasts. The immunological response to this tumor in the gastric wall and in the metastatic lymph nodes is represented by an increase of B and T-helper lymphocytes, but not of T-killers or natural killers. The neoplastic cells are curiously able to avoid these newly formed ‘lymph nodules’. An extended neo-lymphangiogenesis has been observed around the primary tumor and in metastatic lymph nodes. A careful immunohistochemical characterization has allowed a better knowledge of SRC, regarding especially the peculiar behavior of local diffusion of its cells, the associated neo-lymph angiogenesis, and poor immunological reaction

DILATION TREATMENT OF BENIGN STRICTURED OF COLOCOLONIC ANASTOMOSES

SCOPO DI QUESTO ARTICOLO E' DI METTERE IN LUCE LA COMPLIANCE, I BENEFICI ED IL MIGLIORAMENTO DELLA QUALITA' DELLA VITA, NEI SOGGETTI AFFETTI DA STENOSI BENIGNA POST-ANASTOMOTICA COLO-COLICA E COLO-RETTALE E TRATTATI CON DILATAZIONE ENDOSCOPICA DEL TRATTO STENOTICO. LA DILATAZION PER VIA ENDOSCOPICA RISULTA ESSERE SICURA E DI SEMPLICE ESECUZIONE E PERMETTE DI OTTENERE RISULTATI SODDISFACENTI ANCHE PER PERIODI PROLUNGATI. I CRITERI STANDARD PER UNA EFFICACE DILATAZIONE VARIANO TRA 1 10 E 13 MM

Late Effects of Disturbed IGF Signaling in Congenital Diseases.

The biologic effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are mediated by specific cell surface receptors. IGF-1 binding to the extracellular -subunits activates the tyrosine kinase intrinsic to the cytoplasmic portion of the IGF-1 receptor, leading to autophosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues in the receptor -subunit. One early molecular event that links the receptor kinase to the biologic actions of IGF-1 is tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate family (IRS-1 to -4). IRS acts as a multisite ‘docking’ protein by binding to downstream signal-transducing molecules. Phosphorylation of multiple tyrosine residues results in the association of IRS-1 with the Src homology 2 (SH2) domains of other cytoplasmic signaling proteins, including phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, Syp, Grb2 and Nck. By binding to Grb2, IRS proteins couple the IGF-1 receptor to the Ras/mitogenactivated protein kinase pathway. This pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation and proliferation. Severe pre- and postnatal growth retardation may arise from abnormalities of IGF-1 signaling such as IGF-1-binding alterations and IGF-1 receptor mutations. Knockout studies have shown severe growth impairment in mice lacking IRS family components or Akt. Finally, in human placentas from pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation, multiple alterations of IGF-1-signaling molecules have recently been described

Metaplastic carcinoma with extensive dendritic cell differentiation: a previously unrecognised type of triple-negative breast cancer

The case of a metaplastic carcinoma of the breast exhibiting dendritic cell differentiation is described. The clinico-pathologic and immunohistochemical features are reported, together with the differential diagnosis

Soleus Muscle as a Surrogate for Health Status in Human Heart Failure

We propose the hypothesis that soleus muscle function may provide a surrogate measure of functional capacity in patients with heart failure. We summarize literature pertaining to skeletal muscle as a locus of fatigue and present our recent findings, using in vivo imaging in combination with biomechanical experimentation and modeling, to reveal novel structure-function relationships in chronic heart failure skeletal muscle and gait

Self-esteem, quality of life, and physical activity in women with diagnosed endometriosis: A pilot study in an italian sample

Purpose. Endometriosis is a painful pathology impairing women's daily life. Several studies have shown that patients report low mental and physical quality of life, but no general evaluation of their self-esteem has been found. Studies concerning physical activity frequency present inconsistent results. Therefore, the current paper aims to compare life quality and selfesteem in women with endometriosis with the Italian normative data of the measures used. Methods. Overall, 36 women with diagnosed endometriosis treated in hospital completed a questionnaire detecting physical activity frequency, self-esteem, quality of life, and socioeconomic information. One sample t-test served to compare the data from this particular group with those of the general Italian population. Results. The participants displayed higher self-esteem (t = 5.65, p < 0.001) and a good quality of life (physical functioning: T = 3.64, p < 0.001), except for fatigue (t = -3.24, p = 0.003; significant difference); they declared feeling more fatigue than the general population. Only 4 women (11%) reported regular physical activity, while 16 were smokers (44.4%, mean: 10.6 cigarettes/day). Conclusions. Women with diagnosed endometriosis presented higher self-esteem and normal quality of life, even though their general health was lower and fatigue was higher than in the general Italian population. However, the sample involved females of low socioeconomic status and low education, characterized by poor communication skills and not open to externalize their feelings. Therefore, they might not have been honest in their answers. This potential bias, together with the small sample size, will be addressed in future research

Towards a deep-learning-based methodology for supporting satire detection

This paper describes an approach for supporting automatic satire detection through effective deep learning (DL) architecture that has been shown to be useful for addressing sarcasm/irony detection problems. We both trained and tested the system exploiting articles derived from two important satiric blogs, Lercio and IlFattoQuotidiano, and significant Italian newspapers

Adiponectin levels are reduced in children born small for gestational age and are inversely related to postnatal catch-up growth

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine with insulin-sensitizing and antiatherogenic properties. Reduced concentrations of adiponectin precede the onset of type 2 diabetes and the development of atherosclerosis. Our aim was to quantify adiponectin concentrations in small for gestational age (SGA) children. Fifty-one SGA children, 24 obese, and 17 short-normal children with birth weight appropriate for gestational age (short-AGA) were studied. The statures of the SGA children were corrected for their midparental height and subdivided into two groups according to their corrected height: catch-up growth group, children with corrected height of 0 z-score or greater (n = 17); and noncatch-up growth group, subjects with corrected height less than 0 z-score (n = 34). SGA children showed adiponectin levels significantly lower than short-normal children (35.2 +/- 3.5 vs. 80.4 +/- 26.6 mug/ml; P < 0.0001) and obese children (77.5 +/- 39.4 μg/ml; P < 0.0001). Catch-up growth children showed adiponectin levels significantly lower than noncatch-up growth subjects (29.4 +/- 10.3 vs. 38.1 +/- 11.5 mug/ml; P = 0.01). Adiponectin concentrations were inversely related to height z-score, corrected stature, weight, and body mass index and were positively related to birth weight. Our results suggest that adiponectin levels are reduced in SGA children and are even lower in those with postnatal catch-up growth. Whether this finding implies a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis remains to be established

A rare Giant Killian-Jamieson diverticulum in a 97-year-old female. Considerations and multidisciplinary treatments in a symptomatic patient

The purpose of this publication is to describe the clinical and imaging findings of rare symptomatic giant Killian-Jamieson diverticulum (KJD) detected in a 97-year-old female patient and discuss diagnostic and therapeutic protocols to be implemented. The clinical history began implementing anamnesis and physical examination, followed by laryngoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, sonographic examination and subsequently a double-contrast pharyngoesophagram evaluations, to our symptomatic old patient with results of typically KJD, with maximal dimension of 5 cm. The KJD was successfully treated with a surgical approach, esophagomyotomy in addition to a diverticulopexy; these techniques were used for adequate visualization of the tissue bridge of the diverticulum and protection of the surrounding tissue during dissection of the tissue bridge. Our patient has benefit from the operation immediately, with resolution of the disease. The follow-up (on-going), up to now, showed no recurrence of the pathological and no complications, making sure the authors of the efficacy of the surgical treatment. According to the authors the surgical treatment was the only procedure to cure the patients and, to date, our successful experience suggests that only surgical approach can be a safe and effective method for the treatment of symptomatic giant KJD, due to its close proximity to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the concern of possible nerve injury

Osteoid Osteoma of the Atlas in a Boy: Clinical and Imaging Features-A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Osteoid osteoma is a benign osteoblastic tumor, quite uncommon in the spine. We report a case of an osteoid osteoma involving the atlas in a 6-year-old boy, who presented with suboccipital pain and torticollis. Initial radiological findings were ambiguous as magnetic resonance imaging showed mainly edema of upper cervical soft tissues. The subsequent computed tomography depicted a lesion of left lamina of C1. As conservative treatment failed, the lesion was surgically resected and the patient became pain free. To our knowledge, this is the first case of osteoid osteoma involving the atlas associated with abnormal soft tissue reaction reported in literature