Mammary Paget’s Disease with Intraductal Spread: A Patient Report

A 49-year-old woman was diagnosed with mammary Paget’s disease and underwent a modified mastectomy. Paget’s cells were observed not only in the nipple epidermis and adjacent lactiferous ducts, but also at several branches of the lactiferous ducts in the deeper breast. In treating mammary Paget’s disease, the possibility of intraductal spreads should be kept in mind

Apoptotic Cell Death and p53 Expression in Leiomyosarcoma of Soft-Tissue Origin

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of soft-tissue origin was studied on the expression and the biological significance of apoptosis in relation to p53 oncoprotein. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed initially on the paraffin-embbeded sections taken from 29 surgical tissues (20 cases) including 9 recurrent/metastatic tumors. The results are as follows: A positive correlation was observed between the p53 indices (PIs) and the proliferative markers designated by Ki-67, PCNA and MCM2, both of which increased significantly in the high-grade malignant LMS much more than in the low-grade one (P < 0.001). Apoptotic cells were detected by the TUNEL method and evaluated as the apoptotic index (AI). A high AI-level was shown in the high-grade malignant LMS, especially in cases of the recurrent/metastatic sites in comparison with the tumors of the primary site (P < 0.05). The AI was statistically higher in the p53-positive cases of high-grade malignant LMS than in the p53-negative cases of low-grade malignant LMS. In conclusion, apoptotic activity paralleled the overexpression of p53 protein along with an increasing grade of malignancy and may be related intimately to the increased malignant potential, especially to recurrence/metastasis

Tubular-Trabecular Type Basal Cell Adenoma of the Parotid Gland: A Patient Report

Basal cell adenoma (BCA) is an uncommon benign salivary gland neoplasm that includes isomorphic basaloid cells. We report on a female patient with BCA that developed in the right parotid gland in her 50s. The present patient demonstrated a few tumor nests in the fibrous capsule, and her tumor was larger than usual. These facts made us suspect of malignancy. Histopathologically, the tumor was characterized by multiple duct-like structures and tubular-trabecular masses composed of small isomorphic cells with hyperchromatic, round nuclei and an eosinophilic cytoplasm. It was difficult to determine whether the ductal structures noted in the tumor capsule were invasive. By immunohistochemistry, tumor cells of the tubular nests were positive for cytokeratin 7 and that the outer cells of tubular nests were positive for alpha smooth muscle actin (SMA) and calponin. Tumor cells were immuno-negative for S-100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The Ki-67 labeling scores of the cells were extremely low (< 1%). We could achieve an accurate diagnosis of BCA by immunohistochemistry with MIB-1 and other markers

Bladder dysfunction after acute urinary retention in the rats: a novel over active bladder model.

As there is increasing evidence that benign prostatic hyperplasia and its related acute urinary retention (AUR) induce over active bladder (OAB) syndrome, we investigated the effects of AUR on bladder function over a 4-week period in a rat model. Ten-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. AUR was induced by clamping the distal urethra of each rat with a small clip, and then infusing 3 ml (0.6 ml/min) of saline with an infusion pump through a transurethral catheter (22G). The obstruction was sustained for 60 min and the clip was removed and then the bladder was allowed to drain through the catheter. The bladder function was estimated by voiding behavior studies (at 3 days, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks), cystometric studies (at 2 and 4 weeks) and organ bath studies using KCl and carbachol (at 2 and 4 weeks). Furthermore, we evaluated histological changes in the rat bladder 2 and 4 weeks after the induction of AUR. The same parameters were also measured in non-AUR rats (control group). The rat bladder weight in the AUR group at 2 weeks was significantly larger than that of the controls, and returned to the control level 4 weeks after the AUR episode. The voiding behavior studies showed significant increase in micturition frequency per day and decrease in single voiding volume 3 days after the induction of AUR, and this voiding behavior was continued for more than 2 weeks. The cystometric studies showed a significant decrease in single-voided volume at 2 weeks rat. However, no significant changes of the other parameters were observed in the rats. The histological studies showed significant infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes, as well as increase in turnover of epithelium in AUR rats at 2 weeks, while significant increases in fibrosis in submucosal layer were observed in AUR rats at 4 weeks. This study demonstrated that bladder dysfunction in the rat model caused by AUR needs more than 2 weeks of recovery period. The AUR-associated alterations in the bladder may represent a key clue to understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, which take place in OAB syndrome

Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Thigh: A Patient Report

We report a rare case of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) within the thigh muscle. A 37-year-old woman noticed a painless mass in her left thigh, which had gradually enlarged. Computed tomography (CT) showed an intramuscular tumor and enhanced CT showed strong enhancement within the lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the tumor measured 13.1 × 7.3 × 2.3 cm and was located within the sartorius muscle, with a clearly defined margin. Malignancy was suspected and the tumor was surgically resected. The tumor was characterized by a well-circumscribed lesion, and was composed of bland or short spindle cells, which were patternless, with scattered thick collagen bundles, and variably gaping thin- or hyalin-walled blood vessels. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, CD34, CD99 and focally, bcl-2. The tumor was subsequently diagnosed as an extrapleural SFT, which is classified into an intermediated (rarely metastasizing) category. Extrapleural SFT should be considered in the evaluation of soft tissue tumors in the extremities, although it may be rare

Polaprezinc Protects Mice against Endotoxin Shock

Polaprezinc (PZ), a chelate compound consisting of zinc and l-carnosine (Car), is an anti-ulcer drug developed in Japan. In the present study, we investigated whether PZ suppresses mortality, pulmonary inflammation, and plasma nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in endotoxin shock mice after peritoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and how PZ protects against LPS-induced endotoxin shock. PZ pretreatment inhibited the decrease in the survival rate of mice after LPS injection. PZ inhibited the increases in plasma NO as well as TNF-α after LPS. Compatibly, PZ suppressed LPS-induced inducible NO synthase mRNA transcription in the mouse lungs. PZ also improved LPS-induced lung injury. However, PZ did not enhance the induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in the mouse lungs after LPS. Pretreatment of RAW264 cells with PZ suppressed the production of NO and TNF-α after LPS addition. This inhibition likely resulted from the inhibitory effect of PZ on LPS-mediated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Zinc sulfate, but not Car, suppressed NO production after LPS. These results indicate that PZ, in particular its zinc subcomponent, inhibits LPS-induced endotoxin shock via the inhibition of NF-κB activation and subsequent induction of proinflammatory products such as NO and TNF-α, but not HSP induction

A Case of Malignant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Transverse Colon: Evaluation of Proliferation Activity

Here, we report a colonic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in a middle-aged man above 40. A histologically similar second tumor was detected 2 years after initial surgery. The primary GIST, measuring 5.5 ? 6.0 cm, consisted of spindle tumor cells with a higher number of mitoses and Ki67 labeling index (about 20%) than those of the second tumor, implying a de novo GIST. These markers might be useful in evaluating malignant potential, as well as to differentiate between a de novo and a recurrent tumor in the colonic GIST