Heat Shock Proteins exosomal localization and levels in non-tumoral and tumoral thyroid tissues

Exosomes (EXs) secreted from cells to the extracellular environment play an important role in intercellular communication in normality and pathology. In particular, EXs contribute to cancer progression through the modulation of tumor microenvironment. Heat Shock Proteins (Hsps) are implicated in the development of carcinogenic process because they interact with many metabolic and biomolecular mechanisms of cancer cells [1]. Different studies shown that they can be released by tumors cells and that the mechanism of release is mediated by EXs pathway. In this study we performed an immunomorphological and biomolecular analysis to investigate Hsp27, Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90 levels expression profile…

Keratin 7 expression as an early marker of reflux-related columnar mucosa without intestinal metaplasia in the esophagus

BACKGROUND: The role of Barrett esophagus in carcinogenesis is widely accepted, but the significance of esophageal columnar mucosa without histological intestinal metaplasia, known as columnar-lined esophagus, is debated. MATERIAL/METHODS: We studied 128 patients free of Helicobacter pylori with reflux-related symptoms and columnar mucosa in the esophagus at endoscopy, 106 patients with Barrett esophagus (referred to as the Barrett group) and 22 patients without intestinal metaplasia (columnar group). Samples from 20 subjects free of H. pylori were used as controls. Immunostaining for keratin 7 (KRT7), keratin 20 (KRT20), caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2), mucin 2, oligomeric mucus/gel-forming …

PREVALENCE OF LIVER STEATOSIS AND FIBROSIS AND RELIABILITY OF ULTRASOUND IN DETECTING NAFLD IN OBESE PATIENTS

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequent chronic liver disease in Western countries, and in particular in obese patients the prevalence is higher than in general population. It has a large clinical spectrum, ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Aim of the study: To evaluate in obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery in the last 3 years: 1) the histological prevalence and severity of liver steatosis (LS) and fibrosis; 2) the reliability of ultrasound (US) in diagnosing steatosis. Patients and methods: We reviewed preoperative liver US and intraoperative liver biopsy results in 57 bariatric surgery patients (age 42 ± 1…

Lymph node metastases displaying lower Ki-67 immunostaining activity than the primary breast cancer

The aim of the study was to verify by Ki-67 immunostaining if any difference exists in the cell proliferating fraction between primary breast tumors (PTs) and matching positive axillary lymph nodes (ALNs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry with the monoclonal antibody against Ki-67 was performed in 160 node-positive breast carcinomas and in their respective lymph node metastases. RESULTS: An increase of Ki-67 immunoreactive cells in ALN compared with that of PTs was observed in 84% of cases (ALN: mean 17%, PTs: mean 8%; p < 0.001), whereas 16% of the cases showed Ki-67 value two to six times lower in the ALNs than in the corresponding PTs (ALN: mean 3.2%, PTs mean 12.5%; p < 0.005)…

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4): A new marker of G1 HCV-induced steatosis

[A gastric polypoid signet ring cell carcinoma]

The authors signal a case of gastric polypoid signet ring cell carcinoma, of particular interest for its rarity like show from the review of the literature, which is the first to have been described after Tabaru's citation.The study has been carried out at the Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences of the University of Palermo. It has been based on 2000 cases analysed from June 2001 to December 2003.The authors advance some and emphasizes the diagnostic flow chart and therapeutic choices adopted.We agree that the endoscopic polypectomy is surgical procedure of first approach, but modifying the therapeutic guideline in relation to histologic examination, like happened in the case in…