Useful histopathologic features for diagnosing focal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology: A clinicopathologic study

BackgroundFocal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology are rare in the daily practice of pathology. The differential diagnosis is broad, including both tumors and tumor-like lesions. Initial radiologic assessment is sometimes inaccurate. Histopathology is needed to arrive at the correct diagnosis. This study analyzed discrepancies between histopathology and radiologic findings of focal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology.MethodsA six-year retrospective analysis was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Thailand. All focal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology were retrieved. Clinicopathologic features of these cases were analyzed. The pathological diagnosis was rendered primarily based on routine histopathology, using other ancillary studies as an adjunct.Results287 biopsies and 151 resection specimens with focal liver lesions were identified. In 12 (2.7%) cases, tumors or tumor-like lesions with spindle cell morphology were retrieved. A total of five cases had discrepancies between histopathology and radiologic findings. These lesions encompassed primary liver tumors (EBV-associated smooth muscle tumor and leiomyosarcoma); metastatic tumors (gastrointestinal stromal tumor, small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma); and a tumor-like lesion (endometriosis). Several morphologic findings (i.e., cytologic grades, dense and loose areas, intratumoral lymphocytes, distinct perinuclear vacuoles, and hemosiderin) are important clues to diagnose these spindle cell lesions.ConclusionsPathologists play a critical role in diagnosing focal liver lesions with spindle cell morphology, particularly those with limited clinical data at the initial presentation. A thorough evaluation of histomorphology on routine hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides is essential for correct diagnosis.     

Challenges and limitation of MTAP immunohistochemistry in diagnosing desmoplastic mesothelioma/sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma with desmoplastic features

AimGenomic-based ancillary assays including immunohistochemistry (IHC) for BRCA-1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) and methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for CDKN2A are effective for differentiating pleural mesothelioma (PM) from reactive mesothelial proliferations. We previously reported a combination of MTAP and BAP1 IHC effectively distinguishes sarcomatoid PM from fibrous pleuritis (FP). Nevertheless, cases of sarcomatoid PM with desmoplastic features (desmoPM) are encountered where the IHC assessment is unclear.Methods and resultsWe evaluated assessment of MTAP IHC, BAP1 IHC, and CDKN2A FISH in 20 desmoPM compared to 24 FP. MTAP and BAP1 IHC could not be assessed in 11 (55 %) and 10 (50 %) cases, respectively, due to loss or faint immunoreactivity of internal positive control cells, while CDKN2A FISH could be evaluated in all cases. The sensitivities for MTAP loss, BAP1 loss, and CDKN2A homozygous deletion in desmoPM were 40 %, 10 %, and 100 %. A combination of MTAP loss and BAP1 loss yielded 45 % of sensitivity.ConclusionsMTAP IHC is a useful surrogate diagnostic marker in differentiating ordinary sarcomatoid PM from FP, but its effectiveness is limited in desmoPM. CDKN2A FISH is the most effective diagnostic assays with 100 % sensitivity and specificity in discriminating desmoPM from FP in the facilities where the FISH assay is available.     

PD-L1 expression in 117 sinonasal mucosal melanomas and its association with clinical outcome

BackgroundSinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare tumour with a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to identify independent predictors of outcome in SNMM and to examine the expression of PD-L1 and the relationship between expression and clinicopathological characteristics.MethodsA total of 117 patients with SNMM were reviewed in the Department of Pathology of Beijing Tongren Hospital (115 cases) and Beijing Chuiyangliu Hospital (2 cases) from June 2007 to June 2018. We evaluated the expression of PD-L1 in SNMM and investigated whether there was an association between the expression of the marker and clinicopathological characteristics.ResultsSex, age, side, location, size, histological type, melanin particles, nuclear fission and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were not significantly related to survival. The median survival times at the T3, T4a, and T4b stages were 23, 19, and 6 months, respectively. The difference between overall survival (OS) and AJCC stages was statistically significant. The tumour cells (TCs) were PD-L1 positive in 14/117 (12.0%) cases, and tumour-associated immune cells (ICs) were PD-L1 positive in 23/117 (19.7%) cases. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the positive expression rate of PD-L1 in ICs and TILs grading; however, there was no significant correlation between the positive expression rate of PD-L1 in TCs and TILs grading.ConclusionThe AJCC stages were the only independent predictors of survival. There was no correlation between the positive expression rate of PD-L1 and OS. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the positive expression rate of PD-L1 in ICs and TILs grading.     

Comparison of magnetic resonance urography to dimercaptosuccinic acid scan for the identification of renal parenchyma defects in children with vesicoureteral reflux

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan to magnetic resonance urography (MRU) in the identification of renal parenchyma defects (RPD).Materials and methodsTwenty-five children with history of acute pyelonephritis and vesicoureteral reflux underwent DMSA scan and MRU to determine the presence of RPD. DMSA scans and MRUs were each evaluated by two radiologists and agreement achieved by consensus. Discordant DMSA–MRU findings were re-evaluated in a side-by-side comparison and an ultimate consensus reached.ResultsThe ultimate consensus diagnosis was 18 kidneys with RPDs in 15 patients, of which five were classified as mild RPDs, six as moderate RPDs, and seven as severe RPDs. Although DMSA scan and MRU were similar in their ability to diagnose RPDs, MRU was considered to represent the true diagnosis in 11 of the 12 discordant cases in consensus review by four pediatric radiologists. MRU showed a much higher inter-observer agreement with a weighted kappa of 0.96 for both kidneys compared to 0.71 for the right kidney and 0.86 for the left kidney by DMSA scan.ConclusionsOur results suggest that MRU is superior to DMSA scan in the identification of renal parenchyma defects.     

High incidence of urinary stones in Uyghur children may be related to local environmental factors

ObjectiveTo analyze the causes of urolithiasis in Uyghur children from Xinjiang.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively evaluated the clinical features and characteristics of urinary stone composition of 220 Uyghur pediatric patients with urolithiasis between March 2009 and June 2011. The data were compared with that of 100 Uyghur children without urolithiasis who visited the Child Care Clinic for regular health check-ups. The stones were collected by endoscopy or open surgery, and analyzed using infrared spectroscopy.ResultsThe mean age of the 220 Uyghur children was 7.48 ± 4.73 years (range, 0.8–17.0 years). The overall sex ratio (male:female) was 2.23:1. The predominant pure stone was ammonium urate (58.9%), whereas the predominant mixed stone was calcium oxalate mixture (91.1%). Uric acid stones comprised 54% of all stones. Urinary tract infections were observed in 42.3% and 4.0% of the patient and control groups, respectively. The mean urinary pH values were 5.77 ± 0.67 and 6.42 ± 0.67, respectively (p < 0.001). pH values were <5.5 in 52.7% and 6% of the patient and control groups, respectively. On 24-h urine analysis, we found metabolic disturbances in these patients: hypercalciuria in 6.8% cases, hyperphosphaturia in 16.8% cases, hyperuricosuria in 21.4% cases, and hypomagnesiuria in 34.1% cases.ConclusionsUrolithiasis in Uyghur children may be primarily related to local environmental factors.     

针灸联合耳穴疗法配合三阶梯止痛药对癌性疼痛影响的临床观察

  目的：观察针灸联合耳穴疗法配合三阶梯止痛药治疗癌性疼痛的临床疗效。  方法：将120例癌性疼痛患者随机分为治疗组与对照组,每组60例。两者均予基础三阶梯止痛药物,治疗组加用针灸联合耳穴疗法,对照组加用假针灸联合假耳穴疗法。两组疗程均为 21日,观察三阶梯止痛药的使用情况与副反应情况,比较疼痛强度视觉模拟评分(VAS)、生存质量评分(ZPS)及自然杀伤细胞(NK)、T细胞(CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺)水平的变化情况。  结果： ①最终完成试验者114例,治疗组58例,对照组56例。②组间治疗后比较,VAS评分差异有统计学意义,治疗组明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。③疗程结束时,治疗组有58.62%的患者有效减用或降阶梯使用止痛药,对照组有17.86%的患者有效减用或降阶梯使用止痛药;组间减药有效率比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。④疗程结束时,治疗组34.48%的患者止痛药副反应减少,对照组21.43%的患者止痛药副反应减少;组间减副反应有效率比较,差异有统计学意义,治疗组明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。⑤组间治疗后比较,ZPS评分差异有统计学意义,治疗组明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。⑥组间治疗后比较,CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/ CD8⁺水平差异有统计学意义,治疗组改善程度明显优于对照组(P<0.05)。  结论：针灸联合耳穴疗法配合三阶梯常规止痛药治疗癌性疼痛,可明显减轻癌性疼痛,提高患者的生存质量与细胞免疫功能,还可一定程度减少止痛药的使用及止痛药所致的副反应。     

齐聪运用膏方治疗不孕症验案1则

正膏方又称膏滋,是将中药饮片反复煎熬,去渣浓缩,加冰糖或蜂蜜收膏而成,是中药丸、散、膏、丹、汤五大剂型之一,具有剂量小、便于久服、服用可口等优点。膏方不仅有滋补强壮的功效,还具有调理脏腑气血阴阳等作用,多用于治疗慢性疾病及虚证。女性因其特有的经、带、胎、产、乳等生理特点,容易耗气伤血,因此膏方用于治疗妇科疾病具有独特的优势。目前膏方在妇科临床上多用于调经、止带及冬令保健滋补,而用于治疗不孕症的报道很少。齐聪教授系上海中医药大学附属曙光医院妇产科     

IL-1β promotes the migration of olfactory epithelium neural stem cells through activating matrix metalloproteinase expressions

Background

To investigate the effects of IL-1β on the migration of olfactory epithelium neural stem cells (OENSCs), and to assess the mechanisms.