Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Regulatory T Cells Infiltration and the Clinical Outcome in Colorectal Cancer

The aim of the study is the assessment of the intensity of the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) CD68⁺/iNOS⁻ and Tregs CD8⁺/FoxP3⁺ in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients as prognostic factors with respect to disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In this retrospective study, tissue samples were obtained from 89 patients undergoing resection for CRC (stage IIA, pT3N0M0 and stages IIIB and IIIC, pT3N1-2M0). Recurrence was observed in 45 patients at the time of the follow-up (10 local recurrences, 35 distant metastases). In patients with recurrence the following were present: a tendency to an older average age at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.07), higher nodal involvement (p = 0.002) and more advanced clinical disease (p = 0.01). The analysis of the clinical data and immunohistochemical studies were performed with the methodology of identification of TAM and Treg subsets in histological sections, with the aim to use it in routine clinical management. Both DSF and OS were the clinical parameters assessed in the study. The presence of intense infiltration of TAMs in the tumor stroma was related to shorter DFS (p = 0.005) and OS (p = 0.006). The opposite tendency was observed in the tumor front (p = 0.061). The relative risks of recurrence and cancer-related death were more than twice higher in the group of patients with intense infiltration of TAMs in the tumor stroma (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.33–3.14; p = 0.001 and RR 2.08, 95% CI 1.28–3.39; p = 0.003, respectively). Intense infiltration of Tregs in the tumor stroma was related to shorter DFS and OS (p < 0.0001). The relative risks of recurrence and death in a group of patients with intense infiltration of Tregs in the tumor stroma were more than 12 times higher than in patients with less intense infiltration (RR 12.3, 95% CI 5.44–27.9; p < 0.0001 and RR 12.5, 95% CI 4.9–32.4; p < 0.0001, respectively). Infiltration of TAMs CD68⁺/iNOS⁻ and Tregs CD8⁺/FoxP3⁺ in the tumor stroma are negative prognostic factors with a positive correlation between them. Tregs may constitute an independent prognostic factor in patients with CRC.

     

Low origin of the radial artery: a case study including a review of literature and proposal of an embryological explanation

A low origin of the radial artery is a rare anatomical variation, with the incidence estimated at 0.2 %. This report presents a previously unrecorded case of an unusual distal origin of the radial artery, co-occurring with a double recurrent radial artery. The radial artery arose under the pronator teres muscle, 76 mm below the intercondylar line of the humerus. After emerging from under the tendon of the pronator teres muscle, the radial artery took a typical course and terminated in the deep palmar arch. Additionally, the double radial recurrent artery branched directly off the brachial artery, near the level of the radial neck. A well-developed muscular branch of the first radial recurrent artery ran beneath the brachioradialis muscle and supplied the brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, as well as supinator muscles. The second (accessory) radial recurrent artery took origin from the posterior aspect of the brachial artery, ran deep to the distal tendon of the biceps brachii muscle and terminated by joining the articular network of elbow. According to recent theories, the plexiform appearance of the arteries at early stages of upper limb development allows for formation of alternative pathways of blood flow, which may give rise to variations in the definitive arterial pattern.     

First case of Trichinella nativa infection in wild boar in Central Europe—molecular characterization of the parasite

The examination of wild boars gained in Poland shows for the first time occurrence of Trichinella nativa, freeze-resistant species of Trichinella in this host from the central Europe region. This finding is not only one of several cases of T. nativa invasion in wild boars all over the world but also one of the very few cases of T. nativa detected so far beyond the known boundary of occurrence of this species. The molecular characterization of discovered larvae based on analysis of partial genes: 5s rDNA-ISR and CO1 confirm the findings. Moreover, the analyzed DNA sequences of both genes present new haplotypes of T. nativa in comparison to that described previously.

     

Risk factors of atrial fibrillation in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with WPW syndrome may be a life-threatening arrhythmia. AIM: To identify risk factors of AF and their prognostic significance in patients with WPW syndrome. METHODS: Clinical and electrophysiological parameters of 239 patients with WPW syndrome, who underwent successful RF ablation, were analysed using logistic regression and multivariate analysis. One hundred eight patients had no history of AF whereas the remaining 81 patients had previous spontaneous AF episodes. Long-term follow-up data (mean 29+/-23 months, range 1-99 months) were available in 136 patients (87 without AF and 49 with AF). RESULTS: Patients with AF were significantly older, more frequently of male gender and had more often a history of syncope than patients without AF. There were two peaks of AF occurrence - in the third and in the fifth decade of life. Fourteen patients had a history of ventricular fibrillation - 11 patients with AF vs 3 patients without AF (p=0.0016). Patients with a history of AF were more prone to AF induced during electrophysiological study and had less frequently concealed accessory pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender and a history of syncope are the independent risk factors of AF in patients with WPW syndrome. Anterograde conduction via accessory pathway is of major importance in the development of AF. RF ablation of an accessory pathway should be performed early because the risk of the procedure is small and there is an increasing risk of AF with ageing.     

Pulmonary embolism suspicion in a young female patient with the Paget-von Schrötter syndrome

Deep upper limbs veins thrombosis is a relatively rare condition in comparison to the lower limbs thrombosis. Most commonly occurs as a complication of major veins catheterisation. It may also be caused by stenosis of axillar or subclavian veins due to neoplastic infiltration, enlarged lymph nodes or congenital thrombophilia. The Paget-von Schr?tter syndrome caused by exercise-induced thrombosis described in this case report is very infrequent.     

The influence of Fasciola hepatica invasion on the assorted milk quality parameters in cows

The investigations of the influence of Fasciola hepatica invasion on the assorted parameters of milk quality were performed in cows. Mean protein content in the milk from infected animals ammounted 3.60% and was higher than in the milk from uninfected cows (3.30%). Similar tendency was observed in the case of the fat (5.08% and 3.91%) and lactose (4.36% and 4.34%). The count of somatic cells in milk from infected cows was lower than in milk from uninfected animals (356.07 and 1776.92). It can indicate immunosupressive activity of Fasciola hepatica on the host.