Chronic venous disease patients show increased IRS-4 expression in the great saphenous vein wall

Elevated tissue expression of RANKL and RANK is associated with poorer survival rates in pancreatic cancer patients

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal malignancy with a growing incidence reported worldwide. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer, which is often diagnosed at advanced stages, making its prognosis and medical management difficult. The identification of histopathological biomarkers has allowed a more precise stratification of pancreatic cancer patients, providing additional information about their prognosis and offering possible therapeutic targets to be explored. The prognostic value of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL) has been evaluated in breast and prostate tumors, however, their usefulness has not been assessed in pancreatic cancer. In the present work, we analyzed the relationship between the protein expression of RANK and RANKL with the survival of 41 patients with pancreatic cancer followed for 60 months, by performing immunohistochemistry and Kaplan-Meier curves. Our results demonstrate a direct association of high expression levels of RANK and RANKL with poorer survival of pancreatic cancer patients in comparison to those with low/medium and null expression levels of both markers. Further studies should be conducted to explore the carcinogenic role of both components in this type of tumor, as well as additional promising translational uses.

Vicious Circle With Venous Hypertension, Irregular Flow, Pathological Venous Wall Remodeling, and Valve Destruction in Chronic Venous Disease: A Review

Substantial advances occurred in phlebological practice in the last two decades. With the use of modern diagnostic equipment, the patients' venous hemodynamics can be examined in detail in everyday practice. Application of venous segments for arterial bypasses motivated studies on the effect of hemodynamic load on the venous wall. New animal models have been developed to study hemodynamic effects on the venous system. In vivo and in vitro studies revealed cellular phase transitions of venous endothelial, smooth muscle, and fibroblastic cells and changes in connective tissue composition, under hemodynamic load and at different locations of the chronically diseased venous system. This review is an attempt to integrate our knowledge from epidemiology, paleoanthropology and anthropology, clinical and experimental hemodynamic studies, histology, cell physiology, cell pathology, and molecular biology on the complex pathomechanism of this frequent disease. Our conclusion is that the disease is initiated by limited genetic adaptation of mankind not to bipedalism but to bipedalism in the unmoving standing or sitting position. In the course of the disease several pathologic vicious circles emerge, sustained venous hypertension inducing cellular phase transitions, chronic wall inflammation, apoptosis of cells, pathologic dilation, and valvular damage which, in turn, further aggravate the venous hypertension.

Prognostic Value of Histone Acetyl Transferase 1 (HAT-1) and Inflammatory Signatures in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a type of gastrointestinal tumor with a growing incidence and mortality worldwide. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) constitutes 90% of cases, and late-stage diagnosis is common, leading to a 5-year survival rate of less than 10% in high-income countries. The use of biomarkers has different proven translational applications, facilitating early diagnosis, accurate prognosis and identification of potential therapeutic targets. Several studies have shown a correlation between the tissue expression levels of various molecules, measured through immunohistochemistry (IHC), and survival rates in PDAC. Following the hallmarks of cancer, epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming, together with immune evasion and tumor-promoted inflammation, plays a critical role in cancer initiation and development. In this study, we aim to explore via IHC and Kaplan-Meier analyses the prognostic value of various epigenetic-related markers (histones 3 and 4 (H3/H4), histone acetyl transferase 1 (HAT-1), Anti-Silencing Function 1 protein (ASF1), Nuclear Autoantigenic Sperm Protein (NASP), Retinol Binding Protein 7 (RBBP7), importin 4 (IPO4) and IPO5), metabolic regulators (Phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM)) and inflammatory mediators (allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF-1), interleukin 10 (IL-10), IL-12A and IL-18) in patients with PDAC. Also, through a correlation analysis, we have explored the possible interconnections in the expression levels of these molecules. Our results show that higher expression levels of these molecules are directly associated with poorer survival rates in PDAC patients, except in the case of IL-10, which shows an inverse association with mortality. HAT1 was the molecule more clearly associated with mortality, with a hazard risk of 21.74. The correlogram demonstrates an important correlation between almost all molecules studied (except in the case of IL-18), highlighting potential interactions between these molecules. Overall, our study demonstrates the relevance of including different markers from IHC techniques in order to identify unexplored molecules to develop more accurate prognosis methods and possible targeted therapies. Additionally, our correlation analysis reveals potential interactions among these markers, offering insights into PDAC's pathogenesis and paving the way for targeted therapies tailored to individual patient profiles. Future studies should be conducted to confirm the prognostic value of these components in PDAC in a broader sample size, as well as to evaluate the possible biological networks connecting them.

Decreased survival in patients with pancreatic cancer may be associated with an increase in histopathological expression of inflammasome marker NLRP3

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant neoplasm that, despite its low frequency, has a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. The study of different histopathological markers has allowed a better understanding of the onset and development of this type of tumor as well as facilitating an approach to clinical variables based on their diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive value. In this sense, the NLRP3 protein of the inflammasome has been shown to be a component of great relevance in the initiation and progression of pancreatic cancer, although the value of this biomarker in patients has not yet been clarified. In this study, we selected 41 patients with pancreatic cancer and followed them for 60 months (5 years), evaluating their NLRP3 expression using immunohistochemical techniques. Furthermore, by performing Kaplan-Meier curves, we evaluated the survival of these patients in relation to their NLRP3 expression. Our results show that a significant percentage of our cohort had high expression of this component (90.74%) and that there is an inverse relationship between the expression of NLRP3 and patient survival. High levels of NLRP3 expression are related to lower survival and worse prognosis in these patients, possibly due to an ineffective immune system response and increased tumor-promoted inflammation. Future studies should be aimed at confirming these results in larger groups and evaluating various clinical strategies based on this knowledge.

Chronic Venous Disease of the Lower Extremities: A State-of-the Art Review

Chronic venous disease is a common disease, the prevalence of which increases with age, and can cause debilitating symptoms that adversely affect the quality of life. The risk factors include family history, female sex, obesity, pregnancy, parity, and history of deep vein thrombosis. Moreover, it is associated with venous obstruction, reflux, or both, which, in turn, leads to ambulatory venous hypertension. Chronic venous disease is the leading cause of leg ulcers, which place a significant cost burden on the health care system. Compression therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment, particularly for more advanced disease. Superficial saphenous vein reflux can be associated with significant symptoms. Catheter techniques, both thermal and nonthermal, have demonstrated efficacy and safety in successful closure and symptom improvement. Deep vein obstruction can be broadly divided into thrombotic and nonthrombotic and can lead to symptomatic chronic venous disease. Recanalization using balloons and stents has been increasingly used and studied in such patients. It is critical to develop training opportunities and guidelines to improve evidence-based and appropriate care for cardiologists treating chronic venous disease.

Venous Wall of Patients with Chronic Venous Disease Exhibits a Glycolytic Phenotype

Chronic venous disease (CVeD) is a rising medical condition characterized by a broad spectrum of disorders in the venous system. Varicose veins (VVs) represent a frequent clinical manifestation of CVeD, particularly in the lower limbs. Prior histopathological studies have defined a set of alterations observed in the venous wall of patients with VVs, affecting their structure and behavior. Metabolic changes in the veins appear to be a critical biological mechanism aiding our understanding of the pathogenesis of CVeD. In this sense, previous studies have identified a potential role of a glycolytic phenotype in the development of different vascular disorders; however, its precise role in CVeD remains to be fully explored. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the gene and protein expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) and the glycolytic enzymes PGK-1, ALD, GA3PDH and LDH in the VVs of patients with CVeD (n = 35) in comparison to those expressed in healthy subjects. Our results display enhanced gene and protein expression of GLUT-1, PGK-1, ALD, GA3PDH and LDH in patients with CVeD, suggesting a glycolytic switch of the venous tissue. Greater understanding of the impact of this glycolytic switch in patients with CVeD is required to define a possible pathophysiological role or therapeutic implications of these changes.

Oxidative Stress Markers Are Associated with a Poor Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy of rising prevalence, especially in developed countries where dietary patterns and sedentariness favor its onset. This malady ranks seventh in cancer-related deaths in the world, although it is expected to rank second in the coming years, behind lung cancer. The low survival rate is due to the asymptomatic course of the early stages, which in many cases leads to metastases when becoming evident in advanced stages. In this context, molecular pathology is on the way towards finding new approaches with biomarkers that allow a better prognosis and monitoring of patients. So the present study aims to evaluate a series of molecular biomarkers, PARP1, NOX1, NOX2, eNOS and iNOS, as promising candidates for prognosis and survival by using immunohistochemistry. The analysis performed in 41 patients with pancreatic cancer showed a correlation between a high expression of all these components with a low survival rate, with high statistical power for all. In addition, a 60-month longitudinal surveillance program was managed, accompanied by several clinical parameters. The derivative Kaplan–Meier curves indicated a low cumulative survival rate as well. Ultimately, our research emphasized the value of these molecules as survival-associated biomarkers in pancreatic cancer, offering new gates for clinical management.

Contribution of the Elastic Component and Venous Wall Arterialization in Patients with Venous Reflux

Chronic venous disease (CVeD) is defined as a set of disorders affecting the venous system mainly manifested in the form of varicose veins. CVeD is characterized by a sustained venous hypertension, leading to a plethora of functional and structural changes in the vein that may cause valve incompetence and pathologic reflux. In turn, venous reflux aggravates the venous hypertension and enhances the progression of CVeD into the most advanced stages. Previous studies have proposed that there are several alterations in the venous wall preceding the valve dysfunction and venous reflux. Besides, it has also been identified that young patients with CVeD present premature aging and changes in the venous wall composition that may be related to the presence of venous reflux. In this context, the aim of the present study is to examine the possible pathophysiological role of elastic fibers and their precursors in the venous wall of patients with reflux in comparison to those without reflux, considering the variable age in both groups (<50 years and ≥50 years). We performed immunohistochemical and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to assess the protein and gene expression of tropoelastin, fibrillin-1, fibulins 4 and 5, lysyl oxidase and lysyl oxidase like 1, respectively. In parallel, we assessed the elastin content through histological techniques (orcein stain) in this group of patients. Our results show significant changes in elastic fibers and their precursors in young patients with pathologic reflux when compared with elder patients with reflux and young patients without reflux. These variations suggest that the venous system of young patients with venous reflux appears to present an enhanced dynamism and arterialization of the venous wall, which may be associated with a premature aging and pathological environment of the tissue.