Association between Chromatin Structural Organization of Peripheral Blood Neutrophils and Self-Perceived Mental Stress: Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix Analysis

Methods based on the evaluation of textural patterns in microscopy, such as the “gray-level co-occurrence matrix” (GLCM) analysis are modern and innovative computer and mathematical algorithms that can be used to quantify subtle structural changes in cells and their organelles. Potential application of GLCM method in the fields of psychophysiology and psychiatry to this date has not been systematically investigated. The main objective of our study was to test the existence and strength of the association between chromatin structural organization of peripheral blood neutrophils and levels of self-perceived mental stress. The research was done on a sample of 100 healthy student athletes, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) were used for the estimation of psychological distress. Chromatin textural homogeneity and uniformity were negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with mental distress and had relatively good discriminatory power in differentiating participants with normal and elevated stress levels. As an addition, we propose the creation of a machine learning model based on binomial logistic regression that uses these and other GLCM features to predict stress elevation. To the best of our knowledge, these results are one of the first to establish the link between neutrophil chromatin structural organization quantified by the GLCM method and indicators of normal psychological functioning.

SLUG and SNAIL as Potential Immunohistochemical Biomarkers for Renal Cancer Staging and Survival

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the deadliest urological neoplasm. Up to date, no validated biomarkers are included in clinical guidelines for the screening and follow up of patients suffering from RCC. Slug (Snail2) and Snail (Snail1) belong to the Snail superfamily of zinc finger transcriptional factors that take part in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a process important during embryogenesis but also involved in tumor progression. We examined Slug and Snail immunohistochemical expression in patients with different stages of renal cell carcinomas with the aim to investigate their potential role as staging and prognostic factors. A total of 166 samples of malignant renal cell neoplasms were analyzed using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. Slug and Snail expressions were evaluated qualitatively (presence or absence), in nuclear and cytoplasmic cell compartments and compared in relation to clinical parameters. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the impact of the sarcomatoid component and Slug expression on the survival longevity. Cox regression analysis separated Slug as the only independent prognostic factor (p = 0.046). The expression of Snail was associated with higher stages of the disease (p = 0.004), especially observing nuclear Snail expression (p < 0.001). All of the tumors that had metastasized showed nuclear immunoreactivity (p < 0.001). In clear cell RCC, we showed a significant relationship between a high nuclear grade and nuclear Snail expression (p = 0.039). Our results suggest that Slug and Snail could be useful immunohistochemical markers for staging and prognosis in patients suffering from various RCCs, representing potential targets for further therapy strategies of renal cancer.