The distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal in congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction

Purpose

The authors analysed the distribution of c-kit-positive interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in obstructed ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) and its age-related changes.

Methods

Twenty specimens were obtained from children with intrinsic ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), at the average age of 8.1 years (8 months–16.8 years), fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Five control samples were taken from children at the average age of 2.3 years (2.4 months–7.4 years). All specimens were analysed by the immunohistochemistry test with light microscopy with respect to c-kit expression. The distribution of c-kit-positive ICCs in the two groups was compared and the correlation between the distribution of c-kit-positive ICCs and the patients’ age in UPJO cases was analysed. The results were examined by Yates’ χ² test, Mann–Whitney U test, and t test for Pearson’s correlation coefficient. A P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

No statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of c-kit-positive ICCs between UPJO and the control group. No correlation was established between the age of patients with UPJO and the distribution of c-kit-positive ICCs.

Conclusion

No distributional difference found in obstructed and unobstructed UPJ seems to indicate that UPJO is not associated with anomalous distribution of c-kit-positive ICCs. Age-related changes in the expression of c-kit-positive ICCs are equally distributed in obstructed UPJ.

Changes in interstitial cell of Cajal-like cells density in congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction

PURPOSE

The authors examined the number of interstitial cells of Cajal-like cells (ICC-LCs) in obstructed ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) in comparison with normal UPJ specimens and age-related changes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 20 human formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of intrinsic UPJO from children at the mean age of 8.1 years (age range: 8 months-16.8 years) and 5 control samples from children at the mean age of 2.3 years (range 2.4 months-7.4 years) were investigated immunohistochemically for the expression of c-kit proto-oncogene by light microscopy with computerized image analysis. The results were examined by Fisher's exact test, Yates' chi-square test, and t test for Pearson's correlation coefficient. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The number of ICC-LCs-dense fields was significantly higher in UPJO specimens in comparison with the normal group (P = 0.0004). The number of ICC-LCs-sparse fields was significantly lowered in UPJO specimens in comparison with the normal group (P = 0.0122). There was no significant difference in the number of ICC-LCs-medium fields in obstructed and normal UPJ specimens. The number of ICC-LCs was decreasing significantly with increasing age of the patients with UPJO (P = 0.0038).

CONCLUSIONS

The higher density of c-kit-positive ICC-LCs in UPJ may manifest the compensation of altered peristalsis in UPJO. The number of ICC-LCs-dense fields decreasing with age may show the failure of compensation and regression of the compensatory changes.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with S100 protein positive staining: a case report

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis is a very rare systemic disease that affects skin, mucosa and joints. We reported a case of a woman with multicentric reticulohistiocytosis who presented typical skin syndromes and arthralgia. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for S100 protein, which was reported negative in the majority of previously presented cases. Other immunohistochemical markers (CD68(+), CD1a(-), lagerin (-) and complete histologic and clinical picture were specific enough to make the definitive diagnosis of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. The patient was administered prednisone just when arthritis appeared and we believe that this therapy protected her from the development of destructive arthritis. No autoimmune disease or internal malignancy was observed during 12-month follow up.

Amelanotic malignant melanoma in an acral location

We present the case of a 74-year-old white female admitted to the Department of Dermatology because of a tumor in the IV-V interdigital area of her right foot. A crimson, dome-shaped tumor with a granular, spongy surface (diameter 4 cm) had developed over a period of about 3 months. The biopsy, stained with H and E, revealed an anaplastic malignant tumor. Additional immunochemical staining with Melan A allowed us to make the final diagnosis: amelanotic malignant melanoma (MM). The melanoma was removed by amputation of digits IV and V, with partial removal of the metatarsal bones (Clark degree 5, Breslow thickness 9 mm). Sentinel node biopsy was done using Tc99; it revealed no neoplastic alteration. The patient is still under oncological observation.

Expression patterns of cyclin E, cyclin A and CDC25 phosphatases in laryngeal carcinogenesis

The aim of the research was to evaluate the expression levels of cyclin E/A and CDC25A/B during laryngeal carcinogenesis. The expression was demonstrated using immunohistochemistry in 46 cases of laryngeal cancer (LSCC), 23 epithelial dysplasias (ED) and 21 samples of normal mucosa (NM). The mean labeling indices (LI) for cyclin E in LSCC, ED and NM were 10.6, 4.9 and 0%; for cyclin A 27.2, 17.5 and 7%; for CDC25A 73.9, 53 and 32% and for CDC25B 36.5, 25.9 and 0%, respectively. A gradual increase in cyclin A and CDC25A expression levels from mild through moderate and severe dysplasia to in situ carcinoma were noted. Cyclin A LI significantly increased also from NM through ED to LSCC. Cyclin A and CDC25A LI significantly increased from NM to ED. Overexpression of cyclin A and CDC25A was significantly associated with proliferation among ED. Linear interdependency was detected in ED between the expression of CDC25A and cyclin A. Cyclin E and CDC25B overexpression occurs as a late event in neoplastic transformation. The progressive expression of proteins supports the multistep model of laryngealcarcinogenesis. The results indicate a possible role of cyclin A as a marker reflecting cell proliferation. The enhanced immunoexpression of cyclin A and CDC25A suggests the potential for malignant formation in preneoplastic lesions.

Subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma. A clinical and histopathologic study of an additional case

A case of a 62-year-old woman with recurrent subcutaneous nodules, fever and pancytopenia diagnosed as subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma is presented. Incision biopsy revealed lobular panniculitis with an inflammatory infiltrate of atypical T lymphocytes. She was treated with 7 courses of CHOP with transient remission, and she died after 17 months of disease from fatal hemorrhagic complications due to the hemophagocytic syndrome.

Simultaneous quantitation of DNA and nucleolar organizer regions by image cytometry

This paper describes a DNA/nucleolar organizer region-associated protein (NOR) double staining technic and quantitation method. On smeared cell slides, the acidic proteins associated with nucleolar organizer regions were revealed by the silver colloid technic, and DNA was stained with the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342. The simultaneous quantitation of silver stained proteins (AgNORs) and DNA was performed with image cytometry. Two applications of this method are presented: a study of AgNOR expression during the MCF-7 cell line cycle and the simultaneous quantitation of DNA and AgNORs in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma node imprints. This method offers the advantage of evaluating, on the same cell at the same time, the DNA content (ploidy) and AgNOR expression, which constitute a good approximation of the cell's proliferation state. Since ploidy and proliferation index are being used more and more in tumor assessment, it is useful to obtain them in minimum time and with a minimum of biologic material.