Maria Tsopanomichalou

Background/Aim: Recent knowledge implicates a differential expression of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) mRNA splice variants (i.e., IGF-IEa, IGF-IEb and IGF-IEc) in cancerous tissues, implying possible specific roles of the encoded IGF-I protein isoforms in cancer biology. In particular, there is growing evidence that the IGF-IEc isoform may play a distinct biological role in various types of cancers. The present study investigated whether IGF-IEc expression is associated with a particular type of thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of different types of thyroid cancers from 92 patients were assessed for IGF-IEc expression by immunohistochemistry. In addition, thyroid cancer biopsies of different TNM staging histological types were evaluated for mRNA expression of the IGF-IEc transcript by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: From the total number of 92 samples, 2 were anaplastic, 10 medullary, 4 hyperplasias of C-cells, 11 follicular, 5 hurtle cell carcinomas, 2 poorly differentiated, 5 nodular hyperplasias, 1 lymphoma and 52 were papillary thyroid cancers. The age of cancer diagnosis or tumor size did not significantly affect the IGF-IEc expression. Among all types of cancers, IGF-IEc was expressed in papillary differentiated thyroid cancer. Its expression/localization was mainly cytoplasmic and significantly associated with TNM staging and the presence of muscular and capsule cancerous invasion (p<0.05). Similarly, a differential profile was revealed regarding the mRNA expression of the IGF-IEc transcript, that exhibited a higher expression in aggressive compared to the non-aggressive papillary cancers. Conclusion: IGF-IEc isoform expression in thyroid cancer is positively associated with more advanced stages of papillary thyroid cancer.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the performance of clinical, imaging, and cytopathological criteria in the identification of high-grade dysplasia/carcinoma (HGD/Ca) in pancreatic mucin-producing cystic neoplasms. Methods: Sixty-eight consecutive, histopathologically confirmed mucin-producing cystic neoplasms, evaluated by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration, were enrolled; specifically, 39 branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs), 21 main duct IPMNs, and 8 mucinous cystic neoplasms. The associations between HGD/Ca in histopathology and findings of endoscopic ultrasound and cytology, demographic, lifestyle, and clinical parameters were evaluated, separately in IPMNs and mucinous cystic neoplasms. Results: Age 65 years or more was associated with HGD/Ca in IPMNs. In BD-IPMNs, cyst diameter 3 cm or greater (sensitivity, 68.8%; specificity, 65.2%), a mural nodule (sensitivity, 56.3%; specificity, 78.3%), main pancreatic duct diameter 5 to 9 mm (sensitivity, 50.0%; specificity, 87.0%), and suspicious cytology (sensitivity, 81.3%; specificity, 100%) signaled the presence of HGD/Ca. Similarly, in main duct IPMNs, suspicious cytology predicted HGD/Ca with high sensitivity (88.9%) and excellent specificity (100%). Regarding cytopathological criteria, in BD-IPMNs, HGD/Ca was associated with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, background necrosis, presence of papillary structures, hypochromatic nuclei, hyperchromatic nuclei, and major nuclear membrane irregularities (thickening and/or indentations). Conclusions: Clinical, imaging, and cytopathological criteria are useful in the identification of HGD/Ca in IPMNs.

Introduction and aim: Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)-derived strain and strain rate (SR) analysis had been proven to be a robust, quantitative surrogate for left ventricular (LV) contractile functions, particularly in the ischemic scenarios. It can be used to evaluate the therapeutic merit of cell-based and/or biomaterials myocardial restoration compounds. In this study, we attempted a translational, large-scale restorative but a minimally invasive approach to stabilize the LV structure and to enhance its contractile functions following an ischemic injury. We evaluated the restorative outcomes of intra-myocardial injection of an autologous platelet-rich plasma hydrogel (PRP-H) in a porcine ischemia model (MI) of via 2D STE-derived LV longitudinal, circumferential, radial strains, and hemodynamics. Moreover, we developed correlations...

To investigate whether anxiety and depression levels are associated with Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) induction in the colon of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) constitute the most common renal carcinomas, characterized by a relatively aggressive clinical course. Thus, scientific research is targeting towards the identification of immunohistochemical and molecular markers that could be useful regarding diagnosis, appropriate therapy and prediction of prognosis. In the present study we assessed and correlated the expression of caspase-8, phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38) and bcl-2 protein with histopathological features and clinical outcome of 27 patients with ccRCCs.

Backround: Statin treatment is considered as first line therapy in patients with atherosclerotic disease. We evaluated the effect of pre-treatment with statins on carotid plaque infiltration by macrophages and on the circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Patients and Methods: One hundred fourteen patients were enrolled; 89 men and 25 women (mean age 67±8 years; range 42-83 years). Fifty three patients (46%) were on statin treatment at least 3 months before endarterectomy and 61 (54%) had never received statin treatment. The serum levels of high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were evaluated preoperatively. The intensity of macrophage infiltration was evaluated by immunochemistry, using the monoclonal antibody CD 68. The area of the plaque covered by macrophages was measured as a proportion of the whole plaque area, using a custom designed image tool analysis. Results: Patients on statins had lower serum total cholesterol levels (172±50 vs 194±35 mg/dl, p= 0.014), lower low density cholesterol levels (103±44 vs 123±31 mg/dl, p= 0.010) and lower serum hsCRP levels (1.8 [1.1-3.4] vs 3.4 [1.3-4.9] mg/l, p= 0.03), while SAA, TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β levels did not differ between the 2 groups. The infiltration of atherosclerotic plaque by macrophages was similar in statin treated patients and in controls (0.55±0.15% vs 0.49±0.19%, p= 0.21). Conclusion: Patients on statins have similar macrophage accumulation in their carotid atherosclerotic plaques compared with patients not on statins. Inflammatory markers were also similar in both groups except for hsCRP which was significantly lower in those taking statins.