Jasmina Rajc

Histopathological placental inflammation provides objective evidence of intrauterine inflammatory exposure in preterm birth, but placental histopathology i

Background/Objectives: There is an increasing need for methods that provide improved insight into the molecular basis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and thus a better understanding of its morphological heterogeneity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the use of imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to examine tumor margins and gain insight into the molecular heterogeneity of CRC. Methods: An observational study involving 10 cases was conducted. Native tissue samples were collected during the subject’s surgery, and consecutively taken tissue sections were immediately prepared for light microscopic and IMS analysis. IMS was performed across the 200–1000 Da mass range, divided into four sub-ranges, using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS) in both negative and positive modes of ionization. For tumor margin and tissue heterogeneity assessment, image segmentation was used. Segmented MS images were analyzed against the respective light microscopy images of hematoxylin-eosin-stained tissue sections. Results: Quantitative analysis of the sample collection indicated that IMS enabled correct recognition of tumor margin in the 800–1000 Da range using binary segmentation. Denary image segmentation depicted tissue heterogeneity in greater detail. The strongest m/z signals specific to tumor, peritumor, and margins were identified and tentatively annotated: aside from dCTP, all other compounds were patient-specific, indicating interindividual variations in the molecular composition of CRC. Conclusions: IMS provides new insights into the morphological and biochemical properties of CRC: binary segmented MS images can clearly depict the tumor margin in the 800–1000 Da range, while denary segmented MS images depict intra- and inter-individual molecular heterogeneity of CRC.

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignancy that originates from smooth muscle. The most common sites of metastases include the lungs, liver, kidney, and skin.

To analyse placental changes in infants’ gestational age < 34 weeks and its correlation to short-term respiratory outcomes or death until hospital discharge. Information regarding all in-house born preterm infants born before 34 weeks gestation and born from January 2009 until December 2014 were collected and included among others, placental pathology and relevant data on demographics and outcomes of infants. Placental abnormalities was found in 157/253 (65.05%) cases. Acute placental inflammation was found to be the most common in both groups of premature neonates, followed by maternal vascular underperfusion. Maternal vascular underperfusion was significantly more common in GA ≤ 27 weeks compared to infants GA 28–33 weeks (35.2% vs. 13.7%; p = 0.018). Similarly, chronic placental inflammation was more common in infants GA ≤ 27 weeks compared to infants GA 28–33 weeks (14.3% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.014). Infants with placental pathology had a lower median birth weight (1460g vs. 1754g; p = 0.001, and were of shorter median GA at birth (31 vs. 32; p = 0.001). Infants with any placental disease had higher rates of death until hospital discharge (10.2% vs. 3.1%; p = 0.039) and higher rates of any stage of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (41.4% vs. 26.0%; p = 0.013). There were no significant differences in mechanical ventilation rates, duration of mechanical ventilation and duration of supplemental oxygen therapy. Identifiable placental abnormalities were found in most infants born < 34 weeks gestation. Placental pathology is associated with increased rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and death until hospital discharge.

Free and open-source software for image analysis and morphological measurements in scientific research is rising in popularity and capabilities as new methods, plugins and macros are being actively developed. A semi-automated method for measuring rat uterus morphology using free and open-source software (Gimp and FIJI) is demonstrated in this paper. Research was performed on ovariectomized rats as a model of osteoporosis (with sham-operated control group). The animals were treated with alendronate, hop extract or the combination of the two. Whole histological slides were photographed and images were manually pre-processed in Gimp. Color masks from Gimp were loaded in FIJI and polar transformation and measurements were made using a custom macro. This analysis was supplemented by manual assessment of Ki67 proliferation marker expression by a pathologist. Our results suggest that monotherapy or combination therapy with alendronate and hop extract does not cause proliferation of the endometrium in ovariectomized rats and would be safe for use in osteoporosis treatment in this regard. The semi-automated method used in this research is more precise and unbiased than older manual methods. Furthermore, it can be easily adapted for analysis of whole-slide images of almost any round or oval organ.

Aim: Trefoil factor family 3 (TFF3) peptide is normally expressed by epithelial cells in breast ducts, but it is also associated with different pathological conditions, including breast cancer. It is considered a marker of poor prognosis and associated with increased resistance to chemotherapy. Data on the effect of chemotherapy on TFF3 peptide expression are scarce. The aim of this pilot study was to assess suitability of research on this topic for large-scale studies. Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of core biopsies and of surgically removed tumors from patients with luminal B subtype of breast cancer were used for immunohistochemical analysis. Changes in TFF3 peptide and Ki-67 expression and microvessel density (MVD) values before and after chemotherapy were analyzed, as well as the association between TFF3 peptide expression and Ki-67 expression and MVD values. Results: Significant reduction in TFF3 and Ki 67 expression was observed after chemotherapy, while MVD values did not differ significantly before and after chemotherapy. The association of TFF3 peptide expression and Ki-67 expression and TFF3 peptide expression and MVD values was not significant before or after chemotherapy. Conclusion: The data obtained in this pilot study suggest that a large-scale study is justified, and it other breast cancer subtypes should be included.

- Luminal B (HER2 negative) subtype is the most diversiform type of breast cancers, with a high Ki-67 proliferation index (>20%) or/and low progesterone (PR; <20%) with various intensity and distribution of hormone receptors. Considerable difference has also been noticed in disease outcome, wherefore there is the need for a more detailed classification of this tumor subtype. The clinical and pathologic parameters of 147 luminal B (HER2 negative) breast cancers were examined. The expression of hormone receptors in correlation with other prognostic factors and disease outcome was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The Kaplan-Mayer analysis showed that low positivity of estrogen (ER) and PR receptors in tumors was associated with a significantly worse disease outcome (overall survival (ER), p=0.020; disease free survival (ER), p=0.019; overall survival (PR), p=0.026; disease free survival (PR), p=0.038)), unlike Ki-67, which did not show a statistically significant connection (overall survival, p=0.343; disease free survival, p=0.322). The intensity of receptor staining and Ki-67 relative to other histopathologic prognostic factors showed a statistically significant correlation solely with histologic grade of tumor. By using the Cox regression model, PR proved to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (p=0.004) and disease free survival (p=0.029). The luminal B (HER2 negative) breast cancer with low expression of hormone receptors, independent of the Ki-67 proliferation index, and in correlation with a higher histologic grade, could be a unique subtype of cancer.