Primary lymphoma of the lumbar vertebrae: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary lymphoma of the spinal vertebrae (PLSV) is an exceedingly rare disease with an unclear optimal treatment plan. We analyzed the clinical features of PLSV in the patient to strengthen our understanding of the disease and to review the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old Persian man was admitted to our hospital with severe low back pain. The patient underwent radiological examinations including computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). These examinations revealed a lesion in the L3 vertebra. Histological analysis showed a high-grade lymphoma. The patient underwent an L3 corpectomy with expandable cage placement, followed by an L2-L4 lateral screw placement with rod fixation. Also, facetectomy, laminectomy, and total spondylectomy were performed. Pedicle screws were inserted from L1 to L5. Titanium mesh was placed on the post-laminectomy defect. The treatment continued with local radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Post-treatment, the patient showed no new neurological deficit, and in the final follow-up, the patient had achieved a good recovery. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, no prior published literature has revealed a primary lymphoma of the lumbar vertebrae. Here, we report this case of PLSV for the first time and provide a brief review of the literature.

Histiocytic Sarcoma Involving Cervical Vertebra: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare neoplasm composed of cells with immunohistochemical characteristics of mature histiocytes. It can be disseminated or localized and usually involves the skin, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract. Primary involvement of the vertebral column is extremely rare. We report a 29-year-old female who presented with neck pain and had a destructive 35*43*48 mm lesion in C2 with a paravertebral extension. The initial biopsy did not lead to the correct diagnosis. She later developed dysphagia, and the anterior approach was used for tumor decompression. The diagnosis of cervical histiocytic sarcoma was made, and she underwent radiotherapy. The follow-up MRI showed a marked response to radiotherapy. Here, we report the first case of cervical HS, review all cases of vertebral HS, compare patients' characteristics and clinical courses, and discuss diagnostic nuances and treatment options.

Xanthogranulomatous cystitis mimicking bladder tumor: A case report.

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation, as a type of chronic granulomatous inflammation, typically occurs in the gall bladder and kidneys. In this paper, we present a 56-year-old man with Xanthogranulomatous cystitis mimicking bladder malignancy. He was referred to our clinic with the chief complaint of a one-year history of urgency and frequency. CT scan showed a solid lesion in the bladder. The patient underwent complete transurethral resection of the bladder tumor. Microscopic histopathology revealed xanthogranulomatous cystitis. The patient received a course of antibiotic therapy. Follow-up Cystourethroscopy showed normal bladder.

MIR196A2 rs11614913 contributes to susceptibility to colorectal cancer in Iranian population: A multi-center case-control study and meta-analysis.

Maturation of MIR196A2 as a gene regulator with a high potential for targeted cancer therapy can be modulated by the rs11614913 polymorphism. Several studies evaluating the association between this variant and pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) found significant results in various ethnic groups. This study aimed at investigating this relationship in a large sample size of Iranians as well as in a systematic review and meta-analysis of the pooled data of the current study with previous reports from Iran and other populations. After extraction of genomic DNA from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues and whole blood of 2150 subjects (42% CRC patients), the rs11614913 was genotyped in both cases and controls. Furthermore, we conducted a meta-analysis of the present case-control study together with a previous report from Iranian population. The results of case-control study identified significant association between the rs11614913 and susceptibility to CRC [TT vs. CC: 1.58 (1.26-1.98), p < 0.01; TT vs. CT: 3.94 (3.07-5.05), p < 0.01; TT vs. CC + CT: 0.70 (0.59-0.83), p < 0.01; and CT + TT vs. CC: 1.43 (1.21-1.70), p < 0.01]. After correction of the meta-analysis results by using Bonferroni protocol, no significant association was observed in overall and in Asians [T vs. C: 1.19 (1.00-1.43), p = 0.05 and 1.14 (0.83-1.56), p = 0.43, respectively], whereas association was significant in Caucasians [T vs. C: 1.14 (1.04-1.25), p = 0.004] influenced by the data from Iran [T vs. C: 1.15 (1.03-1.29), p = 0.02 and TT vs. CC + CT: 0.73 (0.60-0.87), p = 0.003]. In conclusion, MIR196A2 rs11614913 might play a potential role in the pathogenesis of CRC in Iranian population.

Prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with ulcerative colitis: a prospective cross-sectional study in Tehran, Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been reported in ulcerative colitis (UC), but limited data are available on its prevalence in Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of CMV infection in patients with UC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in 86 consecutive patients with UC. Prevalence of CMV infection was determined by rectal biopsies for hematoxylin and eosin staining and PCR. CMV-positive specimens was measured for CMV loads by real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: In six out of 86 (7%) patients with UC, CMV was diagnosed. These patients had detectable CMV DNA in their biopsies as indicated by PCR. In all CMV-positive patients, viral load was more than 250 copy/mg. Histochemical staining did not show any CMV inclusion bodies. No significant demographic and clinical differences existed between patients with and without a CMV infection. CONCLUSION: UC and its treatment may put patients at risk of CMV infection. Real-time PCR test for the detection of CMV in UC patients may enable diagnosis of CMV infection with a high sensitivity and allow effective treatment to be administered in these patients. The impact of antiviral therapy on the clinical outcome of the UC patients with CMV remains to be elucidated.

Lack of association of CASC8 rs1447295 with colorectal cancer in Iranian population: A multicenter case-control study.

Several studies reported the potential role of the rs1447295 polymorphism in susceptibility to cancer. This variant located in the cancer susceptibility candidate 8 (CASC8) is a long noncoding RNA (lnRNA) gene and does not code protein. LnRNA transcripts play a potential regulatory role in the expression of key genes involved in multiple cellular pathways, including cell cycle, pluripotency, and immune response. The aim of this study is to evaluate this association with colorectal cancer (CRC) in a large case-control study of the Iranian population. After extraction of genomic DNA by the standard protocols, the rs1447295 was genotyped in 2416 subjects (46% patients). Results of this case-control demonstrated no significant association between the rs1447295 polymorphism and risk of CRC or its characteristics under allele or alternative genotype models. In conclusion, it is unlikely that the rs1447295 polymorphism is a risk variant for the development of CRC in Iranian population.

MTRR rs1801394 and its interaction with MTHFR rs1801133 in colorectal cancer: a case-control study and meta-analysis.

AIM: This study aims to evaluate the association between the MTRR rs1801394 alone or in interaction with the MTHFR rs1801133 and susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC) and its characteristics in Iranian population. Additionally, both a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to derive a more precise assessment of this association. MATERIALS & METHODS: Genomic DNA of 2332 subjects was genotyped for rs1801394. These data were pooled with 17 eligible studies for meta-analysis. RESULTS: No significant association was found between the rs1801394 or rs1801394-rs1801133 and CRC risk. Meta-analysis results also demonstrated no significant relationship between the rs1801394 and CRC risk. CONCLUSION: Results of this study showed that the rs1801394 alone or together with the rs1801133 is not a risk factor for CRC in Iranian population.

MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphism and susceptibility to colorectal cancer in Iranian population: evidence of a case-control study and meta-analysis.

Several studies have investigated whether MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphism contributes to risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), however the results are inconclusive. AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate this hypothesis in a case-control study and meta-analysis in Iranian population. MATERIALS & METHODS: This polymorphism was genotyped in the 2421 subjects (46% CRC patients) from Tehran. Meta-analysis was performed for determining the risk effect size of this polymorphism on CRC. RESULTS: Both case-control study and meta-analysis showed no association between rs1801133 and CRC risk or its features. CONCLUSION: This study failed to identify an association between the rs1801133 and susceptibility to CRC in Iranian population.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the intrathoracic goiter.

Solitary Fibrous Tumors (SFTs) are rare primary pleural neoplasms which have recently been reported in extra-thoracic sites. In this report, solitary fibrous tumor arising in an intra-thoracic goiter with no evidence of cervical mass in a 74-year-old obese man who was found to have a large superior mediastinal mass with tracheal deviation on Chest X-Ray is presented.

Association of 8q24.21 rs10505477-rs6983267 haplotype and age at diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the world. Genetic variants in 8q24.21 including rs10505477 and rs6983267 have been hypothesized to be involved in susceptibility to CRC. This study aims to investigate the possible association between these loci and their haplotypes with CRC risk in Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were recruited from two hospitals in Tehran. The rs10505477 and rs6983267 polymorphisms were genotyped by TaqMan real time PCR using subject genomic DNA, extracted either from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of patients or from blood of the controls by standard methods. RESULTS: A total of 715 subjects (380 CRC patients and 335 matched controls) were genotyped in this study. Allele and genotype analysis of the rs10505477 and rs6983267 polymorphisms by gender, age at diagnosis, tumor location, tumor grade, and tumor node metastasis (TNM) showed no significant association with CRC risk. There was a significant relationship between GG haplotype and susceptibility to age at diagnosis for both <60 and ≥60 (p=0.0005 and p=0.000004, respectively) and between GT and CRC in the age at diagnosis ≥ 60 (Table 3: p=0.031). The GG haplotype was less frequent in CRC patients with the age at diagnosis <60, but was more common in subjects with the age at diagnosis ≥ 60. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggests that the rs6983267 and rs10505477 polymorphisms alone may not be relevant to CRC risk, but their GG haplotype plays a notable role in age at diagnosis of CRC in the Iranian population.

The clinicopathologic association of c-MET overexpression in Iranian gastric carcinomas; an immunohistochemical study of tissue microarrays.

BACKGROUND: c-MET is an oncogene protein that plays important role in gastric carcinogenesis and has been introduced as a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of c-MET overexpression and its relationship with clinicopathological variables in gastric cancer of Iranian population using tissue microarray. METHODS: In a cross sectional study, representative paraffin blocks of 130 patients with gastric carcinoma treated by curative gastrectomy during a 2 years period of 2008-2009 in two university hospitals in Tehran-Iran were collected in tissue microarray and c-MET expression was studied by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Finally 124 cases were evaluated, constituted of 99 male and 25 female with the average age of 61.5 years. In 71% (88/124) of tumors, c-MET high expression was found. c-MET high expression was more associated with intestinal than diffuse tumor type (P = 0.04), deeper tumor invasion, pT3 and pT4 versus pT1 and pT2 (P = 0.014), neural invasion (P = 0.002) and advanced TNM staging, stage 3 and 4 versus stage 1 and2 (P = 0.044). The c-MET high expression was not associated with age, sex, tumor location, differentiation grade and distant metastasis, but relative associations with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.065) and vascular invasion (P = 0.078) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: c-MET oncogene protein was frequently overexpressed in Iranian gastric carcinomas and it was related to clinicopathological characteristics such as tumor type, depth of invasion, neural invasion and TNM staging. It can also support the idea that c-MET is a potential marker for target therapy in Iranian gastric cancer. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/9744598757151429.

Complete chemotherapeutic regression of a non-metastatic case of primary pure small cell carcinoma of the prostate.

Pure small cell carcinoma of the prostate (SCPCa) is a very rare condition usually with poor survival after diagnosis. It seems to show different clinical features compared to other prostate cancer subtypes, specifically adenocarcinoma. Here, we present a 74-year-old man early diagnosed with SCPCa treated with a cisplatine and etoposide regimen. There was no metastasis found in imaging studies and bone scan. The patient mostly complained of obstructive symptoms which were relieved after resection. Interestingly, our patient experienced a disease free condition after chemotherapy and no further progression was found. This could implicate the critical role of early diagnosis in the treatment of SCPCa despite its aggressive nature.

CD44+ cancer cells express higher levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in breast tumours.

Breast tumours consist of phenotypically diverse populations of breast cancer cells of which only a minority has the ability to form new tumours. The capacity for breast tumour development has been shown to be restricted to breast cancer stem cells with the CD44+/CD24(-/low) phenotype. These cells can resist apoptosis through mechanisms such as the regulation of Bcl-2. Identification of this population of cells is important because of its implication in the development of new therapeutic strategies. One hundred and forty-six primary operable breast cancer patients were investigated in order to identify the population of CD44+ and Bcl-2+ cells in paraffin-embedded tissues by immunohistochemistry. The prevalence of these phenotypes was then correlated with clinicopathological features. CD44 and Bcl-2 expression was detected in 86% and 82% of breast tumours, respectively. There was no significant correlation between CD44+ tumour cell prevalence and tumour characteristics, whereas the prevalence of CD44+ cells was associated with higher levels of Bcl-2 expression (P = 0.004). In univariate analysis, Bcl-2 expression was correlated with breast tumours of lower grade (P < 0.001) and fewer lymphatic metastases (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the prevalence of CD44+ tumour cells as a subpopulation of breast cancer stem cells was of no clinicopathological significance, but was correlated with higher Bcl-2 expression. This population of tumour cells may thus be more resistant to apoptosis. Targeting these cells in combination with current treatments may be more effective in treating breast cancer patients.

Effect of coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum L.) ethanol extract on insulin release from pancreatic beta cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is grown as a spice crop all over the world. The seeds have been used to treat indigestion, diabetes, rheumatism and pain in the joints. In the present study, an ethanol extract of the seeds was investigated for effects on insulin release from the pancreatic beta cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Blood samples were drawn from the retro-orbital sinus before and 1.5, 3 and 5 h after administration of the seed extract. Serum glucose levels were determined by the glucose oxidase method. To determine the insulin releasing activity, after extract treatment the animals were anaesthetized by diethyl ether, the pancreas was excised, fixed in 10% formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin for sectioning. Pancreatic sections of 5 microm were processed for examination of insulin-releasing activity using an immunocytochemistry kit. The results showed that administration of the ethanol extract (200 and 250 mg/kg, i.p.) exhibited a significant reduction in serum glucose. Administration of streptozotocin decreased the number of beta cells with insulin secretory activity in comparison with intact rats, but treatment with the coriander seed extract (200 mg/kg) increased significantly the activity of the beta cells in comparison with the diabetic control rats. The extract decreased serum glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and increased insulin release from the beta cells of the pancreas.