Expression of Endocan in Tissue Samples from Prostate Adenocarcinoma and Prostate Hyperplasia: A comparative retrospective study.

PURPOSE:  In this study, we aimed to determine whether there is a significant difference in endocan expression levels between prostate adenocarcinoma and prostate hyperplasia tissues by using an immunohistochemical method.  Materials and Methods: All of 51 patients, who were getting treatment for the last 5 years, participated in the study. 31 of 51 patients underwent transrectal sonography (TRUSG) -assisted prostate biopsy because of prostate adenocarcinoma as diagnosed with elevated PSA levels and histopathological examination. The remaining 20 patients comprised the control group. The control group included patients with benign prostate hyperplasia based on pathological examination.  Results: It was found that there was strong positive epithelial staining in 74.2% of patients with prostate cancer while in 5% of controls, indicating a statistically significant difference (P < .001). It was also found that the rate of strong positive endothelial staining was 77.4% in the patient group whereas 5% in the control group (P < .001). Also, the rate of strong positive stromal staining was 64.5% in the patient group while 5% in the control group (P < .001).  Conclusion:  We found that tissue endocan expression level was statistically significantly higher in patients with prostate cancer compared to those with benign prostate hyperplasia by using an immunohistochemical method.

YKL-40 expression in pterygium: a potential role in the pathogenesis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether YKL-40 (chitinase 3-like 1 protein) plays a role in pterygium pathogenesis. METHODS: We included 42 primary pterygium patients and 24 control subjects with normal bulbar conjunctiva in the study. The pterygium patients were classified into the atrophic, fleshy, and intermediate groups according to the Tan classification. We then surgically removed the primary nasal pterygium and normal bulbar conjunctiva from the patients and immunohistochemically investigated YKL-40 expression. RESULTS: YKL-40 expression was statistically significantly higher in the epithelial, endothelial, and stromal cells of the pterygium tissues than in the control tissues (P = 0.009, P = 0.003, P = 0.002, respectively). There was no significant correlation between the pterygium subgroups and YKL-40 expression (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We believe YKL-40 may play a significant role in pterygium pathogenesis.

Hemosiderotic dermatofibroma mimicking melanoma in a 12-year-old boy: a case report.

We report a case of hemosiderotic dermatofibroma presenting as a brown-black-colored nodule with peripheral extensions, which mimics melanoma. Histopathology showed completely benign features with no atypia or mitosis. Nodular extensions of childhood dermatofibromas may be related to the growth of the child not necessarily pointing to a malignant process.

Endocan Overexpression in Pterygium.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of endocan in the pathogenesis of pterygium. METHODS: The study was conducted on 33 patients with primary pterygium and 20 control subjects with normal bulbar conjunctiva. Patients with pterygium were graded into 3 groups as atrophic, fleshy, and intermediate, according to the Tan classification. Primary nasal pterygia and normal bulbar conjunctivas were surgically removed. Endocan expression was immunohistochemically investigated. RESULTS: Endocan expression in epithelial and endothelial cells was statistically significantly higher in pterygium tissues than control tissues (P = 0.001). No significant correlation was observed between pterygium classification groups and endocan expression in both epithelial and endothelial cells (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that endocan may have a role in the pathogenesis of pterygium.

An extraordinary case in whom gastrointestinal stromal tumor and low-grade malignant lymphoma are seen together in the stomach.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal system (GIS) is the most common site of involvement of all primary extranodal lymphomas. Gastric lymphoma constitutes 3-6% of all primary stomach malignancies. Stomach is also the commonest site of involvement of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). We would like to report these rare synchronous tumors in the same patient. CASE: A 68-year-old male was admitted to the internal medicine clinics with the complaints of abdominal distension. Physical examination was normal. On abdominal computed tomography a 12 x 14 x 22 cm sized giant tumoral mass was detected in left hypochondrium. A total gastrectomy was performed. Two distinct neoplasms were detected; one of which was located in the posterior wall of the stomach with the size of 24 x 16 x 13 cm, and the other one was localized in the fundus of the stomach and its size was 6 x 5 x 2 cm. Pathological evaluation revealed the diagnosis of GIST at the posterior wall and low-grade malignant lymphoma from the mass localized in the fundus of the stomach. DISCUSSION: Two primary tumors are not seen so often together in the stomach. Adenocarcinoma and associated tumors including gastric lymphoma (especially MALT lymphoma), carcinoid, leiomyosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma constitute most of the reported series. Rarely adenocarcinoma and associated GIST cases were reported. It is important to report concurrent gastric lymphoma and GIST case since it is extremely rare in the English literature.

Unusual presentation of tuberculosis as a splenic mass.

Tuberculosis is an important health problem in developing countries, with varying clinical presentations depending on the organs/systems involved. Tuberculosis is mostly seen in immuno-compromised individuals, such as those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or malignancies. Here we report a case of a spleen tuberculoma in a 29-year-old male patient with no known immune deficiency. He first presented with abdominal pain, and subsequent ultrasonographic examination revealed a splenic lesion of 10 cm in diameter. A computerized tomography scan of the abdomen confirmed the presence of a solitary, hypodense, septated cystic lesion. Lack of evidence supporting the presence of a splenic infection or a primary/metastatic malignancy prompted explorative surgery where a septated abscess formation was discovered and splenectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed granulomatous inflammatory changes with Langerhans-type giant cells, which are consistent with tuberculosis. For a period of two months, antituberculosis therapy with four drugs, isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, was carried out. Pyrazinamide and ethambutol were quitted at the end of two months. Therapy with isoniazid and rifampicin was planned for an additional 10 months. We would like to call attention to yet another atypical presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.