Thin-layer hydroxyapatite deposition on a nanofiber surface stimulates mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and their differentiation into osteoblasts.

Pulsed laser deposition was proved as a suitable method for hydroxyapatite (HA) coating of coaxial poly-ɛ-caprolactone/polyvinylalcohol (PCL/PVA) nanofibers. The fibrous morphology of PCL/PVA nanofibers was preserved, if the nanofiber scaffold was coated with thin layers of HA (200 nm and 400 nm). Increasing thickness of HA, however, resulted in a gradual loss of fibrous character.

Apoptosis - associated genes and their role in predicting responses to neoadjuvant breast cancer treatment.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used in the treatment of breast carcinoma because it substantially reduces the size of the primary tumor and lymph node metastases. The present study investigated biomarkers that can predict a pathologic response to the therapy.

Material/methods: The role of apoptosis in regression of the tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was determined by TUNEL and anti-active caspase 3 assay.

Primary synovial sarcoma of the uterus.

We report a case of a 52-year-old female with synovial sarcoma of the uterine corpus. Grossly, the partly polypoid tumor involved the endometrium with invasion into the inner half of the myometrium. Histologically, the tumor showed biphasic structure with the predominance of poorly differentiated small to medium sized round to oval cells.

Actin expression in neural crest cell-derived tumors including schwannomas, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, neurofibromas and melanocytic tumors.

Tumors that originate from neural crest-derived cells represent a heterogeneous group of neoplasms including benign and malignant tumors with melanocytic and schwannian differentiation. The immunophenotype of these tumors is well known but little is known about the expression of smooth muscle/myofibroblastic markers in these tumors. A total of 590 neural crest-derived tumors (50 benign schwannomas, five malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, 80 neurofibromas, 240 nevocytic nevi, 115 primary melanomas, and 100 melanoma metastases) were studied with respect to alpha-smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin expression.

Distribution of chondrocytes containing alpha-smooth muscle actin in human normal, osteoarthrotic, and transplanted articular cartilage.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of chondrocytes containing alpha-smooth muscle actin in human normal and diseased cartilage. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies for alpha-smooth actin, muscle-specific actin, S-100 protein, CD 34, and desmin was performed on samples of human articular cartilage obtained at autopsy following sudden death, during total hip and knee replacement for osteoarthritis, or after femoral neck fracture in patients without symptoms of osteoarthritis. Moreover, the layers of residual cartilage from chondral posttraumatic defects obtained during preoperative arthroscopy and of newly formed cartilage after autologous-chondrocyte transplantation (Hyalograft C) obtained during second-look arthroscopy were also examined by immunohistochemistry and RT PCR.

Pigmented microcystic chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.

We report a case of a 60-year-old female with a pigmented microcystic chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (PMCRCC). The tumor was 4.5 cm in diameter, and was located in the right kidney.

Uterine leiomyomas with inclusion bodies: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis of 12 cases.

We describe 12 cases of leiomyoma with intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, which were detected in a group of 447 leiomyomas examined at our institution between December 2005 and March 2006. Ten of these tumors were typical leiomyomas, and two cases represented atypical (bizarre) leiomyoma. In some cases, the presence of intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies resulted in a rhabdoid or skeletal muscle-like appearance of the tumor cells.

Pathological findings of uterine leiomyomas and adenomyosis following uterine artery embolization.

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective and accepted treatment option for symptomatic uterine leiomyoma. Between 2000 and 2005, 91 women were treated using this method, and were prospectively followed at our institution. Twenty of them subsequently underwent surgery.

Up-regulation of p21WAF1 expression is mediated by Sp1/Sp3 transcription factors in TGFbeta1-arrested malignant B cells.

Background: TGFbeta1 has a profound effect on the growth of various mammalian cell types, including B lymphocytes. The inhibitory action of TGFbeta1 is mediated by deactivation of the cell cycle machinery. Several feedback-sensitive pathways determine whether the cells are stopped in G1 phase or allowed to leave G1 phase and enter S phase.

Intraneural perineurioma of the oral mucosa.

A 16-year-old boy presented with an intraneural perineurioma arising from a small nerve in the buccal mucosa. Histologically, the tumour comprised a tortuous proliferation of spindle cells arranged like an onion bulb. To our knowledge this is the third example of an intraneural perineurioma that did not present in a major nerve.

Adrenocortical adenoma with rhabdoid features.

We report a case of an aldosterone producing adrenocortical adenoma with rhabdoid features in a 16-year-old girl. Grossly, the tumor measured 30 mm in diameter and weighed 24 g. Histologically, the tumor was composed of approximately equal parts of tumor cells with rhabdoid features arranged in a solid and trabecular pattern and cells characterized by compact eosinophilic cytoplasm, solid growth with focal necroses, and increased mitotic activity.

Molecular diagnosis of synovial sarcoma: RT-PCR detection of SYT-SSX1/2 fusion transcripts in paraffin-embedded tissue.

Background: Synovial sarcomas comprise up to 10 percent of malignant soft tissue tumors, and most are characterized by the chromosomal translocation t(X;18) (pl 1.2;q11.2), which results in the expression of SYT-SSX fusion transcripts.

The effect of TGFbeta1 on the expression and phosphorylation of key cell-cycle regulators in malignant B cells.

Background: Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) induces growth arrest in many cell types, including B lymphocytes. The inhibitory action of TGFbeta1 is mediated by the deactivation of kinase complexes. The cell-cycle engine is tightly controlled by cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitors, which mediate extracellular negative signals, resulting in cell-cycle arrest at different G1 points.