Polymorphisms in Pathways in Pediatric Astrocytomas.

Central nervous system tumors, especially astrocytomas, are the solid neoplasms with the highest incidence and mortality rates in childhood. The diagnosis is based on histopathological characteristics, but molecular methods have been increasingly used. Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) protein, encoded by the tumor protein, translationally controlled 1 () gene, is a multifunctional protein with an important physiological role in the cell cycle.

Pediatric Astrocytomas and Their Association With Polymorphisms in Embryonic Stem Cell Marker Genes.

Background: Embryonic stem cell markers, such as SOX2, NANOG, and OCT4, are transcription factors expressed in pluripotent stem cells, involved in the mediation of pluripotency and self-renewal. Especially after the discovery of cancer stem cells, these proteins have been associated with several types of neoplasia, including astrocytomas. In the pediatric population, astrocytomas are the most common solid neoplasia and present the highest mortality rates.

The first central nervous system autopsy in Southern Brazil.

Objective: The history of Anatomical Pathology in the state of Paraná, in southern Brazil, is closely linked with the foundation of the Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR). This study identified the first central nervous system (CNS) clinical autopsy performed by the Department of Anatomical Pathology of the UFPR.

Methods: This study reviewed the autopsy report archives of the Hospital de Clínicas-UFPR from 1951 onward.

Immunohistochemical expression of sulfhydryl oxidase (QSOX1) in pediatric medulloblastomas.

Background: Medulloblastoma is a malignant, invasive embryonal tumor of the cerebellum and accounts for 20% of intracranial tumors in children. QSOX1, whose functions include formation of disulphide bridges, which are needed for correct protein folding and stability, formation of the extracellular matrix, regulation of the redox status and cell cycle control, appears to be involved in apoptosis in pathological states such as cancer. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of QSOX1 in medulloblastomas and nonneoplastic cerebellum.

Increased incidence of choroid plexus carcinoma due to the germline TP53 R337H mutation in southern Brazil.

Background: Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPC) are rare tumors predominantly found in children. Given the high frequency of the germline R337H mutation in the TP53 gene in southern Brazil, we have evaluated the frequency of the R337H mutation in families with CPC in children.

Methodology/principal Findings: The present series included 29 patients that were admitted to the same institution from 1992 to 2010, including 22 children with CPC (0.

Neurocysticercosis--retrospective study of autopsy reports, a 17-year experience.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by Taenia solium metacestodes. The objective of this study is to describe the incidence of cysticercosis diagnosed at autopsies and describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of NCC. Retrospective study analyzing 6,500 reports of autopsies between 1977 and 1994 from a school hospital in Curitiba, PR, southern of Brazil.

Histologic alterations of rat kidneys perfused with a Euro-Collins diltiazem solution.

Purpose: Analyse the histologic changes of rat kidneys perfused with isotonic saline solution (ISS), Euro-Collins solution (ECS) and Euro-Collins solution with diltiazem (ECSD).

Methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats were used divided equally, as follow: group A (ISS), group B (ECS) and group C (ECSD). Through a catheter placed into the abdominal aorta, a renal perfusion was performed using a solution according to the group to which the animal belonged.

[Pediatric glioblastoma: a clinicopathological study of 12 cases with p53 protein immunohistochemistry].

Glioblastoma is one of the most lethal central nervous system (CNS) primary tumors. Although significant progress, only few analysis have been made in pediatric glioblastoma, which are less common and have worse prognosis than in adults. To evaluate gender, site, age, survival, and immunohistochemistry to p53, we selected cases of pediatric glioblastoma of "CNS Tumors Database in Curitiba", 1987-2003 and of the Hospital Municipal Jesus, Rio de Janeiro, 1970-1988.

Pineal yolk sac tumor: correlation between neuroimaging and pathological findings.

A 17-year-old boy presented with somnolence and mental confusion. Physical examination demonstrated motor disturbances. Laboratory investigation showed elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein in serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

Chromosome alterations associated with positive and negative lymph node involvement in breast cancer.

Genetic heterogeneity is high in breast cancer, and hence it is difficult to link a specific chromosome alteration to a specific clinicopathologic feature. We examined clonal chromosome alterations in 45 breast carcinomas and statistically correlated the findings with clinical-histopathological parameters of the patients. The most common abnormalities were losses of chromosomes 19, 22, 21, X, and 17 and gains of chromosomes 9 and 18.

Influence of arterial hypertension treated with losartan on skin healing in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of Losartan in skin healing repair.

Methods: One hundred and eleven male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups, at random. Group I (n=31) underwent a laparotomy to induce hypertension by stenosis of the left renal artery, and 48 hours later it received Losartan (10 mg/Kg) daily.

Meningiomas of the jugular foramen.

Primary meningiomas of the jugular foramen are extremely rare. There is controversy regarding the management of these tumors. The objective of this article is to analyze the treatment and results in a series of ten cases.

Gliosarcoma: report of four cases with immunohistochemical findings.

Gliosarcoma (GSa) is a rare primary central nervous system neoplasm (CNS) characterized by biphasic histological pattern with both glial and sarcomatous components. Our objective is to describe the clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical features of four cases of GSa and to discuss its pathogenetic mechanisms. The male:female ratio was 3:1.

[Choroid plexus tumours: epidemiologic comparative study of 24 cases].

Tumours derived from choroid plexus are rare central nervous system neoplasms affecting mainly children. This study presents a series of 38 patients with neuroectodermal tumours. Twenty four of them had the histological and/or immunohistochemical diagnosis of choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC).

Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization for detection of 8q24/MYC breakpoints on routine histologic sections: validation in Burkitt lymphomas from three geographic regions.

A chromosomal translocation involving the MYC gene is characteristic of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and represents a molecular disease marker with diagnostic and clinical implications. The detection of MYC breakpoints is hampered by technical problems, including the distribution of the breakpoints over a very large genomic region of approximately 1,000 kb. In this article, we report on the testing and validation of a segregation fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay for MYC breakpoints on a large series of BLs.

Glioblastoma multiforme of the pineal region: case report.

Purpose: pineal region tumors are uncommon, and comprise more frequently three categories: germ cell, parenchymal cell and glial tumors. Most pineal gliomas are low-grade astrocytomas. Glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive and common brain tumor, is extremely rare at this location with only few cases reported.

Posterior fossa gangliocytoma with facial nerve invasion: case report.

A 5 year-old boy with a cerebellar gangliocytoma with a peripheral right facial paresis and ataxia is presented. His MRI showed a heterogenous, diffuse lesion, isointense on T1 and hyperintense on T2-weigthed sequences, involving the right cerebellar hemisphere with direct extension into the right facial nerve. The present case is the first description of a gangliocytoma with direct facial nerve invasion, as demonstrated for the facial nerve paresis and supported by MRI and surgical inspection.

Nonneoplastic findings in loop electrical excision procedure specimens from patients with persistent atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance in two consecutive pap smears.

The present study aimed to determine the histopathological correspondence of the diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance (ASCUS) in the absence of squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIL) in loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP) products. Retrospective histopathological analysis of 70 LEEP products preceded by ASCUS was consistently detected by two consecutive Pap smears. The presence or absence of several histopathological findings in cases with (23/70) and without (47/70) histological diagnosis of SIL were compared.

Glioma and multiple sclerosis: case report.

We report a case of a 44-years-old woman with relapsing-remitting and secondarily progressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS) since aged 24 years, who developed an anaplastic astrocytoma. The neurological manifestations of the tumor were misinterpreted as resulting from MS. Sequential MRI examination and seizures raised the possibility of another nature of her symptoms, besides MS.

Limiting factors for cytopathological diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions: a cytohistological correlation between findings in cervical smears and loop electrical excision procedure.

The present study sought possible factors leading to the cytological diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance (ASCUS) in cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Based on retrospective histopathological analysis of loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP) products that diagnosed HSIL, two study groups were randomly selected. The first was consisted of cases with two consecutive Papanicolaou (Pap) smears with the diagnosis of ASCUS.