Microsatellite Instability and Survival in Stage II Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background/aim: About 15-20% of colorectal cancers (CRCs) have deficiency in a mismatch repair (MMR) protein. MMR has a high level of microsatellite instability (MSI-H). We have conducted this review and meta-analysis to determine the prognostic role of MSI-H status in stage II CRC.

Association of CDX2 Expression With Survival in Early Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

CDX2 is a homeobox gene encoding transcriptional factors for intestinal organogenesis and represents a specific marker of colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) differentiation. We have evaluated if CDX2 expression is associated with better overall and disease-free survival (OS and DFS) in patients with CRC. PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (from inception to July 2017) were systematically reviewed for relevant studies on adult patients with CRC where OS and DFS were calculated according to CDX2 expression in uni- or multivariate analysis were included.

Shared genetic influences among childhood shyness, social competences, and cortical responses to emotions.

Visual event-related potentials (ERPs) evoked by facial expressions are useful to map socioemotional responses among shy children and to predict transition into social phobia. We investigated the sources of covariation among childhood shyness, social competences, and ERPs to other children's happy, neutral, and angry expressions. Electrophysiological and twin analyses examined the phenotypic and etiological association among an index of childhood shyness, an index of social competences, and ERP responses to facial expressions in 200 twins (mean age=9.

Tumor regression grade and survival after neoadjuvant treatment in gastro-esophageal cancer: A meta-analysis of 17 published studies.

Introduction: Major pathologic regression after neoadjuvant therapy is a strong and favorable prognostic factor in several types of cancer (breast, rectal and bladder). This information is less clear and has yet to be systematically evaluated in upper gastrointestinal tumors. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic impact of tumor regression after preoperative therapy on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in gastro-esophageal cancer patients.

Prognostic value of diffuse versus intestinal histotype in patients with gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There are two distinct types of gastric carcinoma (GC), intestinal, more frequently sporadic and linked to environmental factors, and diffuse (undifferentiated) that is highly metastatic and characterized by rapid disease progression and a poor prognosis. However, there are many conflicting data in the literature concerning the association between histology and prognosis in GC. This meta-analysis was performed to provide demonstration if histology according to Lauren classification is associated with different prognosis in patients with GC.

Tumour Budding and Survival in Stage II Colorectal Cancer: a Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis.

Purpose: Tumour budding is defined as the presence of isolated or small clusters of malignant cells at the invasive edge of the tumour. It is considered a negative prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with a poor outcome and adverse pathological features. Here, we report a meta-analysis of the association of tumour budding and survival in stage II CRC patients.

Evidence for distinct genetic effects associated with response to 35% CO₂.

Background: Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) hypersensitivity represents an individual difference response to breathing CO2 enriched air. People with a history of panic attacks or panic disorder are particularly prone to anxious response, suggesting that CO2 hypersensitivity is a robust risk marker of panic spectrum vulnerability.

Methods: Twin pairs (n = 346) from the general population-based Norwegian NIPH Mental Health Study completed a measure of anxiety before and after vital capacity inhalation of 35% CO2 air and before and after inhalation of regular air.

[Neuroendocrine small-cell bladder cancer: our experience].

Introduction: Neuroendocrine bladder cancer is extremely rare, with an estimated incidence of 0.35-0.70% of all bladder tumors.

Reproducibility in the diagnosis of needle core biopsies of non-palpable breast lesions: an international study using virtual slides published on the world-wide web.

Aims: To conduct an internet-based study using virtual slides (VS) of sterotactic core biopsy specimens of non-palpable breast lesions in order to evaluate interobserver reproducibility between pathologists.

Methods And Results: A total of 18 breast lesions, determined to be histologically complex by two pathologists, were selected. Digitized VSs were then created using QuickTime Virtual Reality technology (Apple, Cupertino, CA, USA) and posted on the world-wide web.

Neoadjuvant imatinib in a locally advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) of the rectum: a rare case of two GISTs within a family without a familial GIST syndrome.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours are rare tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. We describe the case of a 57-year-old man with a locally advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the rectum. We started Gleevec.

Malignant transformation of biliary cystadenoma: a difficult diagnosis.

The case is described of a 63-year-old female with a multilocular liver cyst diagnosed as cystadenoma after imaging and fine needle aspiration. The lesion, however, proved to be an invasive cystadenocarcinoma at surgery. Cystadenoma cannot be differentiated, preoperatively, from cystadenocarcinoma and should always be considered for surgical resection.

Pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma. A limited form of Wegener's granulomatosis?

Pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma is an uncommon disease that consists of slowly enlarging nodules in the pulmonary parenchyma. It occurs rarely: in fact, fewer than 70 case reports have been published in the past 20 years. It is important however in the differential diagnosis of lung diseases manifesting multiple pulmonary nodules.

[Carcinoid tumors of the cecal appendix].

The authors evaluate the incidence of carcinoid tumours out of a total of 2478 appendectomies performed between January 1984 and December 1991 at Treviglio Hospital. Histological tests, routinely performed on all appendixes removed, have revealed an incidence of 0.56% of this disease.

[Plasma-cell granuloma of the sigmoid colon concomitant with adenocarcinoma of the cecum. Viewpoint for debate, literature review on pseudotumors, idiopathic colitis and cancer].

A case of colonic pseudotumor, causing intestinal occlusion, concomitant with a caecum neoplasia is reported. A male 69 years old was referred to our Institution for colic abdominal pain: colonoscopy aborted because of an insuperable sigma stenosis; diagnostic enema confirmed the sigmoid stenosis, originally advised as neoplastic. As operation, the sigmoid tumor appeared accompanied with enlarged draining lymph nodes and peritoneal sac was disseminated of miliary-like whity granules.

Aortoesophageal fistula. Report of one case complicating foreing body ingestion with considerations about pathogenesis.

Aorto-esophageal fistula is a very rare disease and few cases are reported. The most frequent ethiological factors are foreign body ingestion primary disease of esophagus or aorta and iatrogenic damages in particular endoscopical investigations. In this report a new case is described and a pathogenic explanation for the development of the disease is proposed.

[A mucinous ovarian tumor with foci of anaplastic carcinoma].

One ovarian mucinous cystic tumor that contained a mural solid nodule of anaplastic carcinoma is described in a 35-year-old woman. The epithelial elements consisted of invasive well differentiated mucinous carcinoma. The anaplastic nodule showed some similarities with the cells described in sarcoma and sarcoma-like mural nodules.

[Metastatic malignant melanoma of the ovary].

We report 2 cases of ovarian metastases of malignant melanoma arisen 4 and 6 years after the removal of the primitive epithelial neoplasia. In both cases the ovarian neoplasia was unilateral. Both the macroscopic and the histological aspects of the malignant melanoma were examined.

[Epithelial changes associated with invasive epidermoid carcinoma of the vulva].

The frequency and meaning of epithelial alterations adjacent to a vulvar invasive carcinoma are examined. In the period from 1986 to 1989, 37 cases of vulvar invasive carcinoma were observed in the Bergamo Hospital (Anatomopathology Institute of Bergamo) in women aged between 54-95 years operated for vulvectomy. The vulvar epithelium adjacent to the invasive carcinoma was studied in order to determine the frequency and the type of associated lesions.

[Blue nevus of the uterine cervix].

Seven cases of blue nevus of the endocervix were examined macroscopically and histologically. The endocervical blue nevus is a rare lesion which can be incidentally found in surgical pieces after hysterectomy in middle-aged women. It looks like a blue-blackish little lesion, located superficially in the submucosa of the endocervix.

Primary mediastinal seminoma.

We describe three cases of primary mediastinal seminoma, a rare neoplasm histologically similar to the testicular form, which mainly affects men between 30-60 yrs of age. Case No. 1--a 45 year old patient was treated with a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Combined Clark's nevus.

We report five cases of combined Clark's nevi. Like all melanocytic nevi, Clark's nevus can combine with other nevi to produce lesions that are hard to interpret clinically and histologically. The morphology of combined Clark's nevus can resemble that of a melanoma associated with a nevus.

[Transcervical electric resection in submucous myomas].

Twenty-five patients underwent hysteroscopic resection of large symptomatic intrauterine fibroids. Patients were divided into one of three groups: those with pedunculated myomas (G0), those with intramural extension less than 50% (G1), and those with fibroids with intramural extension more than 50% (G2). In the first group (7 patients) the age ranged from 42-52 years (mean age 48 years), the operating time ranged from 15-60 min.

[An adenomatoid tumor of the uterus].

Three adenomatoid tumors of the uterus were examined. These tumors arising in the uterus are often regarded as incidental findings at operation, and are sometimes not well recognized at the time of diagnosis. They are small nodular lesions in the wall of the myometrium.

[Prostatic tissue in a cystic teratoma of the ovary].

We report one example of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary containing prostatic tissue, in a 73 year-old female. The tumor is typical and it is composed of well-differentiated derivatives of the three germ layers. Prostatic tissue was an incidental finding in teratoma.