Adherence to Newly Implemented Tamoxifen Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients in Rural Western Ethiopia.

Introduction: Endocrine therapy for breast cancer (BC) patients is highly underutilized in rural Ethiopia and other African countries.

Objective: This study aims to assess the feasibility of and adherence to tamoxifen therapy in rural Ethiopia.

Methods: We ascertained the hormone receptor (HR) status in 101 women diagnosed with BC from January 2010 to December 2015 and who had surgery in Aira Hospital, in rural Ethiopia.

Alterations of protein expression of phospholamban, ZASP and plakoglobin in human atria in subgroups of seniors.

The mature mammalian myocardium contains composite junctions (areae compositae) that comprise proteins of adherens junctions as well as desmosomes. Mutations or deficiency of many of these proteins are linked to heart failure and/or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in patients. We firstly wanted to address the question whether the expression of these proteins shows an age-dependent alteration in the atrium of the human heart.

Comparison of Receptor-Defined Breast Cancer Subtypes Between German and Sudanese Women: A Facility-Based Cohort Study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare tumor characteristics, biomarkers, and surrogate subtypes of breast cancer between Sudanese and German women.

Methods: Tumor characteristics and immunohistochemistry markers (estrogen receptor [ER], progesterone receptor [PR], and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]) were collected from the routine assessment of consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer diagnosed from 2010 to 2015 (Gezira University Pathology Laboratory, Gezira, Sudan) and from 1999 to 2013 (Breast Centre, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany).

Results: A total of 2,492 patients (German [n = 1,932] and Sudanese [n = 560]) were included.

Tubo-Ovarian Transitional Cell Carcinoma and High-grade Serous Carcinoma Show Subtly Different Immunohistochemistry Profiles.

Tubo-ovarian transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is grouped with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) in the current World Health Organization classification. TCC is associated with BRCA mutations and a better prognosis compared with HGSC. Previous papers examining the immunohistochemical features of TCC have studied limited numbers of samples.

Survival of breast cancer patients in rural Ethiopia.

Purpose: To describe the histopathological characteristics and survival of female breast cancer (BC) patients in a rural setting with limited access to adjuvant treatment.

Methods: A prospective study of 107 histologically confirmed BC patients treated with surgery from 2010 to 2016 from rural parts of western Ethiopia. Referral pathology was performed, and active follow-up was conducted.

Gene Expression (mRNA) Markers for Differentiating between Malignant and Benign Follicular Thyroid Tumours.

Distinguishing between follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) and follicular thyroid adenoma (FTA) constitutes a long-standing diagnostic problem resulting in equivocal histopathological diagnoses. There is therefore a need for additional molecular markers. To identify molecular differences between FTC and FTA, we analyzed the gene expression microarray data of 52 follicular neoplasms.

Ovarian borderline tumors in the 2014 WHO classification: evolving concepts and diagnostic criteria.

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) are uncommon but not rare epithelial ovarian neoplasms, intermediate between benign and malignant categories. Since BOT were first identified >40 years ago, they have inspired controversies disproportionate to their incidence. This review discusses diagnostic criteria for the histologic subtypes of BOT, highlighting areas of diagnostic challenges, ongoing controversies, and changes in terminology implemented by the recent 2014 WHO Classification of Tumours of the Female Genital Organs.

Two-miRNA classifiers differentiate mutation-negative follicular thyroid carcinomas and follicular thyroid adenomas in fine needle aspirations with high specificity.

Diagnosis of thyroid by fine needle aspiration is challenging for the "indeterminate" category and can be supported by molecular testing. We set out to identify miRNA markers that could be used in a diagnostic setting to improve the discrimination of mutation-negative indeterminate fine needle aspirations. miRNA high-throughput sequencing was performed for freshly frozen tissue samples of 19 RAS and PAX8/PPARG mutation-negative follicular thyroid carcinomas, and 23 RAS and PAX8/PPARG mutation-negative follicular adenomas.

The new WHO classification of ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer and its clinical implications.

Introduction: Molecular pathological research has contributed to improving the knowledge of different subtypes of ovarian cancer. In parallel with the implementation of the new FIGO staging classification, the WHO classification was revised. The latter is mainly based on the histopathological findings and defines the actual type of tumor.

The Value of Serum CA125 in the Diagnosis of Borderline Tumors of the Ovary: A Subanalysis of the Prospective Multicenter ROBOT Study.

Objective: The value of the serum tumor marker CA125 in borderline tumors of the ovary (BOTs) is not well defined, with unclear benefit in both diagnosis and follow-up. The aim of the present project was to identify the predictive value of CA125 for stage and relapse.

Methods: CA125 data were extracted from the ROBOT multicenter study of patients with BOT treated between 1998 and 2008 in 24 German centers.

Opportunistic salpingectomies for the prevention of a high-grade serous carcinoma: a statement by the Kommission Ovar of the AGO.

The detection of premalignant cells in the epithelium of the fallopian tube has resulted in revolutionary theories regarding the origin of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Serous tubal intra-epithelial carcinomas (STIC) have been detected in patients with BRCA 1 or 2 mutations and are considered as the most likely precursors of the high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), which is the most common histological subtype in patients with EOC. A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is associated with a significant reduction in risk of developing EOC.

A two miRNA classifier differentiates follicular thyroid carcinomas from follicular thyroid adenomas.

The inherent diagnostic limitations of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA), especially in the "indeterminate" category, can be partially overcome by molecular analyses. We aimed at the identification of miRNAs that could be used to improve the discrimination of indeterminate FNAs. miRNA expression profiling was performed for 17 follicular carcinomas (FTCs) and 8 follicular adenomas (FAs).

Differential miRNA expression defines migration and reduced apoptosis in follicular thyroid carcinomas.

The objective of the study was to identify microRNAs (miRs) characteristic for follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and to define their role in tumorigenesis. A miR-microarray study was conducted to identify miRs differentially expressed between FTCs and their surrounding tissues. Selection was further reinforced by a literature review.

Specialized pathology review in patients with ovarian cancer: results from a prospective study.

Background: A significant number of ovarian borderline tumors (BOTs) and metastatic nonovarian primaries are erroneously diagnosed as ovarian carcinomas. If BOTs are misdiagnosed as cancer, patients may not only experience nonbeneficial morbidity but may have to cope with an incorrect diagnosis of cancer for the rest of their lives. In cases of metastatic disease mistaken for an ovarian primary, more adequate therapeutic modalities may be withheld from some patients.

Molecular differential diagnosis of follicular thyroid carcinoma and adenoma based on gene expression profiling by using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

Background: Differential diagnosis between malignant follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) and benign follicular thyroid adenoma (FTA) is a great challenge for even an experienced pathologist and requires special effort. Molecular markers may potentially support a differential diagnosis between FTC and FTA in postoperative specimens. The purpose of this study was to derive molecular support for differential post-operative diagnosis, in the form of a simple multigene mRNA-based classifier that would differentiate between FTC and FTA tissue samples.

Borderline tumours of the ovary: A cohort study of the Arbeitsgmeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie (AGO) Study Group.

Background: Borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) are recognised as a unique entity of ovarian tumours that do not exert infiltrative destructive growth or stromal invasion. Prognosis of BOT is much better compared to the more common invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. Information regarding prognostic factors is inconclusive and no prospective studies exist that evaluate therapeutic strategies.

Ovarian borderline tumors in pre-menarche girls.

By reason of a new case of an ovarian mucinous borderline tumor (BOT) in a pre-menarche girl, a research of current literature was implemented. Low-grade malignant epithelial tumors are extremely rare in young children and, as far as we know, only a few case reports exist. The patients presented with vomiting, pain, and a swollen lower abdomen.

Human 5-HT₄receptor stimulation in atria of transgenic mice.

In human atrium, serotonin (5-HT) exerts pleiotropic effects, which are thought to be mediated via 5-HT4 receptors. Here, we used transgenic mice (TG) that overexpress the human 5-HT4(a) receptor under control of the heart-specific α-myosin heavy chain promoter in the atria (and ventricles). Contractile studies were performed in isolated electrically driven left atrial preparations and spontaneously beating right atrial preparation of TG and littermate control mice (wild type (WT)).

Histopathologic features of ovarian borderline tumors are not predictive of clinical outcome.

Objectives: Ovarian borderline tumors (BOTs) generally have an excellent prognosis, although recurrences and malignant transformation can occur. Our aim was to compare clinicopathologic features of BOT with clinical outcome.

Methods: In seventy consecutive BOTs clinicopathologic parameters, tumor cell proliferation (Ki67) and in selected cases KRAS, BRAF and p53 mutational status were analyzed with recurrence-free and overall survival as the endpoints.

Inverse expression of cystein-rich 61 (Cyr61/CCN1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) in borderline tumors and carcinomas of the ovary.

Members of the CCN [cystein-rich 61 (Cyr61)/connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)/nephroblastoma (NOV)] protein family are involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and migration and are also assumed to play a role in carcinogenesis. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of both Cyr61 and CTGF in 92 borderline tumors (BOTs) and 107 invasive carcinomas of the ovary (IOCs). To determine their diagnostic and prognostic value, we correlated protein expression with clinicopathologic factors including overall and disease-free survival.

On the presence of serotonin in mammalian cardiomyocytes.

Pleiotropic effects of serotonin (5-HT) in the cardiovascular system are well documented. However, it remains to be elucidated, whether 5-HT is present in adult mammalian cardiomyocytes. To address this issue, we investigated the levels of 5-HT in blood, plasma, platelets, cardiac tissue, and cardiomyocytes from adult mice and for comparison in human right atrial tissue.