A Greek National Cross-Sectional Study on Myotonic Dystrophies.

Myotonic Dystrophies (DM, Dystrophia Myotonia) are autosomal dominant inherited myopathies with a high prevalence across different ethnic regions. Despite some differences, mainly due to the pattern of muscle involvement and the age of onset, both forms, DM1 and DM2, share many clinical and genetic similarities. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the medical record files of 561 Greek patients, 434 with DM1 and 127 with DM2 diagnosed in two large academic centers between 1994-2020.

Thrombospondin-1 expression in breast cancer: prognostic significance and association with p53 alterations, tumour angiogenesis and extracellular matrix components.

Thrombospondin (TSP-1) is a 450-kd adhesive glycoprotein that was initially discovered in platelets and subsequently in a variety of cell types. Several reports suggest that TSP-1 possesses tumour suppressor function, through its ability to inhibit tumour neovascularization. In this study we investigated tissue sections from 124 breast carcinomas for the immuno-histochemical expression of TSP-1 protein and its relationship to several clinicopathological parameters.

Contrast sensitivity in patients with Beta-thalassemia major and sickle cell disease under regular transfusions and treatment with desferrioxamine.

Purpose: Evaluation of contrast sensitivity in patients with beta-thalassemia major and sickle cell disease which undergo regular transfusions and chelation therapy with desferrioxamine (DFX).

Materials And Methods: We studied contrast sensitivity in 48 eyes (24 patients) with beta-thalassemia major (group A) and in 42 eyes (21 patients) with sickle cell disease (group B), compared to 60 eyes of 30 healthy individuals (control group). Contrast sensitivity was measured using B-VAT II-SG Mentor Video Aquity Tester.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis: Data from a region in western Greece.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and visual prognosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIA).

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 56 patients who met the criteria for JIA to identify those with uveitis and related complications. Patients were referred to and were examined in the Pediatric Department of the University Hospital of Ioannina, between 1995 and 2007.

Orbital cavernous hemangioma in an infant with intracranial lesions: a case report.

Introduction: Cavernous hemangiomas of the orbit are benign vascular malformations, commonly encountered in adults. Although they are infrequent in pediatric population their diagnosis and course are of a great significance, mainly because they can cause visual disturbances such as amblyopia that can ensue, and secondarily due to their cosmetic and psychological effect. Special attention is required in follow up and treatment.

Findings of an experimental study in a rabbit model on posterior capsule opacification after implantation of hydrophobic acrylic and hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses.

Purpose: Study on cell growth on the posterior capsule after implantation of hydrophobic acrylic (Acrysof SA 60 AT) and hydrophilic acrylic (Akreos Disc) intraocular lenses (IOL) in a rabbit model and comparison of posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

Methods: Phacoemulsification was performed in 22 rabbit eyes, and two different IOL types (Acrysof SA60 AT and Akreos Disc) were implanted. These IOLs had the same optic geometry (square edged) but different material and design.

The E-cadherin adhesion molecule and colorectal cancer. A global literature approach.

The E-cadherin-catenin complex plays a crucial role in epithelial cell cell adhesion and in the maintenance of tissue architecture. Down-regulation of E-cadherin expression correlates with a strong invasive potential, resulting in poor prognosis in human carcinomas. Progress has been made in understanding the interaction between the different components of this protein complex and how this cell-cell adhesion complex is modulated in cancer cells.

Mucinous breast carcinoma presenting as Paget's disease of the nipple in a man: a case report.

Introduction: Male breast cancer is rare compared to its female counterpart representing less than 1% of cancer in men. Moreover, mucinous carcinoma of the male breast is an extremely rare histological subtype of malignancy. Paget's disease of the nipple is rarely observed in males.

Orbital metastasis from verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity: case report and review of the literature.

A rare case of metastatic verrucous carcinoma (VC) of the oral cavity is presented. The patient was referred to the Ophthalmology Department due to diplopia. The patient reported history of diagnosis of verrucous squamous carcinoma in the oral cavity occuring 6 years earlier that although excised presented several recurrences.

CEA levels in serum and BAL in patients suffering from lung cancer: correlation with individuals presenting benign lung lesions and healthy volunteers.

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a tumor marker belonging to the immunoglobulin gene superfamily of adhesion molecules. CEA is synthesized by epithelial and tumor cells. In this study, CEA levels in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) were measured in patients with malignant lung cancer and benign lung diseases.

Alterations of the p53, Rb and p27 tumor suppressor pathways in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) display defects in cell cycle and apoptosis regulation. Therefore, the immunohistochemical expression patterns of the proteins p14, p21, Hdm2 and cyclin D2 were analyzed in relation to the previously reported expression of other major cell cycle proteins (p53, Rb, p16, p27, Ki-67 and cyclins A, B1, D2, D3 and E), apoptosis-associated proteins (bcl2, bcl-xl, bax, bak, bad and bid) and the B-cell differentiation immunophenotypes. Expression of the proteins p14, p21, Hdm2 and cyclin D2 was observed in 62/71 (87%), 22/76 (29%), 35/74 (47%) and 11/77 (14%) cases, respectively.

Expression of adhesion molecules during normal pregnancy.

We review the available information regarding the role of adhesive molecules as potential participants in the complex events of fertilization, embryogenesis, implantation and placentation. Studies that specifically relate to the expression and modulation of adhesive molecules in fertilization, embryogenesis, and implantation have been identified in the literature and by Medline searches. Cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions play a critical role in various developmental processes and in the cascade of events that lead to implantation and to the normal development of the fetus during pregnancy.

Subcutaneous metastasis of peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration.

Mesothelioma is a rare malignant neoplasm of the serosal membranes, which can give distant metastases in various organs in advanced stages of its course. Subcutaneous tissue is an unusual metastatic site. In the literature, only one case of metastatic mesothelioma to the skin of the face has been reported.

Primary mantle cell lymphoma of the conjunctiva: a case report.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the conjunctiva are uncommon. They are almost exclusively extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas/mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas. In this study, we report an extremely rare case of conjunctival mantle cell lymphoma in a 78-year-old man, presenting as a unilateral epibulbar mass.

Angiogenesis in pterygium: study of microvessel density, vascular endothelial growth factor, and thrombospondin-1.

Purpose: This retrospective study aims to elucidate the role of angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of pterygium. We evaluated microvessel density (MVD), and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1).

Methods: Fifty-two surgically excised pterygia and seven normal conjunctivae were immunohistochemically studied applying the streptavidin-biotin method in paraffin-embedded tissue sections.

Thrombospondin-1 expression in urothelial carcinoma: prognostic significance and association with p53 alterations, tumour angiogenesis and extracellular matrix components.

Background: Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is an extracellular matrix component glycoprotein, which is known to be a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and may be important in cancer invasiveness. We examined the TSP-1 expression in correlation with conventional clinicopathological parameters to clarify its prognostic significance in bladder cancer. In addition, the possible correlation of TSP-1 expression with microvessel count, VEGF expression, p53 expression as well as with the expression of the extracellular matrix components was studied to explore its implication in vascularization and tumour stroma remodeling.

Rare association of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis with dermatomyositis.

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) has been associated with other autoimmune diseases such as chronic urticaria, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Sjøgren's syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, and dermatomyositis (DM). AITD is a common disorder affecting primarily women, and both genetic and environmental factors are included in its pathogenesis. DM is considered an autoimmune disease of the muscles and skin.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (gelatinase B) in benign, premalignant and malignant laryngeal lesions.

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic zinc-containing enzymes, which are responsible for the breakdown of the extracellular matrix components in pathological and physiological conditions. They are involved in basement membrane disruption, stroma and blood vessel penetration, metastasis and more recently there is evidence that they participate in tumor growth and angiogenic events. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 (MMP 2 and 9) belong to the gelatinases, a subgroup of MMPs, and have the capacity to degrade the triple helix type IV collagen of basal lamina of the basement membrane.

Clinicopathologic study of vascular endothelial growth factor, thrombospondin-1, and microvessel density assessed by CD34 in patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma.

The aim of the study was to investigate angiogenesis in patients with advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma. We used paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 33 patients diagnosed with FIGO III ovarian cancer who had optimal surgery and received platinum-based chemotherapy. The tissue expression of CD34, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was assessed immunohistochemically.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the lacrimal gland--a case report.

MALT lymphoma of the ocular adnexa, an indolent B-cell lymphoma, rarely affects the lacrimal gland. The case of a 73-year-old man with ptosis and edema of the left upper eyelid, due to lacrimal gland swelling, is presented. Clinical evaluation and imaging examination led to excision biopsy.

Matrix metalloproteinases in carcinoma of unknown primary.

Background: The purpose was to study proteolysis-related molecules, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), in carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP).

Methods: Paraffin-embedded tumor material from 75 patients diagnosed with CUP was used. Tumor histologies were adenocarcinoma (77%), undifferentiated carcinoma (19%), and squamous cell carcinoma (4%) and patients were categorized into favorable (62%) and unfavorable (38%) subsets.

Immunohistochemical study of angiogenesis and proliferative activity in epiretinal membranes.

Formation of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) is a serious complication of retinal diseases, the most important being proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). In this study, our goal was to (i) calculate the microvessel density (MVD), (ii) evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and (iii) correlate angiogenesis with the proliferative activity as expressed by the expression of Ki67 marker, in both membrane types. We performed immunohistochemistry in 14 PVR and eight PDR membranes, using antibodies against CD34, VEGF, Ki67 and glial fibrillary acidic protein.

Immunohistochemical study of extracellular matrix components in epiretinal membranes of vitreoproliferative retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: The migration, proliferation, differentiation, and adhesion of cells and other cellular functions are influenced by the surrounding extracellular matrix in normal and wound healing conditions. The formation of epiretinal membranes, a wound healing process, is a serious complication of retinal diseases, the most important being proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). In the present study, the authors investigated the expression of various extracellular matrix components and in particular tenascin, fibronectin, laminin, collagen IV, and MMP-3 glycoprotein as well as the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in each type of epithelial membrane in order to elucidate the role of these molecules in the formation of these two types of membranes.

Angiogenesis in cancer of unknown primary: clinicopathological study of CD34, VEGF and TSP-1.

Background: Cancer of unknown primary remains a mallignancy of elusive biology and grim prognosis that lacks effective therapeutic options. We investigated angiogenesis in cancer of unknown primary to expand our knowledge on the biology of these tumors and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Methods: Paraffin embedded archival material from 81 patients diagnosed with CUP was used.

Clinicopathological study of the expression of syndecan-1 in invasive breast carcinomas. correlation with extracellular matrix components.

Syndecan-1, a cell surface proteoglycan found predominantly on epithelia of mature tissues, binds both extracellular matrix (ECM) components and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and is implicated in the restriction of growth and invasiveness of neoplastic cells, as it induces the adhesion capacity of neoplastic cells with the stroma. In this study we investigated breast carcinomas for the immunohistochemical expression of syndecan-1 protein and these results were assessed in relation to clinicopathological parameters, in order to clarify its prognostic value. The possible relationship with hormone receptors content, p53, cell proliferation markers, and extracellular matrix components was also estimated.