Involvement of autophagy in germ cells in an experimental model of varicocele in rats before and after varicocelectomy.

Introduction: Autophagy, a catabolic process enabling cellular organelles and proteins' reuse for energy, has been observed in varicocele models, but the effect of surgical treatment on this process remains unknown. This study aims to assess autophagy in varicocele models undergoing surgical correction.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one adolescent male rats were induced with varicocele and divided into three groups: sham, varicocele, and varicocele with varicocelectomy.

Immunoexpression of autophagy‑related proteins in a single‑center series of sporadic adult conventional clival chordomas.

Autophagy is a biological process that facilitates the degradation and removal of damaged structures and macromolecules. In neoplasms, autophagy has been proposed to play a dual role, functioning either as a tumor promoter or a tumor suppressor. To date, no comprehensive analysis of autophagy, primarily through immunohistochemical investigation of autophagy-related proteins (ATGs), has been conducted in chordomas (CHs), which are rare bone tumors that arise from remnants of the notochord.

The Simultaneous Use of Bladder Epicheck and Urinary Cytology Can Improve the Sensitivity and Specificity of Diagnostic Follow-Up of Urothelial Lesions: Up-to-Date Data from a Multi-Institutional Cohort.

Bladder cancer is a prevalent urinary system malignancy and urinary cytology is widely used for its screening and follow-up. A novel diagnostic tool called Bladder Epicheck (BE) is increasingly being used for monitoring the recurrence of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The simultaneous use of BE and urinary cytology can increase the diagnostic performances in the follow-up of bladder neoplasms.

Immunohistochemical Profile of p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 in Human Low- and High-Grade Intracranial Meningiomas.

Among autophagic-related proteins, p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 represents a relevant actor in cellular proliferation and neoplastic growth. Although, recently, p62 expression has been analyzed in different neurodegenerative and glial neoplastic diseases, no available information have been reported in meningiomas, which have an high epidemiological relevance being the second most common category of intracranial tumors after gliomas. Generally meningiomas have a benign behavior, but their recurrence is not uncommon mainly when atypical or anaplastic varieties occur.

Role of ATG4 Autophagy-Related Protein Family in the Lower Airways of Patients with Stable COPD.

Autophagy is a complex physiological pathway mediating homeostasis and survival of cells degrading damaged organelles and regulating their recycling. Physiologic autophagy can maintain normal lung function, decrease lung cellular senescence, and inhibit myofibroblast differentiation. It is well known that autophagy is activated in several chronic inflammatory diseases; however, its role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the expression of autophagy-related genes (ATGs) in lower airways of COPD patients is still controversial.

Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Immunohistochemical Expression in Advanced Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma: An Updated Review with Clinical and Pathological Implications.

The management of advanced bladder carcinoma involves a multidisciplinary approach, but the prognosis remains poor for many patients. The immune system plays a crucial role in this disease, influencing both tumor development and response to treatment, and exploiting the immune system against the tumor can be a valuable strategy to destroy neoplastic cells. This is the biological principle underlying Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) use and, more recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), like PD-1 (programmed death-1)/PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) inhibitors.

MiRNAs and Microbiota in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Implications in Pathogenesis and Potential Role in Predicting Response to ICI Treatment.

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in both men and women and today is still characterized by high mortality and lethality. Several biomarkers have been identified for evaluating the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and selecting the most effective therapeutic strategy for these patients. The introduction of innovative targeted therapies and immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of NSCLC both in advanced stages and, more recently, also in early stages, has revolutionized and significantly improved the therapeutic scenario for these patients.

The Morphology of Nasal Polyps in Different Age Groups: Histopathological Features.

Background: Nasal polyps (NPs) represent the end-stage manifestation of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a relatively common pathological condition encountered in all ages of life.

Methodology: The aim of our study was to evaluate the histological features and inflammatory cellular components of NPs in a retrospective cohort (143 cases) of pediatric, adult and elderly populations in order to discuss the possible morphological age-related differences statistically documented.

Results: In the pediatric group, the inflammatory infiltrate presented many eosinophils mixed with lymphocytes, while in the adult population, lymphocytes and plasma cells were mainly evident, frequently with a perivascular distribution or with the formation of subepithelial lymphoid nodules.

Pilocytic astrocytoma: The paradigmatic entity in low‑grade gliomas (Review).

Among low-grade gliomas, representing 10-20% of all primary brain tumours, the paradigmatic entity is constituted by pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), considered a grade 1 tumour by the World Health Organization. Generally, this tumour requires surgical treatment with an infrequent progression towards malignant gliomas. The present review focuses on clinicopathological characteristics, and reports imaging, neurosurgical and molecular features using a multidisciplinary approach.

IL-33 immunohistochemical pattern of expression in neoplastic and nonneoplastic peripheral lung tissues of stage 1 o 2 lung adenocarcinoma.

IL-33 is a multifaceted cytokine, plays a pivotal role in various biological processes, making it a subject of extensive research and intrigue in the field of immunology. This cytokine acts as a key regulator, effectively putting the brakes on proinflammatory nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), thereby modulating chromatin compaction by promoting nucleosome-to-nucleosome interactions. IL-33's influence extends to the realm of innate and acquired immunity through its binding to the membrane-bound ST2 molecule (ST2L) of the IL-33R complex, which is expressed on various immune cells, such as Th2 cells, mast cells, natural killer cells, myeloid cells, and dendritic cells.

Low and Ultra-Low HER2 in Human Breast Cancer: An Effort to Define New Neoplastic Subtypes.

HER2-low and ultra-low breast cancer (BC) have been recently proposed as new subcategories of HER2 BC, supporting a re-consideration of immunohistochemical negative scores of 0, 1+ and the 2+/in situ hybridization (ISH) negative phenotype. In the present review, we outline the criteria needed to exactly distinguish HER2-low and ultra-low BC. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated significant clinical benefits of novel HER2 directing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in treating these groups of tumors.

Unusual localization and clinical presentation of primary central nervous system extranodal marginal zone B‑cell lymphoma: A case report.

Primary central nervous system (CNS) extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZBL) is a rare low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma, characterised predominantly by small B cells, plasma cells, monocytoid cells and scattered large immunoblasts. Primary CNS MZBL is a slow-growing tumour that remains localised and is characterised by an excellent clinical prognosis. The present study describes the case of a 48-year-old HIV-negative female patient with a history of head trauma 1 year prior, who presented with worsening neurological symptoms and a magnetic resonance imaging finding of a ~3-cm extra-axial mass within the left lateral ventricle.

Liver fat content assessed by conventional B-mode ultrasound and metabolic profile in non-diabetic patients: Implications for clinical practice.

Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between severe hepatic steatosis and metabolic alterations; however, few studies have addressed the potential association between different grades of steatosis and clinical patterns in a non-diabetic population.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 223 non-diabetic individuals. The severity of steatosis was assessed using B-mode ultrasound.

Immunohistological Analysis of Lichen Sclerosus of the Foreskin in Pediatric Age: Could It Be Considered a Premalignant Lesion?

Background: A major worry of juvenile penile LS is potential malignant degeneration to spinocellular carcinoma (SCC) in adulthood. LS is characterized by increased CD8+ and CD57+ cells, dermal sclerosis, epidermal atrophy, and hyperkeratosis. p53 and Ki67 are reliable premalignant markers.

BRAF-AXL-PD-L1 Signaling Axis as a Possible Biological Marker for RAI Treatment in the Thyroid Cancer ATA Intermediate Risk Category.

The use of radioiodine therapy (RIT) is debated in intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DTC can be useful to refine patient selection for RIT. We analyzed the mutational status of BRAF, RAS, TERT, PIK3 and RET, and the expression of PD-L1 (as a CPS score), the NIS and AXL genes and the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL, as the CD4/CD8 ratio), in the tumor tissue in a cohort of forty-six ATA intermediate-risk patients, homogeneously treated with surgery and RIT.

Autophagic-Related Proteins in Brain Gliomas: Role, Mechanisms, and Targeting Agents.

The present review focuses on the phenomenon of autophagy, a catabolic cellular process, which allows for the recycling of damaged organelles, macromolecules, and misfolded proteins. The different steps able to activate autophagy start with the formation of the autophagosome, mainly controlled by the action of several autophagy-related proteins. It is remarkable that autophagy may exert a double role as a tumour promoter and a tumour suppressor.

Cellular and molecular features of COVID-19 associated ARDS: therapeutic relevance.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can be asymptomatic or cause a disease (COVID-19) characterized by different levels of severity. The main cause of severe COVID-19 and death is represented by acute (or acute on chronic) respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), often requiring hospital admission and ventilator support.The molecular pathogenesis of COVID-19-related ARDS (by now termed c-ARDS) is still poorly understood.

A Review on Biological Effects of Ultrasounds: Key Messages for Clinicians.

Ultrasound (US) is acoustic energy that interacts with human tissues, thus, producing bioeffects that may be hazardous, especially in sensitive organs (i.e., brain, eye, heart, lung, and digestive tract) and embryos/fetuses.

Rare histotypes of epithelial biliary tract tumors: A literature review.

Adenocarcinoma represents the most frequent biliary tract cancer. However, other rare histotypes can be found in the biliary tract, such as cholangiolocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma with ductal plate malformation pattern, adenosquamous carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, and sarcomatous cholangiocarcinoma. These cancer types account for less than 10 % of all the already rare biliary tract tumors.

Immunoexpression of p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 in human primary and recurrent IDH1/2 wild-type glioblastoma: A pilot study.

p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 is an autophagic protein that serves a crucial role in cellular metabolism, proliferation and malignant growth. Notably, autophagy may influence the development and resistance to therapy of numerous types of human cancer. In the present pilot study, the immunohistochemical pattern of p62 was analyzed in a cohort of patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1/2 wild-type glioblastoma (GBM), in primary and recurrent samples, in order to verify the concordance or discordance between the primary and recurrent tumors.

Aggressive variants of follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinoma: an overview.

Purpose: The incidence of thyroid carcinoma has increased globally in the past years. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most frequent neoplasm of the thyroid gland comprehending the 90% of the thyroid carcinoma and has an indolent clinical behaviour. However, some variants of follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinoma, including variants of classic of PTC, have been identified that show a more aggressive biological behaviour.

Autophagy-related Prognostic Signature in HER2 Positive Gastric Carcinomas.

Background: The immunohistochemical analysis of autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) has been recently applied in human pathology to study differentiation and cancer progression. The aim of the present study is to analyze a cohort of gastric carcinomas (GC) by five ATG antisera (Beclin-1, LC3A/B, p62, ULK-1 and AMBRA-1), also evaluating their possible relationship with clinicopathological parameters, HER2 status and final outcome of patients.

Methods: A cohort of 123 GCs has been studied by ATG antisera utilizing Masuda's criteria that define positive cases in which at least two out of five protein expressions were documented.