Pilot Study by Liquid Biopsy in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Analysis of D842V Mutation and Hypermethylation of Presence by Digital Droplet PCR.

Tissue biopsy remains the standard for diagnosing gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), although liquid biopsy is emerging as a promising alternative in oncology. In this pilot study, we advocate for droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to diagnose GIST in tissue samples and explore its potential for early diagnosis via liquid biopsy, focusing on the D842V mutation and hypermethylated gene. We utilized ddPCR to analyze the predominant mutation (D842V) in surgical tissue samples from 15 GIST patients, correlating with pathologists' diagnoses.

[Deposits of lanthanum in the gastric mucosa of a patient with chronic kidney disease].

Lanthanum carbonate is a non-calcium phosphorus chelator used in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia associated with chronic renal disease. Deposits of lanthanum in the gastrointestinal wall have been recently described but its clinical significance is uncertain. We present a case of a 62-year-old male with chronic renal disease treated with lanthanum carbonate for 3 years, with deposits in his gastric mucosa, found on biopsy for dyspepsia.

Pathological features and diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is a noninvasive epithelial neoplasm of mucin-producing cells arising in the main duct (MD) and/or branch ducts (BD) of the pancreas. Involved ducts are dilated and filled with neoplastic papillae and mucus in variable intensity. IPMN lacks ovarian-type stroma, unlike mucinous cystic neoplasm, and is defined as a grossly visible entity (≥ 5 mm), unlike pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm.

Pathological aspects of so called "hilar cholangiocarcinoma".

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) arising from the large intrahepatic bile ducts and extrahepatic hilar bile ducts share clinicopathological features and have been called hilar and perihilar CC as a group. However, "hilar and perihilar CC" are also used to refer exclusively to the intrahepatic hilar type CC or, more commonly, the extrahepatic hilar CC. Grossly, a major distinction can be made between papillary and non-papillary tumors.

Optical analysis of computed tomography images of the liver predicts fibrosis stage and distribution in chronic hepatitis C.

Unlabelled: This study was undertaken to evaluate an image processing method for assessing liver fibrosis in conventional computed tomography (CT) scans in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Two cohorts (designated "estimation," n = 34; and "validation," n = 107) of chronic hepatitis C patients were assessed using digitized conventional helical CT. Weighted CT mean fibrosis (Fibro-CT) was calculated as a nonlinear weighted mean F-score for each sample.

[Comparative study of two models that use biochemical parameters for the non-invasive diagnosis of fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C].

Background And Objective: Several models for the prediction of liver fibrosis have been developed which consist of the measurement of routine laboratory data: a) a model combining platelets, gamma-glutamil-transpeptidase, cholesterol and age (Forns model), and b) a model using an aspartate-aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI). Our study was aimed to compare both non-invasive methods to predict mild fibrosis (F0-F1) or to confirm advanced fibrosis (F3, F4) in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Patients And Method: We included 199 patients with chronic hepatitis.

Serum immunological profile in patients with chronic autoimmune cholestasis.

Aim: To compare patients who had biochemical and histological features of chronic autoimmune cholestasis (CAIC) using serological autoantibody profiling.

Methods: Patients (n = 174 CAIC; 79 AMA(-) and 95 AMA(+)) were profiled for the following antibodies: antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs), antismooth muscle actin (SMA, mainly F-actin), antiperinuclear cytoplasmic neutrophil antibodies (pANCAs), anti-SP100, anti-GP210, anti-M2 (2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complexes), and antisoluble liver antigen (SLA). Liver specimens were reviewed according to staging, biliary interface activity, lobular hepatitis, granulomas, cholestasis, and florid ductal lesion.

Tumour necrosis factor alpha polymorphisms are not involved in the development of steatosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To determine whether the different tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter gene polymorphisms are involved in the development of steatosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and thirty patients (89 men and 41 women; mean age 42.5 +/- 12.

Serum leptin levels correlate with hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Objectives: Hepatic steatosis (HS) has been related to obesity and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to determine the role of leptin system in HS development.

Methods: Patients (n = 131) with biopsy-proven CHC, positive HCV RNA, and raised ALT were enrolled.

Cytology of extramammary Paget's disease of the vulva. A case report.

Background: Paget's disease of the vulva (PDV) is a rare entity, with only a few cytologic descriptions having been published on it. Diagnosis is usually delayed because it is often clinically mistaken for some types of dermatosis, and biopsy is usually postponed.

Case: A 56-year-old woman presented with a pruritic, erythematous and ulcerated superficial lesion on the right labium majus of approximately eight months' duration.