Pathology, research and practice
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Pathol. Res. Pract. · Sep 2011
Incomplete expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The hypothesis that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to the formation of fibroblast foci (FF), which are the histological hallmark and the site of active disease progression of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), has not yet received a conclusive demonstration. Cells undergoing EMT lose epithelial features and acquire mesenchymal markers and morphology. Cadherin expression switch (from E to N) is one of the first events in EMT. ⋯ Squamous cell carcinoma only expressed lam5-γ2. In IPF lungs, we observed two epithelial cell populations with a different expression profile of markers involved in EMT. Although neither hyperplastic pneumocytes nor bronchial basal cells showed evidence of complete EMT, only the latter seem to be specific for UIP and might have a role in its development.
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Pathol. Res. Pract. · Apr 2011
Case ReportsImmunopathological characteristics of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome caused by Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum infection in a patient with AIDS.
Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) caused by mycobacterium in patients with AIDS is often experienced in clinical practice. There is, however, a paucity of data documenting the histopathological findings and the pathogenesis. We determined the immunopathological characteristics of IRIS associated with Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum infection in an AIDS patient. ⋯ In M. parascrofulaceum pulmonary infection, the exudative lesion had characteristics of Th2 and Th17-type immunities. In contrast, the proliferative lesion had characteristics of Th-1 type immunity. Our data provide the first evidence to reveal the status of the axis of distinctive immunity in the process of granuloma formation caused by a mycobacterium-related infection.
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Pathol. Res. Pract. · Dec 2010
Meta AnalysisPathological research output in China and other top-ranking countries: 10-year survey of the literature.
The present study was designed to study the research output in pathology journals from the United States (USA), Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom (UK), France, and China between 2000 and 2009. Articles published in 67 pathology-related journals were retrieved from the PubMed database. ⋯ Our analysis investigated the research output of these six countries and revealed a positive trend in China for the period 2000-2009. Also, in contrast to other top-ranking countries, our results imply that China's research in the field of pathology falls behind that of the developed countries, and appropriate steps should be taken to improve the role of pathologists in clinical activity and to gear up for high-quality pathological studies.
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Pathol. Res. Pract. · May 2010
Case ReportsSynchronous renal cell carcinoma and clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma mimicking metastatic disease.
Double carcinomas of hepatocellular and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are extremely rare, and among the reported cases, none of the hepatocellular carcinomas show clear cell change. We report a case of synchronous double primary clear cell tumor in the liver and the kidney of a 70-year-old male. The renal mass was a renal cell carcinoma of mixed clear and granular cell types, and the hepatic mass was a hepatocellular carcinoma with extensive clear cell change that mimicked a metastatic renal cell carcinoma. A simple battery of immunohistochemical stains composed of hepatocyte antigen, and CD10 was performed to make a definite diagnosis.
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Pathol. Res. Pract. · Mar 2010
ReviewThe role of apoptosis in the pathophysiology of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): an up-to-date cell-specific review.
ARDS pathophysiology is characterized by complex mechanisms that involve cells of inflammation, lung tissue cells, cytokines, chemokines, as well as apoptosis activators and inhibitors. There are two important theories that link apoptosis with ARDS and suggest that epithelial cell apoptosis, as well as the accumulation of neutrophils in the lung, may contribute to a cascade of events and, finally, ARDS. The activation of the Fas/FasL pathway is an important mechanism of alveolar epithelial injury in the lungs of patients with ALI. ⋯ The enhanced phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils could lead to resolution of inflammation and repair during ARDS. In this review, we will focus on elucidating the role of apoptosis in the pathophysiology of ARDS and the contribution of Fas-mediated inflammation in ARDS. Furthermore, we will give evidence that TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-13 attenuate the pro-cell death effects of Fas/CD95 on A549 epithelial cells, at least partially, by the NF-kB and PI3-K pathways, suggesting that induction of the expression of antiapoptotic genes protects the epithelial cells from cell death.