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Background: CD44 isoforms are known to be possible diagnostic and prognostic markers in colorectal cancer (CRC). Objectives: The present study aims at investigating the expression of CD44 standard (CD44s) isoform inCRCby immunohistochemistry (IHC) as well as exploring its clinicopathological correlations. Methods: A total of 102 patients, who underwent surgery for primary colorectal adenocarcinoma, were enrolled in this study. IHC staining for CD44 was performed on pathology samples and defined as: staining < 10% as low/weak, 10% - 50% as moderate, and > 50% as strong/extensive expression level. Results: The patients' mean age was 62.8-15.67 years. IHC staining for CD44s demonstrated low expression level in 56%, moderate in 24%, and extensive in 20% of the participants. The only association was found between CD44 expression level and patients' age (P = 0.03) as 25% of tumors in patients younger than 60 years old expressedCD44expression strongly in contrast to 16.1% of the patients older than 60 years old. No other association was found between tumor histology, stage, gender, tumor location, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis, or tumor subtype (P > 0.05). Conclusions: No relation was found between CD44s expression and any tumoral characteristics of CRC. It seems that CD44s are not helpful in improving the prognostic or diagnostic power in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smooth muscle tumors rather benign or malignant can arise wherever the muscular tissue presents but cutaneous leiomyoma is one of the rare benign tumors of the which even the diagnostic criteria from the malignant type of the tumor is still in doubt. This study was aimed to compare the subtypes of cutaneous leiomyoma from different histologic aspects in order to find unique criteria for better classification and diagnosis. The six year data base of our center was reviewed and 25 patients with cutaneous leiomyoma were included in this study. Of 25 patients, 5 were female and 20 were male. 5 patients had angioleiomyoma (ALM) and 20 had pilar leiomyoma (PLM). ALM had following characteristics: dilated vascular canals intermingled with compact smooth muscle bundles; well circumscribe counter and myxoid and hyaline changes through the tumor. In contrast, PLMs had following histologic features: poor defined outline, entrapped hair follicles and eccrine glands, acanthosis and elongated rete ridges with hyperpigmentation and smooth muscle bundles which are interdigitated with elongated rete ridges. Here we introduced some distinct histological features for each subtype of the cutaneous leiomyoma which can lead to create novel criteria for classification and diagnosis of the lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease and associated with other diseases such as cardiovascular,hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Aim: Our aim was to explore the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in psoriatic patients. Materials and Methods: Between April 2008 and May 2010, a total of 304 psoriatic and 300 nonpsoriatic patients were enrolled in this cross sectional study. Data were obtained on age, sex, weight, heights, etc; documented medical history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension; family history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in first relatives, history of smoking. Results: There was no significant difference in age and gender distribution between two groups. There was also no difference in body mass index between two groups. Within psoriatic group, 79.3% of patients present with plaque type of the disease and 20.7% present with other types. The results showed that within psoriatic patients, the prevalence of diabetes in women is significantly higher than in men (OR=1.93, CI95%: 1.1-3.6, P=0.004) but this difference is not present in nonpsoriatic patients. The results also showed that the prevalence of diabetes in psoriatic patients is significantly higher than nonpsoriatic patients (OR=1.76, CI95%: 1.11-2.8, P=0.015). The data showed that psoriatic patients were more likely to develop hypertension compared with nonpsoriatic patients (OR=2.2, CI95%: 1.2-4.6, P=0.003). According to results, although smoking rate within psoriatic patients is higher than the other group but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: Psoriatic patients have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome and hypertension in comparison to nonpsoriatic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synovial sarcoma is a type of malignancy which usually occurs near the joints of the arm, neck, or leg. It is a sarcoma of soft tissue and accounts for 5-10% of all adult soft tissue sarcomas in the world. We present a case with primary supericial cutaneous synovial sarcoma without involvement of the underlying knee joint. It is a very rare condition, and to the best of our knowledge, it is the second report of this topic. Although it is rare among soft tissue tumors, the dermatologists should have precise attention to this skin tumor, as early diagnosis is associated with lower metastatic rate and therefore better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]