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Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are cytoprotective proteins that are expressed constitutively and/or at elevated levels upon the exposure of cells to stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of HSP preinduction by cold- (CWI) or hot-water immersion (HWI) on pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α) in cholecystokininoctapeptide(CCK)-induced acute pancreatitis. Rats were injected with 3 75µg/kg CCK subcutaneously at intervals of 2h at the peak level of HSP synthesis, as determined by Western blot analysis. The animals were killed by exsanguination through the abdominal aorta 2h after the last CCK injection. The serum IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and amylase levels, the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, and the pancreatic contents of DNA, protein, amylase, lipase and trypsinogen were measured; biopsy for histology was taken. HWI significantly elevated the HSP72 expression, while CWI significantly increased the HSP60 expression. HWI pretreatment decreased all of the measured serum cytokine levels in this acute pancreatitis model. CWI and HWI pretreatment ameliorated most of the examined laboratory and morphological parameters of CCK-induced pancreatitis. The findings suggest the possible roles of HSP60 and HSP72 in the protection against CCK-induced pancreatitis. HSP72 might also participate in the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time dependent pion emission rate and the mean life time of the pion source in the center of mass frame of the two-jet events have been determined for e − e → hadrons at √ s=20 - 50 GeV by the Dynamical String Model. It was established that the time needed for the creation of the pion source is 5 fm/c, whereas its life time is τ=7 - 13 fm/c for energies √ s=20 - 50 GeV, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogenic variants in the FAN1 gene lead to a systemic disease with karyomegalic interstitial nephritis (KIN) at the forefront clinically. The phenotypic-genotypic features of a FAN1 mutation-related disease involving five members of a Hungarian Caucasian family are presented. Each had adult-onset chronic kidney disease of unknown cause treated with renal replacement therapy and elevated liver enzymes. Short stature, emaciation, latte-colored skin, freckles, and a hawk-like nose in four patients, a limited intellect in two patients, and chronic restrictive lung disease in one patient completed the phenotype. Severe infections occurred in four patients. All five patients had ceased. Four patients underwent autopsy. KIN and extrarenal karyomegaly were observed histologically; the livers showed no specific abnormality. The genotyping using formalin-fixed tissue samples detected a hitherto undescribed homozygous FAN1 mutation (c.1673_1674insT/p.Met558lfs*4; exon 5) in three of these patients and a heterozygous FAN1 mutation in one patient. The reason for the heterozygosity is discussed. In addition, 56 family members consented to the screening for FAN1 mutation from which 17 individuals proved to be heterozygous carriers; a blood chemistry evaluation of their kidney and liver function did not find any abnormality. The clinical presentation of FAN1-related disease was multifaceted, and not yet described manifestations were observed besides kidney and liver disease. Mutation in this gene should be suspected in adults with small kidneys of unknown cause, elevated liver enzymes, and recurrent infections, even without a family history.

This study highlights the importance of a combined diagnostic approach in the diagnosis of rare diseases, such as adult-onset genetic FSGS. We present three adult patient cases evaluated with kidney biopsy for proteinuria, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension, which were suggestive of adult-onset genetic FSGS. Renal biopsy samples and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded fetal kidneys were evaluated using standard light microscopical stainings, direct immunofluorescence on cryostat sections, and electron microscopy. Clinical exome sequencing was performed for each case, and 45 FSGS-related genes were analyzed. Identifying mutations in the PAX2 , ACTN4 , and COL4A5 genes have prompted a re-evaluation of the previous histopathological examinations. The PAX2 mutation led to a thinner nephrogenic zone and decreased number of glomeruli, resulting in oligohydramnios during fetal development and oligomeganephronia and adaptive focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis in adulthood. The ACTN4 mutation caused distinct electron-dense aggregates in podocyte cell bodies, while the COL4A5 mutation led to segmental sclerosis of glomeruli with marked interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. The identification of specific mutations and their histopathological consequences can lead to a better understanding of the disease and its progression, as well as potential treatment options.

Background: The diagnostic performance of PLA2R and IgG subclass staining of kidney biopsies relative to anti-PLA2R seropositivity in the differentiation of primary and secondary membranous nephropathy (pMN, sMN) was examined. Besides PLA2R staining - which has a lower specificity than anti-PLA2R antibody serology - there is insufficient knowledge to decide which IgG1-4 subtype immunohistological patterns (IgG4-dominance, IgG4-dominance/IgG1-IgG4-codominance or IgG4-dominance/IgG4-codominance with any IgG subtype) could be used to distinguish between pMN and sMN., Methods: 87 consecutive Hungarian patients (84 Caucasians, 3 Romas) with the biopsy diagnosis of MN were classified clinically as pMN (n = 63) or sMN (n = 24). The PLA2R and IgG subclass staining was part of the diagnostic protocol. Anti-PLA2R antibodies were determined by an indirect immunofluorescence test in 74 patients with disease activity., Results: For pMN, the sensitivity of anti-PLA2R seropositivity was 61.1%, and the specificity was 90.0%; and similar values for PLA2R staining were 81.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. In all stages of pMN, IgG4-dominance was the dominant subclass pattern, while the second most frequent was IgG3/IgG4-codominance. The sensitivity and specificity scores were: IgG4-dominance 52.2% and 91.7%, IgG4-dominance/IgG3-IgG4-codominance 76.2% and 87.5%, IgG4-dominance/IgG1-IgG4-codominance 64.2% and 75%, and IgG4-dominance/codominance with any IgG subclass 92.1% and 70.8%, respectively. Anti-PLA2R seropositivity, glomerular PLA2R, and IgG4-dominance/codominance significantly correlated with each other. The IgG4 subclass was rarely encountered in sMN., Conclusion: In our series, IgG4-dominance had the highest specificity in the differentiation of MN, just as high as that for anti-PLA2R seropositivity. The specificity values of PLA2R staining and IgG4-dominance/codominance with any IgG subclass or IgG4-dominance/IgG1-IgG4 codominance were ≤ 75%. Apart from IgG4 dominance, IgG4-dominance/IgG3-IgG4-codominance also had good statistical value in differentiating pMN from sMN. As IgG subclass switching during the progression of pMN was not the feature of our cohort, pMN in Hungarian patients is presumed to be an IgG4-related disorder right from the start. Although anti-PLA2R seropositivity has become the cornerstone for diagnosing pMN, if a kidney biopsy evaluation is conducted, besides the staining of PLA2R antigen, the evaluation of IgG subclasses provides relevant information for a differential diagnosis. Even in cases with IgG4-dominance, however, malignancy should be thoroughly checked., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Dent's disease is a proximal tubulopathy with heterogeneous genetical background. The typical clinical finding is characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis/nephrolithiasis and progressive chronic kidney failure. The underlying cause of the disease is the genetic defect (most commonly CLCN5 mutation) of the receptor-mediated endocytosis in the structure of proximal tubules. The typical fenotype may be composed of extrarenal symptoms. In the event of clinical suspicion, Dent's disease is only verifiable by genetic testing without the necessity of any kidney biopsy. The clinical case can be associated with nephrotic-range proteinuria or kidney failure as an indication of kidney biopsy. The number of articles available at scientific literatures on Dent's disease with the inclusion of renal histology is very slight. According to the pathophysiology of the highlighted Dent's disease and additionally to the expected tubular pathology, global or focal segmental glomerular sclerosis may apply for the majority of cases. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(20): 788-791.

Introduction: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) and acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) are known risk factors for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Hereby, the clinicopathological features of RCCs developed in ESRD were investigated., Methods: A database consisting of 34 tumors from 31 patients with ESRD among 2,566 nephrectomy samples of RCC was built. The demographic, clinical, and follow-up data along with pathological parameters were analyzed. The RCCs were diagnosed according to the current WHO Classification of Urinary and Male Genital Tumors., Results: Twenty-two tumors developed in men and 12 in women, with a median age of 56 years (range: 27-75 years). The causes of ESRD were glomerulonephritis (n = 7), hypertensive kidney disease (n = 6), autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (n = 6), chronic pyelonephritis (n = 4), diabetic nephropathy (n = 3), chemotherapy-induced nephropathy (n = 1), and undetermined (n = 4). ACKD complicated ESRD in 12 patients. The following histological subtypes were identified: clear cell RCC (n = 19), papillary RCC (n = 5), clear cell papillary tumor (n = 5), ACKD RCC (n = 3), and eosinophilic solid and cystic RCC (n = 2). The median tumor size was 31 mm (range: 10-80 mm), and 32 tumors were confined to the kidney (pT1-pT2). There was no tumor-specific death during the period of this study. Progression was registered in 1 patient., Conclusion: In our cohort, the most common RCC subtype was clear cell RCC (55%), with a frequency that exceeded international data appreciably (14-25%). The incidence of clear cell papillary tumor and ACKD RCC (14.7% and 8.5%) was lower than data reported in the literature (30% and 40%). Our results indicate a favorable prognosis of RCC in ESRD., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A kórboncolás hozzájárul a súlyos akut légzőszervi szindrómát okozó koronavírus-2 (SARS-CoV-2-) fertőzés klinikopatológiai vonatkozásainak megismeréséhez. Célkitűzés: A SARS-CoV-2-fertőzöttek boncolása során gyűjtött tapasztalatok bemutatása. Módszer: Egymást követően boncolt, védőoltásban nem részesült, SARS-CoV-2-fertőzött elhunytak klinikai adatait, makro- és mikroszkópos észleleteit összegeztük; a tüdőkimetszéseket SARS-CoV-2-nukleokapszid-immunfestéssel vizsgáltuk. Eredmények: A boncolást a halálok megállapítására (n = 14), tumorgyanú (n = 9), illetve törvényi kötelezettség (n = 3) miatt végeztük. A fertőzést a klinikai észlelés vagy a boncolás során (n = 4) végzett SARS-CoV-2-nukleinsav-teszt igazolta. A tünetes betegség átlagos hossza 12,9 nap volt. 21 betegnél (medián életkor 69 év; 18 férfi) állt fenn COVID-19-pneumonia, mely 16 esetben önmagában, 4 esetben bakteriális pneumoniával vagy álhártyás colitisszel szövődve okozott halált; 1 antikoagulált pneumoniás beteg heveny retroperitonealis vérzésben halt meg. 3 betegnél a halált disszeminálódott malignus tumor, 1 betegnél coronariathrombosis, 1 mentálisan retardált betegnél pedig pulmonalis emboliás szövődmény okozta. A COVID-19-pneumoniás tüdők nehezek, tömöttek és vörösen foltozottak voltak. Szövettanilag a betegség időtartamától függően diffúz alveolaris károsodás korai exsudativ vagy későbbi proliferativ fázisa látszott atípusos pneumocytákkal; gyakori volt a microthrombosis (n = 7), a macrothrombosis (n = 5), illetve a pulmonalis embolia (n = 4). A SARS-CoV-2-immunfestés pozitívnak bizonyult az esetek 38,5%-ában, dominálóan az exsudativ fázisban. Minden elhunyt társbetegség(ek)ben szenvedett, így magasvérnyomás-betegségben (n = 17), érelmeszesedésben (n = 14), 2-es típusú diabetesben (n = 8), rosszindulatú daganatban (n = 6), krónikus obstruktív tüdőbetegségben (n = 4), elhízásban (n = 3), vesetranszplantáció utáni immunszuppresszióban (n = 3). Következtetés: Az irodalmi adatokkal összhangban, halálos COVID-19-pneumonia túlnyomóan idős, társbetegség(ek)től sújtott férfiakban alakult ki. A boncolási gyakorlatban a SARS-CoV-2-nukleokapszid-immunfestéstől a diffúz alveolaris károsodás korai fázisában várható pozitivitás. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(45): 1791-1802., Introduction: Autopsy is an important tool for the evaluation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Objectice: The aim of this study was to present our experience with autopsies of patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection., Method: Clinical data, macroscopic and microscopic findings of consecutive postmortems of non-vaccinated SARS-CoV-2 patients are summarized. Lung samples were evaluated with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid immunohistochemistry., Results: Autopsies were performed to determine the cause of death (n = 14), suspected tumours (n = 9) or due to legal obligation (n = 3). SARS-CoV-2 infection was verified by ante mortem (n = 22) and post mortem (n = 4) polymerase chain reaction. The mean duration of symptomatic disease was 12.9 days. Of 21 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, 16 died of respiratory failure, 4 had additional bacterial pneumonia or Clostridioides difficile infection, and 1 developed hemorrhagic complication (n = 1). Other causes of death included disseminated malignancies (n = 3), coronary thrombosis (n = 1) and pulmonary embolism (n = 1). The affected lungs were heavy and had patchy red appearance. Exudative or proliferative phases of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) were detected with atypical pneumocytes. Microthrombosis (n = 7), macrothrombosis (n = 5) and pulmonary embolism (n = 4) were frequent. The SARS-CoV-2 immunohistochemical reaction was positive in 38.5% of cases. All patients had co-morbidities, namely, hypertension (n = 17), atherosclerosis (n = 14), diabetes (n = 8), malignancies (n = 6), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (n = 4), obesity (n = 3) and immunosuppression after kidney transplantation (n = 3)., Conclusion: Fatal COVID-19 pneumonia occurred mostly in elderly males with co-morbidities. In the autopsy practice, the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid immunohistochemical reaction may confirm the infectious etiology in the early phase of DAD. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(45): 1791-1802.

The pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis (AP) is not well understood, and the disease does not have specific therapy. Tryptophan metabolite L-kynurenic acid (KYNA) and its synthetic analogue SZR-72 are antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and have immune modulatory roles in several inflammatory diseases. Our aims were to investigate the effects of KYNA and SZR-72 on experimental AP and to reveal their possible mode of action. AP was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of L-ornithine-HCl (LO) in SPRD rats. Animals were pretreated with 75-300 mg/kg KYNA or SZR-72. Control animals were injected with physiological saline instead of LO, KYNA and/or SZR-72. Laboratory and histological parameters, as well as pancreatic and systemic circulation were measured to evaluate AP severity. Pancreatic heat shock protein-72 and IL-1β were measured by western blot and ELISA, respectively. Pancreatic expression of NMDAR1 was investigated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Viability of isolated pancreatic acinar cells in response to LO, KYNA, SZR-72 and/or NMDA administration was assessed by propidium-iodide assay. The effects of LO and/or SZR-72 on neutrophil granulocyte function was also studied. Almost all investigated laboratory and histological parameters of AP were significantly reduced by administration of 300 mg/kg KYNA or SZR-72, whereas the 150 mg/kg or 75 mg/kg doses were less or not effective, respectively. The decreased pancreatic microcirculation was also improved in the AP groups treated with 300 mg/kg KYNA or SZR-72. Interestingly, pancreatic heat shock protein-72 expression was significantly increased by administration of SZR-72, KYNA and/or LO. mRNA and protein expression of NMDAR1 was detected in pancreatic tissue. LO treatment caused acinar cell toxicity which was reversed by 250 µM KYNA or SZR-72. Treatment of acini with NMDA (25, 250, 2000 µM) did not influence the effects of KYNA or SZR-72. Moreover, SZR-72 reduced LO-induced H 2 O 2 production of neutrophil granulocytes. KYNA and SZR-72 have dose-dependent protective effects on LO-induced AP or acinar toxicity which seem to be independent of pancreatic NMDA receptors. Furthermore, SZR-72 treatment suppressed AP-induced activation of neutrophil granulocytes. This study suggests that administration of KYNA and its derivative could be beneficial in AP., Competing Interests: Author VT is employed by the company Creative Laboratory Ltd., Szeged, Hungary. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Balla, Kormányos, Kui, Bálint, Fűr, Orján, Iványi, Vécsei, Fülöp, Varga, Harazin, Tubak, Deli, Papp, Gácser, Madácsy, Venglovecz, Maléth, Hegyi, Kiss and Rakonczay.)

Összefoglaló. A nekrotizáló sarcoid granulomatosis a granulomatosus pulmonalis angitisek közé tartozó, ritka kórkép. Egyesek a sarcoidosis variánsának, mások primer pulmonalis vasculitisnek tartják. A kórkép klinikai és patológiai jellegzetességeit két eset bemutatásával ismertetjük. A 20 éves nőbeteg sürgősséggel került pulmonológiai osztályra száraz köhögés, jobb oldali, mély belégzéssel összefüggő mellkasi fájdalom és láz miatt, a 63 éves férfi beteget pedig pneumoniát követő kontroll-mellkasröntgenfelvételen látott elváltozás kivizsgálása során észlelték. Az autoimmun panel vizsgálata, a mikrobiológiai tesztek mindkét betegnél negatívnak bizonyultak, a légzésfunkciós vizsgálat és a bronchoszkópos vizsgálat nem talált eltérést. A mellkas-CT-felvételen lágyrész-denzitású nodulusok látszottak egyoldali dominanciával, a folyamatot nem kísérte a hilusi nyirokcsomók szimmetrikus megnagyobbodása. A nodulusok szövettani vizsgálata vált indokolttá, melyet videoasszisztált torakoszkópos tüdőreszekciós mintavétellel biztosítottak. Mikroszkóposan a tüdőparenchymában gócos nekrózisokat, a környezetükben el nem sajtosodó epitheloid sejtes granulomatosus gócokat, az átfutó artériákban pedig granulomatosus arteritist láttak; a klinikai adatok figyelembevételével a tüdő nekrotizáló sarcoid granulomatosisa diagnózisát állították fel. A tüdőbetegség mindkét betegnél egy év alatt spontán regrediált. Az irodalom adatait és az eseteket összegezve, a tüdő nekrotizáló sarcoid granulomatosisában mikrobiológiai vizsgálatokkal nem igazolható tüdőfertőzés, és az immunológiai kivizsgálás sem tár fel szisztémás autoimmun betegséget; a diagnózis a klinikai kép és a képalkotó vizsgálatok alapján indikált szövettani vizsgálattal állítható fel. A betegség szteroidkezelésre jól reagál, de előfordul spontán regresszió is, az utóbbira láttunk példát. Bár az entitás átmenetet képez a nekrotizáló vasculitisek és a sarcoidosis között, egyre több érv szól amellett, hogy a sarcoidosis spektrumába tartozik. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(38): 1541-1547. Summary. Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis is a rare entity currently classified as a subtype of granulomatous pulmonary angiitis. It is considered to be either a variant of sarcoidosis or a primary pulmonary angiitis. Two cases are demonstrated to present its clinical and pathological features. A 20-year-old female patient was admitted to the department of pulmonology with dry cough, right-sided chest pain during hyperventilation and fever. A 63-year-old male patient was observed with a right-sided lesion on chest X-ray after pneumonia. In both cases, autoimmune panel examination, microbiology tests, spirometry function test and bronchoscopy were unremarkable. Chest CT scans have revealed nodules with soft-tissue density without bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. In order to clarify the diagnosis, video-assisted thoracoscopic resection (biopsy) was performed. Microscopically, parenchymal focal necrosis with adjacent to non-caseating granulomas and granulomatous angiitis were detected. In both cases, spontaneous remission occurred within a year. Histological examination - integrated with clinical data and radiological tests' results - is the gold standard form of evaluation to confirm necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis; furthermore, exclusion of pneumonia and autoimmune diseases are also required. The disease responds well to corticosteroids; moreover, spontaneous remission is often reported, as it happened in both cases. Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis is a transition between necrotizing vasculitides and sarcoidosis; although more and more evidence appears supporting the fact that necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis may belong to the spectrum of sarcoidosis. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(38): 1541-1547.

Background: Variant transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease, where the mutation of the transthyretin gene (TTR) results in the deposition of pathogenic protein fibrils in various tissues. The mutation type influences the clinical course. Until now, no data were available on the genotype, phenotype, and prevalence of Hungarian ATTRv patients. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, regional distribution, genotypes, and phenotypes of Hungarian patients with ATTRv., Methods: With the collaboration of Hungarian regional and university centers, we identified patients diagnosed with ATTRv. We also searched prior publications for case studies of Hungarian ATTRv patients., Results: 40 individuals in 23 families with ATTRv were identified within the borders of Hungary. At the time of the diagnosis, 24 of them were symptomatic. The two most common mutations were ATTRHis88Arg (nine families) and ATTRIle107Val (8 families). ATTRVal30Met was demonstrated in 2 families, and ATTRVal122del, ATTRPhe33Leu, ATTRIle84Ser, and ATTRAsp18Gly in one family each. The median age of the symptomatic patients at the time of clinical diagnosis was 65 years. The most common clinically significant organ involvement was restrictive cardiomyopathy, found in 24 patients. Polyneuropathy was diagnosed in 20 patients. A total of 19 patients showed a mixed phenotype. The leading symptom was heart failure in 8 cases (3 of them had only cardiac symptoms), polyneuropathy in 11 cases (all of them also had cardiac symptoms), and equally severe cardiac and neuropathy symptoms were present in 3 cases. Out of 24 symptomatic patients, 10 received targeted pharmacological therapy. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 195 months. At the time of the retrospective analysis, 12 patients had already died, and 1 patient underwent heart transplantation., Conclusions: As TTR genotype influences the phenotype and clinical course of ATTRv, it is important to know the regional data. In Hungary, ATTRHis88Arg and ATTRIle107Val are the most common mutations in ATTRv, both presenting with mixed phenotype, but the median age at the time of the diagnosis is 9 years lower in patients with ATTRHis88Arg than in patients with ATTRIle107Val.

Xp11.2 translocation carcinoma is a distinct subtype of renal cell carcinoma characterized by translocations involving the TFE3 gene. Our study included the morphological, immunohistochemical and clinicopathological examination of 28 Xp11.2 RCCs. The immunophenotype has been assessed by using CA9, CK7, CD10, AMACR, MelanA, HMB45, Cathepsin K and TFE3 immunostainings. The diagnosis was confirmed by TFE3 break-apart FISH in 25 cases. The ages of 13 male and 15 female patients, without underlying renal disease or having undergone chemotherapy ranged from 8 to 72. The mean size of the tumors was 78.5 mm. Forty-three percent of patients were diagnosed in the pT3/pT4 stage with distant metastasis in 6 cases. Histological appearance was branching-papillary composed of clear cells with voluminous cytoplasm in 13 and variable in 15 cases, including one tumor with anaplastic carcinoma and another with rhabdoid morphology. Three tumors were labeled with CA9, while CK7 was negative in all cases. Diffuse CD10 reaction was observed in 17 tumors and diffuse AMACR positivity was described in 14 tumors. The expression of melanocytic markers and Cathepsin K were seen only in 7 and 6 cases, respectively. TFE3 immunohistochemistry displayed a positive reaction in 26/28 samples. TFE3 rearrangement was detected in all the analyzed cases (25/25), including one with the loss of the entire labeled break-point region. The follow-up time ranged from 2 to 300 months, with 7 cancer-related deaths. In summary, Xp11.2 carcinoma is an uncommon form of renal cell carcinoma with a variable histomorphology and rather aggressive clinical course.