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This study was carried out to determine the effects of different PGPR formulations, chemical fertilizers, and their combinations on some color characteristics and nutrient content of bract leaf of two cultivars of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch in a research greenhouse between July 2015 and July 2017. The treatments included bacterial formulations: (1) BI: Paenibacillus polymyxa TV-12E+Pseudomonas putida TV- 42A+Pantoea agglomerans RK-79, (2) BII: Bacillus megaterium TV-91C+Pantoea agglomerans RK-92+Bacillus subtilis TV-17C, (3) BIII: Bacillus megaterium TV- 91C+Pantoea agglomerans RK-92+Kluyvera cryocrescens TV-113C, and (4) BIV: Bacillus megaterium TV-91C+Pantoea agglomerans RK-79+Bacillus megaterium TV-6D). Also, fertilizer treatments included the full amount of commonly used Chemical Fertilizer (CF= 150 g 100 L-1) and combination of the reduced amount of chemical fertilizer by 50% with each bacterial formulation, and control. The first red leaves, life of bracts, color properties (L, a* and b*), content of anthocyanin, chlorophyll content in green leaf, macro and micronutrient contents of bracts were evaluated in the experiment. CF and BII+50%CF applications encouraged the coloring of bract leaves early (4.01%). It was determined that CF (7.76%), BI+50%CF (6.03%) and BII+50%CF (5.27%) applications significantly increased chlorophyll content of poinsettia bract when compared to the control. Darker colored bracts were obtained from BI and BIV applications compared to the control. The highest total nitrogen amount (3.69%), soluble phosphorus (4,285.33 mg kg-1), potassium (28,132.45 mg kg-1) and calcium (8,299.03 mg kg-1) amount were found in the BII+50%CF application. It was determined that bacterial formulations BI, BIV, BIV+50%CF and BII+50%CF had positive effects on some plant aesthetic, quality characteristics, and nutrient content of bract of poinsettia and can be used in poinsettia production stage as one of the biological products. Thus, bacterial formulations may replace or reduce use of chemical fertilizers in poinsettia production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of fertilizers is important in agricultural production. In particular, it is more focused on organic fertilizer that increases yield and quality of crops and is not harmful to environment at the same time. In this study, the effect of bacterial biofertilizers on yield and some quality parameters were analyzed in two tomato cultivars (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. Cevahir F1 and Pala F1) in greenhouse conditions. Three different concentrations (1, 3, and 5 gL-1 and control i.e. un-inoculated) and two different bacterial fertilizers including A: Azotobacter spp. (1×109 CFU), and B: mixture of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megatarium (1×109 UFC) were evaluated in a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The treatments were applied one week after planting of the seedlings. The solutions were given to the root zone of the plant and repeated 3 times at intervals of 10 days. Average fruit weight, fruit number per plant, fruit weight per plant, plant height, fruit width and length, total soluble solid, pH, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll content, dry matter yield and mineral content were evaluated on tomato. The effects of treatments were found significant on plant growth parameters. Bacterial fertilization increased yield and other parameters in all treatments. Besides, the effects of treatments were significant on mineral content of tomato fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out to examine the effects of different doses of bacterial formulation comprised of a mixture of Bacillus megaterium TV-91C, Pantoea agglomerans RK-92 and Kluyvera cryocrescens TV-113C strains on the plant development and bract quality of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch), which are one of the most important potted plants grown for their fleshy bracts of the horticultural sector. The study was carried out in a climate-controlled research greenhouse from 8 August 2018 to 15 January 2019 in Erzurum (Turkey). Rooted cuttings of poinsettia [E. pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch cv. Christmas Feelings (CvF)] were used as plant materials in the study. Each of the solutions containing bacterial suspensions 52.5 (T1), 105 (T2), 210 (T3), 420 (T4) and 840 (T5) mL · L−1 of water was diluted 5 times with water and 200 mL · pot−1 was applied to the plant rhizosphere. This study revealed that positive changes incurred in plant height, main flower stem length, plant crown width, bract diameter, green leaf and bract leaf area, leaf total nitrogen content and nitrate reductase enzyme activity parameters in poinsettia plants with increasing doses of the bacterial formulation. This effect has reached the maximum level in the number of bracts, main flower stem length, bract diameter, nitrate reductase enzyme activity, plant fresh weight and maximal root length parameters with the T5 application which has the highest bacterial formulation concentration. The most efficient application of glutamine synthetase enzyme activity was determined as T4.

The article describes the case of a nine-month-old girl who was diagnosed with multidrug-resistant (MDR) disseminated tuberculosis. Topics covered include the results of the patient's physical examination and thorax computerized tomography, the readjustment of the anti-tuberculosis treatment to high doses of isoniazid and pyrazinamide and the disappearance of nodular lesions in the brain as seen in a follow-up cranial magnetic resonance image scan.

Aims: Duodenal nodularity is an uncommon endoscopic appearance of numerous visible mucosal nodules in the proximal duodenum. In this retrospective study we aimed to determine the clinical significance and histopathologic features of duodenal nodularity in children. Materials and Methods: The medical records of the patients who were defined to have duodenal nodularity by endoscopy were reviewed. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were expressed as mean ± SD and percentages (%). Results: Seventeen patients with endoscopically defined duodenal nodularity were chosen. The mean age at diagnosis was 12.1 years (range: 6-17 years), 9 males. Abdominal pain (47%) was the most common clinical symptom and antral nodularity (41%) was the most common endoscopic finding in children with duodenal nodularity. Histopathologic evaluation of duodenal nodules revealed chronic inflammation in all patients, increased intercryptal and intraepithelial numbers of eosinophils in 70.5%, and villous atrophy in 47% of patients. Giardia infestation was demonstrated in 6 patients by histologic examination and/or Giardia lamblia-specific antigen positivity in stools. The clinical diagnoses of the patients have shown variations, such as celiac disease, giardiasis, secretory IgA deficiency, and Helicobacter pylori gastritis, and some of them were associated with the others. Conclusions: Although the endoscopic appearance is similar, clinical spectrum and pathologic features are not so similar and there are no specific histomorphologic findings for nodularity. The most demonstrative findings we observed in children were increased lymphocyte and/or eosinophil infiltration in the duodenal mucosa. We suggested that care should be taken in the evaluation of microbiological and immunologic etiologies causing this prominent inflammatory reaction.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome ten (PTEN), angiogenesis and clinicopathological parameters of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Methods We examined immunohistochemical expression of VEGF and PTEN and CD34 for microvessel density (MVD) in sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks of 140 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. The intensity of VEGF and PTEN staining and the proportion of cells staining were scored. Results The tumor grade was not significantly related to PTEN expression, but it was to VEGF expression (p = 0.400; p = 0.015, respectively). While there was no significant relationship between PTEN expression and tumor size and cartilage invasion (p = 0.311, p = 0.128), there was a significant relationship between the severity of VEGF expression and tumor size (p = 0.006) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.048) but not cartilage invasion (p = 0.129). MVD was significantly higher in high-grade tumors (p = 0.003) but had no significant relationship between MVD, lymph node metastasis, and cartilage invasion (p = 0.815, p = 0.204). There was also no significant relationship between PTEN and VEGF expression (p = 0.161) and between PTEN and VEGF expression and the MVD (p = 0.120 and p = 0.175, respectively). Conclusions Increased VEGF expression may play an important role in the outcome of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. PTEN expression was not related to VEGF expression and clinicopathological features of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Background: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a common primary glomerulonephropathy. There is evidence that mesangial C3 deposition plays a role in the development of the disease. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of C3 deposition on the prognosis of IgAN patients., Method: The study included 1135 patients with biopsy-confirmed IgAN from the database of the Turkish Nephrology Association Glomerular Diseases Working Group (TSN-GOLD). Patients were excluded from the study if they were aged < 18 or > 75 years or if C3 staining had not been performed in the immunofluorescent analysis. C3 deposition was defined as an immunofluorescence intensity of C3 ≥ 2 + within the mesangium. The primary endpoints were the development of end-stage renal disease, a 30% decrease in glomerular filtration rate compared to the basal value or an elevation in proteinuria to a nephrotic level (3.5 gr/day)., Results: Mesangial C3 deposition was observed in 603 (53.1%) patients. No statistically significant difference was found at baseline between the groups with and without mesangial C3 deposition, as for age, sex, BMI, proteinuria level, or the presence of hypertension. In the follow-up period with a mean duration of 78 months, no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the primary endpoints (p = 0.43). A significant correlation between C3 deposition and segmental glomerulosclerosis (S1) according to the Oxford MEST-C classification was found (p = 0.001)., Conclusion: Although a correlation was observed between mesangial C3 deposition and the S1 MEST-C classification, mesangial C3 deposition was not a prognostic factor in IgAN., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Italian Society of Nephrology.)

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is widely used in the treatment of primary breast cancer. Different staging systems have been developed to evaluate the residual tumor after NAC and classify patients into different prognostic groups. Ki67, a proliferation marker, has been shown to be useful in predicting treatment response and prognosis. We aimed to investigate the prognostic importance Neo-Bioscore stage and pretreatment and posttreatment Ki67 levels in breast cancer patients who received NAC and correlations between Neo-Bioscore stage and pretreatment and posttreatment Ki67 levels., Methods: A total of 176 invasive breast carcinoma patients who underwent NAC were included in the study. Ki67 levels were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods in Trucut biopsy and surgical excision specimens. Patients were classified into prognostic groups using the Neo-Bioscore staging system., Results: Patients with high pretreatment Ki67 score were more likely to be in the higher Neo-Bioscore risk group (p < 0.001). Patients with a high posttreatment Ki67 score were more likely to be in the higher Neo-Bioscore prognostic risk group (p < 0.001). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were shorter in patients with high posttreatment Ki67 scores and in patients in the higher Neo-Bioscore risk group. We also determined a cutoff 37% for pathological complete response., Conclusion: Neo-Bioscore staging system is found to be important in predicting survival. The posttreatment Ki67 level is more important than pretreatment Ki67 level in predicting survival., (© 2023. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.)

Mutations in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occur spontaneously during replication. Thousands of mutations have accumulated and continue to since the emergence of the virus. As novel mutations continue appearing at the scene, naturally, new variants are increasingly observed. Since the first occurrence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, a wide variety of drug compounds affecting the binding sites of the virus have begun to be studied. As the drug and vaccine trials are continuing, it is of utmost importance to take into consideration the SARS-CoV-2 mutations and their respective frequencies since these data could lead the way to multi-drug combinations. The lack of effective therapeutic and preventive strategies against human coronaviruses (hCoVs) necessitates research that is of interest to the clinical applications. The reason why the mutations in glycoprotein S lead to vaccine escape is related to the location of the mutation and the affinity of the protein. At the same time, it can be said that variations should occur in areas such as the receptor-binding domain (RBD), and vaccines and antiviral drugs should be formulated by targeting more than one viral protein. In this review, a literature survey in the scope of the increasing SARS-CoV-2 mutations and the viral variations is conducted. In the light of current knowledge, the various disguises of the mutant SARS-CoV-2 forms and their apparent differences from the original strain are examined as they could possibly aid in finding the most appropriate therapeutic approaches., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Smooth muscle tumors of the uterus are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gynecologic tract. The vast majority of these are benign leiomyomas that present no diagnostic difficulty. Because some benign smooth muscle tumors may degenerate and uncommon variants exist, the diagnosis can be challenging in some cases. The goal of this research was to investigate EMMPRIN expression in leiomyomas, leiomyoma variants, and leiomyosarcomas (LMS) to determine whether it has a potential role in differential diagnosis. EMMPRIN expression was investigated with immunohistochemistry in 103 uterine smooth muscle tumors, which included 19 usual leiomyomas, 52 leiomyoma variants, and 32 LMS. They were evaluated on the basis of staining extent, intensity, and also their combined score, and the groups were compared. EMMPRIN expression was present in 3 of 19 (15.7%) usual leiomyomas, 23 of 52 (44.3%) leiomyoma variants, and 28 of 32 (87.5%) LMS. There were statistically significant differences in staining extent and intensity, and also for their combined scores, between the LMS and benign groups. Although uterine smooth muscle tumors are usually diagnosed easily with conventional diagnostic criteria, the differentiation of LMS from some variants of leiomyoma can be challenging based soley on morphology. EMMPRIN may be a valuable immunohistochemical marker for differentiating LMS from benign smooth muscle tumors in problematic cases.

Background: Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an oncofetal protein which is encoded by GPC3 gene and takes role in the regulation of cell division and apoptosis. Overexpression of GPC3 has been reported in some types of cancer such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs and testicular germ cell tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of GPC3 in the non-neoplastic urothelium and in urothelial carcinoma (UC). We also aimed to explore the alterations in the GPC3 expression according to the grade and the invasiveness of UC., Methods: GPC3 expression was studied in 108 UC cases by using immunohistochemistry. Each section was evaluated in terms of the extensiveness and intensity of GPC3 staining. Scores of immunostaining were correlated with tumor grade and stage., Results: GPC3 expression was observed in 38 cases (35.2%). GPC3 expression was positive in 43.6% of high and in 13.3% of low grade UC (p: 0.003). In 19 UC cases biopsy also harbored non-neoplastic urothelium which showed no staining for GPC3. The difference in staining percentages between low and high grade UCs, suggests that GPC3 staining could be used as an adjunctive marker in cases where the distinction between the low and high grade tumors is difficult. In addition, lack of staining in the non-neoplastic urothelial areas in 19 cases raises the possibility of the use of GPC3 staining for the distinction between neoplastic and non-neoplastic urothelium, especially in punch biopsy samples., Conclusions: Based on our results potential role of GPC3 in urothelial carcinogenesis warrants further investigation, especially the potential use of GPC3 for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes., Virtual Slides: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2260833001522844.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the expressions of fascin and EMMPRIN in primary malignant, borderline and benign mucinous ovarian tumors, and to investigate the relationship of these markers with tumor progression and their applicability to differential diagnosis., Materials and Methods: An immunohistochemical study was performed for fascin and EMMPRIN using the tissue microarray technique. Eighty-one cases were included in the study; there were 37 benign, 25 borderline and 19 malignant primary mucinous ovarian tumors. For each case, a total staining score was determined, consisting of scores for extent of staining and intensity of staining. The cases were allocated to negative, weakly positive and strongly positive staining categories, according to the total staining score., Results: Both of the markers were significantly negative in benign tumors as compared with borderline and malignant tumors. There was no significant difference between borderline and malignant groups for both markers. Sixty-eight percent of malignant tumors were stained positive by fascin, while this rate was 40% for borderline mucinous tumors. All malignant tumors were strongly stained positive for EMMPRIN, while this rate was 92% for borderline mucinous tumors. The rest of the cases stained weakly positive. No significant difference in staining score was found between fascin and EMMPRIN expression., Conclusions: In ovarian primary mucinous tumors, fascin and EMMPRIN may play an important role in tumor progression from benign tumor to carcinoma. In that context, EMMPRIN and fascin expression may have potential application in the differential diagnosis of some diagnostically problematic mucinous ovarian tumors. However, the differential diagnostic applicability of EMMPRIN appears to be more limited than that of fascin due to its wide spectrum of staining in mucinous ovarian tumors., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

We report a case of a dopamine-secreting giant primary adrenal ganglioneuroma (GN) in a 29-year-old male patient. Although the patient was clinically silent, the 24-hour urine levels of dopamine, normetanephrine, homovanillic acid and vanillyl mandelic acid were elevated. Abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a large solid tumor with calcifications and a slightly lobular edge on the left adrenal gland. A tumor, 13 x 23 x 25 cm in size, was completely resected without morbidity. A 2-year follow-up with computed tomography showed that the postoperative course of the patient was uneventful.

Background: Indications of dialysis treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease depend on various clinical and laboratory parameters. In this study, we aimed to determine whether standardized serum cystatin C (SCC) equation may be an applicability of marker for dialysis initiation and its relationship to other clearance values among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease., Materials and Methods: A total of 84 patients (45 males, 39 females) aged 19-89 were evaluated in this study. Hemodialysis was indicated according to clinical and laboratory findings, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was according to four different formulas [MDRD, EpiCKD, Cockcroft Gault formula (CGF) and SCC equation]., Results: eGFR values of patients in the study were 7.23 ± 3.26, 7.86 ± 3.78, 15.09 ± 10.88 and 11.31 ± 4.54 according to MDRD, EpiCKD, SCC equation and CGF, respectively. There was a positive correlation between MDRD, EpiCKD and CGF, and between EpiCKD and CGF (p < 0.01). Also, statistically significant correlation was found between SCC equation and CGF (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: SCC equation was not seemed to be an appropriate marker for starting dialysis in patients with advanced CKD.

Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ(4)) is a major actin-sequestering molecule that contributes to cell growth, differentiation, motility, survival, mitosis and angiogenesis. It is overexpressed in certain type of carcinoma and fibrosarcoma cell lines and is associated with metastatic potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Tβ(4) expression and clinicopathologic features and VEGF status in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Retrospectively, 60 GISTs were re-examined and immunohistochemistry for Tβ(4) and VEGF was performed. Increased expression of Tβ(4) and VEGF was observed in 26 (43.3%) and in 19 (31.6%) of the tumors, respectively. Tβ(4) expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression (p < 0.01). Tβ(4) and VEGF expression were significantly associated with tumor size (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively) and high mitosis (p = 0.03 and p = 0.00, respectively). Although Tβ(4) expression was positively associated with pleomorphism (p = 0.01), VEGF expression was positively associated with necrosis (p = 0.03). Tβ(4) expression was related with local recurrence and/or metastasis (p = 0.03), but VEGF expression was not (p = 0.12). We firstly demonstrate the presence of Tβ(4) protein in GISTs. Our study reveals that increased expression of Tβ(4) could be considered as an indicator of aggressive behavior of tumor., (© 2012 The Authors APMIS © 2012 APMIS.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of UbcH10 expression in the differential diagnosis of benign, hyperplastic, and malignant endometrial tissues and also the relationship of UbcH10 with the clinicopathologic parameters of malignant cases. A tissue microarray was performed for 81 endometrial curettage biopsies, which histological diagnosis had demonstrated to be 13 cases of proliferative endometrium, 7 cases of disordered proliferative endometrium, 5 cases of complex atypical hyperplasia, 24 cases of nonatypical hyperplasia, and 32 cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Expression of UbcH10 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. When groups were compared according to UbcH10 percentages and scores, a statistically significant difference was found only between the carcinoma group and the other groups, except the complex atypical hyperplasia group (P < .05). In the malignant group, UbcH10 percentages and scores were only significantly related to age. There was no significant association between UbcH10 expression and tumor grade and stage. Overexpression of UbcH10 may be a useful indicator of endometrial carcinoma. UbcH10 also deserves further evaluation in the detection of prognostic mean and also for its role in endometrial carcinogenesis.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 are gelatinases that play a role in the invasion and metastasis of cancer through the destruction of the basal membrane and extracellular matrix. In this study, we investigated the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the correlation between the expression levels and prognostic clinicopathological parameters in 140 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). The staining scores for MMP-9 were negative in 21 cases (15%), mild in 27 cases (19%), and strong in 92 cases (66%). MMP-9 expression was increased in high-grade (p=0.001), triple-negative (ER, PR, HER2 negative) (p=0.006), and ER-negative tumors (p=0.004) and tumors with distant metastases (p=0.028). MMP-9 expression was increased in cases with HER2 over-expression/amplification, but no statistically significant difference was found (p=0.215). No correlation was found between lymph node metastasis or tumor size and MMP-9 expression (p=0.492 and p=0.448, respectively). The staining scores for MMP-2 in 140 cases were negative in 10 cases (7%), mild in 25 cases (18%), and strong in 105 cases (75%). MMP-2 expression was increased in ER-negative and high-grade tumors in the lymph node-negative group (p=0.025 and 0.026, respectively). High MMP-9 expression was associated with a shorter disease-free survival and overall survival times (p=0.042 and p=0.046, respectively). In conclusion, increased MMP-9 expression is related to poor prognostic clinicopathological factors in IDC, and hence, it can be utilized as a supplementary prognostic marker. The role of MMP-2 expression in the prognosis of IDC is rather limited., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Fibrolipomas are characterised by fat lobules embedded in perivascular oval fibrocytes and thick bundles of collagen. Actively growing superficial fibrolipomas rarely display a pedunculated protrusion and, thus, cosmetic and functional problems are uncommon. We present an exceptional case. While trauma and ischaemia can lead to fibrosis and dystrophic calcification in fibrolipomas as late sequelae, osseous and cartilaginous metaplasia can infrequently manifest after a long, chronic persistence. Further, depending on the chronic irritation, ulcerated wounds may develop on the surface, and these can be clinically confused with malignancy. In this article, we present a case of a pedunculated giant fibrolipoma manifesting metaplasic changes in its structure., (Copyright © 2010 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome ten (PTEN), angiogenesis and clinicopathological parameters of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx., Methods: We examined immunohistochemical expression of VEGF and PTEN and CD34 for microvessel density (MVD) in sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks of 140 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. The intensity of VEGF and PTEN staining and the proportion of cells staining were scored., Results: The tumor grade was not significantly related to PTEN expression, but it was to VEGF expression (p = 0.400; p = 0.015, respectively). While there was no significant relationship between PTEN expression and tumor size and cartilage invasion (p = 0.311, p = 0.128), there was a significant relationship between the severity of VEGF expression and tumor size (p = 0.006) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.048) but not cartilage invasion (p = 0.129). MVD was significantly higher in high-grade tumors (p = 0.003) but had no significant relationship between MVD, lymph node metastasis, and cartilage invasion (p = 0.815, p = 0.204). There was also no significant relationship between PTEN and VEGF expression (p = 0.161) and between PTEN and VEGF expression and the MVD (p = 0.120 and p = 0.175, respectively)., Conclusions: Increased VEGF expression may play an important role in the outcome of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. PTEN expression was not related to VEGF expression and clinicopathological features of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Angiogenesis is a multistep process that depends on the balance of proangiogenic factors and inhibitors as well as on interactions with the extracellular matrix. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of the defining angiogenic agents, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and the antiangiogenic agent thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in 131 patients with urothelial carcinoma and correlated their expression levels with clinicopathological parameters. VEGF and MMP-9 expression was higher in high-grade tumors than in low-grade tumors (p=0.000 and p=0.001, respectively), whereas the reverse was true for TSP-1 (p=0.000). VEGF and MMP-9 expression was higher in deeper tumors compared to superficial tumors and in invasive tumors compared to non-invasive tumors (p=0.001 and p=0.001, respectively), while TSP-1 was lower (p=0.000). We could differentiate 22 of 41 muscle-invasive (T2) cases as superficial (T2a; n=7) or deep (T2b; n=15), but no difference was found between them regarding VEGF, MMP-9, or TSP-1 expression (p=0.783, p=0.289, and p=0.783, respectively). There was a positive correlation between VEGF and MMP-9 expression (p=0.008, r=0.23) but a negative correlation between MMP-9 and TSP-1 expression (p=0.014, r=-0.21). Increased VEGF and MMP-9 expression as well as decreased TSP-1 expression may play considerable roles in the invasion and differentiation of urothelial carcinoma.

We present the case of an 18-month-old boy with Hirschsprung's disease who had psychomotor retardation. His clinical and radiological findings were consistent with Joubert syndrome. The patient was the second case to show the association between Hirschsprung's disease and Joubert syndrome in the literature. As in our case, association of these entities by chance seems to be unlikely. Genetic analysis of new Joubert syndrome and Hirschsprung's disease patients may identify the candidate genes.

Brown tumors are focal bone lesions caused by increased osteoclastic activity and fibroblastic proliferation encountered in primary or more rarely secondary hyperparathyroidism. Ninety-two percent of the patients undergoing dialysis develop secondary hyperparathyroidism. Of these, approximately 1.5% develops brown tumors. Brown tumors of hyperparathyroidism may appear in any bone but are frequently found in the facial bones and jaws, particularly in long-standing cases of the disease. As it becomes common for hyperparathyroidism to be detected earlier during the disease, the bony manifestations of the disease are rarely seen. The following report describes a case of brown tumor of the maxilla and mandible in a patient with renal insufficiency. This patient presented multiple skeletal lesions, which are uncommonly seen nowadays.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent and self-limited attacks of fever usually accompanied by polyserositis. Amyloidosis is its most common renal complication. A number of reports have shown vasculitic diseases such as polyarteritis nodosa and Henoch-Schönlein purpura affecting the kidney in FMF. Here we present a patient with FMF and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and analyze the data published on these two entities.

Pemphigus refers to a group of diseases characterized by painful lesions caused by intraepidermal acantholytic structures in the skin and mucous membrane. The exact nature of the disease remains unknown. Pemphigus is a rare chronic mucocutaneous disease characterized by intra-epithelial bulla formation, due to autoantibodies directed against proteins of the desmosome-tonofilament complex between keratinocytes. The bullous lesions are painful, slow to heal and with a tendency to become invasive. Any part of the oral cavity may be affected, with the soft palate, buccal mucosa and lips being the most common sites. The high doses and prolonged administration of corticosteroids often required to control the disease result in several side effects, many of which are serious or life-threatening. In the present case, steroid treatment was begun at 180 mg/day and subsequently increased to 250 mg/day and 350 mg/day. Oral lesions were treated locally with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate in addition to systemic corticosteroids containing an immunosuppressive. Oral lesions were observed to recur without healing completely. Respiratory problems occured, necessitating direct lung radiographs and computerised tomography. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed and the patient was transferred to the vascular surgery department. Unfortunately the patient died due to pulmonary embolism on the seventh day. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic autoimmune mucocutaneous disease that often primarily involves the oral cavity. Therefore, early diagnosis of oral symptoms is crucial for the successful treatment of PV. Although there is no consensus regarding the initial steroid dosage needed to induce remission, it is suggested that high doses of corticosteriods may cause fatal complications.

This study was designed to examine the immunohistochemical expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and bcl-2 protein in 45 cases with advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who had undergone total laryngectomy with unilateral modified radical neck dissection, and the relation of this expression to some prognostic factors such as tumor front grading and neck lymph node metastases. Sections were reevaluated for routine histologic grade, tumor front grading and neck lymph node metastases, and were stained with monoclonal antibodies against PCNA and bcl-2. Significant correlation was present between the severity of PCNA expression and incidence of lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). No correlation was found between the severity of PCNA expression and tumor front grading. Bcl-2 expression did not associate with either parameters. In conclusion, PCNA is important in predicting prognosis and no association is present between the bcl-2 protein expression and prognostic factors.