This study was designed to investigate whether Foxp3( +) regulatory T (Treg) cells play a role in the histopathologic changes of primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) and to evaluate other factors possibly associated with Foxp3(+) Treg cells in pSS patients. The number of FoxP3-expressing T cells in peripheral blood (PB) of 39 patients with pSS, 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 28 healthy controls was measured by flow-cytometer analysis. FoxP3-expressing CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells were analyzed in minor salivary gland (SG) tissues of 39 pSS patients. Histopathologic changes were examined by light microscopy according to Chisholm's classification. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to assess the Foxp3(+) Treg in SG biopsy specim-ens. The numbers of CD4(+) T cells and FoxP3-expressing CD4(+) T cells in PB were similar in all groups. Expression of CD25 on CD4(+) T cells in PB of patients with pSS and RA was significantly higher than in healthy controls, especially for RA patients. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that FoxP3(+) Treg were enriched in the SGs of pSS patients, with a positive correlation between the increase in FoxP3(+) Treg in SG and the Chisholm score in pSS (p < 0.001, r = +0.605). The increase of FoxP3( +) Treg cells in the SGs of pSS patients, which is correlated with gland infiltration, suggests that natural regulatory T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of pSS. Further studies are required to explore the mechanisms that mediate the relationship between Treg and the pathogenesis of pSS.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare mesenchymal benign tumor which is generally seen in children and in young adults. It is especially located in the lungs. In histopathological examination, neoplastic fusiform cells originating from a subtype of accessory immune system cells which are called fibroblastic reticulum cells are seen (Kouichi and Youichirou, 2008). Although IMT is histopathologically benign, imaging methods show its tendency for local recurrence and invasion. In most of the cases, it may not be possible to make a distinction whether it is malign or benign. Complete surgical resection is the most important treatment method. In this study, we have discussed the findings of our case having a gastric submucosal located IMT in light of the current literatures.

Background: We defined melanoma distribution in a large series of Turkish patients and evaluated the prognostic parameters of melanomas. Materials and Methods: A total of 1574 patients' data was retrospectively collected at 18 centers in Turkey. Demographic characteristics were questioned and noted. Prognostic parametres were evaluated based on sentinel lymph node involvement. Results: Mean age was 56.7 (4-99) years. While 844 (53.6%) cases were male, 730 (46.4%) cases were female. One thousand four hundred forty-seven (92%) cases were invasive melanoma and 127 (8%) cases were in-situ melanoma. The most common histopathological form was the superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) which was found in 549 patients (37.9%). It was followed by nodular melanoma in 379 (26.2%), acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) in 191 (13.2%) and lentigo maligna melanoma in 132 (9.1%), respectively. On univariate analysis, lymphovascular invasion (p<0.001), tumor thickness (p<0.001), histopathological subtype (p<0.001), Clark level (p=0.001), ulceration (p<0.001), ≥6/mm 2 mitosis (p=0.005), satellite formation (p=0.001) and gender (p=0.03) were found to be associated with sentinel lymph node positivity. Regression was associated with sentinel lymph node negativity (p=0.017). According to multivariate analysis, lymphovascular invasion and tumor thickness were significant independent predictive factors of SLN positivity. Patient age, tumor localization, precursor lesions, lymphocytic infiltration and neurotropism were not related with sentinel lymph node involvement. Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, it was found that the prevalence of SSM is at a lower rate while the prevalence of ALM is at a higher rate when compared to western countries. According to Breslow index; most of the melanoma lesions' thickness were greater than 2 mm, corresponding Clark IV. Vascular invasion and tumor thickness are the most important factors for sentinel lymph node involvement.

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Objective: This study aims to experimentally investigate the efficiency of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) on early and long-term bone healing and its effects on bone surfaces. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar albino rats were used in the study. These rats were randomly divided into three groups, and bilaterally bone defects were created in the femur of each rat. A 3.0-mm-deep monocortical circular defect was created with a 3.0 mm diameter trephine drill on the proximal part of the femur, and 0.05 mL ABS was applied to the experimental group while the control group was left untreated. Group 1, group 2, and group 3 rats were sacrificed on days 7, 28, and 42, respectively. Trabecular bone area (Tb.Ar), medullary bone diameter (Me.Dm), osteoblast area (Ob.Ar), osteoid area (O.Ar) and mineralized bone area (Md.Ar) were examined in the histomorphometric analysis. Also new bone formation was scored according to the histologic evaluation Results: The results showed that while new the to day 7 experimental group showed much more bone formation than the to day 7 control group, there was no significant difference between the to day 28 and day 42 experimental groups and to day 28 and day 42 control groups. Accordingly, ABS applied in bone cavities only had a larger accelerator effect on bone healing for the seventh-day to day 7 experimental group. In clinical observations, no allergic or inflammatory reactions were observed on the skin and other preoperative and postoperative periods. Moreover in, the histomorphometric study, necrotic areas and infection areas were not observed. Conclusion: ABS has an acceleratory effect on the short-term bone healing process and is a reliable agent for routine use. However, its effects on the long-term bone healing process are insignificant. We think that a wide series of research projects are required to confirm the effects of ABS speeding up the healing process in addition to its characteristic as a blood stopping agent. Conflict of interest:None declared.