Glomerular lesions that develop in dogs during infection with Leishmania organisms can be classified histologically as mesangial glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and focal segmental glomerulonephritis. Tubulointerstitial histopathologic conditions were not observed as the primary lesion, despite being evident in 23 of 41 (55%) dogs. Use of SDS-AGE for qualitative evaluation of proteinuria and successive collection of specimens during renal biopsies following diagnosis of nonselective glomerular proteinuria provides the possibility for early identification of renal lesions.

Several biomarkers have been proposed as useful parameters to better specify the prognosis or to delineate new target therapy strategies for glioblastoma patients. MicroRNAs could represent putative target molecules, considering their role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression and their specific tissue expression. Although several studies have tried to identify microRNA signature for glioblastoma, a microRNA profile is still far from being well-defined. In this work the expression of 19 microRNAs (miR-7, miR-9, miR-9∗, miR-10a, miR-10b, miR-17, miR-20a, miR-21, miR-26a, miR-27a, miR-31, miR-34a, miR-101, miR-137, miR-182, miR-221, miR-222, miR-330, miR-519d) was evaluated in sixty formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded glioblastoma samples using a locked nucleic acid real-time PCR. Moreover, a comparison of miRNA expressions was performed between primary brain neoplasias of different grades (grades IV-I). The analysis of 14 validated miRNA expression in the 60 glioblastomas, using three different non-neoplastic references as controls, revealed a putative miRNA signature: mir-10b and miR-21 were up-regulated, while miR-7, miR-31, miR-101, miR-137, miR-222 and miR-330 were down-regulated in glioblastomas. Comparing miRNA expression between glioblastoma group and gliomas of grades I-III, 3 miRNAs (miR-10b, mir-34a and miR-101) showed different regulation statuses between high-grade and low-grade tumors. miR-10b was up-regulated in high grade and significantly down-regulated in low-grade gliomas, suggesting that could be a candidate for a GBM target therapy. This study provides further data for the identification of a miRNA profile for glioblastoma and suggests that different-grade neoplasia could be characterized by different expression of specific miRNAs.

The optimal treatment of adenomas of the papilla of Vater has still not been definitively established, and the endoscopic excision of such lesions has received little attention in the literature. We report here the cases of two patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, in whom ampullary adenomas measuring 8 and 20 mm, respectively, were treated using one-piece snare excision of the lesion together with the papilla (snare papillectomy), followed by temporary biliopancreatic drainage. Procedure-related complications were an oozing-type hemorrhage and a mild pancreatitis, easily controlled by conservative measures. During the 18-month follow-up, one patient had a small recurrence that was successfully retreated. Further endoscopic and biopsy controls were negative. Although limited, our experience and the data in the literature indicate that snare papillectomy is a viable alternative to surgery for benign ampullary adenomas. Excising both the lesion and the papilla offers good oncological debridement and, unlike laser or thermal ablation, allows a complete histological evaluation of the pathological tissue. However, snare papillectomy should always be associated with temporary biliopancreatic drainage before or after the procedure in order to prevent ductal obstruction and serious pancreatitis. This maneuver should therefore preferably be performed by experienced endoscopists trained in therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and hemostatic techniques.

Using immunoperoxidase methods, normal sweat glands, 44 benign and 4 malignant sweat gland tumors were tested for the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), pregnancy-specific-B1-glycoprotein (SP1) and actin (ACT). CEA and SP1 stained the secretory and duct-lining cells of normal eccrine glands. Among benign tumors, 74% were positive for CEA and 44% for SP1. The staining reaction was found mainly in luminal secretions and surrounding cells. Staining by SP1 was reduced, but not suppressed, after absorption with the purified antigen. ACT was found in myoepithelial cells of the secretory tract of normal glands and in basal cells of all cases of hidradenoma papilliferum. Only 3 sweat gland carcinomas reacted for CEA. In a malignant chondroid syringoma, no ACT-positive cells were seen in the myxochondroid stroma. The potential value of CEA, SP1 and ACT in the diagnosis of sweat gland tumors is discussed.

No abstract