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J J Sola

Publications and source records attributed to J J Sola.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Localized fibrous tumors of the pleura: experience with 7 recent cases.

OBJECTIVE: Localized fibrous tumors of the pleura are rare. We report 7 cases and review the literature in order to define the range of clinical characteristics of these tumors, treatment options, and prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective review of 7 cases treated between 1997 and 2003, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnostic tests, and treatment. The tumor was removed surgically in all cases, by thoracotomy in 6 cases and by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in 1 patient. RESULTS: All patients recovered fully after surgery, with no postoperative complications. One patient experienced recurrence twice, 33 and 67 months after the initial resection. All are alive at the time of writing, after a mean follow up period of 19 months (range 1 month to 5 years and 10 months). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of choice for a fibrous tumor of the pleura is full resection and follow-up to detect possible late recurrence.

Adult↗

PTEN protein expression correlates with PTEN gene molecular changes but not with VEGF expression in astrocytomas.

PTEN gene (10q23) is a relevant tumor suppressor gene whose protein is a phosphatase involved in the control of angiogenesis of some tumors including astrocytomas. There are no studies correlating molecular changes of PTEN and the immunohistochemical expression of its protein (pPTEN) with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in astrocytomas. Fifty-six surgically resected brain gliomas, 10 grade 2, 16 grade 3, and 30 grade 4, were studied by a combined approach, consisting of (1) PCR analysis using four microsatellite markers against the PTEN gene region (10q23), (2) the FISH technique to test chromosome 10 using a pericentromeric probe, and (3) immunohistochemical evaluation of pPTEN and VEGF. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of PTEN was observed in 10% of fibrillary grade 2 astrocytomas and all gemistocytic ones. In high-grade tumors, LOH was more frequent in grade 4 than in grade 3 (> or =2 loci deleted, 83% and 56%, respectively). Monosomy for chromosome 10 was observed especially in high-grade tumors (6% of grade 3 and 50% of grade 4) and in 20% of grade 2 tumors, corresponding to gemistocytic astrocytomas. Results with both antibodies against PTEN were concordant: loss of cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was frequently observed according to homogeneous or heterogeneous patterns in 70% and 50% of grades 4 and 3, respectively, but not in grade 2. Immunonegativity of pPTEN was associated with PTEN gene deletion (> or =2 loci deleted) (P = 0.04) but not with monosomy. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity against VEGF was observed in high-grade and in gemistocytic astrocytomas, but not in conventional grade 2 tumors. Tumor expression of pPTEN was not associated with immunoreactivity against VEGF when the same areas were considered. In conclusion, loss of PTEN expression is frequent in high-grade astrocytomas, but not in grade 2 tumors, and correlates with PTEN deletion and loss of chromosome 10. PTEN immunoreactivity does not correlate with VEGF expression in astrocytomas when similar areas are considered.

Astrocytoma↗

Immunocytochemistry in the differential diagnosis of serous effusions: a comparative evaluation of eight monoclonal antibodies in Papanicolaou stained smears.

BACKGROUND: The distinction between pleural mesothelioma (MS), reactive mesothelium (RM), and adenocarcinoma (AC) in serous effusions continues as a diagnostic problem in pathology. Immunohistochemistry can help, especially in surgical samples, but the optimum panel of antibodies has yet to be reported. The application of these antibodies to serous effusions has displayed variable results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of eight monoclonal antibodies in the differential diagnosis of MS, RM, and AC in serous effusions. METHODS: A total of 44 cytologic specimens of serous effusions (26 pleural, 15 peritoneal, and 3 pericardial) from 30 ACs, 3 MSs, and 11 RMs, previously stained with Papanicolaou stain, were selected retrospectively from our files and stained with HBME-1, thrombomodulin, calretinin, MOC-31, Ber-EP4, E-cadherin, CEA, and CD-15. The immunoreactions were evaluated independently by two pathologists. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was applied to the data to select an appropriate panel of antibodies. RESULTS: Statistical significance was found with HBME-1, thrombomodulin, MOC-31, Ber-EP4, and CD-15, when comparing both AC versus MS, and AC versus any type of mesothelial proliferation (MS or RM). Using HBME-1, 80% of ACs were negative whereas all three MSs reacted strongly with P = 0.003. A P = 0.02 was reached with thrombomodulin with 76.5% of ACs showing no immunoreactivity. Ber-EP4 and MOC-31 displayed good results with a P < 0.001 and 0.01, respectively. CD-15 reached a P = 0.034. No differences were found using the other antibodies. Ten ACs, all 3 MSs, and 10 RMs were double immunostained with HBME-1 and/or MOC-31 and Ber-EP4 successfully. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemical studies performed on Papanicolaou stained cytologic smears proved to be useful in the differentiation between metastatic AC and mesothelial proliferation. HBME-1, thrombomodulin, MOC-31, Ber-EP4, and CD-15 were the most useful. In selected cases, it appeared that double immunostaining aided the differential diagnosis. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol)

Adenocarcinoma↗

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition prevents polyploidization of cardiomyocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Polyploidization of cardiomyocyte nuclei is a physiological phenomenon that increases in pathological conditions such as myocardial hypertrophy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential benefit of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor quinapril in reversing the polyploidization of cardiomyocyte nuclei in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with established left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Sixteen week-old male SHR were treated with oral quinapril (average dose 10 mg/kg per day) for 20 weeks. Sixteen- and 36-week-old untreated SHR and 16- and 36-week-old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as controls. Nuclear polyploidization was determined by DNA flow cytometry of frozen tissues from the left ventricle, at least 20,000 nuclei being measured in each sample. The rates of tetraploidy in the 16- and 36-week-old SHR groups were 2.8 per cent (range 2.16-3 per cent) and 5.4 per cent (range 4.9-5.9 per cent), respectively. Treated SHR had a similar rate of DNA tetraploidy to the 16- and 36-week-old WKY rat groups: 1.8 per cent (range 1.5-2.3 per cent), 1.55 per cent (range 1.5-1.6 per cent), and 1.5 per cent (range 1.4-1.6 per cent), respectively. The differences in the percentage of tetraploid cardiomyocytes between the SHR untreated groups and the SHR treated group were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Regression of LVH and normalization of blood pressure were observed in treated rats. These results indicate that DNA tetraploidy in the myocardium of SHR increases with hypertrophy and decreases on quinapril treatment. It is suggested that ACE inhibition modifies nuclear processes involved in myocyte growth in arterial hypertension.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

[Development of a computer-assisted system to teach pathologic anatomy. Preliminary results].

BACKGROUND: The present study describes the implantation of an interactive teaching system to improve both the active involvement of the student and the learning quality of Pathology. The preliminary results from the evaluation of such system are also reported. METHODS: Two attitude questionnaires (rating scale) were passed to a sample of 36 students of Medicine, randomly elected. These students used for 10 weeks a programme of Pathology (Interpat) assisted by computer. Moreover, the data stored after each session by the control stack of this programme are analyzed. RESULTS: The programme is positively evaluated by the users who consider it as an appropriate mode of learning Pathology. In spite of the scarce experience with computers, students have no difficulty in using this programme. 82% of students consider that they learn more Pathology with Interpat than with the traditional system of magistral classes. 63% of students believe that similar systems must be applied in other curricula. The average time of use of the system by each student has been 11 h 45 min (SD 4 h 55 min). The videodisc is the stack more used. CONCLUSIONS: There is a good acceptance of this methodology by the students, being almost no difficulty in using the programme, despite their low level of computer knowledge. The program is a potent instrument for individualizing the teaching of Pathology. The small size of the sample, accurate for a preliminary study as this is, must be take into account when generalizing the results.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗

Angiostrongyliasis in a European patient: a rare cause of gangrenous ischemic enterocolitis.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis causes a clinicopathologic disease first observed in Costa Rica, mainly in children characterized by highly symptomatic eosinophilic gastroenteritis involving the terminal ileum, cecum, appendix, and ascending colon. A case of angiostrongyliasis in an adult Spaniard infected during a brief stay in Nicaragua is reported. We examined the macro-microscopic features of a right ileocolic resection of a 52-year-old patient. In the surgical specimen, multiple confluent ulcers, some perforated, were observed particularly in the terminal ileum. The intestinal wall was thickened, and the arterial branches presented necrotizing arteritis with thrombosis and a heavy infiltrate of eosinophils around the vessels. In addition, some granulomas were observed. Adult male and female forms of A. costaricensis were found in the lumen of many arterial branches and in the tissue of the omentum, surrounded by dense eosinophilic infiltrate. A. costaricensis causes an intense eosinophilic, necrotizing arteritis associated with thrombosis leading to severe ischemic lesions. This is the first case to be diagnosed in Europe. Incubation time was able to be established within a period of at least 14 days.

Angiostrongylus↗

[Severe hepatotoxicity caused by amiodarone: description of a case].

Amiodarone is useful for the treatment of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, but it has been associated with several adverse effects. Amiodarone-induced hepatotoxicity is a frequent complication and often consist in a mild and asymptomatic elevation of liver function tests, although severe cases have been described. A case of severe amiodarone-induced hepatotoxicity slowly resolving after discontinuation of the drug and in which liver biopsy was crucial for diagnosis is reported. Although there are no pathognomonic histopathological findings, phospholipidosis is the morphologic hallmark of amiodarone hepatotoxicity.

Aged↗