Liver pathology of yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), infected with larvae of the nematode Raphidascaris acus (Bloch, 1779)

Larvae of the nematode Raphidascaris acus were found free or encapsulated in the liver of yellow perch. Blood vessels were distorted or destroyed during larval migrations and larvae were eventually encapsulated in a thick-walled whitish nodule. Successful walling-off of the parasite resulted in the formation of a collagenous nodule and a complete loss of the worm. No mortality of perch was associated with larval R. acus but the introduction of susceptible fishes into a lake harboring this parasite may be important in some stocking programs.     

Gravid adult female worms of Wuchereria bancrofti in fine needle aspirates of soft tissue swellings. Report of three cases

Gravid adult female worms of Wuchereria bancrofti were observed in fine needle aspirates of soft tissue swellings from three patients. An inguinal lymph node was aspirated in two cases, and a breast nodule was the site of aspiration in the third case. In one of the inguinal lymph node aspirates, two adult gravid female worms were identified.     

Molecular characterization of nodule worm in a community of Bornean primates

Strongyles are commonly reported parasites in studies of primate parasite biodiversity. Among them, nodule worm species are often overlooked as a serious concern despite having been observed to cause serious disease in nonhuman primates and humans. In this study, we investigated whether strongyles found in Bornean primates are the nodule worm Oesophagostomum spp., and to what extent these parasites are shared among members of the community. To test this, we propose two hypotheses that use the parasite genetic structure to infer transmission processes within the community. In the first scenario, the absence of parasite genetic substructuring would reflect high levels of parasite transmission among primate hosts, as primates’ home ranges overlap in the study area. In the second scenario, the presence of parasite substructuring would suggest cryptic diversity within the parasite genus and the existence of phylogenetic barriers to cross‐species transmission. By using molecular markers, we identify strongyles infecting this primate community as O. aculeatum, the only species of nodule worm currently known to infect Asian nonhuman primates. Furthermore, the little to no genetic substructuring supports a scenario with no phylogenetic barriers to transmission and where host movements across the landscape would enable gene flow between host populations. This work shows that the parasite's high adaptability could act as a buffer against local parasite extinctions. Surveys targeting human populations living in close proximity to nonhuman primates could help clarify whether this species of nodule worm presents the zoonotic potential found in the other two species infecting African nonhuman primates.     

Pancreatic solitary and synchronous metastasis from breast cancer: a case report and systematic review of controversies in diagnosis and treatment

Background

Metastases from breast cancer cause the frequent involvement of lung, bone, liver, and brain, while the occurrence of metastases to the gastrointestinal tract is rare, and more frequently discovered after a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Solitary pancreatic metastases from breast cancer, without widespread disease, are actually unusual, and only 19 cases have been previously described; truly exceptional is a solitary pancreatic metastasis becoming evident together with the primary breast cancer.

Case presentation

A 68-year-old woman reported general fatigue, lethargy, and jaundice. Abdominal ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an ampulloma of Vater’s papilla; moreover, a neoplastic nodule in the left breast was diagnosed. She underwent surgery for both breast cancer and ampulloma of Vater’s papilla. Pathological examination of pancreatic specimen, however, did not confirm primary carcinoma of the duodenal papilla, but showed a metastatic involvement of pancreas from lobular breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry has been essential to confirm the origin of the malignancy: hormone receptors and mammaglobin were expressed in both the primary breast tumor and the pancreatic metastasis.

Conclusions

This is one of the few reported cases in literature of an isolated and synchronous pancreatic metastasis from breast cancer, where the definitive diagnosis was obtained only after surgery. We discuss the controversies in this diagnosis and the choice of correct treatment. The surgical resection of solitary metastases can be performed in the absence of disseminated disease.     

A Case of Human Pulmonary Dirofilariasis in a 48-Year-Old Korean Man

Dirofilariasis is a rare disease in humans. We report here a case of a 48-year-old male who was diagnosed with pulmonary dirofilariasis in Korea. On chest radiographs, a coin lesion of 1 cm in diameter was shown. Although it looked like a benign inflammatory nodule, malignancy could not be excluded. So, the nodule was resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Pathologically, chronic granulomatous inflammation composed of coagulation necrosis with rim of fibrous tissues and granulations was seen. In the center of the necrotic nodules, a degenerating parasitic organism was found. The parasite had prominent internal cuticular ridges and thick cuticle, a well-developed muscle layer, an intestinal tube, and uterine tubules. The parasite was diagnosed as an immature female worm of Dirofilaria immitis. This is the second reported case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis in Korea.     

血清PSA、EGF在不同类型良性前列腺增生患者中表达意义及其与术后疾病转归的相关性分析

摘要 目的：分析血清前列腺特异抗原（PSA)、表皮生长因子（EGF)在不同类型良性前列腺增生患者中低表达意义及其与术后疾病转归的相关性。方法：选择自2020年1月至2022年12月在我院接受手术治疗的128例良性前列腺增生患者作为研究对象,根据术后病理活检结果进行分组,间质结节组（16例）、腺肌性结节组（32例）、纤维腺瘤性结节组（12例）、腺性结节组（30例）和混合结节组（38例）,其中以间质增生为主60例、以腺体增生为主68例。检测所有患者血清PSA、EGF的表达水平,以术后6个月的国际前列腺症状评分（IPSS评分）<8分判定为预后良好,分析血清PSA、EGF在预后良好组与预后不良组之间的差异性及与IPSS评分的关系。结果：血清PSA、EGF表达水平在间质结节组、腺肌性结节组、纤维腺瘤性结节组、腺性结节组和混合结节组间比较有差异（P<0.05）;以腺体增生为主的良性前列腺增生患者血清PSA、EGF表达水平均明显高于以间质增生为主的患者（P<0.05）;经ROC曲线分析,血清PSA联合EGF预测以腺体增生为主的良性前列腺增生的敏感度为86.42%,特异度为65.34%,AUC为0.930;所有患者均获得随访6个月,预后良好98例、预后不良30例;预后不良组血清PSA、EGF表达水平均明显高于预后良好组（P<0.05）;经Pearson相关性分析,良性前列腺增生患者血清PSA、EGF表达水平均与IPSS评分呈负相关（r值分别为-0.348、-0.417,P值均为0.000）。结论：血清PSA、EGF在不同病理类型良性前列腺增生患者中表达差异显著,以间质增生为主的患者,以腺体增生为主的患者血清PSA、EGF表达水平更高,两者均与术后疾病转归密切相关,值得临床予以重视。     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of neuroendocrine breast carcinoma metastatic to the thyroid. A case report

BACKGROUND: Tumors showing neuroendocrine differentiation arise in a wide range of organs, and metastatic neuroendocrine tumors may be difficult to differentiate from primary tumors. This report describes an unusual case of metastatic breast carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation that presented as a solitary thyroid nodule. The diagnosis was made by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). CASE: A 52-year-old woman presented with a thyroid nodule and bilateral enlarged supraclavicular fossa lymph nodes. FNAB revealed a neuroendocrine carcinoma. Further questioning revealed that the patient had had a breast carcinoma resected eight years previously. The diagnosis of metastatic neuroendocrine breast carcinoma was established by immunocytochemistry. The patient received antiestrogen therapy but subsequently developed skeletal metastases. CONCLUSION: Neuroendocrine carcinomas from various sites show similar cytologic features. In this case, a diagnosis of breast carcinoma metastatic to the thyroid was suggested by the clinical history and confirmed by FNAB with immunocytochemistry.     

Trichinella spiralis and breast carcinoma--a case report

Authors report about a patient with recurrent ductal invasive breast carcinoma and trichinosis. The patient underwent mastectomy of the left breast with evacuation of the axilla because of the cancer. Radiation therapy was received. An infestation with Trichinella spiralis was diagnosed two years after The patient was treated with mebendazole. A local recurrence of the tumor was found on the chest wall six years after the surgery. Tumor excision was performed. Histological analysis pointed at a ductal invasive carcinoma with numerous parasites of Trichinella spiralis present within both the muscle and the tumor tissue. The finding of parasites in the tumor tissue witnesses in favor of infestation, and the parasite morphology preserved in the tumor shows at the protective effects of the cysts, i.e. preventing parasite necrosis.     

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy cytology of cutaneous calcinosis in a 74-year-old woman with dermatomyositis on methotrexate therapy: a case report

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous calcinosis (CC) occurs in a variety of rheumatic diseases. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) may be used in the office setting to evaluate such soft tissue lesions. For patients on methotrexate (MTX) therapy, methotrexate nodulosis (MN) should be considered in the differential diagnosis. CASE: A 74-year-old Caucasian woman with adult-onset dermatomyositis (ADM) on MTX therapy presented for evaluation of a right breast mass and multiple soft tissue nodules. FNABs of the right breast mass and a left upper extremity nodule both demonstrated benign calcified material. Six months later, the patient returned for evaluation of the persistent right breast mass and repeat FNAB revealed adenocarcinoma. Concurrently, a right hip soft tissue nodule was aspirated, demonstrating benign crystalline debris. MTX therapy was discontinued, and the patient subsequently underwent a lumpectomy of the right breast 1 month after FNAB diagnosis, displaying infiltrative ductal carcinoma. Of note, 2 months after her lumpectomy, MTX therapy was restarted and the patient continues to have adequate control of ADM symptoms with persistent, clinically benign soft tissue calcifications. CONCLUSION: Performing FNAB on soft tissue lesions can obviate needless tissue biopsies of CC in appropriate rheumatology patients, thus avoiding the risks and complications associated with more invasive procedures.     

Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of tuberculous thyroiditis. A report of eight cases.

Among 1,283 cases of thyroid lesions subjected to fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) over a period of two years, 8 cases (0.6%) were found to be having cytologic features consistent with tuberculous thyroiditis. The ages of the patients ranged from 14 to 65 years, with a median of 30. The male:female ratio was 4:4. Six cases clinically presented with solitary nodules of the thyroid and two cases as abscesses in the thyroid region. Three patients had concomitant cervical lymphadenopathy, and only two patients were known cases of tuberculosis on treatment. Ultrasonography, done in seven cases, confirmed solitary nodules in four; in one case the differentiation between an extrathyroid nodule and cystic isthmic nodule was difficult, and in the remaining two cases the lesions were found to be extrathyroid. Fine needle aspirates from thyroid swellings showed epithelioid granuloma with necrosis in five cases and necrosis without epithelioid granuloma in three cases. The number of cases positive for acid-fast bacilli in these two groups were two and three, respectively. Lymph node aspiration, done in three cases, revealed necrotic material in two; both were positive for acid-fast bacilli, and the third case showed epithelioid granuloma without necrosis.     

A nodular pulmonary lesion due to Linguatula serrata in an HIV-positive man

A coin-shaped pulmonary lesion was accidentally detected in a 42-year-old, HIV-seropositive man residing in Bari (Apulia, Southern Italy) during a routine X-ray examination. A lung cancer was suspected, obliging physicians to investigate surgically. After thoracotomy a lung nodule, 1.8 cm in diameter, was excised and submitted for histological examination. Histological analysis revealed a nodular infarctual lesion containing a larva of Pentastomida. Despite the poor state of preservation of the parasite it was possible to recognise some morphological characteristics which enabled the parasite to be identified as Linguatula serrata (Pentastomida, Porocephalida). This is the first case reported in Europe in the lung in a living man due to this parasite, the few others occurring in autopsy reports. No evident correlations were found in the present case between HIV-seropositivity and the development of the parasitosis. The importance of lung nodules caused by metazoan invertebrates is emphasised: even though they are rare in man, they are regularly mistaken for cancer at X-ray examination.     

Evaluation of In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Ocimum Basilicum,Alhagi Maurorum,Calendula Officinalis and Their Parasite Cuscuta Campestris

The present investigation was carried out to study the relationship between presence of cytotoxic compounds in Ocimum basilicum, Alhagi maurorum, Calendula officinalis and their parasite Cuscuta campestris. The cytotoxic activity of the pure compounds was performed by MTT assay against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and normal breast cell line (MCF 10A). The induction of apoptosis was measured by the expression levels of p53, bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 genes using quantitative Real Time PCR. Three active fractions were detected by nuclear magnetic resonance as lutein, lupeol and eugenol, respectively, in C. officinalis, A. maurorum and O. basilicum. These compounds and their epoxidized forms were also detected in their parasite C. campestris. The cytotoxic activity of lutein epoxide, lupeol epoxide and eugenol epoxide was significantly more than lutein, lupeol and eugenol. The mRNA expression level of p53, caspase-3 and bax genes were increased in both cancer cells treated with all pure compounds. However, bcl-2 gene expression decreased in treated breast cancer cells. In conclusion, all the data indicated that the epoxide forms of lupeol, lutein and eugenol are potential drug candidates for inducing apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.     

Fine needle aspiration cytology of malignant schwannoma metastatic to the breast

A case of malignant schwannoma metastatic to the breast is reported. The tumor was found as a solitary breast lump in a 43-year-old woman and was clinically considered to be a primary tumor. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears of the mass were interpreted cytologically as a malignant neurogenic tumor, compatible with a malignant schwannoma. The patient did not have multiple neurofibromatoses. Eight months previously, an excision of a solitary nodule located in the left axilla had been performed in another hospital. Comparison of the histologic section from that excision with the FNA confirmed that the breast tumor was a metastatic malignant schwannoma, and the patient was treated accordingly.     

Histopathology in Leuciscus cephalus (Pisces: Cyprinidae) resulting from infection with Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala).

The histopathology present in Leuciscus cephalus Risso 1826 from the River Po, naturally infected with the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis Müller 1776, was studied and described. The parasite was only found within the host's digestive tract, and a density of 10 P. laevis per square centimeter was common. On histological examination it was noticed that both male and female parasites penetrated deeply through all the layers of the host digestive tract by means of their slender neck, bulb and proboscis; thus the bulb and proboscis become encapsulated beneath the serosa and mesentery. As a result, the presence of a capsule was noticed on the external surface of the host digestive tract. P. laevis caused local damage to the intestinal wall, and the parasite elicited an intense host reaction. The response of L. cephalus at the attachment site of the acanthocephalan was hyperplasia of host connective tissue, with cellular infiltration. In a few hosts, the presence of a fibrous nodule on the outer surface of the alimentary canal was observed.     

Response to drought stress of nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) rates by field-grown soybeans

The effects of drought stress on soybean nodule conductance and the maximum rate of acetylene reduction were studied with in situ experiments performed during two seasons and under differing field conditions. In both years drought resulted in decreased nodule conductances which could be detected as early as three days after water was withheld. The maximum rate of acetylene reduction was also decreased by drought and was highly correlated with nodule conductance (r = 0.95). Since nodule conductance is equal to the nodule surface area times the permeability, the relationship of these variables to both whole-plant and unit-nodule nitrogenase activity was explored. Drought stress resulted in a decrease in nodule gas permeability followed by decreases in nodule surface area when drought was prolonged. Under all conditions studied acetylene reduction on a unit-nodule surface area basis was highly correlated with nodule gas permeability (r = 0.92). A short-term oxygen enrichment study demonstrated nodule gas permeability may limit oxygen flux into both drought-stressed and well-watered nodules of these field-grown soybeans.     

Cutaneous leishmaniasis: evaluation by polymerase chain reaction in the Cukurova region of Turkey

The diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) may depend on the detection of the parasite in histologic sections, the growth of the promastigotes in culture, or the identification of parasite by other techniques. We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on paraffin-embedded biopsies to determine the validity of this technique for diagnosis of CL. PCR was used to detect the parasite using 2 different DNA extraction methods. PCR was positive in all 20 cases when the Leishmania parasite was detected by light microscopy. Twenty-seven of 34 cases that were negative microscopically for the parasite were positive using PCR. The first extraction method of DNA identified leishmanial DNA in 41 of 54 cases (75.9%); the second extraction of DNA was positive in 47 of 54 cases (87%). PCR was negative in all of the nonleishmaniasis cases. The PCR-based method appears to be a useful diagnostic approach for identification of suspected cases of CL.     

The kinetics of Theileria parva infection and lymphocyte transformation in vitro

Theileriaparva is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes a fatal lymphoproliferative disease of cattle known as East Coast Fever. The parasite infects host lymphocytes causing their transformation and uncontrolled proliferation. Infiltration of major organs with parasitized lymphoblasts results in most cases in death within 3 weeks. Although both T and B lymphocytes are susceptible to infection, the majority of cell lines arising from infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro are of T cell lineage. To explore the basis of this phenotypic bias we have followed the very early stages of parasite development in vitro at the single cell level. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were infected and stained for both surface phenotype and intracellular parasite antigen and analysed by flow cytometry. Although the parasite antigen was detected intracellularly as early as 6h p.i., our data indicate that parasite infection does not lead to cell transformation in all instances. Rather, specific cell types appear to undergo selection very early after infection and expansion of particular cell subsets results in survival and growth of only a small proportion of the cells originally parasitized.     

Histopathology in Paulicea lutkeni (Pisces: Pimelodidae) resulting from infections with Megathylacus brooksi and Jauela glandicephalus (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae)

The histopathology in Paulicea lutkeni naturally infected with Megathylacus brooksi and Jauela glandicephalus is described. Megathylacus brooksi attaches to the epithelium of the anterior intestine by means of suckers, resulting in damage to the epithelium, haemorrhages and lymphocyte infiltration. Jauela glandicephalus penetrates through all layers of the intestine. This penetration elicits an intense host-response resulting in the hyperplasy of connective tissue and formation of a nodule surrounding the scolex of the parasite. Lymphocyte infiltration was observed. Concurrent infections were found in some specimens.     

A model of encounters between host and parasite populations

A simulation model of the encounter between host and parasite populations is described. The model is two-dimensional in that it represents hosts and parasites as sums of random numbers. It allows for the manipulation of host and parasite numbers, areas of interaction, congruity of geographic ranges, parasite infectivity, and reproduction, or non-reproduction, of the parasite. The model generates parasite distributions (number of hosts vs. parasite/host classes) and their parameters (prevalence, mean number of parasites/host, variance/mean ratio as a measure of aggregation), and thus reveals the manner in which these parameters vary under different encounter conditions, i.e. their "behavior". Simulation results indicated that the behavior of parasite population mean, prevalence, and degree of aggregation was primarily a function of the rate at which infective stages were supplied to the system. In cases in which infective stages were continuously available, prevalence rose rapidly to nearly 100%, with increasing infectivity and parasite numbers, and the populations were not particularly aggregated. When infective stages were introduced in single large waves, both mean and prevalence remained low and the parasite populations were highly aggregated. Model results were compared with published data sets. The latter were also seen to fall into the two general categories of parameter behavior.     

高频超声在乳腺微小结节良恶性鉴别诊断中的应用价值

目的:探究高频超声在乳腺微小结节良恶性鉴别诊断中的应用价值及其超声表现。方法:选取我院乳腺外科收治的确诊为乳腺微小结节的患者184例,术前采用高频超声技术对患者进行结节探测,将探测结果与病理切片比较,同时对良恶性微小结节之间的形态、血流、微钙化以及边缘轮廓等情况进行图像分析,总结两者之间存在的差异。结果:1经过高频超声,检测出184例乳腺微小结节患者,有238处微小结节,其中良性结节194处、恶性结节44处;病理切片显示,微小结节244处,其中良性结节197处、恶性结节47处。与病理切片比较,高频超声的结节检出率高达97.5%,良恶性结节的检出准确率分别为98.5%、93.6%;2结节形态规则度对比,良性结节较恶性结节更规则(P0.05);钙化情况比较,并非所有结节都出现钙化,两者钙化情况暂无可比性;结节边缘轮廓清晰度比较,良性结节多表现为边缘清晰,而恶性肿瘤多表现为边缘模糊;结节边缘良性结节较恶性结节更清晰;3血流检出率比较,恶性结节组显著高于良性结节组(P0.05)。结论:高频超声技术对乳腺微小结节的检出率较高,错误率较低,是鉴别乳腺微小结节良恶性的重要手段,具有较高的应用价值,对乳腺癌的早期诊断具有重大意义。