Issin, Gizem; Demir, Fatih; Simsek, Hasan Aktug; Cagatay, Diren Vuslat; Tayfur, Mahir; Kandemir, Ali; Balci, Mecdi Gürhan

Objective: Parasites and plant seeds may both be found in appendectomy specimens. Each plant seed has a different appearance and can thus exhibit wide variations under the microscope. Fragmented seeds may histologically mimic parasites. The differential diagnosis between seeds and parasites can be challenging in such cases. This study aimed to determine the incidence of parasites, seeds, and foreign bodies in appendectomy materials and highlight the most characteristic histopathological features associated with these structures. Material and Method: In this study, pathology slides of 9,480 patients, who underwent appendectomy between 2010 and 2021, were reviewed, and cases that contained parasites, seeds, or foreign bodies were identified. We reviewed the literature on seeds and parasites in appendectomy specimens. Results: Parasites were observed in 56 (0.6%) cases. Of these cases, 45 had Enterobius vermicularis (80%), and 11 had Taenia subspecies (20%). Plant seeds were observed in 47 cases (0.5%), and were macroscopically recognizable in 5 of them as olive, lemon, and cherry seeds. Parasites and seeds were usually observed in the lumen of appendix vermiformis, filled with abundant fecal materials. Conclusion: Seeds are seen in approximately 0.5% of the appendectomy specimens. Though rarely seen, the fragmented seed appearance may cause diagnostic difficulties. In this context, the key morphological features of parasites and plant seeds outlined in this study may be helpful in their differential diagnosis.

Issin, Gizem; Kucukodaci, Zafer; Yilmaz, Ismail; Erkul, Evren; Tural, Ersin; Demirel, Dilaver; Gungor, Atila; Yildirim, Sukru

Objective: Although squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) originating from different anatomic localizations display a similar histological appearance under light microscopy, they may differ in terms of epigenetic and genetic features. The aim of this study was to analyze mir-126, mir-182, and mir-486-5p expression levels in head and neck SCCs and lung SCCs, and to identify localization-specific miRNA expression profiles. Material and Method: The expression levels of mir-126, mir-182, and mir-486-5p were analyzed in lung, oral cavity, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal SCCs in 40 patients, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The findings showed that lung, oral cavity, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal SCCs have distinct mir-126 and mir-486-5p expression profiles. It was also observed that mir-126 and mir-486-5p expression levels were highly specific to the tumor localization. Conclusion: These findings highlighted that SCCs originating from different anatomic localizations have different miRNA expression profiles. miRNA expression analysis can be used to predict the primary localizations of those SCCs.

Aşoğlu, Mahmut B; Peker, Kemal; Gürsan, Nesrin

Amaç:Kolorektal karsinomlar gastrointestinal sistemin en sık görülen tümörleridir. Beta-catenin, kadherinlerle ilişkili, hücreler arası adezyonda görevli sitoplazmik bir proteindir. Aynı zamanda Wnt sinyal yolağının da önemli bir komponentidir. Son dönem çalışmalarında kolorektal karsinomlu hastalarda, supressör APC geni ve axin ile birlikte beta-katenin yapısında da bozulmalar olduğu gösterilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, kolore ktal karsinomlarda bir prognostik faktör olan β-katenin ekspresyonunu, diğer prognostik parametrelerle karşılaştırmayı amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntem:Çalışmaya 1994 -2003 yılları arasında kolorektal karsinom tanısı ile opere edilmiş ol an 70 hasta dâhil edildi. Hastaların 59u (%84,3) erkek, 11i (%15,7) si kadın olup yaşları 24 ile 82 (ortalama 60,3±15,2) yıl arasında değişmekteydi. Parafin bloklardan hazırlanan kesitlere beta-katenin antikoru immünohistokimyasal olarak uygulandı. TNM sınıflamasına göre tümörün diferansiasyon derecesi, evresi, lenf nodu metastazı, vasküler invazyon ve tümörün lokal yayılımı ile boyanan nükleu s sayısı arasında değerlendirme yapıldı. Bulgular:Tümörün histolojik derecesine göre oluşturulan grupların, β-katenin ile boyanma şiddetleri ve pozitif boyanan nükleus sayıları, prognostik parametreler ile karşıl aştırıldığında; iyi diferansiasyon gösteren gruplarda boyanma şiddeti hafif (+), pozitif boyanan nükleus sayıları daha az iken, kötü diferansiyasyon gösteren gruplar da boyanma şiddetli (+++) ve pozitif boyanan nükleus sayısı daha fazla olarak tespit edildi. Beta-katenin ekspresyonu prognostik parametre olan diferansiyasyon derecesi, lenf düğümü metastazı, evre ve boyut ile ilişkili bulunurken, damar invazyonu ile ilişkisiz bulundu. Sonuç:Tüm bu bilgiler ışığında, beta-ka teninin hücredeki fonksiyonları ve APC geni ile olan ilişkileri nedeniyle kolorektal karsinogenezde önemli bir rolü olduğu açıktır.

Peker, Kemal; Başoǧlu, Mahmut; Gürsan, Nesrin

Objective: Colorectal carcinomas are the most frequent tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. β-catenin, which is related to cadherins, is a cytoplasmic protein responsible for intercellular adhesion. It is also an important component in the Wnt signal pathway. Recent studies have shown structural alterations in the APC gene and axin in patients with colorectal carcinoma, along with β-catenin. We aimed to compare β-catenin expression, which is a prognostic factor itself, with other prognostic parameters. Material and Method: A total of 70 patients who had surgical intervention for colorectal malignancies between January 1994 and December 2003 were included in the study. Fifty-nine of the patients (84.3%) were male, 11 of the patients (15.7%) were female; their ages varied between 24 and 82 (mean 60.3 ±15.2) years. Paraf in blocks were immunohistochemically stained for β-catenin. The number of stained cell nuclei was assessed according to the stage of disease using the TNM classification, histological grade, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion and tumor's local invasion. Results: When groups constituted according to tumor histologic grade were compared for prognostic parameters in terms of stain density for β-catenin and number of stained cell nuclei, stain density was mild (+) and the number of stained nuclei was smaller in well-differentiated groups while stain density was strong (+++) and the number of stained nuclei was higher in poorly differentiated groups. There was a relation between β-catenin expression and dif erentiation grade, lymph node metastasis, stage and tumor size but not with vascular invasion. Conclusion: These data indicate that β- catenin, with functions in cell homeostasis and relations with the APC gene, has a substantial role in colorectal carcinogenesis.