Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Aug 2010
Comparative StudyThe prognostic value of Ki-67, p53, epidermal growth factor receptor, 1p36, 9p21, 10q23, and 17p13 in skull base chordomas.
Skull base chordomas are rare, locally aggressive, notochord-derived neoplasms for which prognostically relevant biomarkers are not well established. ⋯ Chordomas with elevated Ki-67 proliferation index or deletion at 9p21 may be at risk for a more aggressive clinical course and shorter survival. These biomarkers may thus be used to improve therapeutic stratification.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Aug 2010
Production and activation of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (matrilysin 1) in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by diffuse interstitial inflammation and fibroblast proliferation with accelerated remodeling of extracellular matrix, which result in irreversible destruction of the lung's architecture. ⋯ proMMP-7 is excessively produced by hyperplastic alveolar and metaplastic bronchiolar epithelial cells and activated locally in the lungs of IPF patients, suggesting that MMP-7 may contribute to the pathology of IPF.
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Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome are significant causes of pulmonary morbidity and are frequently fatal. These 2 entities have precise definitions from a clinical standpoint. Histologically, cases from patients with clinical acute lung injury typically exhibit diffuse alveolar damage, but other histologic patterns may occasionally be encountered such as acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, and diffuse hemorrhage with capillaritis. ⋯ Acute lung injury remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The pathologist should be aware of histologic patterns of lung disease other than diffuse alveolar damage, which are associated with a clinical presentation of acute lung injury. Identification of these alternative histologic findings, as well as identification of potential etiologic agents, especially infection, may impact patient treatment and disease outcome.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Mar 2010
Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of BK virus using labeled primers.
BK virus infections among immunocompromised patients are associated with disease of the kidney or urinary bladder. High viral loads, determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have been correlated with clinical disease. ⋯ Real-time PCR using labeled primers is highly sensitive and specific for the quantitative detection of BK virus from a variety of clinical specimens. These data demonstrate the applicability of labeled primer PCR for quantitative viral detection and offer a simplified method that removes the need for separate oligonucleotide probes.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Jan 2010
ReviewHigh-resolution computed tomography screening for lung cancer: unexpected findings and new controversies regarding adenocarcinogenesis.
Recent advances in human imaging technologies reawakened interest in lung cancer screening. Although historic and current preliminary and noncontrolled studies have not shown a decrease in lung cancer mortality in screened populations, many explanations have been proffered while the lung cancer community awaits the results of several large controlled population studies. ⋯ The current adenocarcinogenesis model is probably valid for many but not all lung adenocarcinomas. Screening data combined with radiographic and pathologic studies suggest that not all lung adenocarcinomas are clinically aggressive, and it is uncertain whether all aggressive adenocarcinomas arise from identified precursors.