Human pathology
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High prevalence of squamous anal lesions is linked to oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) promotes anal carcinogenesis. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER2/neu, c-Met, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR1) (tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors) are implicated in tumor progression, but little is known about their role in anal lesions. ⋯ Strong HIV-related immunodeficiency and an absence of antiretroviral therapy increased c-Met and/or EGFR expression. HIV-positive anal cancers showed correlated c-Met and VEGFR1 (P < .003), strong p16 labeling, and an increased Ki67 proliferation. The finding that EGFR, c-Met, and VEGFR1 involved in carcinogenesis are well-represented and coexpressed in anal cancers, especially in HIV-positive population, suggests possible novel targeted treatments for anal diseases.
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a severe disease, the treatment and pathophysiology of which are not completely established. The pathology of acute respiratory distress syndrome involves diffuse alveolar damage, which comprises severe alveolar epithelial cell damage, hyaline membrane formation, and festinate myofibroblast proliferation and fibrosis in the intra-alveolar spaces. We performed a clinicopathologic investigation of 26 autopsy cases of diffuse alveolar damage. ⋯ When diffuse alveolar damage was diagnosed pathologically as being due to severe infection, all 7 patients showed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, whereas only 2 of 7 patients showed interstitial myofibroblast proliferation. When diffuse alveolar damage was attributed to tumor treatment with chemotherapy or to drug toxicity, 3 of 16 patients showed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; 15 of 16 showed interstitial myofibroblast proliferation, 3 of 3 acute interstitial pneumonia patients did not show multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; and 3 of 3 acute interstitial pneumonia showed marked interstitial myofibroblast proliferation. These results suggest that the pathophysiologic mechanism of diffuse alveolar damage caused by severe infection is one of systemic circulation disturbance, although the mechanism underlying diffuse alveolar damage due to tumor with chemotherapy or drug toxicity appears to involve interstitial pneumonia-like lesions that are similar to acute interstitial pneumonia.