Molecular Pathology
Maryam Sotoudeh Anvari; Atoosa Gharib; Maryam Abolhasani; Aileen Azari-Yaam; Farzaneh Hossieni Gharalari; Moeinadin Safavi; Ali Zare-Mirzaie; Mohammad Vasei
Abstract
Molecular assays for detection of nucleic acids in biologic specimens are valuable diagnostic tools supporting clinical diagnoses and therapeutic decisions. Pre-analytical errors, which occur before or during processing of nucleic acid extraction, contribute a significant role in common errors which ...
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Molecular assays for detection of nucleic acids in biologic specimens are valuable diagnostic tools supporting clinical diagnoses and therapeutic decisions. Pre-analytical errors, which occur before or during processing of nucleic acid extraction, contribute a significant role in common errors which take place in molecular laboratories. Certain practices in specimen collection, transportation, and storage can affect the integrity of nucleic acids before analysis. Applying best practices in these steps, helps to minimize those errors and leads to better decisions in patient diagnosis and treatment. Widely acceptable recommendations, which are for optimal molecular assays associated with pre-analytic variables, are limited. In this article, we have reviewed most of the important issues in sample handling from bed to bench before starting molecular tests, which can be used in diagnostic as well as research laboratories. We have addressed the most important pre-analytical points in performing molecular analysis in fixed and unfixed solid tissues, whole blood, serum, plasma, as well as most of the body fluids including urine, fecal and bronchial samples, as well as prenatal diagnosis samples.
Uropathology
Mojgan Asgari; Elham Eftekhar; Maryam Abolhasani; Hossein Shahrokh
Abstract
Background & Objective: As the prostate adenocarcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in males, looking for a marker to effectively predict aggressiveness and metastatic potential in an apparently localized cancer in initial needle biopsy specimens can help the clinicians to make more ...
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Background & Objective: As the prostate adenocarcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in males, looking for a marker to effectively predict aggressiveness and metastatic potential in an apparently localized cancer in initial needle biopsy specimens can help the clinicians to make more appropriate decision for treatment, planning, and choosing appropriate targeted therapy. The present study assessed the value of Endothelin-1 expression to predict prognosis of prostatic cancer Methods: In a cross sectional study, 83 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy in Hasheminejad Kidney Center in 2008 through 2012 were assigned to two groups including 43 with and 40 without extra-prostatic extension (EPE). Endothelin-1 staining was performed on Paraffin Embedded blocks of preoperative needle biopsies. Results: The expression of Endothelin-1 increased in 72% of patients in the group with EPE (P<0.001). The group with Endothelin-1 positivity showed higher serum level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) (p = 0.039). Endothelin-1 expression was positive in 67% of patients with perineurial invasion (P<0.001). Adjusting the baseline variables of PSA and PN in a multivariable logistic regression model, the Endothelin-1 positivity could effectively predict EPE in patients with prostatic cancer (OR: 5.46, p = 0.010). Conclusion: Correlation of Endothelin-1 expression in needle biopsy specimens in expected with extra-prostatic extension of tumor in radical prostatectomy specimens, perineurial invasion and serum PSA level at the time of diagnosis.
Maryam Abolhasani; Mojgan Asgari; Hossein Keymoosi
Volume 8, Issue 1 , January 2013, , Pages 55-58
Abstract
Splenogonadal fusion is a rare entity with approximately 150 reported cases until the year 2005. The entity is a rare congenital anomaly in which there is fusion of splenic and gonadal anlagen or mesonephric derivatives. Splenogonadal fusion has two continuous and discontinuous types. About ten cases ...
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Splenogonadal fusion is a rare entity with approximately 150 reported cases until the year 2005. The entity is a rare congenital anomaly in which there is fusion of splenic and gonadal anlagen or mesonephric derivatives. Splenogonadal fusion has two continuous and discontinuous types. About ten cases have been reported to be associated with bilateral cryptorchidism in literature. Very few cases have been diagnosed preoperatively. Many cases present as a testicular swelling and undergo an unnecessary orchiectomy with the suspicion of a testicular neoplasm. Herein, we report a new case of discontinuous splenogonadal fusion in a 29 years old man with bilateral cryptorchidism who underwent surgery. Surprisingly two masses were noted adjacent to undescendent testis in left groin in operative room which were resected and proved to be a new case of splenogonadal fusion in histological exam.
Ali Zare Mirzaie; Maryam Abolhasani; Roozbeh Mobasher Moghaddam; Maryam Kadivar
Volume 7, Issue 3 , July 2012, , Pages 183-189
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Gastrointestinal polyps are proliferative or neoplastic mucosal lesions. The most important point about these polyps is risk of malignancy of them. This study was performed to determine type and frequency of polyps of gastrointestinal tract in Iranian population according to ...
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Background and Objectives: Gastrointestinal polyps are proliferative or neoplastic mucosal lesions. The most important point about these polyps is risk of malignancy of them. This study was performed to determine type and frequency of polyps of gastrointestinal tract in Iranian population according to their locations.
Materials and Methods: Totally, 210 patients referred to Rasul-e-Akram Hospital in years 2006-2010 and had pathology report of gastrointestinal polyps were included in the study. Frequency of gastrointestinal polyps was determined according to type, histological subtype, location, age and sex. The data was analyzed by software SPSS 16.
Results: Of participants, 129 patients were male (61.4%) and 81 (38.6%) were female. The mean age of patients was 58.4±32 yr. The mode of age interval was 70-80 yr (25.2%). The most frequent presenting symptom was lower gastrointestinal bleeding as melena or hematochesia (31%). Colon and sigmoid were site of most of gastrointestinal polyps (74.2%). The most prevalent type of gastrointestinal polyps was adenomatous polyp which was reported in 175 patients (84.3%). The most common types of colonic and gastric polyps were adenomatous and hyperplastic types respectively.
Conclusion: Our data is highly confirmatory to previous studies regarding association of polyp with advanced age and male sex, the most prevalent symptom and site of gastrointestinal polyps, and the most common types of colonic polyps. The frequency of gastric polyps in our population differs with some studies.
Foroogh sadat Hashemi; Maryam Abolhasani; Seyed Mohammad Hakimi
Volume 2, Issue 2 , April 2007, , Pages 54-58
Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Zinc as the second trace element of the human body plays an important role in numerous functions. A large number of research studies have showed serum zinc deficiency and excess urinary excretion in patients with major beta thalassemia, but few studies revealed excess urinary ...
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Introduction and Objective: Zinc as the second trace element of the human body plays an important role in numerous functions. A large number of research studies have showed serum zinc deficiency and excess urinary excretion in patients with major beta thalassemia, but few studies revealed excess urinary zinc excretion in minor beta thalassemia and no study investigated serum zinc levels in this group. This study aimed to measure serum and urine zinc level in patients with minor beta thalassemia. Materials and Methods: The study was observational and cross-sectional. Blood and 24-hour urine samples were collected from carriers of beta thalassemia who attended Ali Asghar Hospital for blood transfusions for their children. They had documented hemoglobin electrophoresis for their status. The serum and urine zinc levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Student’s t test was used for comparison of groups. Results: The average level of zinc in the serum and urine of the male cases was 69 ± 10 μg/dl and 714 ± 162 μg/dl and in the female cases was 58 ± 11 μg/dl and 751 ± 162 μg/dl respectively and was 64 ± 12 μg/dl and 730 ± 120 μg/dl totally. The obtained serum zinc was lower and the urine zinc was higher in minor beta thalassemic persons than the amounts mentioned by references for the subjects of the same sex and age. The serum zinc level of anemic patients with minor beta thalassemia was lower (63 ± 11 vs 72 ± 13 μg/dl) and the urine zinc level was higher (792 ± 183 vs 673 ± 202 μg/dl) than non-anemic patients. Conclusion: Minor beta thalassemics have lower serum zinc level and due to abundant roles of zinc can make benefit from zinc supplementation. This decrement may be attributed to tubulopathy in these patients.
Mahjabin Taklif; Maryam Abolhasani
Volume 2, Issue 1 , January 2007, , Pages 33-36
Abstract
Background and Objective: Neurofibromas occur as solitary and multiple forms. The solitary ones are extraneural and more common, histologically exhibiting spindle cells with wavy nuclei, scattered among collagen fibers. Multiple neurofibromas are seen in neurofibromatosis (types I and II), including ...
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Background and Objective: Neurofibromas occur as solitary and multiple forms. The solitary ones are extraneural and more common, histologically exhibiting spindle cells with wavy nuclei, scattered among collagen fibers. Multiple neurofibromas are seen in neurofibromatosis (types I and II), including intraneural (plexiform, cutaneous deep circumscribed) and extraneural (cutaneous, deep diffuse) variants and various combinations of the above mentioned forms. In reviewed literature, solitary localized neurofibromas are mentioned to affect the genders equally, most develop in persons between the ages 20 and 30 years and evenly distribute over the body surface. Since Hazrat Fatemeh hospital is the referral center of dermatology, it seemed that evaluation of patients with neurofibroma within 11 years could be helpful. Materials and Methods: The present study included 53 patients with neurofibromas who referred to department of pathology of Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital during the years 1994-2005. Their lesions were diagnosed as neurofibromas by the pathologist. Lesions were categorized into solitary or multiple neurofibromas, then sex and age distributions and the involved areas were compared in each group. Results: In solitary group, neurofibromas were distributed in order of frequency over face (48%), upper extremities (13%), scalp, trunk, and lower extremities each one 9%, and neck (4%). The frequencies of distribution for neurofibromatosis were face (40%), upper extremities (23%), trunk, and lower extremities each one 14%, and scalp and neck each one 6%. Solitary neurofibromas of face, trunk, and upper extremities predominated in females, but lesions of scalp, neck, and lower extremities were more common in males. In contrast, neurofibromatosis of face, scalp, and neck were more frequent in males, the reverse was true for lesions of trunk and extremities. The peak incidence of solitary neurofibroma was within the ages of 15 and 30 years. In comparison, the peak incidence of neurofibromatosis was between 9 and 13 years. One third of neurofibromatosis developed plexiform neurofibromas, but no single case was observed in solitary group. None of the solitary or multiple neurofibromas were transformed to malignancy up to the time of current study. Conclusion: The solitary neurofibromas of head (p<0.04) and multiple neurofibromas of face (p= 0.04) were more prevalent in males, while multiple neurofibromas of upper extremities (p<0.03) were more frequent in females. Age distribution of solitary neurofibromas as compared to references and lower incidence age of neurofibromatosis in the study were in concordance with references.
Mahjabin Taklif; Maryam Abolhasani
Volume 1, Issue 3 , June 2006, , Pages 127-130
Abstract
Background: Microcystic adnexal tumor is a rare sclerosing variant of ductal carcinoma of eccrine sweat glands which is highly invasive. This tumor is often misdiagnosed as other benign or malignant skin lesions and improper treatment is carried on and is associated with high recurrence rate. Case presentation: ...
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Background: Microcystic adnexal tumor is a rare sclerosing variant of ductal carcinoma of eccrine sweat glands which is highly invasive. This tumor is often misdiagnosed as other benign or malignant skin lesions and improper treatment is carried on and is associated with high recurrence rate. Case presentation: We reported here in a 59-years old man who underwent incisional biopsy for a ongenital lesion on posterior neck which had grown recently. Microscopic examination exhibited an infiltrative tumor as constituted by small cord-like and angulated tubules with tadpole or comma-like shapes, individually set in abundant fibrous stroma in dermis. So, the diagnosis was syringoma. In the next step, the lesion underwent excisional biopsy. Histologically, a tumor located in dermis with extension to subcutis was noted which contained basaloid keratinocytes with occasional horn cysts and abortive hair follicles. In other areas, ducts and gland-like structures lined by two-cell layers predominated. The tumor extended to skeletal muscle and perineurial structures but no significant atypia or mitosis was identified. Eventually, with respect to mentioned features, the diagnosis was microcystic adnexal tumor. Conclusion: It is concluded that thinking about this rare invasive skin tumor with proper use of Mohs’ surgery and its correct diagnosis is clinically of high significance to reduce its recurrence rate. Meanwhile, this tumor was noticeably set in a congenital lesion in this reported case.