Aims To verify the applicability, reproducibility and predictive value of a proposed unified classification (amended Ljubljana classification) of laryngeal squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs). Methods Six internationally recognised experts and three pathologists from Ljubljana contributed to this study by evaluating a set of laryngeal SILs using the new system: low-gradeSIL, high-grade SIL and carcinoma in situ (CIS). Results The overall agreement among reviewers was good. Overall unweighted and weighted kappa statistics and 95% confidence intervals were 0.75 (0.65 - 0.84) and 0.80 (0.71 - 0.87), respectively. The results were stratified between the international reviewers and the Ljubljana pathologists. The former had a good overall agreement, while the latter had very good agreement. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a significant difference (p(0.0001) between patients with low- and high-grade SILs; 19/1204 patients with low-grade SILs and 30/240 patients with high-grade SILs progressed to malignancy in 2 to 15 years and in 2 to 26 years, respectively. Conclusions The proposed modification to the LC classification provides clear morphological criteria to define the prognostic groups. The criteria facilitate better inter-observer agreement than previous systems and the retrospective follow-up study demonstrates a highly significant difference in the risk of malignant progression between low and high grade SILs.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31259865
Background It has been suggested that C1q and immunoglobulin M (IgM) nephropathy are variants of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). Many researchers believe that these two conditions signify a worse prognosis for children with MCNS in comparison with immunofluorescence (IF)-negative MCNS. The aim of our study was to determine the prognostic significance of C1q nephropathy and IgM nephropathy in children with MCNS. Methods Fifty-five children with MCNS who had been biopsied over the course of 24 years at our institution were retrospectively categorized into three groups on the basis of IF microscopy findings: IF-negative MCNS (29/55 patients), MCNS with IgM nephropathy (19/55 patients), and MCNS with C1q nephropathy (7/55 patients). Clinical characteristics at disease presentation, clinical course, and renal outcome were compared between groups during the median follow-up period of 16.9 years (minimum 1.0, maximum 31.1 years). Results No statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics at disease presentation, clinical course, and renal outcome were found. Children with IgM nephropathy, C1q nephropathy, and IF-negative MCNS were clinically indistinguishable. Conclusions We concluded that C1q or IgM nephropathy variants do not seem to signify a worse prognosis in children with MCNS in comparison with IF-negative MCNS.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31820761
Association between verrucous carcinoma (VC) of the head and neck and human papillomaviruses (HPV) is highly controversial. Previous prevalence studies focused mostly on alpha-PV, while little is known about other PV genera. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of a broad spectrum of HPV in VC of the head and neck using sensitive and specific molecular assays. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 30 VC and 30 location-matched normal tissue samples were analysed, by using six different polymerase chain reaction-based methods targeting DNA of at least 87 HPV types from alpha-PV, beta-PV, gamma-PV and mi-PV genera, and immunohistochemistry against p16 protein. alpha-PV, gamma-PV and mi-PV were not detected. Beta-PV DNA was detected in 5/30 VC (16.7%) and in 18/30 normal tissue samples (60.0%): HPV-19, -24 and -36 were identified in VC, and HPV-5, -9, -12, -23, -24, -38, -47, -49 and -96 in normal tissue, whereas HPV type was not determined in 2/5 cases of VC and in 6/18 normal tissue samples. p16 expression was detected in a subset of samples and was higher in VC than in normal tissue. However, the reaction was predominantly cytoplasmic and only occasionally nuclear, and the extent of staining did not exceed 75%. Our results indicate that alpha-PV, gamma-PV and mi-PV are not associated with aetiopathogenesis of VC of the head and neck. Beta-PV DNA in a subset of VC and normal tissue might reflect incidental colonization, but its potential biological significance needs further investigation.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31862745
Transient Receptor Potential Vanillo id 1 (TRPV1) subunits form a polymodal cation channel responsive to capsaicin, heat, acidity an d endogenous metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids. While originally repo rted to serve as a pain and heat detector in the peripheral nervous system, TRPV1 has been implicated in th e modulation of blood flow and osmoregulation but also neurotra nsmission, postsynaptic ne uronal excitability and synaptic plasticity within the central nervous system. In a ddition to its central role in nociception, evidence is accumulating that TRPV1 contributes to stimulus transduction and/or processing in other sensory m odalities, including thermosensation, mechanotransduction and vision. For example, TRPV1, in conjunction with intrinsic cannabinoid signaling, might cont ribute to retinal ganglion ce ll (RGC) axonal transport and excitability, cytokine release from microglial cells and regulation of retinal vasculature. While excessive TRPV1 activity was pr oposed to induce RGC excitotoxicity physiological TRPV1 activity might serve a ne uroprotective function within the complex context of retinal endocannabi noid signaling. In this review we evaluate the current evidence for localization and function of TR PV1 channels within the mammalian retina and explore the potential inte raction of this intriguing noc iceptor with endogenous agonists and modulators.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31835609
Objectives To determine the incidence rate of histologically proven IgA vasculitis (IgAV) in the adult Slovenian population. Methods A retrospective chart review of adult patients diagnosed with IgAV was performed at the departments of rheumatology, nephrology, infectious diseases and dermatovenereology at an integrated secondary/tertiary university teaching hospital. In order to avoid missing miscoded cases, the Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, provided a list of all patients with an IgAV-compatible histological pattern on biopsy. The annual incidence rate of histologically proven IgAV was calculated. Results Eighty-one new cases of IgAV were identified from June 2010 to June 2013. The estimated annual incidence rate of IgAV was 5.1 per 100 000 adults [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.4-7.4]; in men it was 6.1 per 100 000 (95% CI 3.9-10.6) and in women it was 3.7 per 100 000 (95% CI 1.8-6.8). Conclusions Although we only included histologically proven cases of IgAV, the annual incidence rate of 5.1 per 100 000 adults is 3-6-times higher than previously reported.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31617497