METHODS: We obtained 80 CRC histopathological specimens sent to the Pathology Laboratory of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from 2015 to 2019. Data on demographic factors, body mass index (BMI), and clinicopathological characteristics were also collected. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were stained by using an optimized immunohistochemical protocol.
RESULTS: Patients were mostly older than 50 years, male, Malay, and overweight or obese. A high apoB expression was observed in 87.5% CRC samples (70/80), while a high 4HNE expression was observed in only 17.5% (14/80) of CRCs. The expression of apoB was significantly associated with the sigmoid and rectosigmoid tumor sites (p =0.001) and tumor size 3-5 cm (p =0.005). 4HNE expression was significantly associated with tumor size 3-5 cm (p =0.045). Other variables were not significantly associated with the expression of either marker.
CONCLUSION: ApoB and 4HNE proteins may play a role in promoting CRC carcinogenesis.
METHOD: A 38-year-old woman, Gravida 3 Para 1, with one previous miscarriage, presented with preterm labour at 33 weeks gestation. Antenatally, she was referred to a feto-maternal specialist for finding a placental tumour size 12 × 10 cm. Features are consistent with placental chorioangioma with polyhydramnios. The anomaly scan was normal. Antenatal fetal surveillance with Doppler studies were normal.
RESULTS: During this admission, corticosteroid was given together with a tocolytic agent and opioid analgesia. Unfortunately, the labour progressed, and the patient felt reduced in fetal movement. The cardiotograph showed suspicious tracing. We proceed with emergency caesarean delivery. The placenta was sent for histopathology assessment which confirmed a large placental chorioangioma. The baby was born with Apgar's score of 9 at 1 min, pH of 7.28 and lactate of 7.28 with anaemia and thrombocytopenia. The uterus developed intermittent uterine atony, and the uterotonic agent was given. She recovered well post-delivery. The baby was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and received a blood product transfusion and discharged from NICU on day 15 of life.
DISCUSSION: Large placental chorioangioma is associated with polyhydramnios, preterm labour, postpartum haemorrhage, fetal anaemia, fetal distress, fetal hydrops and possible perinatal death. Multidisciplinary team involvement with feto-maternal specialists, anaesthetic and neonatologists would improve the outcome of both mother and fetus.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all SGT cases undergoing surgical resection at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) and Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ) in Malaysia from April 2022 to April 2023. IHC staining was performed on paraffin-embedded tissues at the Pathology Laboratory, HUSM, to evaluate the expression of p16, HPV16-L1, and HPV18-E6 oncoproteins. The clinicopathological data were correlated with the staining results.
RESULTS: 49 SGT cases were identified, mainly in middle-aged Malay women, with most tumours originating from the parotid gland. Malignant tumours included mucoepidermoid carcinoma (22.4%), adenoid cystic carcinoma (4.1%), acinic cell carcinoma (4.1%), and adenocarcinoma (2%). Benign tumours primarily consisted of pleomorphic adenoma (49%) and Warthin tumours (16.3%). Positive p16 expression was detected in 67% of cases, while HPV16 and HPV18 were detected in 65% and 90% of tumours, respectively. HPV16-L1 exhibited 75.8% sensitivity and 56.3% specificity, while HPV18-E6 showed 100% sensitivity and 31.2% specificity compared to p16.
CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest a correlation between the presence of high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 and the development of SGT, as evidenced by the overexpression of p16, HPV16-L1, and HPV18-E6 oncoproteins. Both HPV16-L1 and HPV18-E6 tests are acceptable, reliable, and sensitive for detecting high-risk HPV in SGT.
METHODS: The study enrolled 54 patients with primary brain tumors. DNA extracted from paired tissue and blood samples was subjected to Sanger sequencing to identify alterations in the entire mtDNA. The associations between clinicopathological characteristics and mutations were evaluated. Cox-regression multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors significantly associated with survival, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the survival of patients with and without mutations.
RESULTS: Overall, 29.6% of the patients harbored 19 somatic mutations distributed across 15 loci within the mtDNA. Notably, 36.8% of these mutations were not previously documented in MITOMAP. One newly identified mutation caused a frameshift in the ATPase6 gene, resulting in a premature stop codon. Three mutations were classified as deleterious in the MitImpact2 database. Overall, 1097 mtDNA polymorphisms were identified across 331 different locations. Patients with mutations exhibited significantly shorter survival than patients without mutations.
CONCLUSIONS: mtDNA mutations negatively affected the survival outcomes of Malaysian patients with primary brain tumors. However, studies with larger samples are needed to confirm the association between mutation burden and survival rates.