Adult ; Calcinosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Fibrosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Adult ; Calcinosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Calcinosis ; pathology ; Child ; Humans ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Male ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cell Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the alterations of taurine transport, taurine transporter (TAUT) and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD) mRNA in the calcification of myocardial cells in vitro.

METHODS3H-taurine measured the amount of taurine uptake. TAUT and CSD mRNA consents were measured using competitive quantitative RT-PCR in cultured and calcified myocardial cells.

RESULTSIn calcification of myocardial cells, taurine concentration was decreased by 27% (P < 0.05), taurine uptake was markedly reduced, Vmax reduced by 39% (P < 0.01), there were no statistical significance of Km values between the two groups. TAUT mRNA decreased by 45% (P < 0.01), but CSD mRNA increased by 25% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe data suggest that there were impediment of taurine transport in calcification of myocardial cells, as TAUT mRNA level was decreased, but CSD mRNA concentration was improved.

Animals ; Biological Transport ; Calcinosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Carboxy-Lyases ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Taurine ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism

The purpose of this review is to investigate the value of the calcification in differentiating malignant thyroid neoplasm and the molecular mechanisms for the formation of the calcification. Many published reports have proved the presence of calcifications in thyroid neoplasm and calcified nodules in these studies are more frequently malignant than noncalcified nodules. Through viewing the related references, we found that psammoma bodies (PBs), Runx2, osteocalcin, osteopontin, CD44v6 play an important role in the molecular mechanisms in the formation of the calcification in PTC. But further study is required for elucidating the mode of action.
Calcinosis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Thyroid Nodule ; pathology

Advanced atherosclerosis is often associated with dystrophic calcification and remodeling of extracellular matrix of vascular wall. Recently many studies have documented a general relationship between calcification and severity of coronary disease, and discussed the feasibility of electron beam computed tomography for detecting and quantifying the coronary artery calcification in the patients. The present study investigated the expression and the localization of osteopontin, one of noncollagenous bone matrix protein, within the calcified coronary arteries. Autopsy-derived coronary artery specimens were scanned and reconstructed to visualize the pattern of coronary calcification using a novel microscopic computed tomography technique. The localization of the osteopontin were evaluated by immunohistochemial stain with LF7. The present study showed that the pattern of coronary calcification is variable and the expression of osteopontin is localized mainly to calcified lesion. The smooth muscle cells in addition to macrophage expressed osteopontin protein in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques. Soluble osteopontin released near to the sites of vascular calcification may represent an adaptive mechanism aimed at regulating the process of vascular calcification.
Aged ; Calcinosis/metabolism ; Coronary Arteriosclerosis/pathology* ; Coronary Arteriosclerosis/metabolism* ; Coronary Vessels/pathology* ; Coronary Vessels/metabolism ; Coronary Vessels/chemistry* ; Female ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Age ; Sialoglycoproteins/biosynthesis ; Sialoglycoproteins/analysis*

Adult ; Calcinosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cell Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To compare protein levels of pro-inflammatory factors and bone formation mediators in the fibrous cap and shoulder region of non-calcified and calcified carotid endarterectomy (CEA) plaques. METHODS: Twenty-two CEA plaques were classified as non-calcified and calcified groups (n=11 each) in accordance with the American Heart Association (AHA) consensus in 1995. To make frozen sections and H&E staining using plaque, the mean percent of carotid stenosis and calcification area was determined by quantitative histomorphometry. The protein levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chematactic protein-1 (MCP-1), bone formation mediators bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6), and osteocalcin in the fibrous cap and shoulder region of plaques were determined by western blot and were quantified using ImageJ software. RESULTS: MCP-1 and IL-8 protein were 1.3 (P>0.05) and 1.5 (P<0.05) folds greater in the non-calcified plaques than those in the calcified plaques. BMP-6 and osteocalcin protein were 1.3 (P>0.05) and 2.1 (P<0.01) folds greater in the calcified plaques compared with those of the non-calcified plaques. CONCLUSION Inflammation is more likely to occur in non-calcified carotid plaques, and calcification in the plaques may be associated with bone formation, which indicates that decreased inflammation may be the beginning of calcification in carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
Atherosclerosis ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 ; metabolism ; Calcinosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carotid Stenosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; Humans ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; pathology ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism

PURPOSE: To evaluate radiological findings of non-calcified ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and to correlate those with histological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2002 to March 2006, 22 patients with histologically-proven non-calcified DCIS were included. Mammography was obtained in 19 patients, ultrasound in 18 patients, and both examinations in 15 patients. Radiological findings were evaluated according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System by American College of Radiology. Histological tumor subtype and Van Nuys classification of DCIS were assessed. RESULTS: Histological subtypes consisted of mixed type in 11 patients (50%), comedo in 4 (18%), cribriform in 4 (18%), papillary type in 2 (9%), and solid in one (5%). According to Van Nuys classification, group 3 DCIS was observed in 13 (59%) patients. In the 19 patients who underwent mammography, 13 patients presented with abnormal findings: focal asymmetry in 7 patients (37%), masses in 4 (21%), skin thickening in one (5%), and architectural distortion in one (5%). In the 18 patients who had received breast ultrasound, a mass was present in 15 (83%) patients and ductal changes in 3 patients (17%). Sixty percent of patients with masses on ultrasound had group 3 DCIS and 100% of patients with ductal change had group 1 DCIS (p=0.017). CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of non-calcified DCIS by mammography is not an easy task due to the lack of typical malignant calcifications or masses. High resolution ultrasound can be useful for detecting non-calcified DCIS, and ultrasound findings are correlated with histological features.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology/*radiography/*ultrasonography ; Calcinosis/metabolism/pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the morphological features, immunohistochemical phenotype, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of collagenous spherulosis of the breast.

METHODSClinicopathologic observation, immunohistochemistry using EnVision method and histochemical staining were applied in 33 cases of collagenous spherulosis of the breast.

RESULTSCollagenous spherulosis of the breast was a benign lesion, consisting of proliferative myoepithelial and ductal epithelial cells. These cells were arranged in a cribriform pattern with esinophilic, round, oval or star-shaped fibrillary spherules in the lumen.SMA, calponin and p63 by immunohistochemistry identified the proliferative myoepithelium, while E-cadherin identified the proliferative ductal epithelial cells. The esinophilic spherules were stained with collagen type IV, AB-PAS and reticulin. Collagenous spherulosis was often found in sclerosing adenosis.

CONCLUSIONSCollagenous spherulosis of the breast is often associated with other diseases. It has special morphological presentation and is easily confused with malignant tumors such as adenoid cystic carcinoma or cribriform carcinoma in situ, and needs to be differentiated from these disease entities.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast ; pathology ; Breast Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Calcinosis ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged