The distributions and frequencies of some endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of ddY mice were studied with immunohistochemical method using 7 types of antisera against bovine chromogranin (BCG), serotonin, gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK)-8, somatostatin, glucagon and human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP). All of 7 types of immunoreactive (IR) cells were identified. Most of IR cells in the intestinal portion were generally spherical or spindle in shape (open typed cell) while cells showing round in shape (close typed cell) were found in the intestinal gland and stomach regions occasionally. Their relative frequencies were varied according to each portion of GI tract. BCG-IR cells were demonstrated throughout whole GI tract except for the cecum and they were most predominant in the fundus and pylorus. Serotonin-IR cells were detected throughout whole GI tract and they were most predominant cell types in this species of mice. Gastrin-IR cells were restricted to the pylorus and CCK-8-IR cells were demonstrated in the pylorus, duodenum and jejunum with numerous frequencies in the pylorus. Somatostatin-IR cells were detected throughout whole GI tract except for the cecum and rectum and they showed more numerous frequencies in the stomach regions. In addition, glucagon-IR cells were restricted to the fundus, duodenum and jejunum with rare frequencies, and HPP-IR cells were restricted to the rectum only with rare frequency. In conclusion, some strain-dependent unique distributional patterns of gastrointestinal endocrine cells were found in GI tract of ddY mice.
Animals ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Cholecystokinin/analysis ; Chromogranins/analysis ; Enteroendocrine Cells/*cytology/immunology ; Female ; Gastrins/analysis ; Glucagon/analysis ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Mice ; Pancreatic Polypeptide/analysis ; Protein Precursors/analysis ; Serotonin/analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features, mutation of the GNAS1 and pathogenesis of progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH).

METHODThe typical clinical, pathological and radiographic features of a boy with POH were collected and summarized following family survey. The GNAS1 gene sequence of all family members were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the products were sequenced directly to identify the mutations. A literature review and long-term follow up were also conducted.

RESULTThe patient was an 11-year-old boy who had the onset in infancy, which indicates a chronic progressive cause of disease. The clinical features include the unsmooth local skin of the right shank where spread many rigid rice-like or irregular slabby uplifts, slabby bone-like sclerosis on the left lower mandible, left masticatory muscles, in lateral subcutaneous site of left hip joint and deep tissue, accompanied by gradually progressive difficulty in opening mouth. Histopathology showed that there were loosened hyperplasia of fibroblast and interstitial edema with punctiformed ossification. Radiographs showed flocculence hyperdense image in the subcutaneous tissues and muscles around left lower mandible, and the left masticatory muscles were obviously involved. The 3-dimensional computed tomography showed dislocations of the left temporomandibular joint. Sheeted hyperdense image with inequable density could be noted in lateral muscles of the left hip. And lamellar hyperdense image parallel to the long axis of the bone could be seen in the subcutaneous dorsum of the left foot and achilles tendon. Macro-thumb and of brachydactylia of the hands and feet were not present. The level of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase in the blood were normal. Brother of same father but different mothers was free of the disease and no patient of the same disease was found in maternal line and paternal lines. A mutated allele in exon 7 and a polymorphism in exon 5 were found in GNAS1 gene in both of the patient and his father.

CONCLUSIONThere is possibility/likelihood/probability that Chinese children could develop POH. Translocated dermal ossification began in infancy and shows a progressive cause in childhood. The disease is characterized by the heterotopic ossification of the skin, deep tissue, muscles and facial surface tissues. The location of the mutation in this study was different from that reported in abroad studies although exist in the same exons.

Child ; Chromogranins ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Pedigree

Patients with primary small cell carcinoma of the liver have rarely been described in medical literature. Knowledge of clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical properties remains limited. We described an 82-year-old female patient with primary small cell carcinoma of the liver. Histologically, the tumor showed typical morphology of a pulmonary small cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor revealed neuroendocrine differentiation; positive reaction for chromogranin, synaptophysin, CD56, and neuron specific enolase. The tumor was also positive for TTF-1 and c-kit but completely negative for hepatocyte, carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin 7; 19; and 20. Herein, we discussed the clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical findings of extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma of the liver and reviewed the relevant literature.
Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD56/analysis ; Carcinoma, Small Cell/metabolism/*pathology ; Chromogranins/analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver/chemistry/*pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/analysis ; Synaptophysin/analysis

OBJECTIVETo describe the morphologic features and immunohistochemistry of spindle cell carcinoma of breast with neuroendocrine differentiation.

METHODSRetrospective review of 2500 cases of breast carcinoma showed 5 cases (0.2%) with a predominance (> 80%) of spindle cell component. Amongst the 5 cases studied, 2 represented intraductal spindle cell carcinoma and 3 represented invasive spindle cell carcinoma. The paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue, periodic acid-Schiff and reticulin stain. Immunohistochemical studies for AE1/AE3, CEA, EMA, CK7, 34betaE12, NSE, synaptophysin, chromogranin A, Leu-7, vimentin, S-100, SMA, calponin, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, c-erbB2, E-cadherin, Ki-67 and p53 were also carried out. Follow-up information was available in 4 of the 5 cases.

RESULTSThe mean age of the patients was 68 years. Histologically, all tumors were predominantly composed of elongated spindle cells. Three of these cases also contained tumor cells with vacuolated cytoplasm, alcian blue-positive tumor cells were observed in 4 cases. Immunohistochemically, the spindle tumor cells in all cases expressed AE1/AE3, CEA, EMA, E-cadherin and synaptophysin. CK7 was positive in 4 cases, NSE in 3 cases, chromogranin A and Leu-7 in 2 cases. Estrogen receptor was expressed in 4 cases and progesterone receptor in 2 cases. Overexpression of c-erbB2 oncoprotein was detected in only 1 case. Vimentin was focally positive in 1 case. Two cases of intraductal spindle cell carcinoma and 1 of the 3 cases of invasive spindle cell carcinoma were classified as neuroendocrine carcinoma of spindle cell type, while the remaining 2 cases of invasive spindle cell carcinoma were considered as metaplastic carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. Amongst the 4 patients with follow-up information available, 3 were still alive 24 to 58 months after the initial diagnosis. One patient died within 27 months of diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe presence of spindle tumor cells and sometimes intracytoplasmic mucin are useful morphologic clues in diagnosing spindle cell carcinoma of the breast with neuroendocrine differentiation. Intraductal neuroendocrine spindle cell carcinoma needs to be distinguished from usual ductal hyperplasia and intraductal papilloma. On the other hand, invasive spindle cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation needs to be distinguished from spindle cell myoepithelioma, malignant melanoma and sometimes soft tissue neoplasm.

Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; Carcinoma ; chemistry ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; chemistry ; pathology ; Chromogranin A ; Chromogranins ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; chemistry ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Synaptophysin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of short-term neoadjuvant hormonal treatment on neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation and the relation of NE differentiation and tumor regression.

METHODSThe radical prostatectomy specimens and the biopsy specimens of the same 18 patients with prostate cancer were compared. The effect of hormonal treatment on NE-differentiation was evaluated by specific antibodies against chromogranin A (ChA) and serotonin (5-HT).

RESULTSThe ChA-positive cell count was 3.2 x 10(-5)/microm(2) [(0-5.7) x 10(-5)/microm(2)] before hormonal treatment and 2.3 x 10(-5) microm(2)[(0-6.6) x 10(-5)/microm(2)] afterward (P > 0.05). For the proportion of NE-positive tumor, it was 7.0% (0%-14.9%) and 4.5% (0%-13.1%) (P > 0.05). No correlation existed between NE-differentiation and the neoadjuvant hormonal treatment. The NE cell density did not differ significantly between 12 non-/slightly regressive tumor foci and 6 highly regressive ones (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONShort-term neoadjuvant hormonal therapy does not induce clonal propagation of NE cells. The degree of tumor regression following short-term neoadjuvant hormonal therapy is not correlated with the NE differentiation.

Aged ; Androgen Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; therapeutic use ; Chromogranin A ; Chromogranins ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neurosecretory Systems ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Serotonin ; analysis