Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the possible differences in genetic polymorphisms and serum levels of chromogranin A (CgA), according to age and sex, in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methodology: The genotyping and serum level of CgA and biochemical parameters were measured by the T-ARMS-PCR and PCR-RFLP and ELISA and spectrophotometer methods, respectively. Results: A comparison of males with and without MetS showed significantly lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels than those of females. At ages 30-70 years, both sexes showed significant differences in triglycerides (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), CgA levels and waist circumference (WC) when compared to the two groups. Both sexes with MetS indicated significant differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP) at ages 40-70 years, while at ages 40-59 years, there was a significant difference in HDL-C level in males. There was a significant correlation between serum levels of FBS, TG, SBP and WC (in both sexes), and CgA in subjects with MetS. Significant correlation was found between HDL-C level and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and CgA level in males and females, respectively. CgA genotype frequency (T-415C and C+87T polymorphisms) showed no significant differences between males and females with and without MetS, while there was only a significant difference in frequency of the genotypes T-415C when compared to males with and without MetS. Conclusion The CgA appears to be strongly associated with MetS components in both sexes. Variation in CgA gene expression may affect the T–415C polymorphism in males. This may mean that the structure of CgA genetics differs in different ethnic groups. Differences in the serum level and expression of CgA gene may show valuable study results that it may be expected a relationship between these variables and the MetS.
Sex ; Chromogranin A ; Genotype ; Metabolic Syndrome

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, morphological characteristics, immunophenotype, and differential diagnosis of goblet cell adenocarcinoma (GCA) in the digestive system. Methods: The clinicopathological data, morphological characteristics, immunophenotypes of 22 cases of GCA in the digestive system diagnosed from January 2010 to January 2021 were collected. Meanwhile, 25 cases of neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) and 24 cases of adenocarcinoma were used as controls. Relevant literature was also reviewed. Results: There were 16 males and 6 females, aged from 36 to 79 years with an average of 56 years. The anatomical sites of the 22 GCA were mostly appendix (17 cases) and occasionally extra-appendix (5 cases), including 3 cases in stomach, 1 case in duodenum and 1 case in anal. All 17 cases of appendiceal GCA were pure GCA. Among the 5 cases of extra-appendiceal GCA, One case of gastric GCA was pure, two cases of gastric GCA with NEN or adenocarcinoma, duodenal GCA with NEN and adenocarcinoma, anal GCA with NEN.Low-grade GCAs were composed of goblet, Paneth and neuroendocrine cells, which were arranged in intestinal crypt tubular or cluster structures and distributed in the wall of digestive system. The tubular and cluster structures lacked adhesion. Goblet cells were columnar, located in the base, with clear cytoplasm, small nuclei, inconspicuous atypia, and uncommon mitoses. Extracellular mucus and signet-ring cells with nuclear variations could be seen in some cases. Nerve fiber bundle invasion and tumor thrombus in vessels were often present. High-grade GCAs lacked tubular and cluster structures, and their histological structures were more complex. Tumor cells expressed mixed neuroendocrine and glandular epithelial markers. Similar to the expression patterns of synaptophysin and chromogranin A, CD200 and INSM1 were also dot-like or patch-positive in GCA. Conclusions: GCA is an infrequent tumor of the digestive system and shows the bi-directional differentiation characteristics of neuroendocrine and glandular epithelium. Accurate diagnosis and staging are related to its prognosis.
Adenocarcinoma/pathology* ; Appendiceal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Carcinoid Tumor/surgery* ; Chromogranin A ; Female ; Goblet Cells/pathology* ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/pathology* ; Repressor Proteins ; Synaptophysin

PURPOSE: The significance of neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in gastric carcinoma (GC) is controversial, leading to ambiguous concepts in traditional classifications. This study aimed to determine the prognostic threshold of meaningful NED in GC and clarify its unclear features in existing classifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and neural cell adhesion molecule was performed for 945 GC specimens. Survival analysis was performed using the log-rank test and univariate/multivariate models with percentages of NED (PNED) and demographic and clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: In total, 275 (29.1%) cases were immunoreactive to at least 1 neuroendocrine (NE) marker. GC-NED was more common in the upper third of the stomach. PNED, and Borrmann's classification and tumor, lymph node, metastasis stages were independent prognostic factors. The cutoff PNED was 10%, beyond which patients had significantly worse outcomes, although the risk did not increase with higher PNED. Tumors with ≥10% NED tended to manifest as Borrmann type III lesion with mixed/diffuse morphology and poorer histological differentiation; the NE components in this population mainly grew in insulae/nests, which differed from the predominant growth pattern (glandular/acinar) in GC with <10% NED. CONCLUSIONS: GC with ≥10% NED should be classified as a distinct subtype because of its worse prognosis, and more attention should be paid to the necessity of additional therapeutics for NE components.
Adenocarcinoma ; Chromogranin A ; Classification ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Prognosis ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Synaptophysin

A 36-year-old male patient initially presented with hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral carotid masses, a right jugular foramen, and a periaortic arch mass with an elevated plasma dopamine level but an otherwise normal biochemical profile. On surveillance MRI 4 years after initial presentation, he was found to have a 2.2-cm T2 hyperintense lesion with arterial enhancement adjacent to the gallbladder, which demonstrated avidity on ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE PET/CTand retrospectively on ¹⁸F-FDOPA PET/CT but was nonavid on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. Biochemical work-up including plasma catecholamines, metanephrines, and chromogranin A levels were found to be within normal limits. This lesion was surgically resected and was confirmed to be a paraganglioma (PGL) originating from the gallbladder wall on histopathology. Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and PGL are rare tumors of the autonomic nervous system. Succinate dehydrogenase subunit D (SDHD) pathogenic variants of the succinate dehydrogenase complex are usually involved in parasympathetic, extra-adrenal, multifocal head, and neck PGLs. We report an unusual location of PGL in the gallbladder associated with SDHD mutation which could present as a potential pitfall on ¹⁸F-FDOPA PET/CT as its normal excretion occurs through biliary system and gallbladder. This case highlights the superiority of ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE in comparison to ¹⁸F-FDOPA and ¹⁸F-FDG in the detection of SDHD-related parasympathetic PGL.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00004847.
Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Biliary Tract ; Catecholamines ; Chromogranin A ; Dopamine ; Gallbladder ; Head ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neck ; Paraganglioma ; Pheochromocytoma ; Plasma ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Retrospective Studies ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; Tinnitus

PURPOSE: Although lavender is purported to possess anxiolytic and sedative properties and is often recommended for relieving anxiety, the efficacy of lavender has not been well established. Thus, this review aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic effects of lavender aromatherapy.METHODS: Ten data bases were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2018. Randomized controlled trials investigating the anxiolytic effects of lavender aromatherapy with any type of application for persons with or without clinical anxiety were included. The outcome variables included self-rated anxiety, vital signs, and salivary cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA) levels. In the meta-analysis, standardized mean difference and 95% confidence interval were calculated as effect measures by applying the random effect model and inverse variance method.RESULTS: Twenty-two trials met our inclusion criteria. Lavender aromatherapy was found to have favorable effects in relieving anxiety (Hedges' ĝ = −0.65; 95% CI, −0.84 to −0.46) and decreasing systolic blood pressure (ĝ = −0.22; 95% CI, −0.43 to −0.02), heart rate (ĝ = −0.53; 95% CI, −0.74 to −0.32), and salivary cortisol (ĝ = −1.29; 95% CI, −2.23 to −0.35) and CgA (ĝ = −2.29; 95% CI, −3.24 to −1.34) levels. However, the meta-analysis did not reveal any significant effects of lavender on diastolic blood pressure (effect size: −0.17; 95% CI, −0.37e0.04).CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy using lavender oil might have favorable effects on anxiety and its physiological manifestations. Future studies are recommended with an emphasis on methodological quality. In nursing practice, it is suggested that lavender aromatherapy be included in programs intended to manage anxiety in patients across diverse healthcare settings.
Anti-Anxiety Agents ; Anxiety ; Aromatherapy ; Blood Pressure ; Chromogranin A ; Delivery of Health Care ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Lavandula ; Methods ; Nursing ; Vital Signs

We describe a case of a 61-year-old Korean man who was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma that was discovered on abdominopelvic computed tomography obtained after the patient complained of back pain. A radical nephrectomy was performed, and the surgical specimen showed a relatively well-circumscribed and yellowish lobulated hard mass. Microscopically, the tumor showed sheets and nests of hypercellular pleomorphic cells with thick fibrous septation, frequent mitoses, and areas of adrenal cortical-like tissue. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells were positive for inhibin-α, vimentin, synaptophysin, and melan A. It also revealed that the tumor cells were negative for pan-cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, paired box 8, α-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase, CD10, cytokeratin 7, carbonic anhydrase 9, c-Kit, renal cell carcinoma, transcription factor E3, human melanoma black 45, desmin, smooth muscle actin, S-100, chromogranin A, CD34, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, and integrase interactor 1. Based on these histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, we diagnosed the tumor as intrarenal adrenocortical carcinoma arising in an adrenal rest. Several cases of intrarenal adrenocortical carcinoma have been reported, although they are very rare. Due to its poor prognosis and common recurrence or metastasis, clinicians and pathologists must be aware of this entity.
Actins ; Adrenal Rest Tumor ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma ; Back Pain ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Chromogranin A ; Desmin ; Humans ; Integrases ; Keratin-7 ; Lymphoma ; MART-1 Antigen ; Melanoma ; Middle Aged ; Mitosis ; Mucin-1 ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nephrectomy ; Phosphotransferases ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Synaptophysin ; Transcription Factors ; Vimentin

We report a case of acute pancreatitis secondary to pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. A 46-year old man presented with upper abdominal pain. The serum amylase and lipase were elevated. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a 1.7 cm sized mass at the pancreas body with a dilatation of the upstream pancreatic duct and mild infiltrations of peripancreatic fat. An endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy was performed for the pancreatic mass, but only necrotic tissue was observed on the pathologic examination. A chest and neck CT scan revealed anterior mediastinal, paratracheal, and cervical lymph node enlargement, which were indicative of metastasis. An ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy was performed for the enlarged neck lymph node, and pathologic examination revealed a metastatic poorly differentiated carcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and CD 56, indicative of a neuroendocrine carcinoma.
Abdominal Pain ; Amylases ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Chromogranin A ; Dilatation ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration ; Lipase ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Synaptophysin ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVES: According to previous studies, the Chromogranin B (CHGB) gene could be an important candidate gene for schizophrenia which is located on chromosome 20p12.3. Some studies have linked the polymorphism in CHGB gene with the risk of schizophrenia. Meanwhile, smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality has been regarded as one of the most consistent endophenotype of schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the association between the polymorphisms in CHGB gene and SPEM abnormality in Korean patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: We measured SPEM function in 24 Korean patients with schizophrenia (16 male, 8 female) and they were divided according to SPEM function into two groups, good and poor SPEM function groups. We also investigated genotypes of polymorphisms in CHGB gene in each group. A logistic regression analysis was performed to find the association between SPEM abnormality and the number of polymorphism. RESULTS: The natural logarithm value of signal/noise ratio (Ln S/N ratio) of good SPEM function group was 4.19 ± 0.19 and that of poor SPEM function group was 3.17 ± 0.65. In total, 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms of CHGB were identified and the genotypes were divided into C/C, C/R, and R/R. Statistical analysis revealed that two genetic variants (rs16991480, rs76791154) were associated with SPEM abnormality in schizophrenia (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations including a small number of samples and lack of functional study, our results suggest that genetic variants of CHGB may be associated with SPEM abnormality and provide useful preliminary information for further study.
Chromogranin B* ; Endophenotypes ; Eye Movements* ; Genetic Variation* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pursuit, Smooth* ; Schizophrenia*

The ganglion cardiacum or juxtaductal body is situated along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve in the aortic window and is an extremely large component of the cardiac nerve plexus. This study was performed to describe the morphologies of the ganglion cardiacum or juxtaductal body in human fetuses and to compare characteristics with intracardiac ganglion. Ganglia were immunostained in specimens from five fetuses of gestational age 12–16 weeks and seven fetuses of gestational age 28–34 weeks. Many ganglion cells in the ganglia were positive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; sympathetic nerve marker) and chromogranin A, while a few neurons were positive for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS; parasympathetic nerve marker) or calretinin. Another ganglion at the base of the ascending aorta carried almost the same neuronal populations, whereas a ganglion along the left common cardinal vein contained neurons positive for chromogranin A and NOS but no or few TH-positive neurons, suggesting a site-dependent difference in composite neurons. Mixtures of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons within a single ganglion are consistent with the morphology of the cranial base and pelvic ganglia. Most of the intracardiac neurons are likely to have a non-adrenergic non-cholinergic phenotype, whereas fewer neurons have a dual cholinergic/noradrenergic phenotype. However, there was no evidence showing that chromogranin A- and/or calretinin-positive cardiac neurons corresponded to these specific phenotypes. The present study suggested that the ganglion cardiacum was composed of a mixture of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons, which were characterized the site-dependent differences in and near the heart.
Aorta ; Calbindin 2 ; Chromogranin A ; Fetus* ; Ganglia ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Gestational Age ; Heart ; Humans* ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Phenotype ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Skull Base ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; Veins

We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of chromogranin A (CgA) in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We conducted a systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE for citations published prior to September 2017 that described CgA and CRPC and performed a standard meta-analysis on survival outcomes. Our meta-analysis included eight eligible studies with 686 patients. The results were as follows: progression-free survival (PFS) was associated with CgA level (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47-4.14, P = 0.0006); PFS was relative to CgA change (HR = 9.22, 95% CI: 3.03-28.05, P < 0.0001); and overall survival (OS) was relative to CgA level (HR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.15-1.87, P = 0.002). When we divided the patients into two groups according to therapy status, the result for OS relative to CgA level was an HR of 1.26 (95% CI: 1.09-1.45, P = 0.001) in the first-line hormonal therapy group, and an HR of 2.33 (95% CI: 1.40-3.89, P = 0.001) in the second-line hormonal therapy or chemotherapy group. This meta-analysis indicated that a high CgA level had a negative influence on OS and PFS in CRPC patients. In addition, CRPC patients with a rising CgA had a shorter PFS. Further studies are needed to verify the prognostic value of CgA in CRPC.
Chromogranin A/analysis* ; Humans ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/diagnosis* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Survival Analysis