This study was performed to investigate the value of computed tomography (CT) in the differentiation of gastric glomus tumors (GGTs) and small gastric stromal tumors (GSTs).

Glomus tumor is a benign neuromyoarterial tumor commonly found in the hand, particularly in the subungual region, that is removed only by surgery. Surgical excision leaves postoperative nail deformity and may cause a recurrence of subungual glomus tumors. A retrospective chart review was performed to assess the role of a synthetic nail shield in the prevention of postoperative nail deformity after transungual glomus tumor excision; the review was performed at a minimum of one year of follow-up of proven diagnosed 19 patients with digital glomus tumor between May 2011 and April 2016 in the orthopedic department in the university hospitals. All patients underwent surgical excision using transungual approach with a synthetic nail shield under digital nerve block anesthesia. Pain, cold intolerance, and complications were examined before and after surgery, and data were recorded. All patients had pain, tenderness, and cold intolerance, 12 patients (63.2%) had nail discoloration, and 3 patients (15.8%) had dystrophic changes. The tumors detached from surrounding tissues had an ovoid or round shape of 2-10 mm in size. Diagnosis was confirmed after pathological examination. In all patients, pain and cold sensitivity diminished. The mean follow-up period was 20.6 months, with no recurrences detected and improved nail appearance. No patient had postoperative nail deformity. Transungual approach followed by artificial coverage was an effective method for the treatment of glomus tumors without complications to the nail bed.

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with prostate-specific membrane antigen- (PSMA-) binding tracers has been found incidentally to demonstrate uptake in CNS tumors. Following the encouraging findings of several such case reports, there is a growing interest in the potential application of PSMA-targeted PET imaging for diagnostics, theranostics, and monitoring of CNS tumors. This is a systematic literature review on PSMA-binding tracers in CNS tumors.

Sarcomas comprise approximately 1% of all human malignancies; treatment resistance is one of the major reasons for the poor prognosis of sarcomas. Accumulating evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, long ncRNAs, and circular RNAs, are important molecules involved in the crosstalk between resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy via various pathways.

Two cases of myopericytosis combined with pericytoma originating within the lung are reported. These are rare pulmonary tumors. The differential diagnosis for hemangiopericytoma and pericytic tumors with glomus elements is discussed. Both myopericytic lesions mimic other lesions, which are more commonly seen in the lung. Based on the expression of vascular growth factor receptors 2 and 3, an antiangiogenic therapy was suggested for the patient with the myopericytoma. A treatment with an angiogenesis inhibitor resulted in a regression of the tumor, but not the precursor lesion. Probably a more specific therapy using tyrosine kinase inhibitors for VEGFR2/3 might better control these myopericytic proliferations.

Maladaptive changes in the carotid body (CB) induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH) account for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular morbidity in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. We postulated that the proinflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and cytokine receptors (IL-1r1, gp130 and TNFr1) locally expressed in the rat CB play a pathophysiological role in IH-induced CB inflammation. Results showed increased levels of oxidative stress (serum 8-isoprostane and nitrotyrosine in the CB) in rats with 7-day IH treatment resembling recurrent apneic conditions when compared with the normoxic control. Local inflammation shown by the amount of ED1-containing cells (macrophage infiltration) and the gene transcripts of NADPH oxidase subunits (gp91(phox) and p22(phox)) and chemokines (MCP-1, CCR2, MIP-1α, MIP-1β and ICAM-1) in the CB were significantly more in the hypoxic group than in the control. In addition, the cytokines and receptors were expressed in the lobules of chemosensitive glomus cells containing tyrosine hydroxylase and the levels of expressions were significantly increased in the hypoxic group. Exogenous cytokines elevated the intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) response to acute hypoxia in the dissociated glomus cells. The effect of cytokines on the [Ca(2+)](i) response was significantly greater in the hypoxic than in the normoxic group. Moreover, daily treatment of IH rats with anti-inflammatory drugs (dexamethasone or ibuprofen) attenuated the levels of oxidative stress, gp91(phox) expression and macrophage infiltration in the CB. Collectively, these results suggest that the upregulated expression of proinflammatory cytokine pathways could mediate the local inflammation and functional alteration of the CB under chronic IH conditions.

Mutations in any of the genes encoding the four subunits of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), a mitochondrial membrane-bound enzyme complex that is involved in both the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport chain, can lead to a variety of disorders. Recognized conditions with such mutations include Leigh syndrome and hereditary tumors such as pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL), renal cell carcinoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Tumors appear in SDH mutation carriers with dominant inheritance due to loss of heterozygosity in susceptible cells. Here, we describe a mouse model intended to reproduce hereditary PPGL through Cre-mediated loss of SDHC in cells that express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a compartment where PPGL is known to originate. We report that while there is modest expansion of TH+ glomus cells in the carotid body upon SDHC loss, PPGL is not observed in such mice, even in the presence of a conditional dominant negative p53 protein and chronic hypoxia. Instead, we report an unexpected phenotype of nondiabetic obesity beginning at about 20 weeks of age. We hypothesize that this obesity is caused by TH+ cell loss or altered phenotype in key compartments of the central nervous system responsible for regulating feeding behavior, coupled with metabolic changes due to loss of peripheral catecholamine production.

Metabolic syndrome can induce chronic renal injury in humans. In the present study, Bama minipigs were fed a high-fat/high-sucrose diet (HFHSD) for 23 months, which caused them to develop the pathological characteristics of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperlipidemia, and resulted in kidney tissue damage. In the HFHSD group, the ratio of the glomus areas to the glomerulus area and the glomerular density inside the renal cortex both decreased. Lipid deposition in the renal tubules was detected in the HFHSD group, and up-regulated expression levels of SREBP-1, FABP3 and LEPR promoted lipid deposition. The decreased levels of SOD, T-AOC and GSH-PX indicated that the antioxidant capacity of the renal tissues was diminished in the HFHSD group compared with MDA, which increased. The renal tissue in the HFHSD group exhibited clear signs of inflammation as well as significantly elevated expression of key genes associated with inflammation, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), compared with the control group. The tubular epithelial cells in the HFHSD group displayed significantly greater numbers of apoptotic cells, and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the renal tubules decreased. Caspase-3 expression increased significantly, and the transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was activated and translocated into the nucleus. In conclusion, long-term HFHSDs cause metabolic syndrome and chronic renal tissue injury in Bama minipigs. These findings provide a foundation for further studies investigating metabolic syndrome and nephropathy.