Early changes in pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide and related receptors expression in retina of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The retinal expression and distribution of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and their receptors was investigated in early streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by STZ injection (60 mg/kg i.p.

Immunohistochemical expression of Wilms' tumor protein (WT1) in developing human epithelial and mesenchymal tissues.

The Wilms' tumor (WT1) gene and its protein product are known to exhibit a dynamic expression profile during development and in the adult organism. Apart from a nuclear expression observed in the urogenital system, its precise localization in other developing human tissues is still largely unknown. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate immunohistochemically the temporal and spatial distribution of WT1 in epithelial and mesenchymal developing human tissues from gestational weeks 7-24.

Mammary and vaginal myofibroblastomas are genetically related lesions: fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis shows deletion of 13q14 region.

Partial monosomy 13q, a chromosomal alteration originally reported in spindle cell lipoma, has also been documented in a few cases of mammary myofibroblastoma. Subsequently, a monoallelic loss of RB1 and FOXO1, located on 13q14, was identified in some cases of cellular angiofibroma, a benign stromal tumor of the lower female genital tract. This cytogenetic finding and the overlapping morphologic and immunohistochemical features shared by spindle cell lipoma, mammary myofibroblastoma, and cellular angiofibroma strongly suggest a histogenetic link among these tumors.

Prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Aims: Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is characterized by an increased frequency of glucose tolerance abnormalities associated with insulin resistance. Few studies evaluated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in pHPT and whether there are differences between asymptomatic pHPT patients and symptomatic ones. Thus, we sought to investigate the prevalence of MetS in pHPT patients in comparison to the prevalence of MetS in Italian population.

Unclassified pediatric renal stromal tumor overlapping with metanephric stromal tumor and solitary fibrous tumor with diffuse S-100 protein expression.

Metanephric stromal tumor (MST) is a rare pediatric neoplasm unique to the kidneys that is currently included in the spectrum of metanephric tumors, along with metanephric adenoma and adenofibroma. We herein report an unusual case of pediatric renal stromal tumor overlapping with MST and solitary fibrous tumor (SFT). Histologically, the tumor was composed of bland-looking spindle to stellate cells embedded in a fibro-sclerotic stroma that focally surrounded native entrapped renal tubules or blood vessels with abortive rings or collarettes.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the central nervous system: report of an additional 5 cases with comprehensive literature review.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the central nervous system was first described in 1996. A number of cases have been reported since. The authors present 5 new cases: 4 intracranial and 1 intraspinal.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the central nervous system: a 15-year literature survey of 220 cases (August 1996-July 2011).

We reviewed the world literature on solitary fibrous tumors of the central nervous system from August 1996 to July 2011, focusing on both clinicopathological features and diagnostic findings. The anatomical distribution of the 220 cases reported so far reveals that most are intracranial and just over one-fifth are intraspinal. In decreasing frequency, intracranial tumors involve the supratentorial and infratentorial compartments, the pontocerebellar angle, the sellar and parasellar regions, and the cranial nerves.

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors: morphological diagnostic criteria and immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase type 2 and human leucocyte-associated antigen (HLA) class II antigens. Results from the Italian Pediatric Rare Tumor (TREP) Study project.

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors are neoplasms that only rarely occur in pediatric patients. Their clinical behavior is often unpredictable, and the histologic criteria of malignancy used in adults are not always useful in children. The aim of this study was to validate the prognostic value of the pathologic criteria of Wieneke et al and to evaluate the potential prognostic expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and human leucocyte-associated antigen (HLA) class II antigens in a series of 20 pediatric patients affected by adrenocortical tumors, who were enrolled in the Italian Pediatric Rare Tumor (TREP) Study between 2000 and 2007.

Vulvovaginal myofibroblastoma: expanding the morphological and immunohistochemical spectrum. A clinicopathologic study of 10 cases.

We analyzed the clinicopathologic features of 10 cases of vulvovaginal myofibroblastoma to widen its morphological and immunohistochemical spectrum. Most tumors (8/10 cases) were located in the vagina. The patients' age ranged from 44 to 77 years, and tumor size ranged from 0.

Unusual clinical and pathological features in pemphigus vulgaris: a potential diagnostic pitfall.

We describe the case of a 67-year-old woman affected by pemphigus vulgaris with a dry whitish scaly lesion in the upper lip. Clinically, this lesion resembled an actinic keratosis. Although histological examination revealed a focal acantholysis, the finding of a moderate-to-severe dysplastic epithelium was consistent with the diagnosis of acantholytic actinic keratosis with moderate/severe dysplasia.

Primary embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate in adults: report of a case and review of the literature.

This study reports on a case of an adult patient with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate and comprehensively reviews the world literature on this subject. The patient was a 49-year-old man with advanced stage disease, who initially underwent transurethral tumor resection and after diagnosis was given courses of chemotherapy prior to undergoing radical cystoprostatevesiculectomy. The tumor underwent histological examination supplemented by immunohistochemical analysis.

Post-traumatic inflammatory pseudotumor of the breast with atypical morphological features: A potential diagnostic pitfall. Report of a case and a critical review of the literature.

Although inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) may share a common morphology, they are distinct clinico-pathologic entities. Unfortunately, the terms IMT and IPT are still used interchangeably, especially when lesions occur in unusual sites, including breast. All the cases of IMT/IPT involving the breast have raised spontaneously without any apparent prior injury.

Aberrant expression of TfR1/CD71 in thyroid carcinomas identifies a novel potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target.

Background: Type I receptor for transferrin (TfR1/CD71) is overexpressed in several malignant tumors, but no studies are available on thyroid carcinomas. Our previous comparative analyses of the relative distribution of transferrin in benign versus papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues highlighted a marked malignancy-associated abundance of the molecule. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether TfR1/CD71 is also differentially expressed in benign versus malignant thyroid tissues.

Prevention of clinical and histological signs of proteolipid protein (PLP)-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice by the water-soluble carbon monoxide-releasing molecule (CORM)-A1.

We have evaluated the effects of the carbon monoxide-releasing molecule CORM-A1 [Na(2) (BH(3) CO(2) ); ALF421] on the development of relapsing-remitting experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in SJL mice, an established model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The data show that the prolonged prophylactic administration of CORM-A1 improves the clinical and histopathological signs of EAE, as shown by a reduced cumulative score, shorter duration and a lower cumulative incidence of the disease as well as milder inflammatory infiltrations of the spinal cords. This study suggests that the use of CORM-A1 might represent a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Atypical dermatofibroma with predominant epithelioid/deciduoid-like cell component. Histogenetic considerations in the wide spectrum of fibrohistiocytic dermal tumours.

Atypical and epithelioid cell variants of dermatofibroma may represent a potential diagnostic pitfall. Only rarely atypical dermatofibroma may show focal epithelioid cell features. We herein report a rare case of dermatofibroma composed of a predominant (> 90%) epithelioid/deciduoid-like cell component, in which rare multinucleated bizarre cells and atypical mitoses were additional findings.

Lipoblast-like signet-ring cells in neurofibroma: a potential diagnostic pitfall of malignancy.

Benign peripheral nerve sheath tumours, including neurofibroma, may occasionally contain a heterologous mature fatty component. Additional lipoblast-like cells can be occasionally identified among mature adipocytes. We report the first case of a plexiform neurofibroma from a NF1 patient containing exclusively lipoblast-like cells exhibiting morphological and immunohistochemical features identical to univaculoted lipoblasts typically seen in myxoid liposarcoma.

Neurofibromin and amyloid precursor protein expression in dopamine D3 receptor knock-out mice brains.

Recently, it has been proposed that neurofibromin (NF1) forms a binding complex with amyloid precursor protein (APP) that interacts with the dopamine D(3) receptor (D(3)R). In the present study we investigated whether the absence of the D(3)R is correlated to modifications in the expression of both NF1 and APP. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses of both transcripts showed that NF1 mRNA levels were significantly reduced whereas APP levels were strikingly increased in D(3)R knock-out (D(3)R KO) as compared to wild type (WT) mice brains.

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors: a prospective clinicopathologic and outcome study of 13 children.

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs) are benign intracortical masses that are typically observed in children and young adults and are classified as glioneuronal tumors (WHO grade I). Large and retrospective series of patients with DNETs have been reported, but prospective studies on pediatric cohorts of patients with DNETs have been lacking. In the present study, 13 children (8 boys, 5 girls; age 8-18 years) who had simple (n = 2) or complex (n = 11) partial seizures (seizure duration range, 2-4 years; mean, 1.

Specific and strain-independent effects of dexamethasone in the prevention and treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rodents.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rodents (EAE) is a generally accepted in vivo model for immunopathogenic mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis (MS). There are, however, different forms of rodent EAE, and therapeutic regimens may affect these forms differently. We have therefore tested the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) and found that both prophylactic and early therapeutic regimens were effective in suppressing the development of monophasic EAE in myelin basic protein-immunized Lewis rats, the relapsing-remitting forms of EAE induced in SJL mice by proteolipid protein and in DA rats by syngeneic spinal cord homogenate, and the progressive forms induced in C57BL/6 and DBA/1 mice by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein.

Simultaneous tumors: acute myeloid leukemia infiltrating mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma.

We report the case of a child presenting with concurrent thoracic ganglioneuroblastoma and acute myeloid leukemia. The peculiarity was the close relation between the two tumors with the latter infiltrating the former one. Histological and genomic studies indicate the different clonal origins of the malignancies in the patient, and we hypothesized that GNB and AML developed independently.