Publications (7)19.01 Total impact
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Article: Nonsebaceous lymphadenoma of salivary gland: report of a case with immunohistochemistry and review of the literature.
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ABSTRACT: Nonsebaceous lymphadenomas are rare benign neoplasms. We emphasize the role of immunohistochemistry and attempt to elucidate the pathogenesis by investigating the distribution of 2 transcription factors, MYC and BLIMP1. A 70-year-old man was evaluated for a 3-cm left parotid mass. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings were suggestive of a diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma. A left superficial parotidectomy was performed, and based on histopathology a diagnosis of lymphadenoma, nonsebaceous type, was rendered. The tumor was positive for AE1/3, CKA, BclII, P63, CD79a, CD3, and MYC; focally positive for CK7 and epithelial membrane antigen; and negative for CD10, calponin, CD117, and BLIMP1. The rarity of nonsebaceous lymphadenoma and its superficial resemblance to commoner salivary gland tumors may present a diagnostic challenge for pathologists. The expression of MYC in the ductal component and the differentiation-related expression of PRDM1 in the superficial keratinizing layers point to a potential role for these 2 transcription factors in the pathogenesis of this neoplasm.Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology. 09/2012; 114(3):e41-7. -
Article: Stromal phenotype of dental follicle stem cells.
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ABSTRACT: It has been suggested that stem/progenitor cells exist in dental tissue. This study identified adult mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-like populations in the dental follicle of human impacted third molars.The immunohistochemical analysis, of dental follicle using known stem-cell markers: Cytokeratins (AE1-AE3), Smooth Muscle Actin, Ki-67, CD34, CD44, CD45, CD56, and CD133. A positive reaction for at least one of the markers typical of stromal phenotype (CD56, CD44 and CD271) was observed in seven cases . Interestingly, all positive cases showed coexpression of CD44 and CD56, except for one case which was CD56 positive and CD44 negative. Immunohistochemical reaction was negative in all 27 cases for Ki-67, Cytokeratins, Smooth Muscle Actin, CD34, CD133 and CD45. The association: negative for CD34, CD45, CD133, and positive for CD44, CD56 (markers of a subpopulation of stem cells from bone marrow) suggests these may be quiescent mesenchymal stem cells, a hypothesis supported by the negativity of Ki-67 (proliferative index). Our results are compatible with the identification of immature fibroblast cells with phenotypic features of stromal stem cells in the dental follicle.Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition) 01/2012; 4:1009-14. -
Article: Expression of the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and its ligand (uPA) in brain tissues of human immunodeficiency virus patients with opportunistic cerebral diseases.
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ABSTRACT: The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and its ligand (uPA) play an important role in cell migration and extracellular proteolysis. We previously described uPAR/uPA overexpression in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissues of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related cerebral diseases. In this study, we examined uPAR/uPA expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in brains of HIV patients with opportunistic cerebral lesions and in HIV-positive/negative controls. uPAR was found in macrophages/microglia with the highest levels in cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, and lymphomas; in cryptococcosis and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) cases, only a few positive cells were found and no positivity was observed in controls. uPA expression was demonstrated only in a few macrophages/microglia and lymphocytes in all the cases and HIV-positive controls without different pattern of distribution; no uPA immunostaining was found in cryptococcosis and HIV-negative controls. The higher expression of uPAR/uPA in most of the opportunistic cerebral lesions supports their role in these diseases, suggesting their contribution to tissue injury.Journal of NeuroVirology 01/2009; 15(1):99-107. · 2.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Lytic JC virus infection in the kidneys of AIDS subjects.
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ABSTRACT: Our objective was to investigate the role of the human polyomavirus JC virus as a possible cause of renal damage in AIDS subjects. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology were used to evaluate the frequency of viral infection, genotypes, viral status, and the presence of rearrangements or point mutations in specific genomic regions of strains isolated from renal tissue. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of postmortem renal specimens obtained from 111 unselected AIDS patients were stained for routine histology and with anti-SV40 antibody. The immunohistochemically positive specimens were further investigated by means of nested polymerase chain reaction for different polyomavirus genomic regions (large T, transcriptional control region, and viral protein 1). Furthermore, the sequences of transcriptional control region and viral protein 1 were also analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was positive in seven cases (6.3%), four of which showed morphological evidence of viral replication (intranuclear inclusion bodies and/or intratubular cellular casts): in all seven cases, only epithelial tubular cells (with and without inclusion bodies) and cellular casts were stained. The JC virus genome was identified by polymerase chain reaction in five of the seven immunohistochemically positive cases; transcriptional control region and viral protein 1 were amplified in, respectively, three and four cases. Transcriptional control region sequence analysis revealed major rearrangements in all three cases, with duplications of all the transcriptional factor-binding sites, whereas no point mutations were found in the viral protein 1 region, which was characterized as Type 1A in all cases. For the first time in AIDS subjects, this study shows that although rarely, JC virus can replicate in renal tissue. Molecular biology revealed major rearrangements in the transcriptional control region that, together with other unknown factors, could justify the increased pathogenicity of this human polyomavirus.Modern Pathology 02/2003; 16(1):35-42. · 4.79 Impact Factor -
Article: Disseminated microsporidiosis caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi III (dog type) in an Italian AIDS patient: a retrospective study.
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ABSTRACT: We report a case of disseminated microsporidiosis in an Italian woman with AIDS. This study was done retrospectively using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens obtained at autopsy. Microsporidia spores were found in the necrotic lesions of the liver, kidney, and adrenal gland and in ovary, brain, heart, spleen, lung, and lymph nodes. The infecting agent was identified as belonging to the genus Encephalitozoon based on transmission electron microscopy and indirect immunofluorescence. Additional molecular studies, including sequence of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region, identified the agent as E. cuniculi, Genotype III. We believe that this is the first report of a human case of disseminated microsporidial infection involving the ovary.Modern Pathology 06/2002; 15(5):577-83. · 4.79 Impact Factor -
Article: Beta amyloid precursor protein and patterns of HIV p24 immunohistochemistry in different brain areas of AIDS patients
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ABSTRACT: Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between immunohistochemical positive patterns (globular and filamentous structures) of β-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP), used as a marker of axonal damage, and the different distribution of HIV p24 antigens, in three different brain areas of AIDS patients. Methods: Eighteen AIDS patients with HIV-related brain lesions were included in the study. Forty-nine sections from basal ganglia, frontal cortex and hippocampus were selected. After microwave oven pre-treatment, the sections were incubated with anti-HIV p24 and anti-β-APP monoclonal antibodies; the reactions were developed with peroxidase/3,3′diaminobenzidine. The positivity was graded by semi-quantitative scores. Double immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate the co-localization of the antigens. Results: HIV p24 immunohistochemistry was positive in 44 of 49 sections (89%), with a prevalence of interstitial positive cells and positive microglial nodules in 27 and 13 sections respectively. β-APP-positive structures were demonstrated in 23 of 44 sections (52%) with HIV-related lesions, and were absent from the five sections without viral expression. Globular and filamentous lesions were observed in 21 of 23 sections and 10 of 23 lesions respectively. Moreover, a high grade of globular type lesion was related to an elevated presence of diffuse interstitial HIV p24-positive cells in basal ganglia; double immunohistochemical reactions demonstrated the co-localization of β-APP globules and HIV p24 antigens. Conclusions: The data obtained confirm the coexpression of β-APP and viral antigens in particular areas of the brain with HIV-related lesions; there is a strict correlation between β-APP globules (indicating chronic cerebral damage) and the interstitial pattern of HIV p24 immunohistochemistry.AIDS 03/2001; 15(5):571-575. · 6.24 Impact Factor -
Article: Flexible argon plasma coagulation treatment of obstructive tracheal metastatic melanoma.
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ABSTRACT: Metastases to the tracheobronchial tree may be considered rare, and melanoma metastases to the trachea are very uncommon. We here report the case of a 61-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma to the trachea occurring 2 years after the excision of a right shoulder skin nodule. The patient underwent argon plasma coagulation (APC) recanalization of the malignant airway under flexible bronchoscopy, which led to the stable resolution of the respiratory symptoms. We also discuss the possible palliative therapeutic options for such metastases, including the APC technique.American Journal of Otolaryngology 23(4):253-5. · 0.87 Impact Factor
