HtrA1 loss is related to aggressive behavior parameters in sentinel node positive breast cancer.

AIM: HtrA1, a member of the High Temperature Requirement Factor A family of oxidative stress-response proteases seems to play a role as a tumor suppressor, being down-regulated in a series of human cancers during their progression. Particularly, low HtrA1 mRNA levels have been observed in breast cancer patients with more aggressive clinical features. These have been shown to relate to a longer disease free and overall survival, with more pronounced effects in axillary nodes positive patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We have analyzed for immunohistochemical HtrA1 expression a series of 66 sentinel node positive breast cancers through Tissue Micro Array technology. RESULTS: HtrA1 was absent to low in 29 cases, medium in 19 cases and high in 18 cases. Our data revealed a positive significant relation between HtrA1 expression level and estrogen (p=0,002) and progestinic receptor expression (p=0.003) and a negative correlation with histological grading (p=0.028), proliferation index (p=0.05), common BC histotypes (p=0.040), luminal A and B subtypes (p=0.001), metastasis development (p<0.0001) and local relapse (p<0.0001). Finally, no correlation was recorded between HtrA1 expression level and breast cancer histology type and metastasis to non sentinel nodes. Interestingly HtrA1 loss in SLN metastasis was able to predict positive non sentinel nodes (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Low HtrA1 expression is significantly related to breast cancer poor prognosis parameters, and HtrA1 loss in sentinel nodes is related to metastasis of non sentinel nodes, offering a further marker useful for BC prognostic stratification.

Use of flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser in the treatment of superficial vascular malformations and ulcerated hemangiomas.

A retrospective study of 502 patients treated with tunable flashlamp pulsed dye laser for superficial vascular malformations (433), ulcerated hemangiomas (65) and postinvolutional redness (4) is presented. Patients were treated in the period from June 1997 to March 2006, with follow-up ranging from six months to four years. The age of the patients ranged from three months to 80 years. Correlation between clinical response and patients' age, location of lesion and number of treatments were evaluated in groups of superficial vascular malformations, whereas healing rates of the ulceration were assessed in a series of hemangiomas. The result were judged to be excellent in 51%, good in 39%, fair in 7% and poor in 3% of patients with vascular malformations. Excellent ultimate outcome confirmed the clinical efficacy of the use of the pulsed dye laser in the treatment of dermal vascular malformations, which also appears to have good prospects in the management of hemangioma complication.

Benign hereditary chorea: clinical and neuroimaging features in an Italian family.

Benign hereditary chorea is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by early onset nonprogressive chorea, caused by mutations of the thyroid transcription factor-1 (TITF-1) gene. Clinical heterogeneity has been reported and thyroid and respiratory abnormalities may be present. We describe 3 patients of an Italian family carrying the S145X mutation in the TITF-1 gene with mild motor delay, childhood onset dyskinesias, and subtle cognitive impairment. A child in the third generation presented with congenital hypothyroidism and neonatal respiratory distress. Imaging studies in 2 patients showed mild ventricular enlargement and empty sella at magnetic resonance imaging and hypometabolism of basal ganglia and cortex at 18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography.

Oral benign fibrous histiocytoma: two case reports.

Fibrous histiocytoma is a benign soft tissue tumour arising as a fibrous mass everywhere in the human body. The involvement of the oral cavity is rare. We report two cases of benign fibrous histiocytoma that localized in the oral cavity. The clinical and histological features of the lesion are reported. Finally, a literature revision of this pathology at the level of the oral cavity is reported.