Placental and maternal sFlt1/PlGF expression in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE) are both characterized by endothelial dysfunction and GDM women have higher incidence of PE. The placenta plays a key role in PE pathogenesis but its contribution to PE during GDM remains unclear. Herein, we compared placental and maternal blood anti-angiogenic soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) and pro-angiogenic Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) expressions in GDM and GDM-PE pregnancies compared to controls (CTRL) and PE cases. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassays showed a significantly higher maternal blood sFlt1/PlGF values in GDM-PE relative to CTRL and GDM pregnancies. We reported that placental PlGF gene expression was significantly decreased in GDM, PE and GDM-PE relative to CTRL. However, PlGF protein levels were significantly increased in GDM and GDM-PE relative to CTRL and PE placentae. Finally, sFlt1 gene expression was significantly increased in PE relative to CTRL, GDM and GDM-PE placentae. In contrast, sFlt1 protein expression was significantly decreased in GDM-PE relative to CTRL, GDM and PE placentae. Finally, higher sFlt1/PlGF ratio in GDM-PE maternal blood suggest that sFlt1 overproduction is related to PE onset also in GDM pregnancies even though characterized by a less severe endothelial dysfunction in terms of angiogenic biomarkers.

Incidental finding of paratesticular aggressive angiomyxoma in a 72-year-old monorchid male.

Aggressive angiomyxoma is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm. It arises from soft tissue of pelvis and perineum in fertile females, occurring very rarely in males. Its name emphasizes the common local recurrence and infiltrative tendency, but usually it does not metastasize. Currently, the first line of therapy is surgical excision, achieving R0 surgical margins, and radiological follow-up. This case report describes an uncommon, incidental finding of paratesticular aggressive angiomyxoma in an asymptomatic, cryptorchid 72-year-old male patient.

Unicystic high-grade intraductal carcinoma of the parotid gland: cytological and histological description with clinic-pathologic review of the literature.

Intraductal carcinoma of the salivary glands is a rare, not well-characterized tumor. We reviewed the literature and report the first case of a high-grade unicystic intraductal carcinoma of the parotid. Formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded blocks were sectioned and stained for hematoxylin and eosin and immunostains (CAM5.2, EMA, CK5, p53, p63, SMA, S100 protein, DOG1, mammaglobin, AR, ER, PR, Her-2, and Ki67). A 72-year-old man showed a painless nodule (2 cm) in the right parotid region. A 'tumor of uncertain malignant potential' (low grade) was diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-delimited, oval cyst without evidence of parenchymal invasion (T1-scans: homogeneously isointense with hypointense thin peripheral ring; T2-scans: strongly hyperintense). Histological examination confirmed a unilocular cyst lined by a multistratified epithelium arranged in solid, pseudopapillary, cribriform, and 'incomplete cribriform/microcystic' patterns. Tumor cells were CAM5.2+, EMA+, mammaglobin+, AR+, p63+ (focal), CK5+ (focal), p53 (+, 20%), ER-, PR-, S100 protein-, DOG1-, and Her-2-. A continuous peripheral layer of p63+/CK5+/SMA+ myoepithelial cells proved the 'in situ' nature of the tumor. The evidence of focal severe nuclear atypia, high mitotic index (12 mitoses/10HPFs), and high proliferation index (40%) favored a high-grade intraductal carcinoma. Preoperative FNAC and clinic-pathologic correlation are very helpful. Discrepancy in dysplasia grade between FNAC and resected specimen can occasionally occur (especially in case of focal high-grade features). Total sampling should exclude invasive areas or other cystic malignancies.