Clinical Characteristics and Local Histopathological Modulators of Endometriosis and Its Progression.

Endometriosis (E) and adenomyosis (A) are associated with a wide spectrum of symptoms and may present various histopathological transformations, such as the presence of hyperplasia, atypia, and malignant transformation occurring under the influence of local inflammatory, vascular and hormonal factors and by the alteration of tumor suppressor proteins and the inhibition of cell apoptosis, with an increased degree of lesion proliferation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 243 patients from whom tissue with E/A or normal control uterine tissue was harvested and stained by histochemical and classical immunohistochemical staining. We assessed the symptomatology of the patients, the structure of the ectopic epithelium and the presence of neovascularization, hormone receptors, inflammatory cells and oncoproteins involved in lesion development. Atypical areas were analyzed using multiple immunolabeling techniques. RESULTS: The cytokeratin (CK) CK7+/CK20- expression profile was present in E foci and differentiated them from digestive metastases. The neovascularization marker cluster of differentiation (CD) 34+ was increased, especially in areas with malignant transformation of E or A foci. T:CD3+ lymphocytes, B:CD20+ lymphocytes, CD68+ macrophages and tryptase+ mast cells were abundant, especially in cases associated with malignant transformation, being markers of the proinflammatory microenvironment. In addition, we found a significantly increased cell division index (Ki67+), with transformation and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes p53, B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in areas with E/A-transformed malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Proinflammatory/vascular/hormonal changes trigger E/A progression and the onset of cellular atypia and malignant transformation, exacerbating symptoms, especially local pain and vaginal bleeding. These triggers may represent future therapeutic targets.

Clinical and Morphological Study of Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions.

Squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) are cancer precursors targeted by secondary prevention of cervical cancer programs that are sometimes difficult to grade accurately. Mena is an actin regulatory protein involved in membrane protrusion, cell motility, in tumor invasion and metastasis. We studied retrospectively 68 cases of patients diagnosed with squamous intraepithelial lesions that received expedited treatment (treatment without colposcopic biopsy). We analyzed demographic, behavioral data, obstetrical and medical history, from the patients' medical charts and we studied the cervical fragments or cones harvested after the excisional procedure. Our study failed to identify a correlation between SILs and risk factors such as low socioeconomic status, combined oral contraceptive use, intrauterine device use, parity, gravity, except for the tobacco smoking habit that proved to be related to the cervical lesions' development. Mena was expressed in most of the analyzed SILs and its expression was correlated with lesions' grade in terms of both area and intensity, suggesting that Mena stains especially abnormal cells and that its expression intensity correlates with the risk of malignant transformation. Further studies are needed to validate Mena as an early stage of cervical carcinogenesis marker.

The Role of Uterine Artery Doppler in the Second and Third Trimesters for Prediction of Preeclampsia and Fetal Growth Restriction Developed as a Consequence of Placental-Mediated Diseases.

Placenta-mediated pregnancy disorders represent a disease that includes preeclampsia (PE) and the birth of small for gestational age (SGA) children, these conditions increase the risk of mortality and morbidity both maternal and fetal/neonatal, in the short and long-term. METHODS: The prospective study included 106 patients in whom ultrasound Doppler scans of uterine artery (UtA) were performed in the 2nd trimester between 20.0-23.6 weeks of gestation and the 3rd trimester between 28.0-32.6 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: In the second trimester, the average of the UtA-PI percentiles was statistically significant (p<0.05) in correlation with PE and SGA, as in the third trimester. Statistically significant (p<0.05) was also the correlation of UtA-PI >95 percentile with the development of PE and SGA. On the other hand, the present notch, in the two trimesters studied, analyzed as a single index, did not present a statistically significant association (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study showed that UtA-PI Doppler is the best predictor of preeclampsia considering the association of intrauterine growth restriction, as most studies have found.

Conservative treatment of borderline ovarian tumors: a retrospective study.

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are a group of tumors with histological aspects and intermediate biological evolution between benign and malignant tumors, characterized by epithelial proliferation, lack of stromal invasion and nuclear atypia. BOTs account for approximately 10-15% of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. The interest in fertility preservation is very important as most BOTs are diagnosed in patients less than 40 years of age. Since borderline tumors occur in young, fertile women, the therapeutic approach depends on both staging and the need to preserve ovarian function and fertility. Treatment of BOT is primarily surgical, but recently fertility-preserving surgery has become more important. If infertility persists, ovarian induction or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be suggested in selected cases.

Assessment of tumor microenvironment in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Gastric cancer (GC), despite the current possibilities of early diagnosis and curative treatment, remains a major public health problem, being one of the main causes of cancer, due to its detection in advanced stages. Screening programs applied in Western countries led to low incidence rates in these countries. Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection is considered to be the highest risk factor for the onset of GC because it causes chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa and damages hydrochloric acid secretory glands, eventually leading to atrophic gastritis, which has a potential to progress to GC. In our study, we aimed at assessing the tumor microenvironment in gastric adenocarcinomas as approximately 90% of GCs are adenocarcinomas. Our study showed that the tumor microenvironment has an extremely complex morphological structure, totally different from the microscopic structure of the gastric wall, consisting of stromal cells, lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, blood vessels, collagen fibers, extracellular connective matrix, other cells. The tumor microenvironment presents phenotypic, cellular and molecular heterogeneity; therefore, the microscopic aspect differs from one tumor to another and even from one region to another in the same tumor. Poorly or moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas show a more intense desmoplastic reaction than well-differentiated ones. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive stromal cells (tumor-associated fibroblasts) and tumor macrophages were the most numerous cells of the tumor microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment is the result of cooperation between tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune system cells and blood vessels. It allows tumor cells to multiply, grow and metastasize.

Confirmation of Heart Malformations in Fetuses in the First Trimester Using Three-Dimensional Histologic Autopsy.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of histology slides to confirm congenital heart disease (CHD) detected by first-trimester fetal cardiac ultrasonography. Conventional autopsy is hindered by the small size of the first-trimester fetal heart, and current CHD confirmation studies employ the use of highly specialized and expensive methods. TECHNIQUE: An extended first-trimester ultrasound examination protocol was used to diagnose fetal heart anomalies. Medical termination of pregnancies was followed by fetal heart extraction. The specimens were sliced, and the histology slides were stained and scanned. The resulting images were processed, and volume rendering was performed using 3D reconstruction software. The volumes were analyzed by a multidisciplinary team of maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists and pathologists and compared with ultrasound examination findings. EXPERIENCE: Six fetuses with heart malformations were evaluated using histologic 3D imaging: two with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, two with atrioventricular septal defects, one with an isolated ventricular septal defect, and one with transposition of the great arteries. The technique allowed us to confirm ultrasound-detected anomalies and also identified additional malformations. CONCLUSION: After pregnancy termination or loss, histologic 3D imaging can be used to confirm the presence of fetal cardiac malformations detected during first-trimester ultrasound examination. Additionally, this technique has the potential to refine the diagnosis for counseling regarding recurrence risk and retains the advantages of standard histology.

Open Spina Bifida: The Role of Ultrasound Markers in the First Trimester and Morphopathology Correlation.

Objectives-To evaluate ultrasound markers during a first-trimester (FT) routine ultrasound examination for an early detection of open spina bifida (OSB) and to correlate the sonographic findings with the morpho-histological ones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective research was performed using data from foetuses that underwent FT anatomy scans (FTAS) with a gestational age between 11 weeks and 13 weeks and 6 days in the Prenatal Diagnostic Unit of the Clinical Emergency County Hospital Craiova from October 2022 until September 2023. RESULTS: The study included 648 FT singleton pregnancies and 5 OSB cases were detected. In the OSB group, we found abnormal aspects of the fourth ventricle, also named intracranial translucency (IT) in 4 out of 5 cases of OSB (80%), a brain stem anteroposterior diameter, and brain stem to occipital bone ratio abnormal in all 5 cases (greater than 1) (100%), the crash sign was present in 80% (4 out of 5 cases) and the spinal defect was visualized in 4 out of 5 patients (80%). Medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP) was the preferred option in all cases of OSB. This allowed us to include an extended histological study to confirm the ultrasound diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: A combined detailed FTAS that includes both cranial ultrasound markers of the posterior fossa and also a good visualization of the foetal spine offers an early optimal detection rate of spine abnormalities.

The influence of SARS-CoV-2 on the immune system elements and on the placental structure. Clinical, histological and immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy remain relatively unknown. AIM: We present this original paper where we analyzed 60 parturients, at term, 30 without associated infection (C-) and 30 with associated infection (C+), present at birth. METHODS: We analyzed the blood count and placental microscopic structure through classical and immunohistochemical staining and observed the placental areas affected by the presence of SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 infection was accompanied by a decrease in the number of lymphocytes, the number of platelets and the presence of placental structural changes, identifying extensive areas of amyloid deposits, placental infarcts, vascular thrombosis, syncytial knots, with a decrease in placental vascular density and the presence of infection in the cells located at decidual level, at syncytiotrophoblast level and at the level of the cells of the chorionic plate, still without overcoming this barrier and without causing any fetal infection in the analyzed cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the invasion of SARS-CoV-2 in the placenta can produce significant structural changes, with a decrease in placental vascular density that can have significant implications on proper fetal perfusion. Also, the presence of immunoreactivity at the level of decidua, the placental villi, as well as the chorionic plate proves that the virus can overcome the maternal-fetal barrier. However, in the analyzed cases there were no fetal infections at birth, which may show that local placental factors can be a protective filter for the fetus.

Kaposi's sarcoma of the larynx: case series.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) represents a type of cancer that usually arises on the skin and very rarely in other organs. KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) commonly arises in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Laryngeal involvement of KS is very rare. Our study comprised of three cases with laryngeal KS. All cases were solved through surgical excision of the tumor. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations revealed laryngeal KS. Laryngeal KS should be managed through surgical resection, followed by oncological treatment.

Analysis of the relationship between placental histopathological aspects of preterm and term birth.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to establish a correlation between placental histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) changes and preterm birth with fetal growth restriction (FGR, formerly called intrauterine growth restriction - IUGR). PATIENTS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed on a group of 30 parturients, with singleton gestation, of which 15 patients gave birth at term, and the other 15 patients gave birth prematurely. After the statistical correlation of the clinical and demographic data with premature birth (PB) and term birth (TB), we performed histological and IHC research on the respective placentae. To observe normal and pathological microscopic placental structures, we used the Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) and Periodic Acid Schiff-Hematoxylin (PAS-H) classical stainings, but also special immunostaining with anti-cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant difference between the TB∕PB categories and the age of the patients, their antepartum weight, the weight of the newborns, and the placenta according to the sex of the newborn. Histological analysis revealed in the case of TB, small areas of perivillous amyloid deposition, with the significant extension of these areas both intravillous and perivillous in the case of PB. Massive intravillous calcifications, syncytial knots, and intravillous vascular thrombosis were also frequently present in PB. With PAS-H staining were highlighted the intra∕extravillous vascular basement membranes, but especially the massive fibrin deposits rich in glycosaminoglycans. By the IHC technique with the anti-CD34 antibody, we noticed the numerical vascular density, higher in the case of TB, but in the case of PB, there were large areas of placental infarction, with a lack of immunostaining in these areas. Through the anti-VEGF antibody, we observed the presence of signal proteins that determined and stimulated the formation of neoformation vessels in the areas affected by the lack of post-infarction placental vascularization. We observed a highly significant difference between placental vascular density between TB∕PB and newborn weight, sex, or placental weight. CONCLUSIONS: Any direct proportional link between the clinical maternal-fetal and histological elements yet studied must be considered. Thus, establishing an antepartum risk group can prevent a poor pregnancy outcome.

Prediction of Preterm Birth with Serial Measurements of Ultrasound Markers.

To compare the ability of cervical length (CL), anterior cervical angle (ACA), and cervical consistency index (CCI) to predict premature birth. METHODS: This prospective study involved 85 pregnant women who gave birth prematurely and a control group of 31 pregnant women who gave birth at term. The study was performed in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Municipal Clinical Hospital Filanthropia Craiova between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2022. Cases were examined using transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU) in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and cervical length (CL), Anterior Cervical Angle (ACA), and Cervical Consistency Index (CCI) were measured. RESULTS: The mean value from the three measurements at all three parameters was statistically significant with preterm birth (p<0.05). Cervical length <25mm, was highly significant in the prediction of preterm labor with a sensitivity of 99%, specificity of 61%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 78%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 97 %, and a positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 2.54 and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.02. CCI also remains, despite low specificity and PPV values, a potential predictive parameter in the prediction of preterm birth, with a sensitivity of 73%, NPV of 92% and a LR+of 1.32 and LR- of 0.6 also correlated with CL, CCI being more difficult to interpret as an independent predictive parameter. CONCLUSIONS: CL remains the standard parameter for predicting the preterm birth, but in combination with other parameters, the prediction rate can increase significantly.

Subtle vascular and astrocytic changes in the brain of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In the central nervous system, a multitude of changes have been described associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, such as microglial activation, perivascular lymphocyte cuffing, hypoxic-ischaemic changes, microthrombosis, infarcts or haemorrhages. It was sought here to assess the vascular basement membranes (vBMs) and surrounding perivascular astrocytes for any morphological changes in acute respiratory syndrome (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) patients. METHODS: The light microscopy morphology of the vBMs and perivascular astrocytes from brains of 14 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was analysed and compared to four control patients utilizing fluorescent immunohistochemistry for collagen IV and astrocytes (GFAP), endothelia (CD31), tight junction 1 (TJ1) adhesion protein, as well as the aquaporin 4 (AQP4) water channel. On 2D and 3D deconvoluted images from the cortex and white matter, vessel densities, diameters, degree of gliosis, collagen IV/GFAP and GFAP/AQP4 colocalizations were calculated, as well as the fractal dimension of astrocytes and vBMs viewed in tangential planes. RESULTS: Fractal dimension analysis of the GFAP-stained astrocytes revealed lower branching complexities and decreased GFAP/collagen IV colocalization for COVID-19 patients. Interestingly, vBMs showed significantly increased irregularities (fractal dimension values) compared to controls. Vessel diameters were increased in COVID-19 cases, especially for the white matter, TJ1 protein decreased its colocalization with the endothelia, and AQP4 reduced its co-expression in astrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data on the irregularity of the basement membranes, loss of endothelial tight junction, reduction of the astrocyte end-feet and decrease of AQP4 suggest subtle morphological changes of the blood-brain barrier in COVID-19 brains that could be linked with indirect inflammatory signalling or hypoxia/hypercapnia.

Maternal obesity and placental pathology in correlation with adverse pregnancy outcome.

Maternal obesity is associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE). This prospective study histopathologically analyzes the placentas obtained from 34 pregnant obese women studied between October 2016 and May 2020. The 10 cases of term placentas from obese pregnancies with GDM and the 12 cases with PE were examined by the Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE), Masson's trichrome (MT) and Periodic Acid-Schiff-Hematoxylin (PAS-H) classical stainings, and by the immunohistochemical evaluation and compared to placentae from uncomplicated term obese pregnancies (12 cases). We did not meet placental histopathological (HP) abnormalities that we could classify as characteristic only for the state of obese pregnancy, but we did find placental changes associated with PE and GDM, in the context of obese pregnancy. In the case of association with PE, there were common lesions, manifested by intra- and perivillous fibrinoid deposition, calcification, and placental infarction area, to which were added numerous syncytial knots. In the case of obese pregnancy associated with GDM, we found, in addition to common placental lesions of obesity, intravillositary vascular edema and in the terminal villi appearing chorangiosis. This study revealed a number of HP changes that occur in maternal obesity, even in uncomplicated obese pregnancies. A characteristic of obese pregnancies associated with PE was the presence of numerous syncytial knots, and in obese pregnancies associated with GDM, the most common HP lesion was placental chorangiosis. Certainly, we cannot conclude that these HP lesions are specific to a particular pathology, but they belong primarily to the status of maternal obesity.

Specific Local Predictors That Reflect the Tropism of Endometriosis-A Multiple Immunohistochemistry Technique.

Ectopic endometrial epithelium associates a wide spectrum of symptomatology. Their evolution can be influenced by inflammatory and vascular changes, that affect not only the structure and cell proliferation rate, but also symptoms. This prospective study involved tissue samples from surgically treated patients, stained using classical histotechniques and immunohistochemistry. We assessed ectopic endometrial glands (CK7+, CK20-), adjacent blood vessels (CD34+), estrogen/progesterone hormone receptors (ER+, PR+), inflammatory cells (CD3+, CD20+, CD68+, Tryptase+), rate of inflammatory cells (Ki67+) and oncoproteins (BCL2+, PTEN+, p53+) involved in the development of endometriosis/adenomyosis. A CK7+/CK20- expression profile was present in the ectopic epithelium and differentiated it from digestive metastases. ER+/PR+ were present in all cases analyzed. We found an increased vascularity (CD34+) in the areas with abdominal endometriosis and CD3+-:T-lymphocytes, CD20+-:B-lymphocytes, CD68+:macrophages, and Tryptase+: mastocytes were abundant, especially in cases with adenomyosis as a marker of proinflammatory microenvironment. In addition, we found a significantly higher division index-(Ki67+) in the areas with adenomyosis, and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes-p53+ in areas with neoplastic changes. The inflammatory/vascular/hormonal mechanisms trigger endometriosis progression and neoplastic changes increasing local pain. Furthermore, they may represent future therapeutic targets. Simultaneous-multiple immunohistochemical labelling represents a valuable technique for rapidly detecting cellular features that facilitate comparative analysis of the studied predictors.

Feasibility of Fetal Portal Venous System Ultrasound Assessment at the FT Anomaly Scan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of the first trimester (FT) ultrasound scan (US) for the evaluation of the fetal portal venous system (PVS) anatomy, and to evaluate the potential of microcopy for a proper pathology evaluation for the PVS in the FT. METHODS: We evaluated the PVS in 200 scan examinations performed in FT pregnancy. Half of the cases were scanned by two operators with extensive experience in obstetric ultrasound-Group I, and the other half was evaluated by two sonographers with less experience-Group II. Second-trimester US and autopsy in terminated pregnancies were used as follow-up. The pathologic evaluation was supported by microscopy. RESULTS: all PVS features were successfully assessed by transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) in 27% of the Group I cases and 14% in Group II. These rates increased to 88% in Group I and in 72% in Group II, after rescanning and using transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS). The conditions that led to rescanning and TVUS were: BMI greater than 24 in 26% cases, unfavorable fetal position (12.32%), retroverted uterus (12.32%), abdominal scar (10.96%), fibroids (4.11%), and combinations of the above (34.23%). The L-shaped UV confluence was identified transabdominally in 91% in Group I and in 79% in Group II and increased to 98% and 95%, respectively, following reevaluations. Microscopy represented a useful audit in all FT investigated cases. CONCLUSIONS: At the end of the FT, the visualization of a normal L-shaped UV confluence, that excludes major PVS abnormalities, is achievable in approx. 80%, indifferently the examiners experience. The sonographers experience, pregnant women BMI, and uterine anomalies as fibroids or retroversion significantly affect the rate of visualization, and necessitates vaginal approach and reexamination. The FT pathology, the audit of the ultrasound findings can only be performed microscopically, with relatively little resources involved and good results.

Clinical and morphopathological assay in vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Candida vulvovaginitis is characterized by the appearance of inflammatory changes in the vaginal and vulvar epithelium secondary to infection with Candida species. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the clinical, microbiological, and histopathological aspects of pregnant and non-pregnant patients, symptomatic or asymptomatic in the case of candida vaginitis and to correlate the microscopic aspects with the symptoms before applying the local treatment with Nystatin. The study presents a retrospective analysis of the management of vaginitis in 166 pregnant or non-pregnant patients during 2021-2022. We observed the structure of the Malpighian squamous epithelium without keratinization present on the vaginal mucosa and the structure of the subepithelial connective tissue, which shows increased numerical values of inflammatory and vascular cellularity in the case of candida vaginitis symptomatic compared to asymptomatic ones. We noticed also in the microscopic study that in cases of asymptomatic patients before treatment, the number of inflammatory cells and blood vessels situated immediately under the epithelium was significantly lower compared to their number in symptomatic patients before treatment. Analyzing the results obtained after the administration of the treatment proposed by us, we can say that local Nystatin treatment is beneficial and safe for pregnant and non-pregnant patients and is a good alternative for patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

The Ability of Doppler Uterine Artery Ultrasound to Predict Premature Birth.

OBJECTIVE: Demonstration of the predictive capacity of Doppler Uterine Artery (UtA) on preterm birth (PB) by serial measurement at various ages of pregnancy. METHODS: The prospective study included a group of 116 pregnant women, of whom 85 gave birth prematurely and 31 pregnant women gave birth at term, constituting the control group. UtA Doppler measurement was performed by the abdominal approach. Quantitative wave evaluations were performed by the pulsatility index (PI), the systole/diastole ratio (S/D), as well as the qualitative analysis of the flow rate waveform (notch). UtA Doppler evaluation was performed in 3 pregnancy periods: 18.0-22.6 weeks, 28.0-31.6 weeks, and 32.0-35.6 weeks. RESULTS: Only at the third examination, at 32.0-35.5 weeks of gestation, was there a statistically significant difference between the S/D-UtA ratio and PI-UtA correlated with the risk of premature birth (p<0.05). Although there was an association between UtA Doppler and late preterm birth, the predictive ability was low. Also, UtA Doppler was not statistically significant for preterm birth before 32 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSIONS: Although we did not find a statistical association between second-trimester UtA Doppler and preterm birth, we do suggest a closer look at women with abnormal UtA Doppler in the second trimester. We believe that, according to the results obtained, UtA Doppler can predict especially iatrogenic premature birth depending on the prediction of the most severe complications, severe preeclampsia, and SGA.

Postmortem Evaluation of First Trimester Fetal Heart.

Due to rapid technology advancement and increasing diagnostic expertise, fetal medicine is rapidly improving. Prenatal diagnostic advancements made it possible to identify structural abnormalities in fetuses as early as the first trimester of pregnancy. However, to validate the echocardiographic diagnosis that led to the pregnancy termination, the termination of pregnancy owing to severe fetal deformities should be audited in accordance with a correct anatomic diagnosis. Following the PRISMA declaration, a systematic literature search was done to find articles on post-mortem first trimester human fetal heart evaluation. Thirteen suitable studies were found using the search method. It is theoretically possible to examine the human fetal heart after death in early pregnancy however these methods are not widely available due the costs associated with the procedure and the equipment, the effects of tissue coloration and distortion brought on by the fixation and contrasting processes (for micro-CT), the current requirement for a skilled operator to acquire, reconstruct, and process the images, and data storage requirements greater than those of conventional clinical scans.

Virtual autopsy and confirmation of normal fetal heart anatomy in the first trimester using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of histological sections.

OBJECTIVE: In this pilot study, we tested the feasibility of cardiac structures reconstruction from histological sections in 12-13 weeks normal fetuses. Conventional autopsy is hampered at this gestational age because of the small size of the heart anatomical structures, while alternative non-invasive methods for pathology examination of the fetus are expensive, rarely available and lack accuracy data regarding the confirmation of first trimester heart defects suspected by early prenatal ultrasound (US) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal hearts from fetuses aged 12-13 gestational weeks (GW) were harvested for histological preparation, virtual reconstruction, and cardiac structures analysis. The normalcy of heart structures was confirmed before pregnancy termination, using a detailed US scan protocol. The fetal heart was routinely processed for formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE) and 10 µm seriate sections have been cut until finishing the specimen. All sections have been scanned and a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the whole organ has been rendered, based on computer-aided manual tracing. Using the 3D navigation software, the main cardiac structures were searched for a proper and confident visualization. RESULTS: Five cases were investigated. Visualization of the normal heart cavities, including atrioventricular septum was very good in all fetuses. The entire course of right and left ventricle outflow tracts was confidently confirmed, along the branching pattern of aorta and pulmonary artery trunk. Regarding the veno-atrial connections, it was easy to identify the entrance of the inferior and superior caval veins into the right atrium, but a detailed review of the histological sections was necessary for the visualization of the left atrium venous openings. The inherent morphological deformation following heart block sectioning resulted in a lower resolution or quality of the "reconstructed" planes, but these distortions did not represent a significant impediment in any of the cases. The resources involved ordinary histology and information technology (IT) equipment. To further decrease the time involved by the protocol, many steps may be automated: cutting, coloring, and scanning. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that this method can be implemented to routine clinical practice. The use of 3D reconstruction of fetal heart histological sections in first trimester may serve as an important audit to confirm the normalcy of heart structures. Also, the histological and postprocessed information is retained, and this volume can be stored, reanalyzed, or sent online for a second opinion. The method involves relatively undemanding resources, i.e., hardware, software, competences, and time. The procedure could also benefit from refinements used in other imaging techniques to limit human-computer interactions, such as sections distortion.

Clinical and pathological aspects of condyloma acuminatum - review of literature and case presentation.

Condyloma acuminatum (CA) is a pathology caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is manifested by the appearance of warts in the vulvar, pubic, and anorectal regions, but can occur in other areas. It is a common disease that can be prevented by using measures such as condoms or vaccine. Topical, local, pharmacological, surgical, and excisional therapy options are available for this pathology. Macroscopically, it appears as a vegetative tumor, with a single implantation base that branches towards the periphery, with a cauliflower appearance. CA is defined microscopically by acanthosis, parakeratosis, papillomatosis and koilocytosis. Immunohistochemical studies can detect the presence of various HPV strains or viral antigens and can emphasize certain specific characteristics; e.g., in the case presented in this study, we observed that the tumor had a fulminant evolution due to a strong vascular base identified with anti-cluster of differentiation (CD) 34 antibody, by the existence of epithelial cells with a high degree of cell proliferation, as evidenced by the anti-Ki67 antibody, the inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene and the appearance of immunolabeling for the anti-p53 antibody, by the strong immunoreactivity for p63 which reveals the existence of cells with dysplastic and neoplastic transformation potential, but also by detecting the immunolabeling for p16INK4a that is associated with the existence of HPV. Also, the tumor was immunoreactive for cytokeratin (CK) AE1∕AE3, partially immunoreactive for CK5∕6 in the basal layer and negative for CK7, which demonstrates the squamous epithelial origin of the described tumor. Subepithelial cells of the inflammatory system have been identified, such as macrophages immunolabeled with anti-CD68 antibody, T-lymphocytes immunolabeled with anti-CD3 antibody and rare B-lymphocytes immunolabeled with anti-CD20 antibody, which demonstrates the strong cellular response to remove the virus from the structure. Surgical and excisional treatment was helpful for the patient, because she was able to resume normal sexual activity and defecation, and on the other hand, microscopic studies showed the potential for malignant transformation of CA.