Pityriasis Lichenoides, Atypical Pityriasis Lichenoides, and Related Conditions: A Study of 66 Cases.

Pityriasis lichenoides (PLs) is an uncommon skin disease of unknown etiology. In recent years, an atypical form of PL has been described, showing overlapping features with mycosis fungoides (MF) and lymphomatoid papulosis. We studied 66 patients with an initial histopathologic diagnosis of PL (M:F=34:32; median age, 25 y; range, 7 to 85 y). According to clinical and phenotypic features, cases were classified into 4 categories: (1) Conventional PL (characteristic clinical features of PL without phenotypic aberrations) (n=20; M:F=8:12; median age, 37 y; range, 9 to 74 y); (2) Atypical form of PL (characteristic clinical features of PL with phenotypic aberrations) (n=25; M:F=16:9; median age, 21 y; range, 7 to 72 y). Four of these patients subsequently developed MF; (3) Lymphomatoid papulosis (waxing and waning lesions and positivity for CD30) (n=10; M:F=4:6; median age, 41 y; range, 16 to 83 y); (4) MF (clinical features typical of MF) (n=11; M:F=6:5; median age, 17 y; range, 8 to 85 y). Molecular analyses of clonality of the infiltrate did not reveal relevant differences among these 4 groups. Our study suggests that patients with an initial histopathologic diagnosis of PL may belong to different groups, showing that clinicopathologic correlation and complete phenotypic analyses are paramount in order to achieve proper classification. Although the relationship between PL and MF is yet a matter of debate, at the present state of knowledge, patients with a clinicopathologic presentation consistent with PL but with aberrant phenotypic features should be monitored in order to detect a possible evolution into MF.

Fetal Cardiac Impairment in Nitrofen-Induced Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Postmortem Microcomputed Tomography Imaging Study.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the post-mortem micro-CT utility to evaluate fetal cardiac impairment in nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). METHODS: At 9.5d postconception (dpc), pregnant rats were exposed to nitrofen. At +18 and +21dpc, fetuses were harvested by cesarean section. Postmortem micro-CT and autopsy were performed. Fetuses were assigned to three experimental groups: Control group (C), Nitrofen group (N, exposition to nitrofen without CDH), CDH group. Cardio-pulmonary indices were evaluated. RESULTS: An accurate morphological evaluation of the lung and heart was obtained. Early cardiac impairment was present in the N and CDH groups. At term pregnancy, an increased maximum diameter and decreased minimum diameter of the ventricles and increased interventricular septal thickness were noted in CDH. Histology showed a myocardial "disarray" and an high density of mitotic myocytes in CDH at midgestation. CONCLUSIONS: The potential utility of post-mortem fetal micro-CT examination in CDH was introduced. The results highlighted the presence of cardiac adaptation in affected fetuses.

Cardiac Adaptation to Severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

OBJECTIVE: Prenatal heart adaptations to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) could help define postnatal outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed post-mortem tissues from fetuses with severe CDH (n = 7). Histology and immunohistochemical distribution of desmin, muscle actin [HHF35], endothelin-1 [ET-1] and TGF-ß were evaluated. RESULTS: In the atrium, desmin, HHF35, ET-1, TGF-ß were found expressed only in preterm CDH. Dishomogeneous ventricular distribution of cardiac growth factors were detected in term CDH. The cardiomyocyte nucleus/cytoplasmatic ratio in CDH was higher compared with controls (p = 0.01). Small intramyocardial artery density and vascular wall thickness was increased in CDH compared with controls (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01). In comparison with the ventricles, the interventricular septum showed a greater vessel density (p = 0.01) and a greater vascular wall thickness, particularly compared with the CDH right ventricle (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Left ventricle immaturity seems to be a cardiac adaptive response of severe CDH in utero.