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C Rubini

Publications and source records attributed to C Rubini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Genetic expression profiling of six odontogenic tumors.

Odontogenic tumors are rare neoplasms arising from the odontogenic apparatus. We aimed to identify molecular characteristics associated with odontogenic tumorigenesis and malignancy. To this end, we investigated the expression level of human genes by using, for the first time in odontogenic tumors, the technique of expression profiling. Gene expression alterations common to all six odontogenic tumors were identified by the use of cDNA microarrays containing 19,000 human cDNAs. Statistical analysis on a subset of 4974 cDNAs present in the biopsies identified 506 distinct genes associated with the tumors (p-value < 0.01). Gene ontology analysis of the cellular processes which were differentially regulated in odontogenic tumors was accomplished by the use of a subset of 1409 annotated genes. Finally, 43 cDNAs differentiated the three malignant odontogenic tumors (ameloblastic carcinoma, clear cell odontogenic tumor, granular cell odontogenic tumor) from the three benign ameloblastoma biopsies (p < 0.01). The identified genes might help us better classify borderline odontogenic tumors.

Ameloblastoma↗

Sebaceous adenoma of the cheek.

Sebaceous adenoma is a tumour only rarely located in the oral cavity. Less than 10 cases have been reported. Sebaceous adenoma represents 0.5-0.7% of all monomorphic adenomas. Sebaceous adenoma is mainly constituted by two types of cells, undifferentiated peripheral basaloid cells and cells showing different degrees of sebaceous differentiation located in the center of the lesion. The differential diagnosis must be made with sebaceous hyperplasia. Sebaceous adenomas are benign, and they do not recur after a conservative excision.

Adenoma↗

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma.

Clear cell tumours, in the head and neck region, are usually derived from salivary or odontogenic tissues, or may be metastatic. A few clear cells may be present in odontogenic cysts, while, odontogenic neoplasms composed predominantly of clear cells are quite rare. They include calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumours (CEOT), ameloblastoma and odontogenic carcinoma. Clear cell odontogenic tumour (CCOT) has been classified in the last WHO classification as a benign tumour, but it is now recognized as a more sinister lesion and current opinion is that CCOT should be designated as a carcinoma. These tumours are characterized by aggressive growth, recurrences, and metastatic disease. A recent review of the literature has yielded 30 cases of tumours with similar characteristics. These tumours have a peak incidence in the 5th-7th decades, with a female predilection. The anterior portions of the jaws, especially the mandible, are most frequently affected. The aggressive potential of these neoplasms is well documented by the extensive invasion of adjacent tissues, multiple recurrences and regional or distant metastases.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗

Osteolipoma of the tongue.

Lipomas are common, benign tumours located in any part of the body in which fat is normally present. Some variants of lipoma have been described according to the type of tissue present. A rare variant consists of a lipoma with osseous or cartilaginous metaplasia. These lesions have been called chondrolipoma, osteolipoma, lipoma with chondroid or osseous metaplasia, lipoma with cartilaginous or osseous change, or ossifying lipoma. We present the case of an osteolipoma of the tongue in a 49-year-old female who was referred for a painless mass on the left lateral margin of the tongue, and present for about 8 years. Osteolipomas have been reported in middle-aged or elderly patients with a very long clinical history. These tumours tend to be large and to arise from the deep soft or subcutaneous tissues. The cartilage and bone is probably produced by metaplasia of fibroblasts in chondroblasts or osteoblasts. These lesions are benign and do not recur.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Angiomyolipoma of the palate. Report of a case.

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a tumour or an hamartomatous growth that usually affects the kidney. Only rarely has AML been described in the oral cavity. The authors report a case of AML located in the palate in a 43-year-old patient. AML is composed of smooth muscle cells, blood vessels and mature fat cells. In 50% of cases, AML presents with symptoms of tuberous sclerosis. Renal AML are often invasive, may involve regional nodes and may recur, while, on the contrary, AML are most often well circumscribed and easily resected. AML seems to follow an entire benign course.

Actins↗

Warty carcinoma of the oral mucosa in an HIV+ patient.

The authors present the case of a 36-year-old HIV+ male patient with a 1-cm diameter papillary exophytic lesion of the right cheek. Microscopic examination showed a papillary epithelial neoplasm with invasion of the stroma in the peripheral part. Cellular and nuclear atypia were present in the superficial and in the deep layers of the neoplasm. An in situ hybridization for human papillomavirus (HPV) 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 35 and 51 was performed. A focal positivity only for HPV 16 and 18 was present in koilocytotic cells of the most peripheral portion of the lesion. The microscopic definitive diagnosis was warty carcinoma of the cheek. No recurrence was observed at a 3-year follow-up.

Adult↗

A possible role of catenin dyslocalization in pemphigus vulgaris pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucosa due to the presence of autoantibodies against the components of desmosomes. To date, less is known about the expression levels of beta- and gamma-catenins in blistering diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of beta- and gamma-catenins in the pathogenesis of acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris. METHODS: beta- and gamma-catenin expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 30 cases of PV at various stages of the disease and, as controls, in 18 specimens of the skin/oral mucosa of healthy patients. RESULTS: Healthy skin and normal oral mucosa showed a strong beta- and gamma-catenin expression in basal and spinous layers with a prevalent cellular membrane distribution; the intensity of staining progressively decreased toward the superficial layers of epithelium. In PV patients, cytoplasmic expression of gamma-catenin was detected in 28/30 cases, and in 19/30 cases of PV for beta-catenin. Moreover, a progressive displacement of the signal toward the nucleus was found in 14/30 cases for beta-catenin, with dyslocalization toward the nucleus, particularly in areas with intense acantholysis, and in 22/30 cases of PV for gamma-catenin. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal distribution of gamma-catenin, consequent to PV IgG, may be considered a direct consequence of Dg3 dissociation from catenin. gamma-catenin likely plays a direct role in PV pathogenesis through its dyslocalization toward the nucleus or indirectly through the beta-catenin dyslocalization toward the nucleus, which is thought to induce transcription of selected target genes, such as uPAR.

Acantholysis↗

Expression of hMSH2 and hMLH1 proteins of the human DNA mismatch repair system in ameloblastoma.

The human DNA mismatch repair (hMMR) system plays an important role in reducing mutation and maintaining genomic stability. The MMR system in human cells is composed of at least six genes (hMSH2, hMLH1, hMSH3, hPMS1, hPMS2 and GTBP/hMSH6). In particular, hMSH2 and hMLH1 are expressed in human cells that are undergoing rapid renewal; their reduced expression has been reported in several tumors. We examined the protein expression pattern of hMSH2 and hMLH1 by immunohistochemistry in 25 ameloblastomas. All ameloblastomas expressed hMSH2 and hMLH1 proteins in the outer layer of epithelial cells. The localization of the staining was exclusively nuclear. These data suggest that the development and progression of these tumors do not depend on a defect in the hMMR system.

Ameloblastoma↗

Alkaline phosphatase activity in normal and inflamed dental pulps.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) seems to be important in the formation of mineralized tissues. High levels of ALP have been demonstrated in dental pulp cells. In the present study ALP activity was analyzed in normal healthy human dental pulps, in reversible pulpitis, and in irreversible pulpitis. Enzymatic ALP control values for the normal healthy pulps were 110.96+/-20.93. In the reversible pulpitis specimens the ALP activity increased almost eight times to 853.6+/-148.27. In the irreversible pulpitis specimens the values decreased sharply to 137.15+/-21.28 and were roughly equivalent to those seen in normal healthy pulps. The differences between the groups (control vs. reversible pulpitis and reversible pulpitis vs. irreversible pulpitis) were statistically significant. These results could point to a role of ALP in the initial pulp response after injury.

Acute Disease↗

Aspartate aminotransferase activity in human healthy and inflamed dental pulps.

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) seems to be an important mediator of inflammatory processes. Its role in the progression and detection of inflammatory periodontal disease has been increasingly recognized in recent years. In the present study AST activity was analyzed in normal healthy human dental pulps, in reversible pulpitis, and in irreversible pulpitis. Enzymatic AST activity showed that the control values for the healthy pulps were 4.8 +/- 0.7 units/mg of pulp tissue. In reversible pulpitis specimens the AST activity increased to 7.98 +/- 2.1 units/mg of pulp tissue. In irreversible pulpitis specimens the values decreased to 2.28 +/- 1.7 units/mg of pulp tissue. Differences between the groups (control versus reversible pulpitis and reversible pulpitis versus irreversible pulpitis) were statistically significant (p = 0.0015). These results could point to a role of AST in the early events that lead to development of pulpal inflammation.

Acute Disease↗

P53 protein expression in odontogenic cysts.

p53 protein seems to be related to the suppression of cell proliferation. p53-positive tissues seem to have a higher proliferative activity than p53-negative ones. Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) has a different behavior from other types of cysts because it is more aggressive, with a tendency to recurrence. Twenty-two dentigerous cysts, 24 radicular cysts, and 20 OKCs were used in the present study. Two dentigerous cysts (9.1%), 2 radicular cysts (8.3%), and 9 OKCs (45%) expressed the p53 protein. The differences between the three groups were statistically significant (p = 0.003). In 10 cases of OKCs epithelial dysplasia was found. One of the 10 OKCs without dysplasia and 8 of the 10 OKCs with dysplasia were p53-positive: the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.007). The overexpression of p53 protein was not on the other hand correlated with the occurrence of multiple, bilateral, and recurrent OKCs. Moreover the distribution of p53-positive cells was parabasal in contrast with other types of cysts. These qualitative and quantitative differences in proliferative activity in OKCs seem to point to an alteration in cell cycle control.

Basement Membrane↗

Zebra XXII, part 2.

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Alveolar Process↗

Oral focal mucinosis of the gingiva: case report.

BACKGROUND: Oral focal mucinosis is a rare disease of unknown etiology, where the connective tissue undergoes a focal myxoid degeneration. METHODS: We describe a 48-year-old patient who was referred for a firm, tender mass located on the gingiva of the left central mandibular incisor. The first clinical impression at examination was that of a periodontal abscess. RESULTS: The lesion underwent a biopsy, and the final microscopic diagnosis was oral focal mucinosis. CONCLUSIONS: It must be stressed that in most focal gingival lesions, a preoperative diagnosis can be almost impossible.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Spindle-cell lipoma of the cheek: a case report.

Spindle-cell lipoma (SCL) is a distinct histological variant of lipoma. Clinically, it appears as a solitary, subcutaneous, circumscribed lesion. SCL accounts for about 1.5% of all adipocytic tumours. Only nine cases of intraoral SCL were found in the literature. Microscopically, mature adipocytes and spindle cells are immersed in a myxoid stroma. SCL needs only local excision, and it does not recur.

Cheek↗