Unicentric mixed variant castleman disease associated with intrabronchial plasmacytoma.

Castleman disease (CD), described as a heterogeneous lymphoproliferative disorder, can be divided into different subtypes according to clinical appearance (unicentric and multicentric form) and histopathological features (hyaline vascular, plasma cell, mixed type, human herpesvirus 8-associated and multicentric not otherwise specified). Unicentric CD is known to be usually of the hyaline vascular variant, plasma cell and mixed type of this form are quite uncommon. Malignancies are mainly associated with the multicentric form. We report a rare case of unicentric mixed variant CD evolving into intrabronchial, extramedullary plasmacytoma.Intrabronchial mass with consequential obstruction of the left main bronchus, left lung atelectasis and mediastinal lymphadenomegaly was detected by chest CT in our patient suffering from cough and hemoptysis. Pulmonectomy was performed, histopathological and immunhistochemical analysis of lymph nodes revealed mixed type of CD with interfollicular monotypic plasma cell proliferation. The intrabronchial mass consisted of monotypic plasma cells confirming plasmacytoma. Systemic involvement was not confirmed by further tests.Although malignancies more often present in multicentric CD that usually belongs to the plasma cell subtype, this case confirms the neoplastic potential of the rarest, unicentric mixed variant of CD.Virtual slides: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2872096831190851

Polymer Gels Constructed Through Metal–Ligand Coordination

In the past few years, combining supramolecular and macromolecular chemistries has become of great interest to yield dynamic and responsive assemblies with self-restructuring abilities. Among them, polymer networks, that are held together by one or a combination of supramolecular interactions, offer new possibilities to scientists for the creation of artificial materials with selfhealing properties. In particular, incorporating coordination complexes into polymeric architectures opens up the possibility of imparting the physicochemical properties of both partners to the resulting material. Here, recent achievements in the field of supramolecular gels that are formed via self-assembly of oligo- and polymeric units through reversible metal–ligand interactions are reviewed. The different strategies and routes for the elaboration of those materials are reported as well as the properties that the coordination centers confer to the supramolecular assemblies