We have screened 20 maternal sera from HIV+ individuals of known vertical transmission status for reactivity with 31 peptides spanning the entire envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1. Of interest was reactivity to regions outside of the V3 loop of gp120. The findings have been examined in relationship to transmission status, as well as to in vitro anti-HIV-1 biological activity. Our results indicate that lack of vertical transmission is correlated with high viral neutralization activity
Since the mass had a huge volume and had intimate contact with pelvic structures, a possible malignant behavior was highly suspected. Laparotomic exploration was performed. It revealed a huge cystic mass with many fibrous adherences entrapping the sigmoid colon and the upper portion of the rectum. It was necessary then to excise the mass along with the entrapped sigmoid colon and the upper portion of the rectum since a diagnostic of malignancy couldn’t be rules out, enabling a curative R0 resection. Pathological examination of the resected specimen has shown a rubbery and lampy nature of the mass with a rough external surface. Microscopic examination of samples taken from the mass showed the mutlicystic nature of the mass. A stratified epithelium made of basal and luminal cells layered each cystic cavity. Luminal cells are columnar, have a light eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and a fine nucleolus. An eosinophilic amorphous substance occupied the lumen of cystic spaces. The luminal cells express cytokeratin 7, and do not express cytokeratin 20, cytokeratin 5/6, calretinine or CD34. The smooth muscle cells present between the cystic cavities expressed SMA (Smooth Muscle Actin).