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A case of aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma is described. The patient is a 26-year-old man with a reddish nodule on the back, recently presenting a volume increase. The tumor was composed of fascicles of short spindle cells, histiocyte-like and inflammatory cells, and blood-filled spaces, mimicking vascular channels but lacking an endothelial lining. Immunohistochemical analysis (performed with the following monoclonal antibodies: smooth muscle actin, vimentin, desmin, CD-31, CD-34, CD-68) showed only vimentin positively on neoplastic cells. We discuss the differential diagnostic hypotheses and review the literature on this subject.

The clinical role of insulin-antibody formation, with reference to the monocomponent insulin treatment (MC), is discussed in a series of diabetological conditions. On the basis of a five-year-experience, personal results with a MC Lente treatment are presented in 32 cases of juvenile diabetes subdivided as follows: 3 cases with insulin allergy, 5 cases with insulin lipoatrophy, 13 cases with high insulin requirement, 4 cases with brittle diabetes, 7 cases with diabetic microangiopathy (retinal and, or renal). The circulating antibody level was estimated by IgG-Insulin-Binding Capacity (IB), according to Christiansen. After transfer from conventional to MC insulin treatment it was observed: -- disappearance of allergy and total remission of lipoatrophy, in parallel with a reduction of IB titer; -- decrease in insulin requirement and stabilisation of labile diabetic control, not always in concomitance with IB reduction; -- deterioration of advanced diabetic retinopathy and, or nephropathy in spite of IB reduction. It is concluded that MC insulin constitutes a major tool in the treatment of the above mentioned diabetic conditions, except for advanced microangiopathy. Thus a MC insulin treatment should be started, as a rule, in newly diagnosed diabetics, to possibly prevent such complications. However further development of insulin purification techniques, with removal of residual pro-insulin antigenic sites, is to be considered.