Evaluation of the specificity of [(18)F]fludarabine PET/CT in a xenograft model of follicular lymphoma: comparison with [(18)F]FDG and impact of rituximab therapy.

Background: [(18)F]Fludarabine is a novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer for imaging lymphoma. The purpose of this preclinical study was to evaluate the robustness of [(18)F]fludarabine during rituximab therapy. In addition, a comparison was made between [(18)F]fludarabine and [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([(18)F]FDG) with regard to their concordance with histologically derived data.

2-[18F]fludarabine, a novel positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for imaging lymphoma: a micro-PET study in murine models.

Purpose: Fludarabine has proven to be of considerable efficacy in the treatment of low-grade lymphomas. We have developed the labeling of this drug with fluorine-18 and evaluated 2-[(18)F]fludarabine as a novel positron emission tomography (PET) probe for in vivo imaging.

Procedures: Preclinical studies were conducted with 2-[(18)F]fludarabine, in parallel with 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ([(18)F]FDG), in Swiss CD-1 and CB17 severely combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, both as tumor-free control groups, and SCID mice bearing RL lymphomas.

CD95 ligand-dependant endothelial cell death initiates oral mucosa damage in a murine model of acute graft versus host disease.

Oral mucosa lesions are one of the common pathological consequences of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), the major complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation caused by mature T lymphocytes of donor origin. Oral mucosa damage in aGVHD is characterized by apoptosis induction in the basal keratinocytes, associated with immune effector T-cell infiltration, but its pathogenesis remains unclear because these lesions might result from the patient conditioning therapy that includes radiation and/or chemotherapy. Here, using a murine model of aGVHD that does not involve any conditioning treatment, we show that the earliest detectable oral mucosa lesion is apoptosis of the endothelial cells from chorion capillaries, which precedes basal keratinocyte apoptosis induction.

Tumour of the juxtaoral organ.

The juxtaoral organ is a normal and constant structure of the oral cavity. It consists of benign epithelial nests. We describe an intraoral tumour of the juxtaoral organ in a child.

Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and outcome.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to study clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and outcome of patients with solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura operated in our institutions in a 20-year period.

Methods: Clinical records of all patients operated for solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura between 1981 and 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Tumors were classified as malignant in the presence of at least one of the following criteria: (1) high mitotic activity; (2) high cellularity with crowding and overlapping of nuclei; (3) presence of necrosis; (4) pleomorphism; otherwise they were considered as benign.

Elevated plasma level of lipotropin revealing an occult carcinoid tumor with normal plasma adrenocorticotropin.

The increases in the level of plasma lipotropin (LPH) and in the LPH/ACTH ratio are considered diagnostic tools in ectopic ACTH syndrome. However, plasma ACTH is also elevated in this syndrome. We report a case of a small carcinoid tumor with an increase in both ACTH and LPH in plasma before surgery.

Lower limb giant cell arteritis and temporal arteritis: followup of 8 cases.

Among 8 patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) (6 women, 2 men) whose clinical presentations were compatible with temporal arteritis (TA), 6 were followed for 37-105 (mean 74.9) months, one died shortly after treatment onset, and the last was asymptomatic (10 mg steroids/day) when lost to followup at 29 months. All 8 patients had bilateral leg claudication of recent onset; for 6 patients, this was the first symptom.

Expression of the chemokine RANTES in pulmonary Wegener's granulomatosis.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is an inflammatory, destructive, angiotropic lesion. The inflammatory process involves accumulation of macrophages, lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. We studied 6 lung biopsy specimens from patients with WG to characterize the cellular infiltrate and to analyze the mechanism of immune cell recruitment.

[Costal chondroma and chondrosarcoma].

The aim of this study was to report two cases of chondrosarcoma located on the chest wall, in order to emphasize the difficulty encountered by the pathologist to differentiate a chondrosarcoma from a chondroma and the importance, in our opinion, of performing a large resection with wide margins in all cases.

Necrotizing granulomata of the aortic valve in Wegener's disease.

Wegener's disease is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, characterized by a granulomatous-necrotizing general vasculitis. Cardiac involvement in the form of aortic pathology is not frequent. We report a case of Wegener's granulomatosis which required prosthetic aortic valve replacement for aortic valve insufficiency.

Differential gene expression in mesothelioma.

To investigate the molecular events controlling malignant transformation of human pleural cells, we compared constitutive gene expression of mesothelioma cells to that of pleural cells. Using cDNA microarray and high-density filter array, we assessed expression levels of > 6500 genes. Most of the highly expressed transcripts were common to both cell lines and included genes associated with stress response and DNA repair, outcomes consistent with the radio- and chemo-resistance of mesothelioma.

In vitro effects of desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, and halothane in isolated human right atria.

Background: Direct myocardial effects of volatile anesthetics have been studied in various animal species in vitro. This study evaluated the effects of equianesthetic concentrations of desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, and halothane on contractile parameters of isolated human atria in vitro.

Methods: Human right atrial trabeculae, obtained from patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery, were studied in an oxygenated (95% O2-5% CO2) Tyrode's modified solution ([Ca2+]o = 2.

Desmoid fibromatosis of the shoulder and of the upper chest wall following a clavicular fracture.

A desmoid tumor of the shoulder girdle infiltrating the upper chest wall and weighing 1500 g was almost completely removed in an 18-year-old man, 27 months after a bifocal fracture of the clavicule. Thirteen years later, the patient was free of recurrence. The interval time between trauma and diagnosis, as the particular characteristics of aggressive fibromatosis, strongly support a major causal role of the clavicular fracture in the occurrence of this tumor.

Fine deletion mapping of chromosome 8p in non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

Several somatic genetic alterations have been described in non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Recurrent chromosomal deletions have suggested the presence of tumor-suppressor genes specifically involved in lung carcinogenesis. For one of these, 2 non-overlapping regions have been proposed on the short arm of chromosome 8, encompassing the LPL and NEFL genes.

[Pleural fibromas: a review based on 12 cases].

The authors report 12 cases of pleural fibroma, which is a rare benign tumor, usually discovered incidentally. However, these tumors are sometimes associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome, or may lead to compressive symptoms related to their large size. Radical resection is mandatory because recurrence may occur, sometimes several years later with a malignant behavior.

Detection of cardiac myxoma by F-18 FDG PET.

Intracardiac tumors occur infrequently and are difficult to diagnose with CT and MRI. The authors describe the successful imaging of a right atrial myxoma with F-18 FDG PET.

Recurrent left-sided heart leiomyosarcoma: should heart transplantation be legitimate?

Leiomyosarcoma of the heart is an uncommon primary malignant tumor with poor postoperative survival that may be measured in months. A leiomyosarcoma of the left atrium was diagnosed in a 47-year-old man. Initial admission was for acute pulmonary edema requiring emergency surgery.

[Cystic lymphangioma of the mediastinum. Apropos of 3 cases, review of the literature].

Cystic hygromas are benign cysts frequently discovered incidentally on chest X ray films. Although CT scan provides helpful information about the size, density, and site of the cysts, it cannot establish a precise diagnosis concerning its nature. Complete removal of the cyst is the treatment of choice, and allows precise diagnosis on histological examination.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the heart and great vessels].

Leiomyosarcomas (LMS) of the heart are exceptional primary malignant tumours with a catastrophic prognosis and a mean survival measured in months. Extensive radical surgical resection clearly remains the most appropriate treatment. We report three cases observed over a 3-year period, consisting of an LMS of the inferior vena cava, an LMS of the pulmonary artery trunk and an LMS of the left atrium.

[Etiology and diagnostic of viral bronchopneumonias].

Community viral bronchopneumonias are frequent, mainly in children, and can be associated to all respiratory viruses: influenza- and parainfluenzavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus. The diagnostic method which proves viral infection of the respiratory tissues is selected as the direct detection by an immunofluorescence assay of viral infected cells in respiratory samples. In them, viral isolation or nucleic acid detection by PCR provide an amplification of the viruses.

Pulmonary artery trunk leiomyosarcoma.

Pulmonary artery leiomyosarcomas are rare tumors. They cause symptoms suggestive of recurrent pulmonary emboli. As in the case reported here, the diagnosis is virtually never considered initially, despite modern diagnostic imaging methods, but usually made at autopsy or at histologic examination of material removed from the pulmonary artery at surgery.