Granular cell tumor of the extremity: magnetic resonance imaging characteristics with pathologic correlation.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to delineate the magnetic resonance (MR) appearance of a granular cell tumor (GrCT) of the extremity and to correlate the imaging appearance with the microscopic findings.

Design And Patients: A retrospective review of five patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of GrCT and pre-operative MR imaging of the neoplasm was done. The images were reviewed by two musculoskeletal radiologists in a consensus fashion.

Late radiation morbidity following randomization to preoperative versus postoperative radiotherapy in extremity soft tissue sarcoma.

Background And Purpose: This study compared late radiation morbidity in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma randomized to treatment by pre- (50 Gy) or postoperative (66 Gy) radiotherapy in combination with surgery. The morbidities evaluated included fibrosis, joint stiffness and edema at 2 years following treatment. The impact of morbidity on patient function as measured by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Rating Scale (MSTS) and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) was also evaluated.

Changes in Earth's albedo measured by satellite.

NASA global satellite data provide observations of Earth's albedo, i.e., the fraction of incident solar radiation that is reflected back to space.

Histologic assessment of peritumoral edema in soft tissue sarcoma.

Purpose: To evaluate whether satellite tumor cells can be identified histologically in the tissues surrounding a soft tissue sarcoma and whether their presence correlates with increased T(2)-weighted signal intensity on MRI.

Methods And Materials: Fifteen patients with a high-grade extremity or truncal soft tissue sarcoma underwent preoperative MRI. The extent of high T(2)-weighted signal changes in the tissues surrounding tumor, thought to represent peritumoral edema/reactive changes, was determined.

Novel strategies for prevention and treatment of influenza.

Influenza viruses continue to be a major health challenge due to antigenic variation in envelope proteins and animal reservoirs for the viruses. Of particular concern is an anticipated influenza pandemic in the near future. Vaccination is currently the most effective means of reducing morbidity and mortality during influenza epidemics.

Effect of sodium bicarbonate on extracellular pH, matrix accumulation, and morphology of cultured articular chondrocytes.

Tissue engineering is a promising approach for articular cartilage repair; however, attempts to develop tissue that mimic native cartilage have been problematic. The synthesis and accumulation of extracellular matrix macromolecules may be adversely affected by a change in pH of the media during cell culture. Typically, zwitterion buffers (e.

Long-term intermittent compressive stimulation improves the composition and mechanical properties of tissue-engineered cartilage.

Tissue engineering of articular cartilage is a promising alternative for cartilage repair. However, it has been difficult to develop tissue in vitro that mimicks native cartilage. Cartilaginous tissue formed in vitro does not accumulate enough extracellular matrix, is deficient in collagen, and possesses only a fraction of the mechanical properties of native cartilage.

von Willebrand factor expression in osteosarcoma metastasis.

A number of genes are implicated in the initiation and progression of osteosarcoma; however, cytogenetic and comparative genomic hybridization studies indicate the involvement of additional unidentified genes. An examination of gene expression profiles in 22 high-grade osteosarcoma tumor specimens from 15 patients (including paired primary and metastatic samples from five patients) indicated that von Willebrand factor (vWF) mRNA expression may increase during tumor progression. vWF, a large glycoprotein previously considered to be expressed exclusively by endothelial cells and megakaryocytes, is involved in platelet aggregation and adhesion to the subendothelial matrix, processes critical to hematogenous tumor cell metastasis to the lung.

Radiation response: an additional unique signature of myxoid liposarcoma.

Purpose: Historically, myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) has been reported to show a marked clinical response to radiotherapy (RT), but objective data to support that contention have been lacking. We performed a retrospective analysis of the response of a group of MLS tumors to preoperative RT using tumor dimensions calculated from pretreatment imaging and the subsequent surgical specimen obtained approximately 1 month after RT.

Methods And Materials: Data were abstracted from the Princess Margaret Hospital prospective database on a series of patients with MLS who had undergone preoperative RT between 1991 and 1999.

Radiographic, CT, and MR imaging features of dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas: a retrospective review of 174 de novo cases.

Up to 11% of chondrosarcomas may undergo regional anaplastic change, resulting in a high-grade noncartilaginous sarcoma arising within a typically low-grade chondrosarcoma. Known as dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas, these tumors are highly malignant with a very poor prognosis. The most important factor affecting survival is an accurate preoperative diagnosis.

Lymph node metastasis in soft tissue sarcoma in an extremity.

For patients with soft tissue sarcoma in an extremity, the outcome is thought to be poor if lymph node metastasis develops. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of lymphatic involvement from soft tissue sarcoma on patient survival. Thirty-nine (3.

Carbonic anhydrase IX as a marker for poor prognosis in soft tissue sarcoma.

Purpose: Hypoxia is associated with malignant progression and poor outcome in several human tumors, including soft tissue sarcoma. Recent studies have suggested that carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX is an intrinsic marker of hypoxia, and that CA IX correlates with poor prognosis in several types of carcinoma. The aim of this study was to quantify the extent of CA IX expression and to investigate whether CA IX is a marker for poor prognosis in soft tissue sarcoma patients at high risk of developing metastasis.

Tissue engineered nucleus pulposus tissue formed on a porous calcium polyphosphate substrate.

Study Design: This study describes the formation of nucleus pulposus tissue using a novel tissue engineering approach.

Objectives: To determine if a construct composed of nucleus pulposus tissue on the surface of a calcium polyphosphate substrate could be formed in vitro with properties similar to native nucleus pulposus tissue.

Summary Of Background Data: There is no optimal treatment for the persistent pain associated with intervertebral disc degeneration.

Central giant cell granuloma of the jaws: assessment of cell cycle proteins.

Background: Several reports have demonstrated the presence of a high proliferative activity in central giant cell granuloma, raising the possibility that deregulation of the cell cycle may contribute to its pathogenesis. As we identified alterations of cyclin D1 in giant cell tumor of bone, and as there are histologic similarities between central giant cell granuloma and giant cell tumor, we assessed jaw lesions for the presence of similar alterations.

Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 29 cases of central giant cell granuloma was assessed for the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin B1, and MIB-1 (Ki-67) using immunohistochemistry.

Risk factors for recurrence of postoperative trichiasis: implications for trachoma blindness prevention.

Background: Trachoma is the leading worldwide cause of preventable blindness. Surgery can alleviate trachomatous trichiasis (TT), the blinding sequelae of trachoma, but recurrence rates are high.

Objective: To investigate risk factors for TT recurrence.

The influence of anatomic location on functional outcome in lower-extremity soft-tissue sarcoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the anatomical location of lower-extremity soft-tissue sarcoma and functional outcome.

Methods: Function was evaluated with the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS 1993) score and Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS); 207 patients (median age, 54 years) were eligible. The median maximum tumor diameter was 8.

Primary synovial osteochondromatosis of the hip: extracapsular patterns of spread.

Objective: To identify patterns of extracapsular extension of synovial osteochondromatosis of the hip.

Design And Patients: Seven cases of synovial osteochondromatosis of the hip were retrospectively reviewed. Imaging performed included conventional radiography ( n=7), arthrography ( n=1), CT ( n=3) and MR imaging ( n=3).

Association between fluoride, magnesium, aluminum and bone quality in renal osteodystrophy.

Introduction: Trace elements are known to influence bone metabolism; however, their effects may be exacerbated in renal failure because dialysis patients are unable to excrete excess elements properly. Our study correlated bone quality in dialysis patients with levels of bone fluoride, magnesium, and aluminum. A number of studies have linked trace elements, including fluoride, magnesium, and aluminum, to the development of renal osteodystrophy (ROD).

Evaluation of oligonucleotide arrays for sequencing of the p53 gene in DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer specimens.

Background: Routine tissue processing has generated banks of paraffin-embedded tissue that could be used in retrospective cohort studies to study the molecular changes that occur during cancer development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a p53 microarray could be used to sequence the p53 gene in DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues.

Methods: DNA was extracted from 70 FFPE breast cancer tissue specimens.

Chondrocytes attach to hyaline or calcified cartilage and bone.

Objective: The initial attachment of transplanted chondrocytes to the surface of a cartilage defect is crucial for the success of chondrocyte transplantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the early interaction of chondrocytes with the deep or calcified zones of cartilage or the subchondral bone, joint surfaces to which transplanted chondrocytes might have to attach in vivo.

Design: Freshly isolated (primary) or passaged (P1) chondrocytes were seeded on the top of bone plugs having either a surface composed of mid-deep zone hyaline cartilage or calcified cartilage or bone only.

Chondrocyte interactions with porous titanium alloy and calcium polyphosphate substrates.

Chondrocytes maintain their phenotype and form cartilagenous tissue when cultured on calcium polyphosphate (CPP) or titanium alloy (Ti alloy), porous three-dimensional materials. To understand how these materials may influence chondrocyte phenotype and matrix synthesis, the early interactions of cultured cells with CPP and titanium alloy were examined. These were compared to chondrocytes grown in monolayer culture on tissue culture polystyrene, conditions in which cultured chondrocytes dedifferentiate and do not form cartilagenous tissue.

Osseous invasion by soft-tissue sarcoma: assessment with MR imaging.

Purpose: To assess magnetic resonance (MR) imaging signs and overall accuracy of MR imaging for detection of osseous invasion by soft-tissue sarcoma, with histopathologic correlation as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: Preoperative MR images (1.5 T, transverse and longitudinal planes, T1 and T2 weighted) of 56 osseous sites in 51 patients who underwent bone resection at surgery for soft-tissue sarcoma were assessed retrospectively for signs of osseous invasion, by consensus of two readers who were blinded to clinical and histopathologic findings.

Misclassification in a matched case-control study with variable matching ratio: application to a study of c-erbB-2 overexpression and breast cancer.

We provide a simple analytic correction for risk factor misclassification in a matched case-control study with variable numbers of controls per case. The method is an extension of existing methodology, and involves estimating the corrected proportions of controls and cases in risk factor categories within each matched set. These estimates are then used to calculate the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio estimate corrected for misclassification.

Effect of radiation and cell implantation on wound healing in a rat model.

Background And Objectives: Having shown that intra-dermal injection of fibroblasts decreases the effect of radiation on healing of superficial wounds, we now test the effect of fibroblasts and syngeneic marrow stromal cells on irradiated deep and superficial wounds.

Methods: Wistar rats received bilateral buttock irradiation followed by partial excision of the gluteus muscle bilaterally. In Protocol 1, one irradiated wound was treated with 1.

Long-term intermittent shear deformation improves the quality of cartilaginous tissue formed in vitro.

The formation of cartilaginous tissue in vitro is a promising alternative to repair damaged articular cartilage. However, recent attempts to tissue-engineer articular cartilage that has similar properties to the native tissue have proven to be difficult. The in vitro-formed cartilaginous tissue typically has a similar proteoglycan content to native cartilage, but has a reduced collagen content and only a fraction of the mechanical properties.