Transcription factor scleraxis vitally contributes to progenitor lineage direction in wound healing of adult tendon in mice.

Tendon is a dense connective tissue that transmits high mechanical forces from skeletal muscle to bone. The transcription factor scleraxis (Scx) is a highly specific marker of both precursor and mature tendon cells (tenocytes). Mice lacking exhibit a specific and virtually complete loss of tendons during development.

Magnetic resonance imaging and thallium-201 scintigraphy for the diagnosis of localized pigmented villonodular synovitis arising from the elbow: A case report and review of the literature.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) arising from the elbow joint is extremely rare; only 24 cases have been reported. It is extremely difficult to differentiate PVNS from other soft tissue tumors on the basis of imaging findings alone. Therefore, a biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis.

Chondrosarcoma from the sternum: reconstruction with titanium mesh and a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap after subtotal sternal excision.

Background: Chondrosarcoma arising from the sternum is extremely rare and is often untreatable. Removal of the sternum for malignant tumor results in large defects in bone and soft tissue, causing deformity and paradoxical movement of the chest wall and making subsequent repair of the thorax very important. We report a very rare patient with a chondrosarcoma of the sternum who underwent case chest wall resection, followed by reconstruction using a titanium mesh covered with a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap.

Musculoskeletal diseases--tendon.

Introduction: Tendons establish specific connections between muscles and the skeleton by transferring contraction forces from skeletal muscle to bone thereby allowing body movement. Tendon physiology and pathology are heavily dependent on mechanical stimuli. Tendon injuries clinically represent a serious and still unresolved problem since damaged tendon tissues heal very slowly and no surgical treatment can restore a damaged tendon to its normal structural integrity and mechanical strength.

Conversion of mechanical force into TGF-β-mediated biochemical signals.

Mechanical forces influence homeostasis in virtually every tissue [1, 2]. Tendon, constantly exposed to variable mechanical force, is an excellent model in which to study the conversion of mechanical stimuli into a biochemical response [3-5]. Here we show in a mouse model of acute tendon injury and in vitro that physical forces regulate the release of active transforming growth factor (TGF)-β from the extracellular matrix (ECM).

High Efficacy of Preoperative Low-Dose Radiotherapy with Sanazole (AK-2123) for Extraskeletal Ewing's Sarcoma: A Case Report.

Extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor that is morphologically indistinguishable from Ewing's sarcoma of bone. We report a case of extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma with several systemic problems. A 69-year-old man presented with a 5-month history of a rapidly enlarging mass in the right thigh.

Combined effects of bisphosphonate and radiation on osteosarcoma cells.

Unlabelled: Antitumour effects of third-generation bisphosphonates (BPs), such as zoledronic acid (ZOL), and the combined effects of ZOL with other anticancer agents against osteosarcoma cells have been reported previously. The aim of this study was to identify further combined antitumour effects using BPs and radiation in osteosarcoma cell lines.

Materials And Methods: Cell proliferation, cell cycle analysis, and nuclear morphology were examined in each osteosarcoma cell line divided into three groups (ZOL alone, radiation alone and the ZOL/radiation combination).

A novel MEK1/2 inhibitor induces G1/S cell cycle arrest in human fibrosarcoma cells.

Blockade of the ERK pathway has antitumor effects against malignant tumor cells. In this study, we investigated the antitumor activity of JTP-70902, a novel specific MEK inhibitor, against human fibrosarcoma cells in which the ERK pathway is constitutively activated. JTP-70902 was synthesized at Japan Tabacco.

Zoledronic acid inhibits proliferation of human fibrosarcoma cells with induction of apoptosis, and shows combined effects with other anticancer agents.

Third-generation bisphosphonates are known to inhibit bone resorption and also appear to exhibit direct anti-tumour activity. We previously reported that third-generation bisphosphonates such as zoledronic acid (ZOL) have a direct antitumour effect, and synergistically augment the effects of antitumor agents in osteosarcoma cells. There has been no report on the antitumor effect of ZOL against soft tissue sarcoma.

Clinically relevant dose of zoledronic acid inhibits spontaneous lung metastasis in a murine osteosarcoma model.

Clinically obtainable concentrations of zoledronic acid (ZOL) inhibited the production of vascular endothelial growth factor and reduced the migration, adhesion, and invasiveness of osteosarcoma (OS) cells in vitro. The in vivo effects of ZOL were investigated by using a murine model of spontaneous lung metastasis. The higher dose of ZOL (80 microg/kg three times/week) inhibited the growth of OS at the primary site, accompanied by inhibition of neovascularization in the tumor.

Evaluation of clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for synovial sarcoma arising from the extremities.

Background: Synovial sarcoma is an uncommon tumor and remains a disease with poor prognosis. Although several prognostic factors have been previously reported, prognostic factors associated with synovial sarcoma are conflicting. This study was undertaken to evaluate our institutional clinical outcomes and to determine prognostic factors for synovial sarcoma.

Sulforaphane induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in murine osteosarcoma cells in vitro and inhibits tumor growth in vivo.

Sulforaphane (SFN), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate, is an attractive agent due to its potent anticancer effects. SFN suppresses the proliferation of various cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we report that SFN inhibited the proliferation of cultured murine osteosarcoma LM8 cells.

The plant alkaloid cryptolepine induces p21WAF1/CIP1 and cell cycle arrest in a human osteosarcoma cell line.

We previously established a bioassay method to screen for compounds that activate the promoter activity of p21(WAF1/CIP1), a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, in a p53-independent manner. As an activator of p21(WAF1/CIP1) promoter activity, we isolated cryptolepine (CLP: 5-methyl indolo (2,3b)-quiniine), an indoloquinoline alkaloid, from the traditional Ayurvedic medicinal plant Sida cordifolia. We show here that CLP induces the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) with growth arrest in p53-mutated human osteosarcoma MG63 cells.

Life expectancy and functional prognosis after femoral neck fractures in hemodialysis patients.

Objectives: To identify whether differences exist in the outcomes between patients undergoing hemodialysis and elderly nonhemodialysis patients with a femoral neck fracture.

Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Level 1 trauma center.

Sulforaphane enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the induction of DR5 expression in human osteosarcoma cells.

Sulforaphane (SFN), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate, is an attractive agent because of its potent anticancer effects. SFN suppresses the proliferation of various cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is also one of the most promising candidates for cancer therapeutics owing to its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in tumor cells.