The Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) as Potential Targets to Treat Osteoarthritis: Perspectives From a Review of the Literature.

During the osteoarthritis (OA) process, activation of immune systems, whether innate or adaptive, is strongly associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. This process is initiated and driven in the synovial membrane, especially by synovium cells, themselves previously activated by damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released during cartilage degradation. These fragments exert their biological activities through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that, as a consequence, induce the activation of signaling pathways and beyond the release of inflammatory mediators, the latter contributing to the vicious cycle between cartilage and synovial membrane.

A step towards international prospective trials in carbon ion radiotherapy: investigation of factors influencing dose distribution in the facilities in operation based on a case of skull base chordoma.

Background: Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) has been delivered to more than 20,000 patients worldwide. International trials have been recommended in order to emphasize the actual benefits. The ULICE program (Union of Light Ion Centers in Europe) addressed the need for harmonization of CIRT practices.

Stromal characteristics are adequate prognosticators for recurrence risk in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.

Background: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast constitutes a heterogeneous group of non-obligate precursors for invasive breast cancer. To date, adequate risk stratification is lacking, which is presumed to result in overtreatment. We previously identified myxoid stromal architecture as a potential prognosticator for loco-regional recurrence.

Dichotomous histopathological assessment of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast results in substantial interobserver concordance.

Aims: Robust prognostic markers for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast require high reproducibility and thus low interobserver variability. The aim of this study was to compare interobserver variability among 13 pathologists, in order to enable the identification of robust histopathological characteristics.

Methods And Results: One representative haematoxylin and eosin-stained slide was selected for 153 DCIS cases.

Multiple Epstein-Barr Virus-associated Smooth Muscle Sarcomas of the Gut in a Child Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

A 7-year-old boy with a history of low-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed multiple intussusceptions shortly after the end of maintenance therapy. Explorative laparotomy showed >10 polyps in the small intestine. Histologic examination revealed intestinal smooth muscle sarcomas associated with Epstein-Barr virus.

A plea for appraisal and appreciation of immunohistochemistry in the assessment of prognostic and predictive markers in invasive breast cancer.

This viewpoint is a personal reflection on the values and merits of immunohistochemistry in current breast cancer diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry is a validated mainstay in molecular subtyping of invasive breast cancer. Immunohistochemical assessment of hormone receptor status and HER2 expression is used to determine the clinico-pathological surrogate of breast cancer intrinsic subtypes, which guide neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy.

Genito-urinary genomics and emerging biomarkers for immunomodulatory cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy is gradually becoming a key factor in the therapeutic algorithm for patients with genito-urinary (GU) cancers at different stages of disease. Robust and reliable biomarkers are crucial for an appropriate inclusion of patients in clinical trials and for a reliable patient selection for treatments with immunomodulatory drugs. The increasing knowledge on the genomic landscape of GU cancers supports stratification of patients for targeted therapies.

Prevalence and determinants of impaired glucose metabolism in frail elderly patients: the Belgian Elderly Diabetes Survey (BEDS).

Background: Although diabetes in elderly persons is generally type 2, the metabolic abnormalities associated with aging suggest that elderly persons may differ from younger persons with type 2 diabetes. In addition, nonobese elderly persons with type 2 diabetes show a marked impairment in insulin release accompanied by mild insulin resistance, whereas obese elderly persons have marked insulin resistance in the presence of "adequate" levels of insulin. Other factors that could adversely affect glucose tolerance in aging include drug use, associated disease, and other stressful conditions commonly encountered in geriatric inpatients units.

From ABO-incompatible human kidney transplantation to xenotransplantation.

The development (in 1981) of a protocol for successful renal allotransplantation across ABO barriers is outlined. From this experience, the concept of "adaptation", subsequently termed "accommodation", was defined. It was then hypothesized that a similar approach might allow pig-to-human organ xenotransplantation.

Indications for cryopreservation of ovarian tissue.

For patients who are planning to have chemotherapy, radiotherapy or to undergo bilateral oophorectomy, loss of ovarian function will result in premature ovarian menopause and loss of fertility. For these women, although there is no successful method for the cryopreservation of human oocytes, ovarian tissue cryobanking is proposed with a view to its autotransplantation at a later date or the isolation and in-vitro maturation of oocytes. Embryo preservation is indeed not an option for single women and even for married women because delaying treatment for at least 2 months of in-vitro fertilization cycles is inappropriate and life-threatening.

A unilateral hydrothorax as the only manifestation of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a case report.

Objective: To describe a rare case of unilateral hydrothorax occurrence after ovarian stimulation for IVF.

Design: Case report.

Setting: A university hospital.

Use of octreotide in the treatment of digestive neuroendocrine tumours. Seven year experience in 20 cases including 9 cases of metastatic midgut carcinoid and 5 cases of metastatic gastrinoma.

The authors report their experience with octreotide in 20 patients (median age 57 years, 10 M, 10 F) from 1984 to 1991; 16 had metastatic APUDoma: 1 PPoma with VIPoma, 1 glucagonoma, 5 gastrinoma including 1 associated to PP-oma, 9 mid-gut carcinoid; 3 patients had multiple-endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN-I) with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) and 1 patient a non-metastatic VIPoma. Octreotide (200-750 micrograms/day) was administered bid or tid with regular laboratory controls and morphological assessment. There was a striking improvement of symptoms, particularly in the carcinoid group (reduction of flushing in all patients and of diarrhoea in 3/5), in the patient with gastrinoma + acromegaly (regression of congestive heart failure) and in the patient with non-metastatic VIPoma.

Mineralocorticoids in the management of primary adrenocortical insufficiency.

Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma volume (PV) were determined in 22 adult patients treated for Addison's disease (AD) and reporting at the clinic for follow-up. Mean PRA was thrice the upper limit of normal (9.1 +/- 7.