Parosteal osteosarcoma mimicking osteochondroma: A radio-histologic approach on two cases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Parosteal osteosarcoma is a well-differentiated variant of osteosarcoma that affects the surface of the bone. The imaging pattern is very typical. We report two cases mimicking an osteochondroma, radiologically and histologically and propose an explanation.</p> <p>Material</p> <p>The review of 86 parosteal osteosarcomas of bone revealed this atypical pattern only once. A consultation case was received in the same time, and added to ours. Patients were 28 years old and 56 years old females. Imaging studies included two radiographs, two CTscans, one MRI examination and one bone scan and the results were compared to histology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>On imaging, both lesions presented as ossified lobulated masses attached with a broad base to the underlying cortex. No radiolucent cleft separated the masses and the host bone and cortex continuity between the mass and the femur was seen, with medullary communication. The marrow of the mass had a different density and intensity compared to normal marrow. So, there were features of an osteochondroma (cortex and medullary continuity) and of a parosteal osteosarcoma (ossified marrow). Pathological assessment on the final specimen confirmed the presence of low-grade parosteal osteosarcomas, after an erroneous diagnosis of osteochondroma on the initial biopsy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Parosteal osteosarcoma can be rarely confused with osteochondroma. A radiologic-pathologic correlation is essential. Cortex continuity is the most misleading imaging feature that may occur in parosteal osteosarcomas. A knowledge of this misleading pattern will help diagnose the lesion from the beginning.</p

Biosourced Aromatic Derivatives in the Upcycling of Recycled PET: Mellophanic Dianhydride as a Chain Extender

The synthesis of mellophanic dianhydride (MEDA) from biosourced 1,2,3,4-benzene tetracarboxylic derivatives and its use as a chain extender for mechanically recycled PET (R-PET) as an alternative to traditional oil-based pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) is reported. The rheological tests performed on the R-PET extruded with MEDA have shown similar results to those obtained with PMDA, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) showed that, in the 90–110 °C range (i.e., the temperature range commonly used for blow molding of bottles), Young’s modulus of R-PET containing MEDA is about 20% higher in comparison to that of pristine R-PET. The advantage of MEDA is that it can be prepared using building blocks obtained from agricultural waste via a sustainable protocol, whereas PMDA is a product of oil-based chemistr

Upcycling of Postconsumer PET Using Serinol: Green Preparation of a New Multifunctional Initiator for PLA

Chemical recycling is attracting more and more interest as it can transform a plastic scrap into a high-value material. This work shows that the aminolysis of post-consumer poly(ethylenterephtalate) (PET) with serinol, a non-toxic and biosourced hydroxyamine, leads to a novel multifunctional initiator for poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The reaction was performed at 180 °C, without the need of catalysts, and resulted in a substantially complete aminolysis of PET, selectively yielding the corresponding diamide of terephthalic acid (terephthalic acid serinol bis-amide, TASBA), together with ethylene glycol as the co-product. TASBA holds four hydroxy groups and was used as multifunctional initiator in the polymerization of lactide to PLA, with 0.1, 0.5 and 1 % w/w of TASBA with respect to L-lactide. TASBA led to a multiarm PLA, whose molecular weight and thermal and rheological properties could be tuned with the amount of initiator. The lowest amount of initiator left substantially unaffected the molecular weight and led to higher melt viscosity and to lower crystallinity. Lower molecular weight and melt viscosity were obtained by increasing the amount of TASBA. This work therefore proposes a synergy between the most important polyesters, the most diffused PET and the compostable PL

Reversal of severe parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease in an infant with short bowel syndrome using parenteral fish oil (Omega-3 fatty acids)

Total parenteral nutrition is an important adjunct in the care of neonates with surgical disorders. Cholestasis is at present the most worrisome complication of this technique; it is difficult to treat and may progress to eventual cirrhosis and liver failure. This article reviews the pertinent clinical and nutritional data in a surgical patient with short bowel syndrome who developed parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease successfully treated with fish-oil based lipids. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Solitary fibrous tumors of the soft tissues: imaging features with histopathologic correlations

Abstract Purpose To describe the imaging features of soft tissue solitary fibrous tumors, with histopathological correlations and clinical outcome. Material and methods Twenty-seven patients with histologically proven SFTs were retrospectively evaluated. Imaging studies included six radiographs, five U/S studies, eighteen CT scans, fourteen MRI exams, and one angiography. Results On CT scans, two lesions were isodense and five were mildly hypodense compared to muscle while 11 lesions appeared heterogeneous-mixed of iso and hypodense areas. Heterogeneous enhancement was depicted in 13 lesions and four lesions enhanced homogeneously. Six lesions were partially calcified. On T1W MR images, seven lesions were isointense and one was slightly hyperintense relative to adjacent muscles while five lesions appeared heterogeneous-mixed of iso and hypointense areas. T2W images showed high SI in two cases and heterogeneous-mixed in seven cases. Enhancement was heterogeneous in six and homogeneous in four lesions. Patchy unenhanced areas (on CT and T1W MR images) along with patchy areas of low to markedly high SI on T2W images were depicted in 19 lesions. The enhanced portions correlated to areas of increased vascularity and cellularity. The four clinically more aggressive lesions could not be predicted on imaging. Conclusion Typical soft tissue SFTs are deep masses made of isodense and isointense areas relative to adjacent muscles mixed with hypodense and hypointense areas on unenhanced CT and MR T1W respectively. Variable enhancement patterns and mixed to high signal intensities on MRT2W are attributed to tumor’s cellularity, vascularity, collagen distribution and/or degeneration. Heterogeneity of SFTs affects imaging features on MRI and CT modalities. The biological behavior of soft tissue SFTs can not be predicted based solely either on histopathologic or imaging evaluation. </jats:sec

Prognostic and predictive role of CXCR4, IGF-1R and Ezrin expression in localized synovial sarcoma: is chemotaxis important to tumor response?

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare tumor, with dismal survival when metastatic. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy is debated. New prognostic and predictive factors are needed. METHODS: We reviewed patients with localized SS; SS18-SSX fusion transcript presence was confirmed by FISH and RT-PCR. Expression of CXCR4, IGF-1R and Ezrin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Tumor samples from 88 SS patients (45 female; 43 male) with median age 37 years (range 11-63) were selected. The size of the lesion was\u2009&gt;\u20095 cm in 68% of patients and 34% of cases presented biphasic histotype. All patients underwent surgery, 56% adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), 65% adjuvant chemotherapy. A positive stain for IGF-1R was detected in 55 patients, with nucleus expression in 21 patients. CXCR4 was expressed in 74 patients, nuclear pattern in 31 patients. 80 SS were positive to Ezrin, 48 had cytoplasmatic location, 32 membrane location. With a median follow-up of 6 years (1-30 years), the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 70% (95% CI 60-81). 5-year OS was 63% (95% CI 41-85%) for patients with positive IGF-1R/nuclear expression, and 73% (95% CI 61-85%; P\u2009=\u20090.05) in negative patients. 5-year OS was 47% (95% CI 27-66%) in patients with positive CXCR4/nuclear staining, and 86% (95% CI 76-96%, P = 0.0003) in negative cases. No survival difference was found according to Ezrin expression. By multivariate analysis, nuclear expression of CXCR4 and IGF-1R was confirmed independent adverse prognostic factor for SS patient survival linked to the use of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have important potential implications demonstrating that together with clinical prognostic factors such as radiotherapy and age, CXCR4 and IGF-1R negatively influences survival in patients with localized SS. We believe that further studies addressed to the effects of CXCR4 and IGF-1R inhibitors on cell viability and function are needed to plan new and more appropriate SS treatments

Comparison of Branched and Linear Perfluoropolyether Chains Functionalization on Hydrophobic, Morphological and Conductive Properties of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNTs) was obtained by generating reactive perfluoropolyether (PFPE) radicals that can covalently bond to MW-CNTs’ surface. Branched and linear PFPE peroxides with equivalent molecular weights of 1275 and 1200 amu, respectively, have been thermally decomposed for the production of PFPE radicals. The functionalization with PFPE chains has changed the wettability of MW-CNTs, which switched their behavior from hydrophilic to super-hydrophobic. The low surface energy properties of PFPEs have been transferred to MW-CNTs surface and branched units with trifluoromethyl groups, CF3, have conferred higher hydrophobicity than linear units. Porosimetry discriminated the effects of PFPE functionalization on meso-porosity and macro-porosity. It has been observed that reactive sites located in MW-CNTs mesopores have been intensively functionalized by branched PFPE peroxide due to its low average molecular weight. Conductivity measurements at different applied pressures have showed that the covalent linkage of PFPE chains, branched as well as linear, weakly modified the electrical conductivity of MW-CNTs. The decomposed portions of PFPE residues, the PFPE chains bonded on carbon nanotubes, and the PFPE fluids obtained by homo-coupling side-reactions were evaluated by mass balances. PFPE-modified MW-CNTs have been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), static contact angle (SCA), surface area, and porosity measurement

ROCK2 deprivation leads to the inhibition of tumor growth and metastatic potential in osteosarcoma cells through the modulation of YAP activity

The treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma (OS) remains a challenge for oncologists, and novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. An understanding of the pathways that regulate OS dissemination is required for the design of novel treatment approaches. We recently identified Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) as a crucial driver of OS cell migration. In this study, we explored the impact of ROCK2 disruption on the metastatic capabilities of OS cells and analyzed its functional relationship with Yes-associated protein-1 (YAP), the main transcriptional mediator of mechanotransduction signaling

Dideoxynucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors and drug-related hepatotoxicity: a case report

This report regards the case of a 43 year-old HIV-positive woman who developed an episode of serious transaminase elevation during stavudine-including antiretroviral therapy. Diagnostic assessment ruled out hepatitis virus co-infection, alcohol abuse besides other possible causes of liver damage. No signs of lactic acidosis were present. Liver biopsy showed portal inflammatory infiltrate, spotty necrosis, vacuoles of macro- and micro-vesicular steatosis, acidophil and foamy hepatocytes degeneration with organelles clumping, poorly formed Mallory bodies and neutrophil granulocytes attraction (satellitosis). A dramatic improvement in liver function tests occurred when stavudine was discontinued and a new antiretroviral regimen with different nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors was used. The importance of considering hepatotoxicity as an adverse event of HAART including stavudine, even in absence of other signs of mitochondrial toxicity should therefore be underlined. Liver biopsy may provide further important information regarding patients with severe transaminase elevation, for a better understanding of the etiology of liver damage