Diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI for the differentiation of benign from malignant soft-tissue tumors.

BACKGROUND: A wide range of specificity values for the differentiation of benign and malignant soft-tissue tumors show the limitations of conventional MRI features. The data obtained by quantitative analysis of diffusion-weighted image (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRIs would provide more objective results, especially in terms of cellularity and perfusion. PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacies of DWI and DCE MRI for the differentiation of malignant and benign soft-tissue tumors. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. SUBJECTS: In all, 136 patients (68 females, 68 males; age range 18-86 years, mean age 57.2 years) with soft-tissue tumors. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3 T, DWI, DCE. ASSESSMENT: Tumor sizes, margins, locations, the presence of involvement in bone or neurovascular bundle, peritumoral edema, heterogeneity, and tumor necrosis were investigated on conventional MR images. On DWIs, visual signal drops were assessed and ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) values were measured. Ktrans , Kep , Ve , and iAUC values, and time-concentration curve (TCC) types were determined using DCE images. STATISTICAL TESTS: The data were statistically analyzed to determine the abilities to differentiate benign and malignant tumors using the chi-square test, two-sample t-test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-three cases were malignant and 63 benign. Age (mean ages of benign/malignant tumors, 51.75/61.86 years; P = 0.0002) and gender (F:M = 40:23 [benign], F:M = 28:45 [malignant], P = 0.003) influenced the distinction between benign and malignant. Sizes, margins, neurovascular bundle involvement, peritumoral edema, and heterogeneity of the tumors on conventional MR images and DCE parameters (Ktrans , Kep , Ve , and iAUC, and TCC plots) obtained from focal region of interest within a narrow volume of interest significantly differentiated benign and malignant lesions (all P < 0.0001, except Ve [P = 0.0004]). For DWI with ADC mapping, all ADC values and visually signal drops were also significant (P < 0.0001). DATA CONCLUSION: DWI and DCE-MRI and derived variables were significantly helpful in discriminating benign and malignant soft-tissue tumors complementary to conventional MRI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:798-809.

Prognostic significance of WT1 expression in soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare. We evaluated the WT1 protein expression level in various types of STS and elucidated the value of WT1 as a prognostic factor and a possible therapeutic target. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for WT1 was performed in 87 cases of STS using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks. The correlation between WT1 expression and clinicopathological factors was analyzed. Survival analysis was conducted in 67 patients. We assessed the validity of WT1 immunohistochemistry as an index of WT1 protein expression using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: WT1 expression was noted in 47 cases (54.0%). Most rhabdomyosarcomas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors showed WT1 expression (91.7% and 71.4%, respectively; P = 0.005). WT1 expression was related to higher FNCLCC histologic grade and AJCC tumor stage. In the group with high grade STS, strong WT1 expression was correlated with better survival (P = 0.025). The immunohistochemical results were correlated quantitatively with the staining score and the concentration of the Western blot band. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that various types of STS show positive immunostaining for WT1 and that WT1 expression has a prognostic significance. So STS should be considered candidates for WT1 peptide--based immunotherapy.

Analysis of sagittal balance of ankylosing spondylitis using spinopelvic parameters.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze sagittal spinopelvic parameters in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are little data on the relationship between the sagittal spinopelvic parameters and AS. METHODS: The study and control groups comprised 90 AS patients and 40 controls. Participants were classified into 3 groups: normal (n=40), sagittal balance (n=58), and sagittal imbalance (n=32) groups. All underwent lateral radiograph of the whole spine including hip joints. The radiographic parameters were sacral slope, pelvic tilting, pelvic incidence, overhang of S1, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and C7 plumbline. Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant differences between the 2 groups. Correlations between radiological parameters and symptoms were sought. RESULTS: AS patients and controls were found to be significantly different in terms of sagittal balance, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, S1 overhang, and lumbar lordosis. However, no significant difference was observed between these 2 groups for thoracic kyphosis (P>0.05). Of the 90 AS patients, 32 patients (5 women and 27 men) were assigned to the sagittal imbalance group and 58 (12 women and 46 men) to the sagittal balance group. There was a significant difference in all sagittal parameters and visual analogue scale (VAS) score between these 2 groups. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between sagittal parameters in AS. However, there was no association between sacral slope and S1 overhang, and between pelvic incidence and VAS score. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that pelvic tilt contributed significantly to sagittal balance. CONCLUSIONS: AS patients and normal controls were found to be significantly different in terms of sagittal spinopelvic parameters. Significant relationships were found between sagittal spinopelvic parameters in AS patients. Pelvic tilt was a significant parameter in determination of sagittal balance in AS patient. Furthermore, VAS scores were significantly related to sagittal spinal parameters which were closely related with pelvic orientation in AS patients.

Intramuscular sparganosis in the gastrocnemius muscle: a case report.

Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra. Although the destination of the larva is often a tissue or muscle in the chest, abdominal wall, extremities, eyes, brain, urinary tract, spinal canal, and scrotum, intramuscular sparganosis is uncommon and therefore is difficult to distinguish from a soft tissue tumor. We report a case of intramuscular sparganosis involving the gastrocnemius muscle in an elderly patient who was diagnosed using ultrasonography and MRI and treated by surgical excision. At approximately 1 cm near the schwannoma at the right distal sciatic nerve, several spargana worms were detected and removed.

Alterations in Plasma Lipid Profile before and after Surgical Removal of Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a relatively rare malignancy, accounting for about 1% of all adult cancers. It is known to have more than 70 subtypes. Its rarity, coupled with its various subtypes, makes early diagnosis challenging. The current standard treatment for STS is surgical removal. To identify the prognosis and pathophysiology of STS, we conducted untargeted metabolic profiling on pre-operative and post-operative plasma samples from 24 STS patients who underwent surgical tumor removal. Profiling was conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry. Thirty-nine putative metabolites, including phospholipids and acyl-carnitines were identified, indicating changes in lipid metabolism. Phospholipids exhibited an increase in the post-operative samples, while acyl-carnitines showed a decrease. Notably, the levels of pre-operative lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) O-18:0 and LPC O-16:2 were significantly lower in patients who experienced recurrence after surgery compared to those who did not. Metabolic profiling may identify aggressive tumors that are susceptible to lipid synthase inhibitors. We believe that these findings could contribute to the elucidation of the pathophysiology of STS and the development of further metabolic studies in this rare malignancy.

Association between estrogen receptor gene polymorphism and back pain intensity in female patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. OBJECTIVE: To examine the possible association of estrogen receptor α (ERα) polymorphisms and pain intensity in symptomatic female degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: DS has been associated with a significant sex effect. Thus, several studies about the association between the ER gene and osteoarthritis have been reported. However, whether estrogen is associated with pain sensitivity is inconsistent in the existing literatures from both human and animal studies. METHODS: The PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms, bone mineral density at the lumbar spine (LSBMD) and at the femoral neck (FNBMD), pain intensity at the leg and lower back, and radiologic and anthropometric findings were analyzed in 192 patients with DS. RESULTS: There was a significant association between XbaI polymorphism and the visual analog scale score of back pain. The back pain visual analog scale in patients with a GG genotype was significantly higher than in patients with the AG (P<0.05) or the AA (P<0.05) genotypes. In addition, the presence of the CG haplotype was found to be associated with back pain intensity in the haplotype analysis of the PvuII and the XbaI polymorphisms of ERα. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the ERα gene polymorphism using XbaI restriction enzyme influences the perception of back pain in patients with DS.

Safety and effect of adipose tissue-derived stem cell implantation in patients with critical limb ischemia: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI) by bypass operation or percutaneous vascular intervention is occasionally difficult. The safety and efficacy of multiple intramuscular adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ATMSC) injections in CLI patients was determined in the study. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 15 male CLI patients with ischemic resting pain in 1 limb with/without non-healing ulcers and necrotic foot. ATMSC were isolated from adipose tissue of thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) patients (B-ATMSC), diabetes patients (D-ATMSC), and healthy donors (control ATMSC). In a colony-forming unit assay, the stromal vascular fraction of TAO and diabetic patients yielded lesser colonies than that of healthy donors. D-ATMSC showed lower proliferation abilitythan B-ATMSC and control ATMSC, but they showed similar angiogenic factor expression with control ATMSC and B-ATMSC. Multiple intramuscular ATMSC injections cause no complications during the follow-up period (mean follow-up time: 6 months). Clinical improvement occurred in 66.7% of patients. Five patients required minor amputation during follow-up, and all amputation sites healed completely. At 6 months, significant improvement was noted on pain rating scales and in claudication walking distance. Digital subtraction angiography before and 6 months after ATMSC implantation showed formation of numerous vascular collateral networks across affected arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple intramuscular ATMSC injections might be a safe alternative to achieve therapeutic angiogenesis in patients with CLI who are refractory to other treatment modalities.

Validation of the Korean version of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the adapted Korean version of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QDS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The Korean version of the QDS has not been validated. METHODS: Translation/retranslation of the English version of QDS was conducted, and all steps of the cross-cultural adaptation process were performed. The Korean version of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measure of pain, QDS and the previously validated Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were mailed to 100 consecutive patients with chronic low back pain of at least 3 months duration. Eighty patients responded to the first mailing of questionnaires and 59 of the first time responder returned their second survey. The average age of the 59 patients (39 female, 20 male) was 48.0 years. Reliability assessment was determined by estimating κ statistics of agreement for each item, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Cronbach α. Concurrent and construct validity was evaluated by comparing the responses of QDS with the results of VAS and responses of ODI and SF-36 by using the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The constructed Bland Altman plot showed a good reliability. All items had a κ statistics of agreement > 0.6. The QDS showed excellent test/retest reliability as evidenced by the high ICC for both assessments (ICC = 0.9094; P < 0.001). Internal consistency was found to be very good at both assessments with the Cronbach α (0.9172 and 0.9319 at first and second assessments, respectively). The QDS was correlated with the VAS (r = 0.647; P < 0.001 and r = 0.609; P < 0.001 at first and second assessments, respectively) and with the ODI (r = 0.718; P < 0.001 and r = 0.690; P < 0.001, respectively). The Korean version of the QDS showed a good significant correlation with functional scales of SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: The adapted Korean version of the QDS was successfully translated and showed acceptable measurement properties, and as such, is considered suitable for outcome assessments in the Korean-speaking patients with low back pain.

Malignant Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor Presenting as an Extra-Articular Superficial Soft-Tissue Mass in a Knee.

Malignant tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TsGCT) is a rare disease that can arise as a recurrent lesion or co-exist with a benign TsGCT lesion. Here we report a rare case of malignant TsGCT in a 73-year-old male with a history of lymphoma. The tumor appeared as a superficial soft-tissue mass in the subcutaneous fat tissue of the left knee.

Oncologic impact of the curettage of grade 2 central chondrosarcoma of the extremity.

BACKGROUND: Wide excision is considered the standard treatment for high-grade chondrosarcoma, but little is known regarding the effect of curettage on patient outcome in grade 2 chondrosarcoma. METHODS: The records of 32 patients with nonmetastatic grade 2 central chondrosarcoma of the appendicular skeleton were analyzed. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of 15 patients who underwent curettage (the case group) followed by subsequent treatment and 17 patients who underwent standard treatment were compared. The mean follow-up period for all 32 patients was 110 months (range, 31-230 months). RESULTS: Cases had a smaller tumor volume at presentation (P = .02), a lower Enneking's stage IIA (P < .01), a lower rate of biopsy (P < .01), and a lower incidence of chondroid calcification by plain radiography (P < .01) than controls. Of the 32 study subjects, 2 (1 in the each group) developed local recurrence. The 10-year overall and metastasis-free survival rates for all 32 chondrosarcomas were 84.6% ± 14.5% and 70.3% ± 16.5%, respectively. Event-free survivals were similar for cases and controls (P = .16). CONCLUSIONS: Intracompartmental grade 2 chondrosarcoma with nonaggressive radiologic pattern have a chance of curettage. However, proper subsequent management achieves outcomes comparable with those of primary wide excision.

Validation of the Korean version of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the reliability and validity of an adapted Korean version of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Translation/retranslation of the English version of SRS-22 was conducted, and all steps of the cross-cultural adaptation process were performed. The Korean version of the SRS-22 questionnaire and the previously validated Short Form-36 (SF-36) outcome instruments were mailed to 102 patients who had been treated surgically for idiopathic scoliosis. Eighty-two patients responded to the first mailing of questionnaires and 64 of the first-time responders returned their second survey. The average age of the 64 patients (56 females and 8 males) was 18.3 years. Reliability assessment was determined by estimating Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing SRS-22 domains with relevant domains in the SF-36 questionnaire using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The study demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.80-0.89) for function/activity, pain and mental health, and good consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.50-0.79) for the remaining domains. The ICC of all domains demonstrated excellent test/retest reproducibility. Considering concurrent validity, 3 domains showed excellent correlation, 9 domains good, 25 domains moderate, and 3 domains poor. CONCLUSION: The adapted Korean version of the SRS-22 questionnaire was successfully translated and showed acceptable measurement properties, and as such, is considered suitable for treatment outcome assessments in the Korean-speaking patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

Validation of the Korean version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire.

We evaluated the reliability and validity of an adapted Korean version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Translation/retranslation of the English version of RMDQ was conducted, and all steps of the cross-cultural adaptation process were performed. The Korean version of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measure of pain, RMDQ, and the previously validated Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were mailed to 100 consecutive patients with chronic lower back pain (LBP) of at least 3 months. Eighty-one patients responded to the first mailing of questionnaires and 63 of the first-time responder returned their second survey. The average age of the 63 patients (45 female, 18 male) was 47.8 years. Reliability assessment was determined by estimating kappa statistics of agreement for each item, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Cronbach's α. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing the responses of RMDQ with the results of VAS and responses of ODI by using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The constructed Bland-Altman plot showed a good reliability. All items had a kappa statistics of agreement greater than 0.6. The RMDQ showed excellent test/re-test reliability as evidenced by the high ICC for 2 test occasions (ICC = 0.932, P < 0.001). Internal consistency was found to be very good at both assessments with Cronbach's α (0.942 and 0.951 at first and second assessments, respectively). The RMDQ was correlated with the VAS (r = 0.692; P = 0.000 and r = 0.668; P = 0.000 at first and second assessments, respectively), and with the ODI (r = 0.789; P = 0.000 and r = 0.802; P = 0.000, respectively). The adapted Korean version of the RMDQ was successfully translated and showed acceptable measurement properties, and as such, is considered suitable for outcome assessments in the Korean speaking patients with LBP.

Implant removal for the management of infection after instrumented spinal fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: We operated on 21 patients with a postoperative deep wound infection. All the patients underwent implant removal and wide debridement. One patient lost to follow-up was excluded. OBJECTIVE: To reduce the number of debridements and manage uncontrolled spine infection. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are a few reports on the treatment for postoperative spinal infection after instrumented spine fusion with implant removal and wide debridement. METHODS: The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry disability index, visual analog scale of pain and patients' satisfaction. RESULTS: The functional outcomes of the Oswestry disability index were minimal in 13 patients and moderate in 7 at final follow-up. The serial changes of visual analog scale score of pain in the back and leg showed statistically significant decline after operation. Patients' satisfaction outcomes were better in 16 patients and unchanged in 4. Six patients of the preoperative spinal fusion group included the patients that already had fusion mass well developed by the time of implant removal. Bony union was not achieved in any patient of the preoperative nonspinal fusion group (n=14) by the last follow-up. In nonspinal fusion group, mean lordotic angle before the operation was 41 degrees decreasing after the operation to 39 degrees. At the final follow-up it was 30 degrees. Mean disc space height before the operation was 11.1 mm and it decreased to 8.1 mm at the final follow-up. The mean lordotic angle and disc space height at last follow-up was larger in the spinal fusion group than in the nonspinal fusion group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that implant removal and wide debridement for postoperative infection after posterior instrumented spine fusion can provide satisfactory results and could be one treatment option. However, the collapse of the disc space, loss of normal lordosis, and pseudoarthrosis are inevitable in patients with early postoperative infection.

Evaluation of immune-biomarker expression in high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma: HLA-DQA1 expression as a prognostic marker.

High-grade soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) is a highly malignant neoplasm with a poor overall prognosis. Numerous prognostic factors determine tumor progression and patient outcomes. Various immune-associated cells identified in the tumor microenvironment have important roles in various tumor types. The present study was performed to evaluate the expression of immune-associated genes and to elucidate the association between these genes and the prognosis in high-grade STS. A total of 12 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of high-grade STS were subjected to gene expression analysis using the NanoString nCounter® System and another 35 samples were used for immunohistochemistry. For comparative analysis, the patients were divided into two groups according to overall survival (OS). The expression levels of 770 genes were first analyzed using the nCounter® PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel. Immunohistochemistry was then performed for the most significantly altered genes. Subsequently, the association between gene expression and prognosis of high-grade STS was evaluated. Of the 770 immune-associated genes analyzed, several genes were identified as being differentially expressed between the two groups. Based on gene expression levels and fold change, 13 representative genes were identified; 7 of the 13 candidate genes (C3, CD36, DOCK9, FCER2, FOS, HLA-DRB4 and NCAM1) were significantly overexpressed in the poor prognosis group, while the other 6 immune-associated genes (BIRC5, DUSP4, FOXP3, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 and LAG3) were increased in the good prognosis group. By immunohistochemistry, the expression of the 13 immune-associated genes was confirmed to be significantly different between the two groups. Expression of HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DRB4 was observed in 74.3, 34.3 and 48.6% of tumors, respectively. HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 were significantly decreased, whereas HLA-DRB4 was significantly increased in the poor prognosis group. Of note, expression of HLA-DQA1 was associated with a significantly longer OS (P=0.028). In conclusion, HLA-DQA1 expression was significantly associated with long-term survival and may therefore be an immune biomarker for good prognosis in high-grade STS.

Decreased osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and reduced bone mineral density in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Generalized low bone mass and osteopenia in both axial and peripheral skeletons have been reported in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, the mechanism and causes of bone loss in AIS have not been identified. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation abilities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone mass in 19 patients with AIS and compared these with those of 16 age- and gender-matched patients with lower leg fracture. Mean lumbar spinal bone mineral density (LSBMD) in AIS patients was found to be lower than in controls (P = 0.037) and the osteogenic differentiation abilities and alkaline phosphatase activities of MSCs from patients were also found to be lower than those of controls (P = 0.0073 and P = 0.001, respectively), but the abilities of the MSCs of patients and controls to undergo adipogenic differentiation were similar. The osteogenic differentiation ability was found to be positively correlated with alkaline phosphatase activity in the AIS group. However, the osteogenic and adipogenic abilities were not found to be correlated with LSBMD in either patients or controls. These findings suggest that the decreased osteogenic differentiation ability of MSCs might be one of the possible mechanisms leading to low bone mass in AIS. However, we did not determine definite mechanisms of low bone mass in AIS. Therefore, further study with large scale will be needed to identify the mechanism involved.

Association between osteoprotegerin gene polymorphism and bone mineral density in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Generalized low bone mass and osteopenia have been reported in the axial and peripheral skeleton of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. Recently, many studies have shown that gene polymorphisms are related to osteoporosis. However, no studies have linked the association between gene polymorphisms and bone mass of AIS. Therefore, this study examined the association between the bone mass and RANKL, RANK, and OPG gene polymorphisms in 198 girls diagnosed with AIS. OPG 163 A --> G, 209 G --> A, 245 T --> G, and 1181 G --> C polymorphisms; RANK 421 C --> T and 575 C --> T polymorphisms; and RANKL rs12721445 and rs2277438 polymorphisms, as well as the bone mineral density at the lumbar spine (LSBMD) and femoral neck (FNBMD) were analyzed. The 163 A --> G, 209 G --> A, and 245 T --> G polymorphisms in the OPG gene were in complete linkage. No RANK 421 C --> T and 575 C --> T polymorphisms or RANKL rs12711445 polymorphism were observed. There was a significant association between the OPG gene 1181 G --> C polymorphism and LSBMD. LSBMD in AIS with the CC genotype was found to be significantly higher than in AIS with the GC (P < 0.05) or GG (P < 0.01) genotype. However, there was no significant association between LSBMD or FNBMD and the OPG gene 245 T --> G polymorphism or the RANKL rs2277438 polymorphism. These results suggest that the OPG gene 1181 G --> C polymorphism is associated with LSBMD in girls with AIS.

Growth compensatory role of sulindac sulfide-induced thrombospondin-1 linked with ERK1/2 and RhoA GTPase signaling pathways.

Previously, we reported that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) suppress cellular invasion which was mediated by thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). As the extending study of the previous observation, we investigated the effect of NSAID-induced TSP-1 on the cellular growth and its related signaling transduction of the TSP-1 production. Among diverse NSAIDs, sulindac sulfide was most potent of inducing the human TSP-1 protein expression. Functionally, induced TSP-1 expression was associated with the growth-compensatory action of NSAID. TSP-1 expression was also elevated by mitogenic signals of ERK1/2 and RhoA GTPase pathway which had also growth-promotive capability after sulindac sulfide treatment. These findings suggest the possible mechanism through which tumor cells can survive the chemopreventive action of NSAIDs or the normal epithelium can reconstitute after NSAID-mediated ulceration in a compensatory way.

Cerebral glucose metabolic abnormality in patients with congenital scoliosis.

A possible association between congenital scoliosis and low mental status has been recognized, but there are no reports describing the mental status or cerebral metabolism in patients with congenital scoliosis in detail. We investigated the mental status using a mini-mental status exam as well as the cerebral glucose metabolism using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose brain positron emission tomography in 12 patients with congenital scoliosis and compared them with those of 14 age-matched patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The mean mini-mental status exam score in the congenital scoliosis group was significantly lower than that in the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group. Group analysis found that various brain areas of patients with congenital scoliosis showed glucose hypometabolisms in the left prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 10), right orbitofrontal cortex (Brodmann area 11), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 9), left anterior cingulate gyrus (Brodmann area 24) and pulvinar of the left thalamus. From this study, we could find the metabolic abnormalities of brain in patients with congenital scoliosis and suggest the possible role of voxel-based analysis of brain fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

Prognostic value of microRNAs in osteosarcoma: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy. We meta-analyzed the prognostic value of altered miRNAs in patients with osteosarcoma. METHODS: Sources from MEDLINE (from inception to August 2016) and EMBASE (from inception to August 2016) were searched. Studies of osteosarcoma with results of miRNA and studies that reported survival data were included and two authors performed the data extraction independently. Any discrepancies were resolved by a consensus. The outcome was overall survival and event-free survival assessed using hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: After reviewing the full text of 65 articles, 25 studies including 2,278 patients were eligible in this study. The pooled HR for deaths was 1.40 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.94, p=0.04) with random-effects model (χ2=113.08, p<0.00001, I2=79%) for patients of osteosarcoma with lower expression of miRNA. However, the pooled HR for events was not significant (HR 0.97, 0.63-1.48, p=0.87, χ2=72.65, p<0.00001, I2=79%). In pathway analysis of miRNAs, miRNA449a, 199-5p, 542-5p have common target genes. CONCLUSIONS: Expression level of miRNA in patients of osteosarcoma is important as a prognostic factor.

Gene expression in mixed type liposarcoma.

AIMS: Mixed type liposarcomas are rare. Here, we analysed the characteristics of an unusual case of mixed type liposarcoma, which consisted of a well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDL) and a pleomorphic liposarcoma (PL), with a special emphasis on molecular alterations. METHODS: Microscopic and immunohistochemical approaches were used to investigate this case of mixed type liposarcoma, and to identify molecular alterations in this tumour, gene expression was examined in PL, WDL, and normal adipose tissue (NA) samples using a 17,000 cDNA microarray. RESULTS: The tumour mass, 9 x 5 x 5 cm, was located in the left upper arm of a 76-year-old man. Grossly, the proximal portion of the tumour was composed of a yellowish fatty lesion, whereas the distal portion of the tumour was whitish and necrotic in nature. Histologically, the tumour was composed of two distinct components. The proximal component of the tumour was a WDL and the distal component was a PL. Immunohistochemically, S100 protein immunoreactivity highlighted lipoblasts in both tumour portions. The Ki-67 proliferation index was <1% in the WDL and 20% in the PL. MDM2 was positive in the WDL, but negative in the PL. p53 was negative in both areas. Numerous differentially expressed genes were found, which included genes coding for signal transduction, transcription, cell cycle, enzyme, structural protein, immune system and others. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that multiple genes are differentially expressed in mixed type liposarcoma and suggest that these genes are associated with the differences in the morphological characteristics and pathogenesis of mixed type liposarcoma.