Follicular dendritic cell tumor of the mediastinum: expression of fractalkine and SDF-1α as mast cell chemoattractants

Follicular dendritic cell tumor (FDCT) is a rare tumor mainly located in laterocervical lymph nodes. We report one case of mediastinal FDCT associated with a history of bullous skin disease and clinically obvious immunosuppression. This tumor was characterized by heavy mast cell infiltration. Mast cells were in close relationship with tumor cells as demonstrated by ultrastructural examination and their presence are probably related with the strong expression of mast cell chemoattractants as fraktalkine and stromal cell-derived factor-1α by tumor cells. The long follow-up period of more than 17 years allowed to us assess the relatively indolent evolution of this tumor characterized by three slowly growing local recurrences without metastasis.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the liver of hepatitis C patients

Magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the liver was investigated to determine whether this method could be used to differentiate between the stages of fibrosis and inflammation for hepatitis C viral infection. DWI data were recorded for 18 hepatitis C patients and 10 control subjects using a modified pulse sequence allowing a 52 ms echo time delay. Acquisitions were performed with breath holding using five different b gradient factor values ranging between 50 and 250 s/mm(2) and in the three axes. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured from a 5.7 cm(2) area in the central region of the liver. The inflammation and fibrosis grades were evaluated histologically on a biopsy sample. The mean ADC values were 2.30 +/- 1.28 x 10(-3) and 1.79 +/- 0.25 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s for hepatitis C patients and control subjects, respectively. Using our technique, no correlation could be found between the ADC values and the inflammation or fibrosis scores, indicating that tissue changes produced by hepatitis C do not appear to be quantifiable by DWI.     

Is laparoscopic management suitable for solid pseudo-papillary tumors of the pancreas?

Purpose  Solid pseudo-papillary tumors (SPT) are rare pancreatic neoplasms of low-malignant potential occurring mainly in young women. The purpose of this report is to describe our experience with laparoscopic management of these tumors with 4-year follow-up. Methods  Three children with SPT were admitted to two hospitals in Paris, France, between February 2000 and December 2006. Diagnosis or treatment was carried out using laparoscopic techniques (biopsy and resection in one case and biopsy only in two). Long-term follow-up data were collected. Results  All three patients presented recurrences within 3 years after resection, i.e., disseminated peritoneal recurrence in two patients and local recurrence in one. The two patients with peritoneal recurrences were treated by surgical resection and chemotherapy. The patient with local recurrence could not be treated due to contraindicating local factors. All three patients were alive at the time of this writing. Conclusion  This is the first report describing long-term follow-up after laparoscopic management of SPT. All three patients developed recurrences. These poor results contrast sharply with the low risk of local or disseminated recurrence after open laparotomy without chemotherapy that has been considered as the treatment of choice up to now. Recurrences after laparoscopic management may have been due to diffusion of tumor cells caused by gas insufflation especially during biopsy. Laparoscopic biopsy should not be performed in patients presenting SPT.     

Ricinus communis treatment of denture stomatitis in institutionalised elderly

This study compared the effectiveness of Ricinus communis (RC) with Nystatin (NYS) and Miconazole (MIC) in the treatment of institutionalised elderly with denture stomatitis (DS). They (n = 30) were randomly distributed into three groups: MIC, NYS or RC. Clinical and mycological evaluations were performed prior to the use of the antifungal (baseline) and repeated after 15 and 30 days of treatment. The sample was clinically examined for oral mucosal conditions. Standard photographs were taken of the palate, and the oral candidiasis was classified (Newton's criteria). Mycological investigation was performed by swabbing the palatal mucosa, and Candida spp. were quantified by counting the number of colony‐forming units (cfu mL^?1). The clinical and mycological data were analysed, respectively by Wilcoxon and Student's t‐test (α = 0·05). Significant improvement in the clinical appearance of DS in the MIC and RC groups was observed between the 1st and 3rd collections (MIC – P = 0·018; RC – P = 0·011) as well as between the 2nd and 3rd collections (MIC – P = 0·018; RC – P = 0·011). Neither groups showed a statistically significant reduction in cfu mL^?1 at any time. Although none of the treatments decreased the cfu mL^?1, it was concluded that Ricinus communis can improve the clinical condition of denture stomatitis in institutionalised elderly patients, showing similar results to Miconazole.     

Benefits of blood group genotyping in multi‐transfused patients from the south of Brazil

We evaluated the usefulness of blood group genotyping as a supplement to hemagglutination to determine the red blood cell (RBC) antigen profile of polytransfused patients with hematological diseases and renal failure. Seventy‐nine patients were selected. They all received more than three units of blood and eight (10%) had already clinical significant alloantibodies occurring alone or in combination against Rh, K, Fya, and Di antigens. DNA was prepared from blood samples and RHCE*E/e, KEL*01/KEL*02, FY*01/FY*02 and JK*01/JK*02 alleles were determined by using PCR‐RFLP. RHD*/RHD*Ψ and RHCE*C/c were tested using multiplex PCR. Discrepancies for Rh, Kell, Duffy, and Kidd systems were found between the phenotype and genotype‐derived phenotype in 16 of the 38 chronically transfused patients. The genotypes of these patients were confirmed by DNA array analysis (HEA Beadchip^?; Bioarray Solutions, Warren, NJ). Genotyping was very important for the determination of the true blood groups of the polytransfused patients, helped in the identification of suspected alloantibodies and in the selection of antigen‐negative RBCs for transfusion. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:311–316, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.