Variable expression of tenascin‐C,osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung

Kaarteenaho R, Sormunen R, Pääkkö P. Variable expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung. APMIS 2010; 118: 91–100. The aim of this study was to analyse the expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the lung, which is a rare tumour of unknown aetiology. Nine patients with an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of lung were studied by immunohistochemistry for the presence of tenascin‐C, osteopontin, fibronectin and alpha‐smooth muscle actin, which is a common marker for myofibroblasts. The ultrastructure of myofibroblasts was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of tenascin‐C, osteopontin, fibronectin and alpha‐smooth muscle actin was also studied by immunoelectron microscopy. All cases displayed all of the studied extracellular matrix proteins and also alpha‐smooth muscle actin‐positive spindle‐shaped fibroblastic cells that were undoubtedly myofibroblasts. The immunoelectron microscopic studies demonstrated labelling for alpha‐smooth muscle actin in intracellular filament bundles within myofibroblasts, for fibronectin in the extracellular filaments of the fibronexus and for tenascin‐C extracellularly often adjacent to myofibroblasts. Labels for osteopontin were observed within myofibroblasts and plasma cells. These results demonstrate that tenascin‐C, osteopontin and fibronectin were expressed in all three kinds of subtypes of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours of the lung and further, variable amounts of myofibroblasts could be observed by light and transmission electron microscopy as well as by immunoelectron microscopic techniques.     

Assessment of myocardial infarction in mice by Late Gadolinium Enhancement MR imaging using an inversion recovery pulse sequence at 9.4T

Purpose

To demonstrate the feasibility of using an inversion recovery pulse sequence and to define the optimal inversion time (TI) to assess myocardial infarction in mice by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI at 9.4T, and to obtain the maximal contrast between the infarcted and the viable myocardium.

Methods

MRI was performed at 9.4T in mice, two days after induction of myocardial infarction (n = 4). For cardiovascular MR imaging, a segmented magnetization-prepared fast low angle shot (MP-FLASH) sequence was used with varied TIs ranging from 40 to 420 ms following administration of gadolinium-DTPA at 0.6 mmol/kg. Contrast-to-noise (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were measured and compared for each myocardial region of interest (ROI).

Results

The optimal TI, which corresponded to a minimum SNR in the normal myocardium, was 268 ms ± 27.3. The SNR in the viable myocardium was significantly different from that found in the infarcted myocardium (17.2 ± 2.4 vs 82.1 ± 10.8; p = 0.006) leading to a maximal relative SI (Signal Intensity) between those two areas (344.9 ± 60.4).

Conclusion

Despite the rapid heart rate in mice, our study demonstrates that LGE MRI can be performed at 9.4T using a protocol similar to the one used for clinical MR diagnosis of myocardial infarction.     

Peri-operative outcomes for pancreatoduodenectomy in India: a multi-centric study

Background:

There have been an increasing number of reports world-wide relating improved outcomes after pancreatic resections to high volumes thereby supporting the idea of centralization of pancreatic resectional surgery. To date there has been no collective attempt from India at addressing this issue. This cohort study analysed peri-operative outcomes after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) at seven major Indian centres.

Materials and Methods:

Between January 2005 and December 2007, retrospective data on PDs, including intra-operative and post-operative factors, were obtained from seven major centres for pancreatic surgery in India.

Results:

Between January 2005 and December 2007, a total of 718 PDs were performed in India at the seven centres. The median number of PDs performed per year was 34 (range 9–54). The median number of PDs per surgeon per year was 16 (range 7–38). Ninety-four per cent of surgeries were performed for suspected malignancy in the pancreatic head and periampullary region. The median mortality rate per centre was four (range 2–5%). Wound infections were the commonest complication with a median incidence per centre of 18% (range 9.3–32.2%), and the median post-operative duration of hospital stay was 16 days (range 4–100 days).

Conclusions:

This is the first multi-centric report of peri-operative outcomes of PD from India. The results from these specialist centers are very acceptable, and appear to support the thrust towards centralization.     

Needle biopsy of renal allografts: comparison of two techniques

Two techniques for renal allograft biopsy were retrospectively evaluated to compare relative safety and efficacy. After ultrasound (US) localization of the kidney and biopsy with a hand-held 14-gauge cutting needle, an adequate specimen was obtained in 74 of 77 cases (96%). Major complications occurred in six of these 77 cases (8%). One hundred four biopsies were performed by using a smaller 18-gauge cutting needle with a spring-loaded biopsy "gun" and real-time US guidance. With this newer technique, specimens adequate for diagnosis were obtained in 99 biopsies (95%). There was a single major complication with this technique (1%). The 18-gauge needle with real-time US guidance yields comparably adequate specimens with a lower frequency of complications.