Group‐specific regional white matter abnormality revealed in diffusion tensor imaging of medial temporal lobe epilepsy without hippocampal sclerosis

Purpose: In comparison to temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients with hippocampal sclerosis (TLE‐HS), TLE patients without HS (TLE‐NH) have a similar clinical course but may result in worse surgical outcome. We investigated whether the clinical features related to the lack of HS in TLE patients (TLE‐NH) can be explained by water diffusion abnormalities throughout diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) by voxel‐based analysis. Methods: Nineteen patients with TLE‐HS (left/right TLE 12:7), 18 patients with TLE‐NH (left/right TLE 10:8), and 20 controls were included in the study. By statistical parametric mapping (SPM2), the diffusion properties specific to disease characteristics (TLE‐HS vs. TLE‐NH) were analyzed. Results: In TLE‐HS, we found the areas of increased mean diffusivity (MD) in their ipsilateral temporal and extratemporal areas including the hippocampus, parahippocampal, and frontoparietal regions. Left TLE‐HS showed a characteristic MD increase in the ipsilateral posterior cingulum, isthmus of corpus callosum, and contralateral occipital and temporal regions, which was not observed in right TLE‐HS group. In left TLE‐NH, two regions of increased MD were observed in the ipsilateral posterior fornix (within fusiform gyrus) and posterior cingulum. Right TLE‐NH did not show any increased MD. Discussion: In left TLE‐NH, we could find the water diffusion change along the posterior cingulum, which was quite different from the extensive abnormality from TLE‐HS. In addition, there was a lesion‐side–specific distribution (left predominant) of pathology in mesial TLE. This provides a possibility that TLE‐NH is a heterogenous or entity different from TLE‐HS.     

Neurothekeoma of the eyelid: a case report

The purpose of this article is to describe a rare benign tumor of nerve sheath origin arising from the eyelid in an elderly male. Local excision was done and histopathological examination revealed a neurothekeoma. Six months later the patient was doing well with no recurrence. The case was unique in that the patient was an elderly male while neurothekeoma is commonly seen on the face of young adults, especially females.     

Distinctive eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in melanocytic nevi: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Background: We sought to further determine the histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural properties of eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in melanocytic nevi. Methods: Skin specimens from four patients with a known diagnosis of conventional melanocytic nevus (3) or Spitz nevus (1) and containing intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies were selected. In addition, melanomas (25), Spitz nevi (10) and blue nevi (4) were examined to determine the frequency of the inclusions. Results: Inclusions tended to be located in multinucleated melanocytes with abundant vacuolated cytoplasm. In conventional (hematoxylin and eosin‐stained) sections, the degree of density and eosinophilia of intracytoplasmic inclusions varied with size. Periodic acid‐Schiff, Fontana and Congo red stains showed no reactivity. All bodies were immunoreactive for ubiquitin but negative for tyrosinase, keratin and vimentin. Ultrastructurally, inclusion bodies were non‐membrane bound, ranged from 4 to 7 µm, and were comprised of radiating filamentous structures with or without an electron‐dense core. Electron probe x‐ray microanalysis revealed no significant peaks. None of additional melanomas, Spitz nevi and blue nevi that were evaluated showed similar inclusions. Conclusions: The inclusion bodies described herein bear no resemblance to other cytoplasmic inclusion bodies previously described in melanocytic lesions. There is no discernible relationship to melanosomes by ultrastructural analysis. We postulate a relationship with dysfunction of ubiquitin‐mediated protein degradation occurring in melanocytes. Shon W, Wada DA, Gibson LE, Flotte TJ, Scheithauer BW. Distinctive eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in melanocytic nevi: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.     

Angiosarcoma: a study of 98 cases with immunohistochemical evaluation of TLE3, a recently described marker of potential taxane responsiveness

Angiosarcomas may be primary in the skin, primary in soft tissue or viscera, or secondary to irradiation. All angiosarcomas have a poor prognosis. Taxanes may have efficacy in the treatment of angiosarcoma. Expression of TLE3 has been associated with improved outcome in taxane-treated breast cancers. We studied a series of angiosarcoma with TLE3 immunohistochemistry. Cases of angiosarcoma (98 total cases; 37 cutaneous, 48 soft tissue/visceral and 13 post-irradiation) were retrieved and follow up was obtained. Tumors were classified as 'vasoformative', 'spindled', 'epithelioid' and 'mixed'. TLE3 immunohistochemistry was performed. Statistical analyses were performed. Patients (50 males and 48 females) had a median age of 60.2 years. Tumors had a median size 7.5 cm and were vasoformative (N = 43, 44%), spindled (N = 21, 21%), epithelioid (N = 16, 16%) and mixed (N = 18, 18%). Follow up was available for 89/98 patients (91%): 32 (36%) were dead due to disease, 36 (41%) were dead due to other causes and 21 (24%) remained alive. The median time to death was 2.1 years. TLE3 reactivity was observed in 0/37 (0%) cutaneous angiosarcomas, in 28/48 (58%) cases from soft tissue/viscera and in 4/13 (31%) post-irradiation angiosarcomas. (p = <0.0001). Improved 5-year survival was seen in vasoformative angiosarcomas (p = 0.03). TLE3 expression was not associated with taxane response. However, only a subset of patients was treated with taxane. Our study confirms the poor prognosis of angiosarcoma. Vasoformative angiosarcoma may have a more favorable prognosis. A lack of TLE3 expression in cutaneous angiosarcoma may reflect differing pathogenesis.     

Incidence of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head After Intramedullary Nailing of Femoral Shaft Fractures: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of 542 Cases

The goal of this study was to determine the incidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH) after intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures and to identify risk factors for developing AVNFH.We retrospectively reviewed all patients with femoral shaft fractures treated with antegrade intramedullary nailing at 10 institutions. Among the 703 patients enrolled, 161 patients were excluded leaving 542 patients in the study. Average age was 42.1 years with average follow-up of 26.3 months. Patient characteristics and fracture patterns as well as entry point of femoral nails were identified and the incidence of AVNFH was investigated. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to open versus closed physis, open versus closed fractures, and age (<20 versus ≥20 years).Overall incidence of AVNFH was 0.2% (1 of 542): the patient was 15-year-old boy. Of 25 patients with open physis, the incidence of AVNFH was 4%, whereas none of 517 patients with closed physis developed AVNFH (P < 0.001). The incidence of AVNFH in patients aged < 20 versus ≥20 years was 1.1% (1 of 93) and 0.0% (0 of 449), respectively (P = 0.172), which meant that the incidence of AVNFH was 0% in adult with femur shaft fracture. Of 61 patients with open fractures, the incidence of AVNFH was 0%. The number of cases with entry point at the trochanteric fossa or tip of the greater trochanter (GT) was 324 and 218, respectively, and the incidence of AVNFH was 0.3% and 0.0%, respectively (P = 0.412).In patients aged ≥20 years with isolated femoral shaft fracture, there was no case of AVNFH following antegrade intramedullary nailing regardless of the entry point. Therefore, our findings suggest that the risk of AVNFH following antegrade femoral nailing is extremely low in adult patients.     

Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast: Clinicopathologic Features and Survival Outcome Compared with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Purpose

Tubular carcinoma (TC) of the breast is an uncommon histological subtype of invasive breast cancer with an excellent prognosis compared with standard invasive ductal carcinoma. Recent studies suggested a possible precursor role for low grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the development of TC. The goal of this analysis was to understand the clinicopathologic features and outcomes of TC by comparing TC with DCIS.

Methods

A retrospective review identified 70 patients with TC and 1,106 patients with DCIS between 1995 and 2011. Student t-test and Fisher exact test were used to compare the clinicopathologic characteristics of TC patients with those of DCIS patients. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to determine disease-free survival (DFS) rates.

Results

Compared to DCIS, TC exhibited favorable clinicopathologic characteristics such as a lower nuclear grade (92.3%), higher expression of hormonal receptors (estrogen receptor-positive, 92.9%; progesterone receptor-positive, 87.0%), and less frequent overexpression of human epidermal growth receptor 2 (12.9%). DFS did not differ significantly between the TC and DCIS groups (5-year DFS, 100% vs. 96.7%; 10-year DFS, 92.3% vs. 93.3%; p=0.324), and cancer-specific deaths were not noted in either group. However, axillary lymph node involvement was observed in six (8.6%) of the 70 patients with TC. Three of these patients had small tumors (≤1 cm).

Conclusion

In our study cohort, TC was associated with an excellent prognosis and a low rate of lymph node metastasis. However, lymph nodes metastases were found even in patients with small tumors (≤1 cm). Axillary staging must be considered for all patients with TC of the breast.     

Effects of sonicated Enterococcus faecalis extracts on interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 production by human T cells

In the present authors' previous study, sonicated Enterococcus faecalis extracts were shown to suppress the cell cycle progression of human lymphocytes. To study the effect of this microorganism on the function of lymphocytes, the authors investigated the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) production by T lymphocytes before and after the addition of sonicated E. faecalis extracts. In this study, levels of IL-2 and IL-4 produced from T cells were evaluated by using the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. In response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation, T cells produced increased levels of IL-2 and IL-4. However, the expressions of both cytokines were significantly inhibited when PHA-activated T cells were preexposed to 12.5 microg/ml and 25 microg/ml of sonicated E. faecalis extracts (p < 0.05). This effect was concentration-dependent, because the levels of IL-2 and IL-4 expressions were not affected by the addition of a low concentration (5 microg/ml) of sonicated extract. These findings suggest that Th1 and Th2 immunosuppression mediated by E. faecalis could be a part of the pathogenic mechanism of the endodontic failure associated with this microorganism.     

African-American Breast Cancer Survivors Participating in a Breast Cancer Support Group: Translating Research into Practice

Despite an overall decline in mortality, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death among African-American women. As such, clinicians should prepare to address the unique sociocultural and psychological concerns encountered by African-American women breast cancer survivors. The objective of this study is to examine, using qualitative methods, the main coping facilitators used by African-American women as they transition across the cancer continuum. The identification of these facilitators was then aligned with culturally sensitive interventions most useful with women coping with cancer along the cancer continuum. This was a secondary analysis of 20 videotaped stories of African-American breast cancer survivors collected as a part of the Washington University Center for Excellence in Cancer Communications project. The interview began with a discussion of how the survivor first became aware she had breast cancer, followed by a series of open-ended probes used to explore the following themes: coping, relationships, health care system experiences, follow-up care, and quality of life living with breast cancer. Survivors discussed their experiences and advice for targeting needs at each cancer stage from screening to diagnosis, treatment, and then survivorship. Survivor narratives point to key evidence-based clinical intervention strategies at each stage of the cancer trajectory. This study found that survivors see a cyclical cancer course, whereby African-American breast cancer survivors serve an important role in the lives of unscreened women, newly diagnosed women, and women in treatment.     

Differentiation between malignant and benign pathologic fractures with F-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of F-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in differentiating malignant from benign pathologic fractures. Materials and methods F-18 FDG PET/CT was performed on 34 patients with pathologic fractures between May 2004 and June 2007. Fractures were located in tubular bones (26), in the pelvis (six), in the spine (one) and in a rib (one). The FDG uptake pattern at the fracture site was described, whether FDG uptake occurred in the marrow or cortex and soft tissue. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax, the largest value at the region of interest) were measured at the fracture site, including cortical bone, bone marrow and soft tissue. As a reference standard, biopsy was used for 12 patients and clinical follow-up for 22 patients. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT were calculated. Results There were 19 malignant and 15 benign fractures. In the malignant fractures, PET/CT demonstrated high (mean SUVmax 12.0, range 4.3 to 45.7) F-18 FDG uptake in bone marrow in most cases (17 of 19). In benign fractures, there was low FDG uptake (mean SUVmax 2.9, range 0.6 to 5.5) within cortical bone or adjacent soft tissue around the fracture, rarely in the marrow. There were significant differences in the pattern of intramedullary FDG uptake (P < 0.001) and in the mean SUVmax (P < 0.01) between malignant and benign fractures. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of F-18 FDG PET/CT were 89.5%, 86.7% and 88.2%, respectively, with a cut-off SUVmax set at 4.7. The time interval between fracture and PET/CT did not significantly influence FDG uptake at the fracture site. Conclusion F-18 FDG PET/CT reliably differentiated between malignant and benign fractures based on the SUVmax and based on medullary uptake, which was characteristic for malignant fractures. This research was supported by the Yeungnam University research grants in 2007.