Lateral unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA): Contemporary indications,surgical technique,and results

Unicompartmental femoro-tibial osteoarthritis usually affects the medial compartment of the knee, but in 10 %, the lateral compartment is primarily involved. Femoral osteotomy is attractive to avoid TKA in younger patients with low-grade unicompartmental osteoarthritis and a valgus deformity. However, only limited functional results can be expected for patients with Ahlback grade 2 or greater osteoarthritis. Moreover, because of previous skin incisions and hardware removal, TKA after femoral osteotomy remains a complex procedure with poor functional results. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for both the medial and the lateral compartments has been performed since the 1970s. In a patient with involvement of only one compartment, a medial or a lateral UKA can provide a quicker recovery and enhanced function when compared to TKA. In addition, it preserves bone stock and can be “easily” revised by a TKA. Technical improvements, combined with strict patient selection, have resulted in ten year survivorships greater than 90 %. However, lateral UKA is technically more challenging than medial UKA due to the lower number of indications, as well as the functional anatomy of the lateral compartment. The goals of this article are to present up-to-date information concerning indications, patients’ selection, surgical technique and results of lateral compartment UKA.     

MOZ/TIF2-induced acute myeloid leukaemia in transgenic fish

The inv(8)(p11q13) chromosomal abnormality, described in acute myeloid leukaemias (AML), fuses the histone acetyl-transferase (HAT) MYST3 (MOZ) gene with another HAT gene, NCOA2 (TIF2). We generated a transgenic zebrafish in which the MYST3/NCOA2 fusion gene was expressed under control of the spi1 promoter. An AML developed in 2 of 180 MYST3/NCOA2-EGFP-expressing embryos, 14 and 26 months after injection of the fusion gene in a one-cell embryo, respectively. This leukaemia was characterised by an extensive invasion of kidneys by myeloid blast cells. This model, which is the first zebrafish model of AML, demonstrates the oncogenic potency of MYST3/NCOA2 fusion gene.     

Cultural influence on directional tendencies in children’s drawing

The present study was aimed at investigating how print experience as a cultural factor influences directional tendencies in children’s drawing in the interplay with biomechanical (hand), syntactic (shape orientation) and semantic (shape meaning) factors. Eighty-eight right-handed children from three literacy/age groups (preliterate, first graders and third graders) had to copy a geometrical shape adapted from the Rey–Osterrieth complex figure. The shape was presented alternatively leftward and rightward, while using both dominant (right) and non-dominant (left) hands. Directional tendencies were assessed regarding directionality of drawing movements at global, intermediate and local levels and deviation error in centre line bisection. Results show a global improvement of drawing quality and strategies across groups and an advantage for the dominant right hand from 6 years onward. Regarding directional tendencies, a reinforcement of a congruency effect between conditions and writing direction was found from preliterates to third graders. These results are discussed as a cultural embodiment process and have implications for psychological testing.     

A case of pericoronary pseudotumor due to localized Castleman's disease

BackgroundA 59-year-old male had a latent epicardial mass discovered at cardiovascular imaging during the assessment of an aortic murmur.ResultsThe resected mass surrounded the left anterior descending coronary artery. It was a well-limited pericoronary cellular lesion. It was made of a mixture of polytypic plasma cells, lymphocytes with lymphoid follicles, hyaline vascular hyperplasia, and focal eosinophils. No immunoglobulin and TCR-γ gene rearrangements were detected. In this immunocompetent patient, HHV-8 was negative.ConclusionThe pattern was consistent with a pericoronary localized Castleman's disease of composite histologic subtype.     

Indications for hepatic ultrasonography in breast cancer staging and follow-up

Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 6649 breast cancer patients seen over an 11-year period found 438 patients (6.6%) with liver metastases (LM) and 432 patients (6.5%) with benign liver lesions (BLL). Liver ultrasonography (LUS) and liver function tests had been performed for all patients. LM were the first manifestation of metastatic spread in 20.1% of the 438 patients; median survival was related to the presence (6.7 mo.) or absence (12.2 mo.) of extrahepatic metastases (EHM). Liver function tests were normal in 20.5% of the patients in whom LM were first diagnosed by LUS. Most LM were hypoechoic (70.9%). BLL corresponded to cysts, hemangiomas, calcifications, and focal fatty infiltration. LUS appears indicated for (i) pretherapy disease staging, and in particular for detection of BLL, and (ii) follow-up of patients without EHM for early diagnosis of LM.