Resection arthroplasty of the patella

Resection arthroplasty of the patella has been found to be a satisfactory procedure for the treatment of patellofemoral pain caused by osteoarthritis. In the present series 60% of the operated cases were pain-free on a 31-month average follow-up. The patients found it easier to climb stairs and to kneel and in most cases the radiographic joint space was good.     

Osgood-Schlatter lesion: fracture or tendinitis? Scintigraphic, CT, and MR imaging features.

To determine whether the Osgood-Schlatter lesion (OS) is produced by avulsion fracture or injury to the patellar tendon, all images obtained in 28 cases of OS in 20 patients (16 scintigrams, 34 computed tomographic [CT] scans, and 27 magnetic resonance [MR] images) were retrospectively analyzed. In 21 cases, imaging was performed before and after treatment; in 20 cases, relief from pain was complete at the time of repeat examination. In all patients (100%), abnormal size of the tendon, decreased attenuation, and increase in signal intensity were compatible with the CT and MR imaging appearance of tendinitis. Distended deep infrapatellar bursa was a frequent finding, particularly on MR studies. These abnormalities had partially disappeared at follow-up examination. An ossicle was seen in only nine of 28 cases (32%); in three of seven cases with follow-up, the ossicle remained nonunited to the tibial tuberosity on follow-up studies despite relief from symptoms. This implies that healing of fracture is not essential for relief from symptoms. These results strengthen the argument that in most cases of OS, insult to the tendon and associated soft tissues, rather than avulsion fracture, causes OS.     

Basal cell hyperplasia and basal cell carcinoma of the prostate: a comprehensive review and discussion of a case with c-erbB-2 expression

Prostatic basal cell proliferations range from ordinary basal cell hyperplasia (BCH) to florid basal cell hyperplasia to basal cell carcinoma. The distinction between these forms of BCH, including the variant with prominent nucleoli (formerly called atypical BCH), and basal cell carcinoma depends on morphological and immunohistochemical criteria and, in particular, on the degree of cell proliferation. In florid BCH, the proliferation index is intermediate between ordinary BCH and basal cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry is also useful for identifying the cell composition of the basal cell proliferations, including the basal cell nature of the cells, their myoepithelial differentiation, and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression. Based on the information derived from the literature and on the appearance and follow up of the case presented here, florid BCH might represent a lesion with an intermediate position between ordinary BCH and basal cell carcinoma. However, criteria useful for the identification of those cases with a true precursor nature are not available. In general, basal cell carcinoma is seen as a low grade carcinoma. The immunohistochemical expression of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, similar to that seen in breast cancer, might have therapeutic importance.     

Trisomy 4 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality in a Waldenström macroglobulinemia

We report a case of Waldenstr?m macroglobulinemia with trisomy 4 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality. Trisomy 4 has been reported previously in Waldenstr?m macroglobulinemia, but only in conjunction with multiple chromosomal aberrations. Trisomy 4 has been reported in other hematologic malignancies including acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemias.     

Alteration of the LRP1B gene region is associated with high grade of urothelial cancer

We have delineated regions of interest at chromosome 2q21.2, 2q36.3, and 2q37.1 by deletion mapping of 114 urothelial cancers (UC). Altogether, 17%, 18%, and 63% of the G1, G2, and G3 tumors displayed loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 2q, respectively, The region at 2q21.2 was narrowed down to the LRP1B gene (NT_005129.6). Hemi- and homozygous deletion at the LRP1B gene region was seen in 31 of 114 UCs. Only 8% of the UCs with G1 and none with G2 tumors showed loss of heterozygosity at the LRP1B gene, whereas 49% of the G3 UCs had allelic loss at this region. RT-PCR analysis of the LRP1B gene showed the lack of expression of several exons in 2 of 9 cases analyzed. Our analysis suggests that the LRP1B gene is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in UCs.