Rare aneurysmal bone cysts: multifocal,extraosseous, and surface variants

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - Multifocal, extraosseous, and surface aneurysmal bone cysts are rare variants of the primary lesions. The clinicopathological features...     

Basement membrane remodeling is essential for Drosophila disc eversion and tumor invasion

Organ and tissue integrity is often maintained in animals by a specialized extracellular matrix structure called the basement membrane (BM). Accumulated evidence indicates that BM remodeling occurs during development and tumor invasion. Although the BM organizes and functions at the organ level, most past studies have explored its biochemical and in vitro properties. In this study, we monitor the BM in vivo during developmental tissue invasion for disc eversion and tumor invasion in Drosophila and modulate BM integrity with genetic alterations affecting either the whole organism or the targeted discs or tumors. We observe that the degradation of BM by the discs or the tumors is an early event during invasion processes and that preventing BM degradation completely blocks both tissue and tumor invasion, indicating that modulation of BM is essential for developmental and tumor invasion. Furthermore, elements of the invasion machinery, including JNK-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, are shared by both disc eversion and tumor invasion processes. Moreover, we show that although expression of MMP inhibitor, TIMP, is sufficient to halt developmental invasion, inhibition of proteases by both TIMP and RECK are required to block tumor invasion. These data suggest that tumor cells have a more robust invasion mechanism and could acquire metastatic behavior by co-opting developmental invasion programs. This type of co-option may be a general feature contributing to the progression of tumors. Finally, although past efforts using MMP inhibitors have not yielded much success, our results strongly argue that BM modulation could be a critical target for cancer therapy.     

Heterogeneity of fibroblasts derived from human free and attached gingiva. Glycosaminoglycan synthesis and effects of phenytoin (PHT) treatment

Two fibroblast populations derived from free and attached gingiva (FGF, AGF) have been compared in cell culture. They exhibited the same morphology and similar cytoskeletal staining patterns, but were different in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis. FGF released larger quantities of GAGs than AGF in the medium. The extracellular accumulation of hyaluronic acid was higher in FGF than in AGF, whilst the reverse pattern was observed intracellularly. In the case of sulphated GAGs the extracellular concentration, compared to HA, was higher in AGF, while the intracellular concentration was higher in FGF. The two cell populations responded differently to phenytoin (PHT) administration. PHT treatment increased the proportion of intracellular sulphated GAGs in AGF and of extracellular sulphated GAGs in FGF.     

Developmental heterogeneity of mesenchymal glycosaminoglycans (GAG) distribution in chick embryo lung anlagen

The presence and distribution of mesenchymal components in the extracellular matrix during lung development in the chick embryo (from 5½/6 to 18 incubation days) has been examined histochemically. Attention is focused mainly on glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Morphological reconstructions show three main stages: first (5½/6–8 days), formation of 2nd-order branching; second (9–12 days), proliferation of para-bronchi and third (from 13th day on), formation of air capillaries. In the first phase, hyaluronic acid (HA) prevails around the mesobronchus, but chondroitin sulfate (CS) dominates the 2nd-order branches. Basement membranes of 2nd-order branches are strongly positive for sulphated GAG. In the second phase, CSA increases in the ground substance of mesenchyme. This increase is irregular, being smaller in older areas (mesobronchus, branches of 2nd order) and larger in the more recent parabronchi, which extend into the lateral and dorsal areas of the rudiment. An increase in both sulfated GAG and glycoprotein (GP) occurs in basement membranes. In the third phase, GAGs are uniformly distributed in the mesenchymal septa and around the interlobular vascular network. This concentration decreases while the GP concentration increases. Basement membranes around every branch of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd orders possess large quantities of GP. Mesenchymal GAG occurs in every stage of lung development, temporally correlating with the morphogenesis and differentiation of epithelium. Our results provide necessary information, which has not been available so far. Experimental studies specifically designed to clarify the developmental significance of such a heterogeneous distribution may be interpreted in the light of this information.     

Living with mental disorders: family members' perspective have on primary care

The objective of this qualitative study was to identify the service that is offered to the family members of patients with mental disorders at Primary Care Units, and understand the everyday life of that family. Data collection was performed from May to June 2007, by means of semi-structured interviews and observation of five families at their homes. Thematic analysis of the data was performed, generating two categories: 1) mental disorder from the family's perspective and the relation with the health service; 2) living with the mental illness. Result confirm the importance of seeing the family of patients with mental disorders as clients of the care process, and the need to prepare health professionals to answer the needs of the people that seek these services.     

Factors affecting the interventions of the Family Health Strategy team towards individuals with mental disorders

This qualitative study was performed with Family Health Strategy teams in Maringá - PR. The objective of the study was to identify the factors that affect interventions provided to individuals with mental disorders. Data were collected through focal groups and were subjected to content analysis. Participants reported personal and professional issues related to the structure of the service, such as negative feelings, lack of professional skills, and a prioritization towards curative interventions. The mental healthcare network establishes criteria for assistance, deficient reference and counter-reference and the matrix activity. Factors affecting the interventions included attachment, lack of family involvement, lack of team participation and poor patient adherence. It was found that few factors contributed to the interventions while many were viewed as hindrances; however, by identifying these factors, the teams can work to improve mental health care.