Maxillary Lipofibromatosis in a pediatric patient. Case report

This report discusses a rare case of a soft palate deformity in a young girl due to lipofibromatosis (LPF). This rare benign pediatric soft tissue tumour usually arises in the distal extremities. We believe this case represents the first report of lipofibromatosis involving only the maxillary bone.

Calcifying Aponeurotic Fibroma in the left pectoral region in an adult: A Case report.

Calcified aponeurotic fibroma is a rare benign fibroblastic tumor. The lesion has property of local invasion and high recurrence. Because of this property, tumor should be accurately diagnosed pre-operatively. We report a case of 29 years old male, with a palpable painful mass on the anterior chest wall near left pectoral region, describes radiographic and MR findings. No skin defect was detected but patient feels discomfort. An excision procedure was done. The excised tissue was sent for biopsy and calcified aponeurotic fibroma was diagnosed

Tumor fibroblástico inguinal superficial positivo para CD34: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Inguinal superficial cd34-positive fibroblastic tumor: case report and literature review

El tumor fibroblástico superficial de tejidos blandos positivo para antígeno CD34 (CD34) es un tumor raro, de baja frecuencia, que se caracteriza histológicamente por un marcado pleomorfismo, baja actividad mitótica, e inmunoreactividad difusa para CD34. Puede tener un comportamiento similar al de un tumor mesenquimal de malignidad intermedia. Existen sólo 52 casos publicados en la literatura. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 31 años con una masa en tejidos blandos en región inguinal izquierda, de crecimiento progresivo, de varios meses de evolución dolorosa. La masa fue biopsiada y, con la sospecha de un tumor fibroblástico superficial positivo para CD34, fue posteriormente tratada con una resección ampliada de la lesión y con cobertura del defecto en la piel con un colgajo local de avance de V-Y, con una evolución satisfactoria en su seguimiento postquirúrgico. El reporte de patología confirmó la sospecha diagnóstica de un tumor con reactividad fuerte para CD34, con proteína P53 en 60% a 70%, antígeno Ki67 menor al 15%, sin pérdida de proteína nuclear INI-1, y negatividad para CD31, CD163, AE1AE3, CAM5.2, EMA, CD30, receptores de progestágenos, proteína S100, y desmina, con bordes negativos.

Superficial CD34 (CD34) antigen positive fibroblastic soft-tissue tumor is a rare, lowfrequency tumor, characterized histologically by marked pleomorphism, low mitotic activity, and diffuse immunoreactivity for CD34. It may behave like a mesenchymal tumor of intermediate malignancy. There are only 52 cases published in the literature. We present the case of a 31-year-old patient with a long progressive and painful growth of a soft-tissue lesion in the left inguinal region. The mass was biopsied and, with the suspicion of a superficial CD34-positive fibroblast tumor, it was subsequently treated with an enlarged resection of the lesion and covering the skin defect with a local V-Y advancement flap, with a satisfactory evolution in the postoperative follow-up. The pathology report confirmed the diagnostic suspicion of a tumor with strong reactivity for CD34, with P53 protein in 60% to 70%, Ki67 antigen in less than 15%, without loss of INI-1, and with negativity for CD31, CD163, AE1AE3, CAM5.2, EMA, CD30, progestin receptors, S100 protein and desmin, with negative borders.

Effects of vitamin e on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in testicular development exposed to valproic acid / Efectos de la vitamina e en la interacción epitelio-mesenquimático en el desarrollo testicular expuesto a ácido valproico

SUMMARY: In testicular differentiation, somatic cells must adopt a specific destiny towards sustentacular, peritubular and interstitial cells, being fundamental for the morphogenesis of seminiferous tubules, mediated by morphogens such as Desert Hedgehog (DHH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and fibroblastic growth factor 2 (FGF-2). Its alteration could be related to failures in the development mechanisms, such as those caused by valproic acid (VPA), which can be reversed with vitamin E (VE). The objective of the study was to evaluate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the testicular development of mice exposed to VPA and VE. 12 groups of pregnant female mice were formed that were separated by days post-coital (dpc) at 12.5 dpc, 17.5 dpc and 6 weeks postnatal, each one subdivided into 4 groups of 5 pregnant women each. Subgroups received different treatments from the beginning to the end of gestation orally: 600 mg/kg of VPA, 600 mg/kg of VPA and 200 IU of VE, 200 IU of VE and the control group 0.3 mL of 0.9% physiological solution. Immunohistochemistry was performed for the detection of DHH, IGF-1 and FGF-2. Immunolocalization of DHH was observed in all stages, with more evident significant differences in integrated optical density (IOD) and percentage of immunoreaction area at 6 weeks postnatal, being lower in the VPA group. In IGF-1, lower intensity and distribution of immunostaining was observed in the fetal and pubertal stages in the VPA groups, a similar situation with FGF-2, but only evident at 17.5 dpc, with significant differences. These results demonstrate that VPA can alter EMT between somatic cells in testicular development, with VE being an agent capable of attenuating this process.

RESUMEN: En la diferenciación testicular, es necesario que las células somáticas adopten un destino específico hacia células sustentaculares, peritubulares e intersticiales, siendo fundamental para la morfogénesis de los túbulos seminíferos, mediado por morfógenos como Desert Hedgehog (DHH), Factor de Crecimiento Fibroblástico 2 (FGF-2) y Factor de Crecimiento símil a Insulina (IGF-1). Su alteración se podría relacionar a fallas en los mecanismos de desarrollo, como los que ocasiona el ácido valproico (VPA), los cuales pueden ser revertidos con la vitamina E (VE). El objetivo de estudio fue evaluar la transición epitelio-mesenquimática (EMT) en el desarrollo testicular de ratones expuestos a VPA y VE. Se conformaron 12 grupos de ratones hembra gestantes que se separaron por días post-coital (dpc) a los 12.5 dpc, 17.5 dpc y 6 semanas post-natal, cada uno subdividido en 4 grupos de 5 gestantes cada uno. Cada subgrupo recibió diferentes tratamientos desde el inicio hasta el término de la gestación vía oral: 600 mg/kg de VPA, 600 mg/kg de VPA y 200 UI de VE, 200 UI de VE y el grupo control 0,3 mL de solución fisiológica 0,9%. Se realizó técnica inmunohistoquímica para la detección de DHH, IGF-1 y FGF-2. Se observó la inmunolocalización de DHH en todos los estadios, con diferencias significativas más evidentes en la densidad óptica integrada (IOD) y porcentaje de área de inmunoreacción a las 6 semanas post-natal, siendo menor en el grupo VPA. En IGF-1, se observó en la etapa fetal y puberal menor intensidad y distribución de la marcación en los grupos VPA, situación similar con la inmunomarcación de FGF-2, pero sólo evidenciándose a los 17.5 dpc, con diferencias significativas. Estos resultados demuestran que el VPA puede alterar la EMT entre las células somáticas en el desarrollo testicular, siendo la VE un agente capaz de atenuar este proceso.

Fibroblastic osteosarcoma in a white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) / Osteossarcoma fibroblástico em gambá-de-orelha-branca (Didelphis albiventris)

Osteosarcoma is characterized by the production of osteoid or woven bone, using neoplastic osteoblasts. It is the most common primary bone neoplasm in canines and humans. This neoplasm was previously reported in all vertebrate classes, including a wide variety of mammals. However, there is no case report describing this neoplasm in Didelphis albiventris. Therefore, the objective of this manuscript is to describe the clinical-pathological aspects of fibroblastic osteosarcoma in D. albiventris. A wild adult male white-eared opossum (D. albiventris) arrived at the zoological park of the "Universidade de Caxias do Sul" with a swollen left thoracic limb. After a general clinical examination, the animal was transferred to the Veterinary Clinic of "Universidade de Caxias do Sul" for radiographic examination of the left thoracic limb and thorax. Additionally, some material was collected through fine needle aspiration (FNA) for cytologic evaluation. The radiographic findings and cytologic evaluation indicated osteosarcoma. The animal was euthanized due to severe clinical conditions and guarded prognosis. During necropsy, macroscopic analysis of the viscera was performed, fragments of various organs were collected and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. All fragments were processed following routine histological techniques. The histopathological evaluation confirmed osteosarcoma, which was classified as a fibroblastic subtype. Case reports are crucial for the knowledge of incidence, prevalence, and behavior of the current mentioned disease, as well as other diseases, in species with such limited information. In order to obtain a decisive diagnosis, a few different examination methods were associated. Although the observations presented are based on a single case, this neoplasm had a similar clinical presentation to that described in other species.(AU)

O osteossarcoma é caracterizado pela produção de osteoide ou osso imaturo, por osteoblastos neoplásicos. É a neoplasia óssea primária mais comum em caninos e humanos. Essa neoplasia já foi relatada em todas as classes de vertebrados, incluindo uma grande variedade de mamíferos. Não havendo descrição dessa neoplasia até o momento em Didelphis albiventris. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever aspectos clínico-patológicos de um caso de osteossarcoma fibroblástico em D. albiventris. Chegou para atendimento no Zoológico da Universidade de Caxias do Sul um gambá-de-orelha-branca (D. albiventris), macho, adulto, de vida livre com aumento de volume no membro torácico esquerdo. Após avaliação clínica geral, o animal foi encaminhado para a Clínica Veterinária da Universidade de Caxias do Sul para realização de radiografia do membro torácico esquerdo e de tórax, sendo também realizada coleta de material por punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) para avaliação citológica. Os achados radiográficos e da avaliação citológica foram sugestivos de osteossarcoma. Devido ao estado clínico grave e prognóstico reservado optou-se pela eutanásia. Durante a necropsia realizou-se a análise macroscópica das vísceras, foram coletados fragmentos de diversos órgãos, fixados em formalina 10%, processados pelas técnicas histológicas de rotina. Na avaliação histopatológica confirmou-se a suspeita de osteossarcoma sendo classificado no subtipo fibroblástico. A descrição de relatos é fundamental para conhecimento da incidência, prevalência e comportamento desta e de outras doenças em espécies que as informações são limitadas. A associação de diferentes métodos de exames foram necessários para a obtenção de um diagnóstico definitivo. Embora as observações apresentadas se baseiem em um caso único, esta neoplasia possuiu apresentação clínica semelhante a descrita em outras espécies.(AU)

Tumor desmoides cervical: reporte de caso / Cervical desmoid tumor: case report

El tumor desmoides es un tumor benigno raro, de origen fibroblastico no inflamatorio, algunas veces referido como fibromatosis no agresiva. Su etiología aún no está completamente clara, sin embargo, se asocia habitualmente a trauma previo y/o procedimientos quirúrgicos. La ubicación más frecuente es abdominal, el cual posee características imagenologicas claras, al igual que su presentación musculo esquelética plantar. La presentación fuera de estos lugares es infrecuente y difícil de diagnosticar. Presentamos un caso de un tumor desmoides cervical que genero un gran desafío diagnóstico, identificando sus claves diagnósticas y realizando una revisión de la bibliografía al respecto para esta ubicación.

Desmoid tumours are a rare benign tumour of fibroblastic non inflammatory origin, sometimes referred as non aggressive fibromatosis.The etiology is not yet completely clear, however, it is usually associated with previous trauma and / or surgical procedures. The most frequent location is in the abdomen, which has typical images characteristics, as well as its skeletal muscle presentation at the plantar level. The presentation outside these places is infrequent and difficult to diagnose. We present a case of a cervical desmoid tumour that generated a great diagnostic challenge, identifying its key imaging characteristics and performing a literature review of the bibliography regarding this location.

Clinical and pathologic analysis of intermediate fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors in infants and young children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective@#To study the incidence and clinicopathological features of intermediate fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors(IF/MFT) in infants and the young children.@*Methods@#All available cases with soft tissue tumors in infants and children were retrieved from the files of Women and Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, from January 2012 to December 2017.The incidence rate of IF/MFT was observed.Cases of IF/MFT were identified and investigated by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry by reviewing the related literature.@*Results@#Among 290 soft tissue tumors, 15 cases(5.2%) were IF/MFT, accounted for 88.2%(15/17 cases) of borderline soft tissue tumors.Twelve cases were male, 3 cases were female, the median age was 8 months, and 4 cases were congenital.Clinically, 11 cases were presented with slow-growing painless masses located in the trunk or extremities.According to histopathology, 9 cases(60.0%) were categorized as infantile fibromatosis(IFM), including 5 cases(33.3%) desmoid-type and 4 cases(26.7%) diffuse-type; 3 cases(20.0%) as lipofibromatosis(LFM); 2 cases(13.3%) as infantile fibrosarcoma(IFS) and 1 case(6.7%) as giant cell fibroblastoma(GCF). All 15 tumors were characterized by the presence of spindle fibroblasts and myofibroblasts with infiltration of the surrounding structures.Immunohistochemically, all the 15 cases were diffusely positive for Vimentin(Vim), but negative for Myogenin, MyoD1, Desmin and S-100.Smooth muscle actin(SMA), β-catenin and Bcl-2 were positive in some cases to a certain degree.The Ki-67 proliferation index was higher in diffuse-type IFM and IFS, the former was 5.0%-20.0%, and the latter was about 20.0%, however, the other cases showed Ki-67 <5.0%.The main clinical treatment was complete or extensive excision.@*Conclusions@#IF/MFT accounts for a high proportion of intermediate soft tissue tumors in infants and young children, mostly seen in male children, and IFM and LFM are the main types.The clinical signs and symptoms associated with these tumors are often nonspecific, and their histopathologic manifestations may overlap.The final diagnosis of IF/MFT must depend on the characteristics of age, location, histopathologic changes and immunohistoche-mical findings.

Superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor in the forearm of a middle-aged patient: A newly described, rare soft-tissue tumor

Superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor is a recently described soft-tissue tumor entity. A 48 year-old-male presented with a gradually increasing soft-tissue mass in his right forearm of 2 years' duration, along with multiple subcutaneous soft-tissue nodular lesions, and reminiscent of lipomas over his body. He underwent a wide excision of his forearm mass. Microscopic sections showed a circumscribed tumor in the dermis and subcutaneous fat, composed of spindle cells, inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils, along with interspersed markedly pleomorphic giant cells containing moderate-to-abundant “glassy” cytoplasm, vesicular nuclei, exhibiting prominent nucleoli, and intranuclear pseudoinclusions. There were no significant mitotic figures, areas of hemorrhage, necrosis, or pigment histiocytes. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells were diffusely positive for CD34 while negative for cytokeratin (CK), pan CK (AE1/AE3), S100 protein, CD30, and CD31. MIB1/Ki-67 was low and highlighted 4%–5% tumor nuclei. Diagnosis of superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor was offered. Sections from the various resection margins were free of tumor. Postresection, the patient is alive with no evidence of disease for the past 8 months. This constitutes as one of the first case reports of this rare tumor entity from our country. Its diagnostic and treatment implications are discussed herewith.

Imaging analysis of fibroblastic and (or) myofibroblastic benign tumors of the breast area / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To characterize the imaging features of fibroblastic and (or) myofibroblastic benign tumors. Methods The imaging manifestations were analyzed in fourteen patients with fibroblastic and (or) myofibroblastic benign tumors of the breast area confirmed by histopathology from July, 2010 to July, 2017. Independent-samples t test was performed to compare ADC values between lesions and normal breast tissue. Results Thirteen cases were adhered to superficial facia of breasts and 1 case was located in the pectoralis. Five lesions were presented as a mass on MRI, 9 lesions were presented as a non-mass. Twelve cases showed low signal intensity on T1WI, 8 cases showed high signal intensity and 4 cases showed moderately or slightly high signal intensity on T2WI. TIC analysis showed that 10 cases had typeⅠenhancement and 4 cases had typeⅢenhancement. There was no difference between mean ADC values of lesions and normal breast tissue (P>0.05). All the cases showed hypoechoic and spiculated margins on ultrasound. Twelve cases were hypovascular ones. Twelve cases underwent mammography. Five cases were presented as a mass and 7 cases were presented as asymmetric. These cases showed equal density without suspicious calcifications. Conclusion The location, MRI, ultrasound and mammography manifestations of fibroblastic and (or) myofibroblastic benign tumors have some characteristics and these imaging findings may help to establish an accurate preoperative diagnosis.

Immortalization of spleen fibroblastic reticular cells infected by severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

Objective@#To isolate, purify and culture fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) of mouse in spleen, to develop a reliable and robust method to immortalize primary mouse FRCs, to filter stable FRCs cell lines, to prove that the clones can be infected by SFTSV in vitro.@*Methods@#After purifying FRCs by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) from autoMACS-enriched stroma cells of mouse spleen, we infected FRCs by simian virus 40 large T antigen in vitro, screened the FRCs clones with puromycin, compared primary and immortalized FRCs by RNA sequencing(RNA-seq) technology, infected the clones with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in vitro.@*Results@#We succeed in culturing purified FRCs from spleen, isolated four stable FRCs clones, two of which have a purity of 99%, survived for more than 50 passages, express the key FRCs marker podoplanin and do not express CD31 and CD45. Clone 01 lost the typical FRCs-like morphology, the rate of expansion of which is quite different from that of primary FRCs and Clone 02. Clone 02 can be infected with SFTSV, which has the same gene expression pattern and immunophenotype with primary FRCs.@*Conclusions@#The stable FRCs clone Clone 02 has FRCs-like morphology and express key FRCs surface markers podoplanin (GP38 or PDPN) and do not express endothelial cell markers CD31 and leukocyte common antigen CD45. The RNA expression profiles identified by RNA-seq are also characteristic of FRCs. Infected with SFTSV in vitro, Clone 02 will be a new platform to study SFTSV.

In vitro study activity proliferative fibroblast human submitted to treatment Zincummetallicum and Calendula officianlis in homeopathic ultra dilutions

Cicatrization can be divided into three phases: inflammation, fibroblastic, maturation and remodeling [1]. The extracellular matrix may be replaced by a stronger and more elastic connective tissue. In a scar collagen is the major component of the mature connective tissue [2]. In homeopathic area, the greater is the investigated segment ultra dilutions [6]. However, little research has been done to explore the effect of dynamized drugs in in vitro cell culture [4]. Using the Zincum metallicum 6CH and Calendula officinalis 6CH applied independently in different concentrations in fibroblast cultures sought to determine the increase in proliferative activity using techniques such as IC50, MTT, flow cytometry and quantification of collagen. As expected from the literature, ie both homeopathic according to the literature are used for treatments that Require skin healing, both showed increased proliferative activity, having Calendula most cellular response, presenting as cell cycle stimulating checked via flow cytometry.

Correlation between Percentages of PMN, MNC, FBC and Wound Age after Skeletal Muscle Injury in Rats / 法医学杂志

Objective To study the percentages of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), mononuclear cells (MNC) and fibroblastic cells (FBC) in different post-traumatic intervals after skeletal muscle me-chanical injury in rats. Methods The rat model of skeletal muscle mechanical injury was established. The rats were divided into injured groups (6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injury ) and con-trol group. The percentages of PMN, MNC and FBC in different post-traumatic intervals after skeletal muscle mechanical injury were assessed with HE staining and image analysis. Results At post-injury 6-12 h, the percentages of PMN and MNC infiltration appeared in injured sites and that of PMN reached peak. At 1 d, the percentage of MNC infiltration appeared and reached peak, while that of PMN de-creased. At 3-7 d, the percentage of FBC gradually increased, while that of PMN and MNC decreased. At 10-14 d, the percentage of FBC reached peak. Conclusion The percentages of PMN, MNC and FBC in injured zones showed time-dependent changes, which might be used as reference index for determination of age of skeletal muscle injury.

Sarcoide equino fibroblástico periocular en un burro (Eqqus asinus) / Periocular fibroblastic sarcoid in a donkey (Equus asinus ) / Sarcóide equino fibroblástico periocular em um burro (Eqqus asinus)

En el presente estudio se describen y discuten los signos clínicos, lesiones macro y microscópicas, epidemiología y el método diagnóstico de un caso de Sarcoide Fibroblastico Periocular en burros (Equus asinus) en el departamento de Córdoba (Colombia). El animal presentó múltiples masas nodulares en la parte superior e inferior de los párpados y el ángulo ocular medial del lado izquierdo, con discreta ulceración y levantamiento difuso de la piel, caracterizadas por una apariencia tumoral, granulomatosa, de consistencia firme y fibrosa. Los hallazgos histopatológicos mostraron hiperplasia epidérmica, hiperqueratosis, largas proyecciones epiteliales en dirección a la dermis y orientación perpendicular de los fibroblastos en relación a la membrana basal. El diagnóstico se fundamentó en las características clínicas, epidemiológicas, y en los hallazgos histopatológicos.

In the present study we describe and discuss the clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions, epidemiology, and diagnosis of a periocular fibroblastic sarcoid case in a donkey (Equus asinus) in Cordoba province (Colombia). The animal presented multiple nodular masses in the upper and lower eyelids and the medial angle of the left eye, with slight ulceration and diffuse skin lifting, characterized by tumor-like appearance, granulomatous, firm, and fibrous. Histopathological findings included epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, long epithelial projections toward the dermis, and perpendicular orientation of fibroblasts relative to the basal membrane. The diagnosis was based on the clinical, epidemiological, and pathological findings.

Este estudo pretende descrever e discutir os signos clínicos, as lesões macro e microscópicas, a epidemiologia e o método diagnostico num caso de Sarcoide Fibroblastico Periocular num jumento (Eqqus asinus), no departamento de Córdoba, no noroeste da Colômbia. Ao abordar o caso clínico, observaram-se múltiplas massas nodulares na parte superior e inferior das pálpebras e no ângulo ocular medial do lado esquerdo, com uma discreta ulceração e levantamento difuso da pele caracterizado por uma aparência tumoral, granulomatosa, de consistência firme e fibrosa. Os encontros histopatológicos demonstraram hiperplasia epidérmica, hiperqueratose, projeções epiteliais longas em direção à derme e orientação perpendicular dos fibroblastos em relação à membrana basal. O diagnostico fundamentou-se nas características clínicas, epidemiológicas e nos encontros histopatológicos.

Recurrence of peripheral ossifying fibroma: a case report.

The peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a reactive gingival overgrowth occurring frequently in the maxillary anterior region in teenagers and young adults. They are pink to red in colour, firm to quite hard in consistency depending on the amount of bone they contain. As they enlarge, they may become ulcerated. They are commonly associated with poor oral hygiene and early periodontal disease. In the majority of cases there is no marked underlying bone involvement visible on the radiograph. Here, we report a case of peripheral ossifying fibroma which had recurred after the surgical excision.

Sangue periférico como fonte de células para terapia celular / Peripheral blood as a source of stem cells

O sangue periférico tem sido utilizado como fonte de células progenitoras hematopoéticas para o transplante de medula óssea, única aplicação clínica bem estabelecida até o momento para as células-tronco. Mais recentemente, além das células progenitoras hematopoéticas, estudos têm identificado também no sangue periférico a presença de células-tronco mesenquimais. Estas células apresentam as mesmas características e marcadores de superfície que as células-tronco mesenquimais da medula óssea e são capazes de diferenciação em células do tecido conjuntivo como osteócitos, condrócitos, adipócitos e miócitos. Embora sua origem e destino ainda sejam desconhecidos, a presença destas células no sangue periférico de indivíduos adultos representa um importante instrumento na área de medicina regenerativa e terapia celular. O conhecimento de marcadores imunofenotípicos que possam caracterizar as CTM de forma mais prática e objetiva e de possíveis estratégias capazes de aumentar o número destas células na circulação são fundamentais para o avanço de pesquisas clínicas baseadas na sua utilização.

Peripheral blood has been routinely used as a source of hematopoietic progenitor cells for allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantation. Recent studies have demonstrated that a low number of mesenchymal stem cells are also present in the peripheral blood. They share the same surface markers as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and are capable of differentiating into mesenchymal lineage cells including osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes. Although their origin and destination are unclear, their presence in the peripheral blood of adults seems to represent an important and powerful tool for regenerative medicine and cell therapy.

A rare case of superficial polyfibromatosis in a Filipino male adolescent

The superficial fibramatoses are a rare group of mainly benign disorders that clinically manifest as slow progressive dermal hypertrophies. This bewildering group of dermal matrix proliferation is composed of fibrous tissue, fibroblastic cells or spindle stromal cells with varying degrees of cellularity. Skin lesions are usually solitary or localized to a specific site of predilection. This is a case of a 15-year-old Filipino boy, presenting with asymptomatic firm, skin colored to erythematous papules and nodules on his limbs and nose. The lesions slowly worsened, resulting in flexion deformity and limited range of motion of both hands.

Expression of bFGF and BMP-2mRNA of the local femoral head in nontraumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head / 中国矫形外科杂志

[Objective]To explore the change and its significance of the expression of basic fibroblastic growth factor(bFGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP-2) of the local femoral head in nontraumatic osteonecrosis(NONFH). [Methods]Thirty samples of femoral heads of NONFH were collected as the experimental group and 10 fresh samples of femoral heads of femoral neck fracture as control group.The specimens were collected at the time of total articular replacement arthroplasty.The bone tissues from necrosis area and healthy area were made into general sections after immobility and decalcification.Pathological changes were exexamined by optical microscopy and the expression of bFGF and BMP-2 in femoral head was determined with in-situ hybridization technique.[Results]The organization structure of experimental group was disorganized,cracked,and the bone trabecula was rarefactive and non-intact.There were a great number of empty lacune in bone trabecula.The intensity and area of positive expression of bFGF and BMP-2 in femoral head of the experimental group were obviously lower than that of control group.The result had statistical significance(P

Collagenous Fibroma (Desmoplastic Fibroblastoma)

A Collagenous Fibroma (Desmoplastic Fibroblastoma) is a rare, benign, slowly growing, fibroblastic, soft tissue lesion. Here, the case of a 28-year-old woman, who presented with a 1-year history of a slowly growing painless mass in the right anterior aspect of her neck, is described. This type of tumor was first described by Evans in 1995, and named as a Desmoplastic fibroblastoma but was renamed, by Nielsen in 1996 as a Collagenous Fibroma. This type of tumor is frequently reported in men with a mean age at occurance of 50 years. Clinically, a Collagenous fibroma presents as a firm, well-circumscribed subcutaneous, or intramuscular, painless mass of long duration. They are mostly located in the neck and extremities. The tumors range in size from 1 to 20 cm and predominantly occurs within the subcutaneous tissue, but fascial and skeletal muscle involvement is common. The treatment of a Collagenous Fibroma is a total surgical excision. No tumor recurrence has been reported the literature during the follow-up period and no tumor recurrence was observed in our case at the 1-year follow-up.

Prognostic Value of Fibroblastic Foci in Patients with Usual Interstitial Pneumonia / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is a progressive disorder characterized by a poor response to conventional immunosuppressive agents and significant mortality. The histologic hallmark of UIP is patchy subpleural fibrosis with interposed fibroblastic foci(FBF) and relatively normal appearing lung. FBF is a collection of actively proliferating myofibroblasts, which may represent the activity of IPF. However, there were contradictory reports about the correlation between the degree of FBF and survival. The objective of this study was to investigate the roles of FBF as prognostic marker of UIP. METHOD: This was a retrospective study on the 46 patients(M:F=33:13, mean age:59+/-12 years) who had the surgical lung biopsy done at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea between 1990 and 2000 and had follow-up of more than a year. All the biopsy specimens were reevaluated and diagnosed as UIP according to the new classification. Semiquantitative grading of FBF(absent, 0; mild 1; moderate 2; marked 3) was performed by the experienced pathologists and compared to the clinical data and the follow up course. RESULTS: Thirteen patients(28.2%) died of UIP progression during the study period. The median survival time of all the subjects was 26 months after the biopsy. The FVC, DLco, smoking history and the grade of FBF were significantly related to the risk of death. The survival was longer in subjects with lesser degrees of FBF, higher DLco, higher FVC and history of smoking .The multivariate analysis with Cox regression test showed the extent of FBF was the only independent prognostic marker of UIP. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that the extent of FBF on the surgical lung biopsy can be used as a prognostic marker of UIP.

Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Meninges

Solitary fibrous tumor(SFT) is a spindle cell neoplasm that usually arises in the pleura. Its involvement of the meninges is rare but increasingly being reported. Our case was a 33-year-old man who presented with clonic seizure around the right mouth angle and sensory disturbance at the right hand. Radiological studies showed a large extra-axial, dural-based mass in the left fronto-parietal region, typically isointense with gray matter and heterogeneous strong enhancement on T1-weighted images. Histologically, the tumor was composed of spindle-shaped cells growing in fascicles within the collagenous matrix. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated diffuse CD34 positivity. Awareness of this neoplasm is necessary to accurate diagnosis.