unusual case of an osteosarcoma arising in a leiomyoma of the uterus

Leiomyoma is the most common uterine neoplasm. It has several histological variants such as atypical, cellular, myxoid, and epithelioid. Leiomyoma with heterologous elements is a rare variant of leiomyoma, which may contain heterologous elements such as fat, skeletal muscle, and chondroid and osseous tissues. The heterologous sarcomatous differentiation is also rarely seen. We report on a 53-year-old woman who was admitted with abnormal vaginal bleeding and symptoms related to an abdominal mass. She had a huge uterine leiomyoma that contained osteosarcomatous differentiation in several foci. Although malignant progression for leiomyoma is exceedingly rare, when it occurs it may result not only in a leiomyosarcoma but also in a heterologous sarcomatous differention. We have reported histopathological, immunohistochemical, and clinical features of this rare case and reviewed the published studies

Protective effects of etanercept and methylprednisolone on pancreatic damage in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

To examine the pharmacological effect of etanercept and methylprednisolone [MP] on acute pancreatitis [AP] induced by cerulein in an experimental rat model. The present study was carried out in the Experimental Research Center, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey between December 2008 and October 2009. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups [n=8]:1- sham, 2 - cerulein induced pancreatitis [over 20 hours], 3 - etanercept [5mg/kg, intraperitoneal], 4- MP [10mg/ kg, intramuscular], 5- etanercept plus MP. The rats in groups 3,4 and 5 were cerulean-induced pancreatitis at 20 hours, as well. After the treatment, the pancreas and blood were taken for histopathological and biochemical analysis. All cerulein-treated rats developed biochemical and histopathological AP after 20 hours. Histological findings of pancreatitis and serum levels of amylase and lipase were lower in group 5 compared to group 2. Pancreatic inflammation and total pathological score were statistically reduced in the tissues of the pancreas at 20 hours after the treatment of etanercept plus MP in group 5 compared to groups 2,3 and 4.In the early stage of cerulein induced AP, the administration of etanercept plus MP attenuated pancreatic inflammation and significant damage in rats

Amyloid goiter: two cases and a review of the literature

Although involvement of the thyroid gland by amyloid is a relatively common phenomenon, clinically significant enlargement of the thyroid owing to amyloid deposition is an extremely rare occurrence. We describe two cases of amyloid goiter and review the relevant literature. The first case was systemic amyloidosis secondary to familial Mediterranean fever. The second case was a chronic renal failure patient who presented with an enlarged thyroid and upper airway obstructive symptoms. To date, true amyloid goiter secondary to amyloidosis associated with familial Mediterranean fever has only been reported in twelve patients