Effect of Human Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the Regeneration of Ovine Articular Cartilage.

Cell therapy is a promising approach to improve cartilage healing. Adipose tissue is an abundant and readily accessible cell source. Previous studies have demonstrated good cartilage repair results with adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells in small animal experiments. This study aimed to examine these cells in a large animal model. Thirty knees of adult sheep were randomly allocated to three treatment groups: CELLS (scaffold seeded with human adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells), SCAFFOLD (scaffold without cells), or EMPTY (untreated lesions). A partial thickness defect was created in the medial femoral condyle. After six months, the knees were examined according to an adaptation of the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS 1) score, in addition to a new Partial Thickness Model scale and the ICRS macroscopic score. All of the animals completed the follow-up period. The CELLS group presented with the highest ICRS 1 score (8.3 ± 3.1), followed by the SCAFFOLD group (5.6 ± 2.2) and the EMPTY group (5.2 ± 2.4) (p = 0.033). Other scores were not significantly different. These results suggest that human adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells promoted satisfactory cartilage repair in the ovine model.

Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and presence of lymph node metastasis in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx / Correlação entre expressão do fator de crescimento endotelial e presença de metástase linfática nos carcinomas epidermoides avançados de laringe

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of the larynx, and its evolution depends on tumor staging. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a marker of angiogenesis, and its expression may be related to increased tumor aggressiveness, as evidenced by the presence of cervical lymphatic metastases. Objectives: To evaluate the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor marker in non-glottic advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (T3/T4) and correlate it with the presence of cervical lymph node metastases. Methods: Retrospective clinical study and immunohistochemical analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor through the German scale of immunoreactivity in products of non-glottic squamous cell carcinomas. Results: This study analyzed 15 cases of advanced non-glottic laryngeal tumors (T3/T4), four of which exhibited cervical lymphatic metastases. There was no correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and the presence of cervical metastases. Conclusion: Although vascular endothelial growth factor was expressed in a few cases, there was no correlation with the spread of cervical lymph metastases. .

Introdução: O carcinoma de células escamosas é a neoplasia mais frequente da laringe e seu prognóstico depende do estadiamento. A progressão da doença está relacionada a fatores intrínsecos celulares do câncer, não conhecidos. O VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) é um marcador de angiogênese e sua expressão pode estar relacionada a uma maior agressividade tumoral, evidenciada pela presença de metástases linfáticas cervicais. Objetivos: Avaliar a expressão do marcador VEGF em carcinoma de células escamosas da laringe avançados (T3/T4), não glóticos e correlacionar quanto à presença de metástases linfáticas cervicais. Método: Estudo clínico retrospectivo de análise imunohistoquimica do VEGF através da escala Germânica de imunorreatividade em produtos de carcinomas epidermóides não glóticos. Resultados: Analisados 15 casos de tumores avançados de laringe (T3/T4) não glóticos, sendo sete com presença de metástases linfáticas cervicais. Não houve correlação entre a expressão do VEGF e a presença de metástases cervicais. Conclusão: O VEGF foi pouco expressado nos casos estudados e não foi observada sua correlação com a disseminação de metástase linfática cervical. .

Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and presence of lymph node metastasis in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

INTRODUCTION: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of the larynx, and its evolution depends on tumor staging. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a marker of angiogenesis, and its expression may be related to increased tumor aggressiveness, as evidenced by the presence of cervical lymphatic metastases. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor marker in non-glottic advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (T3/T4) and correlate it with the presence of cervical lymph node metastases. METHODS: Retrospective clinical study and immunohistochemical analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor through the German scale of immunoreactivity in products of non-glottic squamous cell carcinomas. RESULTS: This study analyzed 15 cases of advanced non-glottic laryngeal tumors (T3/T4), four of which exhibited cervical lymphatic metastases. There was no correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and the presence of cervical metastases. CONCLUSION: Although vascular endothelial growth factor was expressed in a few cases, there was no correlation with the spread of cervical lymph metastases.

Comparative study of planned and unplanned excisions for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities.

OBJECTIVE: Unplanned excision of soft tissue sarcomas is common because benign soft tissue lesions are very frequent. This study evaluated the impact of unplanned resections on overall survival, local recurrence and distant metastasis in patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. METHODS: In total, 52 patients who were diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas between May 2001 and March 2011 were analyzed in a retrospective study. Of these patients, 29 (55.8%) had not undergone previous treatment and the remaining 23 (44.2%) patients had undergone prior resection of the tumor without oncological planning. All subsequent surgical procedures were performed at the same cancer referral center. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 122 months, with a mean of 39.89 months. Age, lesion size and depth, histological grade, surgical margins, overall survival, local and distant recurrence and adjuvant therapies were compared. RESULTS: Residual disease was observed in 91.3% of the re-resected specimens in the unplanned excision group, which exhibited greater numbers of superficial lesions, low histological grades and contaminated surgical margins compared with the re-resected specimens in the planned excision group. No differences were observed in local recurrence and 5-year overall survival between the groups, but distant metastases were significantly associated with planned excision after adjustment for the variables. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference between patients undergoing unplanned excision and planned excision regarding local recurrence and overall survival. The planned excision group had a higher risk of distant metastasis, whereas there was a high rate of residual cancer in the unplanned excision group.

Histologic correlation of expression of Ki-67 in squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis according to the degree of cell differentiation.

INTRODUCTION: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of the larynx and glottis, and its prognosis depends on the size of the lesion, level of local invasion, cervical lymphatic spread, and presence of distant metastases. Ki-67 (MKI67) is a protein present in the core, whose function is related to cell proliferation. AIM: To evaluate the expression of marker Ki-67 in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and glottis and its correlation to pathological findings. METHODS: Experimental study with immunohistochemistry analysis of Ki-67, calculating the percentage of the cell proliferation index in glottic squamous cell carcinomas. RESULTS: Sixteen cases were analyzed, with six well-differentiated and 10 poorly/moderately differentiated tumors. There was a correlation between cell proliferation index and degree of cell differentiation, with higher proliferation in poorly/moderately differentiated tumors. CONCLUSION: The cell proliferation index, as measured by Ki-67, may be useful in the characterization of histological degree in glottic squamous cell tumors.

Comparative study of planned and unplanned excisions for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities

OBJECTIVE: Unplanned excision of soft tissue sarcomas is common because benign soft tissue lesions are very frequent. This study evaluated the impact of unplanned resections on overall survival, local recurrence and distant metastasis in patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. METHODS: In total, 52 patients who were diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas between May 2001 and March 2011 were analyzed in a retrospective study. Of these patients, 29 (55.8%) had not undergone previous treatment and the remaining 23 (44.2%) patients had undergone prior resection of the tumor without oncological planning. All subsequent surgical procedures were performed at the same cancer referral center. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 122 months, with a mean of 39.89 months. Age, lesion size and depth, histological grade, surgical margins, overall survival, local and distant recurrence and adjuvant therapies were compared. RESULTS: Residual disease was observed in 91.3% of the re-resected specimens in the unplanned excision group, which exhibited greater numbers of superficial lesions, low histological grades and contaminated surgical margins compared with the re-resected specimens in the planned excision group. No differences were observed in local recurrence and 5-year overall survival between the groups, but distant metastases were significantly associated with planned excision after adjustment for the variables. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference between patients undergoing unplanned excision and planned excision regarding local recurrence and overall survival. The planned excision group had a higher risk of distant metastasis, whereas there was a high rate of residual cancer in the unplanned excision group. .

Histologic correlation of expression of Ki-67 in squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis according to the degree of cell differentiation / Correlação histológica da expressão do Ki-67 no Carcinoma Epidermoide Glótico de acordo com grau de diferenciação celular

INTRODUCTION: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of the larynx and glottis, and its prognosis depends on the size of the lesion, level of local invasion, cervical lymphatic spread, and presence of distant metastases. Ki-67 (MKI67) is a protein present in the core, whose function is related to cell proliferation. AIM: To evaluate the expression of marker Ki-67 in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and glottis and its correlation to pathological findings. METHODS: Experimental study with immunohistochemistry analysis of Ki-67, calculating the percentage of the cell proliferation index in glottic squamous cell carcinomas. RESULTS: Sixteen cases were analyzed, with six well-differentiated and 10 poorly/moderately differentiated tumors. There was a correlation between cell proliferation index and degree of cell differentiation, with higher proliferation in poorly/moderately differentiated tumors. CONCLUSION: The cell proliferation index, as measured by Ki-67, may be useful in the characterization of histological degree in glottic squamous cell tumors. .

INTRODUÇÃO: O carcinoma de células escamosas é a neoplasia mais frequente da laringe e da região glótica, seu prognóstico depende do tamanho da lesão, do nível de invasão local, disseminação cervical linfática e da existência de metástases à distância. Ki-67 (MKI67) é uma proteína presente no núcleo, cuja função está relacionada com a proliferação celular. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a expressão do marcador Ki-67 em carcinoma de células escamosas da laringe glóticos e correlacionar sua expressão com os achados anatomopatológicos. MÉTODO: Trabalho experimental de análise imunohistoquímica do Ki 67 através do cálculo percentual do índice de proliferação celular em produtos de carcinomas epidermóides glóticos. RESULTADOS: Dezesseis casos foram analisados, sendo seis bem diferenciados e dez pouco/moderadamente diferenciados. Houve correlação entre o índice de proliferação celular e o grau de diferenciação celular, sendo a proliferação maior nos pouco/moderadamente diferenciados. CONCLUSÃO: O índice de proliferação celular, medido pelo Ki-67 pode ser útil na caracterização do grau histológico em tumores glóticos de células escamosas. .

Vascular pattern in enchondroma and chondrosarcoma: clinical and immunohistologic study.

INTRODUCTION: Although cartilaginous tumors have low microvascular density, vessels are important for the provision of nutrition so that the tumor can grow and generate metastasis. The aim of this study was to assess the value of the vascular pattern classification as a prognostic tool in chondrosarcomas (CSs) and its relation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 21 enchondromas and 57 conventional CSs. Clinical data and outcome were retrieved from medical files. CSs histologic grades (on a scale of 1 to 3) were determined according to the World Health Organization classification. The vascular pattern (on a scale of A to C) was assessed through CD34, according to Kalinski. CD105 and VEGF were also evaluated. RESULTS: Poor outcome was significantly associated with vascular pattern groups B and C. Higher vascular pattern were 6.5 times more frequent in moderate-grade and high-grade CSs than in grade 1 CS. On multivariate analysis, a clear correlation was found between VEGF overexpression and B/C vascular patterns. Only 18 (benign and malignant) tumors stained for CD105. DISCUSSION: The results point to the use of the vascular pattern classification as a prognostic tool in CSs and to differentiate low-grade from moderate-grade/high-grade CSs. Vascular pattern might be also used to complement histologic grade, VEGF immunostaining, and microvascular density, for indicating a patient's prognosis. Low-grade CSs develop under low neoangiogenesis, which conforms to the slow growth rate of these tumors.

Mixoma de osso maxilar: Diagnóstico e tratamento / Myxoma of the maxilla: Diagnosis and treatment

Introdução: Os mixomas odontogênicos são tumores benignos,raros, de origem mesenquimal, que acometem principalmentea mandíbula. Esses tumores apresentam um comportamentolocal agressivo e tendem a recorrer. Seus principais diagnósticosdiferenciais incluem os tumores queratocísticos, odontomas,ameloblastomas, entre outros. Por serem resistentes àquimioterapia ou radioterapia, devem ser tratados cirurgicamente,por curetagem da lesão para lesões menores ou cirurgia comexérese total e ressecção óssea, entretanto a primeira opção estárelacionada a altas taxas de recorrência (acima de 25%). Relatode caso: Apresentamos o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino,de 31 anos, diagnosticada com um mixoma odontogênico centralem região de maxila, submetida à cirurgia de maxilectomia, comressecção da porção infraestrutural, com exérese total da lesão(margens livres) e colocação de prótese no transoperatório.

HLA-G expression in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine HLA-G expression in skin biopsies from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and its association with epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory variables and survival. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded skin biopsies obtained from 21 SSc patients (14 limited SSc, 7 diffuse SSc) and from 28 healthy controls were studied. HLA-G expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: HLA-G molecules were detected in 57% of skin biopsies from patients with SSc (9 from limited SSc, 3 from diffuse SSc), whereas no control sample expressed HLA-G (p=0.000004). In patients, HLA-G molecules were consistently observed within epidermal and some dermal cells. HLA-G expression was associated with a lower frequency of vascular cutaneous ulcers (p=0.0004), telangiectasias (p=0.008), and inflammatory polyarthralgia (p=0.02). After a 15-year followup, SSc patients who exhibited HLA-G survived longer than patients who did not. CONCLUSION: HLA-G is expressed in skin biopsies from patients with SSc, and this is associated with a better disease prognosis. This suggests a modulatory role of HLA-G in SSc, as observed in other skin disorders.

Chondromatous hamartoma of the chest wall: description of 3 new cases and literature review.

Chondromatous hamartoma of the chest wall is an extremely rare, benign lesion that usually occurs in early infancy. It typically arises in the rib cage and produces a large mass. It is composed of a varying admixture of hyaline cartilage that has features resembling growth plate cartilage, fascicles of spindle cells, woven bone, and hemorrhagic cysts. Treatment consists mainly of surgical excision, which is usually curative. We present 3 new cases, which demonstrated interesting findings, including multicentricity, involvement of the sternum, and local recurrence, and we discuss these findings in the context of a literature review.