Do primary mammary osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma exist? A review of a large multi-institutional series of malignant matrix-producing breast tumours.

UNLABELLED: The existing literature describing the clinicopathological features and behaviour of matrix-producing (MP) malignant breast tumours presents conflicting results. As a consequence it remains uncertain whether these tumours should be treated as sarcoma and managed by a specialist sarcoma team or treated using the same principles as conventional ductal carcinoma, a dilemma that prompted this study. Improved understanding of the clinicopathological characteristics of primary mammary MP-sarcomas, namely osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma, is required. METHODS: In this large international multicenter series of malignant MP-tumours of the breast (no = 101) with follow-up information has been assessed and their outcome is compared to other subtypes of metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) (no = 253) and to grade, lymph node and hormone receptor-matched ductal breast carcinomas (no = 258). RESULTS: The majority of MP-cancers were associated with epithelial features, which supports the concept that the majority of, if not almost all, primary MP breast sarcomas are of epithelial in origin (MBC). 21% showed nodal metastasis and the distribution of distant metastases resembled conventional mammary carcinoma. The prognosis of MP-MBC is comparable to matched ductal breast carcinoma and slightly better than other subtypes of MBC. Advanced stage (T3&T4) and development of recurrences were predictors of shorter survival in MP-MBC while grade and vascular invasion were not. CONCLUSION: Most malignant MP breast tumours are variants of MBC. MP-MBC with predominant mesenchymal components behaves similar to ductal carcinomas and although data on their response to systemic therapy is limited, there is no evidence that they should be managed differently from other forms of triple negative breast cancer.

Effects of dense phase carbon dioxide pasteurization on the physical and quality attributes of a red grapefruit juice.

Red grapefruit juice was treated with continuous dense phase carbon dioxide (DPCD) equipment to inactivate yeasts and molds and total aerobic microorganisms. A central composite design was used with pressure (13.8, 24.1, and 34.5 MPa) and residence time (5, 7, and 9 min) as variables at constant temperature (40 degrees C), and CO(2) level (5.7%) after experimentally measuring CO(2) solubility in the juice. Five log reduction for yeasts and molds and total aerobic microorganisms occurred at 34.5 MPa and 7 min of treatment. A storage study was performed on the fresh juice DPCD treated at these conditions. degrees Brix, pH, titratable acidity (TA), pectinesterase (PE) inactivation, cloud, color, hue tint and color density, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity, and ascorbic acid were measured after the treatment and during 6 wk storage at 4 degrees C. During storage, the DPCD-treated juice showed no growth of total aerobic microorganisms and yeasts and molds. Cloud increased (91%) while percent PE inactivation was partial (69.17%). No significant (alpha= 0.05) differences were detected between treated and untreated samples for degrees Brix, pH, and TA. Treated juice had higher lightness and redness and lower yellowness. No significant differences (alpha= 0.05) were detected for the hue tint values while the color density value was higher for the treated samples compared to the untreated. The treatment and the storage did not affect the total phenolic content of the juice. Slight differences were detected for the ascorbic acid content and the antioxidant capacity. The experimental results showed evidence that the treatment can maintain the physical and quality attributes of the juice, extending its shelf life and safety.

[Effects of carvedilol in rats with induced chronic kidney failure]. / Efectos del carvedilol en ratas con insuficiencia renal crónica inducida.

Hypertensive mechanisms are postulated to play a major role in the progressive glomerulosclerosis (GS) after renal mass reduction. Previous studies have demonstrated differences in the progression to glomerulosclerosis with the use of different antihypertensive drugs. We analyzed whether the use of carvedilol (CVD), a new beta-adrenoceptor antagonist and vasodilator slows the progression of glomerulosclerosis in 5/6 nephrectomised (Nx) rats. Fifty-four adult Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed among five groups, four with 5/6 Nx, vehicle treated and CVD at 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/day and sham (no renal ablation or drug treatment). Tailcuff blood pressure, serum creatinine and urine protein concentration were measured. At the end of the experiment remnant kidney was removed for morphometric studies. Rats treated with 10 and 20 mg/kg/day of CVD showed controlled systemic blood pressure. Serum creatinine was similar in all treated groups with CVD, and half the levels observed in the vehicle-treated rats. The prevalence of glomerular lesions was closely associated with the degree of proteinuria. Eleven weeks after 5/6 Nx, vehicle-treated rats exhibited marked GS with 76% of affected glomeruli and creatinine retention. By contrast, renal injury was largely prevent in those rats treated with 10 and 20 mg/kg/day of CVD. Tuft enlargement occurred in all groups but was more prominent in vehicle-treated group, 1.5 times higher than the group treated with 20 mg/kg/day of CVD. Although, these data demonstrate the importance of systemic blood pressure control in the renal protective efficacy of carvedilol, other less-known mechanisms of this drug must be investigated.

Long-term evolution of local, proximal and remote astrocyte responses after diverse nucleus basalis lesioning (an experimental Alzheimer model): GFAP immunocytochemical study.

A study on long-term astrocytic responses (from 1 day to 20 months after lesioning in 4-month-old rats, and from 1 day to 6 months in 20-month-old rats) to diverse unilateral damage of the nucleus basalis (nbM) by injection of 40 nmol of ibotenic acid, or 50 or 100 nmols of quisqualic acid was performed using a histochemical method (immunoreactivity against the glial fibrillary acidic protein GFAP). Glial reactivity (i.e., isolated or clustered hypertrophic and/or hyper-reactive astrocytes) was evaluated in several ipsilateral and contralateral brain regions: the 'local response' within the damaged nbM region; the 'proximal response' (a new concept proposed by us) in the non-damaged structures neighbouring the nbM; and the 'remote response' in the ipsilateral brain cortex and in the contralateral cortex and nbM. In 4-month-old animals, the remote cortical glial responses, independent of the involution of cortical cholinergic activity and randomly located in layers I-V of motor and somatosensory cortical regions, were similar in appearance over a long period (13-20 months), with the highest reactivity 45 days after lesioning. The proximal response lasted from 1 day to 13 months and afterwards tended to disappear. Contralateral reactivity and ipsilateral cortical scars were observed. The local (nbM) glial response was maintained throughout the period studied. Subsets of astrocytes of different reactivities were observed, most of their elements being highly intermeshed. In 20-month-old animals, nbM lesions produced less positive, but similar, glial reactive patterns. This glial reactivity was superposed onto the glial reactivity of old age. All these results are discussed. The maintenance of reactive astrocytes many months after lesioning suggests the existence of cellular factors other than those produced by damaged nbM neurons. Taking into account the role of glial cells under pathological conditions, it is possible that these reactive astrocytes in humans could promote neurodegenerative processes, such as amyloid plaque formation and neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's disease). Along this line, nbM cholinergic involution could then originate cortical involution through induced reactive astrocytosis.