A preclinical evaluation of an autologous living hyaline-like cartilaginous graft for articular cartilage repair: a pilot study.

In this pilot study, an autologous synthetic scaffold-free construct with hyaline quality, termed living hyaline cartilaginous graft (LhCG), was applied for treating cartilage lesions. Implantation of autologous LhCG was done at load-bearing regions of the knees in skeletally mature mini-pigs for 6 months. Over the course of this study, significant radiographical improvement in LhCG treated sites was observed via magnetic resonance imaging. Furthermore, macroscopic repair was effected by LhCG at endpoint. Microscopic inspection revealed that LhCG engraftment restored cartilage thickness, promoted integration with surrounding native cartilage, produced abundant cartilage-specific matrix molecules, and re-established an intact superficial tangential zone. Importantly, the repair efficacy of LhCG was quantitatively shown to be comparable to native, unaffected cartilage in terms of biochemical composition and biomechanical properties. There were no complications related to the donor site of cartilage biopsy. Collectively, these results imply that LhCG engraftment may be a viable approach for articular cartilage repair.

Characterization of cytoplasmic hyaline bodies in a hepatocellular carcinoma of a dog.

This report describes the morphological and immunohistochemical features of intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies found in a 13-year-old Yorkshire dog with a hepatocellular carcinoma and referred for anorexia, lethargy and mild polydipsia. Fine-needle aspirates of the large abdominal mass revealed high number of pleomorphic neoplastic hepatocytes, containing round to polygonal, well-demarcated, hyaline bodies. Same findings were histologically confirmed on multiple biopsies. Immunohistochemically, the inclusion bodies were negative for alpha-1-antitrypsin, carcinoembryonary antigen, fibrinogen, IgG, IgM, cytokeratins 7, 8, 18, 19, 20. By transmission electron microscopy, the cytoplasmic inclusions were composed of granular homogeneous or reticulated electrondense matrix, enclosed within dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum or remnants of its membranes, consistent with proteinaceous material accumulated within neoplastic hepatocytes due to aberrant protein secretion or transport. This is the first detailed characterization of hyaline cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in canine hepatocellular carcinoma.

Rectal biopsy in the diagnosis of neuronal intranuclear hyaline inclusion disease.

Neuronal intranuclear hyaline inclusion disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of childhood characterized by eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions and neuronal loss throughout the nervous system. Although most cases have been diagnosed postmortem, rectal biopsy may be diagnostic during life. We identified two patients: an 11-year-old boy (P1) with new-onset bulbar weakness and parkinsonism and a 15-year-old boy (P2) with severe cognitive and motor deterioration of uncertain etiology who presented at 4 years of age with a gait disturbance and motor slowing. Both patients had a history of behavioral problems marked by frequent temper tantrums. Both had nondiagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of the head and metabolic work-ups. Rectal biopsy was diagnostic 1 year (P1) and 11 years (P2) after the initial evaluation. Rectal biopsies should be considered in children presenting with otherwise unexplained multisystem degeneration, particularly in the presence of both upper and lower motoneuron signs accompanied by behavioral problems.

Enchondroma: a benign osseous lesion with high F-18 FDG uptake.

A woman was referred for fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for the staging of a malignant melanoma. Although no signs of metastatic melanoma were evident on the whole-body scan, focally increased uptake within the femoral metaphysis was noted. Radiographic and magnetic resonance examinations revealed an enchondroma as the cause of the increased uptake. Histopathologic verification was obtained. The final diagnosis was actively proliferating enchondroma. A grade I chondrosarcoma could be ruled out. Enchondromas may be responsible for focally increased FDG uptake in bone lesions and must be considered when positron emission tomographic scans obtained with FDG are evaluated in cancer staging.

Discrimination between calcified triticeous cartilage and calcified carotid atheroma on panoramic radiography.

The differential diagnosis of calcified atherosclerotic plaque in the extracranial carotid vasculature includes a number of anatomic and pathologic radiopacities. Most of these are readily distinguishable on the basis of location and morphologic features. The calcified triticeous cartilage, however, can be a confounding alternative that is frequently misdiagnosed as a calcified atheroma. This paper describes the radiographic differences between these 2 entities, enabling clinicians to improve their diagnostic acumen when evaluating cervical soft tissue calcifications.

Ultrasound of femoral head cartilage: a new method of assessing bone age.

This paper analyses the relationship between the thickness of the anterior femoral head cartilage (FHC), as measured by ultrasound, and some anthropometric parameters, such as height, weight, skeletal and chronological age. In addition, it provides standard norms for FHC thickness in a paediatric population. Both hips were examined in 213 consecutive subjects (99 boys and 114 girls), aged 1.9-14 years. Seventy-four subjects underwent hand and wrist X-rays for skeletal maturation: 32 of these were dropped from the study because a discrepancy as high as two standard deviations was found between their skeletal and their chronological age. The thickness of FHC correlated strongly with skeletal and chronological age, standing height and body weight. A side difference of 0.2 mm in FHC was considered to be abnormal. The study population was divided into 13 groups according to chronological and values of FHC for boys and girls are provided for each group. It is suggested that the magnitude of hyaline FHC is valuable feature in the evaluation of skeletal maturation in children.

CT density of the TMJ disk: correlation with histologic observations of hyalinization, metaplastic cartilage, and calcification in autopsy specimens.

The attenuation number of the TMJ disk was measured in direct sagittal computerized tomograms (CTs) of eight fresh TMJ autopsy specimens. The CT attenuation number was correlated to histologic observations of hyalinization, calcification, and cartilaginous metaplasia of the disk. Correlations were found between high CT attenuation numbers and the presence of hyalinization, calcification, and foci of cartilaginous metaplasia in the disks. The results suggest that the high CT attenuation number of a disk might be associated with hyalinization, calcification, and metaplastic cartilage formation.

Drusen-associated visual field defects and hemorrhages.

Retinal hemorrhages and visual field defects can occur as complications of optic nerve drusen. The visual defects of optic drusen are of three types: (1) concentric constriction of the field, (2) enlargement of the blind spot, and (3) nerve fiber bundle defects. Retinal hemorrhages also fall into three categories: (1) splinter hemorrhages overlying the disk, (2) vitreous hemorrhages, and (3) subretinal hemorrhages. The unusual disk vasculature associated with drusen is probably responsible for the retinal hemorrhages and may be the primary defect in the pathogenesis of drusen. Altered axoplasmic transport and abnormal axonal calcium metabolism have also been thought to be significant in the pathogenesis of drusen.