Spontaneous telangiectatic osteosarcoma in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta).

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of bone cancer, especially in young. Telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TO) is a rare variant of OS, and hence, its occurrence, presentation, and prognosis are poorly understood. A 4-year-old female rhesus monkey presenting lameness and swelling was examined for a mass on the right humerus. Radiography revealed fracture and disorganized structure of bone tissue. Histopathological examination revealed malignant neoplasm composed of anaplastic osteoblasts, which invaded the bone marrow and surrounded blood-filled cysts in the epiphysis and diaphysis forming septa. Cytogenetic analysis showed aneuploid cells, supernumerary AgNORs, and a marker fragment. The neoplasm was diagnosed as TO. To our knowledge, the occurrence of TO and its cytogenetic analysis were reported for the first time in non-human primates.

Malignancy in chronic ulcers and scars of the leg (Marjolin's ulcer): a study of 21 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the imaging features of patients with chronic ulcers of the leg that were associated with malignancy. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: All patients who on biopsy were proven to have malignancy--the majority of which were squamous cell carcinoma-were included in a prospective study. Ulcers limited to the foot were excluded but ulcers of the leg which extended into the foot were included. Amputation was performed in all but two patients, due to pain, bleeding or tissue necrosis. RESULTS: The etiology was multifactorial. The mean duration of the ulcers was 36 years including venous ulcers, extensive scarring of the leg secondary to infection, injury or burns. One ulcer was secondary to a snake bite. The remainder, usually in the upper part of the leg, had repeated episodes of blunt trauma or knife wounds, which were also complicated by infections which failed to heal or, if they healed, regularly recurred. Although arterial insufficiency was not primary in any patient, most were of advanced age and it may have been an element in some patients. Despite infection, osteomyelitis was present in only one patient. The essential features were bone destruction, soft tissue mass and periosteal reaction. The bone destruction was visible on the radiographs in all but one case. The soft tissue masses varied in size but in general were very large. The periosteal reaction varied in type but most commonly was lamellated. The classic undulating solid periosteal reaction of venous stasis was only occasionally present. The periosteal reaction was nonspecific in the majority of cases and did not aid in the diagnosis or etiology. MRI and CT studies were performed in six patients. These were helpful in defining the extent of bone destruction and periosteal reaction but were not essential in management. CONCLUSION: Chronic ulcer present for decades that then undergoes malignant change is a disease of developing countries where patients only consult physicians when they have developed complications such as pain, bleeding or tissue necrosis. Chronic ulcers may require to be biopsied at regular intervals as malignant change in these ulcers is directly related to their duration.

Chronic ulceration of the leg following extensive scarring due to a snake bite complicated by squamous cell carcinoma.

Chronic ulcers of the leg are common in Brazil, perhaps more common than in the developed world. We report a case of a chronic ulcer of the leg following extensive scarring due to a bite by a venomous snake, which eventually led to a squamous cell carcinoma.

Colorimetric leukocyte adherence inhibition assay: a new auxiliary technique for the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis

We describe a modification of the leukocyte adherence inhibition assay (LAI) in which we propose the use of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) dye which is taken up and reduced by mitochondria. The method was tested by screening peripheral blood leukocytes from Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients. Peripheral blood leuckocytes from patients (N=2) but not from the blood of normal subjects (N=10) failed to adhere to glass in the presence od soluble adult worm antigenic preparation (SWAP). The non-adherence index (NAI) values for schistosomiasis patients were in the range of 11.0 to 72.3 (mean ñ SEM = 29.3 ñ 4.3), whereas the values for normal subjects were -56.0 to +2.0(-25.9 ñ 7.6) and those for treated patients -59.6 to +4.0 (-19.3 ñ 5.8). Our results show that the colorimetric LAI assay can be used as an auxiliary test for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis

A microcalorimetric assay to measure the reactivity of antigen-stimulated mononuclear cells from Schistosoma mansoni infected patients

The reactivity of mononuclear cells (2 x 10**6/ml minimum Eagle's medium, MEM) from normal subjects and from Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients was evaluated by microcalorimetry. The results which are reported as heat production (mcal for 2 x 10**6 cells in 3600s), were 2,087 ñ 21.2 and 2,497.0 ñ 21.3 for mononuclear cells from infected patients (N = 8) under stimulation with S. mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) and soluble adult worm antigenic preparation (SWAP), respectively. The values for cells from normal subjects (N = 8) were 13.7 ñ 1.1 and 29.3 ñ 3.2 in the presence of the same antigens. Pre-treatment of mononuclear cells from patients with 1 mM aminophylline (a cAMP phospphodiesterase inhibitor) totally abolished heat production. Cell viability (> 95%) was not changed after the measurement. The microcalorimetric assay described here measures the cellular metabolic activity and we feed justified in suggesting this techinique as an auxiliary diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Given the sensitivity, precision and accuracy of this microcalorimetric assay, we feel it can be used for the diagnosis of disease conditions for which a reliable diagnostic method is required

Colorimetric leukocyte adherence inhibition assay: a new auxiliary technique for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis.

We describe a modification of the leukocyte adherence inhibition assay (LAI) in which we propose the use of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) dye which is taken up and reduced by mitochondria. The method was tested by screening peripheral blood leukocytes from Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients. Peripheral blood leukocytes from patients (N = 21) but not from the blood of normal subjects (N = 10) failed to adhere to glass in the presence of soluble adult worm antigenic preparation (SWAP). The non-adherence index (NAI) values for schistosomiasis patients were in the range of 11.0 to 72.3 (mean +/- SEM = 29.3 +/- 4.3), whereas the values for normal subjects were -56.0 to +2.0 (-25.9 +/- 7.6) and those for treated patients -59.6 to +4.0 (-19.3 +/- 5.8). Our results show that the colorimetric LAI assay can be used as an auxiliary test for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis.

A microcalorimetric assay to measure the reactivity of antigen-stimulated mononuclear cells from Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients.

The reactivity of mononuclear cells (2 x 10(6)/ml minimum Eagle's medium, MEM) from normal subjects and from Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients was evaluated by microcalorimetry. The results which are reported as heat production (mcal for 2 x 10(6) cells in 3600 s), were 2,087 +/- 21.3 and 2,497.0 +/- 21.3 for mononuclear cells from infected patients (N = 8) under stimulation with S. mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) and soluble adult worm antigenic preparation (SWAP), respectively. The values for cells from normal subjects (N = 8) were 13.7 +/- 1.1 and 29.3 +/- 3.2 in the presence of the same antigens. Pre-treatment of mononuclear cells from patients with 1 mM aminophylline (a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor) totally abolished heat production. Cell viability (greater than 95%) was not changed after the measurement. The microcalorimetric assay described here measures the cellular metabolic activity and we feel justified in suggesting this technique as an auxiliary diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Given the sensitivity, precision and accuracy of this microcalorimetric assay, we feel it can be used for the diagnosis of disease conditions for which a reliable diagnostic method is required.