Paratesticular adenomatoid tumor]

This prospective study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that parathyroid hormone (PTH) might be involved in preterm or term labor. Four groups of patients were formed, 15 patients in each group. The preterm labor group were patients who were admitted to our perinatal care unit with preterm labor and unruptured membranes (< 35 weeks' gestation). The preterm or term nonlabor control groups were patients matched for gestational age, maternal age, and parity, who were not in labor. The term labor group were patients matched for maternal age and parity who were in active labor. Mean (+/-SD) level of biologically intact PTH was 18.9 +/- 10.6 pgr/mL, 7.6 +/- 4.7 pgr/mL, 20.8 +/- 10.1 pgr/mL, 13.7 +/- 5.3 pgr/mL in preterm labor group, preterm nonlabor group, term labor group, and term nonlabor group, respectively (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, or albumin. We therefore suggest that PTH may have a role in preterm or term labor. The nature of its role should be investigated in further studies.     

Induction of osteodentin and abortive enamel in adenomatoid odontogenic tumor

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) with induction of calcified dentin with or without concomitant formation of enamel is exceedingly rare. This paper reports a case of AOT showing induction of osteodentin and abortive enamel. The patient was a 15-year-old male with a well-circumscribed intraosseous lesion containing the crown of the embedded left maxillary canine. Histologically, induction of osteodentin and abortive enamel was seen, in addition to characteristic histological features of AOT. The review of the English literature yields that the present case is the second AOT with induction of both dentin and enamel.     

The adenomatoid odontogenic tumor: an analysis of 57 cases in a black African population

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the findings in a large series of adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOT) in Nigerians. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hospital records of all cases of AOT diagnosed at three teaching hospitals were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Most of the tumors were intraosseous (central) (98.3%) and of the follicular type (75%). Females were more frequently affected than males (1.4:1), and patients in their second decade of life were most frequently affected (75%). Patients with follicular AOT were relatively younger (15.2 +/- 5.6 years) than those with extrafollicular tumors (20.9 +/- 13.8 years). However, males who presented with extrafollicular tumors (14.6 +/- 3.9 years) were relatively younger than their female counterparts (24.9 +/- 16 years). The maxilla was affected nearly twice as often as the mandible (1.8:1), and the canine tooth was frequently embedded in the tumor (76.9%). Although follicular tumors were most frequently located in the maxilla (76.3%), extrafollicular tumors were more commonly found in the mandible (69.2%). CONCLUSION: The distribution of this tumor in black Africans does not appear to be substantially different from that reported in caucasians.     

New report of epididymal adenomatoid tumor. Infrequent pathology

Accurate nutritional assessment of a child is a complex task involving simultaneous evaluation of several parameters, e.g., nutrient intake and requirement and physical and anthropometric examination, including body composition and biochemical markers. Several of these tests are not readily available in all settings and one may have to rely on simpler tools like thorough clinical assessment, which has a surprisingly high degree of sensitivity.     

Metastasis results from preexisting variant cells within a malignant tumor

Clones derived in vitro from a parent culture of murine malignant melanoma cells varied greatly in their ability to produce metastatic colonies in the lungs upon intravenous inoculation into syngeneic mice. This suggests that the parent tumor is heterogeneous and that highly metastatic tumor cell variants preexist in the parental population.     

A case of a lumbar spinal synovial cyst located on the midline]

We report a case of lumbar spinal synovial cyst located on the midline. A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of low back pain radiating to the left buttock and posterior thigh. An MR image revealed an extradural cystic lesion adjacent to the dorsal side of the dural sac at the L4-5 level. The cyst was remote from the facet joints and existed on the midline just in front of the L4 lamina. A CT scan showed a concave deformity of the ventral aspect of the L4 lamina because of compression by the cyst. The patient underwent L4 laminectomy and total removal of the cyst. The cyst was in contact with the anterior surface of the ligamentum flavum and it had no connection with the facet joint. In the histological examination, the cyst was multilobular and lined with synovial epithelium. Therefore the cyst was diagnosed as a synovial cyst. After the operation, the pain radiating to the buttock and thigh completely disappeared. Intraspinal synovial cysts are usually located in the lower lumbar spine and most of them are adjacent to the facet joint. The cysts that are located on the midline are very rare. We review previous reports and discuss clinical and pathological features of spinal synovial cysts.     

Juxtaglomerular cell tumor of the kidney: report of a non-functioning variant

A case of a juxtaglomerular cell tumor (JCT) in a 46-year-old man is reported. The tumor, 2.4 cm at its greatest dimension, was incidentally detected by ultrasonography. Although histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic examinations revealed typical features of a JCT, the patient had no history of hypertension or hypokalemia. This is the first report of a non-functioning JCT in the literature.     

Gastric stromal tumor with peritoneal nodules in pregnancy: tumor spread or rare variant of diffuse leiomyomatosis

The VO2-power regression and O2 demand predicted for a supra-VO2peak intensity (i.e., 432 W) were determined in seven well-trained male cyclists (mean +/- SD: VO2peak = 5.29 +/- 0.51 l.min-1), using five incremental exercise protocols. These protocols were either continuous (CON) or discontinuous (DISCON), and comprised five to eight work bouts ranging in intensity between 40% and 85% VO2peak; the work bouts differed in duration (4-15 min), and the VO2 was measured during the 4th minute (CON4, DISCON4), from min 4 to 6 (DISCON6), 8 to 10 (DISCON10), or 13 to 15 (DISCON15) of each work bout. The y-intercepts of the VO2-power regressions were not different (P > 0.05), whereas the slope was higher (P < or = 0.01) when determined using DISCON10 (12.7 +/- 0.9 ml.min-1.W-1) and DISCON15 (12.5 +/- 0.9 ml.min-1.W-1) compared with DISCON6 (12.2 +/- 1.0 ml.min-1.W-1), DISCON4 (11.6 +/- 1.1 ml.min-1.W-1) or CON4 (11.9 +/- 0.7 ml.min-1.W-1). The O2 demand (at 432 W) was also higher (P < or = 0.01) for DISCON10 (6.05 +/- 0.29 l.min-1) and DISCON15 (6.05 +/- 0.28 l.min-1) compared with DISCON6 (5.88 +/- 0.31 l.min-1), DISCON4 (5.70 +/- 0.31 l.min-1) and CON4 (5.82 +/- 0.25 l.min-1). This demonstrates that the O2 demand predicted for high power outputs depends on the incremental protocol used.     

Expression of antisense CD44 variant 6 inhibits colorectal tumor metastasis and tumor growth in a wound environment

Up-regulation of CD44 variant isoforms has been linked to the progression of epithelial tumors and the metastatic phenotype. Here we report a functional role for CD44 variant isoforms in colorectal cancer metastasis. An antisense mRNA approach was used to down-regulate CD44 variant isoforms containing CD44 variant 6 (v6) in the metastatic colorectal tumor cell line HT29. Cell lines stably expressing antisense CD44 exon 10 (v6) showed reduced expression of alternatively spliced CD44 variant isoforms but no significant change in expression of CD44 core protein, as judged by immunohistochemical analysis using CD44 domain-specific monoclonal antibodies. Expression of antisense exon 10 (v6) had no effect on HT29 tumor cell proliferation in vitro or the ability of the cells to bind immobilized hyaluronan, but it resulted in a reduced capacity to form liver metastases in nude mice following intrasplenic injection. Metastases were not detected in nude mice inoculated with antisense CD44 exon 10 (v6)-expressing cell lines after 4 months, against a background of a 30% metastasis rate in the control HT29 parental and vector alone transfected lines. Furthermore, whereas 82% of mice intrasplenically injected with control HT29 parental and vector alone cell lines developed tumors in incisional wound sites, none of the mice injected with antisense exon 10 expressing HT29 cells developed similar tumors. This is the first demonstration that antisense RNA can be used to selectively inhibit expression of specific domains of a molecule generated through alternative mRNA splicing while allowing expression of core domains to remain unaffected. Furthermore, these results provide direct evidence for a functional role of CD44 variant isoforms in the metastasis of human colorectal tumor cells and may suggest a critical role for CD44 variants in promoting cell growth specifically in the cytokine/growth factor-enriched environment of a wound site.     

"Hepatoid" gastric tumor]

In this study the Authors describe two cases of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach: one is characterized by the presence of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) high levels of the serum both pre and post-operating and by the very positive response to the adjuvant chemotherapy (how the return to the normality of such values demonstrates). The other is instead characterized by the presence of post operating hepatic metastasis, event which is very frequent in this kind of neoplasm, but presents many problems concerning the differential histological diagnostics with the primitive hepatocarcinoma (problems which are nowadays not completely solved). Moreover the Authors relate to this study the revision of the international literature of the main characteristics and of prognosis of this particular and rare neoplasm.     

Renin-secreting tumor detected by MRI]

We report an uncommon case of small renin secreting tumor of the kidney located in the medulla. The tumor was primarily detected by MRI and subsequently studied by spiral CT. The results and limitations of both techniques are discussed.     

Nephrogenic metaplasia (adenomatoid tumors) of bladder

Two cases of rare nephrogenic metaplasia of the bladder (adenomatoid bladder tumor) support the theory that these tumors originate as an atypical metaplastic response of urothelium to chronic infection or irritation. That these may also represent mesonephric or mesothelial choristomas is considered. Although benign, they may recur. Therapy should consist of antibiotics and transurethral resection or fulguration.