Clinical and radiological features related to the growth potential of meningioma

Clinical and radiological features that help predict the growth potential of meningioma would be beneficial. The purpose of this study is to clarify the characteristics related to proliferating potential using the MIB-1 staining index. We analyzed the relationship of MIB-1 staining indices to characteristics of 342 consecutive patients with meningioma surgically removed between 1995 and 2004 by logistic regression analysis. One hundred and forty-nine of the patients with meningioma were ≥60 in age; 89 male; 48 recurrent; 203 symptomatic; 157 at the skull base; 124 over 20 cm(3); 24 multiple; 136 with edema; 117 with calcification. The MIB-1 staining index in 56 of 296 grade I meningiomas in WHO classification was ≥ 3.0; in 27 of 28 grade II; and in 17 of 18 grade III, respectively. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that male (odds ratio [OR], 2.374, p=0.003), recurrence (OR, 7.574, p=0.0001), skull base (OR, 0.540, p=0.035), calcification (OR, 0.498, p=0.019) were independent risk factors for a high MIB-1 staining index (≥3.0); age, symptomatic, volume, multiple, edema were not. Male, recurrence, non-skull base, absence of calcification are independent risk factors for a high proliferative potential. These should be taken into consideration when managing meningiomas

Effect of calcitriol on bone mineral density in Chinese premenopausal women on chronic steroid therapy

The effect of chronic steroid therapy on BMD in premenopausal women with normal menstrual cycles and its treatment was evaluated in 81 lupus patients. They were randomly allocated to three groups: 1: 0.5mg calcitriol and 1200mg calcium daily, 2: 1200mg calcium and placebo calcitriol and 3: placebo. Baseline T-score at the lumbar spine was > ±1 in 56.8% and 5±2.5 in 3.7% of the patients. At the end of two years, patients in the calcitriol group exhibited a significant increase of 2.1 2.4% in the BMD at the lumbar spine when compared to baseline value (p<0.05). However this change was not significantly different from the respective change in either the calcium (0.4 2.9%) or the placebo group (0.3 3.5%). No significant changes were observed in any of the treatment groups in the BMD at the hip or at the radius. Alkaline phophatase remained stable in the calcitriol group but increased in both the calcium and placebo group. In conclusion, the beneficial effect of calcitriol treatment in these premenopausal women was small, at least when it was instituted late in the course of steroid therapy.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex