Giant cell tumor of the talus: A case report

Giant cell tumor is a benign primary bone neoplasm which most often occurs in a periarticular location. Involvement of the bones of the foot and ankle is rare, and there have been a limited number of previous case reports involving the talus. Here we report a case of giant cell tumor of the talus, which was initially radiographically occult in a 43-year-old female, with emphasis on MRI imaging characteristics. The patient underwent surgical excision and curettage. Histological examination revealed the presence of spindle cells admixed with giant cells, confirming GCT. We further provide an overview of the radiological findings of GCT. Giant cell tumor is a benign bone neoplasm of mesenchymal origin, identified by multinucleated giant cells [1]. GCT is locally aggressive and can destroy adjacent bone and articulations. The most commonly affected bones are the distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal radius, with an epiphyseal predominance in 90% of cases [2]. Presentations are mostly mono-ostotic, however multicentricity may occur in younger patients [3]. Very few cases have been reported in the bones of the feet, an incidence of 1%-2% have been previously reported [4]. GCT is seen between ages 20 and 40 years, with a 56% predominance in females [3]. Although benign, 1%-9% cases may “metastasize” to the lungs. The initial treatment is surgical removal, either en bloc, or more commonly intralesional curettage and the use of adjuvants. Even after resection, GCT has a high recurrence rate [2]. The trigger for GCT is currently unknown. However, a majority of cases have cytogenetic abnormalities of telomeric associations (tas). Involvement of the RANK pathway is also believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of GCT [2]

1 John : ‘effects’ in biblical texts that constitute ‘lived experiences’ in the contemplative reading of those texts

Abstracts in English and AfrikaansIt is evident according to 1 John 2:28–3:10 that the eschatological events predicted in this text have implications for how people should live prior to these events. This essay explores this eschatological pericope by analysing a number of the linguistic effects used in the text in order to determine how the assumed spiritualities embedded in this pericope are generated to influence the readers. These linguistic effects form part of the rhetoric used by the author to awaken certain spiritualities (lived experiences) in readers in order to motivate them to act according to the recommendations given in the text. Four effects identified and examined in this essay that constitute ‘lived experiences’ in the contemplative reading of texts are (1) the dynamic interaction between text and reader, (2) the composition of images, (3) the dialectic of pretension and retention and (4) entanglement in a text.1 Johannes: ‘Effekte’ in bybelste tekste wat ‘geleefde ervaringe’ in die nadenkende lees van daardie tekste konstitueer. Volgens 1 Johannes 2:28–3:10 is dit duidelik dat die eskatologiese gebeure waarna daar in die teks verwys word, implikasies het vir hoe die mens vóór hierdie gebeure behoort te lewe. Die artikel ondersoek hierdie eskatologiese perikoop deur ‘n aantal van die taalkundige effekte in die teks te analiseer om vas te stel hoe die veronderstelde spiritualiteite wat in die perikoop ingebed is, gegenereer is. Hierdie taalkundige effekte vorm deel van die teksretoriek wat deur die outeur aangewend is om bepaalde spiritualiteite in lesers wakker te maak met die doel om hulle te motiveer om volgens die aanbevelings wat in die teks vervat is, te handel. Vier effekte wat in hierdie artikel geïdentifiseer en ondersoek word en wat spiritualiteite of ‘geleefde ervaringe’ deur die kontemplatiewe lees van tekste tot stand bring, is (1) die dinamiese interaksie tussen teks en leser, (2) die samestelling van beelde, (3) die dialektiek van pretensie en retensie en (4) ‘verstrengeling met ‘n teks.Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog

A model of uniaxial implant seating by impaction

Implants anchored by press-fit are predominantly implanted by impaction. This method allows sufficiently high forces to be generated easily by the surgeon. Suitable impaction should provide adequate implant seating without damaging the patient (tissues), the implant and implantation system, or the surgeon. However, issues have been documented for all of these factors. In this study a model to predict implant seating is developed, given an applied impaction impulse, the mass of the accelerated components and the push-in resistance force. The model was validated against experimental data for a contemporary femoral stem implanted in a polyurethane foam surrogate for bone, with the input parameters varied. The model tended to overestimate seating but represented seating patterns well. The model can be used to estimate implant seating using easily measured parameters and could be useful in the design of implantation systems, and in optimising impaction strategies