Reproducibility Analysis Of The Stability And Treatment Of Vertebral Metastatic Lesions

Objectives: To investigate the reproducibility among spine surgeons in defining the treatment of vertebral metastatic lesions, taking into account the mechanical stability of injuries. Methods: Twenty cases of isolated vertebral metastatic lesions were presented to ten experts. Their opinion was then asked about the stability of the lesion, as well as their treatment option. Results: The interobserver Kappa coefficient obtained both for stability analysis as to the decision of the treatment was poor (0.334 and 0.248, respectively). Conclusions: Poor interobserver reproducibility was observed in deciding the treatment of vertebral metastatic lesions when considering the stability of the lesions.133232234American Cancer Society, (2007) Cancer Facts and Figures, , Atlanta: American Cancer SocietyNewman, C.B., Keshavarzi, S., Aryan, H.E., En bloc sacrectomy and reconstruction technique modification for pelvic fixation (2009) Surg Neurol, 72 (6), pp. 752-756Harrington, K.D., Current concepts review: Metastatic disease of the spine (1986) J Bone Joint Surg Am, 68 (7), pp. 1110-1115Gasbarrini, A., Cappuccio, M., Mirabile, L., Bandiera, S., Terzi, S., Barbanti Bròdano, G., Spinal metastases: Treatment evaluation algorithm (2004) Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 8 (6), pp. 265-274Bilsky, M., Smith, M., Surgical approach to epidural spinal cord compression (2006) Hematol Oncol Clin North Am, 20 (6), pp. 1307-1317Weber, M.H., Burch, S., Buckley, J., Schmidt, M.H., Fehlings, M.G., Vrionis, F.D., Instability and impending instability of the thoracolumbar spine in patients with spinal metastases: A systematic review (2011) Int J Oncol, 38 (1), pp. 5-12Tokuhashi, Y., Kawano, H., Ohsaka, S., Matsuzaki, H., Toriyama, S., A scoring system for preoperative evaluation of the prognosis of metastatic spine tumor (a preliminary report) (1989) Nihon Seikeigeka Gakkai Zasshi, 63 (5), pp. 482-489Tokuhashi, Y., Matsuzaki, H., Toriyama, S., Kawano, H., Ohsaka, S., Scoring system for the preoperative evaluation of metastatic spine tumor prognosis (1990) Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 15 (11), pp. 1110-1113Tomita, K., Kawahara, N., Baba, H., Tsuchiya, H., Fujita, T., Toribatake, Y., Total em bloc spondylectomy. A new surgical technique for primary malignant vertebral tumors (1997) Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 22 (3), pp. 324-333Tomita, K., Kawahara, N., Kobayashi, T., Yoshida, A., Murakami, H., Akamaru, T., Surgical strategy for spinal metastases (2001) Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 26 (3), pp. 298-306Fisher, C.G., DiPaola, C.P., Ryken, T.C., Bilsky, M.H., Shaffrey, C.I., Berven, S.H., A novel classification system for spinal instability in neoplastic disease: An evidence-based approach and expert consensus from the Spine Oncology Study Group (2010) Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 35 (22), pp. E1221-E1229Fourney, D.R., Frangou, E.M., Ryken, T.C., Dipaola, C.P., Shaffrey, C.I., Berven, S.H., Spinal instability neoplastic score: An analysis of reliability and validity from the spine oncology study group (2011) J Clin Oncol, 29 (22), pp. 3072-307

An AAVP-based solid-phase transducing matrix for transgene delivery: potential for translational applications

A hybrid vector of adeno-associated virus and phage (termed AAVP) has been introduced as a platform for systemic ligand-directed delivery of transgenes to tumors over the past decade. A series of studies have evaluated the AAVP platform for potential theranostic or purely therapeutic applications in several tumor models. Sufficient ligand-directed tumor targeting consistently resulted in specific molecular-genetic imaging and/or anti-tumor responses to ‘suicide’ transgene delivery. However, efforts to optimize transduction efficiency are still ongoing. Here, we set out to expand the translational utility of AAVP by combining it with gold (Au) nanoparticles in order to generate a ‘transducing matrix’ for improved targeted gene delivery in solid phase. Targeted AAVP-based solid-phase transduction is superior to conventional transduction in soluble (aqueous) environments. This transducing matrix is stable and can be further modified with additional attributes (for example, magnetization) for targeted imaging and therapeutic gene delivery. Notably, it spontaneously assembles around cells in vitro to markedly enhance transduction capabilities compared with AAVP alone. This versatile nanoplatform may enable new applications of AAVP for transgene delivery in translational settings including, for example, efforts toward complex tissue patterning

Microscopic dynamics in liquid metals: the experimental point of view

The experimental results relevant for the understanding of the microscopic dynamics in liquid metals are reviewed, with special regards to the ones achieved in the last two decades. Inelastic Neutron Scattering played a major role since the development of neutron facilities in the sixties. The last ten years, however, saw the development of third generation radiation sources, which opened the possibility of performing Inelastic Scattering with X rays, thus disclosing previously unaccessible energy-momentum regions. The purely coherent response of X rays, moreover, combined with the mixed coherent/incoherent response typical of neutron scattering, provides enormous potentialities to disentangle aspects related to the collectivity of motion from the single particle dynamics. If the last twenty years saw major experimental developments, on the theoretical side fresh ideas came up to the side of the most traditional and established theories. Beside the raw experimental results, therefore, we review models and theoretical approaches for the description of microscopic dynamics over different length-scales, from the hydrodynamic region down to the single particle regime, walking the perilous and sometimes uncharted path of the generalized hydrodynamics extension. Approaches peculiar of conductive systems, based on the ionic plasma theory, are also considered, as well as kinetic and mode coupling theory applied to hard sphere systems, which turn out to mimic with remarkable detail the atomic dynamics of liquid metals. Finally, cutting edges issues and open problems, such as the ultimate origin of the anomalous acoustic dispersion or the relevance of transport properties of a conductive systems in ruling the ionic dynamic structure factor are discussed.Comment: 53 pages, 41 figures, to appear in "The Review of Modern Physics". Tentatively scheduled for July issu

Density fluctuations and single-particle dynamics in liquid lithium

The single-particle and collective dynamical properties of liquid lithium have been evaluated at several thermodynamic states near the triple point. This is performed within the framework of mode-coupling theory, using a self-consistent scheme which, starting from the known static structure of the liquid, allows the theoretical calculation of several dynamical properties. Special attention is devoted to several aspects of the single-particle dynamics, which are discussed as a function of the thermodynamic state. The results are compared with those of Molecular Dynamics simulations and other theoretical approaches.Comment: 31 pages (in preprint format), 14 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Rapid, progressive neuropathic arthropathy of the hip in a patient co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus and tertiary syphilis: case report

BACKGROUND: Syphilis is a chronic infection that is classified into three stages. In its tertiary stage, syphilis spreads to the brain, heart and other organs; the lesions may involve the skin, mucous membranes and bones. Neuropathic arthropathy associated with tertiary syphilis has rarely been described in Europe and its association with HIV-HCV co-infection has not been reported so far.This article reports the case of a man with tertiary syphilis presenting with rapidly evolving neuropathic arthropathy of the hip and extensive bone destruction. CASE PRESENTATION: On initial presentation, the patient complained of progressively worsening left-sided coxalgia without localized or generalized inflammation. The patient reported to have no history of previous infections, trauma or cancer. Plain x-ray films of the left coxofemoral joint showed marked degeneration with necrosis of the proximal epiphysis of femur and morphological alterations of the acetabulum without protrusion. Primary coxarthrosis was diagnosed and hip arthroplasty was offered, but the patient declined treatment. Three months later, the patient presented a marked deterioration of his general condition. He disclosed that he was seropositive for HCV and HIV, as confirmed by serology. Syphilis serology testing was also positive. A Girdlestone's procedure was performed and samples were collected for routine cultures for bacteria and acid fast bacilli, all resulting negative.Although histological findings were inconclusive, confirmed positive serology for syphilis associated with progressive arthropathy was strongly suggestive of tertiary syphilis, probably exacerbated by HIV-HCV co-infection. The patient partially recovered the ability to walk. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the resurgence of syphilis, this disease should be considered as a possible cause of neuropathic arthropathy when other infectious causes have been ruled out, particularly in patients with HIV and/or HCV co-infection

A complex of α(6) integrin and E-cadherin drives liver metastasis of colorectal cancer cells through hepatic angiopoietin-like 6.

Homing of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to the liver is a non-random process driven by a crosstalk between tumour cells and components of the host tissue. Here we report the isolation of a liver metastasis-specific peptide ligand (CGIYRLRSC) that binds a complex of E-cadherin and α(6) integrin on the surface of CRC cells. We identify angiopoietin-like 6 protein as a peptide-mimicked natural ligand enriched in hepatic blood vessels of CRC patients. We demonstrate that an interaction between hepatic angiopoietin-like 6 and tumoural α(6) integrin/E-cadherin drives liver homing and colonization by CRC cells, and that CGIYRLRSC inhibits liver metastasis through interference with this ligand/receptor system. Our results indicate a mechanism for metastasis whereby a soluble factor accumulated in normal vessels functions as a specific ligand for circulating cancer cells. Consistently, we show that high amounts of coexpressed α(6) integrin and E-cadherin in primary tumours represent a poor prognostic factor for patients with advanced CRC