A case of a femoral neck tumor: painless osteoid osteoma?

We report herein a unique, previously unreported, successful outcome for a patient untreated for a tumor affecting a femoral neck considered as painless osteoid osteoma. The lesion was detected by chance at examination for groin injury. Diagnosis was based on the plain radiography, bone scan, and computed tomography. The results of the full blood examination were normal. Neither pharmacomedical nor surgical treatments were given. Two years later, radiological resolution of the lesion was revealed. The patient was observed between 1995 and 2002. We conclude that painless osteoid osteoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of asymptomatic femoral neck lesions. Our case suggests that osteoid osteoma has a tendency to regress over time and that conservative management appears to be a reliable option.</p

Different histological classifications for Henoch-Sch&#246;nlein purpura nephritis : which one should be used?

Background: Nephritis is the most important chronic complication of IgA Vasculitis (IgAV)/Henoch-Sch\uf6nlein purpura (IGAV/HSP) and thus the main prognostic factor of this most common childhood vasculitis. Since the prognosis and treatment selection depends on the mode of interpretation of biopsy material, in this manuscript we have presented several issues related to the uneven application of different histological classifications in IgAV/Henoch-Sch\uf6nlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). The nephritis of IgAV/IGAV/HSP will be abbreviated as HSPN for this paper. Main body: In clinical practice we use different histological classifications for HSPN. It is not known which of these classifications best correlates with severity of renal disease and renal outcome in IgAV/IGAV/HSP. One of the major problem with existing histological classifications is that there is no consensus on the implementation of biopsy in the treatment of HSPN. There is a histologic classification system conventionally used in HSPN, of the International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC). On the other hand there is the new classification system suggested for IgA nephropathy, the Oxford classification. The latter has been validated only in IgA nephropathy. There are also two further histologic classifications of Haas and Koskela that have been developed. Current treatment strategies in HSPN are not standardised nor predominantly based on histological classification. Conclusion: One of the possible solutions to problems related to the application of different histological classification in HSPN is the implementation of multicenter multinational prospective studies with joint collaboration between pediatric rheumatologists, nephrologists and nephropathologists to correlate the clinical features and outcome with the classification systems as well among the classifications. This classification should be the basis for the construction of guidelines for the treatment of patients with HSPN

Impaired Ghrelin Signaling Does Not Lead to Alterations of Anxiety-like Behaviors in Adult Mice Chronically Exposed to THC during Adolescence

As marijuana use during adolescence has been increasing, the need to understand the effects of its long-term use becomes crucial. Previous research suggested that marijuana consumption during adolescence increases the risk of developing mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Ghrelin is a peptide produced primarily in the gut and is important for feeding behavior. Recent studies have shown that ghrelin and its receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), play important roles in mediating stress, as well as anxiety and depression-like behaviors in animal models. Here, we investigated the effects of chronic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration during late adolescence (P42-55) in GHSR (GHSR $^{-/-}$) knockout mice and their wild-type littermates in relation to anxiety-like behaviors. We determined that continuous THC exposure during late adolescence did not lead to any significant alterations in the anxiety-like behaviors of adult mice, regardless of genotype, following a prolonged period of no exposure (1 month). These data indicate that in the presence of intact or impaired ghrelin/GHSR signaling, THC exposure during late adolescence has limited if any long-term impact on anxiety-like behaviors in mice

La Crimea in una prospettiva storica

[Italiano]: Il volume fornisce un panorama delle fasi storiche successive di questa regione complessa e turbolenta ai confini fra Europa, Asia e Medio Oriente, dall'antichità al diciannovesimo secolo ed esamina i cambiamenti che ha sperimentato nel tempo. Per centinaia di anni la Crimea ha costituito un crocevia di rotte di migrazioni, di invasioni, commerci e culture costituendo un ponte tra Europa e Asia soggetto a invasioni ricorrenti. Attingendo a fonti in diverse lingue, lo studio si concentra sulle popolazioni indigene della regione e sulle loro relazioni con quelle esterne – antichi Greci, Romani, Khazari, Italiani, Mongoli, Turchi, Russi – che hanno avuto un ruolo significativo nella vita della regione. Scopo di fondo del lavoro è quello di utilizzare una documentazione inedita e impiegare nuove prospettive per tracciare la storia e comprendere l’immagine di un territorio il cui ruolo ha spesso varcato i confini specifici della regione ./[English]: The book provides a unified narrative history of this complex and turbulent region at the borderlands of Europe, Asia and Middle east, from the ancient times to the nineteenth century and examines the changes it experienced over time. For hundreds of years the Crimea has formed a hub of intersecting routes of migration, invasion, trade and culture and a geographical bridge between Europe and Asia, subject to recurring invasions. Based on sources in different languages the study focuses on the region’s indigenous peoples and their relations with outsiders – ancient Greeks, Romans, Khazars, Italians, Mongols, Turks, Russian – who plaid a significant role in the life of the region. The underlying purpose of the work is to use new evidence and employ a new perspective to trace a history and understand the image of a territory whose role has often crossed the specific borders of the region

Kniest dysplasia: patient's growth progress and development--evolution of abnormalities, 30 year follow up

A case of a male patient with Kniest dysplasia is reported. The patient's growth and the development and evolution of the patient's abnormalities were tracked for a 30 year period, starting at the patient's birth. The clinical and radiographic features during this period, along with the differential diagnosis of Kniest dysplasia, are discussed. Femoral capital epiphyses and the presence of a cataract in one eye were noted from the early stages of the patient's life. The patient's final height was 165 cm. We believe this to be the first long-term follow up of this condition.</p

Osteoarthritis of the hip: An overview

Osteoarthritis, as the most common form of arthritis, affects predominantly middle-aged and elderly population worldwide. This chronic, degenerative, progressive and multifactorial joint disease can affect different joints in the body. One of the most commonly affected joints with osteoarthritis is the hip joint. Hip osteoarthritis is characterized by the presence of pain, stiffness, and limping which ultimately results with inability to perform activities of daily living. Thus, hip osteoarthritis significantly affects patients’ quality of life and represents a major public health problem. Because of its high incidence, prevalence and significant medical, social, and economic impact on society as a whole, in this review article we will describe and discuss terminology, classification, epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hip osteoarthritis

Human neuroepithelial stem cell regional specificity enables spinal cord repair through a relay circuit

Traumatic spinal cord injury results in persistent disability due to disconnection of surviving neural elements. Neural stem cell transplantation has been proposed as a therapeutic option, but optimal cell type and mechanistic aspects remain poorly defined. Here, we describe robust engraftment into lesioned immunodeficient mice of human neuroepithelial stem cells derived from the developing spinal cord and maintained in self-renewing adherent conditions for long periods. Extensive elongation of both graft and host axons occurs. Improved functional recovery after transplantation depends on neural relay function through the grafted neurons, requires the matching of neural identity to the anatomical site of injury, and is accompanied by expression of specific marker proteins. Thus, human neuroepithelial stem cells may provide an anatomically specific relay function for spinal cord injury recovery