Comparative Study of Surgical Treatment and Nonsurgical Follow Up for Thoracic Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Radiological and Clinical Evaluation.

Study Design: A prospective clinical study of factors related to myelopathy deterioration caused by thoracic myelopathy because of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL).

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate factors related to myelopathy deterioration caused by T-OPLL.

Summary Of Background Data: Detailed analyses of factors related to myelopathy deterioration caused by T-OPLL have not been reported.

MRI Signal Intensity Classification in Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Predictor of Surgical Outcomes.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate whether classification of increased signal intensity (ISI) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spinal cord in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (C-OPLL) reflects severity of myelopathy and surgical outcome.

Summary Of Background Data: The relationship between classification of ISI on C-OPLL and severity is unknown.

Clinical Results and Complications of Lower Limb Lengthening for Fibular Hemimelia: A Report of Eight Cases.

Fibular hemimelia is a rare but the most common congenital long bone deficiency, encompassing a broad range of anomalies from isolated fibular hypoplasia up to substantial femoral and tibial shortening with ankle deformity and foot deficiency. Most cases of fibular hemimelia manifest clinically significant leg length discrepancy (LLD) with time that requires adequate correction by bone lengthening for stable walking. Bone lengthening procedures, especially those for pathological bones, are sometimes associated with severe complications, such as delayed consolidation, fractures, and deformities of the lengthened bones, leading to prolonged healing time and residual LLD at skeletal maturity.

Giant cell tumor of bone arising in long bones possibly originates from the metaphyseal region.

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a primary benign bone tumor with a locally aggressive character. Definitive descriptions of the site of origin for this type of tumor are not available. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the site of origin of GCTB of long bones with regards to epiphyseal lines by means of radiographic examination.

The clinical outcome of pazopanib treatment in Japanese patients with relapsed soft tissue sarcoma: A Japanese Musculoskeletal Oncology Group (JMOG) study.

Background: Because the efficacy and safety of pazopanib in Japanese patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) had not been evaluated previously in a large-scale cohort, the authors investigated the efficacy and safety of pazopanib in 156 Japanese patients with relapsed STS. This was a retrospective study based on the collection of real-life, postmarketing surveillance data.

Methods: Patients received pazopanib with the objective of treating local recurrence (n = 20), metastasis (n = 104), and both (n = 32).

Low bone mineral density in achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia.

Background: Achondroplasia (ACH) and hypochondroplasia (HCH) are the most common form of short-limb skeletal dysplasias caused by activated fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) signaling. Although decreased bone mass was reported in gain-of-function mutation in Fgfr3 mice, both disorders have never been described as osteoporotic. In the present study, we evaluated bone mineral density (BMD) in ACH and HCH patients.

Characteristics of cultured desmoid cells with different CTNNB1 mutation status.

Desmoid tumors are benign mesenchymal neoplasms with a locally aggressive nature. The mutational status of β-catenin gene (CTNNB1) is presumed to affect the tumorous activity of the cells. In this study, we isolated three kinds of desmoid cell with different CTNNB1 status, and compared their characteristics.

Association of Leukoaraiosis With Convalescent Rehabilitation Outcome in Patients With Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Purpose: We investigated the factors influencing inpatient convalescent rehabilitation outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke, particularly severity of leukoaraiosis on magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: Participants included 520 patients with ischemic stroke (317 men and 203 women; mean age, 72.8±8.

Prediction of Clinically Significant Leg-Length Discrepancy in Congenital Disorders.

Leg-length discrepancy greater than 2 to 2.5 cm can potentially have an adverse effect on our walking and standing mechanisms and requires proper correction involving surgical treatment. However, for minor leg-length discrepancy in childhood, decision making for the indications for and timing of epiphysiodesis is difficult because of unpredictable final discrepancy.

Predictive factors for a distal adjacent disorder with L3 as the lowest instrumented vertebra in Lenke 5C patients.

Objective: To investigate what type of Lenke 5C patient benefits most from a fusion to L3 as the LIV.

Methods: The subjects were 16 patients who underwent fusion surgery to L3 as the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV), and who were then observed for a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. We considered an unsatisfactory radiologic outcome for the distal adjacent curve (DAD) to be an L3 or L4 tilt angle less than 10° or L3/4 disc wedging less than 10°.

Gait Speeds Associated with Anxiety Responses to Pain in Osteoarthritis Patients.

Objective: Patients with lower limbs osteoarthritis (OA) had slower walking speeds than healthy. Gait speed, which is associated with leg muscle strength, is a consistent predictor of health and functional status. The effects of pain and pain-related psychological constructs for gait speeds have been uncertain.

Increased expression and activation of cathepsin K in human osteoarthritic cartilage and synovial tissues.

Few studies have analyzed Cathepsin K (CatK) expression in human osteoarthritic tissues. We investigated CatK expression and activation in human articular cartilage using clinical specimens. Human osteoarthritic cartilage was obtained during surgery of total hip arthroplasty (n = 10), and control cartilage was from that of femoral head replacement for femoral neck fracture (n = 10).

Secondary aneurysmal bone cyst in the distal humerus after resection of intra-articular nodular fasciitis of the elbow.

Background: Nodular fasciitis most often occurs within subcutaneous tissues, but may also arise within skeletal muscle, dermis, vessels, peripheral nerves and, although rarely, within joints. Knowledge regarding the cause of aneurysmal bone cysts, its natural history, and the results of treatment is limited. Secondary aneurysmal bone cysts are associated with other neoplastic processes.

Development and external validation of nomograms predicting distant metastases and overall survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery for patients with nonmetastatic osteosarcoma: A multi-institutional study.

Background: In this era of individualized cancer treatment, data that could be applied to predicting the survival of patients with osteosarcoma are still limited because of the rarity of the disease and the difficulty in accumulating a sufficient number of patients. Therefore, a multi-institutional collaboration was implemented to develop and externally validate nomograms that would predict metastasis-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OAS) for patients with nonmetastatic osteosarcoma.

Methods: This study retrospectively examined 1070 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery for nonmetastatic osteosarcoma.

Estimating the Radiation Dose to the Fetus in Prophylactic Internal Iliac Artery Balloon Occlusion: Three Cases.

Background. Although radiation exposure is of great concern to expecting patients, little information is available on the fetal radiation dose associated with prophylactic internal iliac artery balloon occlusion (IIABO). Here we estimated the fetal radiation dose associated with prophylactic IIABO in Caesarean section (CS).

Post-operative pulmonary and shoulder function after sternal reconstruction for patients with chest wall sarcomas.

Background: Sternal resection is occasionally required for patients with malignant tumors, particularly sarcomas, in the sternal region. Few reports have described post-operative respiratory and shoulder function after sternal resection for patients with bone and soft-tissue sarcomas.

Methods: Eight consecutive patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas requiring sternal resection were the focus of this study.

Surgical treatment for fibrous dysplasia of femoral neck with mild but prolonged symptoms: a case series.

Background: The proximal femur is one of the most common sites involved by fibrous dysplasia. In cases with mild deformity that does not require corrective surgery, occasional patients suffer sustained pain because of repeated microfractures. This study aimed to clarify the outcomes of surgery with autogenous fibular cortical strut grafting and compression hip screw fixation.

Low-dose chemotherapy with methotrexate and vinblastine for patients with desmoid tumors: relationship to CTNNB1 mutation status.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose chemotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) and vinblastine (VBL) for patients with desmoid tumors refractory to meloxicam treatment, focusing in particular on the relationship between the efficacy of this chemotherapy and catenin β-1 (CTNNB1) mutation status.

Patients And Methods: Since March 2003, patients pathologically diagnosed with extraperitoneal desmoid tumors have been prospectively treated with meloxicam, a COX-2 inhibitor, at our institution. Patients with inoperable tumors who were resistant to meloxicam treatment underwent MTX and VBL therapy every other week.

Expression of colony-stimulating factor 1 is associated with occurrence of osteochondral change in pigmented villonodular synovitis.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a benign, translocation-derived neoplasm. Because of its high local recurrence rate after surgery and occurrence of osteochondral destruction, a novel therapeutic target is required. The present study aimed to evaluate the significance of protein expression possibly associated with the pathogenesis during the clinical course of PVNS.

A Glutamine Repeat Variant of the RUNX2 Gene Causes Cleidocranial Dysplasia.

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), an autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia characterized by hypoplastic clavicles and delayed closure of the cranial sutures, is caused by mutations of the runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene. The RUNX2 gene consists of a glutamine and alanine repeat domain (Q/A domain, 23Q/17A), a DNA-binding Runt domain and a proline/serine/threonine-rich domain. We report on a familial case of CCD with a novel mutation within the Q/A domain of the RUNX2 gene, which is an insertion in exon 1 (p.

Solitary fibrous tumors in the extremities: imaging findings for six patients.

The purpose of this study was to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) findings for solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) in the extremities in correlation with histopathological findings. Between 2006 and 2013, 6 consecutive patients with SFT in an extremity were studied with MRI (6 patients) and CT (4 patients). Diffusion-weighted images were also performed in 3 patients and dynamic contrast-enhanced CT in 2 patients.

Postoperative brain metastases in soft tissue sarcomas.

Brain metastases (BMs) from soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are rare but lethal. We reviewed 187 consecutive patients with STS treated with definitive surgery in Nagoya University Hospital from 2004 to 2014. There were 10 patients with neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1).

A recyclable heavy fluorous tag carrying an allyl alcohol pendant group: design and evaluation toward applications in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry.

Toward applications in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, we converted our previous acid-resistant heavy fluorous tag [(Rf)3C-CH2-OH, 1] to allyl alcohol derivatives [(Rf)3C-CH2-O-(CH2)n-CH=CH-CH2-OH, 3 (n=1) or 4 (n=3)] by means of olefin cross metathesis. They were then subjected to β-glycosylation reactions by using a series of glycosyl donors, including glycosyl bromide and trichloroacetimidates. The terminal OH group in 3 and 4 was found to be β-glycosylated in moderate yield when 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-D-galactosyl trichloroacetimidate was used as the glycosyl donor.