To determine histomorphometric and bone strength distribution of the proximal humerus, analyses were done on 24 freshly harvested human cadaveric humeri. Median ages of 46 and 69 years were recorded respectively for the male group (n = 11; minimum, 34 years; maximum, 76 years) and the female group (n = 13; minimum, 46 years; maximum, 90 years). The humeral head was sliced into four equal horizontal levels (Levels 1-4). Five regions of interest were defined in each cutting plane: anterior, posterior, lateral, medial, and central. Histomorphometric analyses evaluated structural parameters (tissue volume to bone volume ratio, trabecular thickness), connectivity (number of nodes, node to node length), and trabecular orientation (mean bone length). The peak values of histomorphometric parameters and bone strength were identified for the cranial section and decreased caudally. The medial and dorsal aspects of the proximal humeral head were found to be the areas of highest bone strength. The trabecular network formed a pattern that connected the center of the gleaned cavity. The structural and connectivity parameters, bone strength, and trabecular orientation showed region- and level-related characteristics. Knowledge of distribution, microstructure, and quality of bone in the humeral head allows the remaining bone stock to be used effectively, even in elderly patients, with a minimally invasive approach and maximum mechanical stability.

Purpose To investigate the eligibility of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) for the evaluation of tumor cellularity in patients with soft‐tissue sarcomas. Materials and Methods Thirty consecutive patients with a total of 31 histologically‐proven soft‐tissue sarcomas prospectively underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including DWI with echo‐planar imaging (EPI) technique immediately before open biopsy (N = 1) or tumor resection (N = 30). Fourteen patients had no previous anticancer treatment, 16 had received neoadjuvant therapy. Tumor cellularity as determined from histological sections was compared with minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Results Tumor cellularity correlated well with minimum ADC in a linear fashion, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of –0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.75 to –0.96). This relationship was not influenced by prior anticancer treatment. There was only a tendency toward lower ADC in tumor with higher grading but no significant dependency (P = 0.08). Conclusion DWI has proven useful for the assessment of tumor cellularity in soft‐tissue sarcomas. In result, DWI may be used as a powerful noninvasive tool to monitor responses of cytotoxic treatment as reflected by changes in tumor cellularity. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Perilesional changes of chronic focal osteochondral defects were assessed in the knees of 23 sheep. An osteochondral defect was created in the main load-bearing region of the medial condyle of the knees in a controlled, standardised manner. The perilesional cartilage was evaluated macroscopically and biopsies were taken at the time of production of the defect (T0), during a second operation one month later (T1), and after killing animals at three (T3; n = 8), four (T4; n = 8), and seven (T7; n = 8) months. All the samples were histologically assessed by the International Cartilage Repair Society grading system and Mankin histological scores. Biopsies were taken from human patients (n = 10) with chronic articular cartilage lesions and compared with the ovine specimens. The ovine perilesional cartilage presented with macroscopic and histological signs of degeneration. At T1 the International Cartilage Repair Society 'Subchondral Bone' score decreased from a mean of 3.0 (SD 0) to a mean of 1.9 (SD 0.3) and the 'Matrix' score from a mean of 3.0 (SD 0) to a mean of 2.5 (SD 0.5). This progressed further at T3, with the International Cartilage Repair Society 'Surface' grading, the 'Matrix' grading, 'Cell Distribution' and 'Cell Viability' grading further decreasing and the Mankin score rising from a mean of 1.3 (SD 1.4) to a mean of 5.1 (SD 1.6). Human biopsies achieved Mankin grading of a mean of 4.2 (SD 1.6) and were comparable with the ovine histology at T1 and T3. The perilesional cartilage in the animal model became chronic at one month and its histological appearance may be considered comparable with that seen in human osteochondral defects after trauma.

Our findings suggest that NVP-LBH589 and NVP-LAQ824 are active against human pancreatic cancer, although the precise mechanism of in vivo drug action is not yet completely understood. Therefore, further preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer are recommended.