Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a locally aggressive benign neoplasm that is associated with a large biological spectrum ranging from latent benign to highly recurrent and occasionally metastatic malignant bone tumor. It accounts for 4–10% of all bone tumors and typically affects the meta-epiphyseal region of long bones of young adults. The most common site involved is the distal femur, followed by the distal radius, sacrum, and proximal humerus. Clinical symptoms are nonspecific and may include local pain, swelling, and limited range of motion of the adjacent joint. Radiographs and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the imaging modalities of choice for diagnosis. Surgical treatment with curettage is the optimal treatment for local tumor control. A favorable clinical outcome is expected when the tumor is excised to tumor-free margins, however, for periarticular lesions this is usually accompanied with a suboptimal functional outcome. Local adjuvants have been used for improved curettage, in addition to systematic agents such as denosumab, bisphosphonates, or interferon alpha. This article aims to discuss the clinicopathological features, diagnosis, and treatments for GCT of bone.

Spondylodiscitis may involve the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, paravertebral structures and spinal canal, with potentially high morbidity and mortality rates.A rise in the susceptible population and improved diagnosis have increased the reported incidence of the disease in recent years.Blood cultures, appropriate imaging and biopsy are essential for diagnosis and treatment.Most patients are successfully treated by conservative means; however, some patients may require surgical treatment.Surgical indications include doubtful diagnosis, progressive neurological deficits, progressive spinal deformity, failure to respond to treatment, and unresolved pain.Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2017;2:447–461. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.2.160062

To discuss all relevant considerations for harvesting, culture, differentiation and phenotypic characterization of ADSCs, to provide a comprehensive roadmap of this process, to identify the differences between ADSCs obtained from various adipose tissues of the rat, and to provide FT-IR spectroscopy marker bands that could be used as fingerprints to differentiate the types of adipose tissues.

Previous studies reported on social reintegration (SR) of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients at their own countries. Their results on community accessibility, SR and ability to enter the labor market, and quality of life (QoL) varied. Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate SR and QoL of SCI people who have completed their rehabilitation program in Greece, and to correlate these findings with the demographic characteristics of the participants, as well as with the clinical parameters associated with SCI. We retrospectively studied 164 patients with SCI (129 men, 35 women; mean age, 46 years; range, 20-80 years) who completed their rehabilitation program and lived in the community in Greece. Mean time from SCI was 15 years (range, 1-43 years). All participants completed questionnaires in an interview form. Questionnaires included demographic details and clinical information, pain score in a 0-10 point pain scale, CHART scale to assess SR, and the WHOQoL BREF scale to assess QoL. Univariate predictors for SR and QoL varied. Multivariate predictors for SR and QoL were gender, educational level, employment, type of SCI, presence of pressure ulcers, age for all domains except for economic self-sufficiency and environment, time elapsed from SCI, and pain for all domains except for physical independence and general health. Patients with SCI in Greece experience similar SR and QoL with other European countries, except for community accessibility and ability to enter the labor market which is more adverse in Greece than in the other European countries.