Positron emission mammography in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Is maximum PEM uptake value a valuable threshold for malignant breast cancer detection?

AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value (sensitivity, specificity) of positron emission mammography (PEM) in a single site non-interventional study using the maximum PEM uptake value (PUVmax). PATIENTS, METHODS In a singlesite, non-interventional study, 108 patients (107 women, 1 man) with a total of 151 suspected lesions were scanned with a PEM Flex Solo II (Naviscan) at 90 min p.i. with 3.5 MBq 18F-FDG per kg of body weight. In this ROI(region of interest)-based analysis, maximum PEM uptake value (PUV) was determined in lesions, tumours (PUVmaxtumour), benign lesions (PUVmaxnormal breast) and also in healthy tissues on the contralateral side (PUVmaxcontralateral breast). These values were compared and contrasted. In addition, the ratios of PUVmaxtumour / PUVmaxcontralateral breast and PUVmaxnormal breast / PUVmaxcontralateral breast were compared. The image data were interpreted independently by two experienced nuclear medicine physicians and compared with histology in cases of suspected carcinoma. RESULTS Based on a criteria of PUV>1.9, 31 out of 151 lesions in the patient cohort were found to be malignant (21%). A mean PUVmaxtumour of 3.78 ± 2.47 was identified in malignant tumours, while a mean PUVmaxnormal breast of 1.17 ± 0.37 was reported in the glandular tissue of the healthy breast, with the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean ratio between tumour and healthy glandular tissue in breast cancer patients (3.15 ± 1.58) was found to be significantly higher than the ratio for benign lesions (1.17 ± 0.41, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION PEM is capable of differentiating breast tumours from benign lesions with 100% sensitivity along with a high specificity of 96%, when a threshold of PUVmax >1.9 is applied.

New associations of classic acute macular neuroretinopathy

PURPOSE: To describe novel underlying associations of classic acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN). METHODS: Multimodal imaging case series evaluating patients with classic AMN lesions and previously unreported underlying aetiologies. RESULTS: Six patients were included (five women, one man, mean age 30±7 years). Mean distance best corrected visual acuity at initial presentation was 0.21±0.3 logMAR (mean Snellen acuity: 20/30, range 20/15-20/100) and at last follow-up visit 0.09±0.17 logMAR (Snellen acuity: 20/20, range 20/15-20/60). All cases but one had bilateral lesions and showed typical parafoveal hyporeflective lesions on infrared imaging, which corresponded to the hyper-reflectivity in the Henle's layer with attenuation of the external limiting membrane, the ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone. Underlying diseases included thrombocytopenia and anaemia associated with dengue fever, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic kidney disease and ulcerative colitis, while Valsalva-like manoeuvre was found to be a potential trigger. Other novel associations included the use of lisdexamphetamine. CONCLUSIONS: Classic AMN may be associated with leukaemia, dengue fever, ulcerative colitis and chronic kidney disease, probably as a result of chorioretinal hypoxia in the setting of thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Adrenergic agonists such as lisdexamphetamine may also contribute to the manifestation of AMN.

Re-emerging Vitamin D deficiency epidemic and its implications on the public health in the US

Vitamin D is essential in maintaining the bone health and Calcium homeostasis in the body. These actions are mediated through the Vitamin D receptors (VDR) present in cells through which the activated vitamin D acts [1]. In the past, it was known that these receptors existed in the intestine and bone cell. However, recent discovery of VDR in other tissues as well, has broadened the action of Vitamin D and increased its adequate intake [1].^ In the past, Vitamin D deficiency was most common among institutionalized, elderly patients and children and thought to be extinct in the healthy population. However, recent evidence has shown that, prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is increasing into an epidemic status in the overall population of the United States, including the healthy individuals [2-3]. The increased daily-recommended requirement and other multiple factors are responsible for the re-emergence of this epidemic [4-5]. Some of these factors could be used to control the epidemic. Studies have also shown the association between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk for developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and some fatal cancers like prostate, colon and breast cancers [1, 4, 6-14]. This issue results in increased disease burden, morbidity and mortality in the community [15-20].^ Methods: The literature search was conducted using the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC) and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) online library. The key search terms used are “vitamin D deficiency And prevalence Or epidemiology”, “vitamin D deficiency And implication And public health” using PubMed and Mesh database and “vitamin D deficiency” using systematic reviews. The search is limited to Humans and the English language. The articles considered for the review are limited to Healthy US population to avoid health conditions that predispose the population to vitamin D deficiency. Only US population is considered to narrow down the study.^ Results: There is an increased prevalence of low levels of Vitamin D levels below the normal range in the US population regardless of age and health status. Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with increased risk of chronic illnesses and fatal cancers.^ Conclusion: This increased prevalence and the association of the deficiency with increased all-cause mortality has increased the economic burden and compromised the quality of life among the population. This necessitates the health care providers to routinely screen their patients for the Vitamin D status and counsel them to avoid the harmful effects of the Vitamin D deficiency. ^

BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BCR-ABL-INDUCED MITOCHONDRIAL OXIDATIVE STRESS AND CELL SURVIVAL IN CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a myeloproliferative disorder, represents approximately 15-20% of all adult leukemia. The development of CML is clearly linked to the constitutively active protein-tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL, which is encoded by BCR-ABL fusion gene as the result of chromosome 9/22 translocation (Philadelphia chromosome). Previous studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress-associated genetic, metabolic and biological alterations contribute to CML cell survival and drug refractory. Mitochondria and NAD(P)H oxidase (NOX) are the major sources of BCR-ABL-induced cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, it is still unknown how CML cells maintain the altered redox status, while escaping from the persistent oxidative stress-induced cell death. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanisms by which CML cells cope with oxidative stress will provide new insights into CML leukemogenesis. The major goal of this study is to identify the survival factors protecting CML cells against oxidative stress and develop novel therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance. Several experimental models were used to test CML cell redox status and cellular sensitivity to oxidative stress, including BCR-ABL inducible cell lines, BCR-ABL stably transformed cell lines and BCR-ABL-expressing CML blast crisis cells with differential BCL-XL/BCL-2 expressions. Additionally, an artificial CML cell model with heterogenic BCL-XL/BCL-2 expression was established to assess the correlation between differential survival factor expression patterns and cell sensitivity to Imatinib and oxidative stress. In this study, BCL-XL and GSH have been identified as the major survival factors responsive to BCR-ABL-promoted cellular oxidative stress and play a dominant role in regulating the threshold of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Cell survival factors BCL-XL and BCL-2 differentially protect mitochondria under oxidative stress. BCL-XL is an essential survival factor in preventing excessive ROS-induced cell death while BCL-2 seems to play a relatively minor role. Furthermore, the redox modulating reagent β-phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) has been found to efficiently deplete GSH and induce potent cell killing effects in drug-resistant CML cells. Combination of PEITC with BCL-XL/BCL2 inhibitor ABT737 or suppression of BCL-XL by BCR-ABL inhibitor Gleevec dramatically sensitizes CML cells to apoptosis. These results have suggested that elevation of BCL-XL and cellular GSH are important for the development of CML, and that redox-directed therapy is worthy of further clinical investigations in CML.

Conservación de zapallos (Cucurbita pepo L.) var. Frontera : cultivo orgánico y tradicional

Objetivos: Determinar el período de conservación de zapallo orgánico respecto del tradicional, en dos condiciones de almacenamiento. Materiales y métodos: Zapallos variedad Frontera se limpiaron en seco y se pesaron individualmente para controlar pérdida de peso; se consignaron características externas. Para determinar deshidratación se midió humedad en la pulpa (estufa 105 °C). Para conservación, acondicionamiento en cajones de madera con viruta, en galpón (temperatura y humedad ambiente) y antecámara (15- 20 °C y 70-85 % HR). Duración 187 días. Comparación sensorial, al inicio y al final de la conservación, considerando: color, olor, sabor, retrogusto, jugosidad, textura y calidad general. Se utilizó planilla con escala mixta estructurada de 9 puntos y participaron jueces semientrenados (n = 10). Evaluación de datos por análisis de varianza = 0.05. Conclusiones: En las condiciones del ensayo, el período de conservación no debe ser superior a los 105 días por aparición de podredumbre. Por deshidratación superior al 60 %, debe ser inferior a 68 días para antecámara, 105 días para orgánicos de galpón y 105-126 días para tradicionales de galpón. Las características sensoriales iniciales de los zapallos orgánicos fueron mejores; al final se destacaron los tradicionales en galpón, luego los orgánicos en galpón y los conservados en antecámara presentaron características inferiores.

Cruces atlánticos de la memoria : Narrativa de España y Argentina

Fil: Sánchez, Mariela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina.

Cruces atlánticos de la memoria : Narrativa de España y Argentina

Fil: Sánchez, Mariela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina.

Granulometry, biogenic silica content, magnetic susceptibility and bulk densities of ODP Site 188-1165

The Prydz Bay area is a key region for studying and understanding the history of the eastern Antarctic Continental Ice Sheet (O'Brien, Cooper, Richter, et al., 2001, doi:10.2973/odp.proc.ir.188.2001). Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1165 is situated in a water depth of 3357 m on the continental rise offshore from Prydz Bay and lies in front of the outlet for the Lambert Glacier-Amery Ice Shelf system that today drains 22% of East Antarctica. The site was drilled into mixed pelagic and hemipelagic sediments from the southwestern side of the Wild Drift. The drift is an elongate sediment body formed by the interaction of sediment supplied from continental shelf and slope with westward-flowing bottom currents. The sedimentary sequence is characterized by alternations between a generally gray to dark gray facies and a green to greenish gray facies. The greenish facies are structureless diatom-bearing clays with common bioturbation and larger amounts (>15%-20%) of biogenic silica, dispersed clasts, and lonestones than the dark gray facies, which are mostly less bioturbated clay with some silt laminations (Shipboard Scientific Party, 2001, doi:10.2973/odp.proc.ir.188.103.2001). High-quality advanced piston corer and extended core barrel cores containing nearly complete sections of middle Miocene to early Pliocene age allow a detailed characterization of sedimentary cycles and can provide indications for ice advances of the Lambert Glacier system into Prydz Bay, for the extent of sea ice, and for changes in oceanic circulation. The purpose of this work is to provide a data set of coarse-fraction mass percentage (>63, >125, and >250 µm) and biogenic silica content measured on sediments of late Miocene to early Pliocene age drilled at Site 1165. Additionally, high-resolution records of magnetic susceptibility (MS) and gamma ray attenuation (GRA) bulk density are presented. These shipboard data sets were edited postcruise. Furthermore, I provide a high-resolution dry bulk density record that is derived from GRA bulk density and can be used for the calculation of mass accumulation rates. These sedimentological and physical parameters will be used in future work to understand the depositional pattern of alternating biogenic and terrigenous sediments that was observed at Site 1165 (Shipboard Scientific Party, 2001, doi:10.2973/odp.proc.ir.188.103.2001).

Cruces atlánticos de la memoria : Narrativa de España y Argentina

Fil: Sánchez, Mariela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina.