OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to assess the standard uptake value in clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its correlation with pathological status and prognosis.
METHODS
We ...retrospectively reviewed 674 patients diagnosed with NSCLC between January 2002 and June 2005. Patients with clinical stage I diseases undergone a preoperative positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan followed by anatomic resection. We reviewed the clinical features of 152 patients with an average follow-up of 87 months.
RESULTS
We analysed the clinical features of 108 patients with stage I NSCLC and 44 patients with non-stage I NSCLC. There were no statistical differences in age, histological type, location or tumour differentiation between the two groups. In the Stage I group, the patients had lower maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax; 3.80 ± 3.17 vs 5.73 ± 3.65, P = 0.001), lower carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels (2.86 ± 4.80 vs 9.11 ± 17.21 ng/ml, P = 0.027) and smaller tumour size (2.39 ± 0.98 vs 3.73 ± 2.04 cm, P < 0.001). The patients with higher SUVmax had a more advanced pathological stage, poorer tumour differentiation and larger tumour size. A higher SUVmax was an independent factor predicting an advanced pathological stage (SUVmax ≥3.3, odds ratio 3.246). The median survival of patients with SUVmax ≥3.3 and SUVmax <3.3 were 64.32 and 53.08 months, respectively (P = 0.654).
CONCLUSIONS
Higher preoperative 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by a tumour was significantly associated with an advanced pathological stage but not correlated with a poorer prognosis. An aggressive preoperative work-up for occult N2 disease should be emphasized, avoiding inappropriate thoracotomy.
General description of the physicochemical consequences of the different sterilization methods on the dextran-coated magnetic nanoparticles. Display omitted
► Caution must be taken when sterilizing ...DMNPs. ► All four treatments did not alter the core size and magnetic behavior. ► All four treatments on DMNPs induced no additional toxic effects. ► Filtration decreased the mean hydrodynamic size and weight percentage of cores. ► Sample size distribution has alterations under autoclaving and ethanol treatment.
Dextran-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (DMNPs) have attracted significant attention for their many applications in biomedical area such as diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and gene therapy. For biomedical applications, nanoparticles must be sterile, and several terminal sterilization methods can be used. However, very little is known regarding the effect of sterilization methods on the properties of DMNPs. It is crucial to find out whether the DMNPs are affected by the sterilization process. This paper reported the influences on the physicochemical properties of DMNPs from four different methods: autoclaving, sterile filtration, UV irradiation and chemical sterilization with ethanol. In addition, cell viability was also studied. Our results indicate that filter sterilization changes the iron oxide/dextran ratio in DMNPs sample significantly. Besides, the autoclaving and ethanol treatment affected the polydispersity index of DMNPs sample. Thus, caution must be taken when choosing an appropriate method to perform sterilization for DMNPs.
Reactions of coordinatively unsaturated RuN(Ph2PQ)22(PPh3) (Q = S (1), Se (2)) with pyridine (py), SO2, and NH3 afford the corresponding 18e adducts RuN(Ph2PQ)22(PPh3)(L) (Q = S, L = NH3 (5); Q = Se, ...L = py (3), SO2 (4), NH3 (6)). The molecular structures of complexes 2 and 6 are determined. The geometry around Ru in 2 is pseudo square pyramidal with PPh3 occupying the apical position, while that in 6 is pseudooctahedral with PPh3 and NH3 mutually cis. The Ru−P distances in 2 and 6 are 2.2025(11) and 2.2778(11) Å, respectively. The Ru−N bond length in 6 is 2.185(3) Å. Treatment of 1 or 2 with substituted hydrazines L or NH2OH yields the respective adducts RuN(Ph2PQ)22(PPh3)(L) (Q = S, L = NH2NH2 (12), t-BuNHNH2 (14), 1-aminopiperidine (C5H10NNH2) (15); Q = Se, L = PhCONHNH2 (7), PhNHNH2 (8), NH2OH (9), t-BuNHNH2 (10), C5H10NNH2 (11), NH2NH2 (13)), which are isolated as mixtures of their trans and cis isomers. The structures of cis-14 and cis-15 are characterized by X-ray crystallography. In both molecular structures, the ruthenium adopts a pseudooctahedral arrangement with PPh3 and hydrazine mutually cis. The Ru−N bond lengths in cis-14·CH2Cl2 and cis-15 are 2.152(3) and 2.101(3) Å, respectively. The Ru−N−N bond angles in cis-14·CH2Cl2 and cis-15 are 120.5(4) and 129.0(2)°, respectively. Treatment of 1 with hydrazine monohydrate leads to the isolation of yellow 5 and red trans-RuN(Ph2PS)22(NH3)(H2O) (16), which are characterized by mass spectrometry, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The geometry around ruthenium in 16 is pseudooctahedral with the NH3 and H2O ligands mutually trans. The Ru−O and Ru−N bond distances are 2.118(4) and 2.142(6) Å, respectively. Oxidation reactions of the above ruthenium hydrazine complexes are also studied.
Objective. To determine the utility of targeted sonography in the evaluation of patients with focal breast pain. Methods. From January 1995 through December 1999, 110 targeted sonographic ...examinations were performed in 99 patients for evaluation of focal breast pain in the absence of an associated palpable mass. The sonographic, mammographic, and clinical findings were reviewed. The hospital pathology database was searched to identify any interval cancers and false‐negative interpretations. Results. No cancer was identified in any of the 110 examinations. Eighty‐five (77.3%) of the examinations had negative findings. Cysts were identified in 15 cases (13.6%), and 3 solid masses (2.7%) were identified. Two of these 3 solid masses had biopsies and were shown to be benign, whereas the third mass was followed for 29 months without change. Most patients were premenopausal, had no family or personal history of breast cancer, and were not taking exogenous hormones. Eighty‐five patients (77%) were referred by primary care physicians. Conclusions. In patients with focal breast pain without an associated palpable mass, sonography may be more useful for patient reassurance than for cancer detection.
Routine screening for hepatocellular carcinoma among chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus using a combination of abdominal sonography and serum alpha-fetoprotein levels is widely practiced. Negative ...results on an abdominal sonogram generally indicate the absence of hepatocellular carcinoma despite the elevation of alpha-fetoprotein levels, but the false-negative rate of abdominal sonography has not been established prospectively.
In our screening program, we routinely investigated patients with Lipiodol (iodized oil) CT when they presented with alpha-fetoprotein levels above 20 ng/mL or a focal lesion as depicted on abdominal sonography. Lipiodol CT comprised a hepatic angiogram with injection of Lipiodol selectively in the hepatic arteries, followed by an unenhanced CT scan 10 days later. Positive findings on Lipiodol CT were confirmed histologically by biopsy or surgical resection. We defined false-negative as histologic diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma within 3 months of normal findings on screening abdominal sonography.
One hundred three patients with elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels were investigated with Lipiodol CT within 2 months of abdominal sonography. Of these, three of 70 patients with negative abdominal sonography had histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, abdominal sonography has a false-negative rate of 4.3%. Lipiodol CT is associated with a significant false-positive rate of 43.7%. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of abdominal sonography for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma among hepatitis B virus carriers with elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels was 85.7%, 81.7%, and 54.5%, respectively.
Negative results on a screening abdominal sonogram among hepatitis B virus carriers with elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels does not rule out the presence of small hepatocellular carcinoma. Routine use of Lipiodol CT as a supplementary screening tool is not recommended.
Realizable one-step RT-PCR assays specific for influenza PB2, PB1 and PA segments are described in this report. The designs of the consensus primers were based on more than five thousands polymerase ...genes derived from avian or mammalian viral strains. All the viral RNA tested in this study could be consistently amplified by the assays. The reaction products were specific and could be used for direct DNA sequencing. These assays might be useful tools to study the sequences of these genes.
To provide a practical action plan for effective infection control of norovirus outbreak in acute paediatric wards.
We report the infection control measures that were implemented to terminate and to ...prevent nosocomial spread of norovirus gastroenteritis in an open-designed paediatric ward.
Nine children, one visitor, and one medical student were affected in a norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak in an acute paediatric ward. Vomiting was the main presenting symptom. The outbreak was rapidly terminated three days after implementation of stringent infection control measures and there was no second wave of attack. These measures included strict contact precautions, prompt isolation and cohorting of symptomatic patients, vigorous environmental cleansing with concentrated disinfectant (hypochlorite solution 1000 ppm), meticulous handling of waste products, and efficient contact tracing of exposed patients, family members, and medical students.
Prompt implementation of stringent infection control measures and contact tracing can rapidly terminate the norovirus outbreak and prevent a second wave of infection. Children with unexplained vomiting and those with contact history of gastroenteritis should be properly triaged, isolated, and investigated for possible infective causes, including norovirus-induced gastroenteritis.
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