Effect of layer-by-layer antimicrobial edible coating of alginate and chitosan with grapefruit seed extract for shelf-life extension of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) stored at 4 °C.

The effect of a layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic deposition coating of alginate and chitosan with grapefruit seed extract was investigated on the shelf life of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) stored for 15 days under refrigeration (4 °C). The shrimp were periodically analyzed for changes in microbiological parameters (total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and total aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria counts), chemical parameters, melanosis, and sensory characteristics. The chitosan-alginate coating had the advantage of reducing the bacterial count by 2 log CFU in combination with the antimicrobial activity of the grapefruit seed extract. The bilayer coating reduced the off-flavor of shrimp during the storage period by preventing the odor of acetic acid that was used to dissolve chitosan. In conclusion, chitosan and chitosan-alginate treatments could prolong the shelf life of shrimp.

Comparison of neoadjuvant adriamycin and docetaxel versus adriamycin, cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel in patients with operable breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced breast cancer and is increasingly considered for patients with operable disease. Recently, as many clinical trials have demonstrated favorable outcomes of anthracycline-taxane based regimen, this approach has been widely used in the neoadjuvant setting. METHODS: We compared women who received adriamycine and docetaxel (AD) with adriamycin, cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel (AC-T) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The AD group was scheduled for six cycles of AD (50 mg/m(2) and 75 mg/m(2), respectively) at a 3-week interval. The AC-T group was scheduled for four cycles of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/m(2) and 500 mg/m(2), respectively) followed by four cycles of paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) at a 3-week interval. RESULTS: The responses of chemotherapy were equivalent (overall response rate [AD, 75.7% vs. AC-T, 80.9%; P = 0.566], pathologic complete response [pCR] rate [breast and axilla: AD, 10.8% vs. AC-T, 12.8%; P = 1.000; breast only: AD, 18.9% vs. AC-T, 14.9%, P = 0.623], breast conserving surgery rate [P = 0.487], and breast conserving surgery conversion rate [P = 0.562]). The pCR rate in the breast was higher in the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive cases (HER2 positive 33.3% vs. negative 10%, P = 0.002). Although nonhematologic toxicities were comparable, hematologic toxicities were more severe in the AD group. Most women in the AD group suffered from grade 3/4 neutropenia (P < 0.001) and neutropenic fever (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tumor responses were not different in various variables between the two groups. However, AC-T was a more tolerable regimen than AD in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Granulocytic sarcoma in breast after bone marrow transplantation.

Granulocytic sarcoma is a localized extramedullary solid tumor composed of immature myeloid cell and is usually associated with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Although it can involve any site, commonly in lymph nodes, skin, bone and soft tissue, the involvement of breast is unusual. Especially, the involvement of the breast as a pattern of relapse after bone marrow transplantation is extremely rare. We have experienced 2 cases of granulocytic sarcoma after bone marrow transplantation. One case was a 39-year-old woman with right breast mass diagnosed with granulocytic sarcoma. She had received an unrelated bone marrow transplantation due to biphenotype acute leukemia 3 years before our presentation. Another case was a 48-year-old woman with acute myeloid leukemia, who was diagnosed with granulocytic sarcoma on both breasts 8 months after allogenic bone marrow transplantation. We also discuss the clinicopathologic features of granulocytic sarcoma in breast after bone marrow transplantation.

Effect of Intravesical Prostatic Protrusion on the Characteristics of Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Change after 12-Week Drug Medication: A Prospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify whether intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) is related to the characteristics of voiding symptoms improvement after drug treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. METHODS: Ninety male patients with more than 30 g prostate volume were prospectively enrolled. All patients were evaluated with International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, postvoid residual urine (PVR), prostate volume and IPP measurement by transrectal ultrasound. Treatment response was evaluated again by IPSS after 12 weeks of medication. We evaluated the correlation of IPP and IPSS, quality of life (QoL) score, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and PVR, and compared IPPS and IPSS subscale score change between the IPP and non-IPP groups. RESULTS: IPP was significantly correlated with total IPSS, voiding/storage symptom subscore and PVR. IPP was inversely correlated with Qmax. IPP showed a significant correlation with storage symptoms after an adjustment of prostate volume. After 12 weeks of medication, the IPP group showed persistently high storage symptoms than the non-IPP group. CONCLUSION: BPH patients with IPP showed less improvement of storage symptoms after 12 weeks of medication. This study suggests that IPP may be a possible cause of intractable storage symptoms in early treatment.