Differentiation of tumour-stage mycosis fungoides, psoriasis vulgaris and normal controls in a pilot study using serum proteomic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Serum proteomic analysis is an analytical technique utilizing high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS) in order to assay thousands of serum proteins simultaneously. The resultant 'proteomic signature' has been used to differentiate benign and malignant diseases, enable disease prognosis, and monitor response to therapy. OBJECTIVES: This pilot study was designed to determine if serum protein patterns could be used to distinguish patients with tumour-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) from patients with a benign inflammatory skin condition (psoriasis) and/or subjects with healthy skin. METHODS: Serum was analysed from 45 patients with tumour-stage MF, 56 patients with psoriasis, and 47 controls using two MS platforms of differing resolution. An artificial intelligence-based classification model was constructed to predict the presence of the disease state based on the serum proteomic signature. RESULTS: Based on data from an independent testing set (14-16 subjects in each group), MF was distinguished from psoriasis with 78.6% (or 78.6%) sensitivity and 86.7% (or 93.8%) specificity, while sera from patients with psoriasis were distinguished from those of nonaffected controls with 86.7% (or 93.8%) sensitivity and 75.0% (or 76.9%) specificity (depending on the MS platform used). MF was distinguished from unaffected controls with 61.5% (or 71.4%) sensitivity and 91.7% (or 92.9%) specificity. In addition, a secondary survival analysis using 11 MS peaks identified significant survival differences between two MF groups (all P-values <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum proteomics should be further investigated for its potential to identify patients with neoplastic skin disease and its ability to determine disease prognosis.

Properties of cholesterol-reduced butter made with beta-cyclodextrin and added evening primrose oil and phytosterols.

The present study was carried out to examine changes in the chemical and sensory properties of butter in which the cholesterol was reduced and to which evening primrose oil (EPO) and phytosterols were added. Crosslinked beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) made from adipic acid was used, and approximately 90% of the cholesterol was removed. The color measurement values "L" and "a" were significantly different between the control (butter with no beta-CD treatment and no added EPO and phytosterols) and treatment A (butter treated with 10% crosslinked beta-CD); however, the color values for "L" and "a" were similar. The color value "b" in treatment B (butter treated with 10% crosslinked beta-CD and 5% phytosterols and 3% EPO added) was significantly higher than in the other treatments. The thiobarbituric acid value of treatment B was significantly higher than that of the control and treatment A. Scores for hardness, elasticity, and cohesiveness were significantly lower in the control than in treatment A. Differences in sensory characteristics did not result from the beta-CD treatment but from the addition of EPO and phytosterols. In microscopic examinations, no noticeable differences were found among the treatments, and a smooth texture and a fine, uniform crystalline structure were observed. Results indicated that about 90% of the cholesterol was reduced by crosslinked beta-CD and that the beta-CD treatment itself did not adversely influence the chemical and sensory properties of the butter. However, the addition of EPO and phytosterols to the butter appeared to impair its sensory properties, especially in terms of rancidity and overall acceptability.

Microencapsulated iron for milk fortification.

This study was designed to develop a microencapsulated iron that could be used to fortify milk and to determine the sensory properties of milk fortified with microencapsulated iron. Coating material was polyglycerol monostearate (PGMS), and selected core material was ferric ammonium sulfate. The highest efficiency of microencapsulation was 75% with 5:1:30 ratio (w/w/v) as coating to core materials to distilled water. Iron release was 12% when stored at 4 degrees C for 3 days. The TBA value was the lowest when 100 ppm of capsulated iron was added into milk and was significantly lower in capsulated groups compared with that in uncapsulated groups. In an in vitro study, only 3-5% of iron was released in simulated gastric fluid (pH 3, 4, 5, and 6). Comparatively, iron release increased dramatically from 12.3% (pH 5) to 95.7% (pH 8) for 60 min of incubation in simulated intestinal fluid. In a sensory analysis, most aspects except for metallic taste and color were not significantly different between control and capsulated iron fortified milk at 3 days of storage. However, between capsulated and uncapsulated groups, astringency, metallic, color, and overall scores were significantly different. The present study indicated that the use of microencapsulated iron with PGMS is effective for fortifying milk.

Small intestinal angiolipoma: MR imaging appearance.

We report the magnetic resonance imaging finding in a case of small intestinal angiolipoma. Small bowel enteroclysis showed a well-defined, lobulated polypoid lesion in the proximal ileum. The mass showed central high signal intensity with peripheral iso-signal intensity on T1-weighted in-phase images. The central high signal intensity changed to low signal intensity on T1-weighted out-of-phase images. After contrast injection, the mass had a strong enhancement along the periphery of the lesion on fat-saturated T1-weighted images. Characteristic decreased signal intensity on out-of-phase T1-weighted images and strong enhancement on postcontrast images of the small bowel mass suggest the diagnosis of angiolipoma.

Correlation of Ultrasonographic Findings and Pathologic Prognostic Predictions in Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: Increased technologic capabilities have allowed for the expanded use of ultrasound beyond simple differentiation of a lesion as solid versus cystic nature, allowing us to classify lesions into various categories based on a number of descriptive features. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether to predict the preoperative prognosis of breast cancer through the correlation between ultrasonographic images and the grade of malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient population for this study consisted of 107 patients with infiltrative ductal carcinoma who were evaluated using ultrasound technology. Ultrasonographic findings were divided as follows: Type I, round or oval shape and regular border; Type II, partially round or oval shape and partially irregular border; and Type III, irregular shape and irregular border. RESULTS: 1. The frequency of grade 1 (G1) was significantly higher in the Type I group than the othergroups. 2. In the 2.0 cm sized mass, the lymph node metastasis rate was significantly lower in the Type I group than the other groups. 3. In all the groups, Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity was insignificant regardless of tumor size and type. 4. In the 2.0 cm sized mass, c-erbB-2 positivity was significantly lower in the Type I than the other groups. There was no clear difference among the three groups in tumors greater than 2.0 cm in size. CONCLUSION: These results show that our classification of ultrasonographic images reflect the grade of malignancy in terms of clinicopathological features in breast cancers less than 2.0 cm in size. Therefore, ultrasonographic findings may help predict the preoperative prognosis in T1 size breast cancer, although further study is required.

Technetium-99m MDP bone scintigraphic findings of hypercalcemia in accelerated phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Hypercalcemia in accelerated phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is very rare. Its pathogenesis is considered humoral hypercalcemia of malignancies mediated by parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). In severe hypercalcemia, calcifications in kidneys, skin, vessels, heart, and stomach may occur. Our two cases were admitted because of severe hypercalcemia in accelerated phase of CML. On Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphies, a marked tracer accumulation was seen in the lung, heart, stomach and kidney. We report increased tracer accumulation of multiple organs on Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy in two rare hypercalcemic patients with CML.

Pseudotumorous hyperplasia of the caudate lobe in the non-cirrhotic liver: MR and CT arterial portography appearance.

We describe the magnetic resonance image and computed tomographic arterial portography appearance of pseudotumorous hyperplasia in the caudate process of the caudate lobe in a non-cirrhotic patient. A prominent portal vein branch directly arising from the right main portal branch was seen in the center of the lesion on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic arterial portography. We think that portal flow change of the caudate lobe by an anomalous portal branch may be correlated to pseudotumorous hyperplasia.

CT findings of extramedullary hematopoiesis in the thorax, liver and kidneys, in a patient with idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis occurring in multiple organs such as thorax, liver and both kidneys is an unusual condition. We report the CT findings of this condition with review of literature. The lesions consisted of intrathoracic paravertebral masses, focal intrahepatic mass and masses of both pelvocalyceal systems on CT scans.

Endogenous intracellular glutathionyl radicals are generated in neuroblastoma cells under hydrogen peroxide oxidative stress.

We report the detection of endogenous intracellular glutathionyl (GS.) radicals in the intact neuroblastoma cell line NCB-20 under oxidative stress. Spin-trapping and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic methods were used for monitoring the radicals. The cells incubated with the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline 1-oxide (DMPO) were challenged with H2O2 generated by the enzymic reaction of glucose/glucose oxidase. These cells exhibit the EPR spectrum of the GS. radical adduct of DMPO (DMPO-.SG) without exogenous reduced glutathione (GSH). The identity of this radical adduct was confirmed by observing hyperfine coupling constants identical to previously reported values in in vitro studies, which utilized known enzymic reactions, such as horseradish peroxidase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, with GSH and H2O2 as substrates. The formation of the GS. radicals required viable cells and continuous biosynthesis of GSH. No significant effect on the resonance amplitude by the addition of a membrane-impermeable paramagnetic broadening agent indicated that these radicals were located inside the intact cell. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)-treated cells produced NAC-derived free radicals (NAC.) in place of GS. radicals. The time course studies showed that DMPO-.SG formation exhibited a large increase in its concentration after a lag period, whereas DMPO-NAC. formation from NAC-treated cells did not show this sudden increase. These results were discussed in terms of the limit of antioxidant enzyme defenses in cells and the potential role of the GS. radical burst in activation of the transcription nuclear factor NF-kappa B in response to oxidative stress.