Adult prostate sarcoma: radiological-clinical correlation.

AIM: To describe the imaging features and the correlation with clinical findings of adult prostate sarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiological data of seven adult male patients with prostate sarcoma, documented by pathological examination of specimens, were analysed retrospectively. Radiological features were correlated with clinical and pathological findings. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 45.8 years (range 21-76 years). The mean value of the serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) in seven patients was 1.59 ng/ml (range 0.735-3.72 ng/ml). Five patients had leiomyosarcomas and two had rhabdomyosarcomas. The most common symptom was urinary obstruction (n=7) and the most common sign was the markedly enlarged prostate as revealed by digital rectal examination (n=7). The mean size of the tumours was 8.7 x 7.2 x 7 cm (range 6.5 x 5x 6.5 to 12.1 x 10.2 x 8.9 cm). Tumours were round (n=4), lobular (n=2), or irregular (n=1). Two tumours occupied the majority of the prostate and five occupied the entire prostate. One tumour appeared as a homogeneous mass, and six tumours contained cystic areas on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Tumours enhanced avidly on contrast-enhanced CT (n=5) and MRI (n=2). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS; n=2) showed the ratio of choline:citrate to be 1.6 and 10.75. Tumour invasion was present in the bladder (n=3) and rectum (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: Adult prostate sarcoma was characteristically shown to be a large and heterogeneous mass with rapid, hypervascular and heterogeneous enhancement on CT and MRI. The main MRS feature was a marked increase in the choline:citrate ratio. The clinical manifestations corresponded mainly to local mass effects and tumour invasion.

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Isolation and characterization of microsatellite DNA loci from the southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma.

Paucity of polymorphic molecular markers in southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) has been a major limitation in genetic improvement of this important economic fish. Hence, we constructed a repeat-enriched genomic library from P. lethostigma. A total of 39 new microsatellites were identified, for which 33 primer pairs were designed. After validating and scoring, 10 of these loci were polymorphic in a test population with the range of alleles from two to nine per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.2500 to 0.9000 and from 0.4469 to 0.8514, respectively. These polymorphic microsatellites will be useful for genetic diversity analysis and linkage map construction for P. lethostigma.

CT-guided percutaneous neurolytic celiac plexus block technique.

Up to now, the studies in the world have demonstrated that CT-guided percutaneous neurolytic celiac plexus block (PNCPB) is an invaluable therapeutic modality in the treatment of refractory abdominal pain caused by cancer. Its efficacy of pain relief varied in reported studies. The main technical considerations which would affect the analgesic effects on abdominal pain included the patients' cooperation, needle entry approaches, combined use of blocking approaches, localization of the target area, dosage of the blocker, and so on. A success of PNCPB depends greatly on close cooperation with patients. The patient should be educated about the purpose and steps of the procedure, and trained of breathing in and breathing hold. The needle entry can be divided into the posterior approach and the anterior approach. The former one is the most commonly used in clinical practice, but the latter one is rarely used except in the cases that the posterior approach becomes technically difficult. Bilateral multiple blocking of celiac plexus and splanchnic nerves is often required to achieve optimal analgesia. The needle entry site, insertion course, and depth should be preselected and simulated on CT monitor prior to the procedure in order to ensure an accurate and safe celiac plexus block. The magnitude of analgesic effect is closely related to the degree of degeneration and necrosis of the celiac plexus. Maximally filling with blocker in the retropancreatic space is an indication of sufficient blocking. We also provided an overview of indications and contraindications, preoperative preparations, complications and its treatment of PNCPB.