MALDI imaging mass spectrometry reveals multiple clinically relevant masses in colorectal cancer using large-scale tissue microarrays.

For identification of clinically relevant masses to predict status, grade, relapse and prognosis of colorectal cancer, we applied Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to a tissue micro array containing formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 349 patients. Analysis of our MALDI-IMS data revealed 27 different m/z signals associated with epithelial structures. Comparison of these signals showed significant association with status, grade and Ki-67 labeling index. Fifteen out of 27 IMS signals revealed a significant association with survival. For seven signals (m/z 654, 776, 788, 904, 944, 975 and 1013) the absence and for eight signals (m/z 643, 678, 836, 886, 898, 1095, 1459 and 1477) the presence were associated with decreased life expectancy, including five masses (m/z 788, 836, 904, 944 and 1013) that provided prognostic information independently from the established prognosticators pT and pN. Combination of these five masses resulted in a three-step classifier that provided prognostic information superior to univariate analysis. In addition, a total of 19 masses were associated with tumor stage, grade, metastasis and cell proliferation. Our data demonstrate the suitability of combining IMS and large-scale tissue micro arrays to simultaneously identify and validate clinically useful molecular marker. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Paradoxical effects of serotonin and opioids in pemoline-induced self-injurious behavior.

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a symptom of various psychiatric disorders with differing etiologies. Although no generally effective pharmacological treatment of SIB is available, subsets of individuals exhibiting SIB have been found to respond to opioid antagonists and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The present study evaluated the efficacy of these two treatments in the pemoline-induced model of self-biting behavior (SBB) in rats. Using a factorial design, adult rats receiving daily pemoline at 100 mg/kg or the peanut oil vehicle were pretreated with either distilled water vehicle (1 cc/kg), naltrexone (1 mg/kg), or paroxetine (1 mg/kg). Each day, animals were rated on the severity of SBB and also periodically behavioral changes were evaluated using various other outcome measures. Paroxetine significantly increased the severity of SBB induced by pemoline, while naltrexone only marginally increased the SBB. These results were not expected and suggest that further studies into the role of serotonin agonists and antagonists are needed in evaluating this model.

Case report.

The nursing care of a patient following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is challenging and multifaceted. Physical and emotional support through the acute period following the insult and preparation for the rehabilitative process are among the early goals of care. This case report provides a detailed interpretation of the physical and behavioral responses experienced by a patient following SAH. Included are nursing interventions formulated by the interpretation of these responses.

A comparison of pulmonary complications in spinal cord-injured patients treated with two modes of spinal immobilization.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of two modes of spinal immobilization, the kinetic treatment table (KTT) and the traditionally used wedge turning device (WTD) on the development of pulmonary complications in two groups of acutely spinal cord-injured (SCI) clients. Variables examined included incidence of pulmonary infection, length of requirement of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and length of hospitalization. Results indicated that those clients treated with the KTT experienced a lower incidence of pulmonary infection (p less than 0.05) and required less time on mechanical ventilation (p less than 0.05) than those subjects in the WTD group. Length of ICU stay and length of hospitalization were not significantly influenced by the mode of spinal immobilization.

High-level noise source for the calibration of Johnson noise power thermometers.

A new high-level noise source was developed specifically for the calibration of Johnson noise power thermometers (JNPT), but it is useful in other applications requiring a stable, wideband, well-defined noise power spectral density. The design concept for the noise source is based on the fact that the open-circuit thermal noise voltage of a feedback resistor, connecting the output to the input of an inverting amplifier, is available at the amplifier output from an equivalent low output impedance caused by the feedback mechanism. The noise power spectral density level at the noise source output is equivalent to the density of the open-circuit thermal noise of a 100-Omega resistor at a temperature of about 64 000 K. The noise source has an output power spectral density that is flat to within 0.1% (0.0043 dB) in the frequency range 1-150 kHz which brackets typical passbands of the signal-processing channels of JNPTs. The noise source was evaluated by comparing its output noise power with the thermal noise power generated by a platinum resistor of known ohmic value at the temperature of the aluminum freezing point (933.52 K). The measured noise power was within 0.06% of the value computed from the fundamental thermal noise equation of Nyquist. The power spectral density varies less than 0.03% for ambient temperature fluctuations in the range 15 degrees -35 degrees C.