Prediction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy response using diffuse optical spectroscopy in breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Near-infrared diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) has been recently used to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy response (NAC). In the present study, we explore the change in blood-oxygen content using DOS to predict NAC response against breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients were enrolled and underwent DOS scan with blood-oxygen detection before each treatment cycle. The first DOS scan was performed before NAC treatment (pretreatment), and subsequent scans were performed after each NAC treatment circle. Changes in blood content and oxygen content by DOS were evaluated and compared with tumor size, and their changes were analyzed in response versus nonresponse group. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were classified into response and seven patients into nonresponse group. The tumor blood content value (-1.06 ± 0.43) and oxygen content value (0.48 ± 0.17) of DOS at pretreatment was significantly different from presurgery in response group (P < 0.05), but not in nonresponse group. In response group, the percentage change in blood content (median 91.19%) was significantly larger than tumor size (median 48.89%) (P = 0.0035), while in oxygen content (median 47.11%) is not (P = 0.2815). Comparing each cycle, the percentage change in blood content could distinguish responder from non-responder as early as after the first treatment cycle (19.1 versus 6.6%, P = 0.0265). Blood content percentage sensitivity was 76.9% and specificity was 85.7% (AUC 0.912), while oxygen content percentage sensitivity was 76.9% and specificity was 71.4% (AUC 0.797). CONCLUSION: Both blood and oxygen content measured by DOS could be used to discriminate responder to the treatment versus non-responder. Among the two, percentage change of blood content was more precise and earlier than that of oxygen content to predicted breast tumor response. The percentage change in blood content could distinguish responder from non-responder after the first treatment cycle.

Protective effects of Chinese and Brazilian propolis treatment against hepatorenal lesion in diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus promoted an overproduction of free radicals and an increased incidence of both diabetic nephropathy and liver disease. In this report, we evaluated the effects of Chinese and Brazilian propolis on streptozotocin-induced hepatorenal injury in rats. The results demonstrated that Chinese propolis-treated rats had a 7.4% reduction in the glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc) level compared with untreated diabetic rats. Additionally, Chinese propolis induced an increase in the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level significantly while Brazilian propolis raised serum SOD and reduced level of malonaldehyde (MDA) and nitric synthetase (NOS). Of the measurable decrease in serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and microalbuminuria demonstrated the propolis-mediated improvement of hepatorenal function, which was further confirmed by histological examination. We also observed that Chinese and Brazilian propolis increased hepatorenal glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) level and inhibited MDA production significantly. These results suggested that propolis may prevent hepatorenal injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.

Determination of low-level methylmercury concentrations in water and complex matrices by different analytical methods: a methodological intercomparison

As an intelaboratory comparison, MeHg was analyzed in various samples (rain, river, lake, and runoff water, as well as in soil and liquid bacterial cultures) using different separation procedures and detection techniques. Various combinations of different separation procedures were compared: 1. Anion exchange after acidification with HCI. 2. Water vapor distilation with Nh3 for liquid phases or with the addition of H2S04 and NaCi for solid phases. 3. Cryogenic gas chromatography (GC) after aqueous phase ethyiation. 4. Preconcentration of MeHg on a sulthydryl cotton fiber, followed by HCI addition and extraction with benzene. 5. Acidification with a CuSO4/H2SO4/NaCi solution and toluene extraction, followed by a back extraction into Na2S2O3 solution, and incubation with bacterial cells capabie of enzymatically converting MeHg to CH4. 6. HCI extraction into toluene and MeHg recovery with Na2S2O3 solution. MeHg was subsequently back extracted into a toluene phase with CuSO4. Different detection techniques were also applied: 1.Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). 2. Atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). 3. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometr(GFAAS). 4. Capollary column gas chromatography (GC-ECD). 5. Wide-bore column gas chromatography...