Diagnosing pulmonary thromboembolism: Concerns and controversies

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is an important cause of mortality/morbidity even today despite advancement in clinical understanding as well as diagnostic facilities. Clinical diagnosis of PTE is often challenging because of nonspecific sign/symptoms. Adherence to clinical decision-making protocols and appropriate use of diagnostic modalities like computed tomography pulmonary angiography can resolve the diagnostic dilemma in most cases and help in the overall management of PTE. This article deals with various concerns as well as controversies surrounding accurate diagnosis of PTE as on date.     

A basal‐enriched microRNA is required for prostate tumorigenesis in a Pten knockout mouse model

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in prostate cancer development. However, it remains unclear how individual miRNAs contribute to the initiation and progression of prostate cancer. Here we show that a basal layer‐enriched miRNA is required for prostate tumorigenesis. We identify miR‐205 as the most highly expressed miRNA and enriched in the basal cells of the prostate. Although miR‐205 is not required for normal prostate development and homeostasis, genetic deletion of miR‐205 in a Pten null tumor model significantly compromises tumor progression and does not promote metastasis. In Pten null basal cells, loss of miR‐205 attenuates pAkt levels and promotes cellular senescence. Furthermore, although overexpression of miR‐205 in prostate cancer cells with luminal phenotypes inhibits cell growth in both human and mouse, miR‐205 has a minimal effect on the growth of a normal human prostate cell line. Taken together, we have provided genetic evidence for a requirement of miR‐205 in the progression of Pten null‐induced prostate cancer.     

Microspheres of essential oil in polylactic acid and poly(methyl methacrylate) matrices and their blends

This study is focussed on micro-encapsulation of essential oils in polylactic acid (PLA) and a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix as well as blends of the same. Microspheres were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique and characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). The encapsulation efficiencies and release profiles of the essential oils were studied by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and head-space solid-phase microextraction GC-MS, respectively. Furthermore, the microspheres were tested for antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains.

The results showed that the microspheres compositions (PLA/PMMA ratio) have significant effect on their characteristics. The process adopted for preparing the microspheres promoted formation of spherical particles at the sizes of 1.5–9.5?µm. The highest encapsulation efficiency of the prepared microspheres was observed in systems consisting of linalool (81.10?±?10.0?wt. % for PLA system and 76.0?±?3.3?wt. % for PMMA system). Confirmation was also made that the release rate of the microspheres was affected by the size of the same.     

多层螺旋CT对继发性附件扭转的综合评估

目的探讨继发性附件扭转的CT特征及其诊断效能,构建继发性附件扭转的评分系统。资料与方法收集经手术证实的伴有附件肿物的继发性附件扭转患者37例,以及伴有腹痛、附件肿物的对照组患者34例,分析继发性附件扭转的CT特征,采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线评价其诊断效能,构建继发性附件扭转的综合评分系统(AT-CI)。结果与对照组比较,继发性附件扭转以下CT特征发生率较高,包括肿物壁偏心性增厚(X^2=4.41,P<0.05)、附件出血(X^2=12.68,P<0.001)、肿物-子宫之间团块状结构(X^2=13.62,P<0.001)、旋涡征(X^2=10.71,P<0.05)、附件周围脂肪模糊/腹水(X^2=5.82,P<0.05)。其中肿物-子宫之间团块状结构敏感度及诊断价值最高,为81.1%(ROC曲线下面积0.71),旋涡征特异度最高,为91.2%。ATCI诊断效能优于任意单一CT特征(ROC曲线下面积0.83),评分0~2分继发性附件扭转可能性小,3~4分怀疑继发性附件扭转,评分>4分,则高度怀疑继发性附件扭转且特异度为100%。结论继发性附件扭转具有典型的CT特征,包括肿物壁偏心性增厚、附件出血、肿物-子宫之间团块状结构、旋涡征、肿物周围脂肪模糊/腹水。AT-CI是综合了继发性附件扭转全部CT特征的实用评分系统,提高了继发性附件扭转的诊断准确性。