Determination of c-erbB-2/Her-2/Neu status in breast cancer: comparative analysis between immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry

Background

Amplification or overexpression of c-erbB-2 has been identified in 10% to 40% of breast cancers and its determination may be of both prognostic and therapeutic relevance. However, problems exist with the selection of the best methodology to determine the c-erbB-2 status.

Method

We prospectively analyzed the cytosolic and membranous c-erbB-2 expression in a group of 60 breast tumors by both, ELISA and immunohistochemical assays.

Results

The results showed positive staining in 45% of the tumors and a wide variability in both membranous and cytosolic content. There was a significant correlation between c-erbB-2 content and immunohistochemical staining without relationship with any clinicopathological parameters. However, there were also discordant results: 33% of tumors with low membranous levels by ELISA had a positive immunostaining for the p185, whereas 26% with high levels had a negative staining. Similarly, there were discordant results in the cytosolic determination.

Conclusions

In summary, our results showed a significant relationship between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ELISA determinations of c-erbB-2 in breast cancer. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the significant number of tumors showing discordant results.     

基因芯片技术在脑损伤研究中的应用

基因芯片技术是最近发展起来的新兴分子生物学技术,它的并行处理特点使大规模研究脑损伤后的基因改变成为切实可能。本文综述了新近用基因芯片技术在脑损伤后基因表达时序性改变及基因表达谱分析等研究中的应用。     

Results of randomized controlled trials of low-versus high-osmolality contrast media

The authors reviewed 100 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in humans to compare safety or efficacy of new low-osmolality contrast media (LOM) with that of high-osmolality contrast media (HOM). Findings of the 43 RCTs judged to be of the highest quality suggest that the efficacy of LOM in imaging is equal or superior to that of HOM for all routes of administration. Heat sensation occurred less often with LOM for all routes and pain occurred less often with LOM for intraarterial routes. No differences were seen in nephrotoxicity or in frequency of nausea, vomiting, urticaria, bronchospasm, laboratory test abnormalities, or neurologic events. Greater cardiovascular changes were seen with HOM, including increased or decreased heart rate, increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, decreased systolic pressure, and QT prolongation, depending on route of administration. To demonstrate whether a reduction in clinically significant adverse outcomes truly occurs with LOM, trials will need to enlist larger numbers of patients and employ appropriate outcome measures. Future trials should stratify patients according to their risk of adverse reactions to provide better information about benefits of LOM in low- versus high-risk patients.     

Isthmic spondylolysis of the lumbar spine: MR imaging at 1.5 T

The appearance on magnetic resonance (MR) images of the normal pars interarticularis in 13 patients was reviewed and contrasted with that of the pars in eight patients with spondylolysis. The pars defect usually had an intermediate signal intensity with all pulse sequences; however, this intensity was somewhat variable depending on the exact ratio of cartilage, fat, and fluid within each bone defect. The pars defect was best seen with spin-echo 600/20 (repetition time msec/echo time msec) images. In three cases, out-of-phase images showed the spondylolysis best, because of extension of fat to the borders of the defect. The sagittal view allowed one to separate spondylolysis from the joint space of posterior facets since the orientation of the defects is perpendicular to the facets; thus, a common pitfall encountered with cross-sectional axial imaging techniques is avoided. MR imaging poorly delineated bone fragments around the defect, which may produce nerve root impingement, but revealed other numerous complications that occur with spondylolysis, including spondylolisthesis and herniation of the disk above.     

Transabdominal versus endovaginal pelvic sonography: prospective study

Transabdominal and endovaginal pelvic sonograms were obtained in 108 nonpregnant patients referred for pelvic sonography. The studies were independently obtained by two radiologists and interpreted on the basis of identical clinical information. The sonograms were then compared for anatomic detail and abnormalities. A determination was made about which examination, if either, was superior. Follow-up was performed through a review of the medical records and follow-up studies. Overall, the endovaginal study was judged superior in 65 cases (60.2%), equal in 39 (36.1%), and inferior in four (3.7%). The authors conclude that the endovaginal examination can effectively replace the transabdominal examination as the initial approach for routine pelvic sonography.     

从平贝母茎叶中分离的平贝啶甙的结构

本文报道自平贝母(Fritillaria ussuriensis Maxim)的地上茎叶中分得一种新的甾体生物碱甙,定名为平贝啶甙(pingbeidinoside),mp 242～243.2℃[a]_D²⁵+6.9°(c 0.145,MeOH)。经IR,MS,¹HNMR和¹³CNMR谱解析,推定其结构为3β,16α,20-三羟基-Δ⁵-22,26-缩亚胺胆甾烷-25-O-α-D-葡萄糖甙。     

Childhood scoliosis: MR imaging

The spinal cords of 28 scoliosis patients between the ages of 1 month and 17 years were examined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Complete visualization was obtained in all cases. In 15 patients (53%) neuropathologic abnormalities demonstrated by MR imaging significantly affected their clinical course, including tethered cords (n = 7), syringomyelia (n = 5), Arnold-Chiari I malformation (n = 4), spinal cord tumors (n = 2), Arnold-Chiari II malformation (n = 3), and diastematomyelia (n = 1). The advantages of MR imaging in the evaluation of the scoliotic spine in children include a high sensitivity for the occult conditions associated with scoliosis, good anatomic demonstration of the cord, and absence of bone artifacts. MR imaging is recommended as a primary imaging modality in scoliosis, following conventional radiography.     

Synthesis and antirhinovirus activity of cyano and amidino substituted flavanoids

Cyano and amidino flavans, isoflavans and 3(2H)-isoflavenes were synthesized in order to study their in vitro antirhino-virus activity, by comparison with the known corresponding chloro derivatives. The activity of the new compounds was evaluated on rhinovirus 1 B infected HeLa cell cultures by examining their ability to interfere with viral cytopathic effect and with plaque formation. It was found that generally the cyano derivatives behave like the chloro compounds, whereas the amidino derivatives show a lower activity, although always dependent on the position of substituent.