Radiological manifestations of malignant pleural mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma has had a rising incidence in Australia over the past 40 years. This pictorial essay gives a brief account of the condition, summarizes the various radiological manifestations and aims at increasing the awareness of a disease that is expected to reach its peak incidence in the early decades of the twenty‐first century.     

Successful emergency endovascular treatment of juxtarenal and infrarental mycotic aortic aneurysms in patients with small diameter aortae using Cook? Zenith ESLE Stentgrafts

BACKGROUND:

Endovascular repair of mycotic aneurysm is an alternative to open repair if the patho-anatomy is suitable. The aortic size above and below the mycotic aneurysm may be small.

METHODS:

A retrospective review was made of prospectively collected departmental computerised database.

RESULTS:

Three oriental patients with juxta- and infra-renal mycotic aortic aneurysms with a small aortic diameter of 17 mm to 18 mm underwent successful emergency endovascular treatment using Cook^® Zenith ESLE stentgrafts. These are ancillary devices aimed at iliac extensions usually.

CONCLUSION:

This is to our knowledge the first case series of Cook^® Zenith ESLE iliac component endografts for the treatment of aortic mycotic aneurysms with small aortae, and short- and mid-term results are encouraging.KEY WORDS: Endovascular, Mycotic, Small aorta, Oversizing, Cook^®, Zenith ESLE Stentgrafts     

骨性Ⅲ类错[牙合]手术与非手术治疗边缘病例的颅面特征分析

目的探讨骨性Ⅲ类错[牙合]手术与非手术边缘病例的颅面特征,为选择临床治疗方法提供参考。方法选择完成治疗的骨性Ⅲ类错[牙合]边缘病例,单纯正畸组13例,手术治疗组12例,统计分析2组病例治疗前的X线头影测量值。结果Mann-Whitney u检验显示2组下颌骨前颅底长度比Go-Me／S-N（P=0.026）、上下颌切牙的交角U1-L1（P=0.030）、Holdaway角（P=0.026）的差异有统计学意义,逐步判别分析后仅有Holdaway角能对2组进行预测区分,区分值为12°,总判别准确率为72％。结论制定骨性Ⅲ类错[牙合]边缘病例治疗计划时,下颌骨前颅底长度比、上下颌切牙的交角以及软组织的凹陷度是要重点分析的颅面结构项目,小于12°的Holdaway角可以作为需手术改善软组织侧貌的初步判定指标。     

STAT3信号转导通路抑制剂诱导胶质瘤干细胞产生自噬的研究

背景与目的:胶质瘤干细胞(glioma stem cell,GSC)在胶质瘤发展及治疗抗拒中发挥重要作用。我们以往的研究表明,新型STAT3信号转导通路抑制剂(STAT3 inhibitor,STI)WP1193能够诱导GSC产生细胞周期阻滞及凋亡。本研究旨在探讨STI是否能在体外诱导GSC产生自噬现象。方法:从手术切除的胶质母细胞瘤中分离及培养GSC。使用STI处理GSC。利用细胞计数法检测STI对GSC增殖的影响。使用Western blot检测自噬相关蛋白LC3的表达情况。吖啶橙染色后,利用荧光显微镜及流式细胞技术检测酸性自噬小体。使用透射电镜检测GSC中自噬小体。结果:STI剂量依赖性的抑制GSC的增殖。STI处理后,GSC中出现LC3表达的切换。STI处理后,GSC中出现自噬小体,且出现自噬小体细胞的比例增加。结论:STI能够在GSC中诱导自噬现象的产生。自噬在STI治疗中的意义及调节机制需要进一步的研究。     

A simple and rapid approach for screening of SARS-coronavirus genotypes: an evaluation study

Background  

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was a newly emerged infectious disease which caused a global epidemic in 2002–2003. Sequence analysis of SARS-coronavirus isolates revealed that specific genotypes predominated at different periods of the epidemic. This information can be used as a footprint for tracing the epidemiology of infections and monitor viral evolution. However, direct sequencing analysis of a large number of clinical samples is cumbersome and time consuming. We present here a simple and rapid assay for the screening of SARS-coronavirus genotypes based on the use of fluorogenic oligonucleotide probes for allelic discrimination.     

Overview on SARS in Asia and the World

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is the first major novel infectious disease to hit the international community in the 21st century. It originated in southern China in November 2002, reached Hong Kong in February 2003 and spread rapidly thereafter to 29 countries/regions on five continents. At the end of the epidemic, the global cumulative total was 8098 with 774 deaths. Seven Asian countries/regions were among the top ten on the list. Mainland China and Hong Kong, SAR, accounted for 87% of all cases and 84% of all deaths. Severe acute respiratory syndrome is caused by a novel coronavirus. It has alarmed the world with its infectivity and significant morbidity and mortality, its lack of a rapid, reliable diagnostic test and lack of effective specific treatment and vaccination. The adverse impact on travel and business around the world, particularly in Asia, has been enormous. Some lessons learnt from this epidemic included: (1) any outbreak of infectious disease can rapidly spread around the world by air travel; (2) early reporting of the outbreak to neighbouring countries/regions and the World Health Organization is essential to prevent international spread; and (3) infection control, tracing and quarantine of contacts are essential to control the epidemic. Many questions remain unanswered, including the origin and pathogenesis of the novel coronavirus, the natural history and the best specific treatment of the disease. The SARS‐CoV has probably jumped from an animal host to humans. There is an urgent need to evaluate the human–animal habitat in southern China and to remove animal reservoirs if found.     

A multicenter study of viral hepatitis in a United States hemophilic population

Hemophilia A and B patients seen at nine US regional treatment centers were tested for serologic markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) during 1987 and 1988. Because human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a potentially confounding variable, was present in 53% of the group, the population was divided by HIV status for analysis purposes. In the HIV-positive group (N = 382), less than 1% had not been infected with HBV, HCV, or HDV, whereas 75% had evidence of infection with HBV and 98% with HCV. HBsAg, a marker of active HBV infection, was present in 12% of subjects; 96% of these were HCV positive. Anti-HDV was detected in 35 subjects (9.1%); all were anti-HBc positive. Ten of the 35 (29%) also were positive for IgM anti-HDV, indicating current infection. All 10 were HBsAg positive and 7 of the 9 tested were HDV RNA positive. Severe/moderate hemophilia B patients were more likely to have experienced an HBV infection and to be anti-HDV positive than were similar hemophilia A patients (22% v 8%, P < .05). In the HIV-negative group (N = 345), the subjects were younger and had less severe hemophilia than the HIV-positive patients. No evidence of HBV, HCV, or HDV infection was found in 18%, whereas 33% had experienced HBV infection and 79% were anti-HCV positive. Within this group, 4% were HBsAg positive. All 13 subjects with anti-HDV (4% of the HIV-negative group) also possessed anti-HBc. One (7.7%) was IgM anti-HDV positive and the serum from another contained HDV RNA. Both of these individuals were HBsAg positive. As in the HIV-positive group, severe/moderate hemophilia B patients were more likely to be HBV and HDV positive than were hemophilia A patients (9% v 3%, P < .05). A prevalence study of viral hepatitis in a large US hemophilic population showed that active infection with HCV is common, occurring in 89% of all study patients regardless of HIV status. Evidence of active HBV infection was found in 8%; 19% of these were actively infected with HDV. HDV was more common in hemophilia B patients after controlling for disease severity.