The use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for the diagnosis and management of invasive mould infections.

There is limited information on the utility of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) for the diagnosis and management of invasive mould infections (IMIs). We retrospectively evaluated patients with IMIs who underwent FDG-PET in our institution (n = 13; December 1999 to April 2004), and reviewed the available literature (n = 9). In 16 non-neutropenic patients with available FDG-PET imaging studies (11 from our institution), FDG-PET revealed an occult IMI site (n = 3; 2 unidentified CNS involvement) and was helpful in guiding the duration of treatment (n = 8). Prospective evaluation of the role of FDG-PET in the work-up and management of IMIs is needed.     

Organizational defenses against the anxiety of terminal illness: A case study

Abstract

Working with the dying is a task which generates enormous anxiety in the caregiver as well as the entire organization which has taken on this assignment. This case study deals with a chronic care hospital and the organizational defense mechanisms observed by a consultant hired to do staff training and development. Further, there is a discussion of the training model devised to provide a facilitative means of tapping those defenses and working through the anxiety.     

Serum lipids and lipoproteins are less powerful predictors of extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis than are cigarette smoking and hypertension

The effect of serum lipids and lipoproteins on extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis (CAS) was studied in patients who underwent carotid arteriography. Serum lipid and lipoprotein values along with data on other potential predictors of extracranial CAS were determined in 240 patients who had at least one extracranial carotid artery visualized. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the independently significant predictors of the presence of extracranial CAS were, in decreasing order of significance, duration of smoking of cigarettes, hypertension, age, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A-I did not show an independent effect. Although low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was an independent predictor of the presence of extracranial CAS, its effect as a predictor was far outweighed by the effects of the duration of smoking of cigarettes and a history of hypertension.     

Factors influencing compliance with dietary advice: the Diet And Reinfarction Trial (DART)

Factors influencing compliance with dietary advice were investigated in the Diet and Reinfarcation Trial (DART). In terms of achieved intakes, smokers had a lower mean P/S ratio and fibre intake than non-smokers; manual workers had a lower mean fibre intake than non-manual workers; and obese men had a higher percentage of energy from fat and lower P/S ratio than non-obese men. However the effect of the advice (difference in intakes of those advised and thosen not advised) was similar in smokers and non-smokers and was similar in all social classes. The effect of fat advice was less among obese men than among non-obese men, probably as a result of weight-reducing advice given to all overweight men. Fat advice tended to have a greater effect among those who gave up smoking after their heart attack than among non-smokers and those who continued to smoke but the difference was not statistically significant. This suggests that advice on diet and smoking can be given simultaneously and still be effective.     

Combined syphilitic aortitis and rheumatic disease of the heart: Report of four cases

1.

1. The clinical and pathologic findings in four cases of combined syphilitic aortitis and rheumatic heart disease are reported and discussed.     

Clinical Oncology and Chemical Thermodynamics

The development of oncolytic agents for cancer chemotherapy is often based on chance discovery and intensive structure modification. A mechanistic understanding of the essential biochemistry of many anticancer drugs remains elusive because of the biological complexity of drug-drug and drug-target interactions. The potential of computational science to analyze and quantify these interactions may provide a rational basis for drug modification and clinical trial design.     

Regulation of breast cancer cell motility by T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis-inducing protein

Introduction  

T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis-inducing protein (Tiam1) is an Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (Rac)-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor that was isolated based on its ability to induce a metastatic phenotype. In polarized migrating keratinocytes, Tiam1 is found at the leading edge, where it cooperates with the protease-activated receptor 1 (Par1) complex to establish front-to-rear polarity. Although a positive correlation has been observed between Tiam1 expression and tumor grade in a variety of human malignancies, including breast, its role in breast cancer cells has not yet been examined.     

A retrospective necropsy study of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) bursa of Fabricius

A retrospective study of bursa of Fabricius from 90 necropsied ostriches from Florida farms was performed. Eighty-five bursas showed lymphoid necrosis and/or depletion, and acute to chronic inflammation. Rounded cytoplasmic inclusions were noted within bursal macrophages of 17 birds. Ultrastructurally, these inclusions comprised arrays of icosahedral virions with a diameter of 60 to 65 nm, suggesting possibly reovirus or birnavirus. Further work is needed to classify and determine the pathogenic significance of this virus in the ostrich.