Initial HRCT findings of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection

Please cite this paper as: Yuan et al. (2012) Initial HRCT findings of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(601), e114–e119. Objectives The aim of our study was to describe the presentation and illustrate the imaging features of chest high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of patients with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. Methods Data were collected from 163 hospitalized patients between November 2009 and March 2011, who fulfilled the clinical criteria for H1N1 influenza infection and underwent HRCT examinations within 24 hours of admission. Results Abnormal findings were observed in 40·5% of the patients. The patients with positive imaging findings were significantly older than patients with normal HRCT findings (P = 0·02). The most common finding was ground‐glass opacity (GGO) (n = 35). Interlobular septal thickening (n = 31) and centrilobular nodules (n = 30) were the second most frequent findings. Other common findings were consolidation, reticulation, and linear shadow. The most common imaging finding for lung involvement was GGO with a patchy pattern. Pulmonary involvement of the disease may be extensive and variable, but the total volume of affected lung was mostly <1 lobe. Conclusion The baseline HRCT may be valuable and suggestive even for non‐severe H1N1 infections. When a severe case or a evolution is suspected, chest CT could be essential both for determining the precise extent of parenchymal damage and for monitoring its evolution.     

Radioiodination and bioevaluation of nitrofurantoin for urinary tract imaging

Nitrofurantoin (NF) was labeled with iodine‐125 via electrophilic substitution reaction. Some factors affecting the radiochemical yield of ¹²⁵I‐NF, such as NF concentration, chloramine‐T (CAT) concentration, pH of the reaction mixture, reaction time, temperature, and reaction medium, were studied. The maximum yield of ¹²⁵I‐NF (90%) was obtained by using 3.7 MBq of Na¹²⁵I, 1 mM CAT, 1 mM NF in DMF, at pH 2 and 60 °C within 5 min. The specific activity of ¹²⁵I‐NF reaches 33.3 MBq/0.2 mmol, and the ¹²⁵I‐NF was completely separated and purified by means of high pressure liquid chromatography. The biological distribution in normal mice indicates the suitability of radioiodinated NF for urinary tract imaging. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Does JC virus have a role in the etiology and prognosis of Egyptian colorectal carcinoma?

John Cunningham virus (JCV) encodes an oncogenic T‐antigen, which is capable of interacting with key growth regulatory pathways. JCV definite role as causal agent of human cancer, still awaits final confirmation. The present study was conducted to assess the possible role of JCV in Egyptian colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and correlate the expression with the clinicopathological features and survival. JCV in situ hybridization (ISH) signals and large T antigen immunoreactivity were examined in 87 colonic specimens. Positive glandular JCV ISH signals were detected in 20%, 25% and 40% of normal, adenoma and CRC cases respectively. Stromal JCV ISH signals were identified in 26% of CRC cases and 5% of adenoma however, normal mucosa did not show stromal positivity with significant difference (p = 0.03). Glandular JCV expression was significantly associated with high grade (p = 0.03), high mitotic index (p=0.02) and low apoptotic index (p = 0.00). Positive stromal signals were significantly associated with low apoptosis (p = 0.00). No positive nuclear immunostaining of JCV large T antigen was detected in all specimens. JCV stromal expression was the 2nd most powerful indicator of short survival and bad prognosis (p = 0.03) in CRC patients. JCV might play an etiological role in CRC tumorogenesis and short survival in Egyptian CRC patients.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of peroxiredoxin 4 involved in protection against oxidative stress in the silkworm Bombyx mori

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a ubiquitous family of proteins that play important roles in insects in protection against oxidative stress through the detoxification of cellular peroxides. Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of a Prx4 cDNA of the silkworm Bombyx mori (BmPrx4). The BmPrx4 gene has an open reading frame of 744 bp encoding 248 amino acids and a conserved motif, VCP, involved in its presumed redox functions. The heterologously expressed proteins of the gene in Escherichia coli showed antioxidant activity, removed hydrogen peroxide and protected DnA. Western blotting analysis showed the presence of BmPrx4 in the haemolymph, suggesting that the protein is secretable. Moreover, BmPrx4 was expressed at all developmental stages. The expression level of BmPrx4 was relatively low during the feeding stage but high at the wandering stage. BmPrx4 was induced by quercetin or temperature stress. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that BmPrx4 is present in the brain, neurones and olfactory organ of the head in silkworms. Overall, our results indicate that the expression profile of BmPrx4 correlates well with protection from oxidative damage. Our data provide clues for the development of control technology for agricultural and forestry pests as the silkworm is a representative of lepidopteran pests.     

Carcinome neuroendocrine à petites cellules de la vessie : une entité anatomoclinique rare et agressive

Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the bladder is a rare cancer, rapidly aggressive and metastatic with a very pejorative behavior. The diagnosis is based on histological analysis coupled with immunohistochemical study. Because it is rare, there is no consensus to date. Its management should be multidisciplinary, involving surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. We report two new cases of neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the bladder, one is pure and the other associated with urothelial carcinoma. The poor outcome illustrates the quick evolution of this tumor. A review of the literature on this topic is also presented.     

Multiexponential T2 analyses in a murine model of hepatic fibrosis at 11.7 T MRI

This study evaluated the effects of hepatic fibrosis on the multiexponential T₂ (MET₂) relaxation of ex vivo murine liver specimens using an 11.7 T MRI. This animal study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Eighteen male C57BL/6 mice were divided into control (n = 3) and experimental (n = 15) groups; the latter group was fed a 3,5‐dicarbethoxy‐1,4‐dihydrocollidine‐supplemented diet to induce hepatic fibrosis. Ex vivo liver specimens were imaged using an 11.7 T MRI scanner. A multi‐echo spin‐echo sequence was utilized for subsequent MET₂ analysis. Degrees of fibrosis were determined by a pathologist, as well as by digital image analysis. Scatterplot graphs comparing various features of the MET₂ signal decay with the degrees of fibrosis were generated, and correlation coefficients were calculated. Two distinct peaks of the MET₂ signal decay were identified in all liver specimens: a short T₂ component with a geometric mean T₂ (GMT₂) approximating 30 ms; and a long T₂ component with GMT₂ approximating 400 ms. Strong correlation was found between the degree of hepatic fibrosis and the amplitude of the short T₂ component, with a higher degrees of fibrosis associated with a lower amplitude. Moderate correlation was also found between hepatic fibrosis and the GMT₂ values of the long T₂ component, with higher degrees of fibrosis associated with lower GMT₂ values. The study of hepatic microenvironments using MET₂ analyses offers potential utility in the ongoing development of the noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis using MRI. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.