MR ventriculocisternography by using 3D balanced steady-state free precession imaging: technical note

This study investigated the effects of flip angle setting in 3D balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging on CSF-parenchyma contrast and section aliasing artifacts. Theoretical derivations indicated that the extent of section aliasing artifacts decreased as the flip angle was lowered, at the expense of a sacrifice in CSF-parenchyma contrast. Experimental data agreed closely with theoretical predictions. A flip angle of about 40 degrees is therefore recommended for 3D balanced SSFP MR ventriculocisternography.     

Percutaneous treatment of liver hydatid cysts: comparison of direct injection of albendazole and hypertonic saline solution

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of intracystic injection of albendazole and hypertonic saline in patients with liver hydatid disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with a total of 109 hydatid cysts were treated percutaneously. In all cases, local anesthesia was applied. Twenty percent hypertonic saline was used in 31 patients (40 cysts, group 1) as the scolicidal agent, and albendazole solution was used in 28 patients (69 cysts, group 2). The PAIR (percutaneous puncture, aspiration, injection, reaspiration) method was applied in group 1. In group 2, we used a different procedure that could be called the PAI (percutaneous aspiration and injection) method. After this procedure, routine sonography and CT examinations were conducted. The results of both groups were compared. RESULTS: Follow-up examinations showed that liver hydatids expanded approximately to their original size after a significant reduction during the first month. In the follow-up period, fluid contents totally disappeared; thickening and irregularities were also observed in the cyst walls and a solid, hyperechogenic, heterogeneous pseudotumor appearance representing a degenerated membrane was seen in all patients. Hypertonic saline solution inactivated the scolices from the beginning of the treatment. However, scolices were inactive in the cysts aspirated 1 month after the procedure in group 2. A significant correlation was noted between elapsed time after the treatment and the cyst size using Wilcoxon's signed rank test (p = 0.000). No difference was seen between two groups in the amount of cyst size reduction using the Mann-Whitney test (p =0.521). CONCLUSION: In addition to its oral use, albendazole may be injected intracystically as we did in our study. It sterilizes the cyst cavity and affects scolices as well.     

Inflammatory pseudotumour of the sigmoid colon mesentery: US and CT findings (2004:12b)

The concept of inflammatory pseudotumor has evolved from meticulous pathological studies; some of its histological features resemble a spindle-cell sarcoma. Despite the fact that it usually affects children and young adults, only limited numbers of childhood cases have been reported in the pediatric literature. Recognition of this rare entity is important because the clinical manifestations and radiological features may be indistinguishable from a malignant lymphoproliferative disorder. This entity has been reported to be anywhere in the body, including a variety of intra-abdominal organs. Although one of the most common intra-abdominal sites is the mesentery, localization within the mesentery of the sigmoid colon is particularly rare. We present a case of abdominal inflammatory pseudotumor of the sigmoid colon mesentery, defining its radiological and primarily ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound findings, with a review of additional examples from the literature.     

Enhancement of scFv fragment reactivity with target antigens in binding assays following mixing with anti-tag monoclonal antibodies

The phage display Ab library technology has been found to be a useful method to isolate antigen-specific Ab fragments, since the repertoire of antibody specificities is broad and since it bypasses the need of immunization. However, when screening clones isolated from a phage display Ab library, the yield of isolating antigen-specific Ab fragments is low and the rate of false negative results is high. This limitation reflects the low affinity/avidity of Ab fragments and/or the low density of the target antigen. To facilitate the isolation of Ab fragments with a broad range of affinities to antigens of interest from phage display Ab libraries, we have developed a simple method to increase the sensitivity of binding assays to detect the reactivity of single-chain fragments of antibody variable regions (scFv) with target antigens. This method involves the mixing of scFv fragments, expressing a c-myc epitope tag, with anti-tag mAb 9E10 prior to their use in binding assays in order to form stable dimeric Ab fragment-anti-tag mAb complexes. The increase in the reactivity of scFv fragments with the corresponding antigen is observed over a broad range of scFv fragment (6-800 microg/ml) and mAb 9E10 (0.5-30 microg/ml) concentrations, thereby facilitating the testing of scFv fragment preparations with unknown scFv fragment concentrations. Use of this method in binding assays resulted in a twofold increase in the reactivity of low-affinity purified scFv fragments with the corresponding antigen. Moreover, application of this method to screen clones isolated from phage display scFv libraries resulted in a reproducible increase in both the yield of antigen-specific scFv clones and the titer of scFv fragment preparations by a factor of 5 and 2- to 32-fold, respectively. Lastly, this method can be applied in both ELISA and flow cytometry and is independent of the characteristics of the antigen (i.e. whole cells, carbohydrates and purified protein) and/or of the library (synthetic scFv Library (#1), a large semi-synthetic phage display scFv library and the human synthetic VH+VL scFv library (Griffin.1 library)) used. Therefore, the method we have described represents a sensitive, simple and reproducible technique that will facilitate the isolation and use of scFv fragments.     

Racial discrepancies in the association between paternal vs. maternal educational level and risk of low birthweight in Washington State

Background  

The role of paternal factors in determining the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes has received less attention than maternal factors. Similarly, the interaction between the effects of race and socioeconomic status (SES) on pregnancy outcomes is not well known. Our objective was to assess the relative importance of paternal vs. maternal education in relation to risk of low birth weight (LBW) across different racial groups.     

Apoptosis in human uterine leiomyomas

Human uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are benign neoplasms that typically occur in reproductive age and perimenopausal women. These tumors pose a significant and costly health concern for numerous women throughout the world. Alternative therapies are few, with hysterectomy being the treatment of choice by many physicians. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the development of leiomyomas may be influenced by numerous factors including genetic, environmental, and hormonal influences resulting in a possible failure of any number of apoptotic pathways. Understanding the role apoptosis plays in the normal regression of nascent myometrial tissue and how this failure may influence leiomyoma tumor growth may provide a better understanding of how to develop effective and less invasive treatment modalities for this disease. The following review attempts to highlight what is currently known about apoptosis in leiomyomas as compared with the normal myometrium and where future research is needed.