Positron emission tomography radiopharmaceuticals for sex steroid hormone receptor imaging

Understanding the expression of tumor specific receptors is important not only for tumor diagnosis but also for planning the strategy for patient treatment. Tumor receptor has been one of the most critical targets for treatment in cancer such as breast, prostate and thyroid cancers. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a part of molecular imaging techniques based on detecting the radiopharmaceuticals that can capture functional or phenotypic changes associated with pathology. The advantages of detecting tumor specific receptors by PET are its non-invasiveness, providing comprehensive information about receptor expression, avoiding the sampling errors, selecting strategy for the treatment of patients and monitoring tumor response to therapy. Hormonal therapy plays a major role in cancer treatment. Therefore, we review the PET radiopharmaceuticals for sex steroid hormone receptor imaging in this article.     

Sequence and structure prediction of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of lily symptomless virus isolated from L. × 'Casablanca'

The DNA sequence of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of lily symptomless virus (LSV), a lily-infecting member of the genus Carlavirus, was determined from nine overlapping cDNA fragments of different sizes. The complete sequence of this RdRp gene (HM070294) consisted of 5,847 nucleotides coding for a protein of 220 kDa. It had 97-98% sequence identity with RdRps of other known isolates at both the DNA and the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this RdRp (designated as RdRp-DL) was closely related to the RdRp of the Korean isolate (AM516059), as well as to the RdRps from Passiflora latent virus (PLV) and Kalanchoe latent virus (KLV) of the genus Carlavirus. Hydrophobic analysis of RdRp-DL revealed a hydrophobic N-terminus and a hydrophilic C-terminus. Helices and Loops were the major secondary structures of RdRp-DL. In addition, RdRp-DL also had three coil structures. Four conserved domains were identified: typoviral methyltransferase, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, P-loop-containing nucleoside triphosphate hydrolases and carlavirus endopeptidase. A model of the tertiary structure predicted by I-TASSER was obtained for each of these conserved domains. This is the first report of a detailed phylogenetic analysis of LSV RdRp with those of other members of the genus Carlavirus, and the first to predict the domain structures of LSV RdRp.     

Laparoscopic mesorectal excision with preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic mesorectal excision with preservation of the autonomic pelvic nerves for rectal cancer including selected advanced lower rectal cancer is now challenging. The aims of the study were to assess the surgical results and short-term outcomes of this procedure prospectively. METHODOLOGY: Seventy-four of 281 rectal cancer patients, since the introduction of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in our hospital, have undergone laparoscopic rectal surgery. The location of the tumor distributed in upper rectum; 33, middle; 22, and lower 19. The mesorectal excision with preservation of the autonomic pelvic nerves was performed for all the patients. The laparoscopic mesorectal excision was performed under 8 to 10 cmH2O CO2 pneumoperitoneum and lymph node dissection was performed along the feeding artery depend on individuals. Ipsilateral lateral lymph node dissection was added for 5 cases of advanced lower rectal cancer. RESULTS: Open conversion occurred in 4 cases, 2 of those were due to locally advanced tumors and 2 technical difficulties in transaction of the distal rectum. There were 15 postoperative complications, 7 anastomotic leakage (10.6%), 3 transient urinary retention (4.1%), 4 wound infection (5.3%), and 1 small bowel obstruction (1.4%). No mortality was recorded in this series. Time of operation was 203 +/- 54 min in mesorectal excision cases and 270 +/- 42 min mesorectal excision with lateral lymph node dissection cases. Blood loss was 92 +/- 90g and 276 +/- 66 g respectively. The hospital length-of-stay was 11.7 days in average. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic mesorectal excision with preservation of autonomic pelvic nerves for rectal cancer patients including selected advanced lower rectal cancer is favorable.     

Stiripentol open study in Japanese patients with Dravet syndrome

Purpose:   To survey the treatment situation of Dravet syndrome in Japan and to compare this result with effectiveness of stiripentol (STP) add-on therapy in an open-label multicenter study.
Methods:   Medical records of patients with Dravet syndrome who visited the study institutions during 2006 were surveyed to examine the effect of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on clonic or tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS). Patients older than 1 year of age treated with at least one conventional AED and more than four GTCS per month were invited to participate in the STP study. Seizure status and adverse effects during the first 4 weeks of STP (50 or 1,000 mg/day) add-on therapy (early period) and during long-term treatment were compared with baseline.
Results:   Only 15% of the treatment trials with 15 conventional AEDs in 112 patients succeeded in reducing seizures by more than 50%. With STP, GTCS were reduced more than 50% in 14 of 23 patients (61%), including 2 who became seizure-free, in the early period. Moreover, duration of seizures was shortened in 10 patients and status epilepticus decreased in 6. These effects continued in the long-term although to a lesser degree. Adverse effects (loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, ataxia, hyperactivity/irritability) disappeared after dose modification in most cases. STP was effective at a lower than initial dose in five patients. Some patients benefited from STP added on clobazam despite mutation in CYP2C19 .
Conclusion:   Our data suggest that an early introduction of STP into Japan will result in substantial patient benefit.     

Monozygotic twins with severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy discordant for clinical features

Male monozygotic twins with genetically determined severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy are described. Although seizure onset, clinical seizure symptomatology, and motor and mental development were almost identical until age 38 months, their clinical courses then became discordant. The emergence of myoclonus was delayed by 12 months in twin 1 compared with twin 2. Regression in language development, which is a common feature of severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy, was obvious in twin 2 after the emergence of myoclonus, whereas twin 1 did not demonstrate any regression. The clinical-course discordance between twins was attributable to bacterial meningitis, which twin 1 developed at age 35 months. Bacterial meningitis may have affected the clinical course of severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy in twin 1, resulting in delayed onset of myoclonus and more favorable language development in twin 1 than in twin 2, who did not experience bacterial meningitis.     

Investigation of the effect of solution pH value on rabbit corneal stroma biomechanics

International Ophthalmology - To facilitate the protection of corneal stability during corneal epithelium defects by determining the effect of solution pH on corneal stroma biomechanics. Thirty...     

Bispectral index decreased to "10" during propofol anesthesia despite the appropriate serum concentration of propofol

We report a case showing a bispectral index (BIS) value "10" during anesthesia maintained with propofol. Vital signs of the patient including blood pressure and heart rate were stable and the depth of anesthesia was considered as adequate. The serum concentration of propofol measured later was 2.5 and 2.2 microg ml(-1) when BIS indicated 10 and 35, respectively. The age of patient was 81 and the BIS values in elderly might decrease in accordance with the reduction of brain function.     

Trierixin, a novel Inhibitor of ER stress-induced XBP1 activation from Streptomyces sp. II. structure elucidation

Trierixin, a new member of the triene-ansamycin group, has been isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. AC654 as an inhibitor of ER stress-induced XBP1 activation. The structure of trierixin was determined on the basis of its spectroscopical and chemical properties. Trierixin possessed a 21-membered macrocyclic lactam, which contains a methylthio-benzenediol structure, and a cyclohexanecarbonylalanine moiety. Trierixin is thus elucidated as 21-thiomethylmycotrienin II.     

Influence of crystal structure on the tableting properties of n-alkyl 4-hydroxybenzoate esters (parabens)

Certain crystallographic features, such as the existence of slip planes, can greatly facilitate the ability of crystals to deform plastically. An investigation of the relationship between the slip planes and the tableting performance of the crystals of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (parabens) was conducted. The absence of slip planes in methyl paraben crystal structure results in significantly poorer tableting performance than the other three parabens. While slip planes are present in the crystal structures of ethyl, propyl, and butyl parabens, they exhibited different plasticity as confirmed by crystal free volume analysis, crystal nano-indentation hardness, and Heckel analysis. Sieved fraction, 150-250 microm, of each paraben powder was compressed into tablets under different conditions. Tablet tensile strength, porosity, and Indices of tableting performance (ITP) were obtained. Under the same compaction pressure, tablet tensile strength was higher for crystals with higher plasticity. Tableting performance, assessed using the ITP, also improved with increasing crystal plasticity. The results confirm that high levels of plasticity, which can result from the presence of slip planes in crystal lattice, plays a critical role in the formation of strong and intact tablets by means of powder compaction.