Differential iron transport into phagosomes isolated from the RAW264.7 macrophage cell lines transfected with Nramp1Gly169 or Nramp1Asp169.

The transport of iron by RAW264.7 macrophage cell lines transfected with either Nramp1Gly169 (resistant) or Nramp1ASp169 (susceptible) alleles was assessed. We found no difference between resistant and susceptible cells in the rate of Fe import or export when Fe transport was measured in intact cells. In contrast, the rate of Fe import by latex-bead phagosomes isolated from resistant cells was more than double the rate by latex-bead phagosomes from susceptible cells. Similarly, phagosomes isolated from resistant cells that had been pre-labeled with 55Fe-citrate before phagocytosis contained up to four times as much Fe as the corresponding phagosomes from susceptible cells. Phagocytosis of Mycobacterium avium was accompanied by an increase in the production of hydroxyl radicals by Nramp1cGly169-transfected macrophages but not by macrophages transfected with the susceptible allele. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Nramp1 functions to transport Fe into the bacterium-containing phagosome where it serves as a catalyst for the Haber-Weiss reaction, which accounts for the increased capacity of these cells to limit mycobacterial growth.     

Reconstruction of undersampled non-Cartesian data sets using pseudo-Cartesian GRAPPA in conjunction with GROG.

Most k-space-based parallel imaging reconstruction techniques, such as Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisitions (GRAPPA), necessitate the acquisition of regularly sampled Cartesian k-space data to reconstruct a nonaliased image efficiently. However, non-Cartesian sampling schemes offer some inherent advantages to the user due to their better coverage of the center of k-space and faster acquisition times. On the other hand, these sampling schemes have the disadvantage that the points acquired generally do not lie on a grid and have complex k-space sampling patterns. Thus, the extension of Cartesian GRAPPA to non-Cartesian sequences is nontrivial. This study introduces a simple, novel method for performing Cartesian GRAPPA reconstructions on undersampled non-Cartesian k-space data gridded using GROG (GRAPPA Operator Gridding) to arrive at a nonaliased image. Because the undersampled non-Cartesian data cannot be reconstructed using a single GRAPPA kernel, several Cartesian patterns are selected for the reconstruction. This flexibility in terms of both the appearance and number of patterns allows this pseudo-Cartesian GRAPPA to be used with undersampled data sets acquired with any non-Cartesian trajectory. The successful implementation of the reconstruction algorithm using several different trajectories, including radial, rosette, spiral, one-dimensional non-Cartesian, and zig-zag trajectories, is demonstrated.     

Dicrocoelium dendriticum infection in a patient with Crohn's disease.

Infection with Dicrocoelium dendriticum in humans is rarely reported in the medical literature. This liver fluke, which commonly infects ruminants, has a complex life cycle with two intermediate hosts--the land snail and the ant. True human infection occurs by ingestion of the second intermediate host, but spurious infections have occurred after consumption of undercooked animal liver. The present report describes a patient with active Crohn's disease whose stool contained D dendriticum eggs. A brief discussion of the medical literature is presented.     

Desmoplastic syringoid eccrine cancer with basalioma

We report on a 59-year-old woman suffering from desmoplastic syringoid eccrine carcinoma with basal cell epithelioma at her right temple. 40 years ago, lupus vulgaris had been X-rayed in this area.     

Restaging of Locally Advanced Carcinoma of the Rectum with MR Imaging after Preoperative Radio-Chemotherapy plus Regional Hyperthermia

Background: The restaging accuracy of MR imaging in advanced primary rectal carcinoma after preoperative radiochemotherapy and regional hyperthermia was evaluated and compared with the histopathologically verified degree of tumor remission after a course of radio-chemo-thermotherapy. Patients and Methods: 35 patients with primary rectal carcinoma (uT3/uT4) underwent MRI using a surface coil 4-6 weeks after radiochemotherapy (n = 35), regional hyperthermia (n = 23), and before curative surgery. We defined as gold standard for the remission status the comparison of pretherapeutic endosonography with the histopathology of the resected specimen. Results: T category was correctly restaged after preoperative treatment in only 19 (54%) of 35 patients. Nine of 20 responders were overstaged and seven of 15 non-responders were understaged. Concurrently, the N category was correctly restaged in 19 (54%) of 35 patients (twelve responders and seven non-responders). Overstaging occurred in four responders and two non-responders, understaging occurred in four responders and six non-responders. Conclusions: MRI proved independent of the response status as not suitable to restage locally advanced rectal carcinoma after preoperative radiochemotherapy despite optimized imaging technique and spatial resolution. Basically, imaging the morphology of a tumor cannot clearly differentiate between vital and devitalized tissue after a treatment. Functional imaging such as PET (positron emission tomography) appears more feasible for restaging after radio-chemo-thermotherapy. Hintergrund: Die Genauigkeit der Stadienbestimmung mittels MR-Bildgebung wurde bei primär fortgeschrittenen Rektumkarzinomen nach präoperativer Radiochemotherapie und regionaler Hyperthermie geprüft und mit der histopathologisch ermittelten Tumorremission nach präoperativer Behandlung verglichen. Patienten und Methode: 35 Patienten mit primären Rektumkarzinomen (uT3/uT4) wurden MR-tomographisch mittels Oberflächenspule 4-6 Wochen nach Radiochemotherapie (n = 35) plus Hyperthermie (n = 23) vor der kurativen Resektion untersucht. Als Goldstandard für die Remission wurde der Vergleich von prätherapeutischer Endosonographie mit dem histopathologischen Befund des Resektats definiert. Ergebnisse: Das T-Studium nach präoperativer Behandlung wurde nur bei 19 von 35 Patienten (54%) korrekt wiedergegeben, bei neun von 20 Respondern überbenimmt und bei sieben von 15 Nonrespondern unterschätzt. Daneben wurde auch cie N-Kategorie bei 19 von 35 Patienten (54%) korrekt bestimmt (bei zwölf Respondern und sieben Nonrespondern). Eine Überschätzung trat bei vier Respondern und zwei Nonrespondern auf, eine Unterschätzung bei vier Respondern und sechs Nonrespondern. Schlussfolgerungen: Die MR-Bildgebung erwies sich trotz optimierter Aufnahmetechnik mit erhöhter räumlicher Auflösung und unabhängig vom Remissionsstatus als ungeeignet, das Stadium lokal fortgeschrittener Rektumkarzinome nach präoperativer Radiochemotherapie exakt zu ermitteln. Grundsätzlich ist die Darstellung der Morphologie eines Tumors nicht geeignet, zwischen vitalem und devitalisiertem Tumorgewebe nach Vorbehandlung zu differenzieren. Funktionelle Verfahren (z. B. die Positronenemissionstomographie) könnten für die Verlaufskontrolle nach Radiochemothermotherapie geeigneter sein.