Transcutaneous bilirubinometry in Chinese, Malay and Indian infants

The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TcB) and plasma bilirubin concentrations in full-term Chinese, Malay and Indian infants. TcB was performed with the Minolta Airshields bilirubinometer on Chinese, Malay and Indian full-term infants. The readings were taken on the chest (sternum) and forehead (glabella) when capillary blood was sampled for bilirubin determination. Five hundred and forty TcB indices in 253 Chinese infants, 282 in 169 Malay infants, and 182 in 120 Indian infants were obtained over the sternum and forehead. A good correlation between the TcB indices and the bilirubin concentrations was observed in Chinese, Malay and Indian infants: r = 0.78 (chest), r = 0.73 (forehead); r = 0.86 (chest), r = 0.84 (forehead); and r = 0.84 (chest), r = 0.82 (forehead). The correlation was just as good when the combined values were evaluated together: r = 0.80 (chest) r = 0.75 (forehead). In Chinese infants, correlation at values below 250 μmol ⁻¹ was significantly better than that at values over 250μmoll⁻¹ r = 0.80 versus r =−0.20, < 0.00001 (chest), and r = 0.74 versus r = 0.07, < 0.00001 (forehead). However, a safer cut-off point clinically would be 200 μmoll⁻¹, since only relatively few higher bilirubin values were encountered when TcB indices were below 200 μmoll⁻¹ The same pattern was noticed with the other two groups, and the combined group. Thus, TcB provides a non-invasive, cost-effective screening method for significant neonatal jaundice, sparing infants and parents physical and emotional stress, and medical and nursing personnel extra work and inconvenience.     

Human myelogenous leukemia: enhanced clonal proliferation in the presence of phorbol diesters

Phorbol diesters, including 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) at low concentrations, enhanced the clonal proliferation of a human myelogenous leukemia cell line (KG-1). TPA (1.0 X 10(-9) -5.0 X 10(-11) M) increased KG-1 clonal growth by four to tenfold in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of colony stimulating factor (CSF) and by two to fourfold in the presence of maximally stimulating concentrations of CSF. The ability of TPA analogs to enhance KG-1 clonal growth paralleled their reported ability to promote tumors in mice. Only slight CSF activity was detected in the conditioned medium from KG-1 cells cultured in liquid medium with TPA. TPA was unable to increase myeloid clonal growth of CSF-stimulated normal human model to study TPA enhancement of CSF-stimulated growth.     

3D Navigo™ versus TRUS-guided prostate biopsy in prostate cancer detection

Introduction

To overcome the limitations regarding transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsies in prostate cancer (PCa) detection, there is a focus on new imaging technologies. The Navigo? system (UC-care, Israel) uses regular TRUS images and electrospatial monitoring to generate a 3D model of the prostate. The aim of this study was to compare cancer detection rates between the Navigo? system and conventional TRUS, in patients without a history of PCa.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study by collecting data from all patients who underwent 12-core prostate biopsies from lateral peripheral zones between September 2013 and February 2015 at the Jeroen Bosch Hospital in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands).

Results

A total of 325 patients met our inclusion criteria. 77.8 % of biopsy sessions were performed using the Navigo? system. There was no statistically significant difference in PCa detection (39.9 vs 46.2 % with Navigo? system and TRUS, respectively). Using the Navigo? system for taking prostate biopsies proved not to be associated with the presence of PCa at biopsy, likewise for clinically significant PCa and for both subgroups.

Limitations

The limitations of the study include its retrospective design, the limited number of patients in the conventional TRUS group, the statistically significant different number of biopsy sessions and the ones performed by an advanced physician in both groups.

Conclusion

In our study, there is no added value of 3D TRUS using Navigo? system compared to conventional 2D TRUS regarding PCa detection in biopsy-naive men and men with prior negative biopsy.

     

纵跳和闭目单足站立对跟骨骨密度的影响

目的:为有效预防和控制骨质疏松,实验测定苏州市成年人跟骨骨密度,探讨其与纵跳高度、闭目单足站立时间的相关性。方法:实验于2004-10/2005-04在苏州市体育科学研究所完成。①实验对象:随机选取苏州市158名普通成年人进行测试,对本实验均知情同意。②实验方法:受试者踏上纵跳计踏板,当测试计的显示屏显示"00"时,受试者尽最大力量向上跳起,落地后测试计自动显示纵跳高度值。受试者闭目,用习惯脚单脚穿鞋站立在平地上,另一腿屈膝使脚离开地面,姿势不限,从提起脚离开地面开始计时,至离地脚落地停表,计算闭目单足站立的时间。采用sonost-2000超声骨密度仪测量实验对象的跟骨超声波传导速度和超声波衰减系数,仪器与电脑相连,自动算出跟骨骨质量指数。结果:①闭目单足站立时间和纵跳高度对跟骨超声参数的影响:闭目单足站立时间和纵跳高度均与跟骨骨质量指数、超声波衰减系数呈线性关系。②闭目单足站立时间和纵跳高度与跟骨超声参数的相关性:与闭目单足站立时间与跟骨超声参数的相关性比较,纵跳高度与跟骨超声参数的相关性明显升高(P<0.01)。结论:①闭目单足站立时间和纵跳高度均与跟骨的骨密度、骨强度存在线性关系,但纵跳高度呈中度相关,闭目单足站立时间相关性较低。②纵跳高度越高,反映下肢肌肉力量越大,骨密度和骨强度较大;闭目单足站立时间长,反映身体的平衡能力强。     

Effect of the F508del genotype on outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery in children with cystic fibrosis

Objective

Numerous authors have sought to describe genotype–phenotype correlations in cystic fibrosis (CF), notably to pancreatic insufficiency and lung disease. However, few studies have focused on the association between the F508del genotype and response to sinus surgery. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of the F508del genotype on sinonasal disease severity and outcomes following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in a pediatric population.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 153 children with CF seen at a tertiary care pediatric hospital from 1995 to 2008 was performed. Patients were classified into one of three groups according to F508del genotype, either as homozygous, heterozygous or not carrying a F508del mutation. The sinonasal disease phenotype of the three groups was compared based on clinical and radiological findings, extent of endoscopic sinus surgery and rate of revision surgery.

Results

The relationship between the F508del genotype and pancreatic insufficiency was confirmed (p < 0.05). There was no association between the F508del genotype and increased need for FESS (p = 0.75). Moreover, no association was established between F508del homozygosity and presence of nasal polyps, Lund–Mackay score, extent of surgery or length of postoperative hospitalization. The rates of revision surgery did not differ significantly among the three genotypes analyzed (p = 0.59).

Conclusion

There is no clear association between the F508del genotype and an increased need for FESS, extent of surgery, or revision surgery. Given the phenotypic variability of sinonasal disease in patients with CF, a prospective study is needed to better understand outcomes following FESS and the contribution of gene modifiers to this effect.     

Single breath-hold assessment of cardiac function using an accelerated 3D single breath-hold acquisition technique - comparison of an intravascular and extravascular contrast agent

Background

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the current gold standard for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) function. Repeated breath-holds are needed for standard multi-slice 2D cine steady-state free precession sequences (M2D-SSFP). Accelerated single breath-hold techniques suffer from low contrast between blood pool and myocardium. In this study an intravascular contrast agent was prospectively compared to an extravascular contrast agent for the assessment of LV function using a single-breath-hold 3D-whole-heart cine SSFP sequence (3D-SSFP).

Methods

LV function was assessed in fourteen patients on a 1.5 T MR-scanner (Philips Healthcare) using 32-channel coil technology. Patients were investigated twice using a 3D-SSFP sequence (acquisition time 18–25 s) after Gadopentetate dimeglumine (GdD, day 1) and Gadofosveset trisodium (GdT, day 2) administration. Image acquisition was accelerated using sensitivity encoding in both phase encoding directions (4xSENSE). CNR and BMC were both measured between blood and myocardium. The CNR incorporated noise measurements, while the BMC represented the coeffiancy between the signal from blood and myocardium [1]. Contrast to noise ratio (CNR), blood to myocardium contrast (BMC), image quality, LV functional parameters and intra-/interobserver variability were compared. A M2D-SSFP sequence was used as a reference standard on both days.

Results

All 3D-SSFP sequences were successfully acquired within one breath-hold after GdD and GdT administration. CNR and BMC were significantly (p < 0.05) higher using GdT compared to GdD, resulting in an improved endocardial definition. Using 3D-SSFP with GdT, Bland–Altman plots showed a smaller bias (95% confidence interval LVEF: 9.0 vs. 23.7) and regression analysis showed a stronger correlation to the reference standard (R² = 0.92 vs. R² = 0.71), compared to 3D-SSFP with GdD.

Conclusions

A single-breath-hold 3D-whole-heart cine SSFP sequence in combination with 32-channel technology and an intravascular contrast agent allows for the accurate and fast assessment of LV function.

Trial registration

The study was approved by the local research ethics committee (Study No. 07/Q0704/2) and was registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA Study No. 28482/0002/001–0001, EudraCTnumber 2006–007042).