Dietary factors and the risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer among black and white men in the United States

Objectives: To investigate dietary factors for squamous cell esophageal cancer and whether these factors may contribute to the five-fold higher incidence of this cancer in the black versus white population of the United States.Methods: Data from a food frequency questionnaire were analyzed for 114 white men and 219 black men with squamous cell esophageal cancer, and 681 white and 557 black male controls from three areas of the United States who participated in a population-based case-control study of esophageal cancer.Results: Protective effects were associated with intake of raw fruits and vegetables (odds ratio for high versus low consumers=0.3 in both white and black men) and use of vitamin supplements (especially vitamin C; odds ratio for high versus low consumers=0.4 in both races), with the frequency of consumption of raw fruits and vegetables and vitamin supplements being greater for white than black controls. In addition, elevated risks were associated with high versus low intake of red meat (OR=2.7 for blacks and 1.5 for whites) and processed meat (OR=1.6 for blacks and 1.7 for whites), with the levels of consumption being greater for black than white controls.Conclusions: In the United States, these dietary factors may contribute in part to the much higher incidence of squamous cell esophageal cancer among black compared to white men.     

MR imaging of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction graft

OBJECTIVE. The objective was to determine the MR imaging findings that differentiate intact anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction graft, partial-thickness tear, and full-thickness tear, using arthroscopy as the gold standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Sixteen consecutive MR imaging examinations were retrospectively and independently evaluated by two musculoskeletal radiologists for primary signs (graft signal, orientation, fiber continuity, complete discontinuity, and thickness) and secondary signs (anterior tibial translation, uncovered posterior horn lateral meniscus, posterior cruciate ligament hyperbuckling, and abnormal posterior cruciate ligament line) of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction graft tear in 15 patients with follow-up arthroscopy. Results were compared with arthroscopy, and both receiver operating characteristic curves and kappa values for interobserver variability were calculated. RESULTS. Arthroscopy revealed four full-thickness graft tears, seven partial-thickness tears, and five intact grafts. Of the primary signs, graft fiber continuity in the coronal plane and 100% graft thickness in the sagittal or coronal plane were most valuable in excluding full-thickness tear. Complete discontinuous graft in the coronal plane also was valuable in diagnosis of full-thickness tear. Of the secondary signs, anterior tibial translation and uncovered posterior horn lateral meniscus assisted in differentiating graft tear (partial or full thickness) from intact graft. The other primary and secondary signs were less valuable. Kappa values were highest for graft fiber continuity and graft discontinuity in the coronal plane. CONCLUSION. Full-thickness anterior cruciate ligament graft tear can be differentiated from partial-thickness tear or intact graft by evaluating for graft fiber continuity (coronal plane), complete graft discontinuity (coronal plane), and graft thickness (coronal or sagittal plane).     

Metabolism and disposition of imatinib mesylate in healthy volunteers.

Imatinib mesylate (GLEEVEC, GLIVEC, formerly STI571) has demonstrated unprecedented efficacy as first-line therapy for treatment for all phases of chronic myelogenous leukemia and metastatic and unresectable malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Disposition and biotransformation of imatinib were studied in four male healthy volunteers after a single oral dose of 239 mg of (14)C-labeled imatinib mesylate. Biological fluids were analyzed for total radioactivity, imatinib, and its main metabolite CGP74588. Metabolite patterns were determined by radio-high-performance liquid chromatography with off-line microplate solid scintillation counting and characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Imatinib treatment was well tolerated without serious adverse events. Absorption was rapid (t(max) 1-2 h) and complete with imatinib as the major radioactive compound in plasma. Maximum plasma concentrations were 0.921 +/- 0.095 mug/ml (mean +/- S.D., n = 4) for imatinib and 0.115 +/- 0.026 mug/ml for the pharmacologically active N-desmethyl metabolite (CGP74588). Mean plasma terminal elimination half-lives were 13.5 +/- 0.9 h for imatinib, 20.6 +/- 1.7 h for CGP74588, and 57.3 +/- 12.5 h for (14)C radioactivity. Imatinib was predominantly cleared through oxidative metabolism. Approximately 65 and 9% of total systemic exposure [AUC(0-24 h) (area under the concentration time curve) of radioactivity] corresponded to imatinib and CGP74588, respectively. The remaining proportion corresponded mainly to oxidized derivatives of imatinib and CGP74588. Imatinib and its metabolites were excreted predominantly via the biliary-fecal route. Excretion of radioactivity was slow with a mean radiocarbon recovery of 80% within 7 days (67% in feces, 13% in urine). Approximately 28 and 13% of the dose in the excreta corresponded to imatinib and CGP74588, respectively.     

Use of a reusable shielded marker to enhance the accuracy, safety, and efficacy of nuclear medicine procedures

Three cases illustrate the use of a reusable, shielded marker to identify anatomic structures and mark pathologic lesions. No other nuclear medicine marker is available with a shutter mechanism designed to interrupt radiation, thus protecting the patient and technologist from unnecessary radiation and minimizing image artifacts.     

Hearing impairment and hypoxia ischaemic encephalopathy: Incidence and associated factors

Objective

To establish the local incidence of hearing loss in newborns with Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and to identify associated risk factors.

Dietary Carbohydrate as Glycemic Load,Not Fat,Coupled with Genetic Permissiveness Favoring Rapid Growth and Extra Calories,Dictate Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Induction in Nile Rats (Arvicanthis niloticus)

Objective: Whether dietary carbohydrate (CHO) or fat is more involved in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) induction uncomplicated by dietary fiber was addressed in a spontaneous diabetic model, the diurnal Nile rat that mimics the human condition. Methods: A total of 138 male Nile rats were fed plant-based and animal-based saturated fat where 10% energy as CHO and fat were exchanged across 5 diets keeping protein constant, from 70:10:20 to 20:60:20 as CHO:fat:protein %energy. Diabetes induction was analyzed by: 1. diet composition, i.e., CHO:fat ratio, to study the impact of diet; 2. quintiles of average caloric intake per day to study the impact of calories; 3. quintiles of diabetes severity to study the epigenetic impact on diabetes resistance. Results: High glycemic load (GLoad) was most problematic if coupled with high caloric consumption. Diabetes severity highlighted rapid growth and caloric intake as likely epigenetic factors distorting glucose metabolism. The largest weanling rats ate more, grew faster, and developed more diabetes when the dietary GLoad exceeded their gene-based metabolic capacity for glucose disposal. Diabetes risk increased for susceptible rats when energy intake exceeded 26 kcal/day and the GLoad was >175/2000 kcal of diet and when the diet provided >57% energy as CHO. Most resistant rats ate <25 kcal/day independent of the CHO:fat diet ratio or the GLoad adjusted to body size. Conclusion: Beyond the CHO:fat ratio and GLoad, neither the type of fat nor the dietary polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio had a significant impact, suggesting genetic permissiveness affecting caloric and glucose intake and glucose disposition were key to modulating Nile rat diabetes. Fat became protective by limiting GLoad when it contributed >40% energy and displaced CHO to <50% energy, thereby decreasing the number of diabetic rats and diabetes severity.