Ductal Carcinoma In Situ with Microinvasion on Core Biopsy: Evaluating Tumor Upstaging Rate,Lymph Node Metastasis Rate,and Associated Predictive Variables

Annals of Surgical Oncology - The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) when ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCISM) is identified on core biopsy is unclear. Our aim was to assess...     

Lipid-lowering diets in patients taking pravastatin, a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor: compliance and adequacy

We examined seven 1-d diet records kept during 1 y by 272 men and women instructed to follow a lipid-lowering diet while participating in a clinical trial of pravastatin, a new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor. The mean percentage of calories from total fat and saturated, unsaturated, and monounsaturated fatty acids was similar throughout the year even though the patients knew they were taking an effective lipid-lowering agent. However, the diets of greater than 40% of women included less than two-thirds of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of folic acid, vitamins B-6 and D, and calcium and zinc; in men, folic acid and zinc intakes were low. We conclude that patients comply with lipid-lowering diets even when they know that they are receiving an effective serum lipid-lowering agent. However, for both men and women special attention should be given to the intake of several nutrients.     

Effect of Glass Transition Temperature on the Stability of Lyophilized Formulations Containing a Chimeric Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to highlight the importance of knowing the glass transition temperature, T_g, of a lyophilized amorphous solid composed primarily of a sugar and a protein in the interpretation of accelerated stability data. Methods. Glass transition temperatures were measured using DSC and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Aggregation of protein in the solid state was monitored using size-exclusion chromatography. Results. Sucrose formulation (T_g ~ 59°C) when stored at 60°C was found to undergo significant aggregation, while the trehalose formulation (T_g ~ 80°C) was stable at 60°C. The instability observed with sucrose formulation at 60°C can be attributed to its T_g (~59°C) being close to the testing temperature. Increase in the protein/sugar ratio was found to increase the T_gs of the formulations containing sucrose or trehalose, but to different degrees. Conclusions. Since the formulations exist in glassy state during their shelf-life, accelerated stability data generated in the glassy state (40°C) is perhaps a better predictor of the relative stability of formulations than the data generated at a higher temperature (60°C) where one formulation is in the glassy state while the other is near or above its T_g.     

Antiulcer activity of Tinospora cordifolia Miers and Centella asiatica linn extracts

The ethanol extracts of the roots of T. cordifolia Miers and C. asiatica Linn were observed to induce a marked protective action against an 8 h restraint stress induced ulcerization, the activity being comparable to that of diazepam.     

Neuroimaging in Pineal Tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The authors report radiological findings in 11 tumors in the pineal region, which were histologically diagnosed as germinomas, pineocytomas pineoblastomas, ependymomas, teratomas, and astrocytomas. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was performed in seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: CT showed a solid or solid/cystic mass with variable contrast enhancement. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass, with hypointense signal on T1 and iso/hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and gadolinium enhancement. Extension to adjacent structures occurred in five patients and spread through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in two. CONCLUSIONS: Pineal region tumors have no pathognomonic imaging pattern. MRI and CT are complementary in diagnosis and are important to determine localization, extension, and meningeal spread.     

Transplantation of normal hepatocytes modulates the development of chronic liver lesions induced by a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, lasiocarpinet

Laipcarpine (LC), a pyorrolizidine alkaloid, is able to inducea series of chronic and progressive lesions in rat liver, includingalong-lasting block in the cell cycle, the appearance of enlargedhepatocytes (megalocytosis), fibrosis, cirrhosis and malignantneoplasms. In this study the effect of transplantation of normalhepatocytes on the development of LC (80 µmol/kg i.p.).Four weeks later all animals were subjected to 2/3 paroticlhepatectomy (PH). In addition, at the time of PH one group ofrats were transplanted with normal hepatocytes isolated froma syngeneic donor (10⁶ cells/rat via the portal vein), whilethe other group received only the culture medium. All rats werekilled 14 weeks after the operation. Grossly, the liver of ratsexposed to LC followed by PH with no transplantation of normalhepatocytes was small in size (% liver wt/body wt 1.66 ±0.08) and exhibited a few whitish nodules. Histologically,     

Stimulation of DNA synthesis by rat plasma following in vivo treatment with three liver mitogens.

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of two different types of liver cell proliferative stimuli, namely compensatory regeneration and direct hyperplasia on DNA synthesis of normal and preneoplastic isolated hepatocytes. Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) isolated from male Wistar rats treated with three different hepato-mitogens, lead nitrate (LN), cyproterone acetate (CPA) and ethylene dibromide (EDB), or subjected to surgical partial hepatectomy (PH), was tested for its ability to stimulate DNA synthesis in normal and preneoplastic hepatocytes in primary cultures. Induction of DNA synthesis was detected as early as 30 min after CPA, EDB and PH administration and persisted up to 5 days after the LN administration. In addition, hepatocytes isolated from preneoplastic liver nodules were also able to respond in culture to the DNA synthesis stimulus induced by these factors.     

Nutrition, health and psychosocial profile of institutionalized children.

A study was undertaken to assess the health, nutrition and psychosocial profile of Institutionalized children in four States--Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal. A sample of 3,822 children from 70 institutions in 6-18 years age group formed the subjects of the study. It was observed that the destitute children were mainly taken care of in three types of institutions, viz, Voluntary, Government Aided and Government run institutions. Calorie deficiency and deficiency of Vitamins and minerals characterized the diets of these children. In general, there was no deficit of protein in their diets. Growth wise, these children were retarded both in height and weight compared to standards. However, they fared better in comparison to their age and sex counterparts in the rural and urban poor. Psychosocial profile of these children indicated that the prevailing environment in the institutions is less conducive for intellectual stimulation but not so for the development of skills of self-help, locomotion, socialization and imagery.