Platinum levels in various tissues of a patient who died 181 days after cisplatin overdosing determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Platinum (Pt) levels were determined in various tissues and body fluids obtained from a patient who died 181 days after cisplatin overdosing. The symptoms of cisplatin overdose, however, might have almost disappeared by day 40, and the patient’s death was ascribed to the recurrence of malignant lymphoma. Determination of Pt derived from cisplatin was performed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) using silver (Ag) as internal standard. Pt and Ag complexed with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) in wetashed blood, and tissue solutions were extracted into isoamyl alcohol, and then acidified with oxalic acid. By injecting an aliquot of the isoamyl alcohol layer into a mass spectrometer in the direct flow injection mode, the quantitation was performed using the signals of Pt(DDC)₃ ⁺ and Ag(DDC)₂ ⁺ at m/z 639 and 403, respectively. The Pt levels ranged from 25ng/ml in blood to 2050ng/g wet weight in the liver of the patient, indicating that Pt remained at high levels in tissues, even after a period as long as 181 days after cisplatin overdosing.     

Two cases of mesenteric panniculitis]

Two patients with mesenteric panniculitis are presented. In the first patient, a provisional diagnosis of ileus was made, based on the clinical features and imaging data. Laparotomic findings showed that the ileum was bound tightly by a fibrous strip and dilated, with thickened and swollen mesentery. Incision of the fibrous strip was performed, and the clinical symptoms were improved. The second patient was strongly suspected to have mesenteric panniculitis, from characteristic features on abdominal computed tomography and barium enema. Conservative therapy was effective in this case. We emphasize the variety of clinical courses in mesenteric panniculitis, requiring selection of the most suitable treatment.     

Integrating PET and CT information to improve diagnostic accuracy for lung nodules: A semiautomatic computer-aided method.

Our objective was to develop and evaluate 3 semiautomatic computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) schemes for distinguishing between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules by use of features extracted from CT, 18F-FDG PET, and both CT and 18F-FDG PET. METHODS: We retrospectively collected 92 consecutive cases of pulmonary nodules (<3 cm) in patients who underwent both thoracic CT and whole-body PET/CT. Forty-two of the nodules were malignant and 50 benign, as confirmed by pathologic examination and clinical follow-up. The interval between CT and PET was less than 1 mo. Four clinical parameters, including patient age, sex, smoking status, and history of previous malignancy, were used for the CAD schemes. Sixteen CT features based on size, shape, margin, and internal structure of nodules were independently rated subjectively by 2 chest radiologists. Four PET features were viewed on a PET/CT workstation. CAD schemes based on clinical parameters together with CT features, PET features, and both CT and PET features were then used to differentiate benign from malignant nodules. Finally, the output from the CAD schemes was evaluated by use of receiver-operating-characteristic analysis. RESULTS: When we used clinical parameters and CT features as input units (CAD scheme 1), the area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (A(z) value) of the CAD scheme was 0.83. When we used clinical parameters and PET features as input units (CAD scheme 2), the A(z) value for the computer output was 0.91. However, when we used all data as input units (CAD scheme 3), the A(z) value for the computer output was 0.95. The performance of CAD scheme 3 was better than that of CAD scheme 1 or 2. A statistically significant difference existed between the A(z) values of CAD schemes 3 and 2 (P = 0.037) and between those of CAD schemes 3 and 1 (P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Our CAD scheme based on both PET and CT was better able to differentiate benign from malignant pulmonary nodules than were the CAD schemes based on PET alone and CT alone.     

Myocardial 11C-diacylglycerol accumulation and left ventricular remodeling in patients after myocardial infarction.

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) is a maladaptive process that increases the risk of heart failure and death. The myocardial phosphoinositide cycle, which is located downstream from several neurohumoral factors, plays a crucial role in LV remodeling. Our animal studies demonstrated that 1-[1-11C]butyryl-2-palmitoyl-rac-glycerol (11C-DAG) can be used to visualize regions with an activated phosphoinositide cycle. Therefore, we examined whether myocardial 11C-DAG accumulation assessed by PET is relevant to LV enlargement and systolic dysfunction in post-MI patients. METHODS: We performed PET with 11C-DAG in 13 post-anteroseptal MI patients and 4 healthy volunteers. We placed regions of interest on the noninfarcted myocardium and calculated the myocardium-to-left atrial (LA) chamber ratio of 11C-DAG accumulation. RESULTS: The myocardium-to-LA chamber ratio of 11C-DAG was significantly higher in the post-MI patients (mean +/- SD, 1.73 +/- 0.35) compared with that of the healthy volunteers (mean +/- SD, 1.25 +/- 0.13; P < 0.05). In the post-MI patients, the myocardium-to-LA chamber ratio of (11)C-DAG was significantly correlated with the LV end-diastolic volume index (r = 0.79, P < 0.01) and the plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide (r = 0.85, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the LV ejection fraction (r = -0.69, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the myocardial 11C-DAG accumulation assessed by PET is relevant to LV enlargement, LV systolic dysfunction, and humoral activation in post-MI patients. This new imaging strategy based on intracellular signaling may contribute to the assessment and treatment of post-MI patients.     

Effects of cepharanthin on neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and reactive oxygen species generation.

The effects of cepharanthin on inflammatory parameters such as neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, were examined. Cepharanthin significantly decreased the levels of O2-, H2O2, and OH. generated by neutrophils. H2O2 and OH. generated in a cell-free, xanthine-xanthine oxidase system were also reduced in the presence of cepharanthin. However, the drug did not affect neutrophil chemotaxis or phagocytosis. The present study indicates that cepharanthin is an effective ROS scavenger, exerting its anti-inflammatory action by reducing the potent ROS species excessively generated in tissues and organs, especially at the sites of inflammation.     

Light exposure required for optimum conversion of light activated resin systems

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the degree of conversion (DC) of composites and the light intensity using LED-curing units and also to determine the amount of exposure required to achieve optimal curing. METHOD: The light outputs of light-curing units and the depths of cure of composites exposed to these units were determined using the methods outlined in modified ISO standards, ISO/TS10650 and ISO 4049, respectively. The distributions of DC in composites were investigated by IR spectra of microareas obtained at various depths from the irradiated surface of thin specimens cut out from the cured composites. IR spectra were measured using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer equipped with a microscopic unit. DC was calculated from the changes in the amount of C=C double bonds in the IR spectra. RESULTS: The light intensity at various depths through the cured composite was calculated from the attenuation coefficient of each material, obtained from the linear relationship between the depth of cure and the logarithm of the amount of exposure, which is defined as the product of the irradiance and irradiation time. There was a third or fourth order regression relationship between DC and the logarithm of total light energy at a particular depth. SIGNIFICANCE: The minimum light energy required to produce a saturated DC was about 1000 s mW/cm2.     

Significance of the hepatic mitochondrial redox state in the development of posttraumatic jaundice

The effect of the hepatic energy status on the development of posttraumatic jaundice (PTJ) was studied to clarify the mechanism of PTJ. Fifty-four patients with severe torso injury who were expected to develop PTJ on admission with an average Injury Severity Score of 27 were selected for this study. They were retrospectively divided into three groups according to their maximum bilirubin concentration by day 10: group H, 12 patients with marked elevation of serum bilirubin (>8 g/dl); group L, 23 with mild bilirubinemia (2–8 g/dl); and group N, 19 with no bilirubinemia (<2 g/dl). Group H patients, in whom trauma-related shock was severe and prolonged, developed severe hyperbilirubinemia, and their arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR), which reflects the hepatic mitochondrial redox state and is closely correlated to its energy production, was significantly lower throughout the first week. In contrast, the AKBR increased to an above normal level, indicating enhanced energy production in groups N and L. The serum direct/total bilirubin was also higher in group H. The abnormal hepatic energy metabolism is considered to have reduced the excretion of conjugated bilirubin from the hepatocytes into the bile canaliculi, which is a process that has to proceed against the bilirubin concentration gradient. The subsequent diffusion of the accumulated water-soluble conjugated bilirubin in hepatocytes into the blood is thus considered to be one of the causes of PTJ.     

Gliomatosis cerebri with good prognosis

A 52-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with severe headache and bilateral papilledema. Magnetic resonance (MR) images on admission demonstrated diffuse swelling of the cerebral cortex without formation of a tumor mass. Biopsy revealed diffuse infiltration with neoplastic glial cells. After radiation and chemotherapy, the MR images returned to normal. The morphological and neurological features of the present case met the criteria for gliomatosis cerebri. However, this patient showed an unusually good response to radiation and chemotherapy.