Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: diagnostic challenges,histopathologic features and ancillary testing

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive thyroid malignancy with high mortality rate. This malignancy arises in thyroid follicular cells either denovo or with an associated differentiated thyroid carcinoma component. Clinically, it usually presents as a rapidly enlarging mass, pain and locally compressive symptoms. Histopathologic variability and heterogeneity often pose diagnostic challenges, especially in scant and paucicellular specimens. This article describes the clinical, histopathologic and molecular features of ATC and also addresses the associated diagnostic limitations and challenges.     

A Proposal for an Alternative Approach to Particle Size Method Development During Early-Stage Small Molecule Pharmaceutical Development

Particle size analysis in the pharmaceutical industry has long been a source of debate regarding how best to define measurement accuracy; the degree to which the result of a measurement or calculation conforms to the true value. Defining a “true” value for the size of a particle can be challenging as the output of its measurement will differ because of variations in measurement approaches, instrumental differences and calculation methods. Consequently, for “real” particles, a universal “true” value does not exist and accuracy is therefore not a definable characteristic. Accordingly, precision is then a measure of the ability to reproducibly achieve a measurement of unknown relevance.This article proposes, in place of accuracy, a means to define the “appropriateness” of a measurement in line with the critical quality attributes (CQA) of the material being characterized. The decision as to whether the measurement is correct should involve a link to the CQA; that is, correlation should be demonstrated, without which the measured particle size cannot be defined as a critical material attribute.Correspondingly, methods should also be able to provide sufficient precision to demonstrate discrimination relating to variation in the CQA. The benefits and challenges of this approach are discussed.     

Tanzania IR Initiative: Training the First Generation of Interventional Radiologists

Despite a population of nearly 60 million, there is currently not a single interventional radiologist in Tanzania. Based on an Interventional Radiology (IR) Readiness Assessment, the key obstacles to establishing IR in Tanzania are the lack of training opportunities and limited availability of disposable equipment. An IR training program was designed and initiated, which relies on US-based volunteer teams of IR physicians, nurses, and technologists to locally train radiology residents, nurses, and technologists. Preliminary results support this strategy for addressing the lack of training opportunities and provide a model for introducing IR to other resource-limited settings.     

Standard Needle Magnetization for Ultrasound Needle Guidance: First Clinical Experiences in Fine‐Needle Aspiration Cytology of Thyroid Nodules

Fine‐needle aspiration cytology using a novel ultrasound needle guidance system on the basis of standard needle magnetization was consecutively performed in 30 (15 in‐plane and 15 out‐of‐plane) suspicious thyroid nodules. Nondedicated, commercially available needles were used. The technical effectiveness and safety of the system were satisfying; system failures were observed in 2 cases. The needle tip could be (at least occasionally) visualized inside the thyroid nodule in 96%, and the subjective procedure ratings were excellent in 57%. The out‐of‐plane technique was significantly superior in both respects (P = .021 and .027, respectively). Standard needle magnetization ultrasound needle guidance was easy to apply and cost‐effective and has the potential to improve fine‐needle aspiration cytology performance.     

LONG‐TERM FOLLOW UP OF PATIENTS WITH SMALL GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS IN THE STOMACH USING ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are defined by positive immunohistochemical staining for KIT or CD34 and thus are generally diagnosed after surgery. Because small GIST are rarely diagnosed before surgery, the clinical course of these small tumors is not clear. The aim of the present study was to follow changes in size and configuration of small GIST that were pathologically confirmed using endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB). Methods: Between July 1997 and December 2003, 16 tumors in 16 patients (10 men and 6 women) with an immunohistochemical diagnosis of GIST were regularly followed in our hospital. The median patient age when EUS‐FNAB was performed was 62 years (range 26–82 years) and the median follow‐up period was 4.9 years (range 0.5–9.6 years). Results: Fourteen tumors showed no remarkable changes in size and shape during follow up compared with the initial diagnosis. Two tumors enlarged: one tumor approximately doubled its diameter in 8 years and the other tumor increased from 1.8 cm at diagnosis to up to 10 cm after only 2 years. Doubling time of the latter tumor was calculated as 3.1 months. Conclusions: We conclude that EUS‐FNAB might be a good modality for final diagnosis of GIST without surgery, and that GIST without rapid growth on follow up can be endoscopically followed.     

脂蛋白残粒RLP-c检测的临床意义

目的 探讨脂蛋白残粒RLP-c作为新的脂质指标的临床意义。方法 采用免疫分离法测定正常对照组(NC)、冠心病组(CHD)和2型糖尿病组(T2DM)的RLP-c水平,并比较RLP-c与其他脂质指标的相关性。结果 CHD组和T2DM组RLP-c水平明显高于NC组(P<0.01),其水平与甘油三脂(TG)和极低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(VLDL-c)高度相关(P<0.01)。结论 RLP-c可用于对动脉粥样硬化的危险性评估。     

针吸细胞学诊断乳腺肿块的体会

在欧美,乳腺肿块针吸细胞学诊断于70年代就已得到了成功的应用。近年来国内的一些研究也证实其实用价值。为了进一步提高乳腺细胞学诊断水平,现将我院针吸细胞学诊断乳腺肿块281例中由病理证实的118例进行总结分析。1 材料与方法1.1 临床资料:1986年12月～1990年2月采用针吸细胞学检查诊断乳腺肿块281例,其中118例施行手术并获得病理组织学的证实。细胞学诊断以原始报告为准。女     

A rat model of monitoring liver allograft rejection

Rat models are often used to study liver allograft rejection. We have established a model for rat liver allograft rejection, monitored by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), in the strain combination PVG-to-BN with a mean survival time of 37 ± 20 days. In this model, we observed acute rejection with an intense peak of lymphoid blasts and lymphocyte-dominated inflammation in the FNAB [9.1 ± 3.0 corrected increment units (CIU)], and an eventual increase in macrophages (up to 4.2 ± 4.4 CIU), together with fibrosis and parenchymal necrosis in the graft. Markers of immune activation, such as an increase in IL-2-receptor (from 1 % ± 2 % to 21 % ± 13 %) and class II (from 20 % ± 9 % to 43 % ± 13 %) expressing lymphoid cells and induction of ICAM-1 in the graft, were consistent with the overall cellular response. The FNAB correlated well with parallel graft histology. In this rat model, the atraumatic monitoring makes a close follow-up possible without having to sacrifice the experimental animals. This saves work, animals, and costs in the study of liver rejection. Received: 2 July 1996 Accepted: 28 October 1996     

静脉输液加药后的微粒变化

本文对我院急诊病人常用的供静脉给药的22种药物、42组配伍情况,制成静脉加药输液,在超净工作台条件下,用KF—4型微粒计数器,测定了168次微粒数,结果显示输液加药后微粒虽有增加,但均在药典规定范围内。输液中加1种、2种、3种药物后所产生的微粒数分别为x_1=5.52(n_1=16);x_2=8.17(n_2=18)、x_3=10.25(n_3=8),经统计处理,三组间无显著差异(P<0.05)。本文对产生微粒的药物、注射器、操作环境等因素进行了分析。