Can positron emission tomography - computed tomography imaging predict of metastases in patients with small cell lung cancer

Background: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15%-20% of all lung cancer cases. positron emission tomography - computed tomography (PET/CT) has become increasingly used as an initial staging tool in patients with SCLC. We aimed to explore the relationships between primary tumor 18F-FDG uptake measured as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) and clinical stage at PET/CT for small cell lung cancer patients (SCLC).Methods: Patients with SCLC who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT scans before the treatment were included in the study at Bach Mai hospital of Vietnam, from November 2014 to May 2018. The primary tumor and secondary lesion SUVmax was calculated; the tumor size was measured; the TNM status was determined mainly by FDG PET/CT imaging according to The 8th Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer were recorded. An evaluation was made of the linear relationship between tumor size, T stage, N stage, and M stages of the patients and their SUVmax using Spearman’s correlation.Results: Total 37 cases (34 men and 3 women; age range 38 - 81 years, median 64 years) were analyzed. The average of primary tumor size and SUVmax were 5.95±2.77 cm and 10.21±4.75, respectively. The SUVmax of primary tumor is significantly greater than that of nodal and distant organ metastasis (10.21±4.75 vs 8.20±4.35 and 6.44±3.17, p<0.01). There was a moderate correlation between SUVmax and tumor size (r =0.596, p<0.001), tumor stage (r = 0.502, p<0.01) but not significant with nodal stage (r =-0.218, p=0.194), metastasis stage (r = -0.055, p=0.747), and overall stage (r=-0.060, p=0.725).Conclusions: SUVmax was significantly correlated with tumor size, but not with distant metastases or lymph node involvement. Therefore, SUVmax on positron emission tomography is not predictive of the presence of metastases in patients with SCLC

Impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT on the staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80% of new diagnoses of pulmonary carcinoma. This study investigated the correlation between 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in computerized tomography integrated positron emission tomography and tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis in patients with NSCLC.Methods: The records of 318 NSCLC patients (220 male, 98 females; mean age 60.94 years) were evaluated retrospectively.Results: 278 cases were adenocarcinomas; 28 squamous cell carcinomas; and 12 large cell carcinoma. When the cases were categorized according to tumor size (group 1, ≤3 cm; group 2, >3 and ≤5 cm; group 3, >5 cm), the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 compared with group 3 (p<0,001 for each). Considering all cases, tumor SUVmax was not correlated with age, gender or histopathological type. Lymph node metastases were seen in 250 cases: 80.2% of these were adenocarcinomas, 71.4% squamous cell carcinomas, and 58.3% large cell carcinomas. Neither lymph node involvement nor distant metastases were correlated with tumor SUVmax, although lymph node size was positively correlated with lymph node SUVmax (r=0.758; p<0.001).Conclusions: SUVmax was significantly associated with tumor size, but not with distant metastases or lymph node involvement. Therefore, SUVmax on positron emission tomography is not predictive of the presence of metastases.

Using positron emission tomography - computed tomography imaging to distinguish of metastatic disease from second primary lung tumours in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background: In NSCLC patients with multiple lesions, the differentiation between metastases and second primary tumours has significant therapeutic and prognostic implications. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the potential of 18F-FDG PET to discriminate metastatic disease from second primary lung tumours.Methods: Of 318 NSCLC patients between November 2015 and October 2018 at Bach Mai hospital, patients with a synchronous second primary lung cancer were selected. Patients with metastatic disease involving the lungs served as the control group. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVs) measured with 18F-FDG PET were determined for two tumours in each patient. The SUVmax was determined and compared between the second primary group and metastatic disease group. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the SUVmax for an optimal cut-off value.Results: A total of 81 NSCLC patients (44 metastatic disease, 37 second primary cancer) were included for analysis. The SUVmax was significantly higher in patients with second primary cancer than in those with metastatic disease (7.53±4.33 vs 4.35±2.58, respectively, p<0.001). The area under the ROC curve was 0.81 and the odds ratio for the optimal cut-off was 7.52.Conclusions: SUVmax from 18F-FDG PET images can be helpful in differentiating metastatic disease from second primary tumours in patients with synchronous pulmonary lesions. Further studies are warranted to confirm the consistency of these results.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Common Posterior Fossa Brain Tumors in Children: A Preliminary Vietnamese Study

BACKGROUND: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) nowadays plays an important role in the evaluation of posterior fossa brain tumours in children for appropriate diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up. AIM: To assess the MRI features of common posterior fossa brain tumours including medulloblastomas, ependymomas, and pilocytic astrocytomas along with the postoperative parameters to contribute the local knowledge to the neuroradiology and neurosurgery fields. METHODS: The study was performed at Children's Hospital 02 from January 2016 to June 2019. In this study, all pediatric patients adopted MRI to evaluate the posterior fossa brain tumours’ characteristics and then underwent surgery to eradicate the posterior fossa tumours. We retrospectively compared the baseline parameters, MRI parameters, and postoperative parameters among medulloblastomas, ependymomas, and pilocytic astrocytomas. RESULTS: There were 62 patients (27 medulloblastomas, 20 ependymomas, and 15 pilocytic astrocytomas) in this research. The main structure of medulloblastomas and ependymomas was predominantly solid, whereas the main structure of pilocytic astrocytomas was superiorly cystic (p &lt; 0.05). Ependymoma tended to extend tumour through foramina of Luschka and Magendie (p &lt; 0.05). Medulloblastomas chiefly showed iso intensity on T2W and FLAIR images meanwhile ependymomas and pilocytic astrocytomas predominantly appeared hyperintensity on T2W and FLAIR images. Medulloblastomas and ependymomas were mostly high intensity on DWI, and low intensity on ADC whereas pilocytic astrocytomas were usually low intensity on DWI and high intensity on ADC. After injecting CE, pilocytic astrocytomas showed a mixed intensity whereas the signal intensity of medulloblastoma and ependymoma on T1CE was generally strong. There were positive correlations between FH diameter and estimated blood loss (r = 0.289, p &lt; 0.05); and surgical time (r = 0.312, p &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: MRI plays a crucial role in demonstrating the features of posterior fossa brain tumours for appropriate diagnosis of medulloblastomas, ependymomas, and pilocytic astrocytomas. Medulloblastomas are problematic tumours and the clinicians should also take into consideration in cases of larger feet-to-head diameter of tumours to ensure the efficacy and safety surgery for patients

Island er høyere rangert enn Norge på FIFAs verdensranking i herrefotballen: Kan årsaken være ulik praksis i barnefotballen?

Idrett, Fysisk aktivitet og Helse ID3-302 Desember 2014I denne oppgaven undersøkte vi hvordan barnefotballen i Norge og Island praktiseres i forhold til de nasjonale retningslinjene, og hvilke miljøfaktorer som kunne ha preget fotballen ulikt. For å få et innblikk i hvordan det praktiseres valgte vi å ta kvalitative intervju med både spiller og spillerutvikler fra begge landene. I tillegg valgte vi å intervjue en fotballekspert med observasjonserfaring fra begge landene som hjelper oss å få en sammenligning. Vi fant at barnefotballen praktiseres ulikt. Det var forskjeller mellom treningsmengde og innhold, noe vi tror kan ha en sammenheng med de forskjellige kravene til trenerutdanning. I tillegg kan våre funn tyde på at mentalitet har en påvirkning på fotballprestasjon. Vi konkluderer med at tidlig spesialisering per definisjon praktiseres i større grad på Island, enn i Norge

The Plasma Levels of Protein Adiponectin (AdipoQ) and Meteorin-Like (Metrnl) in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Lan Dam Thi Phuong,1,2 Thinh Tran Huy,1 Thuan Huynh Quang2 1Biochemistry Department, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Department of Biochemistry, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, VietnamCorrespondence: Thuan Huynh Quang, Department of Biochemistry, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam, Tel +84 904175342, Email [email protected]: This study aimed to measure the concentrations of the Adiponectin and Meteorin – Like (Metrnl) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients.Patients and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study contained two groups: Group 1 (86 newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus type 2 patients) and group 2 (71 healthy persons). The plasma concentrations of Adiponectin and Metrnl were measured by Enzyme Link Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).Results: The plasma level of Adiponectin of the newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus type 2 group and the healthy group were 1219.82 ng/mL ( 1132.43– 2772.50) and 1187.25 ng/mL ( 1160.66– 3807.50) respectively. The plasma level of Metrnl of two groups were 757.60 pg/mL ( 564.15– 994.00) and 697.60 pg/mL ( 538.50– 986.10) respectively. There were no significant difference between two groups. Metrnl had no correlation with glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, BMI. Adiponectin had correlation with Metrnl and HDL-cholesterol. Adiponectin had no correlation to glucose, HbA1c, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, BMI. People with the lower Adiponectin concentration had the higher risk of diabetes (OR=6.52; 95% CI: 2.43 − 17.55).Conclusion: Adiponectin and Metrnl were not significantly different in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and healthy people. The lower concentration of Adiponectin might increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.Keywords: adipokine, insulin resistance, subfatin, adipo tissuse, adipocyte - complement related protein of 30kDa, ACRP3

Corporate investment efficiency in response to national innovation: the moderating role of state ownership

PurposeThis study examines the impact of the national innovation system (NIS) on corporate investment efficiency in Vietnam, an emerging socialist country where innovation is central to the national development plan.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a sample of Vietnamese listed firms on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange and Hanoi Stock Exchange from 2012 to 2022. The research models are estimated by fixed-effect estimators, while two-stage least-squares with instrumental variables and entropy balancing methods are used to address the endogeneity issues in the research design.FindingsWe find that firms’ investment efficiency increases with the advancement of the NIS, and this impact is attributed to the input measures of national innovation. This finding is robust to different model specifications and endogeneity tests. Additional analysis shows that the private sector improves investment efficiency to a greater extent than state-owned firms.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings from this research imply a successful approach to corporate development executed by the government and encourage the continuation of the current plan with strategic modifications to further promote Vietnamese firms’ corporate investment efficiency and nurture the growth of the private sector, the engine of the Vietnam economy.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine the impact of the NIS on corporate investment efficiency, particularly in Vietnam. Secondly, this study delves into a unique structure of the Vietnamese economy through the state ownership lens and points out the heterogeneous impact of NIS on investment efficiency between firms in the private and public sectors

The Synthesis and Photoluminescence of 3C-SiC Nanorods

The 3C-SiC nanorods were grown by using carbothermal reduction of SiO$_{2}$ without any catalyst. The intensive broad photoluminescence peak around 480-500 nm was observed at room temperature. The 3C-SiC nanorods with green -- blue emitting light may have great application in display devices and light emitting diodes