PAS-positive lymphocyte vacuoles can be used as diagnostic screening test for Pompe disease

Screening of blood films for the presence of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive lymphocyte vacuoles is sometimes used to support the diagnosis of Pompe disease, but the actual diagnostic value is still unknown. We collected peripheral blood films from 65 untreated Pompe patients and 51 controls. Lymphocyte vacuolization was quantified using three methods: percentage vacuolated lymphocytes, percentage PAS-positive lymphocytes, and a PAS score depending on staining intensity. Diagnostic accuracy of the tests was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. All three methods fully discerned classic infantile patients from controls. The mean values of patients with milder forms of Pompe disease were significantly higher than those of controls, but full separation was not obtained. The area under the ROC curve was 0.98 for the percentage vacuolated lymphocytes (optimal cutoff value 3; sensitivity 91%, specificity 96%) and 0.99 for the percentage PAS-positive lymphocytes and PAS score (optimal cutoff value 9; sensitivity 100%, specificity 98%). Our data indicate that PAS-stained blood films can be used as a reliable screening tool to support a diagnosis of Pompe disease. The percentage of PAS-positive lymphocytes is convenient for use in clinical practice but should always be interpreted in combination with other clinical and laboratory parameters

Magnetotransport in an aluminum thin film on a GaAs substrate grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Magnetotransport measurements are performed on an aluminum thin film grown on a GaAs substrate. A crossover from electron- to hole-dominant transport can be inferred from both longitudinal resistivity and Hall resistivity with increasing the perpendicular magnetic field B. Also, phenomena of localization effects can be seen at low B. By analyzing the zero-field resistivity as a function of temperature T, we show the importance of surface scattering in such a nanoscale film

Quantitative evaluation of vimentin expression in tumour stroma of colorectal cancer

Recent studies have identified vimentin, a type III intermediate filament, among genes differentially expressed in tumours with more invasive features, suggesting an association between vimentin and tumour progression. The aim of this study, was to investigate whether vimentin expression in colon cancer tissue is of clinical relevance. We performed immunostaining in 142 colorectal cancer (CRC) samples and quantified the amount of vimentin expression using computer-assisted image analysis. Vimentin expression in the tumour stroma of CRC was associated with shorter survival. Overall survival in the high vimentin expression group was 71.2% compared with 90.4% in the low-expression group (P=0.002), whereas disease-free survival for the high-expression group was 62.7% compared with 86.7% for the low-expression group (P=0.001). Furthermore, the prognostic power of vimentin for disease recurrence was maintained in both stage II and III CRC. Multivariate analysis suggested that vimentin was a better prognostic indicator for disease recurrence (risk ratio=3.5) than the widely used lymph node status (risk ratio=2.2). Vimentin expression in the tumour stroma may reflect a higher malignant potential of the tumour and may be a useful predictive marker for disease recurrence in CRC patients

Psychological care in the intensive care unit Task areas, responsibilities, requirements, and infrastructure

The relatively high rates of mental stress among critically ill patients and their relatives implies the necessity of conceptually and financially embedded psychological care in intensive care units (ICUs). Professional associations also recommend the involvement of psychological professionals and screening of mental symptoms in critically ill patients. Intensive care medicine psychologists and psychotherapists take this as an opportunity to describe the content and goals of psychological care. Task areas are care for patients and relatives as well as staff support. Goals of psychological support in the ICU are detection of mental symptoms in patients and their treatment, psychological first aid for relatives in crisis situations, and support of the staff in terms of communication with patients and relatives as well as regarding development and maintenance of an adaptive coping style for dealing with emotionally challenging situations. Psychological care in the ICU is offered by psychologists, psychotherapists, or physicians with a psychotherapeutic qualification. The psychologist is integrated into the ICU team and has a proactive, resource-oriented, and supportive orientation. Psychological support can be an enrichment and a relief, both in the interdisciplinary treatment of patients as well as in the care of relatives, and also represent a resource for the team