Potential clinical value of circulating chromogranin A in patients with prostate carcinoma

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Calibration and validation of an algorithm for remote sensing of turbidity over La Plata river estuary, Argentina

The La Plata River, located at 35°S on the Atlantic coast, is one of the largest waterways of South America. It carries a large amount of suspended particulate and dissolved organic matter, and is considered among the most turbid waters of the world. Very high values of total suspended matter have been reported in this region, with mean values ranging from 100 to 300 g m-3 and extreme concentrations up to 400 g m-3. Satellite sensors have shown to be the best tools available to map river plumes and to study their influence on the adjacent ocean. However, global algorithms for remotely estimating sediment concentration are not currently available. Moreover, such high sediment loads represent a challenge to atmospheric correction algorithms which usually rely on the assumption of zero water-leaving reflectance in the near infrared or short wave infrared part of the spectrum (black pixel assumption). In the extremely turbid waters of La Plata Estuary such assumptions are not valid. A two band algorithm to estimate turbidity using near infrared and the short wave infrared bands (858 nm and 1240 nm) of the MODIS-Aqua sensor is presented. The model is calibrated using in situ reflectance and turbidity measurements from turbid waters of the Southern North Sea and Scheldt River (Belgium) and then applied to MODIS imagery of La Plata River estuary (Argentina). A good correlation was found between modelled and in situ turbidity values when the algorithm was applied to concurrent MODIS imagery. Moreover, satellite-derived turbidity maps show a spatial distribution of sediment consistent with patterns and characteristic features of the estuary

Relationship between tumour shrinkage and reduction in Ki67 expression after primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer

The association between tumour shrinkage and reduction in kinetic cell activity after primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer is still a matter of investigation. 157 patients with T2-4, N0-1, M0 breast cancer received primary chemotherapy consisting of either the CMF regimen + tamoxifen (the first consecutive 76 cases) or the single agent epirubicin (the subsequent 81). Ki67, p53, bcl2, c-erbB2 and steroid hormone receptors were evaluated immunohistochemically in tumour specimens obtained before chemotherapy and at surgery. Tumour shrinkage of >50% occurred in 72.4% of patients. Ki67 expression significantly decreased after chemotherapy; the reduction correlated with tumour response in both univariate (P < 0.005) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.02). p53, bcl-2, steroid hormone receptor and c-erbB2 immunostaining were scarcely affected. Baseline bcl2 (P = 0.04) and c-erbB2 (P = 0.02) were directly and inversely associated with the reduction in Ki67 immunostaining, respectively. Baseline p53 expression (P < 0.01) was directly related with Ki67 expression at residual tumour, whereas oestrogen receptor expression (P < 0.001) was inversely related. Ki67 at residual tumour was a better predictor for relapse-free survival (RFS) than baseline Ki67. Clinical response (P < 0.03), but not reduction in Ki67, was a significant independent predictor for disease recurrence. Chemotherapy was found to induce tumour shrinkage and to reduce the number of cells in the cell cycle, but its effect on tumour biology/aggressiveness was minimal. Reduction in Ki67 immunostaining correlated with clinical response but failed to be related to RFS. Ki67 expression at surgery rather than at baseline appears to be a better predictor for disease relapse. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign  http://www.bjcancer.co