International investigation of breast MRI: results of a multicentre study (11 sites) concerning diagnostic parameters for contrast-enhanced MRI based on 519 histopathologically correlated lesions.

A multicentre study was undertaken to provide fundamentals for improved standardization and optimized interpretation guidelines of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Only patients scheduled for biopsy of a clinical or imaging abnormality were included. They underwent standardized dynamic MRI on Siemens 1.0 (163 valid lesions > or = 5 mm) or 1.5 T (395 valid lesions > or = 5 mm) using 3D fast low-angle shot (FLASH; 87 s) before and five times after standardized bolus of 0.2 mmol Gd-DTPA/kg. One-Tesla and 1.5 T data were analysed separately using a discriminant analysis. Only histologically correlated lesions entered the statistical evaluation. Histopathology and imaging were correlated in retrospect and in open. The best results were achieved by combining up to five wash-in or wash-out parameters. Different weighting of false-negative vs false-positive calls allowed formulation of a statistically based interpretation scheme yielding optimized rules for the highest possible sensitivity (specificity 30%), for moderate (50%) or high (64-71%) specificity. The sensitivities obtained at the above specificity levels were better at 1.0 T (98, 97, or 96%) than at 1.5 T (96, 93, 86%). Using a widely available standardized MR technique definition of statistically founded interpretation rules is possible. Choice of an optimum interpretation rule may vary with the clinical question. Prospective testing remains necessary. Differences of 1.0 and 1.5 T are not statistically significant but may be due to pulse sequences

Dietary lipids modify the cytokine response to bacteria lipopolysaccharide in mice

To investigate the effect of dietary lipids with different fatty acid compositions upon the in vivo cytokine response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mice were fed for 5 weeks on a low-fat diet or on one of four high-fat diets that contained 20%, by weight, of coconut oil (CO), olive oil (OO), safflower oil (SO) or fish oil (FO). The mice were injected intraperitoneally with a non-lethal dose of Escherichia coli LPS (100 ?g/20 g body weight) and killed 90 or 180 min later. Plasma tumour necrosis factor-? (TNF-?), interleukin (IL)-1?, IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma TNF-? and IL-10 concentrations were higher 90 min postinjection than after 180 min, whereas plasma IL-1? and IL-6 concentrations were higher 180 min postinjection than after 90 min. Peak plasma TNF-?, IL-1? and IL-6 concentrations were lower in the CO- and FO-fed mice than in those fed the SO diet. Peak plasma IL-10 concentrations were higher in CO-fed mice than in those fed some of the other diets. These observations suggest that, relative to the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich SO diet, CO and FO diminish production of proinflammatory cytokines in vivo. This indicates that these fatty acids might be useful therapies in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The enhanced production of IL-10 following CO feeding appears to be an additional antiinflammatory effect of this oil, which could give added benefit in various clinical conditions.<br/

The effects of sugar on subsequent eating and mood in obese and non-obese women

The effects of a sucrose drink (160 kcals/40 g cane sugar) on subsequent eating and mood state (Profile of Mood State) were examined in 45 obese and 45 non-obese women in a between-subjects, blind-design, using saccharin and water as two alternative placebos. After sugar, lunch was delayed a mean of 54 minutes relative to normal eating times, and this delay did not vary as a function of body mass. Women with high body dissatisfaction (on the Eating Disorders Inventory) tended to delay eating more after sugar, saccharin or water preloads. The nutritional content of lunch was unaffected by sugar. Nor was mood affected by sugar, although women with a high drive for thinness (EDI) tended to rate themselves as more clearheaded 30 minutes after any preload. It is concluded that when sugar is given blind and everyday eating occurs, eating is delayed. These findings are inconsistent with theories which propose that glucose metabolism directly affects mood. Other effects of sugar on mood and eating behaviour may be due to cognitive factors including beliefs and expectations about eating sweet foods, as well as the reinforcing effects of sweet taste