Value of perfusion CT parameters, microvessl density and VEGF expression in differentiation of benign and malignant prostate tumours

The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between parameters evaluated using computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and microvessel density (MVD), the vascular endothelial growth factor labelling index (VEGFLI), as well as known clinicopathological indicators of tumour malignancy, in non-advanced prostatic cancer. We included 110 patients with early stage prostate cancer who were subjected to CT examinations followed by radical prostatectomy between 2007 and 2011 (in this analysis we included only patients diagnosed with CT). Both in affected and in healthy tissue the following perfusion parameters were assessed: blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and permeability-surface area product (PS). After surgery in the resected prostate tumour tissue the MVD and VEGFLI were assessed. The mean BF and PS values were significantly higher in carcinomas with high histological grade (p = 0.02). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the threshold BF value, for the distinction between malignant and healthy prostate tissue, were: 67%, 54% and 59% respectively. For BV sensitivity was 71%, specificity was 52%, and accuracy was 48%. Microvessel density significantly correlated with BV, MTT and PS (p < 0.05), while VEGFLI did not correlate with any of the perfusion parameters. Our results suggest that BF and PS might be helpful in discrimination between benign and malignant prostate tissue, while the positive correlation between BV, MTT, PS and MVD might suggest their potential utility in assessment of cancer angiogenesis

Perfusion CT is a valuable diagnostic method for prostate cancer: a prospective study of 94 patients

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of perfusion computer tomography (pCT) in prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostics. Copyright:Materials and Methods: 94 patients with biopsy-proven PCa were enrolled in the study. Dynamic pCT of the prostate gland was performed for 50 seconds after an intravenous injection of contrast medium. Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and permeability surface area product (PS) were computed in the suspected PCa area and in normal prostatic tissue.Results: PCa was visible in pCT in 90 of the 94 examined patients as a focal peripheral CT enhancement. When PCa was located in the peripheral zone (PZ), it was visible on perfusion maps, mostly showing an early peak followed by wash-out. The average values of all perfusion parameters were higher for tumour than for normal prostate tissue (p 7). In high-grade PCa, the mean BF value was significantly higher (p = 0.001) than the mean value of BF low- and medium-grade PCa (p = 0.011). Similar results were obtained regarding the mean values of BV; the more aggressive the cancer grade, the higher the mean BV value (p = 0.04).Conclusion: CT quantitative perfusion imaging allows PCa to be distinguished from normal prostate tissue. The highest values for BF and BV were observed in the most aggressive PCa grade

An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen

Background: Cats are the major source of indoor inhalant allergens after house dust mites. The global incidence of cat allergies is rising sharply, posing a major public health problem. Ten cat allergens have been identified. The major allergen responsible for symptoms is Fel d 1, a secretoglobin and not a lipocalin, making the cat a special case among mammals. Main body: Given its clinical predominance, it is essential to have a good knowledge of this allergenic fraction, including its basic structure, to understand the new exciting diagnostic and therapeutic applications currently in development. The recent arrival of the component-resolved diagnosis, which uses molecular allergens, represents a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of the disease. Recombinant Fel d 1 is now available for in vitro diagnosis by the anti-Fel d 1 specific IgE assay. The first part of the review will seek to describe the recent advances related to Fel d 1 in terms of positive diagnosis and assessment of disease severity. In daily practice, anti-Fel d 1 IgE tend to replace those directed against the overall extract but is this attitude justified? We will look at the most recent arguments to try to answer this question. In parallel, a second revolution is taking place thanks to molecular engineering, which has allowed the development of various forms of recombinant Fel d 1 and which seeks to modify the immunomodulatory properties of the molecule and thus the clinical history of the disease via various modalities of anti-Fel d 1-specific immunotherapy. We will endeavor to give a clear and practical overview of all these trends

Content of macro- and microelements, and fatty acids in muscles of salmon (Salmo salar L.), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walb.), and carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Celem badań było określenie różnic międzygatunkowych pod względem zawartości: Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na i K oraz kwasów tłuszczowych w mięśniach ryb: pstrąg tęczowy (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walb.), karp (Cyprinus carpio L.) i łosoś (Salmo salar L.), zakupionych w sklepach na terenie Olsztyna. Na i K oznaczono metodą fotometrii płomieniowej. Pozostałe pierwiastki analizowano metodą AAS. Kwasy tłuszczowe oznaczono techniką chromatografii gazowej. Karp cechował się największą zawartością Mn, Fe i Ca (p ≤ 0,01). Stwierdzono, że karp stanowił również bogate źródło Zn, przy czym istotne różnice (p ≤ 0,01) wystąpiły jedynie w porównaniu z łososiem. W przypadku pozostałych oznaczanych pierwiastków nie wykazano istotnych różnic (p > 0,05) międzygatunkowych. W lipidach mięśni pstrąga tęczowego oznaczono największą zawartość nasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych (26,79 %) (p ≤ 0,05). Najwięcej kwasów monoenowych zawierały lipidy tkanki mięśniowej karpia (51,45 %) (p ≤ 0,01). Wśród nasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych dominował kwas palmitynowy (C16:0), zaś monoenowe kwasy tłuszczowe były reprezentowane przez kwas oleinowy (C18:1). Różnice zawartości n-6 polienowych kwasów tłuszczowych stwierdzono jedynie pomiędzy mięśniami karpi i łososi (p ≤ 0,05). Wśród kwasów n-6 polienowych dominował kwas linolowy (C18:2). Bogatym źródłem kwasów n-3 polienowych (19,99 % i 23,18 %) i kwasu EPA (6,04 % i 5,17 %) był łosoś i pstrąg tęczowy (p ≤ 0,01), a pstrągi zawierały istotnie więcej DHA (14,50 %) (p ≤ 0,01).The objective of the study was to determine the inter-specific differences in the contents of Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, and K, as well as in fatty acids in muscles of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walb.), carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), and salmon (Salmo salar L.) purchased at a market in the city of Olsztyn (Poland). Na and K were determined using an emission flame photometry. The other elements were analyzed using an AAS method. Fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography. The carp fish was characterized by the highest content of Mn, Fe, and Ca (p ≤ 0.01). Also, it was found that the carp was a rich source of Zn, and the significant differences were found only if compared to the salmon (p ≤ 0.01). As for the other elements determined, no significant interspecific differences (p > 0.05) were found. In the lipids contained in the muscles of rainbow trout examined, the highest content of saturated fatty acids (26.79 %) (p ≤ 0.05) was determined. The highest amount of monoenoic acids was reported in the lipids in the muscle tissue of carp (51.45 %) (p ≤ 0.01). Among the saturated fatty acids, the palmitic acid was a predominant fatty acid (C16:0) whereas the monoenoic fatty acids were represented by the oleic acid (C18:1). The differences in the content of n-6 polienoic fatty acids were found only between the carp and the salmon (p ≤ 0.05). The linoleic acid (C18:2) prevailed among the n-6 polienoic fatty acids. The salmon and rainbow trout (p ≤ 0.01) were a rich source of n-3 polienoic fatty acids (19.99 % and 23.18 %) and EPA (6.04 % and 5.17 %) (p ≤ 0.01) whereas the trout had significantly more DHA (14.50 %) (p ≤ 0.01)

Adjustment of reported prevalence of respiratory symptoms for non-response in a multi-centre health survey

BACKGROUND. Estimation of non-response bias by modelling prevalence as a function of the number of mailings required to achieve a response, or of the cumulative response, has been advocated, but the models have not incorporated age and sex, differential response rates by age and sex, or season of response. METHODS. The effect on age-sex standardized prevalence of estimating non-response bias using a variety of models was investigated using data on nine symptom and medication questions from 13,007 subjects in the three English centres of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Comparison was made of goodness of fit and the prediction of responses in a 25% follow-up sample with the observed values. RESULTS. Despite low response rates in Cambridge and significant decreases in prevalence with additional mailings or increasing cumulative response in Norwich, there were only small effects on estimated age-sex standardized prevalences. No model was consistently better for any centre or question. CONCLUSIONS. The models are useful for exploring the sensitivity of estimated prevalence to non-response bias, but should be used with caution to adjust estimates. Ideally first mailings should be staggered over the whole year so that mailing and season are not confounded, and sufficient mailings or other contacts carried out for the whole sample to ensure a high response rate