Incidental detection of an occult oral malignancy with autofluorescence imaging: a case report

BACKGROUND: Autofluorescence imaging is used widely for diagnostic evaluation of various epithelial malignancies. Cancerous lesions display loss of autofluorescence due to malignant changes in epithelium and subepithelial stroma. Carcinoma of unknown primary site presents with lymph node or distant metastasis, for which the site of primary tumour is not detectable. We describe here the use of autofluorescence imaging for detecting a clinically innocuous appearing occult malignancy of the palate which upon pathological examination was consistent with a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. CASE DESCRIPTION: A submucosal nodule was noted on the right posterior hard palate of a 59-year-old white female during clinical examination. Examination of this lesion using a multispectral oral cancer screening device revealed loss of autofluorescence at 405 nm illumination. An excisional biopsy of this nodule, confirmed the presence of a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Four years ago, this patient was diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right mid-jugular lymph node of unknown primary. She was treated with external beam irradiation and remained disease free until current presentation. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the important role played by autofluorescence tissue imaging in diagnosing a metastatic palatal tumour that appeared clinically innocuous and otherwise would not have been biopsied

Molecular effectors and modulators of hypericin-mediated cell death in bladder cancer cells

peer reviewedPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is an anticancer approach utilizing a light-absorbing molecule and visible light irradiation to generate, in the presence of O(2), cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, which cause tumor ablation. Given that the photosensitizer hypericin is under consideration for PDT treatment of bladder cancer we used oligonucleotide microarrays in the T24 bladder cancer cell line to identify differentially expressed genes with therapeutic potential. This study reveals that the expression of several genes involved in various metabolic processes, stress-induced cell death, autophagy, proliferation, inflammation and carcinogenesis is strongly affected by PDT and pinpoints the coordinated induction of a cluster of genes involved in the unfolded protein response pathway after endoplasmic reticulum stress and in antioxidant response. Analysis of PDT-treated cells after p38(MAPK) inhibition or silencing unraveled that the induction of an important subset of differentially expressed genes regulating growth and invasion, as well as adaptive mechanisms against oxidative stress, is governed by this stress-activated kinase. Moreover, p38(MAPK) inhibition blocked autonomous regrowth and migration of cancer cells escaping PDT-induced cell death. This analysis identifies new molecular effectors of the cancer cell response to PDT opening attractive avenues to improve the therapeutic efficacy of hypericin-based PDT of bladder cancer

Cooling and Freezing of Fruits and Fruit Products

The use of low temperatures is an important factor for maintaining postharvest quality of fruits and greatly influences the rate of deterioration. The objective of cooling is to prolong the commercial life of perishable products, by decreasing metabolic activity without causing chilling or freezing injuries, reduction of microbial growth and water loss of the product, between others. On the other side, freezing results in improved effects with respect to shelf life of fruits and availability throughout the year, however various undesirable changes occur due to ice formation.In the present chapter pre-cooling treatments and refrigerated storage of fruits are analyzed. The use of controlled and modified atmosphere storage, novel technologies (thermal treatments, UV-C irradiation, etc.), minimally processed fruits and the use of edible coatings are analyzed.With reference to fruit freezing the formation of ice in tissues (nucleation and crystal growth, intra and extracellular ice), initial freezing point, state diagrams, glass transition temperature, freezing rates and the different equipment used for freezing are described.The effect of freezing rate on fruit quality, physical and chemical modifications, nutritional properties and microbial stability of frozen fruit are discussed. Preparatory operations for freezing such as pre-treatments of fruits using sugar syrups, and dehydrofreezing are explained. Recommended packaging and industrial freezing methods, shelf-life of frozen fruits and new trends in freezing technology are also analyzedFil: Chaves, Alicia Raquel. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Zaritzky, Noemi Elisabet. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentin