A filamentous fungus, Pythium ultimum TROW var. ultimum, isolated from moribund moss colonies from Svalbard, northern islands of Norway

A fungus, Pythium ultimum TROW var. ultimum, was isolated from colonies of moribund moss, Sanionia uncinata (HEDW.) LOESKE, in Svalbard. This is the first report of isolation of P. ultimum var. ultimum from the Arctic Zone. This fungus showed possible moss pathogenic activity. The taxonomic, morphological and ecological characteristics are described here. In addition, the mycelial growth of this isolate is compared with that of isolates from the Temperate Zone, and its physiological characteristics are discussed

Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Neuroendocrine and Non-neuroendocrine Ductal Carcinoma in Situ of the Breast

Neuroendocrine ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast（NE-DCIS）was recently recognized as a special subtype of DCIS, although the diagnostic criteria for NE-DCIS are yet to be established. DCIS is defined as the immunohistochemical expression of neuroendocrine markers chromogranin A and/or synaptophysin in over 50％ of tumor cells. Here, we investigated whether there are significant differences in magnetic resonance imaging（MRI）findings between NE-DCIS and non-NE-DCIS. The study sample comprised 8 lesions in 7 patients with breast NE-DCIS and 71 lesions in 69 patients with non-NE-DCIS who underwent preoperative MRI and histopathological diagnosis at our hospital from June 2010 to June 2012. The patients were females aged 34–85 years. We examined the lesion type, pattern of time-signal intensity curve（TIC）on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI（DCE-MRI）, presence or absence of bloody duct ectasia delineation, and presence or absence of calcification on mammography（MMG）. Mass-type lesions were significantly more common in breast NE-DCIS than in non-NE-DCIS on MRI. On DCE-MRI, the TIC washout pattern was more commonly observed in NE-DCIS than in non-NE-DCIS, and although there was no significant difference in the rate of bloody duct ectasia delineation, it was relatively more common in NE-DCIS. MMG revealed a significant difference in calcification between non-NE-DCIS（60.1％）and NE-DCIS（0％）. Mass-type lesions and TIC washout pattern are significantly more common in patients with NE-DCIS than in those with non-NE-DCIS on MRI and DCE-MRI

Comparison of CT Urography and MRI in Bladder Cancer Detection

A final diagnosis of bladder cancer is made based on a pathological assessment using cystoscopy and biopsy. Recently, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have become widely used as screening tests for hematuria, and there are scattered reports of new imaging modalities such as CT urography (CTU) and diffusion-weighted MRI being useful in the detection of bladder cancer. However, there are no reports comparing CTU and MRI in this context. In the present study, we compared the bladder cancer detection abilities of CTU and MRI. We analyzed 58 cases of bladder cancer that had been examined by both CTU and bladder MRI. The objects of comparison were T2-weighted images and diffusion-weighted images for MRI and contrast CT images of the renal parenchyma and excretory phases for CTU. Bladder cancer was confirmed histopathologically via either biopsy or surgery for all cases. For patients with multiple bladder cancer, up to three lesions per case were included in the analysis. Two independent readers assessed all cases. Out of 91 lesions from 58 cases, Reader 1 detected 72 (79.1%) and 65 cases (71.4%), and Reader 2 detected 69 (75.8%) and 70 (76.9%), using MRI and CTU, respectively. The κ-values for Reader 1 versus Reader 2 were 0.780 for MRI and 0.857 for CT, showing high diagnostic consistency. MRI showed a higher lesion detection rate than CTU, but this difference was not statistically significant. This study showed no significant difference in bladder cancer detection rate between CTU and MRI, confirming the value of MRI in the clinical diagnosis of bladder cancer

Proton (1H) MR Spectroscopy of the Breast at 3.0T: Detectability of the Choline Peak of Breast Cancer in Comparison with a 1.5T Imager

1H-MR spectroscopy (MRS) of the breast demonstrated that choline could be detected in breast cancers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detectability of the choline peak (Tcho) in breast cancer using a 3.0T imager. A total of 52 female patients who underwent MR imaging were evaluated. Localization methods included the SVS and PRESS, with acquisition times of approximately 5 minutes. Correlations among tumor size, histological type, and the presence of Tcho were evaluated. Of 52 breast lesions that were pathologically diagnosed, 50 were malignant [45 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC), five ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) ]and 2 were benign. The presence of Tcho was evaluated in 50 cases. The average diameter of malignant tumors was 2.2 cm and that of benign tumors was 1.9cm. Tcho was identified in 24 of 48 breast cancers (sensitivity 50%, specificity 100%). There was a significant difference between the identification in tumors according to tumor size. Tcho was identified in 76.9% of IDC cases with a diameter greater than the voxel size (1.5cm), while it was identified in only 17.6% of tumors less than 1.5cm in size. Tcho was identified in approximately 77% of breast cancer tumors overall with a diameter greater than the voxel size. The result was comparable with the detectability at 1.5T, although the acquisition times at 3.0T were much shorter than at 1.5T. The advantages at 3.0T include the ability to investigate smaller lesions within a shorter time frame

Comparison of 1.5 T(Tesla) and 3.0 T(Tesla) Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Evaluating Local Extension of Endometrial Cancer

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important means of evaluating local extension of endometrial cancer. The 3.0 Tesla (T) MRI system introduced in 2005 improved the diagnostic capabilities of this modality due to an increased signal to noise ratio; however, it was also susceptible to artifacts and debate remains regarding the clinical applicability of 3.0 T MRI in the pelvic region. A few reports have compared 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI for determining the degree of progression of endometrial cancer. Therefore, we conducted a comparative study of the diagnostic capability of 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI for the local extension of endometrial cancer. Over the 6 years and 8 months from 1 January 2008 to 30 August 2014, preoperative MRI has been conducted at our hospital including T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma requiring surgery. We investigated 60 subjects after excluding cases for which the tumor could not be imaged and cases that underwent surgery 2 months or more after undergoing MRI. Two radiologists used magnetic resonance images taken preoperatively to determine local extension using T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and dynamic-study images. Results for local extension were compared with those of postoperative histopathology. Results indicated no significant difference in accurate diagnosis rates between 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI for any of the imaging modalities examined by both radiologists

The Usefulness of Diffusion-weighted Imaging in Observing Localized Extension of Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the seventh most common human malignancy and the most common form of cancer treated in women by obstetrics and gynecology departments. Until now, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used for pre-surgical evaluation of endometrial cancer and evaluating the depth of myometrial invasion, in addition to being a valuable diagnostic tool. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been reported as useful in distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors when observing lesions in the endometrium. Subsequent reports suggest that DWI is also effective in identifying malignancy and diagnosing local extension in a range of tissues. Based on this, we implemented a study of the effectiveness of DWI in identifying local extension of endometrial cancer. This study enrolled patients undergoing surgery at this hospital for cancer of the uterine body during the six years from January 2008 to February 2014. Cases in which images were unclear or the lesions were too small to be described by MRI examination were excluded, leaving 61 patients in the study. Using the results from pre-surgical MRI, a sequence comprising a T2-weighted axial view alone and a T2-weighted axial view to which a diffusion-weighted axial view had been added was created for each patient. Two radiologists then independently examined the image sequence to determine localized extension. Following surgery, the pre-surgical assessment was compared to the localized extension determined by histopathology of post-surgical samples to evaluate the effectiveness of adding diffusion-weighted imaging to the process. The first radiographic interpreter\u27s rate of correct diagnosis using the T2-weighted axial view alone was 45 out of 55 cases (81.8%), while using the T2-weighted axial view to which a diffusion-weighted axial view had been added gave a correct diagnosis rate of 51 out of 55 cases (92.7%). The second radiographic interpreter\u27s rate of correct diagnosis using the T2-weighted axial view alone was 41 out of 55 cases (74.5%), while using the T2-weighted axial view with diffusion-weighted axial view added gave a correct diagnosis rate of 51 out of 55 cases (92.7%). These differences were statistically significant based on the McNemar testing. This study confirmed that DWI is an effective means of diagnosing localized extension from images. It is anticipated that DWI will be used in the future clinical workplace to provide more accurate pre-surgical diagnoses

A Study of Correlation between Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI Using the 3T MRI System and Tc-99m-GSA Hepatic Scintigraphy / Hepatic Function Tests in Prehepatectomy Cases

This study compared results from Gd-EOB-DTPA on two different phases of 3T MRI with those from Tc-99m-GSA hepatic scintigraphy and hepatic function tests. Twenty-four patients with liver tumor were included in this study. All patients underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced-MRI and Tc-99m-GSA hepatic scintigraphy. Clearance index (HH15) and receptor index (LHL15) were calculated for the Tc-99m-GSA, while signal intensities (SI) of liver at pre-injection and at 4/20min post-injection, and of spleen at 4 min/20min were measured (SIpre, SI4min, SI20min, SIsp4min, SIsp20min, respectively) for the Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI. Liver activity at 15min by Tc-99m-GSA scintigraphy or biochemical liver function values were compared with liver spleen contrast at 4min (LSC4min = SI4min/SIsp4min) or 20min post-injection (LSC20min = SI4min/SIsp20min), and the increase in ratio at 4min (IR4min=SI4min/SIsp4min) or 20min (IR20min= SI20min/SIpre). Total bilirubin levels (T-bil), serum albumin levels (Alb), prothrombin activity, and the indocyanine green clearance test (ICG) results were also analyzed. There were statistically significant correlations in all comparisons between Gd-EOB-DTPA and Tc-99m-GSA. The highest coefficient of correlation was obtained in IR4min (LHL15: r = 0.795, P<0.001; HH15: r = -0.782, P<0.001), with IR20min (LHL15: r = 0.690, P<0.01; HH15: r = -0.528, P<0.05), LSC4min (LHL15: r = 0.458, P<0.05; HH15: r = -0.626, P<0.05), and LSC20min (LHL15: r = 0.443, P<0.05, HH15: r = -0.609, P<0.05) also significantly correlated. Correlations in hepatic function data were observed between IR4min and T-bil/Alb, and IR20min and Alb. In 3T-MRI using Gd-EOB-DTPA, the SI of liver at pre- to post-injection (especially at 4 min) significantly correlated with the corresponding Tc-99m-DTPA scintigraphy results, and with some biochemical liver function data

Divergent synthesis of (+)-tanikolide and its analogues employing stereoselective rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction

In this study, we described the divergent synthesis of (+)-tanikolide and its analogues, such as (4S)- and (4R)-hydroxytanikolides, and nortanikolide, employing a stereoselective dirhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction to construct the quaternary chiral center of tanokolides. The key steps involve (a) a dirhodium(II)-catalyzed oxonium ylide formation–[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, (b) an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed ring-expansion lactonization of tetrahydrofurfural, or (c) an oxidative cleavage of tetrahydrofuran-5-methanol to γ-lactone using a 2-iodobenzamide catalyst. This route would provide high flexibility for analogue synthesis because the long side chain can be introduced at a later stage in the synthesis

Assessment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Ablation Margins Using Fused Pre-ablation Hepatobiliary Phase and Post-ablation Unenhanced T1-weighted Images

This study retrospectively investigated the value of fusing a pre-ablation hepatobiliary phase（HBP）series and post-ablation unenhanced T1-weighted images（T1WIs）to evaluate the treatment effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC）. Predictors of local tumor progression（LTP）were also identified. Our study comprised 47 patients with 88 HCCs（＞2 years follow up）who underwent pre-ablation gadoxetate disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and post-ablation T1-weighted imaging. For the new assessment, pre-ablation HBP series and post-ablation T1WIs were fused using a rigid registration and manual correlation, and the ablation margin appearance was classified as ablation margin（＋）, ablation margin zero, ablation margin（−）, or indeterminate（index tumor was invisible）based on the post-ablation T1WIs and fusion images. The minimal ablation margin was measured and clinical factors were investigated to identify other risk factors for LTP, which was observed in 14 tumors. The mean minimal ablation margin was 1.9mm, excluding 5 indeterminate nodules without LTP, and 8 ablation margin-zero HCCs with LTP, with multivariate logistic regression analysis showing that the likelihood of ablation margin＋was inversely proportional to tumor size. The independent risk factors for LTP were not identified, but the cumulative LTP rates（0％ at 1, 2, and 3 years）in 41 ablation margin＋ nodules were significantly lower（P＝0.005）than those（8.8％, 17.6％, and 17.6％ at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively）in 34 ablation margin-zero nodules. In conclusion, fusion images might show an early therapeutic response of the ablated tumors in the majority of HCC cases