2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can identify chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) stage A et stage B patients

Purpose: There is no data in the literature concerning the utility of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), except for the diagnosis of Richter\u27s transformations. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential role of FDG-PET in CLL stages A and B. Materials and methods: Thirty-five patients (61 ± 9 years; 11 women, 24 men; 8B and 27A) have benefited of a FDG-PET scan at baseline, for example, before an eventual treatment. FDG-PET scans were analyzed visually and the maximum values of the Standardised Uptake Value (SUVmax) were measured in the main lymph nodes areas. The ability of FDG-PET to differentiate stages A and B patients was evaluated by Student\u27s tests and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis. Results: All patients with a normal FDG-PET (n = 18) were stages A. The remaining 17 patients (9A and 8B) showed hypermetabolisms in nodal areas above (n = 17) and below (n = 9) the diaphragm, and no visceral involvement. The lymph nodes hypermetabolisms were always bilateral, and of low intensity (≤ mediastinum; 9A), or of higher intensity (≥ liver, 8B). The SUVmax of stage B (n = 8) were significantly higher than those of the 27 stages A, in all lymph nodes areas except in mediastinum. The highest intensity of FDG uptake was observed in axillary area in stages B patients (SUVmax = 2.74 ± 1.03). An axillary SUVmax of 1.33 is the most suitable value for the discrimination between stages A and B patients (ROC; AUC = 0.968; sensitivity 1.00; specificity 0.91). Conclusion: Lymph nodes hypermetabolisms are constant in the B stage, and more intense than in stage A. These anomalies are always bilateral, unlike what is observed in Richter\u27s transformation. The intensity of axillary lymph nodes FDG uptake can distinguish CLL stages A and B

Genetic diversity of NS5A protein from hepatitis C virus genotype 3a and its relationship to therapy response

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The quasispecies nature of HCV may have important implications for viral persistence, pathogenicity and resistance to antiviral agents. The variability of one of the viral proteins, NS5A, is believed to be related to the response to IFN therapy, the standard treatment for infection. In this study we analyzed the quasispecies composition of NS5A protein in patients infected with HCV genotype 3a, before IFN therapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Viral RNA was isolated from samples of 12 patients: four sustained virological responders (SVR), four non-responders (NR), and four end-of-treatment responders (ETR). cDNA was synthesized, the NS5A region was amplified and the fragments obtained were cloned. Fifteen clones from each patient were sequenced with eight primers, generating 179 contigs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Higher values for substitution (either synonymous or non-synonymous) and for distance were found in the SVR group. However, the NR group showed relatively more non-synonymous mutations than the other groups, owing to the higher values of dN/dS in complete NS5A and most specific regions. Overall, NS5A protein is undergoing purifying selection, since all dN/dS ratios values are below 0.5.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study provides an overview of the genetic variability of complete NS5A protein in HCV genotype 3a.</p

Imaging of congenital central nervous system infections.

© 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Congenital central nervous system (CNS) infections are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. The recent Zika virus outbreak raised awareness of congenital CNS infections. Imaging can be effective in diagnosing the presence and severity of infection. In this paper we review the clinical presentations and imaging characteristics of several common and less common congenital CNS infections