NEN — the role of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in clinical setting

Detection of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and monitoring of their response to therapy is still challenging due to huge heterogeneity of that group of tumors. Actually, NENs visualization is mainly based on molecular imaging while in the past it was relied on less effective structural imaging including CT and MRI. Molecular imaging techniques in combination with structural imaging (hybrid imaging), especially in patients with well-differentiated NENs, in addition to morphological provide the functional information about tumor which benefits in a more accurate patient management, including more sensitive visualization of primary tumors, more precise staging and better therapy follow-up. Overexpression of somatostatin receptors (SSTR) on NENs’ cell membrane was a basis for development of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) using single photon emission tomography SPECT, which is today a well-established standard in molecular imaging of NENs, and further imaging improvement in the field of positron emission tomography (PET). Use of hybrid imaging (SPECT/CT, PET/CT) increased sensitivity of examination, mainly resulting in better detection of small lesions. Generally, somatostatin receptor imaging with PET/CT is an emerging technique, although still with limited access, but due to several advantages over SSTR SPECT/CT, should be used if available. It is worth mentioning, that both SSTR PET/CT and SSTR SPECT/CT have some limitations, such as relatively low detection rate of benign insulinomas, poorly differentiated GEP-NETs and liver metastases. For that reason further improvement of NETs imaging is necessary. The most promising new tracers’ families are based on SSTR antagonists, 64Cu-radiolabeled ligands and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) imaging. Finally, in case of poor-differentiated neuroendocrine cancers 18F-FDG PET/CT may be beneficial in comparison with molecular imaging based on somatostatin receptor modalities

Relationship between stroke severity, extensity of leukoaraiosis, and brain atrophy in patients with ischaemic stroke

Purpose: Leukoaraiosis (LA), according to the latest classification, is white matter hyperintensity - morphological findings of small blood vessel disease of the brain. This radiological detection of small vessels disease is important because there are no technical possibilities to assess small vessels of the brain using computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) angiography. Our aim was to analysis the relationship between the extension of leukoaraiosis and severity of ischaemic stroke and brain atrophy. Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed 77 head CT scans of patients admitted from the emergency room (ER) to the Radiology Department due to suspected stroke. We assessed the severity of leukoaraiosis using the van Swieten scale and brain atrophy by numerous linear measurements. Results: Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate differences between LA1 and LA2 groups with regard to stroke severity in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (p = 0.2159). There were no differences with regard to clinical severity of stroke between the study groups divided depending on the extent of brain atrophy. There were statistically significant differences with regard to the anterior horn width of the right and left lateral ventricle, posterior horn width of the right and left lateral ventricle, distance between occipital horn of the left lateral ventricle and internal surface of the cranium and third ventricle width depending on the severity of leukoaraiosis. Conclusions: The results of our studies present an association between the degree leukoaraiosis extension and brain atrophy, but no association between central nervous system tissue atrophy of extent of leukoaraiosis and ischaemic stroke severity

Difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant paraganglioma of the urinary bladder

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No time to waste : transcriptome study reveals that drought tolerance in barley may be attributed to stressed-like expression patterns that exist before the occurrence of stress

Plant survival in adverse environmental conditions requires a substantial change in the metabolism, which is reflected by the extensive transcriptome rebuilding upon the occurrence of the stress. Therefore, transcriptomic studies offer an insight into the mechanisms of plant stress responses. Here, we present the results of global gene expression profiling of roots and leaves of two barley genotypes with contrasting ability to cope with drought stress. Our analysis suggests that drought tolerance results from a certain level of transcription of stress-influenced genes that is present even before the onset of drought. Genes that predispose the plant to better drought survival play a role in the regulatory network of gene expression, including several transcription factors, translation regulators and structural components of ribosomes. An important group of genes is involved in signaling mechanisms, with significant contribution of hormone signaling pathways and an interplay between ABA, auxin, ethylene and brassinosteroid homeostasis. Signal transduction in a drought tolerant genotype may be more efficient through the expression of genes required for environmental sensing that are active already during normal water availability and are related to actin filaments and LIMdomain proteins, which may function as osmotic biosensors. Better survival of drought may also be attributed to more effective processes of energy generation and more efficient chloroplasts biogenesis. Interestingly, our data suggest that several genes involved in a photosynthesis process are required for the establishment of effective drought response not only in leaves, but also in roots of barley. Thus, we propose a hypothesis that root plastids may turn into the anti-oxidative centers protecting root macromolecules from oxidative damage during drought stress. Specific genes and their potential role in building upa drought-tolerant barley phenotype is extensively discussedwith special emphasis on processes that take place in barley roots. When possible, the interconnections between particular factors are emphasized to drawa broader picture of the molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in barle

3-D Nucleus Architecture in Oat × Maize Addition Lines

The nucleus architecture of hybrid crop plants is not a well-researched topic, yet it can have important implications for their genetic stability and usefulness in the successful expression of agronomically desired traits. In this work we studied the spatial distribution of introgressed maize chromatin in oat maize addition lines with the number of added maize chromosomes varying from one to four. The number of chromosome additions was confirmed by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Maize chromosome-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to identify the added chromosomes. GISH on 3-D root and leaf nuclei was performed to assess the number, volume, and position of the maize-chromatin occupied regions. We revealed that the maize chromosome territory (CT) associations of varying degree prevailed in the double disomic lines, while CT separation was the most common distribution pattern in the double monosomic line. In all analyzed lines, the regions occupied by maize CTs were located preferentially at the nuclear periphery. A comparison between the tissues showed that the maize CTs in the leaf nuclei are positioned closer to the center of the nucleus than in the root nuclei. These findings shed more light on the processes that shape the nucleus architecture in hybrids

Porównanie dożylnego i podskórnego podawania insulin na intensywność bólu neuropatycznego u chorych na cukrzycę

  Introduction: The effectiveness of treatment of painful diabetic polyneuropathy remains unsatisfactory. The aim of this study was to compare effects of intravenous vs. subcutaneous insulin delivery in patients with diabetic symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy on pain relief, the quality of life, sleep disturbance, and the nerve conduction. Material and methods: Thirty-four patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (mean age 62 ± 10 years, duration 17 ± 10 years), who reached a pain score over 40 mm on the VAS scale, HbA1c 7.5–10%, were randomly assigned to continuous intravenous insulin infusion (examined group) and multiple injections (control subjects). Before and after five days of the insulin treatment the effects on pain relief (SFMPQ-VAS), the quality of life improvement (EuroQol EQ-5D), and sleep disturbances (AIS) were assessed. Results: Both groups experienced significant pain reduction, improvement of the quality of life, and reduction of sleep disturbances, i.e. a VAS in the study group of 69 ± 14 mm before treatment vs. 40 ± 19 mm after treatment (p < 0.001), and in control subjects 66 ± 16 mm vs. 47 ± 17 mm (p < 0.001). No difference in level of pain intensity reduction between the groups studied was found. Conclusions: Intensification of insulin treatment applied for five days results in improvement of the physical condition of patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy, through pain relief, and improvement of the quality of life and sleep quality. The efficacy of insulin intravenous infusion and multiple injections is comparable. (Endokrynol Pol 2015; 66 (3): 237–243)    Wstęp: Skuteczność leczenia bólowej polineuropatii cukrzycowej jest niesatysfakcjonująca. Celem badania była ocena wpływu dożylnej lub podskórnej podaży insuliny u chorych z symetryczną bólową polineuropatią czuciowo-ruchową na: stopień nasilenia bólu, poprawę jakości życia, ilościową i jakościową ocenę snu oraz przewodnictwo czuciowo-ruchowe w nerwach strzałkowym i łydkowym. Materiał i metody: 34 chorych z cukrzycową polineuropatią (średni wiek chorych 62 ± 10 lat, czas trwania cukrzycy 17 ± 10 lat), z nasileniem bólu > 40 mm w skali VAS i HbA1c 7,5–10% zostało losowo przydzielonych do grupy otrzymującej dożylny wlew insuliny (grupa badana) lub podskórne wstrzyknięcia insuliny w modelu wielokrotnych wstrzyknięć (grupa kontrolna). Oceniono wpływ leczenia na nasilenie bólu (SFMPQ-VAS), jakość życia (EuroQol EQ-5D) i zaburzenia snu (AIS). Wyniki: Zaobserwowano znamienne zmniejszenie nasilenia bólu, poprawę jakości życia oraz snu. VAS w grupie badanej 69 ± 14 mm przed i 40 ± 19 mm po leczeniu (p < 0,001), w grupie kontrolnej odpowiednio 66 ± 16 mm i 47 ± 17 mm (p < 0,001). Nie obserwowano różnic pomiędzy grupami. Wnioski: Intensyfikacja insulinoterapii stosowana przez 5 dni powoduje poprawę stanu klinicznego chorych na cukrzycę powikłaną bólową polineuropatią poprzez: zmniejszenie nasilenia bólu, poprawę jakości życia, poprawę parametrów snu. Zastosowanie wlewu dożylnego insuliną ma porównywalną skuteczność jak iniekcje podskórne. (Endokrynol Pol 2015; 66 (3): 237–243)

Metastasis inhibition after proton beam, β- and γ-irradiation of melanoma growing in the hamster eye

Standard ocular tumor treatment includes brachytherapy, as well as proton therapy, particularly for large melanoma tumors. However, the effects of different radiation types on the metastatic spread is not clear. We aimed at comparing ruthenium (106 Ru, emitting β electrons) and iodine (125I, γ-radiation) brachytherapy and proton beam therapy of melanoma implanted into the hamster eye on development of spontaneous lung metastases. Tumors of Bomirski Hamster Melanoma (BHM) implanted into the anterior chamber of the hamster eye grew aggressively and completely filled the anterior chamber within 8–10 days. Metastases, mainly in the lung, were found in 100% of untreated animals 30 days after enucleation. Tumors were irradiated at a dose of 3–10 Gy with a 106Ru plaque and at a dose of 6–14 Gy using a 125I plaque. The protons were accelerated using the AIC-144 isochronous cyclotron operating at 60 MeV. BHM tumors located in the anterior chamber of the eye were irradiated with 10 Gy, for the depth of 3.88 mm. All radiation types caused inhibition of tumor growth by about 10 days. An increase in the number of metastases was observed for 3 Gy of β-irradiation, whereas at 10 Gy an inhibition of metastasis was found. γ-radiation reduced the metastatic mass at all applied doses, and proton beam therapy at 10 Gy also inhibited the metastastic spread. These results are discussed in the context of recent clinical and molecular data on radiation effects on metastasis

Pituitary stalk metastasis of a neuroendocrine tumour of unknown origin

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