Non-Hodgkin lymphoma response evaluation with MRI texture classification

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To show magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) texture appearance change in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) during treatment with response controlled by quantitative volume analysis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 19 patients having NHL with an evaluable lymphoma lesion were scanned at three imaging timepoints with 1.5T device during clinical treatment evaluation. Texture characteristics of images were analyzed and classified with MaZda application and statistical tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>NHL tissue MRI texture imaged before treatment and under chemotherapy was classified within several subgroups, showing best discrimination with 96% correct classification in non-linear discriminant analysis of T2-weighted images.</p> <p>Texture parameters of MRI data were successfully tested with statistical tests to assess the impact of the separability of the parameters in evaluating chemotherapy response in lymphoma tissue.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Texture characteristics of MRI data were classified successfully; this proved texture analysis to be potential quantitative means of representing lymphoma tissue changes during chemotherapy response monitoring.</p

Partial Inhibition of Estrogen-Induced Mammary Carcinogenesis in Rats by Tamoxifen: Balance between Oxidant Stress and Estrogen Responsiveness

Epidemiological and experimental evidences strongly support the role of estrogens in breast tumor development. Both estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent and ER-independent mechanisms are implicated in estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator is widely used as chemoprotectant in human breast cancer. It binds to ERs and interferes with normal binding of estrogen to ERs. In the present study, we examined the effect of long-term tamoxifen treatment in the prevention of estrogen-induced breast cancer. Female ACI rats were treated with 17β-estradiol (E2), tamoxifen or with a combination of E2 and tamoxifen for eight months. Tissue levels of oxidative stress markers 8-iso-Prostane F2α (8-isoPGF2α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and oxidative DNA damage marker 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were quantified in the mammary tissues of all the treatment groups and compared with age-matched controls. Levels of tamoxifen metabolizing enzymes cytochrome P450s as well as estrogen responsive genes were also quantified. At necropsy, breast tumors were detected in 44% of rats co-treated with tamoxifen+E2. No tumors were detected in the sham or tamoxifen only treatment groups whereas in the E2 only treatment group, the tumor incidence was 82%. Co-treatment with tamoxifen decreased GPx and catalase levels; did not completely inhibit E2-mediated oxidative DNA damage and estrogen-responsive genes monoamine oxygenase B1 (MaoB1) and cell death inducing DFF45 like effector C (Cidec) but differentially affected the levels of tamoxifen metabolizing enzymes. In summary, our studies suggest that although tamoxifen treatment inhibits estrogen-induced breast tumor development and increases the latency of tumor development, it does not completely abrogate breast tumor development in a rat model of estrogen-induced breast cancer. The inability of tamoxifen to completely inhibit E2-induced breast carcinogenesis may be because of increased estrogen-mediated oxidant burden

Breeding birds of the special area of conservation for the Natura 2000 site Gora Debowa near Mlawa

In 2014, selected species of breeding birds were counted in a forest area of 386.6 ha located in the Dwukoły Forest Inspectorate, Warmia-Masuria Province, within the Special Area of Conservation for the Natura 2000 site Góra Dębowa near Mława PLH280057 (20O25’99”E, 53O15’53”N). The study area comprised managed forests and the forest reserve „Dębowa Góra” with the dominant site of the linden-oak-hornbeam Tilio-Carpinetum community. A total of 69 breeding bird species were recorded, of which numbers of 57 species were estimated. The most abundant species comprised the Goldcrest Regulus regulus (53-56 pairs), Nuthatch Sitta europaea (50-51 pairs) and Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major (47 pairs). Nine of the breeding species are listed in Annex I to the Council Directive 2009/147/WE. The species characteristic of the site comprised the Stock Dove Columba oenas (29-31 pairs), Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius (16-18 pairs), Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva (6-7 pairs) and Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla (16-18 pairs). The nesting of rare species included the Black Stork Ciconia nigra (1 pair) and Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina (1 pair).W roku 2014 przeprowadzono liczenia wybranych gatunków ptaków lęgowych na powierzchni leśnej 386,6 ha w Nadleśnictwie Dwukoły w woj. warmińsko-mazurskim, w granicach specjalnego obszaru ochrony siedlisk Natura 2000 Góra Dębowa koło Mławy PLH280057 (20O25’99”E, 53O15’53”N). Badany teren obejmował lasy gospodarcze i teren rezerwatu leśnego „Dębowa Góra” z dominującym siedliskiem grądu subkontynentalnego Tilio-Carpinetum. Stwierdzono 69 gatunków lęgowych ptaków, z czego oceną populacji objęto 57, spośród których największą liczebność osiągnęły: mysikrólik Regulus regulus (53-56 par), kowalik Sitta europaea (50-51 par) i dzięcioł duży Dendrocopos major (47 par). Stwierdzono 9 gatunków lęgowych wymienionych w załączniku I Dyrektywy Rady 2009/147/WE. Charakterystyczne dla powierzchni gatunki to: siniak Columba oenas (29-31 par), dzięcioł średni Dendrocopos medius (16-18 par), muchołówka mała Ficedula parva (6-7 par) i zniczek Regulus ignicapilla (16-18 par). Stwierdzono gniazdowanie gatunków rzadkich: bociana czarnego Ciconia nigra (1 para) i orlika krzykliwego Clanga pomarina (1 para)

Breeding avifauna of the Natura 2000 sites Wkra and Mlawka River valleys PLB140008

In 2011, breading birds were monitored within the Natura 2000 SPA Wkra and Mławka River valleys on an area of 287.5 km2. We recorded 134 breeding species, and numbers of 76 species were estimated. The most abundant species comprised Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis (387 pairs), Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia (362) and Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia (203). We noted 22 breeding or probably breeding species listed in Annex I to the Council Directive 2009/147/WE. Numbers of the Corncrake Crex crex (122 territorial males) and Bluethroat Luscinia svecica (63 pairs/males) exceeded the qualification limits for important bird area of international importance. Birds important at the country scale nesting in the important bird area comprise the Curlew Numenius arquata (13 pairs) and the Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago (190 pairs). The Wkra and Mławka valleys are an important refuge in Mazovia for the following species listed in Annex I to the Council Directive 2009/147/WE: the Black Stork Ciconia nigra (3 pairs), White Stork Ciconia ciconia (117), Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina (7), Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (24-26), Crane Grus grus (74), Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio (236) and Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria (152). Numbers of 5 species of Natura 2000 increased and of 3 species declined.W roku 2011 przeprowadzono inwentaryzację awifauny lęgowej w granicach OSO Natura 2000 Doliny Wkry i Mławki na powierzchni 287,5 km2. Stwierdzono 134 gatunki lęgowe, a oceną liczebności objęto 76 gatunków. Największą liczebność osiągnęły: świergotek łąkowy Anthus pratensis (387 par), słowik szary Luscinia luscinia (362) i świerszczak Locustella naevia (203). Stwierdzono 22 gatunki lęgowe lub prawdopodobnie lęgowe, wymienione w załączniku I Dyrektywy Rady 2009/147/ WE. Liczebność derkacza Crex crex (122 terytorialne samce) i podróżniczka Luscinia svecica (63 pary/ samce) przekroczyła progi kwalifikacyjne dla ostoi o znaczeniu międzynarodowym. W ostoi gniazdowały znaczące w skali kraju populacje kulika wielkiego Numenius arquata (13 par) i kszyka Gallinago gallinago (190 par). Doliny Wkry i Mławki stanowią ważną na Mazowszu ostoję dla następujących gatunków z załącznika I Dyrektywy Rady 2009/147/WE: bocian czarny Ciconia nigra (3 pary), bocian biały Ciconia ciconia (117), orlik krzykliwy Clanga pomarina (7), błotniak stawowy Circus aeruginosus (24-26), żuraw Grus grus (74), gąsiorek Lanius collurio (236) i jarzębatka Sylvia nisoria (152). Wzrost liczebności odnotowano dla 5 gatunków z grupy „naturowych”, a dla 3 gatunków spadek