Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the uterine cervix is a rare and aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis even in its early stage, despite multimodality treatment strategy. Here, we report a case of a woman with clinical polypoid stage IB LCNEC of the cervix, which was detected in her 6-week postpartum checkup. A literature review was also conducted to evaluate current therapeutic approaches and potential new strategies

Microfluidic Amperometric Sensor for Analysis of Nitric Oxide in Whole Blood

Standard photolithographic techniques and a nitric oxide (NO) selective xerogel polymer were utilized to fabricate an amperometric NO microfluidic sensor with low background noise and the ability to analyze NO levels in small sample volumes (~250 μL). The sensor exhibited excellent analytical performance in phosphate buffered saline, including a NO sensitivity of 1.4 pA nM−1, a limit of detection (LOD) of 840 pM, and selectivity over nitrite, ascorbic acid, acetaminophen, uric acid, hydrogen sulfide, ammonium, ammonia, and both protonated and deprotonated peroxynitrite (selectivity coefficients of −5.3, −4.2, −4.0, −5.0, −6.0, −5.8, −3.8, −1.5, and −4.0 respectively). To demonstrate the utility of the microfluidic NO sensor for biomedical analysis, the device was used to monitor changes in blood NO levels during the onset of sepsis in a murine pneumonia model

Effect of impaired intestinal lipid transport on mortality in <i>P. aeruginosa</i> pneumonia.

<p>Mice with intestine-specific deletion of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (<i>Mttp-IKO</i>) and control mice were subjected to <i>P. aeruginosa</i> pneumonia. Sham mice received intratracheal injections of saline. All mice were followed for survival for 7 days. Mice with impaired intestinal lipid transport exhibited significantly improved survival compared to control mice (p<0.05). All sham mice survived.</p

Effect of impaired intestinal lipid transport on intestinal epithelial apoptosis.

<p>Intestinal epithelial apoptosis was evaluated by active caspase-3 staining (A) and H&E staining (B) in 100 crypts. Control mice subjected to <i>P. aeruginosa</i> pneumonia exhibited increased intestinal apoptosis by both methods. In contrast, <i>Mttp-IKO</i> mice with pneumonia had similar levels of intestinal apoptosis as sham mice.n = 6–7 shams/genotype, n = 16–18 septics/genotype. The gene expression ratios of pro-apoptotic Bax to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 (C) and Bcl-xL (D) were evaluated. Septic <i>Mttp-IKO</i> mice had significantly decreased ratios compared to septic control mice. n = 11/group.</p

Effect of impaired intestinal lipid transport on serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

<p>Serum LPS was increased in septic control mice, but not in septic <i>Mttp-IKO</i> mice. Serum LPS concentration was measured using the LAL chromogenic endotoxin kit (Methods). N = 5–8 per group. *p<0.05.</p

Effect of impaired intestinal lipid transport on intestinal morphology and proliferation.

<p>Intestinal morphology (A) was evaluated in H&E-stained sections. Magnification 20×. Villus length (B) and crypt depth (C) were quantified in jejunal sections. Control mice subjected to <i>P. aeruginosa</i> pneumonia had significantly shorter villi and smaller crypts than sham mice, while both villus length and crypt depth was restored or nearly restored to sham levels in septic <i>Mttp-IKO</i> mice. n = 9 shams/genotype, n = 17 septics/genotype. (D) S-phase cells were quantified in 100 crypts. Control mice subjected to <i>P. aeruginosa</i> pneumonia had significantly decreased intestinal proliferation compared to control sham mice, while septic <i>Mttp-IKO</i> mice exhibited increased proliferative capacity. n = 6–7 shams/genotype, n = 9–11 septics/genotype. (E) Intestinal tissue was stained with osmium to detect intracellular lipid droplets, which appear as dark black staining material. (F) Mucosal concentrations of triglycerides and (G) cholesterol were measured in jejunum, the data expressed as µg/mg protein. n = 5/group.</p