A novel biomarker TERTmRNA is applicable for early detection of hepatoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Backgrounds</p> <p>We previously reported a highly sensitive method for serum human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). α-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) are good markers for HCC. In this study, we verified the significance of hTERTmRNA in a large scale multi-centered trial, collating quantified values with clinical course.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 638 subjects including 303 patients with HCC, 89 with chronic hepatitis (CH), 45 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 201 healthy individuals, we quantified serum hTERTmRNA using the real-time RT-PCR. We examined its sensitivity and specificity in HCC diagnosis, clinical significance, ROC curve analysis in comparison with other tumor markers, and its correlations with the clinical parameters using Pearson relative test and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, we performed a prospective and comparative study to observe the change of biomarkers, including hTERTmRNA in HCC patients receiving anti-cancer therapies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>hTERTmRNA was demonstrated to be independently correlated with clinical parameters; tumor size and tumor differentiation (P < 0.001, each). The sensitivity/specificity of hTERTmRNA in HCC diagnosis showed 90.2%/85.4% for hTERT. hTERTmRNA proved to be superior to AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP in the diagnosis and underwent an indisputable change in response to therapy. The detection rate of small HCC by hTERTmRNA was superior to the other markers.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>hTERTmRNA is superior to conventional tumor markers in the diagnosis and recurrence of HCC at an early stage.</p

EPR-based oximetric imaging : a combination of single point-based spatial encoding and T1 weighting

Purpose: Spin-lattice relaxation time (T1)-weighted time-domain EPR oximetry is reported for in vivo applications using a paramagnetic probe, a trityl-based Oxo71. Methods: The R1 dependence of the trityl probe Oxo71 on pO2 was assessed using single point imaging (SPI) mode of spatial encoding combined with rapid repetition, similar to T1-weighted MRI, where R1 was determined from 22 repetition times ranging from 2.1–40.0 μs at 300 MHz. The pO2 maps of a phantom with three tubes containing 2 mM Oxo71 solutions equilibrated at 0%, 2%, and 5% oxygen were determined by R1 and apparent spin-spin relaxation rate (R2*) simultaneously. Results: The pO2 maps derived from R1 and R2* agreed with the known pO2 levels in the tubes of Oxo71. However, the histograms of pO2 revealed that R1 offers better pO2 resolution than R2* in low pO2 regions. The standard deviations of pixels at 2% pO2 (15.2 mmHg) were about 5 times lower in R1-based estimation than R2*-based estimation (mean ± SD: 13.9 ± 1.77 mmHg and 18.3 ± 8.70 mmHg, respectively). The in vivo pO2 map obtained from R1-based assessment displayed a homogeneous profile in low pO2 regions in tumor xenografts, consistent with previous reports on R2*-based oximetric imaging. The scan time to obtain the R1 map can be significantly reduced using three repetition times ranging from 4.0‒12.0 μs. Conclusion: Using the SPI modality, R1-based oximetry imaging with useful spatial and oxygen resolutions for small animals was demonstrated

Orbital apex syndrome secondary to a fungal nasal septal abscess caused by Scedosporium apiospermum in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes: a case report

Abstract Background Orbital apex syndrome is a localized type of orbital cellulitis, where mass lesions occur at the apex of the cranial nerves. Although nasal septal abscess is uncommon, the organism most likely to cause nasal septal abscess is Staphylococcus aureus, and fungal septal abscesses are rare. Here we present an extremely rare and serious case of orbital apex syndrome secondary to fungal nasal septal abscess caused by Scedosporium apiospermum in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes. Case presentation A 59-year-old man with a 1-month history of headache underwent consultation in an otolaryngological clinic of a general hospital. He was diagnosed with nasal septal abscess and was treated with incisional drainage and 1 month of an antibiotic drip; however, his symptoms persisted. The patient later complained of diplopia due to bilateral abducens nerve palsy, and was then referred to the department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital. The septal lesion was biopsied under general anesthesia, and S. apiospermum was detected using polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated with an antifungal drug and surgical resection of the lesion was performed. Although the patient survived, he lost his eyesight. Conclusions This patient represents the second reported case of nasal septal abscess and orbital apex syndrome caused by S. apiospermum. If not treated properly, septal abscess can be life-threatening and cause severe complications, such as ablepsia

EPR‐based oximetric imaging: a combination of single point‐based spatial encoding and T1 weighting

Purpose: Spin‐lattice relaxation rate (R1)‐based time‐domain EPR oximetry is reported for in vivo applications using a paramagnetic probe, a trityl‐based Oxo71. Methods: The R1 dependence of the trityl probe Oxo71 on partial oxygen pressure (pO2) was assessed using single‐point imaging mode of spatial encoding combined with rapid repetition, similar to T1‐weighted MRI, for which R1 was determined from 22 repetition times ranging from 2.1 to 40.0 μs at 300 MHz. The pO2 maps of a phantom with 3 tubes containing 2 mM Oxo71 solutions equilibrated at 0%, 2%, and 5% oxygen were determined by R1 and apparent spin–spin relaxation rate (R2*) simultaneously. Results: The pO2 maps derived from R1 and R2* agreed with the known pO2 levels in the tubes of Oxo71. However, the histograms of pO2 revealed that R1 offers better pO2 resolution than R2* in low pO2 regions. The SDs of pixels at 2% pO2 (15.2 mmHg) were about 5 times lower in R1‐based estimation than R2*‐based estimation (mean ± SD: 13.9 ± 1.77 mmHg and 18.3 ± 8.70 mmHg, respectively). The in vivo pO2 map obtained from R1‐based assessment displayed a homogeneous profile in low pO2 regions in tumor xenografts, consistent with previous reports on R2*‐based oximetric imaging. The scan time to obtain the R1 map can be significantly reduced using 3 repetition times ranging from 4.0 to 12.0 μs. Conclusion: Using the single‐point imaging modality, R1‐based oximetry imaging with useful spatial and oxygen resolutions for small animals was demonstrated

EPR

Purpose: Spin-lattice relaxation time (T1)-weighted time-domain EPR oximetry is reported for in vivo applications using a paramagnetic probe, a trityl-based Oxo71. Methods: The R1 dependence of the trityl probe Oxo71 on pO2 was assessed using single point imaging (SPI) mode of spatial encoding combined with rapid repetition, similar to T1-weighted MRI, where R1 was determined from 22 repetition times ranging from 2.1–40.0 μs at 300 MHz. The pO2 maps of a phantom with three tubes containing 2 mM Oxo71 solutions equilibrated at 0%, 2%, and 5% oxygen were determined by R1 and apparent spin-spin relaxation rate (R2*) simultaneously. Results: The pO2 maps derived from R1 and R2* agreed with the known pO2 levels in the tubes of Oxo71. However, the histograms of pO2 revealed that R1 offers better pO2 resolution than R2* in low pO2 regions. The standard deviations of pixels at 2% pO2 (15.2 mmHg) were about 5 times lower in R1-based estimation than R2*-based estimation (mean ± SD: 13.9 ± 1.77 mmHg and 18.3 ± 8.70 mmHg, respectively). The in vivo pO2 map obtained from R1-based assessment displayed a homogeneous profile in low pO2 regions in tumor xenografts, consistent with previous reports on R2*-based oximetric imaging. The scan time to obtain the R1 map can be significantly reduced using three repetition times ranging from 4.0‒12.0 μs. Conclusion: Using the SPI modality, R1-based oximetry imaging with useful spatial and oxygen resolutions for small animals was demonstrated