18FDG-PET at 1-Month Intervals Is a Better Predictive Marker for GISTs That Are Difficult to Be Diagnosed Histopathologically: A Case Report

Imatinib mesylate is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of c-KIT and PDGFRA. Imatinib mesylate is an effective drug that can be used as a first-choice agent for treatment of GISTs. Prior to treatment, molecular diagnosis of c-KIT or PDGFRA is necessary; however, in some types of GISTs, it is impossible to obtain a sufficient amount of specimen for diagnosis. An inoperable or marginally resectable GIST in a 79-year-old female was difficult to be diagnosed at a molecular pathological level, and hence, exploratory treatment was initiated using imatinib combined with 18FDG-PET evaluation at 1-month intervals. PET imaging indicated a positive response, and so we continued imatinib treatment in an NAC setting for 4 months. As a result, curative resection of the entire tumor was successfully performed with organ preservation and minimally invasive surgery. 18FDG-PET evaluation at 1-month intervals is beneficial for GISTs that are difficult to be diagnosed histopathologically

PRODUÇÃO DE MATÉRIA SECA DE MILHO EM FUNÇÃO DA ADUBAÇÃO FOSFATADA MINERAL E ORGANOMINERAL

Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do fósforo na cultura do milho, comparando o adubo organomineral Biofós e o adubo mineral Superfosfato Simples, realizou-se um experimento no viveiro de mudas da Universidade do Oeste Paulista, com nove tratamentos e quatro repetições. Cada tratamento recebeu 4 g de KCl, 10 g de calcário, 4,4 g de uréia e diferentes doses de Superfosfato simples e Biofós, de acordo com o delineamento experimental. Aos 48 dias após o plantio realizou-se o corte basal para a determinação da matéria seca. Observou-se que a adubação fosfatada garantiu maior desenvolvimento da planta e maior produção de matéria seca, reafirmando a importância do fósforo para ganhos de produtividade na cultura do milho, e que o Biofós pode ser utilizado como alternativa ao adubo mineral, já que o seu rendimento foi tão eficaz quanto ao Superfosfato Simples, tanto na produção de matéria seca, quanto no desenvolvimento da planta

Predictive Factors for Successful Vaccination Against Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Patients Who Have Undergone Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Post-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) hepatitis B recurrence is well-controlled with a nucleos(t)ide analogue and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) combination, but the high cost and the potential risk of unknown infection associated with HBIG remain unresolved issues. Low-cost recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine administration is a potential solution to these problems. We retrospectively analyzed the rate and predictive factors of HBV vaccine success in 49 post-OLT patients: liver cirrhosis-type B (LC-B), n=28 patients; acute liver failure-type B (ALF-B), n=8; and non-HBV-related end-stage liver disease (non-B ESLD) who received a liver from anti-hepatitis B core antibody-positive donors, n=13. A positive anti-hepatitis B surface antibody response was achieved in 29% (8/28) of the LC-B group, 88% (7/8) of the ALF-B group, and 44% (4/9) of the adult non-B ESLD group. All four non-B ESLD infants showed vaccine success. The predictive factors for a good response in LC-B were young age, marital donor, and high donor age. ALF-B and non-B ESLD infants are thus good vaccination candidates. LC-B patients with marital donors are also good candidates, perhaps because the donated liver maintains an efficient immune memory to HBV, as the donors had already been infected in adulthood and showed adequate anti-HBV immune responses