Non-enzymatic Determination of L-Proline Amino Acid in Unprocessed Human Plasma Sample Using Hybrid of Graphene Quantum Dots Decorated with Gold Nanoparticles and Poly Cysteine: A Novel Signal Amplification Strategy.

An innovative electrochemical interface for quantitation of L-proline (L-Pro) based on ternary amplification strategy was fabricated. In this work, gold nanoparticles prepared by soft template methodology were immobilized onto green and biocompatible nanocomposite containing poly as a conductive matrix and graphene quantum dots as the amplification element. Therefore, a novel multilayer film based on poly-L-cysteine, graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) was exploited to develop a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for the detection of L-Pro. Fully electrochemical methodology was used to prepare a new transducer on a glassy carbon electrode, which provided a high surface area towards sensitive detection of L-Pro. The prepared electrode was employed for the detection of L-Pro. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curve for L-Pro concentration was linear in 0.5 nM - 10 mM with a low limit of quantification of 0.1 nM. The practical analytical utility of the modified electrode was illustrated by determination of L-Pro in unprocessed human plasma samples.

Sentinel node biopsy for lymph nodal staging of uterine cervix cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the pertinent literature.

BACKGROUND: We reviewed the available literature on the accuracy of sentinel node mapping in the lymph nodal staging of uterine cervical cancers. METHODS: MEDLINE and Scopus were searched by using "sentinel AND (cervix OR cervical)" as key words. Studies evaluating the accuracy of sentinel node mapping in the lymph nodal staging of uterine cervical cancers were included if enough data could be extracted for calculation of detection rate and/or sensitivity. RESULTS: Sixty-seven studies were included in the systematic review. Pooled detection rate was 89.2% [95% CI: 86.3-91.6]. Pooled sensitivity was 90% [95% CI: 88-92]. Sentinel node detection rate and sensitivity were related to mapping method (blue dye, radiotracer, or both) and history of pre-operative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Sensitivity was higher in patients with bilaterally detected pelvic sentinel nodes compared to those with unilateral sentinel nodes. Lymphatic mapping could identify sentinel nodes outside the routine lymphadenectomy limits. CONCLUSION: Sentinel node mapping is an accurate method for the assessment of lymph nodal involvement in uterine cervical cancers. Selection of a population with small tumor size and lower stage will ensure the lowest false negative rate. Lymphatic mapping can also detect sentinel nodes outside of routine lymphadenectomy areas providing additional histological information which can improve the staging. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of sentinel node mapping in fertility sparing surgery and in patients with history of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Role of frozen sections in the evaluation of moderate to severe dysplasia during uterine cervix conization.

BACKGROUND: The utility of frozen section examination (FSE) of cone specimens in evaluation of the resection margin status and in ruling out invasion in patients with high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia requires evaluation. METHODS: Twenty patients with high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia who underwent conization biopsy and frozen section examination were studied in a prospective trial from March 2008 through September 2009. The results with permanent paraffin sections were compared with those of FSE. RESULTS: Among the twenty cases, 15 (75%) had the same results in frozen and permanent sections of cone biopsy specimens. Among the other 5 patients, 2 had high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in frozen sections and 2 showed a lower grade while only one case was found in which the FSE result was CIN3 while the permanent section showed invasive carcinoma which was of clinical importance and considered as significant. Paired sample t-testing showed no significant difference in the results of the two groups of frozen and permanent sections (P=0.716, CI=95%). CONCLUSION: Frozen section evaluation of cervical cone biopsy specimens in patients with a diagnosis of CIN 3 is accurate, efficient and cost-effective. Because of the great importance of missing even one case, further research is highly recommended on this controversial subject.

Good fetal outcome of pregnancies with gynecologic cancer conditions: cases and literature review.

Gynecologic malignancies frequently occur in women of reproductive age and are estimated to complicate 1 in 1000 pregnancies. Cancer diagnosis may be delayed because of difficulties in distinguishing symptoms from physiologic changes in pregnancy. Another problem is applying the standard workup in pregnant women. These reports describe the good fetal outcome of pregnancies in patients with vulvar and ovarian carcinoma. Patients underwent multimodality treatment, and their infants were developmentally normal. Vulvar and ovarian cancer is a rare finding in pregnancy. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment offer the best prognosis. Aggressive postoperative chemotherapy also continues to better the outcome.