Diagnostic Performance of Multidetector Computerized Tomography in the Detection of Abdominal Complications Early and Late After Liver Transplantation: A 10-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) is considered to be a fast noninvasive diagnostic technique for the evaluation of postoperative complications in patients with liver transplantation (LT). However, its role has not been fully established in the diagnosis for detecting complications after liver transplantation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MDCT for detecting abdominal complications in the early and late periods after LT. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 75 patients who had undergone LT from March 2006 to January 2010, followed by MDCT from March 2006 to November 2017. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the timing after LT: within the first 3 months (early period) or ≥3 months after LT (late period). We evaluated vascular, biliary, and other complications on MDCT. Angiography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography were used as reference standards. RESULTS: We initially found 77 complications in 45 patients (60.0%) with the use of MDCT. After comparison with the reference standards, 83 complications were diagnosed in 49 patients (65.3%). Forty-seven complications (34 vascular, 10 biliary, 3 other complications) were diagnosed in 33 patients (44.0%) during the early period, and 36 complications (6 vascular, 20 biliary, 10 other complications) were detected in 27 patients (36.0%) in the late period. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of MDCT for diagnosing overall complications were, respectively, 93.6%, 90.2%, and 92.0% in the early period (for vascular complications: 97.1%, 92.6%, and 94.3%,; for biliary complications: 80.0%, 100%, and 97.7%) and 77.8%, 98.1%, and 89.8% in the late period (for vascular complications: 83.3%, 100%, and 98.9%; for biliary complications: 65.0%, 98.6%, and 90.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Although MDCT in the late period should be interpreted with caution in patients with suspected biliary complication, MDCT is a reliable diagnostic technique for the identification of early and late abdominal complications after LT.

Prognostic significance of cachexia score assessed by CT in male patients with small cell lung cancer.

To determine the prognostic significance of CT-determined cachexia scores (CSs) in 127 consecutive male small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, cross-sectional areas of muscle and fat tissues at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) were retrospectively measured on baseline CT images. CSs were determined based on the presence of sarcopenia and/or adipopenia. According to the presence of sarcopenia (L3 muscle index <55 cm2 /m2 , 86.8%) and adipopenia (L3 fat index <22 cm2 /m2 , 11.8%), CSs were defined as follows: CS2 (sarcopenia and adipopenia, 11.8%), CS1 (sarcopenia only, 74.8%) and CS0 (13.4%). CS2 was significantly related to lower body mass index (p < .001) and poor performance status (p = .002), and patients with CS2 had shorter OS than patients with CS1 or CS0 (median OS, 5.0 months vs. 8.9 months vs. 18.3 months; p = .007). Multivariable analysis revealed that CS was an independent prognostic factor of poor survival (HR, 1.99 for CS1 and 2.59 for CS2, p = .036 and .023, CS0 as a reference), along with extensive stage (p < .001), supportive care only (p < .001) and an elevated lactate dehydrogenase (p = .005). CT-determined CSs, based on the presence of sarcopenia and/or adipopenia, could be used to predict prognosis in male SCLC.

Transcriptional activation of nuclear-related factor 2 by FK506 in Jurkat T cells.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of FK506 in transcriptional activation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like2 (Nrf2) in human Jurkat T cells. METHODS: FK506 treatment increased the generation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species in Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. Generation of nitric oxide was also increased after treatment with FK506 in Jurkat cells. Peak levels of endothelial nitricoxide synthase expression occurred at 24 hours and then decreased after 48 hours. RESULTS: We found that a marked dissociation of Nrf 2 from Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 and subsequently Nrf 2 nuclear translocation occurred in Jurkat cells treated with FK506 during 48 hours. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis data revealed that the FK506 treatment increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. HO-1 expression was induced after 6 hours of treatment of FK506 to Jurkat cells, peaked at 24 hours, and then decreased after 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that FK506 induces Nrf 2-driven transcriptional activation of the antioxidant response element by activating HO-1 and free radicals such as reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide.

Physical characterization and in vitro skin permeation of solid lipid nanoparticles for transdermal delivery of quercetin.

OBJECTIVE: Quercetin, a phenolic compound isolated from plants, can act as an antioxidant to protect the skin from oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet rays. The aims of this work were (i) to compare the physical characterization of quercetin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (QSLNs) and (ii) to investigate the enhanced skin permeation of quercetin using QSLNs. METHODS: QSLNs were prepared with a certain amount lipid (palmitic acid) and the different ratio of surfactant (Tween(®) 80) by homogenization and ultrasonification method. RESULTS: QSLNs showed mono-dispersed particle size distribution in the ranges of 274.0-986.6 nm and zeta potential from -50.4 to -29.4 mV. Entrapment efficiency of QSLN was 15.2-46.2%, and their crystallinity index was low (0-18.2%). In vitro occlusion test showed QSLN-2 has the highest occlusive effect due to its smallest particle size (274.0 nm), and through these result, QSLN-2 was selected as the optimum formulation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis further confirmed the uniform spherical shape of QSLN-2 particles. Field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) analysis and histological observation of hairless rat skin showed that the lipid particles of QSLN-2 formed a fused lipid film and, subsequently, it hydrated the surface of the rat skin. Franz diffusion cell was used to measure in vitro skin permeation of quercetin dissolved in propylene glycol (QPG), QSLN-2 and QSLN-3. The results showed that QSLN-2 (33.5 µg cm(-2) , 21.9%) exhibited higher skin permeability than QPG (6.6 µg cm(-2) , 4.2%) and QSLN-3 (14.2 µg cm(-2) , 9.1%), which was visually confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) image analysis as well. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that QSLN-2, prepared with a surfactant content of 2%, could be used as useful skin delivery system for transdermal delivery of hydrophobic antioxidants such as quercetin.

Applications of three-dimensionally scanned models in orthodontics.

The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical applications of the three-dimensional reverse engineering technologies for the analysis of orthodontic models. The measuring accuracy and the process of the 3D model scanning technique were evaluated with respect to linear, surface and volumetric parameters. Orthodontically induced dentoalveolar changes, which have been traditionally evaluated by cephalometric analysis, were assessed by the registration function of Rapidform 2002, a 3D-reverse modeling software in scanned maxillary casts. Three-dimensional digital models are valuable alternatives to conventional casts for model analysis and also yield information which could previously be gathered only by cephalometric superimposition.

Indole-3-carbinol enhances ultraviolet B-induced apoptosis by sensitizing human melanoma cells.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) has been found to act against several types of cancer, while ultraviolet B (UVB) is known to induce the apoptosis of human melanoma cells. Here, we investigated whether I3C can sensitize G361 human melanoma cells to UVB-induced apoptosis. We examined the effects of combined I3C and UVB (I3C/UVB) at various dosages. I3C (200 microM)/UVB (50 mJ/cm(2)) synergistically reduced melanoma cell viability, whereas I3C (200 microM) or UVB (50 mJ/cm(2)), separately, had little effect on cell viability. DNA fragmentation assays indicated that I3C/UVB induced apoptosis. Further results show that I3C/UVB activates caspase-8, -3, and Bid and causes the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Moreover, I3C decreased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, whereas UVB increased the translocation of Bax to mitochondria. Thus, an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio by I3C/UVB may result in melanoma apoptosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that I3C sensitizes human melanoma cells by down-regulating Bcl-2.

Sequence analysis of the Bacillus subtilis 168 chromosome region between the sspC and odhA loci (184 degrees-180 degrees).

The nucleotide sequence of 45,389 bp in the 184 degrees-180 degrees region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome, containing the cge cluster, which is controlled by the sporulation regulatory protein GerE, was determined. Fifty-four putative ORFs with putative ribosome-binding sites were recognized. Seven of them correspond to previously characterized genes: cgeB, cgeA, cgeC, cgeD, cgeE, ctpA, and odhA. The deduced products of 25 ORFs were found to display significant similarities to proteins in the data banks. We have identified genes involved in detoxification, cell walls, and in the metabolism of biotins, purines, fatty acids, carbohydrates and amino acids. The remaining 22 ORFs showed no similarity to known proteins. Both an attachment site of the SPbeta prophage and 2 new putative DNA replication terminators were identified in this region.

Sonography of the stomach: an in vitro study to determine the anatomic cause of inner hyperechoic and hypoechoic layers of the gastric wall.

OBJECTIVE: Sonography of the normal gastric wall delineates five distinct layers: from the luminal side, a first, inner hyperechoic layer; a second, hypoechoic layer; a third, middle hyperechoic layer; a fourth, hypoechoic layer; and a final, outer hyperechoic layer. The anatomic origin of the inner two sonographic layers has been a matter of controversy. To verify the histologic origin of the inner two sonographic layers, we attempted to correlate sonographic and histologic layers of resected gastric specimens. Because we hypothesized that the fluid covering the mucosa and the mucosa may be responsible for the sonographic inner two layers of the stomach, we selected specimens in which the mucosa was sloughed or thickened. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected five resected gastric specimens with ulcerative carcinoma in which the mucosa was totally sloughed, one specimen with a mucosal polyp, and two specimens with a polypoid lesion and partial surface ulceration. The gastric specimens were immersed in normal saline and examined with 5-MHz high-resolution sonographic equipment. Sonographic findings were correlated with gross and microscopic pathologic findings. Two phantoms were immersed in normal saline and examined with the same technique to evaluate the thickness of the sonographic interface between water and phantoms. RESULTS: The inner hyperechoic layer was constant in thickness, measuring 1 mm, and covered the surface of the normal areas and the areas where the mucosa was lost or thickened. The hypoechoic layer underlying the hyperechoic layer was obliterated where the mucosa was defective and thickened where the mucosa was thickened. The sonographic interface between water and phantoms was 1 mm thick. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the inner hyperechoic layer of the stomach seen on sonograms is due to echoes arising from the interface between fluid in the gastric lumen and the mucosal surface. The underlying hypoechoic layer is caused by the mucosa itself.