Patterns of dopamine transporter imaging in subtypes of multiple system atrophy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the differences in the pattern of striatal (caudate and putamen) dopamine transporter (DAT) loss in a multiple system atrophy (MSA) cohort, based on the clinical variants parkinsonian subtype (MSA-P) and cerebellar subtype (MSA-C) via (11)C-N-2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-tropane (11 C-CFT) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and six subjects (forty-one patients with probable MSA-P; forty patients with probable MSA-C; twenty-five healthy controls) underwent 11 C-CFT PET. Subregional 11 C-CFT uptake of bilateral caudate, anterior putamen, and posterior putamen was calculated respectively to measure the striatal dopaminergic function. RESULTS: Significant decrease in DAT binding in striatum was revealed in patients with MSA-C and MSA-P compared to normal controls (all regions, MSA-C vs controls, P < .0001; MSA-P vs controls, P < .0001). DAT reduction was more pronounced in MSA-P patients than that in MSA-C patients (all regions, P < .0001). Eleven of forty MSA-C patients displayed no DAT loss, whereas striatal DAT loss was evident in all MSA-P patients. MSA-P subtype showed a more obvious anteroposterior gradient of DAT loss and more asymmetric dopaminergic dysfunction compared to MSA-C patients. CONCLUSION: The subtypes of MSA studied here show significantly different spatial/anatomic patterns of striatonigral degeneration which may provide insights into their disease pathophysiology. Specifically, MSA-P patients exhibit an uneven and much greater pronounced loss of dopamine innervation, while a relatively uniform pattern is revealed in patients with the MSA-C. Furthermore, the typical reduction in DAT 11 C-CFT binding in striatum is not present in all MSA-C patients, with a minority of cases showing normal DAT binding.

Downregulation of miR-218 contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor metastasis in lung cancer by targeting Slug/ZEB2 signaling.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been recognized as a key element of cell migration and invasion in lung cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Recently, emerging evidence suggest that miRNAs have crucial roles in control of EMT and EMT-associated traits such as migration, invasion and chemoresistance. Here, we found that miR-218 expression levels were significantly downregulated in lung cancer tissues compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues, and the levels of miR-218 were significantly associated with histological grades and lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of miR-218 inhibited cell migration and invasion as well as the EMT process. Of particular importance, miR-218 was involved in the metastatic process of lung cancer cells in vivo by suppressing local invasion and distant colonization. We identified Slug and ZEB2 as direct functional targets of miR-218. Inverse correlations were observed between miR-218 levels and Slug/ZEB2 levels in cancer tissue samples. In addition, overexpression of miR-218 in H1299 increased chemosensitivity of cells to cisplatin treatment through suppression of Slug and ZEB2. These findings highlight an important role of miR-218 in the regulation of EMT-related traits and metastasis of lung cancer in part by modulation of Slug/ZEB2 signaling, and provide a potential therapeutic strategy by targeting miR-218 in NSCLC.

The development of a VR-based treatment planning system for oncology.

In this study, an oncology treatment planning system was developed by integrating the techniques of computer graphics, virtual reality (VR) and three dimensional (3D) image reconstruction. The virtual treatment room was constructed according to the real space, and the 3D data of patient's body was reconstructed from computer tomography (CT) slices in order to provide the 3D clinical information to compare with the therapy in real world. In addition, the virtual multi-leaf collimator (MLC) was constructed to simulate and visualize both the radiation and irradiation fields. All objects in the system had been scaled down according to the true size. The system can be expected to save the preparation time and can be used for teaching and training prior to a real therapy.

Oral cancer detection in fluorescent image by color image fusion.

Biopsy is the main diagnosis method for oral cancer, which is the fifth most prevalent cancer in male population in Taiwan. In order to increase the accuracy of diagnosis, it is required to reveal the distribution of malignancy prior to biopsy. Based on this purpose, we developed the fluorescent image system associated with color image fusion algorithm to indicate the cancer-susceptible area in the oral image. The system therefore can assist physicians to make appropriate biopsy.

Esophageal cancer after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophageal varices.

We reported two cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus following endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) for esophageal varices. Both patients were cigarette smokers and had a long history of alcohol abuse. HBsAg and Anti-HCV were negative, and Anti-HBs was positive in one of the patients. They were diagnosed as alcoholic cirrhosis with esophageal varices and received EIS treatment. Sotradecol was utilized as the sclerosant with a mean total volume of around 30 ml. Patients developed dysphagia at 5 and 48 months following EIS, respectively. Endoscopic examination showed stenosis and ulcerative mass at the lower portion of the esophagus. Biopsy revealed well- to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. We conclude that endoscopic follow-up is essential and carcinoma of the esophagus should be included in the differential diagnosis for esophageal ulceration and dysphagia following EIS, particularly in those patients with risk factors for developing esophageal carcinoma.

Characterisation of structural changes in the arterial elastic matrix by a new fractal feature: directional fractal curve.

A new fractal feature, the Directional Fractal Curve (DFC), defined over an arc of 180 and composed of 90 fractal dimensions determined at intervals of arc of 2, is developed to account for the anisotropic property of a fractal texture. The DFC algorithm is first applied to two images with different textural patterns, one without directional preference and one with a well-organised texture. The DFC of these images shows different patterns. The technique is then applied to quantify the structure of the elastic texture in the arterial wall where the elastic network was imaged by scanning electron microscopy following selective tissue digestion. The results suggest: (i) that images of the elastin matrix of the arterial wall exhibit fractal properties with directional preference, (ii) the DFC gives quantitative parameters which allow characterisation of structural changes in the elastin matrix of the arterial wall in terms of disorganisation and fragmentation of elastin fibres-conditions which are associated with medial degeneration due to normal ageing or presence of arterial disease.

Gastric adenocarcinoma with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation: a case report.

The case reported was a 54-year-old woman with adenocarcinoma of the stomach who developed microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MHA) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Clinical and laboratory data pertaining to this patient are presented. The patient died of multiple organ failure on the 12th hospital day. Since 1962, a total of 96 cases of MHA occurring in patients with malignancy have been reported. About half of them occurred in patients with gastric carcinoma. The possible pathogenesis of MHA and disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma is discussed.

Ganglioneuroma of the duodenum. Report of a case and literature review.

A 43-year-old male presented with upper gastro-intestinal bleeding. A polypoid tumor mass in the second part of the duodenum was found by endoscopic examination. Pathology revealed an extremely rare case of ganglioneuroma. The surgical local resection of the tumor was a sufficient procedure because of a lack of malignant potential. This is the fourth case since the first case was reported by Dahl et al in 1957 (1). We review the literature concerning duodenal paragangliomas, and discuss the histogenesis.

Immunization of pigs against infection with Schistosoma japonicum using ultraviolet-attenuated cercariae.

Since pigs are important in the zoonotic transmission of schistosomiasis japonica in China, a veterinary vaccine might contribute to the control of the disease in humans. Pigs were immunized with three doses each of 10,000 cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum attenuated with ultraviolet light (400 microWatt.min/cm2). The experiment was performed with portable irradiation equipment in a rural area of the Hubei Province (P.R. China). A challenge infection of 1,000 untreated cercariae was given 2.5 or 6 months after the last immunization, and age-matched naive pigs were challenged as a control. Immunized pigs developed about 90% resistance against the challenge. The liver egg load of these animals was reduced by over 90%. Less than 0.01% of the immunizing cercariae developed to adult parasites and the vaccination had no apparent adverse influence on the pigs' health.

Hepatolithiasis, a clinical study.

Ninety-seven hepatolithiasis cases were reviewed retrospectively. Primary hepatolithiasis was about equal in both sexes, with most patients under 39 years of age. Most secondary hepatolithiasis patients who were female-predominant, were older than 40. Common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain, either epigastric or right upper quadrant of abdomen as noted in 93%; chills and fever in 70%; nausea and vomiting in 49.5%; jaundice was noted only in 39% of the patients. Blood tests showed elevation of alkaline phosphatase in 79.8%, and gamma-GT in 88.3%. Left branch involvement was much more common that right. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the main organism isolated in most of the cases. Abdominal ultrasonography reached a diagnostic rate of 91.01%, and the condition could be missed in cases of intrahepatic muddy stones, pneumobilia and misidentification of the location of the stones. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) showed a clearer picture of the biliary tree, but failed in cases of distorted anatomy because of previous operation, stones impacted in the ampulla orifice, presence of diverticulum or poor opacification of the bile duct because of stricture or stone impaction.

Schistosoma japonicum: an ultraviolet-attenuated cercarial vaccine applicable in the field for water buffaloes.

Water buffaloes were vaccinated three times with 10,000 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae irradiated with ultraviolet (uv) light at a dose of 400 microW x min/cm2. The irradiation was performed with cheap, simple, and portable equipment in a rural area of Hubei Province (People's Republic of China). A challenge infection of 1000 untreated cercariae was given to six vaccinated and six naive control buffaloes, while two vaccinated animals were not challenged. The experiment was terminated 6 weeks after the challenge. Control animals had lost body weight and harbored a mean of 110 worms and 37 eggs per gram of liver. The vaccinated animals gained weight after the challenge and developed 89% resistance to infection with S. japonicum. Since schistosomiasis japonica is nowadays transmitted in China predominantly by domestic livestock, a uv-attenuated cercarial vaccine for bovines may contribute to the control of this disease.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: report of two cases.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease, not previously been reported on Taiwan. Two male cases are reported. One was 19 years old and the other one was 54 years old. Both patients responded to corticosteroid therapy.