ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess whether tumor angiogenesis of breast cancers can be predicted on the basis of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients with 71 breast cancers underwent Gd-DTPA enhanced dynamic MRI. Two regions of interest measurements were obtained in the periphery and in the center of the breast cancers. Hemodynamic parameters obtained by dynamic MRI included peak time, contrast enhancement ratio (CE ratio), and washout ratio. The triexponential concentration curve of Gd-DTPA was fitted to a theoretical model based on compartmental analysis. The transfer constant (or permeability surface product per unit volume of compartment "k") was obtained using this method. Tumor angiogenesis was assessed by plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (P-VEGF). RESULTS: The P-VEGF was positive in 28 of 71 tumors (39%). The CE ratio, washout ratio, and k in the periphery in P-VEGF positive breast cancers (mean 178%, 18%, and 1.5 x 10(-2) (s(-1)) were significantly greater (P<0.01, P<0.05, and P<0.03)) than those for P-VEGF negative breast cancers (mean: 151%, 14%, and 1.1 x 10(-2) (s(-1)). The peak time in the periphery in P-VEGF positive breast cancers was more marked than for P-VEGF negative breast cancers, but this difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: The hemodynamic and pharmacokinetic analysis of MRI provides valuable information about angiogenesis of breast cancers.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/blood supply , Image Enhancement/methods , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Neovascularization, Pathologic/diagnosis , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/blood , Adenocarcinoma/blood , Adenocarcinoma/blood supply , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Breast Neoplasms/blood , Contrast Media/pharmacokinetics , Female , Gadolinium DTPA/pharmacokinetics , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , Middle Aged , Models, Biological , Permeability , Regional Blood Flow/physiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The cadherin-related neuronal receptor (CNR) family is localized to the synaptic junction, and their cytoplasmic domains interact with Fyn-tyrosine kinase. Here, we describe the chromosomal locations and the orthologous genomic structures of CNR family members in mice and humans. In the genomic organization, distinct exons, each of which encodes the N-terminus of a different CNR ("variable region"), are clustered in a tandem array, and these exons are spliced to a common region composed of three exons ("constant region"). We also discovered three alternative versions of the transcripts; a single variable exon connects with three different C-terminal tails, comparable to class-switching in the immunoglobulin heavy chain. Thus the CNR family in the central nervous system has similarities to the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes in the immune system.
Subject(s)
Cadherins/genetics , Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal , Genome, Human , Neuropeptides/genetics , Receptors, Cell Surface , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Base Sequence , Chromosome Mapping , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 , Evolution, Molecular , Exons , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Introns , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Molecular Sequence Data , Protocadherins , RNA Splicing , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sequence AlignmentABSTRACT
A 5-year-old girl with hemolytic uremic syndrome is reported with pituitary hemorrhage in the acute phase. Seizures, hemiplegia, and transient blindness were observed. These symptoms cannot be attributed to the pituitary hemorrhage; however, pituitary hemorrhage should be added to the list of neurologic lesions that can occur in hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Subject(s)
Cerebral Hemorrhage/diagnosis , Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Pituitary Diseases/diagnosis , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Cerebral Hemorrhage/pathology , Child, Preschool , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome/pathology , Humans , Pituitary Diseases/pathology , Pituitary Gland/pathology , Pituitary Hormones/bloodABSTRACT
A 4-month-old infant with a huge unresectable hepatoblastoma was treated by continuous infusion therapy with 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, Adriamycin, and cisplatin, through the hepatic artery. Following 18 months of chemotherapy, the tumor disappeared completely and the initially sky-high serum alpha-fetoprotein levels returned to normal. At the time of this report, the patient continues to do well without tumor recurrence 6 years following discontinuation of the combination chemotherapy.
