Optimal dosage and early intervention of L-ascorbic acid inhibiting K2Cr2O7-induced renal tubular cell damage.

Chromium poisoning can cause renal failure and death. Chromium intoxication may be managed using L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) therapy. However, the evidence supporting the effectiveness of this treatment is insufficient, and the mechanism of action has not been clarified in renal cells. In this study, our results showed that the optimal regimen of L-ascorbic acid therapy in human epithelial renal proximal tubule cells, HK-2 cells, was 30 µg/mL. Supplementation of L-ascorbic acid with 30 µg/mL and within 8 h of chromium intoxication (K2Cr2O7, Cr6+) was effective to inhibit renal tubular cell damage by blocking generation of free radicals, cell apoptosis, and autophagy. Intracellular chromium concentrations were estimated using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Treatment of L-ascorbic acid within 8 h of chromium intoxication significantly decreased the entry of chromium into the cells. Moreover, concomitant administration of L-ascorbic acid with repeatedly dosing at 8-hourly intervals had a better protective effect at lower concentration of L-ascorbic acid when compared to single dosing of L-ascorbic acid at an early time point of chromium intoxication. These findings might help physicians develop effective therapy strategies in renal failure.

Semi-automatic segmentation and classification of Pap smear cells.

Cytologic screening has been widely used for detecting the cervical cancers. In this study, a semiautomatic PC-based cellular image analysis system was developed for segmenting nuclear and cytoplasmic contours and for computing morphometric and textual features to train support vector machine (SVM) classifiers to classify four different types of cells and to discriminate dysplastic from normal cells. A software program incorporating function, including image reviewing and standardized denomination of file names, was also designed to facilitate and standardize the workflow of cell analyses. Two experiments were conducted to verify the classification performance. The cross-validation results of the first experiment showed that average accuracies of 97.16% and 98.83%, respectively, for differentiating four different types of cells and in discriminating dysplastic from normal cells have been achieved using salient features (8 for four-cluster and 7 for two-cluster classifiers) selected with SVM recursive feature addition. In the second experiment, 70% (837) of the cell images were used for training and 30% (361) for testing, achieving an accuracy of 96.12% and 98.61% for four-cluster and two-cluster classifiers, respectively. The proposed system provides a feasible and effective tool in evaluating cytologic specimens.

Retention and retention of effect of topical formulations in dry eye subjects.

PURPOSE: It was the purpose of this investigation to examine both retention time (RT) and retention of effect of two ophthalmic formulations in the same dry eye subjects. METHODS: This was a randomized, subject-masked cross-over study. Dry eye subjects, characterized by sub-type, were recruited. For direct RT measurement, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran, 70 kDa molecular weight, was admixed at 0.1% wt/vol concentration into buffered saline (active control) and a viscous marketed artificial tear formulations (test formulation). RT in minutes was estimated directly as the return to baseline intrinsic fluorescence with an objective scanning fluorometer. Retention of effect was measured with a xeroscope as non-invasive breakup time (NIBUT) and by use of a numerical rating scale for comfort. RESULTS: Eleven subjects, with most being classified as having non-inflammatory meibomian gland dysfunction, completed the study. The RTs averaged 17.7 (+/-10.0) and 26.8 (+/-16.5) minutes for the saline and test formulations, respectively. The averages for NIBUT were 8.73 (+/-6.1) and 19.5 (+/-4.9) minutes, for saline and the test formulations, respectively. Return to baseline for the numerical rating scale comfort averages were 9.91 (+/-4.1) and 20.21 (+/-6.4) minutes for the saline and test formulations, respectively. When residence time was subtracted from the retention of effect measures, no statistical significance was found for the polymeric solution (vs. comfort, p = 0.153; vs. NIBUT, p = 0.109). However, statistical differences were found for direct retention compared against comfort (p = 0.01) and NIBUT (p = 0.004) for buffered saline. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that these two retention of effect measures are much shorter than RT measured directly. Future work should aim to confirm these findings in additional dry eye sub-types and in those with more severe disease manifestations.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the nipple-areola complex: report of a case and review of literature.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the nipple-areola complex is extremely rare. Less than ten such cases have been reported in English literature so far. Herein we describe a 52-year-old female presenting with a 1.5 cmx1.1 cmx0.7 cm nodular lesion over her left nipple, and leiomyosarcoma was proved by pathological examination of the excised specimen. Positron emitted tomogram (PET) revealed no abnormal signal other than the primary site. Microscopically, this poorly circumscribed tumor was composed of interlacing bundles of smooth muscle cells with bizarre and pleomorphic nuclei, as well as prominent nucleoli. Its mitotic count was up to 7 mitoses per 10 high power fields (HPF). Immunohistochemical study of tumor cells revealed positive stain for alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin; and negative for cytokeratin, CD34 and S-100. Left simple mastectomy was undertaken and no residual mass lesion was noted on the resected specimen. Related literatures about the diagnosis and treatment for breast leiomyosarcoma will be presented here.

Fine-needle aspiration of pancreatic serous cystadenoma: cytologic features and diagnostic pitfalls.

BACKGROUND: The preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic serous cystadenoma (SCA) is important because as a typically benign tumor it can be treated expectantly, whereas many other cystic tumors require excision. This study examines the cytology, clinical and radiologic features, diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA), and potential pitfalls associated with this rare tumor. METHODS: Cytomorphologic features were retrospectively reviewed from 28 FNAs of SCA from 21 patients. FNA biopsies were guided by percutaneous computed tomographic or ultrasonographic imaging in 10 cases and by endoscopic ultrasonographic imaging in 18 cases. Corresponding histology (14 tumors) and clinical/imaging findings were also evaluated. RESULTS: Patients typically presented with upper abdominal discomfort or asymptomatically. Radiologically, a well-demarcated, multiloculated cystic mass involving the pancreatic head or uncinate process was common. Aspirates were sparsely cellular against a clean or granular, proteinaceous background. Tumor cells formed loose clusters or monolayered sheets composed of cuboidal cells with indistinct cell borders and granular or clear cytoplasm that was often stripped from the nucleus. Nuclei were small, round, with fine chromatin and indistinct nucleoli and devoid of mitotic activity. Seven (25%) of the aspirates were initially classified as "consistent with SCA," 6 (21%) as "no malignant cells," 3 (11%) as "nondiagnostic specimen," 3 (11%) as "suspicious for malignancy," 3 (11%) as "rare atypical cells," and 6 (21%) as "probably or consistent with mucinous cystic neoplasm." Features causing diagnostic difficulty were scant cellularity, papillary groups, nuclear atypia, and columnar cells mimicking those of mucinous neoplasms. Gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium and mucin also caused confusion. The detection of intracytoplasmic glycogen (3 of 6 cases) and cyst fluid analysis (2 of 2 cases) showing low viscosity and low or undetectable levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 19.9, and amylase enhanced diagnostic confidence. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosing SCA by FNA is challenging. Familiarity with its morphologic spectrum, use of ancillary studies, and correlation with clinical/radiologic findings greatly improves diagnostic accuracy. Contaminating GI epithelium and mucin should be distinguished from components of a mucinous neoplasm.

Is contact lens "T" still important?

We studied oxygen supply to the contact lens covered cornea by means of a complex calculation method. We measured lens thicknesses, both centrally and at a 3mm peripheral location, of a range of optical powers of two different spherical silicone hydrogel contact lens designs (manufactured by Ciba Vision and Bausch & Lomb) and one "traditional" hydrogel. Using the measured values of lens thickness and the nominal oxygen permeabilities of these three plastics, we calculated the oxygen tension level in the tear layer posterior to the contact lens and anterior to the cornea and the oxygen flux through these contact lenses, under both open- and closed-eye conditions. We conclude that variable thicknesses of the silicone hydrogel contact lenses does not significantly affect the oxygen tension in the entrapped tear layer, given their high oxygen diffusion coefficients, under open-eye conditions, and probably only minimally under closed-eye conditions as well.