Oligonucleotide promoted peptide bond formation using a tRNA mimicking approach.

TransferRNA's role in protein translation is the prime example of an Informational Leaving Group (ILG). A simplified model produced oligophenylalanine with a modified uracil as an ILG in the presence of specific oligonucleotides. Our preliminary studies contribute to the importance of hybrid species in bridging the gap between peptides and nucleic acids.

Carcinoid heart disease: a remarkable recovery.

A 65-year-old female patient with metastatic neuroendocrine tumour of the small intestine developed carcinoid valve disease and intractable right heart failure. She underwent successful cardiac valve replacement of both tricuspid and pulmonary valves. One year after surgery, she has regained full functional capacity.

Long-term disease control of a non-operable neuroendocrine tumor of the lung with lanreotide: a case study.

Bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are malignant tumors that represent approximately 20% of all lung cancers. The therapeutic option for advanced or metastatic bronchopulmonary NETs is mainly palliation of symptoms; options need to be individualized and, therefore, rely on the knowledge of multidisciplinary teams. Somatostatin analogs have been widely used in NETs for control of hormonal syndromes and are currently under evaluation for their antiproliferative activity. Here, we present a case of NET of the lung, for which we achieved long-term disease control with a treatment comprising the somatostatin analog lanreotide Autogel(®) in a patient with limited therapeutic options due to considerable comorbidity, while preserving his quality of life.

Isolated enteric duplication cyst with respiratory epithelium: case report and review of the literature.

Enteric duplication cysts are uncommon congenital abnormalities. We report a case of an enteric cyst duplication located a few centimeters proximal to the ileocecal valve in a patient with vague abdominal symptoms. Histological examination showed an ileal duplication cyst lined with ciliated bronchial epithelium. Duplication cysts of the alimentary tract are uncommon, and their epithelial lining varies. Bronchial respiratory epithelium is extremely rare at the terminal ileum. Our case is only the second case described in the literature.

Lymph node metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: MR imaging with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (Sinerem MR) -- results of a phase-III multicenter clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical usefulness of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) MR contrast media (Sinerem, Guerbet Laboratories, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France) with precontrast MRI in the diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, using histology as gold standard. Eighty-one previously untreated patients were enrolled in a multicenter phase-III clinical trial. All patients had a noncontrast MR, a Sinerem MR, and surgery within a period of 15 days. The MR exams were analyzed both on site and by two independent radiologists (centralized readers). Correlation between histology and imaging was done per lymph node groups, and per individual lymph nodes when the short axis was > or = 10 mm. For individual lymph nodes, Sinerem MR showed a high sensitivity (> or = 88%) and specificity (> or = 77%). For lymph node groups, the sensitivity was > or = 59% and specificity > or = 81%. False-positive results were partially due to inflammatory nodes; false-negative results from the presence of undetected micrometastases. Errors of interpretation were also related to motion and/or susceptibility artifacts and problems of zone assignment. Sinerem MR had a negative predictive value (NPV) > or = 90% and a positive predictive value (PPV) > or = 51%. The specificity and PPV of Sinerem MR were better than those of precontrast MR. Precontrast MR showed an unexpectedly high sensitivity and NPV which were not increased with Sinerem MR. The potential contribution of Sinerem MR still remains limited by technical problems regarding motion and susceptibility artifacts and spatial resolution. It is also noteworthy that logistical problems, which could reduce the practical value of Sinerem MR, will be minimized in the future since Sinerem MR alone performed as good as the combination of precontrast and Sinerem MR.

Sweet's syndrome in a patient with Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is rarely associated with Sweet's syndrome. We report a 32-year old woman who presented with diarrhea, fever and disseminated erythematous plaques on the arms and the trunk. After colonoscopy with biopsies, Crohn's disease was diagnosed. Skin biopsy showed a dense infiltration of neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes, establishing also the diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome. Crohn's disease is one of several systemic diseases that may underlie Sweet's syndrome. Treatment with methylprednisolone resulted in a rapid improvement of both gastro-intestinal symptoms and skin lesions.