Imaging breast malignancies with the Twente Photoacoustic Mammoscope 2.

Clinical measurements on breast cancer patients were performed with a three-dimensional tomographic photoacoustic prototype imager (PAM 2). Patients with a suspicious lesion, visiting the center for breast care of a local hospital, were included in the study. The acquired photoacoustic images were compared to conventional clinical images. Of 30 scanned patients, 19 were diagnosed with one or more malignancies, of which a subset of four patients was selected for detailed analysis. Reconstructed images were processed to enhance image quality and the visibility of blood vessels. Processed photoacoustic images were compared to contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images where available, which aided in localizing the expected tumoral region. In two cases, spotty high-intensity photoacoustic signals could be seen in the tumoral region, attributable to the tumor. One of these cases also displayed a relatively high image entropy at the tumor site, likely related to the chaotic vascular networks associated with malignancies. For the other two cases, it was not possible to identify features indicative of malignancy, because of limitations in the illumination scheme and difficulties in locating the region of interest in the photoacoustic image.

Comparison of Histogram-based Textural Features between Cancerous and Normal Prostatic Tissue in Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Images.

In the last decade, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has been expanding its role in prostate cancer detection and characterization. In this work, 19 patients with clinically significant peripheral zone (PZ) tumours were studied. Tumour masks annotated on the whole-mount histology sections were mapped on T2-weighted (T2w) and diffusion-weighted (DW) sequences. Gray-level histograms of tumoral and normal tissue were compared using six first-order texture features. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to compare group means. Mean intensity signal of ADC showed the highest showed the highest area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC) equal to 0.85. MANOVA analysis revealed that ADC features allows a better separation between normal and cancerous tissue with respect to T2w features (ADC: P = 0.0003, AUC = 0.86; T2w: P = 0.03, AUC = 0.74). MANOVA proved that the combination of T2-weighted and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map features increased the AUC to 0.88. Histogram-based features extracted from invivo mpMRI can help discriminating significant PZ PCa.

Development of VEGF-loaded PLGA matrices in association with mesenchymal stem cells for tissue engineering.

The association of bioactive molecules, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), with nanofibers facilitates their controlled release, which could contribute to cellular migration and differentiation in tissue regeneration. In this research, the influence of their incorporation on a polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffold produced by electrospinning on cell adhesion and viability and cytotoxicity was carried out in three groups: 1) PLGA/BSA/VEGF; 2) PLGA/BSA, and 3) PLGA. Morphology, fiber diameter, contact angle, loading efficiency and controlled release of VEGF of the biomaterials, among others, were measured. The nanofibers showed smooth surfaces without beads and with interconnected pores. PLGA/BSA/VEGF showed the smallest water contact angle and VEGF released for up to 160 h. An improvement in cell adhesion was observed for the PLGA/BSA/VEGF scaffolds compared to the other groups and the scaffolds were non-toxic for the cells. Therefore, the scaffolds were shown to be a good strategy for sustained delivery of VEGF and may be a useful tool for tissue engineering.

Development of VEGF-loaded PLGA matrices in association with mesenchymal stem cells for tissue engineering

The association of bioactive molecules, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), with nanofibers facilitates their controlled release, which could contribute to cellular migration and differentiation in tissue regeneration. In this research, the influence of their incorporation on a polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffold produced by electrospinning on cell adhesion and viability and cytotoxicity was carried out in three groups: 1) PLGA/BSA/VEGF; 2) PLGA/BSA, and 3) PLGA. Morphology, fiber diameter, contact angle, loading efficiency and controlled release of VEGF of the biomaterials, among others, were measured. The nanofibers showed smooth surfaces without beads and with interconnected pores. PLGA/BSA/VEGF showed the smallest water contact angle and VEGF released for up to 160 h. An improvement in cell adhesion was observed for the PLGA/BSA/VEGF scaffolds compared to the other groups and the scaffolds were non-toxic for the cells. Therefore, the scaffolds were shown to be a good strategy for sustained delivery of VEGF and may be a useful tool for tissue engineering.

Costo de estadía en Cuidados Paliativos especializados y servicios convencionales / No disponible

Introducción: en la mayoría de los países la financiación de los servicios de Cuidados Paliativos es mixta y se combinan ayudas de caridad con fondos privados y estatales. La Clínica Familia, hospicio especializado en cuidados paliativos, tiene un 50% del costo real subsidiado por profesionales voluntarios y servicios al costo, el otro 50% proviene del Estado y de privados. Este centro, entre otros, cubre una parte de la demanda de los cuidados paliativos hospitalizados, existiendo enfermos que no reciben cuidados paliativos especializados. Objetivo: con el objetivo de analizar el costo de estadía en cuidados paliativos, se realizó un estudio descriptivo en tres centros de salud que acogen enfermos terminales: un centro especializado en cuidados paliativos y dos servicios convencionales: un hospital público y un hospital universitario, en el segundo semestre del año 2005. Material y métodos: para ello se calculó el costo de estadía a través dela siguiente fórmula: 1/30 x (GMF/DC + GMV/O), y se evaluó un costo aproximado en dólares de cuatro indicadores: control de síntomas, apoyo emocional, apoyo espiritual y educación a la familia, en los tres servicios estudiados. Resultados y conclusiones: se observa un menor costo de estadía en el servicio especializado de cuidados paliativos y variaciones en indicadores de resultados, que lo hace recomendable en relación a los servicios convencionales. Esto podría tener un menor costo de estadía, mayor cobertura y más beneficios para el paciente y su familia (AU)

Background: most countries have mixed funding for palliative care services, with a combination of charity, private, and governmental funds. Clínica Familia, a hospice specializing in palliative care, has 50% of total costs funded by professional volunteers and at-cost services, with the remaining 50% deriving from private and public sources. This center, among others, partly covers the demand for in-hospital palliative care, and so some patients do not receive such specialized palliative care. Objective: with the goal of analyzing cost of stay in palliative care a descriptive study was performed in three health centers admitting terminally ill patients: a center specialized in palliative care and two conventional sites –a public hospital and a university hospital– in the second semester of 2005. Material and methods: cost of stay was estimated using the following formula: 1/30 x (FME/BA + VME/O) (FME: fixed monthly expenses; BA: bed availability; VME: variable monthly expenses; O: bed occupation), and the approximate cost of four markers -symptom control, emotional support, spiritual support, and family education- was calculated in dollars in the three sites involved. Results and conclusions: a lower cost of stay was seen in the site specialized in palliative care, as well as variation in outcome markers, which makes this option preferrable to conventional services. This option might offer lower costs of stay, greater coverage, and more benefits for patients and their families (AU)

Cloning and comparative sequence analysis of TP53 in Xiphophorus fish hybrid melanoma models.

We have cloned and sequenced the p53-encoding cDNA of green swordtail (X. helleri) and southern platyfish (X. maculatus). These two fish species are often used to produce hybrids that develop melanomas after genetic crossing. Computer translation of derived cDNA sequences revealed that p53 polypeptides from these two species are virtually identical, exhibiting only two conservative amino acid substitutions. TP53 mRNA expression was detected in virtually all tissues tested. Comparison of these fish p53 polypeptide sequences with those of other vertebrates, including other fishes, amphibians, and mammals, revealed that conservation is especially high in several previously defined protein domains. In addition, sequencing of the 3' TP53 genomic region of X. maculatus reveals similarity to the human TP53 locus in overall organization. Knowledge of the Xiphophorus TP53 sequences will allow assessment of mutational alterations within tumors generated from numerous fish genetic crosses.

Survival, mutagenesis, and host cell reactivation in a Chinese hamster ovary cell ERCC1 knock-out mutant.

Positive selection-negative selection gene targeting was used to disrupt the nucleotide excision repair gene ERCC1 in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line, CHO-K1. Southern and Northern analysis showed that a cell clone isolated by this targeting approach, CHO-7-27, had an ERCC1 gene structure consistent with targeted disruption of ERCC1 exon V, and did not express ERCC1 mRNA. CHO-7-27 was further characterized with respect to UV and mitomycin C sensitivities, and was shown to exhibit severe mutagen sensitivity phenotypes consistent with those of other CHO cell ERCC1 mutants. Mutation frequency experiments showed that CHO-7-27 was UV-hypermutable at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus. Experiments assessing host cell reactivation of viral DNA synthesis for UV-irradiated adenovirus showed that CHO7-27 exhibited a severely deficient HCR phenotype similar to that of UV20 cells. Our results demonstrate that CHOK1 cells are hemizygous for the ERCC1 gene, and show that the comparatively mild mutagen sensitivities and lack of severely deficient HCR phenotypes of conventionally derived CHO-K1 ERCC1 mutants, in contrast to the severe phenotypes of CHO-AA8-derived mutants, are not due to any intrinsic genetic differences between CHO-K1 and CHO-AA8 parental cell lines.

Simple neurobehavioral functional observational battery and objective gait analysis validation by the use of acrylamide and methanol with a built-in recovery period.

A functional observational battery (FOB) with modified objective gait analysis was validated using the neurotoxicants acrylamide and methanol. The FOB consisted of side cage observation (30 sec); open field observation (2 min); evaluation of handling, reflexes, and gait scoring; and grip strength of the fore limbs and hind limbs. Temperature and body weight were measured. Gait analysis was based on measurements of the distances and angles between sequential foot strides after walking in a corridor (90 x 10 x 10 cm). Landing foot splay was the distance between the inner surfaces of the fourth digits of each foot after the animals were dropped from a 30-cm height. Acrylamide was given at doses of 0 (saline), 20, and 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Days of dosing were 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19. Evaluations were done before dosing on Days 0, 2, 5, 11, 17, and 27 (for recovery). Methanol was given to another group at doses of 0 (distilled water), 3.25 (escalated to 8.5 before end of evaluation), and 6.5 ml/kg. Days of dosing were 3, 5, 7, and 10; evaluations were conducted at 0, 6, 8, and 12 days. Acrylamide at 40 mg/kg demonstrated a biologically significant increase in foot splay in males on Days 3 and 17 and was not recovered by Day 27. A significant decrease in the hind limb grip strength was seen in high-dose females, but with incomplete recovery on Day 27. Methanol (3.25/8.5 ml/kg) induced a biological decrease of activity postdosing on Days 6, 8, and 12. A significant increase in gait length was seen in females only at the 6.5 ml/kg dose at Day 12. Selected doses and schedule of observation validated the battery for screening and better quantification of acute and chronic neurotoxicity.

[Evaluation of the exposure levels to radioactivity in the hot-spring environment of the Island of Ischia during a year]. / Valutazione dei livelli di esposizione alla radioattività negli ambienti termali dell'Isola d'Ischia nel corso di un anno.

It is known that the decay products of the U-238 are findable in nature in certain materials (such as tufa, limestone, etc.), therefore some populations are naturally exposed to radiations originated by building materials, houses and isotopes present in drinking-waters. It is evident that, for example, the residents of Campania or Lazio will be involved, on such conditions and during their whole life, in the action of natural radiations of decay products of Uranium and consequently of Radon, which is originated and, as gas, also findable in the air of those indoor areas, at a concentration inversely proportional to the relevant ventilation factors. Furthermore, it is known that this isotope is always found in thermal waters too and sometimes at levels which make them classify as radioactive and with therapeutic properties still subjects of studies and researches. Actually, presence of Radon in warm waters is particularly evident in some basins (the Baths of Badgastein in Austria) and is also findable in some italian thermal towns such as Merano Laurisia, Abano, Baths of Lucca or the island of Ischia itself. All underground waters and especially the warm ones, including, those of Ischia basins, hold radioactive isotopes, since their composition is related to the nature of the underground, which they come from, and is strongly influenced by the kind of rocks present in that area, by the granulometry of the geological strata or by existent fractures, by flow speed and finally by solubilization capacity. On such conditions it is evident that all waters, during their scouring, will be enriched by Radon 222 (a gaseous, therefore more soluble, element); just because of its physical state, it will be more present in external environment in case of warm waters such as those ones now examined. Consequently the environmental state from a radioecological point of view of the utilized waters has to be considered, as well as any other thermal resort, fundamentally due to Radon (Rn) and to the relevant decay products. As a matter of fact, whereas from the family of Uranium come Radon (Rn 222), Lead (Pb 210) and Polonium (Po 210), these last two, respectively with halving-times of 22.3 years and 138.4 days, from the family of Thorium (Th 232) originates Radon (Rn 220 in past times defined "Toron" according to its "forebear") and Lead (Pb 212 with a halving-time of 10.6 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)