Differences in the prevalence of colorectal polyps in patients undergoing endoscopic removal of gastric adenoma or early gastric cancer and in healthy individuals

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We compared the prevalence of adenomatous and cancerous colon polyps in patients who underwent endoscopic removal of gastric neoplasms and in healthy controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 186 patients with gastric neoplasms and 186 healthy subjects from January 2002 to October 2008. The gastric neoplasm group was comprised of patients undergoing endoscopic removal of gastric adenomas or early gastric cancers and serial fiberoptic colonoscopy (FCS) for checkups. The control group was comprised of subjects undergoing fiberoptic esophagogastroduodenoscopy (FEGD) and FCS for general checkup and was matched for age and sex with the gastric neoplasm group. Advanced colonic neoplasm was defined by any of the following: (1) the presence of three or more polyps; (2) polyp size at least 1.0 cm; (3) high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma confirmed by histopathologic examination.

RESULTS

Of the 372 persons, colorectal polyps were detected in 124 (33.3 %), advanced colonic neoplasms in 44 (11.8 %), and adenocarcinomas in 10 (2.7 %). The overall prevalence of adenomatous or cancerous polyps ("all polyps") and the prevalence of advanced colonic neoplasms were significantly higher in the gastric neoplasm group than in the control group (all polyps: 40.9 % in the gastric neoplasm group vs. 25.8 % in the control group, P = 0.002; advanced colonic neoplasms: 15.6 % vs. 8.1 %, P = 0.025). The risk factors for all polyps were age, male sex, diabetes mellitus, and being assigned to the gastric neoplasm group, and those for advanced colonic neoplasms were age and being assigned to the gastric neoplasm group. Confining the analysis to the gastric neoplasm group, the risk factors for all polyps were identical with those for the total group; however, those for advanced colonic neoplasm were different (age vs. diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopists should consider performing routine FCS in patients undergoing endoscopic removal of gastric neoplasms.

Devastation of bone tissue in the appendicular skeleton parallels the progression of neuromuscular disease

A mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress (SMARD1) was used to study the consequences of neuromuscular degenerative disease on bone quantity and morphology. Histomorphometry and micro-computed tomography were used to assess the cortical and cancellous bone in the tibia, femur and humerus of adult neuromuscular degeneration (nmd) mice (up to 21w) and age-matched wild-type controls (WT). At 21w, the average lengths of the humerus, tibia and femur were 15%, 10%, and 10% shorter in the nmd mice, respectively. The midshaft of the humerus, tibia and femur of nmd mice had 41%, 47% and 34% less cortical bone than the WT. In the humeral, tibial, and femoral metaphyses of the nmd mice, there was 50%, 78%, and 85% less trabecular bone volume, and 58%, 92%, and 94% less trabecular connectivity than the WT. NMD cortical bone had less than half of the 42% active surface measured in the WT, yet the mineral apposition rate of those surfaces were similar between strains (nmd: 1.80 microm x day(-1); WT: 2.05 microm x day(-1)). Osteoclast number and activity levels did not differ across strains. These data emphasize that neuromuscular degeneration as a result of immunoglobulin S-mu binding protein-2 (Ighmbp2) mutation will compromise several critical parameters of bone quantity and architecture, the most severe occurring in the trabecular compartment.

Visible and near-infrared radiative properties of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes

This work investigates the reflection and scattering from vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, fabricated on silicon substrate using thermally enhanced chemical vapor deposition with both tip-growth and base-growth mechanisms. The directional-hemispherical reflectance in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths was measured with an integrating sphere. The polarization-dependent bidirectional reflectance distribution function was characterized with a laser scatterometer at the wavelength of 635 nm. The effective medium theory was used to elucidate the mechanism of high absorptance (greater than 0.97 in the spectral region from 400 to 1800 nm) of the multi-walled carbon nanotube samples. It is observed that scattering by impurities on the top of the nanotubes, by the nanotube tips, and by defects and misalignment can significantly increase the reflectance and introduce retroreflection. This study may facilitate application of carbon nanotubes in pyroelectric detectors as well as thermophotovoltaic emitters and absorbers.

Coherent thermal emission by excitation of magnetic polaritons between periodic strips and a metallic film

The present paper theoretically demonstrates coherent thermal emission in the infrared region by exciting magnetic polaritons between metallic gratings and an opaque metallic film, separated by a dielectric spacer. The coupling of the metallic strips and the film induces a magnetic response that is characterized by a negative permeability and positive permittivity. On the other hand, the metallic film intrinsically exhibits a negative permittivity and positive permeability in the near infrared. This artificial structure is equivalent to a pair of single-negative materials. By exciting surface magnetic polaritons, large emissivity peaks can be achieved at the resonance frequencies and are almost independent of the emission angle. The resonance frequency of the magnetic response can be predicted by an analogy to an inductor and capacitor circuit. The proposed structure can be easily constructed using micro/nanofabrication.

Hyperthermal neutral beam sources for material processing

Hyperthermal neutral beams have a great potential for material processes, especially for etching and thin film deposition for semiconductor and display fabrication as well as deposition for various thin film applications. Plasma-induced damage during plasma etching is a serious problem for manufacturing deep submicron semiconductor devices and is expected to be a problem for future nanoscale devices. Thermal and plasma-induced damage is also problematic for thin film depositions such as transparent conductive oxide films on organic light emitting diodes or flexible displays due to high temperature processes in plasma environments. These problems can be overcome by damage-free and low-temperature processes with hyperthermal neutral beams. We will present the status of the hyperthermal neutral beam development and the applications, especially, in semiconductor and display fabrication and introduce potential applications of thin film growing for optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes.

Surface waves between metallic films and truncated photonic crystals observed with reflectance spectroscopy

We have analyzed and demonstrated surface-wave excitations, by propagating waves in air, at the interface between a truncated photonic crystal (PC) and a silver film in the near-infrared. The truncated PC was fabricated with several unit cells of alternating SiO(2) and Si(3)N(4) layers. The dispersion relation of surface waves was calculated using the supercell method. A Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer measured the spectral reflectance of the fabricated sample at different incidence angles. An angle-resolved laser scatterometer measured the reflectance as a function of the incidence angle at the wavelength of 891 nm. The agreement between the resonance conditions obtained from experiments and the calculated dispersion relation manifests that surface waves at the PC-Ag interface may be utilized to build coherent thermal-emission sources.

Laryngeal exposure during laryngoscopy is better in the 25 degrees back-up position than in the supine position

BACKGROUND

Good visualization of the glottis is important for tracheal intubation. This study evaluated whether the 25 degrees back-up position improves the quality of the laryngeal view during laryngoscopy.

METHODS

Laryngoscopy with a curved blade was performed on 40 anaesthetized patients. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Laryngeal views were captured with a rigid 0 degrees endoscope. Views were recorded for each patient in Group A (n = 20) during laryngoscopies performed with the patient lying first in the supine position and then in the 25 degrees back-up position. Laryngeal views for patients in Group B (n = 20) were first captured while the patient was in the 25 degrees back-up position and then while the patient was in the flat supine position. An anaesthetist blinded to the position graded the quality of the images using the percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score.

RESULTS

Comparing the two positions, mean (sd) POGO scores increased significantly from 42.2 (27.4)% in supine position to 66.8 (27.6)% in 25 degrees back-up position (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

During laryngoscopy, the laryngeal view, as assessed by POGO scores, improves significantly in the 25 degrees back-up position when compared with the flat supine position.

A novel strategy for identifying mutations that sensitize Drosophila eye development to caffeine and hydroxyurea

This report describes a novel strategy for isolating Drosophila mutants with conditional eye phenotypes that should be generally applicable for identifying genes required for cellular responses to specific drugs. To test the strategy, we screened 3 of the 5 major chromosome arms for hydroxyurea- and (or) caffeine-sensitive (huc) mutants, and isolated mutations affecting 5 different complementation groups. Most of these were represented by single alleles; however, we also isolated multiple alleles of huc(29DE) gene, an essential gene that is also associated with a nonconditional pupal lethal phenotype. We also identified huc(95E) mutants, which are extremely sensitive to caffeine. Although huc(95E) is a nonessential gene, mutant imaginal disc cells undergo caffeine-dependent apoptosis, and huc(95E) gene function is required for the viability of the organism when mutant larvae are exposed to levels of caffeine that controls can easily tolerate. We have mapped the cytological positions of huc(29D) and huc(95E) as a first step toward molecularly characterizing the relevant genes.

Sexual behaviour induces the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeletal protein and modifies neuronal morphology in the female rat ventromedial hypothalamus

Female sexual behaviour activates a distributed network within the brain, including the ventrolateral subdivision of the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (vlVMH), as demonstrated by behavioural studies performed in conjunction with the neuroanatomical analysis of immediate early gene (IEG) expression. However, it has been difficult to interpret mating-induced IEG expression because the precise function of many IEGs remains poorly defined. One possible function for genomic activation of the vlVMH during mating behaviour is to establish synaptic remodelling. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that sexual behaviour rapidly induces the expression of a structural protein associated with synaptic plasticity and ultimately causes morphological changes in the vlVMH. First, the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeletal protein (Arc), an IEG associated with neural plasticity, was assayed immunohistochemically in females after approximately 1 h of mating. The number of Arc-labelled neurones in the vlVMH was greater in mated females compared to unmated controls. Second, VMH neurones were biolistically labelled for morphological measurements, including soma size, dendrite number and length and dendritic spine density. Dendritic spine density in the vlVMH was significantly reduced 5 days after mating in experienced females compared to sexually naïve females. There were no differences between these groups in soma size, dendrite length or dendrite number. Collectively, these studies suggest that mating behaviour produces short-term changes in structural proteins and long-term, selective changes in dendrite morphology, which then may influence future behaviours and/or physiology.

Tongue abscess mimicking neoplasia

Tongue abscess is a very rare condition about which only sparse imaging findings have been reported. In 2 patients, a submucosal malignant tumor was suspected because of the presence of a painful hard tongue mass with intact mucosal surface. Differential diagnosis of the tongue abscess or malignancy was difficult on MR imaging or positron emission tomography-CT. In careful retrospective history taking, the symptoms had dated from an episode of eating fish several months before presentation. Plain radiographs and noncontrast CT images of the pharynx revealed a foreign body within the lesion. Thus, we present the imaging findings of 2 cases of malignancy mimicking tongue abscess as a result of impaction of a fish bone.

Lateral shift in photon tunneling studied by the energy streamline method

The energy streamline method based on the Poynting vector of the coupled forward and backward waves is used to study photon tunneling phenomenon associated with the lateral shift of energy path. Each point on the energy streamline indicates the direction of the net energy flow of a plane wave. In the tunneling configuration, the light energy of the propagating waves is squeezed to the inside of a cone, whereas the streamlines of the coupled evanescent waves go through the barrier inside or outside the cone. This observation provides insight of the photon tunneling phenomenon. A relationship between the energy refraction angle and the incidence angle exists in the proximity limit and can be used to evaluate the lateral shift of the energy path. Furthermore, the energy streamline method can help gain deeper understanding of nanoscale radiation where photon tunneling plays an important role in the heat transfer enhancement.

Measurement and modelling of ordinary heterotrophic organism active biomass concentrations in anoxic/aerobic activated sludge mixed liquor

Ordinary heterotrophic organism (OHO) active biomass (ZBH) is a key parameter in models for activated sludge systems, which defines quantitatively the kinetic rates of relevant processes. However, ZBH has not been measured directly with consistent success: a simple respirometric batch test has provided varying correspondence between measured and theoretical concentrations. In this paper, the batch test is applied to mixed liquors drawn from well defined anoxic/aerobic parent systems at 10 and 20 d sludge ages, with consistent but poor correspondence between measured and theoretical values. In contrast, aerobic digestion batch tests on the same mixed liquors give good correspondences. It is concluded that the differences between theoretical and batch test measured values are due to the batch test method itself and its interpretation. It is found that the batch test conditions (particularly the substrate/ZBH ratio) influence the kinetic constants derived from the data, and hence the ZBH estimate. Two kinetic models with two competing OHO populations, a fast and a slow grower, are developed and applied to the batch tests and parent systems. The first model is based on kinetic selection only, while the second includes additional metabolic selection. Both models can account for the observations in the batch tests, but the second provides greater consistency between simulations of the parent systems and batch tests.

Evaluating associations between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease for Korean patients

There has been growing evidence that the serotonin (5-HT) system is important in the regulation of memory and thus might be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), while research results on this issue have been inconsistent. The 5-HT system has also been suggested to be responsible for a significant portion of the behavioural aspects of AD. This study aimed to investigate the associations of the 5-HT transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism with AD and delusional/aggressive symptoms of AD in Korean samples of 65 patients and 43 controls. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was neither associated with AD nor with delusional/aggressive symptoms of AD. It was suggested that phenotypic expression of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism might be varied according to ethnic differences.

Role of C-terminal heptapeptide in pore-forming activity of antimicrobial agent, gaegurin 4

Gaegurin 4 (GGN4) is an antimicrobial peptide of 37 amino acids isolated from the skin of a frog, Rana rugosa. GGN4 has a disulfide bond between the residues 31 and 37, which is highly conserved among the antimicrobial peptides isolated from skin of the genus, Rana. However, the role of this C-terminal heptapeptide motif is not well understood. In this work, we compared the membrane effects of the full-length GGN4 (C37) and GGN4 1-30 (C30), which is devoid of the C-terminal seven amino acids to elucidate the function of the C-terminal motif. C37 induced significantly larger membrane conductance (>10x) in the model lipid bilayers formed with acidic and neutral phospholipids and larger K+ efflux from gram-positive (>30x) and gram-negative bacteria. However, the pores induced by C37 and C30 were not different in their permeability to K+ over Cl- (permeability ratio of K+ to Cl- = 4.8-7.1). In addition, the pore-forming effect of C37 or C30 in acidic membranes was not different from that in neutral membranes. Furthermore, C37-induced K+ efflux was not significantly decreased by the reducing agent, dithiothreitol. The results indicate that C-terminal heptapeptide sequence plays an important role in maintaining the high pore-forming activity of GGN4, but does not participate in forming GGN4-induced pore structure. The disulfide bond in this region does not appear critical for such high ionophoric activity of GGN4.

Inactivation of the PTEN gene protein product is associated with the invasiveness and metastasis, but not angiogenesis, of breast cancer

PTEN is a novel tumor-suppressor gene located on chromosomal band 10q23. Loss of PTEN function has been implicated in the progression of several types of cancer, but the correlation between loss of PTEN expression and advanced carcinomas is not well established. The capacity for angiogenesis of a tumor is known to play a very important role in growth and metastasis, and there have been reports that PTEN relates to angiogenesis. In the present study, formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissues from 101 patients with breast carcinomas, including 88 cases of invasive ductal carcinomas and 13 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods for the expression of PTEN and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as microvessel density (MVD). The results were compared with the clinicopathologic parameters. There was no loss of PTEN expression in any of the cases of DCIS, but 28 (32%) of the 88 invasive cases did not express PTEN. Loss of PTEN expression was associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.03), but did not correlate with tumor size, tumor grade, MVD or recurrence. VEGF expression significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis in invasive ductal carcinoma (P = 0.01). There was no correlation between the expression of PTEN and that of VEGF (P = 0.63). The present study suggests that loss of PTEN expression is common and correlates with tumor progression and lymph node metastasis in breast carcinoma. The relationship between loss of PTEN and progression of breast cancer may not be explained by modulation of angiogenesis.

High prevalence of current asthma and active smoking effect among the elderly

BACKGROUND

Although asthma is a common cause of morbidity in adults, relatively few objectively measured population studies of asthma prevalence in adult populations have been conducted.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of asthma, based on both a questionnaire and methacholine bronchial provocation test, and to determine the risk factors of asthma prevalence in an adult population.

METHODS

A total of 2,467 adults, who were randomly selected from metropolitan urban, non-metropolitan urban and rural areas, responded to the modified ISAAC questionnaire, and underwent methacholine bronchial provocation tests and skin prick tests to locally common aeroallergens.

RESULTS

The prevalence of current asthma based on the questionnaire and the methacholine challenge was 2.0% in adults younger than 40, 3.8% in 40- to 54-year-olds, 7.7% in 55- to 64-year-olds and 12.7% in those aged 65 or higher. For subjects of 55-64 years, active smoking was found to be significantly related with the prevalence of current asthma and bronchial hyper-responsiveness, although smoking was positively associated with percentage predictive value of forced expiratory volume of 1 s (FEV1).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of current asthma is common among the elderly, and active smoking may play an important role in the development of asthma and bronchial hyper-responsiveness among the elderly.