Beat note stabilization of mode-locked lasers for quantum information processing

We stabilize a chosen radio frequency beat note between two optical fields derived from the same mode-locked laser pulse train in order to coherently manipulate quantum information. This scheme does not require access or active stabilization of the laser repetition rate. We implement and characterize this external lock, in the context of two-photon stimulated Raman transitions between the hyperfine ground states of trapped 171Yb(+) quantum bits.

Preventive effect of fermented Maillard reaction products from milk proteins in cardiovascular health

The aim of this study was to determine the dual effect of Maillard reaction and fermentation on the preventive cardiovascular effects of milk proteins. Maillard reaction products (MRP) were prepared from the reaction between milk proteins, such as whey protein concentrates (WPC) and sodium caseinate (SC), and lactose. The hydrolysates of MRP were obtained from fermentation by lactic acid bacteria (LAB; i.e., Lactobacillus gasseri H10, L. gasseri H11, Lactobacillus fermentum H4, and L. fermentum H9, where human-isolated strains were designated H1 to H15), which had excellent proteolytic and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities (>20%). The antioxidant activity of MRP was greater than that of intact proteins in assays of the reaction with 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt and trivalent ferric ions; moreover, the effect of MRP was synergistically improved by fermentation. The Maillard reaction dramatically increased the level of antithrombotic activity and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) inhibitory effect of milk proteins, but did not change the level of activity for micellar cholesterol solubility. Furthermore, specific biological properties were enhanced by fermentation. Lactobacillus gasseri H11 demonstrated the greatest activity for thrombin and HMGR inhibition in Maillard-reacted WPC, by 42 and 33%, respectively, whereas hydrolysates of Maillard-reacted SC fermented by L. fermentum H9 demonstrated the highest reduction rate for micellar cholesterol solubility, at 52%. In addition, the small compounds that were likely released by fermentation of MRP were identified by size-exclusion chromatography. Therefore, MRP and hydrolysates of fermented MRP could be used to reduce cardiovascular risks.

Extracellular visfatin activates gluconeogenesis in HepG2 cells through the classical PKA/CREB-dependent pathway

Adipokines reportedly affect hepatic gluconeogenesis, and the adipokine visfatin is known to be related to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, whether visfatin contributes to hepatic gluconeogenesis remains unclear. Visfatin, also known as nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), modulates sirtuin1 (SIRT1) through the regulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). Therefore, we investigated the effect of extracellular visfatin on glucose production in HepG2 cells, and evaluated whether extracellular visfatin affects hepatic gluconeogenesis via an NAD+-SIRT1-dependent pathway. Treatment with visfatin significantly increased glucose production and the mRNA expression and protein levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in HepG2 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Knockdown of SIRT1 had no remarkable effect on the induction of gluconeogenesis by visfatin. Subsequently, we evaluated if extracellular visfatin stimulates the production of gluconeogenic enzymes through the classical protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB)-dependent process. The phosphorylation of CREB and PKA increased significantly in HepG2 cells treated with visfatin. Additionally, knockdown of CREB and PKA inhibited visfatin-induced gluconeogenesis in HepG2 cells. In summary, extracellular visfatin modulates glucose production in HepG2 cells through the PKA/CREB pathway, rather than via SIRT1 signaling.

Development progresses of radio frequency ion source for neutral beam injector in fusion devices

A large-area RF (radio frequency)-driven ion source is being developed in Germany for the heating and current drive of an ITER device. Negative hydrogen ion sources are the major components of neutral beam injection systems in future large-scale fusion experiments such as ITER and DEMO. RF ion sources for the production of positive hydrogen (deuterium) ions have been successfully developed for the neutral beam heating systems at IPP (Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics) in Germany. The first long-pulse ion source has been developed successfully with a magnetic bucket plasma generator including a filament heating structure for the first NBI system of the KSTAR tokamak. There is a development plan for an RF ion source at KAERI to extract the positive ions, which can be applied for the KSTAR NBI system and to extract the negative ions for future fusion devices such as the Fusion Neutron Source and Korea-DEMO. The characteristics of RF-driven plasmas and the uniformity of the plasma parameters in the test-RF ion source were investigated initially using an electrostatic probe.

Improvement of a plasma uniformity of the 2nd ion source of KSTAR neutral beam injector

The 2nd ion source of KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research) NBI (Neutral Beam Injector) had been developed and operated since last year. A calorimetric analysis revealed that the heat load of the back plate of the ion source is relatively higher than that of the 1st ion source of KSTAR NBI. The spatial plasma uniformity of the ion source is not good. Therefore, we intended to identify factors affecting the uniformity of a plasma density and improve it. We estimated the effects of a direction of filament current and a magnetic field configuration of the plasma generator on the plasma uniformity. We also verified that the operation conditions of an ion source could change a uniformity of the plasma density of an ion source.

Second-line chemotherapy versus supportive cancer treatment in advanced gastric cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Many patients with refractory or relapsed gastric cancer after first-line chemotherapy have received salvage chemotherapy in routine clinical practice. However, there was no evidence to support this treatment until recent phase III trials demonstrated substantial prolongation of overall survival. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of these trials and investigated whether second-line chemotherapy was more effective than best supportive care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 1, 2013), MEDLINE (1950 to March week 4, 2013) and EMBASE (1980-2013, week 13). In addition, we searched all abstracts and virtual meeting presentations from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conferences held between 2004 and 2013.

RESULTS

The search process yielded 578 studies, two of which were randomized phase III trials that compared chemotherapy with supportive care. From the abstracts and virtual meeting presentations of ASCO held between 2004 and 2013, 127 abstracts were identified that evaluated second-line chemotherapy; only one relevant abstract was included in the meta-analysis. A total of 410 patients were eligible for analysis, of whom 150 received docetaxel chemotherapy, and 81 received irinotecan chemotherapy. A significant reduction in the risk of death [HR = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52-0.79, P < 0.0001] was observed with salvage chemotherapy. When the analysis was restricted to irinotecan or docetaxel, there was still significant reduction in the risk of death with each chemotherapeutic agent. The HR was 0.55 (95% CI 0.40-0.77, P = 0.0004) for irinotecan and 0.71 (95% CI 0.56-0.90, P = 0.004) for docetaxel.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrated evidence to support second-line chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer.

Vascular calcification in a young patient with end-stage renal disease

Vascular calcification in children with long-standing dialysis is a unique phenomenon. Hyperphosphataemia and hyperparathyroidism are the major pathogenic risk factors. We describe a young patient with end-stage renal disease diagnosed since childhood and underwent prolonged dialysis therapy. He was admitted for recurrent episodes of acute joint pain. Investigations confirmed diffuse periarticular, vascular, and intracardiac calcifications which were rarely seen in the young population. He underwent parathyroidectomy and incidentally found to have a co-existing papillary carcinoma of thyroid. After parathyroidectomy, serial X-rays showed resorption of these calcifications.

Correction of Wassel type IV thumb duplication with zigzag deformity: results of a new method of flexor pollicis longus tendon relocation

The purpose of this study is to present a treatment algorithm and a method of flexor pollicis longus tendon relocation for Wassel type IV thumb duplication with zigzag deformity. Forty-two thumbs in 42 patients were included in this study and the mean follow-up was 4 years. In addition to excision of the extra digit, tendon relocation and metacarpal and/or proximal phalangeal osteotomy were carried out, based on the degree of angulation at the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. Tendon relocation was achieved using our pull-out suture technique. The results were assessed using an evaluation form for thumb polydactyly provided by the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand. At the time of latest clinical contact, eight cases were rated good, 31 cases fair, and three cases poor. It is useful to decide surgical procedures according to the degree of angulation of the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints and flexor pollicis longus tendon relocation is important to prevent malalignment at the interphalangeal joint.

Nestin expression as an indicator of cervical cancer initiation

Nestin is an intermediate filament protein expressed in proliferating cells during embryonic development of the central nervous system (CNS) and considered to be a neuronal stem cell/progenitor cell marker. This study investigated the difference of nestin expression between pre-cancer (carcinoma in situ - CIS) and cancer of cervix in 129 tissues (49 normal cervix, 41 CIS, and 39 invasive cervical cancer) through the use of a paraffin-embedded tissue array. Immunostaining was evaluated by intensity, proportion of stained cells, and pattern of expression. The expression of nestin was positive in 63.4% (26/41) for CIS and 43.6% (17/39) for invasive cervical cancer, but only 26.5% (13/49) for normal tissues (p = 0.002). Strong positive staining/large proportion staining were 53.7% (22/41) / 36.6% (15/41), 15.4% (6/39) / 61.5% (24/39) in the CIS and invasive cervical cancer tissues, respectively (p = 0.043, p < 0.001). The diffuse stain with basal layer was positive in 90.2% (37/41) for CIS, but only 24.5% (12/49) of the samples were positive in normal tissues (p < 0.001). Based on these results, the authors suggest that nestin expression seems to participate in the step of cancer initiation and could potentially be a useful marker in the early detection of cervical cancer.

Children on continuous renal replacement therapy: prognostic factors

OBJECTIVES

To identify prognostic factors in children receiving continuous renal replacement therapy.

DESIGN

Historical cohort study.

SETTING

Neonatal and paediatric intensive care unit of a Hong Kong hospital.

PATIENTS

Neonatal or paediatric patients who received continuous renal replacement therapy from January 1998 to December 2008.

RESULTS

In all, 37 patients who received 39 episodes of continuous renal replacement therapy were identified. The male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. Among the 39 episodes, 15 (39%) were performed on neonates with a mean birth weight of 2.6 (standard deviation, 0.7; range, 0.9-3.7) kg, and 24 (62%) were performed on paediatric patients with a mean age of 7.9 years (standard deviation, 6.4 years; range, 6 months to 18 years). The overall mortality was 41%; in the neonatal and paediatric groups it was 60% and 29%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean and maximal ultrafiltration rate in survivors and non-survivors. Multivariate analysis identified the PRISM III score and fluid overload as independent predictors of mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with pre-continuous renal replacement therapy fluid overload of 5.5% or more was associated with reduced survival in the intensive care unit as compared to those having less severe fluid overload (P=0.011). In neonatal patients, there was a higher proportion with multi-organ failure and severe fluid overload.

CONCLUSION

High PRISM III scores and the degree of pre-continuous renal replacement therapy fluid overload were independent predictors of mortality.

Calpain system protein expression in basal-like and triple-negative invasive breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Basal-like and triple-negative breast tumours encompass an important clinical subgroup and biomarkers that can prognostically stratify these patients are required.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated two breast cancer tissue microarrays for the expression of calpain-1, calpain-2 and calpastatin using immunohistochemistry. The first microarray was comprised of invasive tumours from 1371 unselected patients, and the verification microarray was comprised of invasive tumours from 387 oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative patients.

RESULTS

The calpain system contains a number of proteases and an endogenous inhibitor, calpastatin. Calpain activity is implicated in important cellular processes including cytoskeletal remodelling, apoptosis and survival. Our results show that the expression of calpastatin and calpain-1 are significantly associated with various clinicopathological criteria including tumour grade and ER expression. High expression of calpain-2 in basal-like or triple-negative disease was associated with adverse breast cancer-specific survival (P = 0.003 and <0.001, respectively) and was verified in an independent cohort of patients. Interestingly, those patients with basal-like or triple-negative disease with a low level of calpain-2 expression had similar breast cancer-specific survival to non-basal- or receptor- (oestrogen, progesterone or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)) positive disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of the large catalytic subunit of m-calpain (calpain-2) is significantly associated with clinical outcome of patients with triple-negative and basal-like disease.

Partial splenic artery embolization for thrombocytopenia and uncontrolled massive ascites after liver transplantation

Thrombocytopenia (platelet < 60,000/mm(3)) and uncontrolled massive ascites (ascitic fluid > 1000 mL/d over 10 days) after liver transplantation (OLT), although uncommon, usually represent serious complications. Splenectomy is a useful treatment despite its many side effects. Recently, partial splenic artery embolization (PSAE) is considered to be a nonsurgical, less invasive treatment. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the results of PSAE after OLT. Between October 2008 and February 2010, 11 patients underwent PSAE after OLT due to thrombocytopenia (n = 6) or refractory ascites (RA; n = 5). Six patients (54.5%) were males and 3 (27.3%) were children. The primary liver disease was virus-related liver cirrhosis (n = 6), biliary atresia (n = 3), fulminant hepatitis (n = 1), or alcoholic liver cirrhosis (n = 1). Seven grafts were from living and four from deceased donors. The major axial size of spleen was 12.1 to 23.4 cm and its average embolized volume, 76.4% (range = 70%-80%). As the result, the platelet count significantly increased after PSAE in all patients maintaining values greater than 100,000/mm(3) in four thrombocytopenic patients (66.7%). Cases of RA showed marked decreases after PSAE (100%). The follow-up was 6 to 28 months. After PSAE, patients experienced abdominal pain (n = 9, 81.8%), fever (n = 2, 18.2%), and abdominal distension (n = 2, 18.2%). However, there was no serious complication after PSAE such as splenic abscess, rupture, pancreatic infarction, sepsis, or death. In conclusion, PSAE was effective and safe and can be the choice for thrombocytopenia or RA related to hypersplenism after OLT.

Coherent error suppression in multiqubit entangling gates

We demonstrate a simple pulse shaping technique designed to improve the fidelity of spin-dependent force operations commonly used to implement entangling gates in trapped ion systems. This extension of the Mølmer-Sørensen gate can theoretically suppress the effects of certain frequency and timing errors to any desired order and is demonstrated through Walsh modulation of a two qubit entangling gate on trapped atomic ions. The technique is applicable to any system of qubits coupled through collective harmonic oscillator modes.

Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin and NetB toxin antibodies and their possible role in protection against necrotic enteritis and gangrenous dermatitis in broiler chickens

Necrotic enteritis (NE) and gangrenous dermatitis (GD) are important infectious diseases of poultry. Although NE and GD share a common pathogen, Clostridium perfringens, they differ in other important aspects such as clinical signs, pathologic symptoms, and age of onset. The primary virulence factors of C perfringens are its four major toxins (alpha, beta, epsilon, iota) and the newly described NE B-like (NetB) toxin. While neutralizing antibodies against some C perfingens toxins are associated with protection against infection in mammals, the serologic responses of NE- and GD-afflicted birds to these toxins have not been evaluated. Therefore, we measured serum antibody levels to C perfringens alpha-toxin and NetB toxin in commercial birds from field outbreaks of NE and GD using recombinant toxin-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Initially, we used this ELISA system to detect antibody titers against C perfringens alpha-toxin and NetB toxin that were increased in birds experimentally coinfected with Eimeria maxima and C perfringens compared with uninfected controls. Next, we applied this ELISA to field serum samples from flock-mated birds with or without clinical signs of NE or GD. The results showed that the levels of antibodies against both toxins were significantly higher in apparently healthy chickens compared to birds with clinical signs of NE or GD, suggesting that these antitoxin antibodies may play a role in protection against NE and GD.

Factors Affecting the Clearance of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection and the Progression of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify factors that predict clearance of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or higher, in women with normal cervical histology or CIN 1. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 817 high-risk HPV-infected women with histologically verified CIN 1 or normal cervical histology. Patients were followed-up for a maximum of 24 months. Cervical HPV DNA tests were performed at every visit. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, 648/817 (79.3%) patients were free from HPV infection and 66/817 patients (8.1%) progressed to CIN 2 or higher. Age, parity, cytology and viral load at diagnosis were significantly and inversely associated with HPV clearance. Cytology, viral load and presence of CIN 1 lesions were significantly associated with lesion progression. CONCLUSIONS: Cytology and high-risk HPV viral load may be useful markers for the likelihood of high-risk HPV clearance and lesion progression. Histological status, parity and marital status may also be useful factors to consider when predicting progression.

Impact of fresh or used litter on the posthatch immune system of commercial broilers

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of exposure of growing broiler chickens of commercial origin to used poultry litter on intestinal and systemic immune responses. The litter types evaluated were fresh wood shavings or used litter obtained from commercial poultry farms with or without a history of gangrenous dermatitis (GD). Immune parameters measured were serum nitric oxide (NO) levels, serum antibody titers against Eimeria or Clostridium perfringens, mitogen-induced spleen cell proliferation, and intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte or splenic lymphocyte subpopulations. At 43 days posthatch, birds raised on used litter from a GD farm had higher serum NO levels and greater Eimeria or C. perfringens antibody levels compared with chickens raised on fresh litter or used, non-GD litter. Birds raised on non-GD and GD used litter had greater spleen cell mitogenic responses compared with chickens raised on fresh litter. Finally, spleen and intestinal lymphocyte subpopulations were increased or decreased depending on the litter type and the surface marker analyzed. Although it is likely that the presence of Eimeria oocysts and endemic viruses varies qualitatively and quantitatively between flocks and, by extension, varies between different used litter types, we believe that these data provide evidence that exposure of growing chicks to used poultry litter stimulates humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, presumably due to contact with contaminating enteric pathogens.

First neutral beam injection experiments on KSTAR tokamak

The first neutral beam (NB) injection system of the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) tokamak was partially completed in 2010 with only 1∕3 of its full design capability, and NB heating experiments were carried out during the 2010 KSTAR operation campaign. The ion source is composed of a JAEA bucket plasma generator and a KAERI large multi-aperture accelerator assembly, which is designed to deliver a 1.5 MW, NB power of deuterium at 95 keV. Before the beam injection experiments, discharge, and beam extraction characteristics of the ion source were investigated. The ion source has good beam optics in a broad range of beam perveance. The optimum perveance is 1.1-1.3 μP, and the minimum beam divergence angle measured by the Doppler shift spectroscopy is 0.8°. The ion species ratio is D(+):D(2)(+):D(3)(+) = 75:20:5 at beam current density of 85 mA/cm(2). The arc efficiency is more than 1.0 A∕kW. In the 2010 KSTAR campaign, a deuterium NB power of 0.7-1.5 MW was successfully injected into the KSTAR plasma with a beam energy of 70-90 keV. L-H transitions were observed within a wide range of beam powers relative to a threshold value. The edge pedestal formation in the T(i) and T(e) profiles was verified through CES and electron cyclotron emission diagnostics. In every deuterium NB injection, a burst of D-D neutrons was recorded, and increases in the ion temperature and plasma stored energy were found.

Delivery of chimeric hepatitis B core particles into liver cells

AIMS

To display a liver-specific ligand on the hepatitis B virus core particles for cell-targeting delivery.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A liver cell-binding ligand (preS1) was fused at the N-terminal end of the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), but the fusion protein (preS1His(6) HBcAg) was insoluble in Escherichia coli and did not form virus-like particles (VLPs). A method to display the preS1 on the HBcAg particle was established by incorporating an appropriate molar ratio of the truncated HBcAg (tHBcAg) to the preS1His(6) HBcAg. Gold immunomicroscopy showed that the subunit mixture reassembled into icosahedral particles, displaying the preS1 ligand on the surface of VLPs. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the preS1 ligand delivered the fluorescein-labelled VLPs into the HepG2 cells efficiently.

CONCLUSIONS

Chimeric VLPs containing the insoluble preS1His(6) HBcAg and highly soluble tHBcAg were produced by a novel incorporation method. The preS1 ligand was exposed on the surface of the VLPs and was shown to deliver fluorescein molecules into liver cells.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

The newly established incorporation method can be used in the development of chimeric VLPs that could serve as potential nanovehicles to target various cells specifically by substituting the preS1 ligand with different cell-specific ligands.

Association of CD247 with systemic lupus erythematosus in Asian populations

OBJECTIVE

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease with complex genetic inheritance. CD247 (CD3Z, TCRZ) plays a vital role in antigen recognition and signal transduction in antigen-specific immune responses, and is known to be involved in SLE pathogenesis. Weak disease association was reported for genetic variants in this gene in Caucasian studies for SLE, Crohn's disease and systemic sclerosis, but its role as a genetic risk factor was never firmly established.

METHODS

In this study, using a collection of 612 SLE patients and 2193 controls of Chinese ethnicity living in Hong Kong in a genome-wide study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in and around CD247 were identified as being associated with SLE. The two most significant SNPs in this locus were selected for further replication using TaqMan genotyping assay in 3339 Asian patients from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Thailand, as well as 4737 ethnically and geographically matched controls.

RESULTS

The association of CD247 with SLE in Asian populations was confirmed (rs704853: odds ratio [OR] = 0. 81, p = 2.47 × 10(-7); rs858543: OR = 1.10, p = 0.0048). Patient-only analysis suggested that rs704853 is also linked to oral ulcers, hematologic disorders and anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody production.

CONCLUSION

A significant association between variants in CD247 and SLE was demonstrated in Asian populations. Understanding the involvement of CD247 in SLE may shed new light on disease mechanisms and development of new treatment paradigms.

Development of a plasma generator for a long pulse ion source for neutral beam injectors

A plasma generator for a long pulse H(+)/D(+) ion source has been developed. The plasma generator was designed to produce 65 A H(+)/D(+) beams at an energy of 120 keV from an ion extraction area of 12 cm in width and 45 cm in length. Configuration of the plasma generator is a multi-cusp bucket type with SmCo permanent magnets. Dimension of a plasma chamber is 25 cm in width, 59 cm in length, and 32.5 cm in depth. The plasma generator was designed and fabricated at Japan Atomic Energy Agency. Source plasma generation and beam extraction tests for hydrogen coupling with an accelerator of the KSTAR ion source have been performed at the KSTAR neutral beam test stand under the agreement of Japan-Korea collaborative experiment. Spatial uniformity of the source plasma at the extraction region was measured using Langmuir probes and ±7% of the deviation from an averaged ion saturation current density was obtained. A long pulse test of the plasma generation up to 200 s with an arc discharge power of 70 kW has been successfully demonstrated. The arc discharge power satisfies the requirement of the beam production for the KSTAR NBI. A 70 keV, 41 A, 5 s hydrogen ion beam has been extracted with a high arc efficiency of 0.9 -1.1 A/kW at a beam extraction experiment. A deuteron yield of 77% was measured even at a low beam current density of 73 mA/cm(2).

Two novel HLA class II alleles, DRB1*11:96 and DQB1*02:01:03, identified in Koreans

DRB1*11:96 and DQB1*02:01:03 differ from DRB1*11: 01:01 and DQB1*02:01:01 by one nucleotide in exon 2, respectively.

Diffuse intraabdominal fibrosis and inflammation mimicking peritoneal carcinomatosis recurred after surgery for borderline ovarian tumor misdiagnosed by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography

BACKGROUND

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) adds to conventional imaging in the detection and staging of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

CASE REPORT

Herein we report a 27-year-old woman with multiple intraperitoneal masses detected by 18F-FDG-PET, suggesting peritoneal carcinomatosis. She had undergone laparoscopic unilateral oophorectomy for a left ovarian mucinous borderline tumor approximately five years before. Based on imaging and intraoperative findings, multiple intraabdominal masses strongly suggested peritoneal recurrence from a previous ovarian borderline tumor, but it finally proved to be inflammation and fibrosis on histopathologic examination.

CONCLUSION

Although 18F-FDG-PET is well known to be a highly sensitive imaging tool for identification of peritoneal carcinomatosis, FDG uptake is not tumor-specific. Therefore, the possibility of a false-positive diagnosis due to benign conditions, such as inflammation, should always be taken into consideration.

Metastatic cervical adenocarcinoma mimicking retroperitoneal sarcoma of the psoas muscle on imaging

BACKGROUND

The incidence of bone metastasis is low in metastatic cervical cancer, especially in the case of adenocarcinoma. Incidental finding of a mass located in an unusual metastatic site in the absence of identifiable primary tumor often results in a difficult diagnostic problem.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a 59-year-old woman presenting left-sided foot drop as her initial symptom. At first, after performing lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a huge paravertebral mass with ipsilateral psoas muscle involvement suggesting retroperitoneal sarcoma was identified. However, cervical punch biopsy and sono-guided paravertebral mass biopsy revealed cervical adenocarcinoma with lumbar spinal metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, a neurological symptom such as foot drop, not vaginal symptoms, in a woman may be a first manifestation of metastatic cervical cancer, especially in spinal metastasis. Furthermore, any abnormal lesion should not be ignored because of the possibility of metastasis from the primary malignancy, especially in the current case of cervical adenocarcinoma, so a complete evaluation is always mandatory.

Evidence of a role for insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in metabolic regulation

IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 is a metabolic regulator that has been shown to inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in murine models. This finding contrasts with epidemiological evidence of decreased serum IGFBP-3 in patients with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of IGFBP-3 in metabolism. Four-week-old male IGFBP-3(-/-) and control mice were subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 wk. IGFBP-3(-/-) mice were heavier before the initiation of HFD and at the end of the study period. Resting metabolic rate was significantly decreased in knockout mice; however, respiratory exchange ratio was not significantly different. Fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were significantly elevated in IGFBP-3(-/-) mice. However, IGFBP-3(-/-) mice had relatively normal glucose tolerance because the relative glucose excursion over time was not different between the groups. During hyperinsulinemic clamps, IGFBP-3(-/-) mice had increased basal hepatic glucose production, but after insulin stimulation, no differences in hepatic glucose production were observed. A second cohort of older IGFBP-3(-/-) mice on HFD displayed unexpected evidence of hepatic steatosis. In summary, glucose tolerance and clamp testing indicate that IGFBP-3(-/-) mice preserve insulin sensitivity despite evidence of increased basal glucose turnover and hepatic steatosis. We provide evidence that genetic deletion of IGFBP-3 modulates hepatic carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

A novel HLA-B allele, B*40:123, carrying a nucleotide substitution at a conserved codon

B*40:123 differs from the closest aligned sequence B*40: 01:01 by one nucleotide substitutions at conserved codon 20 (CCC -> TCC) resulting in an amino acid change at residue 20 (proline -> serine).