Note: Near-field imaging of thermal radiation at low temperatures by passive millimeter-wave microscopy

Imaging of thermal radiation with a spatial resolution below the diffraction limit is demonstrated with a passive millimeter-wave microscope. This technique utilizes a sensitive radiometric receiver in combination with a scanning near-field microscope. Experiments were performed at 50 GHz (λ = 6 mm) with sample temperatures ranging from room temperature down to 160 K, and the performance was shown to be superior to that achieved with passive imaging systems in the infrared region. The images are affected by non-uniformities in the transmission of thermal radiation from the sample to the receiver via the near-field probe and the reflection of thermal radiation back to the receiver from the probe. The effects of these non-uniformities were successfully removed using a sample image acquired by active measurements using a vector network analyzer.

Two-stage anaerobic fluidized-bed membrane bioreactor treatment of settled domestic wastewater

A two-stage anaerobic fluidized-bed membrane bioreactor (SAF-MBR) system was applied for the treatment of primary-settled domestic wastewater that was further pre-treated by either 10 μm filtration or 1 mm screening. While the different pre-treatment options resulted in different influent qualities, the effluent qualities were quite similar. In both cases at a total hydraulic retention time of 2.3 h and 25 °C, chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) removals were 84-91% and 92-94%, with effluent concentrations lower than 25 and 7 mg/L, respectively. With a membrane flux of 6-12 L/m(2)/h, trans-membrane pressure remained below 0.2 bar during 310 d of continuous operation without need for membrane chemical cleaning or backwashing. Biosolids production was estimated to be 0.028-0.049 g volatile suspended solids/g BOD5, which is far less than that with comparable aerobic processes. Electrical energy production from combined heat and power utilization of the total methane produced (gaseous and dissolved) was estimated to be more than sufficient for total system operation.

Positional effects of polymorphisms in probe-target sequences on genoplot images of oligonucleotide microarrays

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present in probe-target sequences (SPTS) have been shown to be associated with abnormal genoplot images. We explored the effects of SPTS positions on genoplot images using a data set from a genome-wide association study typed on an Illumina Human Hap300 platform. We screened the physical genomic positions of 308,330 autosomal probes to identify SPTS candidates deposited in dbSNP. The genoplot images across 293 individuals were inspected further in SNPs bearing an SPTS candidate. We identified 35,185 SNPs bearing a single SPTS candidate, including 264 SNPs showing abnormal genoplot images. The frequencies of SPTS at distances within 10 bases from the target SNP were significantly higher in the 264 SNPs showing abnormal genoplot images, than in the remaining 34,921 SNPs (49.62 vs 12.87%; Fisher exact test; P = 2.2 x 10(-16)). Of these 264 SNPs, we randomly selected 20 SNPs and resequenced them in 97 individuals. An SPTS within 10 bases of the target SNP was confirmed in all 20 SNPs, except for one SNP with a small deletion (7 bases) in the probe-target sequence. Taken together, these results suggest an association of a proximal SPTS with an abnormal genoplot image, which could result in spurious genotype detections, highlighting the importance of minimizing systematic errors in microarray experiments.

Impact of Primary Site Surgical Resection on Survival in Stage IV Breast Cancer

Background: Currently, primary treatments for stage IV breast cancer are radiation and systemic therapy which include chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and targeted therapy. Surgical resection of primary tumor is usually done for tumor-related complications. A recent review suggested that surgery may improve long-term survival in stageIV breast cancer patients. We evaluated the impact of primary site surgical resection on survival in such patients.Material and Methods: We reviewed the records of stage IV breast cancer patients treated at Seoul National University Hospital between 1992 and 2008. Clinical and tumor characteristics, systemic and local treatments were compared for the surgically versus nonsurgically treated patients.Results: Of 199 patients identified, 111(55.8%) recevied surgical excision of their primary tumor and 88(44.2%) did not. The mean survival of surgically treated patients was 67 months versus 52 months for patients those who did not(p=0.0276). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for ER status, visceral metastasis, number of metastatic sites and herceptin treatment, surgery remained an independent factor associated with improved survival(HR 0.547[95%CI 0.359-0.971] p=0.001).Discussion: Surgical resection of the primary tumor in stage IV breast cancer patient was independently associated with improved survival, even after adjustment for other factors associated with survival. Randomized prospective trials are needed to validate these findings.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 3117.

Lympho-Vascular Invasion by Detecting D2-40 Was the Potent Prognostic Predictor in Breast Cancer Patients

(Introduction) Distant metastasis and recurrence are the major factors of prognosis in breast cancer patients. Both of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and blood vascular invasion (BVI) are known to be the important route for metastasis to regional lymph nodes and systemic metastasis. Despite the importance of vascular invasion as a prognostic factor, the application of vascular invasion as a histopathologic criterion is controversial. The aims of this study were to distinguish between LVI and BVI for the role of prognosis and recurrence in breast cancer patients by using an endothelial subtype specific immunohitochemical stain (podoplanin, D2-40 and CD31)Methods) Sections from 80 paraffin-embedded archival specimens of invasive breast cancer were stained for expression of podoplanin, D2-40, and CD31. The results of immunohistochemical staining were correlated with clinicopathologic features, such as tumor size, the status of lymph node metastases, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status and HER2 expression, and recurrence. The patients with ductal carcinoma in situ and stage 4 breast cancer were excluded.Results) A significant correlation was found in the higher expression of D2-40, and lymph node metastasis. (P=0.02) We found a significant correlation between the expression of D2-40 and the recurrence of breast cancer. (P=0.04) However, there was no significant correlation between BVI and recurrence. A poorer disease free survival was shown in the higher expression of D2-40. (P<0.01) In multivariate analysis, the higher expression of D2-40 revealed a significant association with decreased disease-free survival.Conclusion) The higher expression of D2-40 was the more prognostic predictor than blood vascular invasion in breast cancer patients.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 6171.

Phase III trial of adjuvant capecitabine/cisplatin (XP) versus capecitabine/cisplatin/RT (XPRT) in resected gastric cancer with D2 nodal dissection (ARTIST trial): Safety analysis

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Background: Although the adjuvant chemoradiation therapy has gained popularity and has become the standard of care in patients with resected gastric cancer in U.S., the role of chemoradiation therapy after extended D2 dissection has been questioned. We conducted a phase III trial to compare capecitabine/cisplatin (XP) vs XP + radiotherapy (RT) in curatively D2 resected gastric cancer patients in terms of disease free survival and overall survival. Methods: Eligibility criteria were as follows: stage Ib (T1N1, T2bN0) - IV (M1 excluded), curatively ≥ D2 resected gastric adenocarcinoma. XP only: X 2,000 mg/m2/d D1∼14, CDDP 60 mg/m2 D1 repeated every 3 weeks, 6 cycles; XP + RT: X 2,000 mg/m2/d D1∼14, CDDP 60 mg/m2 D1 x 2 cycles ⋄ RT 45 Gy (25 fractions) + X 1,650 mg/m2/d during RT ⋄ X 2,000 mg/m2/d D1∼14, CDDP 60 mg/m2 D1 x 2 cycles. The primary endpoint is 3-year disease-free survival. Results: From October 2004 to April 2008, 458 patients (XP arm: 228 patients; XP/RT arm: 230 patients) were enrolled. In XP arm, 172 (75%) of 228 enrolled patients completed 6 cycles of chemotherapy. In XP + RT arm, 188 (82%) of 230 patients completed the full course of XP 2 cycles - X + RT - XP 2 cycles. Conclusions: Safety and feasibility analysis of the two arms will be reported at the meeting.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Laparoscopic and laparotomic staging in stage I epithelial ovarian cancer: a comparison of feasibility and safety

The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopic and laparotomic surgical staging in patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer in terms of feasibility and safety. A retrospective chart review was undertaken of all patients with apparent stage I epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent laparoscopic (laparoscopy group) or laparotomic (laparotomy group) surgical staging at the Center for Uterine Cancer, National Cancer Center, Korea, between January 2001 and August 2006. During the study period, 19 patients underwent laparotomic surgical staging and 17 patients underwent laparoscopic surgical staging. No cases were converted from laparoscopy to laparotomy. The two groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index, procedures performed, number of lymph nodes retrieved, and operating time. The laparoscopy group had less estimated blood loss (P = 0.001), faster return of bowel movement (P < 0.001), and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.002) compared to the laparotomy group. Transfusions were required only in two laparotomy patients, and postoperative complications occurred only in four laparotomy patients. However, two patients with stage IA grade 1 and 2 disease in laparoscopy group had recurrence with one patient dying of disease. The accuracy and adequacy of laparoscopic surgical staging were comparable to laparotomic approach, and the surgical outcomes were more favorable than laparotomic approach. However, the oncologic safety of laparoscopic staging was not certain. This is the first report on the possible hazards of laparoscopic staging in early-stage ovarian cancer. In the absence of a large prospective trial, this technique should be performed cautiously.

Colonization Dynamics and Spatial Progression of Verticillium dahliae in Individual Stems of Two Potato Cultivars with Differing Responses to Potato Early Dying

Potato early dying (PED), caused by Verticillium dahliae, is a chronic yield-limiting disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum). In this study, we describe the colonization dynamics of V. dahliae in two potato cultivars with varying responses to PED. We utilized a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) assay to assess the colonization and spatial progression of V. dahliae in cvs. Ranger Russet (moderately resistant) and Russet Norkotah (highly susceptible). Ninety plants per cultivar were inoculated with a conidial suspension in the greenhouse. Every 2 weeks until week 10, we collected basal samples from 15 plants, and repeatedly sampled the growing apices of another 15 plants. The mean infection coefficient (IC) values in the basal and apical samples were significantly lower in cv. Ranger Russet at all five sampling dates. The pathogen was detected in basal samples of both cultivars by week 2, and in apical samples of cv. Russet Norkotah at week 4 and of cv. Ranger Russet at week 6. Colonization of cv. Russet Norkotah consistently increased in apical and basal samples during the 10 weeks, while it plateaued after week 6 in cv. Ranger Russet. Differences in response to PED appear associated with the speed of colonization and the establishment of a higher population density by V. dahliae in the plant.