Effects of the brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida on erythematous inflammation assessed using digital photo analysis

The brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar produced potent inhibition of erythematous inflammation assessed using digital photo analysis. The analysis technique was validated by laser speckle flowgraphy and blood vessel contraction. The methanol extract suppressed erythema by 50% when applied within 1 h before or 15 min after application of phorbol myristate acetate. Erythema reduction to half-maximal values took 12 h with the extract, compared with 25 h with the vehicle. The blade part of the thallus showed the highest activity, while the northern type of U. pinnatifida had slightly higher activity than the southern type. The active constituents were stearidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. These findings reinforce the claims of the health care industry and indigenous medicine that U. pinnatifida can be used as a health food and remedy for inflammation-related symptoms.

Antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities of the seaweed Sargassum fulvellum and Sargassum thunbergii in mice

Dichloromethane, ethanol, and boiling water extracts of the brown seaweeds Sargassum fulvellum and Sargassum thunbergii were examined for antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities in mice. The activities were evaluated against yeast-induced pyrexia, tail-flick test, and phorbol myristate acetate-induced inflammation (edema, erythema, and blood flow). The dichloromethane extract (0.4 mg/ear) of Sargassum fulvellum inhibited an inflammatory symptom of mouse ear edema by 79.1%. The ethanol extract (0.4 mg/ear) of Sargassum thunbergii also inhibited edema by 72.1%. No acute toxicity was observed after p.o. administration of each extract (5 g/kg bw). These findings are consistent with various claims that these seaweeds can be used as remedies for inflammation-related symptoms.

Persistent environmental pollutants in eggs of aplomado falcons from Northern Chihuahua, Mexico, and south Texas, USA

The northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) disappeared from south Texas in the 1940s. Due to great success in the release of captive-reared aplomado falcons in south Texas, there are currently more than 40 established nesting pairs in the region. Addled eggs from aplomado falcons nesting in northern Chihuahua and south Texas were analyzed to determine organochlorine (OC) and inorganic element contaminant burdens and their potential association with egg failures and effects on reproduction. Among the OCs, DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene] was present at the highest concentrations (range 262-21487 ng/g wet weight) followed by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, range 88-3274 ng/g ww). DDE was greater (P=0.03) in eggs from El Sueco (Chihuahua, Mexico) than in those from Matagorda Island (Texas, USA). DDE concentrations in eggs of aplomado falcons from El Sueco were elevated; however, reproductive success in the two Chihuahuan populations did not seem to be affected by DDE. DDE and metals in potential avian prey of the aplomado falcon from Matagorda Island were very low and below levels in the diet at which some negative effects might be expected. Except for mercury (Hg), metal concentrations in eggs were fairly low and were not different among locations in Chihuahua and south Texas. Hg was somewhat elevated and was greater (P<0.001) in Texas than in the Chihuahua locations. Periodic monitoring of Hg concentrations in addled eggs of aplomado falcons in south Texas is recommended to continue evaluating potential negative effects on their recovery.

A review on adolescent childbearing in Taiwan: its characteristics, outcomes and risks

In Taiwan, the age-specific fertility rate for adolescent girls aged 15-19 years has remained at 14-18/1,000 births during the past two decades, which is the highest among developed countries in Asia. There was a surprisingly high age-specific fertility rate for married women aged 15-19 years at 726 per 1,000 in 1994, much higher than that of the United States. Adolescent childbearing causes many adverse outcomes including unwanted and unstable marriage, repeated childbearing during adolescence, and increased risks of having low birth weight and preterm births and neonatal mortality. Studies in Taiwan showed that adolescent childbearing is associated with their poor knowledge but open attitude and behaviour on sexuality, the inadequate contraceptive services for the adolescents in need, some risk-taking behaviors, family dysfunction and low socioeconomic status of the adolescents' families. About two-thirds of the fathers of infants born to adolescent girls were adults, even old adults with a low education level Effective strategies for adolescent childbearing prevention range from sex education, the direct provision of contraceptive supplies, and to life options programmes, especially for the adolescents with high risk of adolescent pregnancy. Reducing the incidence of adolescent childbearing by active use of contraception is more important and practical than prohibiting adolescent sexual activity.

Isolation of two anti-inflammatory and one pro-inflammatory polyunsaturated fatty acids from the brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida

Two anti-inflammatory omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of stearidonic acid (SA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and one pro-inflammatory omega-6 PUFA of arachidonic acid (AA) were isolated from the edible brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida. SA was active against mouse ear inflammation induced by phorbol myristate acetate, with IC50 values of 160, 314, and 235 microg per ear for edema, erythema, and blood flow, respectively. EPA was also active against edema, erythema, and blood flow, with IC50 values of 230, 462, and 236 microg per ear, respectively. Although AA at low concentrations showed anti-inflammatory activities when measured 10 h later, AA doses of more than 243 microg per ear induced inflammatory symptoms 1 h later. Mature thalli generally had larger amounts of PUFAs than young thalli. The algal blade contained more omega-3 PUFAs than were found in other parts, while the holdfast contained extremely high amounts of AA. Late-season thalli showed increased amounts of PUFAs, especially AA.

Immune responses to foot-and-mouth disease virus in pig farms after the 1997 outbreak in Taiwan

This paper reports on a retrospective study of the antibody responses to structural and non-structural proteins of FMD virus O Taiwan 97 in six pig herds in Taiwan in the year after the 1997 Taiwanese FMD outbreak. All herds were vaccinated against FMD after the outbreak as part of the countrywide control program. Three of the herds had confirmed FMD infections (herds N, O and P) and three herds remained non-infected (herds K, L and M). The serum neutralizing antibody titers and the non-structural protein ELISA (NSP) antibody responses in sows and 1-month-old pigs in the infected herds were higher than in the non-infected herds, but over time a number of positive NSP reactors were detected. From the serological studies and the herd monitoring and investigations it was considered that the FMD NSP positive reactors may not have constituted a true reservoir of FMD virus infection especially in herds where susceptible pigs were no longer present post-exposure or post-vaccination. Pigs vaccinated with an unpurified FMD type O vaccines being used at that time also showed false positive responses for NSP antibodies.

Immune responses of pigs to commercialized emulsion FMD vaccines and live virus challenge

The immune response to structural and non-structural proteins (NSPs) was studied on sequential serum samples in swine from O/Taiwan/97 FMDV challenge studies, outbreaks and after vaccination. The results showed that pigs vaccinated with a commercial vaccine prior to or after infection maintained high neutralizing antibody titers with gradual decline from peak titers over the duration of this study. However, neutralizing antibody titers in non-vaccinated pigs only reached moderate levels 2-4 weeks post infection and remained low thereafter. For the 3B and 3ABC NSP antibody ELISA responses, there were gradually decreasing levels of NSP antibody over time. In multiple vaccinations, all pigs showed significant increases in neutralizing antibodies after booster vaccination. For the 3B NSP antibody ELISA after vaccination, the mean S/P ratios for pigs vaccinated with all three FMD vaccines were all below the 0.23 cut-off value set by the manufacture, but some sera from individual vaccinated pigs gave results above this cut-off after primary or secondary vaccination. However, with the 3ABC NSP antibody ELISA, all sera from vaccinated pigs had negative results for NSP antibody for all time points.

Transcript accumulation from the rpoS gene encoding a stationary-phase sigma factor in Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain O6 is regulated by the polyphosphate kinase gene

Polyphosphate levels are modulated by the actions of polyphosphate kinase, encoded by ppk, and exopolyphosphatase, encoded by ppx. The genes ppk and ppx are adjacent to each other in the genome of the root colonizer, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6. A ppk-deficient mutant was more sensitive to oxidative stress than the wild-type and the ppx mutant. Transcripts from ppx increased as cultures matured from mid- to late-logarithmic and stationary phases, whereas abundance was greater for ppk in the late-logarithmic phase than in the stationary phase. Transcript accumulation from the rpoS gene, encoding the stationary-phase sigma factor RpoS, was decreased in the mid- and late-logarithmic and stationary phases in the ppk mutant. Thus, ppk regulates rpoS transcript accumulation in P. chlororaphis 06. However, mutations in either the ppk or ppx genes had no effect on induction of systemic resistance in plants colonized by P. chlororaphis O6.

Comparison of sensitivity and specificity in three commercial foot-and-mouth disease virus non-structural protein ELISA kits with swine sera in Taiwan

Three commercialized ELISA kits for the detection of antibodies to the non-structural proteins (NSPs) of FMD virus were compared, using sera from uninfected, vaccinated, challenged and naturally infected pigs. The kinetics of the antibody response to NSPs was compared on sequential serum samples in swine from challenge studies and outbreaks. The results showed that ELISA A (UBI) and ELISA B (CEDI) had better sensitivity than that of the 3ABC recombinant protein-based ELISA C (Chekit). The peak for detection of antibodies to NSPs in ELISA C was significantly delayed in sera from natural infection and challenged swine as compared to the ELISA A and B. The sensitivity of the three ELISAs gradually declined during the 6-month post-infection as antibodies to NSP decline. ELISA kits A and B detected NSP antibody in 50% of challenged pigs by the 9-10th-day and 7-8th-day post-challenge, respectively. ELISA B and C had better specificity than ELISA A on sequential serum samples obtained from swine immunized with a type O FMD vaccine commercially available in Taiwan. Antibody to NSPs before vaccination was not detected in swine not exposed to FMD virus, however, antibody to NSPs was found in sera of some pigs after vaccination. All assays had significantly lower specificity when testing sera from repeatedly vaccinated sows and finishers in 1997 that were tested after the 1997 FMD outbreak. However, when testing sera from repeatedly vaccinated sows or finishers in 2003-2004, the specificity for ELISAs A, B and C were significantly better than those in 1997. This effect was less marked for ELISA A. The ELISA B was the best test in terms of the highest sensitivity and specificity and the lowest reactivity with residual NSP in vaccinates.

Surface characterization and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from synovium

BACKGROUND

Synovium is the only tissue that can produce hyaline cartilage in benign conditions, such as synovial chondromatosis and osteoarthritis, suggesting potential advantages in chondrogenesis using mesenchymal stromal cells. We performed surface characterization of cells isolated from the synovium of patients with osteoarthritis after different passages and induced chondrogenic differentiation.

METHODS

Using cells obtained from synovium, colony-forming unit fibroblast assay and characterization of cell-surface markers by flow cytometry using 22 different Ab at different passages were performed. Cells were cultured under chondrogenic conditions and evaluated grossly, histologically, immunohistochemically and by [(35)S]sulfate incorporation and reverse transcription-PCR.

RESULTS

The positive cell-surface markers of immediately isolated cells were CD10, CD13, CD14, CD34, CD44, CD45, CD49a, CD62e, CD73 and HLA-DR. After the first passage (P), CD14, CD34, CD45, CD62e and HLA-DR disappeared, whereas CD105 and CD166 appeared and CD10, CD13, CD44, CD49a and CD73 showed increased expression levels. The surface marker expression level did not vary much after P1 through to P8. The chondrogenic differentiation potential of cells from the synovium was confirmed using various evaluation methods.

DISCUSSION

We have demonstrated that cells from synovium contain a mesenchymal stromal cell population capable of chondrogenic differentiation, which seems to increase with passage under our culture conditions. The cell-surface markers were found to change remarkably after the first passage and then remained stable. The results of this study may be helpful for sorting mesenchymal stromal cells from heterogeneous synovial cells for future studies.

FDG uptake and glucose transporter type 1 expression in lymph nodes of non-small cell lung cancer

AIMS

FDG uptake in NSCLC is related to glucose transporter type 1 (Glut-1) expression. Here, we investigated the direct causal relationship between FDG uptake and Glut-1 expression to determine the role of Glut-1 in FDG uptake by malignant and benign lymph nodes (LNs).

METHODS

Fifty-five curative lung resections in 53 NSCLC patients (male:female=36:17, age=62.0+/-11.8 years) were included. Maximum standardized uptake values (maxSUVs) of LNs in preoperative whole body FDG-PET and Glut-1 immunostaining results were compared.

RESULTS

Of 316 pathologically confirmed LNs, 12.3% (39/316) were malignant, and in malignant LNs, FDG positive LNs were no different from FDG negative LNs in terms of size (15.0+/-6.7 mm vs 10.0+/-6.1mm, p>0.05), or in terms of the proportion of LNs occupied by tumor (60.0+/-28.8% vs 39.2+/-38.4%, p>0.05), but had greater percentages of Glut-1 positive cells in tumors (74.1+/-31.8% vs 22.7+/-18.7%, p<0.01), and Glut-1 staining intensities (3.4+/-0.9 vs 1.8+/-1.3, p<0.01). FDG negative malignant LNs featured cytoplasmic Glut-1 expression and adenocarcinoma. Glut-1 staining intensities were found to be significantly correlated with the maxSUVs of malignant LNs (rho=0.516, p<0.05), but the percentages of Glut-1 positive cells in tumors were not (r=0.2072, p>0.05). Analysis of FDG positive benign LNs showed that maxSUV was not correlated with degree of follicular hyperplasia, or Glut-1 expression (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Intense Glut-1 immunoreactivity was found to be proportionally related to the degree of FDG uptake by malignant LNs in NSCLC. However, the finding that Glut-1 expression in lymphoid hyperplasia showed no correlation with FDG uptake in benign LNs requires further investigation.

Subdural hematoma in spontaneous CSF hypovolemia

Of 67 consecutive patients with spontaneous CSF hypovolemia (SCH), 11 (16.4%) had subdural hematoma (SDH). Patients with SDH were older (p = 0.005), more likely to be male (p = 0.035), and displayed longer time to diagnosis of SCH (p = 0.019) than those without SDH. All patients with SDH showed the findings of pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage on CT and responded favorably to epidural blood patches and neurosurgical drainage.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in breast carcinogenesis and its relation to HER-2/neu and p53 protein expression in invasive ductal carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the successive steps of breast carcinogenesis and to determine its correlation with HER-2/neu and p53 expression in invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-COX-2 antibody was performed in normal breast tissue, usual hyperplasia, ductal carcinoma in situ, and invasive ductal carcinoma. Expression of COX-2 in invasive ductal carcinoma was correlated with immunohistochemical expression of HER-2/neu and p53 protein. COX-2 expression was found to be progressively elevated along the continuum from normal breast tissue to invasive ductal carcinoma (P<0.001). COX-2 expression significantly correlated with p53 and HER-2/neu protein expression (P<0.05 and P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, only TNM stage and elevated COX-2 expression correlated with survival. Our results suggest that COX-2 may be involved in the carcinogenesis of the breast and may be an independent prognostic indicator in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. HER-2/neu and p53 are likely to be involved in the regulation of COX-2 expression in invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast.

Optical properties and carrier dynamics of self-assembled GaN/Al(0.11)Ga(0.89)N quantum dots

GaN quantum dots were grown on an Al(0.11)Ga(0.89)N buffer layer by using flow rate modulation epitaxy. The Stranski-Krastanov growth mode was identified by an atomic force microscopy study. The thickness of the wetting layer is about 7.2 monolayers. The temperature dependent photoluminescence studies showed that at low temperature the localization energy, which accounts for de-trapping of excitons, decreases with the reducing dot size. The decrease in emission efficiency at high temperature is attributed to the activation of carriers from the GaN dot to the nitrogen vacancy (V(N)) state of the Al(0.11)Ga(0.89)N barrier layer. The activation energy decreases with reducing dot size.

Altered neural circuit for working memory before and after symptom provocation in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

OBJECTIVE

The authors compared the neural circuits recruited for working memory (WM) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients both at a neutral state and at a symptom provoked state.

METHOD

Twelve OCD patients, and 12 age-, and sex-matched healthy subjects underwent [(15)O]H(2)O positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, while performing WM task. In the patients, the tasks were performed both in the neutral and in the symptom provoked states.

RESULTS

In the OCD patients, the right caudate and the right superior parietal cortex (rSPC) displayed activations for WM at the neutral state, while the right cingulate cortex and rSPC displayed activations for WM at the symptom provoked state. Path analysis revealed that the activity of the caudate and orbitofrontal cortex was altered according to the interaction between WM and symptom provocation.

CONCLUSION

The interaction between symptom provocation and WM occurring in the fronto-striatal system may hold the key to the neurobiology of OCD.

The association between CD99 and LMP-1 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

AIM

To characterize the roles of LMP-1 and CD99 in nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis, we undertook this pilot study of LMP-1 and CD99 expressions in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC).

MATERIALS AND METHOD

40 NPC tissue samples were grouped according to the WHO classification. Immunohistochemical studies were performed using monoclonal antibodies against EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) and CD99 protein. In addition, CD99 expression was evaluated in 10 samples of non-neoplastic nasopharyngeal epithelium.

RESULTS

LMP-1 was detected in 12 of the 40 (30.0%) cases and its expression was found to be confined to epithelial tumor cells. WHO type I NPC samples were completely negative for LMP-1, whereas WHO type III NPC samples showed highest expression. Interestingly, CD99 was expressed in all of the non-neoplastic nasopharyngeal epithelium samples along the cytoplasmic border. CD99 expression was noted in NPC tumor cells (5 of the 40 cases, 12.5%) and in surrounding lymphoid stroma (23 of the 40 cases, 57.5%), but was not expressed in WHO type I NPC. In the 12 LMP-1 positive cases, 9 cases (75.0%) were CD99 negative, and 3 cases (25.5%) were CD99 positive. There was a statistical significance between LMP-1 and CD99 expression in lymphoid stroma.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the LMP-1 induced down-regulation of the CD99 pathway is important in nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis, and that the expression of CD99 in lymphoid stroma may regulate immune response to NPC.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in epithelial ovarian tumors and its relation to vascular endothelial growth factor and p53 expression

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in epithelial ovarian tumors and its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 expression. Immunohistochemical studies with anti-COX-2, anti-VEGF, and anti-p53 antibodies were carried out in 54 malignant and 23 borderline epithelial ovarian tumors. Elevated COX-2 expression was detected in 77.8% of ovarian carcinomas, which was significantly higher than that of borderline tumors (26.1%) (P < 0.001). In ovarian carcinomas, there was no significant correlation between COX-2 expression and other clinicopathologic features. Elevated VEGF expression was detected in 74.1% of ovarian carcinomas, and p53 expression was found in 64.8% of ovarian carcinomas. COX-2 expression was statistically correlated with elevated VEGF expression (P < 0.001) and p53 positivity (P < 0.05). On a univariate analysis, FIGO stage (P < 0.0001), histologic type (P= 0.0104), and COX-2 expression (P= 0.0135) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. In a multivariate analysis, FIGO stage (P < 0.0001) was the only independent prognostic factor for poor survival. These findings suggest that COX-2 may play a role in the progression of epithelial ovarian tumors and that COX-2 expression may contribute to ovarian tumor angiogenesis by stimulating VEGF expression. p53 may be responsible for the regulation of COX-2 expression.

Parametric image of myocardial blood flow generated from dynamic H2(15)O PET using factor analysis and cluster analysis

Algorithm-based parametric imaging of myocardial blood flow (MBF), as measured by H2(15)O PET, has been the goal of many research efforts. A method for generating parametric images of regional MBF by factor and cluster analysis on H2(15)O dynamic myocardial PET was validated by its comparison with gold-standard MBF values determined invasively using radiolabelled microspheres. Right and left ventricular blood pool activities and their factor images were obtained by the application of factor analysis to dynamic frames. By subtraction of the factor images multiplied by their corresponding values on the factors from the original dynamic images for each frame, pure tissue dynamic images were obtained, from which arterial blood activities were excluded. Cluster analysis that averaged pixels having time-activity curves with the same shape was applied to pure tissue images to generate parametric MBF images. The usefulness of this method for quantifying regional MBF was evaluated using canine experiment data. H2(15)O PET scans and microsphere studies were performed on seven dogs at rest and after pharmacological stress. The image qualities and the contrast of parametric images obtained using the proposed method were significantly improved over either the tissue factor images or the parametric images obtained using a conventional method. Regional MBFs obtained using the proposed method correlated well with those obtained by the region of interest method (r = 0.94) and by the microsphere technique (r = 0.90). A non-invasive method is presented for generating parametric images of MBF from H2(15)O PET, using factor and cluster analysis.

Awake insertion of the laryngeal mask airway using topical lidocaine and intravenous remifentanil*

We assessed the use of intravenous remifentanil for the insertion of the laryngeal mask airway in 10 healthy awake volunteers, a technique primarily developed to facilitate functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of anaesthesia. Each volunteer received 200 microg glycopyrronium intravenously. Topical airway anaesthesia was effected by 4 ml nebulised lidocaine 4%, followed by 12 sprays of lidocaine 10%. Remifentanil was subsequently infused to achieve an initial target effect-site concentration of 2 ng.ml(-1); increments of 1 ng.ml(-1) were allowed with the maximum effect-site concentration limited to 6 ng.ml(-1). Insertion of the laryngeal mask airway was successful on the first attempt in all cases. The median (IQR [range]) target effect-site remifentanil concentration at insertion was 2.5 (2-3 [2-4]) ng.ml(-1). All volunteers were co-operative during the procedure and only one reported discomfort. Sore throat was a complication in all volunteers. We conclude that the technique allows successful insertion of the laryngeal mask airway in healthy awake volunteers under conditions that were safe and reproducible.

Correlation of the condition of the patellar articular cartilage and patellofemoral symptoms and function in osteoarthritic patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

We sought to determine the degree of correlation between the condition of the patellar articular cartilage and patellofemoral symptoms and function in osteoarthritic patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. The depth of the osteoarthritic lesion, as graded by the Outerbridge classification and its size and location were assessed to determine the condition of the patellar cartilage in 80 consecutive osteoarthritic knees undergoing total knee arthroplasty. The association between the condition of the cartilage and patellofemoral symptoms and function was investigated by correlation analysis. The depth and size of the lesion had a significant but weak correlation with anterior knee pain (r = -0.300 and -0.289; p = 0.007 and 0.009, respectively), whereas location had no significant association (p > 0.05). None had a significant association with patellofemoral functional parameters (chair-rising, stair-climbing, and quadriceps power) (p > 0.05). Our study indicates that patellofemoral symptoms and function are not completely determined by the condition of the cartilage. Caution should be taken when the symptoms and functional limitations are attributed to a lesion in the patellofemoral joint in making a decision regarding patellar resurfacing in total knee arthroplasty.

Glucose-sensitive holographic sensors

Holographic sensors for monitoring glucose were fabricated from hydrogel films containing chemical ligands based on phenylboronic acid. The films were transformed into reflection holograms using a diffusion method coupled with exposure to laser light. The diffraction wavelength of the holograms was used to monitor the swelling of the hydrogel film in the presence of glucose. Fully reversible changes in diffraction wavelength were demonstrated, highlighting the potential for using these holograms as glucose sensors.

Acute paronychia heralding the exacerbation of pemphigus vulgaris

Acute paronychia, the suppurative inflammation involving the paronychium of the nails, is usually caused by bacterial or fungal infection and has been rarely reported as a presentation of pemphigus vulgaris (PV). We report a woman with PV who presented with suppurative paronychia of multiple fingernails and toenails, which preceded the exacerbation of other mucocutaneous lesions. A biopsy specimen of the paronychium revealed suprabasal vesicles due to acantholysis. Systemic corticosteroids and adjuvant immunosuppressants were effective in treating mucocutaneous lesions as well as nail disease. We conclude that in patients with PV, acute paronychia could be a manifestation of the disease per se, rather than an infectious process. Only the precise diagnosis with adequate immunosuppressive treatment can lead to good control of disease activity.

Comparison of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake with glucose transporter-1 expression and proliferation rate in human glioma and non-small-cell lung cancer

To clarify the biological significance of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) accumulation in patients with cancer, we assessed the relationships between 18F-FDG uptake and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) expression and proliferation rate in human glioma and lung cancer. We obtained FDG PET images and measured standardized uptake values (SUVs) of primary tumours in 13 patients with brain glioma and 25 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. After surgery, portions of respected tumours were obtained, and the proliferation rate was measured as proliferation index (per cent of (S+G2+M)/(G0+G1+S+G2+M)) using DNA flow cytometry. The expression of GLUT-1 in a tumour was evaluated by using immunostaining. We classified GLUT-1 expression as grade 0 (no positive cell), grade 1 (< 10% cells positive), grade 2 (11-50% cells positive) and grade 3 (51-100% cells positive). Based on the expression of GLUT-1, cases with grades 0, 1, 2 and 3 showed SUVs of 6.1 +/- 2.8, 5.0 +/- 3.2, 8.3 +/- 3.3 and 10.4 +/- 6.6, respectively (P < 0.05). Non-small-cell lung cancer showed higher FDG uptake (SUV, 8.5 +/- 5.1) and higher GLUT-1 expression (grade, 2.0 +/- 1.0) than did brain glioma (SUV, 4.7 +/- 2.5; grade, 0.8 +/- 0.8). Based on the total number of cases, SUVs did not relate to proliferation index (r = 0.19). In non-small-cell lung cancer, SUVs did not correlate with proliferation index, whereas in glioma, SUVs were strongly related to proliferation index (r = 0.79, P < 0.01). In conclusion, FDG uptake generally correlated with GLUT-1 expression in non-small-cell lung cancer and glioma. In the case of glioma, FDG uptake also indicated increased cellular proliferation, which was not demonstrated in non-small-cell lung cancer.