Prognostic classification of thyroid follicular cell tumors using Ki-67 labeling index: risk stratification of thyroid follicular cell carcinomas

This review emphasizes that the so-called high-risk thyroid carcinoma is not a distinct tumor entity, but a group of tumors with different histologies. High-grade histological features, such as tumor necrosis, increased mitoses, and nuclear pleomorphism, together with high Ki-67 labeling index (more than 10%), are good indicators of high-risk thyroid carcinoma and suggest a possible risk for anaplastic transformation. This review proposes the stratification of patients with thyroid carcinoma into low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups based on Ki-67 labeling index, which should be useful for the clinical management of patients, even after initial surgery. Currently, both the aggressive variant of papillary carcinoma and poorly differentiated carcinoma are aggressively treated by a completion of total thyroidectomy with prophylactic lymph node dissection followed by radioactive iodine treatment. Therefore, patients with moderate-risk or high-risk thyroid carcinoma based on Ki-67 labeling index should also be considered candidates for this treatment strategy.

Continuous Chitosan Hydrolyzate Production by Immobilized Chitosanolytic Enzyme fromEnterobactersp. G-1

Chitosanolytic enzymes from Enterobacter sp. G-1 were immobilized on various carriers to continuously hydrolyze chitosan. Four different carriers were tested: FE-3901 (strong basic anion exchange resin, ionic binding), glutaraldehyde-treated FE-4612 (weak basic anion exchange resin, cross-linking), Chitopearl (chitosan beads), and alginate calcium. Glutaraldehyde-treated FE-4612 and Chitopearl immobilized more protein than the others. The enzyme immobilized on FE-3901 had the greatest activity. The activity of enzyme immobilized on FE-3901 decreased rapidly when exposed to a continuous flow of 1% chitosan. The enzyme immobilized with Chitopearl retained more than 50% of its original activity after 17 days, and the activity was fully restored by re-immobilization.

Effects of Isothiocyanates on Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Production by J774A.1 (BALB/c macrophage) Cells

The effects of isothiocyanates (ITCs) on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by the J774A.1 mouse macrophage cell line stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were examined. Some individual ITCs examined showed a priming effect, which was expressed as pre-activation, but also inhibited the production of TNF-alpha with concomitant stimulation by LPS, as a triggering stimulant of TNF production. These results suggest that ITCs exert opposing activities that can enhance or inhibit the host defense system.

Retarding Effects of Cyclodextrins on the Decomposition of Organic Isothiocyanates in an Aqueous Solution

One- and two-dimensional (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectra were measured in order to estimate the dissociation constants (K(diss)) and molecular geometries of cyclodextrin (CD) with three organic isothiocyanates (ITC), allyl-ITC, 3-butenyl-ITC, and 4-pentenyl-ITC, in an aqueous solution (pH 5.0, I(c)=0.75 M). In every ITC, the K(diss) values decreased in the order of alpha-CD>beta-CD>gamma-CD, and the three rod-like linear molecules of ITCs were accommodated with the best fit into the smallest cavity of alpha-CD. By rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy, cross peaks were found between the H-3 of alpha-CD and the H-1 of AITC. From the result, the molecular geometry of alpha-CD-AITC complex presume that the isothiocyanate group of AITC is located some where around the widening rim and a hydrophobic allyl group is included within the hydrophobic cavity of alpha-CD.

Effects of Ionized Cyclodextrin on Decomposition of Allyl Isothiocyanate in Alkaline Solutions

The secondary hydroxyl ion (alkoxide) ion for cyclodextrin (CD) may affect the decomposition of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) in alkaline solutions. The equilibrium and kinetic parameters involved in the reaction processes were measured. It was found that the interaction between the alkoxide ion for CD and the included AITC occurred more than pKa 12.7. From the identified kinetic parameters and discussion, it was suggested that the reaction site of AITC was located in the vicinity of one of the secondary hydroxyl groups of CD in the cavity.

Order, criticality, and excitations in the extended Falicov-Kimball model

Using exact numerical techniques, we investigate the nature of excitonic (electron-hole) bound states and the development of exciton coherence in the one-dimensional half-filled extended Falicov-Kimball model. The ground-state phase diagram of the model exhibits, besides band-insulator and staggered orbital ordered phases, an excitonic insulator (EI) with power-law correlations. The criticality of the EI state shows up in the von Neumann entropy. The anomalous spectral function and condensation amplitude provide the binding energy and coherence length of the electron-hole pairs which, on their part, point towards a Coulomb interaction driven crossover from BCS-like electron-hole pairing fluctuations to tightly bound excitons. We show that while a mass imbalance between electrons and holes does not affect the location of the BCS-BEC crossover regime, it favors staggered orbital ordering to the disadvantage of the EI. Within the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) regime, the quasiparticle dispersion develops a flat valence-band top, in accord with the experimental finding for Ta2NiSe5.

Catalytic activities of zeolite compounds for decomposing aqueous ozone

The advanced oxidation process (AOP), chemical oxidation using aqueous ozone in the presence of appropriate catalysts to generate highly reactive oxygen species, offers an attractive option for removing poorly biodegradable pollutants. Using the commercial zeolite powders with various Si/Al ratios and crystal structures, their catalytic activities for decomposing aqueous ozone were evaluated by continuously flowing ozone to water containing the zeolite powders. The hydrophilic zeolites (low Si/Al ratio) with alkali cations in the crystal structures were found to possess high catalytic activity for decomposing aqueous ozone. The hydrophobic zeolite compounds (high Si/Al ratio) were found to absorb ozone very well, but to have no catalytic activity for decomposing aqueous ozone. Their catalytic activities were also evaluated by using the fixed bed column method. When alkali cations were removed by acid rinsing or substituted by alkali-earth cations, the catalytic activities was significantly deteriorated. These results suggest that the metal cations on the crystal surface of the hydrophilic zeolite would play a key role for catalytic activity for decomposing aqueous ozone.

Impact of antihypertensive medication adherence on blood pressure control in hypertension: the COMFORT study

BACKGROUND

It has not been fully elucidated whether antihypertensive medication adherence affects blood pressure (BP) control in hypertension cases.

AIM

To investigate the association of adherence to antihypertensive drug regimens and BP control using data from the Combination Pill of Losartan Potassium and Hydrochlorothiazide for Improvement of Medication Compliance Trial (COMFORT) study.

DESIGN

An observational analysis from a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

A total of 203 hypertensive subjects were randomly assigned to a daily regimen of a combination pill (losartan 50 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg) or two pills, an angiotensin II receptor blocker and a thiazide diuretic. Medication adherence calculated based on pill counts and BPs was evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months after randomization.

RESULTS

The subjects were divided into three groups according to their adherence, i.e. relatively low-adherence (<90%; n = 19), moderate-adherence (90-99%; n = 71) and high-adherence (100%; n = 113) groups. Clinical characteristics of the subjects including BP, sex, randomized treatments and past medical history did not differ significantly among the three groups. Achieved follow-up BPs over the 6-month treatment period, which were adjusted for age, sex, baseline BP and randomized treatment, were significantly higher in the low-adherence group (135/78 mmHg) compared with the high-adherence (130/74 mmHg; P = 0.02/0.02) and the moderate-adherence (128/74 mmHg; P = 0.003/0.02) groups.

CONCLUSION

Low adherence to an antihypertensive-drug regimen was associated with poor BP control.

A Fundamental Experimental Study of the Mechanisms of Warpage and Shrinkage of Polyethylene in Rotational Molding

An off-line experimental simulation of cooling and warpage of rotationally molded parts is described. Slabs of polyethylene rotationally molded parts containing thermocouples and monitored by displacement transducers are placed on a metal surface representing a mold wall. This is cooled by varying methods such as simulated water showers, fan blown air, and natural convection cooling. Temperature profiles in the mold wall and through the polymer are determined as a function of time. The position of crystallization and the development of warpage are observed. Warpage is attributed to thermal quench stresses and release of the polymer from the mold surface.

Experimental Investigation of Rotational Molding and the Characterization of Rotationally Molded Polyethylene-Parts

An experimental study of the rotational molding of polyethylene parts is presented. Specific attention is given to heating and cooling of the molding cycle and to the micro structuring and bulk characteristics. Experimental measurements of the heatup of the oven at the startup of the process is presented. The heatup of different molds in the oven is then measured and interpreted in terms of heat conduction theory and the Fourier number αt/L2. In the experiments, thick aluminium molds heated up more slowly than thinner steel molds. The cooling characteristics of mold subject to different quenching conditions were compared with water showers inducing the most rapid cooling followed by fan blowing and the slowest being in quiescent air. The order of cooling of the different molds studied followed the same order as their rates of heating as would be expected from the theory of heat conduction. Polyethylene parts formed in the molds were found to be crystalline, without orientation and to possess large spherulites. The size of the spherulites and the level of the crystallinity was highest where the cooling rate was the lowest. Uniformity of part thickness and warpage were measured. Warp age correlated with rapidity of cooling rate. This suggested a mechanism of thermal quench stresses.

Effect of bezafibrate on office, home and ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia

It has been suggested that fibrates, lipid-lowering agents with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonistic property, lower blood pressure (BP) in some experimental models of hypertension. However, the effect of fibrates on BP in humans has been inconsistent, and there are few studies using home or ambulatory BP monitoring. We investigated the effects of bezafibrate on office, home and ambulatory BP in hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia. Thirty-two essential hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia (6 men and 26 women, mean age 65±8 years old) were assigned to a control period and a bezafibrate period (200 mg twice daily) for 8 weeks each in a randomized crossover manner. Bezafibrate significantly reduced serum triglyceride, total and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, blood glucose, plasma insulin, the homeostasis model assessment ratio and increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Compared with the control period, changes in office, home and 24-h BP with bezafibrate were -0.7±2.1/-1.6±1.2 mm Hg, +0.9±1.0/-0.5±0.6 and +0.8±1.4/-0.6±0.9 mm Hg, respectively. None of these differences in BP was significant. In conclusion, bezafibrate improved lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity but did not affect office, home or ambulatory BP in hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia. Fibrates do not appear to lower BP in patients with essential hypertension.

[Diagnostic imaging of high-grade astrocytoma: heterogeneity of clinical manifestation, image characteristics, and histopathological findings]

Recent developments in diagnostic radiology, which have enabled accurate differential diagnoses of brain tumors, have been well described in the last three decades. MR and PET imaging can also provide information to predict histological grades and prognoses that might influence treatment strategies. However, high-grade astrocytomas consist of many different subtypes that are associated with different imaging and histological characteristics. Hemorrhage and necrosis results in a variety of imaging features, and infiltrative tumor growth entrapping normal neurons may cause different clinical manifestations. We reviewed patients with high-grade astrocytomas that showed various imaging characteristics, with special emphasis on initial symptoms and histological features. Clinicopathological characteristics of astrocytomas were also compared with other malignant tumors. Neurological deficits were not notable in patients with grade 3-4 astrocytomas when they showed infiltrative tumor growth, while brain metastases with compact cellular proliferation caused more neurological symptoms. Infiltrative tumors did not show any enhancing masses on MR imaging, but these tumors may show intratumor heterogeneity. Seizures were reported to be more frequent in low-grade glioma and in secondary glioblastoma. Tumor heterogeneity was also reported in molecular genetic profile, and investigators identified some subsets of astrocytomas. They investigated IHD1/2 mutation, EGFR amplification, TP53 mutation, Ki-67 index, etc. In summary, high-grade astrocytomas are not homogenous groups of tumors, and this is associated with the heterogeneity of clinical manifestation, image characteristics, and histopathological findings. Molecular studies may explain the tumor heterogeneity in the near future.

Double exchange ferromagnetism in the Peierls insulator state

We study the effects of opening the band gap on the double exchange ferromagnetism. Applying the density-matrix renormalization group method and an analytical expansion from the dimer limit to the one-dimensional double exchange model, we demonstrate for a relevant region of the exchange coupling that, in the weak dimerization regime, the Peierls gap opens in the fully spin-polarized conduction band without affecting its ferromagnetism, whereas in the strong dimerization regime, the ferromagnetism is destroyed, and the Mott gap opens instead, leading the system to the antiferromagnetic quasi-long-range order. An insulator version of double exchange ferromagnetism is thus established.

Lung metastasis from an ovarian granulosa cell tumor 36 years after the initial diagnosis: report of a case

This report presents the case of a late relapse of an ovarian granulosa cell tumor (GCT) that metastasized to the lung 36 years after the initial diagnosis. A 72-year-old female demonstrated multiple nodules with extrapleural signs on chest computed tomography. Positron emission tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([(18)F]FDG-PET) showed that the nodules had no FDG avidity. The nodules, which appeared as polypoid lesions of the visceral pleura on thoracoscopy, were resected and diagnosed as pulmonary metastases from the GCT. This case report indicates that thorough thoracoscopic exploration of the pleural cavity is essential when intrathoracic nodules are seen on postoperative imaging examinations in GCT patients, even when the [(18)F]FDG-PET results are negative.