Capillary electrophoresis and the clinical laboratory

Over the past 15 years, CE as an analytical tool has shown great promise in replacing many conventional clinical laboratory methods, such as electrophoresis and HPLC. CE's appeal was that it was fast, used very small amounts of sample and reagents, was extremely versatile, and was able to separate large and small analytes, whether neutral or charged. Because of this versatility, numerous methods have been developed for analytes that are of clinical interest. Other than molecular diagnostic and forensic laboratories CE has not been able to make a major impact in the United States. In contrast, in Europe and Japan an increasing number of clinical laboratories are using CE. Now that automated multicapillary instruments are commercially available along with cost-effective test kits, CE may yet be accepted as an instrument that will be routinely used in the clinical laboratories. This review will focus on areas where CE has the potential to have the greatest impact on the clinical laboratory. These include analyses of proteins found in serum and urine, hemoglobin (A1c and variants), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, forensic and therapeutic drug screening, and molecular diagnostics.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and medical inoperability of early stage non-small cell lung cancer

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Background: Early stage NSCLC is commonly diagnosed in elderly patients who often have significant medical co-morbidity. SBRT is emerging as a treatment alternative that can provide 80–97% local control for peripheral tumors. We performed a literature review and a retrospective review of 24 patients referred to Princess Margaret Hospital for consideration of SBRT to assess what criteria were used to determine patient selection for this new treatment. Methods: Published papers reporting treating stage I NSCLC with SBRT were reviewed. Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients referred for consideration of SBRT over the last 15 months were analyzed. All patients were assessed by experienced thoracic surgeons to determine their operability status. Patients were retrospectively scored as average or high risk for surgery on the basis of accepted PFT guidelines (FEV1 and DLCO <40% predicted); Charlson Index of Comorbidity (CCI) was calculated (score >2 associated with impaired survival). Results: Of 13 papers reporting Stage 1 SBRT results, 8 included details of medical inoperability. 2 papers had strict guidelines for PFTs, in addition to other criteria. In 6 studies reporting 276 pts, the most common reason for inoperability was non-specific medical comorbidity (60%). Our cohort (24 patients) referred for SBRT (median age 75, range 57–89) had a mean tumour size of 2.32cm (S.D. 1.11); 50% of patients had a good (0–1) Zubrod Performance status. Based upon PFT tests alone 10 patients (42%) were high risk and 5 (21%) average risk for surgery. The CCI score was ≥3 in 10 patients (42%). 3 patients who scored average risk and CCI ≤2 were deemed medically inoperable due a single severe medical comorbity. In 23/24 pts the surgeon recommended against surgery; one patient refused surgery. Conclusions: With an aging population and increased detection due to incidental finding or screening, it is important to know that there is effective alternative therapy for patients deemed too high risk for surgical resection. Comorbidity is an important factor influencing surgical mortality; defining explicit criteria for inoperability remains a clinical challenge.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Adolescent medicine in paediatric practice

Adolescents are a growing area in paediatric practice in both hospital and community settings. They make up around one quarter of the practice of many paediatricians. Yet until recently there has been little formal interest in young people's health in the UK. The situation is now changing, particularly following the publication of the "National Service Framework for children, young people and maternity services", which places a major emphasis on adolescent health. Given that this area is relatively new to many paediatricians, this article aims to provide an overview of the range of health problems that affect young people, to provide practical advice for working with this group in paediatric practice, and to outline current and future opportunities for training in adolescent health in the UK.

Spread of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria resistant to chloroquine has now been confirmed in more than 40 countries. The drug was introduced in 1934, but was not in large-scale use until the early 1950s. Anecdotal reports suggest that resistance emerged as early as 1957 both in Colombia and along the then Cambodia-Thailand border area. But by 1960, resistance in these areas was confirmed - and may represent two separate events. Resistance spread rapidly, with a new focus of resistance confirmed in East Africa by 1977. Chloroquine resistance represents a severe problem both for prophylaxis and treatment of malaria. In this aricle, David Payne traces the spread of resistance and discusses some of its implications.

Ytterbium-doped large-core fiber laser with 1.36 kW continuous-wave output power

We have demonstrated a highly-efficient cladding-pumped ytterbium-doped fiber laser generating 1.36 kW of continuous-wave output power at 1.1 mum with 83% slope efficiency and near diffraction-limited beam quality. The laser was end-pumped through both fiber ends and showed no evidence of roll-over even at the highest output power, which was limited only by available pump power.

Molecular Events in the Progression of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis to Carcinoma

Context.—Identification of the type of human papillomavirus (HPV) by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing to determine coinfection or superinfection (by more than 1 HPV type) and other molecular events have not been reported in a series of patients exhibiting the morphologic spectrum of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis progressing to carcinoma.

Design.—Four cases of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis progressing to carcinoma (no history of smoking or irradiation in 2 cases) were studied. Morphologically distinct foci (squamous papilloma, pulmonary papillomatosis, squamous dysplasia subjacent to carcinoma, and squamous carcinoma) were subjected to laser capture microdissection and polymerase chain reaction amplification using general primers in addition to type-specific primers for HPV types 16 and 18. Direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products identified the type of HPV. The tissue sections were immunostained using antibodies to p53, pRb, p21WAF1, and p16 proteins with a semiquantitative assessment.

Results.—Human papillomavirus 11 was the only type of HPV identified in all lesions of all cases associated with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. There was a marked increase in p53 protein expression in foci of dysplasia and carcinoma as compared to squamous papilloma and pulmonary papillomatosis. An inverse correlation between p53 and p21WAF1 protein expression was noted in all lesions. pRb protein expression increased from the benign to the malignant end of the spectrum. p16 protein was expressed in all lesions.

Conclusions.—Infection by HPV-11 may be an early event associated with progression of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis to carcinoma. Increased expression of p53 and pRb proteins and a reduced expression of p21WAF1 protein appear to be significant subsequent events.