Accuracy of Endorectal Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (LARC) Restaging After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy (NAT): A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Endorectal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can provide accurate and reliable information for initial staging of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) in both the depth of rectal cancer penetration (T-stage) and regional lymph node involvement (N-stage). However, there is still no consensus about its accuracy in retagging LARC after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NAT).

METHODOLOGY

In this study, we retrieved previous studies and performed a meta-analysis for assessing the accuracy of EUS for retagging of LARC after NAT.

RESULTS

It was found the accuracy of EUS for T restaging of LARC was relatively low and over-staging was common, although the accuracy for assessing T3/4 was significantly higher than T0-T2 stage. The specificity of EUS for assessing N stage was relatively high, but the sensitivity was relatively low.

CONCLUSIONS

Data obtained in this study confirmed the overall accuracy of EUS is not sufficient to serve as a basis for decisions on restaging Exploring the possible application of new techniques is necessary for better restaging.

Role of electricity production in the anaerobic decolorization of dye mixture by exoelectrogenic bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

This study investigated the anaerobic decolorization of the dye mixture containing methyl orange (MO) and naphthol green B (NGB) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. S. oneidensis MR-1 showed a strong ability to decolorize the dye mixture. MO was easier to get the electrons and inhibited the reduction of NGB, despite of its lower redox potential than NGB. The Mtr respiratory pathway played an important role in this process. Meantime, addition of extracellular electron shuttles accelerated the decolorization. Those results suggest that the decolorization capacity of S. oneidensis MR-1 is associated with the electricity production. The operating parameters, such as electron acceptors, temperature, and pH, were also investigated in this study. Thus, this work may facilitate a better understanding of the extensive nonspecific reduction capacity of exoelectrogens and is beneficial for promoting their application in bioremediation.

Gamma radiolysis of ceftriaxone sodium for water treatment: assessments of the activity

As large quantities of antibiotics have been misused in human and veterinary medicine, many different classes of antibiotics with low concentration have been detected in the environmental water. This existence may cause severe ecosystem alterations. Ceftriaxone sodium was employed as the targeted antibiotic to evaluate gamma radiolysis of antibiotics based on the primary elimination test and activity assay. The decomposition percentage of ceftriaxone sodium (20 microg/ml) in purified water increases with increasing doses and reaches 98% under 5 kGy of gamma radiation. The residual activity after gamma radiation does not follow the corresponding decomposition percentage of ceftriaxone sodium. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was subsequently employed to analyze possible structures of radiolytic products relating to the activity. Different degrees of the residual activity may attribute to different cleavage pathways of ceftriaxone sodium produced by radiation with different doses. The results indicate that the radiolytic treatment is a highly-effective means for degradation of ceftriaxone sodium, and the activity status of ceftriaxone sodium after primary elimination should be taken into consideration for selecting a degrading dose. Three kGy is the appropriate dose for radiolysis of ceftriaxone sodium in purified water.

[Lysogenic infection of a Shiga toxin 2-converting bacteriophage changes host gene expression, enhances host acid resistance and motility]

Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2)-converting bacteriophages can infect and lysogenize other bacteria in vivo and in vitro, and, thus, contribute to a genotypic heterogeneity of infected host. However, the global transcription patterns accompanying the lysogenic infection of E. coli host have not been clearly resolved. In this study, gene expression profiles of Stx2 phage phi Min27(delta stx::cat) converted and native E. coli MG1655 hosts were compared using microarray assay. The phi Min27(delta stx::cat) conversion had a direct effect on the global expression of bacterial host genes as 166 genes were found to be differentially expressed (104 up-regulated and 62 downregulated). These genes were predominantly responsible for bacterial central metabolism, transport and transcription. It was shown that in addition to the down-regulation of genes involved in synthesis of thiamine and protein transporters, expression of genes associated with bacterial energy production (e.g., fadABDEHIJL, aceK, and acnA) was also suppressed. Conversely, most up-regulated genes were transport genes, flagellar synthesis genes (fliDESTZ), and acid resistance genes (e.g., gadEW, hdeABD, and adiY). Futhermore, conversion of phi Min27(delta stx::cat) was shown to change physiological properties of the host cell. In comparison with the uninfected cells the converted bacteria host had increased acid tolerance and promoted swimming motility on a semisolid agar surface.

[Comparison of five different ultrasonographic parameters for diagnosis of lethal fetal pulmonary hypoplasia]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinic value of five different ultrasonographic fetal parameters for prenatal diagnosis of pulmonary hypoplasia.

METHODS

Two hundred and seventy-one normal singleton pregnancies with well-established dates between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation were studied to establish normal reference range of five different ultrasonographic fetal parameters. The five parameters, which could reflect fetal lung mass, were as follows: lung area/body weight ratio, lung area, thoracic circumference/ abdominal circumference ratio, lung area/thoracic area ratio and lung area/head circumference. Thirty pregnancies with risk factors for pulmonary hyperplasia were studied for the usefulness of five parameters. Two or more standard deviations below the mean control group measurement were considered abnormal. The prenatal ultrasonic diagnoses of pulmonary hyperplasia were confirmed at neonatal follow-up examinations, on autopsy and by pathologic findings.

RESULTS

Lung area and lung area/head circumference increased with gestational age, lung area /body weight ratio decreased with gestational age. The relationships among the two ratios (thoracic circumference/abdominal circumference ratio, lung area/thoracic area ratio) and gestational age were relatively constant. Abnormal lung area/body weight ratio had a higher diagnostic accuracy than other parameters. Sensitivity of the parameters, including lung area, lung area/body weight ratio, thoracic circumference/abdominal circumference ratio, lung area/thoracic area ratio and lung area/head circumference were 83%, 97%, 50%, 70% and 87% , respectively. Sensitivity of the lung area/body weight ratio was 95% (20/21 fetuses); specificity, 9/9 fetuses; positive predictive value, 100% (20/20 fetuses); negative predictive value, 9/10; and accuracy 97% (29/30 fetuses).

CONCLUSION

Lung area/ body weight ratio is a good predictor of pulmonary hypoplasia.

Stimulation by epidermal growth factor of phospholipid methyltransferase in isolated rat hepatocytes

Epidermal growth factor produces a time- and dose-dependent activation of phospholipid methyltransferase activity in hepatocytes isolated from juvenile and mature hepatectomized rats. This treatment however has no effect with hepatocytes isolated from mature or laparotomized rats. Dansylcadaverine (50 microM), an inhibitor of receptor-mediated internalization of epidermal growth factor, has no effect on basal phospholipid methyltransferase but inhibits the stimulation of this enzyme by epidermal growth factor. These results indicate a possible role of phospholipid methylation during liver proliferation.