Effect of timing of collection of salivary metabolomic biomarkers on oral cancer detection

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of duration after meals for saliva collections for oral cancer detection using metabolomics. Saliva samples were collected from oral cancer patients (n = 22) and controls (n = 44). Saliva from cancer patients was collected 12 h after dinner, and 1.5 and 3.5 h after breakfast. Control subjects fasted >1.5 h prior to saliva collection. Hydrophilic metabolites were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry. Levels of 51 metabolites differed significantly in controls vs. oral cancer patients at the 12-h fasting time point (P < 0.05). Fifteen and ten metabolites differed significantly at the 1.5- and 3.5-h time points, respectively. The area of under receiver operating characteristic curve for discriminating oral cancer patients from controls was greatest at the 12-h fasting time point. The collection time after meals affects levels of salivary metabolites for oral cancer screening. The 12-h fasting after dinner time point is optimal. This study contributes to design of saliva collection protocols for metabolomics-based biomarker discovery.

Field Performance of an Optimized Stack of YBCO Square "Annuli" for a Compact NMR Magnet

The spatial field homogeneity and time stability of a trapped field generated by a stack of YBCO square plates with a center hole (square "annuli") was investigated. By optimizing stacking of magnetized square annuli, we aim to construct a compact NMR magnet. The stacked magnet consists of 750 thin YBCO plates, each 40-mm square and 80- μm thick with a 25-mm bore, and has a Ø10 mm room-temperature access for NMR measurement. To improve spatial field homogeneity of the 750-plate stack (YP750) a three-step optimization was performed: 1) statistical selection of best plates from supply plates; 2) field homogeneity measurement of multi-plate modules; and 3) optimal assembly of the modules to maximize field homogeneity. In this paper, we present analytical and experimental results of field homogeneity and temporal stability at 77 K, performed on YP750 and those of a hybrid stack, YPB750, in which two YBCO bulk annuli, each Ø46 mm and 16-mm thick with a 25-mm bore, are added to YP750, one at the top and the other at the bottom.

[Melanotic schwannoma with a high level of catecholamine in an elderly patient]

A 73-year-old woman suffering from hypertension and asthma had chest radiography, which showed the shadow of a lump on the inner side of the right lung apex. From a chest CT scan, it was diagnosed as an upper mediastinal tumor (circular in shape with a diameter of 19 x 23 mm) adjacent to the right rib and showing a low-absorption range. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis as an Antoni B-type melanotic schwannoma. On suspicion of secondary hypertension, the amount of urinary catecholamine was measured before surgery and this revealed high levels of total catecholamine (184.4 micrograms/day), dopamine (1134.6 micrograms/day) and noradrenaline (169.7 micrograms/day). A normal value of 14.7 micrograms/day of adrenalin was obtained. These measurements were conducted again after surgery, and normal values of 127.8 micrograms/day of total catecholamine, 388.6 micrograms/day of dopamine, 117.9 micrograms/day of noradrenalin and 9.9 micrograms/day of adrenalin were obtained. In view of these findings, the tumor was thought to be a neurogenic tumor of the sympathetic nervous system and capable of generating melanin. Incidentally, after removal of the tumor, the patient's hypertension became less severe and there was improvement in her asthma attacks.