Gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasonographic manifestations of papillary thyroid carcinoma: analysis of 51 cases.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study is to assess the specific ultrasonic characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma and to determine the relative frequency of various patterns of papillary carcinoma on gray-scale ultrasonography (US) and color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed US features in 51 patients with confirmed papillary thyroid carcinoma. The features were analyzed based on tumor size, echogenicity, echotexture, boundary, margin, shape, and calcification pattern on gray-scale US imaging, and on patterns of vascularity on CDU.

Plasma-transforming growth factor-alpha expression in residents of an arseniasis area in Taiwan.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic and the related adverse effects such as cancers, skin lesions, and vascular diseases. Although several hypotheses have been proposed for the mechanism of arsenic-induced pathogenesis, it remains imperfectly understood. Recent studies have suggested that alterations in growth signal transduction pathways, particularly involving transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), may be important.

Production of salbutamol sulfate for inhalation by high-gravity controlled antisolvent precipitation.

The purpose of this study was to produce salbutamol sulfate (SS) as a model anti-asthmatic drug using high-gravity controlled precipitation (HGCP) through antisolvent crystallisation. An aqueous solution of SS was passed through a HGCP reactor with isopropanol as antisolvent to induce precipitation. Spray drying was employed to obtain dry powders.

The tumor-growth inhibitory activity of flavanone and 2'-OH flavanone in vitro and in vivo through induction of cell cycle arrest and suppression of cyclins and CDKs.

Natural products, including flavonoids, are suggested to be involved in the protective effects of fruits and vegetables against cancer. However, studies concerning the effect of flavonoids frequently lacked data regarding to flavanones. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of flavanone compounds, including flavanone, 2'-OH flavanone, 4'-OH flavanone, 6-OH flavanone, naringin and naringenin, on cell growth of various cancer cells.

Effects of arsenic exposure and genetic polymorphisms of p53, glutathione S-transferase M1, T1, and P1 on the risk of carotid atherosclerosis in Taiwan.

To evaluate the joint effects between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1, T1, P1, and p53, and arsenic exposure through drinking well water on the risk of carotid atherosclerosis, 605 residents including 289 men and 316 women were recruited from a northeastern area of Taiwan. Carotid atherosclerosis was diagnosed by either a carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) of >1.0 mm, a plaque score of > or =1, or stenosis of >50%.

Agglomerate strength and dispersion of salmeterol xinafoate from powder mixtures for inhalation.

Purpose: The study investigated the role of agglomeration and the effect of fine lactose size on the dispersion of salmeterol xinafoate (SX) from SX-lactose mixtures for inhalation.

Methods: Particle size distributions were characterised by Malvern Mastersizer S, Aerosizer and Spraytec, and imaging conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Inter-particulate adhesion was quantified by atomic force microscopy.

Black rice anthocyanins inhibit cancer cells invasion via repressions of MMPs and u-PA expression.

Tumor metastasis is the most important cause of cancer death and various treatment strategies have targeted on preventing the occurrence of metastasis. Anthocyanins are natural colorants belonging to the flavonoid family, and are wildly used for their antioxidant properties. Here, we provided molecular evidence associated with the anti-metastatic effects of peonidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-glucoside, major anthocyanins extracted from black rice (Oryza sativa L.

Sonographic features of nonpalpable breast cancer: a study based on ultrasound-guided wire-localized surgical biopsies.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between surgicopathological findings and ultrasonic images of nonpalpable breast lesions. The study was composed of 220 nonpalpable breast lesions from 193 patients. The breast lesions were classified into soft tissue type (185 lesions) and calcification type (35 lesions).

Superficial soft-tissue lymphoma: sonographic appearance and early survival.

We evaluated superficial soft-tissue lymphomas on high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) in 43 patients (17 women, 26 men; mean, 59.7 y; range, 12 to 90 y), with 1- to 97-month follow-up. Clinical presentations, tumor location and morphology, echogenicity on HRUS and color-encoding grades on Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) were assessed.

Systematic analysis of missed extremity fractures in emergency radiology.

Purpose: To systematically analyze fractures in the extremities that were missed in the initial radiological report, primarily on plain radiographs, in the emergency department (ED).

Material And Methods: From January 2003 to June 2004, 2407 new patients were confirmed to have fractures in the extremities in the ED. A total of 3081 fractures were confirmed.

Effect of plasma homocysteine level and urinary monomethylarsonic acid on the risk of arsenic-associated carotid atherosclerosis.

Arsenic-contaminated well water has been shown to increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Because of involving S-adenosylmethionine, homocysteine may modify the risk by interfering with the biomethylation of ingested arsenic. In this study, we assessed the effect of plasma homocysteine level and urinary monomethylarsonic acid (MMA(V)) on the risk of atherosclerosis associated with arsenic.

Polymorphisms of p53 and p21 genes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multifactorial disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors, particularly cigarette smoking. Although cigarette smoke may be directly mutagenic, polymorphisms in the genes controlling acquired somatic mutations may also contribute, at least to some extent, to the observed differing susceptibilities to COPD. To investigate the involvement of genetic polymorphisms of p53 and p21 in the pathogenesis of COPD, the authors performed a case-control study involving 206 subjects with COPD and 210 healthy smokers as control subjects.

Association among hypogonadism, quality of life and erectile dysfunction in middle-aged and aged male in Taiwan.

The association between hypogonadism, quality of life (QoL), and erectile dysfunction (ED) among the middle-aged and aged male in Taiwan is evaluated. A total of 680 study subjects aged >or=40 years old were recruited from Northern (n=276), Middle (n=238), and Southern (n=202) Taiwan, respectively. ED was diagnosed by score of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5).

HCV E2 may induce apoptosis of Huh-7 cells via a mitochondrial-related caspase pathway.

Introduction: One unusual characteristic of HCV is to establish chronic infection and the precise mechanisms remain unclear.

Materials And Methods: Huh-7 cells were transiently transfected with E2 and subjected to MTT assay, DNA fragmentation assay, and Western blotting to see the impact of E2 protein on apoptosis.

Results And Discussion: E2 may inhibit cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and pro-caspases 3, 8, and 9 were cleaved and activated to result in the presence of active forms in a time-dependent fashion, which suggest that E2-induced apoptosis is caspase-dependent.

Difficult oral endotracheal intubation in an acromegalic patient receiving transsphenoidal surgery--a case report.

Patients suffering from acromegaly are associated with increased risks of difficult airway management. We report a case of acromegaly scheduled for transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma under general anesthesia in whom all possible means failed us in the insertion of the endotracheal tube (ET) through the mouth, a procedure essential for transsphenoidal surgery. The operation was called off and for securing his compromised airway a nasal ET was placed under fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

Segmental study of the median nerve versus comparative tests in the diagnosis of mild carpal tunnel syndrome.

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze normative data of nerve conduction studies (NCS) by optimal transformations, and compare the utility of electrodiagnostic tests in detecting mild carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Methods: In 131 hands of patients with mild CTS and 136 hands of controls, the segmental study of the median nerve between the digit-palm and palm-wrist segments, and the median-to-ulnar and median-to-radial comparative tests were performed. Normal limits were derived by calculating the mean+/-2 standard deviations of the optimally transformed data of the controls.

Relationships between the level of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tumor size of breast cancer.

Background: The involvements of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the pathogenesis of breast cancers have been established. We determined the concentrations of MMP-2 in serum samples and tumor tissues of breast cancer patients.

Methods: Gelatin zymography and ELISA were used to measure MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations in 90 breast cancer patients, including 60 tissue samples and 30 serum samples.

Cyanidin 3-glucoside and peonidin 3-glucoside inhibit tumor cell growth and induce apoptosis in vitro and suppress tumor growth in vivo.

Dietary polyphenols, including anthocyanins, are suggested to be involved in the protective effects of fruits and vegetables against cancer. However, anticancer effects of peonidin 3-glucoside have not been clearly demonstrated, with only limited studies being available concerning the inhibitory effect of cyanidin 3-glucoside for tumor cell growth. Therefore, in this study, we have isolated and identified the two bioactive compounds, peonidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-glucoside, from Oryza sativa L.

Interventional procedures in superficial lesions: the value of 2D with additional coronal reformatted 4D ultrasonography guidance.

Objective: We wanted to assess the usefulness of four-dimensional (4D) ultrasonography (US), i.e., real-time three-dimensional US, as an adjunct for performing various US-guided interventional procedures in superficial lesions.

Silibinin inhibits invasion of oral cancer cells by suppressing the MAPK pathway.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. Here, we provide molecular evidence associated with the anti-metastatic effect of silibinin by showing a marked inhibition of the invasion and motility of SCC-4 tongue cancer cells, with 89% and 66.4% of inhibition, respectively, by 100 microM of silibinin.

Association of TNF-alpha polymorphism with susceptibility to and severity of non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene are involved in the regulation of expression levels and have been associated with various inflammatory and malignant conditions. We have investigated two polymorphisms in the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene (-308 G/A and -238 G/A) for their role in the susceptibility to and severity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), by means of an allelic association study.

Methods: Using a case-control study design, lung cancer patients (n = 202) and appropriate age- and sex-matched controls recruited from the health check-up unit (n = 205) were subjected to genotype analysis for these polymorphisms, using a high-throughput allelic discrimination method.

Activin A induces erythroid gene expressions and inhibits mitogenic cytokine-mediated K562 colony formation by activating p38 MAPK.

Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily, is involved in the regulation of erythroid differentiation. Previous studies have shown that activin A inhibited the colony-forming activity of mouse Friend erythroleukemia cells, however, the mechanism remains unknown. First, we show herein that activin A induced the expression and activated the promoters of alpha-globin and zeta-globin in K562 cells, confirming that activin A induces erythroid differentiation in K562 cells.

The 15th International Society of Aerosols in Medicine Congress. Perth, Australia, 14-18 March 2005.

This international meeting brought together approximately 250 delegates from the pharmaceutical industry, academia, hospitals and government agencies, to discuss the latest research and development on areas related to inhalation aerosols. Fundamental science and applied research encompassing both the biological and physicochemical aspects were presented. There was a wide range of topics covered, from immune modulation to pharmaceutical regulatory issues, including aerosol clearance; industry innovations; aerosols and in utero effects; technical advances in imaging; inhalation catastrophes; as well as recent advances and future directions in aerosol delivery systems.