Biomarkers for site-specific response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer: relating MRI changes to tumour cell load and necrosis.

Background: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) potentially interrogates site-specific response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods: Participants with newly diagnosed EOC due for platinum-based chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery were recruited prospectively in a multicentre study (n = 47 participants). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and solid tumour volume (up to 10 lesions per participant) were obtained from DW-MRI before and after NAC (including double-baseline for repeatability assessment in n = 19).

Tert-butyldimethylsilyl chitosan synthesis and characterization by analytical ultracentrifugation, for archaeological wood conservation.

The Oseberg ship is one of the most important archaeological testimonies of the Vikings. After excavation in 1904, the wooden gravegoods were conserved using alum salts. This resulted in extreme degradation of a number of the objects a hundred years later through acid depolymerisation of cellulose and lignin.

Aminoethyl substitution enhances the self-assembly properties of an aminocellulose as a potential archaeological wood consolidant.

The 6-deoxy-6-aminocelluloses-or "aminocelluloses"-are a class of synthetic natural cellulose derivatives which are mostly aqueous soluble and have excellent film-forming properties. Recent studies have connected these properties at the molecular level with protein-like self-associative behaviour for a range of aminocelluloses including a 6-deoxy-6-(ω-aminoethyl) aminocellulose AEA-1 with the association being a two-stage process-a reversible oligomerisation followed by further (semi-reversible) aggregation into larger structures. Here, we synthesise and compare a new 6-deoxy-6-(ω-aminoethyl) aminocellulose AEA-1' with different degree of substitution with one with further alkyl derivatisation, namely 6-deoxy-6-(ω-hydroxyethyl) aminocellulose HEA-1'.

Diffusion-weighted MRI in Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Apparent Diffusion Coefficient as a Response Marker.

Background Treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer results in a relapse rate of 75%. Early markers of response would enable optimization of management and improved outcome in both primary and recurrent disease. Purpose To assess the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), derived from diffusion-weighted MRI, as an indicator of response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival.

Controlled depolymerisation assessed by analytical ultracentrifugation of low molecular weight chitosan for use in archaeological conservation.

The heterogeneity and molecular weight of a chitosan of low molecular weight (molar mass) and low degree of acetylation (0.1) for potential use as a consolidant for decayed archaeological wood were examined by sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium in the analytical ultracentrifuge before and after depolymerisation. Sedimentation velocity before depolymerisation revealed a uniform distribution of sedimentation coefficient with little concentration dependence.

Dual Induction of New Microbial Secondary Metabolites by Fungal Bacterial Co-cultivation.

The frequent re-isolation of known compounds is one of the major challenges in drug discovery. Many biosynthetic genes are not expressed under standard culture conditions, thus limiting the chemical diversity of microbial compounds that can be obtained through fermentation. On the other hand, the competition during co-cultivation of two or more different microorganisms in most cases leads to an enhanced production of constitutively present compounds or an accumulation of cryptic compounds that are not detected in axenic cultures of the producing strain under different fermentation conditions.

Modelling DW-MRI data from primary and metastatic ovarian tumours.

Objectives: To assess goodness-of-fit and repeatability of mono-exponential, stretched exponential and bi-exponential models of diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) data in primary and metastatic ovarian cancer.

Methods: Thirty-nine primary and metastatic lesions from thirty-one patients with stage III or IV ovarian cancer were examined before and after chemotherapy using DW-MRI with ten diffusion-weightings. The data were fitted with (a) a mono-exponential model to give the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), (b) a stretched exponential model to give the distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC) and stretching parameter (α), and (c) a bi-exponential model to give the diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion fraction (f) and pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*).

Ethnic Minority Status, Depression, and Cognitive Failures in Relation to Marital Adjustment in Ethnically Diverse Older Women.

The authors investigated the relationship between marital adjustment and ethnic minority status, depressive symptomatology, and cognitive failures among 78 married, community-dwelling, and predominantly non-European-American older women (ages 57-89). Respondents were screened to rule out dementia. Level of depressive symptoms, self-report of cognitive failures, and marital adjustment were obtained.

Validity of 13C octanoic acid breath test for measurement of solid meal gastric emptying time in children.

Background/purpose: It is important to establish a physiologic range of gastric emptying (GE) in children. Gastric emptying time measured with (99)Tc-labeled solid meal (GE(Tc)) is the gold standard. Large-scale studies with GE(Tc) are ideal but not feasible because of radiation exposure.

Gastric emptying of solids in normal children--a preliminary report.

Objective: The physiological range of gastric emptying in healthy children has not previously been documented. The aim of this study was to establish the range of normal gastric emptying in children aged between 5 and 10 years with a Tc 99m-labelled solid meal acceptable to most of the children.

Methods: A list of 7 child-friendly foods was compiled.