Increased calcium absorption from synthetic stable amorphous calcium carbonate: double-blind randomized crossover clinical trial in postmenopausal women.

Calcium supplementation is a widely recognized strategy for achieving adequate calcium intake. We designed this blinded, randomized, crossover interventional trial to compare the bioavailability of a new stable synthetic amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) with that of crystalline calcium carbonate (CCC) using the dual stable isotope technique. The study was conducted in the Unit of Clinical Nutrition, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel.

Computerized analysis of cytology and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in induced sputum for lung cancer detection.

Background: Lung cancer results from a multistep process, whereby genetic and epigenetic alterations lead to a malignant phenotype. Somatic mutations, deletions, and amplifications can be detected in the tumor itself, but they can also be found in histologically normal bronchial epithelium as a result of field cancerization. The present feasibility study describes a computer-assisted analysis of induced sputum employing morphology and fluorescence in situ hybridization (target-FISH), using 2 biomarkers located at chromosomes 3p22.

Automated detection of genetic abnormalities combined with cytology in sputum is a sensitive predictor of lung cancer.

Detection of lung cancer by sputum cytology has low sensitivity but is noninvasive and, if improved, could be a powerful tool for early lung cancer detection. To evaluate whether the accuracy of diagnosing lung cancer by evaluating sputa for cytologic atypia and genetic abnormalities is greater than that of conventional cytology alone, automated scoring of genetic abnormalities for 3p22.1 and 10q22.

Combined morphologic and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of voided urine samples for the detection and follow-up of bladder cancer in patients with benign urine cytology.

Background: Bladder cancer is among the 5 most common malignancies worldwide. Patients with bladder cancer are closely followed with periodic cystoscopies and urine cytology analyses due to the significant risk of tumor recurrence. The UroVysion fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test demonstrated higher sensitivity over urine cytology in detecting bladder cancer by most comparative studies.

Combined analysis of morphology and fluorescence in situ hybridization significantly increases accuracy of bladder cancer detection in voided urine samples.

Objectives: To evaluate a combined analysis approach that involves cytologic evaluation and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for detecting cancer cells in voided urine samples using an automated scanning station.

Methods: Voided urine samples from 41 patients suspected of having transitional cell carcinoma were stained with May-Grünwald Giemsa stain, scanned for atypical or suspicious cells, destained, and hybridized with a mixture of fluorescent-labeled probes. Samples were tested using either the UroVysion probe or by a mix of chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 centromeric probes.

Automatic scanning of interphase FISH for prenatal diagnosis in uncultured amniocytes.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of uncultured amniocytes using chromosome-specific DNA probes offers the opportunity for rapid aneuploidy screening. Between 80 and 95% of all chromosomal disorders expected in the second trimester of pregnancy can be discovered within 24 hr if DNA probes specific for chromosomes 21, 18, 13, X, and Y are used. Rapid results are crucial for clinical decision-making and are helpful in decreasing the anxiety level in most patients.

Combined analysis of morphology and fluorescence in situ hybridization in follow-up of minimal residual disease in a child with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The past decade has brought new technologies to the study of minimal residual disease (MRD) in leukemia. Each of them has limitations and is far from being accurate. Recently, a new multiparametric cell scanning system (Duet) was introduced to the field of MRD detection.