Reduction of breast density following tamoxifen treatment evaluated by 3-D MRI: preliminary study.

This study analyzed the change in breast density in women receiving tamoxifen treatment using 3-D MRI. Sixteen women were studied. Each woman received breast MRI before and after tamoxifen.

Epigenetic down-regulation of the tumor suppressor gene PRDM1/Blimp-1 in diffuse large B cell lymphomas: a potential role of the microRNA let-7.

PRDM1/Blimp-1, a master regulator for B cell terminal differentiation, is a putative tumor suppressor in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL). Inactivating mutations of PRDM1 have been previously identified in a subset of nongerminal center B cell-like (GCB) DLBCL. We investigated the presence of alternative mechanisms of down-regulating PRDM1 in a cohort of 25 primary DLBCL and six DLBCL cell lines.

Age- and race-dependence of the fibroglandular breast density analyzed on 3D MRI.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the age- and race-dependence of the breast fibroglandular tissue density based on three-dimensional breast MRI.

Methods: The normal breasts of 321 consecutive patients including Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics were studied. The subjects were separated into three age groups: Younger than 45, between 45 and 55, and older than 55.

[Clinical observation of basic fibroblast growth factor combined with topical oxygen therapy in enhancing burn wound healing].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with topical oxygen therapy for deep II degree burn wounds, by comparing the effects of bFGF combined with topical oxygen therapy and bFGF with routine therapy.

Methods: From February 2004 to July 2009, 85 patients with deep II degree burn wounds (117 wounds) were enrolled and divided into 4 groups randomly according to different treatments. There was no significant difference in sex, age, disease course, wound size, and wound treatment size among 4 groups (P > 0.

Proliferation but not migration is associated with blood vessels during development of the rostral migratory stream.

Blood vessels play a critical role in regulating neural stem cell proliferation and migration. We show here that blood vessels became progressively aligned in the direction of the rostral migratory stream (RMS) from embryonic day 14 to postnatal day 4. Dividing cells revealed by phosphohistone H3+ immunoreactivity were statistically closer to isolectin B4+ blood vessels than predicted by chance in the emerging RMS.

Computational simulation of breast compression based on segmented breast and fibroglandular tissues on magnetic resonance images.

This study presents a finite element-based computational model to simulate the three-dimensional deformation of a breast and fibroglandular tissues under compression. The simulation was based on 3D MR images of the breast, and craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique compression, as used in mammography, was applied. The geometry of the whole breast and the segmented fibroglandular tissues within the breast were reconstructed using triangular meshes by using the Avizo 6.

Biodiesel production with immobilized lipase: A review.

Fatty acid alkyl esters, also called biodiesel, are environmentally friendly and show great potential as an alternative liquid fuel. Biodiesel is produced by transesterification of oils or fats with chemical catalysts or lipase. Immobilized lipase as the biocatalyst draws high attention because that process is "greener".

Synthesis and characterization of amine bridged bis(phenolate) lanthanide aryloxides and their application in the polymerization of lactide.

A series of neutral lanthanide aryloxides supported by an amine bridged bis(phenolate) ligand were synthesized, and their catalytic behavior for the polymerization of L-lactide was explored. The reactions of (C(5)H(5))(3)Ln(THF) with amine bridged bis(phenol)LH(2) [L = Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N{CH(2)-(2-O-C(6)H(2)-Bu(t)(2)-3,5)}(2)] in a 1 : 1 molar ratio, and then with 1 equivalent of 2,6-diisopropylphenol, p-cresol or 4-methoxyphenol, respectively, in situ in THF gave the neutral lanthanide aryloxides LLn(OC(6)H(3)-2,6-Pr(i)(2))(THF) [Ln = Nd (1), Sm (2), Yb (3)], LLn(OC(6)H(4)-4-CH(3))(THF)(n) [Ln = Nd (4), Sm (5), n = 2; Ln = Y (6), n = 1] and LLn(OC(6)H(4)-4-OCH(3))(THF)(n) [Ln = Nd (7), Sm (8), n = 2; Ln = Yb (9), n = 1] in high isolated yields. These complexes were well characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and NMR spectroscopy in the case of complex 6.

[Development of single-tube multiplex real-time PCR for simultaneous detection of novel influenza A H1N1 and human seasonal influenza A H1N1 and H3N2 virus].

In this study, we established a rapid and sensitive multiplex Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (mrtRT-PCR) to simultaneously detect the novel human influenza A H1N1 virus, human seasonal influenza A H1N1 and H3N2. This assay had three pairs of primer to target the conserved regions of the HA gene for each of the HA types including novel H1N1, seasonal H1N1 and seasonal H3N2, and one pair of primer designed to detect the internal control-RnaseP gene. This assay was performed in one-step in one tube.

[Colorimetric detection of human influenza A H1N1 virus by reverse transcription loop mediated isothermal amplification].

A simple, rapid and sensitive colorimetric Reverse Transcription Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) method was established to detect human influenza A H1N1 virus. The method employed a set of six specially designed primers that recognized eight distinct sequences of the HA gene for amplification of nucleic acid under isothermal conditions at 65 degrees C for one and half hour. The amplification process of RT-LAMP was monitored by the addition of HNB (Hydroxy naphthol blue) dye prior to amplification.

Detection of pandemic influenza A H1N1 virus by multiplex reverse transcription-PCR with a GeXP analyzer.

A novel application of the GeXP genetic analysis system for the differential detection of pandemic influenza A H1N1 from seasonal influenza A H1N1 and H3N2 is described. The assay was evaluated using identified influenza viruses and clinical samples. The results indicate that the assay is both highly sensitive and specific for the detection of the pandemic influenza A H1N1 virus with a detection limit of 10 copies per reaction superior to that of assays in use currently.

Visual detection of pandemic influenza A H1N1 Virus 2009 by reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification with hydroxynaphthol blue dye.

A sensitive reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed for rapid visual detection of pandemic influenza A H1N1 virus infection. The reaction was performed in one step in a single tube at 65 degrees C for 60 min with the addition of hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) dye prior to amplification. The detection limit of the RT-LAMP assay was approximately 60 copies, and no cross-detection was observed.

Decrease in breast density in the contralateral normal breast of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: MR imaging evaluation.

Purpose: To investigate the change of breast density with quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the contralateral normal breast of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board and was HIPAA compliant. Informed consent was obtained.

Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Anaplasma in Southwestern China based on 16S rRNA sequence.

To identify the species within the genus Anaplasma circulating among ruminants in the Southwest of China, we performed the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of two Anaplasma isolates from cattle and seven from goats. The two sequences obtained from cattle strains belonged to the A. marginale cluster, whereas the other seven sequences from caprine strains formed two Anaplasma spp.

Impact of skin removal on quantitative measurement of breast density using MRI.

Purpose: In breast MRI, skin and fibroglandular tissue commonly possess similar signal intensities, and as such, the inclusion of skin as dense tissue leads to an overestimation in the measured density. This study investigated the impact of skin to the quantitative measurement of breast density using MRI.

Methods: The analysis was performed on the normal breasts of 50 women using nonfat-saturated (nonfat-sat) T1 weighted MR images.

Quantitative analysis of breast parenchymal patterns using 3D fibroglandular tissues segmented based on MRI.

Purpose: Mammographic density and breast parenchymal patterns (the relative distribution of fatty and fibroglandular tissue) have been shown to be associated with the risk of developing breast cancer. Percent breast density as determined by mammography is a well-established risk factor, but on the other hand, studies on parenchymal pattern have been scarce, possibly due to the lack of reliable quantitative parameters that can be used to analyze parenchymal tissue distribution. In this study the morphology of fibroglandular tissue distribution was analyzed using three-dimensional breast MRI, which is not subject to the tissue overlapping problem.

Sensitivity of psychophysical measures to signal processor modifications in cochlear implant users.

Experienced users of the Clarion cochlear implant were tested acutely with the HiResolution (HiRes) and HiRes Fidelity120 (F120) processing strategies. Three psychophysically-based tests were used including spectral-ripple discrimination, Schroeder-phase discrimination and temporal modulation detection. Three clinical outcome measures were used including consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) word recognition in quiet, word recognition in noise and the clinical assessment of music perception (CAMP).

Selection of diagnostic features on breast MRI to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions using computer-aided diagnosis: differences in lesions presenting as mass and non-mass-like enhancement.

Purpose: To investigate methods developed for the characterisation of the morphology and enhancement kinetic features of both mass and non-mass lesions, and to determine their diagnostic performance to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions that present as mass versus non-mass types.

Methods: Quantitative analysis of morphological features and enhancement kinetic parameters of breast lesions were used to differentiate among four groups of lesions: 88 malignant (43 mass, 45 non-mass) and 28 benign (19 mass, 9 non-mass). The enhancement kinetics was measured and analysed to obtain transfer constant (K(trans)) and rate constant (k(ep)).

Algorithm-based method for detection of blood vessels in breast MRI for development of computer-aided diagnosis.

Purpose: To develop a computer-based algorithm for detecting blood vessels that appear in breast dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to evaluate the improvement in reducing the number of vascular pixels that are labeled by computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems as being suspicious of malignancy.

Materials And Methods: The analysis was performed in 34 cases. The algorithm applied a filter bank based on wavelet transform and the Hessian matrix to detect linear structures as blood vessels on a two-dimensional maximum intensity projection (MIP).

Phylogenetic analysis of Mycoplasma suis isolates based on 16S rRNA gene sequence in China.

To perform phylogenetic analysis of Mycoplasma suis isolates derived from China to define the nature of this pathogen, nearly complete of 16S rRNA genes from Chongqing, Sichuan, Henan and Guangdong isolates were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The four sequences from the blood samples in this study, with other 17 Hemoplasmas sequences and related 3 mycoplasma sequences available in the GenBank, were aligned using Clustal X (version 1.83) sequences alignment program.

Development and validation of the University of Washington Clinical Assessment of Music Perception test.

Objectives: Assessment of cochlear implant outcomes centers around speech discrimination. Despite dramatic improvements in speech perception, music perception remains a challenge for most cochlear implant users. No standardized test exists to quantify music perception in a clinically practical manner.

Prediction of malignant breast lesions from MRI features: a comparison of artificial neural network and logistic regression techniques.

Rationale And Objectives: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is a clinical imaging modality for the detection and diagnosis of breast lesions. Analytic methods were compared for diagnostic feature selection and the performance of lesion classification to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions in patients.

Materials And Methods: The study included 43 malignant and 28 benign histologically proved lesions.

Neurovascular congruence during cerebral cortical development.

There is evidence for interaction between the developing circulatory and nervous systems. Blood vessels provide a supporting niche in regions of adult neurogenesis. Here we present a systematic analysis of vascular development in the embryonic murine cortex and demonstrate that dividing cells, including Tbr2-positive intermediate progenitor cells, are closer to the vasculature than expected from a random distribution.