High-Resolution Ultrasound Including Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) for the Detection of Gas Formation during Aspergillus Fumigatus Infection in Mice.

Purpose: A. fumigatus infections represent a major threat for patients with a suppressed immune system. Early diagnosis is of importance for a favorable outcome but appears to be difficult due to limited diagnostic procedures.

[A 55-year-old man with abdominal pain and fever].

A 55-year-old man was admitted for evaluation of chronic abdominal pain and fever. Computed tomography demonstrated a retroperitoneal inflammatory process involving the mesenteric root. Adipose tissue biopsy showed panniculitis mesenterica with granulomas.

High resolution ultrasound including elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for early detection and characterization of liver lesions in the humanized tumor mouse model.

Purpose: In this study we investigated the sensitivity of high resolution ultrasound (HRU) in the detection of small liver tumors and its microcirculation in a humanized tumor mouse model (HTM). These mice develop a complete human immune system and human breast cancer growth in the liver which allows the investigation of antibody based immunotherapies under human like conditions.

Method: HTM were generated by the co-transplantation of human breast cancer cells and human hematopoietic stem cells.

Successful treatment of Scedosporium apiospermum soft tissue abscess with caspofungin and voriconazole in a severely immunocompromised patient with acute myeloid leukemia.

We report the case of a 53-year-old female patient with refractory acute myeloid leukemia developing a necrotic, soft tissue abscess on the right forearm caused by Scedosporium apiospermum during prolonged severe neutropenia (absolute white blood cell count <500/μL for 49 days). In the context of the severely immunocompromised state of the patient and her need for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), surgical treatment options were not favored. Therefore, combined antifungal therapy with voriconazole and caspofungin was started, based on the results of the in vitro testing (minimum inhibitory concentrations of voriconazole, posaconazole, and amphotericin B: 1, 4, and >2mg/L, respectively).

Prognostic impact of gene expression-based classification for neuroblastoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a predefined gene expression-based classifier for clinical risk estimation and cytotoxic treatment decision making in neuroblastoma patients.

Patients And Methods: Gene expression profiles of 440 internationally collected neuroblastoma specimens were investigated by microarray analysis, 125 of which were examined prospectively. Patients were classified as either favorable or unfavorable by a 144-gene prediction analysis for microarrays (PAM) classifier established previously on a separate set of 77 patients.

Papillary thyroid cancer associated with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis: a case report.

Introduction: The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis is the most common cause of euvolemic hypo-osmolality. This syndrome is associated with a wide variety of diseases. However, its most frequent causes are related to malignancies, especially lung cancer.

Iron-induced expression of bone morphogenic protein 6 in intestinal cells is the main regulator of hepatic hepcidin expression in vivo.

Background & Aims: Recent studies identified bone morphogenic protein 6 (BMP6) as a key regulator of hepatic hepcidin expression and iron metabolism, but the cellular source of BMP6 and the reason for its specific effect on hepatocytes are unknown.

Methods: BMP and hepcidin expression upon iron sensing were analyzed in vivo in BMP6(-/-) and BMP6(+/+) mice and ex vivo in tissue and in vitro in cells of the liver and the small intestine.

Results: BMP6(-/-) mice developed severe hepatic iron accumulation and reduced hepcidin expression with increasing age.

Liver biopsy in primary biliary cirrhosis: clinicopathological data and stage.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize histopathological lesions in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and to assess the relationship between histopathological lesions and biochemistry. Liver biopsies of 252 patients with PBC were investigated. A laboratory database was established.

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 is induced in hepatocellular carcinoma by hypoxia and promotes tumour progression.

Striking similarities exist between molecular mechanisms driving embryonic liver development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), particularly BMP4, have been proposed to regulate embryonic hepatic development. BMP expression has been observed in neoplasia but the expression and biological role of BMP4 in human HCC are unknown.

[Epithelial-mesenchymal transition of biliary epithelial cells in advanced liver fibrosis].

Unlabelled: The conversion of epithelial cells in a mesenchymal cell type is called "epithelial-mesenchymal-transition" (EMT). This process is defined by a loss of epithelial specific characteristics such as cell adhesion, polarity and a reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins. EMT has been shown to be involved in progression of cancer and in obstructive renal fibrosis.

Determination of the endothelin receptor antagonist ABT-627 and related substances by high performance liquid chromatography.

The determination of the endothelin (ET) antagonist receptor ABT-627 (I) and related substances is performed by HPLC. I is determined in bulk drug substance and drug formulation using isocratic conditions and an Inertsil ODS-2 column. The determination is stability indicating and detector response is linear from 24 to 118 microg ml(-1) (33-164% of assay level).