Efficient recovery of recombinant CRM197 expressed as inclusion bodies in E.coli.

CRM197, which retains the same inflammatory and immune-stimulant properties as diphtheria toxin but with reduced toxicity, has been used as a safe carrier in conjugated vaccines. Expression of recombinant CRM197 in E. coli is limited due to formation of inclusion bodies.

Rational modification of substrate binding site by structure-based engineering of a cellobiose 2-epimerase in Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus.

Background: Lactulose, a synthetic disaccharide, has received increasing interest due to its role as a prebiotic, specifically proliferating Bifidobacilli and Lactobacilli and enhancing absorption of calcium and magnesium. The use of cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) is considered an interesting alternative for industrial production of lactulose. CE reversibly converts D-glucose residues into D-mannose residues at the reducing end of unmodified β-1,4-linked oligosaccharides, including β-1,4-mannobiose, cellobiose, and lactose.

US-guided core-needle biopsy versus US-guided fine-needle aspiration of suspicious cervical lymph nodes for staging workup of non-head and neck malignancies: A propensity score matching study.

Background And Objectives: To compare US-guided core-needle biopsy (USCNB) and US-guided fine-needle aspiration (USFNA) of suspicious cervical lymph nodes for staging workup of malignancies in locations other than the head and neck using propensity score matching (PSM).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 108 patients who underwent USFNA and 1058 who underwent USCNB for suspicious cervical lymph nodes detected by imaging modalities during the staging workup for malignancies located in regions other than the head and neck. The primary outcome was defined as the inconclusive results.

Neurogenic muscle hypertrophy: a case report.

Muscular hypertrophy is caused mainly due to myopathic disorder. But, it is also rarely produced by neurogenic disorder. A 74-year-old woman complained of right calf pain with hypertrophy for several years.

Superior Cervical Sympathetic Ganglion: Normal Imaging Appearance on 3T-MRI.

Objective: To identify superior cervical sympathetic ganglion (SCSG) and describe their characteristic MR appearance using 3T-MRI.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study, we recruited 53 consecutive patients without history of head and neck irradiation. Using anatomic location based on literature review, both sides of the neck were evaluated to identify SCSGs in consensus.

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion MR Imaging in the Head and Neck: Correlation with Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging and Diffusion-Weighted Imaging.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between perfusion- and diffusion-related parameters from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and those from dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging in tumors and normal muscles of the head and neck.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 20 consecutive patients with head and neck tumors with MR imaging performed using a 3T MR scanner. Tissue diffusivity (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D(*)), and perfusion fraction (f) were derived from bi-exponential fitting of IVIM data obtained with 14 different b-values in three orthogonal directions.

Diffusion-weighted imaging with reverse phase-encoding polarity: the added value to the conventional diffusion-weighted imaging in differentiating acute infarctions from hyperintense brainstem artifacts.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the value of diffusion-weighted imaging with reverse phase-encoding polarity (R-DWI) in addition to conventional DWI using forward phase-encoding polarity (F-DWI) in differentiating acute brainstem infarctions from hyperintense artefacts.

Methods: Seventy-six patients with 38 hyperintense brainstem artefacts and 38 acute brainstem infarctions that had undergone F-DWI and R-DWI were retrospectively selected based on the clinicoradiological diagnosis. Four radiologists independently rated their confidence in diagnosing acute infarctions and ruling out brainstem artefacts in a blind manner, and then compared the diagnostic performance and confidence between F-DWI alone and F-DWI with R-DWI.

Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling by unilateral femoral venous approach.

Purpose: Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is a direct method of distinguishing between pituitary and ectopic ACTH secretion. We present unilateral femoral route technique avoiding bilateral femoral venous puncture using two 4F catheters into both sides of IPSS in these obese patients.

Materials And Methods: Unilateral femoral puncture using 9F guiding catheter allowed two 4F catheters which can be introduced in each side of inferior petrosal sinus.

How to manage the patients with unsatisfactory results after ethanol ablation for thyroid nodules: role of radiofrequency ablation.

Purpose: Although ethanol ablation (EA) is effective in the treatment of cystic thyroid nodules, it is less effective in nodules with solid component. Therefore refractory cases with solid component require another treatment modality such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which is effective in both solid and cystic thyroid nodules. We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of additional RFA and factors related to volume reduction in patients showing unsatisfactory results after a single session of EA.

MR spectroscopy and perfusion MR imaging findings of intracranial foreign body granuloma: a case report.

We report a case of intracranial foreign body granuloma that showed features of a high grade tumor on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. However, the relative cerebral blood volume was not increased in the enhancing mass on perfusion MRI and the choline/creatine ratio only slightly increased on MR spectroscopy. The results suggest that the lesion is benign in nature.