Mitotic count is prognostic in IDH mutant astrocytoma without homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/B. Results of consensus panel review of EORTC trial 26053 (CATNON) and EORTC trial 22033-26033.

Background: Gliomas with IDH1/2 mutations without 1p19q codeletion have been identified as the distinct diagnostic entity of IDH mutant astrocytoma (IDHmut astrocytoma). Homozygous deletion of Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 inhibitor A/B (CDKN2A/B) has recently been incorporated in the grading of these tumors. The question of whether histologic parameters still contribute to prognostic information on top of the molecular classification, remains unanswered.

Highly purified HMG versus recombinant FSH for ovarian stimulation in IVF cycles.

The objective of this study was to compare the live birth rates resulting from ovarian stimulation with highly purified human menopausal gonadotrophin (HP-HMG), which combines FSH and human chorionic gonadotrophin-driven LH activities, or recombinant FSH (rFSH) alone in women undergoing IVF cycles. An integrated analysis was performed of the raw data from two randomized controlled trials that were highly comparable in terms of eligibility criteria and post-randomization treatment regimens with either HP-HMG or rFSH for ovarian stimulation in IVF, following a long down-regulation protocol. All randomized subjects who received at least one dose of gonadotrophin in an IVF cycle (HP-HMG, n = 491; rFSH, n = 495) were included in the analysis.

Quantification of perfusion and permeability in breast tumors with a deconvolution-based analysis of second-bolus T1-DCE data.

Purpose: To test the feasibility of using a second-bolus injection, added to a routine breast MRI examination, to measure regional perfusion and permeability in human breast tumors.

Materials And Methods: In 30 patients with breast tumors, first a routine whole-breast T1-DCE sequence was applied, and the slice where the lesion enhanced maximally was located. At that slice position, T1-weighted MR images were acquired at 0.

Variability among five different commercial IGF-1 immunoassays in conditions of childhood-onset GH deficiency and GH therapy.

IGF-1 measurement is used for screening of GH deficiency and monitoring of GH therapy in children. However, several commercial immunoassays are currently used and reference values provided by manufacturers are very different. The aim of this study was to compare commercial IGF-1 assays 1) in terms of absolute values and 2) in terms of clinical interpretation of results based on IGF-1 reference values in serum samples from children with GH therapy, with untreated GH deficiency and with obesity.

Will esophageal impedance replace pH monitoring?

Esophageal impedance, a technique based on the fact that the passage of a bolus changes the impedance between esophageal segments, is being used more and more. Multiple esophageal impedance combined with pH monitoring is advocated to become the preferred technique to measure acid and nonacid gastroesophageal reflux. Compared with pH monitoring, impedance has the advantage of being independent of pH and, as a consequence, is better adapted to measure reflux (especially in the postprandial period when reflux is buffered) and detect symptoms associated with nonacid- or weakly acid-reflux episodes.

Endocrine profile in serum and follicular fluid differs after ovarian stimulation with HP-hMG or recombinant FSH in IVF patients.

Background: Highly purified menotrophin (HP-hMG) has been associated with fewer oocytes retrieved and a higher proportion of top-quality embryos compared with recombinant FSH (rFSH).

Methods: A randomized, assessor-blind, multinational trial in 731 women undergoing IVF after stimulation with HP-hMG (MENOPUR) (n = 363) or rFSH (GONAL-F) (n = 368) following a long GnRH agonist protocol was conducted. Blood was collected before, during and after stimulation.

Third Belgian multicentre survey of antibiotic susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria.

Objectives: To collect recent data on the susceptibility of anaerobes and to compare them with results from previous studies.

Methods: Four hundred and forty-three anaerobic clinical isolates from various body sites were prospectively collected from October 2003 to February 2005 in nine Belgian hospitals. MICs were determined for nine anti-anaerobic and three recently developed antibiotics.

Methylation analysis of KvDMR1 in human oocytes.

Recently, several reports have been published that showed a higher incidence of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome compared with the general population, and in most of these patients, aberrant methylation imprints of KvDMR1 have been found. This has led to the concern that ART might increase the incidence of imprinting syndromes such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Not much is known on environmental or genetic factors that may interfere with the processes of imprint maintenance or resetting.

Open, preperitoneal hernia repair with the Kugel patch: a prospective, multicentre study of 450 repairs.

Background: The Kugel patch inguinal hernia repair is a relatively new, open, minimally invasive procedure using a preperitoneal approach.

Method: Prospective multicentre case series of 450 consecutive Kugel patch repairs. Recurrence rates and persistent inguinal pain after at least 1 year as well as short-term outcomes were studied.

Indoxyl sulphate and the purple urine bag syndrome: a case report.

A case of purple urine bag syndrome, a rare condition in which the urinary catheter bag of chronically catheterised patients develops a discolouration, is reported. The excretion of indoxyl sulphate, an intermediate in the causal mechanism of this unusual phenomenon, was measured using Ehrlich's reagent and found not to be elevated in this 77 year-old man, when compared to elderly male control subjects.

Breast imaging. Preoperative breast cancer staging: comparison of USPIO-enhanced MR imaging and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDC) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for axillary lymph node staging--initial findings.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after ultra-small super paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) injection and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for preoperative axillary lymph node staging in patients with breast cancer were evaluated using histopathologic findings as the reference standard. USPIO-enhanced MR and FDG-PET were performed in ten patients with breast cancer who were scheduled for surgery and axillary node resection. T2-weighted fast spin echo, T1-weighted three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo, T2*-weighted gradient echo and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted 3D gradient echo with spectral fat saturation were evaluated.

Early Belgian experience with the Kugel patch inguinal hernia repair.

The Kugel hernia repair is an open but minimally invasive, tension free repair, offering the advantages of a preperitoneal repair without the need for general anaesthesia. We report our initial experience with this technique in 25 inguinal hernia repairs. Operating time averaged 40 +/- 16 min, and one complication, a bladder tear, occurred intra-operatively.

Serine protease activity and residual LEKTI expression determine phenotype in Netherton syndrome.

Mutations in the SPINK5 gene encoding the serine protease (SP) inhibitor, lymphoepithelial-Kazal-type 5 inhibitor (LEKTI), cause Netherton syndrome (NS), a life-threatening disease, owing to proteolysis of the stratum corneum (SC). We assessed here the basis for phenotypic variations in nine patients with "mild", "moderate", and "severe" NS. The magnitude of SP activation correlated with both the barrier defect and clinical severity, and inversely with residual LEKTI expression.

The diagnosis and management of gastro-oesophageal reflux in infants.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) occur frequently during the first months of life. Gastro-oesophageal reflux may be a primary gastro-intestinal motility disorder, but it may also be secondary to other conditions such as cow's milk protein allergy. Objective diagnosis can be difficult because there may be absence of correlation between history, results of pH monitoring and histology.

The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of low-grade glioma. A review of the literature.

Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are a group of uncommon neuroglial tumors of the central nervous system. They are characterized by a grade I or II according to the WHO classification. Grade I tumors are non-invasive and amenable to surgical resection with curative intent.

GnRH antagonist in the adjuvant treatment of a recurrent ovarian granulosa cell tumor: a case report.

Background: Ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCT) are usually treated by surgery and chemotherapy. Successful response to GnRH agonists as an adjuvant therapy has previously been reported. In this case of recurrent GCT, we used a GnRH antagonist.

Evaluation of the Stratus CS fluorometer for the determination of plasma myoglobin.

Circulating myoglobin is recognized as an early and sensitive marker of acute coronary diseases. Long turnaround time of myoglobin assays jeopardize their clinical utility. We evaluated the analytical performance of the Stratus CS fluorometric enzyme immunoassay based on dendrimer technology, and claimed to achieve a fast and reliable determination of plasma myoglobin concentrations.

Immunisation in the current management of cystic fibrosis patients.

Although no special recommendations exist, clearly patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) can benefit from immunisation. We reviewed the literature regarding vaccination in CF and other chronic diseases. CF subjects should follow national immunisation programmes without delay to obtain optimal vaccination coverage.

A defined donor activating natural killer cell receptor genotype protects against leukemic relapse after related HLA-identical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) recognize different groups of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class I alleles and are expressed by natural killer (NK) cells and some T lymphocytes. NK cell cytotoxicity is triggered by failure to recognize the appropriate HLA class I ligand on target cells. Recently, it has been shown that HLA class I ligand incompatibility in the graft-versus-host (GvH) direction is associated with a better outcome in haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

External quality assessment for molecular detection of Bordetella pertussis in European laboratories.

Although the PCR for the detection of Bordetella pertussis is routinely performed in diagnostic laboratories, no quality assessment program has so far been described. We report on the results obtained with two external quality assessment proficiency panels sent to European laboratories. The first proficiency panel contained a series of dilutions of three previously characterized B.

Salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae serotype 44:z4, z23:--as a rare cause of meningitis.

Reptiles can carry and shed the bacterium Salmonella without showing any signs of illness. Transmission occurs by ingesting Salmonella after handling a reptile or objects contaminated by a reptile. Young children are especially vulnerable to Salmonella infection and can experience serious complications.

Identification of natural killer cell receptor phenotypes associated with leukemia.

Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in defense against tumor cells that have the capacity to downregulate human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression. It has been reported that leukemic cells can have downregulated expression of HLA class I molecules. The polymorphic nature of NK cell receptor (NKR) genes generates diverse repertoires in the human population, which display specificity in the innate immune response.