Direct analysis of hCGβcf glycosylation in normal and aberrant pregnancy by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The analysis of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in clinical chemistry laboratories by specific immunoassay is well established. However, changes in glycosylation are not as easily assayed and yet alterations in hCG glycosylation is associated with abnormal pregnancy. hCGβ-core fragment (hCGβcf) was isolated from the urine of women, pregnant with normal, molar and hyperemesis gravidarum pregnancies.

Uterine carcinosarcoma in a patient with didelphys uterus.

Background. Didelphys uterus is a noncommon finding in women. Till now, few cases with benign mesenchymal tumors in patients with didelphys uterus are described.

Radiological manifestations of metastasis to the ovary.

MRI is an effective tool for detection of ovarian neoplastic lesions. However, there are no highly specific radiological features that differentiate primary from metastatic ovarian masses. Histological diagnosis preoperatively is not always possible as there is a risk of disseminating an otherwise early stage primary ovarian cancer.

Behaviour modification and benign prostatic hyperplasia: replacement for medications.

Purpose Of Review: Lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a highly prevalent chronic disease. The cost impact of treatment is high. The field of behavioural treatments which could be suitable in the majority of uncomplicated patients has rarely been assessed.

Uninterrupted warfarin for periprocedural anticoagulation in catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter: a safe and cost-effective strategy.

Introduction: Many patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial flutter (AFL) require periprocedural anticoagulation. We compared a strategy of conversion to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) periprocedure to uninterrupted warfarinization in a nonrandomized, case-controlled study.

Methods: One hundred and one consecutive patients requiring periprocedural anticoagulation for catheter ablation of typical AFL were studied.

Magnetic resonance lymphography: a novel technique for lymph node assessment in gynecologic malignancies.

Lymph node status determines both prognosis and treatment choice in gynecological malignancies. Both CT and MRI are standard techniques used to detect lymph node involvement but these techniques have low sensitivity and specificity. Magnetic resonance lymphography (MRL) using iron oxide nanoparticles is a new technique for lymph node assessment which has shown much promise.

Introduction of a nurse-led sexual health service for HIV-positive men.

A nurse-led clinic offering screening for sexual infections to men within an existing HIV outpatient service was created. A retrospective case-note review was undertaken of those having a sexual health (SH) screen between May and December 2007. A total of 125 men had an SH screen, 117 identified as men who have sex with men and 84 were asymptomatic.

Case report--an iatrogenic foreign body in the airway.

We report a case of an iatrogenic foreign body in the airway. An 80-year-old patient who had undergone major head and neck surgery several weeks early presented as an inpatient with a persistent cough and recurrent chest infections. Fibreoptic nasendoscopy revealed the presence of a nasopharyngeal airway sitting vertically in the airway.

MRI demonstration of the effect of neoadjuvant radiotherapy on rectal carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: In patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, neoadjuvant long course (45-54 Gy in 25-30 fractions) chemoradiotherapy (CRT) may reduce tumour size and result in downstaging. In patients with primary resectable tumour short course (25 Gy in 5 fractions) radiotherapy (SCRT) reduces local recurrence but downstaging the disease or altering tumour size has not been described. We aimed to assess change in tumour size on MRI after SCRT or CRT.

Comparison of vibration perception thresholds in individuals with diffuse upper limb pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The study objective was to compare vibration perception and patterns of blood flow in outpatients with diffuse upper limb pain disorder (ULPD), carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and age and sex matched healthy controls. Vibration perception and discrimination thresholds were compared in subjects with ULPD (n=27), CTS (n=27) and healthy matched controls (n=54). Vibration measurements were taken bilaterally at three sites: (a) over the dorsum of the second and (b) fifth metacarpals and (c) the palmar aspect of the first and second metacarpals, corresponding to the innervation territories of the radial, ulnar and median nerves, respectively.

Measuring tumor pharmacodynamic response using PET proliferation probes: the case for 2-[(11)C]-thymidine.

[(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is becoming accepted as a diagnostic tool for cancer, but the potential uses of PET in oncology extend beyond the imaging of glucose metabolism. The development of a PET proliferation probe would be a useful pharmacodynamic tool. [(11)C]-thymidine PET has been assessed in man as a specific measure of tumor proliferation.

Reduction of bladder cancer cell growth in response to hCGbeta CTP37 vaccinated mouse serum.

The free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCGbeta) is well established as an ectopic product of epithelial tumors. Originally explained as an epi-phenomenon, hCGbeta production by many types of carcinoma is increasingly regarded as a significant tumor event. Studies in bladder cancer have shown that hCGbeta production, while not diagnostic, is a very good indicator for poor prognosis through correlations with resistance to radiotherapy and rapid metastasis.

Pain in endometriosis: effectiveness of medical and surgical management.

Purpose Of Review: Endometriosis is a common cause of chronic pelvic pain and has a detrimental effect on the quality of life for women affected with the condition. It is also clear that early diagnosis with prompt effective management does not always occur. This review will discuss the medical and surgical treatment options and support conclusions with randomized double blind placebo-controlled studies where possible.

Variations in the processing of prostatic needle cores in the UK; what is safe?

Aims: To determine the variation in the processing of prostatic needle cores in the UK and to compare the results with suggested guidelines.

Methods: A standard questionnaire was sent to 210 pathology departments enquiring about current practices.

Results: One hundred and thirty replies were received, which showed considerable variation in current methods.

A role for innate immunity in type 1 diabetes?

Two arms of the immune system, innate and adaptive immunity, differ in their mode of immune recognition. The innate immune system recognizes a few highly conserved structures on a broad range of microorganisms. On the other hand, recognition of self or autoreactivity is generally confined to the adaptive immune response.

MR imaging of uterine sarcomas.

Objective: The MR imaging appearances of uterine sarcomas are not well described in the literature. We describe the MR imaging features of uterine sarcomas.

Materials And Methods: MR images from all patients with histologically proven uterine sarcomas scanned between 1993 and 2000 were reviewed.

Commentary: possible mechanisms for strand-breaks in DNA induced by stirring.

When aqueous solutions of DNA are stirred at room temperature, strand breaks occur extensively. Using various spin-traps, coupled with epr spectroscopy, we have shown that this does not proceed via homolysis. It is suggested that breaks occur by hydrolysis at strongly bent regions, momentarily induced by the stirring.

Cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery at high altitude.

During acclimatization to moderate altitudes, a simple calculation from data of others shows that the rise in cerebral blood flow (CBF) is sufficient that oxygen delivery to brain (DaO2) is constant as arterial oxygen content (CaO2) falls. This balance occurs on average even though the hypocapnia caused by hypoxic hyperventilation causes cerebral vasoconstriction, conflicting with hypoxic cerebral vasodilation. The relative strengths of the ventilatory and cerebral vascular sensitivities may affect this balance in individual subjects.

Tai Chi for older people.

Classes are held in a variety of venues, in order to be accessible to as many older people as possible. Each has its own dynamic and atmosphere.

Prediction of relapse after lymph node dissection for germ cell tumours: can salvage chemotherapy be avoided?

Salvage chemotherapy has been used by some oncology centres for patients with residual malignant or immature elements in retroperitoneal lymph node dissections removed for metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours. However, surveillance of these patients shows that many are cured by surgery alone. 118 retroperitoneal lymph node dissections for metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours were reviewed and the morphology seen within them was quantified.