Imaging findings of adrenal primitive neuroectodermal tumors: a series of seven cases

OBJECTIVE

To explore the imaging features of adrenal primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included seven patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed adrenal PNETs. Among them, six underwent computed tomography (CT) scans, and one underwent magnetic resonance imaging. The imaging findings, including size, shape, margin, hemorrhage, calcification, cystic degeneration, regional lymph nodes involvement, tumor thrombus formation and enhancement pattern, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the seven adrenal PNET patients, six were male, and one was female. The median age was 26 years (range 2-56 years). The disease generally presented with either insidious symptoms (n = 4) or non-specific symptoms, including right flank pain (n = 1) and left upper abdominal discomfort (n = 2). On the pre-enhanced CT images, the tumor usually appeared as a well-defined, rounded or oval, heterogeneous mass without calcification. Certain tissue characteristics, such as cystic degeneration (n = 5), capsule (n = 4) and hemorrhage (n = 2), were observed. Regional lymph node involvement was observed in three cases, and renal vein thrombus was observed in one case. All cases showed mild heterogeneous enhancement of the tumor on the enhanced CT images.

CONCLUSION

An adrenal PNET commonly presents as a relatively large, well-defined, heterogeneous mass with cystic degeneration, necrosis and a characteristic mild contrast-enhancement pattern on multiphase enhanced images. PNET should be considered when the diagnosis of common tumors is not favored by signs on images.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT

This study was approved by the medical ethics committee of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. The approval number is 201512538.

Bio-Inspired Mechanotactic Hybrids for Orchestrating Traction-Mediated Epithelial Migration

A platform of mechanotactic hybrids is established by projecting lateral gradients of apparent interfacial stiffness onto the planar surface of a compliant hydrogel layer using an underlying rigid substrate with microstructures inherited from 3D printed molds. Using this platform, the mechanistic coupling of epithelial migration with the stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is found to be independent of the interfacial compositional and topographical cues.

Neutral particles pushed or pulled by laser pulses

Acceleration of neutral particles is of great importance in many areas, such as controlled chemical reactions, atomic nanofabrication, and atom optics. Recent experimental studies have shown that pulsed lasers can be used to push neutral Rydberg atoms forward [Nature 461, 1261 (2009)10.1038/nature08481; Nat. Photonics 6, 386 (2012)10.1038/nphoton.2012.87]. Our simulation shows that pulsed lasers can also be used to pull Rydberg atoms back toward a light source. In particular, we proposed a method of using two laser pulses on a neutral atom, then selective operations on the neutral atom (pushing or pulling) can be performed by adjusting the delay time between the two laser pulses.

Role of Cytoskeletal Tension in the Induction of Cardiomyogenic Differentiation in Micropatterned Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell

The role of biophysical induction methods such as cell micropatterning in stem cell differentiation has been well documented previously. However, the underlying mechanistic linkage of the engineered cell shape to directed lineage commitment remains poorly understood. Here, it is reported that micropatterning plays an important role in regulating the optimal cytoskeletal tension development in human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) via cell mechanotransduction pathways to induce cardiomyogenic differentiation. Cells are grown on fibronectin strip patterns to control cell polarization and morphology. These patterned cells eventually show directed commitment toward the myocardial lineage. The cell's mechanical properties (cell stiffness and cell traction forces) are observed to be very different for cells that have committed to the myocardial lineage when compared with that of control. These committed cells have mechanical properties that are significantly lower indicating a correlation between the micropatterning-induced differentiation and actomyosin-generated cytoskeletal tension within patterned cells. To study this correlation, patterned cells are treated with RhoA pathway inhibitor. Severely down-regulated cardiomyogenic marker expression is observed in those treated patterned cells, thus emphasizing the direct dependence of hMSCs differentiation fate on the cytoskeletal tension.

Conjugated polymer and drug co-encapsulated nanoparticles for chemo- and photo-thermal combination therapy with two-photon regulated fast drug release

The spatial-temporal synchronization of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy is highly desirable for an efficient cancer treatment with synergistic effect. Herein, we developed a chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) and photothermal conjugated polymer (CP) co-loaded nanoplatform using a near-infrared (NIR) laser responsive amphiphilic brush copolymer as the encapsulation matrix. The obtained nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit good monodispersity and excellent stability, which can efficiently convert laser energy into thermal energy for photothermal therapy. Moreover, the hydrophobic polymer matrix bearing a number of 2-diazo-1,2-naphthoquinones (DNQ) moieties could be transformed to a hydrophilic one upon NIR two-photon laser irradiation, which leads to fast drug release. Furthermore, the surface modification of the NPs with cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) tripeptide significantly enhances the accumulation of the NPs within integrin αvβ3 overexpressed cancer cells. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the combination therapy is 13.7 μg mL(-1), while the IC50 for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy alone is 147.8 μg mL(-1) and 36.2 μg mL(-1), respectively. The combination index (C.I.) is 0.48 (<1), which indicates the synergistic effect for chemotherapy and PTT. These findings provide an excellent NIR laser regulated nanoplatform for combined cancer treatment with synergistic effect due to the synchronous chemo- and photo-thermal therapy.

Two-dimensional Fermi surfaces in Kondo insulator SmB6

In the Kondo insulator samarium hexaboride (SmB6), strong correlation and band hybridization lead to an insulating gap and a diverging resistance at low temperature. The resistance divergence ends at about 3 kelvin, a behavior that may arise from surface conductance. We used torque magnetometry to resolve the Fermi surface topology in this material. The observed oscillation patterns reveal two Fermi surfaces on the (100) surface plane and one Fermi surface on the (101) surface plane. The measured Fermi surface cross sections scale as the inverse cosine function of the magnetic field tilt angles, which demonstrates the two-dimensional nature of the conducting electronic states of SmB6.

Luminescence properties of different Eu sites in LiMgPO4:Eu(2+), Eu(3+)

The effect of temperature on the luminescence properties of LiMgPO4 doped with Eu(3+) and Eu(2+) are presented. Depending on the excitation wavelength, luminescence spectra consist of two distinct broad emission bands peaking at 380 nm and 490 nm related to 4f(6)5d(1) → 4f(7) ((8)S7/2) luminescence of Eu(2+) and to europium-trapped exciton, respectively, and/or several sharp lines between the 580 nm and 710 nm region, ascribed to the (5)D0 → (7)FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) transitions in Eu(3+). To explain all the features of the Eu(2+) and Eu(3+) luminescence we discussed the existence of two different Eu sites substituting for Li(+), with short and long distance compensation. The evident effect of increasing the intensity of the Eu(2+) luminescence with increasing temperature was observed. It was considered that the charge compensation mechanism for Eu(3+) and Li(+) as well as Eu(2+) replacing Li(+) in the LiMgPO4 is a long distance compensation that allows for the existence of some of the europium ions either as Eu(3+) at low temperature or as Eu(2+) at high temperature. We concluded that Eu(2+) in the Li(+) site with long distance compensation yields only 4f(6)5d(1) → 4f(7) luminescence, whereas Eu(2+) in the Li(+) site with short distance compensation yields 4f(6)5d(1) → 4f(7) luminescence and europium-trapped exciton emission.

Orthogonally engineering matrix topography and rigidity to regulate multicellular morphology

Programmable polymer substrates, which mimic the variable extracellular matrices in living systems, are used to regulate multicellular morphology, via orthogonally modulating the matrix topography and elasticity. The multicellular morphology is dependent on the competition between cell-matrix adhesion and cell-cell adhesion. Decreasing the cell-matrix adhesion provokes cytoskeleton reorganization, inhibits lamellipodial crawling, and thus enhances the leakiness of multicellular morphology.

Nanoparticles strengthen intracellular tension and retard cellular migration

Nanoparticles can have profound effects on cell biology. Here, we show that after TiO2, SiO2, and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles treatment, TR146 epithelial cell sheet displayed slower migration. Cells after exposure to the nanoparticles showed increased cell contractility with significantly impaired wound healing capability however without any apparent cytotoxicity. We showed the mechanism is through nanoparticle-mediated massive disruption of the intracellular microtubule assembly, thereby triggering a positive feedback that promoted stronger substrate adhesions thus leading to limited cell motility.

Gold nanotip array for ultrasensitive electrochemical sensing and spectroscopic monitoring

A gold nanotip array platform with a combination of ultrasensitive electrochemical sensing and spectroscopic monitoring capability is reported. Adenosine triphosphate is detected down to 1 pM according to the impedance changes in response to aptamer-specific binding. Furthermore, the local molecular information can be monitored at the individual plasmonic nanotips, and hence provide the capability for a better understanding of complex biological processes.

The effect of AmtR on growth and amino acids production in Corynebacterium glutamicum

AmtR, the master regulator of nitrogen control in Corynebacterium glutamicum, plays important roles in nitrogen metabolism. To investigate the influence of AmtR on amino acids production in C. glutamicum ATCC 13032, the amtR deletion strain C. glutamicum Q1 was constructed and cultured in modified CGXII minimal medium for 60 h. The ammonium consumption rates as well as amino acids production of both strains cultured in modified CGXII minimal medium were determined. The amtR deletion in C. glutamicum caused an obvious growth defect in the exponential growth phase, but both strains had the same biomass in the stationary phases. Maybe the less alpha-oxoglutarate was used for the tricarboxylic acid cycle to influence the growth of strains. During 12 h, the rate of ammonium consumption and the concentration of Glu, Pro, Arg and Ser were higher but Asp, Gly, Ile, Leu, Lys were lower in the mutation strain. During 48 h, the Q1 had higher levels of Asp, Lys, Pro, Ala and Val,and lower levels of Glu, Arg, Leu and Ile, compared to the wild. The more Glu was synthesized by the activated GS/GOGAT pathway in Q1, and then the accumulation of relative amino acids (Pro, Arg and Ser) were up-regulated within 12 h growth. After 48 h growth, the amtR deletion obviously influenced accumulation of Ala, Asp and Pro. The amtR deletion could influence the growth and amino acids production, which could be useful to the production of amino acids.

Association analysis of TIM-1 -232G > A and 5383_5397 insertion/deletion polymorphisms with childhood asthma and total serum immunoglobulin E levels in middle China

BACKGROUND

One of the members of the T cell immunoglobulin (Ig) domain and mucin domain (TIM) gene family, TIM-1, located in the chromosome 5q31-33 region, has been associated with the development of T helper (T(H)) 2-biased immune responses and may be selectively expressed in T(H)2 cells. Previous studies have also shown an association between polymorphisms in the TIM-1 gene and asthma or asthma-related phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between the TIM-1 polymorphisms -232G > A and 5383_5397 insertion/deletion (ins/del) and susceptibility to asthma in a group of patients from middle China.

METHODS

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and PCR-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to detect -232G > A and 5383_5397 ins/del genotypes in 302 asthmatic children and 206 controls. Serum total IgE was measured by chemiluminescence and specific IgE to common aeroallergens by immunoblot analysis.

RESULTS

We found no association between the -232G > A polymorphism and asthma or total serum IgE levels or statistically significant differences between asthma and control subjects in terms of genotype and allele frequency for the 5383_5397 ins/del polymorphism.We did, however, detect a difference in total serum IgE levels for 5383_5397 ins/ins genotypes in individuals with atopic asthma (P < .05) in that they had higher IgE levels than those with del/del and del/ins genotypes.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the 5383_5397 ins/ins genotype in the TIM-1 gene is associated with elevated serum total IgE levels, particularly in individuals with atopic asthma. Further studies are needed to confirm such an association.

Adsorption of Pseudomonas putida on clay minerals and iron oxide

Adsorption of Pseudomonas putida on minerals including montmorillonite, kaolinite and goethite was studied. The adsorption isotherms of P. putida on the examined minerals conformed to the Langmuir equation. The amount of P. putida adsorbed followed the order: goethite > kaolinite > montmorillonite. A greater extent of P. putida adsorption on minerals was observed in the range of temperature from 15 to 35 degrees C. The adsorption of P. putida on minerals decreased with the increase of pH from 3.0 to 10.0. Magnesium ion was more efficient than sodium ion in promoting P. putida adsorption on minerals. The results suggest that electrostatic interactions play a vital role in P. putida adsorption by soil colloidal factions. The information obtained in this study is of fundamental significance for the understanding of the survival and transport of bacteria in soil systems.

Methyl palmitate: inhibitor of phagocytosis in primary rat Kupffer cells

Kupffer cells are involved in phagocytosis and known to release biologically active mediators during early events of liver injury. Such functional properties of Kupffer cells can be modulated by methyl palmitate (MP). Therefore, efficacy of MP to modulate Kupffer cell function was evaluated in cultured primary Kupffer cells from rat liver. Phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells was measured by their capacity to phagocytize latex beads and the release of TNF-alpha, IL-10, IL-6, nitric oxide, and PGE2 was determined in cell culture medium after incubating the cells with various concentrations of MP for 24 h followed stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 6 h. To understand the mechanism of phagocytosis, we investigated the hydrolysis of MP, and determine ATP levels and activity of NF-kappaB in MP-inhibited Kupffer cells. A significant decrease was observed in phagocytosis. Phagocytosis evaluated at 0.5 mM MP was found to be time-dependent with a maximum decrease of 49% at 6 h. Exposure of Kupffer cells to MP followed by LPS stimulation showed a dose-dependent decrease in phagocytosis and reduced the release of TNF-alpha, IL-10, nitric oxide, and PGE2 but not of IL-6 levels in the supernatant as compared to the control. While ATP levels were unchanged, the nuclear factor NF-kappaB (p65) activity was inhibited in Kupffer cells treated with MP after LPS stimulation (35.6 RLU versus 49.6 RLU in control). Hydrolysis of MP was found to be time-dependent; maximum concentration of MP and palmitic acid (hydrolysis products) in the cell being at 3 and 6 h, respectively. In general, MP appears to reduce phagocytosis and levels of TNF-alpha, IL-10, nitric oxide, and PGE2 without affecting ATP levels and is probably mediated by NF-kappaB. This in vitro model is useful for detailed mechanistic studies of inhibition of phagocytosis by MP and other fatty acid esters.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery as a primary surgical treatment for hypersecreting pituitary adenomas

OBJECT

To estimate the efficacy of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKR) especially as a primary surgical treatment for hypersecreting pituitary adenomas.

METHODS

274 patients were treated with GKR. The mean tumor volume was 1.86 cm(3). The mean peripheral dose was 28.7 Gy.

RESULTS

223 patients were followed up for an average of 31.6 months. The dose related to the tumor growth control and endocrinological normalization was detailed and statistical analysis of the data was performed.

CONCLUSION

GKR as a primary surgical treatment for hypersecreting pituitary adenomas may be safe and effective.

Spectroscopic and theoretical studies on copper(II) complex of maleinitriledithiolate and 1,10-phenanthroline

A complete vibrational spectra analysis of the title complex is performed in this paper. The molecular geometry, binding, electron structure and spectroscopic properties for the title complex are studied in detail by PM3 or ZINDO/S method. It has been found that this complex has a planar structure belonging to the symmetry point group C2v and its ground state is the spin doublet state. By comparison with the observed results, it can be concluded that PM3 methods are reliable to calculate the vibrational spectra of this molecule. It is worth noting that the scientific method of assigning vibrational spectra for a complicated molecule containing metal is established herein for the first time by giving main fixed points and pivotal vibrational units. Besides the regular symbols, the new defined symbols eta and M play an important role in describing the vibrational modes accurately and vividly.

[The experimental study of intratemporal facial nerve regeneration in chitin chamber]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the feasibility of intratemporal facial nerve regeneration in a chitin chamber.

METHODS

A left 6 mm intratemporal facial nerve gap was created in adult white rabbit, and a total of 48 animals were used. The proximal and distal stumps were bridged with chitin chamber (experimental group) and silicone chamber (control group). Regeneration of the nerve was assessed by gross observation, nerve electrophysiological test, histological examination and digital morphological analysis in both groups.

RESULTS

1. Three months after implantation, the proximal transected neural stump was connected with the distal stump in the chitin chamber. Five months after operation, the regenerated nerve exhibited a more nature fascicular organization and the chitin tubes were completely absorbed. 2. Nerve evoked potentials showed better conduction ability in the chitin chamber. There were no significant difference in electrophysiological indices between the two chamber groups. 3. Most of the regenerated nerve fibers were myelinated nerve fibers, and axons and myelins had similar histograms between the experimental and control groups. 4. Five months after operation, the mean percentage of recovery of the regenerated nerve fiber area, axonal area and axonal number were more than 71% in the experimental group. There was no significant difference between the control and experimental groups.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that intratemporal facial nerve could regenerate effectively within the chitin chamber in rabbits and such kind of chamber may be clinically useful.

Kinase-inducible domain-like region of HTLV type 1 tax is important for NF-kappaB activation

Partial proteolysis of HTLV-1 Tax protein has revealed the region surrounding amino acid residues (88)KVL(90) to be highly exposed. The protein sequence surrounding this region ((81)QRTSKTLKVLTPPIT(95)) bears resemblance to the kinase-inducible domain (KID, (129)SRRPSYRKILNE(140)) of CREB and is involved in recruiting transcriptional coactivators, p300 and CBP, for trans-activating the viral long terminal repeat (LTR). Data have also revealed the KID-like region to be important for Tax binding to DNA. Here we report that single (K88A, V89A, L90A) and double alanine substitutions (V89A-L90A) in the (88)KVL(90) motif attenuate the ability of Tax to activate NF-kappaB. Deletions near or spanning this motif also had the same effect. The alanine substitutions affect HTLV-1 LTR activation and NF-kappaB activation differently, with K88A and V89A mutants showing much reduced activities for HTLV LTR activation while retaining attenuated but significant NF-kappaB-activating function. In contrast, although the L90A mutant is similarly attenuated for NF-kappaB activation, it showed significant activity in LTR trans-activation. Incorporation of both V89A and L90A substitutions in a V89A-L90A double mutant further reduced NF-kappaB activation and completely abrogated LTR trans-activation. In aggregate, these results demonstrate the importance of the KID-like domain of Tax and implicate its interaction with cellular factors other than p300/CBP in NF-kappaB activation.

8-methyl-pyridoxatin: A novel N-hydroxy pyridone from fungus OS-F61800 that induces erythropoietin in human cells

In the course of screening for small-molecule modulators of erythropoietin gene expression, a novel N-hydroxy pyridone was isolated from a culture of OS-F61800. Its structure was elucidated by extensive 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic and chemical studies. This compound induced erythropoietin gene expression fivefold at a concentration of 0.3 microM, which is about threefold greater potency than our previously identified erythropoietin inducers.

Division of C8 nerve root for treatment of spastic cerebral palsy in the upper limbs: a preliminary report

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of C8 nerve root division on the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy in the upper limbs.

METHODS

Two patients were treated with division of the C8 never root. Supraclavicular incision was made to expose the C5-T1 nerve roots. The intraoperative electromyographic recording technique was used to monitor the responses from the flexor digitorum and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle groups simultaneously. The C5-T1 nerve roots were stimulated and the evoked muscle amplitude potentials (EMAP) were recorded from the muscle groups. The EMAP of the muscle groups obtained during electrical stimulation of the C8 nerve root was the largest, which was used as the basis for C8 nerve root division.

RESULTS

Division of the C8 nerve root slightly affected the function of the upper limb, and reduced the muscle tone of the flexor wrist and digitorum.

CONCLUSION

Division of the C8 nerve root can reduce the muscle tone of the flexor wrist and digitorum in a short time. The long-term effects need to be followed up further.

Anodal block in F-wave studies

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether F-wave results differ with the anode proximal or distal to the cathode, ie, if clinical anodal block exists.

DESIGN

Prospective study of 30 healthy volunteers undergoing nerve conduction and F-wave studies in one median nerve. A needle cathode electrode was used with a surface anode placed alternately proximal and distal to the cathode. The same electromyographer performed all studies with a Dantec Counterpoint machine.

RESULTS

F-wave latencies were essentially unaffected by distal versus proximal positioning. Minimum, maximum, and mean F-wave latencies correlated extremely highly (r=.973 to .988). For both F-wave and M-response latencies and amplitudes, differences between mean values obtained using the two methods were extremely small and were neither clinically nor statistically significant. The frequency of elicitation of F-waves may (p < .05) have been slightly (3.5%) lower when the anode was in the distal position.

CONCLUSION

Anodal block is not seen in F-wave studies when using needle electrode stimulations. Reversing the stimulator does not seem to be required. Further study with surface stimulating electrodes is underway to confirm results.

Application of zeeman modulation faraday spectroscopy to the measurement of a magnetic field

We report what is to our knowledge the first possibility of a NO(2) molecular magnetometer based on the Zeeman modulation magnetic rotation spectroscopic (ZM MRS) technique and the magneto-optic activity of NO(2). The linear dependence of the ZM MRS signal intensity on the modulating magnetic field is theoretically analyzed and experimentally measured. The design concept of the magnetometer and its main features are discussed.

Epolones: novel sesquiterpene-tropolones from fungus OS-F69284 that induce erythropoietin in human cells

In the course of our screening for small molecule modulators of erythropoietin gene expression, two novel sesquiterpene tropolones and pycnidone were isolated from a culture of OS-F69284 (ATCC 74390). Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic studies and chemical reactions. These compounds induced erythropoietin gene expression 5-fold at a concentration of 1-1.6 microM.

Isolation and characterization of the fungal metabolite 3-O-methylviridicatin as an inhibitor of tumour necrosis factor alpha-induced human immunodeficiency virus replication

The cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) has been shown to play a role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication by activating transcription of the provirus in both T cells and macrophages. Therefore, agents that block TNF-alpha-induced HIV expression could have therapeutic value in the treatment of AIDS. We have sought to identify antiviral agents that block TNF-alpha induction of HIV LTR-directed transcription, using a cell-based, virus-free assay system in automated high-throughput screening. HeLa cells were transfected with an HIV LTR-luciferase reporter plasmid and a stable line was isolated in which TNF-alpha increased luciferase production by two- to threefold. This cell line was used to screen approximately 15,000 fungal extracts. An inhibitory activity specific for TNF-alpha-induced HIV LTR transcription was observed in culture OS-F67406. The active component was isolated and identified as a known metabolite, 3-O-methylviridicatin, by NMR and mass spectrometry. No biological activity has been associated with this compound previously. This compound blocks TNF-alpha activation of the HIV LTR in the HeLa-based system, with an IC50 of 5 microM, and inhibited virus production in the OM-10.1 cell line, a model of chronic infection responsive to induction by TNF-alpha, with an IC50 of 2.5 microM.

Destruxin-A4 chlorohydrin, a novel destruxin from fungus OS-F68576: isolation, structure determination, and biological activity as an inducer of erythropoietin

In the course of screening for small-molecule modulators of erythropoietin gene expression, five destruxins were isolated from the fungal culture of OS-F68576. The structures were elucidated by extensive 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and by hydrolytic modification. One compound (destruxin-A4 chlorohydrin, 1) is a novel destruxin. All these compounds induced erythropoietin gene expression 5-fold at concentration of 0.2-2 microM.

[Determination of ampelopsin and myricetin in Ampelopsis cantoniensis]

Ampelopsis cantoniensis (Hook. et Arn.) Planch. is a Chinese herbal medicine rich in flavonoids. A method to determine flavonoids in the herbal was studied. After the herbal was extracted in hot water, Ampelopsin and myricetin in the extract were separated by polyamide column with eluent of ethanol-water and measured by spectrophotometry. As results, 100 g of the dry herbal contains 25.2 g of ampelopsin (RSD = 1.7%, recovery = 97.0%) and 1.77 g of myricetin (RSD = 3.3%, recovery = 103%).

[Clinical and pathologic analysis of 33 cases of brachial plexus neurinoma]

Clinical and pathological findings in 33 cases of brachial plexus neurinoma are reported. In 30 cases (90.91%) the diagnosis was proved to be correct by postoperative histological sections, and in other 3 cases (9.09%) the diagnosis couldn't be made preoperatively. The 33 cases were subjected to surgical resections and 18 (54.55%) of them still felt numbness and pain within two weeks after surgery. Sixteen cases were followed up for three months and 14 (87.5%) of them felt numbness by percussion over the incision. All the 33 cases had no brachial plexus traumatic complication postoperatively.

Quadrilateral space syndrome

We studied 4 cases of quadrilateral space syndrome. Though the syndrome is quite uncommon, it might be discovered by examination of the patient complaining of pain of neck and shoulder especially when the tenderness in the quadrilateral space. Early surgical decompression is indicated as soon as diagnosis is made.

Improved quantitation of HER-2/neu gene copy number in breast tumor-derived DNA samples

A Southern blot-based assay is presented that increases the simplicity and accuracy of the HER-2/neu gene copy number assignment in breast cancer DNA. Genomic DNA was hybridized simultaneously with probes corresponding to portions of HER-2/neu and a single-copy gene, myeloperoxidase. A unique restriction fragment was detected for each gene. The use of DNA probes of similar mass and equal specific activities resulted in a ratio of band intensities on the resultant autoradiograph that reported the ratio of gene copy numbers directly. Patient samples containing amplified levels of the HER-2/neu gene were identified by simple visual inspection of a single autoradiograph. Analysis of breast cancer samples alongside the cell line DNAs, representing a range of HER-2/neu gene copy numbers, permits visual quantitation of the tumors' gene copy numbers. The authors show that the HER-2/neu gene copy number can be determined accurately in marginally degraded DNA, a feature of some clinical samples.

Effect of the vertical force component of Class II elastics on the anterior intrusive force of maxillary archwire

Class II elastics are usually employed in the treatment of excessive overbite and overjet with the Begg technique. The effect of Class II elastics on bite opening and the extent of such an effect is uncertain. This article, based on measurements of 30 cases, illustrates that the effect of the vertical component of force from Class II elastics in reducing the intrusive force generated by the anchor bands in the upper archwire is less than previously believed. The position of the circles in the archwire for intermaxillary elastics has the greatest influence on the anterior intrusive force of the upper archwire. The direction of the Class II elastics and the length of the dental arch (a negative correlation) came second, while the force actually exerted by the elastics had the smallest influence. It is, therefore, suggested that the position of the intermaxillary elastic circles should be located according to the differing clinical objectives.