Optical Phase Conjugation with Less Than a Photon per Degree of Freedom

We demonstrate experimentally that optical phase conjugation can be used to focus light through strongly scattering media even when far less than a photon per optical degree of freedom is detected. We found that the best achievable intensity contrast is equal to the total number of detected photons, as long as the resolution of the system is high enough. Our results demonstrate that phase conjugation can be used even when the photon budget is extremely low, such as in high-speed focusing through dynamic media or imaging deep inside tissue.

Heterogeneous photooxidation of sulfur dioxide in the presence of airborne mineral dust particles

Heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation of SO₂on the surface of Arizona dust particles was investigated in the absence and the presence of NOxand O₃under varying humidity using a 2-m³indoor photoirradiation chamber.

Estimation of Genetic Associations between Production and Meat Quality Traits in Duroc Pigs

Data collected from 690 purebred Duroc pigs from 2009 to 2012 were used to estimate the heritability, and genetic and phenotypic correlations between production and meat quality traits. Variance components were obtained through the restricted maximum likelihood procedure using Wombat and SAS version 9.0. Animals were raised under the same management in five different breeding farms. The average daily gain, loin muscle area (LMA), backfat thickness (BF), and lean percent (LP) were measured as production traits. Meat quality traits included pH, cooking loss, lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), marbling score (MS), moisture content (MC), water holding capacity (WHC), and shear force. The results showed that the heritability estimates for meat quality traits varied largely from 0.19 to 0.79. Production traits were moderate to highly heritable from 0.41 to 0.73. Genotypically, the BF was positively correlated (p<0.05) with MC (0.786), WHC (0.904), and pH (0.328) but negatively correlated with shear force (−0.533). The results of genetic correlations indicated that selection for less BF could decrease pH, moisture content, and WHC and increase the shear force of meat. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was recorded between average daily gain and WHC, which indicates pork from faster-growing animals has higher WHC. Furthermore, selection for larger LMA and LP could increase MS and lightness color of meat. The meat quality and production traits could be improved simultaneously if desired. Hence, to avoid further deterioration of pork characteristics, appropriate selection of traits should be considered.

Nodular Fasciitis of the Breast: A Case and Literature Review

Nodular fasciitis is a benign fibroblastic proliferation in soft tissue that is most commonly found in the upper extremities, trunk, head, and neck region. Its occurrence in the breast has been rarely reported. The most characteristic features are the sudden appearance and rapid growth of a palpable lesion. Nodular fasciitis can clinically, radiologically, and histopathologically mimic a breast carcinoma. We present a case of nodular fasciitis of the breast and a review of the relevant literature.

Role of second-look ultrasound examinations for MR-detected lesions in patients with breast cancer

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical value of second-look ultrasound (US) examination for the evaluation of additional enhancing lesions detected on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between May 2008 and February 2011, 794 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer underwent breast MR imaging. We included 101 patients with 132 additional enhancing breast lesions detected on MR imaging who underwent second-look US.  The imaging features and lesion category according to the Breast Imaging and Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) were assessed with MR and US imaging, respectively.

RESULTS

According to the BI-RADS system, 67 lesions (50.8 %) were classified as category 0, 33 lesions (25.0 %) as category 3, and 32 lesions (24.2 %) as category 4. Of the 67 indeterminate lesions on MR imaging, 34 (50.7 %) were demonstrated on second-look US. 11 of these 34 lesions showed suspicious sonographic features, including 1 lesion that showed malignancy (9.1 %, 1/11). Most of the suspicious lesions on MR imaging (26 of 32 BI-RADS category 4 lesions, 81.3 %) were demonstrated on second-look US, and 17 were malignant (65.4 %, 17/26). Of the 6 BI-RADS category 4 lesions without sonographic correlation, 1 was malignant (16.7 %, 1/6).

CONCLUSION

Second-look US examination was useful for evaluating MR-detected lesions in patients with breast cancer.

Fentanyl-induced asystole in two dogs

Fentanyl is used in small animals for perioperative analgesia during anaesthesia. Severe bradycardia and asystole were observed on bolus administration of a 3 µg/kg loading dose of fentanyl in two dogs under isoflurane anaesthesia. Premedication with 10 µg/kg glycopyrrolate did not prevent asystole in the first case; and although bradycardia was treated with 5 µg/kg glycopyrrolate administered intravenously in the second case, the heart rate continuously decreased and asystole subsequently developed. Asystole in both cases was quickly corrected by intravenous administration of 0 · 04 mg/kg atropine and closed chest compressions. This case report describes asystole induced by fentanyl administration in isoflurane anaesthetised dogs. Atropine was more effective than glycopyrrolate in the treatment of fentanyl-induced asystole.

Treatment outcome and safety of docetaxel as the third-line chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer after progression or after failure of FOLFOX and FOLFIRI-based sequential chemotherapy

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Background: We performed multicenter retrospective study to evaluate the activity and the safety of a docetaxel as the third-line chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients who had undergone oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) and irinotecan (FOLFIRI)-based chemotherapy regimens.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with AGC previously treated were eligible for this study. Patients received docetaxel 30 mg/m2 +/- cisplatin 30 mg/m2 IV on day 1, 8 or docetaxel 60 mg/m2 +/- cisplatin 60 mg/m2 IV on day 1 every 3 weeks until disease progression, and responses were assessed after every two cycles according to RECIST criteria and toxicity was evaluated by NCI-CTC.

Results: Thirty-two out of 38 patients were evaluable for response. A total of 95.1 cycles of chemotherapy (median 2, range 0.5–7) were administered. Relative dose intensities of docetaxel and cisplatin were 93.4% and 87.8%, respectively. The overall response rate was 15.6% and the disease control rate was 50%. With a median follow-up duration of 3.1 months (range 0.3-14.3 months), 36 patients had disease progression, and 34 patients had died at the time of analysis. The median progression-free survival was 1.8 months (95% CI, 1.3–2.3 months). The median overall survival was 3.1 months (95% CI, 2.3–3.9 months). Grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities included neutropenia in thirteen patients (38.3%), febrile neutropenia in four patients (11.7%). and thrombocytopenia in one patient (2.9%). Other grade 3 or 4 toxicities included neuropathy in three patients (8.8%) and mucositis in two patients (5.9%). There were three treatment-related deaths (8.8%) caused by infection associated with neutropenia.

Conclusions: Salvage docetaxel chemotherapy in AGC patients failed in oxaliplatin and irinotecan-based treatment is not recommend routinely. However, selected patients with good performance status and sufficient albumin levels may have derived some survival benefits from salvage chemotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Can We Skip Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients Who Have Microinvasive Breast Cancer?

Background: Sentinel lymph node(SLN) biopsy in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) was controversial. We may skip SLN biopsy when we performed conserving operation with small sized DCIS. But sometimes we can find DCIS with micro-invasive breast cancer (MIC) after operation. Should another operation be performed? We determined the incidence of positive axillary lymph node (ALNs) in patients with MIC, and the predictive factors of ALNs metastasis in these patients. Methods: Between July 1989 and January 2008, 9046 patients had operations performed on invasive breast cancers at Asan Medical Center. From July1989 to February 2003, ALND was performed to surgically stage the axilla. Since May 2003, SNB has been routinely performed for all cases. Patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and those who had no identifiable ALNs at surgery were excluded from the study. We retrospectively checked clinical and pathologic variables including diagnosis, patient demographics, size of DCIS, grade, multi-focal lesion, hormone receptor status, lymphatic invasion status etc. Results: 265 patients were identified with microinvasive (pathologic stage T1mic) breast cancer. Among these patients, 12 patients didn't have ALN study. 2 patients had bilateral MIC. The research was conducted on the remaining 255 cases. There were 13 cases of ALN metastases identified in this group of patients(5%). Young age (p=0.006), multifocal lesion (p=0.040) and lymphatic invasion (p&lt;0.0001) were predictive factors for ALN metastases. There was no incidence of metastatic ALNs among the old age (≥50) patients of this group. Conclusion: As the incidence of ALN metastases in MIC patients is very small, particularly in those who had no lymphatic invasion, single lesion and among old age patients. So we think conservative treatment is one of the available options for these patients. However, due to the size of the subject group in this study, it needs to be validated through extensive prospective research.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1019.

Modulation of firing activity by ATP in dopamine neurons of the rat substantia nigra pars compacta

ATP acts as a neurotransmitter or co-neurotransmitter in many areas of the CNS and peripheral nervous systems; however, little is known about the expression and functional role of purinoceptors (P2) in midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Therefore, we investigated P2X receptor expression and regulation of spontaneous firing activity in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in rats using patch-clamp and Ca(2+)-imaging techniques. In most neurons, application of ATP (1 microM-1 mM) increased firing rate dose-dependently (EC(50)=1.26+/-0.26 microM, n=45). When the P2-receptor agonists such as 2-methylthio-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-MeSATP) or ATPgammaS were applied or pressure-applied to the neuron, the firing activity increased together with a rise in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]c), but application of beta,gamma-methylene ATP (P2X(1, 3) agonist) or methylthio-adenosine 5'-diphosphate (P2Y(1) agonist) had no effect. In many neurons, the effect of ATP was abolished by the application of the P2-receptor antagonists, suramin or pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS). When ATP was applied in a Ca(2+)-free solution, there was no detectable change in [Ca(2+)]c, suggesting that ATP does not release Ca(2+) from intracellular stores. In the single-cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we found that 65% of dopaminergic neurons expressed mRNAs for P2X receptors; positive amplifications of P2X(6) (57.1%), P2X(2/6) (25.0%), and P2X(4) mRNA (17.9%), respectively. From the above results, we could conclude that ATP modulates firing activities in the rat SNc dopaminergic neurons, possibly via P2X(2), P2X(2/6), and/or P2X(4) receptors.