Synchronous gnathic osteosarcoma and B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia: A rare case presentation

Multiple primary malignancies are a well-recognized entity, with increased recognition and detection alongside development of hybrid imagining. We present a rare case of a 16-year-old male with gnathic osteosarcoma and incidental finding of a second silent synchronous B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia in the lower limb. Treated successfully by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.

The Use of Optical Tracking to Characterize Fracture Gap Motions and Estimate Healing Potential in Comminuted Biomechanical Models of Surgical Repair

Fracture healing is stimulated by micromotion at the fracture site, whereby there exists an optimal amount of strain to promote secondary bone formation. Surgical plates used for fracture fixation are often evaluated for their biomechanical performance using benchtop studies, where success is based on overall construct stiffness and strength measures. Integration of fracture gap tracking to this assessment would provide crucial information about how plates support the various fragments present in comminuted fractures, to ensure there are appropriate levels of micromotion during early healing. The goal of this study was to configure an optical tracking system to quantify 3D interfragmentary motion to assess the stability (and corresponding healing potential) of comminuted fractures. An optical tracking system (OptiTrack, Natural Point Inc, Corvallis, OR) was mounted to a material testing machine (Instron 1567, Norwood, MA, USA), with an overall marker tracking accuracy of 0.05 mm. Marker clusters were constructed that could be affixed to individual bone fragments, and segment-fixed coordinate systems were developed. The interfragmentary motion was calculated by tracking the segments while under load and was resolved into compression-extraction and shear components. This technique was evaluated using two cadaveric distal tibia-fibula complexes with simulated intra-articular pilon fractures. Normal and shear strains were tracked during cyclic loading (for stiffness tests), and a wedge gap was also tracked to assess failure in an alternate clinically relevant mode. This technique will augment the utility of benchtop fracture studies by moving beyond total construct response and providing anatomically relevant data on interfragmentary motion, a valuable proxy for healing potential.

Primary Sarcomas of the Larynx: A Case Series of Four Different Histopathologic Types

Primary laryngeal sarcomas are rare. Their nomenclature and classification are similar to soft tissue counterparts; however, there are notable differences between clinical presentation, behavior, treatment, and follow-up. There is sparse information regarding the clinical features, biologic behavior, and treatment modalities of laryngeal sarcomas. To increase our understanding about these tumors, we describe herein an additional series of four cases of different pathologic types of laryngeal sarcomas, including low-grade chondrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, well-differentiated liposarcoma, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Our main aim is to upsurge awareness about the morphologic variations of laryngeal sarcomas, to avoid potential pitfalls during histopathologic examination. It is essential to ensure that correct diagnosis, subclassification, and grading are achieved for proper guidance of treatment and clinical follow-up at multidisciplinary team meetings.

Correction: New silicon substituted BiMeVO x : synthesis and study of structural properties in relation to ionic conductivity

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D3RA00485F.].

New silicon substituted BiMeVO x : synthesis and study of structural properties in relation to ionic conductivity

Partial substitution of vanadium with silicon in the compound Bi₄V₂O₁₁, which belongs to the Aurivillius family, leads to the creation of a solid solution Bi₄V_2-x Si _x O_11-δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4). The compound with x = 0.1 turns out to be a monoclinic α-form of Bi₄V₂O₁₁, while the compounds with x = 0.2 and x = 0.3 are orthorhombic β-polymorphs, and the compound with x = 0.35 is of tetrahedral γ-polymorph. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy has been used to measure the ionic conductivity of doped samples. The ceramic sample with x = 0.1 has the highest ionic conductivity values.

FAIR assessment tools: evaluating use and performance

Publishing research data using a findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) approach is paramount to further innovation in many areas of research. In particular in developing innovative approaches to predict (eco)toxicological risks in (nano or advanced) material design where efficient use of existing data is essential. The use of tools assessing the FAIRness of data helps the future improvement of data FAIRness and therefore their re-use. This paper reviews ten FAIR assessment tools that have been evaluated and characterized using two datasets from the nanomaterials and microplastics risk assessment domain. The tools were grouped into four categories: online and offline self-assessment survey based, online (semi-) automated and other tools. We found that the online self-assessment tools can be used for a quick scan of a user's dataset due to their ease of use, little need for experience and short time investment. When a user is looking to assess full databases, and not just datasets, for their FAIRness, (semi-)automated tools are more practical. The offline assessment tools were found to be limited and unreliable due to a lack of guidance and an under-developed state. To further characterize the usability, two datasets were run through all tools to check the similarity in the tools' results. As most of the tools differ in their implementation of the FAIR principles, a large variety in outcomes was obtained. Furthermore, it was observed that only one tool gives recommendations to the user on how to improve the FAIRness of the evaluated dataset. This paper gives clear recommendations for both the user and the developer of FAIR assessment tools.

Gene Expression Profiling of FFPE Samples: A Titration Test

The gene expression analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues is often hampered by poor RNA quality, which results from the oxidation, cross-linking and other chemical modifications induced by the inclusion in paraffin. Yet, FFPE samples are a valuable source for molecular studies and can provide great insights into disease progression and prognosis. With the advancement of genomic technologies, new methods have been established that offer reliable and accurate gene expression workflows on samples of poor quality. NanoString is a probe-based technology that allows the direct counting of the mRNA transcripts and can be applied to degraded samples. Here, we have tested 2 RNA extraction methods for FFPE samples, and we have performed a titration experiment to evaluate the impact of RNA degradation and RNA input on the gene expression profiles assessed using the NanoString IO360 panel. We have selected FFPE samples of different DV200 values and assessed them on the nCounter platform with 2 different amounts of input RNA. This study concludes that the nCounter is a robust and reliable platform to assess the gene expression of RNA samples with DV200 > 30%; its robustness and ease of use could be of particular benefit to clinical settings.

Time equals sight: Sphenoid sinus aspergilloma with vision loss

Sphenoid sinus aspergilloma (SSA) with visual loss has rarely been reported. Timely recognition and prompt surgical intervention are crucial to avoid permanent neurological consequences.

Sausage digit: Isolated tuberculous tenosynovitis of the middle finger

Isolated tuberculous tenosynovitis is a rare form of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis that frequently eludes assessment and constitutes diagnostic challenges

Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma: in-depth review of a genetically heterogeneous tumor

First described in 1995 by Meis-Kindbloom et al. as a variant of fibrosarcoma simulating carcinoma, sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma characterized by epithelioid cells in dense sclerotic stroma, frequent immunoreactivity for MUC4 and heterogeneous genetic profile with recurrent EWSR1 gene rearrangement. It typically affects middle-age adults with a predilection for the lower extremity. It is believed that SEF is closely related to low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS), both tumors show overlapping features in morphology, immunophenotype, and molecular profile. In this review, we discuss the clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of SEF with particular emphasis on its molecular diversity and relation to LGFMS.

Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma of the Hypopharynx Exhibiting Myxoid Liposarcoma-like Morphology with MDM2 and DDIT3 Co-Amplification

Well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDL) is one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas in adults. It has a predilection for middle-aged males and arises in deep-seated locations such as retroperitoneum, mediastinum, and spermatic cord. Its occurrence in young individuals at the hypopharyngeal region is an exceedingly rare event. Myxoid liposarcoma (ML)-like changes can seldom occur in some cases of WDL, which makes the diagnosis of WDL more challenging. Amplification of DDIT3 gene in a subset of cases of WDL has shown to be associated with such unique morphology. Herein, we present a case of a 36-year-old gentleman who presented with difficulty in breathing and swallowing for 3 months duration. CT scan of the neck revealed a lesion along the posterior wall of the hypopharynx measuring 3.5 cm. Histopathologic examination revealed a tumor composed of lobules of oval to spindle cells in a prominent myxoid stroma with delicate chicken-wire vasculature. In the vicinity, there were lobules composed of variably sized adipocytes separated by thick fibrous septa that contains atypical hyperchromatic spindle cells. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells in both components were immunoreactive for CDK4, but negative for MDM2. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed the presence of MDM2 gene amplification. There was no evidence of FUS-DDIT3 gene rearrangement, however, DDIT3 gene was also amplified. The diagnosis of well-differentiated liposarcoma with prominent myxoid stroma was rendered. This is the first documentation of WDL with ML-like morphology harboring co-amplification of MDM2 and DDIT3 in the hypopharynx.

Numerical Investigation of the Dynamical Behavior of a Fluid-Filled Microparticle Suspended in Human Arteriole

The study of artificial microparticles (capsules and vesicles) has gained a growing interest with the emergence of bio-engineering. One of their promoting applications is their use as therapeutic vectors for drug delivery, when capsules and vesicles release their capacity in a targeted environment. The dynamic behavior of capsules and vesicles in confined or unbounded flows was widely studied in the literature and their mechanical response was truthfully described using constitutive laws with good agreement with experiences. However, in a context of biological application, to our knowledge, none of published studies investigating the mechanical response of deformable microparticle took into account the real physiological conditions: the rheological properties of blood such as carrying fluid and the mechanical properties of blood vessels. In this paper, we consider a hyperelastic microparticle suspended in human arteriole. We investigate the deformation of the microparticle resulting from its interaction with blood flow and the arteriolar wall using various capillary numbers and respecting physiological properties of blood and arterial wall. The influence of the blood viscosity model (Newtonian versus shear thinning) is investigated and a comparison with a rigid microchannel and a muscle-embedded arteriole is carried out. The fluid structure interaction (FSI) problem is solved using arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) method. Our simulations have revealed that the arteriolar wall distensibility deeply influences both the deformation and velocity of the microparticle: the deformation strongly increases while the velocity decreases in comparison to an infinitely rigid wall. In the context of therapeutic procedure of targeted drug-delivery, a particular attention should be addressed to these observations, in particular for their implication in the burst mechanism.

Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma of bone with rare WWTR1-FOSB fusion gene: Case report and literature review

Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma rarely arises in bone. WWTR1-FOSB fusion gene is rarely reported in PMHE of bone. Currently, fusion genes can be used as diagnostic markers in PMHE; however, their prognostic and therapeutic significance is unclear.

Ancient foe spectra: Case series of Mycobacterium tuberculosis presentations

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis frequently eludes assessment through atypical presentations and constitute diagnostic challenges. High degree of suspicion with aids of GeneXpert MTB/RIF can clinch the diagnosis and avoid unnecessary consequences.

Epidemiology and pathology of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a multi-ethnic population: Retrospective study of 154 cases over 7 years in Qatar

Background

Oral cancer (OC) is a neoplastic process of the oral cavity that has high mortality and significant effects on patients' aesthetics. The majority of OC is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and resection remains the most frequent treatment. Recurrence is the main cause of tumor-related mortality.

Material and methods

A retrospective review of patients' charts at Hamad Medical Corporation examined 154 adults who were diagnosed as OSCC and referred to the national head and neck cancer multi-disciplinary team meetings between 2012 and 2018. The data extracted was demographic, pathologic and clinical. All patients with oral cavity tumors other than squamous cell carcinoma were excluded.

Results

Males comprised the majority of the sample, mean age was 46.93 years. Tongue was the most common location. The majority of the patients were diagnosed at early stages, and a small subset of patients had histologically-proven local recurrence.

Conclusion

The young male predominance of OSCC patients in Qatar is unprecedented worldwide. Most patients were non-Qataris, mainly from South Asia. Loss of follow-up was a challenge in assessing the long-term outcomes of OSCC. Our findings suggest the need for a more vigilant surveillance approach to oral lesions particularly in male South-Asian patients, as well as improving the follow-up strategies.

P1449Anti-thrombotic management for electrophysiological procedures: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) young investigators survey

Funding Acknowledgements

none

Background

Electrophysiological studies (EPS), with or without ablation, require percutaneous introduction of catheters into the heart to record local electrical activity. Instrumentation of catheters within the blood causes activation of the clotting cascade, increasing the risk of thrombus formation. To date, the electrophysiological community lacks international guidelines on the use of anti-thrombotic therapies before, during and after EPS.

Purpose

To survey the current practice regarding the use of anti-thrombotic therapies across member countries of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA).

Methods

The survey was conducted in February 2019. Electrophysiologists from EHRA member countries were contacted to complete the survey by e-mail, utilizing the EHRA Young EP network. They were asked to answer a questionnaire containing information on anti-thrombotic and anticoagulation management before, during and after left-sided EPS and ablation: atrial tachycardia (AT), accessory pathway (AP) and ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Results

We obtained 41 answers responses from 40 centers in 15 European EHRA member countries. Regarding of antiaggregation, the most used antiplatelet is aspirin (100% before, during and after ablation). The most used anticoagulant was novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) before ablation (47.1%), during hospitalization (85.2%) and at discharge (70.3%). The administration of anti-thrombotic therapy depended on the procedure time only in 10 cases (24.4%).

For AP, before ablation, only 4 centers (9.7%) administered anti-platelets and 2 (4.9%) anticoagulants. During ablation, heparin was used by 85.4% of respondents maintaining ACT target 300-350 s in 36.6% of cases. At discharge, antiaggregation therapy was prescribed by 22 colleagues (53.7%) and anticoagulation only by one (2.4%).

In patients with AT, before ablation, antiaggregation prophylaxis was prescribed by only 4 centers (19.5%) and anticoagulation by 11 (26.8%). During procedure, almost all centers (40, 97.6%) used heparin with ACT target 300-350 s in 58.5% of cases. At discharge, antiplatelet therapy was recommended by 12 colleagues (29.3%) and anticoagulation by 24 (58.5%).

Regarding VT, before procedure, 8 centers (19.5%) prescribed antiaggregation and 5 (12.2%) anticoagulation prophylaxis. During ablation, all centers used heparin, maintaining ACT target 300-350 s in 58% of cases. The use of antiaggregation or anticoagulation depended on the left ventricle (LV) access in 15 centers (37.5%) and on LV ejection fraction in 11 (26.8%). At discharge, anti-thrombotic therapy was recommended by 16 colleagues (39%) and anticoagulation by 13 (31.7%).

Conclusion

Our survey showed that there is considerable variation in the management of anti-thrombotic therapy surrounding left-sided EPS and ablation. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the right approach to these procedures.

P955Assessment of coronary and myocardial reperfusion as well as left ventricular infarct size and function following streptokinase administration immediately after Primary coronary intervention

Background

Reperfusion injury might be considered a consequence of insufficient myocardial perfusion (MP) due to microthrombi (MT) embolization into the microcirculation. Streptokinase (SK) a fibrinolytic agent, if injected into the culprit artery immediately after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) might tackle and dissolve these MT resulting in better MP and function.

Methods

Sixty four patients presenting within 24 hours by their first ST elevation myocardial infarction, underwent PPCI, then equally divided into 2 groups; G1 received 250 kU of intracoronary SK (ICSK) vs saline in G2. Successful coronary perfusion was defined as corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC) <28 frames, and successful MP as TIMI myocardial blush grade (TMBG) 3. Evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function was done by comparing the baseline LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) before and 1-month after PPCI. Assessment of infarct size was done by measuring peak CK-MB, CK-MB area under the curve and ST segment resolution (STR) 90 min after PPCI.

Results

Thirty minutes after ICSK, cTFC (fig) was significantly lower (P≤0.05), while TMBG (fig) was significantly higher (P≤0.02) in G1 vs G2. Peak CK-MB, CK-MB area under the curve were significantly lower (P≤0.015 & P≤0.001 respectively) while STR≥70%was significantly higher in G1 (P≤0.045). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the likelihood of achieving successful MP post-PPCI is associated with ICSK administration [OR=0.123, 95% CI (0.02–0.75), P≤0.024] and total ischemic time (ROC curve). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that each of, immediate ICSK administration post-PPCI and TMBG were independent predictors for LV GLS improvement after one month. No significant difference in bleeding risk between G1&2 (p=1).

Conclusion

ICSK given immediately after primary PCI was an independent predictor of successful coronary and myocardial reperfusion. It significantly led to reduction of infarct size and improvement of LV GLS.

Relationship between biomarkers of muscle damage and redox status in response to a weightlifting training session: effect of time-of-day

The aims of the present study were to: (1) investigate the effect of a weightlifting training session and time-of-day (TOD) upon biological parameters (i.e., oral temperature, hematological, C-reactive protein (CRP), and oxidative stress) and (2) assess their possible link with muscle damage responses. Nine weightlifters (21 ± 0.5 years) performed, in a randomized order, three Olympic-Weightlifting sessions (i.e., at 08:00, 14:00, and 18:00). Blood samples were collected at rest, 3 min and 48 h after each training session. Between pre- and post-training session, ANOVA showed significant increases in oxidative stress markers at the three TODs (p < 0.01) and significant increases for creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) only at 08:00 and 18:00 (p < 0.05). At rest, the results showed a significant diurnal variation for the majority of the selected parameters except for malondialdehyde (MDA), total bilirubin, and CRP with higher values observed at 18:00 (p < 0.05). After the training session, given the higher rate of increase during the morning session, these diurnal variations persisted for temperature and WBC (p < 0.01) and were suppressed for CK, LDH, uric acid (UA), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The main significant correlations (p < 0.001) were observed between: (1) CK and MDA (r = 0.6) and CK and UA (r = 0.66 and r = 0.82) during the morning and evening training sessions; (2) CK and CRP only during the morning session (r = 0.5); and (3) CRP and WBC during the three training sessions (r = 0.8). In conclusion, the present findings: (1) confirm that the muscle damage responses could be induced by a high level of oxidative stress and (2) suggest to avoid scheduling training sessions in the morning given the higher muscle damage, inflammatory, and oxidative responses at this TOD.

Incidence and risk factors of peripheral venous catheter-related adverse events in cardiology department of a Tunisian university hospital: A prospective observational study

AIM

The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of Peripheral Venous Catheter-Related Adverse Events (PVCAEs) in a cardiology department of a university hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We carried out a prospective observational study from Mars 2017 to May 2017 in the cardiology department of the University Hospital of Farhat Hached in Sousse, Tunisia. During this period, we actively followed-up all inserted PVCs (every 12hours) from insertion up to 48hours after removal. Regression analyses were applied and significance limits were set at P<0.05.

RESULTS

Data were analysed for 210 PVCs (794 PVC-days) in 148 patients. The incidence of PVCAEs was 33.33% with density of incidence of 8.81/1000 PVC-days. PVCAEs were mainly pain (50%) and mechanical events (31.42%). Infections accounted for 11.42%. The most frequent mechanical PVCAEs, was haematoma (15.71%). Multivariate analysis revealed as independent factors for the occurrence of PVCAEs: the hydro electrolytic nature of the injected product (OR=13.42, P<10-3), the medicinal nature of the injected product (OR=5.08, P=0.003), bad cutaneous state (OR=8.08, P=0.003), admission during nightshift (OR=3.76; P=0.014) and advanced age (OR=1.04, P=0.042).

CONCLUSION

Multicenter studies would be very useful to better analyze risk factors associated with PVCAEs.

Effect of adding midazolam to bupivacaine during rectus sheath block: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Various adjuvants have been tried to improve quality and increase duration of local anaesthetics during various nerve blocks. We aimed to evaluate the effect of adding midazolam to bupivacaine on rectus sheath (RS) block in patients undergoing umbilical or epigastric hernia repair.

METHODS

In all, 60 adult patients were divided into two equal groups, each group included 30 patients. Group I received 20 ml of bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.25% + midazolam 50 μg/kg in 2 ml saline 0.9% (Midazolam group, n = 30), whereas Group II received 20 ml of bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.25% + 2 ml saline (Control group, n = 30) for RS block on each side. The primary outcome was post-operative 48 h morphine consumption, whereas secondary outcomes included analgesia duration, post-operative pain, as evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain scoring at 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post-operatively, reported post-operative nausea and or vomiting (PONV), somnolence or any adverse drug reactions.

RESULTS

The current study showed that addition of midazolam to bupivacaine for RS blockade provided good analgesia as evidenced by a statistically significant less morphine consumption in the post-operative 48 h [11.2 (5.3-18.3) vs. 25.9 (15.2-31.0) mg, P = 0.002], longer duration of analgesia, lower VAS during post-operative 48 h, lower incidence of PONV, somnolence and pruritus.

CONCLUSION

Midazolam addition to bupivacaine for RS blockade provided adjuvant analgesia as supported by less morphine consumption, longer duration of analgesia, and lower VAS score.

Hamartoma of the urinary bladder in a 15-year-old boy

Hamartoma of the bladder is an unusual entity described in only eleven patients to date. It may present as painless hematuria, irritative urinary tract symptoms, or inability to void or it may be diagnosed incidentally. Hamartoma of the bladder may be isolated or occur as part of a syndrome. No isolated bladder hamartoma to date has shown malignant potential. We describe here a bladder hamartoma in a 15-year-old boy.

Estimating genetic potential of biofuel forest hardwoods to withstand metal toxicity in industrial effluent under dry tropical conditions

Biofuel tree species are recognized as a promising alternative source of fuel to conventional forms. Additionally, these tree species are also effective in accumulating toxic heavy metals present in some industrial effluents. In developing countries such as Pakistan, the use of biofuel tree species is gaining popularity not only for harvesting economical and environmentally friendly biofuel, but also to sequester poisonous heavy metals from industrial wastewater. This study was aimed at evaluating the genetic potential of two biofuel species, namely, Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata, to grow when irrigated with industrial effluent from the Pak-Arab Fertilizer Factory Multan, Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The growth performances of one-year-old seedlings of both species were compared in soil with adverse physiochemical properties. It was found that J. curcas was better able to withstand the toxicity of the heavy metals present in the fertilizer factory effluent. J. curcas showed maximum gain in height, diameter, and biomass production in soil irrigated with 75% concentrated industrial effluent. In contrast, P. pinnata showed a significant reduction in growth in soil irrigated with more than 50% concentrated industrial effluent, indicating that this species is less tolerant to higher toxicity levels of industrial effluent. This study identifies J. curcas as a promising biofuel tree species that can be grown using industrial wastewater.

Specialty choices of medical students and house officers in Karachi, Pakistan

Unerstanding patterns of career choices inmedicine is importnat for educators and policy-makers to plan the supply of specialists. This study analysed the career choices made by medical students and house officers in 2 private and 2 public medical schools in Karachi, Pakistan. An anonymous, self-administered and gynaecology were the 4 highest ranked specialties, with internal medicine ranked top as both the 1st and 2nd choice. Internal medicine was the 1st choice for significantly more students in public than private medical colleges (22.2% versus 1l4.9%). Students from private medical institutions chose a wider range of specialties than those from publicly-funded colleges. A high proportion of medical students and graduates in Karachi favour the same medical specialties, which may lead to saturation in those areas of specialization.

Human monoclonal antibodies targeting carbonic anhydrase IX for the molecular imaging of hypoxic regions in solid tumours

Background:

Hypoxia, which is commonly observed in areas of primary tumours and of metastases, influences response to treatment. However, its characterisation has so far mainly been restricted to the ex vivo analysis of tumour sections using monoclonal antibodies specific to carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) or by pimonidazole staining, after the intravenous administration of this 2-nitroimidazole compound in experimental animal models.

Methods:

In this study, we describe the generation of high-affinity human monoclonal antibodies (A3 and CC7) specific to human CA IX, using phage technology.

Results:

These antibodies were able to stain CA IX ex vivo and to target the cognate antigen in vivo. In one of the two animal models of colorectal cancer studied (LS174T), CA IX imaging closely matched pimonidazole staining, with a preferential staining of tumour areas characterised by little vascularity and low perfusion. In contrast, in a second animal model (SW1222), distinct staining patterns were observed for pimonidazole and CA IX targeting. We observed a complementary pattern of tumour regions targeted in vivo by the clinical-stage vascular-targeting antibody L19 and the anti-CA IX antibody A3, indicating that a homogenous pattern of in vivo tumour targeting could be achieved by a combination of the two antibodies.

Conclusion:

The new human anti-CA IX antibodies are expected to be non-immunogenic in patients with cancer and may serve as broadly applicable reagents for the non-invasive imaging of hypoxia and for pharmacodelivery applications.

Improvement of the etodolac purity test by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The resolution of etodolac by reversed phase HPLC applied in the European Pharmacopeia (EP) was found to be greatly affected by using methanol as the injection solvent and the system of gradient elution, which leads to peak broadening as well as poor separation of etodolac from the impurities such as 2-(7-ethylindol-3-yl) ethanol respectively. Changing the type of injection solvent (methanol) by the mobile phase, which is a mixture of methanol, buffer (KH2PO4, PH = 7), and acetonitril as well as monitoring the gradient program (increasing the polarity) leads to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of the analysis of etodolac by eliminating the peak broadening and markedly improving the separation of etodolac from 2-(7-ethylindol-3-yl) ethanol. The method was validated by parameters such as selectivity, repeatability, and intermediate precision.

Neuropeptide Y facilitates activity-based-anorexia

The hypothesis that treatment with neuropeptide Y (NPY) can increase running activity and decrease food intake and body weight was tested. Female rats with a running wheel lost more weight than sedentary rats and ran progressively more as the availability of food was gradually reduced. When food was available for only 1h/day, the rats lost control over body weight. Correlatively, the level of NPY mRNA was increased in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. This phenomenon, activity-based-anorexia, was enhanced by intracerebroventricular infusion of NPY in rats which had food available during 2h/day. By contrast, NPY stimulated food intake but not wheel running in rats which had food available continuously. These findings are inconsistent with the prevailing theory of the role of the hypothalamus in the regulation of body weight according to which food intake is a homeostatic process controlled by "orexigenic" and "anorexigenic" neural networks. However, the finding that treatment with NPY, generally considered an "orexigen", can increase physical activity and decrease food intake and cause a loss of body weight is in line with the clinical observation that patients with anorexia nervosa are physically hyperactive and eat only little food despite having depleted body fat and up-regulated hypothalamic "orexigenic" peptides.