We report a case of Burkitt's lymphoma, which was suspected to involve both breasts. US showed a replacement of the normal breast tissues by a diffusely mixed or mottled pattern of echo texture, associated by hypoechoic cyst-like masses with slight internal echogenicity. This pattern was indistinguishable from the sonographic changes produced by a mastopathy. These findings disappeared after successful chemotherapy for the Burkitt's lymphoma, suggesting that the ultrasonographic pattern of mastopathy was caused by the infiltration of the breast tissues by the lymphomatous cells.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnostic problems in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.

To identify the problems involved in the diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), clinical findings were analysed for 43 patients diagnosed clinically or pathologically with CEP during the past 10 years. About 28% of patients showed peripheral blood eosinophilia and a typical pattern of pulmonary oedema on chest X-ray at initial examination. Eosinophilia was demonstrated in peripheral blood in 86% of patients, in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in 100%, and in transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) specimens in 64% of patients. Peripheral blood tests, BAL, and TBLB were all positive for eosinophilia in 60% of patients. BAL was the single test most likely to be positive among the diagnostic tests used in the present study. When CEP is suspected clinically, an understanding of which site is examined by each of the diagnostic tests and of the likelihood of a positive result in each test will facilitate the selection of the most appropriate tests for individual patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reproducibility of short echo time proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy using point-resolved spatially localized spectroscopy sequence in normal human brains.

The reproducibility of short echo time proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in normal human brains was examined. Thirteen healthy volunteers were studied, and each underwent three MRS examinations. Second and third measurements were done on the same day, about two months after the first measurement, and interday and intraday reproducibility were evaluated. MRS was performed with proton brain examination/single voxel (PROBE/SV) and point-resolved spatially localized spectroscopy (PRESS) (repetition time = 2000 ms, echo time = 30 ms). Five metabolite ratios were computed; N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr), choline (Cho)/Cr, myo-inositol (mI)/Cr, NAA/(NAA + Cr + Cho), and NAA/Cho. Their normal range and reproducibility were measured. For each metabolite ratio, there was no significant difference between interday difference and intraday difference, suggesting that the interval of two months has minimal effect on MRS measurements. MRS may be utilized for the observation of central nervous system diseases.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Study of long intestinal tube for decompression of obstructive left colon cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, several reports have recommended primary resection, rather than a staged operation, for obstructive left colon cancer. However pre-operative decompression is important for reducing complications and improving the curability of primary resection. Among the many pre-operative decompression strategies reported, we selected the long intestinal tube and evaluated the effectiveness of this convenient strategy. METHODOLOGY: A long intestinal tube was inserted pre-operatively for decompression in 27 of 29 patients undergoing resection for obstructive left colon cancer (1991-1995). We retrospectively studied the clinical features (responders vs. non-responders) of the 27 patients. We also compared these 27 with 26 other pre-1990 patients, who did not receive pre-operative decompression, in term of post-operative morbidity. RESULTS: Twelve of the 27 patients were responders; success rate 44.4%. There were no blood profile differences between responders and non-responders, but the time from bowel movement cessation to intestinal tube insertion was 3 days or less in all responders but 4 days or more in non-responders (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the rate of post-operative morbidity between those with and without pre-operative decompression. CONCLUSIONS: Decompression is likely to be successful, allowing elective primary resection, when initiated within 3 days of bowel movement cessation. However, more than 4 days post-onset, other decompression methods or emergency surgery is necessary.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Modulation of multidrug resistance in a cancer cell line by anti-multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) ribozyme.

Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) is the major candidate molecule responsible for non-P-glycoprotein (PGp)-mediated multidrug resistance. We used a hammerhead anti-MRP ribozyme (alpha MRP-Rz) to inactivate MRP function in a multidrug resistant cancer cell line, KB8-5. The beta-actin promoter-driven alpha MRP-Rz sequence (pH beta/alpha MRP-Rz) was introduced into KB8-5 cells (KB8-5/alpha MRP-Rz) and we evaluated growth of the cell line. The gene expression of multidrug resistance-related molecules was estimated. Drug sensitivity was estimated by MTT assay in vitro. MRP mRNA expression was decreased in KB8-5/alpha MRP-Rz cells. The MTT assay showed increased IC50 values or resistance to doxorubicin (DOX), etoposide (VP-16) and cisplatin (CDDP) in KB8-5/alpha MRP-Rz cells. No significant differences were observed in expression of multidrug resistance gene (MDR1), thymidylate synthase, glutathione S-transferase pi or topoisomerase II alpha. The hammerhead ribozyme-mediated simple suppression of MRP mRNA expression was not sufficient to reverse multidrug resistance in the cancer cell line KB8-5.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗