A very rare case of benign mixed tumor of the trachea was reported. A 52-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis, slight dyspnea and stridor. Bronchoscopic examination revealed a polypoid tumor which arose from the anterior wall of the upper trachea, obstructing about 70% of the tracheal lumen. For the purpose of getting pathological specimen and securing the air way in anesthesia, endoscopic polypectomy (2/3 of the tumor) was done by using GIF-XP 20. Circumferential resection of the trachea (4 rings) with end-to-end anastomosis was performed one month after polypectomy. To our knowledge, this was the 7th reported case in Japan. Clinical studies and operative procedures of this disease were briefly discussed.

The influence of 3'-noncoding region (ncr) of the cDNA derived from an eukaryotic mRNA on the preceding structure gene expression in E. coli was investigated using human immune interferon (GIF) and human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cDNAs. Two sets of gene, with (ncr+) and without (ncr-) 3'-noncoding region, have been expressed in E. coli. In both cases, the level of ncr+ gene expression was five times lower than that of ncr- gene. When these ncrs were placed just downstream of various structure genes, the same effects were also observed. The RNA brot analysis showed that the ncr+ genes were transcribed into shorter and much less mRNA than ncr- genes. These results suggest that these ncrs accelerate the degradation of the mRNA by either causing the premature termination of transcription or the generation of sequence on the transcripts hypersensitive to E. coli endoribonucleases.

The aim of the study is to estimate the new tumor marker CYFRA 21-1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and comparison of this results with SCC-Ag. The investigation was carried out on 115 NSCLC patients (55 with squamous cell, 35 with adenocarcinoma, 25 with large cell) qualified for surgical treatment and in 48 nonmalignant lung diseases patients. CYFRA 21-1 was determined by the means of IRMA method (CIS bio international--GIF-SUR-Yvette, France) and SCC-Ag--MEIA method (IMx system Abbott). Elevated levels of CYFRA 21-1 were obtained in 48.7% and SCC-Ag in 39.1%. Elevated levels of examined markers most frequently occurred in squamous cell type (SCC). It was found out that CYFRA 21-1 dependent on: a) SCC stage (I-40%, II-61.1%, III-85.2%), b) tumor size (T1-38.4%, T2-73.1%, T3-87.5%), c) mediastinal lymph nodes metastases (No and N1-53.8% and N2-86.9%). Similar correlations were not observed in SCC-Ag examination. Simultaneous determination of CYFRA 21-1 and SCC-Ag showed minimal sensitivity increase from 48.7% to 52.1% in NSCLC and from 69.1% to 70.1% in SCC and decrease of specificity from 95.8% to 85.4%. To sum up, determination of CYFRA 21-1 in NSCLC patients (especially in SCC patients) is useful in diagnosis and clinical stage determination.

BACKGROUND

Gastric adenocarcinoma is the major cause of death by cancer in Brazil. For the planning of the treatment and evaluation of the prognosis, the preoperative staging according to the TNM classification is very important.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the results of endoscopic ultrasound for the T and N categories.

METHODS

We examined 30 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma in the period of 1 year. We used a Olympus GIF UM-20. After positioning in the third portion of the duodenum, we started to evaluate the lymph node stations 16, 13, 12, 6, 5, 4, 3, 8, 7, 9, 10, 11, 1 and 2, using the frequency of 7.5 MHz. The depth of the tumor in the gastric wall was evaluated with the frequencies of 7.5 and 12 MHz. The results T and N were compared with the conclusive findings. In the unresectable cases, the correlation was made by the macroscopic findings.

RESULTS

We performed 16 total gastrectomies, 7 subtotal gastrectomies, 5 exploratory laparotomies and 2 laparoscopies. For T category, endoscopic ultrasound results were correct in 25/30 cases (83.3%). All the other 16.7% were overestimated. The accuracy varied from 90% to 96.7% according to the subcategories T1 to T4. For the N category, endoscopic ultrasound results were correct in 23/30 cases (76.7%). Sixteen point six percent were underestimated and 6.7% overestimated. The accuracy varied from 76.7% to 90%, in agreement with the subcategories N1 to N3.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a clear correlation between endoscopic ultrasound and the surgical and pathological findings in the evaluation of T and N categories in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of dual channel dual curved endoscope in the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric angle mucosal lesions. Methods: A descriptive cohort study was carried out. Clinicopathological data of 20 cases with gastric angle mucosal lesions undergoing ESD by dual channel dual curved endoscope in our center from October 2016 to August 2018 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria: (1) the lesion was located in the gastric angle confirmed by gastroscopy before ESD. (2) CT examination showed no distant metastasis. (3) pathological biopsy confirmed precancerous lesion or early cancerous lesion without submucosal invasion. (4) the whole operation was performed by the same endoscopist with ESD experience of about 2000 cases. Patients with previous ESD history of gastric angle and other serious diseases were excluded. The dual channel dual curved endoscopy (Olympus, GIF-2TQ260M) and other conventional endoscopic surgical instruments were used in all the cases. Complete tumor resection rate, pathological results, intraoperative and postoperative complications, operation time and hospitalization time were observed. Follow - up parameters included residual tumor, local recurrence and heterogeneous lesion. Results: Of 20 patients, 14 were male and 6 were female with an average of 55.6 years (range, 37 to 75). All the tumors located in gastric angle. Specimen size ranged from 1.2 to 5.5 (average 2.9) cm. Operation time ranged from 50 to 120 (average 85.8) minutes. Hospital stay ranged from 3 to 7 (average 5.1) days. The en bloc excision was performed successfully in all 20 cases. There was no perforation or bleeding during or after operation. Pathological results showed curative or nearly curative resection stage in all the cases. No tumor residual or recurrence was found during follow-up for 8 to 30 (average 18.5) months. Conclusion: Dual channel dual curved endoscope can provide good vision and easy control in removing the lesion completely and avoiding complications during the ESD procedure in gastric angle mucosal lesions with good long-term efficacy.

An ELISA system for the human glycosylation inhibiting factor (GIF) was established using polyclonal antibodies against highly purified 13 kDa recombinant human GIF, and the concentration of GIF in the sera of healthy donors and patients with various diseases was determined. GIF was detected in the sera of most healthy individuals and its concentration tended to increase with age. It was also found that the serum GIF levels markedly increased in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis or malignant tumors. Analysis of serum samples by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting revealed a 55 kDa protein that has both the GIF antigenic determinant and the TCR alpha chain determinant. A 13 kDa GIF was not detected in the sera. In view of our previous findings on antigen-specific GIF from murine suppressor T cell hybridomas indicating that the 55 kDa GIF is a post-translationally formed conjugate of a TCR alpha chain with 13 kDa GIF, we suspect that the 55 kDa GIF detected in human sera is a human homologue of the murine 55 kDa GIF.

Although bone scintigraphy using Tc-99m labelled diphosphonates is a highly sensitive modality for the detection of of the extent of secondary skeletal malignancies, it is often not sufficient since possible bone marrow participation cannot be imaged We make a preliminary report on the usefulness of bone marrow immunoscintigraphy in the follow-up of patients with skeletal metastases due to breast and prostate cancer in parallel with the interpretation of conventional Tc-99m MDP bone scans. Approximately 7 to 9 months after radionuclide therapy both Tc-99m MDP [Hellenic Nuclear Research Center "Democritos". Aghia Paraskevi, Attikil and Tc-99m Anti-Granulocyte BW 250/183 [CIS Bio International, Gif sur Yvette, France] bone scans were performed on 2 prostate cancer patients and 5 women with breast cancer with disseminated bone metastases. Bone scans preceded bone marrow scans. Bone marrow defects were concordant with cortical scans in 4 cases, while they were larger in 4 sites compared to -MDP scan. Four sites in the ribs, shown on -MDP scan could not be detected on antigranulocyte scans. Bone cortex and marrow combined imaging of osseous metastases using different radiotracers increases the information on the real extent of skeletal involvement; the scintigraphic data obtained are valuable for the further decision making for the best possible management of unexpected myelosuppressive side effects as well as the follow-up of the treated cancer patients.

It has been shown that normal mouse serum contains a tumor growth-inhibitory factor (GIF). and that strain-dependent levels of GIF correlate with mouse NK activity. To further analyze the genetic control of GIF we have studied the growth-inhibitory activity of normal mouse serum from 8 different mouse strains and their F1 hybrids. A sensitive method using a chromogenic substrate for an endogenous lysosomal enzyme was used to measure the inhibitory activity of normal mouse serum on the mouse B16 melanoma. The highest level of GIF was found in old mice, lower activity in serum of young animals and no activity in suckling mice. To compare the genetic control of GIF and NK, spleen NK activity against B16 as well as YAC-1 targets was measured in parallel in the same animals. Confirming previous results we found the H-2k strains CBA and C3H to have high levels of GIF as well as NK activity, while the strain A/Sn and the A congenic strain A.SW had low levels of both activities. Experiments with H-2d and H-2b strains, however, showed that GIF and NK had a different genetic control; thus the DBA/2 and Balb/c strains had considerably higher GIF activity than the C57B1 and Leaden strains, while the reverse was true for NK activity. In F1 hybrid crosses between strains with high and low activity, high activity was inherited as a dominant trait for both GIF and NK. A backcross analysis in (A X CBA) X A backcross mice, segregating for NK and GIF showed that the two activities did not cosegregate. These studies therefore demonstrate that GIF and NK activity are under different genetic control, and do not support any direct or simple relationship between GIF and NK cells.

Cultures of the human mammary carcinoma line ZR-75-1 secrete a growth inhibitory factor (GIF) that, when diluted, slows the growth of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Undiluted "conditioned" media prevents cell division from occurring in both human breast cancer lines. ZR-75-1 cells are unaffected by this factor. The amount of GIF in the culture media is related to the confluency of the ZR-75-1 cells. The activity of this GIF is not altered by DNAse or RNAse but is destroyed by heating or trypsin. Growth inhibition is 85-90% reversible if conditioned media is replaced with fresh media.

Two intermediates, A and B, have been identified in the selective oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons to ketones by Gif-type systems. Intermediate A has been characterized as an Fev species with a secondary iron sigma-bond to carbon; it is captured by four different reagents or transformed into the second intermediate, B, which hydrolyzes to form a secondary alcohol. A mu-oxo Fe2III dimer is proposed as a basis for Gif-type reactivity. If the first iron is involved in the synthesis of intermediate A, the second is used to oxidize intermediate B intramolecularly to a ketal, which on hydrolysis yields a ketone. The enzyme methane monooxygenase shows a remarkable similarity to Gif-type systems in its selective hydrocarbon oxidation, particularly in the case of adamantane.

The Gif family of catalysts, based on an iron salt and O2 or H2O2 in pyridine, allows the oxygenation of cyclic saturated hydrocarbons to ketones and alcohols under mild conditions. The reaction between [Fe(pic)3] and hydrogen peroxide in pyridine under GoAgg(III)(Fe(III)/Hpic catalyst) conditions was investigated by UV-visible spectrophotometry. Reactions were monitored at 430 and 520 nm over periods ranging from a few minutes to several hours at 20 degrees C. A number of kinetically stable intermediates were detected, and their relevance to the processes involved in the assembly of the active GoAgg(III) catalyst was determined by measuring the kinetics in the presence and absence of cyclohexane. EPR measurements at 110 K using hydrogen peroxide and t-BuOOH as oxidants were used to further probe these intermediates. Our results indicate that in wet pyridine [Fe(pic)3] undergoes reversible dissociation of one picolinate ligand, establishing an equilibrium with [Fe(pic)2(py)(OH)]. Addition of aqueous hydrogen peroxide rapidly generates the high-spin complex [Fe(pic)2(py)(eta1-OOH)] from the labilised hydroxy species. Subsequently the hydroperoxy species undergoes homolysis of the Fe-O bond, generating HOO. and [Fe(pic)2(py)2], the active oxygenation catalyst.

Dissolved oxygen (DO), were investigated. Aerobic conditions were effectively developed in 50 cm depth of the matrix and anoxic or anaerobic conditions were not changed in 80 and 110 cm depth by intermittent aeration, which encouraged nitrification. Increased influent COD/N ratio led to lower COD and nitrogen removal in conventional SWISs. Sufficient carbon source in high COD/N ratio influent promoted denitrification with intermittent aeration. High removal rates of COD (95.68 ± 0.21%), TP (92.02 ± 0.28%),>-N (99.33 ± 0.05%), and - (89.65 ± 0.6%) were obtained with influent COD/N ratio of 12 in aerated SWISs. Under the COD/N ratio of 12 and 18, intermittent aeration boosted the growth and reproduction of nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria. Meanwhile, nitrate and nitrite reductase activities with intermittent aeration were higher than that without aeration in 80 and 110 cm depths.

We show that cyclopentenone derivatives, which are synthetic analogs of cyclopentenone prostaglandins, are neuroprotective against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells. This effect was antagonized by a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma) antagonist, T0070907. Pull-down assays revealed that biotinylated (arylthio)cyclopentenone (GIF-0643-biotin) and other biotin-bound cyclopentenones bind to PPAR gamma. The results also indicate that the GIF-0643-biotin-PPAR gamma complex is localized to the nucleus. Moreover, retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXR) co-precipitated with the GIF-0643-biotin-PPAR gamma complex, indicating that (arylthio)cyclopentenone can activate PPAR gamma-RXR heterodimers. These findings suggest that (arylthio)cyclopentenone derivatives prevent excitotoxicity by modulating gene expression via activation of the PPAR gamma-RXR hetrodimer.

Context: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is now important investigation in children. Although endoscopy is used routinely by pediatric surgeons, there are no recent Indian studies which have evaluated endoscopy within a Department of Pediatric Surgery.

Aims: It was done with the aim to define the diagnostic value of upper GI endoscopy and evaluate the outcome.

Subjects and methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study. Cases <14 years between January 2013 and October 2016 were included. An Olympus GIF-Q150 video gastroscope was used for all procedures. This study was approved by the institute research and ethical committee, and patient confidentiality was maintained using unique identifiers. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS (Version 19) software.

Results: The most common indication for endoscopy was for hematemesis (25.3%, n = 18) followed by foreign body removal (22.5%, n = 16). There were 18 normal cases. Foreign body removal was done in 18 cases. Among esophageal varices, banding was done in seven cases and dilatation of stricture was done in eight cases.

Conclusion: Upper GI endoscopy is significantly associated with positive organic finding and so it is a valuable and essential diagnostic procedure.

Keywords: Endoscopy; pediatric surgery; recurrent abdominal pain.

A ferroelectric-photovoltaic effect in nanowires of antimony sulfoiodide (SbSI) is presented for the first time. Sonochemically prepared SbSI nanowires have been characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and optical diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS). The temperature dependences of electrical properties of the fabricated SbSI nanowires have been investigated too. The indirect forbidden energy gap E_gIf = 1.862 (1) eV and Curie temperature T_C = 291 (2) K of SbSI nanowires have been determined. Aligned SbSI nanowires have been deposited in an electric field between Pt electrodes on alumina substrate. The photoelectrical response of such a prepared ferroelectric-photovoltaic (FE-PV) device can be switched using a poling electric field and depends on light intensity. The photovoltage, generated under λ = 488 nm illumination of P_opt = 127 mW/cm² optical power density, has reached U_OC = 0.119 (2) V. The presented SbSI FE-PV device is promising for solar energy harvesting as well as for application in non-volatile memories based on the photovoltaic effect.

OBJECTIVE

Complex physiological systems, such as the cardiovascular system, controlled by the autonomic nervous system, and the gait and posture system, controlled by the sensomotor nervous system, incorporate several controllers acting at different time scales. We investigated the question, whether the information flow as a function of prediction time enables the identification of those contributing controllers within the entire complex system behavior.

METHODS

Information flow functions assess the predictability of a time series. They were calculated based on mutual information over prediction time horizon tau. The importance of considering appropriate time scales tau was introduced by a simulation study of an excited pendulum. Based on heart rate data, complex autonomic dysfunctions were assessed by using autonomic information flow (AIF) in an experimental study of rats and in clinical studies of patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and after cardiac arrest (CA). Motor dysfunction in elderly suffering from low back pain was assessed by gait information flow (GIF) based on back movements.

RESULTS

In rats, AIF over one heart beat period was reduced due to anesthesia, AIF over vagal time scale was increased due to vagotomy. In both, MODS and CA patients, vagal time scale AIF was reduced, but longterm AIF was increased. In low back pain patients, short loop GIF was increased, but walking period-related GIF was reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

Information flow functions allow the identification of particular controllers and their interdependencies within complex physiological systems.

Neuronal growth inhibitory factor (GIF) of porcine brain, was isolated and purified by a similar procedure which was used on the isolation of human and bovine GIF. The native porcine protein with stoichiometry of 4Cu+, 3Zn2+ was obtained for the first time. The kinetics of zinc transfer from Cu4Zn3MT-3 to apo-carbonic anhydrase were studied, and zinc transfer rate constants and thermodynamic parameters were obtained. It is found that like other MTs, porcine Cu4Zn3MT-3 can also transfer its zinc atom to apoCA, even much easier than other MTs. A possible association mechanism has been proposed, the formation of Cu4Zn3MT3-apoCA complex may be the rate-determining step. The obtained data indicate besides its neuronal growth inhibitory function, GIF might play a role in cellular Zn homeostasis in brain.

Autoimmune neutropenia is thought to be an uncommon disorder in adults. Over a 2-year period, however, autoimmune neutropenia was diagnosed in seven adults in a county with a population of approximately 105,000 people. The median age of the patients was 52 years old (range of 22 to 81 years), and five of the seven patients were women. All seven patients had at least one other symptom of autoimmune disease. Three patients had splenomegaly, three patients had positive direct antiglobulin tests, and two patients had immune thrombocytopenia. Antibodies reacting to neutrophils were detected by either granulocyte agglutination (GA) or granulocyte immunofluorescence (GIF) testing in five of the seven patients. Antibodies in four patients reacted with an 80 kd neutrophil membrane glycoprotein, and antibodies from two people reacted with a 60 kd membrane glycoprotein. Three patients were given treatment with splenectomy, which resulted in only transient improvement in the neutrophil counts. Serious infections occurred in only three patients over the 2 years of observation. In summary, autoimmune neutropenia in adults may occur more often than appreciated. Most cases of autoimmune neutropenia in adults appear to be associated with other autoimmune phenomena.

The following five tyrosine-containing analogs of somatostatin (GIF) were synthesized by the solid-phase method: Tyr-GIF: [Tyr6]-GIF; [Tyr7]-GIF; [Tyr8]-GIF; [Tyr11]-GIF. These analogs except [Tyr8]-GIF were demonstrated to possess almost the same potency to inhibit thyrotropin release stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone as that of synthesized GIF in vivo. [Tyr8]-GIF had potencies less than 0.5% of GIF. They also had the activity to inhibit Nembutal-induced growth hormone rise. The structure-activity relationship and availability of these analogs for radioimmunoassay were discussed.

Many landmark genetic breakthroughs, including the recent discovery of PCSK-9 inhibitor drugs, were accomplished with substantial contributions from evaluation of pedigrees. Finding and ascertaining high-value pedigrees is not trivial and requires considerable time and cost. Here, we describe the creation of the Intermountain Genealogy Registry for use in studying the genetics of cardiovascular and other diseases.

Using publicly available pedigree records and probabilistic linkage techniques, we created a genealogy of ≈23 million records that we linked to 3.9 million patient records in the Intermountain Healthcare system. Analytical tools were developed to support this registry, including calculation of genealogical index of familiality (GIF), testing of familial coaggregation of diseases, and extraction of high-risk pedigrees.

A total of 658,822 (16.8%) patients were linked to a genealogy pedigree record. The average age of the linked patients was 53 years, the majority (89.0%) were Caucasian, and 50.5% were male. The GIFs for the leading cardiovascular conditions of atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and myocardial infarction (MI) were all 1.2 times greater than the GIFs of matched control sets (p < 0.001). For extreme values of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, the GIFs were each 1.5 times greater than those of matched control sets (p < 0.001). There was coaggregation with MI and the extreme lipid traits with the largest coaggregation being for MI and triglycerides.

The Intermountain Genealogy Registry is a multifaceted resource created to provide insights into the genetic components of cardiovascular and other diseases. This registry provides the means for easy identification and ascertainment of high-risk pedigrees for discovery of genetic susceptibility variants.

Metallothionein (MT)-III, originally discovered as a growth inhibitory factor (GIF), is a brain specific isomer of MTs and is markedly reduced in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients (AD) and in several other neurodegenerative diseases. We analyzed the level and regulation of mRNA expression of MT-III in immortalized fetal mouse brain glial cells (VR-2g) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The basal expression level of MT-III mRNA is very low in VR-2g cells. 4-Methylcatechol, dopamine (DA) and levodopa (l-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), which stimulate the synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF), further increased the expression of MT-III mRNA in VR-2g cells.

We report the case of a patient with a gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp (GHIP) and discuss the relevant literature. A 65-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a slow-growing pedunculated polyp measuring 30mm in diameter, present in the greater curvature of the fundic region of the stomach. It was covered with normal gastric mucosa, and the top was reddish. A biopsy specimen taken from the reddish area;it showed inflamed gastric mucosa with hyperplastic and mildly distorted foveolar glands. Abdominal contrast computed tomography showed a protruding tumor that was unevenly enhanced and contained multiple cystic lesions inside. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS, Olympus GIF-UCT260) showed a heterogeneous tumor with multiple anechoic or low-echoic cystic lesions, originating from the second or third layer of the stomach wall. The patient had no clinical symptoms, no family history, and no laboratory data abnormalities. Based on these findings, we diagnosed her with GHIP. As the polyp had shown an increase in size (5mm/5 years) and about 20% of GHIPs were reported to coexist with precancerous or cancerous lesions, we performed endoscopic polypectomy. The tumor was histologically characterized by submucosal growth of hypertrophic glands with cystic dilatation, accompanied by smooth muscle proliferation, branching from the bundles. Thus, the final diagnosis was GHIP. Though GHIP is a rare and basically benign polyp, the rate with gastric cancer was reported to be relatively high. EUS findings are important for the diagnosis and when GHIP is suspected, the lesion requires to be monitored closely. If there are some signs that suggest a malignancy (growth, changes in surface mucosa, etc.), endoscopic en bloc resection or surgical resection should be considered.

Propagation-based X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-PCCT) images often suffer from severe ring artifacts. Ring artifacts are mainly caused by the nonuniform response of detector elements, and they can degrade image quality and affect the subsequent image post-processing and analyses. To remove ring artifacts in PB-PCCT images, a novel method combined sparse-domain regularized stripe decomposition (SDRSD) method with guided image filtering (GIF) was proposed. In this method, polar coordinate transformation was utilized to convert the ring artifacts to stripe artifact. And then considering the directional and sparse properties of the stripe artifacts and the continuity characteristics of the sample, the SDRSD method was designed to remove stripe artifacts. However, for the SDRSD method, the presence of noise may destroy the edges of the stripe artifacts and thus lead to incomplete decomposition. And hence, one simple but efficient smoothing technique, namely GIF, was employed to overcome this issue. The simulations and real experiments demonstrated that the proposed method could effectively remove ring artifacts as well as preserve the structures and edges of the samples. In conclusion, the proposed method can serve as an effective tool to remove ring artifacts in PB-PCCT images, and it has high potential for promoting the biomedical and preclinical applications of PB-PCCT.

Keywords: guided-image filtering; propagation-based X-ray phase-contrast computer tomography; ring artifacts; stripe decomposition.