Deconvolution of Tc-99m-Mercaptoacetyltriglycine Renograms with the Concomitant Use of a Sparse Legendre Polynomial Representation and the Moore-Penrose Pseudo-inverse.

Objectives: This study aimed to introduce an improved deconvolution technique for Tc-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine renograms based on the combination of a sparse Legendre polynomial representation and the Moore-Penrose inversion matrix (LG). This method reduces the effect of noise on the measurement of renal retention function transit time (TT).

Methods: The stability and accuracy of the proposed method were tested using a renal database containing Monte Carlo-simulated studies and real adult patient data.

Individualized Prophylactic Neck Irradiation in Patients with cN0 Head and Neck Cancer Based on Sentinel Lymph Node(s) Identification: Definitive Results of a Prospective Phase 1-2 Study.

Purpose: This prospective, nonrandomized, interventional phase 1-2 study investigated the individualization of elective node irradiation in clinically N0 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and its impact on tumor control and radiation-related toxicity.

Methods And Materials: Forty-four patients with clinically N0 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with definitive (chemo-)radiation therapy were imaged with SPECT/CT after Tc nanocolloid injection around the tumor. The neck levels containing up to the 4 hottest SLNs were selected for prophylactic irradiation.

SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy of sentinel node(s) for superselective prophylactic irradiation of the neck in cN0 head and neck cancer patients: a prospective phase I feasibility study.

Background: Clinically node negative HNSCC patients have a risk ranging between 18 and 45% of occult metastases, making prophylactic irradiation mandatory. Selective irradiation of nodal target volume based on international guidelines is practice. Anyway, about half the tumours lying in an anatomical subsite known to potentially drain bilaterally effectively do so, leading to unnecessary large volume irradiation.

Turnip mosaic virus RNA replication complex vesicles are mobile, align with microfilaments, and are each derived from a single viral genome.

Nicotiana benthamiana plants were agroinoculated with an infectious cDNA clone of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) that was engineered to express a fluorescent protein (green fluorescent protein [GFP] or mCherry) fused to the viral 6K2 protein known to induce vesicle formation. Cytoplasmic fluorescent discrete protein structures were observed in infected cells, corresponding to the vesicles containing the viral RNA replication complex. The vesicles were motile and aligned with microfilaments.

Eukaryotic elongation factor 1A interacts with Turnip mosaic virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and VPg-Pro in virus-induced vesicles.

Eukaryotic elongation factor 1-alpha (eEF1A) was identified as an interactor of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and VPg-protease (VPg-Pro) using tandem affinity purification and/or in vitro assays. Subcellular fractionation experiments revealed that the level of eEF1A substantially increased in membrane fractions upon TuMV infection. Replication of TuMV occurs in cytoplasmic membrane vesicles, which are induced by 6K-VPg-Pro.

Transforming growth factor-beta3 increases the invasiveness of endometrial carcinoma cells through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent up-regulation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis and protein kinase c-dependent induction of matrix metalloproteinase-9.

Tumor cells often acquire intrinsic resistance to the growth inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta); moreover, TGF-beta can confer invasive properties to established tumor cells. In the present study, we show that TGF-beta isoforms (TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-beta3) trigger proper Smad signaling in human endometrial carcinoma cell lines and efficiently inhibit cellular proliferation. These cells, however, exhibit a high degree of resistance to TGF-beta pro-apoptotic effects; we found that this resistant phenotype would be acquired through up-regulation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) levels.

Inconclusive triple diagnosis in breast cancer imaging: is there a place for scintimammography?

Unlabelled: Scintimammography (SM) can be used as a complementary test to mammography in patients with suspected breast cancers. This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of SM on the management of patients with a doubtful or discordant triple diagnosis-that is, mammography, ultrasound, and fine-needle aspiration cytology. The clinical question was variable: initial diagnosis of cancer, suspicion of recurrence, doubtful tumor extension, or search for a primary tumor.

AKT involvement in cisplatin chemoresistance of human uterine cancer cells.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of Akt activity and specific isoforms (Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3) in the resistance of human uterine cancer cells to cisplatin.

Methods: Two different endometrial (HEC-1-A and KLE) and one cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines all known as wild-type PTEN (tumor suppressor phosphatase tensin homologue, a lipid phosphatase involved in the negative regulation of Akt activity) were used for these studies.

Results: Basal levels of Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3 mRNAs were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR studies and Western blot analyses were carried out to determine protein abundance of each isoforms.

Akt regulates COX-2 mRNA and protein expression in mutated-PTEN human endometrial cancer cells.

In human endometrial cancer, the fourth most common cancer in women, tumor suppressor phosphatase tensin homologue (PTEN) is frequently mutated. In the presence of a mutated PTEN protein, Akt phosphorylation levels are increased leading to the activation of this survival pathway. Numerous studies indicated that COX-2 is inappropriately induced and up-regulated in a number of malignant cancer cells.

Synthesis of 17beta-estradiol platinum(II) complexes: biological evaluation on breast cancer cell lines.

The synthesis of a novel series of 17beta-estradiol-linked platinum(II) complexes is described. The new molecules are linked with an alkyl chain at position 16alpha of the steroid nucleus and bear a 16beta-hydroxymethyl side chain. They are made from estrone in five chemical steps with an overall yield exceeding 28%.

Quantitation in PET using isotopes emitting prompt single gammas: application to yttrium-86.

Several yttrium-90 labelled somatostatin analogues are now available for cancer radiotherapy. After injection, a large amount of the compound is excreted via the urinary tract, while a variable part is trapped in the tumour(s), allowing the curative effect. Unfortunately, the compound may also be trapped in critical tissues such as kidney or bone marrow.

86Y-DOTA0)-D-Phe1-Tyr3-octreotide (SMT487)--a phase 1 clinical study: pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and renal protective effect of different regimens of amino acid co-infusion.

The pharmacokinetics and dosimetry of (86)Y-DOTA(0)- d-Phe(1)-Tyr(3)-octreotide ((86)Y-SMT487) were evaluated in a phase I positron emission tomography (PET) study of 24 patients with somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumours. The effect of amino acid (AA) co-infusion on renal and tumour uptake was assessed in a cross-over randomised setting. Five regimens were tested: no infusion, 4-h infusion of 120 g mixed AA (26.