The filter paper partition chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of total ascorbic acid is used for determination of human blood ascorbic acid. The percentage recovery is 101-102%. A comparison is made of this method with Roe-Kuether colorimetric method and photoelectric titration method for the total ascorbic acid determination. The results indicate that 2-ketogulonic acid is not present in human plasma.

It has been proved chromatographically that the substances in human urine interfere 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol visual titration method are mainly thiosulfates, cysteine and an unknown substance with Rf of 0.5 (Rf of ascorbic acid = 0.28). Ketonic substances present in urine interfere the ascorbic acid estimation with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine colorimetric method. The amount of these interfering substances present in human urine is usually high, so that erroneous results are obtained with both methods, even in the case of large amount of ascorbic acid in the sample.Formaldehyde at pH 2.0 can not condense with ascorbic acid quantitatively, so that the results obtained by formaldehyde condensation method are considerably lower than that obtained with Kuo and Chen's filter paper partition chromatographic method.Our results indicate that the last mentioned method is the most convenient and accurate one for the quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid in urine.

Iodine was used as an oxidant instead of brimine in the 2,4-dinitro-phenylhydrazine method for the determination of total ascorbic acid content in vegetables. The excess of iodine was removed with a small amount of crystalline thiourea. This process of oxidation was simple, safe and rapid.With this modified method, the ascorbic acid content of 18 vegetables were determined. The ascorbic acid values thus obtained with iodine were sometimes slightly lower than those with bromine, but were higher than those with paper chromatographic method.

We describe two cases of right hyperglycemia hemichorea (HGHC) with identical Tc-99m TRODAT-1/ Tc-99m ECD scan findings. While the brain MRI showed signal alterations within the left putamen, there was evidence of hyperperfusion on Tc-99m TRODAT-1 but hypoperfusion on Tc-99m ECD within the left putamen, in association with hyperperfusion within left thalamus on Tc-99m ECD. The discrepancy between the Tc-99m TRODAT-1 and Tc-99m ECD scan provides insight into the imbalance between direct and indirect circuits along the nigrostriatal pathway, as the fundamental genesis of HGHC. Furthermore, the hyperperfusion at the left thalamus represents thalamic disinhibition secondary to loss of pallidal negative control, which ultimately leads to HGHC through re-entrant outflow to the motor cortex.
Hyperglycemia

BACKGROUND:Accurate diagnosis of infected aortic and iliac aneurysms is often delayed, hampering timely treatment and potentially resulting in a fatal consequence. The aim of this study was to discover useful clinical features that can help physicians to identify these patients. METHODS:We reviewed the discharge notes from two hospitals and identified all patients who had a diagnosis of infected aneurysms of the thoracoabdominal aorta and iliac arteries between July 2009 and December 2013. Eighteen patients, aged from 41 to 93, were reviewed. Only 6 patients were diagnosed accurately in their first visit to our ED. RESULTS:Most patients had at least one underlying illness, and it took 1 to 30 (9.9±6.5) days for physicians to diagnose their infected aneurysm. Localized pain and fever were the two most commonly presented symptoms. The majority (92％) of isolated microorganisms were gram-negative bacilli, including Salmonella spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. Two of the 3 patients who underwent non-operative therapy died, and all of the patients who underwent a combination of medical and operative therapies survived. CONCLUSION:We suggest that physicians liberally use computed tomography scans on patients with unknown causes of pain and inflammatory processes. A combination of surgical and medical treatments is indicated for all patients with infected aortic and iliac aneurysms.

Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cooperative Behavior ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; Japan ; Korea ; Liver ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mass Screening ; Oceania ; Taiwan ; Thailand ; Thyroid Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Cancer cells develop acquired resistance induced by chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we investigated the effects of brief treatment with cytotoxic drugs on the phenotype of breast cancer cells. METHODS: Breast cancer cells MCF7 and BT-474 were briefly treated with paclitaxel or doxorubicin. Clonogenic, migration, and invasion assays were performed on the treated cells. Western blot analysis and RhoA activity assay were also performed. RESULTS: Breast cancer cells when briefly treated with paclitaxel or doxorubicin showed reduced clonogenic ability. Doxorubicin, but not paclitaxel, augmented cell migration and invasion. The invasion-promoting effects of doxorubicin were lost when the two drugs were sequentially used in combination. Myosin light chain (MLC) 2 phosphorylation and RhoA activity were upregulated by doxorubicin and downregulated by paclitaxel. Pretreatment with RhoA inhibitors abolished the migration- and invasion-promoting effects of doxorubicin. CONCLUSION: Doxorubicin activates the RhoA/MLC pathway and enhances breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Therefore, this pathway might be explored as a therapeutic target to suppress anthracycline-enhanced tumor progression.
Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cell Movement ; Doxorubicin ; Myosin Light Chains ; Paclitaxel ; Phenotype ; Phosphorylation ; Up-Regulation

Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) was introduced as a novel technique to deal with rectal cancers. Its transanal approach offered the shortest distance to approach a challenging location, allowing an excellent visualization of the distal resection margin. Since its introduction in 2010, a significant amount of research has been put in to measure its development. In this review, we look at its ancestry, the genesis for its introduction and continued evolution as well as some of the important outcomes in its journey thus far. The importance of a structured and proctored learning journey is also stressed to enable the safe application and development of this technique. Beyond this, the TaTME movement has progressed relentlessly and its utility has been expanded to the management of benign conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Hartman reversals, and anastomotic strictures. We believe that the continued development and adoption of TaTME worldwide is here to stay.

OBJECTIVEAccuracy of diagnostic methods for detecting Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection among patients with bleeding peptic ulcers has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic tests and their combined usage in detection of H. pylori infection in patients with bleeding gastric ulcers and without the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

METHODSA total of 57 patients who presented with bleeding gastric ulcers by endoscopy were enrolled. The status of H. pylori was identified by performing the rapid urease test (RUT), histology and (13)C-labeled urea breath test (UBT). The criteria for having H. pylori infection was a minimum of two positive tests.

RESULTSThe prevalence of H. pylori infection in our patient group was 80.7%. Among the three tests used: RUT, histology, and UBT, sensitivities were 56.5%, 97.8% and 100%, while specificities were 100%, 45.5% and 81.8%, respectively. The overall accuracies of the tests were 78.3%, 71.6% and 90.9%, respectively. Although UBT obtained significantly higher accuracy than histology (P = 0.02) as opposed to RUT (P = 0.11), UBT had significantly higher sensitivity than RUT (P < 0.001). In terms of combining any two of the three tests, more accuracy (98.9%) was achieved when both UBT and histology were used to confirm the diagnosis of the other. Conversely, failure to use combined tests generated the potential of missing a proper H. pylori diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSUBT is superior to the other two tests in bleeding gastric ulcers. RUT lacks sensitivity for detection of H. pylori infection. However, the concomitant use of UBT and histology seems to be more accurate when gastric ulcers present with bleeding.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breath Tests ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage ; complications ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Ulcer ; complications ; Urea