We studied the serological reaction between various antigenic components from Cysticercus cellulosae and IgG antibodies in sera of cysticercosis, sparganosis, hydatidosis patients and normal humans by ELISA and EITB. In serological tests by ELISA, we recognized cross reaction of Cysticercus antigenic components with IgG antibodies in heterologous sera such as sparganosis and hydatidosis patients or normal humans. The crude antigenic components of Cysticercus showed lower ELISA sensitivity in homologous sera from cysticercosis patients than heterologous sera from hydatidosis patients. A total of 31 polypeptide bands with 260 KDa-22 KDa molecular weights were detected by SDS-PAGE, and 11 of them showed strong intensity. Total 22 components of them were recognized by IgG antibodies in cysticercosis patients sera. However, 12 of them were recognized also by normal human sera, 11 were by sparganosis sera, and 21 were by hydatidosis patients sera. The crude antigenic components of 104 KDa, 82 KDa, 72 KDa, 59 KDa and 34 KDa molecular weights were nonspecific ones, which cross-reacted with sera of either cysticercosis, sparganosis, hydatidosis patients or normal humans.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Spirometra erinacei ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; sparganum ; immunology ; antigen

Seafood is an important source of dietary protein worldwide, especially for coastal and island dwellers who now comprise 70% of the world’s population. Besides being high in protein and providing 40% of the world’s protein intake, seafood is low in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids and contains unique long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Two seafood PUFAs, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) inhibit platelet aggregation and reduce mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke. Although the United States (U.S.) scientific community has recommended a Mediterranean-type diet, based on beneficial PUFAs in seafood, the European scientific community has cautioned that the increasing methylmercury levels in seafood may counteract any cardioprotective effects of PUFAs and actually increase risks of MI. This review describes the health benefits of seafood consumption and makes recommendations for the safe selection and preparation of seafood. In addition, this review describes the burden of seafood-borne diseases, separates seafood-borne toxic, heavy metal, and pesticide poisonings from seafood-borne infectious diseases; and makes recommendations for the management and prevention of seafood-borne illnesses. With the exception of some of the toxic seafood-borne illnesses, most seafood-borne infectious diseases, heavy metal poisonings, and pesticide poisonings can be prevented by careful selection and preparation of fresh seafood and adherence to weekly seafood consumption advisories, especially for those at highest risk of methylmercury poisoning, such as women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or of child-bearing age, and children age seven and younger. A balanced diet combining protein from a variety of sources, including carefully selected and prepared seafood, along with natural antioxidants from fruits and vegetables is recommended to prevent seafood-borne diseases and to promote health and longevity.

A two-layer method based on support vector machines (SVMs) has been developed to distinguish epoxide hydrolases (EHs) from other enzymes and to classify its subfamilies using its primary protein sequences. SVM classifiers were built using three different feature vectors extracted from the primary sequence of EHs: the amino acid composition (AAC), the dipeptide composition (DPC), and the pseudo-amino acid composition (PAAC). Validated by 5-fold cross tests, the first layer SVM classifier can differentiate EHs and non-EHs with an accuracy of 94.2% and has a Matthew's correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.84. Using 2-fold cross validation, PAAC-based second layer SVM can further classify EH subfamilies with an overall accuracy of 90.7% and MCC of 0.87 as compared to AAC (80.0%) and DPC (84.9%). A program called EHPred has also been developed to assist readers to recognize EHs and to classify their subfamilies using primary protein sequences with greater accuracy.
Algorithms ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Artificial Intelligence ; Computing Methodologies ; Epoxide Hydrolases ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Sequence Alignment ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; methods ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomography (CT), rather than conventional 2-dimensional radiography, was used to scan and measure pelvic parameters. The results were compared with measurements using X-ray. METHODS: Pelvic parameters were measured using both CT and X-ray in 254 patients who underwent both abdomino-pelvic CT and X-ray at the pelvic site. We assessed the similarity of the pelvic parameters between the 2 exams, as well as the correlations of pelvic parameters with sex and age. RESULTS: The mean values of the subjects’ pelvic parameters measured on X-ray were: sacral slope (SS), 31.6°; pelvic tilt (PT), 18.6°; and pelvic incidence (PI), 50.2°. The mean values measured on CT were: SS, 35.1°; PT, 11.9°; and PI, 47.0°. PT was found to be 4.07° higher on X-ray and 2.98° higher on CT in women, with these differences being statistically significant (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). PI was 4.10° higher on X-ray and 2.78° higher on CT in women, with these differences also being statistically significant (p < 0.001, p=0.009). We also observed a correlation between age and PI. For men, this correlation coefficient was 0.199 measured using X-ray and 0.184 measured using CT. For women, this correlation coefficient was 0.423 measured using X-ray and 0.372 measured using CT. CONCLUSION: When measured using CT compared to X-ray, SS increased by 3.5°, PT decreased by 6.7°, and PI decreased by 3.2°. There were also statistically significant differences in PT and PI between male and female subjects, while PI was found to increase with age.
Age Factors ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Male ; Posture* ; Radiography ; Sex Factors

PURPOSE: A recent phase III study (PARAMOUNT) demonstrated that pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy is a new treatment paradigm for advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The majority of patients enrolled in PARAMOUNT were Caucasian (94%). We reviewed efficacy and safety data from two clinical trials, which enrolled East Asian (EA) patients, to supplement data from PARAMOUNT on pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study S110 was a phase II, multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial in never-smoker, chemonaive, EA patients (n=31) with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC (n=27). Study JMII was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, post-marketing, clinical trial in Japanese patients (n=109) with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. PARAMOUNT was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. RESULTS: In EA patients with nonsquamous NSCLC, the median progression-free survival (PFS) for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy was 4.04 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22 to 5.29 months) in study S110 and 3.9 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 5.2 months) in study JMII. The median PFS for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in PARAMOUNT was 4.1 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 4.6 months). Pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in EA patients in studies S110 and JMII did not lead to any unexpected safety events, and was consistent with PARAMOUNT's safety profile. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety data in the EA trials were similar to those in PARAMOUNT despite differences in patient populations and study designs. These data represent consistent evidence for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in EA patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Far East ; Humans ; Maintenance Chemotherapy

INTRODUCTIONDigital storage of echocardiographic data offers logistical advantages over videotape archival. However, limited information is available on the accuracy of clinically compressed digitised examinations, an important consideration for patient safety.

MATERIALS AND METHODSTransthoracic echocardiograms of 520 consecutive patients were prospectively acquired digitally and on videotape. Two echocardiologists, in consensus, reported studies in both formats sequentially. Using the videotape as a reference, the significance of any reported differences was graded from both imaging and clinical standpoints, and the reasons for these differences identified.

RESULTSFrom an imaging perspective, differences between digital and videotaped studies were absent or minor in 459 cases (88%), fairly significant in 55 (11%) and very significant in 6 (1%). The main reasons for the observed differences were inadequate acquisition of optimal views (59%), an insufficient number of acquired cardiac cycles (25%) and suboptimal image quality (9%). These differences were considered to be of possible or definite clinical importance in 21 (4%) and 8 (2%) cases, respectively. In multinominal logistic regression models, the only independent predictor of significant difference between digitised and videotaped images was study complexity. Regardless of case complexity, most diagnostic errors arising from digital review were attributable to technical failure rather than observer error.

CONCLUSIONSThe potential for important errors arising from exclusive reporting of clinically compressed digital echocardiograms is small. Digital echocardiography, as practiced in a routine clinical setting, offers a patient-safe alternative to videotape review.

Echocardiography ; methods ; standards ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Prospective Studies ; Safety ; Singapore ; Videotape Recording

OBJECTIVEOur previous study shows that PURNE2 mRNA plays an important role in the differential diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Non-coding RNA PCA3 locates in the intron of PRUNE2 and may play a role in PRUNE2 expression. The aim of this study was to explore the expression of PCA3 mRNA and PRUNE2 in leiomyosarcoma and their correlation.

METHODSThe expression of PRUNE2 mRNA was analyzed by agilent gene expression microarray CHIP in 31 leiomyosarcomas and 37 GISTs, and the correlation of the PRUNE2 expression and prognosis of leiomyosarcoma was predicted. Real-Time PCR assay was used to detect the mRNA levels of PCA3 and PRUNE2 in 13 leiomyosarcomas and to investigate their correlation. Seven prostate cancer tissues were used as control of PCA3.

RESULTSThe level of PRUNE2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the 31 leiomyosarcomas than that in the 37 GISTs, and the level of PRUNE2 mRNA expression was correlated with survival of the leiomyosarcoma patients. Compared with prostate cancer, the non-coding RNA PCA3 expression level was significantly lower in leiomyosarcoma, and it had no correlation with the prognosis of leiomyosarcoma. Most importantly, the PRUNE2 and PCA3 mRNA expressions were both upregulated in leiomyosarcoma and showed a significant positive correlation.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings demonstrate for the first time that PRUNE2 expression is correlated with the survival of leiomyosarcoma patients. Furthermore, non-coding RNA PCA3, which locates in the intron of PRUNE2, has a significant positive correlation with PRUNE2 and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of leiomyosarcoma.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Untranslated ; metabolism ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze and report the results of caudal epidural injections using a catheter in patients in whom conventional epidural block had failed. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Epidural nerve block is often used to treat chronic back pain and radicular pain in degenerative lumbar disease, and percutaneous epidural neuroplasty or surgery may be an alternative if it fails. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 146 patients who were treated with caudal epidural block using a catheter were recruited for this study from January 1, 2015 to June 30, 2019. Forty-five patients who had not undergone any epidural block in the past were excluded from the study. Among patients who did not have a fracture and were followed up for at least 1 month, the medical records of 61 patients with degenerative disc herniation, spondylosis, and stenosis were reviewed retrospectively. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were evaluated before and after the procedure. RESULTS: Of the 61 patients who had undergone epidural block through a transforaminal caudal approach with no pain control effect, there were 18 males and 43 females. Their mean age was 66.3 years and the average follow-up period was 2.64 months. There were 46 cases of spinal stenosis, 33 cases of spondylosis, 2 cases of spondylolisthesis, 9 cases of disc herniation and 1 case of ankylosing spondylitis. The mean number of epidural blocks was 5.85 (times) before the procedure. The mean initial VAS score was 5.34 and the final follow-up VAS score was 2.70. There was a significant difference between before and after the procedure (p<0.05). The mean duration of effect after the procedure was 1.84 months and the mean number of procedures was 2.30. After the procedure, there were 4 cases of surgical treatment, 2 cases of neuroplasty, and 3 cases of epidural block using other methods over more than 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this clinical study suggests that caudal epidural injections using a catheter may be effective for patients with low back pain who have not responded to previous epidural blocks before surgical treatment.
Back Pain ; Catheters ; Clinical Study ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nerve Block ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylosis

Syntenin is overexpressed in multiple human cancers and is newly recognized as a novel regulator in melanoma metastasis. It functions as a scaffolding protein, via its two PDZ domains interacting with multiple transmembrane and cytoplasmic partners to regulate many of the major signaling pathways involved in various cellular processes, such as cell surface receptor clustering, protein trafficking, cytoskeleton remodeling, and activation of transcription factor, and results in the increased abilities for tumor cell growth, adhesion, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. The present article attempts to review the structure and functions of syntenin by summarizing our current knowledge on the interacting partners and diverse signaling pathways related to syntenin, and highlight the importance of syntenin as a new potential therapeutic target for the aggressive human melanoma.
Animals ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Melanoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; PDZ Domains ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Syntenins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism