PURPOSE: Using dynamic range compression (DRC) processing, this study compared the detectability ofmediastinal lines by conventional film screen rediography (FS) and by storage phosphor digital radiography(DR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected 200 normal consecutive chest radiographs (100 FS, 100 DR) ; dynamic rangecompression was applied to DR processing and moving grids were used in both systems. Seven mediastinal lines (leftfaraspinal, right paraspinal, azygoesophageal, left para-aortic, posterior junctional, anterior junctional andright paratracheal) were scored from 0 point to 3 point(0:not visible, 1:suspiciously visible, 2:visible, but notclear, 3: clearly visible) according to visibility and sharpness, as agreed by a radiologist and a resident. Thedifferences between the two modalities were compared and analyzed by chi-square test. RESULTS: Among the 1400mediastinal lines analyzed, 419 lines by DR(59.9%) and 232 lines by FS(33.1%) were scored more than 2 points. Inall mediastinal lines except the left para-aortic, DR was more detectable and clearer than FS, with statisticalsignificance(P<.01). CONCLUSION: DR processed with DRC visualizes mediastinal lines more frequently and clearlythan conventional FS, and is therefore thought to be useful for the evaluation of mediastinal diseases.
Mediastinal Diseases ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography* ; Radiography, Thoracic

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity has been increasingly recognized as a predisposing factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms in Western populations where celiac disease (CD) is relatively common. In Asia where CD is rare, we wish to determine the prevalence of gluten protein associated serology in IBS patients, which has not been formally studied, and its relation to histological and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers. METHODS: We reviewed a consecutive cohort of Asian patients with IBS, who had undergone serologic testing for IgA against deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies (IgA DGP) and IgA anti-endomysium antibodies, and who also had duodenal biopsies during clinical workup. In addition, a subset of Chinese patients with positive serology was further tested for HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. RESULTS: Of 186 patients, 34 (18%) were positive for IgA DGP; bloating, abdominal pain, belching and diarrhea were the most commonly reported symptoms but diarrhea as the most bothersome symptom was significantly more common in IgA DGP positive patients. Mildly increased intra-epithelial lymphocytes on duodenal biopsy was also more common (29% vs. 9%, P = 0.001). Nine of 21 Chinese patients tested as IgA DGP positive undertook HLA-DQ2/DQ8 testing, with only 2 being positive for HLA-DQ8. All patients with positive IgA DGP reported symptom improvement with gluten withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: We have described a series of Asian, mainly Chinese, patients with IBS who were tested positive for IgA DGP, and improved on a gluten exclusion diet. We believe this is the first report of non-celiac gluten sensitivity in Asia, a region where CD is uncommon.
Abdominal Pain ; Antibodies* ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Biopsy ; Causality ; Celiac Disease ; Cohort Studies ; Diarrhea ; Diet ; Eructation ; Gliadin* ; Glutens ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Prevalence* ; Serologic Tests

Eventhough surmountable amounts of genes are being cloned and a number of methods are being developed by human genome project, it's not easy to predict possible functions of genes and determine the chromosomal locations of genes. In this experiment, cDNA pool was made from 18 weeks old human fetal brain and analyzed the sequences. FB174 clone was chosen, in situ hybridization histochemistry was performed on developing and adult rat tissue section to observe the tissue specificity and developmental expression of this gene. To observe the chromosomal location of FB174 clone, the genomic DNA from human genomic library was isolated and fluorescence in situ hybridization was carried out. By sequencing and sequence search with GenBank data it was revealed that cloned FB174 cDNA was quite similar to translationally controlled tumor protein which is known to locate to human chromosome 13q14. The expression of FB174 mRNA was not detected in rat tissue sections by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using biotin labeled FB174 probe resulted in specific labeling of human chromosome 7q22. These results and high sequence homology of FB174 to known translationally controlled tumor protein suggest that FB174 clone may be a new translationally controlled tumor protein-related gene.
Adult ; Animals ; Biotin ; Brain* ; Chromosomes, Human ; Clone Cells ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; DNA* ; DNA, Complementary* ; Fluorescence ; Genomic Library ; Human Genome Project ; Humans* ; In Situ Hybridization ; Organ Specificity ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Homology

Purpose: In this trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of adjuvant letrozole for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Here, we report the clinical outcome in postmenopausal women with HR-positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant letrozole according to estrogen receptor (ER) expression levels. Methods: In this multi-institutional, open-label, observational study, postmenopausal patients with HR-positive breast cancer received adjuvant letrozole (2.5 mg/daily) for 5 years unless they experienced disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or withdrew their consent. The patients were stratified into the following 3 groups according to ER expression levels using a modified Allred score (AS): low, intermediate, and high (AS 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8, respectively). ER expression was centrally reviewed. The primary objective was the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate. Results: Between April 25, 2010, and February 5, 2014, 440 patients were enrolled. With a median follow-up of 62.0 months, the 5-year DFS rate in all patients was 94.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.8–96.6). The 5-year DFS and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates did not differ according to ER expression; the 5-year DFS rates were 94.3% and 94.1%in the low-to-intermediate and high expression groups, respectively (p = 0.6), and the corresponding 5-year RFS rates were 95.7% and 95.4%, respectively (p = 0.7). Furthermore, 25 patients discontinued letrozole because of drug toxicity. Conclusion Treatment with adjuvant letrozole showed very favorable treatment outcomes and good tolerability among Korean postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer, independent of ER expression.

Purpose: In this trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of adjuvant letrozole for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Here, we report the clinical outcome in postmenopausal women with HR-positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant letrozole according to estrogen receptor (ER) expression levels. Methods: In this multi-institutional, open-label, observational study, postmenopausal patients with HR-positive breast cancer received adjuvant letrozole (2.5 mg/daily) for 5 years unless they experienced disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or withdrew their consent. The patients were stratified into the following 3 groups according to ER expression levels using a modified Allred score (AS): low, intermediate, and high (AS 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8, respectively). ER expression was centrally reviewed. The primary objective was the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate. Results: Between April 25, 2010, and February 5, 2014, 440 patients were enrolled. With a median follow-up of 62.0 months, the 5-year DFS rate in all patients was 94.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.8–96.6). The 5-year DFS and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates did not differ according to ER expression; the 5-year DFS rates were 94.3% and 94.1%in the low-to-intermediate and high expression groups, respectively (p = 0.6), and the corresponding 5-year RFS rates were 95.7% and 95.4%, respectively (p = 0.7). Furthermore, 25 patients discontinued letrozole because of drug toxicity. Conclusion Treatment with adjuvant letrozole showed very favorable treatment outcomes and good tolerability among Korean postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer, independent of ER expression.