No abstract

Icosahedral virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from bacteriophages Qβ and PP7 encapsulating small-ultra red fluorescent protein (smURFP) were produced using a versatile supramolecualr capsid dissassemble-reassemble approach. The generated fluorescent VLPs display identical structural properties to their non-fluorescent analogs. Encapsulated smURFP shows indistinguishable photochemical properties to its unencapsulated counterpart, exhibits outstanding stability towards pH, and produces bright in vitro images following phagocytosis by macrophages. In vivo imaging allows biodistribution to be imaged at different time points. Ex vivo imaging of intravenously administered encapsulated smURFP reveleas localization in the liver and kidneys after 2 h blood circulation and substantial elimination after 16 h of imaging highlighting the potential application of these constructs as non-invasive in vivo imaging agents.

Thirty-eight cases of lipomatous hypertrophy of the cardiac interatrial septum are presented and analyzed, together with those previously reported. Available data indicate that this entity is more likely to be seen in the seventh to eighth decade of life, in Caucasians, and with age-associated increases of epicardial fat. It differs from cardiac lipoma, which is a true neoplasm occurring in a younger age group. It is probably more frequent than reported as it is usually not looked for. Atrial arrhythmias sometimetimes coexist with this lesion, but a cause-and-effect relationship would be difficult to prove. The lesion should be included in the differential consideration of atrial masses found by ultrasound, cineangiocardiogram, and gated radionuclide cardiac imaging.

There is relatively little information concerning the use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to diagnose a mass in the pancreas that is secondary to metastatic tumor. This study reviews the incidence and types of neoplasms which metastasize to the pancreas and assesses the contribution FNAB can make in their diagnosis. Of 117 radiologically guided FNABs of the pancreas, 11% (n = 13) showed metastatic malignancy. Nine patients had a previous history of malignancy while four patients presented with a pancreatic mass and were subsequently found to have wide-spread malignant disease. The majority of metastatic lesions were epithelial (77%, n = 10). Patient outcomes were generally poor (mean survival 2.8 mo). Metastases to the pancreas occur from a variety of primary sites and should be considered in patients with a pancreatic mass and a history of prior malignancy. FNAB is useful in diagnosing these metastases and this is clinically important because of their poor prognosis.