Administration of EPO as a single dose before the onset of ischaemia produced a significant reduction in tubular injury, which was accompanied by a marked amelioration of renal functional impairment. The cytoprotective action of EPO against I/R injury seems to be associated with its anti-apoptotic action. Moreover, transcription factor NF-kappaB is likely to play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of I/R renal injury and might have a key role in EPO-mediated protective effects.

BackgroundTesting for tumor specific mutations on routine formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues may predict response to treatment in Medical Oncology and has already entered diagnostics, with KRAS mutation assessment as a paradigm. The highly sensitive real time PCR (Q-PCR) methods developed for this purpose are usually standardized under optimal template conditions. In routine diagnostics, however, suboptimal templates pose the challenge. Herein, we addressed the applicability of sequencing and two Q-PCR methods on prospectively assessed diagnostic cases for KRAS mutations.Methodology/Principal FindingsTumor FFPE-DNA from 135 diagnostic and 75 low-quality control samples was obtained upon macrodissection, tested for fragmentation and assessed for KRAS mutations with dideoxy-sequencing and with two Q-PCR methods (Taqman-minor-groove-binder [TMGB] probes and DxS-KRAS-IVD). Samples with relatively well preserved DNA could be accurately analyzed with sequencing, while Q-PCR methods yielded informative results even in cases with very fragmented DNA (p<0.0001) with 100% sensitivity and specificity vs each other. However, Q-PCR efficiency (Ct values) also depended on DNA-fragmentation (p<0.0001). Q-PCR methods were sensitive to detect ≤1% mutant cells, provided that samples yielded cycle thresholds (Ct) <29, but this condition was met in only 38.5% of diagnostic samples. In comparison, FFPE samples (>99%) could accurately be analyzed at a sensitivity level of 10% (external validation of TMGB results). DNA quality and tumor cell content were the main reasons for discrepant sequencing/Q-PCR results (1.5%).Conclusions/SignificanceDiagnostic targeted mutation assessment on FFPE-DNA is very efficient with Q-PCR methods in comparison to dideoxy-sequencing. However, DNA fragmentation/amplification capacity and tumor DNA content must be considered for the interpretation of Q-PCR results in order to provide accurate information for clinical decision making.

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BackgroundPilocytic astrocytoma can be challenging to diagnose.MethodsIts clinical presentations can differ, directly related to its size and location, and are relatively unreliable. Similarly, imaging findings also vary with the location of the pilocytic astrocytoma.ResultsThis review provides an overview of the different imaging findings regarding pilocytic astrocytomas using both conventional and advanced magnetic resonance imaging sequences according to tumour location; the findings are strongly related to the tumour’s tendency to infiltrate surrounding structures, being able to carry out gross total resection, and finally the prognosis.ConclusionsKnowledge of these imaging manifestations of pilocytic astrocytoma may be helpful to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.Teaching PointsTo recognise the various imaging findings of pilocytic astrocytoma on both conventional and advanced magnetic resonance imaging sequences.To identify the characteristic imaging findings according to tumour location.To discuss the relevant differential diagnoses of pilocytic astrocytoma in each tumour location.