No abstract

BACKGROUNDThe authors evaluated the significance of the preoperative serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) level as a prognostic indicator in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODSOne hundred forty‐one patients who underwent curative resection for HCC were reviewed retrospectively. Clinicopathologic variables were compared between patients with serum CRP levels ≥ 1.0 mg/dL (n = 22 patients; the CRP‐positive group) and patients with serum CRP levels < 1.0 mg/dL (n = 119 patients; the CRP‐negative group). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors that affected survival and disease recurrence.RESULTSThere was a significant correlation between the preoperative serum CRP level and tumor size. Invasion to the portal vein in the CRP‐positive group was significantly more frequent than that in the CRP‐negative group. Even after they underwent curative resection, 75.3% of patients in the CRP‐positive group experienced recurrence within 1 year. The overall survival and recurrence‐free survival rates in the CRP‐positive group were significantly lower compared with the rates in the CRP‐negative group. On multivariate analysis, the preoperative serum CRP level was selected as one of the unfavorable indicators regarding survival and recurrence. When CRP levels, albumin levels, and platelet counts that were available before surgery were scored as a combined index, the total score demonstrated a good stratification value for survival after hepatic resection.CONCLUSIONSThe current results showed that the preoperative serum CRP level is an independent and significant indicator predictive of poor prognosis and early recurrence in patients with HCC. The new CRP‐based scoring system offers reliable information for predicting survival. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.

No abstract

To evaluate roles of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) for prognosis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL). Expression of markers for TAMs, CD68, HLA-DR, CD163, HLA-DR/CD68 (M1), and CD163/CD68 (M2) was immunohistochemically examined in 82 cases with CHL. Positively stained cells were counted and correlation of number of TAMs and patients' survival time was analyzed. Number of CD163+ cells and M2 cells was significantly correlated with shorter overall survival (P < 0.05), while it was marginally significant for CD68+ cells (P = 0.0827). HLA-DR + cells and M1 cells showed no significant correlation with overall survival. When confined to mixed cellularity subtype, number of M1 cells was correlated with favorable prognosis (P < 0.05), while M2 did not (P = 0.7). Older age and male sex were unfavorable factors for prognosis. At multivariate analysis, number of CD163+ cells, M2+ cells, and age were independent factors for poor overall survival (P = 0.03, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively). CD163+ cells and M2 cells might work to be tumor promotive in CHL. M1 cells might be tumor suppressive in mixed cellularity type.

Significantly more children with ALRI who needed supplementary oxygen and ventilator management were vitamin D deficient. These findings suggest that the immunomodulatory properties of vitamin D may influence the severity of ALRI.

Estimation of specific type of macrophages, of the M1 and M2 types, is superior to the estimation of TAMs as a whole (CD68+ cells) for prediction of the prognosis of DLBCL patients.

Stabilization of a peroxocarbonate ligand by formation of a five‐membered chelate ring. The mononuclear peroxocarbonate complex 1 was prepared by the reaction of a bis(μ‐hydroxo)diiron(III) complex with H2O2 and CO2. Compound 1 is the first crystallographically characterized transition metal complex with a peroxocarbonate ligand. Formation of the peroxocarbonate moiety in 1 proceeds by a nucleophilic addition of a peroxide anion to CO2. Hqn=quinaldic acid.

The authors evaluated the imaging performance of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for dental use using 3DX multi-image micro-CT (Morita Co., Kyoto, Japan) and four-row multi-detector helical computed tomography (MDCT) using an Asteion (Toshiba, Tokyo, Japan). A dried right maxillary bone was cut into eight slices 2 mm thick toward the zygomatico-palate and used as a phantom. Images of the phantom were then taken using 3DX and MDCT. The images of two bone slices were evaluated by five dentists for image quality and reproducibility of cancellous bone, as well as enamel, dentin, pulp cavity, periodontal ligament space, lamina dura and the overall image. Using the MDCT images as the standard, the 3DX images were evaluated with a subjective 5-level scale: 3 for an image equal to the MDCT image, 4 or greater for better, and 2 or lower for worse. The scores for all parameters exceeded 4 points. Maximum mean score was 4.8 for the lamina dura. Statistically significant differences were found for all items (P < 0.01). Our subjective evaluation of imaging performance clarified that 3DX was superior to MDCT. The results of this study suggest that 3DX is useful for imaging in the dental field.