Objective: A rise in carcinoembryonic antigen level is commonly encountered during follow-up of patients with colorectal carcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18 F-FDG PET/CT) studies for detection of recurrent or metastatic colorectal carcinoma in patients with rising carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Methods: Patients with colorectal carcinoma in clinical remission with rising carcinoembryonic antigen levels who underwent PET/CT in Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong from 2008 to 2011 were included. Patient demographics, carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and clinical follow-up data were recorded. Outcomes were determined by histopathological findings or at least 12-month follow-up. Results: Forty-two PET/CT studies of 37 patients (16 men and 21 women; mean [standard deviation] age, 65.8 [11.6] years) were included. Carcinoembryonic antigen levels ranged from 1.8 to 45 µg/l (9 patients had normal carcinoembryonic antigen levels of <5 µg/l, but serial carcinoembryonic antigen measurements showed a rising trend). Among the 42 events, 23 (55%) had a positive final diagnosis. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of PET/CT for recurrence or metastases were 91.3%, 89.5%, 91.3%, and 89.5%. Conclusion: 18 F-FDG PET/CT is a useful imaging modality to evaluate recurrence or metastases in patients with colorectal carcinoma in clinical remission but showing rising carcinoembryonic antigen levels.
Intact rats (1) and mice (2) are frequently used as mammalian test models for the detection and evaluation of biological activity in plant material and metabolite fractions, We have used the
Ultrasound (US) guidance has been a fundamental tool for interventionalists to perform percutaneous procedures. A limitation to US guidance is poor lesion visibility on conventional B-mode (brightness mode) US. Contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) is an adjunct technique that facilitates the visualisation and localisation of lesions.We review the use of CEUS and its application in liver interventions and describe the experience in our institution in using CEUS in these procedures.
The cytoplasmic inclusion (CI) gene of a Singapore isolate of zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV-S) was sequenced and compared with CI of 14 other potyviruses. In addition to the consensus sequence GAVGSGKST of nucleotide binding motif (NTBM) which is implicated as a membrane-binding component of the RNA helicase complex, five other conserved motifs were found. Phylogenetic trees were constructed from sequence data for the CI and the coat protein. Similar branching patterns obtained from both CI and coat protein analyses suggests that phylogenetic relationship among potyviruses can be determined using the CI. We propose that phylogenetic analysis of CI gene may be used as an alternative approach for the study of evolution within the family Potyviridae.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.