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We exploited the possibility to unfold the oxygen–oxygen pair-correlation function of liquid water modeled by the BK3 force field into distributions of the first, second, third, etc. neighbors of the central water molecule. Especially, we were interested in the 5th neighbor because its position is halfway between the first and the second coordination spheres. We found that each molecule has three tightly hydrogen bonded neighbors, a loosely bonded 4th neighbor and sometimes a non-tetrahedral 5th molecule which is a proton donor. We determined lifetimes of first shell molecules, the average reorientation or “jump” time, and the time needed to change the order of neighbors. Certain molecules can be 5th neighbors of more centers which may create multiple overlaps of first coordination shells. The density increase of water relative to hexagonal ice is caused by these overlaps and the hydrogen bond of the 5th molecule. This possibility also plays a role in fluctuations or makes possible the adaptation to high external pressure as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In patients with a palpable or radiologically identified pancreatic lesion, FNA is a safe and accurate procedure for procuring diagnostic material. Complications of the procedure are rare, and the morbidity and mortality are considerably less than that associated with open laparotomy and wedge biopsy. The most common complication associated with pancreatic FNA is acute pancreatitis. Contraindications to FNA include an uncorrectable bleeding diathesis, and marked ascites. The accuracy of FNA for diagnosing pancreatic adenocarcinoma is about 90%, and the overall sensitivity can be increased by multiple needle passes. Close communication and collaboration among the clinician, radiologist, and pathologist can help assure that suitable tissue is obtained and maximize the diagnostic yield of the procedure. To this end, the presence of the pathologist or a cytotechnologist at the FNA procedure is desirable to assess the tissue as it is procured. The vast majority of malignant pancreatic neoplasms are ductal adenocarcinomas. Thus, the primary diagnostic problem facing the pathologist is differentiating adenocarcinoma from benign and/or inflammatory processes. The three key cytologic features that aid in this distinction are anisonucleosis, increased nuclear size, and nuclear molding. When all three of these features are present, the sensitivity of the procedure approaches 98%, and its specificity approaches 100%. The article describes the cytomorphology of the more common lesions of the pancreas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy represents the gold standard in the treatment of advanced bladder cancer (BC) both in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting. Since novel immunooncologic agents are available for cisplatin-resistant or ineligible patients, biological markers for the prediction of cisplatin resistance become more important in treatment decisions. Therefore, we aimed to assess the therapy predictive value of 8 promising tissue biomarkers with regard to cisplatin therapy.Methods: Emmprin, survivin, HMGA2, MTA1, RhoGDI, PEG10, TGM2, and TLN1 expressions were analyzed in paraffin-embedded bladder cancer tissue samples of 106 patients who underwent adjuvant or salvage cisplatin-based chemotherapy by using immunohistochemistry. Results were correlated with the clinicopathological and follow-up data by performing both univariable and multivariable survival analyses.Results: Higher HMGA2 nuclear staining intensity and positive survivin nuclear staining were associated with worse overall survival (OS) (P = 0.045 and P = 0.002, respectively). In accordance, survivin nuclear staining also significantly correlated with shorter progression free survival (PFS, P = 0.024), while HMGA2 nuclear positivity tended to correlate with shorter PFS (P = 0.069) after at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy. In the multivariable analyses only survivin remained as an independent predictor of both OS and PFS (P = 0.008 and P = 0.025). None of the other markers proved to be significant predictors of adjuvant or salvage cisplatin-based chemotherapy.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that survivin represents a promising marker for the prediction of cisplatin resistance in BC. In addition the therapy predictive role of HMGA2 should be further investigated. Immunohistochemical analysis of BC samples provides a feasible way for the prediction of cisplatin-resistance and may therefore provide a valuable tool for optimizing treatment decisions in advanced BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]