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Differential cell counts is a challenging task when applying computer vision algorithms to pathology. Existing approaches to train cell recognition require high availability of multi-class segmentation and/or bounding box annotations and suffer in performance when objects are tightly clustered. We present differential count network (“DCNet”), an annotation efficient modality that utilises keypoint detection to locate in brightfield images the centre points of cells (not nuclei) and their cell class. The single centre point annotation for DCNet lowered burden for experts to generate ground truth data by 77.1% compared to bounding box labeling. Yet centre point annotation still enabled high accuracy when training DCNet on a multi-class algorithm on whole cell features, matching human experts in all 5 object classes in average precision and outperforming humans in consistency. The efficacy and efficiency of the DCNet end-to-end system represents a significant progress toward an open source, fully computationally approach to differential cell count based diagnosis that can be adapted to any pathology need.

Summary Background Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the cell dysfunction and tissue damage that result from glucolipotoxicity in diabetes. ROS formation in cells causes oxidative stress, thereby activating oxidative damage-inducing genes. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been shown to play an essential role in the vital defence mechanisms that help cells cope with oxidative stress. Aim To compare Nrf2 protein expression in nondiabetic skin tissue with that in diabetic skin tissue. Methods Nrf2 expression was evaluated by Western blotting, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and immunohistochemical staining in diabetic and nondiabetic skin tissues. Dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives of protein carbonyls in the oxidized proteins were measured by oxyblotting analysis. Cytoplasmic and nuclear Nrf2 protein expression was determined to identify the activity and level of Nrf2. Results Protein oxidation, a marker of oxidative stress, was found to be increased in diabetic skin tissue. In subcellular fraction analysis, Nrf2 protein was detected in the nuclei and cytoplasm of nondiabetic skin tissues, and the Nrf2 protein band was identified from among the multiple bands detected, using small interfering RNA-mediated Nrf2 gene silencing. Compared with nondiabetic tissue, diabetic skin tissue showed simultaneous downregulation of Nrf2 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Nuclear condensation, loss of nuclei, and vacuolization were seen in some parts of the specimen by haematoxylin and eosin staining of diabetic skin tissue. Immunohistochemical staining of Nrf2 confirmed the RT-PCR and Western blotting results. Conclusions Collectively, our data show that expression of Nrf2 is clearly downregulated in diabetic skin tissue, and suggest that Nrf2 may be necessary for protection against glucose-induced oxidative stress.

This study was designed to evaluate the extent of the radiofrequency ablation zone in relation to the time interval between transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and, ultimately, to determine the optimal strategy of combining these two therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.15 rabbits were evenly divided into three groups: Group A was treated with RFA alone; Group B was treated with TAE immediately followed by RFA; and Group C was treated with TAE followed by RFA 5 days later. All animals underwent perfusion CT (PCT) scans immediately after RFA. Serum liver transaminases were measured to evaluate acute liver damage. Animals were euthanised for pathological analysis of ablated tissues 10 days after RFA. Non-parametric analyses were conducted to compare PCT indices, the RFA zone and liver transaminase levels among the three experimental groups.Group B showed a significantly larger ablation zone than the other two groups. Arterial liver perfusion and hepatic perfusion index represented well the perfusion decrease after TAE on PCT. Although Group B showed the most elevated liver transaminase levels at 1 day post RFA, the enzymes decreased to levels that were not different from the other groups at 10 days post-RFA.When combined TAE and RFA therapy is considered, TAE should be followed by RFA as quickly as possible, as it can be performed safely without serious hepatic deterioration, despite the short interval between the two procedures.

Aedes albopictus, which can transmit Dengue fever, is one of the common mosquitoes in Hong Kong. To study the effect of weather on the abundance of Aedes mosquitoes in Hong Kong, ovitraps were set up at an unperturbed experimental site for a period of 7 days every month to record the Ovitrap Index, an often-adopted parameter to indicate the abundance of mosquitoes at a site, from July 2007 to June 2009. Analysis of the Ovitrap Indices at the experimental site and the weather elements collected from a nearby automatic weather station in the same period showed that the Ovitrap Indices were highly correlated with the mean air temperature over a 22 day period comprising the preceding 15 days and the 7 days when the ovitraps were in place, as well as the total rainfall over the 15 day period prior to the setting up of the ovitraps. A Climate Aedes Mosquitoes Abundance Model was developed based on the observations to predict the abundance of Aedes mosquitoes in Hong Kong. The model can provide a useful tool for planning of preventive and control measures against Aedes mosquitoes in Hong Kong. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society

To compare the performance of the 15-G internally cooled electrode with that of the conventional 17-G internally cooled electrode.A total of 40 (20 for each electrode) and 20 ablation zones (10 for each electrode) were made in extracted bovine livers and in in vivo porcine livers, respectively. Technical parameters, three dimensions [long-axis diameter (Dl), vertical-axis diameter (Dv) and short-axis diameter (Ds)], volume and the circularity (Ds/Dl) of the ablation zone were compared.The total delivered energy was higher in the 15-G group than in the 17-G group in both ex vivo and in vivo studies (8.78 ± 1.06 vs 7.70 ± 0.98 kcal, p = 0.033; 11.20 ± 1.13 vs 8.49 ± 0.35 kcal, p = 0.001, respectively). The three dimensions of the ablation zone had a tendency to be larger in the 15-G group than in the 17-G group in both studies. The ablation volume was larger in the 15-G group than in the 17-G group in both ex vivo and in vivo studies (29.61 ± 7.10 vs 23.86 ± 3.82 cm(3), p = 0.015; 10.26 ± 2.28 vs 7.79 ± 1.68 cm(3), p = 0.028, respectively). The circularity of ablation zone was not significantly different in both the studies.The size of ablation zone was larger in the 15-G internally cooled electrode than in the 17-G electrode in both ex vivo and in vivo studies.Radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumours using 15-G electrode is useful to create larger ablation zones.

Photonic devices based on polymer materials have been fabricated mainly by using conventional lithography and etch processes. However, the fabrication method through these processes is complex and expensive. We fabricated 1310∕1550nm demultiplexer using an embossing technique, which was able to reduce the fabrication cost. The mold is an elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and resists used as the core and the cladding layers are ZP 51 (ChemOptics) and ZP 49 (ChemOptics), respectively, which are thermal curable polymers. The fabrication process is summarized as follows: (1) manufacturing the photoresist master by lithography process, (2) forming the PDMS mold from the master, and (3) replicating the device using the mold. There is no observation of any noticeable pattern difference between the master and the replica in microscaled dimension. In this work, we also investigated the durability of a PDMS mold for mass production and successfully fabricated the 50th replica with the same mold. The replicate...

In this study, a commercial electronic nose system was used to detect contamination of Salmonella bacteria. Odors from growth media contaminated with Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, or Escherichia coli were collected and analyzed to evaluate a possibility of rapid detection of pathogen. Odor chromatograph showed that S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis, and E. coli had 7,6, and 9 main peaks, respectively. Retention time and intensity of the peaks were distinct for different bacteria species. Principal component analysis (PCA) were also performed to clarify odor differences. Analysis results showed that the odors for uncontaminated growth medium were differently grouped from the odors of contaminated one. The odor from the bacteria growth identified with two principal components, PC 1 and PC2. In PCA figures, odor groups were moved from left to right of PC 1 with elapse of the bacteria growth time. The electronic nose system could detect odors of S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis, E. coli when their concentration were , respectively.

Angiosarcomas of the small intestine are rare and present non-specifically. They usually manifest with abdominal discomfort, altered bowel habits, anaemia and gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis is often challenging and occurs at an advanced tumour stage. We describe a case of a terminal ileum angiosarcoma masquerading as an appendiceal abscess, and discuss salient clinicopathological features in diagnosing and managing this disease.

We report a case of oncocytic carcinoma arising in submandibular gland. The tumour occurred in the left submandibular gland of an 82-year-old Japanese man. Histologically, the tumour was mostly composed of large cells with eosinophilic granules in the cytoplasm and they were arranged in the solid sheets, islands with duct-like structure and cords. The tumour cells had aggressively invaded muscles and perineural tissues, and cervical lymphatic metastasis was frequently observed. Histochemically, the tumour cells were strongly positive for phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin (PTAH) stain, and we diagnosed this malignant tumour as oncocytic carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells reacted positively for cytokeratin 7, 8, 19, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), but negative for cytokeratin 13, 14, smooth muscle actin (HHF35) and S-100 protein (S-100). Tumour was diagnosed as oncocytic carcinoma in submandibular gland. Its characteristics are discussed in term of its histopathological and immunohistochemical features.

Obesity in the USA continues to be a medical problem of epidemic proportions, affecting one-third of American adults. This increase in body weight and body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for insulin resistance; individuals with insulin resistance are at increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The identification of effective dietary treatments (e.g. low-carbohydrate diet, low-fat diet) for patient populations with insulin resistance remains controversial. While a variety of dietary approaches will result in weight and cardiac risk factor reduction, individuals who have been identified as insulin-resistant may derive additional short-term weight loss results from a low-carbohydrate diet compared to a low-fat diet.

To compare the ablation volume, local tumour progression rate and complication rate of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) using 15-G and 17-G single electrodes.This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board and informed consent was waived. We reviewed percutaneous RFA cases for HCCs using 15-G or 17-G electrodes without multiple overlapping ablations. A total of 36 pairs of HCCs matched according to tumour size and active tip length were included. We compared ablation volume and complication rate between the two electrode groups. Cumulative local tumour progression rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.Tumour size and ablation time were not significantly different between the 15-G and 17-G groups (p50.661 and p50.793, respectively). However, ablation volume in the 15-G electrode group was larger than that in the 17-G group (14.465.4cm3 vs 8.762.5cm3; p,0.001). No statistical difference in complication rates between the two electrode groups was found. The 10- and 20-month local tumour progression rates were not significantly different between the two groups (2.8% and 5.6% vs 11.1% and 19.3%; p50.166).Ablation volume by the 15-G electrode was larger than that by the 17-G electrode. However, local tumour progression rate and complication rate were not significantly different between the two electrode groups.RFA of HCC using a 15-G electrode is useful to create larger ablation volumes than a 17-G electrode.

Success of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) has been limited by a high rate of graft failure and delayed hematological recovery. It has been postulated that MSCs have hematopoiesis-supportive properties. Therefore, to overcome the limitation of UCBT, third-party UCB-derived MSCs were co-transplanted in recipients receiving unrelated UCBT. Seven patients received UCB and third-party UCB-MSCs. Hematopoietic recovery and transplantation outcomes were compared with historic controls. There was no acute toxicity associated with the infusion of MSCs. The median day to neutrophil engraftment was 19 days in patients, as compared with 24 days in controls (P=0.03). The median day of platelet engraftment was 47 days and 57 days in patients and controls, respectively (P=0.26). In addition, there was no engraftment failure in the MSC group. The incidence of acute and chronic GVHD was comparable between the two groups. However, veno-occlusive disease and TRM did not occur in the MSC group. Third-party UCB-MSCs infusion was safe and feasible. MSCs may also enhance the engraftment of UCBT and prevent rejection. In addition, MSCs may have a role in decreasing TRM. Randomized, controlled trials are required to confirm these results and longer follow-up will determine the effects of MSCs on the risk of relapse.

The safety of liposuction surgery begins with appropriate preoperative evaluation and patient selection. Operative considerations include the type of anesthesia used, the volume of fat aspirated, and the liposuction technique utilized. Results from a recent survey revealed that liposuction surgery can be extremely safe when done under local anesthesia with conservative fat removal.

Posterior polar cataracts are relatively uncommon yet they pose a significant challenge to the cataract surgeon. Cataract surgery in these cases is frequently accompanied by a high incidence of posterior capsule rupture (PCR). Posterior polar cataracts are associated with remnants of the hyaloid system or the tunica vasculosa lentis.1 These cataracts may also occur without any relation to hyaloid remnants and appear as circular or rosette shaped opacities; they are hereditary and usually transmitted as a dominant trait. The gene for this has been mapped to chromosome 16q22.2 See Table 1 and Figure 1. View this table: Table 1 Classification of posterior polar cataracts Figure 1 (A) One spot polar cataract. (B) Onion polar cataract. (C) Polar cataract with hole in posterior capsule. (D) Polar cataract with nuclear sclerosis. The incidence of posterior polar cataracts in our centre is approximately 5 per 1000. …

e16639 Background: Few reports have focused on global changes in cancer care. The objective of this study is to assess changes in first line therapy of NS NSCLC following publication of phase 3 dat...

Lee M-W, Muramatsu T, Uekusa T, Lee J-H, Shimono M. Heat stress induces alkaline phosphatase activity and heatshock protein 25 expression in cultured pulp cells. InternationalEndodontic Journal, 41, 158–162, 2008. Aim To investigate the responses of cultured rat pulpcells to heat stress.Methodology Pulp cells were obtained from ratincisors and cultured at 37 C. The cells were culturedat 42 C for 30 min and then cultured at 37 C again.Morphology, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity andexpression of heat shock protein 25 (HSP25) wereinvestigated at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days followingstimulation. As a control, the cells were maintained at37 C.Results Although there were few cells of apoptosisimmediately after heat stress, there were mitotic cellsfrom day 1 after heat stress. ALP activity in the heatstress group significantly increased at days 7 and 14compared with the control group (about 1.7-fold,P < 0.01, Friedman test). HSP25 expression increasedin both groups, with HSP25 in the heat stress groupbeing expressed earlier than in the control group, andnuclear localization of HSP25 was observed at days 0and 1 in heat-stressed cells.Conclusion These results suggest that heat stressnot only induces HSP25 but also enhances ALP activityin pulp cells.Keywords: alkaline phosphatase activity, dentalpulp, heat shock protein 25, heat stress.

7005 Background: Temsirolimus (CCI-779), an ester of sirolimus, is an inhibitor of mTOR, shown to inhibit tumor cell proliferation in non-clinical models. Standard chemotherapy typically results in...

Information of cryostat use and reliability was collected from 130 members of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology. The Damon IEC International cryostat was utilized by 38% of the survey participants, followed by the Reichert Histostat (18%) and the LabTek/TissueTek (13%). Data were also collected on methods of frozen-section embedding and technical training.

To the Editor.— It is known that the pH of glucose infusion fluids sterilized by autoclaving is maintained in the vicinity of 4.0 in order to prevent caramelization during the sterilization procedure. The acidity of these solutions has long been suspected as an important factor in the development of infusion thrombophlebitis. 1,2 Controlled studies by Elfving and Saikku 3 and Fonkalsrud et al 4 clearly demonstrated a significant decrease in the incidence of thrombophlebitis when buffered glucose solutions (buffered to pH 6.8 and 7.4, respectively) were used. Recently we have measured the pH of some commonly used intravenously given fluids. With the exception of lactated Ringer's solution, all were found to be acidic (Table). These solutions have no significantbuffering capacity and are easily buffered by blood. A ready explanation for the genesis of infusion phlebitis lies in the relative sizes of the needle or polyethylene catheter and the vein