Search

Abstract: The redistribution of water in prototype food systems, comprising phases with contrasting water activity (A w), was investigated. To accomplish this task, MRI techniques adapted to migration rate were used. RARE and SPI measuring methods were used to monitor water redistribution in crunchy inclusions in water and biscuit shells with apple filling during storage, respectively. In the first case, fast migration, which typically last some tens of minutes, was monitored with a temporal resolution 3.5min or better, while in the second case of slow migration it was monitored during 2 months with 10 days temporal resolution. 3D MR images with sub-millimeter resolution visualise the spatial redistribution of moisture and allow a quantification of its rate and extent of matrix swelling. Correlation with high resolution X-ray (XRT) images allows to identify structural elements responsible for unwanted fast hydration. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of a combined MRI/XRT approach for dynamical monitoring of the migration of moisture into porous cereal material in a broad range of A w contrast and hydration levels. The measured migration rates through samples of different internal structures can be used for validating models for prediction of water redistribution in multiple phase systems in a quantitative manner. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: In patients with an ovarian mass, a risk of malignancy assessment is used to decide whether referral to an oncology hospital is indicated. Risk assessment strategies do not perform optimally, resulting in either referral of patients with a benign mass or patients with a malignant mass not being referred. This process may affect the psychological well-being of patients. We evaluated cancer-specific distress during work-up for an ovarian mass, and patients' perceptions during work-up, referral, and treatment., Methods: Patients with an ovarian mass scheduled for surgery were enrolled. Using questionnaires we measured (1) cancer-specific distress using the cancer worry scale, (2) patients' preferences regarding referral (evaluated pre-operatively), and (3) patients' experiences with work-up and treatment (evaluated post-operatively). A cancer worry scale score of ≥14 was considered as clinically significant cancer-specific distress., Results: A total of 417 patients were included, of whom 220 (53%) were treated at a general hospital and 197 (47%) at an oncology hospital. Overall, 57% had a cancer worry scale score of ≥14 and this was higher in referred patients (69%) than in patients treated at a general hospital (43%). 53% of the patients stated that the cancer risk should not be higher than 25% to undergo surgery at a general hospital. 96% of all patients were satisfied with the overall work-up and treatment. No difference in satisfaction was observed between patients correctly (not) referred and patients incorrectly (not) referred., Conclusions: Relatively many patients with an ovarian mass experienced high cancer-specific distress during work-up. Nevertheless, patients were satisfied with the treatment, regardless of the final diagnosis and the location of treatment. Moreover, patients preferred to be referred even if there was only a relatively low probability of having ovarian cancer. Patients' preferences should be taken into account when deciding on optimal cut-offs for risk assessment strategies., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© IGCS and ESGO 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Classical Meigs' syndrome consists of the triad of an ovarian fibroma, ascites and pleural effusion. A characteristic of the syndrome is that the excess fluid is resorbed after surgical resection of the tumour., Case Description: A 49-year-old woman was admitted to accident and emergency department in a neglected, cachectic and hypothermic condition. A CT scan revealed an ovarian tumour, ascites and a right-sided pleural effusion. The level of the tumour marker CA-125 was also greatly elevated. Our initial working diagnosis was, therefore, 'high-grade ovarian carcinoma', but on repeated testing no malignant cells were found in the aspirated fluid. We suspected Meigs' syndrome. We first ensured that her general and nutritional condition improved; then she underwent a bilateral adnexectomy. A fibrothecoma was found in each ovary. The ascites and pleural effusion resolved following surgery and the patient recovered well., Conclusion: The clinical picture of Meigs' syndrome can resemble that of high-grade ovarian carcinoma. This syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with an ovarian tumour, ascites and, possibly, pleural effusion.

Objective: To review the effects of non-oral administration of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) on risk markers for atherosclerotic and venous thromboembolic disease.Non-oral postmenopausal HT appears not to increase venous thromboembolic risk, whereas the effect on coronary heart disease risk is less clear., Design: Systematic review of literature obtained from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases from 1980 until and including April 2006. Terms for "postmenopausal hormone therapy" and for "non-oral administration" were combined in the search., Setting: Randomized clinical trials., Patient(s): Postmenopausal women, both healthy and with established cardiovascular disease or specified cardiovascular risk factors, Intervention(s): Non-oral HT (e.g., transdermal or intranasal) compared with oral HT or no treatment/placebo., Main Outcome Measure(s): Lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, C-reactive protein (CRP), cell adhesion molecules, markers of endothelial dysfunction, coagulation, and fibrinolysis., Result(s): Seventy-two studies investigating either transdermal or intranasal administration were included. For non-oral HT, decreases in lipoprotein(a), cell adhesion molecules, and factor VII generally were significant, resistance to activated protein C (APCr) was slightly increased, and other markers including CRP and homocysteine did not change. Compared with oral HT, changes in CRP and APCr were smaller, changes in cell adhesion molecules and some fibrinolytic parameters tended to be smaller, whereas changes in other factors including lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine did not differ., Conclusion(s): Potentially unfavorable changes seen with oral HT on two important markers, CRP and APCr, are substantially smaller with non-oral HT. Non-oral HT has minor effects on the other cardiovascular risk markers studied. Therefore, compared with oral HT, non-oral HT appears be safer with respect to atherosclerotic and venous thromboembolic disease risk.

Objective: Oral estrogens reduce asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study was conducted to compare the effect on ADMA between intranasal and oral 17beta-estradiol (E2) combined with norethisterone (acetate) (NET(A)) administration in postmenopausal women., Methods: In a two-center, randomized, double-blind, comparative study 90 healthy postmenopausal women (age 56.6+/-4.7 years) received daily continuous combined intranasal E2/NET 175 microg/275 microg (n=47) or oral E2/NETA 1 mg/0.5 mg (n=43) for one year. At baseline, week 12 and 52, plasma concentrations of ADMA, arginine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography., Results: Oral E2/NETA reduced ADMA concentrations (-7.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI) -10.4 to -4.4%), while intranasal E2/NET had no effect (-0.8%; 95% CI -3.7 to 2.1%) after 52 weeks. In both groups, arginine was transiently decreased compared to baseline at week 12 (intranasal: -6.1%; 95% CI -9.1 to -3.0%; oral: -6.5%; 95% CI -10.9 to -2.1%). Only oral E2/NETA reduced SDMA concentrations., Conclusions: Oral administration of E2/NETA reduced ADMA and SDMA concentrations, whereas intranasal administration did not. Both treatments transiently reduced arginine. The decrease in ADMA by oral estrogens could be a key phenomenon in the modulation of nitric oxide synthesis by postmenopausal hormone therapy.

Objective: To compare the effects of intranasal and oral administration of 17beta-estradiol (E2) and norethisterone(acetate) [NET(A)] in healthy postmenopausal women on activated protein C (APC) resistance and other hemostatic parameters associated with venous thrombosis., Methods and Results: In this 2-center, randomized, double-blind, 1-year trial, 90 postmenopausal women (56.6+/-4.7 years of age) received daily either an intranasal spray with 175 microg/275 microg E2/NET (n=47) or 1 mg/0.5 mg oral E2/NETA (n = 43). Normalized APC sensitivity ratios (nAPCsr) were determined with a thrombin generation-based APC resistance test. After 1 year, the increase in nAPCsr was smaller in the intranasal than in the oral group: 11% (95% CI, 1% to 22%) versus 53% (95% CI, 37% to 72%). Overall, the decrease in antithrombin and increase in prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) were smaller and the decrease in free protein S larger in the intranasal compared with the oral group after 1 year. In both groups, the decreases in protein C and prothrombin, and the increase in d-dimer were similar., Conclusions: Compared with oral E2/NETA therapy, intranasal administration of E2/NET had less effect on APC resistance and on a number of other parameters associated with venous thrombosis. This observation suggests the possibility of a lower venous thrombosis risk for intranasal E2/NET compared with oral therapy.

Objective: To compare the effects of continuous combined 17beta-estradiol (E2) plus norethisterone (acetate) [NET(A)] therapy by either intranasal or oral administration on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women., Design: Randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial., Setting: Gynecologic outpatient department., Patient(s): Two-hundred thirty-three healthy postmenopausal women., Intervention(s): Women received continuous combined hormone therapy, either intranasal E2/NET (175 microg/275 microg) as a spray (n = 117) or oral E2/NETA (1 mg/0.5 mg) as a capsule (n = 116), for 1 year., Main Outcome Measure(s): Fasting plasma concentrations of lipids and (apo)lipoproteins; and atherogenic indices at baseline and after 12, 24, and 52 weeks of treatment., Result(s): We found a significant (P < .001) decrease from baseline in both treatment groups in total, low-density lipoprotein- (LDL), high-density lipoprotein- (HDL), and HDL2-cholesterol, in triglycerides, apolipoprotein B (apoB), and lipoprotein(a). Levels of HDL3-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) were transiently decreased in the intranasal group. In the oral group, compared with the intranasal group, the decrease was larger for ratio total and LDL-cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) and smaller for triglycerides and apoA1. In the oral group, the ratios total/HDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol were lowered, and the ratio apoB/LDL was increased, more than in the intranasal group., Conclusion(s): Both intranasal and oral E2/NET(A) therapy improved the lipid profile of healthy postmenopausal women, with some effects being more pronounced after oral administration.