Histogram Profiling of Postcontrast T1-Weighted MRI Gives Valuable Insights into Tumor Biology and Enables Prediction of Growth Kinetics and Prognosis in Meningiomas

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are the most frequently diagnosed intracranial masses, oftentimes requiring surgery. Especially procedure-related morbidity can be substantial, particularly in elderly patients. Hence, reliable imaging modalities enabling pretherapeutic prediction of tumor grade, growth kinetic, realistic prognosis, and—as a consequence—necessity of surgery are of great value. In this context, a promising diagnostic approach is advanced analysis of magnetic resonance imaging data. Therefore, our study investigated whether histogram profiling of routinely acquired postcontrast T1-weighted images is capable of separating low-grade from high-grade lesions and whether histogram parameters reflect Ki-67 expression in meningiomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pretreatment T1-weighted postcontrast volumes of 44 meningioma patients were used for signal intensity histogram profiling. WHO grade, tumor volume, and Ki-67 expression were evaluated. Comparative and correlative statistics investigating the association between histogram profile parameters and neuropathology were performed. RESULTS: None of the investigated histogram parameters revealed significant differences between low-grade and high-grade meningiomas. However, significant correlations were identified between Ki-67 and the histogram parameters skewness and entropy as well as between entropy and tumor volume. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to previously reported findings, pretherapeutic postcontrast T1-weighted images can be used to predict growth kinetics in meningiomas if whole tumor histogram analysis is employed. However, no differences between distinct WHO grades were identifiable in out cohort. As a consequence, histogram analysis of postcontrast T1-weighted images is a promising approach to obtain quantitative in vivo biomarkers reflecting the proliferative potential in meningiomas.     

Facies architecture of the Stuttgart Formation (Schilfsandstein, Upper Triassic), central Germany, and its comparison with modern Ganga system, India

The Stuttgart Formation (Schilfsandstein) is approximately 50 m thick in Thuringia, representing deposition during the “Mid-Carnian Wet Intermezzo”. Stratigraphically it occurs between the Grabfeld and Weser formations, which formed under arid conditions. It comprises NNE-SSW-trending elongate, anastomosing channelized sand-rich bodies with erosional bases (channel belts) that are several kilometres wide and pass laterally into predominantly mudstones deposited in interfluve areas. The source area of these clastics was the uplifted Norwegian Caledonides. Muddy interfluve facies is dominant in exposures in Thuringia, Central Germany.The Lower Stuttgart Formation has an unconformable base that is locally overlain by metre-thick “Basal Beds”. These consist of grey mudstones and thin sandstones deposited under humid conditions in predominantly shallow brackish water environments after a marine ingression via the Eastern Carpathian/Upper Silesian Gate. The following 30-40 m-grey, fine-grained sandstones, siltstones and mudstones were deposited in fluvial environments in channel belts and interfluve areas under humid conditions. These are followed by predominantly reddish mudstones and sandstones of mainly fluvial origin, deposited under somewhat drier conditions with seasonal droughts. The Upper Stuttgart Formation may be more than 16 m thick; it comprises reddish and grey sandstones and mudstones that were mostly deposited in lake delta settings by recurring flash floods. During the deposition of this unit climate was weakly humid with less prominent seasonal draughts.The modern Ganga Plain of India is an analogue for the depositional setting of the Stuttgart Formation. Climatic conditions in Ganga Plain are humid monsoonal with seasonal droughts and roughly comparable with those interpreted for Mid-Carnian times in Germany. The sandy deposits of incised channel belts and channels and muddy deposits of interfluve areas in the Ganga Plain are comparable with the sandstone-dominated channelized facies and mudstone dominated interfluve facies of the Stuttgart Formation, respectively.     

An automatic analytical system for quantitative determination of uremic middle molecules

A system for automatic analyses of medium-sized compounds (middle molecules-MM) is described, applying gel filtration combined with gradient ion-exchange chromatography and using an automatic sample injector, motoric selector valves, and a minicomputer, which controls the system. Quantitation is performed by integrating the peak areas obtained. Using the automatic analyzer 7 MM solutes could be separated, detected, and quantified. The method permits a sampling rate of 28 samples per week. The precision of the method was 9.5%. The error in a single determination based on duplicate samples was 10% and in duplicate determinations was 7%. The automatic, analytical system is a prerequisite for performing sereening studies within a reasonable period of time. The present automatic, analytical system has been tested during a period of 3–5 years, and used in more than 4000 determinations.     

Protein,amino acid and mineral composition of some edible insects from Thailand

This paper focuses on the nutritional profiles of four edible insects from Thailand: the Bombay locust, scarab beetle, house cricket, and mulberry silkworm.The insects were ‘high’ in protein ranging from 27 g to 54 g/100 g edible portion in fresh weight basis, however, only the silkworm met the FAO/WHO requirements of 40% essential amino acids and 0.6 ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids. Tryptophan is the limiting amino acid in the locust and cricket, lysine in the scarab beetle, and leucine in the silkworm.The locust is a ‘source’ of iron and is ‘high’ in zinc, while the scarab beetle is a ‘source’ of magnesium and is ‘high’ in iron and zinc. The cricket bought from the street is a ‘source’ of iron and magnesium and is ‘high’ in zinc, while the cricket from the supermarket is a ‘source’ of calcium (the only one among the insect samples) and is ‘high’ in iron, magnesium and zinc. And lastly, the silkworm, regardless of where it was purchased, is a ‘source’ of iron and is ‘high’ in magnesium and zinc. The arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury content of all the insect samples were well below the maximum values and are deemed safe for consumption as either feed material or complete feed.Edible insects can contribute to people's nutrient requirements and should be sustainably utilized. Aside from direct consumption, there is a huge potential for using the insects as raw material and fortificant in food processing.