Anti-inflammatory effect of rosiglitazone is not reflected in expression of NFκB-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

The aim of this study is to perform a cost-effectiveness comparison between palpation-guided thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsies (P-FNA) and ultrasound-guided thyroid FNA biopsies (USG-FNA).

Methods

Each nodule was considered as a case. Diagnostic steps were history and physical examination, TSH measurement, Tc^99m thyroid scintigraphy for nodules with a low TSH level, initial P-FNA versus initial USG-FNA, repeat USG-FNA for nodules with initial inadequate P-FNA or USG-FNA, hemithyroidectomy for inadequate repeat USG-FNA. American Thyroid Association thyroid nodule management guidelines were simulated in estimating the cost of P-FNA strategy. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines were simulated for USG-FNA strategy. Total costs were estimated by adding the cost of each diagnostic step to reach a diagnosis for 100 nodules. Strategy cost was found by dividing the total cost to 100. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated by dividing the difference between strategy cost of USG-FNA and P-FNA to the difference between accuracy of USG-FNA and P-FNA. A positive ICER indicates more and a negative ICER indicates less expense to achieve one more additional accurate diagnosis of thyroid cancer for USG-FNA.

Results

Seventy-eight P-FNAs and 190 USG-FNAs were performed between April 2003 and May 2008. There were no differences in age, gender, thyroid function, frequency of multinodular goiter, nodule location and diameter (median nodule diameter: 18.4 mm in P-FNA and 17.0 mm in USG-FNA) between groups. Cytology results in P-FNA versus USG-FNA groups were as follows: benign 49% versus 62% (p = 0.04), inadequate 42% versus 29% (p = 0.03), malignant 3% (p = 1.00) and indeterminate 6% (p = 0.78) for both. Eleven nodules from P-FNA and 18 from USG-FNA group underwent surgery. The accuracy of P-FNA was 0.64 and USG-FNA 0.72. Unit cost of P-FNA was 148 Euros and USG-FNA 226 Euros. The cost of P-FNA strategy was 534 Euros and USG-FNA strategy 523 Euros. Strategy cost includes the expense of repeat USG-FNA for initial inadequate FNAs and surgery for repeat inadequate USG-FNAs. ICER was -138 Euros.

Conclusion

Universal application of USG-FNA for all thyroid nodules is cost-effective and saves 138 Euros per additional accurate diagnosis of benign versus malignant thyroid nodular disease.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00571090     

Characterization of a pyoverdine-deficient mutant of Pseudomonas fluorescens impaired in the secretion of extracellular lipase

A mutant of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain B52 deficient in the synthesis of the fluorescent pigment, pyoverdine, was isolated. Absence of pyoverdine and other siderophores was confirmed by gel filtration, a specific siderophore assay, and inhibition studies with the iron chelator EDDA. Both parent and mutant synthesized additional outer membrane proteins in response to iron-limitation. Mutant cells cultured in the absence of iron(III) accumulated ⁵⁵Fe-labeled pyoverdine. The mutant produced extracellular proteinase normally on various media, but was deficient in lipase secretion. Growth of the mutant with partially-purified pyoverdine resulted in a 2.5-fold stimulation of lipase secretion. The mutant grew poorly in deferrated medium; however, the addition of iron(III) stimulated growth. Proteinase secretion in deferrated medium was stimulated over a narrow range of iron(III) concentration, while lipase secretion was only slightly affected. The data suggest that separate regulatory mechanisms exist for the control of proteinase and lipase secretion by iron(III).Contribution No. 768 from the Food Research Centre     

The structure of lerps: Carbohydrate,lipid, and protein components

Chemical analyses and studies by scanning electron microscopy were made of the lerps of Lasiopsylla rotundipennis and of Cardiaspina albitextura. Unlike the open, lace-like structure of the lerp of C. albitextura, the lerp of L. rotundipennis is a solid shell with a surface structure of repeated parallel arcs. Lerps of both species consist mainly of starch, but also contain protein and lipid. In addition, the lerp of L. rotundipennis is associated with proteinaceous spiral filaments secreted by glands on the ventral abdomen.     

A non-destructive technique for chemical mapping of insect inclusions in amber

Synchrotron-based techniques offer a wealth of elemental, molecular, and structural insights in biological samples, but the application of these techniques to fossils is a relatively new development. Here we examine how synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence (SR µXRF) may be used to investigate the chemical composition of insects trapped in amber, while leaving the inclusions unaltered. Elemental distribution data could provide important information on tissue preservation in insect inclusions, as well as information on the processes involved in fossilization. By analyzing a series of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) that range from modern material, to Eocene Baltic amber, and Late Cretaceous North Carolina amber, we investigate how variable preservation influences the results obtained through SR µXRF analyses, as well as the various merits and pitfalls associated with the application of this technique to amber inclusions. This work serves as an introduction to the underlying principles, strengths, and limitations associated with applying SR µXRF in a palaeontological context.     

Improving the quality of protein structure models by selecting from alignment alternatives

Background  

In the area of protein structure prediction, recently a lot of effort has gone into the development of Model Quality Assessment Programs (MQAPs). MQAPs distinguish high quality protein structure models from inferior models. Here, we propose a new method to use an MQAP to improve the quality of models. With a given target sequence and template structure, we construct a number of different alignments and corresponding models for the sequence. The quality of these models is scored with an MQAP and used to choose the most promising model. An SVM-based selection scheme is suggested for combining MQAP partial potentials, in order to optimize for improved model selection.     

Effect of temperature shifts on extracellular proteinase-specific mRNA pools in Pseudomonas fluorescens B52

The influence of a shift in temperature from 20 to 32 degrees C on extracellular proteinase synthesis by Pseudomonas fluorescens B52 was examined. When cells actively synthesizing proteinase at 20 degrees C were shifted to 32 degrees C, enzyme synthesis ceased immediately. After 30 min at 32 degrees C, cells recovered at 20 degrees C after a lag of 30 min. Rifampin and chloramphenicol prevented recovery of synthesis at 20 degrees C. Rifampin-insensitive proteinase synthesis (an indirect measure of proteinase-specific mRNA pools) decreased after the exposure of cells to 32 degrees C for 30 min but was recovered during incubation at 20 degrees C. Controls not exposed to a temperature shift experienced no loss of rifampin-independent synthesis. Cells experienced a 50% reduction in mRNA pools after 15 min at 32 degrees C. The data support the working hypothesis that the loss of mRNA pools after treatment at 32 degrees C is responsible for the lag before the recovery of extracellular proteinase synthesis.