Publications

We report the case of an adult patient with pineoblastoma (PBL) who had a complete radiographic response following treatment with vorinostat and retinoic acid. This regimen was used to treat bulky residual tumor that persisted despite radiation therapy (RT) and two cycles of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Vorinostat and retinoic acid were chosen as an alternative to cytotoxic chemotherapy, which our patient was unable to tolerate, based on preclinical data suggesting efficacy of this combination. MRI demonstrated a complete response to this regimen, which continues to remain stable without evidence of recurrence.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to define the relationship between oxidative biomarkers, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and inflammatory and thrombosis biomarkers.

BACKGROUND

Elevated levels of oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) on apolipoprotein B particles (apoB) represent a novel biomarker of CVD. Previous studies suggest that an increase in OxPL/apoB reflects a positive response to statins and a low-fat diet.

METHODS

This study measured OxPL/apoB, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) biomarkers, consisting of immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM autoantibodies to malondialdehyde (MDA)-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and IgG and IgM apoB-100 immune complexes (IC/apoB), at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg/day or placebo in 2,342 patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) enrolled in the MIRACL (Myocardial Ischemia Reduction With Aggressive Cholesterol Lowering) trial.

RESULTS

At baseline, potentially atheroprotective IgM autoantibodies and IgM IC/apoB were lower in male patients, diabetic patients, and patients >65 years of age. Patients with an LDL level greater than the median (122 mg/dl) had higher levels of OxPL/apoB, Lp(a), and OxLDL biomarkers compared with those who had an LDL level less than the median. Atorvastatin resulted in significantly larger changes in all biomarkers in female patients, patients age <65 years, patients with LDL cholesterol <122 mg/dl, nonsmokers, and nondiabetic patients (p < 0.0001 for all). In particular, a significant increase in OxPL/apoB in response to atorvastatin was noted in all 20 subgroups evaluated. Weak or no significant correlations were noted between all OxLDL biomarkers and C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, tissue plasminogen activator, interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule, vascular cell adhesion molecule, P-selectin, and E-selectin at randomization and 16 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with ACS, baseline levels of oxidative biomarkers varied according to specific CVD risk factors and were largely independent of inflammatory biomarkers. Atorvastatin uniformly increased OxPL/apoB levels in all subgroups studied. Future studies are warranted to assess whether the increase in OxPL/apoB levels reflects the benefit of effective therapeutic interventions and prediction of new CVD events.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The endoscopic landmark of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) for diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus (BE) differs between Japan and Western countries. Japanese endoscopists use the distal end of the lower esophageal palisade vessels to localize EGJ. In the West, endoscopists use the proximal gastric folds because of concerns that palisade vessels may be difficult to recognize. We evaluated whether there were differences between American and Japanese endoscopists in the recognition of palisade vessels.

METHOD

A total of 82 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were referred for diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoendoscopy (EGD) at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, from May to July 2008. American and Japanese endoscopists evaluated the EGJ of patients undergoing diagnostic EGD. We analyzed the differences in the recognition of the distal end of palisade vessels. We calculated the kappa statistic to measure interobserver variability.

RESULTS

Based on localization using the distal end of the palisade vessels, American and Japanese endoscopists identified the EGJ in 87.8% (72/82) and 89.0% (73/82) of cases, respectively. The kappa statistic for visualization of EGJ was 0.88 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73-1.00].

CONCLUSION

American and Japanese endoscopists similarly recognized the distal end of palisade vessels as EGJ.

SUMMARY

To determine the laboratory reproducibility of urine N-telopeptide and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase measurements, we sent identical specimens to six US commercial labs over an 8-month period. Longitudinal and within-run laboratory reproducibility varied substantially. Efforts to improve the reproducibility of these tests are needed.

INTRODUCTION

We assessed the laboratory reproducibility of urine N-telopeptide (NTX) and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP).

METHODS

Serum and urine were collected from five postmenopausal women, pooled, divided into identical aliquots, and frozen. To evaluate longitudinal reproducibility, identical specimens were sent to six US commercial labs on five dates over an 8-month period. To evaluate within-run reproducibility, on the fifth date, each lab was sent five identical specimens. Labs were unaware of the investigation.

RESULTS

Longitudinal coefficients of variation (CVs) ranged from 5.4% to 37.6% for NTX and from 3.1% to 23.6% for BAP. Within-run CVs ranged from 1.5% to 17.2% for NTX. Compared to the Osteomark NTX assay, the Vitros ECi NTX assay had significantly higher longitudinal reproducibility (mean CV 7.2% vs. 30.3%, p < 0.0005) and within-run reproducibility (mean CV 3.5% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

Reproducibility of urine NTX and serum BAP varies substantially across US labs.