Sixteen human lumbar discs were imaged ex vivo using T2-weighted MRI, and assigned a quantitative grade based on the relative signal intensities of nine phantoms containing serial concentrations of manganese chloride. Discs were then graded macroscopically for degenerative condition, and water and uronic acid (glycosaminoglycan) contents were determined. MRI ranking exhibited significant and strong negative correlation with nucleus pulposus uronic acid content (r = -0.78). MRI grades were significantly higher for degenerate selleck discs. The technique described presents immediate potential for in vitro studies requiring robust,

minimally invasive and quantitative determination of lumbar disc composition and condition. check details Additionally, the technique may have potential as a clinical tool for diagnosing lumbar disc degeneration as it provides a standardised series of reference phantoms facilitating cross-platform consistency, requires short scan times and simple T2-weighted signal intensity measurements.”
“Cancer remains one of the most dreaded diseases causing an astonishingly high death rate, second only to cardiac

arrest. The fact that conventional and newly emerging treatment procedures like chemotherapy, catalytic therapy, photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy have not succeeded in reverting the outcome of the disease to any drastic extent, has made researchers investigate alternative treatment options. In this paper we have tested the in vitro antiproliferative selleck inhibitor effects of methanol extract and its fractions from the Mediterranean seaweed Laurencia obusta using the MU colorimetric assay and clonogenic inhibition. Among the series, the fraction F3 inhibited the growth and

colony formation of the three cell lines studied in a concentration-related manner and these results were correlated with its total phenolic and flavonoid contents. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Cancer significantly affects millions of people worldwide. It is possible to use proteomic techniques to aid in detection, monitoring of treatment and progression, as well as gaining an increased understanding of cancer. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry can be utilised to detect the presence of proteins and peptides within various samples from the body, including blood, biological fluids and tumour tissue. This review aims to introduce MALDI mass spectrometry and discuss a range of applications in the field of cancer research, from quantitative to qualitative methods. Also described is MALDI imaging mass spectrometry which differs from typical sample preparation methods, as analytes are ionised directly from the tissue. Finally, presented is a brief summary of the status of biomarker discovery using blood/serum and biological fluids samples, and the implications in the clinic. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc.