Breast Cancer-Secreted Factors Promote Lung Metastasis by Signaling Systemically to Induce a Fibrotic Premetastatic Niche.

Unlabelled: Metastatic cancer is largely incurable and is the main cause of cancer-related deaths. The metastatic microenvironment facilitates formation of metastases. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are crucial players in generating a hospitable metastatic niche by mediating an inflammatory microenvironment.

Reciprocal interactions between innate immune cells and astrocytes facilitate neuroinflammation and brain metastasis via lipocalin-2.

Brain metastasis still encompass very grim prognosis and therefore understanding the underlying mechanisms is an urgent need toward developing better therapeutic strategies. We uncover the intricate interactions between recruited innate immune cells and resident astrocytes in the brain metastatic niche that facilitate metastasis of melanoma and breast cancer. We show that granulocyte-derived lipocalin-2 (LCN2) induces inflammatory activation of astrocytes, leading to myeloid cell recruitment to the brain.

Antiscalants used in the desalination industry impact the physiology of the coral Montipora capricornis.

Many coral reefs are found in arid and semi-arid regions that often face severe water scarcity and depend on seawater desalination for freshwater supply. Alongside freshwater production, desalination plants discharge brine waste into the sea. Brine includes various chemicals (e.

Stratification of radiosensitive brain metastases based on an actionable S100A9/RAGE resistance mechanism.

Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is the treatment backbone for many patients with brain metastasis; however, its efficacy in preventing disease progression and the associated toxicity have questioned the clinical impact of this approach and emphasized the need for alternative treatments. Given the limited therapeutic options available for these patients and the poor understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the resistance of metastatic lesions to WBRT, we sought to uncover actionable targets and biomarkers that could help to refine patient selection. Through an unbiased analysis of experimental in vivo models of brain metastasis resistant to WBRT, we identified activation of the S100A9-RAGE-NF-κB-JunB pathway in brain metastases as a potential mediator of resistance in this organ.

Strain Curve Classification Using Supervised Machine Learning Algorithm with Physiologic Constraints.

Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) enables quantification of myocardial deformation by a generation of spatiotemporal strain curves or time-strain curves (TSCs). Currently, only assessment of peak global longitudinal strain is employed in clinical practice because of the uncertainty in the accuracy of STE. We describe a supervised machine learning, physiologically constrained, fully automatic algorithm, trained with labeled data, for classification of TSCs into physiologic or artifactual classes.

Inflammatory Activation of Astrocytes Facilitates Melanoma Brain Tropism via the CXCL10-CXCR3 Signaling Axis.

Melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer due to its high rate of metastasis, frequently to the brain. Brain metastases are incurable; therefore, understanding melanoma brain metastasis is of great clinical importance. We used a mouse model of spontaneous melanoma brain metastasis to study the interactions of melanomas with the brain microenvironment.

Melanoma-derived extracellular vesicles instigate proinflammatory signaling in the metastatic microenvironment.

The major cause of melanoma mortality is metastasis to distant organs, including lungs and brain. Reciprocal interactions of metastasizing tumor cells with stromal cells in secondary sites play a critical role in all stages of tumorigenesis and metastasis. Changes in the metastatic microenvironment were shown to precede clinically relevant metastases, and may occur prior to the arrival of disseminated tumor cells to the distant organ, thus creating a hospitable "premetastatic niche.

Isoform-specific regulation by N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase of rat serum asymmetric dimethylarginine and vascular endothelium-derived relaxing factor/NO.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), which inhibits NO synthase, is inactivated by N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH). We tested whether DDAH-1 or -2 regulates serum ADMA (S(ADMA)) and/or endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)/NO. Small inhibitory (si)RNAs targeting DDAH-1 or -2, or an siRNA control were given intravenously to rats.

Chordae tendineae rupture resulting in pulmonary edema in a patient with discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis--a case report and literature review.

This report concerns an apparently healthy elderly woman who presented with gradually worsening mitral regurgitation secondary to chordae tendineae rupture leading to pulmonary edema in the presence of discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis with a severe gradient reflecting the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The gradual worsening of heart failure took place parallel to the increase in severity of mitral regurgitation in a short period. The patient underwent successful mitral valve replacement with myectomy.

[Computed tomography in the diagnosis of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome].

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES), a rare cause of lower limb ischemia, is due to an anomalous relationship between the popliteal artery and the gastrocnemius muscle in the popliteal fossa. Hypertrophy of the muscle, or its anomalous insertion, can displace or compress the artery, leading to stenosis or obstruction. It is clinically manifested by intermittent claudication and most often occurs in young, healthy men.

[Breast biopsy of nonpalpable lesions after mammography-guided wire localization].

Mammography is used increasingly for diagnosis and screening. Its advantage is its ability to discover very small and often nonpalpable mammary lesions. While its sensitivity in detecting pathological changes in the breast is high, differentiation between benign and malignant lesions is less precise, so biopsy is necessary.

Palmar hyperhidrosis CT guided chemical percutaneous thoracic sympathectomy.

Palmar hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating of the hands causes, to those affected, emotional and physical disturbance and impediment in professional and social life. The cause is unknown. Sweat glands are innervated by the sympathetic chain of the autonomous nervous system.

Invasive lobular carcinoma. Mammographic pattern.

A retrospective study was done on 107 histologically proven cases of invasive lobular carcinoma which represent about 11.5% of the total of 934 cases of cancer of the breast. Age, breast parenchyma pattern and morphology, and radiological signs of malignancy were tabulated and correlated with the same data in ductal carcinoma.

Retroperitoneal-pericardial fistula caused by a perinephric abscess.

A case of a perinephric abscess complicated by a fistulous tract leading to the pericardium is presented. We report herein on the conventional radiological findings.

Nonocclusive ischaemic bowel disease in patients on chronic haemodialysis.

Six patients with chronic renal failure on longstanding haemodialysis are presented, in whom nonocclusive bowel ischaemia occurred as a rare complication of their underlying disorder. Factors implicated in the development of bowel ischaemia in these patients are chronic constipation resulting in increased intraluminal pressure on the bowel wall, premature and progressive arterial disease and bouts of hypotension accompanying the haemodialysis procedure. Contrast studies of the bowel and computed tomography examination can suggest the diagnosis, but angiography alone provides the exact answer in demonstrating nonocclusive mesenteric ischaemia.

Mammographic wire-guided biopsies in non-palpable breast lesions.

The use of mammography, both for diagnostic and screening purposes, is steadily increasing. It is a very sensitive examination method; findings such as an ill-defined or spiculated mass, clustered, irregular and dense microcalcifications, asymmetric densities or architectural distortion, are suggestive of malignancy. These findings are often not specific enough to make an unequivocal diagnosis of malignancy, and they are frequently not palpable.

Subclavian artery aneurysm caused by cervical rib: case report and review.

An aneurysm in the subclavian artery is relatively uncommon and a cervical rib as the cause is rare. Such a case is presented and the pertinent literature is reviewed. The mechanism of aneurysm formation in a normal vessel wall is discussed.

Some observations on the use of computerised tomography in Legg-Calve-Perthes' disease.

The use of computerised tomography in the assessment of hip pathologies in children is an uncommonly used modality. To date, we were unable to find any definite work on the use of CAT scan investigations in LCPD. Ten children with Legg-Calve-Perthes' disease were reassessed by two-plane AP and lateral radiographs and by computerised tomography.

Reevaluation of transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy in diagnosing superior vena cava syndrome.

Superior vena cava syndrome has various aetiologies but in the majority of cases it is caused by a malignant mass. Assessment of the underlying pathology as rapidly and reliably as possible is very important for proper therapy management. Dynamic computed tomography examination of the chest can differentiate patients in whom superior vena cava obstruction is caused by a mass, from those with a vascular aetiology.

Blast injuries.

Blast injuries cause specific lesions with which the radiologist should be familiar. The mechanism of injury and the pathophysiology of this form of trauma are discussed. The clinical effects as well as the radiologic observations in various organs are presented.

Pseudocyst in splenic hilus with splenic vein thrombosis. Case presentation and review.

Pseudocyst of the pancreas involving the spleen is a rare event; occlusion of splenic vein is even rarer. The mortality rate of these complications is high and therefore necessitates early diagnosis. Nuclear medicine, ultrasound and computed tomography are helpful, but definitive diagnosis is done by selective celiac or splenic artery arteriography.

Computed tomography in diagnosis of broncholithiasis.

A case of broncholithiasis detected by computed tomography is presented. The entity of broncholithiasis and its imaging modalities are briefly reviewed.

CT guided transgluteal fine needle aspiration biopsy.

CT is a suitable method for evaluation of local recurrence of rectal carcinoma after abdomino-perineal resection, as the presence of a soft tissue mass in the presacral area may be due to either residual changes from the previous surgery, or recurring disease. CT guided fine needle aspiration biopsy with a transgluteal approach was a relatively simple and fast procedure for obtaining cytological proof on the nature of the lesion in 7 out of 9 patients.