Effects of Endocrine Interventions Targeting ERα or PR on Breast Cancer Risk in the General Population and Carriers of Pathogenic Variants.

There is evidence suggesting that endocrine interventions such as hormone replacement therapy and hormonal contraception can increase breast cancer (BC) risk. Sexual steroid hormones like estrogens have long been known for their adverse effects on BC development and progression via binding to estrogen receptor (ER) α. Thus, in recent years, endocrine interventions that include estrogens have been discussed more and more critically, and their impact on different BC subgroups has increasingly gained interest.

Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) for intraoperative margin control on surgical specimens in breast conserving surgery.

Purpose: As breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has become the standard for treatment of early breast cancer, the need for new technologies to improve intraoperative margin assessment has become clear. Close or positive margins during BCS lead to additional surgeries, treatment delay, additional stress for patients and increasing healthcare cost. Automated three-dimensional breast ultrasound (ABUS) systems are meant to overcome the shortcomings of hand-held ultrasound (HHUS).

Feasibility of ABUS as an Alternative to Handheld Ultrasound for Response Control in Neoadjuvant Breast Cancer Treatment.

Introduction: The Invenia Automated Breast Ultrasound Screening (ABUS) is indicated as an adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening in asymptomatic women with high-density breast tissue. ABUS provides time-efficient evaluation of the 3-dimensional recordings within 3 to 6 minutes. The role and advantages of ABUS in everyday clinical practice, especially in routine examination during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), is not clear.

Spatially multiplexed RNA in situ hybridization to reveal tumor heterogeneity.

Multiplexed RNA in situ hybridization for the analysis of gene expression patterns plays an important role in investigating development and disease. Here, we present a method for multiplexed RNA-ISH to detect spatial tumor heterogeneity in tissue sections. We made use of a microfluidic chip to deliver ISH-probes locally to regions of a few hundred micrometers over time periods of tens of minutes.

Real-Time Monitoring of Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization Kinetics.

We present a novel method for real-time monitoring and kinetic analysis of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We implement the method using a vertical microfluidic probe containing a microstructure designed for rapid switching between probe solution and nonfluorescent imaging buffer. The FISH signal is monitored in real time during the imaging buffer wash, during which signal associated with unbound probes is removed.

Hydrodynamics in Cell Studies.

Hydrodynamic phenomena are ubiquitous in living organisms and can be used to manipulate cells or emulate physiological microenvironments experienced in vivo. Hydrodynamic effects influence multiple cellular properties and processes, including cell morphology, intracellular processes, cell-cell signaling cascades and reaction kinetics, and play an important role at the single-cell, multicellular, and organ level. Selected hydrodynamic effects can also be leveraged to control mechanical stresses, analyte transport, as well as local temperature within cellular microenvironments.

Coronary Artery Ectasia Are Frequently Observed in Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valves With and Without Dilatation of the Ascending Aorta.

Background: The presence of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is influenced by genetic factors and related to the presence of aneurysms in other vascular beds. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is frequently accompanied by ascending aortic aneurysm. Because the aortic valve and the proximal parts of the coronary arteries share a common embryonic origin, we hypothesized that CAE is associated with BAV disease.