Recapitulating the adenoma-carcinoma sequence by selection of four spontaneous oncogenic mutations in mismatch-repair-deficient human colon organoids.

Carcinogenesis results from the sequential acquisition of oncogenic mutations that convert normal cells into invasive, metastasizing cancer cells. Colorectal cancer exemplifies this process through its well-described adenoma-carcinoma sequence, modeled previously using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) to induce four consecutive mutations in wild-type human gut organoids. Here, we demonstrate that long-term culture of mismatch-repair-deficient organoids allows the selection of spontaneous oncogenic mutations through the sequential withdrawal of Wnt agonists, epidermal growth factor (EGF) agonists and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist Noggin, while TP53 mutations were selected through the addition of Nutlin-3.

First use of silicon carbide detectors with graphene-enhanced contacts for medical dosimetry.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a radiation hard wide bandgap semiconductor, which makes it an interesting alternative for radiation detector fabrication, with potential applications such as High Energy Physics, synchrotron and radiotherapy instrumentation. In addition, by reducing the amount of metal over the active area of said detectors (typically used for electrical connectivity with the implant of the pn-junction) unwanted effects from secondary interactions which can affect the accuracy of the measurement can be diminished, essential to meet the medical standards of precision. In this article, the use of epitaxially-grown graphene is explored as an alternative to metallic contacts with these prototypes.

Complete pathological response in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy in Colombia.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of death by cancer in women in Colombia. Approximately 15 to 20% of breast cancers overexpress HER2.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between multiple clinical and histological variables and pathological complete response in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy in a specialized cancer center in Colombia.

Comprehensive single-cell genome analysis at nucleotide resolution using the PTA Analysis Toolbox.

Detection of somatic mutations in single cells has been severely hampered by technical limitations of whole-genome amplification. Novel technologies including primary template-directed amplification (PTA) significantly improved the accuracy of single-cell whole-genome sequencing (WGS) but still generate hundreds of artifacts per amplification reaction. We developed a comprehensive bioinformatic workflow, called the PTA Analysis Toolbox (PTATO), to accurately detect single base substitutions, insertions-deletions (indels), and structural variants in PTA-based WGS data.

Relationships of hospitalization outcomes and timing to endoscopy in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A nationwide analysis.

Background: The optimal timing of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and the impact of clinico-demographic factors on hospitalization outcomes in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) remains an area of active research.

Aim: To identify independent predictors of outcomes in patients with NVUGIB, with a particular focus on EGD timing, anticoagulation (AC) status, and demographic features.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of adult patients with NVUGIB from 2009 to 2014 was performed using validated ICD-9 codes from the National Inpatient Sample database.

NGS in Lung, Breast, and Unknown Primary Cancer in Colombia: A Multidisciplinary Consensus on Challenges and Opportunities.

Given the benefits and likely future applications, there is an urgent need to expand the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in breast, lung, and unknown primary cancers in Colombia. The objective of this review is to address the barriers limiting access to the use of NGS in Colombia, specifically for patients with breast, lung, and unknown primary cancers in the public health care system. A selected Panel of Colombian experts in NGS were provided with a series of relevant questions to address in a multiday conference.