Platelet-rich Plasma and Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Sports Medicine.

Regenerative medicine is a fast-growing field in orthopedic sports medicine. Platelet-rich plasma contains multiple factors that have been shown to augment healing, thereby stimulating its use in multiple areas of acute and chronic injuries. Mesenchymal stem cells have pluripotent potential to form into tissues pertinent to orthopedics, such as cartilage and bone.

Clinical role of additional adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced urothelial carcinoma following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and cystectomy.

Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) can downstage invasive bladder cancers prior to radical cystectomy (RC) and improve overall survival. However, the optimal management in patients with persistent non-organ confined disease (pT3-T4 and/or pN+) following RC has not been completely defined. The aim of this study was to describe outcomes associated with the use of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with residual non-organ confined cancer at RC following NAC.

Extended-Release Naltrexone to Prevent Opioid Relapse in Criminal Justice Offenders.

Background: Extended-release naltrexone, a sustained-release monthly injectable formulation of the full mu-opioid receptor antagonist, is effective for the prevention of relapse to opioid dependence. Data supporting its effectiveness in U.S.

Polymorphic Evolutionary Games.

In this paper, I present an analytical framework for polymorphic evolutionary games suitable for explicitly modeling evolutionary processes in diploid populations with sexual reproduction. The principal aspect of the proposed approach is adding diploid genetics cum sexual recombination to a traditional evolutionary game, and switching from phenotypes to haplotypes as the new game׳s pure strategies. Here, the relevant pure strategy׳s payoffs derived by summing the payoffs of all the phenotypes capable of producing gametes containing that particular haplotype weighted by the pertinent probabilities.

Abscopal Benefits of Localized Radiotherapy Depend on Activated T-cell Trafficking and Distribution between Metastatic Lesions.

It remains unclear how localized radiotherapy for cancer metastases can occasionally elicit a systemic antitumor effect, known as the abscopal effect, but historically, it has been speculated to reflect the generation of a host immunotherapeutic response. The ability to purposefully and reliably induce abscopal effects in metastatic tumors could meet many unmet clinical needs. Here, we describe a mathematical model that incorporates physiologic information about T-cell trafficking to estimate the distribution of focal therapy-activated T cells between metastatic lesions.

Relapse prevention medications in community treatment for young adults with opioid addiction.

Background: Despite the well-known effectiveness and widespread use of relapse prevention medications such as extended release naltrexone (XR-NTX) and buprenorphine for opioid addiction in adults, less is known about their use in younger populations.

Methods: This was a naturalistic study using retrospective chart review of N = 56 serial admissions into a specialty community treatment program that featured the use of relapse prevention medications for young adults (19-26 years old) with opioid use disorders. Treatment outcomes over 24 weeks included retention and weekly opioid-negative urine tests.

Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the PROMIS Cancer Fatigue Short Form with cancer patients.

Objective: Fatigue is common among cancer patients and adversely impacts quality of life. As such, it is important to measure fatigue accurately in a way that is not burdensome to patients. The 7-item Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Cancer Fatigue Short Form scale was recently developed using item response theory (IRT).

LAPOROSCOPIC SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY. ROLE AND PLACE IN BARIATRIC SURGERY.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was performed in 522 patients at the period from 2007 to 2015. The operation was carried out by different methods. It was stated that «the ideal candidates» for choosing LSG operation were the patients without metabolic syndrome (MS) and body-weight index, which wasn’t higher than 48 kg/m².

LAPAROSCOPIC ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING. ILLUSIONS AND REALITY.

This work analyzed the results of surgical treatment of 380 patients who underwent the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) at the period from 2004 to 2015. The patients were initially divided into 2 groups with metabolic syndrome (MS) and without MS according to the sex, age (up to 40 years old or older). As the result of performed analysis, there was stated that LAGB operation wasn’t effective and couldn’t be recommended for an application on the patients with MS.

Reduced Levels of Proteasome Products in a Mouse Striatal Cell Model of Huntington's Disease.

Huntington's disease is the result of a long polyglutamine tract in the gene encoding huntingtin protein, which in turn causes a large number of cellular changes and ultimately results in neurodegeneration of striatal neurons. Although many theories have been proposed, the precise mechanism by which the polyglutamine expansion causes cellular changes is not certain. Some evidence supports the hypothesis that the long polyglutamine tract inhibits the proteasome, a multiprotein complex involved in protein degradation.

Improving paediatric asthma care in Zambia.

Problem: In 2008, the prevalence of paediatric asthma in Zambia was unknown and the national treatment guideline was outdated.

Approach: We created an international partnership between Zambian clinicians, the Zambian Government and a pharmaceutical company to address shortcomings in asthma treatment. We did two studies, one to estimate prevalence in the capital of Lusaka and one to assess attitudes and practices of patients.

Changes in physical functioning and muscle strength in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: a controlled comparison.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine changes in muscle strength and self-reported physical functioning in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer compared to matched controls.

Methods: Prostate cancer patients scheduled to begin ADT (n = 62) were assessed within 20 days of starting ADT and 6 and 12 months later. Age and geographically matched prostate cancer controls treated with prostatectomy only (n = 86) were assessed at similar time intervals.

Patients with ClearCode34-identified molecular subtypes of clear cell renal cell carcinoma represent unique populations with distinct comorbidities.

Purpose: The 34-gene classifier, ClearCode34, identifies prognostically distinct molecular subtypes of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) termed clear cell A (ccA) and clear cell B (ccB). The primary objective of this study was to describe clinical characteristics and comorbidities of relevance in patients stratified by ClearCode34.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective analysis, 282 patients from Moffitt Cancer Center with ccRCC with gene expression analyses of the primary tumor were identified and ClearCode34 was applied to identify tumors as ccA or ccB.

Minimally invasive post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for nonseminoma.

Introduction: We present our experience with minimally-invasive retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (MI-RPLND) in the post-chemotherapy (PC) setting for residual masses in patients with nonseminoma.

Materials And Methods: Nineteen men who underwent PC MI-RPLND (14--laparoscopic, 5--robotic) for low-volume residual disease (no more than 5 clinically enlarged retroperitoneal masses, size < 5 cm, no adjacent organ or vascular invasion) between 2006 and 2011 were identified. Clinicodemographic information and pathological outcomes were reported.

A Motion Videogame for Opioid Relapse Prevention.

Objective: This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a body motion-activated videogame, targeting the prevention of opioid relapse among youth in the context of outpatient treatment.

Materials And Methods: Participants attended four weekly gameplay sessions. Surveys were conducted at baseline and following each week's gameplay and assessed satisfaction with gameplay, craving intensity, and self-efficacy to refuse opioids.

Sarcopenia as a predictor of overall survival after cytoreductive nephrectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) is a therapeutic consideration in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We hypothesized that sarcopenia, a novel marker of nutritional status, is a predictor of survival after CN.

Materials And Methods: Of 105 patients who underwent CN at our institution for mRCC, 93 had preoperative imaging available for analysis.

Course and Predictors of Cognitive Function in Patients With Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen-Deprivation Therapy: A Controlled Comparison.

Purpose: Men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer may be at risk for cognitive impairment; however, evidence is mixed in the existing literature. Our study examined the impact of ADT on impaired cognitive performance and explored potential demographic and genetic predictors of impaired performance.

Patients And Methods: Patients with prostate cancer were assessed before or within 21 days of starting ADT (n = 58) and 6 and 12 months later.

Floral advertisement and the competition for pollination services.

Flowering plants are a major component of terrestrial ecosystems, and most of them depend on animal pollinators for reproduction. Thus, the mutualism between flowering plants and their pollinators is a keystone ecological relationship in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Though plant-pollinator interactions have received considerable amount of attention, there are still many unanswered questions.

A systematic review of the efficacy and safety experience reported for sorafenib in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the post-approval setting.

Background: Sorafenib was FDA approved in 2005 for treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) based on the results of the pivotal phase 3 clinical trial, TARGET (Treatment Approaches in Renal Cancer Global Evaluation Trial). Since that time, numerous clinical studies have been undertaken that substantially broaden our knowledge of the use of sorafenib for this indication.

Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and www.

Course and Moderators of Hot Flash Interference during Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Matched Comparison.

Purpose: Many men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer experience hot flashes. This study aimed to describe the course of hot flash interference with time in androgen deprivation therapy recipients relative to matched prostate cancer and cancer-free controls from before the start of androgen deprivation therapy to 12 months later. We also examined demographic, clinical and genetic predictors of the impact of androgen deprivation therapy on hot flash interference.

Axitinib dose titration: analyses of exposure, blood pressure and clinical response from a randomized phase II study in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: In a randomized, double-blind phase II trial in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), axitinib versus placebo titration yielded a significantly higher objective response rate. We evaluated pharmacokinetic and blood pressure (BP) data from this study to elucidate relationships among axitinib exposure, BP change, and efficacy.

Patients And Methods: Patients received axitinib 5 mg twice daily during a lead-in period.

Extended-release naltrexone to prevent relapse among opioid dependent, criminal justice system involved adults: rationale and design of a randomized controlled effectiveness trial.

Background: Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX, Vivitrol; Alkermes Inc.) is an injectable monthly sustained-release mu opioid receptor antagonist. XR-NTX is a potentially effective intervention for opioid use disorders and as relapse prevention among criminal justice system (CJS) populations.