Clinical features and overall survival among elderly cancer patients in a tertiary cancer center.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological profile and overall survival of a large population of elderly individuals diagnosed with solid tumors in a tertiary hospital.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged >65 years, diagnosed with solid tumors between January 2007 and December 2011, at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. The medical records were reviewed to obtain information about clinical variables and overall survival.

Adjuvant treatment delay in breast cancer patients.

Background: to evaluate if time between surgery and the first adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy) in patients with breast cancer is a risk factor for lower overall survival (OS).

Method: data from a five-year retrospective cohort study of all women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at an academic oncology service were collected and analyzed.

Results: three hundred forty-eight consecutive women were included.

Increased Expression of the Autocrine Motility Factor is Associated With Poor Prognosis in Patients With Clear Cell-Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI), also known as phosphoglucose isomerase, was initially identified as the second glycolytic enzyme that catalyzes the interconversion of glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate. Later studies demonstrated that GPI was the same as the autocrine motility factor (AMF), and that it mediates its biological effects through the interaction with its surface receptor (AMFR/gp78). In this study, we assessed the role of GPI/AMF as a prognostic factor for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cancer-specific (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Cost Effectiveness of Daclatasvir/Asunaprevir Versus Peginterferon/Ribavirin and Protease Inhibitors for the Treatment of Hepatitis c Genotype 1b Naïve Patients in Chile.

Introduction: Daclatasvir and Asunaprevir (DCV/ASV) have recently been approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. In association, they are more effective and safer than previous available treatments, but more expensive. It is unclear if paying for the additional costs is an efficient strategy considering limited resources.

Applicability of modified Glasgow Prognostic Score in the assessment of elderly patients with cancer: A pilot study.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between inflammatory parameters through the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) and other clinical characteristics of elderly patients with cancer, including frailty evaluated by the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS).

Materials And Methods: We included patients from the oncology service at Faculdade de Medicina do ABC with a confirmed diagnosis of solid tumor aged 65 years or more at diagnosis. Patients were assessed by applying the translated and validated to Portuguese version of the EFS and also had blood sample collection for the evaluation of C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin for calculation of the mGPS.

Treatment of a Juxtarenal Aneurysm with a Parallel Graft in the Left Renal Artery and Polymer-Based Technology to Seal the Entire Aneurysmal Sac.

Background: Presenting the treatment of a juxtarenal aneurysm using a Nellix device combined with a chimney stent in a renal artery.

Case Report: A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed with a 5.5-cm bilobed juxtarenal aneurysm.

Cumulative meta-analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors as first-line therapy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.

We carried out a meta-analysis to evaluate the benefit of epidermal growth factor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) over the standard first-line platinum-based chemotherapy for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Studies that were considered eligible included controlled prospective randomized phase III studies in patients with NSCLC stages IIIB or IV. These patients received standard first-line platinum-based chemotherapy or EGFR-TKI; overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) with adequate data were available to calculate and estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%.

Metabolomic profiling for the identification of novel diagnostic markers in prostate cancer.

Metabolomic profiling offers a powerful methodology for understanding the perturbations of biochemical systems occurring during a disease process. During neoplastic transformation, prostate cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to satisfy the demands of growth and proliferation. An early event in prostate cell transformation is the loss of capacity to accumulate zinc.

Assessment of adherence to the guidelines for the management of nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy.

Objective: To assess adherence of the prescribing physicians in a private cancer care center to the American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline for antiemetic prophylaxis, in the first cycle of antineoplastic chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 139 chemotherapy regimens, of 105 patients, were evaluated retrospectively from 2011 to 2013.

Results: We observed 78% of non-adherence to the guideline rate.

Gene profiling and circulating tumor cells as biomarker to prognostic of patients with locoregional breast cancer.

The gene profile of primary tumors, as well as the identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), can provide important prognostic and predictive information. In this study, our objective was to perform tumor gene profiling (TGP) in combination with CTC characterization in women with nonmetastatic breast cancer. Biological samples (from peripheral blood and tumors) from 167 patients diagnosed with stage I, II, and III mammary carcinoma, who were also referred for adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy, were assessed for the following parameters: (a) the presence of CTCs identified by the expression of CK-19 and c-erbB-2 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) fraction by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and (b) the TGP, which was determined by analyzing the expression of 21 genes in paraffin-embedded tissue samples by quantitative multiplex RT-PCR with the Plexor® system.

The biology of cancer-related fatigue: a review of the literature.

Purpose: Understanding the etiology of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is critical to identify targets to develop therapies to reduce CRF burden. The goal of this systematic review was to expand on the initial work by the National Cancer Institute CRF Working Group to understand the state of the science related to the biology of CRF and, specifically, to evaluate studies that examined the relationships between biomarkers and CRF and to develop an etiologic model of CRF to guide researchers on pathways to explore or therapeutic targets to investigate.

Methods: This review was completed by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Fatigue Study Group-Biomarker Working Group.

"Burnout in Medical Oncology Fellows: a Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study in Brazilian Institutions".

Burnout syndrome is a common occurrence among oncologists. Doctors enrolled in residency programs in clinical oncology are exposed to similar risk factors; however, few data are available in this population. This study assessed the occurrence of burnout and associated factors among first-year residents at Brazilian institutions.

Metabolomic profile of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway identifies the central role of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in clear cell-renal cell carcinoma.

The analysis of cancer metabolome has shown that proliferating tumor cells require a large quantities of different nutrients in order to support their high rate of proliferation. In this study we analyzed the metabolic profile of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) in human clear cell-renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and evaluate the role of these pathways in sustaining cell proliferation, maintenance of NADPH levels, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Metabolomic analysis showed a clear signature of increased glucose uptake and utilization in ccRCC tumor samples.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in late postpartum eclampsia.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a neurological complication associated with several medical conditions and it has been described in clinical findings of seizures, headache, vomiting, altered mental status, and visual changes and focal neurologic deficit, in conjunction with radiological findings of primarily posterior cerebral white matter edema of both cerebral hemispheres. PRES can develop in a wide array situations including pregnancy and postpartum in patients with or without symptoms and signs of eclampsia. A prompt diagnosis of PRES by magnetic resonance imaging and an immediate antihypertensive and anticonvulsant therapy can help to prevent serious complications.

Pulmonary congestion at rest and abnormal ventilation during exercise in chronic systolic heart failure.

Background: In patients with chronic heart failure, abnormal ventilation at cardiopulmonary testing (expressed by minute ventilation-to-carbon dioxide production, or VE/VCO2 slope, and resting end-tidal CO2 pressure) may derive either from abnormal autonomic or chemoreflex regulation or from lung dysfunction induced by pulmonary congestion. The latter hypothesis is supported by measurement of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, which cannot be obtained routinely but may be estimated noninvasively by measuring transthoracic conductance (thoracic fluid content 1/kΩ) with impedance cardiography.

Methods And Results: Preliminarily, in 9 patients undergoing invasive hemodynamics during cardiopulmonary testing, we demonstrated a significant relationship between VE/VCO2 slope and resting end-tidal CO2 pressure with baseline and peak pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.

Biomarkers of fatigue related to adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: evaluation of plasma and lymphocyte expression.

Background: Fatigue is common in cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. To further understand the mechanism of fatigue and search for potential biomarkers, we conducted this prospective study. Methods We enrolled breast cancer (BC) patients before their first adjuvant Adriamycin-based chemotherapy cycle.

Alpha, beta and gamma Human Papillomaviruses in the anal canal of HIV-infected and uninfected men who have sex with men.

Objectives: Anal infection by cutaneous Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) has been rarely investigated. We aimed to assess the prevalence, genotype diversity, and determinants of mucosal (alpha) and cutaneous (beta and gamma) anal HPV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: Anal samples were collected with a Dacron swab.

Guarana (Paullinia cupana) Improves Anorexia in Patients with Advanced Cancer.

Purpose: Anorexia is prevalent in cancer patients with advanced disease. In this pilot phase II, open label, nonrandomized trial, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of guarana (Paullinia cupana) in patients with cancer and weight loss.

Methods: We included advanced cancer patients with decreased appetite and weight loss of more than 5% from their baseline.

Immune challenges trigger cellular and humoral responses in adults of Pterostichus melas italicus (Coleoptera, Carabidae).

The present study focuses on the ability of Pterostichus melas italicus Dejean to mount cellular and humoral immune responses against invading pathogens. Ultrastructural analyses revealed the presence of five morphologically distinct types of hemocytes: prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, oenocytoids and macrophage-like cells. Differential hemocyte counts showed that plasmatocytes and granulocytes were the most abundant circulating cell types and plasmatocytes exhibited phagocytic activity following the latex bead immune challenge.

From one side to the other: what is essential? Perception of oncology patients and their caregivers in the beginning of oncology treatment and in palliative care.

Objective: To evaluate the perception of oncology patients and their caregivers upon diagnosis and beginning of the therapy and during palliative care.

Methods: A cross-sectional study at the oncology and palliative care outpatients clinics of the Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. Clinical and demographic data from patients and their caregivers were collected and questionnaires regarding the elements considered important in relation to the treatment were applied.

Lung ultrasound and transthoracic impedance for noninvasive evaluation of pulmonary congestion in heart failure.

Background: In patients with heart failure, many indexes are available for noninvasive identification of pulmonary congestion: E/E' at echocardiography; plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (pg/ml); number of B-lines at lung ultrasound; and transthoracic conductance [thoracic fluid content (TFC)TT = 1/Ω] at impedance cardiography (ICG).

Methods: We obtained 75 measures from 50 patients (72 ± 10 years, NYHA 2.4 ± 0.

Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) improves quality of life in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Objective: Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a native Amazon plant that exhibits anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties. We wanted to assess its activity for symptom management of terminal cancer patients.

Methods: This prospective phase II study assessed the effects of a 100-mg dose of a dry extract of U.