Optimizing outcomes for patients with metastatic prostate cancer: insights from South East Asia Expert Panel.

Aims: Clinical decision making is challenging in men with metastatic prostate cancer (mPC), as heterogeneity in treatment options and patient characteristics have resulted in multiple scenarios with little or no evidence. The South East Asia Expert Panel 2019 addressed some of these challenges.

Methods: Based on evidence in the literature and expert interviews, 19 statements were formulated for key challenges in the treatment of men with castration-sensitive and -resistant prostate cancer in clinical practice.

Bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs in foodstuffs near Bien Hoa and Da Nang airbases: assessment on sources and distribution.

In this survey, food items were collected from vicinities of Bien Hoa and Da Nang airbase and determined for polychloro-dibenzo-dioxins and polychloro-dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) to assess their accumulation, distribution in the local food items, and risk of PCDD/F exposure through consumption of the local foods. Dioxin compounds were determined using isotope dilution method which is slightly modified from US-EPA method 1613B. The dioxin concentration was the highest in fish followed by eggs, chicken, meat (pork and beef), and vegetables.

Site-specific bioaccumulation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs) in mothers and their infants living in vicinity of Bien Hoa airbase, Southern Vietnam.

Bien Hoa airbase is located in Dong Nai Province (Southern Vietnam). Several sites within the airbase are highly contaminated by Agent Orange/Dioxin, and thus, they are also commonly named as an Agent Orange/Dioxin hotpot. In the present study, 36 maternal milk samples were collected from primiparas who have lived at least 5 years in four wards, Buu Long, Quang Vinh, Trung Dung and Tan Phong, which are closed to Bien Hoa airbase in order to investigate the level and distribution of Agent Orange/Dioxin exposure in different local communities.

Innovative High Gas Pressure Microscopy Chamber Designed for Biological Cell Observation.

An original high-pressure microscopy chamber has been designed for real-time visualization of biological cell growth during high isostatic (gas or liquid) pressure treatments up to 200 MPa. This new system is highly flexible allowing cell visualization under a wide range of pressure levels as the thickness and the material of the observation window can be easily adapted. Moreover, the design of the observation area allows different microscope objectives to be used as close as possible to the observation window.

Distribution, accumulation profile, and risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sediment from lake and river systems in Hanoi Metropolitan Area, Vietnam.

Concentrations of seven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners were determined in surface sediments collected from several rivers and lakes in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, to understand the status of background contamination, accumulation pattern, sources, and toxic implications for benthic organisms. Total PBDE concentrations in all sediment samples ranged from 0.03 to 17.

Effects of hydrostatic pressure on yeasts isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Hydrostatic pressure plays a significant role in the distribution of life in the biosphere. Knowledge of deep-sea piezotolerant and (hyper)piezophilic bacteria and archaea diversity has been well documented, along with their specific adaptations to cope with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). Recent investigations of deep-sea microbial community compositions have shown unexpected micro-eukaryotic communities, mainly dominated by fungi.

Effect of sporulation conditions on the resistance of Bacillus subtilis spores to heat and high pressure.

Bacillus subtilis(B. subtilis) cells were placed in various environmental conditions to study the effects of aeration, water activity of the medium, temperature, pH, and calcium content on spore formation and the resulting properties. Modification of the sporulation conditions lengthened the growth period of B.

Germination and inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores induced by moderate hydrostatic pressure.

In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of spore inactivation by high pressure at moderate temperatures to optimize the sterilization efficiency of high-pressure treatments. Bacillus subtilis spores were first subjected to different pressure treatments ranging from 90 to 550 MPa at 40°C, with holding times from 10 min to 4 h. These treatments alone caused slight inactivation, which was related to the pressure-induced germination of the spores.

Effect of the osmotic conditions during sporulation on the subsequent resistance of bacterial spores.

The causes of Bacillus spore resistance remain unclear. Many structures including a highly compact envelope, low hydration of the protoplast, high concentrations of Ca-chelated dipicolinic acid, and the presence of small acid-soluble spore proteins seem to contribute to resistance. To evaluate the role of internal protoplast composition and hydration, spores of Bacillus subtilis were produced at different osmotic pressures corresponding to water activities of 0.