Presenting Symptoms in Newly Diagnosed Myeloma, Relation to Organ Damage, and Implications for Symptom-Directed Screening: A Secondary Analysis from the Tackling Early Morbidity and Mortality in Myeloma (TEAMM) Trial.

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients risk diagnostic delays and irreversible organ damage. In those with newly diagnosed myeloma, we explored the presenting symptoms to identify early signals of MM and their relationships to organ damage. The symptoms were recorded in patients' own words at diagnosis and included diagnostic time intervals.

Diagnosis of Acute Dengue Virus Infection Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Real-Time PCR.

Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus and is a growing concern for public health worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a commercially available NS1 ELISA kit for dengue fever in Pakistan using multiplex qRT-PCR as the gold standard. The study recruited 1236 suspected cases of dengue fever admitted to public sector hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan.

Four-dimensional computed tomography-based ventilation imaging in intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment planning for pulmonary functional avoidance.

Purpose: To incorporate four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT)-based ventilation imaging into intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment planning for pulmonary functional avoidance.

Methods And Materials: Nineteen locally advanced lung cancer patients are retrospectively studied. 4DCT images are employed to create ventilation maps for each patient via a density-change-based algorithm with mass correction.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of IgD myeloma: experience across UK national trials.

Immunoglobulin D (IgD) myeloma is a subtype often considered to have adverse features and inferior survival, but there is a paucity of data from large clinical studies. We compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with IgD myeloma from UK phase 3 myeloma trials analyzed in 2 groups: old (1980-2002) and recent (2002-2016) clinical trials, based on the time of adoption of novel myeloma therapies. Patients with IgD myeloma comprised 44 of 2789 (1.

Prognostic stratification of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer based on CD103 immune cell abundance in patients treated on TROG 12.01 and De-ESCALaTE randomized trials.

Background: High CD103 intratumoral immune cell (ITIC) abundance is associated with better prognosis in unselected patients with human papilloma virus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-associated OPSCC) treated with cisplatin and radiotherapy (CIS/RT). Substituting cetuximab (CETUX) for CIS with RT in HPV-associated OPSCC resulted in inferior efficacy. Our aim was to determine whether quantification of CD103 ITIC could be used to identify a population of HPV-associated OPSCC with superior prognosis.

Synthesis of novel silica encapsulated spiropyran-based thermochromic materials.

A series of novel spiropyrans were synthesized through the condensation of substituted 3,3-dimethyl-2-methyleneindoline with different nitro-substituted -hydroxy aromatic aldehydes. Indoles were initially substituted with a variety of alkanes and esters moieties. The substituted 3,3-dimethyl-2-methyleneindoline was then reacted with nitro-substituted -hydroxy aromatic aldehydes to yield the respective spiropyrans.

Improvement in Dysphagia Outcomes Following Clinical Target Volume Reduction in the De-ESCALaTE Study.

Aims: The De-ESCALaTE study showed an overall survival advantage for the administration of synchronous cisplatin chemotherapy with radiotherapy in low-risk oropharyngeal cancer when compared with synchronous cetuximab. During the trial, a radiotherapy quality assurance protocol amendment permitted centres to swap from the original radiotherapy contouring protocol (incorporating the whole oropharynx into the high-dose clinical target volume (CTV); anatomical protocol) to a protocol that incorporated the gross tumour volume with a 10 mm margin into the CTV (volumetric protocol). The purpose of this study was to examine both toxicity and tumour control related to this protocol amendment.

Anti-bacterial antibodies in multiple myeloma patients at disease presentation, in response to therapy and in remission: implications for patient management.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is associated with increased risk of infection, but little is known regarding antibody levels against specific bacteria. We assessed levels of polyclonal immunoglobulin and antibacterial antibodies in patients recruited to the TEAMM trial, a randomised trial of antibiotic prophylaxis at the start of anti-myeloma treatment. Polyclonal IgG, IgA and IgM levels were below the reference range in 71%, 83% and 90% of 838 MM patients at diagnosis.

Blood-Based Biomarkers for Predictive Diagnosis of Cognitive Impairment in a Pakistani Population.

Numerous studies have identified an association between age-related cognitive impairment (CI) and oxidative damage, accumulation of metals, amyloid levels, tau, and deranged lipid profile. There is a concerted effort to establish the reliability of these blood-based biomarkers for predictive diagnosis of CI and its progression. We assessed the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, selected metals (Cu, Al, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cad), and total-tau and amyloid beta-42 protein in mild ( = 71), moderate ( = 86) and severe ( = 25) cognitively impaired patients and compared them with age-matched healthy controls ( = 90) from Pakistan.

Diagnostic pathways in multiple myeloma and their relationship to end organ damage: an analysis from the Tackling Early Morbidity and Mortality in Myeloma (TEAMM) trial.

Multiple myeloma is associated with significant early morbidity and mortality, with considerable end organ damage often present at diagnosis. The Tackling EArly Morbidity and Mortality in Multiple Myeloma (TEAMM) trial was used to evaluate routes to diagnosis in patients with myeloma and the relationship between diagnostic pathways, time to diagnosis and disease severity. A total of 915 participants were included in the study.

Prophylactic levofloxacin to prevent infections in newly diagnosed symptomatic myeloma: the TEAMM RCT.

Background: Myeloma causes profound immunodeficiency and recurrent serious infections. There are approximately 5500 new UK cases of myeloma per annum, and one-quarter of patients will have a serious infection within 3 months of diagnosis. Newly diagnosed patients may benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infection.

Levofloxacin prophylaxis in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma (TEAMM): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 trial.

Background: Myeloma causes profound immunodeficiency and recurrent, serious infections. Around 5500 new cases of myeloma are diagnosed per year in the UK, and a quarter of patients will have a serious infection within 3 months of diagnosis. We aimed to assess whether patients newly diagnosed with myeloma benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infection, and to investigate the effect on antibiotic-resistant organism carriage and health care-associated infections in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma.

Co-exposure of metals and high fat diet causes aging like neuropathological changes in non-aged mice brain.

In recent decades, humans' exposure to metals have increased due to industrialization and socioeconomic trends have caused increased high fat diet (HFD) consumption. Concurrently, metals and HFD are risk factors for health, and in particular, the cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of metals and HFD treatment on neuropathological changes in young mice brain, and compare with untreated young mice (8-11 weeks = 2-3 months) and aged mice (12 months).

Photo-inactivation and efflux pump inhibition of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus using thiolated cobalt doped ZnO nanoparticles.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in bacteria is a major concern these days. One of the reasons is the mutation in efflux pump that prevents the retention of antibiotics and drugs in the bacterial cell. The current work is a step to overcome MDR in bacteria via inhibition of efflux pump and further photoinhibition by thiolated chitosan coated cobalt doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Co-ZnO) in visible light.

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with increased bladder cancer risk: A systematic review and evidence of a potential mechanism.

The development of some cancers is associated with vitamin D deficiency. We suggest that reduced conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D) and the resulting modification of tissue specific immune responses may be key. Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is highly immunoresponsive and stimulation of an inflammatory response by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatment prevents recurrence.

Characterisation of immunoparesis in newly diagnosed myeloma and its impact on progression-free and overall survival in both old and recent myeloma trials.

We measured immunosuppression at myeloma diagnosis and assessed the impact on survival in 5826 UK myeloma trial patients. Polyclonal immunoglobulin levels were below normal in 85% of patients and above normal in only 0.4% of cases for IgA, 0.

Elevated heavy metals levels in cognitively impaired patients from Pakistan.

The deficit in the visuospatial skills, thinking, learning and memory is termed as cognitive impairment. Human exposure to heavy metals is a potential risk factor for developing cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the possible association between the concentration of heavy metals and the extent of cognitive impairment.

Pharmacological Effects of Turmeric on Learning, Memory and Expression of Muscarinic Receptor Genes (M1, M3 and M5) in Stress-induced Mouse Model.

Background: Stress is involved in memory impairment through multiple mechanisms, including activation of hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which in turn activates release of corticosterone in blood. Cholinergic system blockade by the muscarinic antagonist, scopolamine, also impairs memory.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of turmeric (20mg/kg) on learning and memory and cholinergic system in a mouse model of stress along with cholinergic blockade.

Aluminum-Induced Cholinergic Deficits in Different Brain Parts and Its Implications on Sociability and Cognitive Functions in Mouse.

Aluminum is associated with etiology of many neurodegenerative diseases specially Alzheimer's disease. Chronic exposure to aluminum via drinking water results in aluminum deposition in the brain that leads to cognitive deficits. The study aimed to determine the effects of aluminum on cholinergic biomarkers, i.

Memory Enhancing Effect of Black Pepper in the AlCl3 Induced Neurotoxicity Mouse Model is Mediated Through Its Active Component Chavicine.

Unlabelled: Black pepper (Piper nigrum Linn.) has vital pharmacological properties with profound effects on central nervous system. Neurotoxic agents like Aluminum Chloride (AlCl3) cause the oxidative stress and result in improper processing of amyloid proteins leading to accumulation of amyloid β plaques.

Alpha-lipoic acid-mediated activation of muscarinic receptors improves hippocampus- and amygdala-dependent memory.

Aluminum (Al) is a neurotoxic agent which readily crosses the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and accumulates in the brain leading to neurodegenerative disorders, characterised by cognitive impairment. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant and has a potential to improve cognitive functions. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of ALA in AlCl3-induced neurotoxicity mouse model.

A Comparative Analysis of the Influence of Gender, Pathway Delays, and Risk Factor Exposures on the Long-term Outcomes of Bladder Cancer.

Background: The relationship between pathway delays and bladder cancer-specific survival is complex because of the influence of tumour- and patient-specific factors.

Objective: To investigate the influence of tumour factors, patient factors, carcinogen exposure, and pathway delays on the long-term outcome of urothelial bladder cancer (UBC).

Design, Setting, And Participants: A cohort of 1537 UBC patients were enrolled between January 1, 1991 and June 30, 1992 and followed up for 17.