Brain Metastases from Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Review from a Single Institution.

Background: Patients with brain metastases (BrMs) from esophageal cancer have poor prognosis, the incidence of which is expected to rise due to improved survival from the primary tumor and increased neuroimaging. We aimed to identify patient and esophageal cancer characteristics associated with longer survival in patients with BrMs and, secondly, to compare the prognosis of patients with HER2 overexpression.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with BrMs from esophageal cancer at a single institution from 2008-2021.

Effects of donor-engrafted clonal hematopoiesis in allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Donor stem cell health may be critically important to the success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Herein, we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis including meta-regression to assess the impact of donor-engrafted clonal hematopoiesis (CH) in allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) and impact of pre-transplant CH in autologous HSCT (auto-HSCT). We applied random-effects models to analyze 5 allo-HSCT studies with 3192 donor-recipient pairs and 9 auto-HSCT studies with 2854 patients.

Update on Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Incidence and Mortality Trends in the United States, 2000-2018.

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy in the pediatric population. A recent study has revealed a recent decline in overall US thyroid cancer incidence rates. The aim of this study is to assess whether there has been a corresponding decline in incidence rates in the pediatric population.

Induction of Airway Hypersensitivity to Ovalbumin and Dust Mite Allergens as Mouse Models of Allergic Asthma.

Mouse models of allergic asthma have been utilized to establish the role of T helper type 2 (Th2) cells in driving lung inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and obstruction. Here, we present the allergic asthma models, in which mice are hypersensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) and house dust mite (HDM). These models mimic the major characteristics of human asthma including the eosinophilic inflammation and hyperactivity of the airway, overproduction of Th2 cytokines in the lung, and elevated total and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum.

MicroRNAs and Their Targetomes in Tumor-Immune Communication.

The development of cancer is a complex and dynamically regulated multiple-step process that involves many changes in gene expression. Over the last decade, microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of short regulatory non-coding RNAs, have emerged as key molecular effectors and regulators of tumorigenesis. While aberrant expression of miRNAs or dysregulated miRNA-mediated gene regulation in tumor cells have been shown to be capable of directly promoting or inhibiting tumorigenesis, considering the well-reported role of the immune system in cancer, tumor-derived miRNAs could also impact tumor growth through regulating anti-tumor immune responses.

Evaluation of Age- and Radical-Prostatectomy Related Changes in Male Pelvic Floor Anatomy Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 3-Dimensional Reconstruction.

Purpose: Puborectalis muscles (PRM) and ischiocavernosus muscles (ICM) play important roles in urinary continence and male erectile functions. Understanding of anatomy and surgical-injury related changes to these muscles is critical to monitor changes in continence or erectile function. Anatomical description of these muscles has undergone revisions because these conclusions were derived from cadavers.

Characterization of urethral fibrosis in a rabbit model: Potential roles of Wnt-β catenin pathway and epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Aim: To elucidate the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie urethral fibrogenesis.

Methods: Endoluminal electrocautery injury (using Karl Storz 10 Fr. Pediatric urethroscope) was employed in male rabbits (n = 6) to create mucosal injury.

miRNA-Microbiota Interaction in Gut Homeostasis and Colorectal Cancer.

Gut homeostasis is maintained by dynamic host-microbiota interactions. Recently, miRNAs have emerged as key molecular regulators in the mediation of such interactions. Here, we discuss the role of a host miRNA-microbiome axis in gut homeostasis and colorectal cancer (CRC) and the involvement of diet and microbial metabolites in miRNA-mediated intestinal health.