The role of pre-treatment paraaortic surgical staging for cervical cancer in the EMBRACE criteria.

Background: The State-of-the-Art Treatment for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer (LACC) is Definite Radio-Chemotherapy based on the Image-guided intensity modulated External beam radiochemotherapy and MRI-based adaptive BRAchytherapy (EMBRACE) trial, according to the FIGO staging. This staging is based on clinical examination and imaging studies; however, there are limitations of imaging techniques which may result in adverse events or death due to insufficient or overtreatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of surgical staging in LACC prior to radiotherapy (RT) to personalise target volumes for radiotherapy.

[Videourodynamics: Current indications, technique and considerations.].

Objectives: Describe the technique, indications and the correct interpretation given the findings in different clinical entities, and to serve as a guide for urologists, urology residents and even medical students.

Material And Methods: A literature search was performed using Pubmed, Cochrane and Scopus database for articles and guidelines published between January 1970 and June 2020.

Results: Videourodynamics is a diagnostic procedure that combines the urodynamic study with simultaneous images of the lower urinary tract to assess the anatomy and function during the different phases of micturition.

Multifocal skeletal tuberculosis with mycobacteremia after kidney transplantation: A case report.

Solid organ transplant recipients have a higher risk of active Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (TB) compared to the general population. Recognized risk factors are immunosuppressant use, graft dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus, and co-infections by other opportunists. Most of the active TB cases reported in solid organ transplant recipients occur in kidney transplant patients, especially if they come from M tuberculosis-endemic areas.

Removal of As, As, Sb, and Hg ions from aqueous solutions by pure and co-precipitated akaganeite nanoparticles: adsorption kinetics studies.

Adsorption kinetics models have been used to evaluate the adsorption behaviour of pollutants on different materials but there are no reports for the adsorption of As, As, Sb and Hg on co-precipitated akaganeite nanoparticles which were previously formed in the presence of these ions. In this research, the performance of pure and co-precipitated akaganeite nanoparticles as adsorbents of As, As, Sb and Hg in aqueous solutions was evaluated using the nonlinear kinetics models of Langmuir, Lagergren, Ho-McKay, Bangham, Elovich and simplified Elovich. In addition, transmission Fe Mössbauer spectrometry was used for the first time to compare the physico-chemical properties of akaganeite before and after the adsorption processes.

Flow Cytometric Assays to Quantify fHbp Expression and Detect Serotype Specific Capsular Polysaccharides on Neisseria meningitidis.

Flow cytometry provides an automated analysis of bacteria passing in fluid suspension through a laser light beam. Bacteria are first treated with antibodies that bind to a specific target. These antibodies are tagged to fluorophores that fluoresce when passed through a laser beam.

Frequency of Acute Otitis Media in Children Under 24 Months of Age Before and After the Introduction of the 10-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Into the National Immunization Program in Chile.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of acute otitis media (AOM). Ten-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV-10) was introduced to the Chilean National Immunization Program (NIP) in 2011. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of AOM in children <24 months of age attending the emergency department (ED) of Hospital Sótero del Río (HSR) 4 years before and 4 years after the introduction of PCV-10 in the Chilean NIP.

Are cannabinoids effective in multiple sclerosis?

Multiple beneficial effects have been proposed lately for cannabinoids in different clinical situations. Among them, it has been postulated they would control symptoms of multiple sclerosis. However, there is no consensus about their real clinical role.

Diabetic concentrations of metformin inhibit platelet-mediated ovarian cancer cell progression.

Clinical studies have suggested a survival benefit in ovarian cancer patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus taking metformin, however the mechanism by which diabetic concentrations of metformin could deliver this effect is still poorly understood. Platelets not only represent an important reservoir of growth factors and angiogenic regulators, they are also known to participate in the tumor microenvironment implicated in tumor growth and dissemination. Herein, we investigated if diabetic concentrations of metformin could impinge upon the previously reported observation that platelet induces an increase in the tube forming capacity of endothelial cells (angiogenesis) and upon ovarian cancer cell aggressiveness.

Do cannabinoids have a role to play in Tourette’s syndrome?

It has been suggested that the use of cannabinoids might play a role in the treatment of Tourette’s syndrome, but there is no consensus. Searching in Epistemonikos database, which is maintained by screening multiple databases, we identified seven systematic reviews including two randomized trials addressing the question of this article. We extracted data, combined the evidence using meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings following the GRADE approach.

Improvement of the enzymatic synthesis of ethyl valerate by esterification reaction in a solvent system.

The present study reports the improved enzymatic synthesis of ethyl valerate (green apple flavor) by esterification reaction of ethanol and valeric acid in heptane medium. Lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL) was immobilized by physical adsorption on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) particles and used as a potential biocatalyst. The effect of certain parameters that influence the ester synthesis was evaluated by factorial design.

Leptin stimulates migration and invasion and maintains cancer stem-like properties in ovarian cancer cells: an explanation for poor outcomes in obese women.

The evidence linking obesity with ovarian cancer remains controversial. Leptin is expressed at higher levels in obese women and stimulates cell migration in other epithelial cancers. Here, we explored the clinical impact of overweight/obesity on patient prognosis and leptin's effects on the metastatic potential of ovarian cancer cells.

Production of alkyl esters from macaw palm oil by a sequential hydrolysis/esterification process using heterogeneous biocatalysts: optimization by response surface methodology.

The present study deals with the enzymatic synthesis of alkyl esters with emollient properties by a sequential hydrolysis/esterification process (hydroesterification) using unrefined macaw palm oil from pulp seeds (MPPO) as feedstock. Crude enzymatic extract from dormant castor bean seeds was used as biocatalyst in the production of free fatty acids (FFA) by hydrolysis of MPPO. Esterification of purified FFA with several alcohols in heptane medium was catalyzed by immobilized Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL) on poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) particles.

Mouse ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT) plays a critical role in bile acid reabsorption.

Ghrelin is a unique peptide gut hormone that requires post-translational modification to stimulate both feeding and growth hormone release. Ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) was identified as a specific acyl-transferase for ghrelin, and recent genetic deletion studies of the Goat gene (Goat(-/-)) uncovered the role of ghrelin in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. To further understand the physiological functions of the GOAT/ghrelin system, we have conducted a metabolomic and microarray profile of Goat-null mice, as well as determined Goat expression in different tissues using the lacZ reporter gene.

Selected quality and shelf life of eggs coated with mineral oil with different viscosities.

Selected quality and shelf life of eggs coated with mineral oil having 6 different viscosities (7, 11, 14, 18, 22, and 26 cP) were evaluated during 5 wk of storage at 25 degrees C. As the storage time increased, weight loss and albumen pH increased whereas Haugh unit and yolk index values decreased. After 5 wk of storage, eggs coated with 11, 14, 18, 22, or 26 cP oil possessed better quality than the control noncoated eggs and eggs coated with 7 cP oil.

Sensory optimization of a mayonnaise-type spread made with rice bran oil and soy protein.

The optimum formulation for mayonnaise-type spreads containing rice bran oil (RBO) and soy protein concentrate (SPC) was determined based on sensory acceptability. RBO and SPC were used due to their health benefit claims such as lowering risk of heart disease. The effects of the proportions of high-impact ingredients (RBO, SPC, and water) on sensory acceptability of the spreads were determined.

Peptide YY regulates bone turnover in rodents.

Background & Aims: Peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PPY) are members of the neuropeptide Y peptide family. The neuropeptide Y receptor signaling pathway has been implicated in a number of physiologic processes, including the regulation of energy balance and bone mass. To investigate the contribution of endogenous PYY and PPY to these processes, we generated both Pyy- and Ppy-deficient mice.

[Cancer pharmacogenetics: study of genetically determined variations on cancer susceptibility due to xenobiotic exposure].

Pharmacogenetics is the study of genetically determined variations in the response to drugs and toxic agents, and their implications on disease. Recently, the discipline has acquired great relevancy due to the development of non-invasive molecular techniques that identify genetic variants in human beings. There is also a need to explain the individual differences in susceptibility to drug actions and disease risk.

Absence of ghrelin protects against early-onset obesity.

The gut peptide ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, has been implicated not only in the regulation of pituitary growth hormone (GH) secretion but in a number of endocrine and nonendocrine functions, including appetitive behavior and carbohydrate substrate utilization. Nevertheless, recent genetic studies have failed to show any significant defects in GH levels, food intake, or body weight in adult ghrelin-deficient (Ghrl-/-) mice. Here we demonstrate that male Ghrl-/- mice are protected from the rapid weight gain induced by early exposure to a high-fat diet 3 weeks after weaning (6 weeks of age).

Absence of the lipid phosphatase SHIP2 confers resistance to dietary obesity.

Genetic ablation of Inppl1, which encodes SHIP2 (SH2-domain containing inositol 5-phosphatase 2), was previously reported to induce severe insulin sensitivity, leading to early postnatal death. In the previous study, the targeting construct left the first eighteen exons encoding Inppl1 intact, generating a Inppl1(EX19-28-/-) mouse, and apparently also deleted a second gene, Phox2a. We report a new SHIP2 knockout (Inppl1(-/-)) targeted to the translation-initiating ATG, which is null for Inppl1 mRNA and protein.

Genetic deletion of ghrelin does not decrease food intake but influences metabolic fuel preference.

Ghrelin is a recently identified growth hormone (GH) secretogogue whose administration not only induces GH release but also stimulates food intake, increases adiposity, and reduces fat utilization in mice. The effect on food intake appears to be independent of GH release and instead due to direct activation of orexigenic neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. The effects of ghrelin administration on food intake have led to the suggestion that inhibitors of endogenous ghrelin could be useful in curbing appetite and combating obesity.