Systemic mechanisms of necrotic cell debris clearance.

Necrosis is an overarching term that describes cell death modalities caused by (extreme) adverse conditions in which cells lose structural integrity. A guaranteed consequence of necrosis is the production of necrotic cell remnants, or debris. Necrotic cell debris is a strong trigger of inflammation, and although inflammatory responses are required for tissue healing, necrotic debris may lead to uncontrolled immune responses and collateral damage.

[Diagnosis and treatment of late-life depression].

Late-life depression is a common pathology. The diagnosis can be difficult to make, due to intricacy of comorbidities, aging and treatments. The presentation is frequently atypical, with a high prevalence of somatic complaints.

[Withdrawal syndrome following chronic use of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)].

Chronic use of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and its precursors can rapidly lead to physical dependence with the emergence of a withdrawal syndrome. This complication is similar to the one linked to alcohol or benzodiazepines. The onset of symptoms and specially neuro-psychiatric symptoms is, however, more rapid in the case of the GHB and precursors.

Real-World Treatment Patterns, Outcomes, Resource Utilization and Costs in Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder: PATTERN, a Retrospective Cohort Study in Belgium.

Objective: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a subgroup of major depressive disorder (MDD) that does not adequately respond to treatment, has a substantial impact on the quality of life of patients and is associated with higher medical and mental health care costs. This study aimed to report real-world treatment patterns, outcomes, resource utilization, and costs in the management of TRD by psychiatrists in Belgium.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, non-interventional cohort study of patients ≥ 18 years, with diagnosed MDD who are treatment-resistant, defined as not responding to two different antidepressant treatments in the current moderate to severe major depressive episode (MDE).

Incidence of Progression of Persistent Nondysplastic Barrett's Esophagus to Malignancy.

Background & Aims: The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in patients with non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE) is low, so there is debate over the role of ongoing surveillance for patients with NDBE. It is important to identify patients at low risk for progression. We assessed cancer risk based on the subsequent number of endoscopies showing persistence of NDBE in a nationwide study in the Netherlands.

Correction: BMP4 Signaling Is Able to Induce an Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Like Phenotype in Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma through Induction of SNAIL2.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

BMP4 Signaling Is Able to Induce an Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Like Phenotype in Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma through Induction of SNAIL2.

Background: Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) signaling is involved in the development of Barrett's esophagus (BE), a precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). In various cancers, BMP4 has been found to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) but its function in the development of EAC is currently unclear.

Aim: To investigate the expression of BMP4 and several members of the BMP4 pathway in EAC.

Current understanding of the functional roles of aberrantly expressed microRNAs in esophageal cancer.

The incidence of esophageal cancer is rising, mostly because the increasing incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Western countries. Despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment, the overall 5-year survival rates remain low. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate the expression of target genes.

Patients With Barrett's Esophagus and Persistent Low-grade Dysplasia Have an Increased Risk for High-grade Dysplasia and Cancer.

Background & Aims: In some patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) and a confirmed diagnosis of low-grade dysplasia (LGD), the LGD is not detected during follow-up examinations. We would like to avoid the unnecessary risks and costs of ablative treatment for these patients. Therefore, we investigated whether persistent LGD increases risk for high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and what proportion of patients are no longer found to have dysplasia after an initial diagnosis of LGD.

Profiling of circulating microRNAs in patients with Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested as novel markers for various diseases. The goal of this pilot study was to identify circulating miRNAs differentially expressed comparing Barrett's esophagus (BE), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and controls.

Methods: MicroRNA expression profiling was performed by qPCR array using plasma from six controls and eight BE and eight EAC patients.

Treatment of Barrett's esophagus with a novel focal cryoablation device: a safety and feasibility study.

Background And Aims: Currently, eradication of Barrett's epithelium is preferably achieved using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or spray cryoablation (SCA). However, both modalities suffer from drawbacks such as the need for sizing, multiple deployment steps, large controller units (RFA), imprecise dosing and need for gas-venting (SCA). The new Cryoballoon Focal Ablation System (CbFAS) may address these limitations.

Risk of neoplastic progression in Barrett's esophagus diagnosed as indefinite for dysplasia: a nationwide cohort study.

Background And Study Aims: A histological diagnosis of "indefinite for dysplasia" (IND) in Barrett's esophagus is used when a diagnosis of genuine dysplasia is equivocal. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk of progression to high grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) after a diagnosis of IND in a nationwide cohort of patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a first diagnosis of IND in Barrett's esophagus between 2002 and 2011 were selected from a nationwide registry of histopathology diagnoses in The Netherlands.

Adalimumab and infliximab are equally effective for Crohn's disease in patients not previously treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents.

Background & Aims: Infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) are thought to have equal efficacy for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), although no direct comparison has been performed. We compared the effectiveness and safety of IFX and ADA in carefully matched cohorts.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 200 patients with CD (100 treated with IFX and 100 treated with ADA, starting in 2006 or later) who had not received anti-tumor necrosis factor α agents previously; the patients were identified from databases of 6 hospitals in The Netherlands.

[Central serous choroiditis following renal transplantation].

Report of 5 cases of central serous choroidopathy (CSC) following kidney transplantation. The authors compare the clinical features, the fluorescein angiography, the color vision, the visual field and the electrophysiological tests of these 5 cases with 7 control patients. In the pathogenesis of the CSC, the authors briefly discuss about the risk factors associated with the transplantation.