Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy and clinical associations with renal and hematological toxicities and survival in patients with neuroendocrine tumors: an analysis from two U.S. medical centers.

Purpose: Renal and hematological toxicity are side effects and dose-limiting factors of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT). We aimed to assess the changes in renal and hematological function and associations with survival in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients treated with PRRT.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of 448 NET patients treated with either Lu-DOTATATE or Y-DOTATOC were followed for changes of renal and hematological function.

Liver Resection for Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors with Extrahepatic Disease.

: Although survival outcomes for neuroendocrine liver metastases (NETLM) are improved with liver-direct therapies (LDT), including hepatic debulking and nonsurgical trans-arterial embolization, the benefit is less established in the setting of concurrent extrahepatic disease (EHD). We performed a population-based study to characterize the rates of LDT being performed for NETLM with EHD patients and whether LDT is associated with survival outcomes. : Patients with NETLM and EHD were identified using the California Cancer Registry database merged with data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development between 2000 and 2012.

Liver-Directed Therapy in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms Metastatic to Both Liver and Bone.

Bone metastases from gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEPNENs) have been associated with poor prognosis, but it is unclear whether patients with concurrent bone metastases who receive liver-directed therapy (LDT) would derive survival benefit. The California Cancer Registry dataset, merged with data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, was used to perform a retrospective study of GEPNENs metastatic to both liver and bone between 2000 and 2012. A total of 203 patients were identified.

Baicalein activates 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin, and exhibits antiproliferative effects in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in vitro and in vivo.

Background: The mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition has been shown to prolong progression-free survival in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The natural compound baicalein indirectly inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin, but it is unknown if baicalein exhibits such effects at physiologically achievable concentrations or exhibits synergy.

Methods: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cell lines were cultured with baicalein, everolimus, and/or a synthetic 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activating agent alone and in combination.

Neurocognitive effects of a training program for poor face recognizers using shape and texture caricatures: A pilot investigation.

Recent research suggested disproportional usage of shape information by people with poor face recognition, although texture information appears to be more important for familiar face recognition. Here, we tested a training program with faces that were selectively caricatured in either shape or texture parameters. Forty-eight young adults with poor face recognition skills (1 SD below the mean in at least 2/3 face processing tests: CFMT, GFMT, BFFT) were pseudo-randomly assigned to either one of two training groups or a control group (n = 16 each).

A three-antigen Plasmodium falciparum DNA prime-Adenovirus boost malaria vaccine regimen is superior to a two-antigen regimen and protects against controlled human malaria infection in healthy malaria-naïve adults.

Background: A DNA-prime/human adenovirus serotype 5 (HuAd5) boost vaccine encoding Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) and Pf apical membrane antigen-1 (PfAMA1), elicited protection in 4/15 (27%) of subjects against controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) that was statistically associated with CD8+ T cell responses. Subjects with high level pre-existing immunity to HuAd5 were not protected, suggesting an adverse effect on vaccine efficacy (VE). We replaced HuAd5 with chimpanzee adenovirus 63 (ChAd63), and repeated the study, assessing both the two-antigen (CSP, AMA1 = CA) vaccine, and a novel three-antigen (CSP, AMA1, ME-TRAP = CAT) vaccine that included a third pre-erythrocytic stage antigen [malaria multiple epitopes (ME) fused to the Pf thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP)] to potentially enhance protection.

Relevance of circulating hybrid cells as a non-invasive biomarker for myriad solid tumors.

Metastatic progression defines the final stages of tumor evolution and underlies the majority of cancer-related deaths. The heterogeneity in disseminated tumor cell populations capable of seeding and growing in distant organ sites contributes to the development of treatment resistant disease. We recently reported the identification of a novel tumor-derived cell population, circulating hybrid cells (CHCs), harboring attributes from both macrophages and neoplastic cells, including functional characteristics important to metastatic spread.

Evaluation of the prognosis for N2 status in patients with small bowel neuroendocrine tumors.

Background: The 8th edition AJCC Staging for small bowel neuroendocrine tumors created a novel N2 classification. This study investigates if it is independently prognostic.

Methods: Records of patients from 2008 to 2019 were reviewed.

Outcomes of cytoreductive operations for peritoneal carcinomatosis with or without liver cytoreduction in patients with small bowel neuroendocrine tumors.

Background: This study determines how much cytoreduction for small bowel neuroendocrine tumors with peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastases can be achieved and the corresponding survival benefits of different levels of clearance.

Methods: Records of patients with small bowel neuroendocrine tumors with peritoneal carcinomatosis were reviewed and scored using the Lyon Stage system. Kaplan-Meier survival was calculated and compared by log-rank analysis.

Novel malaria antigen Plasmodium yoelii E140 induces antibody-mediated sterile protection in mice against malaria challenge.

Only a small fraction of the antigens expressed by malaria parasites have been evaluated as vaccine candidates. A successful malaria subunit vaccine will likely require multiple antigenic targets to achieve broad protection with high protective efficacy. Here we describe protective efficacy of a novel antigen, Plasmodium yoelii (Py) E140 (PyE140), evaluated against P.

Management of Metastatic GEPNETs.

The chief causes of death of patients with GEPNETs are liver failure from hepatic replacement by tumor in the majority and bowel obstruction in the remainder. Many patients are with liver metastases are actually eligible for hepatic cytoreductive operations, even if they have numerous bilobar metastases and extra-hepatic disease, provided that greater than 70% of the liver tumor volume can be removed. This can often be done by combinations of parenchyma-sparing enucleations, wedge resections and radio frequency ablations.

Neuroendocrine metastases to the ovaries are significantly associated with small bowel neuroendocrine tumors and carcinomatosis.

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) metastatic to the ovary are traditionally considered rare, but data are lacking. This study seeks to better characterize the prevalence and outcomes of patients with neuroendocrine ovarian metastases (NOM).

Methods: Women with well-differentiated lung and gastroenteropancreatic NETs 2007-2017 were identified by medical record query.

A prospective study of opioid use for postoperative pain management after breast operation.

Background: The opioid epidemic has necessitated increased attention to prescribing practices. This study seeks to prospectively quantify postoperative opioid use after breast operation.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing breast operation at a single institution in 2018 prospectively tracked each dose of medication and completed a survey of perceptions regarding their opioid prescription.

Surgical resection of breast cancers: Molecular analysis of cancer stem cells in residual disease.

Background: Approximately 70% of breast cancer patients have residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This study was designed to determine whether breast cancer cells with stemlike properties are present in residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and whether they exhibit oncogenic mutations. The presence of breast cancer cells with stemlike properties with specific mutations may help explain the poor prognosis associated with residual disease.

Β-Adrenergic agonist administration is not associated with secondary carcinoid crisis in patients with carcinoid tumor.

Background: Patients with carcinoid tumors are at risk for profound intraoperative hypotension known as carcinoid crisis, which catecholamines are traditionally believed to trigger. However, data supporting this are lacking.

Methods: Anesthesia records were retrospectively reviewed for carcinoid patients treated with vasopressors.

A prospective study of the pathophysiology of carcinoid crisis.

Background: Sudden massive release of serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, and bradykinin is postulated to cause an intraoperative carcinoid crisis. The exact roles of each of these possible agents, however, remain unknown. Optimal treatment will require an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of the carcinoid crisis.

Enhancement of face-sensitive ERPs in older adults induced by face recognition training.

A common cognitive problem reported by older people is compromised face recognition, which is often paralleled by age-related changes in face-sensitive and memory-related components in event-related brain potentials (ERPs). We developed a new training using photorealistic caricatures based on evidence that caricatures are beneficial for people with compromised face processing. Twenty-four older participants (62-75 yrs, 13 female) completed 12 training sessions (3 per week, 60 min each) and 24 older participants (61-76 yrs, 12 female) acted as controls.

Electrophysiological correlates of voice memory for young and old speakers in young and old listeners.

Faces of one's own-age group are easier to recognize than other-age faces. Using behavioral measures and EEG, we studied whether an own-age bias (OAB) also exists in voice memory. Young (19 - 26 years) and old (60-75 years) participants studied young (18-25 years) and old (60-77 years) unfamiliar voices from short sentences.

New gorilla adenovirus vaccine vectors induce potent immune responses and protection in a mouse malaria model.

Background: A DNA-human Ad5 (HuAd5) prime-boost malaria vaccine has been shown to protect volunteers against a controlled human malaria infection. The potency of this vaccine, however, appeared to be affected by the presence of pre-existing immunity against the HuAd5 vector. Since HuAd5 seroprevalence is very high in malaria-endemic areas of the world, HuAd5 may not be the most appropriate malaria vaccine vector.

Liposomes containing monophosphoryl lipid A and QS-21 serve as an effective adjuvant for soluble circumsporozoite protein malaria vaccine FMP013.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum continues to threaten millions of people living in the tropical parts of the world. A vaccine that confers sterile and life-long protection remains elusive despite more than 30years of effort and resources invested in solving this problem. Antibodies to a malaria vaccine candidate circumsporozoite protein (CSP) can block invasion and can protect humans against malaria.

A Plasmodium vivax Plasmid DNA- and Adenovirus-Vectored Malaria Vaccine Encoding Blood-Stage Antigens AMA1 and MSP1 in a Prime/Boost Heterologous Immunization Regimen Partially Protects Aotus Monkeys against Blood-Stage Challenge.

Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus , which are transmitted to humans by the bites of mosquitoes. After the elimination of , it is predicted that will remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality outside Africa, stressing the importance of developing a vaccine against malaria. In this study, we assessed the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of two antigens, apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and the 42-kDa C-terminal fragment of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) in a plasmid recombinant DNA prime/adenoviral (Ad) vector boost regimen in monkeys.

Correction: Vaccine Strain-Specificity of Protective HLA-Restricted Class 1 P. falciparum Epitopes.

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

Alpha-power modulation reflects the balancing of task requirements in a selective attention task.

Recent research has related the orienting of selective attention to the lateralization of posterior EEG alpha power (∼8 to 12 Hz). Typically, alpha power decreases over the side of the head contralateral to the cued side of space. However, it is not clear how this lateralization affects behavior.