Activity of venetoclax in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: analysis of the VENICE-1 multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 3b trial.

Background: Most patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia progress after treatment or retreatment with targeted therapy or chemoimmunotherapy and have limited subsequent treatment options. Response levels to the single-agent venetoclax in the relapsed setting is unknown. We aimed to assess venetoclax activity in patients with or without previous B-cell receptor-associated kinase inhibitor (BCRi) treatment.

Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: Usefulness of FRAX as a Screening Tool.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and determine the associated risk factors, evaluating the usefulness of FRAX as a screening method to identify patients at a higher risk of fracture.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical, and analytical data were collected in a randomized sample of LC patients attending the Hepatology Department of a university hospital.

XPO1 inhibition sensitises CLL cells to NK cell mediated cytotoxicity and overcomes HLA-E expression.

The first-in-class inhibitor of exportin-1 (XPO1) selinexor is currently under clinical investigation in combination with the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Selinexor induces apoptosis of tumour cells through nuclear retention of tumour suppressor proteins and has also recently been described to modulate natural killer (NK) cell and T cell cytotoxicity against lymphoma cells. Here, we demonstrate that XPO1 inhibition enhances NK cell effector function against primary CLL cells via downregulation of HLA-E and upregulation of TRAIL death receptors DR4 and DR5.

Femur 3D-DXA Assessment in Female Football Players, Swimmers, and Sedentary Controls.

Cortical and trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), cortical thickness and surface BMD (sBMD, density-to-thickness ratio) were analyzed in the proximal femur of elite female football players and artistic swimmers using three-dimensional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (3D-DXA) software and compared to sedentary controls. Football players had significantly higher (p<0.05) vBMD (mg/cm) in the trabecular (263±44) and cortical femur (886±69) than artistic swimmers (224±43 and 844±89) and sedentary controls (215±51 and 841±85).

High surface IgM levels associate with shorter response to ibrutinib and BTK bypass in patients with CLL.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells have variably low surface IgM (sIgM) levels/signaling capacity, influenced by chronic antigen engagement at tissue sites. Within these low levels, CLL with relatively high sIgM (CLLhigh) progresses more rapidly than CLL with low sIgM (CLLlow). During ibrutinib therapy, surviving CLL cells redistribute into the peripheral blood and can recover sIgM expression.

Predictive Value of Skeletal Muscle Mass in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background: Reduced muscle mass has been associated with increased treatment complications in several tumor types. We evaluated the impact of skeletal muscle index (SMI) on prognosis and immune-related adverse events (IrAEs) in a cohort of recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICI).

Methods: A single-institutional, retrospective study was performed including 61 consecutive patients of R/M HNSCC diagnosed between July 2015 and December 2018.

Jumping rope and whole-body vibration program effects on bone values in Olympic artistic swimmers.

Introduction: Artistic swimming seems not to benefit bone development like other out-of-water physical activities. To increase bone acquisition, artistic swimming should combine water training with weight-bearing impact or strength activities. Artistic swimmers can be a population at risk of developing osteopenia and osteoporosis in later life.

Asymmetry in the length of human humerus and radius during ontogeny.

Bilateral body structures usually present some kind of asymmetry. In humans, long bones are suitable to study asymmetries because they are subject to different stimulus that can influence their development and shape. This study focuses on asymmetries of humerus and radius length during ontogeny, with a sample of 1,421 people from Barcelona ranging in age from 0 to 22 years.

Microneedle systems as medical devices for esthetical treatments: A risk assessment approach.

Background: Microneedling devices are being used as a surgical technique without a clear regulatory category. They can become dangerous considering that these kind of devices can easily be bought and used by nonqualified people.

Aims: Our aim has been to demonstrate that microneedling devices used in dermatological surgery are Medical Devices according to the current regulations.

Prevalence of Sarcopenia and Whole-Body Composition in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that leads to joint deformity and disability, as well as muscle involvement. Sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia and possible contributing factors associated with sarcopenia in RA patients.

Bone mineral density and bone mineral content among female elite athletes.

Introduction: Exercise is a protective factor for the appearance of osteoporosis, but not all physical activities have the same effect on bones. Low-impact sports, like swimming, may a have a negative or no effect. The aim of the present study is to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm) and bone mineral content (BMC, kg) among female high performance athletes from aquatic and non-aquatic sports and to assess possible differences with sedentary controls.

Bone age as a correction factor for the analysis of trabecular bone score (TBS) in children.

Unlabelled: Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a tool to improve evaluation of DXA scans, barely used in children. We proposed to evaluate TBS with bone age (BA) compared to chronological age (CA). In girls, TBS value using BA is constant until age 8, and in boys until age 10, and then starts to increase steadily.

3D patient-specific finite element models of the proximal femur based on DXA towards the classification of fracture and non-fracture cases.

Osteoporotic bone fractures reduce quality of life and drastically increase mortality. Minimally irradiating imaging techniques such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) allow assessment of bone loss through the use of bone mineral density (BMD) as descriptor. Yet, the accuracy of fracture risk predictions remains limited.

Plant peroxisomes at the crossroad of NO and H O metabolism.

Plant peroxisomes are subcellular compartments involved in many biochemical pathways during the life cycle of a plant but also in the mechanism of response against adverse environmental conditions. These organelles have an active nitro-oxidative metabolism under physiological conditions but this could be exacerbated under stress situations. Furthermore, peroxisomes have the capacity to proliferate and also undergo biochemical adaptations depending on the surrounding cellular status.

DXA-Based 3D Analysis of the Cortical and Trabecular Bone of Hip Fracture Postmenopausal Women: A Case-Control Study.

Methods using statistical shape and appearance models have been proposed to analyze bone mineral density (BMD) in 3D from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. This paper presents a retrospective case-control study assessing the association of DXA-derived 3D measurements with osteoporotic hip fracture in postmenopausal women. Patients who experienced a hip fracture between 1 and 6 years from baseline and age-matched controls were included in this study.

Sustainable PHA production in integrated lignocellulose biorefineries.

In emerging bioeconomies, the compostable biopolymers polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are desirable products due to their similarity to petropolymers. While industrial PHA production has been growing rapidly, obtaining a cheap and sustainable carbon source is still a challenge. Among biobased feedstocks, lignocellulose is a cheap, abundant and potentially sustainable carbon source.

A Role for RNS in the Communication of Plant Peroxisomes with Other Cell Organelles?

Plant peroxisomes are organelles with a very active participation in the cellular regulation of the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, during the last two decades peroxisomes have been shown to be also a relevant source of nitric oxide (NO) and other related molecules designated as reactive nitrogen species (RNS). ROS and RNS have been mainly associated to nitro-oxidative processes; however, some members of these two families of molecules such as HO, NO or S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) are also involved in the mechanism of signaling processes mainly through post-translational modifications.

The Proteome of Fruit Peroxisomes: Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) as a Model.

Despite of their economical and nutritional interest, the biology of fruits is still little studied in comparison with reports of other plant organs such as leaves and roots. Accordingly, research at subcellular and molecular levels is necessary not only to understand the physiology of fruits, but also to improve crop qualities. Efforts addressed to gain knowledge of the peroxisome proteome and how it interacts with the overall metabolism of fruits will provide tools to be used in breeding strategies of agricultural species with added value.

Nail dryer devices: a measured spectral irradiance and labelling review.

The popularity of nail beauty has increased during the last few years in Spain, as well as in other countries. Nowadays there are a large number of nail dryer devices in the market with ultraviolet (UV) fluorescent lamps, light emitting diodes (LED) or a combination of both. The different spectral emissions of each individual nail dryer device require particular nail polishes, which are polymerized by specific wavelengths and a controlled exposure time to achieve the desired results.

rhIGF-1 Treatment Increases Bone Mineral Density and Trabecular Bone Structure in Children with PAPP-A2 Deficiency.

Aim: Our objective was to determine changes in bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone score (TBS), and body composition after 2 years of therapy with recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1) in 2 prepubertal children with a complete lack of circulating PAPP-A2 due to a homozygous mutation in PAPP-A2 (p.D643fs25*) resulting in a premature stop codon.

Methods: Body composition, BMD, and bone structure were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 1 and 2 years of rhIGF-1 treatment.

Model Study To Assess Softwood Hemicellulose Hydrolysates as the Carbon Source for PHB Production in Paraburkholderia sacchari IPT 101.

Softwood hemicellulose hydrolysates are a cheap source of sugars that can be used as a feedstock to produce polyhydroxybutyrates (PHB), which are biobased and compostable bacterial polyesters. To assess the potential of the hemicellulosic sugars as a carbon source for PHB production, synthetic media containing softwood hemicellulose sugars (glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose, arabinose) and the potentially inhibitory lignocellulose degradation products (acetic acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), furfural, and vanillin) were fermented with the model strain Paraburkholderia sacchari IPT 101. Relative to pure glucose, individual fermentation for 24 h with 20 g/L mannose or galactose exhibited maximum specific growth rates of 97% and 60%, respectively.

Normalizing Ovulation Rate by Preferential Reduction of Hepato-Visceral Fat in Adolescent Girls With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an increasingly prevalent disorder in adolescent girls, commonly presenting with hirsutism/oligomenorrhea, commonly treated with an oral contraceptive (OC), and commonly followed by oligoanovulatory subfertility. We tested whether an intervention targeting the reduction of hepato-visceral adiposity is followed by a higher ovulation rate than OC treatment.

Methods: This randomized, open-label, single-center, pilot proof-of-concept study (12 months on treatment, then 12 months off) was performed in adolescent girls with hirsutism and oligomenorrhea (PCOS by National Institutes of Health; no sexual activity; N = 36; mean age 16 years, body mass index 23.

SNPs in bone-related miRNAs are associated with the osteoporotic phenotype.

Biogenesis and function of microRNAs can be influenced by genetic variants in the pri-miRNA sequences leading to phenotypic variability. This study aims to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting the expression levels of bone-related mature microRNAs and thus, triggering an osteoporotic phenotype. An association analysis of SNPs located in pri-miRNA sequences with bone mineral density (BMD) was performed in the OSTEOMED2 cohort (n = 2183).

ROS Generation in Peroxisomes and its Role in Cell Signaling.

In plant cells, as in most eukaryotic organisms, peroxisomes are probably the major sites of intracellular HO production, as a result of their essentially oxidative type of metabolism. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that peroxisomes carry out essential functions in eukaryotic cells. The generation of the important messenger molecule hydrogen peroxide (HO) by animal and plant peroxisomes and the presence of catalase in these organelles has been known for many years, but the generation of superoxide radicals (O ) and the occurrence of the metalloenzyme superoxide dismutase was reported for the first time in peroxisomes from plant origin.