Early release of circulating tumor cells after transarterial chemoembolization hinders therapeutic response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the first-line therapeutic option for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tumor neovascularization allows tumor growth and may facilitate the release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to the bloodstream after TACE. We investigated the relationship between early release of CTCs and radiological response after TACE.

Drying behavior and thermodynamic properties of cashew nut almonds in thin layers: A mathematical modeling approach.

Innovation in the drying process during the roasting of cashew nut almonds has the potential to significantly improve product quality. This study aimed to investigate the drying kinetics of the almond, comparing the experimental data with the mathematical models of Fick, Page, Cavalcanti Mata, and Henderson and Pabis. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Physical Measurements and Drying of the Academic Unit of Food Engineering at the Federal University of Campina Grande.

Reconstructing the environmental impact of mining on mountain lakes.

Mountain lakes are particularly fragile ecosystems undergoing important ecological and depositional transformations associated with ongoing global change. However, the history of anthropogenic impacts on mountain lakes and their catchments is much longer, in many cases featuring millennia of summer pastoral farming. More recently, the growing demand for raw materials and energy linked to industrialization, particularly accelerated since the 19th century CE, meant a further increase in human impact on mountain areas.

Auto-Expandable Metallic Ureteral Stents for Complex Ureteral Stenosis: Long-Term Outcomes in a Tertiary Institution.

Introduction: Auto-expandable ureteral stents can be an alternative to percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) in refractory ureteral stenosis. Our aim was to analyse results and complications of ureteral stents in our centre.

Methods: Retrospective review of OptiMed® expandable ureteral stents placed in our centre (1996-2022).

Case series of kidney transplantation in two pediatric recipients with rare genetic diseases and intellectual disability.

Background: Kidney transplantation is the gold standard treatment for end-stage kidney disease in children. Rare genetic systemic diseases associated with cystic kidney disease such as COL4A1-related disorder and oral facial digital syndrome type 1 could contribute to end-stage kidney disease in the pediatric population but there is scarce evidence in the literature regarding kidney transplant outcomes in these cases.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 5-year-old male with COL4A1-related disorder who received a living-related donor kidney transplant from his mother.