Liquid biopsy to personalize treatment for metastatic prostate cancer.

Liquid biopsy is an innovative approach that provides a more complete understanding of treatment response and prognosis in monitoring metastatic prostate cancer. It complements invasive tissue biopsy and involves the assessment of various biomarkers in body fluids such as blood, semen, and urine. Liquid biopsy analyzes circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles, circulating tumor DNA, and the secretome.

Risk of infections related to endovascular catheters and cardiac implantable devices in hemodialysis patients.

Patients requiring dialysis are extremely vulnerable to infectious diseases. The high burden of comorbidities and weakened immune system due to uremia and previous immunosuppressive therapy expose the patient on dialysis to more infectious events than the general population. The infectious risk is further increased by the presence of endovascular catheters and implantable cardiologic devices.

Automated Prediction of Kidney Failure in IgA Nephropathy with Deep Learning from Biopsy Images.

Background And Objectives: Digital pathology and artificial intelligence offer new opportunities for automatic histologic scoring. We applied a deep learning approach to IgA nephropathy biopsy images to develop an automatic histologic prognostic score, assessed against ground truth (kidney failure) among patients with IgA nephropathy who were treated over 39 years. We assessed noninferiority in comparison with the histologic component of currently validated predictive tools.

Intraoperative Neurovascular Bundle Preservation with Hyaluronic Acid during Radical Brachytherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: Technique and MicroMosfet In Vivo Dosimetry.

Purpose: To evaluate the reduction in the absorbed dose delivered to the neurovascular bundle (NB) in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with only HDR brachytherapy and NB protection with hyaluronic acid (HA) on the side of the prostate to increase the distance from NB to the radioactive sources.

Methods: This is the first published report in the medical literature that studies a new approach to decrease neurovascular bundle toxicity and improve quality of life for patients with prostate cancer treated with radical brachytherapy as monotherapy. Transperineal HA injection on the side of the prostate into the lateral aspect of the prostate fat was used to consistently displace several autonomic fibers and vessels on the lateral wall of the prostate away from radiation sources.

Global Oral Health Policies and Guidelines: Using Silver Diamine Fluoride for Caries Control.

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) was developed in Japan in the 1960s. It is a clear solution containing silver and fluoride ions. Because of its anti-bacterial and remineralizing effect, silver diamine fluoride has been used in managing dental caries for decades worldwide.

Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and High-Sensitivity Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Screening of Classic Drugs and New Psychoactive Substances and Metabolites in Urine of Consumers.

The use of the new psychoactive substances is continuously growing and the implementation of accurate and sensible analysis in biological matrices of users is relevant and fundamental for clinical and forensic purposes. Two different analytical technologies, high-sensitivity gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) were used for a screening analysis of classic drugs and new psychoactive substances and their metabolites in urine of formed heroin addicts under methadone maintenance therapy. Sample preparation involved a liquid-liquid extraction.

Characterization of microMOSFET detectors for in vivo dosimetry in high-dose-rate brachytherapy with Ir.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to characterize the Best Medical Canada microMOSFET detectors for their application in in vivo dosimetry for high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRBT) with Ir. We also developed a mathematical model to correct dependencies under the measurement conditions of these detectors.

Methods: We analyzed the linearity, reproducibility, and interdetector variability and studied the microMOSFET response dependence on temperature, source-detector distance, and angular orientation of the receptor with respect to the source.

Focal high-dose-rate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer: toxicity and preliminary biochemical results.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and the toxicity of focal high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy in selected localized prostate cancer patients.

Methods: Fifty patients were treated with focal high-dose-rate brachytherapy between March 2013 and November 2017, representing 5% of the cases treated by our group during this period. Only patients with very limited and localized tumors, according to strict criteria, were selected for the procedure.

Autoantibodies to cytoplasmic rods and rings in patients with hepatitis C virus infection treated with direct-acting antivirals: The role of prior treatment with interferon plus ribavirin.

Introduction: The cytoplasmic rods-rings (RR) pattern is found in hepatitis C (HCV) patients treated with interferon-ribavirin when studied with ANA-IIF. Ribavirin aggregates/induces antigenic changes in IMPDH-2, an enzyme necessary for ribavirin action.

Patients And Method: Prospective search for anti-RR autoantibodies (HEp-2, INOVA) in patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) from October 2015 to June 2017.

High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy as monotherapy in one fraction of 20.5 Gy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer: Toxicity and 6-year biochemical results.

Purpose: To evaluate acute and late genitourinary toxicity, the gastrointestinal toxicity, and the long-term biochemical control after high-dose-rate (HDR) monotherapy in one fraction (20.5 Gy).

Materials And Methods: Between May 2011 and October 2014, 60 consecutive patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer were treated; the median followup was 51 months (range 30-79).

Surgical delay is a risk factor of delirium in hip fracture patients with mild-moderate cognitive impairment.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between onset of delirium and time to surgery in hip fracture (HF) patients with a different degree of cognitive impairment.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database of 939 older adults, aged ≥ 75 years admitted with a fragility HF. Subjects underwent a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment on admission, evaluating health status, prefracture functional status in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and walking ability.

Accelerated partial breast irradiation in a single 18 Gy fraction with high-dose-rate brachytherapy: preliminary results.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of acute and chronic toxicity in patients suitable for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) in a single 18 Gy fraction with multicatheter high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, as well as cosmetic and oncological outcomes.

Material And Methods: Between September 2014 and March 2016, twenty consecutive patients with low-risk invasive and ductal carcinoma in situ were treated with interstitial multicatheter HDR brachytherapy in a single 18 Gy fraction.

Results: Median age was 63.

Long-term outcomes in patients younger than 60 years of age treated with brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to report the outcomes and late toxicities in patients younger than 60 years of age with long-term follow-up treated with low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer.

Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2009, 270 consecutive patients were treated with favourable localized prostate cancer; the median follow-up was 111 months (range 21-206). All patients received one implant of LDR brachytherapy.

Low-dose-rate brachytherapy for patients with transurethral resection before implantation in prostate cancer. Longterm results.

Objectives: We analyzed the long-term oncologic outcome for patients with prostate cancer and transurethral resection who were treated using low-dose-rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy.

Methods And Materials: From January 2001 to December 2005, 57 consecutive patients were treated with clinically localized prostate cancer. No patients received external beam radiation.

High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy as monotherapy in one fraction for the treatment of favorable stage prostate cancer: Toxicity and long-term biochemical results.

Background: To evaluate acute and late genitourinary, the gastrointestinal toxicity and the long-term biochemical control after HDR monotherapy in one fraction (19Gy).

Patients And Methods: Between April 2008 and October 2010, 60 consecutive patients were treated with favorable clinically localized prostate cancer; the median follow-up was 72months (range 32-91). All patients received one implant and one fraction of HDR.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Ischemic Stroke: Progress and Possibilities.

Stroke is the most common neurological cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries, afflicting 15 million people every year. The numbers are expected to increase, mostly due to aging populations. One in five stroke patients dies, and one in three are left with permanent disabilities.

Improved Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Diagnosis in Jaundiced and Non-Jaundiced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients through the Combination of Routine Clinical Markers Associated to Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Pathophysiology.

Background: There is still no reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a tumor marker only recommended for pancreatic adenocarcinoma follow-up. One of the clinical problems lies in distinguishing between this cancer and other benign pancreatic diseases such as chronic pancreatitis.

Identification of potential pancreatic cancer serum markers: Increased sialyl-Lewis X on ceruloplasmin.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) usually shows an enhanced expression of sialyl-Lewis X (sLe(x)) and related epitopes. PDAC may secrete some of the proteins carrying such increased sLe(x) determinant into serum, so they could be used as PDAC markers. Previously, we identified acute-phase proteins with increased sLe(x) in both PDAC and in chronic pancreatitis patients.

α2,3-Sialyltransferase ST3Gal IV promotes migration and metastasis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and tends to be highly expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues.

Sialyltransferases have received much attention recently as they are frequently up-regulated in cancer cells. However, the role played by each sialyltransferase in tumour progression is still unknown. α2,3-Sialyltransferases ST3Gal III and ST3Gal IV are involved in sialyl-Lewis(x) (SLe(x)) synthesis.

Selectivity enhancement in the Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene with (silanyloxyvinyl)diazoacetates.

The cyclopropanation of styrene with (silanyloxyvinyl)diazoacetates proceeds with exceptional diastereo- and enantioselectivity in the presence of chiral Rh(II) catalysts. 1,8-Naphthoyl-protected amino acids are the most effective Rh(II) ligands for these transformations. [reaction--see text]