Clinical Outcomes of Prostate SBRT Using Non-adaptive MR-Guided Radiotherapy.

Objectives: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is widely used for localized prostate cancer and implementation of MR-guided radiotherapy has the advantage of tighter margins and improved sparing of organs at risk. Here we evaluate outcomes and time required to treat using non-adaptive MR-guided SBRT (MRgSBRT) for localized prostate cancer at our institution.

Methods: From 9/2019 to 11/2021 we conducted a retrospective review of 80 consecutive patients who were treated with MRgSBRT to the prostate.

Hearing health and noise exposure in population between 18 to 64 years old in Bogotá, Colombia, 2014-2018.

Introduction: Hearing health is a public health concern that affects the quality of life and can be disturbed by noise exposure, generating auditory and extra-auditory symptoms. Objective. To identify the hearing health status in adults living in Bogotá and its association with environmental noise exposure and individual and otological factors.

Economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus disease in Latin America: A systematic review.

This Systematic Review assesses the economic impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in relation to healthcare resource utilization and associated costs. We searched online databases from January 2012 to November 2022 to identify eligible publications. We identified 12 publications that reported direct costs, indirect costs, and resources associated with RSV and its complications.

Structure-specific rigid dose accumulation dosimetric analysis of ablative stereotactic MRI-guided adaptive radiation therapy in ultracentral lung lesions.

Background: Definitive local therapy with stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) for ultracentral lung lesions is associated with a high risk of toxicity, including treatment related death. Stereotactic MR-guided adaptive radiation therapy (SMART) can overcome many of the challenges associated with SABR treatment of ultracentral lesions.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 14 consecutive patients who received SMART to ultracentral lung lesions from 10/2019 to 01/2021.

Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, causing bacteremic pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, and other invasive pneumococcal diseases. Evidence supports nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage as a reservoir for transmission and precursor of pneumococcal disease.

Objectives: To estimate the pneumococcal nasopharyngeal burden in all age groups in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) before, during, and after the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine conjugate (PVC).

Antimicrobial resistance of from invasive pneumococcal diseases in Latin American countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease has declined since pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). However, serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns have changed.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the frequency of antimicrobial resistance of from invasive disease in LAC.

Trimodal Therapy Using an MR-guided Radiation Therapy Partial Bladder Tumor Boost in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: Bladder preservation with trimodal therapy (TMT; maximal tumor resection followed by chemoradiation) is an effective paradigm for select patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. We report our institutional experience of a TMT protocol using nonadaptive magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) for partial bladder boost (PBB).

Methods And Materials: A retrospective analysis was performed on consecutive patients with nonmetastatic muscle invasive bladder cancer who were treated with TMT using MRgRT between 2019 and 2022.

Ablative 5-Fraction Stereotactic MRI-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy for Oligometastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) carries a poor prognosis and significant morbidity from local tumor progression. We investigated outcomes among oligometastatic PDAC patients treated with stereotactic magnetic resonance image-guided ablative radiotherapy (SMART) to primary disease.

Methods: We performed a retrospective multi-institutional analysis of oligometastatic PDAC at diagnosis or with metachronous oligoprogression during induction chemotherapy treated with primary tumor SMART.

The M 1 -muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype may play a role in learning and memory performance in the hippocampus of neonatal monosodium glutamate-obese rats.

Here, we investigate the effects of obesity induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) on cognitive impairment and whether this model induces any alteration in the affinity, density, and subtypes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in rat hippocampus. Healthy rats were used as controls, and MSG-obese rats were selected via the Lee index > 0.300.

Feasibility and Toxicity of Full-Body Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Technique for High-Dose Total Body Irradiation.

High-dose total body irradiation (TBI) is often part of myeloablative conditioning in acute leukemia. Modern volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)-based plans employ arcs to the inferior-most portion of the body that can be simulated in a head-first position and use 2D planning for the inferior body which can result in heterogeneous doses. Here, we describe our institution's unique protocol for delivering high-dose TBI entirely with VMAT and retrospectively compare dosimetric outcomes with helical tomotherapy (HT) plans.

Burden of Disease of Gonorrhoea in Latin America: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhoea, a globally neglected but increasing disease. This systematic review and meta-analysis reviewed the epidemiology and economic burden of gonorrhoea in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBase, Cochrane Library, EconLIT, CINAHL, CRD, LILACS, Global Health, Global Dissertations and Theses, SciELO, Web of Science databases, countries' ministries of health, and the IHME's Global Burden of Disease databases.

Antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Latin American countries: a systematic review.

Background: Detailed information is needed on the dynamic pattern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of AMR in N. gonorrhoeae in LAC.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy/Hypofractionated Radiation therapy for Metastatic and Primary Central and Ultracentral Lung Lesions.

Introduction: The recent results from the Nordic-HILUS study indicate stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is associated with high-grade toxicity for ultracentral (UC) tumors. We hypothesized that magnetic resonance-guided SBRT (MRgSBRT) or hypofractionated radiation therapy (MRgHRT) enables the safe delivery of high-dose radiation to central and UC lung lesions.

Methods: Patients with UC or central lesions were treated with MRgSBRT/MRgHRT with real-time gating or adaptation.

Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance-Guided Adaptive and Non-Adaptive Radiotherapy on Combination MR-Linear Accelerators: Current Practice and Future Directions.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an effective radiation therapy technique that has allowed for shorter treatment courses, as compared to conventionally dosed radiation therapy. As its name implies, SBRT relies on daily image guidance to ensure that each fraction targets a tumor, instead of healthy tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers improved soft-tissue visualization, allowing for better tumor and normal tissue delineation.

Silica Nanoparticles in Xanthan Gum Solutions: Oil Recovery Efficiency in Core Flooding Tests.

Polymer flooding is one of the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods that increase the macroscopic efficiency of the flooding process and enhanced crude oil recovery. In this study, the effect of silica nanoparticles (NP-SiO) in xanthan gum (XG) solutions was investigated through the analysis of efficiency in core flooding tests. First, the viscosity profiles of two polymer solutions, XG biopolymer and synthetic hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) polymer, were characterized individually through rheological measurements, with and without salt (NaCl).

Clinical outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and immune checkpoint inhibitors, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors, or chemotherapy alone.

Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are commonly used in the systemic management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases (BMs). However, optimizing control of NSCLC BM with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and various systemic therapies remains an area of investigation.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2019, the authors identified 171 NSCLC BM patients with 646 BMs treated with single-fraction SRS within 3 months of receiving treatment with ICIs (n = 56; 33%), EGFR-TKI (n = 30; 18%), chemotherapy and ICIs (n = 23; 14%), or standard chemotherapy alone (n = 62; 36%).

β-micrustoxin (Mlx-9), a PLA from snake venom: biochemical characterization and anti-proliferative effect mediated by p53.

Background: Endogenous phospholipases A (PLA) play a fundamental role in inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, apoptosis and cellular senescence. Neurotoxins with PLA activity are found in snake venoms from the Elapidae and Viperidae families. The mechanism of action of these neurotoxins have been studied using hippocampal and cerebellar neuronal cultures showing [Ca]i increase, mitochondrial depolarization and cell death.

Anuran heart development and critical developmental periods: A comparative analysis of three neotropical anuran species.

The heart begins to form early during vertebrate development and is the first functional organ of the embryo. This study aimed to describe and compare the heart development in three Neotropical anuran species, Physalaemus albonotatus, Elachistocleis bicolor, and Scinax nasicus. Different Gosner Stages (GS) of embryos (GS 18-20) and premetamorphic (GS 21-25), prometamorphic (GS 26-41), and metamorphic (GS 42-46) tadpoles were analyzed using stereoscopic microscopy and Scanning Electronic Microscopy.

Non-Adaptive MR-Guided Radiotherapy for Prostate SBRT: Less Time, Equal Results.

Background: The use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is widely utilized for treatment of localized prostate cancer. Magnetic-resonance-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) was introduced in 2014 and has recently been implemented in SBRT for prostate cancer as it provides an opportunity for smaller margins and adaptive daily planning. Currently, the only publications of MRgRT for prostate SBRT describe European clinical experiences which utilized adaptive planning.

Management of early-stage metastatic prostate cancer: appraisal of locoregional treatments and radiation therapy, with or without immunomodulation.

The current standard for the management of locally advanced and early stage metastatic prostate cancer relies on a backbone of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with radiotherapy (RT), a regimen that at a glance appears relatively straightforward. The emergence of newer diagnostic, genomic and imaging modalities have allowed for better disease risk-stratification and opened avenues for the development of more patient-centered treatment strategies. This review aims to highlight the central role of RT as part of a multi-modal approach and discuss established and emerging data for the management of locally advanced disease, biochemical recurrence, and oligometastatic disease, as well as the use of immunotherapies and radio-isotopes.

Intrauterine and post-ovipositional embryonic development of Amerotyphlops brongersmianus (Vanzolini, 1976) (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) from northeastern Argentina.

The reproductive biology and embryonic development of Typhlopidae have rarely been explored. This family of snakes includes mostly oviparous species with uterine egg retention, but the morphology and development of embryos remain unknown. This work aimed to describe the embryonic development of Amerotyphlops brongersmianus from the northeast of Argentina.

Effects of Mlx-8, a phospholipase A from Brazilian coralsnake venom, on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in rat hippocampus.

Background: Here, we described the presence of a neurotoxin with phospholipase A activity isolated from venom (Mlx-8) with affinity for muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs).

Methods: The purification, molecular mass determination, partial amino acid sequencing, phospholipase A activity determination, inhibition of the binding of the selective muscarinic ligand [H]QNB and inhibition of the total [H]inositol phosphate accumulation in rat hippocampus of the Mlx-8 were determined.

Results: Thirty-one fractions were collected from HPLC chromatography, and the Mlx-8 toxin was used in this work.