The Good and the Bad of SHROOM3 in Kidney Development and Disease: A Narrative Review.

Purpose Of Review: Multiple large-scale genome-wide association meta-analyses studies have reliably identified an association between genetic variants within the gene and chronic kidney disease. This association extends to alterations in known markers of kidney disease including baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and blood urea nitrogen. Yet, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the association of SHROOM3 and kidney disease remains poorly communicated.

Machine Learning Classification of Body Part, Imaging Axis, and Intravenous Contrast Enhancement on CT Imaging.

The development and evaluation of machine learning models that automatically identify the body part(s) imaged, axis of imaging, and the presence of intravenous contrast material of a CT series of images. This retrospective study included 6955 series from 1198 studies (501 female, 697 males, mean age 56.5 years) obtained between January 2010 and September 2021.

Augmentation of the RSNA Pulmonary Embolism CT Dataset with Bounding Box Annotations and Anatomic Localization of Pulmonary Emboli.

. CT, Pulmonary Arteries, Embolism/Thrombosis, Feature Detection © RSNA, 2023.

Radiomic Features Based on MRI Predict Progression-Free Survival in Pediatric Diffuse Midline Glioma/Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma.

Biopsy-based assessment of H3 K27 M status helps in predicting survival, but biopsy is usually limited to unusual presentations and clinical trials. We aimed to evaluate whether radiomics can serve as prognostic marker to stratify diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) subsets. In this retrospective study, diagnostic brain MRIs of children with DIPG were analyzed.

Post-mortem CT with macroscopic and microscopic correlation in a case of sudden death due to systemic sarcoidosis.

We report a case of sudden death due to systemic sarcoidosis in a fifty-four year old male who was reportedly healthy. A computerized tomography (CT) scan was performed before the autopsy. It showed cardiomegaly with hilar and abdominal lymphadenopathy.

Local tumor progression patterns after radiofrequency ablation of colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate patterns of local tumor progression (LTP) after radiofrequency ablation (RF ablation) of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) and to highlight the percentage of LTP not attributable to lesion size or RF ablation procedure-related factors (heat sink or insufficient ablation margin).

Methods: CRCLM treated by RF ablation at a single tertiary care center from 2004-2012, with a minimum of six months of postprocedure follow-up, were included in this retrospective study. LTP morphology was classified as focal nodular (<90° of ablation margin), circumferential (>270°), or crescentic (90°-270°).

Honorary and ghost authorship in reports of randomised clinical trials in oncology.

Background: The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) has developed guidelines for responsible and accountable authorship. Few studies have assessed the frequency and nature of ghost and honorary authorship in publications of oncology trials.

Materials And Methods: Reports of randomised clinical trials evaluating systemic cancer therapy published from July 2010 to December 2012 in six high-impact journals were identified systematically.

Bias in reporting of randomised clinical trials in oncology.

Background: Bias in reporting efficacy and toxicity in clinical trials may impact treatment decisions. Here, we report quality of reporting of efficacy and of toxicity in articles describing randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of cancer therapy and the association between biased reporting and study results, funding and financial relationships of the authors with the sponsor.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed articles published from July 2010 to December 2012 in six high-impact journals reporting RCTs of systemic treatment for cancer.

Effect of multifocality and multicentricity on outcome in early stage breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Women with multifocal or multicentric breast tumors (multifocality henceforth) have been reported to have greater probability of nodal metastasis and relapse and worse survival than women with unifocal tumors. However, these associations have been inconsistent and multifocality is not taken into account by staging guidelines and prognostic models. A systematic review of electronic databases identified publications exploring the association between multifocality and overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and loco-regional relapse (LRR).

High shear dependent von Willebrand factor self-assembly fostered by platelet interaction and controlled by ADAMTS13.

Introduction: The paradigm of activation induced platelet aggregation has recently been refuted under blood flow conditions with shear rates exceeding 20,000s(-1). These lead to reversible rolling platelet aggregates, which were dependent on the presence of immobilized and soluble von Willebrand factor.

Material And Methods: In vitro experiments using direct fluorescence video-microscopy were performed in wall parallel and stagnation point flow chambers with shear rates raised from 20,000 to 50,000s(-1).

Performance of the forward-viewing linear echoendoscope for fine-needle aspiration of solid and cystic lesions throughout the gastrointestinal tract: a large single-center experience.

Background: A newly developed forward-viewing linear echoendoscope (FV-EUS) has recently become available. To date, however, only scanty data on the performance of the FV-EUS scope for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of lesions throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are available. This study aimed to evaluate the technical performance of the FV-EUS scope for FNA of solid and cystic lesions located throughout the GI tract in a large cohort of patients referred to a tertiary care center.

Hematocrit and flow rate regulate the adhesion of platelets to von Willebrand factor.

Primary hemostasis and blood clotting is known to be influenced by the red blood cell volume fraction (hematocrit) in blood. Depressed or elevated levels of red blood cells can lead to vascular perfusion problems ranging from bleeding to thrombus formation. The early stage of hemostasis and thus blood clotting in all vessel sections from the arterial to the venous system involves the adhesion of platelets to von Willebrand factor.

Fine-needle tissue acquisition from subepithelial lesions using a forward-viewing linear echoendoscope.

Background And Study Aims: The overall diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for subepithelial lesions (SELs) is suboptimal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, defined as the proportion of correct diagnoses, obtained using the EUS-guided fine-needle tissue acquisition (FNTA) sampling technique performed with the newly developed forward-viewing EUS scope (FV-EUS).

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database including all consecutive patients with SELs who underwent EUS-FNTA using the FV-EUS scope from 2007 to 2011 in a tertiary referral center.

Preoperative n-3 polyunsatured fatty acids are associated with a decrease in the incidence of early atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and expenditure. Controversial data exist on possible preventive effects of n-3 polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFAs) against postoperative AF. We investigated whether preoperative PUFA therapy is effective in reducing AF after cardiac surgery during the surgical hospitalization and/or the cardiac rehabilitation period.

[Role of endovascular surgery in presence of rupture of the thoracic aorta in patients with severe multisystemic post-traumatic surgical lesions].

The endovascular treatment (ET) of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta (TRTA) may represent, particularly in patients with severe multisystemic post-traumatic surgical lesions, an alternative approach to traditional surgery. We observed (October 2001- November 2004) 5 male patients (age: range 23-42 years - average 32,4) affected by TRTA (3 isthmic aortic ruptures - 2 distal descending thoracic aorta ruptures), all successfully treated with an endovascular approach. The Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) ranged between 5 and 13.

Thermal response of contrast agent microbubbles: preliminary results from physico-chemical and US-imaging characterization.

Hyperthermia (HT) is a therapeutic strategy based on the selective damaging of tumoral cells when heated at temperatures in the range 41-45 degrees C. We are currently investigating the feasibility of Ultrasound (US) imaging to perform a non-invasive, efficient and cost effective temperature monitoring of heated tissues. Commercial US contrast agents (Sonovue, Bracco), consisting in microbubbles of SF(6) coated with a phospholipidic shell, greatly improve the US echo signal from tissues.

Seasonal variation in weight-for-age in a pediatric emergency room.

Objective: The authors assess seasonal variations in the prevalence of low weight-for-age among young children visiting the pediatric emergency room of a city hospital.

Methods: We analyzed data on 11,118 children ages 6 to 24 months who visited the Boston City Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department between July 1989 and June 1992. Medical diagnoses were documented on a randomly selected subsample of 1,569 children.

[Blood levels of cortisol and prolactin. Are they indices of the degree of protection against surgical stress?].

The paper evaluates the level of analgesic protection by assaying cortisol and prolactin levels in two groups of 20 patients each undergoing general anesthesia using two different techniques: TIVA with propofol and fentanyl, and BPN-nitrous oxide. The results showed that TIVA caused a very slight increase in residue cortisol which was, however, within normal limits. With BPN-nitrous oxide anesthesia there was a greater increase in cortisol, reaching a statistically significant level in blood collected one hour after the end of surgery.

[Poisoning caused by chronic exposure to volatile anesthetics. Molecular mechanisms and risk anesthetics].

The possible molecular mechanisms potentially inducing occupational disease among operating room personnel were examined; and the really dangerous anaesthetic agents were identified. As concerns the molecular mechanisms of parenchymatous injury, we surveyed: those connected with free radicals and biological reactive intermediates produced during halothane and nitrous oxide biotransformation; those coming from inorganic fluoride produced during biotransformation of any halogenated anaesthetic agent, and from inorganic bromide released during halothane metabolism; and, finally, those linked to vitamin B12 inactivation from nitrous oxide. Halothane and nitrous oxide can be considered as really dangerous anaesthetic agents for operating room personnel, and enflurane as an agent with marginal toxic power.

Evaluation of reproterol's effectiveness in preventing exercise-induced bronchospasm in children.

The authors have evaluated the effectiveness of the protection of a new beta 2-adrenergic compound, reproterol, against broncho-constriction induced by physical exercise in a group of individuals of paediatric age sensitive to broncho-stimulation. This study has been carried out comparing reproterol with salbutamol, using placebo as a control, following a randomized single-blind crossover trial. The provocation test has been performed following the instructions of the Italian Society of Paediatrics.