Pathological Effects of Apalutamide in Lower-risk Prostate Cancer: Results From a Phase II Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Active surveillance is a safe and effective strategy for men with lower-risk prostate cancer who want to avoid local therapy; however, many patients on active surveillance progress to active treatment (eg, prostatectomy or radiation). We hypothesized that apalutamide would decrease active surveillance attrition rates through downstaging low-grade tumors.

Materials And Methods: This was an open-label, single-arm, phase II study testing 90 days of oral apalutamide 240 mg daily in men with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer on active surveillance.

Localization of sensor nodes in wireless sensor networks using bat optimization algorithm with enhanced exploration and exploitation characteristics.

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) contain sensor nodes in enormous amount to accumulate the information about the nearby surroundings, and this information is insignificant until the exact position from where data have been collected is revealed. Localization of sensor nodes in WSNs plays a significant role in several applications such as detecting the enemy movement in military applications. The major aim of localization problem is to find the coordinates of all target nodes with the help of anchor nodes.

High Incidence of Herpes Zoster After Cord Blood Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Despite Longer Duration of Antiviral Prophylaxis.

Background: Cord blood transplant (CBT) recipients have a high incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) in the context of short-term peritransplant antiviral prophylaxis. In 2009, international guidelines recommended HZ prophylaxis for at least 1 year after hematopoietic cell transplant. The impact of longer-term antiviral prophylaxis on HZ incidence after CBT is unknown.

Risk Factors for Parainfluenza Virus Lower Respiratory Tract Disease after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Parainfluenza virus (PIV) infection can progress from upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) to lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in immunocompromised hosts. Risk factors for progression to LRTD and presentation with LRTD without prior URTI are poorly defined. Hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients with PIV infection were retrospectively analyzed using standardized definitions of LRTD.

Herpes Zoster in Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients in the Era of Acyclovir or Valacyclovir Prophylaxis and Novel Treatment and Maintenance Therapies.

The epidemiology of herpes zoster (HZ) in contemporary autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, and the impact of acyclovir (ACV)/valacyclovir (VACV) prophylaxis, is not well described. In this observational study from 2002 to 2010, we retrospectively identified 1000 varicella zoster virus (VZV)-seropositive autologous HCT recipients with up to 5 years of follow-up. The incidence of HZ and use of ACV/VACV prophylaxis were determined through review of medical records and mailed questionnaires.

Cytomegalovirus viral load and mortality after haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in the era of pre-emptive therapy: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Although cytomegalovirus viral load is commonly used to guide pre-emptive therapy in the post-transplantation setting, few data are available correlating viraemia with clinical endpoints. We therefore investigated the association between cytomegalovirus viral load and mortality in the first year after haemopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included patients from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, WA, USA, who received an allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation between Jan 1, 2007, and Feb 28, 2013, were cytomegalovirus seropositive or had a seropositive donor, and underwent weekly plasma cytomegalovirus monitoring by PCR through to day 100 post-transplantation.

Upregulation of P-glycoprotein by probiotics in intestinal epithelial cells and in the dextran sulfate sodium model of colitis in mice.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) mediates efflux of xenobiotics and bacterial toxins from the intestinal mucosa into the lumen. Dysregulation of P-gp has been implicated in inflammatory bowel disease. Certain probiotics have been shown to be effective in treating inflammatory bowel disease.

Mechanisms of transcriptional modulation of the human anion exchanger SLC26A3 gene expression by IFN-{gamma}.

Two members of the SLC26 gene family, SLC26A3 or DRA (downregulated in adenoma) and SLC26A6 (putative anion transporter 1, PAT1), are known to play a major role in apical Cl(-)/OH(-) (HCO(3)(-)) exchange process in the human intestine. We have previously shown the inhibitory effects of IFN-gamma (30 ng/ml, 24 h) on both SLC26A3 and A6 expression and promoter activity. We also demonstrated that the effects of IFN-gamma on SLC26A6 gene expression were mediated via IRF-1 transcription factor.