Nectin-4 Expression in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma: An Immunohistochemical Study.

Background: The Nectin-4 directed antibody drug conjugate enfortumab vedotin (EV) has emerged as frontline systemic therapy in combination with immune checkpoint blockade for urothelial carcinoma (UC), capitalizing on the ubiquitous expression of this protein in UC. There is limited data available regarding expression of Nectin-4 by immunohistochemistry in prostate cancer, but this is of interest as a substantial number of UC patients likely to receive EV have concomitant prostate cancer.

Methods: Nectin-4 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays encompassing a cohort of 302 prostatic adenocarcinomas spanning Grade Groups 1-5.

Inflammatory Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and IFN-responsive T cells are key mediators of human bone marrow niche remodeling in CHIP and MDS.

Somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) can lead to clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), potentially progressing to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Here, we investigated how CHIP and MDS remodel the human bone marrow (BM) niche relative to healthy elderly donors, using single cell and anatomical analyses in a large BM cohort. We found distinct inflammatory remodeling of the BM in CHIP and MDS.

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Insomnia Severity Among Menopausal Women: A Scoping Review.

This review explores the impact of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on menopausal women suffering from insomnia. The transition to menopause is often accompanies by sleep disturbances, which significantly affect women's quality of life. This review applies a scoping approach to evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focused on CBT-I interventions for insomnia among menopausal women.

Hepatitis B Vaccination, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Sample of Greek Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Nursing students share their study time between clinical and university environments, and due to their clinical training, are at increased risk of contracting the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study investigated the vaccination coverage, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nursing students regarding HBV in Greece.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to July 2023, using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, with informed consent obtained from each participant.

The biologic landscape and therapeutic implications of upper tract urothelial cancer.

Purpose Of Review: Management of upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) has been largely extrapolated from bladder cancer due to its rarity; however, unique biological and clinical differences between UTUC and bladder cancer have been uncovered. The purpose of this review is to present the current therapeutic landscape of UTUC with an emphasis on biologically driven rationale.

Recent Findings: Prospective trials for patients with high-risk localized UTUC have shown improved outcomes with adjuvant and neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy.

The Interrelationship between Diabetes Mellitus and Emotional Well-Being: Current Concepts and Future Prospects.

Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong metabolic disorder that impacts people's well-being and biopsychosocial status. Psychiatric problems and diabetes mellitus have a complex, reciprocal interaction in which one condition affects the other. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the literature on the psychological effects of diabetes, expound on the evaluation of emotional disorders in the setting of diabetes, and suggest interventions aimed at enhancing both mental and physical health.

Enfortumab vedotin-related cutaneous toxicity correlates with overall survival in patients with urothelial cancer: a retrospective experience.

Introduction: Enfortumab vedotin (EV) is an antibody drug conjugate approved for advanced urothelial cancer, consisting of a monomethyl auristatin E payload linked to a human monoclonal antibody targeting nectin-4. No validated biomarker predictive of or correlated with response exists for EV. Cutaneous toxicity is among the most common EV-related toxicities and typically emerges in early cycles.

Frontline immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients ≥ 90 years with advanced urothelial cancer: a single center experience.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved for advanced urothelial cancer alone and as first-line in combination with enfortumab vedotin. Platinum based chemotherapy which is another frontline choice is often not a treatment option for older patients due to comorbidities that increase with age. Despite ICIs being better tolerated compared to traditional chemotherapy little is known about their efficacy and toxicity in patients ≥ 90 years due to the rarity of this population in clinical trials.

Racial Differences in Cutaneous Events Among Patients Receiving Enfortumab Vedotin.

Introduction: Enfortumab vedotin (EV) is an antibody-drug conjugate approved alone and in combination with pembrolizumab for advanced urothelial cancer (UC). EV-related-cutaneous-events (EVCEs) are common and rarely life-threatening. Black patients are frequently under-represented in oncology trials, and dermatologic conditions may vary with race.

Fatigue among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Impact of Spirituality and Illness Perceptions.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) can cause fatigue, negatively affecting the daily functioning and health of individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of spirituality and illness perceptions on fatigue among patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, 100 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus completed the Fatigue Assessment Scale, the FACIT Sp-12 scale, and the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised assessing fatigue, spirituality, and illness perceptions, respectively.

A structural classification of the variant surface glycoproteins of the African trypanosome.

Long-term immune evasion by the African trypanosome is achieved through repetitive cycles of surface protein replacement with antigenically distinct versions of the dense Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coat. Thousands of VSG genes and pseudo-genes exist in the parasite genome that, together with genetic recombination mechanisms, allow for essentially unlimited immune escape from the adaptive immune system of the host. The diversity space of the "VSGnome" at the protein level was thought to be limited to a few related folds whose structures were determined more than 30 years ago.

Updates in the diagnosis and management of small-bowel tumors.

Small-bowel tumors represent a rare entity comprising 0.6% of all new cancer cases in the US, and only 3% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms. They are a heterogenous group of neoplasms comprising of about forty different histological subtypes with the most common being adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, stromal tumors and lymphomas.

Coping Strategies in Greek Parents of Children with Cancer.

Introduction: Childhood cancer is a life-threatening, chronic condition and treatment may extent for several years. The diagnosis of cancer in children could stress intensely their parents.

Aim: To explore coping strategies utilized by Greek parents who have children with cancer.

Changes in unmet care needs, social support and distress from initial diagnosis to post-surgery in patients with gynecological cancer: A longitudinal study.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the changes in unmet care needs, perceived social support, and levels of distress experienced by newly diagnosed Greek patients with gynecological cancer during the phase after diagnosis and before surgical treatment (T0), and 4 months after surgical treatment at the first postoperative follow-up visit (T1).

Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study based on the framework of stress and coping theory. The Needs Evaluation Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and a demographic and clinical data questionnaire were distributed to a convenience sample of 86 patients.

Polymer-coated paclitaxel-eluting stents for the treatment of stenosed native arteriovenous fistulas: Long-term results from the ELUDIA study.

Background: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is the preferred treatment of stenosed failing arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) but is hampered by increasing rates of vascular restenosis because of development of myointimal hyperplasia.

Methods: This multicenter observational study of polymer-coated low-dose paclitaxel-eluting stents (ELUvia stents by Boston Scientific) in stenosed AVF undergoing hemoDIAlysis (ELUDIA) was jointly conducted in three tertiary hospitals from Greece and Singapore. Failure of AVF was defined according to K-DOQI criteria and significant fistula stenosis (>50%DS by visual estimate) was determined with subtraction angiography.

Body Image, Social Physique Anxiety Levels and Self-Esteem among Adults Participating in Physical Activity Programs.

(1) Background: individuals may benefit from being involved in physical and athletic activities in order to improve their body appearance and promote their physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate body image, body mass index (BMI) characteristics, social physique anxiety, self-esteem and possible correlations between the above factors. (2) Methods: 245 adults engaged in training programs in gyms, as well as in track and field, football and basketball athletic activities completed (a) a sociodemographic questionnaire which recorded their BMI values and utilized the (b) Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, (c) the Social Physique Anxiety Scale and (d) the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction in Pediatric Intensive Care Professionals.

Background: Paediatric ICU doctors and nurses' quality of professional life is influenced by the intense emotions and distress experienced when caring for suffering children and their families.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of compassion satisfaction (CS) and compassion fatigue (CF) in Paediatric Intensive Care Units in Greece.

Methods: Out of 147 intensive care professionals in public hospitals in Greece completed the ProQOL-V scale as well as a socio-demographic and professional-life characteristics questionnaire.

Immunodominant surface epitopes power immune evasion in the African trypanosome.

The African trypanosome survives the immune response of its mammalian host by antigenic variation of its major surface antigen (the variant surface glycoprotein or VSG). Here we describe the antibody repertoires elicited by different VSGs. We show that the repertoires are highly restricted and are directed predominantly to distinct epitopes on the surface of the VSGs.

Enfortumab Vedotin-related Cutaneous Toxicity and Radiographic Response in Patients with Urothelial Cancer: A Single-center Experience and Review of the Literature.

Unlabelled: Enfortumab vedotin (EV) is an antibody-drug conjugate approved for the treatment of refractory advanced urothelial cancer. Cutaneous toxicity is well described but has not been correlated with response. In this retrospective single-center study, data from patients treated with more than one dose of EV between December 2017 and June 2022 were analyzed.

A trypanosome-derived immunotherapeutics platform elicits potent high-affinity antibodies, negating the effects of the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Poorly immunogenic small molecules pose challenges for the production of clinically efficacious vaccines and antibodies. To address this, we generate an immunization platform derived from the immunogenic surface coat of the African trypanosome. Through sortase-based conjugation of the target molecules to the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of the trypanosome surface coat, we develop VSG-immunogen array by sortase tagging (VAST).