Health resource utilization associated with skeletal-related events: results from a retrospective European study.

Background: Bone complications, also known as skeletal-related events (SREs), are common in patients with bone metastases secondary to advanced cancers.

Objective: To provide a detailed estimate of the health resource utilization (HRU) burden associated with SREs across eight European countries.

Methods: Eligible patients from centers in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland with bone metastases or lesions secondary to breast cancer, prostate, or lung cancer or multiple myeloma who had experienced at least one SRE (defined as radiation to bone, long-bone pathologic fracture, other bone pathologic fracture, surgery to bone or spinal cord compression) were entered into this study.

Do elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer get the best out of recent advances in first-line treatment? A comparative study in two tertiary cancer centers in Greece.

Background: Elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are thought to receive suboptimal treatment mainly due to concerns for poor compliance and/or excessive toxicity.

Patients And Methods: Using the age of 70 years as the pre-defined cut-off, we compared elderly patients with advanced NSCLC suitable for first line chemotherapy with their younger counterparts in terms of: i) diagnosis and disease characteristics ii) adherence to treatment schedule, including dose intensity (DI), and relative dose intensity (RDI), iii) toxicity, tolerance, and efficacy outcomes.

Results: Among 292 eligible patients, data were available for 245, of whom 107 (43.

Meal patterns in healthy adults: Inverse association of eating frequency with subclinical atherosclerosis indexes.

Background & Aims: Meal patterns and their relationship with cardiovascular disease are insufficiently examined with important clinical implications. Our aim was to investigate associations between eating frequency (EF) and early markers of atherosclerosis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we consecutively recruited 164 healthy subjects (46.

In-hospital switching of oral P2Y12 inhibitor treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: prevalence, predictors and short-term outcome.

Background: P2Y12 inhibitor switching has appeared in clinical practice as a consequence of prasugrel and ticagrelor availability, apart from clopidogrel, for use in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: In the context of the GReek AntiPlatelet REgistry (GRAPE) we assessed the prevalence, predictive factors and short-term outcome of in-hospital P2Y12 inhibitor switching in 1794 ACS patients undergoing PCI.

Results: Switching occurred in 636 (35.

Novel approaches for concurrent irradiation in locally advanced cervical cancer: platinum combinations, non-platinum-containing regimens, and molecular targeted agents.

Despite the available prevention and early detection strategies, squamous-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is still diagnosed as locally advanced disease in a considerable proportion of patients. As a potent sensitizer of cancer cells, cisplatin has been the "traditional partner" of external beam irradiation in this setting for more than two decades. Induction chemotherapy strategies followed by concurrent chemoradiation or surgery and preoperative concurrent chemoradiation have been recently implemented in clinical trials in an effort to optimize local control and to minimize the risk of distant metastases.

Pomalidomide: a novel drug to treat relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease despite the introduction of the immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) thalidomide and lenalidomide and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib that have improved the outcome of patients with both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory disease. However, patients who relapse after treatment with these agents or are refractory to them represent an unmet need and highlight the necessity for the development of novel anti-myeloma agents. Pomalidomide is an IMiD, structurally related to thalidomide, with enhanced antiangiogenic, antineoplastic, and anti-inflammatory properties and exhibiting potent anti-myeloma activity in vitro and in vivo.

Effects of chronic anaerobic training on markers of sub-clinical atherosclerosis.

Introduction: Although several cardiovascular adaptations in response to different types of exercise are already known, data comparing the effects of the type of exercise training on early markers of atherosclerosis are limited.

Methods: Forty-nine tennis players, 28 weightlifters and 20 non-trained healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and intima-media thickness (IMT) in the carotid and femoral arteries were measured in all volunteers for assessment of endothelial function and vascular remodelling, respectively.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: double click and right check. What do patients learn from the Internet about PCOS?

Objective: To identify the websites most visited by patients regarding polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and to evaluate the quality of information provided by these websites.

Study Design: We sought data regarding the popularity of sites providing information about PCOS regardless of the way the visitors reached the site. We then scrutinized the top sites for predefined quality check points to evaluate the quality of information provided, including Health on Net Foundation (HON) accreditation.

Increased breast density correlates with the proliferation-seeking radiotracer (99m)Tc(V)-DMSA uptake in florid epithelial hyperplasia and in mixed ductal carcinoma in situ with invasive ductal carcinoma but not in pure invasive ductal carcinoma or in mild epithelial hyperplasia.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of mammographic breast density (BD) and cell proliferation/focal adhesion kinase activation-seeking radiotracer technetium 99m pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc(V)-DMSA) uptake in women with different breast histologies, that is, mild epithelial hyperplasia (MEH), florid epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), mixed ductal carcinoma in situ with invasive ductal carcinoma (DCIS + IDC), and pure IDC. Fifty-five women with histologically confirmed mammary pathologies were submitted preoperatively to mammography and 99mTc(V)-DMSA scintimammography. The percentage and intensity of 99mTc(V)-DMSA uptake and the percentage of BD were calculated by computer-assisted methods and compared (t-test) between the breast pathologies.

Ibuprofen induces reduction of the proliferation-seeking radiotracer 99mTc-(V)DMSA uptake in severe epithelial breast hyperplasia without atypia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate if ibuprofen intake can influence mammary uptake of the proliferation-seeking radiotracer technetium 99m-pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-(V)DMSA) in women with severe epithelial and atypical epithelial breast hyperplasia. Eight patients with histologically confirmed severe epithelial breast hyperplasia with (n  =  4) and without atypia (n  =  4) were submitted prospectively to 99mTc-(V)DMSA scintimammography before and after a 4-week course of 400 mg ibuprofen daily oral intake. Lesion to background ratios 60 minutes postinjection were calculated and compared (t-test) before and after ibuprofen administration.

Variable effects of maternal and paternal-fetal contribution to the risk for preeclampsia combining GSTP1, eNOS, and LPL gene polymorphisms.

Objective: To evaluate the maternal, paternal, and fetal genotype contribution to preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: We combined the analysis of polymorphisms of the GSTP1, eNOS, and LPL genes - affecting biotransformation enzymes and endothelial function - in a cohort of 167 preeclamptic and normal control trios (mother, father, and child) comprising a total of 501 samples in the Greek population, never analyzed before by this approach.

Results: For the frequency of the GSTP1 Ile(105)/Val(105), the eNOS Glu298Asp and the LPL-93 polymorphisms, statistically significant differences were found between the two groups.

Maternal and fetal circulating sKL and ET-1 levels as function of normal labor at term.

Objectives: To determine whether labor is associated with alterations of the levels of soluble c-kit ligand (sKL) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in maternal plasma and umbilical cord blood.

Methods: The sKL and ET-1 levels were investigated in umbilical cord and maternal plasma on the day of delivery in 18 pregnant women with vaginal delivery during labor, 18 non-pregnant women and 9 pregnant women before cesarean delivery, using an ELISA assay.

Results: Umbilical cord plasma sKL levels were significantly higher than the maternal plasma in both types of delivery (p = 0.

Reduced uptake of the proliferation-seeking radiotracer technetium-99m-labelled pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid in a 47-year-old woman with severe breast epithelial hyperplasia taking ibuprofen: a case report.

Introduction: Recent studies have reported a risk reduction in the progression of benign breast disease to breast carcinoma through COX-2 pathways.

Case Presentation: We present a case of severe epithelial hyperplasia in a 47-year-old woman with increased breast density submitted to scintimammography by the proliferation-imaging tracer Technetium-99m-labelled pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid, before and after an oral ibuprofen treatment for 4 weeks. The radiotracer uptake after ibuprofen intake was significantly reduced, both visually and by semi-quantitative analysis, based on a calculation of lesion-to-background ratios.

Breast density, scintimammographic (99m)Tc(V)DMSA uptake, and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) expression in mixed invasive ductal associated with extensive in situ ductal carcinoma (IDC + DCIS) and pure invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): correlation with estrogen receptor (ER) status, proliferation index Ki-67, and histological grade.

Background: We evaluated the variation of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) expression in patients with mixed invasive with extensive in situ ductal carcinomas (IDC + DCIS) and pure IDC, in relation to mammographic breast density (%BD), proliferation-seeking radiotracer (99m)Tc(V) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) uptake (scintimammographic-SMM), proliferation index Ki-67, and estrogen receptor (ER) status. We also assessed CGRP expression with histological grade.

Methods: We studied retrospectively 24 women with suspicious findings on mammography who were evaluated preoperatively with (99m)Tc(V)DMSA scintimammography.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a cause of rapidly progressing pyelonephritis with pyonephrosis, necessitating emergent nephrectomy.

In this article, we describe the first, to our knowledge, reported case of severe bacteremic upper urinary tract infection with pyonephrosis-in the context of prior chronic urinary tract disease-caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The patient presented with fever and constitutional symptoms, and computed tomography revealed extensive renal parenchymal infection along with a staghorn calculus and dilatation of the pyelocalyceal system. His clinical condition rapidly deteriorated, and he developed uncontrollable sepsis, necessitating an emergent nephrectomy.

Dickkopf-1: a suitable target for the management of myeloma bone disease.

Bone disease remains a major problem in the management of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and is characterized by the presence of lytic lesions due to increased osteoclastic activity and reduced osteoblast function. Wingless-type and integrase 1 (Wnt)/beta-catenin signaling is a central pathway for bone development and homeostasis. Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) is a soluble inhibitor of Wnt, which disrupts osteoblast differentiation and action.

The use of bisphosphonates in multiple myeloma: recommendations of an expert panel on behalf of the European Myeloma Network.

Background: Bisphosphonates (BPs) prevent, reduce, and delay multiple myeloma (MM)-related skeletal complications. Intravenous pamidronate and zoledronic acid, and oral clodronate are used for the management of MM bone disease. The purpose of this paper is to review the current evidence for the use of BPs in MM and provide European Union-specific recommendations to support the clinical practice of treating myeloma bone disease.

RANKL inhibition: clinical implications for the management of patients with multiple myeloma and solid tumors with bone metastases.

Background: Receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) binds to RANK on the surface of osteoclast precursors and enhances their differentiation, survival and fusion, activates mature osteoclasts and inhibits their apoptosis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is the decoy receptor of RANKL. Disruption of the RANK/RANKL/OPG axis is implicated in bone metastases.

Applications of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of hematological malignancies.

Background: The introduction of mAbs has changed the clinical approach to patients with lymphoma and leukemia.

Objective: To summarize the most significant applications of mAb-based regimens in the treatment of hematological malignancies and explore their possible role in the future management of these patients.

Results: Rituximab (anti-CD20) was the first mAb developed for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas.

Hughes-Stovin syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Hughes-Stovin syndrome is a rare entity. The aetiology of Hughes-Stovin syndrome is still unknown and the natural course of the illness is usually fatal; however it is supposed to be a clinical variant manifestation of Behçet disease.

Case Presentation: We report the case of an 18 years old, greek male patient with Hughes-Stovin syndrome, who initially presented with deep vein thrombosis.

Severity of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal diabetic women.

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk increases in women after the menopause. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of diabetes on the severity of CAD in postmenopausal women undergoing coronary angiography.

Design: 180 postmenopausal women underwent coronary angiography for suspected CAD.

Lung scintigraphy with nonspecific human immunoglobulin G ((99m)Tc-HIG) in the evaluation of pulmonary involvement in connective tissue diseases: correlation with pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Purpose: In patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD), the early detection and evaluation of the severity of the pulmonary involvement is mandatory. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are considered to be valuable noninvasive diagnostic modalities. Radiopharmaceuticals have also been used for this purpose.