A clinical evaluation of an organ culture system to predict patient response to cancer therapy.

Introduction: organ cultures (EVOC) were recently optimized to sustain cancer tissue for 5 days with its complete microenvironment. We examined the ability of an EVOC platform to predict patient response to cancer therapy.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective, single-arm observational trial.

The Role of Partial Breast Radiation in the Previously Radiated Breast.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze breast cancer patients who previously had mantle-field or breast radiation (RT) followed by retreatment with external beam partial breast irradiation (EB PBI).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all women with newly diagnosed early-stage breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and partial breast irradiation between 2007 and 2017 who had undergone prior chest or breast RT.

Results: Of 11 patients recorded, 8 (73%) had Hodgkin lymphoma, and 3 (27%) had ipsilateral breast cancer diagnosis.

Pharmacomechanical catheter thrombolysis for pregnancy-related proximal deep venous thrombosis: prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome.

Objective: The efficacy of pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis (PCDT) in preventing post thrombotic syndrome (PTS) for pregnancy related deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is unknown.

Study Design: An observational cross section study of women with pregnancy related proximal (femoral/iliofemoral) DVT who underwent PCDT followed by anticoagulation (study group), and women who were treated with anticoagulation alone (control group). Women were evaluated for PTS using the Villalta scale (primary outcome) and VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaires.

Inhibition of pMAPK14 Overcomes Resistance to Sorafenib in Hepatoma Cells with Hepatitis B Virus.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) targets the liver and is a major driver for liver cancer. Clinical data suggest that HBV infection is associated with reduced response to treatment with the multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib, the first available molecularly targeted anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) drug. Given that Raf is one of the major targets of sorafenib, we investigated the activation state of the Raf-Mek-Erk pathway in the presence of HBV and in response to sorafenib.

Reduction in operator radiation exposure during transradial coronary procedures using a simple lead rectangle.

Objectives: Transradial access for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces procedural complications however, there are concerns regarding the potential for increased exposure to ionizing radiation to the primary operator. We evaluated the efficacy of a lead-attenuator in reducing radiation exposure during transradial PCI.

Methods And Results: This was a non-randomized, prospective, observational study in which 52 consecutive patients were assigned to either standard operator protection (n = 26) or the addition of the lead attenuator across their abdomen/pelvis (n = 26).

Comparative Matched Outcome of Evolut-R vs CoreValve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Objectives: The Evolut-R (Medtronic, Inc) is a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system that was built on the well-established foundation of Medtronic's CoreValve device platform. Although already in extensive clinical utilization, it is unknown if the Evolut-R improves TAVI outcomes. Herein, we compared TAVI outcomes of the Evolut-R and CoreValve devices.

New therapies for chronic hepatitis B.

Approximately 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), representing a significant public health challenge. Nucleos/tide analogues (NUCs) and interferon alpha (IFNα), the current standard of care for chronic infection, aim at preventing progression of the disease to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death. However, in contrast to the case of hepatitis C virus infection, in which novel antiviral drugs cure the vast majority of treated patients, in regard to HBV, cure is rare due to the unusual persistence of viral DNA in the form of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) within the nucleus of infected cells.

Urgent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis and Acute Heart Failure: Procedural and 30-Day Outcomes.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is recommended for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) who are at prohibitive/high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Patients with severe AS may experience acute decompensated heart failure (HF) that is resistant to medical therapy. We report our TAVI experience in treating patients with unstable AS who require urgent intervention for their aortic valve disease.

Long-term comparative analysis from an all-comer cohort of coronary patients treated using first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents.

Aims: Second-generation drug eluting stent (DES) implantation gradually replaced the first-generation DES in clinical practice. Whether the new DESs in use differ from one another, in terms of clinical outcomes, is still not known. We explored potential differences among DESs.

[IGg4 related autoimmune hepatitis].

A 50-year-old man was investigated for painless jaundice. The histologic pattern on the liver biopsy study met the criteria of autoimmune hepatitis. Further clinical and laboratory investigation revealed multi-organ involvement, including Mikulicz's disease of the salivary glands and pancreatic insufficiency.

Reduced hepatic injury in Toll-like receptor 4-deficient mice following D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced fulminant hepatic failure.

Liver transplantation is the only therapy of proven benefit in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), D-galactosamine (GalN)-induced FHF is a well established model of liver injury in mice. Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) has been identified as a receptor for LPS.