Risk Factors for Treatment Toxicity and High Side Effect Burden Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Background/objectives: This study describes the sequelae, side effects, and toxicities experienced by Canadian breast cancer survivors at a breast cancer survivorship clinic at a tertiary academic cancer centre and identifies potential risk factors which may be associated with increased side effect burden.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of adult patients treated at the Sunnybrook Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic from 6 July 2022, to 30 September 2023 ( = 435).

Results: Most patients (72.

The Impact of Radiotherapy on the Primary Tumor in Patients with Metastatic High-Volume Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Retrospective studies suggest that local radiotherapy on the prostate improves overall survival in the metastatic setting, but its benefit in patients with high-burden metastatic disease is still uncertain. We conducted a retrospective study of 100 high-metastatic-burden prostate cancer patients at Hadassah Ein Karem Medical Center from 2004 to 2021. Patients receiving local RT alongside standard treatment were compared to those receiving standard treatment alone.

Calreticulin-From the Endoplasmic Reticulum to the Plasma Membrane-Adventures of a Wandering Protein.

Calreticulin (CRT) is a 46 kDa highly conserved protein initially identified as calregulin, a prominent Ca-binding protein of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Subsequent studies have established that CRT functions in the ER's protein folding response and Ca homeostatic mechanisms. An ER retention signal on the carboxyl terminus of CRT suggested that CRT was restricted to the ER.

Systemic Mechanisms of Ionic Regulation in Carcinogenesis.

Cancer is a complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation at various levels, leading to tumor growth and spread. This review focuses on the role of ion homeostasis in cancer progression. It describes a model of ion-mediated regulation in both normal and cancerous cell proliferation.

Enhanced Lung Cancer Survival Prediction Using Semi-Supervised Pseudo-Labeling and Learning from Diverse PET/CT Datasets.

Objective: This study explores a semi-supervised learning (SSL), pseudo-labeled strategy using diverse datasets such as head and neck cancer (HNCa) to enhance lung cancer (LCa) survival outcome predictions, analyzing handcrafted and deep radiomic features (HRF/DRF) from PET/CT scans with hybrid machine learning systems (HMLSs).

Methods: We collected 199 LCa patients with both PET and CT images, obtained from TCIA and our local database, alongside 408 HNCa PET/CT images from TCIA. We extracted 215 HRFs and 1024 DRFs by PySERA and a 3D autoencoder, respectively, within the ViSERA 1.

MET Activation in Lung Cancer and Response to Targeted Therapies.

The hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that mediates the activity of a variety of downstream pathways upon its activation. These pathways regulate various physiological processes within the cell, including growth, survival, proliferation, and motility. Under normal physiological conditions, this allows MET to regulate various development and regenerative processes; however, mutations resulting in aberrant MET activity and the consequent dysregulation of downstream signaling can contribute to cellular pathophysiology.

Neuroendocrine Transformation as a Mechanism of Resistance to Targeted Lung Cancer Therapies: Emerging Mechanisms and Their Therapeutic Implications.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, highlighting a major clinical challenge. Lung cancer is broadly classified into two histologically distinct subtypes, termed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Identification of various oncogenic drivers of NSCLC has facilitated the development of targeted therapies that have dramatically improved patient outcomes.

Diagnosis and Management of Skin Toxicities in Systemic Treatment of Genitourinary Cancers.

The landscape of available therapeutic options for treatment of genitourinary (GU) cancers is expanding dramatically. Many of these treatments have distinct, sometimes severe, skin toxicities including morbilliform, bullous, pustular, lichenoid, eczematous, psoriasiform, and palmoplantar eruptions. Pruritus and skin pigmentation changes have also been noted.

Characteristics, Treatment and Outcomes of Stage I to III Colorectal Cancer in Patients Aged over 80 Years Old.

Background: Colorectal cancer primarily affects older adults and poses treatment challenges due to age-related comorbidities and frailty, which hinder surgical and chemotherapy options for many elderly patients. This study aims to analyze treatment and disease patterns in elderly colorectal cancer patients, aged over 80 years old, to inform personalized therapies that accommodate their unique clinical needs and improve their outcomes.

Patients And Methods: The medical records of all patients aged 80 years old and above, and those aged 65 to 75 years old, who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a cancer center in Canada over a seven year period, were retrospectively reviewed.

Female Oncofertility and Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Melanoma: Where Are We Today?

The incidence of melanoma among young adults has risen, yet mortality has declined annually since the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). The utilization of peri-operative ICI has significantly altered the treatment landscape in melanoma, with PD-1 inhibitors showing promising efficacy in improving relapse-free survival rates in high-risk stage II-III disease. With the increasing use of ICI, secondary concerns have emerged regarding the impact of cancer drugs on fertility and reproductive health among women of childbearing potential, especially in early-stage cancer settings.

Early Versus Delayed Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Biochemical Recurrence After Local Curative Treatment in Non-Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: The ideal timing of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer (PCa) remains controversial due to its side effects and uncertain impact on survival outcomes.

Methods: We performed a review of the current literature by comprehensively searching the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases to determine the optimal timing of ADT initiation after biochemical recurrence. We selected 26 studies including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and retrospective studies, while also reviewing practice guidelines.

A Survey of Parents' Perspective of Receiving a Developmental Diagnosis for Their Child.

Receiving a diagnosis, such as cerebral palsy (CP), can have lasting impacts on caregivers and families. Previous literature has described that caregivers wish to receive a diagnosis together, without delay, in a private, direct, honest, and sympathetic way. This study aimed to understand the experience of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) or similar conditions when receiving a diagnosis for their child.

Unpacking the Mood States of Children and Youth in Saskatchewan, Canada, in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from the "See Us, Hear Us 2.0" Study.

Background/objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic created a growing need for insights into the mental health of children and youth and their use of coping mechanisms during this period. We assessed mood symptoms and related factors among children and youth in Saskatchewan. We examined if coping abilities mediated the relationship between risk factors and mood states.

Frontal Plane Knee Kinematics and Kinetics During Gait in Children and Youth with Achondroplasia-Correspondence with Static X-Ray Images and Relevance to Symptoms.

: Frontal knee malalignments are hallmarks of Achondroplasia (ACH), along with disproportional short stature. Typically, X-rays are used to assess them, but 3D gait analysis (3DGA) may additionally be used to evaluate dynamic knee function. The research questions were as follows: (1) What is the relationship between X-rays and 3DGA in ACH? (2) Do children with ACH have abnormal frontal knee kinematics and kinetics? (3) Are there aspects of 3DGA that relate to knee symptoms? : A total of 62 knees of 31 children with ACH (age: 11.

Mapping the Gaps: A Scoping Review of Virtual Care Solutions for Caregivers of Children with Chronic Illnesses.

: Caregivers of children with chronic illnesses, including chronic pain, experience high levels of distress, which impacts their own mental and physical health as well as child outcomes. Virtual care solutions offer opportunities to provide accessible support, yet most overlook caregivers' needs. We conducted a scoping review to create an interactive Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) of virtual care solutions across a stepped care continuum (i.

Empowerment in Adolescent Patients with a Disability/Chronic Condition: A Scoping Review.

Background/objectives: Empowerment has been associated with several positive outcomes in healthcare; however, there is limited insight on empowerment levels within the adolescent population of those with a chronic condition/disability. The aim of this scoping review was to identify gaps in the existing literature on empowerment levels within this population.

Methods: Five databases (MEDLINE [Ovid], EMBASE [Ovid], PsycINFO [Ebsco], CINHAL [Ebsco] and Web of Science [UBC]) and grey literature were searched.

L-Citrulline in Neonates: From Bench to Bed Side.

L-citrulline (L-CIT), a precursor to L-arginine (L-ARG), is a key contributor to the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway. Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by deficient nitric oxide synthesis, is implicated in the pathogenesis of various neonatal conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) associated pulmonary hypertension (PH). This review summarizes the current evidence around the possible role of L-CIT supplementation in the treatment of these conditions.

Repetitive Mild but Not Single Moderate Brain Trauma Is Associated with TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43 Mislocalization and Glial Activation in the Mouse Spinal Cord.

: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs after a sudden mechanical force to the skull and represents a significant public health problem. Initial brain trauma triggers secondary pathophysiological processes that induce structural and functional impairment of the central nervous system, even in the regions distant to the lesion site. Later in life, these changes can be manifested as neurodegenerative sequalae that commonly involve proteinopathies, such as transactive DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43).

The Effect of Prebiotics, Alone or as Part of Synbiotics, on Cardiometabolic Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

/: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of prebiotics, alone or as part of synbiotics, on cardiometabolic parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women. : Databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched for relevant randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) until 12 December 2024. Changes in mean ± standard deviations were extracted and combined using a random-effects model.

Understanding the Spectrum of Mild Clinical Outcomes and Novel Findings in Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome Among Qatari Patients: Implications of SLC2A10 Mutation.

/: Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome (ATS) is a rare, autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder characterized by arterial twists, abnormal bulges, constriction, and tears. Patients have distinctive features and disease manifestations. The syndrome's full clinical spectrum and course remain incompletely understood.

A Novel Ensemble Meta-Model for Enhanced Retinal Blood Vessel Segmentation Using Deep Learning Architectures.

Retinal blood vessel segmentation plays an important role in diagnosing retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and hypertensive retinopathy. Accurate segmentation of blood vessels in retinal images presents a challenging task due to noise, low contrast, and the complex morphology of blood vessel structures. In this study, we propose a novel ensemble learning framework combining four deep learning architectures: U-Net, ResNet50, U-Net with a ResNet50 backbone, and U-Net with a transformer block.

Oncolytic Viruses and Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Uveal Melanoma and Retinoblastoma: The Current Landscape and Novel Advances.

Intraocular malignant tumors are rare; however, they can cause serious life-threatening complications. Uveal melanoma (UM) and retinoblastoma (RB) are the most common intraocular tumors in adults and children, respectively, and come with a great disease burden. For many years, several different treatment modalities for UM and RB have been proposed, with chemotherapy for RB cases and plaque radiation therapy for localized UM as first-line treatment options.

Novel Role of Pin1-Cis P-Tau-ApoE Axis in the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia and Its Connection with Dementia.

Preeclampsia (preE) is a severe multisystem hypertensive syndrome of pregnancy associated with ischemia/hypoxia, angiogenic imbalance, apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-mediated dyslipidemia, placental insufficiency, and inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface. Our recent data further suggest that preE is associated with impaired autophagy, vascular dysfunction, and proteinopathy/tauopathy disorder, similar to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), including the presence of the cis stereo-isoform of phosphorylated tau (cis P-tau), amyloid-β, and transthyretin in the placenta and circulation. This review provides an overview of the factors that may lead to the induction and accumulation of cis P-tau-like proteins by focusing on the inactivation of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (Pin1) that catalyzes the cis to trans isomerization of P-tau.

Controversial Roles of Regenerating Family Proteins in Tissue Repair and Tumor Development.

: Over the past 40 years since the discovery of regenerating family proteins (Reg proteins), numerous studies have highlighted their biological functions in promoting cell proliferation and resisting cell apoptosis, particularly in the regeneration and repair of pancreatic islets and exocrine glands. Successively, short peptides derived from Reg3δ and Reg3α have been employed in clinical trials, showing favorable therapeutic effects in patients with type I and type II diabetes. However, continued reports have been limited, presumably attributed to the potential side effects.

Prospective Associations Between Preschool Exposure to Violent Televiewing and Externalizing Behavior in Middle Adolescent Boys and Girls.

Objective: Early childhood exposure to violent media content represents an actionable target for preventive intervention. The associated risks for later aggressive behavior have been established in childhood, but few studies have explored widespread long-term associations with antisocial behavior. We investigate prospective associations between exposure to violent television content in early childhood and subsequent antisocial behavior in mid-adolescence.