SOX17 enables immune evasion of early colorectal adenomas and cancers.

A hallmark of cancer is the avoidance of immune destruction. This process has been primarily investigated in locally advanced or metastatic cancer; however, much less is known about how pre-malignant or early invasive tumours evade immune detection. Here, to understand this process in early colorectal cancers (CRCs), we investigated how naive colon cancer organoids that were engineered in vitro to harbour Apc-null, Kras and Trp53-null (AKP) mutations adapted to the in vivo native colonic environment.

Intracranial Metastasis of Extracranial Chondrosarcoma: Systematic Review With Illustrative Case.

Background: Cerebral chondrosarcoma metastases are rare and aggressive neoplasms. The rarity of presentation has precluded rigorous analysis of diagnosis, risk factors, treatment, and survival. We analyzed every reported case through exhaustive literature review.

Fecal Leukocyte Esterase, an Alternative Biomarker to Fecal Calprotectin in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Pilot Series.

Background And Aims: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a noninvasive biomarker used in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management and risk stratification of nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. Leukocyte esterase is an inexpensive and widely available point-of-care inflammatory marker present on urinalysis test strips. We aim to assess the diagnostic accuracy of fecal leukocyte esterase (FLE) relative to FC and endoscopy and demonstrate its use as an alternative biomarker for IBD.

Tumor-Derived Cell Culture Model for the Investigation of Meningioma Biology.

Meningioma is the most common primary central nervous system tumor. Although mostly nonmalignant, meningioma can cause serious complications by mass effect and vasogenic edema. While surgery and radiation improve outcomes, not all cases can be treated due to eloquent location.

Opioid Addiction/Pregnancy and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS): A Preliminary Open-Label Study of Buprenorphine Maintenance and Drug Use Targeted Psychotherapy (DUST) on Cessation of Addictive Drug Use.

Background: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is common, expensive, and hurts opioid addicted women and their families. Current treatments do not sufficiently address comorbid addictions, especially tobacco use, among pregnant buprenorphine-maintained women.

Methods: 25 consecutive admissions of pregnant, opioid addicted women were treated with buprenorphine maintenance and a novel intervention for pregnant opioid addicted patients, Drug Use Targeted Therapy (DUST).

Leukopenia is a biomarker for effective temozolomide dosing and predicts overall survival of patients with glioblastoma.

The median survival time of patients with glioblastoma is 14-16 months with a 5-year overall survival rate of 9.8%. Standard of care treatment includes radiation with concomitant temozolomide followed by cyclic temozolomide.

Depressive symptoms, depression, and the effect of biologic therapy among patients in Psoriasis Longitudinal Assessment and Registry (PSOLAR).

Background: Patients with psoriasis are at an increased risk for depression. However, the impact of treatment on this risk is unclear.

Objective: Evaluate the incidence and impact of treatment on depression among patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

Long-term Impact of Ixekizumab on Psoriasis Itch Severity: Results from a Phase III Clinical Trial and Long-term Extension.

Itching is a prevalent plaque psoriasis symptom. Ixekizumab, an IL-17A antagonist, has demonstrated rapid, significant improvements in itch severity over 12 weeks in Phase III psoriasis trials (UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2). We assessed the long-term (through 60 weeks) effect of ixekizumab maintenance therapy (80-mg ixekizumab every 4 weeks [IXEQ4W]) on itch severity, using the Itch Numeric Rating Scale, in psoriasis patients who received ixekizumab, placebo, or etanercept for 12 weeks in the Phase III UNCOVER-3 trial.

Adherence to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in a Clinical Setting.

Background: The HIV epidemic in the United States (US) disproportionately affects gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) using co-formulated tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) has demonstrated high efficacy in reducing HIV incidence among MSM. However, low adherence was reported in major efficacy trials and may present a substantial barrier to successful PrEP implementation.

Correlation of clinical outcomes after tacrolimus conversion for resistant kidney rejection or cyclosporine toxicity with pathologic staging by the Banff criteria.

Background: Refractory rejection and cyclosporine (CsA)-induced nephropathy remain important causes of renal allograft loss. Previous studies demonstrated that 70-85% of the episodes of refractory acute rejection (AR) occurring in renal allograft recipients on a CsA-based immunosuppressive regimen could be salvaged by conversion to tacrolimus. No data are available regarding the correlation between allograft histology at the time of conversion and the response to tacrolimus.

Traditional and future management of nonpalpable breast cancer.

Under the impact of mammographic screening, sizeable proportions of breast cancer patients today are nonpalpable with either a very small invasive breast cancer (T1a or T1b) or ductal carcinoma in situ. At the Deaconess Hospital in Boston between 1989 and 1993, 29 per cent of all invasive cancers were T1a or T1b (1 cm or smaller). The median maximum diameter of all invasive breast cancer in that 5-year period was only 1.

Apyrase administration prolongs discordant xenograft survival.

Platelet thrombi and vascular inflammation are prominent features of discordant xenograft rejection. The purinergic nucleotides ATP and ADP, which are secreted from platelets and released by injured endothelial cells (EC), are important mediators of these reactions. Quiescent EC express the ectoenzyme ATP-diphosphohydrolase (ATPDase; an apyrase), which exerts an important thromboregulatory function by hydrolyzing both ATP and ADP.

Carcinoembryonic antigen induces cytokine expression in Kuppfer cells: implications for hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer.

The mechanism by which carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) causes enhancement of hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer is not defined. We hypothesize that binding of CEA to an 80-kDa Kupffer cell receptor by the peptide sequence Pro-Glu-Leu-Pro-Lys (PELPK) induces cytokine production in the hepatic microenvironment, which then impacts on the formation of hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer. We have, therefore, isolated Kupffer cells and treated them in vitro with CEA, its gene family member nonspecific cross-reacting antigen, PELPK-albumin conjugate, and lipopolysaccharide as a positive control.

Processing of carcinoembryonic antigen by Kupffer cells: recognition of a penta-peptide sequence.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) binds to an 80-kDa cell surface receptor on Kupffer cells via the peptide sequence PELPK (residues 108-112) located at the hinge region between the N and Al immunoglobulin-like domains. This study is aimed at analyzing the specificity of the peptide binding, determining biodistribution of 80-kDa receptor, and processing of CEA by this receptor. We synthesized a number of bovine serum albumin (BSA) derivatives carrying PELPK and related sequences.

Primary biliary tract malignant melanoma.

Primary melanoma is rarely diagnosed in the biliary tract; only three cases of primary melanoma of the bile ducts have been reported previously. The skin and squamous mucous membranes are the most common primary sites. We report two patients who represent the fourth and fifth reported cases of primary bile duct melanoma.

Transfemoral repositioning of malpositioned central venous catheters.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of the transfemoral vein approach to repositioning malpositioned central venous catheters.

Methods: During a 4(1/2)-year period, malpositioned central venous catheters were repositioned 91 times in 83 patients via the transfemoral vein approach. All repositioning was initially attempted with a Grollman catheter or other pigtail catheter and a tip-deflecting wire.

Developmental differences in cytosolic calcium accumulation associated with surgically induced global ischemia: optimization of cardioplegic protection and mechanism of action.

Objective: The effect of cardioplegic solutions with high concentrations of potassium or magnesium (or both) on cytosolic calcium accumulation was investigated with fura-2 in isolated perfused mature (n = 24) and aged (n = 24) rabbit hearts.

Methods: We compared cytosolic calcium accumulation before ischemia (control), during 30 minutes of ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion under global ischemia, or after treatment with potassium (20 mmol/L), magnesium (20 mmol/L), or both.

Results: Cytosolic calcium accumulation was increased during global ischemia in the mature heart (from 178.

Purification and analysis of an 80-kDa carcinoembryonic antigen-binding protein from Kupffer cells.

The receptor-mediated interaction of Kupffer cells with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has led to the identification of an 80-kDa CEA-binding Kupffer cell protein. This study is aimed at the isolation and analyses of this protein from rat Kupffer cells. The binding protein was purified using a combination of gel filtration, preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PPAGE), and affinity chromatography using a CEA-Sepharose column.

Treatment of diabetes by xenogeneic islets without immunosuppression. Use of a vascularized bioartificial pancreas.

Tight glycemic control by intensive insulin therapy effectively delays the onset and slows the progression of diabetic complications but is associated with frequent dose adjustments and a high incidence of hypoglycemia. Successful pancreas transplantation corrects abnormal glucose metabolism but subjects patients to morbidity and mortality associated with chronic immunosuppression. A vascularized artificial pancreas device containing pancreatic islets is designed to provide glycemic control without immunosuppression.