Tumor vessel co-option probed by single-cell analysis.

Tumor vessel co-option is poorly understood, yet it is a resistance mechanism against anti-angiogenic therapy (AAT). The heterogeneity of co-opted endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes, co-opting cancer and myeloid cells in tumors growing via vessel co-option, has not been investigated at the single-cell level. Here, we use a murine AAT-resistant lung tumor model, in which VEGF-targeting induces vessel co-option for continued growth.

Immune landscape of inflammatory breast cancer suggests vulnerability to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

. Anti-PD1/PDL1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showed promising results in breast cancer, and exploration of additional actionable immune checkpoints is ongoing. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of disease, the immune tumor microenvironment (TME) of which is poorly known.

Protocols for endothelial cell isolation from mouse tissues: small intestine, colon, heart, and liver.

Endothelial cells (ECs) from the small intestine, colon, liver, and heart have distinct phenotypes and functional adaptations that are dependent on their physiological environment. Gut ECs adapt to low oxygen, heart ECs to contractile forces, and liver ECs to low flow rates. Isolating high-purity ECs in sufficient quantities is crucial to study their functions.

Evaluation of a marker independent isolation method for circulating tumor cells in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Objective: The enrichment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood provides a minimally invasive method for biomarker discovery in cancer. Longitudinal interrogation allows monitoring or prediction of therapy response, detection of minimal residual disease or progression, and determination of prognosis. Despite inherent phenotypic heterogeneity and differences in cell surface marker expression, most CTC isolation technologies typically use positive selection.

HPV DNA genotyping, HPV E6*I mRNA detection, and p16/Ki-67 staining in Belgian head and neck cancer patient specimens, collected within the HPV-AHEAD study.

Background: The main risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC) are tobacco and alcohol use. However, an important fraction of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV), a subgroup with increasing incidence in several western countries.

Methods: As part of the HPV-AHEAD study, we assessed the role of HPV infection in 772 archived tissue specimens of Belgian HNC patients: 455 laryngeal (LC), 106 oral cavity (OCC), 99 OPC, 76 hypopharyngeal (HC), and 36 unspecified parts of the head and neck.

Impact of COVID-19 on social media as perceived by the oncology community: results from a survey in collaboration with the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the OncoAlert Network.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of modern-day oncology, including how stakeholders communicate through social media. We surveyed oncology stakeholders in order to assess their attitudes pertaining to social media and how it has been affected during the pandemic.

Materials And Methods: A 40-item survey was distributed to stakeholders from 8 July to 22 July 2020 and was promoted through the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the OncoAlert Network.

Increased Pathway Complexity Is a Prognostic Biomarker in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a heterogeneous disease, characterized by common and rare driver gene alterations that provide a selective growth advantage for progressing tumour cells. We hypothesized that the number of distinct gene driver alteration-affected pathways or gene classes was associated with poor prognosis in patients initiating androgen receptor signalling inhibitors (ARSi). We performed a post hoc analysis of an amalgamated baseline circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) mutational landscape dataset of ARSi-treated men with mCRPC ( = 342).

Type IV collagen as a potential biomarker of metastatic breast cancer.

No reliable, non-invasive biomarker of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) exists: circulating CA15-3 (cCA15-3) is the marker mostly used to monitor mBC. Circulating collagen IV (cCOLIV) has been evaluated in other metastatic cancers and has been found to be a promising biomarker. The overarching aim of this study was to evaluate cCOLIV as a potential biomarker in patients with mBC.

The MO-meatocanalplasty: long-term results in the narrow external auditory canal with recurrent otitis externa or the inability to wear a hearing aid.

Objective: The MO-meatocanalplasty is the oblique modification of the M-meatoplasty. The MO-meatocanalplasty was designed to address the superior quadrants of the meatus and the bony canal without the need for a retro-auricular incision. This retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the long-term results of the MO-meatocanalplasty in patients with a narrow external auditory canal (EAC) with recurrent otitis externa or in patients unable to wear a hearing aid.

The relationship between cochleovestibular function tests and endolymphatic hydrops grading on MRI in patients with Menière's disease.

Purpose: In this retrospective study the relationship between cochleovestibular function and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-) based classification system of endolymphatic hydrops was investigated.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with unilateral definite Menière's disease who underwent MRI were included. The parameters of Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), caloric irrigation test, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and video Head Impulse Test were compared between the grades of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and perilymphatic enhancement (PE) on MRI.

Decompression of the internal auditory canal via the retrosigmoid approach in a patient with Camurati-Engelmann disease: illustrative case.

Background: Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED) is a rare condition characterized by hyperostosis of the long bones and skull base. Symptoms include contractures and pain in affected extremities but can also include manifestations of cranial hyperostosis such as intracranial hypertension, Chiari malformation, exophthalmia, frontal bossing, and several cranial neuropathies due to cranial foraminal stenosis.

Observations: This report describes a 27-year-old patient with suspected CED who developed progressive intermittent facial nerve paresis, hemifacial spasms, and a decrease in hearing.

Validation of the acoustic breathiness index to the Brazilian Portuguese language.

Objective: To assess the concurrent validity and the diagnostic accuracy of the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) in Brazilian Portuguese.

Methods: The counting numbers 1-20 and the vowel /a/ of 150 subjects were recorded (37 vocally healthy and 113 with dysphonia). The analyzed samples were the counting number 1-11 and 3 s of the sustained vowel.

PROSPECT guideline for elective caesarean section: updated systematic review and procedure-specific postoperative pain management recommendations.

Caesarean section is associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain, which can influence postoperative recovery and patient satisfaction as well as breastfeeding success and mother-child bonding. The aim of this systematic review was to update the available literature and develop recommendations for optimal pain management after elective caesarean section under neuraxial anaesthesia. A systematic review utilising procedure-specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) methodology was undertaken.

Association between the histopathological growth patterns of liver metastases and survival after hepatic surgery in breast cancer patients.

Currently, there are no markers to identify patients with liver-only or liver-dominant metastases that would benefit from hepatic surgery. Here we characterized histopathological growth patterns (HGPs) of liver metastases in a consecutive series of 36 breast cancer patients who underwent hepatic surgery. Survival analyses showed that the presence of a desmoplastic HGP in the liver metastases (a rim of fibrous tissue separating cancer cells from the liver parenchyma, present in 20 (56%) patients) is independently associated with favorable progression-free and overall survival when compared with the replacement HGP (cancer cells growing into the liver parenchyma, present in 16 (44%) patients).

Automated enumeration and phenotypic characterization of CTCs and tdEVs in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.

Background: Although most patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) initially benefit from treatment with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSi), resistance inevitably occurs. Hence, we investigated the prognostic value of automated circulating tumor cell (CTC) and tumor-derived extracellular vesicle (tdEV) enumeration and their dynamics, in patients with mCRPC in the context of the initiation of treatment with ARSi. Furthermore, we hypothesize that CTC phenotypic heterogeneity might serve as a measurable biomarker under these circumstances.

Prostate-Specific Antigen Modulatory Effect of a Fermented Soy Supplement for Patients with an Elevated Risk of Prostate Cancer: a Non-Randomized, Retrospective Observational Registration.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a 6-month fermented soy supplement (equol-containing), measured by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) stabilization or PSA decrease from baseline (PSA modulatory effect) in men with an elevated risk of prostate cancer (PCa), with a WHO performance 0-2 and a follow-up of 12 months.

Methods: The patient population consisted of men with an elevated risk of PCa and a prior negative prostate biopsy within 1 year from starting therapy. Serum PSA values were recorded at inclusion (iPSA), at 6 months (1PSA), and optionally at 12 months (2PSA).

LIFT: a feasible option for primary and recurrent fistulas.

Background: The development of a surgical solution for anal fistulas with minimal recurrence and morbidity remains a challenge. Ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT), however, is a sphincter sparing technique that provides complete resolution of the transsphincteric fistula as well as minimizing recurrence and fecal incontinence. Our goal is to evaluate the efficacy of fistula tract ligation for primary and recurrent fistulas.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Pictorial Review.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are commonly encountered in the general population but often ignored or unrecognized. The detection and characterization of lesions has drastically improved over the years due to technological advances in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, adequate knowledge of the normal imaging appearance on different imaging modalities as well as the broad variety of pathology is required to provide a proper radiologic assessment.

Imaging of Radiolucent Jaw Lesions.

Radiolucent lesions in the jaw bones comprise a whole spectrum of odontogenic and nonodontogenic lesions. Although the imaging appearance is not always specific, careful radiologic analysis may contribute to characterization of these lesions. A useful approach is to first analyze the absence or presence of a relationship of the lesion to the teeth.

A high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio are associated with a worse outcome in inflammatory breast cancer.

Introduction: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an uncommon, but aggressive form of breast cancer that accounts for a disproportionally high fraction of breast cancer related mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the peripheral immune response and the prognostic value of blood-based biomarkers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in a large IBC cohort.

Patients & Methods: We retrospectively identified 127 IBC patients and collected lab results from in-hospital medical records.

Mobile-Based Lifestyle Intervention in Women with Glucose Intolerance after Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (MELINDA), A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial: Methodology and Design.

The aims of the 'Mobile-based lifestyle intervention in women with glucose intolerance after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)' study (MELINDA) are: (1) to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of glucose intolerance after a recent history of GDM; and (2) to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a telephone- and mobile-based lifestyle intervention in women with glucose intolerance after GDM. This is a Belgian multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) in seven hospitals with the aim of recruiting 236 women. Women in the intervention group will receive a blended program, based on one face-to-face education session and further follow-up through a mobile application and monthly telephone advice.