Can the Dose of Belimumab be Reduced in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of dose reduction in patients with SLE treated with belimumab (BEL) in Spain, analyze treatment modalities, and determine impact on control of disease activity.

Methods: Retrospective longitudinal and multicentre study of SLE patients treated with BEL. Data on disease activity, treatments and outcomes were recorded before and after reduction (6-12 months), and they were compared.

Thorough assessment of the effectiveness of belimumab in a large Spanish multicenter cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objectives: To provide an overview on the current use of belimumab (BLM) in SLE patients in clinical practice and to examine its efficacy in terms of standardized outcomes, drug survival, as well as patient and safety profiles.

Methods: A longitudinal retrospective multicenter cohort including SLE patients treated with BLM at 18 Spanish centers. Data was collected upon initiation of BLM, at 6 and 12 months after initiation, and at the last recorded visit.

Satisfaction and effectiveness of switching from intravenous to subcutaneous belimumab treatment in daily clinical practice.

Background: In 2017, belimumab (BEL) was approved in subcutaneous (SQ) administration. The effectiveness after switching from intravenous (IV) to SQ and patient satisfaction in daily clinical practice has not been studied. During the pandemic, patient follow-up and treatment were significantly affected, and some patients need a change from IV to SQ.

A Web-Based Self-assessment Model for Evaluating Multidisciplinary Cancer Teams in Spain: Development and Validation Pilot Study.

Background: Tumor boards constitute the main consensus and clinical decision-making body of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in cancer care. With the increasing clinical complexity of treatment options (eg, targeted therapies, multimodal treatments) and the progressive incorporation of new areas of intervention (eg, survivorship care), tumor boards are now required to play a central role in all cancer processes. However, although frameworks are in place to evaluate MDT quality, only few web-based tools are available for this purpose; indeed, no web-based MDT evaluation tools have been developed for or adapted to the Spanish National Health System.

Functional correlates of response inhibition in impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease.

Impulse control disorder is a prevalent side-effect of Parkinson's disease (PD) medication, with a strong negative impact on the quality of life of those affected. Although impulsivity has classically been associated with response inhibition deficits, previous evidence from PD patients with impulse control disorder (ICD) has not revealed behavioral dysfunction in response inhibition. In this study, 18 PD patients with ICD, 17 PD patients without this complication, and 15 healthy controls performed a version of the conditional Stop Signal Task during functional magnetic resonance imaging.

SPOP and CHD1 alterations in prostate cancer: Relationship with PTEN loss, tumor grade, perineural infiltration, and PSA recurrence.

Background: In the non-ETS fusion of prostate cancer (PCa) pathway, SPOP mutations emerge as a distinct oncogenic driver subclass. Both SPOP downregulation and mutation can lead to SPOP target stabilization promoting dysregulation of key regulatory pathways. CHD1 gene is commonly deleted in PCa.

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Purpose: Covid-19 has affected all people, especially those with chronic diseases, including Parkinson's Disease (PD). Covid-19 may affect both motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms of PD patients. We intend to evaluate different aspects of Covid-19 impact on PD patients.

Neuropsychiatric involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: A review.

The neuropsychiatric involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is a challenge for clinicians, both at a diagnostic and therapeutic level. Although in 1999 the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) proposed a set of definitions for 19 NPSLE syndromes, with the intention of homogenizing the terminology for research purposes and clinical practice, the prevalence of NPSLE varies widely according to different series and is estimated to be between 37 and 95%. This is due to multiple factors such as the unalike definitions used, the diverse design of the studies, type of population, race, type and severity of symptoms, and follow-up of the different cohorts of patients with SLE.

A comparative study on clinical and serological characteristics between patients with rhupus and those with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The concomitant presence of two autoimmune diseases - systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - in the same patient is known as rhupus. We evaluated a group of patients with rhupus to clarify further their clinical, serological and immunogenic features in a multi-centre cohort. In addition, the study aimed to explore the utility of the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) SLE classification criteria in our group of patients with rhupus.

Immunohistochemical expression of mismatch repair proteins (MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, and PMS2) in prostate cancer: correlation with grade groups (WHO 2016) and ERG and PTEN status.

The role of DNA MMR genes in prostate cancer (PrCa) is controversial, as genetic alterations leading to microsatellite instability are incompletely defined in these tumors. ERG rearrangements and PTEN loss are concomitant events in PrCa. The aim of this study has been to analyze the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, PMS2, ERG, and PTEN and their potential association with the grade group (GG) grading system (WHO 2016) and PSA recurrence in a series of 200 PrCa (PSMAR-Biobank, Barcelona, Spain).

SPOP and FOXA1 mutations are associated with PSA recurrence in ERG wt tumors, and SPOP downregulation with ERG-rearranged prostate cancer.

Background: ERG fusion-related prostate cancer (PrCa) is the most prevalent oncogenic driver subclass. SPOP, FOXA1, and IDH1 mutations are other three main oncogenic driver subclasses in non-ETS-fusion PrCa. ERG protein levels seem to be increased in SPOP-mutated cases, and different studies reported that SPOP mutations and ERG fusions are mutually exclusive.

Strong cytoplasmic ETV1 expression has a negative impact on prostate cancer outcome.

Overexpression of ETS genes is involved in prostate cancer (PrCa), but there is little information on the non-ERG components of this family. We have investigated ETV1, ETV4, and ETV5 overexpression, with or without PTEN loss, and their association with grade group (GG), pathological stage, focality, and PSA recurrence in PrCa. ETS gene expression was analyzed by qPCR in 104 cases.

Effectiveness and Safety of Rituximab in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Series Describing the Experience of 2 Centers.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs and systems. B cells have a critical role in the pathogenesis of SLE. Rituximab (RTX) is a drug composed of chimeric monoclonal antibodies against the CD20 protein, producing a depletion of B lymphocytes.

Primary cutaneous vs secondary cutaneous follicular lymphomas: A comparative study focused on BCL2, CD10, and t(14;18) expression.

Background: Primary cutaneous follicular center-cell lymphoma (PCFCL) is one of the most common types of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. Differences in immunohistochemical expression of BCL2 and CD10 antigens along with the presence of t(14:18) translocation in neoplastic cells have been postulated as relevant clues in differentiating PCFCL from cutaneous lesions secondary to a systemic follicular lymphoma (SCFL). The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance and usefulness of these parameters in a large series of patients.

Micronuclei frequency in urothelial cells of bladder cancer patients, as a biomarker of prognosis.

It has been suggested that the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in defoliated urothelial cells could be used as a biomarker for both the potential risk of bladder cancer (BC) and its progression. To prove this we have carried out a large study evaluating the MN frequency in a group of 383 hospital patients submitted to cystoscopy. From them, 77 were negative in their first cystoscopy, and were considered as a reference group; 79 were positive and were classified as patients with tumor; and 227 with previous bladder cancer submitted to follow-up monitoring were negative and classified as BC patients without tumor.

ERG overexpression plus SLC45A3 (prostein) and PTEN expression loss: Strong association of the triple hit phenotype with an aggressive pathway of prostate cancer progression.

and rearrangements may coexist in the same tumor. rearrangements and loss are concomitant events in prostate cancer (PrCa), and can cooperate in progression. We have reported that mRNA expression of and rearrangements plus loss define an aggressive tumor subset.

Bone mineral density and vitamin D status in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): A systematic review.

Despite the improvement in the quality of life of patients with SLE due to scientific and technological advances, SLE remains a disease that over the years may produce irreversible damage to patients. Osteoporosis and secondary bone fractures are two of the major causes of irreparable injury in patients with SLE. Vitamin D insufficiency may play a vital role both in reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and in the appearance of fractures, although its mechanisms of action are still unclear.

European temporal trends in the use of lymph node dissection in patients with renal cancer.

Background: The role of lymph node dissection (LND) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still under debate. We aimed to assess the utilization rates of LND over time in Europe.

Methods: A multi-institutional database of 13,581 RCC patients who underwent radical nephrectomy (RN) or nephron sparing surgery (NSS) between 1988 and 2014 was created within an European consortium.

Does the Unexpected Presence of Non-organ-confined Disease at Final Pathology Undermine Cancer Control in Patients with Clinical T1N0M0 Renal Cell Carcinoma Who Underwent Partial Nephrectomy?

Background: A non-negligible proportion of individuals diagnosed with cT1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are upstaged to pT3a at final pathology. Few data on oncological outcomes for these patients are available to determine whether partial nephrectomy (PN) might jeopardise cancer control.

Objective: To assess, within an international multi-institutional collaboration, whether PN might undermine cancer control relative to radical nephrectomy (RN) in RCC patients with unexpected pT3a disease.

Partial Nephrectomy Versus Radical Nephrectomy for Clinical T1b and T2 Renal Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.

Background: Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the reference standard of management for a cT1a renal mass. However, its role in the management of larger tumors (cT1b and cT2) is still under scrutiny.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis assessing functional, oncologic, and perioperative outcomes of PN and radical nephrectomy (RN) in the specific case of larger renal tumors (≥cT1b).

Concurrent TMPRSS2-ERG and SLC45A3-ERG rearrangements plus PTEN loss are not found in low grade prostate cancer and define an aggressive tumor subset.

Background: SLC45A3 is the second most common ERG partner in prostate cancer (PrCa). Coexisting TMPRSS2 and SLC45A3 rearrangements are found in a subset of cases, but the meaning is still unknown.

Methods: SLC45A3-ERG and TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangements and their association with ERG and PTEN expression and with clinical and pathological features have been analyzed in 80 PrCa (PSMAR-Biobank, Barcelona, Spain).

Association of ERG and TMPRSS2-ERG with grade, stage, and prognosis of prostate cancer is dependent on their expression levels.

Background: There is controversy in the literature on the role of the fusion TMPRSS2-ERG in the pathogenesis and progression of prostate cancer. The quantitative differences in TMPRSS2-ERG fusion expression have received very limited attention in the literature.

Methods: We have quantitatively analyzed the mRNA levels of TMPRSS2-ERG, ERG, PTEN, and AR (n = 83), as well as ERG immunostaining (n = 78) in a series of prostate tumors.

Differences between clinical and laboratory findings in patients with recent diagnosis of SLE according to the positivity of anti-dsDNA by the Crithidia luciliae method.

Background: Of all anti-dsDNA antibody detection methods, the Crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence test (CLIF) is considered to have the highest specificity for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objective: The objective of this report is to evaluate whether the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies detected by the CLIF method is associated with a specific clinical phenotype in recently diagnosed SLE.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included all patients with newly diagnosed SLE between 1990 and 2011 and followed up in our institution.