Integrin-mediated human glioblastoma cells adhesion, migration and invasion by native and recombinant phospholipases of Scorpio maurus venom glands.

Integrins are a large family of cell surface receptors mediating the interaction of cells with their microenvironment and they play an important role in glioma biology. In the present work, we reported the anti-tumor effect of Sm-PLGV a phospholipase A from Tunisian scorpion venom glands-as well as its recombinant forms expressed in Escherichia coli-through interference with integrin receptor function in malignant glioma cells U87. These phospholipases inhibited in a dose dependent manner the adhesion, migration and invasion onto fibrinogen and fibronectin without any cytotoxicity.

Impact of atopy on risk of glioma: a Mendelian randomisation study.

Background: An inverse relationship between allergies with glioma risk has been reported in several but not all epidemiological observational studies. We performed an analysis of genetic variants associated with atopy to assess the relationship with glioma risk using Mendelian randomisation (MR), an approach unaffected by biases from temporal variability and reverse causation that might have affected earlier investigations.

Methods: Two-sample MR was undertaken using genome-wide association study data.

Cancer Is Not (Only) a Senescence Problem.

Age is one of the strongest predictors of cancer and risk of death from cancer. Cancer is therefore generally viewed as a senescence-related malady. However, cancer also exists at subclinical levels in humans and other animals, but its earlier effects on the body are poorly known by comparison.

CDA as a predictive marker for life-threatening toxicities in patients with AML treated with cytarabine.

Cytarabine (Ara-C) is the backbone of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) chemotherapy. Little is known about possible risk factors predictive for the frequent (ie, up to 16%) life-threatening or lethal toxicities caused by Ara-C. Ara-C is detoxified in the liver by a single enzyme, cytidine deaminase (CDA), coded by a gene known to be highly polymorphic.

Anti-angiogenic effect of phospholipases A from Scorpio maurus venom glands on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

In a previous study, we purified Sm-PLGV an heterodimeric phospholipase A, from the venom glands of the Tunisian scorpion Scorpio maurus. This enzyme contains a Long chain, a penta-peptide insertion, which is cut out during the maturation process, followed by a short chain. A disulfide bridge links the two chains.

The Cdx2 homeobox gene suppresses intestinal tumorigenesis through non-cell-autonomous mechanisms.

Developmental genes contribute to cancer, as reported for the homeobox gene playing a tumor suppressor role in the gut. In this study, we show that human colon cancers exhibiting the highest reduction in expression belong to the serrated subtype with the worst evolution. In mice, mosaic knockout of in the adult intestinal epithelium induces the formation of imperfect gastric-type metaplastic lesions.

Psoriatic arthritis screening by the dermatologist: development and first validation of the 'PURE-4 scale'.

Background: Dermatologists are recommended to ask psoriasis patients about musculoskeletal complaints to allow early detection and treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Screening tools have been developed to help identify patients warranting further rheumatologic assessment, but evidence suggests room for improvement in their diagnostic value and ease of use for outpatient practice.

Objective: To develop and internally validate a brief tool for dermatologists to screen patients to refer to a rheumatologist for PsA diagnosis.

A novel anti-CD146 antibody specifically targets cancer cells by internalizing the molecule.

CD146 is an adhesion molecule present on many tumors (melanoma, kidney, pancreas, breast, ...

Giant congenital melanocytic nevus with vascular malformation and epidermal cysts associated with a somatic activating mutation in BRAF.

Giant congenital melanocytic nevi may be symptomatically isolated or syndromic. Associations with capillary malformations are exceptional, and development of epidermal cysts has not been described. A 71-year-old patient with a giant congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) of the lower back, buttocks, and thighs was asymptomatic except for unexpected hemorrhage during partial surgical excision years before.

High-Throughput Monitoring of Cocaine and Its Metabolites in Hair Using Microarrays for Mass Spectrometry and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Because of inhomogeneous matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) matrix crystallization and laser shot-to-shot variability, quantitation is not generally performed by MALDI mass spectrometry. Here we introduce a high-throughput MALDI method using an innovative high-density microarray for mass spectrometry (MAMS) technology, which allows semiquantitative measurement of cocaine and its metabolites, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, and ecgonine methyl ester. A MAMS slide containing lanes of hydrophilic spots and an automated slider to drag a sample droplet over several small spots can accomplish automatic sample aliquoting and lead to homogeneous crystallization of the matrix-analyte mixture and, thus, to a reproducible signal (average RSD 6%).

Rerouting the internal thoracic pedicle: a novel solution for maxillofacial reconstruction in vessel-depleted situations? A preliminary anatomic study.

Purpose: Microsurgical reconstruction in a vessel-depleted neck is a challenge due to the lack of reliable vessels in or nearby the host site. The use of the internal thoracic pedicle (ITP) by rib section or sparring is a limited option due to the small length of the pedicle of some flaps. However, in cardiac surgery, the internal thoracic artery (ITA) is widely used for myocardial revascularization, providing a long and versatile pedicle.

Meningioma growth dynamics assessed by radiocarbon retrospective birth dating.

It is not known how long it takes from the initial neoplastic transformation of a cell to the detection of a tumor, which would be valuable for understanding tumor growth dynamics. Meningiomas show a broad histological, genetic and clinical spectrum, are usually benign and considered slowly growing. There is an intense debate regarding their age and growth pattern and when meningiomas should be resected.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors, a risk factor for bullous pemphigoid: Retrospective multicenter case-control study from France and Switzerland.

Background: Case reports have suggested an association between dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is) and development of bullous pemphigoid (BP).

Objective: To evaluate the association between DPP4i treatment and development of BP.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective 1:2 case-control study, comparing case patients with diabetes and BP with age- and sex-matched control patients with diabetes issued from Swiss (Bern) and French (Marseille) dermatologic departments from January 1, 2014, to July 31, 2016.

LIF Drives Neural Remodeling in Pancreatic Cancer and Offers a New Candidate Biomarker.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by extensive stroma and pathogenic modifications to the peripheral nervous system that elevate metastatic capacity. In this study, we show that the IL6-related stem cell-promoting factor LIF supports PDAC-associated neural remodeling (PANR). LIF was overexpressed in tumor tissue compared with healthy pancreas, but its receptors LIFR and gp130 were expressed only in intratumoral nerves.

Reversion of resistance to oxaliplatin by inhibition of p38 MAPK in colorectal cancer cell lines: involvement of the calpain / Nox1 pathway.

Oxaliplatin is a major treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, however its effectiveness is greatly diminished by the development of resistances. Our previous work has shown that oxaliplatin efficacy depends on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by Nox1. In this report, we investigated Nox1 involvement in the survival mechanisms of oxaliplatin resistant cell lines that we have selected.

Management of actinic keratosis at specific body sites in patients at high risk of carcinoma lesions: expert consensus from the AKTeam™ of expert clinicians.

Actinic keratoses (AK) arise on sun-exposed regions of the skin. If left untreated, AK may progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), although the rate of progression is low. A practical treatment algorithm for the treatment of AK in standard situations has been published by the AKTeam expert panel.

Revisiting Bevacizumab + Cytotoxics Scheduling Using Mathematical Modeling: Proof of Concept Study in Experimental Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Concomitant administration of bevacizumab and pemetrexed-cisplatin is a common treatment for advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Vascular normalization following bevacizumab administration may transiently enhance drug delivery, suggesting improved efficacy with sequential administration. To investigate optimal scheduling, we conducted a study in NSCLC-bearing mice.

Sustained Complete Response to Metronomic Chemotherapy in a Child with Refractory Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor: A Case Report.

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is a rare and highly aggressive embryonal tumor of the central nervous system with a dismal prognosis and no definitive guidelines for treatment, especially at relapse or in case of refractory disease. Metronomic chemotherapy (MC) has emerged as a new treatment option in solid malignancies, with lower toxicity and is frequently combined with drug repositioning. We report a case of ATRT in an 8-year-old boy who progressed during multimodal therapy including surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Cadherin-1 and cadherin-3 cooperation determines the aggressiveness of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterised by an extensive tissue invasion and an early formation of metastasis. Alterations in the expression of cadherins have been reported in PDAC. Yet, how these changes contribute to tumour progression is poorly understood.

Treatment of prurigo with methotrexate: a multicentre retrospective study of 39 cases.

Background: Prurigo is a common primary pruritic condition. Treatment is challenging. Methotrexate (MTX) is effective for the treatment of pruriginous dermatoses, but its use in prurigo has been little studied.

Diffuse gliomas with FGFR3-TACC3 fusion have characteristic histopathological and molecular features.

Adult glioblastomas, IDH-wildtype represent a heterogeneous group of diseases. They are resistant to conventional treatment by concomitant radiochemotherapy and carry a dismal prognosis. The discovery of oncogenic gene fusions in these tumors has led to prospective targeted treatments, but identification of these rare alterations in practice is challenging.