Incidence Patterns and Trends of non-Central Nervous System Solid Tumours in Children and Adolescents. A Collaborative Study of the Spanish Population Based Cancer Registries.

Objective: To describe incidence patterns and trends in children (0-14 years) and adolescents (15-19 age-range) with solid tumours, except those of central nervous system (CNS), in Spain.

Methods: Cases were drawn from eleven Spanish population-based cancer registries. Incidence was estimated for the period 1983-2007 and trends were evaluated using Joinpoint regression analysis.

Beyond cure: preventing and managing the complications of end-stage liver disease.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this review was to define the implication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication in patients with cirrhosis.

Recent Findings: Sustained virologic response (SVR) is associated with a favourable outcome in patients with cirrhosis especially in the presence of regression of cirrhosis but also with extrahepatic outcomes regarding health-related quality of life, risk of diabetes, risk of cardiovascular diseases and control of HIV replication by antiretroviral therapy. In patients with decompensated cirrhosis identifying the point of no return where viral eradication is not followed by clinical improvement is extremely relevant.

Impact of nutritional status on the pharmacokinetics of erlotinib in rats.

Malnourishment is a complex condition in which physiopathological changes take place in multiple systems as a result of energy, protein and nutrient deficiency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, using an experimental animal model, the impact of nutritional status on the pharmacokinetic profile of erlotinib, a reversible, highly selective, human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1/EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Two groups of rats -WN (well-nourished) and UN (undernourished) - were fed with different diets for 23-26 days.

Therapeutic efficacy of quercetin enzyme-responsive nanovesicles for the treatment of experimental colitis in rats.

Biocompatible quercetin nanovesicles were developed by coating polyethylene glycol-containing vesicles with chitosan and nutriose, aimed at targeting the colon. Uncoated and coated vesicles were prepared using hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine and quercetin, a potent natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drug. Physicochemical characterization was carried out by light scattering, cryogenic microscopy and X-ray scattering, the results showing that vesicles were predominantly multilamellar and around 130 nm in size.

Study of the immunophenotype of the inflammatory cells in melanomas with regression and halo nevi.

The pathogenesis and prognostic implications of regression in melanoma are not well understood. It has traditionally been considered an immunologically mediated phenomenon. Improvement in the knowledge of the mechanisms that lead to regression may prove to be of great value in an era in which treatments oriented to the augmentation of the host's immunity against melanoma have demonstrated excellent clinical results.

Correlation of histologic regression in primary melanoma with sentinel node status.

Importance: The influence of regression on the status of the sentinel node (SN) is controversial. In many centers, the presence of regression in thin melanomas supports the performance of an SN biopsy.

Objective: To identify whether regression in primary melanoma has any influence on SN involvement.

Precise measurement of the neutrino mixing parameter θ23 from muon neutrino disappearance in an off-axis beam.

New data from the T2K neutrino oscillation experiment produce the most precise measurement of the neutrino mixing parameter θ23. Using an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV and a data set corresponding to 6.

Observation of electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam.

The T2K experiment has observed electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam produced 295 km from the Super-Kamiokande detector with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. A total of 28 electron neutrino events were detected with an energy distribution consistent with an appearance signal, corresponding to a significance of 7.

Interobserver discrepancy in liver fibrosis using transient elastography.

Transient elastography is a useful method to assess liver fibrosis, but uncertainties still exist regarding reliability and reproducibility of the technique. We aimed to improve knowledge on interobserver variability with the procedure and tried to find factors associated with such variability. This was a cross-sectional study to compare the results of transient elastography performed by two different operators, one test made just after the other.

Genetic polymorphisms and individualized tacrolimus dosing.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms of metabolism enzymes or intestinal drug transporters may affect pharmacokinetic responses to immunosuppressive drugs in renal transplant recipients. We sought to identify the frequency of genetic polymorphisms and their importance for individualization of tacrolimus doses.

Patients And Methods: We performed an observational study in 35 renal transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids.

Childhood cancer incidence and survival in Spain.

Background: This article affords an overview of the patterns and time trends of childhood cancer incidence (1983-2002) and survival (1991-2002) in Spain.

Patients And Methods: A population-based study was conducted, including 5936 cases for incidence and 3257 for survival analyses. Differences in incidence were tested with the standardised incidence ratio.

Increase in nocturnal blood pressure and progression to microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetes.

Background: Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria often have elevated blood pressure while they are asleep, but it is not known whether the elevation develops concomitantly with microalbuminuria or precedes it.

Methods: We monitored 75 adolescents and young adults who had had type 1 diabetes with normal urinary albumin excretion and blood pressure for more than five years. Ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring was used to assess blood pressure at the initial evaluation and about two years later, at which time all subjects had normal urinary albumin excretion.