Magnetic resonance cholangiography in the assessment and management of biliary complications after OLT.

Despite advances in patient and graft management, biliary complications (BC) still represent a challenge both in the early and delayed period after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Because of unspecific clinical presentation, imaging is often mandatory in order to diagnose BC. Among imaging modalities, magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) has gained widespread acceptance as a tool to represent the reconstructed biliary tree noninvasively, using both the conventional technique (based on heavily T2-weighted sequences) and contrast-enhanced MRC (based on the acquisition of T1-weighted sequences after the administration of hepatobiliary contrast agents). On this basis, MRC is generally indicated to: (1) avoid unnecessary procedures of direct cholangiography in patients with a negative examination and/or identify alternative complications; and (2) provide a road map for interventional procedures or surgery. As illustrated in the review, MRC is accurate in the diagnosis of different types of biliary complications, including anastomotic strictures, non-anastomotic strictures, leakage and stones

Investigating the benefits of molecular profiling of advanced non-small cell lung cancer tumors to guide treatments.

In this study we utilized data on patient responses to guided treatments, and we evaluated their benefit for a non-small cell lung cancer cohort. The recommended therapies used were predicted using tumor molecular profiles that involved a range of biomarkers but primarily used immunohistochemistry markers. A dataset describing 91 lung non-small cell lung cancer patients was retrospectively split into two. The first group's drugs were consistent with a treatment plan whereby all drugs received agreed with their tumor's molecular profile. The second group each received one or more drug that was expected to lack benefit. We found that there was no significant difference in overall survival or mortality between the two groups. Patients whose treatments were predicted to be of benefit survived for an average of 402 days, compared to 382 days for those that did not (P = 0.7934). In the matched treatment group, 48% of patients were deceased by the time monitoring had finished compared to 53% in the unmatched group (P = 0.6094). The immunohistochemistry biomarker for the ERCC1 receptor was found to be a marker that could be used to predict future survival; ERCC1 loss was found to be predictive of poor survival

The role of the cell attachment in the regulation of telomerase during keratinocyte differentiation

PhDThe catalytic subunit of telomerase TERT has non-canonical functions, which are independent of telomere elongation and sometimes telomerase activity. In skin keratinocytes, both TERT expression and anoikis are regulated by extracellular matrix molecules and their integrin receptors, but the effect of TERT deregulation on anoikis has not been previously investigated. HaCaT cells expressing wild-type TERT, TERT-HA (non-canonical function only) DnTERT (catalytically inactive TERT) and the empty vector (PURO) were created by retroviral transduction. HaCaT anoikis was monitored after disengagement of integrins following anchorage deprivation by nuclear staining and FACS. The expression of both TERT and TERT-HA, and to a lesser extent DnTERT, significantly decreased the appearance of apoptotic HaCaT cells in suspension. This showed that TERT could mute anoikis even in the absence of telomere lengthening but that it may require telomerase activity for optimum effect. TERT/TERT-HA did not mute cisplatin-induced HaCaT apoptosis, suggesting that the effects are specific to anoikis. Telomerase activity in the anchorage-deprived samples significantly decreased compared to the controls at time zero in all the samples. hTERT mRNA expression dropped in all groups in suspension compared to the zero time empty vector controls but the expression was still higher in those cells over expressing TERT/TERT-HA than the controls at zero time, suggesting a relationship between TERT/TERT-HA expression and resistance to anoikis. However, TERC expression increased in suspension similarly in all experimental groups. Therefore, these results suggest that the downregulation of TERT and not TERC contributes to the downregulation of telomerase in suspension, although the downregulation of ectopically expressed TERT also suggests that post-transcriptional mechanisms are involved. TERT splice variants were rare and not strikingly regulated in suspended keratinocytes. Western blot and FACS analyses indicated that TERT does not act by affecting integrin expression or their density on the keratinocyte surface, suggesting a point of action downstream of integrin

Evolution of oesophageal adenocarcinoma from metaplastic columnar epithelium without goblet cells in Barrett's oesophagus

Supported by the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) and Cancer Research UK (CR-UK). This work was supported by Cancer Research UK (grant number A14895

Perfil de resistência de Aeromonas spp. isolada no fluxograma de produção do queijo minas frescal industrial e artesanal.

Resumo: Bactérias do gênero Aeromonas podem ser isoladas de amostras clínicas, alimentares e ambientais. Para os derivados lácteos a contaminação decorre da presença do agente na matéria prima utilizada para produção, ou devido a condições higiênicas insatisfatórias durante o processamento. Considerando a importância da Aeromonas spp. como patógeno emergente de doenças de origem alimentar, o uso indiscriminado de antimicrobianos nas patologias humanas, além do papel fundamental que o leite e seus derivados representam na alimentação humana, o presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar o comportamento dos isolados frente à ação de antimicrobianos de uso comum. Foram pesquisados produtos e pontos do fluxograma do processamento de derivados lácteos, que poderiam veicular o gênero Aeromonas e permitir sua ocorrência nos produtos finais, ou atuar como disseminadores do micro-organismo nas diferentes etapas do processamento do queijo Minas Frescal e do queijo Colonial. Os resultados demonstram altos níveis de resistência: 33,6% dos 98 isolados de Aeromonas spp. foram resistentes a todos os 15 antimicrobianos testados, correspondendo a 7,5% dos isolados do queijo Colonial e 51,7% do queijo Minas Frescal, ocorrendo, portanto, maior resistência entre as amostras coletadas na indústria. 100% dos isolados apresentaram resistência múltipla, resultado que revela um perfil preocupante para saúde pública. [Resistance profile of Aeromonas spp. Isolated in dairy products industry]. Abstract: Bacteria of the genus Aeromonas can be isolated from clinical, food and environmental samples. For dairy products contamination can be caused by the presence of the agent in the feedstock used for production or due to unsatisfactory hygienic conditions during processing. The present study aimed to assess Aeromonas isolates behavior in the presence of common antimicrobials, considering the importance of Aeromonas spp. as an emerging pathogen of foodborne diseases, the indiscriminate use of antimicrobials to treat human pathologies, in addition to the role that milk and its derivatives play in human feeding habits. The processing steps during dairy products manufacturing were studied looking for vulnerable points or products where Aeromonas could be present and, subsequently, either pass it to the final products or disseminate the micro-organism in different processing stages of Minas and Colonial cheeses. The results show high levels of resistance: 33.6% of 98 isolates of Aeromonas spp. were resistant to all 15 antibiotics tested, corresponding to 7.5% of the isolates from Colonial cheese and 51.7% from Minas cheese, thus showing greater resistance among the samples collected in the industry. Multiple antimicrobial resistance was verified in 100% of the isolates, which reveals a profile which is alarming for public health

Aeromonas no processamento de queijos tipos Minas Frescal e Colonial.

Resumo: Com o objetivo de estabelecer, durante o processamento do queijo Minas Frescal e Colonial os possíveis pontos de contaminação e a forma de disseminação de bactérias do gênero Aeromonas, foram analisados, quanto à presença do micro-organismo, diferentes produtos e pontos do fluxograma de produção. Para o Queijo Minas Frescal, Aeromonas spp. foram isoladas no leite cru, leite pasteurizado, ambiente de produção e nas mãos dos manipuladores. A. caviae foi a espécie mais frequentemente identificada, sendo também isoladas A. sobria e A. schubertii. Durante o processamento do queijo Colonial, as espécies A. hydrophila, A. caviae, A. sobria, A. veronii e A. jandaei foram isoladas a partir da água, mãos dos manipuladores, utensílios, leite cru e após tratamento térmico e de massa coagulada. Os resultados demonstram que o gênero Aeromonas encontra-se disseminado nas diferentes etapas do processamento de queijos, destacando-se o leite cru como principal fonte de contaminação para o processamento industrial e artesanal. [Aeromonas in processing line of Minas Frescal and Colonial cheeses]. Abstract: The aim of this study is to establish possible contamination points and dissemination forms of the bacteria genus Aeromonas during the processing of the Brazilian cheeses Minas Frescal and Colonial. Therefore, different products and production points of the process were analyzed to determine the presence of the microorganism. In Minas Frescal cheese, Aeromonas spp. was isolated in raw and pasteurized milk, in the environment and on the handlers? hands. A. caviae was the most frequently identified species, but A. sobria and A. schubertii were also isolated. During the processing of Colonial cheese, the species A. hydrophila, A. caviae, A. sobria, A. veronii and A. jandaei were isolated in the water, raw milk, after thermal treatment and curd, as well as on the handlers' hands and utensils. The results showed that the genus Aeromonas is disseminated throughout different stages of both cheese processes while the raw milk stands out as the main source of contamination in the industrial and handmade processing

Inconsistency and correction of the german amortization system

The amortization systems, also called as amortization methods, are used to compute the installment value that a client must disburse (or spend) to pay off a loan or financing with the number of installments and the interest rate agreed for the loan or financing. This paper shows that the German Amortization System makes an inconsistent use of the interest paid in advance in its definition and generates an effective interest rate higher than the contracted, which makes this system abusive and unfair to the clients. In this article, two forms of correcting the German Amortization System are also proposed, making the effective interest rate equals to the contractual interest rate39339340

Evolution of prostate MRI: from multiparametric standard to less-is-better and different-is better strategies

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has become the standard of care to achieve accurate and reproducible diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, mpMRI is quite demanding in terms of technical rigour, patient's tolerability and safety, expertise in interpretation, and costs. This paper reviews the main technical strategies proposed as less-is-better solutions for clinical practice (non-contrast biparametric MRI, reduction of acquisition time, abbreviated protocols, computer-aided diagnosis systems), discussing them in the light of the available evidence and of the concurrent evolution of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS). We also summarised research results on those advanced techniques representing an alternative different-is-better line of the still ongoing evolution of prostate MRI (quantitative diffusion-weighted imaging, quantitative dynamic contrast enhancement, intravoxel incoherent motion, diffusion tensor imaging, diffusional kurtosis imaging, restriction spectrum imaging, radiomics analysis, hybrid positron emission tomography/MRI)

Critérios utilizados pelos clubes de futebol brasileiros para seleção de atletas nas categorias de base

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso, apresentado para obtenção do grau de Bacharel no curso de Educação Física da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, UNESC.O futebol é modalidade esportiva de destaque no Brasil, com movimentação de números expressivos na economia, de forma a exigir maior qualidade e potencial de seus personagens. Este estudo objetiva descrever se os clubes brasileiros de futebol dispõem de equipes multiprofissionais, de metodologias e de critérios para a seleção de atletas nas categorias de base. Utilizou-se como metodologia uma pesquisa descritiva transversal, por meio de questionário contendo questões objetivas e descritivas. Os dados demonstram que a maioria dos clubes dispõe de categorias de base, possuem equipes multiprofissionais, e critérios estabelecidos para categorias iniciantes. A partir dessa avaliação, conclui-se com a apresentação de panorama acerca da importância que os clubes dão à prática de seleção, assim como as vantagens obtidas comparadas aos clubes que não utilizam instrumentos estratégicos