Differentiation of Inflammatory from Fibrotic Ileal Strictures Among Patients with Crohn’s Disease through Analysis of Time-intensity Curves Obtained after Microbubble Contrast Agent Injection

The aim was to assess whether the analysis of time-intensity curves obtained after microbubble contrast agent injection could differentiate inflammatory from fibrotic ileal strictures among patients with Crohn\u2019s disease (CD). Sixty-five consecutive patients (40 male and 25 female; mean age \ub1 SD, 42.2 years \ub1 12.22) with stricture of the terminal ileal loop from CD were scanned after microbubble injection. Time-intensity curves were obtained from quantitative analysis and peak enhancement, rise time, time to peak, area under the time-intensity curve (AUC), AUC during wash-in (AUCWI), and AUC during wash-out (AUCWO) were compared between patients with inflammatory vs patients with fibrotic strictures. Inflammatory (n=40) vs fibrotic strictures (n=25) differed (P<.05) in the peak enhancement, the wash-in rate, the wash-in perfusion index, AUC, AUCWI, AUCWO. The quantitative analysis of small bowel wall contrast enhancement after microbubble contrast agent injection may differentiate inflammatory from fibrotic ileal strictures in patients with CD

Implications of metabolism-driven myeloid dysfunctions in cancer therapy

Immune homeostasis is maintained by an adequate balance of myeloid and lymphoid responses. In chronic inflammatory states, including cancer, this balance is lost due to dramatic expansion of myeloid progenitors that fail to mature to functional inflammatory neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs), thus giving rise to a decline in the antitumor effector lymphoid response. Cancer-related inflammation orchestrates the production of hematopoietic growth factors and cytokines that perpetuate recruitment and activation of myeloid precursors, resulting in unresolved and chronic inflammation. This pathologic inflammation creates profound alterations in the intrinsic cellular metabolism of the myeloid progenitor pool, which is amplified by competition for essential nutrients and by hypoxia-induced metabolic rewiring at the tumor site. Therefore, persistent myelopoiesis and metabolic dysfunctions contribute to the development of cancer, as well as to the severity of a broad range of diseases, including metabolic syndrome and autoimmune and infectious diseases. The aims of this review are to (1) define the metabolic networks implicated in aberrant myelopoiesis observed in cancer patients, (2) discuss the mechanisms underlying these clinical manifestations and the impact of metabolic perturbations on clinical outcomes, and (3) explore new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies to restore immunometabolism and differentiation of myeloid cells towards an effector phenotype to increase host antitumor immunity. We propose that the profound metabolic alterations and associated transcriptional changes triggered by chronic and overactivated immune responses in myeloid cells represent critical factors influencing the balance between therapeutic efficacy and immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) for current therapeutic strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy

Odor Masking, Stability and Sensoriality: Researching Background agents in Complex Systems for Infinite Solutions

Consumers are increasingly aware and threatened by skin-related concerns. They face an increasingly hectic lifestyle and harsh environmental conditions, so they pay more attention to their state of health and increase their level of awareness. The available literature is full of examples using cosmeceuticals and pharmaceuticals that demonstrate multiple beneficial activities. However, this trend creates obstacles in the formulation due to the need to manage the organoleptic properties of the finished products, for example the emission of "unpleasant" odours. The emission of unpleasant odours inevitably tends to directly or indirectly compromise the entire formulation and its "sensory pleasantness". In fact, it is of fundamental importance to take into account that cosmetics, unlike drugs, are not intended to cure, but are characterized by a complex interaction between psyche, skin and product. The analysis of the social context and the context of use of the product is growing strongly to ensure the growth of this sector. Cosmetic products are designed to offer pleasant sensory experiences and meet different human needs. In cosmetics the sensory experience is given through the cosmetic "vehicle" transmitting a unique sensation to the skin thanks to its ingredients

Imaging characteristics of pleural tumours

Malignant mesothelioma is doubtless the more known pleural tumour. However, according to the morphology code of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICDO), there are several histological types of pleural neoplasms, divided into mesothelial, mesenchymal and lymphoproliferative tumours, that may be misdiagnosed. In this paper we summarise and illustrate the incidence aspects and the clinical, pathological and radiological features of these neoplasms

Time-intensity curves obtained after microbubble injection can be used to differentiate responders from nonresponders among patients with clinically active Crohn disease after 6 weeks of pharmacologic treatment

Purpose: To assess whether contrast material-enhanced ultrasonography (US) can be used to differentiate responders from nonresponders among patients with clinically active Crohn disease after\ub1weeks of pharmacologic treatment. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was approved by our ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Fifty consecutive patients (26 men and 24 women; mean age, 34.76 years\ub19) with a proved diagnosis of active Crohn disease who were scheduled to begin therapy with biologics (infliximab or adalimumab) were included, with enrollment from June 1, 2013, to June 1, 2015. In each patient, the terminal ileal loop was imaged with contrast-enhanced US before the beginning and at the end of week\ub1of pharmacologic treatment. Time-intensity curves obtained in responders (those with a decrease in the Crohn disease endoscopic index of severity score of 25-44 before treatment to 10-15 after treatment, an inflammatory score ,7, and/or a decrease 6570 in the Crohn disease activity index score compared with baseline) and nonresponders were compared with Mann-Whitney test. Results: Responders (n = 31) and nonresponders (n = 19) differed (P , .05) in the percent change of peak enhancement (240.78\ub162.85 vs 53.21\ub172.5; P = .0001), wash-in (234.8\ub167.72 vs 89.44\ub1145.32; P = .001) and washout (25.64\ub1130.71 vs 166.83\ub1204.44; P = .002) rate, wash-in perfusion index (242.29\ub159.21 vs 50.96\ub171.13; P = .001), area under the time-intensity curve (AUC; 246.17\ub148.42 vs 41.78\ub187.64; P = .001), AUC during wash-in (243.93\ub154.29 vs 39.79\ub170.85; P = .001), and AUC during washout (249.36\ub147.42 vs 42.65\ub197.09; P = .001). Responders and nonresponders did not differ in the percent change of rise time (5.09\ub149.13 vs 6.24\ub148.06; P = .93) and time to peak enhancement (8.82\ub154.5 vs 10.21\ub143.25; P = .3). Conclusion: Analysis of time-intensity curves obtained after injection of microbubble contrast material\ub1weeks after beginning pharmacologic treatment can be used to differentiate responders from nonresponders among patients with clinically active Crohn disease

Growing Up with Type 1 narcolepsy: Its anthropometric and endocrine features

Study Objectives: To evaluate the effect of type 1 narcolepsy (NT1) on anthropometric and endocrine features in childhood/adolescence, focusing on patterns and correlates of weight, pubertal development, and growth in treated and untreated patients. Methods: We collected anthropometric (height, weight, body mass index (BMI) z-scores), pubertal, metabolic, and endocrine data from 72 NT1 patients at diagnosis and all available premorbid anthropometric parameters of patients from their pediatric files (n = 30). New measurements at 1-y reassessment in patients undergoing different treatments were compared with baseline data. Results: We detected a high prevalence of overweight (29.2%), obesity (25%), metabolic syndrome (18.8%), and precocious puberty (16.1%), but no signs of linear growth alterations at diagnosis. According to anthropometric records, weight gain started soon after NT1 onset. At 1-y follow-up reassessment, sodium oxybate treatment was associated with a significant BMI z-score reduction (-1.29 \ub1 0.30, p &lt; 0.0005) after adjusting for baseline age, sex, sleepiness, and BMI. Conclusions: NT1 onset in children/adolescents is associated with rapid weight gain up to overweight/obesity and precocious puberty without affecting growth. In our study, sodium oxybate treatment resulted in a significant weight reduction in NT1 overweight/obese patients at 1-y follow-up

IgM and IgG as markers of infection transplacentary Neospora caninum in bovine fetuses

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em 260 amostras de soro coletadas de fetos bovinos de julho de 2007 a março de 2008, em abatedouro do município de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Para detecção de anticorpos anti-N. caninum, a técnica de imunofluorescência indireta foi utilizada tanto para a detecção de imunoglobulinas G e M. Amostras com títulos e" 25 foram consideradas positivas. Das 260 amostras testadas, 15% (39/260) foram positivas para anticorpos anti-N. caninum. Destas, em 38 (97,4%) foi detectada a presença de IgG anti-N. caninum e em seis (15,4%) de IgM. Em cinco amostras (12,8%) detectaram-se ambos, IgG e IgM. Os resultados reafirmam a habilidade do N. caninum em determinar infecção fetal. A pesquisa de IgM foi de limitada importância na detecção da infecção via transplacentária em soro fetal bovino.The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in serum samples collected from 260 bovine fetuses, between July 2007 and March 2008, in an abattoir in the municipality of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. An indirect fluorescent antibody test was used to detect anti-N. caninum immunoglobulins G (IgG) and M (IgM), using a cut-off of 1:25. Considering IgG or IgM detection, 15% (39/260) of the samples tested were found positive. Among the positive samples, 38 (97.4%) were positive for IgG and 6 (15.4%) for IgM. However 5 (12.8%) of it were positive for both IgG and IgM. These results are in agreement with the proven ability of N. caninum to fetal infection. IgM testing was few relevant to detect N. caninum transplacental infection through fetal bovine serum analisys

Oral chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: expert perspectives on its role in clinical practice

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CO2 reactivity with Mg2NiH4 synthesized by: In situ monitoring of mechanical milling

CO2 capture and conversion are a key research field for the transition towards an economy only based on renewable energy sources. In this regard, hydride materials are a potential option for CO2 methanation since they can provide hydrogen and act as a catalytic species. In this work, Mg2NiH4 complex hydride is synthesized by in situ monitoring of mechanical milling under a hydrogen atmosphere from a 2MgH2:Ni stoichiometric mixture. Temperature and pressure evolution is monitored, and the material is characterized, during milling in situ, thus providing a good insight into the synthesis process. The cubic polymorph of Mg2NiH4 (S.G. Fm3m) starts to be formed in the early beginning of the mechanical treatment due to the mechanical stress induced by the milling process. Then, after 25 hours of milling, Mg2NiH4 with a monoclinic (S.G. C12/c1) structure appears. The formation of the monoclinic polymorph is most likely related to the stress release that follows the continuous refinement of the material's microstructure. At the end of the milling process, after 60 hours, the as-milled material is composed of 90.8 wt% cubic Mg2NiH4, 5.7 wt% monoclinic Mg2NiH4, and 3.5 wt% remnant Ni. The as-milled Mg2NiH4 shows high reactivity for CO2 conversion into CH4. Under static conditions at 400 °C for 5 hours, the interactions between as-milled Mg2NiH4 and CO2 result in total CO2 consumption and in the formation of the catalytic system Ni-MgNi2-Mg2Ni/MgO. Experimental evidence and thermodynamic equilibrium calculations suggest that the global methanation mechanism takes place through the adsorption of C and the direct solid gasification towards CH4 formation.Fil: Grasso, María Laura. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Investigación Aplicada CAB. Departamento Fisicoquímica de Materiales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Puszkiel, Julián Atilio. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Investigación Aplicada CAB. Departamento Fisicoquímica de Materiales; Argentina. Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht GmbH; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Gennari, Fabiana Cristina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. Gerencia de Investigación Aplicada CAB. Departamento Fisicoquímica de Materiales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Santoru, Antonio. Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht GmbH; AlemaniaFil: Dornheim, Martin. Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht GmbH; AlemaniaFil: Pistidda, Claudio. Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht GmbH; Alemani