Association Between Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Prostate and Oncological Outcomes after Primary Treatment for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT: The diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis has been extensively explored. Little is known about the prognostic value of mpMRI suspicion scores and other quantitative mpMRI information. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the current literature assessing the relationship between pretreatment mpMRI and oncological outcomes after primary treatment for PCa to assess the role of mpMRI as a prognostic tool. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A computerized bibliographic search of MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library CENTRAL databases was performed for all studies assessing the relationship between mpMRI and oncological outcomes after primary treatment for PCa. The review protocol is registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020209899). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of six studies were included. Reliable evidence is still limited in this field. The Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score was an independent predictor of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) in the majority of the studies included. The tumor volume at mpMRI was not significantly associated with BCR after RP for PCa. Data on disease progression and PCa-specific mortality are limited. Heterogeneity among the studies was substantial. CONCLUSIONS: The review shows that PI-RADS scores provide information on the future likelihood of cancer recurrence or progression, at least for men undergoing RP. We are of the view that this information should be taken into account to identify men at higher risk of unfavorable outcomes. PATIENT SUMMARY: A higher Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System score for magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate seems to be positively associated with oncological failure in prostate cancer and should be incorporated into future risk models

Tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma masquerading asthma: A case report

BACKGROUND: Tracheal tumors are often misdiagnosed as asthma and are treated with inhaled steroids and bronchodilators without resolution. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, a patient with tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma who had been previously diagnosed with difficult asthma was reported. The possibility of the presence of localized airway obstruction was raised when the flow-volume curve suggesting fixed airway obstruction, was obtained. CONCLUSION: The presenting case report emphasizes the fact that not all wheezes are asthma. It is critical to bear in mind that if a patient does not respond to appropriate anti-asthma therapy, localized obstructions should be ruled out before establishing the diagnosis of asthma

Community-acquired invasive liver abscess syndrome caused by a K1 serotype Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate in Brazil: a case report of hypervirulent ST23

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Medicina Divisão de Doenças InfecciosasUNIFESP, Depto. de MedicinaUNIFESP, Depto. de Medicina Divisão de Doenças InfecciosasSciEL

Characterizing the normal proteome of human ciliary body

BACKGROUND: The ciliary body is the circumferential muscular tissue located just behind the iris in the anterior chamber of the eye. It plays a pivotal role in the production of aqueous humor, maintenance of the lens zonules and accommodation by changing the shape of the crystalline lens. The ciliary body is the major target of drugs against glaucoma as its inhibition leads to a drop in intraocular pressure. A molecular study of the ciliary body could provide a better understanding about the pathophysiological processes that occur in glaucoma. Thus far, no large-scale proteomic investigation has been reported for the human ciliary body. RESULTS: In this study, we have carried out an in-depth LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis of normal human ciliary body and have identified 2,815 proteins. We identified a number of proteins that were previously not described in the ciliary body including importin 5 (IPO5), atlastin-2 (ATL2), B-cell receptor associated protein 29 (BCAP29), basigin (BSG), calpain-1 (CAPN1), copine 6 (CPNE6), fibulin 1 (FBLN1) and galectin 1 (LGALS1). We compared the plasma proteome with the ciliary body proteome and found that the large majority of proteins in the ciliary body were also detectable in the plasma while 896 proteins were unique to the ciliary body. We also classified proteins using pathway enrichment analysis and found most of proteins associated with ubiquitin pathway, EIF2 signaling, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: More than 95% of the identified proteins have not been previously described in the ciliary body proteome. This is the largest catalogue of proteins reported thus far in the ciliary body that should provide new insights into our understanding of the factors involved in maintaining the secretion of aqueous humor. The identification of these proteins will aid in understanding various eye diseases of the anterior segment such as glaucoma and presbyopia

Human immunotypes impose selection on viral genotypes through viral epitope specificity

BACKGROUND: Understanding the genetic interplay between human hosts and infectious pathogens is crucial for how we interpret virulence factors. Here, we tested for associations between HIV and host genetics, and interactive genetic effects on viral load (VL) in HIV+ ART-naive clinical trial participants. METHODS: HIV genomes were sequenced and the encoded amino acid (AA) variants were associated with VL, human single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and imputed HLA alleles, using generalized linear models with Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: Human (388,501 SNPs) and HIV (3,010 variants) genetic data was available for 2,122 persons. Four HIV variants were associated with VL (p-values<1.66×10 -5). Twelve HIV variants were associated with a range of 1-512 human SNPs (p-value<4.28×10 -11). We found 46 associations between HLA alleles and HIV variants (p-values<1.29×10 -7). We found HIV variants and immunotypes when analyzed separately, were associated with lower VL, whereas the opposite was true when analyzed in concert. Epitope binding prediction showed HLA alleles to be weaker binders of associated HIV AA variants relative to alternative variants on the same position. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show the importance of immunotype specificity on viral antigenic determinants, and the identified genetic interplay puts emphasis that viral and human genetics should be studied in the context of each other

Intraprostatic Botulinum Toxin Type A injection in patients with benign prostatic enlargement: duration of the effect of a single treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Botulinum Toxin Type-A (BoNT/A) intraprostatic injection can induce prostatic involution and improve LUTS and urinary flow in patients with Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPE). However, the duration of these effects is unknown. The objective of this work was to determine the duration of prostate volume reduction after one single intraprostatic injection of 200U of Botulinum Toxin Type-A.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is an extension of a 6 month study in which 21 frail elderly patients with refractory urinary retention and unfit for surgery were submitted to intraprostatic injection of BoNT/A-200U, by ultrasound guided transrectal approach. In spite of frail conditions, eleven patients could be followed during 18 months. Prostate volume, total serum PSA, maximal flow rate (Qmax), residual volume (PVR) and IPSS-QoL scores were determined at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months post-treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean prostate volume at baseline, 82 ± 16 ml progressively decreased from month one coming to 49 ± 9,5 ml (p = 0,003) at month six. From this moment on, prostate volume slowly recovered, becoming identical to baseline at 18 months (73 ± 16 ml, p = 0.03). Albeit non significant, serum PSA showed a 25% decrease from baseline to month 6. The 11 patients resumed spontaneous voiding at month one. Mean Qmax was 11,3 ± 1,7 ml/sec and remained unchanged during the follow-up period. PVR ranged from 55 ± 17 to 82 ± 20 ml and IPSS score from10 to 12 points.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Intraprostatic BoNT/A injection is safe and can reduce prostate volume for a period of 18 months. During this time a marked symptomatic improvement can be maintained.</p

Base of the Toarcian Stage of the Lower Jurassic defined by the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) at the Peniche section (Portugal)

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of Toarcian Stage, Lower Jurassic, is placed at the base of micritic limestone bed 15e at Ponta do Trovão (Peniche, Lusitanian Basin, Portugal; coordinates: 39°22'15''N, 9°23'07''W), 80km north of Lisbon, and coincides with the mass occurrence of the ammonite Dactylioceras (Eodactylites). The Pliensbachian/ Toarcian boundary (PLB/TOA) is contained in a continuous section forming over 450m of carbonate-rich sediments. Tectonics, syn-sedimentary disturbance, metamorphism or significant diagenesis do not significantly affect this area. At the PLB/TOA, no vertical facies changes, stratigraphical gaps or hiatuses have been recorded. The base of the Toarcian Stage is marked in the bed 15e by the first occurrence of D. (E.) simplex, co-occurring with D. (E.) pseudocommune and D. (E.) polymorphum. The ammonite association of D. (Eodactylites) ssp. and other species e.g. Protogrammoceras (Paltarpites) cf. paltum, Lioceratoides aff. ballinense and Tiltoniceras aff. capillatum is particularly significant for the boundary definition and correlation with sections in different basins. Ammonites of the PLB/ TOA are taxa characteristic of both the Mediterranean and Northwest European provinces that allow reliable, global correlations. The PLB/TOA is also characterized by other biostratigraphical markers (brachiopods, calcareous nannofossils, ostracods and benthic foraminifers) and by high-resolution stable carbon and oxygen isotopes, and 87Sr/86Sr ratios that show distinctive changes just above the PLB/TOA, thus providing additional, powerful tools for global correlations. The PBL-TOA lies at the end of a second (and third) order cycle of sea-level change, and the top of bed 15e is interpreted as a sequence boundary. Cyclostratigraphy analysis is available for the Lower Toarcian of Ponta do Trovão. Detailed correlations with the Almonacid de la Cuba section (Iberian Range, Spain) provide complementary data of the ammonite succession in the Northwest European Hawskerense and Paltum Subzones, and magnetostratigraphical data that allow supraregional correlations. The proposal was voted on by the Toarcian Working Group in June, 2012, and by the International Subcommission on Jurassic Stratigraphy in September, 2012, approved by the ICS in November, 2014, and ratified by the IUGS in December, 2014. With this Toarcian GSSP, all international stages of the Lower Jurassic have been officially defined.Several scientists have been members of the Toarcian Working Group. We would like to acknowledge all of them. We are also grateful to the ISJS and ICS members who have made valuable comments on a previous version of this manuscript. We warmly thank Marc Philippe for his help with the literature on Pliensbachian/Toarcian continental successions. We warmly thank Christian Meister and Jim Ogg for their helpful review. Constructive remarks by Jim Ogg on an early version of the paper were greatly appreciated. We also acknowledge the precious help of David Besson for providing the ammonite specimens from the Mouterde collection (Musée des Confluences, Lyon). Ammonite photographs were taken by Emmanuel Robert (Collections de Géologie de Lyon). This paper is dedicated to the memory of Abbé René Mouterde and Serge Elmi, who died in 2007 after having been for years the main supporters of the Peniche section as GSSP of Toarcian Stage. Calcareous nannofossil slides are curated at the Collections de Géologie de Lyon (No. FSL 766535-766617). This work has been supported by the BIOSCALES Project (POCTI/ 36438/PAL/2000), coordinated by the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa; R. B. Rocha thanks the support of A. F. Soares, J. C. Kullberg, P. S. Caetano and P. H. Verdial. Financial support was provided to L. V. Duarte, S. Pinto and M. C. Cabral by Projects PDCTE/CTA/44907/2002 and PTDC/CTE-GIX/098968/2008

Variability of RNA quality extracted from biofilms of foodborne pathogens using different kits impacts mRNA quantification by qPCR

The biofilm formation by foodborne pathogens is known to increase the problem related with surface disinfection procedure in the food processing environment and consequent transmission of these pathogens into the population. Messenger RNA has been increasingly used to understand the action and the consequences of disinfectants in the virulence on such biofilms. RNA quality is an important requirement for any RNA-based analysis since the quality can impair the mRNA quantification. Therefore, we evaluated five different RNA extraction kits using biofilms of the foodborne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica. The five kits yielded RNA with different quantities and qualities. While for E. coli the variability of RNA quality did not affect the quantification of mRNA, the same was not true for L. monocytogenes or S. enterica. Therefore, our results indicate that not all kits are suitable for RNA extraction from bacterial biofilms, and thus, the selection of RNA extraction kit is crucial to obtain accurate and meaningful mRNA quantification.AF and JCB acknowledge the financial support of individual grants SFRH/BD/62359/2009 and SFRH/BD/66250/2009, respectively. The authors acknowledge the gift of bacterial strains to Joana Azeredo and Maria Olivia Pereira.

Study protocol to investigate the effect of a lifestyle intervention on body weight, psychological health status and risk factors associated with disease recurrence in women recovering from breast cancer treatment

Background Breast cancer survivors often encounter physiological and psychological problems related to their diagnosis and treatment that can influence long-term prognosis. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of a lifestyle intervention on body weight and psychological well-being in women recovering from breast cancer treatment, and to determine the relationship between changes in these variables and biomarkers associated with disease recurrence and survival. Methods/design Following ethical approval, a total of 100 patients will be randomly assigned to a lifestyle intervention (incorporating dietary energy restriction in conjunction with aerobic exercise training) or normal care control group. Patients randomised to the dietary and exercise intervention will be given individualised healthy eating dietary advice and written information and attend moderate intensity aerobic exercise sessions on three to five days per week for a period of 24 weeks. The aim of this strategy is to induce a steady weight loss of up to 0.5 Kg each week. In addition, the overall quality of the diet will be examined with a view to (i) reducing the dietary intake of fat to ~25% of the total calories, (ii) eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, (iii) increasing the intake of fibre and reducing refined carbohydrates, and (iv) taking moderate amounts of alcohol. Outcome measures will include body weight and body composition, psychological health status (stress and depression), cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life. In addition, biomarkers associated with disease recurrence, including stress hormones, estrogen status, inflammatory markers and indices of innate and adaptive immune function will be monitored. Discussion This research will provide valuable information on the effectiveness of a practical, easily implemented lifestyle intervention for evoking positive effects on body weight and psychological well-being, two important factors that can influence long-term prognosis in breast cancer survivors. However, the added value of the study is that it will also evaluate the effects of the lifestyle intervention on a range of biomarkers associated with disease recurrence and survival. Considered together, the results should improve our understanding of the potential role that lifestyle-modifiable factors could play in saving or prolonging lives