Does intraoperative application of TachoSil reduce the number of lymphoceles after pelvic lymphadenectomy?

Objectives: The degree of lymphoceles prevention was assessed using collagen patches coated with human coagulation factors (TachoSil, Nycomed International Management GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland). The study enrolled 50 consecutive patients with endometrial and cervical cancer stages IB to II who had undergone open hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PL). In addition, the drainage volumes of 22 patients with hypertension were compared to that of the rest of the study population. Furthermore, occurrence of lymphocele in patients with endometrial and cervical cancer were compared after completion of adjuvant treatment. Material and methods: Patients were simultaneously randomized in two groups: as a control (side without TachoSil applied) and study group (side with TachoSil applied). All surgical parameters were collected, and patients underwent ultrasound examination on postoperative days 1, 6, and 30, and at the end of treatment. Results: The TachoSil Group showed a lower drainage volume, 30 days after surgery, while outflow of fluid occurred in 11 (22%) of all TachoSil Group cases and 22 (44%) of all control group cases. Furthermore, two patients in the control group had symptomatic lymphocele, while the same number of cases was observed in the TachoSil Group. However, the TachoSil Group demonstrated a decreased tendency to lymphocele occurrence after the end of adjuvant therapy. Here, patients with the collagen patch developed lymphocele in 12% of all cases, as opposed to 18% without TachoSil. Conclusions: TachoSil is a useful support treatment option for reducing drainage volume and preventing lymphocele development after lymphadenectomy

On the segmental dynamics and the glass transition behavior of poly(2- vinylpyridine) in one- and two-dimensional nanometric confinement

Geometric nanoconfinement, in one and two dimensions, has a fundamental influence on the segmental dynamics of polymer glass-formers and can be markedly different from that observed in the bulk state. In this work, with the use of dielectric spectroscopy, we have investigated the glass transition behavior of poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) confined within alumina nanopores and prepared as a thin film supported on a silicon substrate. P2VP is known to exhibit strong, attractive interactions with confining surfaces due to the ability to form hydrogen bonds. Obtained results show no changes in the temperature evolution of the α-relaxation time in nanopores down to 20 nm size and 24 nm thin film. There is also no evidence of an out-of-equilibrium behavior observed for other glass-forming systems confined at the nanoscale. Nevertheless, in both cases, the confinement effect is seen as a substantial broadening of the α-relaxation time distribution. We discussed the results in terms of the importance of the interfacial energy between the polymer and various substrates, the sensitivity of the glass-transition temperature to density fluctuations, and the density scaling concept

Stężenie wybranych czynników angiogennych w płynie otrzewnowym i surowicy krwi pacjentek z endometriozą

Introduction: Endometriosis is a sex hormone-dependent and successively progressing gynecological disease, characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. The etiology of endometriosis is known to be multifactorial, and its growth depends on immunological, hormonal, genetic and environmental factors. Angiogenesis plays a key role in implantation and growth of endometriotic lesions, as well as in adhesion formation. Physiologically angiogenesis is responsible for neoangiogenesis and recruitment of new capillaries from the already existing capillaries. It is well-documented that altered angiogenesis provokes improper follicular maturation, infertility, recurrent miscarriages, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and carcinogenesis. Factors stimulating angionesis include angiogenin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze angiogenic factor concentration (angiogenin, VEGF, FGF) in blood serum and peritoneal fluid in patients with diagnosed endometriosis and idiopathic infertility. Material and methods: A total of 39 patients were recruited for the study, including 19 patients (study group) diagnosed with endometriosis during the laparoscopic procedure and 20 patients (control group) with idiopathic infertility and no morphologic changes within the pelvis revealed during the laparoscopic procedure. All patients underwent laparoscopy during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Vein blood sample was obtained before the procedure and during laparoscopy the entire peritoneal fluid was aspirated for further measurement of VEGF, FGF and angiogenin concentrations. Results: Angiogenin concentration in peritoneal fluid was statistically higher in patient with idiopathic infertility in comparison to endometriosis (p0.05). There were no significant differences between serum and peritoneal fluid in case of VEGF, FGF and angiogenin in any of the groups. Conclusions: Angiogenic factors concentration (VEGF, FGF, agiogenin) in the peritoneal fluid and blood serum during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is not a diagnostic criterion for endometriosis.Wstęp: Endometrioza jest hormonozależną, przewlekłą i postępującą chorobą charakteryzującą się występowaniem funkcjonującej tkanki endometrialnej poza jamą macicy. Etiologia endometriozy jest wieloczynnikowa, a rozwój jej zależy od czynników immunologicznych, hormonalnych, genetycznych i środowiskowych. Jednym z kluczowych procesów odpowiedzialnych za implantację i wzrost zmian endometriotycznych oraz tworzenie zrostów jest angiogeneza. Fizjologicznie proces ten odpowiada za powstawanie nowych naczyń oraz przebudowę już istniejących. Udowodniono związek pomiędzy występowaniem zaburzeń procesu angiogenezy a brakiem owulacji, niepłodnością, nawracającymi poronieniami, zespołem hiperstymulacji jajników oraz nowotworzeniem. Do czynników pobudzających angiogenezę możemy zaliczyć między innymi angiogeninę, naczyniowy czynnik wzrostu śródbłonka (VEGF) oraz czynnik wzrostu fibroblastów (FGF). Cel pracy: Celem pracy była ocena stężenia czynników angiogennych (angiogenina, VEGF, FGF) w surowicy krwi żylnej oraz płynie otrzewnowym pacjentek z endometriozą i niepłodnością idiopatyczną. Materiały i metody: Do badania włączono 39 pacjentek. Grupę badaną stanowiło 19 pacjentek, u których w trakcie laparoskopii zdiagnozowano endometriozę, natomiast do grupy kontrolnej włączono 20 pacjentek z niepłodnością o niewyjaśnionej etiologii, u których w trakcie laparoskopii nie stwierdzono zmian morfologicznych w obrębie narządów miednicy mniejszej. Pacjentki zostały poddane laparoskopii w fazie folikularnej cyklu miesiączkowego. Przed zabiegiem od wszystkich pacjentek pobrano krew z żyły łokciowej, a podczas operacji, bezpośrednio po wprowadzeniu trokarów aspirowano całą widoczną objętość płynu otrzewnowego w celu oznaczenia stężenia VEGF, FGF i angiogeniny. Wyniki: W grupie pacjentek z niewyjaśnioną niepłodnością stwierdzono istotnie statystycznie (p0,05). Stężenie VEGF i FGF w surowicy krwi oraz w płynie otrzewnowym było podobne u pacjentek z endometriozą i z niepłodnością idiopatyczną. (p>0,05). Nie wykazano istotnych różnic między surowicą a płynem otrzewnowym dotyczących stężeń VEGF, FGF i angiogeniny w każdej z grup. Wniosek: Stężenie czynników angiogennych (VEGF, FGF, angiogenina) w płynie otrzewnowym i w surowicy krwi kobiet w folikularnej fazie cyklu nie jest markerem odzwierciedlającym występowanie endometriozy

Glass Transition Dynamics of Poly(phenylmethylsiloxane) Confined within Alumina Nanopores with Different Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) Coatings

Dielectric spectroscopy (DS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to study the effect of changes in the surface conditions on the segmental dynamics of poly(phenylmethylsiloxane) confined in alumina nanopores (AAO). The inner surface of the pores was modified by using the atomic layer deposition technique. Coated membranes include 5 nm thick layers of hafnium oxide, titanium oxide, and silicon oxide, exhibiting different wetting properties. Modification of the surface conditions dramatically affects the interfacial interactions between the polymer and confining surface. The interfacial energy calculations indicate a decrease of γSL value from 18.7 mN/m in SiO2-coated to 0.5 mN/m in HfO2-coated nanopores. The results of the dielectric relaxation study demonstrate that the segmental relaxation time of confined PMPS 2.5k depends on the thermal treatment protocol and the hydrophilic/hydrophobic character of the pore walls. From calorimetric measurements, we found that the two glass transitions events are still observed, even in the absence of strong interfacial interactions. Values of both Tgs do not depend strongly on the chemical nature of the surface. In this way, changes in the glass-transition behavior of the tested polymer confined in ALD-coated nanopores cannot be rationalized in terms of the polymer/substrate interfacial energy. Eliminating strongly adhered surfaces does not eliminate the puzzling two-Tgs effect seen in cylindrical nanopores

Acetate Promotes T Cell Effector Function during Glucose Restriction.

Competition for nutrients like glucose can metabolically restrict T cells and contribute to their hyporesponsiveness during cancer. Metabolic adaptation to the surrounding microenvironment is therefore key for maintaining appropriate cell function. For instance, cancer cells use acetate as a substrate alternative to glucose to fuel metabolism and growth. Here, we show that acetate rescues effector function in glucose-restricted CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, acetate promotes histone acetylation and chromatin accessibility and enhances IFN-γ gene transcription and cytokine production in an acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACSS)-dependent manner. Ex vivo acetate treatment increases IFN-γ production by exhausted T cells, whereas reducing ACSS expression in T cells impairs IFN-γ production by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and tumor clearance. Thus, hyporesponsive T cells can be epigenetically remodeled and reactivated by acetate, suggesting that pathways regulating the use of substrates alternative to glucose could be therapeutically targeted to promote T cell function during cancer

Reply to Nielsen et al. social mindfulness is associated with countries’ environmental performance and individual environmental concern

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

From local social mindfulness to global sustainability efforts?

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background In estimating the global burden of cancer, adolescents and young adults with cancer are often overlooked, despite being a distinct subgroup with unique epidemiology, clinical care needs, and societal impact. Comprehensive estimates of the global cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years) are lacking. To address this gap, we analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, with a focus on the outcome of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), to inform global cancer control measures in adolescents and young adults. Methods Using the GBD 2019 methodology, international mortality data were collected from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and population-based cancer registry inputs modelled with mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Incidence was computed with mortality estimates and corresponding MIRs. Prevalence estimates were calculated using modelled survival and multiplied by disability weights to obtain years lived with disability (YLDs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated as age-specific cancer deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. The main outcome was DALYs (the sum of YLLs and YLDs). Estimates were presented globally and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles (countries ranked and divided into five equal SDI groups), and all estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). For this analysis, we used the age range of 15-39 years to define adolescents and young adults. Findings There were 1.19 million (95% UI 1.11-1.28) incident cancer cases and 396 000 (370 000-425 000) deaths due to cancer among people aged 15-39 years worldwide in 2019. The highest age-standardised incidence rates occurred in high SDI (59.6 [54.5-65.7] per 100 000 person-years) and high-middle SDI countries (53.2 [48.8-57.9] per 100 000 person-years), while the highest age-standardised mortality rates were in low-middle SDI (14.2 [12.9-15.6] per 100 000 person-years) and middle SDI (13.6 [12.6-14.8] per 100 000 person-years) countries. In 2019, adolescent and young adult cancers contributed 23.5 million (21.9-25.2) DALYs to the global burden of disease, of which 2.7% (1.9-3.6) came from YLDs and 97.3% (96.4-98.1) from YLLs. Cancer was the fourth leading cause of death and tenth leading cause of DALYs in adolescents and young adults globally. Interpretation Adolescent and young adult cancers contributed substantially to the overall adolescent and young adult disease burden globally in 2019. These results provide new insights into the distribution and magnitude of the adolescent and young adult cancer burden around the world. With notable differences observed across SDI settings, these estimates can inform global and country-level cancer control efforts. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe