Fohotodermatoses and Skin Cancer

Preface Skin cancer is one of the most common types of tumors in Western countries. In the United States only, more than one million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. Although the absolute number of skin cancer patients is increasing, the death is inversely decreasing, due to the early detection and treatment. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma are three major types of skin cancer. BCC and SCC rarely have metastasis; over 95 percent BCC and SCC patients can be cured. Melanoma only accounts for a small percentage of skin cancer, but it causes 75 percent death of this disease. In this book, we invited a number of experts to present their latest accomplishments on skin cancer research. Although the topics are varied, the authors did great work to help readers better understand skin cancer and learn the knowledge to prevent this disease. There are three sections in this book, starting with etiology. Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is overwhelmingly believed to be the most frequent cause of skin cancer. In this section, the association between UV and photodermatoses, as well as skin cancer is discussed. Desmosomal cadherins are important molecules in tumor cell adhesion and invasion, and their important roles in BCC are also presented in details. In the diagnosis and treatment section, a few new methodologies are described. As known, the outcome of malignant melanoma greatly depends on the thickness of the tumor at the time of treatment. Accurate determination of melanoma lateral and depth of margins using non-invasive imaging technologies is of importance when making sound decisions for treatment and evaluating a five year survival rate. A novel method named differential scanning calorimetry is capable of predicting metastasis of melanoma patients by monitoring the temperature changes of plasma. Electronic miniature X-ray brachytherapy is introduced as a new technology to treat nonmelanoms skin cancer. Although its potential has not yet been fully realized, chemoprevention, in terms of using chemical agents that naturally occur in foods, or are administered as pharmaceuticals to retard or reverse the process of carcinogenesis and progression of cancer, has been recognized to benefit individuals with precancerous lesions or genetic susceptibilities to cancer. In the prevention section, two chapters summarized the most recognized dietary phytochemicals and their potential application in skin cancer. X Preface This book would not have been possible without the contributions of all authors and the support from the publisher. Especially, I will convey my sincere appreciation to Ms. Tajana Jevtic, who has always been available and supportive of me to accomplish this project. Yaguang Xi, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Alabama, US

Probing Lorentz-violating electrodynamics with CMB polarization

We perform a comprehensive study of the signatures of Lorentz violation in electrodynamics on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies. In the framework of the minimal Standard Model Extension (SME), we consider effects generated by renormalizable operators, both CPT-odd and CPT-even. These operators are responsible for sourcing, respectively, cosmic birefringence and circular polarization. We propagate jointly the effects of all the relevant Lorentz-violating parameters to CMB observables and provide constraints with the most recent CMB datasets. We bound the CPT-even coefficient to $k_{F,E+B} < 2.31 \times 10^{-31}$ at 95\% CL. This improves previous CMB bounds by one order of magnitude. The limits we obtain on the CPT-odd coefficients, i.e. $|k_{(V)00}^{(3)}| < 1.54 \times 10^{-44} \; {\rm GeV}$ and $|\mathbf{k_{AF}}| < 0.74 \times 10^{-44} \; {\rm GeV}$ at 95\% CL, are respectively one and two orders of magnitude stronger than previous CMB-based limits, superseding also bounds from non-CMB searches. This analysis provides the strongest constraints to date on CPT-violating coefficients in the minimal SME from CMB searches

A Systematic Review and International Web-Based Survey of Randomized Controlled Trials in the Perioperative and Critical Care Setting: Interventions Reducing Mortality

The authors aimed to identify interventions documented by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reduce mortality in adult critically ill and perioperative patients, followed by a survey of clinicians’ opinions and routine practices to understand the clinicians’ response to such evidence. The authors performed a comprehensive literature review to identify all topics reported to reduce mortality in perioperative and critical care settings according to at least 2 RCTs or to a multicenter RCT or to a single-center RCT plus guidelines. The authors generated position statements that were voted on online by physicians worldwide for agreement, use, and willingness to include in international guidelines. From 262 RCT manuscripts reporting mortality differences in the perioperative and critically ill settings, the authors selected 27 drugs, techniques, and strategies (66 RCTs, most frequently published by the New England Journal of Medicine [13 papers], Lancet [7], and Journal of the American Medical Association [5]) with an agreement ≥67% from over 250 physicians (46 countries). Noninvasive ventilation was the intervention supported by the largest number of RCTs (n = 13). The concordance between agreement and use (a positive answer both to “do you agree” and “do you use”) showed differences between Western and other countries and between anesthesiologists and intensive care unit physicians. The authors identified 27 clinical interventions with randomized evidence of survival benefit and strong clinician support in support of their potential life-saving properties in perioperative and critically ill patients with noninvasive ventilation having the highest level of support. However, clinician views appear affected by specialty and geographical location

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR &lt; 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction &gt; 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR &lt; 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR &gt; 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

Il ruolo dell'esercizio fisico nel trattamento delle disabilità neuro-oncologiche: a scoping review.

Background: l'effetto diretto di un tumore cerebrale e/o l'esito del suo trattamento possono generare cambiamenti fisici, emotivi, cognitivi e psicologici nei pazienti. L'esercizio fisico può rivelarsi una strategia di trattamento utile non solo a migliorare queste problematiche, ma anche a incrementare la qualità di vita di queste persone. Obiettivi: gli obiettivi di questa scoping review sono mappare e riassumere la letteratura presente per identificare che effetto abbia l'esercizio fisico sulle disabilità, motorie e cognitive, causate dai tumori cerebrali. Materiali e metodi: sono stati inclusi nello studio un case series, un trial clinico controllato con crossover e un trial clinico controllato e randomizzato pilota. Questi studi esaminano popolazioni di persone affette o guarite da un tumore cerebrale, che hanno sviluppato delle disabilità; non è stato imposto un limite di età o un tipo di tumore cerebrale specifico. La ricerca è stata condotta da un singolo esaminatore, consultando le banche dati di PubMed, PEDro e Cochrane. Risultati: i risultati derivano dall'analisi dei tre studi e portano a delle conclusioni concordi, se pur con qualche variazione da studio a studio. Tutti e tre evidenziano un miglioramento delle disabilità (motorie, cognitive e comportamentali) causate dal tumore; ogni studio ha poi degli outcomes propri, come lo spessore corticale, l'umore, la stanchezza ecc, i quali hanno ottenuto comunque dei risultati positivi o neutri. Conclusioni: un programma riabilitativo basato sull'esercizio fisico ha dimostrato di avere un effetto positivo sulle disabilità causate dai tumori cerebrali; tuttavia, sarebbe utile approfondire ulteriormente questo aspetto, poiché ancora sono presenti poche evidenze in letteratura a riguardo. E' comunque consigliabile per i pazienti affetti da queste problematiche fare attività fisica

Fohotodermatoses and Skin Cancer

Preface Skin cancer is one of the most common types of tumors in Western countries. In the United States only, more than one million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. Although the absolute number of skin cancer patients is increasing, the death is inversely decreasing, due to the early detection and treatment. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma are three major types of skin cancer. BCC and SCC rarely have metastasis; over 95 percent BCC and SCC patients can be cured. Melanoma only accounts for a small percentage of skin cancer, but it causes 75 percent death of this disease. In this book, we invited a number of experts to present their latest accomplishments on skin cancer research. Although the topics are varied, the authors did great work to help readers better understand skin cancer and learn the knowledge to prevent this disease. There are three sections in this book, starting with etiology. Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is overwhelmingly believed to be the most frequent cause of skin cancer. In this section, the association between UV and photodermatoses, as well as skin cancer is discussed. Desmosomal cadherins are important molecules in tumor cell adhesion and invasion, and their important roles in BCC are also presented in details. In the diagnosis and treatment section, a few new methodologies are described. As known, the outcome of malignant melanoma greatly depends on the thickness of the tumor at the time of treatment. Accurate determination of melanoma lateral and depth of margins using non-invasive imaging technologies is of importance when making sound decisions for treatment and evaluating a five year survival rate. A novel method named differential scanning calorimetry is capable of predicting metastasis of melanoma patients by monitoring the temperature changes of plasma. Electronic miniature X-ray brachytherapy is introduced as a new technology to treat nonmelanoms skin cancer. Although its potential has not yet been fully realized, chemoprevention, in terms of using chemical agents that naturally occur in foods, or are administered as pharmaceuticals to retard or reverse the process of carcinogenesis and progression of cancer, has been recognized to benefit individuals with precancerous lesions or genetic susceptibilities to cancer. In the prevention section, two chapters summarized the most recognized dietary phytochemicals and their potential application in skin cancer. X Preface This book would not have been possible without the contributions of all authors and the support from the publisher. Especially, I will convey my sincere appreciation to Ms. Tajana Jevtic, who has always been available and supportive of me to accomplish this project. Yaguang Xi, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Alabama, US