Comparison of the effect of locking vs standard screws on the mechanical properties of bone-plate constructs in a comminuted diaphyseal fracture model

The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of bone-plate constructs with locking compression plates (LCP) used either with standard screws or with locking screws on an experimental model of comminuted fracture

Efficacy of the combination of long-acting release octreotide and tamoxifen in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomised multicentre phase III study

To assess the efficacy of the combination of long-acting release (LAR) octreotide and tamoxifen (TMX) for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 109 patients with advanced HCC were randomised to receive octreotide LAR combined with TMX (n=56) (experimental treatment group) or TMX alone (n=53; control group). The clinical, biological and tumoural parameters were recorded every 3 months until death. Primary end point was patient survival; secondary end points were the impact of therapy on tumour response, quality of life and variceal bleeding episodes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for assessment of specific prognostic factors. The median survival was 3 months (95% CI 1.4–4.6) for the experimental treatment group and 6 months (CI 95% 2–10) for the control group (P=0.609). There was no difference in terms of α-foetoprotein (α-FP) decrease, tumour regression, improvement of quality of life and prevention of variceal bleeding between the two groups. Variables associated with a better survival in the multivariate analysis were: presence of cirrhosis, α-FP level <400 ng ml−1 and Okuda stage I. The combination of octreotide LAR and TMX does not influence survival, tumour progression or quality of life in patients with advanced HCC

Alternative signaling network activation through different insulin receptor family members caused by pro-mitogenic antidiabetic insulin analogues in human mammary epithelial cells

INTRODUCTION: Insulin analogues are designed to have improved pharmacokinetic parameters compared to regular human insulin. This provides a sustained control of blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. All novel insulin analogues are tested for their mitogenic side effects, however these assays do not take into account the molecular mode of action of different insulin analogues. Insulin analogues can bind the insulin receptor and the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor with different affinities and consequently will activate different downstream signaling pathways. METHODS: Here we used a panel of MCF7 human breast cancer cell lines that selectively express either one of the isoforms of the INSR or the IGF1R. We applied a transcriptomics approach to assess the differential transcriptional programs activated in these cells by either insulin, IGF1 or X10 treatment. RESULTS: Based on the differentially expressed genes between insulin versus IGF1 and X10 treatment, we retrieved a mitogenic classifier gene set. Validation by RT-qPCR confirmed the robustness of this gene set. The translational potential of these mitogenic classifier genes was examined in primary human mammary cells and in mammary gland tissue of mice in an in vivo model. The predictive power of the classifier genes was evaluated by testing all commercial insulin analogues in the in vitro model and defined X10 and glargine as the most potent mitogenic insulin analogues. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that these mitogenic classifier genes can be used to test the mitogenic potential of novel insulin analogues as well as other alternative molecules with an anticipated affinity for the IGF1R. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13058-015-0600-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Polypoid colon mucosa in a leukemia patient.

A woman, followed for chronic myeloid leukaemia, presented for a routine examination. Her medical history was marked by recurrent Helicobacter pylori gastritis and polymyalgica rheumatica. She was under dasatinib and hormone replacement therapy. At clinical examination, she complained about digestive disorders with altered bowel habits. Biology, including leucocyte count, remained normal. A colonoscopy was performed. Endoscopic examination revealed a colonic mucosa covered by multiple tiny nodular lesions (<5mm) from the hepatic angle to the sigmoid and with an abnormal pattern of vascularisation (Fig. 1). Staged biopsies were taken. Microscopic examination revealed discrete achi-tectural distortions. The stroma contained a mixed inflammatory infiltrate composed of neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry for CD3, CD5, CD20 and CD79 did not bring arguments for a lymphoma. There were no malignant or dysplastic cells. (Fig. 2). What is your diagnosis?info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Fibroscan (Transient Elastography) is the most reliable non-invasive method for the assessment of severe fibrosis and cirrhosis in alcoholic liver disease

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Fibroscan: the most reliable non invasive method to assess severe fibrosis and cirrhosis in ALD

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Weight loss, fever and arthralgia in a 43-year-old man treated for follicular lymphoma.

SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Accuracy and other quality indicators of solid pancreatic mass endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and biopsy in two academic endoscopy centers.

Endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/FNB) is highly accurate, but discrepancies between cytological and surgical diagnoses are still observed. We aimed to determine its accuracy and monitor quality indicators in our facilities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe