Serum level of serotonin during real and during exercise in paraplegic patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum level of serotonin (5-HT) during rest and response to exercise in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) with different levels of physical activity. Twenty-five male subjects with traumatic paraplegia, the neurological levels being between T1 and T12, volunteered for the study. They were divided into two groups matched for age, weight and time since injury, according to the level of physical activity: 14 inactive and 11 subjects regularly involved in sports activity and considered active. They all performed a maximal spiroergometric test with an arm crank ergometer. Two samples of blood were collected for 5-HT determination, during rest (PRE) and immediately after exercise test (POST). Serum 5-HT concentration was measured by high performance liquid chromatography using electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED). the results showed that peak oxygen uptake ((V) over dot O-2peak) was higher in the active group (27.08 +/- 2.60 vs 18.89 +/- 5.58 mL.kg(-1).min(-1), P0.05) or POST values (275.44 vs 311.05 ng.mL(-1), P>0.05). Both groups showed an increment in 5-HT after maximal exercise, but only in the active group it reached statistical significance (Wilcoxon test, P<0.02). Our results show that chronic paraplegic individuals have normal resting serum serotonin levels and normal response to exercise. the relationship between training status, mood elevation and 5-HT in SCI could not be established in the present study, and further investigation is needed to clarify this issue.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthopaed & Traumatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Goias Catalao, Goiania, Go, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthopaed & Traumatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Anomalous transport in disordered fracture networks: Spatial Markov model for dispersion with variable injection modes

We investigate tracer transport on random discrete fracture networks that are characterized by the statistics of the fracture geometry and hydraulic conductivity. While it is well known that tracer transport through fractured media can be anomalous and particle injection modes can have major impact on dispersion, the incorporation of injection modes into effective transport modeling has remained an open issue. The fundamental reason behind this challenge is that-even if the Eulerian fluid velocity is steady-the Lagrangian velocity distribution experienced by tracer particles evolves with time from its initial distribution, which is dictated by the injection mode, to a stationary velocity distribution. We quantify this evolution by a Markov model for particle velocities that are equidistantly sampled along trajectories. This stochastic approach allows for the systematic incorporation of the initial velocity distribution and quantifies the interplay between velocity distribution and spatial and temporal correlation. The proposed spatial Markov model is characterized by the initial velocity distribution, which is determined by the particle injection mode, the stationary Lagrangian velocity distribution, which is derived from the Eulerian velocity distribution, and the spatial velocity correlation length, which is related to the characteristic fracture length. This effective model leads to a time-domain random walk for the evolution of particle positions and velocities, whose joint distribution follows a Boltzmann equation. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed model can successfully predict anomalous transport through discrete fracture networks with different levels of heterogeneity and arbitrary tracer injection modes. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd.PKK and SL acknowledge a grant (16AWMP- B066761-04) from the AWMP Program funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Korean government and the support from Future Research Program (2E27030) funded by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). PKK and RJ acknowledge a MISTI Global Seed Funds award. MD acknowledges the support of the European Research Council (ERC) through the project MHetScale (617511). TLB acknowledges the support of European Research Council (ERC) through the project Re- activeFronts (648377). RJ acknowledges the support of the US Department of Energy through a DOE Early Career Award (grant DE-SC0009286). The data to reproduce the work can be obtained from the corresponding author.N

Postrecurrence Survival After Liver Transplantation for Liver Metastases From Neuroendocrine Tumors

Background: Liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is an accepted indication for liver transplantation (LT). Despite strict patient selection, post-LT recurrence is observed in 30-50% of cases. Postrecurrence survival is poorly investigated as well as factors influencing postrecurrence outcomes. Methods: Consecutive patients treated at a single Institution for post-LT recurrence of NET between Jan 1st, 2004 and Dec 31th, 2018 were included. Baseline patients' characteristics, data on the primary tumor, pretransplant therapies, posttransplant recurrence and treatments and long-term outcomes were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results: Thirty-two patients presented with post-LT NET recurrence occurring 82.9 months (IQR 29.4-119.1) from LT, and the most common sites were abdominal lymph nodes (59.4%), peritoneum (6.3%) and lungs (6.3%). Fourteen patients (43.8%) underwent surgery with radical intent. Five- and 10-years survival after recurrence were 76.3% and 45.5%, respectively. Only time from LT to recurrence had a significant impact on post recurrence survival, being 5-years OS 89.5% versus 0% for patients recurring &gt; 24 months after LT versus ≤ 24 months, respectively (p=.001). Moreover, for patients with Mib-1 &gt; 2% at recurrence, 5-years OS was 87.5% versus 0% for those undergoing surgery versus loco-regional or systemic treatments (p=0.011). Conclusions: The presented results, although based on a retrospective and relatively small series, show that excellent long-term survival is observed after post-LT NET recurrence, particularly in those patients recurring long after LT (&gt; 24 months). An aggressive surgical treatment might result in a new chance of cure for a selected subgroup of patients

Shallow Hydrothermal vent system at Panarea Island (Italy): a multidisciplinary study based on geochemical, geophysical and biochemical aspects in an extreme marine environment

Exploration of Shallow Hydrothermal Vents (SHVs) is usually focused on analysis of major chemical species while few studies focused are focused on the fate of trace and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and the consequences spread on the marine environment. Here, we show progress concerning trace elements and REE geochemistry and biochemical aspects about the natural system in the surrounding area of Panarea Island (Eolian Islands, Italy). Samples were collected from submerged vents at different depths and analyzed for major and trace elements and REEs from June 2017 to August 2022. Measured chemical-physical parameters, such as pH and Eh, span from 2.5 to 8.2 and from -292 to 254 mV, respectively, that express an inverse correlation compared to Fe, Al, Mn and REEs, revealing pH control precipitation/dissolution process of solid phases. A positive correlation is also observed for REEs and Fe-Al- Mn in fluid, showing simultaneous variations of these elements due to coprecipitation and adsorption onto the surface of oxyhydroxide of Fe, Al and Mn, involving scavenging process of REEs. Hydrothermal discharging fluids are responsible for generating Fe, Al and Mn-bearing minerals controlling the fractionation of REEs and trace elements.We propose a further multidisciplinary study involving geochemical, biochemical and geophysical observation, and analysis of the microbial community in two different seasons (May – August 2022) and the correlation with hydrothermal flow measurements data from a permanent multiparametric observatory (infrastructure of IPANEMA Project), located nearby the hydrothermal vent, known as Black Point (23m b.s.l.). The microbial community was investigated to understand microbial biodiversity and its role in the homeostasis of this extreme ecosystem. The metagenomic DNA was extracted from seawater, marine sediment and biofouling. The microbial community was determined by sequencing a bacterial marker gene (16S rRNA gene). We observed differences in hydrothermal flow corresponding to variations in the abundance of different phyla, showing that the microbial community changes in dependence on physical-chemical conditions and that each sample carries its bacterial fingerprint. The study of hydrothermal flow variations could give insights into how the microbial communities and hydrothermal areas interact and to what extent

Exploring the feasibility of a combined exercise program for patients with advanced lung or pancreatic cancer

Objective: This study aims to assess the safety, feasibility, and potential benefits of a combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention for patients diagnosed with advanced pancreatic or lung cancer. Methods: A prospective, single-arm study was conducted, enrolling patients with advanced lung or pancreatic cancer. Participants engaged in a 12-week exercise intervention comprising personalized bi-weekly aerobic and resistance training tailored to individual baseline conditions. The primary study outcomes focused on safety (absence of serious adverse events) and feasibility. Secondary outcomes included assessments of functional capacity using the "Six minutes walking test", strength measured through handgrip and leg press tests, anthropometric measures including body mass index and waist-hip ratio, quality of life (QoL), and changes in blood parameters. Results: The study involved twelve patients (mean age 57.66&nbsp;​±&nbsp;​7.40 years), with seven having pancreatic cancer and five having lung cancer. The recruitment rate was 50%, and assessment adherence was 100%, with an 84% adherence to the exercise program and no dropouts. No exercise-related adverse events were recorded, while three non-severe, non-exercise-related adverse events were observed: treatment-related dermatitis (Grade 2), axillary lymphadenopathy (Grade 2), and migraine (Grade 1). Significant enhancements in functional capacity, emotional well-being, and social functioning within the QoL domains were observed. Anthropometric measures, specifically waist-hip ratio and body mass index, remained stable. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a tailored 12-week exercise intervention is both feasible and safe for patients with advanced lung or pancreatic cancer. This intervention appears to enhance functional capacity, specific aspects of QoL, and contribute to maintaining body weight

What is the role of physical exercise in the era of cancer prehabilitation? A systematic review

Purpose: Exercise before surgery, as part of prehabilitation, aiming to enhance patients' functional and physiological capacity, has become widespread, necessitating an in-depth understanding. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on Pubmed, Cochrane, and Scopus to examine the effect of exercise as prehabilitation, alone or in combination with other interventions, in patients with cancer. Interventional studies applying a single-arm, randomized controlled, or nonrandomized design were included. Results: A total of 97 studies were included, and categorized according to cancer types, i.e., gynecological, breast, urological, gastrointestinal and lung cancer. For each cancer site, the effect of exercise, on physical fitness parameters and postoperative outcomes, including length of hospital stay and postoperative complications, was reported. Conclusion: Exercise as prehabilitation may have an important role in improving physical fitness, postoperative outcomes, and accelerating recovery, especially in certain types of malignancies

Combining a 9-month tailored physical exercise program with osimertinib and denosumab in a patient affected by advanced NSCLC with multiple osteolytic bone lesions: A case report

A 55-year-old female patient affected by an EGFR mutant NSCLC with multiple lytic bone metastases and two prior pathological fractures, undergoing treatment with osimertinib and denosumab, participated in a 9-month physical exercise program. The exercise program was performed twice a week and consisted of aerobic and strength training. Aerobic training was composed of moderate-intensity continuous training for the first 3 months and then high-intensity interval training. Strength training was performed through body-weight/elastic band exercises for the first 6 months and isotonic machines from months 6-9. Assessments, performed every 3 months, included physical fitness parameters, such as functional capacity, muscle strength, anthropometric measures, body composition, and quality of life. Functional capacity progressively improved by 80&nbsp;m at month 6 and slightly decreased by 22&nbsp;m at month 9. At the end of the intervention, grip strength increased in both arms, whereas the body composition showed a progressive decrease in fat mass (-3.39&nbsp;kg) and an increase in muscle mass (+3.89&nbsp;kg) until month 6 and then stabilization. Quality of life exhibits a great improvement in the first 3 months, especially in the physical role, emotional functioning, fatigue, pain, dyspnoea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, and diarrhea, and then maintained with little variations. This case suggests that a highly structured physical exercise program may be feasible, safe, and effective in patients with lung cancer and bone metastases if performed under the supervision of trained experts

Perturbations in Microbial Communities at Hydrothermal Vents of Panarea Island (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

Marine hydrothermal ecosystems represent extreme environments connected to submarine volcanic areas characterized by vents, having high temperatures and particular chemical compositions. The hydrothermal marine system of Panarea, located in one of the seven small islands belonging to the Aeolian Archipelago (southern Tyrrhenian Sea), is characterized by a range of vents exhibiting diverse physical and chemical conditions. We aimed to analyze the microbial community of a peculiar hot spring belonging to the Panarea hydrothermal field, known as “Black Point” (BP), in two separate sampling expeditions (May and August). Our results demonstrated that the chemical–physical variations within this hydrothermal vent, such as temperature fluctuations, mineral content, and hydrothermal fluid dynamics, play a role in shaping the structure and diversity of microbial communities. The differences between the two sampling expeditions suggest that seasonal changes, i.e., in temperature, pH, and redox potential (Eh), could drive microbial community shifts over time

Exceptional Response in BRAF p.V600E-Mutant Enteric-Type Adenocarcinoma of the Lung With Cutaneous Spread: A Case Report

Background: Enteric-type adenocarcinoma of the lung (lung-ETAC) is a rare form of lung cancer with histologic similarities to colorectal cancer, with aggressive behavior and unfavorable prognosis. Case presentation: An 81-year-old man presented with discolored skin lesions on the chest and abdomen. After comprehensive evaluation, including skin biopsy and molecular profiling, the patient was diagnosed with having lung-ETAC with a BRAF p.V600E mutation. Treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib initially resulted in positive results, with improvement in skin lesions and overall clinical condition. Nevertheless, approximately 6 months after, the disease had progression with new skin lesions reappearing. Conclusions: We reported a unique case of a patient with BRAF p.V600E-mutant lung-ETAC with metastatic skin lesions achieving complete cutaneous response after targeted treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib, highlighting the potential for targeted therapy in patients with lung-ETAC harboring a BRAF p.V600E mutation

Exercise and bone health in cancer: enemy or ally?

Simple Summary Patients with cancer may face bone metastases and osteoporosis due to cancer or treatments, leading to a high risk of developing skeletal-related events. Skeletal-related events may negatively affect patients' quality and length of life. Although physical exercise has been recognized as a potential adjunctive strategy in the cancer setting, it is often not recommended to patients with bone health impairments due to safety concerns. In the present review, we explore the effects of exercise on safety profile, bone health, and the impact on functional outcomes in patients with cancer affected by bone metastasis, osteoporosis/osteopenia, or at high risk of losing bone. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effect of exercise on bone are explored, and considerations about exercise prescription are discussed. Bone health is often threatened in cancer patients. Bone metastasis and osteoporosis frequently occur in patients with cancer and may lead to different skeletal-related events, which may negatively affect patients' quality of life and are associated with high mortality risk. Physical exercise has been recognized as a potential adjunctive strategy in the cancer setting to improve physical function as well as treatment-related side effects. Nevertheless, exercise is often not recommended to patients with bone health impairments due to safety concerns. In the current review, we aimed, through a comprehensive review of the evidence, to explore the impact of exercise in terms of safety profile, bone outcomes, and the effects on other outcomes in patients with cancer affected by bone metastasis or at high risk of losing bone. Additionally, we explored the potential mechanisms by which exercise may act on bone, particularly the impact of mechanical load on bone remodeling. Finally, considerations about exercise prescription and programming in these populations are also discussed