Eradicating cancer cells: struggle with a chameleon

Eradication of cancer stem cells to abrogate tumor growth is a new treatment modality. However, like normal cells cancer cells show plasticity. Differentiated tumor stem cells can acquire stem cell properties when they gain access to the stem cell niche. This indicates that eradicating of stem cells (emptying of the niche) alone will not lead to eradication of the tumor. Treatment should be directed to cancer stem cells ànd more mature cancer cells

Single Center and Surgeon's Long-Term (15-19 Years) Patient Satisfaction and Revision Rate of Round Textured Eurosilicone Breast Implants

BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed aesthetic plastic surgical procedures, with over 250 thousand procedures in the United States in 2020 alone. However, the safety of breast implants should be closely researched and monitored, especially on the long-term. OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term results of round micro-textured Eurosilicone (Eurosilicone S.A.S, Apt Cedex, France) Cristalline Paragel breast implants from a single centre, single surgeon experience, regarding both patient-reported outcome measures as well as revisions. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of 84 patients who underwent primary breast augmentation with round micro-textured Eurosilicone Cristalline Paragel breast implants, either submuscular (dual-plane) or subglandular placed, in the period between 2001 and 2004. All patients were contacted for informed consent and after approval, the validated BREAST-Q questionnaire was sent and used to analyze patient satisfaction. In addition, objective data regarding revisions, including capsular contracture, rupture rate, pain and/or aesthetic causes needing revision surgery, were analyzed. RESULTS: High BREAST-Q scores (67-100% for 0-100 scale variables and 66.0-77.3% of the patients scored "very satisfied" on categorical variables) were found without clinically significant differences between patients with dual-plane placed implants and subglandular placed implants. The overall revision rate was 29.8%, also with no significant differences between both groups (p=0.317). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed high patient satisfaction and relatively low revision rates after 15-19 years follow-up of round micro-textured Eurosilicone Cristalline Paragel breast implants. No clinically relevant significant differences were found between dual-plane and subglandular placement of the implants

Immune sensing of Candida albicans requires cooperative recognition of mannans and glucans by lectin and Toll-like receptors

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Effect of weight regain on body composition and metabolic biomarkers after sleeve gastrectomy: a cross-sectional study from a hospital database

Introduction Weight regain (WR) is described in approximately 30% of patient's post-bariatric surgery. It is related to the progression or recurrence of associated medical problems and decline in health-related quality of life. This study aimed to test the return of body composition and metabolic biomarkers to pre-operative levels when WR occurs. Methods In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2021, patients were randomly selected from the hospital's electronic databases between 2001 and 2020. Patient demographic data, comorbidities, body compositions, and metabolic biomarkers were collected. Three groups were defined: groups A (WR), B (weight loss), and C (control group; patients with obesity who had not yet undergone bariatric surgery). Results A total of 88 patients were enrolled in this study and matched with the control group. The body mass index in group A was 43.8 +/- 6.9 kg/m(2); group B was 28.6 +/- 4.2; group C was 43.9 +/- 7.1. Body muscle mass, body fat mass, and visceral fat significantly differed between groups A and B (p < 0.001) but not between groups A and C (p = 0.8). There was a significant difference in leptin, ghrelin, postprandial glucagon-like peptide-1, insulin, and fibroblast growth factor-21 (but not retinol-binding protein-4) between groups A and B. Most metabolic biomarkers in group A returned to the pre-operative values as in group C. Conclusion WR had a direct negative effect on body composition and metabolic biomarkers, whereby the values returned to pre-operative levels. Early detection of WR and possible additional therapy are necessary to prevent associated medical problems