Predicting necrosis in residual mass analysis after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: a retrospective study

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that pathological analysis of retroperitoneal residual masses of patients with testicular germ cell tumors revealed findings of necrotic debris or fibrosis in up to 50% of patients. We aimed at pursuing a clinical and pathological review of patients undergoing post chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) in order to identify variables that may help predict necrosis in the retroperitoneum. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent PC-RPLND at the University Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo and Cancer Institute of Sao Paulo between January 2005 and September 2011. Clinical and pathological data were obtained and consisted basically of: measures of retroperitoneal masses, histology of the orchiectomy specimen, serum tumor marker and retroperitoneal nodal size before and after chemotherapy. Results: We gathered a total of 32 patients with a mean age of 29.7; pathological analysis in our series demonstrated that 15 (47%) had necrosis in residual retroperitoneal masses, 15 had teratoma (47%) and 2 (6.4%) had viable germ cell tumors (GCT). The mean size of the retroperitoneal mass was 4.94 cm in our sample, without a difference between the groups (P = 0.176). From all studied variables, relative changes in retroperitoneal lymph node size (P = 0.04), the absence of teratoma in the orchiectomy specimen (P = 0.03) and the presence of choriocarcinoma in the testicular analysis after orchiectomy (P = 0.03) were statistically significant predictors of the presence of necrosis. A reduction level of 35% was therefore suggested to be the best cutoff for predicting the absence of tumor in the retroperitoneum with a sensitivity of 73.3% and specificity of 82.4%. Conclusions: Even though retroperitoneal lymph node dissection remains the gold standard for patients with residual masses, those without teratoma in the primary tumor and a shrinkage of 35% or more in retroperitoneal mass have a considerably smaller chance of having viable GCT or teratoma in the retroperitoneum and a surveillance program could be considered

Increased expression of MMP-9 and IL-8 are correlated with poor prognosis of Bladder Cancer

Background: Extracellular matrix homeostasis is strictly maintained by a coordinated balance between the expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the expression of MMP-9, MMP-2 and its specific inhibitors, are expressed in a reproducible, specific pattern and if the profiles are related to prognosis in Bladder Cancer (BC). Methods: MMP-9, MMP-2 and its specific inhibitors expression levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in fresh-frozen malignant tissue collected from 40 patients with BC submitted to transurethral resection of bladder. The control group consisted of normal bladder tissue from five patients who had undergone retropubic prostatectomy to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results: MMP-9 was overexpressed in 59.0 % of patients, and MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-14, RECK and IL-8 was underexpressed in most of the patients. Regarding prognostic parameters we observed that high-grade tumors exhibited significantly higher levels of MMP-9 and IL-8 (p = 0.012, p = 0.003). Invasive tumors (pT1-pT2) had higher expression levels of MMP-9 than superficial tumors (pTa) (p = 0.026). The same was noted for IL-8 that was more expressed by invasive tumors (p = 0.015, p = 0.048). Most importantly tumor recurrence was related with higher levels of both MMP-9 (p = 0.003) and IL-8 (p = 0.005). Conclusion: We have demonstrated that the overexpression of MMP-9 and higher expression of IL-8 are related to unfavorable prognostic factors of urothelial bladder cancer and tumor recurrence and may be useful in the follow up of the patients.FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo) [2009/50368-9]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

Expression analysis of CD105 (endoglin), VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in kidney cancer and relationship with prognostic factors

INTRODUÇÃO: A angiogênese tem sido proposta como um marcador de prognóstico em uma variedade de tumores incluindo o renal. No avanço da compreensão da biologia molecular do carcinoma de células renais (CCR) os genes CD105 (endoglina), VEGF, VEGFR1 e VEGFR2 são seletivamente expressos em células endoteliais vasculares sendo estudados como potenciais alvos terapêuticos. OBJETIVOS: Este estudo analisou a expressão destes quatro genes no tecido renal normal e CCR e suas correlações com os fatores prognósticos para a neoplasia. MÉTODOS: Os níveis de expressão de CD105, VEGF, VEGFR1 e VEGFR2 foram analisados por Reação da Transcriptase Reversa em tempo real (qRT-PCR) em amostras de tumor fresco congelado coletados de 56 pacientes submetidos à nefrectomia parcial ou radical por CCR. Neste estudo foram avaliados os níveis de expressão dos genes em tecidos normais e tumorais e comparados com fatores prognósticos como tamanho tumoral (> ou <= 7 cm), Grau de Fuhrman (1-2 e 3-4) e invasão microvascular (presente ou ausente). RESULTADOS: A análise dos quatro genes demonstrou que CD105 esta subexpresso em 94.7% dos casos e a superexpressão de VEGF, VEGFR1 e VEGFR2 ocorreu em 53,6%, 85,7% e 64,3% dos casos respectivamente. A expressão de endoglina foi significativamente maior em pacientes com doença metastática (p=0,05) em relação ao grupo sem metástases. Além disso, o gene do VEGFR2 foi associado com estadiamento T, apresentando uma média de expressão maior nos pacientes portadores de doença pT1-2 (p=0,04). CONCLUSÕES: Nossos experimentos demonstraram que a endoglina está subexpressa em carcinoma de células renais em relação com o tecido renal normal e a presença de níveis mais elevados está relacionada à doença metastática. Os genes VEGF, VEGFR1 e VEGFR2 encontram-se superexpressos no CCR e uma maior expressão do gene VEGFR2 está relacionada com estadiamento T1 e T2INTRODUCTION: Angiogenesis has been proposed as a prognostic marker in a variety of human malignancies, including renal cancer. Due to a better understanding of the underlying biology of Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) the genes expression of CD105 (endoglina), VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 that are selectively expressed in vascular endothelial cells are being studied as potential therapeutic targets. OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed the expression of these four genes in normal kidney tissue and RCC and relationship with prognostic factors. METHODS: CD105, VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 expression levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in fresh-frozen malignant tissue specimens collected from 56 patients submitted to radical or partial nephrectomy. This study assessed the expression of genes in normal and tumor tissues, and compared with classic prognostic parameters in CCRCC , such as tumor size (larger or smaller than 7 cm) Fuhrman grade (1-2 and 3-4) and microvascular invasion (this or absent). RESULTS: The analysis of these four genes showed that CD105 is subexpressed in 94.7% of cases and the overexpression of VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 occurred in 53.6%, 85.7% and 64.3% of cases respectively in tumor tissues compared to controls. The expression of endoglin was significantly higher in patients with metastatic disease (p = 0.05). In addition, VEGFR2 gene was associated with stage T, with an average of expression higher in patients with stage T1-T2 (p = 0.040). Conclusions: These experiments demonstrated that endoglin was underexpressed in RCC compared to normal kidney and the presence of enhanced expression is associated with metastatic disease. VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were overexpressed in the CCRCC and a higher VEGFR2 expression was related with stage T1-

Expression of micro-RNAs and genes related to angiogenesis in ccRCC and associations with tumor characteristics

Abstract Background Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the third most common urological cancer in adults. Our aim is to evaluate genes and miRNAs expression profiles involved with angiogenesis and tumor characteristics in ccRCC. Methods The expression levels of miRNAs miR-99a, 99b, 100; 199a; 106a; 106b; 29a; 29b; 29c; 126; 200a, 200b and their respective target genes: mTOR, HIF1-α, VHL, PDGF, VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were analyzed using qRT-PCR in tumor tissue samples from 56 patients with ccRCC. Five samples of benign renal tissue were utilized as control. The expression levels of miRNAs and genes were related to tumor size, Fuhrman nuclear grade and microvascular invasion. Results miR99a was overexpressed in most samples and its target gene mTOR was underexpressed, this also occurs for miRNAs 106a, 106b, and their target gene VHL. An increase in miR-200b was correlated with high-risk tumors (p = 0.01) while miR-126 overexpression was associated with Fuhrman’s low grade (p = 0.03). Conclusions Our results show that in ccRCC there are changes in miRNAs expression affecting gene expression that could be important in determining the aggressiveness of this lethal neoplasia

The archaea (2017)

The Archaea’ features a series of constructed photographic tableaux of tangled, botanical phantasmagoria, which refer to the landscape with a suggestion of figuration. Inspired by the ‘Jungle paintings’ of Max Ernst and alluding to Ballardian themes of Nature’s retribution, the resulting images succeed in being both menacing and simultaneously humorous. The high-contrast, backlit, large scale photographs are created in the studio and subsequently manipulated with a digital technique; used here to denote an underlying molecular structure redolent of microscopic photography. This serves to enforce a link between animal and vegetable but also lends the work a painterly quality, paradoxically at odds with the photographic medium. The resulting imagery emits a dreamlike quality that induces the pareidolic illusion latent in the human Psyche, this anthropomorphism further reinforcing the Archean molecular link between everything that exists. All plants, animals and humans, are biologically connected and this genetic inheritance can be traced back to the human brain and spinal column. The split between animals and plants on the Phylogenetic tree occurred around 1.6 million years ago, however with some plant species we still share as much as 75% genetic similarity.N/