Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis in a South African public hospital

Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes abstract.The evidence suggests an association between HIV, TB and DVT. There are no studies of this link in the Southern African setting, where the incidence of both of these conditions (HIV and TB) is high. We therefore undertook a study to define the incidence of HIV and TB in patients with confirmed DVT in this setting. The aim of this study is to describe the incidence of HIV, TB and the more commonly accepted risk factors in patients with confirmed DVT in a South African public hospital

Notch Signaling and MicroRNA: The Dynamic Duo Steering Between Neurogenesis and Glioblastomas.

Notch signaling is an evolutionary conserved pathway that plays a central role in development and differentiation of eukaryotic cells. It has been well documented that Notch signaling is inevitable for neuronal cell growth and homeostasis. It regulates process of differentiation from early embryonic stages to fully developed brain. To achieve this streamlined development of neuronal cells, a number of cellular processes are being orchestrated by the Notch signaling. Abrogated Notch signaling is related to several brain tumors, including glioblastomas. On the other hand, microRNAs are small molecules that play decisive role in mediating and modulating Notch signaling. This review discusses the crucial role of Notch signaling in development of nervous system and how this versatile pathway interplay with microRNAs in glioblastoma. This review sheds light on interplay between abrogated Notch signaling and miRNAs in the regulation of neuronal differentiation with special focus on miRNAs mediated regulation of tumorigenesis in glioblastoma. Furthermore, it discusses different aspects of neurogenesis modulated by the Notch signaling that could be exploited for the identification of new diagnostic tools and therapies for the treatment of glioblastoma

Role of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose–Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging in the Prediction of Prognosis in Patients With Indolent Lymphoma: Prospective Study

BackgroundThe role of fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in indolent lymphoma has been minimally studied. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the value of FDG-PET/CT in predicting the prognosis of indolent lymphoma. MethodsWe prospectively recruited 42 patients with indolent lymphoma. A total of 2 patients were excluded, and 40 underwent baseline PET/CT and follow-up at various time points. A total of 9 patients were observed only, 7 received 4 doses of rituximab alone, and 24 received chemoimmunotherapy. Metabolic response on follow-up PET/CT was assessed using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and Deauville criteria (DC). We aimed to obtain the best SUVmax and DC to predict optimal survival rates, risk stratification, and optimize therapeutic strategies. The mean follow-up from the initial diagnosis was 33.83 months. ResultsSUVmax <4.35 at interim PET/CT provided the best discrimination, with a progression-free survival (PFS) of 100% and a median survival time of 106.67 months compared with SUVmax ≥4.35 (P=.04), which had a PFS of 43.8% and a median survival time of 50.17 months. This cutoff was also valuable in predicting overall survival at baseline, that is, 100% overall survival with baseline SUVmax <4.35, versus 58.4% for SUVmax ≥4.35 (P=.13). The overall survival of patients with a baseline DC score <3.0 was 100%, with a median overall survival of 106.67 months. ConclusionsWe demonstrated the utility of PET/CT in indolent lymphomas. SUVmax (<4.35 vs ≥4.35) on interim PET/CT performed best in predicting PFS