Search

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of cancers that triggers bone marrow infiltration in 20–40% of cases. Bone marrow biopsy in combination with a visual assessment of [18F]FDG PET/CT images is used to assess the marrow status. Despite the potential of both techniques, they still have limitations due to the subjectivity of visual assessment. The present study aims to develop models based on bone marrow uptake in [18F]FDG PET/CT images at the time of diagnosis to differentiate bone marrow status. For this purpose, a model trained for skeleton segmentation and based on the U-Net architecture is retrained for bone marrow segmentation from CT images. The mask obtained from this segmentation together with the [18F]FDG PET image is used to extract radiomics features with which 11 machine learning models for marrow status differentiation are trained. The segmentation model yields very satisfactory results with Jaccard and Dice index values of 0.933 and 0.964, respectively. As for the classification models, a maximum F1_score_weighted and F1_score_macro of 0.962 and 0.747, respectively, are achieved. This highlights the potential of these features for bone marrow assessment, laying the foundation for a new clinical decision support system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Introduction: b Several new therapeutic agents have been introduced in recent years for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (r/r) aggressive B cell lymphoma (ABCL) (diffuse large B cell lymphoma [DLBCL] and high-grade B cell lymphomas [HGBCL]), such as new monoclonal antibodies (MA), bispecific antibodies (BA) and CAR-T cell therapy. From 354 patients that received >2 lines of treatment, 130 (37%) received CAR-T cell therapy, 69 (19%) pola-based, 5 (1%) TL, 55 (15%) BA, and 299 (84 %) did not receive NTs. Novel therapies for the treatment of relapsed-refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma increase survival. [Extracted from the article]

Patients with PET-CT positive but LiqBio-MRD - ( I n i = 2) resulted as false positive PET/CT (cervical mass confirmed by biopsy and mesenteric mass becoming negative in the next PET/CT analysis). Remarkably, 33/36 negative PET-CTs (91.7%) were consistent with a LiqBio-MRD - determination, and 11/13 positive PET-CTs (85%) were LiqBio-MRD +. Genomic profiling was performed in relapse FFPE biopsy to detect somatic mutations by a custom capture enrichment panel (Twist, USA) of 134 genes (NextSeq, Illumina) suitable for liquid biopsy MRD monitoring (LiqBio-MRD) (Jiménez Ubieto 2023). [Extracted from the article]

PET interim results could promptly select Follicular Lymphoma patients in need of maintenance therapy. PET/CT SB EOT sb were predictive of relapse, with 2-years PFS 47% in PET/CT SB EOT sb (+) vs. 89% in PET/CT SB EOT sb (-) ( I p i <.001).On iPET/CT, 41 (34%) patients were PET/CT(+).The estimated 5 year-PFS at was 72% in patients with a negative iPET/CT versus 29% in those with a positive iPET/CT ( I p i < 0.001) (Figure 1a). B Conclusion: b Response assessment by PET/CT at mid-induction can identify FL patients at high risk of failure early on during first line ICT and is able promptly select patients in whom maintenance therapy could be avoided. [Extracted from the article]

Acinetobacter baumanniiis a hospital-acquired pathogen that shows an extraordinary capacity to stay in the hospital environment. Adherence of the bacteria to eukaryotic cells or to abiotic surfaces is the first step for establishing an infection. TheA. baumanniistrain AbH12O-A2 showed an exceptional ability to adhere to A549 epithelial cells. The AbFhaB/FhaC 2-partner secretion (TPS) system involved in adhesion was discovered after the screening of the recently determinedA. baumanniiAbH12O-A2 strain genome (CP009534.1). The AbFhaB is a large exoprotein which transport to the bacterial surface is mediated by the AbFhaC protein. In the present study, the role of this TPS system in the AbH12O-A2 adherence phenotype was investigated. The functional inactivation of this 2-partner secretion system was addressed by analyzing the outer membrane vesicles (OMV) proteomic profile from the wild-type strain and its derivative mutant AbH12O-A2ΔfhaC demonstrating that AbFhaB is no longer detected in the absence of AbFhaC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and adhesion experiments demonstrated that inactivation of the AbFhaB/FhaC system significantly decreases bacterial attachment to A549 alveolar epithelial cells. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that this 2-partner secretion system is involved in fibronectin-mediated adherence of theA. baumanniiAbH12O-A2 isolate. Finally, we report that the AbFhaB/FhaC system is involved in virulence when tested using invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. These data suggest the potential role that this AbFhaB/FhaC secretion system could play in the pathobiology ofA. baumannii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The objectives of this study were to investigate the acceptability of rapid HIV testing among general practitioners in Spain and to identify perceived barriers and needs in order to implement rapid testing in primary care settings. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was distributed online to all members of the two largest Spanish scientific medical societies for family and community medicine. The study took place between 15th June and 31st October 2010. Results Completed questionnaires were returned by 1308 participants. The majority (90.8%) of respondents were General Practitioners (GP). Among all respondents, 70.4% were aware of the existence of rapid tests for the diagnosis of HIV but they did not know how to use them. Nearly 80% of participants would be willing to offer rapid HIV testing in their practices and 74.7% would be confident of the results obtained by these tests. The barriers most commonly identified by respondents were a lack of time and a need for training, both in the use of rapid tests (44.3% and 56.4%, respectively) and required pre- and post-test counselling (59.2% and 34.5%, respectively). Conclusions This study reveals a high level of acceptance and willingness on the part of GPs to offer rapid HIV testing in their practices. Nevertheless, the implementation of rapid HIV testing in primary care will not be possible without moving from comprehensive pre-test counselling towards brief pre-test information and improving training in the use of rapid tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the acceptability of rapid HIV testing among general practitioners (GP) and aimed to identify perceived barriers and needs in order to implement rapid testing in primary care settings. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed online to all members of the two largest Spanish scientific medical societies for family and community medicine. The study took place between 15 June 2012 and 31 October 2010. Completed questionnaires were returned by 1308 participants. The majority (90.8%) of respondents were GP. Among all respondents, 70.4% were aware of the existence of rapid tests for the diagnosis of HIV but they did not know how to use them. Nearly 80% of participants would be willing to offer rapid HIV testing in their practices and 74.7% would be confident of the result obtained by these tests. The barriers most commonly identified by respondents were a lack of time and a need for training, both in the use of rapid tests (44.3% and 56.4%, respectively) and required pre- and post-test counselling (59.2% and 34.5%, respectively). This study reveals a high level of acceptance and willingness on the part of GPs to offer rapid HIV testing in their practices. Nevertheless, the implementation of rapid HIV testing in primary care will not be possible without moving from comprehensive pre-test counselling towards brief pre-test information and improving training in the use of rapid tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize hybrids expressing the Cry1F toxin provide efficient control of lepidopteran pests. The Mediterranean corn borer, Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefèvre), is one of the most damaging pests of maize in the Mediterranean basin. In this work we firstly determined the efficacy of maize hybrids expressing the Cry1F toxin (event TC1507) to control neonates of S. nonagrioides. Leaf tissue feeding bioassays revealed that TC1507 maize is highly effective against this pest, and the percentage mortality obtained was comparable to that obtained with a Cry1Ab-expressing maize hybrid (Compa CB, event 176), which is known to be highly efficacious against S. nonagrioides. Secondly, interpopulation variation in the susceptibility to the Cry1F insecticidal protein was established for nine field-collected populations of S. nonagrioides (three Spanish, two French, two Italian, one Greek, and one Turkish). Estimates of the susceptibility of larvae to the Cry1F toxin showed low variability in lethal concentrations and growth inhibition concentrations among field populations. Moreover, no significant differences were found when they were grouped by geographical areas [Western Mediterranean (Spain and France) versus Eastern Mediterranean (Italy, Greece and Turkey)] or by history of exposure to Bt plants (Spanish vs. other populations). Therefore, the minor differences found in field populations can be attributed to natural variation in sensitivity to Cry1F. The importance of establishing baselines of susceptibility for resistance detection is discussed. Future changes in susceptibility of S. nonagrioides populations to Cry1F could be documented based on this baseline data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygalacturonases are enzymes involved in plant cell wall growth and reorganization. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae endopolygalacturonase gene ( PGU1) were obtained. The yeast gene was properly expressed in the plants as it has been shown by RT-PCR as well as by the increase in the endopolygalacturonase activity. The transgenic plants showed conspicuous malformations in early stages of development probably due to a weak cell adhesion. On the other hand, adult plants exhibited almost no phenotypic differences as compared to the wild type plants, this suggesting the appearance of some mechanisms on the plant side to counteract the effect of the overexpressed polygalacturonase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study of a milk-clotting protease secreted by Bacillus licheniformis strain USC13. Methods and Results: Growth of B. licheniformis USC13 in LB medium resulted in the production of a serine protease with a molecular weight of 62 kDa processed to its mature form of 34 kDa, both forms were found in the extracellular medium. The enzyme exhibited typical milk-clotting kinetics. Conclusions: The capacity of this protease to produce milk curds could make it useful as a new source of milk coagulants. Significance and Impact of the Study: Cheese-making industry seeks for novel enzyme sources, and microbial coagulants have several advantages over animal and plant counterparts. The protease from B. licheniformis has the ability to produce milk curds although more studies about quality of both the enzyme and the milk curds formed should be carried out in the future to confirm its usefulness in the dairy industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Gordonia jacobaea is a recently isolated bacterial species with potential industrial application on account of its ability to store large quantities of trans-canthaxanthin. Its genetic manipulation is, however, difficult and cumbersome owing to the presence of mycolic acids in the cell wall and, especially, because of current lack of knowledge about its basic genetics. The present work describes a method for the genetic transformation of G. jacobaea. Methods and Results: Gordonia jacobaea was grown in media supplemented with different glycine, penicillin G and isoniazid concentrations. The temperature, carbon source, growth phase and ultrasounds were analyzed for improving the method efficiency. The cells were finally transformed by electroporation. Finally, the method was applied to Brevibacterium lactofermentum and Gordonia bronchialis. Conclusions: The growth of G. jacobaea in the presence of glycine and isoniazid is essential for obtaining electrocompetents cells. The temperature, growth phase and ultrasounds appeared as the main factors for increasing the transformation efficiency. The use of shuttle plasmids became necessary. The method described can be used with other Corynebacteria species. Significance and Impact of the Study: Because of the importance of the CNM group ( Corynebacteria, Nocardia and Mycobacteria genera) in different areas such as industry, bioremediation improve the knowledge of their molecular mechanisms are becoming essential. The method described here improves the genetic manipulation of this group of bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease is believed to be associated with a glial reaction and inflammatory changes. In turn, local factors may induce changes in vascularization and contribute to neuronal vulnerability. Among these factors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is released in adults under pathological conditions and is thought to induce angiogenesis. In order to determine whether changes in brain vasculature are observed in the affected brain regions in parkinsonism, we quantitatively analysed the VEGF-expressing cells and blood vessels in the substantia nigra of monkeys rendered parkinsonian by MPTP injection and compared the results with those obtained in control monkeys. Using stereological methods, we observed an increase in the number of VEGF-expressing neurons and an increase of the number of blood vessels and their volume occupying the substantia nigra pars compacta of monkeys rendered parkinsonian by chronic MPTP intoxication. These changes in vascularization may therefore modify the neuronal availability of blood nutrients, blood cells or toxic substances and neuronal susceptibility to parkinsonism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cheese industry is seeking novel sources of enzymes for cheese production. Microbial rennets have several advantages over animal rennets. (1) They are easy to generate and purify and do not rely on the availability of animal material. (2) The production of microbial clotting enzymes may be improved by biotechnological techniques. In this work, the biochemical characterization of a novel milk-clotting extracellular enzyme from Myxococcus xanthus strain 422 and a preliminary evaluation of its cheese-producing ability are reported. Strain 422 was selected from four M. xanthus strains as the best producer of extracellular milk-clotting activity, based on both its enzyme yield and specific milk-clotting activity, which also afforded lower titration values than enzymes from the three other M. xanthus strains. The active milk-clotting enzyme from M. xanthus strain 422 is a true milk-clotting enzyme with a molecular mass of 40 kDa and a pI of 5.0. Highest milk-clotting activity was at pH 6 and 37°C. The enzyme was completely inactivated by heating for 12 min at 65°C. The crude enzyme preparation was resolved by anion-exchange chromatography into two active fractions that were tested in cheese production assays of compositional (dry matter, fat content, fat content/dry-matter ratio, and moisture-non-fat content) and physicochemical properties (firmness, tensile strength, pH and Aw) of the milk curds obtained. Purified protein fraction II exhibited a significantly higher milk-clotting ability than either protein fraction I or a total protein extract, underlining the potential usefulness of M. xanthus strain 422 as a source of rennet for cheese production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. Atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation (AARS) is an uncommon condition involving dislocation and abnormal fixation of the atlas on the axis. AARS is difficult to diagnose and if improperly treated it may lead to permanent neck deformity. We report a retrospective series of patients diagnosed with AARS seen during the last five years. The children presented with neck pain, head tilt, and reduction in neck mobility. In three of the cases the condition was secondary to cervical trauma and in the fourth it was associated with otitis (Grisel syndrome). The diagnosis was established by three-dimensional computerised tomography. In three cases, the atlanto-axial fixation was cured after cervical immobilisation and physiotherapy. A posterior cervical fusion was required in the remaining case. Early detection and intensive conservative treatment constitutes the mainstay of management of AARS. Surgery is reserved for cases with irreducible or recurrent subluxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The study of a protease secreted by Candida caseinolytica for use in future industrial applications. Methods and Results: Growth of Candida caseinolytica on a medium containing milk induced a rapid production of an extracellular enzyme able to hydrolyse casein. The crude extract was applied to both Sephacryl S-200 and DEAE-Biogel A columns, obtaining one peak of activity showing a molecular mass of ≈ 30 kDa and three active peaks, respectively. These four peaks showed the same biochemical parameters. In all cases, an extremely broad pH range of action was determined. Conclusions: Candida caseinolytica secretes high levels of an extracellular protease when grown either in rotary shakers or in batch-fermenters. Significance and Impact of the Study: The biochemical properties of this enzyme suggest its possible industrial application in the brewing industry, in the formulation of certain type of detergents and in the fur and leather industries, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ventriculoperitoneal shunting constitutes the standard procedure for draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in children with hydrocephalus. Ventriculoatrial and ventriculopleural shunting are alternative methods of CSF drainage, which have gained less acceptance. Ventriculopleural shunts are seldom used owing to justified fears of pneumothorax and symptomatic effusions of CSF. The addition of an antisiphon device to standard shunt systems seems to have prevented CSF pleural effusion. From 1988 to 1998, we treated each of six hydrocephalic children with a ventriculopleural shunt. In five cases we used new-technology valves designed to prevent the effects of siphoning with current differential pressure valves. Peritoneal adhesions, recent peritonitis, ascites, and obstruction of a previous ventriculoatrial shunt were the indications for pleural shunting. After a mean follow-up period of 2.5 years all shunts were functioning adequately. Only one patient showed transient symptoms of CSF overdrainage, which were corrected by up-grading the valve setting with the magnet. A late death was unrelated to the pleural shunting procedure. The use of valves of a new design designed to prevent overdrainage seems to account for the satisfactory outcomes observed in this series. We suggest that ventriculopleural shunting should be considered as the preferred alternative to peritoneal drainage in children with intra-abdominal adhesions or with a history of recent peritoneal infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS) is a lethal complex of the central nervous system and the eyes. At present its cause is unknown, but clinical evidence strongly suggests that it is an autosomalrecessively inherited disorder. We report a series of nine children with WWS. The diagnosis was established by the detection of lissencephaly, hydrocephalus, and cerebellar malformation on computed tomography. All children exhibited profound psychomotor retardation and ocular abnormalities (in their anterior or posterior eye chambers). The existence of an occipital encephalocele in eight cases was the main diagnostic clue to WWS. Six patients were investigated for the presence of congenital muscular dystrophy, which was confirmed in only four of them. There were no patients with a cleft lip or palate. We studied the incidence of WWS in Spain and estimated it at 0.21 cases per 10 000 live-born children. In our series, WWS was prevalent in the Spanish gypsy population. Consanguinity was present in five of seven affected families. In a case of preganancy with twins, one of the siblings was unaffected. Eight patients were treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunts and seven underwent encephalocele repair. Histological study of the excised encephaloceles demonstrated two different patterns. Interestingly, one of the infants showed coronal craniosynostosis. Finally, we include in the appendix, for completeness, a report of the case of the sibling of a WWS patient with acrania-exencephaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I he aim of the piesent study was to suggest an approach for national level acreage estimation for wheat using satellite remote sensing data and demonstrate its perfromantee Multi-date moderate resolution (188 m) IRS-IC WiFS data sets were used as the core data Sampie segment approach with stratified random sampling was used for the data analysis For making meaningful comparisons over time, multi-date sets were geometncally registered and radiometrically normalised by extracting pseudo-invariant Features and performing regression analysis on the digital numbers of such features The corrected multi-temporal data sets were used in hierarchical classification scheme. The results of this exercise are presented. It appeals that there is an overestimatoin of wheat acreage The sampling effieieney was also low, indicating need to improve sampling strategy Some of the problems encountered and the corrections planned to overcome them are also discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classically meningiomas present and evolve with a progressive course. Meningiomas manifest themselves mainly in middle and old age when the incidence of strokes is higher. The authors report three instances of meningioma with acute haemorrhagic onset. The clinical picture of our cases consisted of subarachnoid bleeding, subdural heamatoma and intracerebral haemorrhage respectively. The diagnostic difficulties encountered when assessing these patients are discussed. The current literature regarding meningioma associated with haemorrhage is reviewed. One of our cases seems to be the fisrt reported case of subarachnoid haemorrhage originating from a meningioma of the petrous bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermoid tumours in children usually occur in two locations: at the anterior fontanelle and on the occipital squama. An exceptional site of origin for a posterior fossa dermoid cyst is the extradural space. There are only six previous cases of this situation reported in the literature. A series of 103 subscalp and calvarial masses in children were reviewed and three children are reported with extradural dermoids of the posterior fossa, which communicated with the skin through midline occipital dermal sinuses. All three children were seen after the rapid growth or the formation of an abscess in a previously noted occipital subcutaneous mass present since birth. Although computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging showed the dermal sinus and the intracranial tumour, these studies were unable to ascertain the intradural or extradural nature of the tumours, their exact origin only being established at operation. Histopathological study showed preclinical signs of infection in the two patients that had not yet formed an abscess. It is suggested that early neurosurgical treatment of these neoplasms should be done to prevent the development of severe intracranial infection. The previously reported simplicity of surgical removal of occipital extradural dermoids was not confirmed in this series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four patients who received dural grafts of cadaveric origin in the course of posterior fossa procedures subsequently developed Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The interval from dural placement to clinical onset of CJD ranged from 16 months to nine years. Initial clinical presentation consisted of cerebellar symptoms, with dementia and myoclonus developing in later stages of the disease. EEGs showed diffuse slowing that evolved to a periodic activity pattern. CT and MRI were unremarkable in the early stages but pronounced cerebral and cerebellar atrophy with widened sulci and collections of fluid over the convexities were seen in the late stages of disease. The diagnosis was histologically proved by brain biopsy in all four cases. Molecular genetic analysis showed that the four patients were homozygous for methionine at codon 129 of the PrP gene. From this experience, and from six previous descriptions of this occurrence in the literature, it is manifest that awareness of the means of iatrogenic transmission of CJD, and the adoption of preventive measures, constitute the only effective way to stop the spread of CJD among patients who have neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weapon injuries other than gunshot wounds or low-velocity stab wounds to the head are extremely rare. We report the case of a 6-year-old girl who sustained a penetrating craniocerebral injury after being accidentally shot with an underwater fishing harpoon. This mechanism of injury seems to share characteristics of both high- and low-velocity projectiles. We discuss the management of this unusual injury in a child, remarking that foreign body removal in these cases must be carried out following the original direction of the projectile trajectory. We review the current literature on craniocerebral injuries caused by similar objects, especially those occurring in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report the case of a 5-year-old girl who presented with a parietal midline subscalp lesion. Skull radiographs demonstrated a lytic lesion surrounded by a sclerotic rim that resembled a dermoid cyst of the cranium. Histopathological analysis proved that the lesion was a benign osteoblastoma. As in other calvarial masses of uncertain nature, after diagnostic work-up, we recommend surgical excision both for diagnosis and for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atretic cephaloceles are usually detected at birth. Recently we treated a 38-year-old man with one of these lesions, apparently the first report of this occurrence in an adult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]