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Mechanical biomarkers distinguish health conditions through quantitative mechanical measurements. The emergence and establishment of nanotechnology in the last decades have provided new tools to obtain mechanical biomarkers at the nanoscale. Mechanical measurements are reproducible, label‐free, start to be applied in vivo can be high throughput, and require small samples. Mechanical protocols in clinical practice at the macro scale like palpation or blood pressure measurement are routinely used by medical doctors. Nanotechnology brought mechanical sensing to the next scale, where cells, tissues, and proteins can be probed and linked to medical conditions. Mechanical changes in cells and tissues may be detected before other markers, such as protein expression, providing an important advantage as biomarkers. In the present review, we explore the biomarker's historical evolution, describe mechanical biomarkers on various diseases and novel discoveries in the nanomechanical field for their characterization. We conclude that mechanical biomarkers are establishing novel hallmarks in diseases, in several cases for early diagnostics of diseases and discovery of drug targets in the proteins involved in the mechanical changes, while advances in instrumentation are bringing commercial products into the clinical practice. Mechanical biomarkers along with clinical testing are establishing an important niche in the market, whose demand is increasing due to the expansion of personalized medicine and unmet needs in the clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine the utility of our transgluteal magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI)-guided prostate biopsy approach. Patients and Methods A total of 960 biopsy series, taken within the period of 1 year, were evaluated, including 301 MRI-guided and 659 transrectal ultrasonography ( TRUS)-guided biopsies. Results The positivity rate and proportion of high grade cancers were significantly higher in MRI-guided than in TRUS-guided biopsies. Of 301 MRI-guided biopsies, 65.4% contained cancer while 57.2% of 659 TRUS biopsies contained cancer ( P = 0.016). Gleason grade 3 + 3 = 6 disease was observed in 16.8% of 197 MRI-guided and in 36.1% of 377 TRUS-guided biopsies ( P < 0.001). There was also a markedly higher quantity of cancer tissue in MRI-guided biopsies. In all cancers, the mean cancer surface area was 64.8 ± 51.6 mm2 in MRI-guided biopsies as compared with 23.0 ± 31.4 mm2 in non- MRI-guided biopsies ( P < 0.001). With respect to the tissue quantity, superiority of MRI-guided biopsy was highest in Gleason grade 3 + 3 = 6 cancers (20.9 ± 27.9 vs 5.1 ± 10.2 mm2; P < 0.001) and in Gleason grade 3 + 4 = 7 cancers (59.7 ± 38.0 vs 17.7 ± 18.4 mm2; P < 0.001). Comparison of biopsy Gleason grades with findings in prostatectomy specimens was possible in 80 patients with MRI-guided and in 170 patients with non- MRI-guided biopsies. This comparison showed a very high but almost identical concordance of TRUS- and MRI-guided biopsies with the prostatectomy specimen findings. With both approaches, undetected high-risk cancers were present in ~10% of patients with low-risk biopsy results. A significant difference was observed, however, in the proportion of patients who had clinically insignificant cancers and who underwent surgery. The proportion of patients with Gleason grade 3 + 3 = 6 carcinoma in their prostatectomy specimen was 11.2% in the post- TRUS biopsy cohort, but only 2.5% in the post- MRI biopsy cohort ( P = 0.021). Conclusion MRI-guided transgluteal prostate biopsy has a high detection rate for high-risk carcinomas, while the risk of detecting clinically insignificant carcinomas appears to be reduced. This may by itself lead to a reduction of unnecessary prostatectomies. Overtreatment may be further avoided by better applicability of molecular testing to MRI-guided biopsies because of the excessive amount of tissue available for analysis, especially in patients with potential low-risk carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: As longer times from the first symptom to diagnosis and treatment of oral cancers have been linked to poorer outcomes, this study investigates the contribution of the specialist to this time (STI). Subjects and Methods: A series of 228 oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients were retrospectively studied to determine the STI and its related factors. Results: Patients were mostly males (n = 170; 74.5%), (50.7% stages I‐II), mean age = 61.4 ± 12.5 years. The STI median was 6 days (X±SD:6.8 ± 5.6 days). Time first symptom to diagnosis was 64 days (X±SD:91.0 ± 84.6 days). Univariate regression unveiled a significant association between STI and TNM stage, which was confirmed by multivariate regression. Conclusions: Specialist time interval is a short time interval in oral cancer diagnosis, imposing a limited time burden in the context of the whole interval until diagnosis. However, there seems to be room for improvement and a possible target for future interventions to shorten STI particularly for patients at early stages after their disease has been disclosed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coxsackie eruptions concentrated in areas of atopic dermatitis, a phenomenon termed 'eczema coxsackium,' has been well described in the literature but, to our knowledge, the concentration of coxsackie viral lesions to areas of ichthyosis has not been reported. This case describes a rare presentation of coxsackie viral lesions concentrated in areas of epidermolytic ichthyosis in a 3-year-old boy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research regarding the feasibility and effects of dancing and exercise with musical support programmes on the physical fitness of adults with intellectual disability (ID) is scarce. The purpose of this study was to provide scientific evidence regarding the feasibility of a training programme consisting of dancing and exercise with music designed for adults with ID, as well as to assess its impact on their body composition and cardiovascular and muscular fitness. Methods: A total of 30 adults (mean age 36.37 ± 11.24 years) with mild (n = 13), moderate (n = 16) or severe (n = 1) ID took part in a 10‐week dancing and exercise with music programme. Recruitment and completion rate, adherence to the programme, participation and adverse effects were registered as measures of feasibility. The body mass index, cardiovascular endurance (6‐min walk test) and muscular strength (standing long jump test) of the participants were assessed in order to determine the effects of the programme on their fitness level. Results: A 92.5% recruitment rate and a 90% completion rate were achieved. Adherence to the programme stood at 76.6%, and no adverse effects were registered. The comparison between the values obtained in the initial and final evaluations indicated the existence of positive changes in all the fitness dimensions measured. Conclusion: A training programme combining dancing and exercise with music proved to be feasible when performed by adults with ID. These kind of programmes can have a positive effect on the fitness level of this specific group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Flow cytometry (FC) is a helpful tool for the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Different FC score systems have been developed. The "Ogata score" is a simple diagnostic score that has been validated having a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 92% in low‐risk MDS. We aimed to study the feasibility and the utility of the "Ogata score" for the diagnosis of MDS among Latin America (LA) Laboratories. Methods: This is a case and control study conducted in LA institutions members of Grupo Latinoamericano de Mielodisplasia (GLAM). A total of 146 MDS patients and 57 control patients were included. "Ogata score" was calculated. Results: The sensitivity of "Ogata score" was 75.6% (95% CI, 66.8‐81.3), specificity was 91.2% (95% CI, 79.7‐96.7), PPV was 95.6% (95% CI, 88.5‐98.3), and NPV was 65.4% (95% CI, 49.1‐71.9). In low/intermediate‐1 IPSS patients group, the sensitivity was 70.1% (95% CI, 60.2‐78.2), specificity was 91.2% (CI‐95%, 79.7‐96.7), PPV was 94.2% (95% CI, 86.4‐97.8), and NPV was 62.1% (95% CI, 53.0‐78.7). In the group of patients "without MDS specific markers" (patients without ring sideroblasts, blast excess, or chromosomal abnormalities), the sensitivity was 66.7% (CI‐95%, 55.8‐76.0), specificity was 91.2% (95% CI, 79.7‐96.7), PPV was 92.3% (95% CI, 82.2‐97.1), and NPV was 63.5% (95% CI, 51.9‐73.5). Conclusions: The diagnostic power found in this study was similar to the reported by Della‐Porta et al. Also in LA, the analysis was made in modern equipment with acquisition of at least 100 000 events which permits a good reproducibility of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background and Aim: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) predicts poor prognosis and could reflect an advanced liver disease. We aimed to assess whether MHE could be a surrogate marker of a further liver disease. Methods: Prospective multicenter study including 320 cirrhotic patients, followed for up to 5 years, which were classified at baseline in compensated cirrhosis without (stage 1) and with varices (stage 2), one decompensating event (stage 3), and any second decompensating event (stage 4). Cirrhosis progression was defined by a transition towards a different stage (competing events: liver transplant due to hepatocellular carcinoma and non‐liver‐related death). MHE was detected by critical flicker frequency and psychometric tests. Results: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed in 18.2% (57/314) of patients. Cirrhosis progression occurred in 38.1% (122/320) of patients, while liver transplant was required in 10.9% (35/320), and 19.1% (61/320) died. In competing risk regression, MHE was associated with disease progression: model 1 {subhazard ratio [sHR] 2.34 [95%confidence interval (CI) 1.58–3.46]; P = 0.0001}; model 2 [sHR 2.18 (95%CI 1.43–3.33); P = 0.0001]; model 3 [sHR 2.48 (95%CI 1.63–3.76); P = 0.0001]. The annual incidence rate of progression was higher in MHE patients: stage 1 (19.4 vs 5.6 cases per 100 person‐years); stage 2 (26.8 vs 15.6); stage 3 (45.7 vs 16.5); and stage 4 (40.7 vs 12.8). MHE showed a higher cumulative incidence of disease progression from the first year in decompensated and the third year in compensated cirrhosis. Conclusion: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy was associated with cirrhosis progression and showed a higher cumulative and annual incidence rate of disease progression. MHE could be a surrogate marker of disease progression, irrespective of cirrhosis status, identifying patients at risk of suffering a more aggressive cirrhosis form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]