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Introducción: parte esencial del manejo y control de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 ha sido la vacunación. Sin embargo, las sales de aluminio usadas en las vacunas para potenciar el sistema inmune, pueden asociarse con el síndrome autoinmune/autoinflamatorio inducido por adyuvantes (ASIA). Esta condición se ha relacionado con otros factores, como agentes infecciosos, implantes de silicona e inoculación de aceites minerales. Hay poca información acerca de enfermedades endocrinas autoinmunes y ASIA después de la vacunación para SARS-CoV-2. Objetivo: reportar los casos relacionados con enfermedad tiroidea posterior a la vacunación para COVID-19, en pacientes que asistieron a la consulta de endocrinología en la clínica Imbanaco, Cali, Colombia, en 2021. Métodos: descripción clínica, de laboratorio e imágenes de 8 pacientes que acudieron a la consulta de endocrinología. Resultados y discusión: 87.5% eran de sexo femenino de 46.8 ± 10 años, el tiempo entre la aplicación de la vacuna y la aparición de los síntomas fue 13.8 días y la vacuna más relacionada fue Pfizer/BioNTech seguida por Sinovac-CoronaVac y AstraZeneca/AZD1222. La presentación de tiroiditis subaguda estuvo presente en el (37.5%), enfermedad de Graves (37.5%), tiroiditis silente (12.5%) e hipotiroidismo (12.5%). Los síntomas más comunes fueron mialgias y palpitaciones. El hallazgo ecográfico más común fue tiroiditis subaguda. Conclusiones: en esta seria de casos, reportamos una relación entre la vacunación y la aparición de enfermedad tiroidea por SARS-CoV-2. dado que estos eventos son motivo de controversia, serán necesarios otros estudios que ayuden a establecer si existe o no causalidad.

Objectives: The present study aimed to validate the new international guidelines for IPMN and determine the surgical criteria for patients with IPMN exhibiting high-risk stigmata (HRS). Methods: We enrolled 115 IPMN patients exhibiting HRS who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2021. Of the 115 patients, 79 underwent surgery (surgical group) and 36 did not undergo surgery (non-surgical group). The overall survival (OS) of each group was compared, and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with OS. Results: There was no significant difference in the estimated 5-year OS in the surgical and non-surgical groups (67% vs. 74%; p = 0.75). The presence of a solid component (SC) (hazard ratio [HR], 6.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.30–14.5) and a high score of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) (≥5) (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.11–4.64) were independent predictors of poor OS. In the presence of an SC, the surgical group had a significantly better OS than the non-surgical group (estimated 5-year OS, 38% vs. 18%; p = 0.031). In the absence of an SC, the prognosis of patients with a high ACCI was significantly poorer than those with a low ACCI in the surgical group (estimated 5-year OS, 59% vs. 93%; p = 0.005). Conclusions: An SC and a high ACCI are important prognostic factors in IPMN patients exhibiting HRS. Thus, patients with an SC should undergo surgical resection. However, conservative management may be the optimal treatment in patients without an SC and with a high ACCI.

Introducción: El síndrome de Sheehan o infarto de la glándula hipofisiaria es una causa de panhipopituitarismo secundario a una hemorragia uterina posparto que produce necrosis de la glándula pituitaria. Sus manifestaciones clínicas son inespecíficas y pueden presentarse varios meses o años después del parto. Los síntomas iniciales más comunes son agalactia y/o amenorrea, en algunos casos pueden presentar síntomas psiquiátricos de los cuales el 32% corresponden a depresión mayor. Presentación de caso: Paciente con antecedente de trastorno depresivo mayor, ideación e intentos suicidas, con relación temporal de inicio de síntomas posterior a hemorragia postparto 30 años atrás, acompañado de agalactia y oligomenorrea en el postparto. Consulta por fatiga crónica, dolor muscular generalizado, astenia y adinamia acompañado de atrofia mamaria y perdida de vello facial. Se documenta hipotiroidismo central y estudios de laboratorios e imagenológicos compatibles con panhipopituitarismo y silla turca vacía. Se consideró paciente con síndrome de Sheehan, fue instaurado tratamiento antidepresivo, terapia cognitivo conductual, reposición hormonal con evolución mejoría de síntomas constitucionales y depresivos. Conclusión: El panhipopituitarismo secundario a síndrome de Sheehan hace parte de las etiologías secundarias de trastornos afectivos en pacientes con antecedentes obstétricos, se recalca la importancia del diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271907.].

This study aimed to develop and validate a simple scoring system to determine the high-risk group for pancreatic cancer (PC) in the asymptomatic general population. The scoring system was developed using data from PC cases and randomly selected non-PC cases undergoing annual medical checkups between 2008 and 2013. The performance of this score was validated for participants with medical checkups between 2014 and 2016. In the development set, 45 PC cases were diagnosed and 450 non-PC cases were identified. Multivariate analysis showed three changes in clinical data from 1 year before diagnosis as independent risk factors: ΔHbA1c ≥ 0.3%, ΔBMI ≤ −0.5, and ΔLDL ≤ −20 mg/dL. A simple scoring system, incorporating variables and abdominal ultrasound findings, was developed. In the validation set, 36 PC cases were diagnosed over a 3-year period from 32,877 participants. The AUROC curve of the scoring system was 0.925 (95%CI 0.877–0.973). The positive score of early-stage PC cases, including Stage 0 and I cases, was significantly higher than that of non-PC cases (80% vs. 6%, p = 0.001). The simple scoring system effectively narrows down high-risk PC cases in the general population and provides a reasonable approach for early detection of PC.

Introducción: la cardiomiopatía de tipo takotsubo (STK) es un síndrome caracterizado por disfunción cardiaca aguda y transitoria, relacionada con un evento estresante emocional o físico. Es poco frecuente, aunque se puede observar en 1-3% de quienes consultan por manifestaciones de síndrome coronario agudo (SCA). Se ha descrito asociado con población gestante, sobre todo en preeclampsia y posoperatorio de cesárea. Presentamos una asociación no descrita en una paciente joven en posoperatorio inmediato por embarazo ectópico. Presentación del caso: mujer de 23 años, sin comorbilidades subyacentes, intervenida quirúrgicamente por un embarazo ectópico. En el posquirúrgico inmediato hubo deterioro hemodinámico súbito y estado de choque cardiogénico. Se documentó disfunción severa del ventrículo izquierdo con fracción de eyección de 17% e hipocinesia severa, luego de 48 horas de terapia de soporte con norepinefrina y milrinone. Los parámetros ventilatorios y hemodinámicos mejoraron con levosimendán y dobutamina. La ecocardiografía de control mostró recuperación de la FEVI a 40% con patrón medio ventricular y se consideró cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo. La RMN cardiaca el día 9 de iniciación fue normal con recuperación completa de la función ventricular. Conclusión: la cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo puede ocurrir en mujeres jóvenes en edad reproductiva que son sometidas a estrés quirúrgico y cabe la posibilidad de ser inducido por condiciones gestacionales como el embarazo ectópico.

Abstract Background First-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) may lead to complete AVB. Herein, we present a case of a complete AVB under thoracic epidural catheter infusion of ropivacaine with fentanyl in a patient with first-degree AVB and myasthenia gravis. Case presentation A 74-year-old woman with first-degree AVB underwent thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Continuous thoracic epidural catheter infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine with fentanyl was initiated at 15 min before the end of the surgery. At 9 h postoperatively, the electrocardiogram showed a 10-s-long pause due to complete AVB. Thus, a temporary pacemaker was implanted, and at 19 h postoperatively on postoperative day 1, cardiac pacing was initiated and lasted approximately 30 s. After catheter removal, she had no further episodes of complete AVB. Conclusion First-degree AVB may lead to complete AVB under the influence of thoracic epidural infusion of ropivacaine in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Abstract Background The present study aimed to examine the correlation between preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen levels in pancreatic juice (PJ‐CEA) and the histological subtype of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). Methods We enrolled IPMN patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography between March 2002 and March 2018. Clinical factors associated with IPMN histological subtypes of 67 patients who underwent surgery were analyzed. Furthermore, the relationship between CEA immunohistochemistry findings and histological subtypes was investigated. Results Median PJ‐CEA were 15 ng/ml in the gastric type, 150 ng/ml in the intestinal type, and 175 ng/ml in the pancreatobiliary type. Both intestinal and pancreatobiliary types had significantly higher PJ‐CEA than the gastric type (p = 0.001). In the analysis of histological subtype predictors, high PJ‐CEA (≥63 ng/ml) only showed a significant difference in multivariate analyses (95% confidence interval 4.8–70.2; p < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry findings revealed significantly higher CEA expression in the non‐gastric type than in the gastric type (p < 0.001). The non‐gastric type showed a significantly worse prognosis than the gastric type (p = 0.017). Conclusion PJ‐CEA was an independent predictor of IPMN histological subtypes in a preoperative setting. High PJ‐CEA predict the non‐gastric type, while low PJ‐CEA predict the gastric type.

Introducción: la cetoacidosis diabética (CAD) es una complicación y emergencia metabólica grave de la diabetes con una morbilidad y mortalidad significativa. Ocurre tanto en pacientes diabéticos tipo 1, como tipo 2. Su incidencia es baja, pero un reconocimiento y tratamiento tardío puede generar múltiples complicaciones. Objetivo: Revisar los conceptos clave de la CAD desde su definición, epidemiología, etiología, fisiopatología, presentación clínica, criterios diagnósticos y tratamiento en la práctica clínica. Métodos: se realizó una sinopsis y revisión de la literatura de acuerdo con la ponencia presentada en el Congreso de la Asociación Colombiana de Medicina Interna (ACMI) - Capítulo Valle, Universidad Libre: “Un enfoque multidisciplinario con visión latinoamericana” los días 13 y 14 de mayo de 2022. Resultados: la CAD se caracteriza por una hiperglucemia no controlada, acidosis metabólica y un aumento de las cetonas corporales causando una sintomatología diversa. Existen múltiples desencadenantes, pero lo principales son la falta de adherencia a la terapia farmacológica, los procesos infecciosos y el debut de la diabetes. Se caracteriza por un déficit absoluto o relativo de insulina lo cual genera una elevación de las hormonas contrarreguladoras generando un aumento de la gluconeogénesis, baja sensibilidad periférica a la insulina, perpetuando la hiperglucemia. Adicionalmente, se aumenta la lipólisis generando la oxidación de ácidos grasos libres en cuerpos cetónicos. El tratamiento está basado en restablecer el volumen circulante, suprimir la cetogénesis y favorecer la depuración de cetonas, corrigiendo la hiperglucemia y las alteraciones electrolíticas. Conclusión: Identificar y tratar adecuadamente la CAD salva vidas, siendo lo principal el restablecimiento oportuno de la homeostasis. El manejo debe ser interdisciplinario para evitar la recurrencia, fomentando la educación en diabetes.

Introducción: El ultrasonido a la cabecera del paciente o POCUS por sus siglas en inglés (point of care ultrasonography), es una estrategia que ha permitido a médicos no expertos integrar esta tecnología en servicios de urgencias, cuidado crítico, e incluso salas de hospitalización general. Objetivo: Proporcionar una evaluación integral y crítica de la literatura disponible sobre POCUS en el servicio de urgencias, entendiendo sus fortalezas y las brechas en la base del conocimiento actual sobre su utilidad en la practica clínica. Métodos: Se realizó una sinopsis y revisión de la literatura de acuerdo con la ponencia presentada en el Congreso de la Asociación Colombiana de Medicina Interna (ACMI) - Capítulo Valle, Universidad Libre: “Un enfoque multidisciplinario con visión latinoamericana” los días 13 y 14 de mayo de 2022. Resultados: El uso de POCUS en el servicio de urgencias a través de diferentes protocolos como el RUSH (Rapid Ultrasound in Shock), BLUE (Bedside lung ultrasound in emergency) y CAUSE (Cardiac arrest ultrasound exam) por sus siglas en inglés, ha demostrado una mejoría en la precisión diagnóstica, tiempo de detección y cambio en las conductas en comparación con la anamnesis y exploración física habitual. Conclusión: El POCUS es una herramienta valiosa que permite acelerar la toma de decisiones, mejorar la precisión diagnóstica, guiar intervenciones y mejorar los resultados de los pacientes en los servicios de emergencias.

El síndrome del linfocito pasajero (PLS) es una complicación de injerto contra huésped que se presenta en el trasplante de órganos sólidos o en el trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas. Es una causa importante de hemólisis inmune después del trasplante causada por la producción de anticuerpos por parte de los clones específicos de linfocitos B viables transferidos a través del órgano del donante contra los antígenos de los glóbulos rojos del receptor. Generalmente ocurre en los trasplantes con discordancia menor ABO o Rh. Este estudio descriptivo describe el caso de un paciente de 54 años con grupo sanguíneo O/Rh(D) positivo, con cirrosis secundaria a enfermedad metabólica asociada al hígado graso (MAFLD) que fue llevado a trasplante hepático de donante O/Rh(D) negativo. A los 9 días del trasplante presentó una anemia hemolítica inmune por anticuerpos anti-D por efecto del linfocito B pasajero del donante sensibilizado. El paciente recibió medidas de soporte, transfusión de glóbulos rojos e inmunosupresión con esteroides, con lo que se logró la estabilización de los parámetros hemolíticos. En conclusión, esta es una entidad que se debe sospechar en caso de anemia hemolítica aguda en el período postrasplante.

Abstract Background The genetic changes underlying carcinogenesis in patients with risk factors of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) remains controversial, especially in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM). This study aimed to clarify the association between risk factors of GBC and genetic changes using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Methods We retrospectively analyzed resected tissues of 64 patients who were diagnosed with GBC (n = 26), PBM [with GBC (n = 8), without GBC (n = 20)], and chronic cholecystitis, used as a control group (n = 10). DNA was extracted from tumors and their surrounding tissues, which were precisely separated by laser-capture microdissection. Gene alterations of 50 cancer-related genes were detected by NGS and compared with clinical information, including PBM status. Results The most frequent gene alterations in GBC tissues occurred in TP53 (50%), followed by EGFR (20.6%), RB1 (17.6%), and ERBB2 (17.6%). Gene alterations that were targetable by molecular targeted drugs were detected in 20 cases (58.8%). Statistical analysis of gene alterations and risk factors revealed that TP53 alteration rate was higher in GBC patients with PBM than those without PBM (p = 0.038), and the TP53 mutation rates in the epithelium of control patients, epithelium of PBM patients without GBC, peritumoral mucosa of GBC patients with PBM, and tumor tissue of GBC patients with PBM were 10, 10, 38, and 75%, respectively (p

Objective: to construct and validate an instrument to assess talent retention in nurses. Methods: methodological study whose stages were as follows: construction of the instrument by integrative literature review; content validation; and agreement by experts. To establish psychometric properties, it was applied to 290 nurses for construct validity through exploratory factor analysis, principal components method and Promax rotation. Evaluation of the internal consistency of the constructs by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient and McDonald's omega coefficient. Results: content validation by 10 experts obtained a degree of agreement >80% and second-order agreement coefficient (AC2 Gwet) between 0.83 and 0.89. After factor analysis, we obtained: instrument with 25 items, high degree of reliability and internal consistency; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test = 0.947; Bartlett p

Abstract Background The prognosis of advanced laryngeal cancer is unfavorable despite advances in multidisciplinary therapy. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in antitumor immunity. Tumor-infiltrating CD1a+ DCs have been reported to be associated with clinical outcomes in carcinomas of various organs, but the clinical impact of CD1a+ DCs in laryngeal cancer remains to be unequivocally established. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 57 patients with Stage III or IV laryngeal cancer who underwent a total laryngectomy. Immunohistochemistry detection of CD1a, S100 and CD8 was performed on representative resected specimens. CD1a+ DCs, S100+ DCs and CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) were evaluated, and the cases divided into high and low groups according to the cut-off of the median values for each of these 3 parameters. Results Compared to the CD1a-low group, the CD1a-high group had more advanced cases and showed significantly worse disease-specific survival (DSS) (P = 0.008) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.032). The analyses of S100 DCs and CD8+ CTLs revealed no significant impact on clinical outcomes. However, multivariate analysis revealed that infiltration of CD1a+ DCs was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for both DSS (P = 0.009) and OS (P = 0.013). Conclusions Our results demonstrated that the infiltration of CD1a+ DCs was associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer who underwent a total laryngectomy as the initial treatment.

Objectives: The present study aimed to validate the new international guidelines for IPMN and determine the surgical criteria for patients with IPMN exhibiting high-risk stigmata (HRS). Methods: We enrolled 115 IPMN patients exhibiting HRS who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2021. Of the 115 patients, 79 underwent surgery (surgical group) and 36 did not undergo surgery (non-surgical group). The overall survival (OS) of each group was compared, and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with OS. Results: There was no significant difference in the estimated 5-year OS in the surgical and non-surgical groups (67% vs. 74%; p = 0.75). The presence of a solid component (SC) (hazard ratio [HR], 6.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.30–14.5) and a high score of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) (≥5) (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.11–4.64) were independent predictors of poor OS. In the presence of an SC, the surgical group had a significantly better OS than the non-surgical group (estimated 5-year OS, 38% vs. 18%; p = 0.031). In the absence of an SC, the prognosis of patients with a high ACCI was significantly poorer than those with a low ACCI in the surgical group (estimated 5-year OS, 59% vs. 93%; p = 0.005). Conclusions: An SC and a high ACCI are important prognostic factors in IPMN patients exhibiting HRS. Thus, patients with an SC should undergo surgical resection. However, conservative management may be the optimal treatment in patients without an SC and with a high ACCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background and Aim The clinical applicability of digital next‐generation sequencing (dNGS), which eliminates polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing error‐derived noise by using molecular barcodes (MBs), has not been fully evaluated. We evaluated the utility of dNGS of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in liquid biopsies obtained from patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods Fifty‐eight patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) were included. Samples were subjected to sequencing of 50 cancer‐related genes using next‐generation sequencing (NGS). The results were used as reference gene alterations. NGS of cfDNA from plasma was performed for patients with a mutant allele frequency (MAF) >1% and an absolute mutant number > 10 copies/plasma mL in KRAS or GNAS by digital PCR. Sequence readings with and without MBs were compared with reference to EUS‐FNA‐derived gene alterations. Results The concordance rate between dNGS of cfDNA and EUS‐FNA‐derived gene alterations was higher with than without MBs (p = 0.039), and MAF cut‐off values in dNGS could be decreased to 0.2%. dNGS using MBs eliminated PCR and sequencing error by 74% and 68% for TP53 and all genes, respectively. Overall, dNGS detected mutations in KRAS (45%) and TP53 (26%) and copy number alterations in CCND2, CCND3, CDK4, FGFR1, and MYC, which are targets of molecular‐targeted drugs. Conclusions dNGS of cfDNA using MBs is useful for accurate detection of gene alterations even with low levels of MAFs. These results may be used to inform the development of diagnostics and therapeutics that can improve the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Introducción: la amiloidosis de cadena ligera (AL) es una entidad desencadenada por la proliferación de un clon de células plasmáticas que genera la acumulación de cadenas ligeras, las cuales se depositan en forma de fibrillas amiloides generando una disfunción orgánica. El compromiso renal generalmente se manifiesta como síndrome nefrótico, con un deterioro lento y progresivo de la función renal que puede llevar a un requerimiento de terapia dialítica. Objetivo: demostrar el compromiso renal agresivo y subagudo de la amiloidosis sistémica. Presentación del caso: paciente masculino de 35 años que consulta por malestar general, visión borrosa, mareos y oliguria con elevación de azoados, y que progresó rápidamente hasta el requerimiento de hemodiálisis en aproximadamente tres meses. Asociado se documenta polineuropatía periférica, infiltración cardiaca y ligera elevación de transaminasas. Ante negatividad de estudios de extensión, se logra documentar la presencia histopatológica de depósitos amiloides con inmunofluorescencia positiva para AL. Actualmente, se encuentra recibiendo esquema de quimioterapia con adecuada estabilidad clínica y tolerancia. Discusión y conclusión: la amiloidosis AL es una entidad infrecuente, con compromiso multiorgánico importante y altas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad. Se recalca en este caso el compromiso subagudo con requerimiento temprano de terapia dialítica y además se enfatiza la importancia de una sospecha y un diagnóstico oportuno en pacientes con compromiso renal y otras manifestaciones sistémicas.

Abstract Although comprehensive gene analyses of pancreatic cancer provide new knowledge on molecular mechanisms, the usefulness and possibility of the analyses in routinely available clinical samples remain unclear. We assessed the possibility and utility of target sequencing of endoscopically obtained pancreatic cancer samples. Fifty‐eight pancreatic cancer patients who underwent EUS‐FNA or endoscopic biopsy were enrolled. The extracted DNA quantity was assessed and used for next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of 50 cancer‐related genes from which gene mutations, copy number alterations, and microsatellite instability (MSI) were extracted via secondary analysis. A median of 19.2 ng (3.8–228) of DNA was extracted from formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples. Gene alterations were detected in 55 of 58 samples (94.8%), including all samples with a DNA concentration below the detection limit (n = 11). Four frequently altered genes were KRAS (83%), TP53 (66%), SMAD4 (26%), and PTEN (17%), and molecular targetable genes were detected in 13 cases (22.4%). Five samples (8.6%) had many mutations and suspected MSI with impaired mismatch repair genes. A Cox regression analysis revealed that metastasis (p 5 ng/ml (p = 0.01, HR 2.86), ≤10 detected hotspot mutations (p = 0.03, HR 9.86), and intact Ras signaling (p

ObjectivesThe benefit of sequential therapy after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) has been recently reported. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in the impact of cetuximab (Cmab)-containing salvage chemotherapy (SCT) and the therapeutic efficacy and adverse events (AEs) of Cmab administration prior to ICI administration.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 52 patients with R/M HNSCC treated with SCT (weekly paclitaxel [PTX], n = 7, or weekly PTX and Cmab [PC], n = 45).ResultsThe objective response rate (ORR) and a disease control rate (DCR) was 53.3% and 91.1% in the PC group and 42.9% and 57.1% in the PTX group, respectively. There was a significant difference in the DCR between the PC and PTX groups (p = 0.0143). The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival were significantly better in the PC group than in the PTX group. On the other hand, the incidence of drug-induced interstitial pneumonia (DI-IP) in R/M HNSCC patients who received SCT was 21.2%. Patients in the PC group were divided according to whether they received Cmab (Group A) or did not receive Cmab (Group B) as palliative therapy prior to ICIs. Group B had a significantly better OS than Group A. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the incidence rate of DI-IP during SCT might be higher in Group B.ConclusionAlthough PC following ICIs shows dramatic efficacy, careful monitoring of AEs, including DI-IP, is recommended.

This study aimed to develop and validate a simple scoring system to determine the high-risk group for pancreatic cancer (PC) in the asymptomatic general population. The scoring system was developed using data from PC cases and randomly selected non-PC cases undergoing annual medical checkups between 2008 and 2013. The performance of this score was validated for participants with medical checkups between 2014 and 2016. In the development set, 45 PC cases were diagnosed and 450 non-PC cases were identified. Multivariate analysis showed three changes in clinical data from 1 year before diagnosis as independent risk factors: ΔHbA1c ≥ 0.3%, ΔBMI ≤ −0.5, and ΔLDL ≤ −20 mg/dL. A simple scoring system, incorporating variables and abdominal ultrasound findings, was developed. In the validation set, 36 PC cases were diagnosed over a 3-year period from 32,877 participants. The AUROC curve of the scoring system was 0.925 (95%CI 0.877–0.973). The positive score of early-stage PC cases, including Stage 0 and I cases, was significantly higher than that of non-PC cases (80% vs. 6%, p = 0.001). The simple scoring system effectively narrows down high-risk PC cases in the general population and provides a reasonable approach for early detection of PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most specialized antigen-presenting cells, and lymph nodes (LNs) play an important role in the DC-mediated T-cell response. We evaluated the infiltration of CD1a-positive DCs (CD1a-DCs), i.e., immature DCs, and S100-positive dendritic cells (S100-DCs), a mixture of immature and mature DCs, in 73 cases of laryngeal cancer and its regional LNs. Among them, 31 patients underwent radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) prior to surgery. No significant difference was found for CD1a-DC infiltration in the primary tumors, metastatic LNs and non-metastatic LNs, while S100-DCs were significantly fewer in number in the primary tumors and metastatic LNs compared to non-metastatic LNs. The cases which showed a high infiltration of S100-DCs in the metastatic LNs appeared to show a favorable prognosis, although statistical significance was not reached. In the RT/CRT group, the infiltration of the CD1a-DCs and S100-DCs was less in the primary tumors and metastatic LNs compared to the treatment-naive group. Conversely, the RT/CRT group showed higher CD1a-DC and S100-DC numbers in the non-metastatic LNs compared to the treatment-naïve group. Thus, DC maturation in metastatic LNs plays an important role in tumor immunity in laryngeal cancer, and the infiltration of DCs into the primary tumor and metastatic LNs is impaired by RT/CRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A module M is called N -almost-invariant for a module N if, for any homomorphism α : F → E , either α (N) ⊆ M , or there exist nonzero direct summands F ′ of F and E ′ of E such that α | F ′ : F ′ → E ′ is an isomorphism and (α | F ′ ) − 1 (M ∩ E ′) ⊆ N ∩ F ′ , where E and F are the injective hulls of M and N , respectively. This is a generalization of an almost N -injective module. In this paper, we give a new characterization of a generalized N -injective module by homomorphisms between their injective hulls, and consider conditions for an N -almost-invariant module to be almost N -injective. Moreover, we study a relationship between generalized N -injective, almost N -injective and N -almost-invariant modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, humoral factors released from the placenta influence pregnancy progression, but the involvement of the canine placenta is often unidentified. We investigated specific genes in canine placentas and analyzed the blood dynamics of the translated proteins. Furthermore, RNAs are known to be released from placentas embedding in exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicles. Here, the presence of cell-free RNAs in pregnant serums was also confirmed. RNA specimens were purified from the normal healthy dog placentas and applied to RNA-Seq analysis. Expressions of frequent genes were confirmed by RT-PCR using placentas from other individuals and breeds. Relaxin (RLN) 2, lipocalin (LCN) 2, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) 2 were selected as highexpressed and placenta-specific genes. By western blot, the three factors were clearly detected in the pregnant serums. Quantitative analysis revealed that the amount of RLN2 increased significantly from non-pregnancy to day 41 of pregnancy. Regarding LCN2 and TFPI2, the protein serum levels elevated during pregnancy, but the statistical differences were not detected. Exosomes were found in all pregnant serums; however, the percentage was less than 6% in total extracellular vesicles. The cell-free RNA related to RLN2 was detected, but no elevation was confirmed during pregnancy. We found specific genes in the canine placenta and the transition of their translated protein into the blood. These factors may become useful tools for research on canine pregnancy and monitoring of reproductive management. Exosomes and cell-free RNA could not be found to be valid in canine reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to establish a construction method for a large space structure of several hundred meters or more required by the Space Solar Power Systems (SSPS), it is necessary to carry out a long series of experiments on orbit while gradually expanding the structure size because the current technology level to realize the large space structure is low. If we can carry out the experiments as space use missions like telecommunication, earth observation and so on, we can increase the possibility to carry out the experiments because the cost-effectiveness of the experiments is improved. Therefore, we aim to establish a construction method for a 30-m-class large planar antenna required by a radar to observe precipitation from a geostationary orbit as the immediate target. In order to establish the 30-m-class large planar antenna construction method with high feasibility and expandability for the SSPS, we proposed a method to deploy and connect antenna panel rows one after the other. And we verified feasibility for critical functions of large planar antenna deployment and connection mechanisms used in the proposed method by two step ground experiments. First, we carried out the experiment for the Electromagnet Connection Mechanism (ECM) which is the key device of the antenna deployment and connection mechanisms and confirmed that the basic function concept of the ECM can be realized. Next, we carried out the deployment experiment for panel rows equipped with the ECM and demonstrated the deployment and connection function concept of second and subsequent row panels because these functions are the critical functions.

Background/Aim: Several reports have evaluated the efficacy and safety of concurrent radiotherapy with cetuximab (BRT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Combination therapy with cetuximab can be a treatment option for NPC. Although clinical data regarding the efficacy and safety of BRT without induction chemotherapy (ICT) or adjuvant chemotherapy is essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies, such data are rarely reported. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively investigated a series of patients with NPC treated in our institution to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BRT. Eleven patients with newly diagnosed NPC were identified from an inpatient database from July 2015 to April 2018. Seven patients who received BRT were reviewed. Results: All patients completed BRT without cessation of treatment. Six (85.7%) patients achieved a complete response and one (14.3%) achieved stable disease. The response rate was 85.7%. All patients with ≤T3 disease achieved a complete response. Both patients with T3 disease developed local recurrence, and one of the four patients with T1-2 disease developed distant metastases. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 85.7% and 47.6%, respectively. The most common adverse events (AEs) were pharyngeal mucositis (100%), radiation dermatitis (100%), anorexia (28.6%), weight loss (28.6%), acneiform rash (28.6%), and dry mouth (28.6%). Grade 3 AEs were pharyngeal mucositis (42.9%), radiation dermatitis (28.6%), and anorexia (14.3%). No grade 4/5 AEs were observed. Conclusion: BRT for NPC was tolerable, but our findings suggest that BRT without induction chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy is insufficient at least for ≥T3 disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that we are endowed with a remarkable capacity to motivate ourselves in the absence of extrinsic incentives (i.e. intrinsic motivation). However, little research has been conducted to investigate whether we accurately appreciate the power of intrinsic motivation. The current research aimed to examine the metacognitive accuracy of the extent to which people can motivate themselves without performance-based extrinsic incentives. Participants were presented with a relatively long and repetitive task without extrinsic incentives, and before doing the task, they were asked to predict their motivation on completion of the task. Across seven experiments using a variety of tasks with different populations from different countries, participants were consistently engaged in the task more actively than they predicted. When participants were provided with performance-based monetary rewards, however, this bias was diminished. These results indicate that we tend to underappreciate our capability to sustain our motivation without extrinsic incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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