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Background Pseudoaneurysms (PAs) of the extracranial vertebral artery (VA) are rare lesions, representing less than 1% of all aneurysms. Although these lesions may resolve spontaneously, they present a high rupture rate, so early preventive treatment is advised. Case Description Case 1: A 48-year-old woman presented with pain and cervical rigidity. An angiotomography showed a PA of the left VA at the level of the C2 transverse foramen, with mural thrombosis and bone remodeling of the left lateral mass. The PA was treated with the endovascular placement of a flow diverter stent. The patient was discharged 3 days after the procedure without complications. The last vascular imaging follow-up was performed 6 years after the procedure showing a patent left VA, with complete resolution of the aneurysm. Case 2: A 57-year-old woman was admitted referring cervicalgia after a polytraumatism. An angiotomography revealed a fracture of the C1 posterior arch, lateral mass, and left transverse foramen, on top of a left VA thrombosis due to a vascular dissection. Eleven months after the trauma, a left VA V3 segment arteriovenous fistula developed. It was treated with hydrocoils, with no complications. One month after the embolization, a left VA V3 segment PA was observed and treated with a flow diverter stent. An angiographic follow-up 2 years after the procedure showed a patent left VA, with complete resolution of the PA. Conclusion The use of flow diverters seems to be a safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of PAs of the extracranial VAs.

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE), also called radioembolization or selective internal radiation therapy, is an interventional radiology technique used to treat primary liver tumors and liver metastases. The aim of this therapy is to deliver tumoricidal doses of radiation to liver tumors while selecting a safe radiation dose limit for nontumoral liver and lung tissue. Hence, correct treatment planning is essential to obtaining good results. However, this treatment invariably results in some degree of irradiation of normal liver parenchyma, inducing different radiologic findings that may affect follow-up image interpretation. When evaluating treatment response, the treated area size, tumor necrosis, devascularization, and changes seen at functional MRI must be taken into account. Unlike with other interventional procedures, with TARE, it can take several months for the tumor response to become evident. Ideally, responding lesions will show reduced size and decreased enhancement 3-6 months after treatment. In addition, during follow-up, there are many imaging findings related to the procedure itself (eg, peritumoral edema, inflammation, ring enhancement, hepatic fibrosis, and capsular retraction) that can make image interpretation and response evaluation difficult. Possible complications, either hepatic or extrahepatic, also can occur and include biliary injuries, hepatic abscess, radioembolization-induced liver disease, and radiation pneumonitis or dermatitis. A complete understanding of these possible posttreatment changes is essential for correct radiologic interpretations during the follow-up of patients who have undergone TARE. ©RSNA, 2019.

Pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in low weight recipients remains one of the most complex surgical procedures, with portal vein (PV) complications occurring in up to 19% of cases. When decreased PV flow is diagnosed intra- or perioperatively, intraoperative stent placement is a good substitute for surgical adjustment. Still, at the present moment, little is known about the technical feasibility, safety, efficacy, and long-term outcome of intraoperative stenting in LDLT. Between 2006 and 2017, seven pediatric recipients underwent PV stent placement during the transplant or in the immediate post-operative setting. Preoperative, operative, and post-operative parameters were documented retrospectively. In total, nine stents were placed in seven patients. Procedures were technically successful in all patients. During the mean imaging follow-up period of 1313 days, none of the patients showed PV abnormality and PV stent remained patent throughout the post-transplant course. There were no deaths or graft loses during the follow-up period. Intraoperative stenting through the inferior mesenteric vein approach offers both a high feasibility and satisfactory results, with the potential for excellent long-term primary patency despite continued growth in children.

Objective. To investigate the correlation among pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines and the two main gut microbiota phyla in obese children. Materials and methods. Anthropometric data were obtained from 890 children under 14 years old to determine the degree of obesity. Serum cytokine concentration was measured by ELISA. Relative abundance of gut microbiota in feces was evaluated by quantitative RealTime PCR assays. Results. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were statistically higher in overweigth/ obese children (OW/O) than in lean (NW), Increased TNF-α levels were found in obese children that also have a high relative abundance of Firmicutes. Conclusions. Obese children have a high relative abundance of Firmicutes that correlates with increased levels of TNF-α. This is the first study that shows a relation between Firmicute abundance and TNF-α serum concentration in obese children.

The persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) is the most common and most cephalic embryological vascular remnant that persist in the adulthood. It is located between the internal carotid artery and the basilar artery. It is recognized on 0.1%–0.6% of cerebral angiography. In most cases is an incidental finding, but may be associate with others cerebrovascular malformations, including arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms, and carotid-cavernous fistulas, which cerebral aneurysms are the most common. We describe an extremely rare case of unruptured aneurysm in the PTA trunk revealed by angiotomography successfully treated with endovascular embolization. A proper diagnose prior to any surgical or radiological intervention is crucial to prevent possible complications. Keywords: Aneurysm, Angiography, Coil embolization, Neurosurgery, Persistent trigeminal artery

// Isidro Aleman-Avila 1, 2 , Mayra Jimenez-Morales 1 , Olga Beltran-Ramirez 1 , Rosa Elda Barbosa-Cobos 3 , Silvia Jimenez-Morales 4 , Fausto Sanchez-Munoz 5 , Guillermo Valencia-Pacheco 6 , Luis M. Amezcua-Guerra 5 , Yaneli Juarez-Vicuna 5 , Dulce Milagro Razo-Blanco Hernandez 7 , Maria Concepcion Aguilera-Cartas 8 , Ricardo F. Lopez-Villanueva 9 , Oscar Peralta-Zaragoza 10 , Carlos Tovilla-Zarate 11 and Julian Ramirez-Bello 1 1 Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Unit Research, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico 2 Superior School of Medicine Postgraduate Program, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico 3 Rheumatology Department, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico 4 Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico 5 Immunology Department, National Institute of Cardiology, Mexico City, Mexico 6 Hematology Laboratory, Regional Research Center, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Yucatan, Mexico 7 Research Direction, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico 8 Endocrinology Department, Hospital Juarez of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico 9 Rheumatology Department, Regional Hospital General (ISSSTE), Health Service Yucatan, Yucatan, Mexico 10 Direction of Chronic Infections and Cancer, Research Center in Infection Diseases, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico 11 Multidisciplinary Academic Division of Comalcalco, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Comalcalco, Mexico Correspondence to: Julian Ramirez-Bello, email: dr.julian.ramirez.hjm@gmail.com Keywords: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease, microRNA gene, susceptibility Received: December 21, 2016 Accepted: June 30, 2017 Published: July 27, 2017 ABSTRACT Recently, different microRNA (miRNA) gene polymorphisms have been evaluated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Graves’ disease (GD). In the present study, we examined three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the pre-miR-146a (rs2910164G/C), pre-miR-196a-2 (rs11614913C/T), and pre-miR-499 (rs3746444A/G) genes. Our study population included 900 Mexican patients with RA, SLE, or GD, as well as 486 healthy control individuals with no family history of inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan probes and a 5′ exonuclease assay. None of the investigated SNPs were associated with RA or GD susceptibility under any genetic model (co-dominant, recessive, or dominant). Genotype and allele frequencies of the miR-196a-2 rs11614913C/T polymorphism were similar between SLE cases and controls. In contrast, the miR-146a rs2910164G/C and miR-499 rs3746444A/G polymorphisms were associated with SLE susceptibility. These SNPs were not associated with lupus nephritis (LN). Our results suggest that polymorphisms in miR-146a, miR-196a-2 , and miR-499 are not associated with RA or GD susceptibility. This is the first report documenting that the miR-146a rs2910164G/C and miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphisms are associated with SLE susceptibility but not with LN.

At present, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is used as a clinical biomarker for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis; however, a large number of patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) with PSA levels in the ʻgray areaʼ (4–10 ng/ml) are currently subjected to unnecessary biopsy due to overdiagnosis. Certain microRNAs (miRs) have been proven to be useful biomarkers, several of which are detectable in bodily fluids. The present study identified and validated a urinary miR-based signature to enhance the specificity of PCa diagnosis and to reduce the number of patients with benign conditions undergoing biopsy. Seventy-three urine samples from Mexican patients with diagnosis of PCa with a Gleason score ≥7 and 70 patients diagnosed with BPH were collected after digital rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate. miR expression profiles were determined using TaqMan Low Density Array experiments, and normalized Ct values for the miRs were compared between PCa and BPH groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate whether miR detection in urine is suitable for distinguishing patients with PCa from those with BPH. The identified miR-100/200b signature was significantly correlated with PCa. Using a multivariable logistic regression approach, a base model including the clinical variables age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the percentage of free PSA and DRE was generated, and a second base model additionally contained the miR-100/200b signature. ROC analysis demonstrated that the combined model significantly outperformed the capacity of PSA (P

Hysterectomy is the standard of care in placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). To reduce the risks of obstetric hemorrhage during surgery, endovascular interventions have been proposed. Our aim is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the overall non-conservative management of PAS in the hybrid operating room (OR) to replace the classic two-step procedure (catheterization in the interventional radiology suite and transfer to conventional OR). This is a retrospective study of series of patients with histopathologic confirmation of PAS treated in the hybrid OR at the same university hospital. We used for comparison our historical cohort managed with the standard two-step procedure. We included 110 patients, 80 in the conventional OR and 30 in the hybrid OR. There were no cases of major complications attributable to the endovascular procedures. In the two-step procedure, there were 10 (12.5%) intra-arterial catheter displacements that required repositioning in the conventional OR under mobile C-arm fluoroscopy and no cases in the hybrid OR (p = 0.04). The mean operative time was 380 + 42 min in the conventional OR and 296 + 66 min in the hybrid OR (p = .00001). There were no differences in the gestational age at delivery, postoperative length of stay, or large-volume blood transfusion. There were no maternal deaths. The overall non-conservative management of PAS in the hybrid OR has shown to be feasible and safe in our series, offering potential advantages to replace the classic two-step procedure. More studies are needed to evaluate whether this strategy is cost-effective and whether it may improve maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility and safety of prophylactic uterine artery catheterization and embolization in the management of placenta accreta (PA). Materials and Methods Retrospective chart review was performed of 95 consecutive patients with prenatal suspicion of PA managed in a 10-year period with a strategy that included prophylactic bilateral uterine artery catheterization, delivery of the baby, uterine artery embolization if indicated, and subsequent surgery. Feasibility was defined as catheterization being possible to perform, technical success as embolization being possible when indicated and complete stasis of the vessels achieved, and clinical success as no maternal death or major blood loss. Median gestational age at delivery was 36 weeks (interquartile range, 24–39 wk). Results PA was confirmed in 79 patients (83%). Feasibility was 97% (92 of 95); in three cases (3%), acute early massive hemorrhage forced emergency delivery without catheterization. Embolization was performed in 83 of 92 patients (87%) to the extent of complete stasis; in the remaining nine, it was unnecessary because spontaneous placental detachment was visualized after fetal delivery (technical success rate, 100%). There were several complications, including bleeding requiring blood transfusion (49%) and bladder surgery (37%), but there were no major complications attributable to the endovascular procedures. There was one minor complication presumably related to embolization (transient paresthesia and decreased temperature of lower limb), with uneventful follow-up. Clinical success rate was 86%, with no maternal deaths, but 14% of patients received large-volume blood transfusion. Conclusions Prophylactic uterine artery catheterization and embolization in the management of PA appeared to be feasible and safe in this consecutive series of patients.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) usually presents in association with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs). In addition, the incidence of venous thromboembolism tends to be increased in these patients. A 74-year-old female with HHT presented with cyanosis and hypoxemia. Contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography (MSCT) revealed two left PAVMs and one in the right upper lobe. Both left PAVMs were treated with embolotherapy. Follow-up MSCT revealed an incidental pulmonary embolism in the right pulmonary branches. Deep venous thrombosis was confirmed and anticoagulation was initiated. Follow-up MSCT revealed the resolution of thromboembolism. Finally, embolotherapy was performed. This case illustrates the chronic adaptation to hypoxemia and adds further evidence to the relative safety of anticoagulation treatment in these patients.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide, which mainly affects developing countries. The patients who suffer a recurrence and/or progression disease have a higher risk of developing distal metastases. Proteases comprising the degradome given its ability to promote cell growth, migration, and invasion of tissues play an important role during tumor development and progression. In this study, we used high-density microarrays and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the degradome profile and their inhibitors in 112 samples of patients diagnosed with locally advanced cervical cancer. Clinical follow-up was done during a period of 3 years. Using a correlation analysis between the response to treatment and the development of metastasis, we established a molecular signature comprising eight degradome-related genes (FAM111B, FAM111A, CFB, PSMB8, PSMB9, CASP7, PRSS16, and CD74) with the ability to discriminate patients at risk of distal metastases. In conclusion, present results show that molecular signature obtained from degradome genes can predict the possibility of metastasis in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

Purpose To describe and illustrate the prostatic arterial anatomy from human cadaveric specimens, highlighting implications for prostatic arterial embolization. Materials and Methods Dissection of 18 male pelves from white adults 35–68 years old was performed in the anatomy laboratory. Arterial branches were identified according to standard dissection technique using a 20-diopter magnifying lens for the prostatic sector. The branches were colored with red acrylic paint to enhance contrast and improve visualization. Results Two main arterial pedicles to the prostate from each hemipelvis were identified in all cadaveric specimens: the superior and inferior prostatic pedicles. The superior prostatic pedicle provides the main arterial supply of the gland and provides branches to both the inferior bladder and the ejaculatory system. The inferior prostatic pedicle distributes as a plexus in the prostatic apex and anastomoses with the superior pedicle. This pattern of prostatic arterial distribution was constant in all cadaveric specimens. In contrast, the origin of the superior prostatic pedicle was variable from different sources of the internal iliac artery. Conclusions The description and illustration of the prostatic arterial anatomy, as demonstrated by this cadaveric study, may provide useful information and guidance for prostatic arterial embolization.

Background The standard approach for the endovascular treatment of a dysfunctional or occluded hemodialysis access in the upper limbs includes a direct intervention through the access itself or alternatively, when not feasible, through the brachial or radial artery access. Nonetheless, there are certain circumstances in which these approaches are not easily achieved. Methods An 89-year-old male with end-stage renal disease developed a pseudoaneurysm after an hemorrhagic complication of a recently transposed native basilic arteriovenous fistula secondary to a needle puncture. Dehiscence of the injured access with spontaneous arterial bleeding evolved as a consequence of the upper limb swelling, rendering therapeutic intervention of the access through a conventional route impossible. A fistulogram through puncture of the common femoral artery was performed to obtain an accurate diagnosis. However, this approach was insufficient to advance the covered stent with the intention of excluding the pseudoaneurysm, as the stent delivery system could not reach the desired site. Given that the covered stent insertion required a 9 Fr introducer, the radial artery approach was ruled out. Therefore, we chose a venous access via the ipsilateral internal jugular vein, which was punctured under ultrasound guidance. Results This strategy was useful to advance the stent and exclude the pseudoaneurysm successfully. Conclusions This technique should be considered for those individuals in whom conventional routes of approach for repairing dialysis accesses are not feasible or are extremely risky.

Intestinal vascular malformations, especially those in the right colon, are a frequent cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in adults, but they are a very rare condition in children. Symptoms include acute hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, or chronic anemia of uncertain etiology, which is the most frequent form of presentation but the most difficult to diagnose and thus properly treat. We report the case of an 11 year old boy admitted to the Emergency Room with abdominal pain, vomits, hemodynamic decompensation, who required expansion and blood transfusion. With history ofrecurrent bloody stools since infancy with repeated normal endoscopies and Tc99 scintigraphy with chronic anemia and no improvement despite adequate treatment. In the last admission, the videocolonoscopy detected a venous vascular malformation in the ileocecal region. The angiography and the entero multislice computer tomography scanner were valuable tools to confirm the diagnosis and to select the appropriate surgical procedure for this rare condition.

Background Alterations in the host cellular immune response allow persistent infections with High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and development of premalignant cervical lesions and cervical cancer (CC). Variations of immunosuppressive cytokine levels in cervix are associated with the natural history of CC. To assess the potential role of genetic host immunity and cytokines serum levels in the risk of developing CC, we conducted a case–control study paired by age. Methods Peripheral blood samples from patients with CC (n = 200) and hospital controls (n = 200), were used to evaluate nine biallelic SNPs of six cytokine genes of the adaptive immune system by allelic discrimination and cytokines serum levels by ELISA. Results After analyzing the SNP association by multivariate logistic regression adjusted by age, CC history and smoking history, three Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) and one Th3 (TGFB1) cytokine were significantly associated with CC. Individuals with at least one copy of the following risk alleles: T of SNP (−590C > T IL-4), C of SNP (−573G > C IL-6), A of SNP (−592C > A IL-10), T of SNP (−819C > T IL-10) and T of SNP (−509C > T TGFB1), had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.08 (95 % CI 1.475–2.934, p = 0.0001), an OR of 1.70 (95 % CI 1.208–2.404, p = 0.002), an OR of 1.87 (95 % CI 1.332–2.630, p = 0.0001), an OR of 1.67 (95 % CI 1.192–2.353, p = 0.003) and an OR of 1.91 (95 % CI 1.354–2.701, p = 0.0001), respectively, for CC. The burden of carrying two or more of these risk alleles was found to have an additive effect on the risk of CC (p trend = 0.0001). Finally, the serum levels of Th2 and Th3 cytokines were higher in CC cases than the controls; whereas IFNG levels, a Th1 cytokine, were higher in controls than CC cases. Conclusion The significant associations of five SNPs with CC indicate that these polymorphisms are potential candidates for predicting the risk of development of CC, representing a risk allelic load for CC and can be used as a biomarker of susceptibility to this disease.

Internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare life-threatening condition that may develop in different clinical situations. We report the case of an extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to a throat infection in a pediatric patient that was initially treated with percutaneous thrombin injection under ultrasound guidance. However, recanalization occurred at 48 h, and definitive treatment was then performed by endovascular stent-graft placement. We briefly review the clinical characteristics of this uncommon clinical condition as well as the treatment options.

Background The aberrant expression of miR-23b is involved in the development and progression of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of methylation in the silencing of miR-23b in cervical cancer cell lines and to determine its expression in stages of malignant progression and in cervical cancer tissues HPV16-positive. Methods The methylation of the miR-23b promoter was determined in HeLa, SiHa, CaSki and C33A cells using a Human Cancer miRNA EpiTectMethyl II Signature PCR Array®. The cells were treated with 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine, and the expression of miR-23b, uPa, c-Met and Zeb1 was determined by qRT-PCR. miR-92a and GAPDH were used as controls. The expression of miR-23b was determined in cervical scrapes and biopsies of women without squamous intraepithelial lesions, with precursor lesions and with cervical cancer, all were HPV16-positive. The Fisher exact and Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare the differences of the expression of miR-23b, uPa, c-Met and Zeb1 among cell groups, and the difference among patients, respectively. The association between the expression of miR-23b and cervical cancer was determined by logistic regression with a confidence level of 95 %. A value of p

Abnormal expression and promoter methylation of microRNAs (miRNAs) are common events during cervical carcinogenesis. Worldwide, infection by types 18 and 16 of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is considered the major risk factor for cervical cancer development. It has been reported that expression of the miRNAs can be deregulated by specific HPV genotypes. In this study we analyzed the promoter methylation of 22 miRNAs and the expression of three miRNAs in 10 non-squamous intraepithelial lesions (Non-SIL) without HPV16 infection, and 7 Non-SIL, 16 low-grade SIL (LSIL) and 16 cervical cancer samples, all with HPV16 infection. The methylation status was determined using Human Cancer miRNA EpiTect Methyl II Signature PCR Array® and the expression of miR-124, miR-218 and miR-193b was determined by qRT-PCR using individual TaqMan assays. Comparisons of groups defined were performed using the Fisher exact test for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. A p-value of

The recent generation of AMPLATZER Vascular Plug (AVP; ie, the AVP IV) was used for the occlusion of eight pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) in five patients. A treatment was considered successful when there was a reduction or disappearance of the aneurysmal sac. At a mean follow-up of 20.1 months, no recanalization of PAVMs was observed on multidetector computed tomographic angiography. This shows the AVP IV to be safe and effective as an embolic device to occlude PAVMs.

Endovascular treatment of posttraumatic arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) in the lower extremities by means of covered stent-grafts is widely accepted, and many cases have been reported in the iliac-femoral region. However, few reports exist on the treatment of infrapopliteal AVFs, with or without a pseudoaneurysm, using this method. The authors present this case report dealing with a patient who had undergone a tibial and peroneal open fracture in his left limb 34 years ago. He developed a leg ulcer as a consequence of AVF between the tibialis posterior artery and vein, which resulted in venous insufficiency, which was treated by the endovascular approach with the placement of a stent-graft. Total healing was achieved over a period of 3 months. Angio-CT was performed, showing stent-graft patency 6 months after the endovascular procedure.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare vascular tumor and has a high mortality in newborns when associated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS). In two newborns with KHE and severe KMS refractory to medical treatment, emergency embolization led to clinical improvement in the acute neonatal setting by reducing tumor volume, increasing the platelet count, and improving other clotting parameters. Systemic vincristine treatment was added for further tumor control. Both patients remained symptom-free at long-term follow-up.

Purpose: Hepasphere and DC Bead loaded with Doxorubicin differ in terms of size ranges, mechanical properties, drug/bead interactions, but were never compared in vivo. The present study has compared the safety and efficacy of the two microspheres in the model of rabbit liver VX2 tumor. Materials and Methods: VX2 tumors were grown in the liver of 20 rabbits for 11-12D then randomized to embolization with DC-DOX 100-300mm, HS-DOX 30/60mm, Bland-HS 30/60mm or non-treated (n1⁄45/group). HS and DC were loaded with the same dose of drug (17mg/mL). DOX plasma concentration was assessed at 5/20/60/180min/24h/72h. Plasma biochemistry was assessed daily. Tumor and liver parenchyma necrosis were quantified on digitized histology sections at D3. Results: For the two DOX microspheres, drug plasma concentration was not significantly different at any time point with a peak at 5 min and not detectable after 3h. ALAT levels were highly elevated after embolization with a stronger increase in DOX vs Bland (p1⁄40.0338), NS between HS-DOX and DCDOX. Necrosis of peri-tumoral liver was increased for both HS-DOX and DC-DOX (23% and 34% liver surface respectively, p1⁄40.465) compared to Bland-HS (5%) and non-treated (o1%). Tumor growth after embolization was o6% in the two DOX groups (p1⁄40.361), not significantly different from BlandHS (5%) but lower than non-treated (þ148%, p1⁄40.030). Tumor necrosis reached 499% tumor surface in the two DOX groups (p1⁄40.523), significantly higher than in BlandHS (80%) and non-treated group (32%) Conclusion: Hepasphere and DC Bead loaded with Doxorubicin demonstrated equivalent safety and efficacy in the present tumor model and higher efficacy compared to bland embolization.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide and the development of new diagnosis, prognostic, and treatment strategies merits special attention. Although surgery and chemoradiotherapy can cure 80%–95% of women with early stage cancer, the recurrent and metastatic disease remains a major cause of cancer death. Many efforts have been made to design new drugs and develop gene therapies to treat cervical cancer. In recent decades, research on treatment strategies has proposed several options, including the role of HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes, which are retained and expressed in most cervical cancers and whose respective oncoproteins are critical to the induction and maintenance of the malignant phenotype. Other efforts have been focused on antitumor immunotherapy strategies. It is known that during the development of cervical cancer, a cascade of abnormal events is induced, including disruption of cellular cycle control, perturbation of antitumor immune response, alteration of gene expression, and deregulation of microRNA expression. Thus, in this review article we discuss potential targets for the treatment of cervical cancer associated with HPV infection, with special attention to immunotherapy approaches, clinical trials, siRNA molecules, and their implications as gene therapy strategies against cervical cancer development.

Cervical cancer (CC) mortality is a major public health concern since it is the second cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Patients diagnosed with locally advanced CC (LACC) have an important rate of recurrence and treatment failure. Conventional treatment for LACC is based on chemotherapy and radiotherapy; however, up to 40% of patients will not respond to conventional treatment; hence, we searched for a prognostic gene signature able to discriminate patients who do not respond to the conventional treatment employed to treat LACC. Tumor biopsies were profiled with genome-wide high-density expression microarrays. Class prediction was performed in tumor tissues and the resultant gene signature was validated by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. A 27-predictive gene profile was identified through its association with pathologic response. The 27-gene profile was validated in an independent set of patients and was able to distinguish between patients diagnosed as no response versus complete response. Gene expression analysis revealed two distinct groups of tumors diagnosed as LACC. Our findings could provide a strategy to select patients who would benefit from neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy-based treatment.

Background Helicobacter pylori chronic infection is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA)-positive H. pylori strains increase the risk of gastric pathology. The carcinogenic potential of CagA is linked to its polymorphic EPIYA motif variants. The goals of this study were to investigate the frequency of cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori in Mexican patients with gastric pathologies and to assess the association of cagA EPIYA motif patterns with peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Methods A total of 499 patients were studied; of these, 402 had chronic gastritis, 77 had peptic ulcer, and 20 had gastric cancer. H. pylori DNA, cagA, and the EPIYA motifs were detected in total DNA from gastric biopsies by PCR. The type and number of EPIYA segments were determined by the electrophoretic patterns. To confirm the PCR results, 20 amplicons of the cagA 3′ variable region were sequenced, and analyzed in silico, and the amino acid sequence was predicted with MEGA software, version 5. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated to determine the associations between the EPIYA motif type and gastric pathology and between the number of EPIYA-C segments and peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Results H. pylori DNA was found in 287 (57.5%) of the 499 patients, and 214 (74%) of these patients were cagA-positive. The frequency of cagA-positive H. pylori was 74.6% (164/220) in chronic gastritis patients, 73.6% (39/53) in peptic ulcer patients, and 78.6% (11/14) in gastric cancer patients. The EPIYA-ABC pattern was more frequently observed in chronic gastritis patients (79.3%, 130/164), while the EPIYA-ABCC sequence was more frequently observed in peptic ulcer (64.1%, 25/39) and gastric cancer patients (54.5%, 6/11). However, the risks of peptic ulcer (OR = 7.0, 95% CI = 3.3–15.1; p