Search

Research studies on pathologies affecting the posterior segment of the eye are usually carried out either in animal models or cell lines of human origin that mimic the molecular patterns occurring in the human retina-pigment epithelium-choroid (RPC) complex in vivo. As this is not always the case, we were prompted to validate a biorepository of RPC tissues for research purposes. A PubMed literature search on 'retina,' 'choroid,' 'bio-bank,' or 'biorepository' as keywords did not lead to any publication describing the collection and banking of samples from the RPC complex for research purposes. The possibility to obtain access to a validated collection of high quality human RPC tissues as starting material is likely to lead to more appropriate findings and treatments, which eventually may improve human ocular health. Here we show that when tissues are harvested (T <25 hours from donor death) and stored appropriately, RNAs are not degraded (RNA Integrity Number Values >8.0) and express specific genes and molecular/biochemical pathways occurring in the RPC complex. These quality controlled tissues/RNAs comprising the biorepository could therefore be used for gene expression studies by research scientists and clinicians interested in testing their hypotheses in a more appropriate setting, thus replacing studies performed on less relevant animal models and cells in vitro, and directly extrapolating the findings to human pathophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the expression of microsatellite instability, p53, p21, vascular endothelial growth factor and thymidylate synthase (TS) in pretreatment biopsy specimens from 57 locally advanced rectal cancers. The aim of the study was to correlate the expression of these markers with pathological response. Nineteen patients were treated with preoperative concomitant radiotherapy (RT) and fluorouracil/oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (RCT), while 38 had RT alone. Pathological complete remission (pCR) and microfoci residual tumour (micR) occurred more frequently in patients treated with RCT (P=0.002) and in N0 tumours (P=0.004). Among patients treated with RCT, high TS levels were associated with a higher response rate (pCR+micR; P=0.015). No such correlation was found in the RT group. The other molecular factors were of no predictive value. Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant interaction between nodal status and the probability of achieving a pathological response (P=0.023) and between TS expression and treatment, indicating that a high TS level is predictive of a higher pathological response in the RCT subset (P=0.007). This study shows that lymph node status is the most important predictive factor of tumour response to preoperative treatment. Thymidylate synthase expression assessed immunohistochemically from pretreatment tumour biopsies may be a useful predictive marker of rectal tumour response to preoperative RCT.British Journal of Cancer (2008) 98, 143–147. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6604131 www.bjcancer.com Published online 18 December 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous non-aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (naSAH) is an unusual finding that could be burdened by significant mortality and morbidity rates. Rare pathologies and delayed diagnosis could be advocated as responsible of unfavourable outcomes. Herein, we describe an exceedingly rare giant lumbar spinal hemangioblastoma (80 × 23 mm) presenting as an intracranial naSAH. Based on our radiological and clinical findings a pathophysiological hypothesis linking intracranial naSAH to venous hypertension was discussed for the first time even among lumbar spinal tumors. Although rare, unusual causes should be investigated in presence of radiological atypical finding as a prompt evaluation and treatment could be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loss of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted in chromosome 10 (PTEN) function in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) may represent one of the resistance mechanisms to cetuximab by interfering with the epidermal growth factor receptor signal transduction pathway.Methods: PTEN expression tested by indirect immunofluorescence was evaluated both on primary (n=43) and on metastatic (n=24) sites in CRC patients treated with cetuximab.Results: The loss of PTEN expression tested on metastatic sites was negatively associated with response (100% progressive disease (PD) in PTEN-negative cases vs 30% PD in PTEN-positive cases; P<0.05), PFS (0.8 vs 8.2 months; P<0.001) and OS (2.9 vs 14.2 months; P<0.001).Conclusion: A potential role of PTEN in the anti-tumour activity of cetuximab could be hypothesised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the management of pancreatobiliary and digestive diseases is well established in adults, but it remains limited in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinical impact of EUS use in children. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively acquired database of consecutive pediatric (< 18 years) patients presenting an indication for EUS for pancreatobiliary and gastrointestinal disorders. Results Between January 2010 and January 2016, 47 procedures were performed in 40 children (mean age of 15.1 ± 4.7 years; range 3–18). The majority of EUS (n = 32; 68.1%) were performed for pancreatobiliary and upper gastrointestinal pathologies, including suspected common bile duct stones (CBDs), acute biliary pancreatitis, recurrent/chronic pancreatitis, cystic pancreatic mass, recurrent hypoglycemia, duodenal polyp, gastric submucosal lesion, and perigastric abscess. In only 2 out of 18 children with suspected CBDs or acute biliary pancreatitis, EUS confirmed CBDs. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration was performed in 3 (6.4%) patients. Fifteen (31.9%) procedures were performed for lower gastrointestinal tract disorders, including suspected anal Crohn’s disease, fecal incontinence, and encopresis. Overall, EUS had a significant impact on the subsequent clinical management in 87.2% of patients. Conclusion The present findings were consistent with results observed in the current relevant literature and support EUS as a safe and feasible diagnostic and therapeutic tool, which yields a significant clinical impact in children with pancreatobiliary and gastrointestinal disorders.

Many quantitative cross-cultural research studies assume that cultural groups consist of anyone born and raised in the same country. Applying these criteria to the formation of study samples may produce cohorts that share a country but are heterogeneous in relevant domains of culture. For example, in Canada, Franco- and Anglo-Canadians are generally assumed to represent different linguistic groups but the same cultural group. However, speaking a different first language also can mean exposure to different media, information, and conventions, which are known to shape certain cultural domains, such as social values. Other factors may also produce cultural heterogeneity. For example, ancestral origins and recency of familial migration may influence endorsed social values after exposure to diverse cultures or norms. Mental health status or psychiatric conditions may also influence subscription of social values due to different lifestyle demands. Understanding the nuanced contributions of diverse backgrounds to cultural membership and fit (i.e., the degree to which an individual behaves like other cultural members) is useful when performing quantitative cross-cultural studies to minimize alternative explanations for statistical outcomes. This study used Cultural Consensus Analysis (CCA) to assess the cultural fit of social values for 222 Canadians, who had participated in cross-cultural neuropsychological experiments. CCA is an anthropological statistical method for evaluating cultural agreement of a sample. Participants were systematically evaluated by linguistic groups (French and English), migratory generation (1st–3rd+), and mental health status (healthy and patient). Group and individual variances were statistically interrogated. Results demonstrated that Franco- and Anglo-Canadians represent different cultural groups cohabitating in Quebec. Social values dividing Franco- and Anglo-Canadians were also identified. Second and third generation Canadians held more heterogeneous social values than Canadians, whose families had migrated earlier. Second generation Canadians with psychiatric disorders showed notably reduced cultural fit with other Canadians, which supports other literature reporting difficulties experienced by second generation migrants. However, third and later generations of Canadians with psychiatric disorders held a greater range of social values compared to healthy Canadians but still were good fits for Canadian culture. This study concluded that linguistic group and migratory generation partially determines cultural group for the social values domain while mental health status does not, contrary to theories proposed by previous literature.

We aimed to analyze bone mineralization and the effect of different risk factors for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. We studied 2,756 postmenopausal subjects out of ≥10,000 records from the ROIS registry in the frame of the PROF Project, a population study carried out in Salento (Taranto, Brindisi, Lecce) from 2009 to 2012. All subjects were assessed by phalangeal Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) to evaluate their bone mineralization (assessed by Amplitude Dependent Speed of Sound, AD-SoS) and the association between demineralization and the presence of other conditions or risk factors. Mean age was 64±9.5 years and mean BMI was 28.7±3.5 Kg/m 2 . Pearson correlation analyses revealed a negative association between bone mineralization (AD-SoS) and BMI (P

The endoscopic approach has gained an increased popularity in recent years for the biopsy and, in selected cases, the removal of tumors of the posterior third ventricle and pineal region. The authors report their experience on a series of 20 patients discussing also the technical limitations and complication avoidance. This is a prospective study of 20 patients with posterior third ventricle and pineal region tumors surgically managed by endoscopic biopsy and/or excision and simultaneous third ventriculostomy. The removal of the lesion could be achieved in 12 cases whereas in 8, only a biopsy could be performed. A histological diagnosis could be obtained in all cases. No delayed third ventricular stoma failures were recorded in any patient at the latest follow-up (mean follow-up, 39 months). Severe postoperative complications were recorded in 2 out of 12 cases of tumor removal attempt and in zero out of eight cases of biopsy. A delayed (3 weeks) postoperative mortality occurred in a patient harboring a GBM that developed an intratumoral hematoma 48 h postoperatively, one patient was in a vegetative state. Transient postoperative complications included: nausea and vomiting (five cases) and diplopia (two cases). One patient developed a bilateral ophthalmoplegia that recovered within 6 months due to residual tumor hemorrhage. Higher rate of complications was found in the case of vascularized and/or larger lesions. Endoscopic management of posterior third ventricle lesions may represent an effective option. However, though biopsies remain often a safe procedure, tumor excision should be limited to highly selected cases (cystic, poorly vascularized, and/or smaller than 2.5-cm lesions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastrointestinal severe adverse events such as ulceration and perforation have been reported for sodium or calcium polystyrene sulfonate and sevelamer. Howewer, their role in the pathogenesis is unclear. Chronic kidney disease is a well known risk factor, while the role of hypertension and/or diabetes is uncertain., Methods: A meta-analysis of the published literature was conducted to review the clinical features, risk factors and histopathological findings of patients who experienced gastrointestinal adverse events after administration of polystyrene sulfonate or sevelamer., Results: The meta-analysis indicated that patients were more likely to show necrosis and/or perforation when the resin used was polystyrene sulfonate compared to sevelamer (p < 0.001). Death was more likely in patients taking polystyrene sulfonate compared to sevelamer (p < 0.001)., Discussion: The results show that sevelamer is more likely to lead to inflammation or ulceration in the gastrointestinal tract than polystyrene sulfonate, which is more likely to be associated with severe gastrointestinal adverse events such as necrosis and/or perforation. Polystyrene sulfonate is significantly associated with death compared to sevelamer., (Copyright © 2024 Società Italiana di Anatomia Patologica e Citopatologia Diagnostica, Divisione Italiana della International Academy of Pathology.)

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are currently the reference drugs for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but symptoms often recur after their withdrawal. Moreover, whether prokinetics or barrier drugs used alongside PPIs are more effective remains under debate., Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of different therapeutic approaches to GERD treatment., Material and Methods: We enrolled 211 grade A reflux esophagitis patients who consented to participate in this non-randomized, open-label trial. The study consisted of 6 sequentially administered medical treatments for GERD, lasting 2 months, with a 3-week washout period between each drug schedule: Group A: PPI (esomeprazole 40 mg/day before breakfast); Group B: mucosal protective drugs (a combination of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and poloxamer 407, or a combination of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and aluminum, 3 times daily after a meal); Group C: prokinetics (levosulpiride 25 mg or domperidone 10 mg, 3 times daily before a meal); Group D: barrier drug (alginate 3 times daily after a meal); Group E: PPI (esomeprazole 40 mg/day before breakfast) and mucosal protective drugs (a combination of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and poloxamer 407, or a combination of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and aluminum, before sleep); Group F: PPI (esomeprazole 40 mg/day before breakfast) and prokinetics (levosulpiride 25 mg or domperidone 10 mg before lunch and dinner). Symptoms were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and global symptomatic score (GSS), as follows: heartburn: 0-3; retrosternal chest pain: 0-3; regurgitation: 0-3., Results: All but 2 treatments (groups C and D) significantly improved VAS and GSS, with group E showing the most significant GSS improvement. Group C had the highest number of dropouts due to treatment failure and reported more side effects., Conclusion: Using PPIs and mucosal protective drugs resulted in significant symptom alleviation. However, the administration of prokinetics caused higher dropouts due to treatment failure.