Search

Abstract Dysbiosis of the human oral microbiota has been reported to be associated with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) while the host-microbiota interactions with respect to the potential impact of pathogenic bacteria on host genomic and epigenomic abnormalities remain poorly studied. In this study, the mucosal bacterial community, host genome-wide transcriptome and DNA CpG methylation were simultaneously profiled in tumors and their adjacent normal tissues of OSCC patients. Significant enrichment in the relative abundance of seven bacteria species (Fusobacterium nucleatum, Treponema medium, Peptostreptococcus stomatis, Gemella morbillorum, Catonella morbi, Peptoanaerobacter yurli and Peptococcus simiae) were observed in OSCC tumor microenvironment. These tumor-enriched bacteria formed 254 positive correlations with 206 up-regulated host genes, mainly involving signaling pathways related to cell adhesion, migration and proliferation. Integrative analysis of bacteria-transcriptome and bacteria-methylation correlations identified at least 20 dysregulated host genes with inverted CpG methylation in their promoter regions associated with enrichment of bacterial pathogens, implying a potential of pathogenic bacteria to regulate gene expression, in part, through epigenetic alterations. An in vitro model further confirmed that Fusobacterium nucleatum might contribute to cellular invasion via crosstalk with E-cadherin/β-catenin signaling, TNFα/NF-κB pathway and extracellular matrix remodeling by up-regulating SNAI2 gene, a key transcription factor of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our work using multi-omics approaches explored complex host-microbiota interactions and provided important insights into genetic and functional basis in OSCC tumorigenesis, which may serve as a precursor for hypothesis-driven study to better understand the causational relationship of pathogenic bacteria in this deadly cancer.

Abstract Objective We aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules by ENT surgeons and to compare it to conventional hemithyroidectomy in the public healthcare, operating theater contained setting. Methods 50 patients who underwent a single session of RFA for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules in Prince of Wales Hospital and Tseung Kwan O Hospital in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2022 were evaluated. Objective outcomes including nodule volume, volume reduction rate (VRR) and complications were recorded. Subjective response in the form of a 0–10 point scale for patient symptoms including obstructive, cosmetic, pain and satisfaction scores were collected. Results Significant reduction in mean VRR was found at 3, 6 and 12 months post treatment, accompanied by a significant reduction in the mean obstructive and cosmetic symptom scores. Comparing with conventional hemithyroidectomy, the RFA group had a significantly shorter mean procedure time and lower rate of complications. Estimated cost to patient for RFA was found to be less than half of that of hemithyroidectomy. Conclusion RFA is a safe and effective treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules by ENT surgeons with advantages of being a scarless local anesthetic procedure with shorter procedure time, lower complication rate and lower cost to patient compared to hemithyroidectomy. In Hong Kong, where most of the population is treated in the public sector, there are limited resources, often with high caseload burden and long operation waiting times. Therefore, RFA is an office‐based treatment that serves as a valuable alternative to hemithyroidectomy for benign nodules, especially in lower resource settings. Level of evidence 3.

Abstract Background Exercise‐based swallowing training (EBST) and transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (TNMES) are common modalities used to treat late dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We aimed to investigate and compare the efficacies of EBST and TNMES as proactive treatments administered early after radiotherapy. Methods Patients with early post‐radiotherapy NPC (n = 120) underwent either TNMES or EBST. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), quality of life (QOL), and swallowing function questionnaires were completed before the intervention as well as immediately, 6, and 12 months after the intervention. Outcome measures included the scores for the swallowing function score (SFS), penetration and aspiration scale (PAS), dynamic imaging grade of swallowing toxicity (DIGEST), functional oral intake scale (FOIS), swallowing performance status scale (SPSS), pharyngeal motor impairment (PMI), pharyngeal function impairment (PFI), and functional assessment after cancer therapy–nasopharyngeal (FACT‐NP) questionnaire. Results Three months after radiotherapy, 31 and 34 patients underwent TNMES and EBST, respectively, and completed swallowing assessments at all four assessment timepoints. All patients showed post‐radiotherapy impairments in the SFS, PAS, DIGEST, PMI, and PFI. Compared with the EBST group, the TNMES group showed significant improvements in the PFI and PMI scores, with small‐to‐medium effect sizes. Additionally, compared with the EBST group, the TNMES group demonstrated a trend toward slightly better improvements in the PAS, DIGEST, FOIS, and SPSS scores immediately and 6 months after the intervention. The SFS scores improved from baseline in both groups; however, the TNMES group showed an earlier improvement. Finally, the TNMES group showed better QOL according to the FACT‐NP than the EBST group. Conclusion Proactive TMNES and EBST are safe and feasible modalities for improving swallowing in patients with NPC when administered early after radiotherapy. Although TNMES showed better results than EBST, these results should be interpreted with caution given the study limitations. Level of evidence 1B.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of lymph node status from neck dissection pathological specimens on the survival for isolated regional nodal recurrence or persistence after primary treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Through a retrospective cohort study performed in an academic tertiary referral hospital in Hong Kong. Forty-six patients who underwent a salvage neck dissection between June 2001 and January 2013 for isolated regionally recurrent or persistent nasopharyngeal carcinoma was performed. Informed consent was waived for this retrospective study by The Joint CUHK-NTEC CREC. In the study forty-six patients had a salvage neck dissection for nodal failure with a mean age of 53 and 74% (34) were male. With a mean follow-up of 45.3 months, Overall survival, disease specific survival, loco-regional recurrence free survival, and regional recurrence free survival were 56.5%, 73.9%, 87.0%, and 91.3% respectively. For both univariate and multivariate analysis, patients with a number of positive lymph nodes more than 5 and a lymph node density more than 20% were significantly associated with poorer overall survival. Extracapsular spread and pathological cervical lymph node staging did not have an association with poorer survival. In conclusion, an absolute number of positive lymph nodes more than five and a lymph node density more than 20% were potentially useful prognostic factors affecting survival following a neck dissection for regional residual or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract Background Microbial culture-based investigations of inflamed tonsil tissues have previously indicated enrichment of several microorganisms such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Prevotella. These taxa were also largely reflected in DNA sequencing studies performed using tissue material. In comparison, less is known about the response of the overall oral cavity microbiota to acute tonsillitis despite their role in human health and evidence showing that their compositions are correlated with diseases such as oral cancers. In addition, the influence of subject-specific circumstances including consumption of prescription antibiotics and smoking habits on the microbiology of acute tonsillitis is unknown. Methods We collected oral rinse samples from 43 individuals admitted into hospital for acute tonsillitis and 165 non-disease volunteers recruited from the public, and compared their microbial community compositions using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We assessed the impact of tonsillitis, whether subjects were prescribed antibiotics, the presence of oral abscesses and their smoking habits on community composition, and identified specific microbial taxa associated with tonsillitis and smoking. Results Oral rinse community composition was primarily associated with disease state (tonsillitis vs non-tonsillitis) although its effect was subtle, followed by smoking habit. Multiple Prevotella taxa were enriched in tonsillitis subjects compared to the non-tonsillitis cohort, whereas the non-tonsillitis cohort primarily showed associations with several Neisseria sequence variants. The presence of oral abscesses did not significantly influence community composition. Antibiotics were prescribed to a subset of individuals in the tonsillitis cohort but we did not observe differences in community composition associated with antibiotics consumption. In both tonsillitis and non-tonsillitis cohorts, smoking habit was associated with enrichment of several Fusobacterium variants. Conclusions These findings show that the oral cavity microbial community is altered during acute tonsillitis, with a consistent enrichment of Prevotella during tonsillitis raising the possibility of targeted interventions. It also supports the possible link between smoking, Fusobacteria and oral cancers.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the dynamics of the oral microbiome and associated patient outcomes following treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).Materials and MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study at a tertiary academic center in Hong Kong SAR of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma evaluating the oral microbiome in pre- and postsurgery oral rinses (at 1, 3, and 6 months) with 16S rRNA gene V3–V4 amplicon sequencing.ResultsIn total, 76 HNSCC patients were evaluated. There was a significantly depressed alpha diversities of oral microbial communities observed in HNSCC oral rinse samples within the first 6 months post-surgery when compared to presurgery or healthy controls. Distant clustering between pre- and postsurgery was also observed (p < 0.022). Following treatment, eight oral bacterial genera showed a trend towards the restoration in the relative abundances that approximate healthy persons. In evaluating patient outcomes, the decreased relative abundance of three periodontal bacteria (Capnocytophaga, Prevotella 7, and Leptotrichia) and the increased relative abundance of two commensal bacteria (Streptococcus and Rothia) at 6 months postsurgery compared to presurgery showed a better 3-year disease-specific survival (a cutoff of Kaplan–Meier survival curve test p < 0.3 at 36 months). In particular, the postsurgery restoration of Prevotella 7 was statistically significant in the surveyed patients (survival rate of 84% vs. 56% at 36 months, p = 0.0065).ConclusionsOral microbiome dysbiosis associated with HNSCC is dynamic. These dynamics of the oral microbiome postsurgery are also associated with patient treatment and outcomes and may serve as potential biomarkers for patient management in HNSCC.

Lymph node metastasis is the most reliable indicator of a poor prognosis for patients with oral tongue cancers. Currently, there are no biomarkers to predict whether a cancer will spread in the future if it has not already spread at the time of diagnosis. The aim of this study was to quantitatively profile the proteomes of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from blood samples taken from patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma with and without lymph node involvement and non-cancer controls. EVs were enriched using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) from pooled plasma samples of patients with non-nodal and nodal oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) and non-cancer controls. Protein cargo was quantitatively profiled using isobaric labelling (iTRAQ) and two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry. We identified 208 EV associated proteins and, after filtering, generated a short list of 136 proteins. Over 85% of the EV-associated proteins were associated with the GO cellular compartment term “extracellular exosome”. Comparisons between non-cancer controls and oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma with and without lymph node involvement revealed 43 unique candidate EV-associated proteins with deregulated expression patterns. The shortlisted EV associated proteins described here may be useful discriminatory biomarkers for differentiating OTSCC with and without nodal disease or non-cancer controls.

Introducción: El balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico es el dispositivo de asistencia ventricular de corta duración más utilizado actualmente en la Cirugía Cardiovascular. Objetivos: Caracterizar las variables preoperatorias, quirúrgicas y el momento de implantación del balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico y determinar su asociación con la mortalidad hospitalaria. Material y Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de corte transversal, donde se incluyeron 73 pacientes (53 hombres, edad media 61.7±8.7), con indicación del balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico de un total de 1306 pacientes conducidos a cirugía cardiovascular en el hospital “Hermanos Ameijeiras”, desde enero de 2008 a diciembre de 2010. Resultados: La mortalidad hospitalaria fue del 34.2 %. Las complicaciones vasculares relacionadas con la inserción del dispositivo fueron minoritarias (4.8 %). La colocación postoperatoria del balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico (78.1 %) predominó sobre la intra (15.1 %) o la preoperatoria (6.8 %). El momento de implantación del balón (p=0.000), el tiempo de circulación extracorpórea (p=0.001), el tiempo de clampaje aórtico (p=0.006) y el tiempo quirúrgico (p=0.024) se asociaron significativamente con la mortalidad hospitalaria en el análisis univariado. El tiempo de circulación extracorpórea fue la única variable que mostró una asociación significativa e independiente con la mortalidad hospitalaria (OR 3.33 IC 95 % [1.57-7.09], p=0.004). Conclusiones: El incremento del tiempo de circulación extracorpórea muestra una asociación significativa e independiente con la mortalidad de los pacientes con indicación del balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico en la cirugía cardiovascular. Palabras clave: balón de contrapulsación intraaórtico, cirugía cardiovascular, mortalidad hospitalaria.

Introducción: el conocimiento de la carga aterosclerótica global individual es de alta importancia. Su asociación con los factores de riesgo cardiovascular no está bien establecida. Objetivo: determinar la asociación entre algunos factores de riesgo cardiovascular y el puntaje de calcio coronario. Métodos: se estudiaron 169 pacientes sintomáticos con sospecha de cardiopatía isquémica, que de forma consecutiva se realizaron el puntaje de calcio, se identificaron los factores de riesgo y para determinar su asociación se utilizó el modelo de regresión logística. Resultados: el estudio incluyó 106 mujeres y 63 hombres, edad media 59,6 ± 10,8 años vs. 59,5 ± 11,0 años, respectivamente. El 51,9 % de las mujeres y el 34,9 % de los hombres tuvieron un score = 0. La dosis media de radiación efectiva fue de 0,82 mSv. Las variables sexo masculino > 55 años, femenino > 65 años, hábito de fumar, diabetes mellitus, edad, número de factores de riesgo, VLDL, triglicéridos y HDL, mostraron asociación significativa con algunos de los valores de corte del puntaje de calcio establecidos. En el análisis multivariado, la edad, el hábito de fumar, los triglicéridos y la HDL como factor protector, tuvieron coeficientes significativamente diferentes de 0, siendo la edad la que tuvo mayor influencia en el valor del score de calcio > 0 y ³ 100 y la HDL en el valor ³ 400. Conclusiones: solamente algunos factores de riesgo muestran asociación con el puntaje de calcio coronario, fundamentalmente la edad y los niveles de HDL como factor protector.Introduction: knowledge of an individual's overall atherosclerotic burden is extremely important. Its association with cardiovascular risk factors has not been well established. Objective: determine the association between some cardiovascular risk factors and coronary calcium scoring. Methods: a study was conducted of 169 symptomatic patients with suspected ischemic heart disease. The patients consecutively underwent calcium scoring and risk factor identification. Association between the two values was determined by logistic regression modeling. Results: 106 patients were women and 63 were men; mean age was 59.6 ± 10.8 and 59.5 ± 11.0, respectively. 51.9 % of the women and 34.9 % of the men had a score = 0. Mean effective radiation dose was 0.82 mSv. The variables male patient aged > 55, female patient aged > 65, smoking, diabetes mellitus, age, number of risk factors, VLDL, triglycerides and HDL showed a significant association with some of the calcium score cut-off values established. In the multivariate analysis, age, smoking, triglycerides and HDL as a protective factor, exhibited coefficients significantly different from 0, with age exerting the greatest influence upon the calcium score > 0 and ³ 100 value, and HDL upon the ³ 400 value. Conclusions: only some risk factors show an association with coronary calcium score, particularly age and HDL levels as a protective factor.

RESUMEN Presentamos un paciente masculino de 21 años, asintomático con historia de infecciones respiratorias esporádicas que no requirieron ingreso, es remitido de otro centro con una radiografía de tórax donde se aprecia hipoplasia del hemitórax derecho, dextroposición cardiaca y opacidad sinuosa de aspecto vascular superpuesta a la sombra cardiaca. Se realiza cateterismo derecho con angiocardiograma selectivo en el tronco de la arteria pulmonar donde se detecta hipoplasia de la arteria pulmonar derecha con algunas de sus ramas que cruzan la línea media. Se comprueba que la opacidad de aspecto vascular visible en la radiografía del tórax corresponde a una vena pulmonar anómala de curso sinuoso o "en meandro" que desemboca en la aurícula izquierda. Se descarta drenaje pulmonar anómalo. También se realiza aortografía abdominal invasiva apreciándose una rama anómala que irriga la porción interna del pulmón derecho. Estos hallazgos permiten el diagnóstico de vena pulmonar anómala que desemboca en la aurícula izquierda, hipoplasia del pulmón derecho y de la rama derecha de la arteria pulmonar, dextroposición cardiaca, secuestro pulmonar y sospecha de pulmón en herradura. Palabras clave: vena pulmonar sinuosa, síndrome de la cimitarra, pulmón hipoplásico, dextroposición cardiaca, secuestro pulmonar, pulmón en herradura. ABSTRACT We present an asymptomatic male patient, twenty one years old, with history of sporadic and mild respiratory infections. The patient is sent from other hospital with a chest x ray film in which it is observed hypoplastic right lung, cardiac dextroposition, and sinuous vascular opacity superimposed to the cardiac shadow. Selective angiocardiography in the main pulmonary artery is performed detecting hypoplastic right pulmonary artery with some of its branches crossing the midline, it is demonstrated that the vascular opacity visible in the chest x ray film correspond to a meandering anomalous pulmonary vein draining in the left pulmonary atria. Anomalous pulmonary drainage is discarded. It is also performed an invasive abdominal aortography visualizing an anomalous arterial branch irrigating the inner portion of the right lung. These findings allow the diagnosis of meandering pulmonary vein draining in the left atria, hypoplastic right lung and of the right pulmonary artery, pulmonary sequestration and suspicious of horseshoe lung. Key words: meandering pulmonary vein, Scimitar syndrome, pulmonary sequestration, horseshoe lung.

Introducción: La presencia de calcio en las coronarias es prácticamente patognomónica de aterosclerosis. En el año 1990, Agatston diseñó un método para cuantificar el calcio mediante la tomografía. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar la presencia de asociación entre puntaje de calcio coronario y la severidad de la enfermedad coronaria. Método: Se incluyeron 276 pacientes (80 % del sexo masculino y edad media de 56 ± 10 años) con sospecha de cardiopatía isquémica a los que inicialmente se les realizó cuantificación del calcio coronario mediante una tomografía de 64 cortes y posteriormente coronariografía invasiva. Se consideró el grado de calcificación en normal si 0 UA; ligero de 1 - 100 UA; moderado de 101 - 400 UA y severo si mayor o igual que 401 UA. Se calculó el Chi Cuadrado y la correlación de Spearman para determinar el grado de asociación entre el puntaje de calcio coronario y la presencia de estenosis significativa. Resultados: El 92,4 % de los pacientes con puntaje de calcio 0 unidades Agatston, no tuvieron estenosis coronaria significativa, sin embargo, el 94,2 % con puntaje mayor o igual que 400 unidades Agatston, sí se les diagnosticó (p= 0,001 y correlación de Spearman 0,88). Conclusiones: Existe asociación entre el grado de calcificación coronaria con la presencia de estenosis significativa.

Introduction Symptoms recurrence after surgical coronary artery revascularization requiresthe assessment of graft patency. At the moment, promissory results havebeen reported using the multislice computed tomography.Objective To determine the 64 multislice computed tomography diagnostic value of graftpatency.Method We included 65 patients with 178 coronary graft and symptoms recurrence. Initiallythey underwent a 64 multislice computed tomography scan with furtherassessment by invasive coronary angiography as gold standard reference. Parametersof diagnostic efficiency were determined as well as X2-test. Level ofsignificance was p

The presence of calcium in coronary arteries confirms the presence of atherosclerosis.To determine the validity of coronary calcium(Ca) total volume by the Callister´s method in the diagnosis of significant coronary stenosis.A descriptive transversal study was performed at the Cuban Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery Institute, from January to July 2010, todetermine the effectiveness of both the coronary calcium volume using Callister’s method and the score of Agatston, the two being assessedthrough CT systems with up to 64 rows, in the diagnosis of significant coronary stenosis. One hundred and fifty-eight patientsscheduled for invasive coronary angiography were studied consecutively. Were determined the diagnosis efficiency index for different cutoff values of coronary calcium volume to predict stenosis .The 98 % of patients and arteries with a calcium volume of 0 mm3 did not have a significant coronary stenosis, nevertheless, this conditionwas present in 100 % of patients with a calcium volume higher than 400 mm3 (p < 0,0001). In the cut off value of 0 mm3 the volume gothigh sensitivity (99%), and for 400 mm3 high specificity (100%) to diagnosis significant coronary stenosis . The optime cut off of calciumvolume and Agaston’s score for each patient to predict arterial oclussion were 51 mm3 and 40 UA with p=0,6.The coronary calcium volume has diagnosis validity, similar to the score created by Agatston in detecting significant coronary stenosis.

Introduction Aortic dissection (AD) is the most frequent and life-threatening acute aorticsyndrome. Currently the more used method for the aortic study is themultislice computed tomography. The purpose of this paper is to exposethe more relevant features in 22 patients with AD consecutively studiedby multislice computed tomography.Method All patients suspicious of AD studied during the last four years were includedand their main demographic, clinic and angiographic features weredescribed. Studies were performed by Somatom Cardiac Sensation, 64slices or Two Source Somatom Definition, Siemens Medical System, thecontrast medium used was Iopromide (Ultravist, Bayer Schering), Germany.Results Twenty (91%) patients were men. Mean age: 55 ± 9 years; minimum 24years and maximum 74. Type A AD was present in 15(68%) patients andtype B in 7(32%). Five (23%) patients had history of previous AD;20(91%) were hypertensive patients. Thoracic pain was the main symptomin 17(77%) patients. In 8 (36%) the coronary arteries were involved;20(91%) had at least dissection of one aortic branch. The mostfrequent re-entry site of the false lumen was the abdominal aorta belowthe renal arteries in 5 (23%). Patients with thromboses of the false lumen,rupture of the adventitial layer, mediastinal haematoma, hydrothoraxand circumferential intimal intussusception were observed.Conclusions The diagnoses of AD is made quickly and successfully by multislicecomputed tomography and in addition it is very useful for the assessmentof its angiographic features.

Introducción: La presencia de calcio en las coronarias es prácticamente patognomónica de aterosclerosis. En el año 1990, Agatston diseño un método para cuantificar el calcio a través de la tomografía. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el valor del puntaje de calcio coronario para confirmar o descartar obstrucción coronaria significativa. Métodos: Se incluyeron 276 pacientes (80 % del sexo masculino y edad media de 56±10 años) con sospecha de cardiopatía isquémica, a los que inicialmente se les realizó cuantificación del calcio coronario a través de la tomografía de 64 cortes y luego coronariografía por cateterismo. Se determinó sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo, valor predictivo negativo, razones de verosimilitudes, índice de kappa y validez diagnóstica para puntos de corte 0, 25, 50, 100 y 400 Unidades Agatston (UA) de puntaje de calcio por pacientes y arterias para diagnosticar estenosis coronaria significativa tomando como patrón de referencia la coronariografía invasiva, así como el área bajo la curva ROC. Se consideró significativo una pIntroduction: The presence of calcium in coronary arteries is practically pathognomonic of the atherosclerosis. In 1990, Agatston designed a method for to quantify the calcium by tomography. The aim of present paper was to determine the coronary calcium score to confirm or to rule out a significant coronary obstruction. Methods: In present study authors included 276 patients (80 % of male sex and a mean age of 56 ± 10 years) with suspect of ischemic heart disease, who initially underwent a quantification of coronary calcium by 64 scans tomography and then a catheterization coronariography. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, credibility reasons, Kappa index and diagnostic validity for scan points 0, 25, 50, 100 and 400 Agatston (AU) of calcium score for patients and arteries to diagnose a significant coronary stenosis taking as reference pattern the invasive coronary one, as well as the area under the ROC curve. A p

La materia orgánica del suelo puede variar considerablemente en su estructura, composición y conformación, de acuerdo con el origen y la edad de los materiales que la constituyen. En la presente investigación se procedió a caracterizar, mediante el empleo de la espectroscopia infrarroja y la resonancia magnética nuclear en estado sólido, dos suelos inceptisoles (I01 y I02) y un histosol (H03) destinados al cultivo de cebolla larga, en el municipio de Aquitania-Boyacá, Colombia, a dos profundidades: 0 - 10 y 40 - 50 cm. Según los espectros infrarrojos, se detectó la presencia de grupos OH (debida posiblemente a fenoles, ácidos carboxílicos o alcoholes), grupos aromáticos y alifáticos. Los espectros de 13C-RMN en estado sólido con CPMAS evidenciaron el siguiente orden respecto a la cantidad de carbonos que conforman la materia orgánica del suelo: H03-0 = 100 y H03 -40 = 88, I02-0 = 23 y I02-40 = 0, y finalmente I01-0 = 17 y I01-40 = 12, confirmándose la disminución de carbonos en la materia orgánica a través del perfil del suelo, y además se estableció que el carbón resonante en la región delta = 108-50 ppm de los espectros (N – y O-alquilos y acetales) dominó en toda la MOS obtenida; le siguió el carbón aromático (delta = 168-108 ppm) para los suelos I01-0 y H03-40, y el carbón alifático (delta = 0-50 ppm) para los suelos I01-40, I02-0 y H03-0. Finalmente, el carbónC=O( delta= 220-162 ppm) fue el menos dominante en la materia orgánica del suelo en todos los tres suelos caracterizados.

Introducción: La presencia de calcio en las coronarias es prácticamente patognomónica de aterosclerosis. En el año 1990, Agatston diseñó un método para cuantificar el calcio mediante la tomografía. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar la presencia de asociación entre puntaje de calcio coronario y la severidad de la enfermedad coronaria.Método: Se incluyeron 276 pacientes (80 % del sexo masculino y edad media de 56 ± 10 años) con sospecha de cardiopatía isquémica a los que inicialmente se les realizó cuantificación del calcio coronario mediante una tomografía de 64 cortes y posteriormente coronariografía invasiva. Se consideró el grado de calcificación en normal si 0 UA; ligero de 1 - 100 UA; moderado de 101 - 400 UA y severo si mayor o igual que 401 UA. Se calculó el Chi Cuadrado y la correlación de Spearman para determinar el grado de asociación entre el puntaje de calcio coronario y la presencia de estenosis significativa.Resultados: El 92,4 % de los pacientes con puntaje de calcio 0 unidades Agatston, no tuvieron estenosis coronaria significativa, sin embargo, el 94,2 % con puntaje mayor o igual que 400 unidades Agatston, sí se les diagnosticó (p= 0,001 y correlación de Spearman 0,88).Conclusiones: Existe asociación entre el grado de calcificación coronaria con la presencia de estenosis significativa. Introduction: Presence of calcium in coronary arteries is practically indicative of atherosclerosis. In 1990, Agatston designed a method to quantify the calcium level by tomography. The objective of present paper was to determine the association between coronary calcium score and the coronary disease severity.Method: In present study 276 patients were included (80% of male sex and a mean age of 56 ± 10 years) suspected of ischemic heart disease with early coronary calcium quantification by 64 scans and subsequently an invasive arteriography. Calcification degree were normal if it was of 0 Agatston units (AUs) ; light from 1 to 100 AUs; moderate from 101 to 400 AUs and severe if it is higher or similar to 401AUs. Chi 2 was estimated as well as Spearmen correlation to determine the degree of association between coronary calcium score and the presence of a significant Stenosis.Results: The 92,4% of patients with 0 UAs had not a significant coronary Stenosis, however, the 94,2% with a score higher or similar to 400 UAs were diagnosed with this entity (p = 0,001 and a Spearmen correlation of 0,88).Conclusions: There is an association between the coronary calcification degree and the presence of a significant stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) has previously been reported to control cancer growth, invasion, chemo-resistance, and served as novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment. However, the nature and characteristics of GEP interacting partner remain unclear. The present study aims to identify and characterize the novel predominant interacting partner of GEP using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Specific anti-GEP monoclonal antibody was used to capture GEP and its interacting partner from the protein extract of the liver cancer cells Hep3B. The precipitated proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, followed by mass spectrometry and the protein identity was demonstrated to be tropomyosin 3 (TPM3). The interaction has been validated in additional cell models using anti-TPM3 antibody and immunoblot to confirm GEP as the interacting partner. GEP and TPM3 expressions were then examined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in clinical samples, and their transcript levels were significantly correlated. Elevated TPM3 levels were observed in liver cancer compared with the adjacent non-tumorous liver, and patients with elevated TPM3 levels were shown to have poor recurrence-free survival. Protein expression of GEP and TPM3 was observed only in the cytoplasm of liver cancer cells by immunohistochemical staining. CONCLUSIONS: TPM3 is an interacting partner of GEP and may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules by ENT surgeons and to compare it to conventional hemithyroidectomy in the public healthcare, operating theater contained setting. Methods: 50 patients who underwent a single session of RFA for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules in Prince of Wales Hospital and Tseung Kwan O Hospital in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2022 were evaluated. Objective outcomes including nodule volume, volume reduction rate (VRR) and complications were recorded. Subjective response in the form of a 0–10 point scale for patient symptoms including obstructive, cosmetic, pain and satisfaction scores were collected. Results: Significant reduction in mean VRR was found at 3, 6 and 12 months post treatment, accompanied by a significant reduction in the mean obstructive and cosmetic symptom scores. Comparing with conventional hemithyroidectomy, the RFA group had a significantly shorter mean procedure time and lower rate of complications. Estimated cost to patient for RFA was found to be less than half of that of hemithyroidectomy. Conclusion: RFA is a safe and effective treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules by ENT surgeons with advantages of being a scarless local anesthetic procedure with shorter procedure time, lower complication rate and lower cost to patient compared to hemithyroidectomy. In Hong Kong, where most of the population is treated in the public sector, there are limited resources, often with high caseload burden and long operation waiting times. Therefore, RFA is an office‐based treatment that serves as a valuable alternative to hemithyroidectomy for benign nodules, especially in lower resource settings. Level of evidence: 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exercise‐based swallowing training (EBST) and transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (TNMES) are common modalities used to treat late dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We aimed to investigate and compare the efficacies of EBST and TNMES as proactive treatments administered early after radiotherapy. Methods: Patients with early post‐radiotherapy NPC (n = 120) underwent either TNMES or EBST. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), quality of life (QOL), and swallowing function questionnaires were completed before the intervention as well as immediately, 6, and 12 months after the intervention. Outcome measures included the scores for the swallowing function score (SFS), penetration and aspiration scale (PAS), dynamic imaging grade of swallowing toxicity (DIGEST), functional oral intake scale (FOIS), swallowing performance status scale (SPSS), pharyngeal motor impairment (PMI), pharyngeal function impairment (PFI), and functional assessment after cancer therapy–nasopharyngeal (FACT‐NP) questionnaire. Results: Three months after radiotherapy, 31 and 34 patients underwent TNMES and EBST, respectively, and completed swallowing assessments at all four assessment timepoints. All patients showed post‐radiotherapy impairments in the SFS, PAS, DIGEST, PMI, and PFI. Compared with the EBST group, the TNMES group showed significant improvements in the PFI and PMI scores, with small‐to‐medium effect sizes. Additionally, compared with the EBST group, the TNMES group demonstrated a trend toward slightly better improvements in the PAS, DIGEST, FOIS, and SPSS scores immediately and 6 months after the intervention. The SFS scores improved from baseline in both groups; however, the TNMES group showed an earlier improvement. Finally, the TNMES group showed better QOL according to the FACT‐NP than the EBST group. Conclusion: Proactive TMNES and EBST are safe and feasible modalities for improving swallowing in patients with NPC when administered early after radiotherapy. Although TNMES showed better results than EBST, these results should be interpreted with caution given the study limitations. Level of evidence: 1B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]