The ability of magnetic resonance imaging to predict lymph node metastases and the risk of recurrence in rectal cancer

AlexandrosSfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader The ability of magnetic resonance imaging to predict lymph node metastases and the risk of recurrence in rectal cancer via Wiley: Journal of Surgical Oncology: Table of Contents Abstract Aim This study aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected lymph nodes in rectal cancer. Method We evaluated 806 rectal cancer patients consecutively operated on between 2015 and 2018 at Helsinki University Hospital. In total, 485 patients met the inclusion criteria of presenting with stage I–III disease and were intended for curative treatment at the time of diagnosis. The effect of MRI-detected clinical lymph node status (cN) on cumulative overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results Negative predictive value (NPV) of MRI-lymphnode negativity was 74.8%. Positive predictive value of lymph node metastasis was only 48.6%. In the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, OS (p = 0.989), DSS (p = 0.911), and DFS (p = 0.109) did not significantly differ according to MRI nodal status. However, cumulative disease-free survival significantly (p < 0.001) differed according to the histopathological lymph node metastasis status (pN). Conclusions MRI detected lymph node positivity appears insufficiently precise and cannot predict disease recurrence or survival. Therefore, it should not serve as an independent risk factor when considering neoadjuvant treatment options for rectal cancer patients. View on Web

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Primary tumor resection improves survival of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma patients with nonresected liver metastases

AlexandrosSfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Primary tumor resection improves survival of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma patients with nonresected liver metastases via Wiley: Journal of Surgical Oncology: Table of Contents Abstract Background The role of primary tumor resection (PTR) in the survival of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma (GI-NEC) patients with liver metastases only remains poorly defined. Therefore, we investigated the impact of PTR on the survival of GI-NEC patients with nonresected liver metastases. Methods GI-NEC patients with a liver-confined metastatic disease diagnosed between 2016 and 2018 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Multiple imputations by chained equations were used to account for missing data, and the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method was used to eliminate selection bias. Overall survival (OS) was compared by adjusted Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank test with IPTW. Results A total of 767 GI-NEC patients with nonresected liver metastases were identified. Among all patients, 177 (23.1%) received PTR and had a significantly favorable OS before (median: 43.6 months [interquartile range, IQR, 10.3–64.4] vs. 8.8 months [IQR, 2.1–23.1], p < 0.001 in log-rank test) and after (median: 25.7 months [IQR, 10.0–64.4] vs. 9.3 months [IQR, 2.2–26.4], p < 0.001 in IPTW-adjusted log-rank test) the IPTW adjustment. Additionally, this survival advantage persisted in an adjusted Cox model (IPTW adjusted hazard ratio = 0.431, 95% confidence interval: 0.332–0.560; p < 0.001). The improved survival persisted in subgroups stratified by primary tumor site, tumor grade, and N stage, even in the complete cohort (excluding patients with missing data). Conclusions PTR led to improved survival for GI-NEC patients with nonresected liver metastases regardless of primary tumor site, tumor grade, and N stage. However, the decision for PTR should be made on an individualized basis following multidisciplinary evaluation. View on Web

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Risk and incidence of breast cancer in transgender individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AlexandrosSfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Risk and incidence of breast cancer in transgender individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis via European Journal of Cancer Prevention - Published Ahead-of-Print Background and aims The risk of developing breast cancer in transgender individuals [male-to-female (MtF) or female-to-male (FtM)] is still inadequately quantified. We aimed to evaluate the impact of breast cancer in this population. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search and review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines through the PUBMED and SCOPUS databases. We identified six cohort studies (for both populations) plus 35 case reports. Incidence and breast cancer risk quantification were the main outcomes considered. Results FtM individuals had a higher risk of developing breast cancer in comparison to cisgender men [standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 63.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 32.2–124.9] but a lower risk than cisgender women (SIR = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.07–2.41). Similarly, MtF individuals were at higher risk of developing breast cancer in comparison to cisgender men (SIR = 22.5; 95% CI, 5.54–91.8) and at lower risk than cisgender women (SIR = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.22–0.42). Conclusion In this systematic study and meta-analysis, we identified that FtM and MtF individuals are at substantially higher risk of developing breast cancer in comparison to cisgender men, though at lower risk than cisgender women. These individuals, in the absence of defined guidelines for breast cancer prevention, should periodically undergo breast or chest examinations. View on Web

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Impact of Exercise and Detraining on Signs of Puberty and Selected Inflammatory Markers in Girls with Precocious Puberty

AlexandrosSfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Impact of Exercise and Detraining on Signs of Puberty and Selected Inflammatory Markers in Girls with Precocious Puberty via Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise - Published Ahead-of-Print Purpose We examined the effects of aerobic exercise and detraining on adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), white blood cell, and pubertal signs (uterine length, ovarian volume, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). Methods Thirty girls with CPP (aged 7-9) were randomly divided into CPP and CPP + Exercise (EX) groups. 15 Healthy age-matched girls without precocious puberty participated for comparison with CPP. Subjects in the CPP + Ex group attended 12 weeks of aerobic exercise protocol three sessions a week. In the baseline, after completing the exercise protocol and after 4 weeks of detraining, all the parameters were measured. In the CPP and healthy groups, all the parameters were measured in all three stages. To measure adiponectin, resistin, and TNF-α, the ELISA method was used. LH and FSH were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. WBC counts were analyzed by an automated blood cell counter. Analysis of Variance with repeated measures test was used to analyze the results. Results CPP girls have lower adiponectin (P = 0.01) and higher TNF-α levels (P = 0.001) than healthy girls. In the CPP + EX group, after 12 weeks, body weight and fat mass decreased, adiponectin increased significantly (P = 0.02). Resistin (P = 0.02), TNF-α (P = 0.02), neutrophils (P = 0.01), and signs of puberty significantly (P View on Web

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Characterization of Hyaluronan Localization in the Developing Mammary Gland and Mammary Tumors

AlexandrosSfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Characterization of Hyaluronan Localization in the Developing Mammary Gland and Mammary Tumors via Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia AbstractThe extracellular matrix (ECM) is biochemically and biomechanically important for the structure and function of the mammary gland, which undergoes vast structural changes throughout pubertal and reproductive development. Although hyaluronan (HA) is a ubiquitous glycosaminoglycan (GAG) of the mammary gland ECM, extensive characterization of HA deposition in the mammary gland is lacking. Understanding physiologic HA metabolism is critical as this tightly controlled system is often hijacked in cancer. In the current studies, we characterize HA regulation throughout mammary gland development to better understand subsequent dysregulation of HA in mammary tumors. Using immunofluorescence (IF) imaging, we demonstrate that organized HA-rich septa exist in the mammary gland stroma throughou... View on Web

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Opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore in cardiomyocytes: Is ferutinin a suitable tool for its assessment?

AlexandrosSfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore in cardiomyocytes: Is ferutinin a suitable tool for its assessment? via Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology Abstract Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening is a critical event leading to cell injury during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion but having a reliable cellular model to study the effect of drugs targeting mPTP is an unmet need. This study evaluated whether the Ca2+ electrogenic ionophore ferutinin is a relevant tool to induce mPTP in cardiomyocytes. mPTP opening was monitored using the calcein/cobalt fluorescence technique in adult cardiomyocytes isolated from wild-type and cyclophylin D (CypD) knock-out mice. Concomitantly, the effect of ferutinin was assessed in isolated myocardial mitochondria. Our results confirmed the Ca2+ ionophoric effect of ferutinin in isolated mitochondria and cardiomyocytes. Ferutinin induced all the hallmarks of mPTP opening in cells (loss of calcein, of mitochondrial potential and cell death) but none of them could be inhibited by CypD deletion or cyclosporine A, indicating that mPTP opening was not the major contributor to the effect of fe rutinin. This was confirmed in isolated mitochondria where ferutinin acts by different mechanisms dependent and independent of the mitochondrial membrane potential. At low ferutinin/mitochondria concentration ratio, ferutinin displays protonophoric-like properties, lowering the mitochondrial membrane potential and limiting oxidative phosphorylation without mitochondrial swelling. At high ferutinin/mitochondria ratio, ferutinin induced a sudden Ca2+ independent mitochondrial swelling, which is only partially inhibited by cyclosporine A. Together, these result show that ferutinin is not a suitable tool to investigate CypD-dependent mPTP opening in isolated cardiomyocytes because it possesses other mitochondrial properties such as swelling induction and mitochondrial uncoupling properties which impede its utilization. View on Web

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LRRK2 Quantification in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes

AlexandrosSfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader LRRK2 Quantification in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes via Movement Disorders Abstract Background The alteration of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) kinase activity is thought to be involved in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis beyond familiar cases, and LRRK2 inhibitors are currently under investigation. Preliminary data suggest a relationship between LRRK2 alteration and cognitive impairment in PD. Objective To investigate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) LRRK2 levels in PD and other parkinsonian disorders, also correlating them with cognitive impairment. Methods In this study, we retrospectively investigated by means of a novel highly sensitive immunoassay the levels of total and phosphorylated (pS1292) LRRK2 in CSF of cognitively unimpaired PD (n = 55), PD with mild cognitive impairment (n = 49), PD with dementia (n = 18), dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 12), atypical parkinsonian syndromes (n = 35), and neurological controls (n = 30). Results Total and pS1292 LRRK2 levels were significantly higher in PD with dementia with respect to PD with mild cognitive impairment and PD, and also showed a correlation with cognitive performances. Conclusions The tested immunoassay may represent a reliable method for assessing CSF LRRK2 levels. The results appear to confirm an association of LRRK2 alteration with cognitive impairment in PD. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. View on Web

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