Scholar : ΚΑΡΚΙΝΩΜΑ - νέα αποτελέσματα

[PDF] Καρκίνος της μήτρας και νοσηλευτικές παρεμβάσεις

Ι Κολιού, Β Κουλαξίδου - 2018

… της φυσιολογίας της αγγειογέννεσης και αναδιαμόρφωσης των ιστών στους
ενήλικες συμβαίνει 300 με 400 κατά την διάρκεια της ζωής της γυναίκας
(Κρεατσάς, 2009) Το ενδομητρικό καρκίνωμα είναι ο συχνότερος καρκίνος …

[PDF] Νεότερα ερευνητικά δεδομένα και νοσηλευτικές διεργασίες στον καρκίνο των ωοθηκών

Ε Λότση - 2018

… ωοθηκικό καρκίνωμα αντιμετωπίζεται χειρουργικά αφαιρώντας τη μία μόνο ωοθήκη … Leydig
και οι μεικτοί τύποι Sertoli-Leydig), καρκινοσαρκώματα, στους μικροκυτταρικούς και
νευροενδοκρινούς όγκους της ωοθήκης, πλακώδες καρκίνωμα που αναπτύσσεται …

 

Δημιουργία λίστας των ειδοποιήσεών μου

Ακύρωση ειδοποίησης

Αυτή η ειδοποίηση αποστέλλεται από τον Μελετητή Google. Ο Μελετητής Google είναι μια υπηρεσία που παρέχεται από την Google.

Scholar : ΑΚΟΥΣΤΙΚΟ - νέα αποτελέσματα

[PDF] Σχιζοφρένεια και διαταραχές στην λεκτική επικοινωνία

Α Ναθαναηλίδου, Σ Μαστορογιάννη, Χ Μπόραντα… - 2018

Page 1. ΤΕΙ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΗ ΕΠΑΓΓΕΛΜΑΤΩΝ ΥΓΕΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΝΟΙΑΣ
ΤΜΗΜΑ ΛΟΓΟΘΕΡΑΠΕΙΑΣ ΠΤΥΧΙΑΚΗ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ «ΣΧΙΖΟΦΡΕΝΕΙΑ ΚΑΙ
ΔΙΑΤΑΡΑΧΕΣ ΣΤΗ ΛΕΚΤΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ» Φοιτήτριες: Μαστορογιάννη …

 

Δημιουργία λίστας των ειδοποιήσεών μου

Ακύρωση ειδοποίησης

Αυτή η ειδοποίηση αποστέλλεται από τον Μελετητή Google. Ο Μελετητής Google είναι μια υπηρεσία που παρέχεται από την Google.

Volumetric and texture analysis of pretherapeutic 18 F-FDG PET can predict overall survival in medullary thyroid cancer patients treated with Vandetanib

Abstract

Purpose

The metabolically most active lesion in 2-deoxy-2-(¹⁸F)fluoro-D-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) PET/CT can predict progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) starting treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) vandetanib. However, this metric failed in overall survival (OS) prediction. In the present proof of concept study, we aimed to explore the prognostic value of intratumoral textural features (TF) as well as volumetric parameters (total lesion glycolysis, TLG) derived by pre-therapeutic ¹⁸F-FDG PET.

Methods

Eighteen patients with progressive MTC underwent baseline ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT prior to and 3 months after vandetanib initiation. By manual segmentation of the tumor burden at baseline and follow-up PET, intratumoral TF and TLG were computed. The ability of TLG, imaging-based TF, and clinical parameters (including age, tumor marker doubling times, prior therapies and RET (rearranged during transfection) mutational status) for prediction of both PFS and OS were evaluated.

Results

The TF Complexity and the volumetric parameter TLG obtained at baseline prior to TKI initiation successfully differentiated between low- and high-risk patients. Complexity allocated 10/18 patients to the high-risk group with an OS of 3.3 y (vs. low-risk group, OS = 5.3 y, 8/18, AUC = 0.78, P = 0.03). Baseline TLG designated 11/18 patients to the high-risk group (OS = 3.5 y vs. low-risk group, OS = 5 y, 7/18, AUC = 0.83, P = 0.005). The Hazard Ratio for cancer-related death was 6.1 for Complexity (TLG, 9.5). Among investigated clinical parameters, the age at initiation of TKI treatment reached significance for PFS prediction (P = 0.02, OS, n.s.).

Conclusions

The TF Complexity and the volumetric parameter TLG are both independent parameters for OS prediction.

https://ift.tt/2Qg5nup

Impulse control disorders in patients with prolactinoma receiving dopamine agonist therapy: a prospective study with 1 year follow-up

Abstract

Objective

To assess prospectively the prevalence of impulse control disorders (ICD), psychiatric symptoms, and their clinical correlates in patients with prolactinoma receiving dopamine agonists (DA) in comparison to those with non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFA) and healthy controls (HC).

Methods

A total of 25 patients with prolactinoma, 31 with NFA, and 32 HCs were included in the study. All patients and controls were screened for the presence of ICDs and other psychiatric disorders using revised version of Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview (MIDI-R), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R) questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).

Results

We detected two new cases (8%) of ICD associated with DAs. Both cases presented with hypersexuality, which reversed totally or decreased upon discontinuation of the drug. The re-challenge of the DA in a smaller dose has led to either no symptoms or weaker symptoms than before. There was an increase in the number of patients who screened positive on obsession, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation, and additional items subscales of SCL-90-R in comparison to HCs at the end of the study period (p < 0.05 for all). Likewise, cumulative DA dose was positively correlated to obsession, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation, hostility, phobic anxiety subscales, and GSI scores of SCL-90-R (p < 0.05 for all).

Conclusions

DAs are associated with a small but substantial short-term risk of ICD development and a broad range of psychiatric symptoms in patients with prolactinoma receiving DAs.

https://ift.tt/2MkAfGE

Cosmetics, Vol. 5, Pages 53: Safety Assessment of Nano-Hydroxyapatite as an Oral Care Ingredient according to the EU Cosmetics Regulation

Cosmetics, Vol. 5, Pages 53: Safety Assessment of Nano-Hydroxyapatite as an Oral Care Ingredient according to the EU Cosmetics Regulation

Cosmetics doi: 10.3390/cosmetics5030053

Authors: Joana M. Ramis Catarina C. Coelho Alba Córdoba Paulo A. Quadros Marta Monjo

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP-NP) are incorporated in oral care products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes to treat dental sensitivity or to promote enamel remineralisation. Despite the good performance of HAP-NP in this application, it is important to ensure its safety for consumers. For that reason, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) evaluated the safety of HAP-NP as an oral care ingredient, but the issued opinion was not completely conclusive and the SCCS recommended that additional tests should be performed. Here, we used a commercially available human gingival epithelium (HGE) as a non-animal alternative and MTT cell viability, LDH activity, and IL-1alpha production were evaluated after 3.1% HAP-NP treatment for 10 min, 1 h, and 3 h. Moreover, the absorption of HAP-NP in the gingival tissue was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Finally, the dissolution behaviour of HAP-NP in simulated gastric fluid was also investigated. No deleterious effect was observed for HGE tissues incubated with HAP-NP for all time-points and parameters evaluated. Moreover, a complete dissolution of 3.1% HAP-NP in simulated gastric fluid was observed after 7.5 min at 37 &deg;C. In conclusion, our results evidence the safety of HAP-NP for oral care products with the use of an in vitro replacement alternative for human gingival epithelium and a simulated gastric fluid assay.

https://ift.tt/2CK7Yd9

Efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy for unresectable or recurrent cholangiocarcinoma: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Abstract

Purpose

Non-surgical treatment including stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have been used practically as alternative modalities for unresectable or recurrent cholangiocarcinoma (CC). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of SBRT for such patients.

Methods

Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library databases were searched systematically until October 2017. Primary endpoint was 1‑year local control (LC) rate; 1‑year overall survival (OS), response rates, and grade ≥3 toxicities were assessed as secondary endpoints.

Results

Eleven studies (226 patients) were included. The prescribed median SBRT dose was 45 (range 30–55) Gy in 3–5 fractions. The pooled 1‑year LC rate was 81.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 69.4–89.9%) in the studies using an equivalent dose in 2 Gy per fraction (EQD2) ≥71.3 Gy₂ and 74.7% (95% CI 57.1–86.7%) in the studies using an EQD2 <71.3 Gy₂. The median OS was 13.6 (range 10–35.5) months. The pooled 1‑year OS rate was 53.8% (95% CI 44.9–62.5%) and the pooled 1‑year LC rate was 78.6% (95% CI 69.0–85.8%). Most common toxicity was duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer in available studies, with the acute incidence of grade ≥3 of less than 10% and the late incidence of 10–20%.

Conclusions

SBRT was a feasible treatment option with respect to achieving a high LC for unresectable or recurrent CC. Gastrointestinal toxicity is acceptable, but remains an obstacle related to dose escalation.

https://ift.tt/2NxpSEe

Efficacy of Topical Combination of 0.25% Finasteride and 3% Minoxidil Versus 3% Minoxidil Solution in Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study

Abstract

Background

The relationship between female pattern hair loss (FPHL) and androgenic hormones is not well established, but some evidence indicates oral finasteride may be efficacious in FPHL. Use of a topical formulation has been proposed to minimize unwanted effects.

Objectives

Our objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of topical 0.25% finasteride combined with 3% minoxidil solution and 3% minoxidil solution as monotherapy in the treatment of FPHL.

Methods

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind study in 30 postmenopausal women with FPHL. Each participant was randomized to receive either topical 0.25% finasteride combined with topical 3% minoxidil or topical 3% minoxidil solution as monotherapy for 24 weeks. To determine efficacy, the hair density and diameter was measured and global photographic assessment was conducted at baseline and 8, 16, and 24 weeks. Side effects and serum dihydrotestosterone levels were also evaluated.

Results

By 24 weeks, hair density and diameter had increased in both groups, and finasteride/minoxidil was significantly superior to minoxidil solution in terms of hair diameter (p = 0.039). No systemic side effects were reported. However, serum dihydrotestosterone levels in the finasteride/minoxidil group significantly decreased from baseline (p = 0.016).

Conclusion

A topical combination of 0.25% finasteride and 3% minoxidil may be a promising option in the treatment of FPHL with an additional benefit of increasing hair diameter. Nevertheless, as it may be absorbed percutaneously, it should be reserved for postmenopausal women.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.in.th; identifier TCTR20160912002.

https://ift.tt/2x5pPpG

Giant cell arteritis and inflammatory bowel disease – Is there a connection? Results from a population-based study

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Yarden Yavne, Shmuel Tiosano, Dana Ben-Ami, Abdulla Watad, Adi Guy, Doron Comaneshter, Arnon D. Cohen, Howard Amital

Abstract

Background

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an autoimmune disorder which primarily affects large vessels, whilst inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) mainly target the gut. Co-existence of the two maladies has been reported sporadically in the literature; therefore the purpose of this study was to assess the authenticity of such an association in a large, cross-sectional study.

Methods

Utilizing data derived from the Clalit Health Services' registry, the largest health maintenance organization in Israel, we compared the proportion of CD and UC in GCA patients with age- and gender-matched controls. Univariate analysis was performed using Chi-square and student t-test and a multivariate analysis was performed using a logistic regression model.

Results

The study included 3938 GCA patients and 21,623 age- and gender-matched controls. GCA patients had a significantly increased proportion of both CD and UC in comparison with controls (0.79% vs. 0.12% and 0.84% vs. 0.21%, P-value < .001, respectively). The strength of the association between GCA and IBD was negatively correlated with the patients' age; thus the association was more robust amongst middle-aged patients (ages 50–69, OR = 8.13) than in elderly patients (ages 70–85, OR = 3.81). The association between GCA and IBD remained significant when evaluated independently of confounding factors (OR = 2.63, P-value < .001).

Conclusions

The probability that GCA patients also suffer from IBD is increased in comparison with age- and gender-matched controls. Our findings indicate that this association is more prominent in middle-aged patients (50–69 years of age). Screening for IBD amongst GCA patients in this age group may be warranted.

https://ift.tt/2wZyrgO

Novel immunological based classification of rheumatoid arthritis with therapeutic implications

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Dennis McGonagle, Abdulla Watad, Sinisa Savic

Abstract

The classical autoimmunity paradigm in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is strongly supported by immunogenetics suggesting follicular helper T-cell responses driving high titre specific autoantibodies that pre-dates disease onset. Using the immunological disease continuum model of inflammation against self with "pure" adaptive and innate immune disease at opposite boundaries, we propose a novel immune mechanistic classification describing the heterogeneity within RA. Mutations or SNPs in autoinflammatory genes including MEFV and NOD2 are linked to seronegative RA phenotypes including some so called palindromic RA cases. However, just as innate and adaptive immunity are closely functionally integrated, some ACPA+ RA cases have superimposed "autoinflammatory" features including abrupt onset attacks, severe attacks, self-limiting attacks, relevant autoinflammatory mutations or SNPs and therapeutic responses to autoinflammatory pathway therapies including colchicine and IL-1 pathway blockade. An emergent feature from this classification that non-destructive RA phenotypes, both innate and adaptive, have disease epicentres situated in the extracapsular tissues. This mixed innate and adaptive immunopathogenesis may be the key to understanding severe disease flares, resistant disease subsets that are unresponsive to standard therapy and for therapies that target the autoinflammatory component of disease that are not currently considered by expert therapeutic recommendations.

https://ift.tt/2NB1RfE

The role of dietary sodium on autoimmune diseases: The salty truth

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Kassem Sharif, Howard Amital, Yehuda Shoenfeld, MaACR

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases are a group of heterogeneous condition that occur secondary to the intrinsic loss of tolerance to self- antigens. In genetically susceptible individuals, the complex interplay of environmental factors and epigenetic deregulations have been proposed to drive disease etiopathogenesis. Various environmental variables have been identified including viral infections, exposure to pollutants, stress and dietary factors. Sodium, a major constituent of salt is essential for mammalian physiology. However, high salt intake may play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases. Several lines of evidence point toward the role of high sodium intake in reversing the suppressive effects of Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and instead promote cellular shift toward T-helper (Th)-1 and Th17 pro-inflammatory phenotypes. These effects have been attributed to cascade of events that ultimately results in downstream activation of serum glucocorticoid kinase 1 (Sgk1). In vivo, various autoimmune animal models have confirmed the role of high sodium diet in the emergence and the exacerbation of autoimmune conditions including for instance Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis model for multiple sclerosis, MRL/lpr mouse model for lupus nephritis, collagen induced arthritis model for rheumatoid arthritis, and dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis, and TNBS-induced colitis models for Crohn's disease. Clinical epidemiological studies are scarce. High sodium intake was associated with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis disease emergence. In multiple sclerosis, some studies suggest a relation to clinical exacerbation rates however other studies did not corroborate these results.

Taken together, high dietary salt intake plays a role in the spectrum of autoimmune disease etiology. Further research is warranted to better characterize such relationship and assist in identifying individuals that would benefit from dietary salt restriction.

https://ift.tt/2wZb4nq

How can autoantibodies predict the long-term outcome of patients with interstitial lung disease? Results from a retrospective cohort study

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Christos F. Kampolis, Aliki I. Venetsanopoulou, Foteini Karakontaki, Vlasis Polychronopoulos, Panayiotis Vlachoyiannopoulos, Athanasios G. Tzioufas

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate whether positive serum autoantibodies (AAbs) have any impact on survival and time evolution of radiological findings and pulmonary function indices in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Patients and methods

Ninety four patients with regular clinical, functional and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging follow-up for at least 12 consecutive months and complete testing for a panel of AAbs most commonly associated with ILD were enrolled in this retrospective two-center study. Eligible patients were divided into two groups based on the presence [ILD/AAb(+)] (n = 69) or absence [ILD/AAb(−)] (n = 25) of positive serum AAbs. All-cause mortality and longitudinal indicators of ILD progression such as a sustained decrease from baseline in absolute measurements of forced vital capacity (FVC) of ≥10% or single-breath diffusion capacity (DLCO_SB) of ≥15% were the primary study endpoints. DLCO_SB < 40% predicted on at least two consecutive measurements and progression of HRCT findings were our secondary endpoints. Kaplan–Meier (K-M) survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards (PH) model were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of positive AAbs in the outcome of patients with ILD.

Results

ILD/AAb(+) patients were predominantly female (71% vs 32%), were significantly younger (54.8 ± 14.6 vs 66.8 ± 10.1 years), and had longer duration of follow-up (78.1 ± 53.1 vs 41.6 ± 26.7 months), compared with ILD/AAb(−) patients (p < .01 for each comparison). Baseline measurements of FVC (% pred.) and DLCO_SB (% pred.) did not differ significantly between the two groups. At the end of follow-up, mortality rates and the percentage of patients with a sustained FVC decrease were lower in the ILD/AAb(+) group (p < .05 for each comparison). With the exception of DLCO_SB < 40% pred., ILD/AAb(+) patients had a longer median time-to-event for each of the other studied outcomes (p < .01 for each K-M analysis). In addition, Cox PH models adjusted for age, smoking status, baseline pulmonary function tests and morphological pattern of ILD remained statistically significant in favor of the ILD/AAb(+) group (p < .05 for each comparison).

Conclusions

AAb(+) patients with ILD seem to have a more favorable prognosis regarding all-cause mortality, long-term deterioration in lung function parameters and progression of HRCT findings than their AAb (−) counterparts.

https://ift.tt/2Nysl1m

Food intolerance in patients with manifest autoimmunity. Observational study

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Francis Coucke

Abstract

In the professional medical and scientific world, there is not many interest in the correlation of food intolerance and autoimmune diseases. However there is a lot of evidence that e.g. gluten or gliadine can induce autoimmmune diseases: example the interest in coeliac disease and autoimmunity. There is however a lot of informationavailable about leaky gut and autoimmunity.

We performed an observational study in our data base;, where we selected 100 patients with manifest autoimmune disease with clear symptoms and autoimmune antibodies in the form of positive anf more tehn 160 titer. These patients were compared with 25 control patients without any autoimmunity.

We could clearly find a difference in food intolerance profiles when we compared AI patients with people without any AI. Overall there is a much greater reaction to several food epitopes, which can be observed on the level of specific antibodies tot he food epitopes. These igG levels for specific food antibodies are significantly higher in the patient group then in the control group. We can also see that some food epitopes provocate a very pronounced reaction, while other show no increased level of igG. Among the most reactive food epitopes are caseine, cow milk, wheat, gliadine, white of egg and rice. A variable reaction can bes een on nuts e.g.; walnuts and almonds. Almost no antibody reaction is noticed on vegetables, fish and meat products, who seem tob e immunologially very neutral.

We conclude that food intolerance test is very important tool in patients with AI disease, and should be performed in each patient to tailor an individual diet program, which if properly followed, could relieve symptoms and probably stop or slow the the progression of the autoimmune disease.

Also interesting for global research in AI disease is the fact that food is probably an important trigger for autoimmunity in vulnerable patients. More research on great scale and multicenter around this topic is mandatory and urgent.

https://ift.tt/2wZyoBE

Osteoarthritis and its management - Epidemiology, nutritional aspects and environmental factors

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Alessandra Bortoluzzi, Federica Furini, Carlo A. Scirè

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent chronic rheumatic diseases worldwide, with a strong impact on individual and population health. OA is a clinically heterogeneous disease presenting with different clinical phenotypes recognising systemic and local risk factors. The pathogenesis is multifactorial including constitutive features of the joint, non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors. Epidemiological studies highlight the link between metabolic syndrome and OA and the effect of interplay between immunological and metabolic processes is getting increasing emphasis because of to the discovery that metabolic syndrome is implicated in OA pathogenesis and progression. In addition, recent findings suggest a potential role of dietary factors in susceptibility and progression of OA. In this review, we summarise the most robust evidence on epidemiology and classical risk factors OA, also exploring the most recent evidence on metabolic changes and Mediterranean diet for OA as a possible target to impact on the natural history of the disease.

https://ift.tt/2NBjDzh

The Mediterranean Diet, fish oil supplements and Rheumatoid arthritis outcomes: evidence from clinical trials

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Petersson Sara, Philippou Elena, Rodomar Carrie, Nikiphorou Elena

Abstract

The impact of dietary interventions such as specific types of diet or nutritional supplements in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been subject to increased attention in recent years. The recognition of the unmet need to better understand the effects of specific dietary interventions on disease outcomes in RA, along with the growing patient interest on lifestyle interventions beyond pharmacotherapy, have informed the undertaking of this narrative literature review. The benefits of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) have been shown in various studies, although only a limited number of trials focus specifically on RA. Based on the studies reviewed, the MD may provide benefits in reducing pain and swollen and tender joints in RA patients. There is more and better evidence that n-3 polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) supplementation has the potential to reduce inflammation and provide clinical benefit, possibly slowing progression to pharmacotherapy. Yet, many of these studies to date are limited in their methodology; this being partly a reflection of the complexity of the research questions being addressed. Consequently, the conclusions that can be robustly drawn from their results are restricted. With a focus on clinical trials on the MD and fish oil supplementation, this review critically appraises the evidence, discussing the findings of studies in the wider context of impact on RA outcomes, methodological challenges and practical points to consider as part of the routine care of RA patients.

https://ift.tt/2x5rQBt

Impact of micronutrient deficiency & malnutrition in systemic sclerosis: Cohort study and literature review

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Romain Dupont, Mélanie Longué, Anne Galinier, Christel Cinq Frais, Cécile Ingueneau, Léonardo Astudillo, Philippe Arlet, Daniel Adoue, Laurent Alric, Grégoire Prévot, Bastien Cabarrou, Laurent Sailler, Grégory Pugnet

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with malnutrition, and selenium (Se) and vitamin C (vitC) deficiencies in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Methods

We included adult SSc patients fulfilling the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria from the Toulouse University Hospital cohort who underwent a micronutrient workup (including vitC, Se or thiamine levels) between 2011 and 2016. Results: 82 patients were included, mostly women (76%), with a median age of 60 years. SSc was limited in 76% of the cases, with Scl-70 and centromere antibodies in 32% and 44%, respectively. Median disease duration was 7.4 years. Cardiac involvement was noticed in 19% and gastrointestinal tract in and 95%; 9% had pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) and 63% had interstitial lung disease. Overt malnutrition was present in 14 (17%) patients. Micronutrient deficiencies included Se (35%), vitC (31%) and/or thiamine (6%). Malnourished patients had significantly a higher summed Medsger disease severity scales (7.5 vs. 5, P = .003), lower hemoglobin (10.6 vs. 12.9 g/dL, P < .0001) and vitC levels (3.6 vs. 10.6 mg/L, P = .003). Cardiac involvement was significantly associated with Se deficiency (OR 6.2, IC 95%[1.48–32.70], P = .05). The factors associated with vitC deficiency were malnutrition (OR 8.57, IC 95%[2.16–43.39], P = .003), modified Rodnan skin score ≤ 14 (OR 0.33, IC95[0.11–1], P = .05), PAH (27% in deficient vs. none in non-deficient patients, P = .0006) and esophagitis or Barrett's mucosa (OR 4.05, IC95[1.27–13.54], P = .02).

Conclusions

Se testing should be considered as soon as cardiac involvement is suspected. VitC testing should be considered in malnourished SSc patients, especially if skin involvement is extensive.

https://ift.tt/2NAwn9j

Are we really what we eat? Nutrition and its role in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Philippou Elena, Nikiphorou Elena

Abstract

Accumulating research evidence suggests that individual dietary factors and dietary patterns might be implicated in the risk of development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This narrative review aims to present this evidence and provide nutritional recommendations for reducing RA risk in susceptible individuals. Overall, a 'Western' type diet rich in energy intake, total and saturated fat, an unbalanced ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids, high in refined carbohydrates and sugar and low in fiber and antioxidants might increase the risk of RA both directly through increasing inflammation and indirectly through increasing insulin resistance and obesity, with the latter being a known risk factor for RA. On the contrary, consumption of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, derived from fish and fish oil, is associated with a reduced risk of RA probably due to their anti-inflammatory properties. The Mediterranean diet (MD), rich in plant-based foods such as wholegrains, legumes, fruit, vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil and low in red meat consumption, might have the potential to reduce the risk of RA. Based on current research evidence, it is suggested that adherence to the MD enhanced with an increased consumption of fatty fish, reduced consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and maintenance of a normal body weight, contributes to reducing the risk of RA. Further research on RA susceptibility will allow for more specific dietary recommendations to be made.

https://ift.tt/2x2xh43

Autoimmune Hunger Games – a brief outline of the expanding role of nutrition in the aggravation and attenuation of autoimmune and rheumatic diseases.

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Yahel Segal

https://ift.tt/2NylRzv

Nutritional recommendations for gout: An update from clinical epidemiology

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Sabrina Mai Nielsen, Kristian Zobbe, Lars Erik Kristensen, Robin Christensen

Abstract

Objective

To present the evidence for nutritional lifestyle changes recommended for gout patients; an explicit focus will be on the evidence for weight loss in overweight gout patients based on a recent systematic review and to describe methodological details for a coming weight loss trial.

Methods

We did a pragmatic but systematic search in MEDLINE for current guidelines that had made an attempt to make nutritional recommendations for gout. The quality of the evidence for the nutritional recommendations was evaluated based on the guidelines' own ratings and converted into a common simple version based on the GRADE system. The recently published systematic review on weight loss for gout, was based on six databases from which longitudinal studies that had quantified the effects following weight loss were included. The internal validity was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool and the quality of the evidence was assessed with the GRADE approach. Based on the results of the systematic review, a trial was designed, adhering to the principles of evidence based research.

Results

We included 17 guidelines. Most guidelines recommend avoiding or limiting alcohol intake (15; i.e. 88%), lose weight if relevant (12; 71%), and reduce fructose intake (11; 65%). The majority of the evidence for the nutritional recommendations was rated Moderate/Low or Very Low quality. Our recent systematic review on weight loss included 10 studies and found that the available evidence indicates beneficial effects of weight loss for overweight and obese gout patients, but the evidence is of low to moderate quality. As a consequence, researchers from the Parker Institute are launching a randomized trial to explore the short-term effects related to a diet-induced weight loss in obese gout patients.

Conclusions

The nutritional recommendations for gout are generally based on low quality evidence. In terms of weight loss as a management strategy, the available evidence is in favor of weight loss for overweight/obese gout patients. However, since the current evidence consists of only a few studies (mostly observational) of low methodological quality, the Parker Institute are now initiating a rigorous exploratory randomized trial. Similar efforts are needed for other nutritional management strategies for gout.

https://ift.tt/2x0HEWc

Probiotics and Autoimmunity: Current Evidence

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Oded Shamriz

https://ift.tt/2x5haTw

Interhemispheric interactions during sentence comprehension in patients with aphasia

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Ronald Chu, Jed Meltzer, Tali Bitan

Abstract

Right-hemisphere involvement in language processing following left-hemisphere damage may reflect either compensatory processes, or a release from homotopic transcallosal inhibition, resulting in excessive right-to-left suppression that is maladaptive for language performance. Using fMRI, we assessed inter-hemispheric effective connectivity in fifteen patients with post-stroke aphasia, along with age-matched and younger controls during a sentence comprehension task. Dynamic Causal Modeling was used with four bilateral regions including inferior frontal gyri (IFG) and primary auditory cortices (A1). Despite the presence of lesions, satisfactory model fit was obtained in 9/15 patients. In young controls, the only significant homotopic connection (RA1-LA1), was excitatory, while inhibitory connections emanated from LIFG to both left and right A1's. Interestingly, these connections were also correlated with language comprehension scores in patients. The results for homotopic connections show that excitatory connectivity from RA1-to-LA1 and inhibitory connectivity from LA1-to-RA1 are associated with general auditory verbal comprehension. Moreover, negative correlations were found between sentence comprehension and top-down coupling for both heterotopic (LIFG-to-RA1) and intra-hemispheric (LIFG-to-LA1) connections. These results do not show an emergence of a new compensatory right to left excitation in patients nor do they support the existence of left to right transcallosal suppression in controls. Nevertheless, the correlations with performance in patients are consistent with some aspects of both the compensation model, and the transcallosal suppression account for the role of the RH. Altogether our results suggest that changes to both excitatory and inhibitory homotopic and heterotopic connections due to LH damage may be maladaptive, as they disrupt the normal inter-hemispheric coordination and communication.

https://ift.tt/2oWy5nB

Probing the Architecture of Visual Number Sense with Parietal tRNS

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Cortex

Author(s): V.R. Karolis, M. Grinyaev, A. Epure, V. Tsoy, E. Du Rietz, M.J. Banissy, M. Cappelletti, Y. Kovas

Abstract

Theoretical accounts of the visual number sense (VNS), i.e., an ability to discriminate approximate numerosities, remain controversial. A proposal that the VNS represents a process of numerosity extraction, leading to an abstract number representation in the brain, has been challenged by the view that the VNS is non-numerical in its essence and amounts to a weighted integration of continuous magnitude features that typically change with numerosity. In the present study, using two-alternative forced-choice paradigm, we aimed to distinguish between these proposals by probing brain areas implicated in the VSN with transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS). We generated predictions for the stimulation-related changes in behavioural performance which would be compatible with alternative mechanisms proposed for the VSN. First, we investigated whether the superior parietal (SP) area hosts a numerosity code or whether its function is to modulate weighting of continuous stimulus features. We predicted that stimulation may affect the VNS precision if the SP role is representational, and that it may affect decision threshold if its role is modulatory. Second, we investigated whether the intra-parietal (IP) area hosts a numerosity code independently of codes for continuous stimulus features, or whether their representations overlap. If the numerosity code is independent, we predicted that IP stimulation may improve the VNS but not continuous magnitude judgements. Our results were consistent with the hypotheses of a modulatory role of the SP and of the independence of the numerosity code in the IP, whereby suggesting that VNS is an emergent abstract property based on continuous magnitude statistics.

https://ift.tt/2CJd4GM

Attention and Awareness: Representation Of Visuomotor Space In Split-Brain Patients

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Jill A. Dosso, Romeo Chua, Daniel J. Weeks, David J. Turk, Alan Kingstone

Abstract

Each cerebral hemisphere primarily controls and receives sensory input with regard to the contralateral hand. In the disconnected brain (split-brain), when the hands are uncrossed, direct visual access to each hand is available to the controlling (contralateral) hemisphere. However, when a hand crosses the midline, visual and tactile information regarding the hand are presented to different hemispheres. It is unknown how a contralateral hemisphere codes the position and orientation of a visually inaccessible hand in the disconnected brain. The present work addresses this issue. We ask how each hemisphere represents "its" hand across hand positions that span the midline in the absence of cortical input from the contralateral hemisphere. In other words, when a hand is placed across the midline and is visually inaccessible, is it represented by the controlling hemisphere: (1) in accordance with its new position with respect to the body (e.g. a left hand "becomes" a right effector when it crosses the midline), (2) with left/right position information unaltered (e.g. the left hand is represented as "left" regardless of its location), or (3) stripped of its location information altogether? The relationship between hand position and the spatial codes assigned to potential responses (an index of hand representation) was investigated in two split-brain patients using direct (Experiment 1) and orthogonal (Experiment 2) S-R compatibility paradigms. S-R compatibility effects in split-brain patients were consistent with those displayed by typical individuals. These findings suggest that position-based compatibility effects do not rely on cross-cortical connections. Rather, each hemisphere can accurately represent the full visuomotor space, a process that appears to be subserved by subcortical connections between the hemispheres.

https://ift.tt/2p0wRrf

The left temporal pole is a convergence region mediating the relation between names and semantic knowledge for unique entities: Further evidence from a “recognition-from-name” study in neurological patients

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Brett Schneider, Jonah Heskje, Joel Bruss, Daniel Tranel, Amy M. Belfi

Abstract

Prior research has implicated the left temporal pole (LTP) as a critical region for naming semantically unique items, including famous faces, landmarks, and musical melodies. Most studies have used a confrontation naming paradigm, where a participant is presented with a stimulus and asked to retrieve its name. We have proposed previously that the LTP functions as a two-way, bidirectional convergence region brokering between conceptual knowledge and proper names for unique entities. Under this hypothesis, damage to the LTP should result in a "two way" impairment: (1) Defective proper name retrieval when presented with a unique stimulus (as shown in prior work); and (2) Defective concept retrieval when presented with a proper name. Here, we directly tested the second prediction (prediction #2) using a "recognition-from-name" paradigm. Participants were patients with LTP damage, brain-damaged comparisons with damage outside the LTP, and healthy comparisons. Participants were presented with names of famous persons (e.g., "Marilyn Monroe"), landmarks (e.g., "Leaning Tower of Pisa"), or melodies (e.g., "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer") and were asked to provide conceptual knowledge about each. We found that individuals with damage to the LTP were significantly impaired at conceptual knowledge retrieval when given names of famous people and landmarks (this finding did not hold for melodies). This outcome supports the theory that the LTP is a bidirectional convergence region for proper naming, but suggests that melody retrieval may rely on processes different from those supported by the LTP.

https://ift.tt/2CJQI7Y

Hide and seek: Directing top-down attention is not sufficient for accelerating conscious access

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Surya Gayet, Iris Douw, Vera van der Burg, Stefan Van der Stigchel, Chris L.E. Paffen

Abstract

At any moment in time, we have a single conscious visual experience representing a minute part of our visual world. As such, the visual input stimulating our retinae is in continuous competition for reaching conscious access. Many complex cognitive operations can only be applied to consciously accessible visual information, thereby raising the question whether humans have the ability to select which parts of their visual input reaches consciousness. Top-down attention allows humans to flexibly assign more processing resources to certain parts of our visual input, making it a likely mechanism to volitionally bias conscious access. Here, we investigated whether directing top-down attention to a particular location or feature accelerates conscious access of an initially suppressed visual stimulus at the attended location, or of the attended feature.

We instructed participants to attend a spatial location (Experiment 1) or color (Experiment 2) for a speeded discrimination task, using a highly predictive cue. The predictive cues were highly effective in prompting sustained attention towards the cued location or color, as evidenced by faster discrimination of cued relative to uncued targets. We simultaneously measured detection times to interocularly suppressed probes that were either of the cued (i.e., attended) color/location or not, and were visually distinct from the targets used for the discrimination task. Despite our successful manipulation of top-down attention, suppressed probes were not released from suppression faster when they were presented at the attended location, or in the attended color. In contrast, when observers were cued to attend a color for locating targets of an ill-defined shape (inciting a broader attentional template), we did observe faster conscious access of probes in the attended color (Experiment 3). We discuss our findings in light of the specificity of attentional templates, and the inherent limitations that this poses for top-down attentional biases on conscious access.

https://ift.tt/2oXGuag

Is STM involved in sentence comprehension?

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Costanza Papagno, Carlo Cecchetto

Abstract

We discuss the literature concerning the role of auditory-verbal short-term memory (phonological loop) in sentence comprehension. We critically analyze data concerning patients with a selective deficit of the phonological loop, then we examine aphasic patients with deficit of auditory-verbal short-term memory and we consider the effect of STM treatment on sentence comprehension. Finally, results from imaging and TMS studies are discussed. In our opinion, data from the literature suggest that both components of the phonological loop are involved in the comprehension of some type of sentence, namely syntactically complex sentences that load on memory, such as center-embedded object relative clauses. However, it is crucial to investigate further patients with a selective STM impairment or aphasic patients, by using extensive and sophisticated experimental material.

https://ift.tt/2CJ85FX

Functional mapping and effective connectivity of the human operculum

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Mihai-Dragoș Mălîia, Cristian Donos, Andrei Barborica, Irina Popa, Jean Ciurea, Sandra Cinatti, Ioana Mîndruță

Abstract

The operculum, defined as the cortex adjacent to the insula, is a large structure encompassing three lobes, with a recognized role in a variety of neurologic and psychiatric conditions. Its complex functions include sensory, motor, autonomic and cognitive processing. In humans, these are extended with the addition of language. These functions are implemented by highly specialized neuronal populations and their widespread connections, which our study aims at mapping in detail. We studied a group of 31 patients that were explored with intracranial electrodes during the pre-surgical workup for drug-resistant epilepsy. We have selected the subset of contacts implanted in non-epileptogenic opercular cortex and we analyzed the neurophysiological and behavioral responses to direct electrical stimulation. The functional mapping was performed by applying 1 Hz and 50 Hz electrical stimulation on 252 contact pairs and recording the threshold for evoking clinical effects. The effective connectivity was assessed using cortico-cortical evoked potentials elicited by single-pulse electrical stimulation in a subset of 19 patients.

The locations of the effects grouped in twelve distinct semiological classes were analyzed. The most frequent effects evoked by stimulation of the frontal operculum were language related (29%). The Rolandic area produced most often oropharyngeal symptoms (47%), the parietal operculum produced somatosensory effects (67%), while the temporal evoked auditory (58%) semiology. The connectivity pattern was complex, with these structures having widespread ipsilateral and contralateral projections. The local connections between the opercular subregions and with the insula, as well as with more distant areas like the cingulate gyrus, were distinguished by strength and between-subjects consistency.

In conclusion, we demonstrate specific opercular functionality, distinct from the one of the insular cortex. The study is complemented by a literature review on the opercular functional connectome in human and non-human primates.

https://ift.tt/2oXGt6c

Efficacy of the anti-IL 17 secukinumab in refractory Behçet's syndrome: A preliminary study

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Journal of Autoimmunity

Author(s): Gerardo Di Scala, Alessandra Bettiol, Rafaela Diana Cojan, Martina Finocchi, Elena Silvestri, Giacomo Emmi

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of secukinumab in Behçet's patients with active mucocutaneous and articular manifestations refractory to previous treatments.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 5 patients treated with the IL17-inhibitor secukinumab and diagnosed with Behçet according to ISG/ICBD criteria. All patients had active mucocutaneous and articular manifestations refractory to colchicine, conventional DMARDs and at least one anti-TNFα agent. Four patients received secukinumab in the dose of 150 mg/monthly since also fulfilling the criteria for ankylosing spondylitis, while the fifth patient received secukinumab 300 mg/monthly because she met psoriatic arthritis criteria. Achievement of response was based on the number of oral ulcers, BASDAI and ASDAS for articular involvement, and BDCAF for Behçet activity. Complete response was defined as: i) decrease ≥50% in the number of oral ulcers; ii) BASDAI index <4; iii) ASDAS index <1.4; iv) decrease of 50% or more in BDCAF index.

Results

The patient starting secukinumab 300 mg/month successfully achieved complete response within 3 months. Complete response was maintained during all 9-months follow-up. Among the 4 subjects starting secukinumab 150 mg/month, two achieved complete response at month 6, but one relapsed. This patient and the two who not achieved complete response at month 6 were switched to secukinumab 300 mg/month. Within 3 months from the dosage increase, all three subjects successfully (re)achieved complete response.

Conclusion

Our study suggested for the first time that secukinumab (either 150 mg and 300 mg/month) improved active mucocutaneous manifestations refractory to previous treatments, while secukinumab 300 mg/monthly resulted superior in inducing articular and complete response in Behçet's patients.

https://ift.tt/2NysjXi

Editorial Board

Publication date: November 2018

Source: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Volume 53

Author(s):

https://ift.tt/2CKCDY1

Motion-compensated reconstruction of magnetic resonance images from undersampled data

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2018

Source: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Author(s): Daniel S. Weller, Luonan Wang, John P. Mugler, Craig H. Meyer

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging of patients who find difficulty lying still or holding their breath can be challenging. Unresolved intra-frame motion yields blurring artifacts and limits spatial resolution. To correct for intra-frame non-rigid motion, such as in pediatric body imaging, this paper describes a multi-scale technique for joint estimation of the motion during the acquisition and the desired uncorrupted image. This technique regularizes the motion coefficients to enforce invertibility and minimize numerical instability. This multi-scale approach takes advantage of variable-density sampling patterns used in accelerated imaging to resolve large motion from a coarse scale. The resulting method improves image quality for a set of two-dimensional reconstructions, with independently generated deformations, with statistically significant increases in both peak signal to error ratio and structural similarity index. These improvements are consistent across varying undersampling factors and severities of motion and take advantage of the variable density sampling pattern.

https://ift.tt/2x1Jgj5

Assessment of time-resolved renal diffusion parameters over the entire cardiac cycle

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2018

Source: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Author(s): Rotem Shlomo Lanzman, Alexandra Ljimani, Anja Müller-Lutz, Julia Weller, Julia Stabinska, Gerald Antoch, Hans-Jörg Wittsack

Abstract

Object

To assess changes diffusion properties of renal cortex over the entire cardiac cycle using electrocardiogram-gated respiratory-triggered dynamic diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Materials and methods

20 healthy volunteers were investigated on a 1.5 T MR scanner. Blood flow velocity within the renal arteries was determined by electrocardiogram-gated phase-contrast measurements. For dynamic renal DWI, an electrocardiogram-gated respiratory-triggered coronal single-slice EPI sequence was acquired at 14 times at 20, 70, 120, 170, …, 570, 620, 720 ms after the R-wave over the cardiac cycle. ROI measurements were performed by two authors in the renal cortex on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. A pulsatility index was calculated for ADC as maximal percentage change. Five subjects were measured twice to assess scan-rescan reproducibility.

Results

Flow measurements exhibited a minimum velocity of 15.7 ± 4.3 cm/s during the R-wave and a maximum of 43.2 ± 10.4 cm/s at 182.5 ± 48.3 ms after the R-wave. A minimal mean ADC of 2.19 ± 0.09 × 10⁻³ mm²/s was observed during the R-wave. A maximum mean ADC of 2.85 ± 0.20 × 10⁻³ mm²/s was measured 193 ± 57 ms after the R-wave. The mean ADC pulsatility index in the renal cortex was 29.9 ± 5.8%. ADC variation exhibited a significant correlation with pulsatile blood flow velocity. The scan-rescan reproducibility in this study had a low deviation of 0.3 ± 0.1%. The inter-reader reproducibility was 2.9 ± 0.6%.

Conclusion

Renal ADCs exhibit pulsatile characteristics. Due to the significant difference of systolic and diastolic ADCs, the pulsatility index can be calculated.

https://ift.tt/2CUX84r

The role of the vagus nerve in appetite control: implications for the pathogenesis of obesity

Journal of Neuroendocrinology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.


https://ift.tt/2CKMJYW

Repression of GRIM19 expression potentiates cisplatin chemoresistance in advanced bladder cancer cells via disrupting ubiquitination-mediated Bcl-xL degradation

Abstract

Objective

The mainstay of treatment for advanced bladder cancer (BC) is cisplatin (CDDP)-based systematic chemotherapy. However, acquired chemoresistance induced by as yet unidentified mechanisms is encountered frequently and often results in treatment failure and disease progression. The present study was designed to elucidate the expression and potential role of the gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality-19 (GRIM19) in the pathogenesis of CDDP resistance in BC.

Methods

RT-qPCR and immunoblotting were employed to evaluate the expression profile of GRIM19 in clinical BC samples and in different BC cells. Using cell viability assay, apoptotic ELISA, xenografts mouse model, and Transwell assay, the effects of GRIM19 inhibition or GRIM19 overexpression on CDDP resistance were determined in different BC cells. Lastly, using co-immunoprecipitation, we provided the molecular evidence for the interaction between GRIM19 and Bcl-xL.

Results

Expression levels of GRIM19 were significantly down-regulated in recurrent BC specimens, and in experimentally induced CDDP-resistant BC cells. Functionally, overexpression of the exogenous GRIM19 potentiated CDDP sensitivity and suppressed the survival and invasion of BC cells in the presence of CDDP challenge. Mechanistically, the compromised CDDP chemosensitization induced by GRIM19 loss was at least partially attributed to the attenuation of Bcl-xL polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation, because (1) GRIM19 colocalized with Bcl-xL in the mitochondria of BC cells and (2) GRIM19 overexpression promoted the ubiquitination of Bcl-xL, and this event could be effectively reversed by pretreatment with inhibitors of p38-MAPK and JNK pathways, indicating that GRIM19 overexpression-induced Bcl-xL ubiquitination may achieve in a p38/JNK-dependent manner. Using the UMUC-3 cells stably depleted of endogenous GRIM19, we further show that inhibition of Bcl-xL rectified GRIM19 deficiency-caused CDDP resistance in BC cells. In addition, BCL2L1 mRNA levels were negatively correlated with GRIM19 mRNA levels in CDDP-associated clinical BC tissues.

Conclusions

Disruption of GRIM19/Bcl-xL is a key mechanism of CDDP resistance in advanced BC. Therapeutically, enhancement of GRIM19 expression or employment of p38/JNK inhibitors may serve as resensitizing therapies for subgroups of CDDP-resistant or refractory BC patients.

https://ift.tt/2x3QROf

Multi-center clinical evaluation of streptozocin-based chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in Japan: focus on weekly regimens and monotherapy

Abstract

Purpose

Streptozocin (STZ) is a key agent for treating advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET). Most STZ regimens for pNET are daily and also include 5-fluorouracil (5FU), whereas STZ monotherapy and weekly regimens have also been applied in daily practice in Japan. The present study aimed to evaluate responses to weekly regimens and to STZ monotherapy, and to identify a predictive marker of a response to STZ.

Methods

Clinical data regarding STZ-based chemotherapy for pNET were collected between 2015 and 2017 at 25 facilities. We analyzed the effects, safety, progression-free survival (PFS), and factors that correlate with responses to STZ.

Results

The overall objective response rate (ORR) of 110 patients who underwent STZ-based chemotherapy (monotherapy, 81.8%; weekly regimen 46.4%) was 21.8%, and PFS was 9.8 months. The ORR of weekly vs. daily regimens was 21.6 vs. 22.0% (P = 1.000), and that of monotherapy vs. combination therapy was 21.1 vs. 25.0% (P = 0.766). A Ki67 proliferation index (Ki67) of > 5% was a predictive marker of a response to STZ (P = 0.017), whereas regimen type, mono- or combination therapy, treatment line and liver tumor burden were not associated with responses. The frequencies of Grade ≥ 3 nausea and hematological adverse events were significantly lower for monotherapy than combination therapy (P = 0.032).

Conclusions

The effects of weekly STZ monotherapy on pNET are comparable to those previously reported and the toxicity profile was acceptable. Ki67 > 5% was the sole predictive marker of an objective response.

https://ift.tt/2CKiykC

Randomized controlled clinical trial of polyethylene glycol recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of neutropenia after chemotherapy for breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose

To explore the efficacy and safety of daily administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), and a single subcutaneous injection of polyethylene glycol recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF, a sustained-duration rhG-CSF) in neutropenia induced after chemotherapy.

Methods

Each patient received two cycles of chemotherapy. In the trial cycle, the patients received a single subcutaneous injection of PEG-rhG-CSF 100 µg/kg 72 h after completion of chemotherapy; and in the control cycle, rhG-CSF 5 µg/kg/day was subcutaneous injected once a day which began 72 h after completion of chemotherapy for continued 14 days or until the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was ≥ 10.0 × 10⁹/l twice. Therapeutic effect on primary endpoint was the incidence and duration of grade IV ANC neutropenia: comparing the incidence and the mean time of duration of PEG-rhG-CSF with those of rhG-CSF under the circumstance of ANC < 0.5 × 109/l. The immune populations evaluated included, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and NK cells.

Results

After chemotherapy, comparing to PEG-rhG-CSF, the CD4/CD8 ratio (0.84 ± 0.19 vs.1.06 ± 0.25) and the number of NK cells of rhG-CSF group (12.18 ± 2.13 vs. 15.78 ± 2.57) decreased significantly. The number of NK cells (12.18 ± 2.13 vs. 13.78 ± 2.57) of rhG-CSF group after chemotherapy is significantly less than that before chemotherapy, and the number of CD3+ (54.31 ± 7.51 vs. 57.96 ± 5.55), CD4+ (26.28 ± 6.25 vs. 29.48 ± 6.44), CD8+ (29.97 ± 6.47 vs. 31.68 ± 5.96) is lower than that before chemotherapy in rhG-CSF group, but the difference is not significant.

Conclusion

The efficacy and side effects of a single subcutaneous injection of PEG-rhG-CSF were similar to that of rhG-CSF multiple administrations. PEG-rhG-CSF may have the effect of promoting immune function repairing.

https://ift.tt/2x09lPU

Pharmacodynamic modelling of resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition in brain metastasis mouse models

Abstract

Purpose

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is thought to play a role in the regulation of cell proliferation; with its activation stimulating tumour growth. EGFR inhibitors have shown promise in the treatment of cancer, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer, however, resistance is observed in the majority of patients. A tumour growth model was developed aiming to explain this resistance.

Methods

The model incorporating populations of both sensitive and resistant cells were fitted to data from a study of EGFR inhibitor AZD3759 in brain metastasis mouse models. The observed regrowth of tumours in higher dose groups suggested the development of resistance to treatment. The bioluminescence observations were highly variable, covering many orders of magnitude, so to assess how reliable the model was, the parameter estimates were compared to those found in less noisy subcutaneous mouse models.

Results

The fitted model suggested that resistance was mainly due to a proportion of cells being resistant at baseline, and the contribution of mutations occurring during the study leading to resistance was negligible. Estimated growth rate and dose–response was found to be comparable between brain metastasis and subcutaneous mouse models.

Conclusions

The developed model to describe resistance suggests that the resistance to EGFR-inhibition seen in these xenografts is best described by assuming a small percentage of cells are resistant to treatment at baseline. This model suggests changes to dosing and dosing schedule may not prevent resistance to treatment developing, and that additional treatments would need to be used in combination to overcome resistance.

https://ift.tt/2CHelxW

Identification and preclinical characterization of a novel and potent poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor ZYTP1

Abstract

Purpose

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme involved in the detection and repair of DNA damage. Studies have shown that inhibition of PARP and Tankyrase (TNKS) has significant antitumor effect in several types of cancers including BRCA-negative breast cancers.

Methods

Identification of ZYTP1, a novel PARP inhibitor, through a battery of in vitro assays and in vivo studies. PARP and TNKS inhibitory activity of ZYTP1 was assessed in cell-free kinase assay. In vitro cell killing potency of ZYTP1 was tested in a panel of cell lines including BRCA-negative cells. ZYTP1 was also tested in xenograft models in combination with temozolomide (TMZ). The pharmacokinetic profile of ZYTP1 was determined in rodent and non-rodent preclinical species. Safety of ZYTP1 was assessed in Wistar rats and Beagle dogs upon repeated dosing.

Results

ZYTP1 inhibited PARP1, PARP2, Tankyrase-1 and Tankyrase-2 with IC₅₀ of 5.4, 0.7, 133.3 and 289.8 nM, respectively, and additionally trapped PARP1 onto damaged DNA. It also potentiated MMS-mediated killing of different cancer cell lines. Compound demonstrated good Caco-2 cell permeability. The oral bioavailability of ZYTP1 in mice, rats and dogs ranged between 40 and 79% and demonstrated efficacy in colon cancer xenograft model at a dose of 1–10 mg/kg in combination with TMZ. In a 28-day repeat dosing, oral toxicity study in rats, it was found to show > 10× safety margin.

Conclusions

ZYTP1 is a novel PARP inhibitor that showed potential for development as a treatment for various solid tumors.

https://ift.tt/2x3Vlo7

Tolerance, variability, and pharmacokinetics of bevacizumab biosimilars in Chinese healthy male subjects

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the tolerance, variability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of bevacizumab biosimilars (MIL60, BAT1706, IBI305) in Chinese healthy male subjects.

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, two-arm, parallel studies included three separate investigations, which were conducted by three sponsors to investigate the bioequivalence of bevacizumab biosimilars (MIL60, BAT1706, IBI305) with that of bevacizumab-EU as a reference drug. Subjects received a single-dose of 1 or 3 mg/kg of the bevacizumab biosimilars or bevacizumab-EU and were followed up for 70–99 days. Serum concentrations of bevacizumab, antidrug antibody (ADA), and neutralizing antibody (NAb) were measured using electrochemiluminescence. In addition, the PK parameters were determined using non-compartmental methods. The safety assessments included adverse events, hematology tests, and biochemistry tests.

Results

The three bevacizumab biosimilars exhibited similar PK properties to that of bevacizumab-EU. Bevacizumab demonstrated linear PK properties and a concentration-dependent disposition. When comparing the three biosimilars with bevacizumab-EU, the 90% CIs of the ratios for C_max, AUC_0–t, and AUC_0–∞ were within 80–125%. The inter-CV ranged from 12.6 to 23.3%. Three subjects in the biosimilar groups and bevacizumab-EU were positive for the ADA and negative for the NAb. Treatment-related mild or moderate adverse events were reported in 56–80 and 36–80% of subjects in the biosimilar and bevacizumab treatment arms, respectively.

Conclusions

The bevacizumab biosimilars exhibit similar PK characteristics to that of the reference product bevacizumab-EU. The inter-CV is moderate and less than 25% in all cases. The safety profile was similar among bevacizumab biosimilars and bevacizumab-EU with significant adverse events.

https://ift.tt/2CKfogw

Lipid profiling of pre-treatment plasma reveals biomarker candidates associated with response rates and hand–foot skin reactions in sorafenib-treated patients

Abstract

Sorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Beyond its clinical benefit against advanced HCC, the efficacy and safety of sorafenib chemotherapy are critical concerns. In this study, we addressed the lipid profiles associated with the efficacy and safety of sorafenib chemotherapy. Plasma samples from HCC patients before sorafenib chemotherapy (N = 44) were collected and subjected to lipidomic analysis. We measured the levels of 176 lipids belonging to 8 classes of phosphoglycerolipids, 2 classes of sphingolipids, 3 classes of neutral lipids, and 4 other classes of lipids. To characterize lipids associated with efficacy, we compared the responder group (N = 21; partial response and stable disease) with non-responder group (N = 22; progressive disease). To characterize lipids associated with hand–foot skin reaction (HFSR), we compared the susceptible group (N = 12; grade 2 and 3) with non-susceptible group (N = 32; grade 0 and 1). The levels of 8 lipids, including phosphatidylcholine (PC)[34:2], PC[34:3]a, PC[35:2], PC[36:4]a, PC[34:3e], acylcarnitine (Car)[18:0], cholesterol ester[20:2], and diacylglycerol (DG)[34:2], were significantly lower in the responder group, and 6 out of 8 these lipids contained FA(18:2). In addition, the levels of 7 lipids (Car[12:0], Car[18:0], Car[18:1], Car[20:1] and fatty acid amides (FAA[16:0], FAA[18:0], and FAA[18:1]b)) were significantly lower in the group susceptible to HFSR. Our comprehensive lipidomics study using samples from sorafenib-treated patients with HCC revealed that significant differences in the lipid profiles of pre-treatment plasma were associated with sorafenib efficacy and sorafenib-induced HFSR. Validation using another set of patient plasma samples and elucidating the molecular basis of these changes will lead to better treatment with sorafenib chemotherapy.

https://ift.tt/2x3IjqR

The risk factors for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral sensory neuropathy and thrombocytopenia in advanced gastric cancer

Abstract

Purpose

Peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) and thrombocytopenia are the main dose-limiting toxicities of oxaliplatin for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Because the risk factors for those toxicities in practice have not been clarified, we conducted this prospective study.

Methods

AGC patients who received oxaliplatin-based therapy at any of seven institutions participating in the Kyushu Medical Oncology Group were assessed after we obtained written informed consent.

Results

A total of 60 patients including 39 males and 21 females were examined. The median age was 66 years. The numbers of patients receiving oxaliplatin as the first, second, or third and later lines of therapy were 39, 16, and 5, respectively. An initial dose of 130, 100, or < 100 mg/m² oxaliplatin was administered to 12, 39, and 9 patients, respectively. S-1 or capecitabine as a concomitant drug was administered in 54 and 6 patients, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the comorbidity of diabetes mellitus was associated with ≥ grade 2 thrombocytopenia (p = 0.035). No significant risk factor was associated with ≥ grade 2 PSN. However, the accumulated dose of oxaliplatin exhibited a strong correlation with ≥ grade 2 PSN (p = 0.0043), and the predicted accumulated dose of oxaliplatin in which 10% of patients developed ≥ grade 2 PSN was 800 mg/m². The frequency of PSN in subsequent paclitaxel therapy in patients with ≥ grade 2 or worse PSN in oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy did not increase compared to those with none or grade 1 PSN in oxaliplatin.

Conclusion

Thrombocytopenia in AGC patients with diabetes mellitus should be carefully monitored during oxaliplatin-based therapy.

https://ift.tt/2CPEUkq

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and clinical response to lenvatinib in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer

Abstract

Purpose

Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the development, growth, and metastasis of carcinomas, and studies have reported conflicting evidence regarding the VEGFR expression in anaplastic thyroid cancer. We investigated the expression of VEGFR2 in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) and analyzed the clinical response to the VEGFR inhibitor lenvatinib.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included primary tumor samples obtained from 12 patients with ATC, including 5 males and 7 females (age range 63–89 years) who underwent surgery or core needle biopsy for a thyroid tumor in the Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery at Kanagawa Cancer Center in Kanagawa, Japan. VEGFR2 protein expression in the ATC samples was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in all patients, and the therapeutic effect of lenvatinib was evaluated in seven patients who underwent tissue biopsy and lesion evaluation.

Results

VEGFR expression was not detected in any of the samples from the 12 patients. Four of the 12 patients treated with lenvatinib had partial response, the three patients achieved stable disease, and the five patients were not examined.

Conclusions

There was no correlation between the expression of VEGFR2 in tumor tissue and the clinical response to lenvatinib among patients with ATC. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism underlying the response to lenvatinib.

https://ift.tt/2x3QKCj

A phase I/II study of GLIF combination chemotherapy for taxane/platinum-refractory/resistant endometrial cancer (GOGO-EM2)

Abstract

Purpose

Development of new treatment strategies for endometrial cancer that has become refractory or resistant to taxane/platinum is a critical need. The present study was a phase I/II study of gemcitabine, levofolinate, irinotecan, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (GLIF) combination chemotherapy to determine optimal dosages, safety, and efficacy.

Methods

Taxane/platinum-resistant or -refractory endometrial disease was defined as tumor progression within 6 months after a taxane/platinum-based regimen. Maximum tolerated dose was investigated by a 3 + 3-designed phase I study. The phase II study was conducted using the recommended doses determined in the phase I study.

Results

The dosages recommended for the phase II trial were determined, in the phase I trial, to be: gemcitabine 800 mg/m², levofolinate 100 mg/m², irinotecan 80 mg/m², and 5-FU 1000 mg/m². Thirty patients were enrolled, including the three patients who received GLIF therapy at the same dose as the recommended phase II dose in the phase I study. Two patients were excluded at this point due to study protocol violations, and the remaining 28 patients were included for analysis. Phase II revealed that the response and disease control rates were 7.1% (2/28) and 39.3% (11/28), respectively, and that the median PFS and OS were 3 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 3–7] and 12 months (95% CI 9–17), respectively. Febrile or grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 14% (4/28) of the cases. Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was not observed.

Conclusion

We found that GLIF combination chemotherapy is potentially a useful treatment option for endometrial cancers refractory or resistant to taxane/platinum-based chemotherapy.

https://ift.tt/2CEzrgt

Nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 as first-line followed by S-1 maintenance for advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a single-arm phase II trial

Abstract

Purpose

We conducted a single-arm prospective phase II study to determine the efficacy and safety of the first-line treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer with nab-paclitaxel and S-1 followed by S-1 maintenance therapy.

Methods

Nab-paclitaxel was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 at 120 mg/m². S-1 at 120 mg/day (for surface area ≥ 1.5 m²), 100 mg/day (for surface area between 1.25–1.5 m²), and 80 mg/day (for surface area < 1.25 m²) were given two times daily on days 1–14 every 3 weeks. Patients who achieved response and stable disease after 6 cycles were given S-1 maintenance treatment in the same schedule until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity developed. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR), and the secondary endpoints were disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. Between 01/2015 and 07/2017, 32 patients were enrolled.

Results

The ORR in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population (N = 32) was 53.1%, and the DCR was 87.5%. In the 30 evaluable patients, the ORR and DCR were 56.7 and 93.3%, respectively. The median follow-up time was 18 (range 12–36) months, the median PFS was 6.2 (range 4.4–8) months, and the median OS was 13.6 (range 8.7–18.5) months. The incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia was 27.6%. Other grade 3 adverse events included 1 (3.1%) hand–foot syndrome, 1 (3.1%) rash and 2 (6.3%) diarrheas.

Conclusions

Nab-paclitaxel and S-1 regimen has presented encouraging ORR, OS, and manageable toxicities as first-line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer.

https://ift.tt/2x3QF1t

Scholar : New articles have been published for Journal of Natural History, Volume 52, Issue 31-32

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content The following articles have been newly published in the issue Journal of Natural History, Volume 52, Issue 31-32 on Taylor & Francis Online: Articles A long-term survey of spring monarch butterflies in north-central Florida Lincoln P. Brower, Ernest H. Williams, Kelly Sims Dunford, James C. Dunford, Amy L. Knight, Jaret Daniels, James A. Cohen, Tonya Van Hook, Emily Saarinen, Matthew J. Standridge, Samantha W. Epstein, Myron P. Zalucki, Stephen B. Malcolm Pages: 2025-2046 | DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1510057 Short Communication Activity patterns and habitat use of pudu deer (Pudu puda) in a mountain forest of south-central Chile Alfredo H. Zúñiga, Jaime E. Jiménez Pages: 2047-2054 | DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1510995 The issue is in progress. To view all articles already published in this issue, please visit: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tnah20/52/31-32 Hoping to have your article read by anyone, anywhere and at any time? Find out more about publishing open access with Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Rheumatoid nodule‐like cutaneous granuloma associated with RAG1‐deficient severe combined immunodeficiency: a rare case

Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.


https://ift.tt/2QlRmev

Commentary to the review article: Subedi S, Yu Q, Chen Z, Shi Y. Management of pediatric psoriasis with acitretin: A review. Dermatol Ther. 2018 Jan;31(1)

Dermatologic Therapy, EarlyView.


https://ift.tt/2MjeLdm

What factors affect the duration of treatment with diphenylcyclopropenone immunotherapy for common warts?

Dermatologic Therapy, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.


https://ift.tt/2x2K9bf

Relationship between sella turcica bridging and cephalometric parameters in adolescents and young adults

Abstract

Objectives

Sella turcica bridging occurs with fusion or calcification of the anterior and posterior clinoid processes in the middle cranial region. This study aimed to compare the cephalometric parameters among normal shape, partial bridge, and total bridge of the sella turcica in adolescent and young adult subjects.

Methods

This retrospective study was performed on the lateral cephalometric radiographs of 410 Turkish adolescent and young adult subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups: normal sella turcica shape (128 females, 32 males; mean age: 17.7 ± 1.54 years), partial sella turcica bridge (129 females, 32 males; mean age: 17.8 ± 2.15 years), and total sella turcica bridge (66 females, 23 males; mean age: 18.2 ± 1.82 years). Thirteen angular and eight linear cephalometric measurements were performed using a cephalometric software program. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, and the Kruskal–Wallis test with the Bonferroni correction.

Results

Significant differences were found for Nperp–A distance, Nperp–Pg distance, and palatal plane-to-anterior cranial base angle among the groups (p < 0.016). There were no significant differences in the cephalometric parameters between the partial and total sella turcica bridging groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

This study evaluated a large amount of data for cephalometric measurements focusing on the degree of calcification of the sella turcica in adolescent and young adult subjects. The maxilla and mandible were located in a sagittally retrusive position in the partial and total sella turcica bridge subjects compared with the normal sella turcica shape subjects.

https://ift.tt/2Mkhxip

Combination chemical peels are more effective than single chemical peel in treatment of mild‐to‐moderate acne vulgaris: A split face comparative clinical trial

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.


https://ift.tt/2CUpT19

A survey on usage of personal care products especially cosmetics among university students in Saudi Arabia

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.


https://ift.tt/2oW7WFt

A pilot study comparing the efficacy of two formulations of botulinum toxin type A for muscular calves contouring

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.


https://ift.tt/2CJhHAv

Recurrence rate of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after Mohs micrographic surgery versus standard excision: a retrospective cohort study

British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.


https://ift.tt/2xbLADN

Helicobacter: Inflammation, immunology, and vaccines

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2QiN4Vf

Author Index

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2O3Z1fT

Abstracts

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2QiMYNn

keyword Intex

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2O3ikGi

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in 2018

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2QiMV49

Issue Information

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2O8hBna

Helicobacter pylori and some aspects of gut microbiota in children

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2QiMAyp

Helicobacter pylori and extragastric diseases

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2O5ru55

Gastric cancer: epidemiology, prevention, and therapy

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2QiMwi9

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2O7rAJA

Other Helicobacters and the gastric microbiome

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2QiM2IR

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2O7jwIJ

Gastric cancer: Basic aspects

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2Qla71O

Helicobacter pylori and nonmalignant upper gastrointestinal diseases

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2O7jqkl

Pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter, Volume 23, Issue S1, September 2018.


https://ift.tt/2CK9z2S

Micronucleus frequency is correlated with antioxidant enzyme levels in workers occupationally exposed to pesticides

Abstract

Oxidative stress can cause DNA damage leading to nuclear anomalies such as micronuclei (MN). Antioxidant enzymes involved in protection against intracellular oxidative stress include glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Pesticide exposure induces oxidative stress and alters antioxidant defense mechanisms, including detoxification and scavenger enzymes. The aim of this study was to evaluate MN frequency in workers occupationally exposed to pesticides and their relationship with antioxidant enzyme activities. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 201 individuals, some of whom were dedicated to the spraying of pesticides. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay was conducted, and the activities of GPx, GR, SOD, and CAT were determined. The geometric mean (GM) of MN was 5.4 (1–26 MN). The GM for the antioxidant enzymes was 198.68 U/mL for GPx, 38.96 U/g Hb for GR, 94.78 U/mL for SOD, and 69.77 U/g Hb for CAT. There was a lower MN frequency in males than that in females, and a higher nuclear index. In addition, age affected MN frequency. There was a negative correlation between MN frequency and GPx activity, but a positive one between MN frequency and GR activity. These findings suggest the involvement of GPx in MN frequency.

https://ift.tt/2Mm4CNj

Distribution of beryllium-7 ( 7 Be) in the Black Sea in the summer of 2016

Abstract

The spatial distribution of ⁷Be activity in the surface layer of the Black Sea was studied using the data of field observations made during the 87th cruise of R/V Professor Vodyanitskii. Activity of ⁷Be varied spatially from 4.6 to 9.5 Bq m⁻³ (mean 7.5 ± 1.3 Bq m⁻³) where about 9% was found on suspended matter. The minimum values of activity were typical for samples taken in the shelf waters and the maximum—offshore. The influence of different factors on ⁷Be activity was analyzed. It was revealed that variation of both ⁷Be wet deposition on the sea surface and concentration of suspended matter were the most significant for spatiotemporal variability of ⁷Be activity in seawater during the study period. The estimates of ⁷Be distribution coefficient between dissolved and particulate forms were obtained. This coefficient varied from 1.5·10⁵ to 2.4·10⁵ L kg⁻¹, averaged (1.9 ± 0.3)·10⁵ L kg⁻¹.

https://ift.tt/2NyQFju