Thioredoxin reductase: A novel,independent prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Here we found that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with recurrence outcome and nonsurvivors had significantly increased thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) serum levels on reoperation (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis adjusted for common risk factors showed that TrxR was an independent predictor of recurrence (hazard ratios [HR] = 4.19; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 3.21–7.08) and overall survival (HR = 5.56; 95% CI: 3.42–10.21). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of TrxR was 0.837 (95% CI, 0.794–0.881) for recurrence outcome and 0.901 (95% CI, 0.869–0.933) for mortality, which was superior to high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein and a-fetoprotein (P < 0.001). The preoperative serum TrxR level is an independent and significant indicator predictive of poor prognosis and early recurrence in patients with HCC, which offering reliable information for predicting survival.     

郑州市汉族女性 MTHFR 和 MTRR 基因多态性分布

目的：探讨郑州市汉族女性5,10-亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(MTHFR)、甲硫氨酸合成酶还原酶(MTRR)基因 多态性的频率特征。方法：以郑州市1 253例汉族女性为研究对象,检测MTHFR C677T,A1298C和MTRR A66G的基 因分型。分析基因多态性的频率特征,并与已报道的其他地区汉族女性的数据进行比较。结果：郑州市汉族女性的 MTHFR 1298CC纯合突变基因型频率(1.3%)低于湘潭(4.8%)、延边(3.8%)、镇江(3.5%)、荆州(3.2%)、昆明(2.7%)、德 阳(6.3%)、惠州(7.2%)和乌鲁木齐(3.4%)等地(均P<0.05),等位基因与烟台、延边、乌鲁木齐、镇江、荆州、昆明、德 州、湘潭、惠州等地差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。MTRR 66GG纯合突变基因型频率(5.4%)低于德阳(8.2%)(P<0.01), 等位基因与德阳差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论：郑州市汉族女性MTHFR A1298C和MTRR A66G基因多态性频率不 同于其他地区,具有地域特异性。     

Statin-associated cerebellar ataxia. A Brazilian case series

BackgroundDrug-induced cerebellar ataxias (DICA) represent an important group of secondary cerebellar ataxias. Herein, we reported a case series of progressive cerebellar ataxia induced by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins).MethodsObservational study with a Brazilian case series of patients with cerebellar ataxia due to statins use.ResultsWe described four patients with cerebellar ataxia, predominantly gait ataxia, due to statins use. Mean age was 67.5 years old, predominantly male, with several comorbidities, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and myocardial revascularization. After statin withdrawal, and treatment with coenzyme Q10 in some patients, progressive improvement of gait ataxia was observed.DiscussionWe presented a case series of four patients with cerebellar ataxia due to statins use, which represents a new rare side-effect of statins, probably related to coenzyme Q10 deficiency.     

Development of Research Agenda in Prostate Artery Embolization: Summary of Society of Interventional Radiology Consensus Panel

PurposeTo summarize the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation’s Research Consensus Panel development of a research agenda on prostate artery embolization (PAE).Materials and MethodsPAE for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms has been shown to be safe and effective in decreasing symptoms and prostate size. Lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PAE in the United States has prevented inclusion in American Urologic Association guideline recommendations for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia. Recognizing the need for well-designed trials, the SIR Foundation funded a Research Consensus Panel to prioritize a research agenda. The panel included interventional radiologists, urologists, SIR Foundation leadership, and industry representatives. The goal of the meeting was to discuss weaknesses with current data and study design for development of US trials to report long-term outcomes data.ResultsFinal consensus on a research design could not be made because the group was split on 3 research designs: (i) RCT of PAE versus sham with crossover of the sham group. (ii) RCT of PAE versus simple prostatectomy. (iii) RCT of PAE versus holmium laser enucleation of the prostate/thulium laser enucleation of the prostate. The panel recommended a nonindustry-funded registry to obtain real-world data.ConclusionsLevel 1 data are required to be included in the American Urologic Association guidelines for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Because of concerns with all 3 study designs, the panel did not reach a consensus. Further meetings are planned with the panel to select among these research designs.     

5‐Alpha reductase inhibitors in androgenetic alopecia: Shifting paradigms,current concepts,comparative efficacy,and safety

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a multifactorial disease that carries a significant psychological burden with it. Dihydrotestosterone, the main pathogenic androgen in AGA, is produced by conversion of testosterone, which is catalyzed by the 5‐alpha reductase (5‐AR) isoenzyme family. Finasteride and dutasteride are inhibitors of these enzymes. Finasteride, which is a single receptor 5‐alpha reductase inhibitor (5‐ARI), acts by blocking dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dutasteride, a dual receptor DHT blocker, has a higher potency than its predecessor, finasteride. This review corroborates the evidence of superiority of dutasteride over finasteride, and its comparable safety profile concerning fertility, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity.     

A preliminary observation: Male pattern hair loss among hospitalized COVID‐19 patients in Spain – A potential clue to the role of androgens in COVID‐19 severity

A preliminary observation of high frequency of male pattern hair loss among admitted COVID‐19 patients and suggest that androgen expression might be a clue to COVID‐19 severity.     

Identification and characterization of a fatty acyl reductase from a Spodoptera littoralis female gland involved in pheromone biosynthesis

Fatty acyl‐CoA reductases (FARs), the enzymes that catalyse reduction of a fatty acyl‐CoA to the corresponding alcohol in insect pheromone biosynthesis, are postulated to play an important role in determining the proportion of each component in the pheromone blend. For the first time, we have isolated and characterized from the Egyptian cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a FAR cDNA (Slit‐FAR1), which appeared to be expressed only in the pheromone gland and was undetectable in other female tissues, such as fat body, ovaries, wings, legs or thorax. The encoded protein has been successfully expressed in a recombinant system, and the recombinant enzyme is able to produce the intermediate fatty acid alcohols of the pheromone biosynthesis of S. littoralis from the corresponding acyl‐CoA precursors. The kinetic variables Km and Vmax, which have been calculated for each acyl‐CoA pheromone precursor, suggest that in S. littoralis pheromone biosynthesis other biosynthetic enzymes (e.g. desaturases, acetyl transferase) should also contribute to the final ratio of components of the pheromone blend. In a phylogenetic analysis, Slit‐FAR1 appeared grouped in a cluster of other FARs involved in the pheromone biosynthesis of other insects, with little or non‐specificity for the natural pheromone precursors.