Targeting MYC-driven replication stress in medulloblastoma with AZD1775 and gemcitabine

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - MYC-driven medulloblastomas are highly aggressive childhood tumors with dismal outcomes and a lack of new treatment paradigms. We identified that targeting replication...     

Dysregulated Brain Dynamics in a Triple-Network Saliency Model of Schizophrenia and Its Relation to Psychosis

Background

Schizophrenia is a highly disabling psychiatric disorder characterized by a range of positive “psychosis” symptoms. However, the neurobiology of psychosis and associated systems-level disruptions in the brain remain poorly understood. Here, we test an aberrant saliency model of psychosis, which posits that dysregulated dynamic cross-network interactions among the salience network (SN), central executive network, and default mode network contribute to positive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Node-Positive Segmentectomy for Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Risk Factors and Outcomes

BackgroundSegmentectomy for well-selected early stage non–small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) has been shown to have similar oncologic outcomes and survival to lobectomy. However, these data are based on the presumption that the disease is node negative. Few data exist regarding the risk factors for and the outcomes of patients with disease treated with segmentectomy that is found to be node positive. We sought to determine the risk factors for and outcomes of clinical stage I NSCLC patients who are treated with segmentectomy but are determined to be node positive.Patients and MethodsWe queried patients with clinical stage I NSCLC ≤ 3 cm within the National Cancer Data Base between 2004 and 2014 who were treated with segmentectomy or lobectomy and found to have positive nodes. Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests were used to compare overall survival (OS) between segmentectomy and lobectomy. For comparison only, segmentectomy patients with pathologically node-negative disease were identified to determine predictors of node positivity after segmentectomy via multivariable logistic regression.ResultsA total of 4556 patients with node-positive disease were identified, comprising 115 segmentectomy patients and 4441 lobectomy patients. Multivariable analysis identified increasing tumor size, squamous-cell histology, and increasing number lymph nodes sampled as significant predictors of node positivity after segmentectomy. There was no difference in OS between segmentectomy and lobectomy, with 3-year OS rates of 66.3% and 68.1%, respectively (P = .723).ConclusionThere are discrete risk factors for discovering positive nodes after segmentectomy. Segmentectomy is associated with similar OS compared to lobectomy for clinical stage I NSCLC found to be node positive.     

Stereotactic Radiosurgery Versus Whole Brain Radiation Therapy: A Propensity Score Analysis and Predictors of Care for Patients With Brain Metastases From Breast Cancer

Background

Metastases to the brain occur in 10%-16% of patients with breast cancer, with incidence reportedly increasing. Historically, brain metastases (BM) have been treated with whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), but stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an increasingly favored treatment option. In this study we used a population-level database to compare patterns of care and survival between WBRT and SRS for BM from breast cancer.

Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure: A Consensus Statement

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries -     

Valorization of food processing wastes and by-products for bioplastic production

The global plastic production is reaching new altitudes every year. Growing production of petroleum-based plastics has incurred in disposal issues raising the concerns of plastic pollution and impact to the environment. These issues have encouraged innovation and research activities in the field of bioplastics, offering alternatives for conventional plastics. In recent years, global bioplastic production has also witnessed tremendous growth and expansion. Some of the main drivers of this growth are innovative biopolymers such as Polylactic acid (PLA) and Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). However, industrial expenses to produce bioplastics are much higher when compared to petroleum-derived plastics (e.g. industrial PHA production is estimated to be 5–10 times more expensive than petroleum-derived polymers). In this regard, globally many researchers have investigated for more environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives to produce plastics. One potential option to pursue would be to explore agri-food wastes and by-products for bioplastic production. This would not only reduce the volume of wastes and by-products, but also production costs incurred. This review paper provides an overview of bioplastics, including production methods and possibilities of industrial food waste valorization for bioplastic production.     

Circulating microRNA‐590‐5p functions as a liquid biopsy marker in non‐small cell lung cancer

Despite the availability of various diagnostic procedures, a tissue biopsy is still indispensable for the routine diagnosis of lung cancer. However, inaccurate diagnoses can occur, leading to inefficient cancer management. In this context, use of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) may serve as diagnostic tools as liquid biopsies, and as biomarkers to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of cancer. We identified miR‐590‐5p as a potential prognostic marker in the progression of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We were able to detect this miRNA in blood plasma samples of NSCLC patients through quantitative real‐time PCR. Our data showed an ~7.5‐fold downregulation of miR‐590‐5p in NSCLC patients compared to healthy controls, which correlated with several clinicopathological features. Further, overexpression of miR‐590‐5p led to decreased cell viability, proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion potential of lung cancer cells, whereas its knockdown showed the opposite effect. In addition, the levels of several proteins involved in the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition negatively correlated with miR‐590‐5p levels in lung adenocarcinoma cells and tumors of NSCLC patients. Further, dual‐luciferase reporter assays identified STAT3 as a direct target of miR‐590‐5p, which negatively regulated STAT3 activation and its downstream signaling molecules (eg, Cyclin D1, c‐Myc, Vimentin, and β‐catenin) involved in tumorigenesis. Taken together, our study suggests that miR‐590‐5p functions as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC through regulating the STAT3 pathway, and may serve as a useful biomarker for the diagnosis/prognosis of NSCLC, and as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC.     

Vitrectomy with Silicone Oil Tamponade in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment following Acute Retinal Necrosis: Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to report the prognostic factors and outcomes of vitrectomy (PPV) with silicone oil tamponade in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) secondary to acute retinal necrosis (ARN).

Methods: This retrospective, non-randomized, interventional comparative study included 38 eyes of 38 patients. All cases underwent PPV with silicone oil tamponade. The main outcome measure was improvement of final visual acuity relative to the presenting visual acuity and factors affecting the same Group A included eyes with favorable vision of 20/400 or better and Group B included the others.

Results: Group A included 16 eyes (42.10%), group B included 22 eyes (57.89%). In Group A 2 eyes out of 16 (12.5%) and in Group B 12 eyes out of 22 (54.54%) had RRD at presentation (p = 0.02, 95% CI for the difference 7.88–65.78%). The time interval between first presentation and development of RRD in Group A was 30.94 ± 38.8 days (median 30 days) whereas that in Group B was 10.81 ± 11.73 days (median 8 days) (p = 0.02). The odds of visual improvement post-vitrectomy when RRD occurred later was 8.4 (p = 0.01, 95% CI 1.53–46.1). The usage of systemic steroids (odds 5.2, p = 0.03, 95% CI 1.14–23.54) and oral valacyclovir (odds 4.33, p = 0.04, 95% CI 1.05–17.84) were associated with odds favoring a good visual outcome. Recurrent RRD was noted in 3/16 eyes (18.75%) in Group A and 13/22 eyes (59.09%) in Group B (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Delayed occurrence of RRD after ARN is a good prognostic factor. Usage of systemic steroids and oral valacylocvir are associated with a favorable visual outcome when started before the onset of RRD.     

Idiopathic multiple retinal pigment epithelial detachments – A case report

Retinal pigment epithelial detachment, often asymptomatic is a common retinal finding. Multiple serous retinal pigment epithelial detachment especially in a female is very uncommon. We describe a case of multiple retinal pigment epithelial detachments throughout the fundus in a 51-year old female otherwise asymptomatic. Indocyanine green angiography and fundus auto fluorescence showed abnormalities with a normal systemic work-up. This is the first report of an asymptomatic patient correlating angiogram with auto fluorescence in multiple serous retinal pigment epithelial detachments.