Safety and Efficacy of Pazopanib in First-Line Metastatic Renal-Cell Carcinoma With or Without Renal Failure: CORE-URO-01 Study

Background

Pazopanib has been approved for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma on the basis of clinical trials that enrolled only patients with adequate renal function. Few data are available on the safety and efficacy of pazopanib in patients with renal insufficiency. This study investigated the effect of kidney function on treatment outcomes in such patients.

Association between nocturnal blood pressure dipping and insulin resistance in children affected by NAFLD

The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between insulin–glucose metabolism, nocturnal blood pressure dipping and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adolescents without diabetes. One hundred one consecutive children, with biopsy-proven NAFLD, were included in this study. Blood samples were drawn for the analyses of liver function tests, insulin–glucose metabolism and lipid profile appraisal. An ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) was performed. Seventy-six children (75.3 %) were systolic nondippers, and 23 of them were diastolic nondippers (30.3 %). No differences were found in the anthropometric parameters between the two groups. When compared to the systolic dippers, the systolic nondippers had higher medians of mean nocturnal blood pressure, glucose at 0, 60 and 120 min in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), OGTT insulin at all time points and insulin-resistance values. No correlation of histopathological features with dipping/nondipping statuses was found. Conclusions: We found an association between a nocturnal blood pressure fall and measures of insulin levels, independent of obesity, or daytime blood pressure levels, among the obese patients with NAFLD. Although no association between nondipping profiles and NAFLD was observed in our study, further studies with a longer term follow-up are needed, to better elucidate the complex link between these particular entities.     

Bullying Victimization,Post-Traumatic Symptoms,and the Mediating Role of Alexithymia

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between bullying victimization, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and alexithymia. Self-report measures concerning bullying victimization, alexithymia, and post-traumatic stress symptoms were administered to 488 adolescents (52 % boys, 48 % girls) ages 16 to 17 attending high schools. Results show that the experience of being bullied is associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Moreover, alexithymia mediated the impact of bullying victimization on post-traumatic stress symptoms. Findings thus show that difficulties identifying and describing feelings combined with an externally oriented thinking, the core symptoms of alexithymia, can play a crucial role in linking bullying victimization with the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder among adolescents.     

Maxillary sinus augmentation: histologic and histomorphometric analysis

PURPOSE: Implant placement in the posterior maxilla may often be contraindicated because of insufficient bone volume and the presence of the maxillary sinus. In these situations, sinus floor lifting and grafting frequently have been proposed as the best treatment. The aim of this study was to compare histologically the use of 100% autogenous bone versus a combination of autogenous bone and corticocancellous pig bone for maxillary sinus augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients requiring bilateral maxillary sinus augmentation were selected for this study. Bone for grafting was harvested from the iliac crest. Each patient received 100% autogenous bone in 1 randomly selected sinus (control side) and a 1:1 mixture of autogenous bone and corticocancellous pig bone particles in the contralateral sinus (test side). Five months after the augmentation procedure, bone biopsy specimens were taken at the time of implant placement. RESULTS: No complications were observed during the surgical procedures; all patients healed uneventfully. No signs or symptoms of maxillary sinus disease were observed during the 5 months after surgery. No significant differences in bone percentages were observed in the bone biopsies from test and control sides. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It could be concluded from this study that corticocancellous pig bone particles can be successfully used in a 1:1 mixture with autogenous bone from the iliac crest for maxillary sinus augmentation in cases of severely atrophic maxilla.     

The number of implants required to support a maxillary overdenture: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

The number of implants needed to support a maxillary overdenture is still a controversial issue. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the number of implants required to support a maxillary overdenture in order to obtain optimal treatment outcomes in terms of implant survival, overdenture longevity and patient satisfaction.