First report on Protostrongylus cuniculorum (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778 L.) from Bulgaria

Parasitology Research - A nematode species from the Protostrongylidae family, unknown in the parasite fauna of Bulgaria until now, was found in the bronchi of a European brown hare (Lepus europaeus...     

How Do We Make Choices in Salvage Therapy: Panitumumab, Cetuximab, or Regorafenib?

Colorectal cancer is the fourth commonest cancer worldwide. The survival rate is suboptimal for patients with metastatic disease. The introduction of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies has remarkably improved clinical outcomes. Two monoclonal antibodies targeting EGFR and one multikinase inhibitor have been approved by the FDA and Health Canada for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer; however, only about 10 % of patients respond to this treatment. Having wild-type KRAS is necessary but not sufficient to derive benefit from EGFR inhibition. Interestingly, patients with certain mutations such as p.G13D represent a cetuximab-sensitive subtype of KRAS mutant metastatic colorectal cancer. A few biomarkers have been identified, but we still do not know the best way to administer drugs. In this article we review the clinical data and expert opinions and summarize the recommendations.     

A fluorimetric enzyme assay for the diagnosis of sanfilippo disease type A (MPS IIIA)

Summary 4-Methylumbelliferyl--d-N-sulphoglucosaminide (MU--GlcNS) was synthesized and shown to be a substrate for the lysosomal heparin sulphamidase. Sanfilippo A patients' fibroblasts (n=42) and lymphocytes (n=1) showed 0–3% of mean normal heparin sulphamidase activity; in total leukocytes from patients (n=8) sulphamidase activity was clearly deficient. In fibroblasts from obligate heterozygotes for Sanfilippo A, the sulphamidase activity was reduced in 9 out of 10 cases. Heparin sulphamidase desulphates MU-GlcNS to MU-GlcNH₂ and further hydrolysis during a second incubation is required to liberate 4-methylumbelliferone, which can be measured. Yeast-glucosidase, which has low but sufficient-glucosaminidase activity, was used to hydrolyse the reaction intermediate MU-GlcNH₂ to release 4-methylumbelliferone and free glucosamine.     

Bioactive constituents of brazilian red propolis

In a new propolis type, red Brazilian propolis, 14 compounds were identified (six of them new for propolis), among them simple phenolics, triterepenoids, isoflavonoids, prenylated benzophenones and a naphthoquinone epoxide (isolated for the first time from a natural source). Three of the major components demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, and two (obtained as inseparable mixture) possessed radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).     

Evolution of sites of recurrence after early breast cancer over the last 20 years: implications for patient care and future research

Improvements in adjuvant therapy have led to a sustained fall in recurrences after early breast cancer. The differential reduction in local and systemic recurrences is poorly understood. This study aimed to explore changes in the distribution of loco-regional and distant recurrences in clinical trials reported over the last 20 years. We also aimed to determine the relative impact of adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. MEDLINE search for adjuvant, phase III randomized breast cancer clinical studies between January 1990 and March 2011 was performed. Neoadjuvant, single agent biologics and studies that did not report the proportion of loco-regional and distant recurrences were excluded. The change in the frequency of recurrences was assessed as the nonparametric correlation between the number of loco-regional recurrences as a proportion of all recurrences and time. Studies were weighted by sample size. The differential effect of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy was also assessed. Fifty-three randomized clinical trials with a total of 86,598 patients were included in the analysis. Between 1990 and 2011, the proportion of loco-regional recurrences has decreased from approximately 30 to 15 % (Spearman’s ρ = ?0.40, p < 0.001). There was no interaction between type of surgery (mastectomy vs. lumpectomy), administration of adjuvant radiation therapy and menopausal status and the correlation of loco-regional recurrences and time. Chemotherapy regimen showed a larger negative correlation compared with endocrine therapy ( ρ = 0.49 vs. ρ = 0.24). Advances in treatment of early breast cancer have differentially reduced the proportion of loco-regional recurrences compared with distant recurrences. In recent trials, loco-regional recurrences account for less than 10–15 % of all recurrences. These falling event rates may affect patient care, especially when deciding on treatments influencing loco-regional control. This change may also impact on the design of clinical trials assessing loco-regional therapy such as surgery and/or local radiation therapy.     

The prognosis of the course and outcome in gastric peptic ulcer

A universal system for forecasting gastric ulcer has been devised. It ensures high reliability of the forecasting of uncomplicated or frequently relapsing disease, development of long non-healing or callous gastric ulcer, occurrence of ulcerous hemorrhage, perforation, penetration, stenosis or malignization. The system is designed for the use in the computer mode or in the form of the tabular prognosis method to be employed in hospitals and in ambulatory-polyclinical practice.