Racial differences in prostate-specific antigen–based prostate cancer screening: State-by-state and region-by-region analyses

Objective

Black men are more prone to harbor prostate cancer. They are more likely to succumb to this tumor than their White counterparts and may benefit from early detection and treatment. In this study, we assess the nationwide and regional disparity in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer between Black men and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs).

Growth in children following kidney transplantation

Growth was assessed in children following 128 separate kidney transplants using a generalized growth curve multivariate analysis. The height standard deviation score was the dependent variable. Time since transplant, prednisone dosage, and creatinine clearance were the independent variables. For the purposes of comparison patients were grouped according to sex, race, age at transplantation, initial allograft function, acute rejection episodes and the use of cyclosporin A. Patient's height standard deviation scores tended to increase negatively after transplantation. However, children who received transplants before their 7th birthday, with initial allograft function greater than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m², exhibited catch-up growth. Height standard deviation scores positively improved in males but not in females, as prednisone dosage was decreased. Height standard deviation scores became more negative as renal function decreased after transplantation. Changes in renal function produced the greatest effect upon height in black children, children less than 7 years, and males.     

The Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Perioperative Outcomes in Patients Who Have Bladder Cancer Treated with Radical Cystectomy: A Population-based Study

Background

Although therapeutic guidelines recommend the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical cystectomy (RC) in patients who have muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), this approach remains largely underused. One of the main reasons for this phenomenon might reside in concerns regarding the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective

To compare perioperative outcomes between patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and those treated with RC alone.

Design, setting, and participants

Relying on the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results–Medicare-linked database, 3760 patients diagnosed with MIBC between 2000 and 2009 were evaluated.

Intervention

RC alone or RC plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

Complications occurred within 30 and 90 d after surgery. Heterologous blood transfusions (HBTs), length of stay (LoS), readmission, and perioperative mortality were compared. To decrease the effect of unmeasured confounders associated with treatment selection, propensity score–matched analyses were performed.

Results and limitations

Overall, 416 (11.1%) of patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Following propensity score matching, 416 (20%) and 1664 (80%) patients treated with RC plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy and RC alone remained, respectively. The 30-d complication, readmission, and mortality rates were 66.0%, 32.2%, and 5.3%, respectively. The 90-d complication, readmission, and mortality rates were 72.5%, 46.6%, and 8.2%, respectively. When patients were stratified according to neoadjuvant chemotherapy status, no significant differences were observed in the rates of complications, HBT, prolonged LoS, readmission, and mortality between the two groups (all p ≥ 0.1). These results were confirmed in multivariate analyses, where the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with higher risk of 30- and 90-d complications, HBT, prolonged LoS, readmission, and mortality (all p ≥ 0.1). Our study is limited by its retrospective nature.

Conclusions

The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is not associated with higher perioperative morbidity or mortality. These results should encourage wider use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy when clinically indicated.

Patient summary

Chemotherapy before radical cystectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer does not increase the risk of complications or death. The use of chemotherapy should be strongly encouraged, as recommended by clinical guidelines, given its benefits.     

Echo-wave termination of ventricular tachycardia. A common mechanism of termination of reentrant arrhythmias by various pharmacological interventions.

BACKGROUND. Based on epicardial mapping, different mechanisms of termination of reentrant ventricular tachycardia by various pharmacological interventions are described. METHODS AND RESULTS. In 40 Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, rings of anisotropic left ventricular epicardium were made by a cryoprocedure. Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia based on continuous circus movement of the impulse around the ring was induced by programmed stimulation. Increasing doses of heptanol (n = 10), potassium (n = 10), tetrodotoxin (n = 6), RP62719 (a new class III drug) (n = 4), flecainide (n = 5), and propafenone (n = 5) were administered to terminate ventricular tachycardia. Epicardial mapping (248 points) was used to study the mechanism of termination of ventricular tachycardia. In 28 of 40 hearts, ventricular tachycardia terminated because the drugs produced complete conduction block of the impulse in a segment of the reentrant pathway. In the remaining 12 hearts (heptanol, n = 2; potassium, n = 3; tetrodotoxin, n = 2; RP62719, n = 2; flecainide, n = 1; and propafenone, n = 2), termination of ventricular tachycardia occurred by collision of the circulating impulse with a spontaneous antidromic wave front reflected within the circuit. This phenomenon occurred when the circulating impulse encountered an arc of functional conduction block that did not extend along the whole width of the ring. As a result, the impulse dissociated into a continuing orthodromic circulating wave and a returning antidromic echo-wave caused by microreentry within the ring. CONCLUSIONS. Independent of their mechanisms of action, sodium channel blockers, electrical uncouplers, and class III drugs terminate reentrant ventricular tachycardia either by complete conduction block or by collision of the impulse with an echo-wave.     

Circulating interleukin-27 levels in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers, independent of the bacterial cytotoxin-associated gene A virulence factor

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the interleukin (IL)‐27 levels in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)‐infected patients with gastric ulcer (GU) or duodenal ulcer (DU) and to determine its association with H. pylori virulence factor cytotoxin‐associated gene A (CagA). METHODS: In all, 127 H. pylori infected patients (including 96 DU patients, of whom 61 were anti‐CagA⁺ and 35 were anti‐CagA^‐) and 31 GU patients (of whom 15 were anti‐CagA⁺ and 16 were anti‐CagA^‐), 60 asymptomatic (AS) carriers (of whom 30 were anti‐CagA⁺ and 30 were anti‐CagA^‐) and 30 healthy H. pylori‐negative participants (as a control) were enrolled in the study. Serum concentrations of IL‐27 were measured by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The mean levels of IL‐27 in the GU (44.26 ± 7.12 pg/mL) and DU patients (40.84 ± 3.90 pg/mL) was significantly higher than those observed in the AS carriers (22.06 ± 1.90 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and the control group (18.12 ± 1.68 pg/mL, P < 0.001 and P < 0.002, respectively). In the GU, DU and AS groups the levels of IL‐27 in anti‐CagA⁺ participants were not significantly differ from that in the anti‐CagA^‐ participants. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that the mean concentration of IL‐27 in H. pylori‐infected peptic ulcer (PU) patients was higher than in AS carriers and the healthy control group. The serum concentrations of IL‐27 were not affected by the CagA factor.     

The right ventricular septum presents the optimum site for maximal electrical separation during left ventricular pacing

Septum Presents the Optimum Site for Maximal Electrical Separation. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) benefits selected heart failure (HF) patients. The optimal placement of the right ventricle (RV) lead during biventricular pacing has not been assessed. Greater electrical separation (ES) between left ventricle (LV) and RV leads has been associated with better clinical outcomes. The site of maximal electrical separation(MES) in the RV is unknown. Methods: Prospective study of 50 CRT patients. The LV lead was placed in a postero‐lateral branch of the coronary sinus. ES was recorded at 6 sites within the RV during LV pacing at 600 milliseconds cycle length (CL). The median ES was recorded with a roving deflectable catheter at the RV outflow tract (RVOT), high septum, inflow septum, mid‐septum, apical septum and apex. Results: Mean age was 67 ± 7 years, 39 were male (78%). Thirty had ischemic etiology (60%). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 25 ± 7%, QRS duration pre and post was 165 ± 26 milliseconds and 138.5 ± 15.6 milliseconds (P < 0.001). Mapping ES showed a difference between 20 and 50 milliseconds distributed across the RV in the majority of patients (40/49). However, 7 subjects demonstrated delay distribution of between 50 and 82 milliseconds. ES was significant greater in the RV mid‐septum (161.2 ± 23.7 milliseconds) compared with RVOT (154.1 ± 20.8 milliseconds) and apex (148.0 ± 25.5 milliseconds; P < 0.001). The site of Maximal ES was most commonly found at the mid‐septum (40 patients, 80%) and only rarely at the RVOT (5, 10%) and apex (5, 10%; P < 0.01). Conclusion: MES was observed most commonly at the RV septum and rarely at the RV apex. Better correction of electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony by CRT may be achieved by placing the RV lead in a site outside of the apex in the majority of patients. Clinical studies exploring RV septal pacing in CRT seem warranted.     

Impact of preconditioned diabetic stem cells and photobiomodulation on quantity and degranulation of mast cells in a delayed healing wound simulation in type one diabetic rats

Lasers in Medical Science - Herein, we report the influence of administering different protocols of preconditioned diabetic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSs) with photobiomodulation in...     

Photobiomodulation isolated or associated with adipose-derived stem cells allograft improves inflammatory and oxidative parameters in the delayed-healing wound in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Lasers in Medical Science - The single and associated impressions of photobiomodulation (PBM) and adipose-derived stem cells (ADS) on stereological parameters (SP), and gene expression (GE) of some...