Prognostic Influence of Loss of Blood Group A Antigen Expression in Pathologic Stage I Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

IntroductionIn the scientific literature, contradictory results have been published on the prognostic value of the loss of expression of blood group antigen A (BAA) in lung cancer. The objective of our study was to analyze this fact in our surgical series.Patients and methodsIn a multicenter study, 402 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were included. All were classified as stage-I according to the last 2009-TNM classification. We analyzed the prognostic influence of the loss of expression of BAA in the 209 patients expressing blood group A or AB.ResultsThe 5-year cumulative survival was 73% for patients expressing BAA vs 53% for patients with loss of expression (P=.03). When patients were grouped into stages IA and IB, statistical significance was only observed in stage I-A (P=.038). When we analyzed the survival according to histologic type, those patients with adenocarcinoma and loss of expression of BAA had a lower survival rate that was statistically very significant (P=.003). The multivariate analysis showed that age, gender and expression of BAA were independent prognostic factors.ConclusionsThe loss of expression of blood group antigen A has a negative prognostic impact in stage I NSCLC, especially in patients with adenocarcinoma.     

The Role of Resveratrol in Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review from In Vitro to Clinical Trials

Many studies have shown that resveratrol has a lot of therapeutic effects on liver disorders. Its administration can significantly increase the survival rate after liver transplantation, reduce fat deposition and ischemia-induced necrosis and apoptosis in Wistar rats. Resveratrol can provide Liver protection against chemical, cholestatic, and alcohol-mediated damage. It can improve glucose metabolism and lipid profile, reduce liver fibrosis, and steatosis. Additionally, it is capable of altering the fatty acid composition of the liver cells. Resveratrol may be a potential treatment option for the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and calorie-restricting effects. There are also studies that have evaluated the effect of resveratrol on lipid and liver enzyme profiles among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related disorders. Based on the extent of liver disease worldwide and the need to find new treatment possibilities, this review critically examines current in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies and human clinical studies related to liver protection.     

A longitudinal study of peripheral sensory function in vibration-exposed workers

Purpose  

To investigate prospectively the relation between vibration-induced sensory dysfunction and measures of daily exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV).     

Evaluation of the inner choroid using OCT angiography

The advent of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has allowed a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the retinal vasculature and the choriocapillaris. With the use of OCTA, several studies evaluated the changes in the choriocapillaris showing how this vascular structure plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of different conditions. This article reviews the current methods of analysis of the choriocapillaris and the relevant findings in different chorioretinal diseases.Subject terms: Eye diseases, Pathogenesis     

Discovery of Aminopyrazole Derivatives as Potent Inhibitors of Wild-Type and Gatekeeper Mutant FGFR2 and 3

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) 2 and 3 have been established as drivers of numerous types of cancer with multiple drugs approved or entering late stage clinical trials. A limitation of current inhibitors is vulnerability to gatekeeper resistance mutations. Using a combination of targeted high-throughput screening and structure-based drug design, we have developed a series of aminopyrazole based FGFR inhibitors that covalently target a cysteine residue on the P-loop of the kinase. The inhibitors show excellent activity against the wild-type and gatekeeper mutant versions of the enzymes. Further optimization using SAR analysis and structure-based drug design led to analogues with improved potency and drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics properties.     

The role of advanced oxidation protein products in intensive care unit patients with acute kidney injury

IntroductionOxidative stress (OS) is an imbalance between the production of oxidizing chemical species and the antioxidant defense. It is known that OS increases in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Measurement of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) has been found to be a simple tool for monitoring OS.AimsThe aims of this study were to evaluate OS in intensive care unit (ICU) patients by AOPP levels and compare its levels between patients with and without AKI; we also wanted to assess the ability of AOPP to predict the development of AKI in this population.Patients, Material, and MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study to compare AOPP levels between critically ill AKI (as defined by Risk-Injury-Failure-Loss-End Stage Renal Disease [RIFLE] criteria) and non-AKI patients.Blood samples were collected from all consecutively admitted patients upon arrival to ICU and daily for up to 4 days. We collected 234 blood samples from 86 adult medical and surgical ICU patients. The levels of AOPP were determined in the plasma and measured by spectrophotometry at 340 nm and compared between non-AKI (n = 71) and AKI patients (n = 15). We further subdivided the AKI patients according to severity of AKI (worst RIFLE class attained in ICU).ResultsAmong the 86 patients, 15 (17.44%) developed AKI during their stay in ICU, whereas 71 patients (82.56%) did not. Among the AKI patients, 5 had AKI on ICU admission, whereas 10 developed it later.The levels of AOPP were significantly higher among AKI patients compared with non-AKI patients (153.8 ± 117.8 versus 129.0 ± 114.9 μmol/L, respectively; P = .034). Patients with the most severe AKI (RIFLE class Failure) had markedly elevated AOPP levels compared with RIFLE class Risk and Injury patients (P = .012).Area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic for prediction of AKI within 48 hours after first blood sample collection was 0.5835 (P = not significant).ConclusionsThis is the first study to explore the relationship between severity of AKI and AOPP.In our adult ICU population, AOPP levels were higher in AKI compared with non-AKI critically ill patients. On the other hand, AOPP levels were not found to be a useful biomarker for AKI, as it was unable to identify patients who developed AKI within 24, 48, 76, and 96 hours.