Patterns in metabolite profile are associated with risk of more aggressive prostate cancer: A prospective study of 3,057 matched case–control sets from EPIC

Metabolomics may reveal novel insights into the etiology of prostate cancer, for which few risk factors are established. We investigated the association between patterns in baseline plasma metabolite profile and subsequent prostate cancer risk, using data from 3,057 matched case–control sets from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). We measured 119 metabolite concentrations in plasma samples, collected on average 9.4 years before diagnosis, by mass spectrometry (AbsoluteIDQ p180 Kit, Biocrates Life Sciences AG). Metabolite patterns were identified using treelet transform, a statistical method for identification of groups of correlated metabolites. Associations of metabolite patterns with prostate cancer risk (OR_1SD) were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Supplementary analyses were conducted for metabolite patterns derived using principal component analysis and for individual metabolites. Men with metabolite profiles characterized by higher concentrations of either phosphatidylcholines or hydroxysphingomyelins (OR_1SD = 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.66–0.89), acylcarnitines C18:1 and C18:2, glutamate, ornithine and taurine (OR_1SD = 0.72, 0.57–0.90), or lysophosphatidylcholines (OR_1SD = 0.81, 0.69–0.95) had lower risk of advanced stage prostate cancer at diagnosis, with no evidence of heterogeneity by follow-up time. Similar associations were observed for the two former patterns with aggressive disease risk (the more aggressive subset of advanced stage), while the latter pattern was inversely related to risk of prostate cancer death (OR_1SD = 0.77, 0.61–0.96). No associations were observed for prostate cancer overall or less aggressive tumor subtypes. In conclusion, metabolite patterns may be related to lower risk of more aggressive prostate tumors and prostate cancer death, and might be relevant to etiology of advanced stage prostate cancer.     

Air Pollution and the Risk of Cardiac Defects: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Previous epidemiologic studies have assessed the role of the exposure to ambient air pollution in the development of cardiac birth defects, but they have provided somewhat inconsistent results. To assess the associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and the risk of cardiac defects, a population-based case-control study was conducted using 1087 cases of cardiac defects and a random sample of 10,870 controls from 1,533,748 Taiwanese newborns in 2001 to 2007.Logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios for 10 ppb increases in O₃ and 10 μg/m³ increases in PM₁₀. In addition, we compared the risk of cardiac defects in 4 categories-high exposure (>75th percentile); medium exposure (75th to 50th percentile); low exposure (<50th–25th percentile); reference (<25th percentile) based on the distribution of each pollutant. The risks of ventricular septal defects (VSD), atrial septal defects (ASD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were associated with 10 ppb increases in O₃ exposure during the first 3 gestational months among term and preterm babies. In comparison between high PM₁₀ exposure and reference category, there were statistically significant elevations in the effect estimates of ASD for all and terms births. In addition, there was a negative or weak association between SO_2, NO₂, CO, and cardiac defects_.The study proved that exposure to outdoor air O₃ and PM₁₀ during the first trimester of gestation may increase the risk of VSD, ASD, and PDA.     

Heteroepitaxy of Cerium Oxide Thin Films on Cu(111)

An important part of fundamental research in catalysis is based on theoretical and modeling foundations which are closely connected with studies of single-crystalline catalyst surfaces. These so-called model catalysts are often prepared in the form of epitaxial thin films, and characterized using advanced material characterization techniques. This concept provides the fundamental understanding and the knowledge base needed to tailor the design of new heterogeneous catalysts with improved catalytic properties. The present contribution is devoted to development of a model catalyst system of CeO₂ (ceria) on the Cu(111) substrate. We propose ways to experimentally characterize and control important parameters of the model catalyst—the coverage of the ceria layer, the influence of the Cu substrate, and the density of surface defects on ceria, particularly the density of step edges and the density and the ordering of the oxygen vacancies. The large spectrum of controlled parameters makes ceria on Cu(111) an interesting alternative to a more common model system ceria on Ru(0001) that has served numerous catalysis studies, mainly as a support for metal clusters.     

VIROLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF RABIES IN BATS FROM AN URBAN AREA IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

The outbreaks of rabies in humans transmitted by Desmodus rotundus in 2004 and 2005, in the northeast of the Brazilian State of Para, eastern Amazon basin, made this a priority area for studies on this zoonosis. Given this, the present study provides data on this phenomenon in an urban context, in order to assess the possible circulation of the classic rabies virus (RABV) among bat species in Capanema, a town in the Amazon basin. Bats were collected, in 2011, with mist nets during the wet and dry seasons. Samples of brain tissue and blood were collected for virological and serological survey, respectively. None of the 153 brain tissue samples analyzed tested positive for RABV infection, but 50.34% (95% CI: 45.67-55.01%) of the serum samples analyzed were seropositive. Artibeus planirostris was the most common species, with a high percentage of seropositive individuals (52.46%, 95% CI: 52.31 52.60%). Statistically, equal proportions of seropositive results were obtained in the rainy and dry seasons (c² = 0.057, d.f. = 1, p = 0.88). Significantly higher proportions of males (55.96%, 95% CI: 48.96-62.96%) and adults (52.37%, 95% CI: 47.35-57.39%) were seropositive. While none of the brain tissue samples tested positive for infection, the high proportion of seropositive specimens indicates that RABV may be widespread in this urban area.     

Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization Using Combined Particle Embolization and n-BCA with the Dextrose 5% in Water Push Technique for Chronic Subdural Hematomas: A Prospective Safety and Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Embolization of the middle meningeal artery for treatment of refractory or recurrent chronic subdural hematomas has gained momentum during the past few years. Little has been reported on the use of the n-BCA liquid embolic system for middle meningeal artery embolization. We present the technical feasibility of using diluted n-BCA for middle meningeal artery embolization.MATERIALS AND METHODS:We sought to examine the safety and technical feasibility of the diluted n-BCA liquid embolic system for middle meningeal artery embolization. Patients with chronic refractory or recurrent subdural hematomas were prospectively enrolled from September 2019 to June 2020. The primary outcome was the safety and technical feasibility of the use of diluted n-BCA for embolization of the middle meningeal artery. The secondary end point was the efficacy in reducing hematoma volume.RESULTS:A total of 16 patients were prospectively enrolled. Concomitant burr-hole craniotomies were performed in 12 of the 16 patients. Two patients required an operation following middle meningeal artery embolization for persistent symptoms. The primary end point was met in 100% of cases in which there were no intra- or postprocedural complications. Distal penetration of the middle meningeal artery branches was achieved in all the enrolled cases. A 7-day post–middle meningeal artery embolization follow-up head CT demonstrated improvement (>50% reduction in subdural hematoma volume) in 9/15 (60%) patients, with 6/15 (40%) showing an unchanged or stable subdural hematoma. At day 21, available CT scans demonstrated substantial further improvement (>75% reduction in subdural hematoma volume).CONCLUSIONS:Embolization of the middle meningeal artery using diluted n-BCA and ethiodized oil (1:6) is safe and feasible from a technical standpoint. The use of a dextrose 5% bolus improves distal penetration of the glue.

Despite traditional treatment with surgical evacuation, chronic subdural hematomas (cSDHs) tend to have an indolent course with frequent recurrences.¹ In recent years, embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) for treatment of refractory or recurrent cSDH has gained momentum, with recent literature showing a significant reduction in the size of the cSDH as well as lower rates of recurrence.² The primary endovascular techniques used to date have involved the use of polyvinyl alcohol particles (PVA) and Onyx liquid embolic (ethylene-vinyl alcohol dissolved in dimethyl-sulfoxide; Medtronic). Another commonly used liquid embolic agent in the neurointerventional area is n-BCA, which is a liquid adhesive that polymerizes rapidly on contact with ionic substances and can be injected to achieve permanent vessel occlusion. The rates of polymerization and flow and the penetration depth can be modified using varying amounts of ethiodized oil as well as concurrent infusion of dextrose 5% in water (D5W) during n-BCA (Trufill, Cordis Neurovascular) injection (D5W-push technique).³ Data on the use of n-BCA as an embolic agent in cases of cSDH are extremely limited. Herein, we sought to study the safety and technical feasibility of using diluted n-BCA for embolization of the MMA for cSDHs.