HE4 Expression in Plasma Correlates with Surgical Outcome and Overall Survival in Patients with First Ovarian Cancer Relapse

Background

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains the main cause of mortality due to gynecological malignancies. Optimal tumor debulking and platinum response are the most important prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in primary EOC. In the setting of recurrence, the role of cytoreduction is not clear. A critical point is to predict preoperatively the subgroup of patients with optimal surgical outcome. The aim of the study was to analyze the predictive role of HE4 for surgical outcome and platinum response in EOC patients experiencing a first relapse. Secondary aims were the prognostic role of HE4 for OS and progression-free survival (PFS).

Methods

Plasma was obtained before secondary cytoreduction from 73 EOC patients. A total of 66.7 % underwent a total macroscopic tumor clearance; 86.3 % of the patients had disease that responded to platinum therapy. HE4 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For statistical analysis, the chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, Kendall’s tau b, and Mann-Whitney U test were used. OS, PFS rates, and respective 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were estimated according to the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

At a HE4 cutoff value of 250 pMk, a sensitivity of 52 % and a specificity of 93.8 % (p = 0.001, 95 % CI 0.601–0.861) were reached in predicting total macroscopic tumor clearance. Plasma HE4 concentrations together with platinum response were the only independent prognostic factors for OS (p < 0.001, hazard ratio [HR] 18.77, 95 % CI 4.68–75.25; and p = 0.044, HR 3.33, 95 % CI 1.03–10.7, respectively). Together with ascites, HE4 was the only independent predictive factor for surgical outcome (p = 0.029, odds ratio [OR] 7.2, 95 % CI 1.22–42.19 and p = 0.036, OR 10.18, 95 % CI 1.16–88.69, respectively).

Conclusions

HE4 is an independent predictive marker for surgical outcome and OS in patients with recurrent EOC. Larger population studies are needed to validate these results.     

Differentiated thyroid cancer--peculiar morphological and clinical forms

The most common clinical presentation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), consisting of papillary and follicular adenocarcinoma (with their histological variants), is the solitary thyroid nodule. A review of the literature is performed in order to describe particular forms of DTC, in terms of incidence, diagnosis and treatment: occult carcinoma, carcinoma on aberrant thyroid tissue, "functional" thyroid carcinoma and familial non-medullary carcinoma. A particular interest is shown to the coexistence of malignancy with benign thyroid diseases, such as goiter, hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, as well as parathyroid adenoma. In conclusion, the authors emphasize that the association of carcinoma with benign thyroid conditions is not rare and it substantiate an aggressive approach in regard to diagnosis and treatment, increasing the indication for surgery and, moreover, for total thyroidectomy.     

Biochemical and Metabolical Pathways Associated with Microbiota-Derived Butyrate in Colorectal Cancer and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Implications: A Narrative Review

Knowledge regarding the influence of the microbial community in cancer promotion or protection has expanded even more through the study of bacterial metabolic products and how they can modulate cancer risk, which represents an extremely challenging approach for the relationship between intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer (CRC). This review discusses research progress on the effect of bacterial dysbiosis from a metabolic point of view, particularly on the biochemical mechanisms of butyrate, one of the main short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in CRC. Increased daily intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) significantly increases the density of bacteria that are known to produce butyrate. Omega-3 PUFAs have been proposed as a treatment to prevent gut microbiota dysregulation and lower the risk or progression of CRC.     

Safety assessment of sandalwood oil (Santalum album L.).

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) is a fragrant wood from which oil is derived for use in food and cosmetics. Sandalwood oil is used in the food industry as a flavor ingredient with a daily consumption of 0.0074 mg/kg. Over 100 constituents have been identified in sandalwood oil with the major constituent being alpha-santalol. Sandalwood oil and its major constituent have low acute oral and dermal toxicity in laboratory animals. Sandalwood oil was not mutagenic in spore Rec assay and was found to have anticarcinogenic, antiviral and bactericidal activity. Occasional cases of irritation or sensitization reactions to sandalwood oil in humans are reported in the literature. Although the available information on toxicity of sandalwood oil is limited, it has a long history of oral use without any reported adverse effects and is considered safe at present use levels.     

Value of duplex Doppler ultrasonography in renal colic

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to determine the value of duplex Doppler ultrasonography (DDU) in the patients' evolution with renal colic. The study of the resistive index (RI), difference of the RI (ARI) associated with a DDU intravesical recording (ureteral jets) were compared with renographic findings in renal colic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 1998 and January 2001 we studied 377 cases with suspected renal colic by intravenous pyelography (IVP), grey-scale ultrasonography and DDU with determination of the RI, the difference between the RI of ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys (ARI) and the amplitude (maximum length of the intravesical ureteral jet), velocity and frequency of the urine bolus. We considered normal values RI < or = 0.70 and ARI < or = 0.06. VP was used as a referee investigation and the ureteral intravesical jets were determined in standard conditions. All patients came to the hospital between 4 and 12 h after the onset of the renal colic. RESULTS: We found four series of patients: 1, acute (complete) obstructed kidney (IVP nonfunctional) and dilatation at normal grey-scale, with normal contralateral kidney (n = 153). In this series we found RI > 0.70 in 87%, RI > 0.06 in 90% and absent ureteral intravesical jet of the obstructed kidney site in 89%; 2, acute (complete) obstructed kidney (IVP nonfunctional) without abnormalities at normal grey-scale, with normal contralateral kidney (n = 57). In this series we found RI > or = 0.70 in 73.5%, deltaRI > 0.06 in 82.5% of patients, absent or asymmetric ureteral intravesical jet in 80.7% of cases; 3, incomplete obstructed kidney (IVP with various degree of ureterohydronephrosis) with normal contralateral kidney (n = 96). In this series we found RI > or = 0.70 in 58.3% and deltaRI > 0.06 in 64.5% of patients, asymmetric ureteral intravesical jets in 74% of cases; 4, normal both kidneys normal IVP) were found in 71 cases (18.8%). In this series we found RI < 0.70 in 80.2%, deltaRI < or = 0.06 in 89% of cases, normal ureteral intravesical jets in 93% of cases. The mean RI was 0.76 (0.05) in 306 obstructed kidneys, significantly higher than the mean RI of 0.62 (0.05) in 448 normal kidneys (P < 0.001). The ARI in patients with obstruction was significantly higher than in patients with normal both kidneys, at 0.08 (0.05) and -0.001 (0.03), respectively (P < 0.001). The RI was sensitive in 75.5% and specific in 92.5% and ARI was sensitive in 80.7% and specific in 95.7% (versus IVP, considered the referee value). The presence of the intravesical ureteral jets of the renal colic side, associated with the values of RI (RI < or = 0.70) and deltaRI (deltaRI < or = 0.06), was followed by spontaneous passage of the stones in 71% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Renal DDU and consecutively, intravesical evaluation of ureteral jets could detect acute renal obstruction and, as a functional investigation, could have a predictive value regarding the ureteral stones passage. It could replace the IVP, being a sensitive and highly specific test.     

Anatomical and surgical considerations concerning the segmentation of the pancreas

Pancreatic vascularization, especially the right segment (the head of the pancreas) has great surgical importance, due to its anatomical variety. From this practical point of view, establishing the type of the patient's pancreatic vascular pattern is highly recommended not just diagnosis purposes, but especially for its indispensable role in surgical decision. Selecting the appropriate technique, based on the imagistic evidences must consider the anatomical studies, which propose a systematic vision of the cephalic area vascularization, detecting two major types of arterial distribution. The first type is especially anastomotic; meanwhile the second one is terminal, these two varieties leading to a different surgical technique, best adapted for avoiding hemorrhages or ischemic necroses. Between the classic two segments of the pancreas (cephalic and caudal parts) there is a less vascularized area, which includes just an intersegmentary artery and the pancreatic duct, surgically sectioned during the separation operation of the two pancreatic segments. Vascular variety of the pancreas may be related to both embryological development of the pancreatic tissue, and that of the abdominal aortic branches.