Intratumor heterogeneity is a main cause of the dismal prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM). Yet, there remains a lack of a uniform assessment of the degree of heterogeneity. With a multiscale approach, we addressed the hypothesis that intratumor heterogeneity exists on different levels comprising traditional regional analyses, but also innovative methods including computer-assisted analysis of tumor morphology combined with epigenomic data. With this aim, 157 biopsies of 37 patients with therapy-naive IDH-wildtype GBM were analyzed regarding the intratumor variance of protein expression of glial marker GFAP, microglia marker Iba1 and proliferation marker Mib1. Hematoxylin and eosin stained slides were evaluated for tumor vascularization. For the estimation of pixel intensity and nuclear profiling, automated analysis was used. Additionally, DNA methylation profiling was conducted separately for the single biopsies. Scoring systems were established to integrate several parameters into one score for the four examined modalities of heterogeneity (regional, cellular, pixel-level and epigenomic). As a result, we could show that heterogeneity was detected in all four modalities. Furthermore, for the regional, cellular and epigenomic level, we confirmed the results of earlier studies stating that a higher degree of heterogeneity is associated with poorer overall survival. To integrate all modalities into one score, we designed a predictor of longer survival, which showed a highly significant separation regarding the OS. In conclusion, multiscale intratumor heterogeneity exists in glioblastoma and its degree has an impact on overall survival. In future studies, the implementation of a broadly feasible heterogeneity index should be considered. 相似文献
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was originally developed to diagnose
embryo-related genetic abnormalities for couples who present a high risk of a
specific inherited disorder. Because this technology involves embryo selection, the
medical, bioethical, and legal implications of the technique have been debated,
particularly when it is used to select features that are not related to serious
diseases. Although several initiatives have attempted to achieve regulatory
harmonization, the diversity of healthcare services available and the presence of
cultural differences have hampered attempts to achieve this goal. Thus, in different
countries, the provision of PGD and regulatory frameworks reflect the perceptions of
scientific groups, legislators, and society regarding this technology. In Brazil,
several texts have been analyzed by the National Congress to regulate the use of
assisted reproduction technologies. Legislative debates, however, are not conclusive,
and limited information has been published on how PGD is specifically regulated. The
country requires the development of new regulatory standards to ensure adequate
access to this technology and to guarantee its safe practice. This study examined
official documents published on PGD regulation in Brazil and demonstrated how little
direct oversight of PGD currently exists. It provides relevant information to
encourage reflection on a particular regulation model in a Brazilian context, and
should serve as part of the basis to enable further reform of the clinical practice
of PGD in the country. 相似文献
The present study aimed at measuring seropositivities for infection by
Ascaris suum and Toxocara canis using the
excretory/secretory (E/S) antigens from Ascaris suum (AES) and
Toxocara canis (TES) within an indigenous population. In
addition, quantification of cytokine expressions in peripheral blood cells was
determined. A total of 50 Warao indigenous were included; of which 43 were adults and
seven children. In adults, 44.1% were seropositive for both parasites; whereas
children had only seropositivity to one or the other helminth. For ascariosis, the
percentage of AES seropositivity in adults and children was high; 23.3% and 57.1%,
respectively. While that for toxocariosis, the percentage of TES seropositivity in
adults and children was low; 9.3% and 14.3%, respectively. The percentage of
seronegativity was comparable for AES and TES antigens in adults (27.9%) and children
(28.6%). When positive sera were analyzed by Western blotting technique using AES
antigens; three bands of 97.2, 193.6 and 200.2 kDas were mostly recognized. When the
TES antigens were used, nine major bands were mostly identified; 47.4, 52.2, 84.9,
98.2, 119.1, 131.3, 175.6, 184.4 and 193.6 kDas. Stool examinations showed that
Blastocystis hominis, Hymenolepis nana and
Entamoeba coli were the most commonly observed intestinal
parasites. Quantification of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-10 and
IL-4 expressions showed that there was only a significant increased expression of
IL-4 in indigenous with TES seropositivity (p < 0.002).
Ascaris and Toxocara seropositivity was
prevalent among Warao indigenous. 相似文献
Background:Workplace hazards are a significant source of health impairment for workers and of financial losses for firms. EU directives on workers’ health and safety standards significantly contributed to reduce reported occupational injuries, yet the incidence and prevalence of work-related mental illness is still very high.Objectives:We investigated the association between work-related hazards and individuals’ perceived mental health. We reviewed the existing evidence on the channels through which task-related factors, adverse agents and psychosocial factors are expected to affect workers’ health, with specific regard to mental health.Methods:We used data from the fifth wave of the European Working Conditions Survey, covering over 40,000 face-to-face interviews with workers in 34 countries, which includes information on socio-demographic characteristics, firms and jobs attributes, employment status, as well as working conditions and health status. We carried out an empirical analysis with multivariate regression models in order to estimate the relationship between workers’ mental health problems and workplace risk factors.Results:21,020 interviews were used in the multivariate analysis. We found strong correlations between hazards and various indicators of mental health. Among hazardous agents, low temperatures (β=0.0287) and contact with infectious materials (β=0.0394) were positively associated with mental health outcomes. Among task/sequence-related factors, tiring or painful positions (β=0.0713), repetitive hand/arm movements (β=0.0255), working with VDUs (β=0.0301), repetitive tasks <10 min (β=0.0859) and working in evenings (β=0.00754) were positively associated with mental health. Various psychosocial risk factors related to both the content of the job (for example, frequent disruptive interruptions: β=0.219, working in free time: β=0.0759, poor work-life balance: β=0.228) as well as the job context (for example, bad employment prospects: β=0.177, low decisional autonomy: β=0.245, bad social relations: β=0.186, workplace violence: β=0.411) were positively associated with mental health. The main results of the decomposition show that an important contribution to workers’ overall mental distress at work is associated with psychosocial risk factors (up to 60% for depression/anxiety symptoms and sleep disorders), while the contribution of somatic factors is on average lower (up to 20% for overall fatigue).Conclusions:We argue that action is needed to improve workers’ mental well-being, and reduce the economic costs for both the national health system and employers. Regulations and traditional economic measures are unlikely to prove successful in providing adequate standards of primary and secondary preventive measures in the work place without an appropriate and reliable Risk Assessment Procedure.Key words: Work hazards, risk assessment, job content, mental health相似文献
Magnetic resonance elastography aims to non-invasively and remotely characterize the mechanical properties of living tissues. To quantitatively and regionally map the shear viscoelastic moduli in vivo, the technique must achieve proper mechanical excitation throughout the targeted tissues. Although it is straightforward, ante manibus, in close organs such as the liver or the breast, which practitioners clinically palpate already, it is somewhat fortunately highly challenging to trick the natural protective barriers of remote organs such as the brain. So far, mechanical waves have been induced in the latter by shaking the surrounding cranial bones. Here, the skull was circumvented by guiding pressure waves inside the subject's buccal cavity so mechanical waves could propagate from within through the brainstem up to the brain. Repeatable, reproducible and robust displacement fields were recorded in phantoms and in vivo by magnetic resonance elastography with guided pressure waves such that quantitative mechanical outcomes were extracted in the human brain. 相似文献
Purpose of the study: the aim of this study was to synthesize PFC fNIRS outcomes on the effects of cognitive tasks compared to resting/baseline tasks in healthy adults from studies utilizing a pre/post design.
Material and methods: original research studies were searched from seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, SCOPUS, PEDro and PubMed). Subsequently, two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts followed by full-text reviews to assess the studies' eligibility.
Results: eleven studies met the inclusion criteria and had data abstracted and quality assessed. Methodology varied considerably and yet cognitive tasks resulted in the ΔO2Hb increasing in 8 of the 11 and ΔHHb decreasing in 8 of 8 studies that reported this outcome. The cognitive tasks from 10 of the 11 studies were classified as “Working Memory” and “Verbal Fluency Tasks”.
Conclusions: although, the data comparison was challenging provided the heterogeneity in methodology, the results across studies were similar. 相似文献