Proteases and their inhibitors as prognostic factors for high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Ovarian carcinoma is one of the most lethal malignancies, but only very few prognostic biomarkers are known. The degradome, comprising proteases, protease non-proteolytic homologues and inhibitors, have been involved in the prognosis of many cancer types, including ovarian carcinoma. The prognostic significance of the whole degradome family has not been specifically studied in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. A targeted DNA microarray known as the CLIP-CHIP microarray was used to identify potential prognostic factors in ten high-grade serous ovarian cancer women who had early recurrence (<1.6 years) or late/no recurrence after first line surgery and chemotherapy. In women with early recurrence, we identified seven upregulated genes (TMPRSS4, MASP1/3, SPC18, PSMB1, IGFBP2, CFI – encoding Complement Factor I – and MMP9) and one down-regulated gene (ADAM-10). Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the prognostic effect of these 8 candidate genes in an independent cohort of 112 high-grade serous ovarian cancer women. Outcomes were progression, defined according to CA-125 criteria, and death. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were done to estimate the associations between each protein and each outcome. High ADAM-10 expression (intensity of 2–3) was associated with a lower risk of progression (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29-0.87). High complement factor I expression (intensity 2–3) was associated with a higher risk of progression (adjusted HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.17–4.53) and death (adjusted HR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.72–6.79). Overall, we identified the prognostic value of two proteases, ADAM-10 and complement factor I, for high-grade serous ovarian cancer which could have clinical significance.     

Temperature-controlled power modulation compensates for heterogeneous nanoparticle distributions: a computational optimization analysis for magnetic hyperthermia

Purpose: To study, with computational models, the utility of power modulation to reduce tissue temperature heterogeneity for variable nanoparticle distributions in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia.

Methods: Tumour and surrounding tissue were modeled by elliptical two- and three-dimensional computational phantoms having six different nanoparticle distributions. Nanoparticles were modeled as point heat sources having amplitude-dependent loss power. The total number of nanoparticles was fixed, and their spatial distribution and heat output were varied. Heat transfer was computed by solving the Pennes’ bioheat equation using finite element methods (FEM) with temperature-dependent blood perfusion. Local temperature was regulated using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. Tissue temperature, thermal dose and tissue damage were calculated. The required minimum thermal dose delivered to the tumor was kept constant, and heating power was adjusted for comparison of both the heating methods.

Results: Modulated power heating produced lower and more homogeneous temperature distributions than did constant power heating for all studied nanoparticle distributions. For a concentrated nanoparticle distribution, located off-center within the tumor, the maximum temperatures inside the tumor were 16% lower for modulated power heating when compared to constant power heating. This resulted in less damage to surrounding normal tissue. Modulated power heating reached target thermal doses up to nine-fold more rapidly when compared to constant power heating.

Conclusions: Controlling the temperature at the tumor-healthy tissue boundary by modulating the heating power of magnetic nanoparticles demonstrably compensates for a variable nanoparticle distribution to deliver effective treatment.     

Hiperplasia endotelial papilar intravascular (tumor Masson) de localización ginecológica

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia or Masson's tumour is a non-neoplastic vascular lesion of reactive character. It is a rare diagnosis, clinically non-specific and with diverse locations. It is essential to take it into consideration and make a differential diagnosis with malignant vascular tumours such as angiosarcoma. Pathological study is fundamental for diagnosis. Treatment consists of complete resection of the tumour, including sufficiently wide margins to avoid recurrence.The case reported is an exceptional event, because of the pelvic location of the Masson's tumour that was diagnosed as part of the surgical staging of an ovarian cancer.     

Differentiating benign from malignant cardiac tumors with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Background

The purpose of this analysis is to describe the differences in cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics between benign and malignant tumors, which would be helpful for surgical planning.

Systematic review of acceptability,cardiovascular, neurological,bone health and HRT outcomes following risk reducing surgery in BRCA carriers

Primary surgical prevention in the form of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is the most effective option and the gold standard for ovarian cancer (OC) risk-reduction, particularly given the absence of an effective national OC screening programme. However, premenopausal RRSO leads to premature surgical menopause with detrimental long-term health sequelae particularly in women who do not/are unable to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT uptake in women undergoing pre-menopausal oophorectomy appears low and is dependent on informed counselling, the safety of HRT and efficacy in mitigating the health sequelae of premature menopause. Acceptance of a central role for the fallopian tube in OC etiopathogenesis, coupled with the detrimental consequences of premature menopause, has led to the attractive proposal of early-salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy as an alternative OC surgical prevention strategy in premenopausal women who have completed childbearing but decline or wish to delay RRSO. The successful implementation of risk reducing surgery for OC prevention depends on the acceptability of surgery to both, recipients (e.g. BRCA1/BRCA2 carriers) and intervention deliverers (healthcare professionals/researchers). Acceptability is also informed by an understanding of health outcomes following risk reducing surgery and the safety of HRT. It is therefore vital to understand the effects of surgery on important health outcomes such as cardiovascular health, neurological function and bone health. We present a comprehensive review of acceptability, the selected health outcomes mentioned above and HRT safety following risk reducing surgery.     

Rescue of the Cold Preserved Rat Liver by Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion

The aim of the study was to investigate whether hypothermic oxygenated liver perfusion after cold liver preservation resuscitated metabolic parameters and whether this treatment had a benefit for liver viability upon reperfusion.
We preserved rat livers either by cold storage (UW) for 10 h, or by perfusion for 3 h (oxygenated modified UW) after 10 h cold storage. We assessed viability of livers after preservation and after ischemic rewarming + normothermic reperfusion ex vivo . Ten hour cold storage reduced mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase and metabolically depleted the livers. Oxygenated perfusion after cold storage resulted in uploaded cellular energy charge and oxidized mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase. Reperfusion after 10 h cold storage increased formation of superoxid anions, release of cytosolic LDH, lipid peroxidation, caspase activities and led to disruption of sinusoidal endothelial cells. In contrast, reperfusion after 10 h cold storage + 3 h hypothermic oxygenated perfusion resulted in no changes of lipid peroxidation, bile flow, energy charge, total glutathione, LDH release and of caspase activation, as compared to fresh resected livers.
This study demonstrates, that a metabolically depleted liver due to cold storage can be energy recharged by short-termed cold machine perfusion. The machine perfused graft exhibited improved viability and functional integrity.     

Pulsatile Perfusion Reduces the Incidence of Delayed Graft Function in Expanded Criteria Donor Kidney Transplantation

The use of expanded criteria donors (ECD) has been proposed to help combat the discrepancy between organ availability and need. ECD kidneys are associated with delayed graft function (DGF) and worse long-term survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of pulsatile perfusion (PP) on DGF and graft survival in transplanted ECD kidneys. From January 2000 to December 2003, 4618 ECD kidney-alone transplants were reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing. PP was performed on 912 renal allografts. The prognostic factors of DGF were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Risk factors for reduced allograft viability were greater in donors and recipients of PP kidneys. Three-year graft survival of ECD kidneys preserved with PP was similar to cold storage (CS) kidneys. The incidence of DGF in PP kidneys was significantly lower than CS kidneys (26% vs. 36%, p < 0.001). Despite having a greater number of risk factors for reduced graft viability, the ECD-PP kidneys had similar graft survival compared to ECD-CS kidneys. The use of PP, by decreasing the incidence of DGF, may possibly lead to lower overall costs and increased utilization of donor kidneys.     

经单根冠状动脉与冠状静脉窦同时灌注心肌保护的实验研究

目的探讨经单根冠状动脉和冠状静脉窦（CS）顺行性／逆行性同时心肌灌注（SARC）的效果。方法将离体猪心分别经左前降支（LAD）、左回旋支（LCX）或右冠状动脉（RCA）中的1支和CS行SARC，再依次向动、静脉灌注通路内注入磁共振造影剂[钆喷替酸葡甲胺（Gd-DTPA）]。应用磁共振成像（MRI）检测心肌内造影剂的分布以及对非灌注冠状动脉回流液进行分析，评估心肌灌注效果。结果SARC期间经单根冠状动脉注入Gd-DTPA不但使其支配区域磁共振信号增强，而且其余2根非灌注冠状动脉的支配区域信号也增强（包括右心室游离壁）；而SARC期间经CS注入Gd-DTPA只引起非灌注冠状动脉支配区变亮，灌注冠状动脉的支配区和右心室游离壁的信号强度无改变。SARC期间非灌注冠状动脉收集的回流液速度分别为：LAD 10．5～17．7ml／min，LCX 9．7～15．2ml／min，RCA 4．7～7．8ml／min。结论经单根冠状动脉和CS同时灌注可以提供全面均匀的心肌灌注，足以防止非灌注冠状动脉支配区发生心肌缺血损伤。