Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Appl Clin Med Phys 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Purpose: Transrectal ultrasound images are routinely acquired for low dose rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy dosimetric preplanning (pTRUS), although diagnostic multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) may serve this purpose as well. We compared the predictive abilities of TRUS vs MRI relative to intraoperative TRUS (iTRUS) to assess the role of mpMRI in brachytherapy preplanning.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 32 patients who underwent iTRUS-guided prostate LDR brachytherapy as either mono- or combination therapy. Read More

J Midlife Health 2019 Jan-Mar;10(1):6-13

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Hot flashes (HFs), defined as transient sensations of heat, sweating, flushing, anxiety, and chills lasting for 1-5 min, constitute one of the most common symptoms of menopause among women though only a few seek treatment for these. The basis of HFs lies in abnormal hypothalamic thermoregulatory control resulting in abnormal vasodilatory response to minor elevations of core body temperature. Recent data suggest an important role for calcitonin gene-related peptide, hypothalamic kisspeptin, neurokinin B and dynorphin signal system, serotonin, norepinephrine in causation of HFs in addition to estrogen deficiency which plays a cardinal role. Read More

Shock 2019 Apr 14. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School. University of São Paulo. Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

The intestinal mucosa plays a critical role in the organism, acting as an interface between the lamina propria and the harmful antigens in the lumen. Sepsis is associated with primary injury to the intestinal mucosa, which in turn induces bacterial translocation and hyperpermeability. Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide synthesized by several cell types, whose immunomodulatory activity has been reported in experimental models of inflammation. Read More

Int J Womens Dermatol 2019 Jun 15;5(2):85-90. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Bronx, New York.

Menopause is a major turning point in a woman's life that is characterized by declining ovarian function and decreased serum estrogen levels. The resulting hormonal changes particularly affect the skin, with postmenopausal symptoms such as loss of structural architecture and increased propensity to damage becoming rapidly noticeable. Interestingly, studies have shown that estrogen deprivation in postmenopausal conditions accelerates many skin changes, including dryness, atrophy, fine wrinkling, and poor wound healing. Read More

Scand J Urol 2019 Apr 16:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

c Sahlgrenska Academy and University Hospital , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a triple treatment strategy, including surgery, on high risk prostate cancer comparing long-term survival outcome with a cohort receiving standard radiotherapy with endocrine therapy.

Materials And Methods: This study compared two cohorts in survival outcomes, matched on the year of diagnosis and age. In both groups there was a curative intention to treat localized high-risk prostate cancer (one or more of Gleason score 8-10, PSA 20-50 or stage T3), diagnosed between 1995-2010, follow-up at the end of 2014. Read More

J Vet Res 2019 Mar 22;63(1):107-115. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Veterinary Centre of Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, Poland.

Oestrus resynchronisation (RES, Resynch) programmes for non-pregnant cows allow shortening the period between an unsuccessful insemination and the next attempt on the same cow. The protocol of oestrus RES may be started after ruling out pregnancy by means of ultrasonography carried out 28 days after insemination or after performing a test for pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PAG) in blood or milk. The Resynch protocol can be based on a double application of prostaglandins, the OvSynch protocol, or hormonal therapy with exogenous sources of progesterone (CIDR intravaginal devices). Read More

Int J Surg Pathol 2019 Apr 15:1066896919842939. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

1 Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

The incidence of bilateral testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is 1% to 5%. Despite the high rate of treatment success, resistance to chemotherapy has a detrimental effect. Some studies found MMR and BRAF gene mutations to be associated with chemotherapy resistance, which has not been found by others. Read More

Breast 2019 Apr 4;46:4-11. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Research, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.

Background: A clear picture of treatment-related health problems following breast cancer treatment is useful in anticipating the informational and other needs of patients during follow-up. This study aimed to identify treatment-related health problems in breast cancer patients up to five years after diagnosis. Secondly, the use of care associated with these health problems was identified. Read More

Wien Klin Wochenschr 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Interne Abteilung, Landeskrankenhaus Hochzirl - Natters, Hochzirl, Österreich.

In 1989 the St. Vincent Declaration aimed to achieve comparable pregnancy outcomes in diabetic and non-diabetic women. However, currently women with pre-gestational diabetes still feature a higher risk of perinatal morbidity and even increased mortality. Read More

Mol Psychiatry 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) plays a critical role in generating cellular energy in the form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Because energy requirements are substantially increased during an immune response, the KP is a key regulator of the immune system. Perhaps more importantly in the context of psychiatry, many kynurenines are neuroactive, modulating neuroplasticity and/or exerting neurotoxic effects in part through their effects on NMDA receptor signaling and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Read More

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that estrogen manipulates intracellular iron metabolism and that elevated levels of estrogen associate with increased systemic iron availability. This has been attributed to the ability of estrogen to suppress hepcidin synthesis, maintain ferroportin integrity and enhance iron release from iron-absorbing duodenal enterocytes and iron-storing macrophages and hepatocytes. These observations speak of a potential "estrogen-iron" axis that manipulates iron metabolism in response to hematologic (erythropoiesis) and non-hematologic (uterine growth, pregnancy, lactation) needs for iron. Read More

Turk J Urol 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Urology, Health Sciences University, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.

Objective: We compared the outcomes of robotic-assisted radical perineal prostatectomy (r-PRP) versus robotic-assisted transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Material And Methods: Between November 2016 and September 2017 in our center, 40 patients underwent r-PRP, and 40 patients underwent RARP. All patients also underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to exclude the cases with locally advanced disease. Read More

Curr Pain Headache Rep 2019 Apr 11;23(5):33. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Anesthesiology, LSU School of Medicine, Room 656, 1542 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Enhanced recovery pathways are a multimodal, multidisciplinary approach to patient care that aims to reduce the surgical stress response and maintain organ function resulting in faster recovery and improved outcomes.

Recent Findings: A PubMed literature search was performed for articles that included the terms of metabolic surgical stress response considerations to improve postoperative recovery. The surgical stress response occurs due to direct and indirect injuries during surgery. Read More

Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Adrenal tumors occur in 5% of population with higher prevalence in elderly. Patients with adrenal tumors present with overt hormonal excess in up to 15% of cases, and mild autonomous cortisol secretion in 30-40% of cases. Overt Cushing syndrome, mild autonomous cortisol secretion, pheochromocytoma, and primary aldosteronism have been associated with higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Read More

BMC Cancer 2019 Apr 11;19(1):339. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Urology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan.

Background: Enzalutamide is an oral androgen receptor targeted agent that has been shown to improve survival in PREVAIL trials and has been approved for patients with chemo-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Meanwhile, flutamide is a non-steroidal oral anti-androgen that was commonly used before the approval of bicalutamide. The objective of the OCUU-CRPC study is to compare the efficacy and safety between second-line hormonal therapy of enzalutamide and flutamide as alternative anti-androgen therapy (AAT) after combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy that included bicalutamide in patients with CRPC. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Apr 9;16(7). Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Pediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy.

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder resulting from maternally inherited or de novo mutations involving the androgen receptor gene, situated in the Xq11-q12 region. The diagnosis is based on the presence of female external genitalia in a 46, XY human individual, with normally developed but undescended testes and complete unresponsiveness of target tissues to androgens. Subsequently, pelvic ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be helpful in confirming the absence of Mullerian structures, revealing the presence of a blind-ending vagina and identifying testes. Read More

Menopause 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Urol Int 2019 Apr 9:1-8. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,

Background: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the prostate is an extremely rare entity, and the clinicopathological course, potential effective treatment, and prognosis are yet to be elucidated.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search in Pubmed, Embase, and Ovid from inception to January 2019 was conducted. We reviewed each individual case of prostatic LCNEC and summarized specific features and outcomes for this rare pathologic entity. Read More

J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tokyo.

Study Objective: To identify the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, operative or medical management, and postoperative recurrence of umbilical endometriosis.

Design: A retrospective national survey.

Setting: Obstetrics and gynecology and plastic surgery departments at a teaching hospital in Japan. Read More

J Tradit Complement Med 2019 Apr 30;9(2):90-97. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 11662, Saudi Arabia.

Cupping Therapy (CT) is an ancient method and currently used in the treatment of a broad range of medical conditions. Nonetheless the mechanism of action of (CT) is not fully understood. This review aimed to identify possible mechanisms of action of (CT) from modern medicine perspective and offer possible explanations of its effects. Read More

J Endocrinol Invest 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185, Rome, Italy.

Purpose: In recent years, an increasing number of specialized gender clinics have been prescribing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs to adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria (GD) to suppress puberty. This paper presents qualitative research on the hormone therapy (HT) experiences of older trans-people and their views on puberty suppression. The main aim of this research was to explore the psychological aspects of hormonal treatments for gender non-conforming adults, including the controversial use of puberty suppression treatments. Read More

Anticancer Res 2019 Apr;39(4):1923-1926

Kennedy Medical Campus, Sewell, NJ, U.S.A.

Case Report: Case 1 of an investigator-initiated study using oral single agent mifepristone to halt stage IV non-small cell lung cancer whose tumor was devoid of any targeted markers has remained ECOG zero and in good health for over 3 years. Case 2, reported here, is a 68-year-old woman with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer whose tumor was positive for the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) marker. Her cancer progressed despite treatment with a check-point inhibitor (nivolumab), besides 3 rounds of multi-agent chemotherapy. Read More

Hum Reprod 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Andrology Department, Concord Hospital, Hospital Road, Concord Hospital, New South Wales 2139, Australia.

Study Question: What is the natural history of outcomes of sperm cryostorage at an Australian tertiary academic centre?

Summary Answer: Cryostorage is feasible in virtually all men facing gonadotoxic therapy but the timing of sperm disposal varies according to the reason for it.

What Is Known Already: Gonadotoxic treatment for cancer or non-cancer diseases damages spermatogenesis and impairs male fertility. Sperm cryopreservation is an established technique to preserve male fertility prior to gonadotoxic treatment. Read More

Asian J Androl 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

Androgen receptor (AR), a hormonal transcription factor, plays important roles during prostate cancer progression and is a key target for therapeutic interventions. While androgen-deprivation therapies are initially successful in regressing prostate tumors, the disease ultimately comes back as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) or at the late stage as neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). CRPC remains largely dependent on hyperactive AR signaling in the milieu of low androgen, while NEPC is negative of AR expression but positive of many AR-repressed genes. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2019 ;52(4):838-849

Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background/aims: Phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is controlled by the intestine and kidneys whose capacities to transport Pi are under endocrine control. Several studies point to intestinal absorption as a therapeutic target to modulate Pi homeostasis. The small intestine is responsible for almost all Pi absorption in the gut, a process involving Na-dependent and independent mechanisms. Read More

J Breast Cancer 2019 Mar 11;22(1):86-95. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: Discontinuation of hormone therapy is known to lead to a poorer prognosis in breast cancer patients. We aimed to investigate the prescription gap as a prompt index of medication adherence by using prescription data extracted from patient electronic medical records.

Methods: A total of 5,928 patients diagnosed with invasive, non-metastatic breast cancer, who underwent surgery from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2009, were enrolled retrospectively. Read More

Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2019 May 2;27(2):191-197. Epub 2019 Mar 2.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Pasquerilla Health Center, 1st Floor, 3800 Reservoir Road Northwest, Washington, DC 20037, USA.

Facial feminization surgery may be a part of a treatment plan for gender dysphoria. Initial mental health assessment must occur. Referrals for hormonal therapy may then be made if appropriate. Read More

Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2019 May;27(2):179-190

Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, University of Wisconsin, Medical Foundation Centennial Building, Room 4170, 1685 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA.

Although the acronym LGBTQ is often used as a catchall label for sexual and gender minorities, transgender people have unique and individual health needs and unfortunately experience significant health disparities. This article reviews essential terminology and concepts relevant to discussions of gender and gender identity, practical tips for changes that can be made on the clinical and institutional levels in order to create a welcoming and safe environment for transgender patients, as well as current recommendations for the provision of gender-affirming medical therapy. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2019 Apr 2;7(1):93. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1466, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Background: Current treatment guidelines for immune-mediated colitis (IMC) recommend 4 to 6 weeks of steroids as first-line therapy, followed by selective immunosuppressive therapy (SIT) (infliximab or vedolizumab) in patients who do not respond to steroids. We assessed the effect of early SIT introduction and number of SIT infusions on clinical outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with IMC who received SIT at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between January and December 2018. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 1450, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Purpose: The American Cancer Society predicted that 266,120 women would be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Women experience significant symptom burden in response to tumor and treatment-related adverse effects, particularly in advanced disease. Use of valid and reliable patient-reported outcomes (PRO) symptom measures may assist clinicians in systematically monitoring and managing symptoms. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Oncohematology Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan; University of Milan, Milano, Italy. Electronic address:

Physiological loss of telomerase activity in adult life determines progressive telomere length (TL) shortening. Inflammation and oxidative damage are established causes of TL loss; moreover, males have shorter telomeres compared to females. Despite these notions, mechanisms regulating TL maintenance are poorly defined. Read More

Cancer 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana.

For decades, the management of patients with advanced prostate cancer has been hormonal therapy, known as androgen deprivation therapy, which is intended to lower testosterone levels. Further incremental progress in the treatment of men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) has come from the addition of docetaxel or abiraterone acetate to androgen deprivation therapy for more aggressive upfront treatment regimens. Other combinatorial regimens testing the addition of novel therapies currently are in the late stages of development and are expected to further improve the clinical outcomes of these patients. Read More

J Endocr Soc 2019 Apr 13;3(4):734-736. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Section of Adult and Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), such as hot flashes and night sweats, are intense and rapid sensations of internal heat, peripheral vasodilation, and profuse sweating that can be debilitating. They occur as a result of central norepinephrine discharge and narrowing of the core body thermoneutral zone with dropping brain estrogen levels in women and men. Therapy options for the treatment of VMS in postmenopausal women have been widely studied. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address:

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly being recognized. However, data supporting diagnosis and management are scarce. We analyze a contemporary and comprehensive SCAD registry to advance the understanding of SCAD risk factors, angiographic appearance, and gender differences. Read More

Pituitary 2019 Mar 30. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health problem with an increasing incidence in the last years. Relatively few cases are fatal; most individuals will survive and, in the long-term, the sequalae of TBI will include neuroendocrine dysfunctions with a much higher frequency than previously suspected. Patients who develop hypopituitarism after TBI present manifestations due to the number of deficient hormones, severity of hormonal deficiency, and the duration of hypopituitarism without diagnosis and treatment. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Mar 23;122:12-17. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Medical School, Institute of Health Science- Federal University of Bahia, Avenue Rector Miguel Calmon, Zipe Code: 40110100, Valley of Canela, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Electronic address:

Introduction: The investigation of amplitudes of otoacoustic emissions in congenital hypothyroidism can provide information on cochlear function with more sensibility, when compared to other methods of auditory evaluation.

Aim: To investigate cochlear function through the amplitude of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in individuals with congenital hypothyroidism and to correlate with clinical aspects.

Methods: An exploratory, analytical, cross-sectional study with a convenience sample, composed of 50 individuals with congenital hypothyroidism and a group of 42 individuals without the disease, mean age of 8. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2019 Mar 28;112:49-56. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Aim: The lag time between initial human studies of oncology agents and the first-in-child clinical trials of these agents has not been defined.

Methods: We conducted a systematic analysis of time from first-in-human trials to first-in-child trials (age of eligibility <18 years) of agents first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any oncology indication from 1997 to 2017. We used clinical trial registry data, published literature and oncology abstracts to identify relevant trials and start dates. Read More

Eur Urol 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Urology, Gothenborg, Sweden. Electronic address:

Background: Differential treatment between trial arms has been suggested to bias prostate cancer (PC) mortality in the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC).

Objective: To quantify the contribution of treatment differences to the observed PC mortality reduction between the screening arm (SA) and the control arm (CA).

Design, Setting, And Participants: A total of 14 136 men with PC (SA: 7310; CA: 6826) in the core age group (55-69yr) at 16yr of follow-up. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019 Mar 20;170:161-168. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Division of Pharmacology, The Netherlands, Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among men in the Western world. Treatment of this patient population, e.g. Read More

J Clin Oncol 2019 Mar 29:JCO1801770. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

1 Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI.

Purpose: This randomized clinical trial compared a personally tailored, automated telephone symptom management intervention to improve self-management among long-term survivors of prostate cancer with usual care enhanced with a nontailored newsletter about symptom management. We hypothesized that intervention-group participants would have more confident symptom self-management and reduced symptom burden.

Methods: A total of 556 prostate cancer survivors who, more than 1 year after treatment, were experiencing symptom burden were recruited from April 2015 to February 2017 across four Veterans Affairs sites. Read More

Asian J Androl 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27514, USA.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major health risk for older men worldwide. Existing systemic therapies mostly target androgen receptor (AR). Although treatments are initially effective, the disease always recurs. Read More

Heart Fail Rev 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

UF Health Shands Hospital, 1600 SW Archer Rd., Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.

Cardiac cachexia is a syndrome of progressive skeletal muscle and fat loss affecting a significant number of congestive heart failure patients. With the potential detrimental effects of cardiac muscle wasting, greater attention is needed to understanding the prevention and treatment of the condition. Potential therapeutic approaches are aimed at the various mechanisms for the pathogenesis of cardiac cachexia including neurohormonal abnormalities, immune activation and inflammation, metabolic hormonal imbalance, and gastrointestinal abnormalities. Read More

Clin Breast Cancer 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.

Introduction: The primary objective of this study was to assess the safety and tolerability of combination pertuzumab, subcutaneous trastuzumab (Herceptin), and investigator's choice of taxane chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Efficacy was a secondary objective.

Patients And Methods: This study was an open-label, non-randomized study of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer who had no previous systemic non-hormonal anti-cancer therapy for metastatic disease. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(13):e15052

Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese.

Rationale: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are a class of drugs widely used in the treatment of estrogen sensitive breast and ovarian cancer which convert testosterone to estradiol and androstenedione to estrogen. The AIs of third generation, including anastrazole, letrozole and exemestane, have actually become the standard of care of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer in menopausal women and are recommended as adjuvant treatment after surgery in place of/or following tamoxifen. Their main side-effects include reduction in bone mineral density, occurrence of menopausal manifestations and development of musculoskeletal symptoms which are, usually, transient, but sometimes evolve into a typical form of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Read More

J Biomed Mater Res A 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, Delaware, 19716.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15-25% of breast cancer cases and lacks expression of the three most common receptors seen on other subtypes of breast cancer. This lack of expression makes TNBC unsusceptible to currently available targeted or hormonal therapies, so new treatment strategies are desperately needed. Photothermal therapy (PTT), which utilizes nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in tumors as exogenous energy absorbers to convert externally applied near-infrared (NIR) light into heat to ablate cancer cells, has shown promise as an alternative strategy. Read More

Aktuelle Urol 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Urologie, Berlin.

The most exciting data presented at the 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting included the results of the LATITUDE and STAMPEDE trials, which evaluated abiraterone plus prednisone combined with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) as a first-line treatment in men with newly diagnosed high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), demonstrating a practice-changing alternative to chemo-hormonal treatment with docetaxel plus ADT. In both trials, the addition of abiraterone plus prednisone to ADT significantly prolonged both progression-free survival and overall survival. In the absence of head-to-head evidence, it remains unclear if abiraterone plus prednisone and ADT should be the new gold standard for patients with newly diagnosed high-risk mHSPC. Read More

Food Sci Nutr 2019 Mar 11;7(3):1113-1122. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine, and Hormonal and Metabolic Disorders Research Unit Chulalongkorn University and Excellence Center in Diabetes, Hormone and Metabolism King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital Thai Red Cross Society Bangkok Thailand.

Aim: A very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) can reverse the underlying defects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in obese subjects. We determined the efficacy, safety, and durability of VLCD in Thai patients with DM and obesity.

Methods: Twenty Thai patients with DM and obesity were enrolled. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2019 Feb;46(2):263-266

Dept. of Surgery, Hiroshima City Asa Citizens Hospital.

Primary small cell carcinoma in the breast is a rare and aggressive tumor, and a standard treatment strategy has not been established. Herein, we report a 35-year-old woman with primary small cell carcinoma in the breast. She had an 8 cm diameter tumor in the right breast. Read More

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2019 Mar 26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Endocrine Physiology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran.

Background And Objective: An overview of the history of endocrinology indicates that definitions of some initially developed concepts, including the term 'hormone' have been changed over time. This review provides a historical overview on current definitions of 'hormone' and criteria of a true hormone. In addition, a brief history of hormone-related concepts and their transformation over time are discussed. Read More

Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2019 Mar 26;37(2). Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Gynécologie - Obstétrique & Médecine de la Reproduction, Faculté de Paris Ouest UVSQ Hôpital Foch jm, Suresnes, France.

As an estrogen-dependent disease, endometriosis was thought to become less active or regress with the onset of the menopause. However, based on some new data, we are discovering that this pathology can emerge or reappear at this period of life. Clinicians must consider it as a possible cause for cases of pelvic pain, and heavy bleeding. Read More