Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Ir Med J 2018 09 10;111(8):802. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Barrington’s Hospital, Limerick.

Aim To evaluate thyroid nodules and to determine the incidence of thyroid cancer. Methods This retrospective cohort study collected data from ten patients who presented with thyroid nodules to Barrington’s Hospital Limerick. Ultrasound/FNA results of thyroid nodules were used to measure the incidence of thyroid cancer. Read More

Arch Dermatol Res 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Dermatology Department, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.

The histopathological differentiation of melanocytic nevi from malignant melanoma (MM) is based on well-known criteria, and is straightforward in the vast majority of cases. However, there are few cases of melanocytic lesions (ML), the diagnosis of which is very challenging or even impossible. Here we have studied several morphological characteristics with particular focus on elastic fibers (EF) to identify features, helpful for the distinction between nevi and MM. Read More

Esophagus 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

AI Medical Service Inc., Tokyo, Japan.

Background And Aims: The endocytoscopic system (ECS) helps in virtual realization of histology and can aid in confirming histological diagnosis in vivo. We propose replacing biopsy-based histology for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by using the ECS. We applied deep-learning artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse ECS images of the esophagus to determine whether AI can support endoscopists for the replacement of biopsy-based histology. Read More

Pathol Oncol Res 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Division of Biomedical Science and Biochemistry, Research School of Biology, ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, P.O. Box: 2601, Canberra, Australia.

Diffuse gastric cancer (DGC) is one of the two primary types of stomach cancer. Carriers of germline mutations in the gene encoding E-cadherin are predisposed to DGC. The primary aim of the present study was to determine if genomic instability is an early event in DGC and how it may lead to disease progression. Read More

Surg Radiol Anat 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes, Paris V, 20 rue Leblanc, 75908, Paris Cedex 15, France.

Purpose: While anatomical variations of the subscapular vessels are frequently encountered during axillary dissection, little is found in the literature. The aim of this cadaveric study was to define arterial and venous anatomical variations and frequencies of the subscapular vascular pedicle and its terminal/afferent vessels in women.

Methods: We performed 80 dissections of the axillary region on forty female formalin-embalmed cadavers. Read More

Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Center for Malignant Diseases, Emek Medical Center, 21 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd, 1834111, Afula, Israel.

Introduction: In a previous study, we found that co-administration of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) with cetuximab was associated with increased skin toxicity. Both these drugs can induce hypomagnesemia. The aim of this study was to retrospectively explore the possible influence of PPI drugs on cetuximab skin toxicity and the potential synergistic effect of hypomagnesemia. Read More

J Spine Surg 2018 Sep;4(3):546-552

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.

Background: Chordomas are rare malignant tumors of the spinal column often afflicting the upper cervical spine and sacrum. There are few large single center series on chordomas due to its rarity. The purpose of this study is to report a single center's experience with the operative and non-operative management of chordomas. Read More

Front Oncol 2018 28;8:567. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Division of Neuropathology, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor in adults is a relatively rare malignant neoplasm. It is characterized by the presence of rhabdoid cells in combination with loss of either the INI1 or BRG1protein from the tumor cells. A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE using the terms "atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor" AND "adult. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2019 10;8(1):e1523096. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

TRON - Translational Oncology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

In healthy tissue, the tight junction protein Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is present only in the gastric mucosa. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2019 5;8(1):e1512943. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Project neuroArm, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Meningioma is the most common brain tumor in adults. Surgical resection remains the primary treatment. No chemotherapy exists. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2019 11;8(1):e1505174. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), UMRS1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.

In non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), stimulation of toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), a receptor for single stranded RNA, is linked to tumor progression and resistance to anticancer chemotherapy. However, the mechanism of this effect has been elusive. Here, using a murine model of lung adenocarcinoma, we demonstrate a key role for TLR7 expressed by malignant (rather than by stromal and immune) cells, in the recruitment of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), induced after TLR7 stimulation, resulting in accelerated tumor growth and metastasis. Read More

J Clin Imaging Sci 2018 15;8:48. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.

The salivary glands are small structures in the head and neck, but can give rise to a wide variety of benign and malignant pathology. When this occurs, patients may present with palpable swelling, although it is quite common that they are asymptomatic and a salivary gland mass was discovered as an incidental finding on imaging performed for another reason. It is, therefore, critical that radiologists pay careful attention to the salivary glands and have working knowledge of the key differentiating features of the most common neoplastic and nonneoplastic etiologies of salivary gland masses. Read More

J Rural Med 2018 Nov 29;13(2):177-180. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Japan.

Gauze remnants form gauzeomas after surgery, if infection has not occurred. We present a case of gauzeoma diagnosed after surgery. A 72-year-old man noticed a mass in his lower abdomen. Read More

Oncol Lett 2018 Dec 26;16(6):7287-7294. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis of Ministry of Health, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China.

Previous studies on the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) have identified multiple associated gene mutations, including mutations of tetmethylcytosinedioxygenase 2, isocitrate dehydrogenase [NADP(+)] 1 cytosolic, isocitrate dehydrogenase [NADP(+)] 2 mitochondrial and additional sex combs like 1 transcriptional regulator, all of which may be considered epigenetic regulators. Furthermore, mutations of RAS type GTPase family genes have been identified in 10-15% patients with MDS. The authors' previous study on the gene expression profile of cluster of differentiation 34 cells using microarray analysis identified elevated expression of RAP1GTPase activating protein 1 (Rap1GAP) in patients with MDS compared with that in non-malignant blood diseases (NM) control group. Read More

Oncol Lett 2018 Dec 3;16(6):7223-7230. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignant tumor in women worldwide, and the development of new molecules associated with BC is essential for the management of this disease. RAS and EF-hand domain-containing () encodes the GTPase enzyme that belongs to the Rab family. Although the effects of this gene have been reported in several malignant tumor types, the role of in BC has not been completely elucidated. Read More

Oncol Lett 2018 Dec 27;16(6):7180-7188. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Department of Dermatology, Cosmetology and Venereology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, P.R. China.

Shank-associated RH domain-interacting protein (SHARPIN) is a type of linear ubiquitin chain-associated protein, which serves an important role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, organ development, immune and inflammatory reaction, initiation and development of malignant tumors. To evaluate SHARPIN expression in multiple malignant tumors derived from different germ layers, 14 types of cancer and their corresponding normal tissues were examined. Immunohistochemistry was performed to semi-quantify SHARPIN expression in multiple malignant tumors, and immunofluorescence was performed to evaluate the subcellular localization of SHARPIN in various malignant tumors. Read More

Oncol Lett 2018 Dec 9;16(6):7091-7096. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, University of Torino, I-10126 Torino, Italy.

Recent studies reported the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in malignant melanomas. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ALK expression is associated with specific clinical and molecular characteristics of melanoma metastases, and to evaluate its correlation with survival outcomes. Seventy-one patients with metastatic melanoma were investigated. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 28;9:2722. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a hematological cancer characterized by proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). MM represents the second most frequent hematological malignancy, accounting 1% of all cancer and 13% of hematological tumors, with ~9,000 new cases per year. Patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and asymptomatic smoldering MM (SMM) usually evolve to active MM in the presence of increased tumor burden, symptoms and organ damage. Read More

Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2018 Jul-Dec;9(2):184-190

Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Pacific Dental College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Introduction: Oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral lichen planus are the precancerous or potentially malignant lesions and conditions whereas oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a cancerous or malignant lesion of the oral cavity. They have characteristic clinical and histopathological features. These diseases not only originate from epithelium but also associated with chronic inflammation juxta-epithellialy. Read More

Pathologica 2018 Sep;110(2):121-122

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medanta-The Medicity, Sector-38, Gurgaon, Haryana 122 001, India.

Ovarian steroid cell tumours are rare virilizing tumours. They are three types of tumours of ovary which are characterized by steroid cell proliferation : Leydig cell tumour, steroid cell tumour, Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) and stromal luteoma. Here we present a case of 36 year old female, who presented with history of weight loss since last two and half months. Read More

Pathologica 2018 Sep;110(2):103-105

Department of Pathology, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia.

Extraskeletal chondrosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor. The well differentiated histological type, which is found primary in soft tissue, is extremely rare. This report  describes the case of a 58-year-old woman presented with a large palpable mass in the right buttock. Read More

Pathologica 2018 Sep;110(2):92-95

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, G.F. Ingrassia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Anatomic Pathology Section, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy.

Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma is a rare primary vaginal carcinoma and considerably more uncommon than metastatic lesions which represent the most frequent malignancy at this anatomic site. Among all malignant tumors, colorectal, breast and female genital tract carcinomas have the tendency to metastasize to the vagina.

As morphologic and immunohistochemical features of intestinal-type adenocarcinoma occurring primarily in the vagina are not specific, clinical and radiologic information is crucial to exclude a metastatic lesion. Read More

Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.

Advances in genomic research and risk-directed therapy have led to improvements in the long-term survival and quality of life outcomes of patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The application of next-generation sequencing technologies, especially transcriptome sequencing, has resulted in the identification of novel molecular subtypes of ALL with prognostic and therapeutic implications, as well as cooperative mutations that account for much of the heterogeneity in clinical responses observed among patients with specific ALL subtypes. In addition, germline genetic variants have been shown to influence the risk of developing ALL and/or the responses of non-malignant and leukaemia cells to therapy; shared pathways for drug activation and metabolism are implicated in treatment-related toxicity and drug sensitivity or resistance, depending on whether the genetic changes are germline, somatic or both. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 Dec 13;9(1):5293. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, 10032, NY, USA.

We used allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and a mouse multistage cutaneous carcinogenesis model to probe recruitment of bone marrow-derived epithelial cells (BMDECs) in skin tumors initiated with the carcinogen, dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), and promoted with 12-O-tetradecanolyphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). BMDECs clustered in the lesional epithelium, expressed cytokeratins, proliferated, and stratified. We detected cytokeratin induction in plastic-adherent bone marrow cells (BMCs) cultured in the presence of filter-separated keratinocytes (KCs) and bone morphogenetic protein 5 (BMP5). Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Dec 13;8(1):17812. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Services of Endocrinology, Immunology and Molecular Biology Unit, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto Princesa, 28006, Madrid, Spain.

The immune checkpoint based therapy targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor and its PD-L1 ligand has recently been approved for the therapy of different malignant conditions, but not yet for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). In this context, we evaluated the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in GEP-NETs and its potential correlations with clinical outcomes. Expression of PD-1/PD-L1 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 116 GEP-NETs and 48 samples of peritumoral tissue. Read More

Blood 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States;

Despite overall improvements, mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for non-malignant diseases remains a significant problem. We evaluated whether pre-HCT conditions defined by the HCT Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), predicts probability of post-transplant survival in these patients. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) database, we identified 4,083 patients with non-malignant diseases transplanted between 2007-2014. Read More

Lancet 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Background: Maintenance therapy following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) can delay disease progression and prolong survival in patients with multiple myeloma. Ixazomib is ideally suited for maintenance therapy given its convenient once-weekly oral dosing and low toxicity profile. In this study, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of ixazomib as maintenance therapy following ASCT. Read More

Auris Nasus Larynx 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Germany.

Objective: Less than 5% of deep vein thrombosis is due to thrombosis of the internal jugular vein. Genetic, malignant or inflammatory underlying diseases as well as insertion of venous catheters can be responsible for this pathology. Due to its rare occurrence, it is difficult to find systematic research about thrombosis of the internal jugular vein. Read More

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Dec;57(6):871-877

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Objective: The coexistence of maternal malignancy and pregnancy has received increasing attention in Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) studies. Malignancy in pregnant women potentially affects the copy number variation (CNV) profile in NIPT results. Only one case of hematologic cancer has been reported in a Hong-Kong pregnant women, and solid tumors have never been reported in pregnant Chinese women. Read More

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Dec;57(6):862-866

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Objective: Primary cervical signet ring cell carcinoma (PCSRCC) is extremely rare. In this paper, we describe a case presenting with PCSRCC.

Case Report: The 48-year-old woman visited the gynecological department because of postmenopausal bleeding. Read More

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Dec;57(6):819-824

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of bevacizumab (BV) in combination with chemotherapeutic regimens for prolonging progression-free survival (PFS) as well as overall survival (OS) in patients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of platinum-refractory ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy between January 2010 and August 2015 in the Department of Gynecology at the Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University. After excluding for prior malignant disease, 57 patients were enrolled. Read More

Cell Commun Signal 2018 Dec 13;16(1):99. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.

Background: The molecular signaling events involving in high malignancy and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are extremely complicated. Blockade of currently known targets has not yet led to successful clinical outcome. More understanding about the regulatory mechanisms in HCC is necessary for developing new effective therapeutic strategies for HCC patients. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Dec 13;18(1):654. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Hematology of Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, 17 Lujiang Road, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China.

Background: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) can provided opportunities for patients without suitable donors for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), while few studies have addressed BSI after UCBT. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence and risk factors of BSI, causative organisms, microbial resistance, and its impact on the clinical outcomes and survival of patients. Read More

Klin Onkol 2018 ;31(6):448-452

Background: Epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) of the kidney, in contrast to classic benign renal angiomyolipoma, is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm with malignant potential. Represent-ing a member of the perivascular epithelioid cells (PEComa) tumor family aris-ing from the perivascular epithelioid cells, its accurate dia-gnosis and therapeutic approach remains challenging.

Methods: We report a case of a patient with malignant EAML, initially treated as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at our institution. Read More

Klin Onkol 2018 ;31(6):421-428

Background: The aim of the study was to detect CD204 + and CD3 + cells in the infiltrate of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostatic cancer in prostate specimens after radical prostatectomy. Another goal was to determine correlation of the intensity of the infiltration with ERG oncoprotein expression as well as with the presence of activat-ing translocation TMPRSS2-ERG.

Materials And Methods: To confirm the translocation, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Dec 12;19(12). Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Anatomy, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.

Calretinin (CR; ) belonging to the family of EF-hand Ca-binding proteins (CaBP) is widely used as a positive marker for the identification of human malignant mesothelioma (MM) and functionally was suggested to play a critical role during carcinogenesis of this highly aggressive asbestos-associated neoplasm. Increasing evidence suggests that CR not only acts as a prototypical Ca buffer protein, i.e. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Dec 8;19(12). Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany.

Tumor development and progression is the consequence of genetic as well as epigenetic alterations of the cell. As part of the epigenetic regulatory system, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs) drive the modification of histone as well as non-histone proteins. Derailed acetylation-mediated gene expression in cancer due to a delicate imbalance in HDAC expression can be reversed by histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2018 Dec 8;10(12). Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Life Sciences, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.

Oncogenic properties, along with the metabolic reprogramming necessary for tumour growth and motility, are acquired by cancer cells. Thus, tumour metabolism is becoming a target for cancer therapy. Here, cancer cell metabolism was tackled by silencing the expression of voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), a mitochondrial protein that controls cell energy, as well as metabolic and survival pathways and that is often over-expressed in many cancers. Read More

Molecules 2018 Dec 10;23(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.

Due to renewed interest in the cultivation and production of Italian L., we proposed a multi-methodological approach to explore chemically and biologically both the essential oil and the aromatic water of this plant. We reported the chemical composition in terms of cannabinoid content, volatile component, phenolic and flavonoid pattern, and color characteristics. Read More

Children (Basel) 2018 Dec 10;5(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a malignant tumor that represents the most common form of pediatric soft tissue sarcoma. It arises from mesenchymal origin and forms part of the group of small round blue cell tumors of childhood. It has a constant annual incidence of 4. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Dec 10;19(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.

Metastatic diffusion is thought to be a multi-step phenomenon involving the release of cells from the primary tumor and their diffusion through the body. Currently, several hypotheses have been put forward in order to explain the origin of cancer metastasis, including epithelial⁻mesenchymal transition, mutagenesis of stem cells, and a facilitating role of macrophages, involving, for example, transformation or fusion hybridization with neoplastic cells. In this paradigm, tumor-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, play a pivotal role in cell communications, delivering a plethora of biomolecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Read More

Molecules 2018 Dec 7;23(12). Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an 712046, China.

stir-fried with vinegar (V-kansui) has promising biological activities toward treating malignant ascites with reduced toxicity compared to crude kansui. But the mechanism concerning promoting the excretion of ascites has not been systematically studied. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the possible mechanism of V-kansui in treating malignant ascites, including metabolic pathways and molecular mechanism using an integrated serum and urine metabolomics coupled with network pharmacology. Read More

Biomedicines 2018 Dec 7;6(4). Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.

The programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)/PD-1 pathway is an immunological checkpoint in cancer cells. The binding of PD-L1 and PD-1 promotes T-cell tolerance and helps tumor cells escape from host immunity. Immunotherapy targeting the PD-L1/PD-1 axis has been developed as an anti-cancer therapy and used in treating advanced human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13548

Department of Orthopedics.

Background: Plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) is reported to be dysregulated in various cancers. Therefore, this meta-analysis was performed to clarify its utility as a prognosis marker in malignant tumors.

Methods: Electronic databases, including PubMed, OVID, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, were retrieved from inception to December 16, 2017. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13539

Division of Emergency and Critical Care Radiology, Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention.

Rationale: Metanephric adenoma (MA) is a rare and often benign tumor. Most MAs were misdiagnosed as renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) preoperatively. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping can help to differentiate benign and malignant tumors. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13520

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.

Rationale: Reports of malignant ovarian tumor with hyperamylasemia are very rare. We present a patient with hyperamylasemia who was diagnosed with a malignant ovarian tumor.

Patient Concerns: A 46-year-old woman was hospitalized complaining of a 2-day history of abdominal discomfort and fever. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13325

Department of General Surgery, People's Hospital of Rizhao, Rizhao, China.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a non-invasive method that has been used in the diagnosis of several diseases. Recently, CEUS has been used in the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. However, the performance of CEUS in thyroid nodules has not been studied clearly. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e12592

Department of Pathology, The 8th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Introduction: Primary small cell carcinoma (SCC) after renal transplantation is very rare. Here, we reported 1 case of primary SCC after renal transplantation and analyzed its clinical and pathological characteristics.

Case Presentation: A 55-year-old female underwent renal transplantation in our hospital 2 years ago and had been using tacrolimus for immunosuppressive therapy. Read More

J Neurosurg 2018 Nov 1:1-11. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

OBJECTIVEMalignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive soft tissue sarcomas that harbor a high potential for metastasis and have a devastating prognosis. Combination chemoradiation aids in tumor control and decreases tumor recurrence but causes deleterious side effects and does not extend long-term survival. An effective treatment with limited toxicity and enhanced efficacy is critical for patients suffering from MPNSTs. Read More

Eur J Public Health 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Psychiatry, IIS-Jimenez Diaz Foundation, Madrid, Spain.

Background: There is little empirical research on the potential benefit that electronic patient portals (EPP) can have on the care quality and health outcomes of diverse multi-ethnic international populations. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which an EPP was associated with improvements in health service use.

Methods: Using a quasi-experimental interrupted time-series approach, we assessed health service use before (April 2012-September 2015) and after (October 2015-December 2016) the implementation of a comprehensive EPP at four hospitals in Madrid, Spain. Read More