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This study aimed to analyse the influence of the match status on the conditional characteristics of tactical sprint actions among Spanish professional soccer players, considering playing positions. Thirty-two Spanish male professional soccer players from a LaLiga Spanish Second Division (LaLiga SmarthBank) team participated in this study. Actions above 85% of the players’ maximum velocity were analysed based on their tactical purpose. These findings provide valuable information regarding the tactical aspects of sprinting in soccer, emphasizing the influence of playing positions and match status on the distribution of tactical sprint actions. No effects of match status were observed for any game phase. However, when tactical actions were individually studied, it was observed that the maximum velocity in Chase actions was higher when the team was winning, while in Press actions, the maximum velocity was higher when the team was losing and in in Run in behind/Penetrate, the maximum velocity was higher in drawing situations compared to losing situations. No effects of match status on the distance covered during sprinting were observed, and regarding duration, significant differences were only observed in Recovery run actions. In addition, the influence of match status is higher when playing positions are considered, although the within playing positions analysis revealed significant differences only in CM players. These findings provide valuable information for the design of specific training drills considering playing positions, suggesting the need to analyse the previous match in order to structure the training load of the microcycle in a comprehensive manner.

Simple Summary: Breast cancer, the most prevalent malignancy in women, involves subtypes with different prognostic and therapeutic implications. Hormone therapy is essential for tumors expressing hormonal receptors, but its impact on breast reconstruction outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between perioperative hormone therapy and post-reconstruction complications. Identifying specific complications associated with hormone therapy will inform optimal patient management strategies and refine clinical recommendations. By enhancing the understanding of hormone therapy's effects on breast reconstruction, this research will contribute to improving outcomes and guiding decision-making for healthcare professionals. Background: Breast cancer comprises diverse subtypes with prognostic and therapeutic implications. Hormone therapy plays a crucial role in managing tumors expressing hormonal receptors, but its impact on breast reconstruction outcomes remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association between perioperative hormone therapy continuation and the incidence of postoperative complications following breast reconstruction (including autologous, prosthetic, and hybrid techniques), with a focus on identifying specific complication types to refine patient management strategies. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent breast reconstruction following mastectomy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Patients were categorized based on the appropriate discontinuation of hormonal therapy. Clinical data, including patient characteristics, treatment regimens, and complication occurrences, were registered and analyzed. Results: Inadequate suspension of hormonal therapy during the perioperative period was significantly associated with a higher rate of complications, particularly in the immediate and early phases. Complications such as skin alterations, flap failure, seroma development, and clinical infection showed significant associations with the continuation of hormone therapy (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for other complications. Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest a potential correlation between the continuation of hormone therapy during the perioperative phase and the development of complications following breast reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The application of immune-based therapies has revolutionized cancer treatment. Yet how the immune system responds to phenotypically heterogeneous populations within tumors is poorly understood. In melanoma, one of the major determinants of phenotypic identity is the lineage survival oncogene MITF that integrates diverse microenvironmental cues to coordinate melanoma survival, senescence bypass, differentiation, proliferation, invasion, metabolism and DNA damage repair. Whether MITF also controls the immune response is unknown. Methods By using several mouse melanoma models, we examine the potential role of MITF to modulate the anti-melanoma immune response. ChIP-seq data analysis, ChIP-qPCR, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and luciferase reporter assays were utilized to identify ADAM10 as a direct MITF target gene. Western blotting, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity assays were used to determine the underlying mechanisms by which MITF-driven phenotypic plasticity modulates melanoma NK cell-mediated killing. Results Here we show that MITF regulates expression of ADAM10, a key sheddase that cleaves the MICA/B family of ligands for NK cells. By controlling melanoma recognition by NK-cells MITF thereby controls the melanoma response to the innate immune system. Consequently, while melanoma MITFLow cells can be effectively suppressed by NK-mediated killing, MITF-expressing cells escape NK cell surveillance. Conclusion Our results reveal how modulation of MITF activity can impact the anti-melanoma immune response with implications for the application of anti-melanoma immunotherapies.

The study aimed to analyze the tactical sprint actions performed by Spanish professional soccer players, considering their playing positions and the match status at the time of each action. Thirty-two Spanish male professional soccer players from a LaLiga Spanish Second Division (LaLiga SmarthBank) team participated in this study. Actions above 85% of the players' maximum velocity during 42 official matches were collected by an optical tracking system ChyronHego® and were synchronized using Mediacoach software (LaLiga, Madrid, Spain). Then, actios were analyzed trough an observation instrument designed to assess the type of tactical action performed by players. Central defenders (CD) and wide defenders (WD) were mainly involved in recovery runs. Central midfielders (CM) also frequently performed recovery runs and pressing actions. Wide midfielders (WM) were often engaged in runs in behind/penetrate actions, while forwards (F) had a diverse range of sprint actions, including pressing, runs in behind/penetrate, and breaking into the box. It was observed that F performed fewer chase actions than expected. On the other hand, CD, WD, and CM engaged in a greater number of recovery run actions than expected. CD also performed more close down/interception actions than expected, while CM, WM, and F performed fewer close down/interception actions than expected. When their team was losing, WM performed more recovery run actions than expected. CM made more runs with the ball when their team was winning CD showed a higher frequency of breaks into the box when their team was winning. These findings provide valuable information regarding the tactical aspects of sprinting in soccer, facilitating the design of specific training tasks that not only address the physical demands associated with each playing position but also considering the tactical context in which sprints occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyse the influence of the match status on the conditional characteristics of tactical sprint actions among Spanish professional soccer players, considering playing positions. Thirty-two Spanish male professional soccer players from a LaLiga Spanish Second Division (LaLiga SmarthBank) team participated in this study. Actions above 85% of the players' maximum velocity were analysed based on their tactical purpose. These findings provide valuable information regarding the tactical aspects of sprinting in soccer, emphasizing the influence of playing positions and match status on the distribution of tactical sprint actions. No effects of match status were observed for any game phase. However, when tactical actions were individually studied, it was observed that the maximum velocity in Chase actions was higher when the team was winning, while in Press actions, the maximum velocity was higher when the team was losing and in in Run in behind/ Penetrate, the maximum velocity was higher in drawing situations compared to losing situations. No effects of match status on the distance covered during sprinting were observed, and regarding duration, significant differences were only observed in Recovery run actions. In addition, the influence of match status is higher when playing positions are considered, although the within playing positions analysis revealed significant differences only in CM players. These findings provide valuable information for the design of specific training drills considering playing positions, suggesting the need to analyse the previous match in order to structure the training load of the microcycle in a comprehensive manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundTumour suppressor genes are often transcriptionally silenced by promoter hypermethylation, and recent research has implicated alterations in chromatin structure as the mechanistic basis for this repression. In addition to DNA methylation, other epigenetic post-translational modifications that modulate the stability and binding of specific transcription factors to gene promoters have emerged as important mechanisms for controlling gene expression. The aim of this study was to analyse the implications of these mechanisms and their molecular connections in the reactivation of RASSF1A in breast cancer.MethodsCompounds that modulate the intracellular concentration of adenosine, such as dipyridamole (DIPY), greatly increase the antiproliferative effects of 3-O-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-(-)-catechin (TMCG), a synthetic antifolate derived from the structure of tea catechins. Quantitative real-time PCR arrays and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicated that this combination (TMCG/DIPY) induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells by modulating the methylation levels of DNA and proteins (such as E2F1), respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were employed to confirm that this combination induced chromatin remodelling of the RASSF1A promoter and increased the occupancy of E2F1 at the promoter of this tumour suppressor gene.ResultsThe TMCG/DIPY combination acted as an epigenetic treatment that reactivated RASSF1A expression and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. In addition to modulating DNA methylation and chromatin remodelling, this combination also induced demethylation of the E2F1 transcription factor. The ChIP assay showed enhancement of E2F1 occupancy at the unmethylated RASSF1A promoter after TMCG/DIPY treatment. Interestingly, inhibition of E2F1 demethylation using an irreversible inhibitor of lysine-specific demethylase 1 reduced both TMCG/DIPY-mediated RASSF1A expression and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, suggesting that DNA and protein demethylation may act together to control these molecular and cellular processes.Conclusions/significanceThis study demonstrates that simultaneous targeting of DNA and E2F1 methylation is an effective epigenetic treatment that reactivates RASSF1A expression and induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Background: The application of immune-based therapies has revolutionized cancer treatment. Yet how the immune system responds to phenotypically heterogeneous populations within tumors is poorly understood. In melanoma, one of the major determinants of phenotypic identity is the lineage survival oncogene MITF that integrates diverse microenvironmental cues to coordinate melanoma survival, senescence bypass, differentiation, proliferation, invasion, metabolism and DNA damage repair. Whether MITF also controls the immune response is unknown. Methods: By using several mouse melanoma models, we examine the potential role of MITF to modulate the anti-melanoma immune response. ChIP-seq data analysis, ChIP-qPCR, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and luciferase reporter assays were utilized to identify ADAM10 as a direct MITF target gene. Western blotting, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity assays were used to determine the underlying mechanisms by which MITF-driven phenotypic plasticity modulates melanoma NK cell-mediated killing. Results: Here we show that MITF regulates expression of ADAM10, a key sheddase that cleaves the MICA/B family of ligands for NK cells. By controlling melanoma recognition by NK-cells MITF thereby controls the melanoma response to the innate immune system. Consequently, while melanoma MITFLow cells can be effectively suppressed by NK-mediated killing, MITF-expressing cells escape NK cell surveillance. Conclusion: Our results reveal how modulation of MITF activity can impact the anti-melanoma immune response with implications for the application of anti-melanoma immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The gold standard for detection of Sentinel Lymph Nodes (SLN) is a combined radioisotope and blue dye breast injection, using a gamma probe (GP). A new, non-radioactive method was developed, using a tracer (Sienna+ ® ) of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and a manual magnetometer (SentiMag ® ) (SM). The IMAGINE study was designed to show the non-inferiority of SM compared to GP, for the detection of SLN in breast cancer patients with SLN biopsy indication. Methods From November 2013 to June 2014, 181 patients were recruited, and 321 nodes were excised and assessed ex-vivo. Readings from both SM and GP devices were recorded during transcutaneous, intraoperative, and ex-vivo detection attempts. Results At the patient level, ex-vivo detection rates (primary variable) with SM and GP were 97.8% and 98.3% (concordance rate 99.4%). Transcutaneous and intraoperative detection rates were 95.5% vs 97.2%, and 97.2% vs 97.8% for SM and GP respectively (concordance rates > 97%). At the node level, intraoperative and ex-vivo detection rates were 92.5% vs 89.3% and 91.0% vs 86.3% for SM and GP respectively. In all cases the non-inferiority of SM compared to SM was shown by ruling out a predefined non-inferiority margin of 5%. Conclusions Our study showed the non-inferiority of SM as compared to GP. Moreover, the ex-vivo and intraoperative detection rates at the node level were slightly higher with SM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumour suppressor genes are often transcriptionally silenced by promoter hypermethylation, and recent research has implicated alterations in chromatin structure as the mechanistic basis for this repression. In addition to DNA methylation, other epigenetic post-translational modifications that modulate the stability and binding of specific transcription factors to gene promoters have emerged as important mechanisms for controlling gene expression. The aim of this study was to analyse the implications of these mechanisms and their molecular connections in the reactivation of RASSF1A in breast cancer. Methods: Compounds that modulate the intracellular concentration of adenosine, such as dipyridamole (DIPY), greatly increase the antiproliferative effects of 3-O-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-(2)-catechin (TMCG), a synthetic antifolate derived from the structure of tea catechins. Quantitative real-time PCR arrays and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicated that this combination (TMCG/DIPY) induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells by modulating the methylation levels of DNA and proteins (such as E2F1), respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were employed to confirm that this combination induced chromatin remodelling of the RASSF1A promoter and increased the occupancy of E2F1 at the promoter of this tumour suppressor gene. Results: The TMCG/DIPY combination acted as an epigenetic treatment that reactivated RASSF1A expression and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. In addition to modulating DNA methylation and chromatin remodelling, this combination also induced demethylation of the E2F1 transcription factor. The ChIP assay showed enhancement of E2F1 occupancy at the unmethylated RASSF1A promoter after TMCG/DIPY treatment. Interestingly, inhibition of E2F1 demethylation using an irreversible inhibitor of lysine-specific demethylase 1 reduced both TMCG/DIPY-mediated RASSF1A expression and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, suggesting that DNA and protein demethylation may act together to control these molecular and cellular processes. Conclusions/Significance: This study demonstrates that simultaneous targeting of DNA and E2F1 methylation is an effective epigenetic treatment that reactivates RASSF1A expression and induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) in mammillary fistulas (MFs). A prospective study was performed in 18 patients with MF who were treated with the PNE technique. The technique was repeated in the case of no response or recurrence. The results obtained show that MFs revealing an elongated appearance with the ultrasound (US) are generally resolved with two sessions of PNE, whereas ovoid MFs require several sessions of PNE for complete resolution and they tend to recur. Success of the treatment with PNE was observed in 88.8% of the patients (16/18), and failure, after five or six sessions in two cases (11.2%), which were referred for surgery. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is the first study to reveal that the PNE technique is safe, effective, quick, and well-tolerated by patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses topics related to isolation of tumor cells and its clinical use for diagnosis of submicrometastasis and micrometastasis in previous issue of the periodical.

The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment for chronic wounds (CWs) of the breast. A prospective study was performed in 23 patients with CW of the breast who were treated with PRP. The procedure was repeated until the wound was closed completely. The study included patients with a history of breast cancer ( n = 8) and patients without cancer ( n = 15). The treatment with PRP was successful in all cases and observed in ≤4 weeks in 82.6% (19/23) of patients. The patients without breast cancer showed significantly less time for wound closure than the patients with a history of breast cancer. Moreover, a greater number of PRP treatments were necessary to achieve wound closure in patients undergoing conservative breast treatment. No patients had complications associated with the application of PRP. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal that PRP treatment for CWs of the breast is safe, simple, useful and well-tolerated by patients.

Purpose: The higher sensitivity of new diagnostic tools makes it easier to detect relapse in asymptomatic stages when classic procedures of lymph node biopsies are difficult to perform. The aim of this article is to describe the combination of gamma probe and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) images in combination with sentinel lymph node biopsy technique for detection of nonpalpable lymph nodes., Methods: After a dose of 18F-FDG was administered and PET-CT images that showed the location of suspected pathologic lymph nodes were obtained, transcutaneous localization of the lymph nodes with the highest captation of the tracer was done. The gamma probe was programmed to detect the radioactive signal from the F18, instead of the Tc99m that is usual in the sentinel node biopsy technique. Once the hottest point was detected, a short incision was made on this area, and suspicious nodes with the highest uptake registered by the gamma probe were localized and removed. After the surgical removal from the operating field, the surgical pieces stood positive to the gamma probe. Lymph node involvement, and subsequent relapse, was diagnosed before their clinical manifestation., Conclusions: This methodology confirms new horizons for the surgical approach of lymph node biopsies in patients with previous tumors with 18F-FDG avidity and suspicion of relapse.

Axillary lymph node status at the time of diagnosis is the most important prognostic indicator for women with breast cancer, and may influence management decisions. However, at present its role is controversial, as some groups recommend avoiding axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in cases with metastasis of any size in the sentinel lymph nodes. Molecular analysis allows full examination of the sentinel lymph nodes in a short time period, discriminatation between macrometastasis, micrometastasis and isolated tumor cells, and helps to predict the performance of ALND. ALND may be the treatment of choice in some patients, even in cases of low-volume metastasis, as chemotherapy does not control regional disease well. In addition, the collection of metastatic cells, as well as the local immune surveillance, is susceptible to further molecular studies that will offer prognostic and predictive information, which may have an impact on therapeutic decisions, so that individualized treatments can be adequately designed.

Objective: To analyse the need for operation for pyloric stenosis caused by duodenal ulcer over a period of 24 years (1976-1999)., Design: Retrospective study., Setting: University hospital, Spain., Subjects: 156 patients operated on for peptic pyloric stenosis., Main Outcome Measures: The number of patients operated on yearly were grouped into 4-year periods for statistical comparison., Results: The number of cases operated on each year steadily decreased between 1976 and 1999. In the 1988-1991 period there was a significant reduction (p <0.05), which continued over the next two 4-year periods, particularly the last (p <0.01)., Conclusion: Although we cannot use this study to establish a direct relation between the decrease in the indication for operations for peptic pyloric stenosis and the use of H2 antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, or treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori, we did find a significance difference between the years before and after the introduction of these drugs.