Search

Abstract The molecular pathogenesis of colorectal cancer is known to differ between the right and left side of the colon. Several previous studies have focussed on the differences in clinicopathological features, proteomic and genetic biomarkers, the composition of gut microbiota, response to therapy, and the characteristics of the tumour microenvironment. However, the morphology and density of collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM) have not been studied intensively. In this study, we employed 2-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM) to visualise the intrinsic second-harmonic generation (SHG) signal emitted by collagen fibres in the heterogeneous ECM of human colon tumour tissues. Through texture analysis of the SHG signal, we quantitatively distinguished the imaging features generated by structural differences of collagen fibres in healthy colon and cancers and found marked differences. The fibres inside of tumours exhibited a loss of organisation, particularly pronounced in right-sided colon cancer (RSCC), where the chaotic regions were significantly increased. In addition, a higher collagen content was found in left-sided colon cancer (LSCC). In future, this might aid in subclassification and therapeutic decisions or even in designing new therapy regimens by taking into account the differences between collagen fibres features between colon tumours located at different sides.

Background: Systemic cancer therapy has traditionally been administered using an intravenous (IV) route, implying patients’ frequent visits to hospitals to access to their therapy. If we consider the actual pipeline in oncology, oral chemotherapy will be the main component of cancer treatment in the next few years. This shift in the administration route requires different care models in order to guarantee treatment efficacy and safety.Objective: To analyze time trends in oral chemotherapy consumption in Portugal.Method: Oral chemotherapy consumption over a 13-year period (2008–2020) was analyzed, considering dispensed units by the administration route with respective costs, resorting to the drug regulatory agency (INFARMED I.P.) database. Oral consumption patterns were further explored using common daily doses (CDD) for three conditions, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and breast cancer (BC), to adjust for the effect of varying doses. Data were analyzed descriptively resorting to Microsoft Office Excel 2010.Results: Overall chemotherapy consumption increased +Δ54.7%, with the highest contribution in units observed in oral forms (+Δ58.8%). The total expenditure increased +Δ96.5%, and despite the increase in oral forms (+Δ221.6%), intravenous forms continued to be the major cost driver, with an important contribution from immunotherapy. Much of the increase was led by the approval of 40 new IV and 48 new oral cancer medications with higher costs introduced in the market. Using CDD as an alternative metric to units had varying impacts by indication. The observed increases seemed to focus on specific cancer sites with varying effect; in CML, there was a 2.39-fold increase, compared to 4.41 for NSCLC and 1.86 for BC. However, for BC, two distinct sub-patterns were observed for hormone therapy (increasing 1.83) and for the novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors (increasing 40.8).Conclusion: The growing use of oral chemotherapy is obvious and calls for investments in supporting patients in managing medication adherence and adverse events. The shifts in the healthcare system are complex and need to be prioritized. Our data suggest that priority could be attributed to cancer sites driving innovation, namely, advanced breast cancer.

Since the early 2000s, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been shown to be effective in the prevention of pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal diseases. In 2011, the Galician region incorporated PCV in the routine infant immunization, the very first stable program in Spain. We aim to assess direct and indirect benefits of PCV vaccination on all-cause pneumonia in the region across different age groups using an ecological study design. For this, we calculated the annual hospitalization rates using a hospital-based disease registry. We identified all-cause pneumonia, pneumococcal pneumonia and pneumococcal invasive diseases within the registry. Hospitalization rates were computed and compared across three study periods: pre-vaccination (1998–2003), early-vaccination (2005–2009) and routine-vaccination (2011–2015). Across Northern Spain, we identified 114,873 all-cause pneumonia hospitalizations, of which 24,808 were further diagnosed with pneumococcal pneumonia. The majority were elderly > 64 years (67.3%). Hospitalizations from all-cause pneumonia had a net increase from 20.6 (pre-PCV) and 21.4/10,000 (early) to 28.4/10,000 (routine) (+32.7%, p

Abstract Background Sepsis is a severe condition associated with high prevalence and mortality rates. Parvovirus enteritis is a predisposing factor for sepsis, as it promotes intestinal bacterial translocation and severe immunosuppression. This makes dogs infected by parvovirus a suitable study population as far as sepsis is concerned. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the differences between two sets of SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) criteria in outcome prediction: SIRS 1991 and SIRS 2001. The possibility of stratifying and classifying septic dogs was assessed using a proposed animal adapted PIRO (Predisposition, Infection, Response and Organ dysfunction) scoring system. Results The 72 dogs enrolled in this study were scored for each of the PIRO elements, except for Infection, as all were considered to have the same infection score, and subjected to two sets of SIRS criteria, in order to measure their correlation with the outcome. Concerning SIRS criteria, it was found that the proposed alterations on SIRS 2001 (capillary refill time or mucous membrane colour alteration) were significantly associated with the outcome (OR = 4.09, p

This commentary describes the contributions of a Dutch pharmacist who contributed in a unique manner to the development of community pharmacy practice in Europe, to the evolution of practice-based research and to its publication. With an interest in pharmaceutical care and in clinical pharmacy, Dr. van Mil changed practice and policy in Europe over the last decades in a very visible way, here documented through a summary of some of his main written contributions. We write this to honour his memory and contribute to the preservation of his legacy.

Angioedema is a transient localized and self-limiting edema of the subcutaneous and submucosal tissue, due to the release of vasoactive mediators. However, different mechanisms are at the origin of the different types of angioedema (acute or chronic, related or not with mast cell mediators and genetic and familial or acquired). Dermatologists should be able to recognize the different forms of angioedema as associated symptoms, treatment and prognostic factors are completely different. This paper reviews the classification of angioedema, diagnostic tests and management.

We present a hybrid tri-axes magnetometer designed to measure weak magnetic fields in space from DC (direct current) up to a few kHz with a better sensitivity than fluxgate magnetometers at frequencies above a few Hz. This magnetometer combines a wire-wound ferromagnetic ribbon and a classical induction sensor. The nature of the wire-wound ferromagnetic ribbon sensor, giant magneto-impedance or magneto-inductance, is discussed. New configurations of wire-wound ferromagnetic ribbon sensors based on closed magnetic circuits are suggested and the hybrid sensor is described. The electronic conditioning of the wire-wound ribbon makes use of an alternating bias field to cancel the offset and linearize the output. Finally we summarize the main performances of the hybrid magnetometer and we discuss its advantages and drawbacks. A prototype has been built and was part of the scientific payload of the NASA rocket experiment CHARM-II (Correlation of High Frequency and Auroral Roar Measurements) launched in the auroral ionosphere. Unfortunately the launch campaign ended without any noticeable magnetic event and the rocket was eventually launched on 16 February 2010, through a very quiescent arc in the magnetic cusp and no wave activity was detected at frequencies observable by the hybrid magnetometer.

En las técnicas simultáneas, ha existido una evolución hacia variantes de natación cada vez más ondulantes. Desde los años 70 hasta nuestros días, cerca de 1500 nadadores han sido evaluados y diagnosticados en el “Leuven Research and Evaluation Center”, mediante el análisis técnico y la evaluación física. Más aún, información sobre su edad, historial de entrenamiento y rendimiento han sido acumulados. La asociación de estos datos y el rendimiento en las cuatro técnicas de natación han sido investigados en seis tesis Doctorales, no sólo para cada una de las técnicas, sino también para las variantes técnicas existentes (Persyn, 1978; Daly, 1984; Van Tilborgh, 1987; Colman, 1991; Zhu, 1996 y Silva 2001). Actualmente, la técnica de, aproximadamente 60 bracistas y mariposistas de nivel internacional, ha sido digitalizada. Basándose en los datos obtenidos de estos estudios de investigación y en la experiencia en el diagnóstico e informe técnico se ha desarrollado un buen sistema de evaluación. Gracias a las investigaciones efectuadas desde los años setenta, ha evolucionado la evaluación cualitativa para un análisis cuantitativo y una serie de hipótesis de trabajo relativas a la propulsión naval y animal que podrá ser aplicada al caso de la propulsión humana. Así, el principal objetivo de este artículo es presentar no sólo el modelo biomecánico general de la velocidad de natación, sino también las hipótesis de trabajo ya confirmadas para determinadas fases específicas del ciclo gestual para: (i) el rendimiento competitivo (corregido para género y edad); (ii) para la variación de la velocidad en el interior del ciclo gestual; (iii) para el desplazamiento vertical CM del cuerpo del nadador.PALABRAS CLAVE: Natación; técnicas simétricas; braza; mariposa; ondulación. In symmetrical strokes, there was an evolution to more butterfly-like undulation. Since the seventies till now, almost 1500 competitive swimmers were diagnosed and advised in the Leuven Research and Evaluation Center, based on a technique analysis and a physical screening. In addition, logbook information on their age, training history and performances was available. The relations between these data, and between these data and performance in the four swimming strokes and in different style variants per stroke, were investigated in six doctor’s theses (Persyn, 1978; Daly, 1984; Van Tilborgh, 1987; Colman, 1991; Zhu, 1996 and Silva 2001). Presently, the technique of about 60 breaststroke and butterfly swimmers at international level has been digitized. Based on the data obtained from this research, and on the experience in diagnosing, a kinesiological expert system was developed. Therefore, each of the shortcomings in the diagnostic systems, specified earlier, was solved step by step in the doctoral research. Thanks to this research, from the seventies till now, there was an evolution from a predominantly qualitative to quantitative diagnosis and a series of working hypotheses related to ship and animal propulsion that he needed for diagnosing were developed. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to present, not only the general biomechanical model of swimming velocity, but also the already confirmed working hypotheses, in specific phases in the stroke cycle, for: (i) swimming performance (corrected for sex and age in a % score); (ii) for velocity variation of the CMbody in the cycle and; (iii) for vertical displacement of the CMbody.KEY WORDS: Swimming; Symmetrical strokes; Breaststroke; Butterfly; waving

O experimento teve como objetivo avaliar o tempo que búfalas levaram para voltar ao estado fisiológico normal depois de submetidas a estresse térmico. Foram utilizadas seis búfalas mestiças Murrah com idade aproximada de 2,5 a 3 anos e peso médio de 450 kg. As búfalas foram submetidas a dois tratamentos com três animais cada: banho (B) e sem banho (SB). As variáveis fisiológicas coletadas foram: freqüência respiratória (FR); taxa de sudação (TS) e temperatura retal (TR). Todos os animais ficaram mantidos em piquete de aproximadamente 2000 m², sem disponibilidade de sombra e tanques de água, das 8h00 às 14h00, durante quatro dias não consecutivos de coletas. As coletas foram realizadas antes e após a exposição ao sol, e de hora em hora até as 16h00. A exposição dos animais ao sol fez com que houvesse um aumento significativo nas variáveis fisiológicas, com isso o tratamento banho foi mais eficiente para a variável frequência, respiratória comparado ao tratamento sem banho, para que as búfalas voltassem ao seu estado normal após o estresse térmico.

In symmetrical strokes, there was an evolution to more butterfly-like undulation. Since the seventies till now, almost 1500 competitive swimmers were diagnosed and advised in the Leuven Research and Evaluation Center, based on a technique analysis and a physical screening. In addition, logbook information on their age, training history and performances was available. The relations between these data, and between these data and performance in the four swimming strokes and in different style variants per stroke, were investigated in six doctor’s theses (Persyn, 1978; Daly, 1984; Van Tilborgh, 1987; Colman, 1991; Zhu, 1996 and Silva 2001). Presently, the technique of about 60 breaststroke and butterfly swimmers at international level has been digitized. Based on the data obtained from this research, and on the experience in diagnosing, a kinesiological expert system was developed. Therefore, each of the shortcomings in the diagnostic systems, specified earlier, was solved step by step in the doctoral research. Thanks to this research, from the seventies till now, there was an evolution from a predominantly qualitative to quantitative diagnosis and a series of working hypotheses related to ship and animal propulsion that he needed for diagnosing were developed. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to present, not only the general biomechanical model of swimming velocity, but also the already confirmed working hypotheses, in specific phases in the stroke cycle, for: (i) swimming performance (corrected for sex and age in a % score); (ii) for velocity variation of the CMbody in the cycle and; (iii) for vertical displacement of the CMbody. KEY WORDS: Swimming; Symmetrical strokes; Breaststroke; Butterfly; waving

To evaluate the possibilities of producing useful amounts of 10C (T1/2 = 19 s) for use as an on-line, steady state positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, the excitation function and the thick target yield for the 10B(p,n)10C reaction up to 30 MeV were measured using an adapted version of the stacked-foil technique. The radionuclidic purity of the produced 10C versus the inevitable 11C contamination was evaluated as function of target thickness and incident proton beam energy.