Varisara Pornprasertchai, Chodchanok Vijarnsorn, Supaluck Kanjanauthai, Paweena Chungsomprasong, Prakul Chanthong, Kritvikrom Durongpisitkul, Jarupim Soongswang

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 619-627, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12759

Abstract Background: The increasing number of patients with Ebstein anomaly (EA) surviving into adulthood implies improvements in the treatments for the complex lesion. We revisited the clinical outcomes of patients with EA to demonstrate their “real world” survival.
Objectives: To identify the survival and predictors of mortality in patients with EA who underwent medical or surgical management in the present era.
Methods: All patients who had EA with atrioventricular concordance between 1994 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics, initial echocardio‐ graphic findings, treatments, and outcomes were explored. The survival analysis was performed at the end of 2017. A… More >

Vanessa Marie Hormaza¹, Mark Conaway², Daniel Scott Schneider¹, Jeffrey Eric Vergales¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 274-279, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12722

Abstract Objective: Limited information is known on how right ventricular function affects outcomes after stage 2 palliation. We evaluated the impact of different right ventricular indices prior to stage 2 palliation on morbidity and mortality.
Design: Retrospective study design.
Setting: Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial Public Data Set.
Patient: Any variant of stage 1 palliation and all anatomic hypoplastic left heart syndrome variants in the trial were evaluated. Echocardiograms prior to stage 2 palliation were analyzed and compared between those who failed and those who survived.
Intervention: None.
Outcome measures: Mortality was defined as death, listed for transplant, or transplanted… More >

Shu Q. Liu^*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, No.2, pp. 75-85, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.06920

Abstract Ischemic stroke, although causing brain infarction and neurological deficits, can activate innate neuroprotective mechanisms, including regional mechanisms within the ischemic brain and distant mechanisms from non-ischemic organs such as the liver, spleen, and pancreas, supporting neuronal survival, confining brain infarction, and alleviating neurological deficits. Both regional and distant mechanisms are defined as systems neuroprotective mechanisms. The regional neuroprotective mechanisms involve release and activation of neuroprotective factors such as adenosine and bradykinin, inflammatory responses, expression of growth factors such as nerve growth factors and neurotrophins, and activation and differentiation of resident neural stem cells to neurons… More >

Joshua S. Jue^1,2, Tulay Koru-Sengul^3,4, Kevin J. Moore^2,3, Feng Miao², Mahmoud Alameddine¹, Bruno Nahar¹, Sanoj Punnen¹, Dipen J. Parekh^1,4, Chad R. Ritch¹, Mark L. Gonzalgo^1,4

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.25, No.1, pp. 9179-9185, 2018

Abstract Introduction: To investigate the impact of perioperative factors on overall survival among patients with histologic variants of bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy.
Materials and methods: The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was utilized to identify patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (cT2–T4, N0, M0) from 2004 to 2013. Variant histology bladder cancers—including non-mucinous adenocarcinoma, mucinous/signet ring adenocarcinoma, micropapillary urothelial carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma—were compared to urothelial carcinoma with respect to overall survival. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a multivariable Cox regression model to examine factors… More >

Rachael Sussman^1,2,*, Filipe L.F. Carvalho^1,2,*, Andrew Harbin¹, Choayi Zheng¹, John H. Lynch¹, Lambros Stamatakis², Jonathan Hwang², Stephen B. Williams³, Jim C. Hu⁴, Keith J. Kowalczyk¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 9516-9524, 2018

Abstract Introduction: The utility of radical prostatectomy (RP) for locally-advanced prostate cancer remains unknown. Retrospective data has shown equivalent oncologic outcomes compared to radiation therapy (RT). RP may provide local tumor control and prevent secondary interventions from local invasion, and may decrease costs.
Materials and methods: Using SEER-Medicare data from 1995-2011, we identified men with locally-advanced prostate cancer undergoing RP or RT. Rates of post-treatment diagnoses and interventions were identified using ICD-9 and CPT codes. Skeletal related events (SRE), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) utilization, all-cause mortality, prostate cancer-specific mortality, and costs were compared.
Results: A total of 8367 men… More >

Daniel Taussky^1,2, Felix Preisser^3,4, Pierre I. Karakiewicz^1,5, Derya Tilki^3,4, Carole Lambert^1,2, Jean-Paul Bahary^1,2, Guila Delouya^1,2, Robert Wistaff^2,6, Mikhael Laskine^2,6, Paul Van Nguyen^2,6, Madeleine Durand^2,6, Fred Saad⁵

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 9509-9515, 2018

Abstract Introduction: Conflicting data exists on the influence of metformin on prostate cancer. We investigated the importance of metformin in patients treated with radiotherapy or brachytherapy.
Materials and methods: All patients from a large institutionalized database, treated for primary localized prostate cancer with either brachytherapy or external-beam radiotherapy ± androgen deprivation therapy were identified. Groups were compared by Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox regression models. Multivariate analysis was adjusted for CAPRA-Score, type of treatment, and age.
Results: A total of 2441 patients with complete data was identified. Among them, 382 patients (16% of total) were diabetic. Two hundred eighty-one of… More >

Huimin Zhang^*†, Yuhui Pang^†, Chuanbao Ma^†, Jianying Li^†, Huaquan Wang^*, Zonghong Shao^*

Oncology Research, Vol.26, No.3, pp. 421-429, 2018, DOI:10.3727/096504017X15049221237147

Abstract Resistance to bortezomib (BZ) is the major problem that largely limits its clinical application in multiple myeloma treatment. In the current study, we investigated whether ClC5, a member of the chloride channel family, is involved in this process. The MTT assay showed that BZ treatment decreased cell viability in three multiple myeloma cell lines (ARH77, U266, and SKO-007), with IC50 values of 2.83, 4.37, and 1.91 nM, respectively. Moreover, BZ increased the conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II and expressions of beclin-1 and ATG5, concomitantly with a decreased p62 expression. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy with 3-MA… More >

Ruifang Zeng, Guolin Tan, Wei Li, Yanhong Ma

Oncology Research, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 111-122, 2018, DOI:10.3727/096504017X14924753593574

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of cullin 3 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), as well as to explore the regulatory mechanism of cullin 3 underlying the growth and metastasis of NPC cells. Our findings showed that the expression levels of cullin 3 were significantly increased in both NPC tissues and cell lines. A strong positive correlation was found between cullin 3 expression and the Ki-67-based proliferation index in NPC tissues. Moreover, cullin 3 overexpression was correlated with local relapse and distant metastasis in NPC patients. In vitro experiments showed that knockdown of More >

Ilias Kainis^*, Nikolaos Syrigos^*, Alexandra Kopitopoulou^*, Ioannis Gkiozos^*, Effrosyni Filiou^*, Vasiliki Nikolaou^*, Evangelia Papadavid^†

Oncology Research, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 59-69, 2018, DOI:10.3727/096504017X14913452320194

Abstract Systematic treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includes targeted treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The development of skin rash and its intensity have been associated with EGFR TKI’s efficacy. The main purpose of this study was to further investigate the potential value of erlotinib-associated rash as a predictor of prognosis and treatment response in a real-world cohort of patients with advanced NSCLC. The medical records of all NSCLC patients treated with erlotinib at the Oncology Unit of GPP, Sotiria Athens General Hospital between January 1, 2014 and… More >

Michael V. Di Maria¹, Matthew Mulvahill², James Jaggers³, David Dunbar Ivy¹, Adel K. Younoszai¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 311-318, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12574

Abstract Objective: Infants with single ventricle physiology typically undergo cardiac catheterization prior to superior cavopulmonary anastomosis (SCPA) to assess operative suitability. Predictors of poor outcome at sea level include elevated pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRi), age <3 months, significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation, among others. Increased altitude has vasoconstrictive effects on the pulmonary vasculature, which may affect pre-SCPA hemodynamics and outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine the predictive value of pre-SCPA catheterization data with regard to reaching Fontan palliation at altitude.
Design: A retrospective review revealed 150 patients who underwent pre-SCPA catheterization… More >