Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women. Preclinical studies have confirmed that the local anesthetic levobupivacaine has a cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells. We examined ...whether postoperative wound infiltration with levobupivacaine influences survival in 120 patients who were operated on for breast cancer and underwent quadrantectomy or mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. Groups with continuous levobupivacaine wound infiltration, bolus wound infiltration, and diclofenac analgesia were compared. Long-term outcomes examined were quality of life, shoulder disability, and hand grip strength (HGS) after one year and survival after 5 and 10 years. Groups that had infiltration analgesia had better shoulder function compared to diclofenac after one year. The levobupivacaine PCA group had the best-preserved HGS after 1 year (P = 0.022). The most significant predictor of the 5-year outcome was HGS (P = 0.03). Survival at 10 years was 85%, 92%, and 77% in the diclofenac, levobupivacaine bolus, and levobupivacaine PCA groups (ns. P = 0.36). The extent of the disease at the time of surgery is the most important predictor of long-term survival (P = 0.03). A larger prospective clinical study could better confirm the effect of levobupivacaine wound infiltration on outcomes after breast cancer surgery observed in this pilot study—trial number NCT05829707.
We have used cell culture of astrocytes aligned within microchannels to investigate calcium effects on primary cilia morphology. In the absence of calcium and in the presence of flow of media ...(10 μL.s
−1
) the majority (90%) of primary cilia showed reversible bending with an average curvature of 2.1 ± 0.9 × 10
−4
nm
−1
. When 1.0 mM calcium was present, 90% of cilia underwent bending. Forty percent of these cilia demonstrated strong irreversible bending, resulting in a final average curvature of 3.9 ± 1 × 10
−4
nm
−1
, while 50% of cilia underwent bending similar to that observed during calcium-free flow. The average length of cilia was shifted toward shorter values (3.67 ± 0.34 μm) when exposed to excess calcium (1.0 mM), compared to media devoid of calcium (3.96 ± 0.26 μm). The number of primary cilia that became curved after calcium application was reduced when the cell culture was pre-incubated with 15 μM of the microtubule stabilizer, taxol, for 60 min prior to calcium application. Calcium caused single microtubules to curve at a concentration ≈1.0 mM in vitro, but at higher concentration (≈1.5 mM) multiple microtubule curving occurred. Additionally, calcium causes microtubule-associated protein-2 conformational changes and its dislocation from the microtubule wall at the location of microtubule curvature. A very small amount of calcium, that is 1.45 × 10
11
times lower than the maximal capacity of TRPPs calcium channels, may cause gross morphological changes (curving) of primary cilia, while global cytosol calcium levels are expected to remain unchanged. These findings reflect the non-linear manner in which primary cilia may respond to calcium signaling, which in turn may influence the course of development of ciliopathies and cancer.
Background and objectives. Diet is the crucial environmental factor in sporadic colorectal cancer. Its complexity and diversity reflect our cultural and historical background, and could potentially ...explain why the existing public health strategies focused on colorectal cancer are failing. Materials and methods. An observational cross-sectional study encompassed 60 non-metastatic CRC patients to assess dietary factors related to colorectal cancer, with regard to their traditional diet i.e. the region they come from. Patients were recruited from two regions (30 patients per region), in one (Slavonia) traditional diet is abundant in well-known dietary risk factors for colorectal cancer, and in the second (Dalmatia) traditional diet is the Mediterranean type. Results. Based on the logistic regression analysis, patients from Dalmatia have a 24% higher risk for the high-risk diet in comparison to patients from Slavonia (OR = 1.240, 95% CI 1.195 – 9.990, P=0.022). Identified independent risk factors include weight loss in the last 3 months along with daily alcohol consumption which were found to increase CRC risk by 61.4% and 53.1%, respectively. Conclusions. Our results support statistical data showing that colorectal cancer incidence is higher in the Mediterranean region, suggesting a shift in the Mediterranean dietary pattern, which in our case were higher obesity rates, daily alcohol consumption and abundance of unfavorable dietary habits.
Glioblastoma represents the most aggressive tumor of the brain with an estimated survival rate of twelve to fifteen months after the primary diagnosis. The role of neurotropic viruses in pathogenesis ...of the tumor has remained unclear to date. During the last two decades, many studies were conducted with the aim of confirming viral influence in the development of glioblastoma.
We conducted a retrospective study in a time period of five years using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of glioblastoma. Immunohistochemistry was performed for three viruses: CMV, EBV and HSV-1, using an automated staining system.
Mean age of patients in our group was 66.7±8.5 years. A slight male dominance was noted. Negative immunohistochemistry results were obtained for CMV and EBV, which were excluded from further investigation. Based on IRS score, we confirmed six HSV-1 samples which were rated as IRS score 2. Five more samples of HSV-1 were rated as IRS score 1 and were excluded from the study.
According to our retrospective study and its results, we found no impact of neurotropic viruses in the survival rate of glioblastoma. Further studies should be conducted including a wider range of viral detection methods.
This study aims to evaluate PD-L1 expression in colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) by using the tumor proportion score (TPS) and the combined positive score (CPS), and to investigate whether there is a ...correlation with clinicopathologic features.
A cross-sectional study was conducted that included samples from patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma treated with colon resection and rectal resection after neoadjuvant radio- and chemotherapy at the Department of Abdominal Surgery at Požega Hospital in the period from 2017 to 2022. The study included 102 tumor tissue samples from patients after resection and the pathohistological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma.
In our study, the PD-L1 positivity rate after the TPS was 42 (41%) samples, and after the CPS, 97 (95%) of them (
< 0.001). The positive expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells using the TPS method showed a statistically significant association with adenocarcinoma (TPS ≥ 10-50% and ≥50%). There were significantly more that were moderately differentiated, with TPS ≥ 50%, and those poorly differentiated had values ≥ 10-50%. There were significantly more patients with a status of more than one positive lymph node with TPS values ≥ 10-50%. Patients without metastases in the lymph nodes are significantly more likely to have CPS values > 50%, compared with other lymph node statuses.
These results suggest that the total number of PD-L1-expressing cells, including tumor and immune cells, is a more sensitive biomarker than the number of PD-L1-expressing tumor cells alone in CRC.
- Luminal B (HER2 negative) subtype is the most diversiform type of breast cancers, with a high Ki-67 proliferation index (>20%) or/and low progesterone (PR; <20%) with various intensity and ...distribution of hormone receptors. Considerable difference has also been noticed in disease outcome, wherefore there is the need for a more detailed classification of this tumor subtype. The clinical and pathologic parameters of 147 luminal B (HER2 negative) breast cancers were examined. The expression of hormone receptors in correlation with other prognostic factors and disease outcome was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The Kaplan-Mayer analysis showed that low positivity of estrogen (ER) and PR receptors in tumors was associated with a significantly worse disease outcome (overall survival (ER), p=0.020; disease free survival (ER), p=0.019; overall survival (PR), p=0.026; disease free survival (PR), p=0.038)), unlike Ki-67, which did not show a statistically significant connection (overall survival, p=0.343; disease free survival, p=0.322). The intensity of receptor staining and Ki-67 relative to other histopathologic prognostic factors showed a statistically significant correlation solely with histologic grade of tumor. By using the Cox regression model, PR proved to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (p=0.004) and disease free survival (p=0.029). The luminal B (HER2 negative) breast cancer with low expression of hormone receptors, independent of the Ki-67 proliferation index, and in correlation with a higher histologic grade, could be a unique subtype of cancer.
Treatment of glioblastoma is challenging due to its aggressive and highly invasive nature, and no significant advances in survival have been achieved recently. The aim of our retrospective study was ...identification of predictive factors and consequent survival outcome in patients who underwent surgical and oncologic treatment of glioblastoma. The study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery, Osijek University Hospital Centre. The authors designed a retrospective cohort study in 63 patients who underwent surgical and oncologic treatment between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017. Data were collected by reviewing medical records of the patients with histologically proven glioblastoma. Statistical analysis of study results revealed a significant impact of postoperative radiotherapy (p=0.002) and chemotherapy (p=0.016) on progression-free survival and overall survival (p=0.001 and p=0.009, respectively). Postoperative Karnofsky performance scale (p=0.027) was found to be significant in progression-free survival, and so was the interval between surgery and commencement of oncologic therapy (p=0.049). In conclusion, overall survival and prognosis in the treatment of glioblastoma remain poor, although prompt approach in postoperative adjuvant treatments improved progression-free survival.
Since smoking accounts for around 30% of all cancer deaths, public health campaigns often focus on smoking cessation as a means of primary prevention. However, smoking after cancer diagnosis is also ...associated with a higher symptom burden and lower survival rate. As data regarding smoking cessation vary dramatically between different populations, we aimed to analyze smoking prevalence in cancer patients, smoking cessation after cancer diagnosis, and the factors associated with smoking cessation in the setting of a developing country. We performed a cross-sectional survey on 695 patients in two clinical hospital centers. After cancer diagnosis, 15.6% of cancer patients stopped smoking. Male gender, younger age, and smoking-related cancer were the main factors associated with greater smoking cessation (p < 0.05). A total of 96% of breast cancer patients continued to smoke after cancer diagnosis and, compared to lung and colorectal cancer patients, exhibited a lower reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked (p = 0.023). An alarming rate of smoking prevalence was recorded in younger patients (45.6% at the time of cancer diagnosis) suggesting a future rise in smoking-related cancers and complications. These results should guide anti-smoking public health campaigns in transitional countries with a critical focus on younger and breast cancer patients.
Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess the dose in the treatment of radiopharmaceuticals 81mKr. This radiopharmaceutical is used in treatments in nuclear medicine as an indication for ...cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the specific absorbed fraction (SAF) when this radiopharmaceutical is incorporated in the lungs. For this purpose, we developed a voxel phantom (thorax) and was compared to the ORNL phantom. All calculations and simulations are done using the MCNP5/X code.
Nuclear medicine uses radioactive isotopes and compounds for diagnosis and therapy. The use of different isotopes depending on the procedure applied to the patient dose distribution. In order to produce the least damage to the patient in therapy and provide good results for diagnostic purposes, the isotope must have a short half-life.
In this paper, two types of phantom were used - ORNL mathematical phantoms and voxel phantom. In order to calculate absorbed doses and SAF, a voxel phantom of the thorax was developed. The construction of voxel phantom depends on the quality of digital images of patients obtained during CT or MRI examination. In this paper, a voxel phantom (Thorax model) was obtained using a DICOM set of 108 CT images of the female patient under approved standard protocols.
The SAF for the selected organ is calculated by the following formula:SAF=EdEimWhere is: the Ed is mean energy is deposited throughout the body, Ei the primary energy emitted by the source and m is the mass organ/tissue.
Calculated SAF values of both phantom models are normalized in relation to the lungs, which provide a comparison of this two models.
The obtained results of the evaluation of SAF in different organs/tissues, during the incorporation of 81mKr in the lungs, are shown during the process in the scintigraphic examination. The difference in the results obtained by the use of the voxel model and the ORNL mathematical phantom model is between 4.47% and 19.7%.
Treatment of glioblastoma is challenging due to its aggressive and highly invasive nature, and no significant advances in survival have been achieved recently. The aim of our retrospective study was ...identification of predictive factors and consequent survival outcome in patients who underwent surgical and oncologic treatment of glioblastoma. The study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery, Osijek University Hospital Centre. The authors designed a retrospective cohort study in 63 patients who underwent surgical and oncologic treatment between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017. Data were collected by reviewing medical records of the patients with histologically proven glioblastoma. Statistical analysis of study results revealed a significant impact of postoperative radiotherapy (p=0.002) and chemotherapy (p=0.016) on progression-free survival and overall survival (p=0.001 and p=0.009, respectively). Postoperative Karnofsky performance scale (p=0.027) was found to be significant in progression-free survival, and so was the interval between surgery and commencement of oncologic therapy (p=0.049). In conclusion, overall survival and prognosis in the treatment of glioblastoma remain poor, although prompt approach in postoperative adjuvant treatments improved progression-free survival. Key words: Brain neoplasms; Glioblastoma; Radiotherapy; Temozolomide; Procarbazine Lijecenje glioblastoma je izazovno zbog njihove agresivne i vrlo invazivne prirode te u posljednje vrijeme nije postignut znacajan napredak u prezivljenju. Cilj nasega retrospektivnog istrazivanja bio je identificirati prediktivne cimbenike i posljedicni ishod prezivljenja kod bolesnika koji su bili podvrgnuti kirurskom i onkoloskom lijecenju glioblastoma. Studija je provedena na Klinici za neurokirurgiju Klinickog bolnickog centra Osijek. Provedena je retrospektivna kohortna studija na 63 bolesnika koji su bili podvrgnuti kirurskom i onkoloskom lijecenju izmedu 1. sijecnja 2012. i 31. prosinca 2017. Podatci su prikupljeni pregledom medicinske dokumentacije bolesnika s histoloski dokazanim glioblastomom. Statisticka analiza rezultata istrazivanja otkrila je znacajan utjecaj poslijeoperacijske radioterapije (p=0,002) i kemoterapije (p=0,016) na prezivljenje bez progresije bolesti i ukupno prezivljenje (p=0,001, p=0,009). Poslijeoperacijska vrijednost na ljestvici Karnofsky (p=0,037) nadena je znacajnom za prezivljenje bez progresije bolesti, kao i kraci vremenski interval izmedu operacije i pocetka onkoloske terapije (p=0,049). Ukupno prezivljenje, kao i prognoza lijecenja glioblastoma i dalje su losi, iako pravodobni pristup poslijeoperacijskom adjuvantnom lijecenju poboljsava razdoblje prezivljenja bez progresije bolesti. Kljucne rijeci: Tumori mozga; Glioblastom; Radioterapija; Temozolomid; Prokarbazin
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![[P089] Calculations of spec...](http://api.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/image/issn/XR4PS5YY4K/1120-1797_1724-191X/small "[P089] Calculations of specific absorbed fractions in organs of human body in nuclear medicine due application of 81MKr")