bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison between CEA, TPA, CA 15/3 and Hydroxyproline, Alkaline Phosphatase, Whole Body Retention of 99mTc MDP in the follow-up of Bone Metastases in Breast Cancer
Authors: Francini G. , Montagnani M. , Petrioli R. , Paffetti P. , Marsili S. , Leone V. 
Published: April 2018

The development of bone metastases in cancer can be monitored easily using three markers: 24 h urinary hydroxyproline excretion (HOP) (an index of osteoclastic activity), serum alkaline phosphatase (Alk.Ph.) (an index of osteoblastic activity) and 24 h whole body retention of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (WBR%) (an index of bone turnover). To evaluate the effectiveness of this group of bone tumor markers in breast cancer we compared it with the following group of three markers which are commonly used in the monitoring of breast cancer and in the follow-up of advanced disease with or without bone metastases: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and breast carcinoma antigen (CA 15/3). In 48 patients with bone metastases CEA, TPA and CA 15/3 were shown to be sensitive (79%, 85%, 90% respectively), while HOP, Alk.Ph. and WBR%, which are commonly accepted as reliable markers of bone activity, showed a lower sensitivity (67%, 46%, 75% respectively). These results may be explained by the lack of osteoclastic or osteoblastic (or both) activity at the time of diagnosis. This explanation is supported by the fact that the bone markers HOP, Alk.Ph. and WBR% were found to be more sensitive than the others in the subsequent follow-up study. We conclude that in our study, CEA, TPA and CA 15/3 are at first more sensitive than Alk. Ph., HOP and WBR% but during the follow-up Alk.Ph., HOP and WBR% are possibly both more specific and more sensitive
Mucin-Like Carcinoma-Associated Antigen (MCA) in Tissue and Serum of Patients with Breast Cancer: Clinical Applications in Prognosis and Disease Monitoring
Authors: Molina R. , Jo J. , Filella X. , Zanon G. , Grau J.J. , Joseph J. , Bedini J.L. , Biete A , Ballesta A.M. 
Published: April 2018

Mucin-like Carcinoma-associated Antigen (MCA) has been associated with many breast cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate MCA in tumor tissue and serum as a potential tumor marker for prognosis and disease monitoring. MCA levels were determined in the tissue of 196 patients with primary breast cancer, 25 with metastatic disease and 25 patients with benign diseases, in pellet and/or cytosol. MCA levels were also determined in the serum of 50 patients with benign diseases, 148 with primary breast cancer (Mo), 150 with metastatic breast cancer (MT), and 200 with no clinical evidence of disease (NED). MCA tissue concentrations in pellet and cytosol were similar: 66.7 + 251 U/mg and 41.1 + 53 U/mg, respectively. No relationship between MCA levels and tumor size or nodal involvement was found. Higher MCA levels were observed in patients with ER + or PgR + tumors than in those with ER- or PgR- tumors (p < 0.01). Patients with MCA pellet concentrations lower than 10 U/mg of protein had shorter disease - free intervals (DFI) than those with higher values (p < 0.05). Abnormally high serum levels of MCA were found in 8% of patients with benign diseases, 4% of NED patients, 22% of Mo patients, and in 76% of MT cases. In primary breast cancer MCA values were related to tumor size and nodal involvement. A trend toward a lower DFI in patients with elevated presurgical MCA levels was observed but was of no statistical significance. These differences became statistically significant when patients were subdivided according to nodal status, with shorter DFI in those without nodal invasion (p < 0.05). In metastatic patients, changes in serum MCA were related to the tumor's response to treatment in 82% of cases. The highest MCA values were found in patients with liver or bone metastasis and the lowest values were found in those with locoregional recurrence. In conclusion, although MCA is not a specific tumor marker, it can be useful as a prognostic factor (tissue and serum) and in monitoring metastatic patients.
Monoclonal Antibodies by Genetic Engineering: Novel Reagents for in vivo Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Canevari S. , Furlan D. , Mossa A. , Figini M. 
Published: April 2018

In only a few years, the technology of antibody engineering has demonstrated its power and a variety of recombinant monoclonal antibodies are now being developed. Recent developments in gene manipulation have allowed the isolation of antibodies, including human antibodies, with or without immunization, by displaying functional antibody fragments on the surface of bacteriophage particles and directly selecting with antigen. In the present review some recent achievements in these areas are highlighted.
Pretargeting of Carcinomas with the Avidin-Biotin System
Authors: Paganelli G. , Magnani P. , Fazio F. 
Published: April 2018

Diagnosis and experimental therapy of cancer have been performed with encouraging results using radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies. However, the high background due to non-specific uptake by normal tissue and blood is a major drawback in antibody-guided tumor detection. Various strategies have been proposed to overcome this problem, such as computed background subtraction, use of a second antibody, and local delivery. An antibody is a slow “bullet” for tumor targeting, since in many lesions it requires two or three days to accumulate. The use of fragments such as F(ab’)2 or Fab, which display a faster blood clearance than whole antibody, improves tumor localization to a sufficient extent (hours) to allow the use of the most suitable radionuclides, e.g. 99m-Tc. In therapeutic applications we are still far away from the optimal condition in terms of the absolute amount of radioactivity delivered to the tumor. The high specificity of antibodies could be exploited at its best by delaying the delivery of the label to a time when the ratio tumor-bound to non-tumor-bound antibody has reached its maximum value. To obtain this goal, the label should display a fast clearance and should be captured by the antibody already targeted onto tumor cells. These considerations have led to strategies of tumor pretargeting where antibody and label are administered separately. One of these strategies, based on the avidin-biotin system, has already been used extensively for several years in immunohistochemistry and in ELISA. Due to the flexibility of this system, several alternative protocols are possible. We describe a three-step and a two-step pretargeting protocol based on the avidin-biotin system.
Radionuclide Therapy of Tumors: General Aspects and Considerations
Authors: Hoefnagel C. A. 
Published: April 2018

Therapeutic nuclear medicine is rapidly developing as an additional treatment modality in oncology. Its unique characteristics are the systemic, yet selective delivery of radiation doses in target tissues, its non-invasiveness, the relative lack of immediate and late side effects, and the advantage that uptake and retention in the tumor can be pre-assessed by tracer studies. Many different tumor seeking radiopharmaceuticals are being used for therapy by different routes and a variety of targeting mechanisms. The current clinical role of radionuclide therapy is briefly reviewed, as well as more general aspects and considerations, such as mechanisms for tumor targeting, the choice of radionuclide labels, radiopharmacy, drug delivery, radiation protection, dosimetry and toxicity.
Radionuclides for Radioimmunotherapy: Criteria for Selection
Authors: Geerlings M. W. 
Published: April 2018

In developing and designing radioimmunotherapy, the selection of the isotope is a major factor. This selection depends on a number of criteria and parameters, affecting usefulness and feasibility. Usefulness is directly related to the radiological performance of the ionising radiation in relation to tissue and its morphology, with a major distinction between the effects of α and ß-particles (or rays). Usefulness is also directly related to the pharmacodynamic performance of the isotope-carrier (e.g. antibody) complex, where the proper choice of isotope radiodecay halflife is of major importance. Feasibility depends on availability of the components in the isotope-ligand-carrier complex, and also on convenience and safety aspects in the preparation and the handling of the materials as well as in their application in patients. A comparison is made between the various properties of α-emitting isotopes that have been proposed over a number of years, concluding that the combination 225Ac- 213Bi deserves serious further attention.
Serum TPS versus TPA in Egyptian Bladder Cancer Patients
Authors: Halim A.-B. , El-Ahmady O. , Hamza S. , Aboul-Ela M. , Oehr P. 
Published: April 2018

This study included 328 cases (106 with bladder cancer, 152 with non-malignant urinary tract diseases and 70 healthy controls). Serum TPA was determined using the Prolifigen TPA IRMA kit supplied by AB Sangtec Medical, Bromma, Sweden and serum TPS was determined using the TPS IRMA kit supplied by Beki Diagnostics AB, Bromma, Sweden. The results of this study revealed that serum TPA had better sensitivity than serum TPS while no marked difference was found in the false-positivity rates in the non-malignant urinary tract diseases, A correlation coefficient of 0.83 was found between serum TPA and TPS. No relation was found between either TPA or TPS and histopathological stage, grade or association of the tumor with bilharziasis. As regards the histopathological type of the tumor, serum TPS was slightly higher in squamous cell than transitional cell carcinoma but TPA showed no difference. In the follow-up of bladder cancer patients after surgery both TPA and TPS showed an excellent concordance with the clinial state of the patients. In conclusion, TPS does not seem to be an optimal test in Egyptian patients with bladder cancer but serial determinations of one of the two markers can be used in the follow-up of these patients after surgery.
Marker Determination for Response Monitoring: Radiotherapy and Disappearance Curves
Authors: Becciolini A. , Porciani S. , Lanini A. 
Published: April 2018

This paper reports the results of studies on the possible role of biochemical markers in monitoring the effects of ionizing radiations and in the follow-up of cancer patients submitted to radiotherapy. Three different case series were analyzed: patients with head and neck cancer, prostate carcinoma and residual thyroid tumors or uptaking metastases (131-Iodine therapy). Serum TPA and amylase were serially determined in patients with head and neck or thyroid cancer to measure the radiation damage to the salivary glands. In the former group a statistically significant correlation between the increase of both molecules and the total dose administered after the first day of treatment (2, 3, 4 or 6 Gy) was observed. In patients treated for thyroid cancer the damage to the salivary glands was revealed by an increase in TPA and amylase serum levels, dependent on the dose of 131-Iodine administered. Moreover, an association was demonstrated between pretreatment values of TPA in patients with head and neck tumors and prognosis: patients with values below the cutoff have significantly higher survival rates than those with higher values. In patients with prostate carcinoma PSA was confirmed to have better diagnostic and prognostic value than PAP. Patients with metastases show an inversion or lack of negative trend in PSA levels observed in the disease-free patients. This precedes the clinical diagnosis of metastases by 1 to 15 months.
PSA and Bone Scintigraphy
Authors: Modoni S. , Calò E. , Nardella G. , Ritrovato G. , Frusciante V. 
Published: April 2018

The authors evaluate the role of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and bone scintigraphy in the follow-up of radical prostatectomy-treated and radiotherapy-treated patients. 784 patients were evaluated by simultaneous PSA assay and bone scans. The correlation between PSA levels and extension of bone metastases was good. The frequency of extraskeletal metastases was low: only 13 patients had soft tissue metastases without bone involvement and 33/138 patients with bone metastases had also extraskeletal metastases. The results underline the importance of PSA and the possibility to omit bone scan when the PSA level is below 8 ng/ml in patients who did not undergo anti-androgenic treatments.
The Diagnostic Value of Pretreatment Serum LDH in Patients with Limited Disease Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Stokkel M.P.M. , Van Eck-Smit B.L.F. , Zwinderman A.H. , Willems L.N.A. , Pauwels E.K.J. 
Published: April 2018

Background In patients with limited disease SCLC, the overall survival is still poor. Therefore, a retrospective study was performed involving 48 patients with limited disease SCLC to select a parameter which can identify prognostic subgroups at the time of diagnosis. Materials and methods Follow-up ranged from 3 to 96 months, during which period 38 patients died. Based on clinical outcome, patients were classified into 3 groups: complete remission (CR) (n=16), local recurrence (LOC) (n=7) and distant recurrence (DIS) (n=25). Age, gender and pretreatment biochemical parameters were correlated with clinical outcome and survival. For survival 70 patients staged as having extensive disease (ED) served as a control group. Results No differences in survival were found in patients with LOC (14% 2-year survival) and DIS (16% 2-year survival) (p=0.67). Patients achieving a complete remission had a significantly better survival (75% two-year survival). LDH was found to be the only significant correlate of both tumor progression and survival. All patients with pretreatment LDH levels >240 U/L (n=13) had tumor recurrence. The survival rate of patients with LDH levels <240 U/L (41% 2-year survival) was much better than that of patients with LDH levels <240 U/L (8% 2-year survival) (p=0.0001). No significant difference in survival (p=0.33) was found between patients with LD and LDH <240 U/L and patients with ED and LDH >400 U/L. Patients with ED and LDH values <400 U/L showed the poorest outcome. Conclusion LDH may be used for the identification of prognostic subgroups in SCLC. Patients showing pretreatment LDH levels >240 U/L have an extremely high risk of tumor recurrence, while their survival is poor and comparable to that of patients staged as having extensive disease and LDH values <400 U/L.
Concussion knowledge and experience among a sample of American adults
Authors: Waltzman Dana , Daugherty Jill 
Published: April 2018

Background Recently, there has been a strong emphasis on educating athletes, parents, coaches, and health care providers about concussions. However, not much is known about whether these efforts are affecting the general public’s level of concussion knowledge. Purpose To determine what is currently known among the public about concussions and where education campaigns may be targeted in order to fill in the gaps. Methods In order to achieve the project’s objective, CDC analyzed self-reported data from Porter Novelli’s 2017 SummerStyles survey, an annual survey of American adults aged 18 and older across the United States. The questions focused on personal concussion experiences, basic concussion knowledge, knowledge of prevention strategies, and perceived best sources of information about concussion. Results Analysis of the data showed that approximately 18% of respondents reported that they had personally experienced a concussion in their lifetime, and about two-thirds of these respondents were evaluated by a health care provider after their injury. In terms of concussion knowledge, the majority were aware of common causes of concussion. While 94% knew that headache was a symptom of concussion, just over half were aware that sleep problems were as well. Most respondents (>78%) correctly identified that wearing seat-belts, preventing falls, and reducing participation in contact sports were ways to prevent a concussion, while installing baby-gates across stairs was less frequently known (65.5%) as a prevention technique. Nearly all of the respondents believed that a doctor or other health professional was a good source of information about concussions. These results varied by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education. Conclusion The results demonstrate that even though the public has a relatively high knowledge level of concussion, targeted education is needed to teach American adults about the symptoms and ways of getting a concussion.
Late mortality after autologous blood or marrow transplantation in childhood: a Blood or Marrow Transplant Survivor Study-2 report
Authors: Holmqvist Anna Sällfors , Chen Yanjun , Wu Jessica , Battles Kevin , Bhatia Ravi , Francisco Liton , Hageman Lindsey , Kung Michelle , Ness Emily , Parman Mariel , Salzman Donna , Winther Jeanette Falck , Rosenthal Joseph , Forman Stephen J. , Weisdorf Daniel J. , Arora Mukta , Armenian Saro H. , Bhatia Smita 
Published: April 2018

Key Points
Two-year survivors of autologous BMT in childhood have a substantially increased risk of late mortality compared with the general population. There has been a significant decline in all-cause mortality in children undergoing autologous BMT over the past 3 decades.
Use of a life-size three-dimensional-printed spine model for pedicle screw instrumentation training
Authors: Park Hyun Jin , Wang Chenyu , Choi Kyung Ho , Kim Hyong Nyun 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Background
Training beginners of the pedicle screw instrumentation technique in the operating room is limited because of issues related to patient safety and surgical efficiency. Three-dimensional (3D) printing enables training or simulation surgery on a real-size replica of deformed spine, which is difficult to perform in the usual cadaver or surrogate plastic models. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the educational effect of using a real-size 3D-printed spine model for training beginners of the free-hand pedicle screw instrumentation technique. We asked whether the use of a 3D spine model can improve (1) screw instrumentation accuracy and (2) length of procedure.

Methods
Twenty life-size 3D-printed lumbar spine models were made from 10 volunteers (two models for each volunteer). Two novice surgeons who had no experience of free-hand pedicle screw instrumentation technique were instructed by an experienced surgeon, and each surgeon inserted 10 pedicle screws for each lumbar spine model. Computed tomography scans of the spine models were obtained to evaluate screw instrumentation accuracy. The length of time in completing the procedure was recorded. The results of the latter 10 spine models were compared with those of the former 10 models to evaluate learning effect.

Results
A total of 37/200 screws (18.5%) perforated the pedicle cortex with a mean of 1.7 mm (range, 1.2–3.3 mm). However, the latter half of the models had significantly less violation than the former half (10/100 vs. 27/100, p < 0.001). The mean length of time to complete 10 pedicle screw instrumentations in a spine model was 42.8 ± 5.3 min for the former 10 spine models and 35.6 ± 2.9 min for the latter 10 spine models. The latter 10 spine models had significantly less time than the former 10 models (p < 0.001).

Conclusion
A life-size 3D-printed spine model can be an excellent tool for training beginners of the free-hand pedicle screw instrumentation.
Prevalence, identification of virulence factors, O-serogroups and antibiotic resistance properties of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from raw milk and traditional dairy products
Authors: Ranjbar Reza , Safarpoor Dehkordi Farhad , Sakhaei Shahreza Mohammad Hossein , Rahimi Ebrahim 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Background
Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli strains are one of the most important foodborne bacteria with an emergence of antibiotic resistance. Foodborne STEC strains are mainly associated with presence of certain virulence factors and O-seogroups. The present investigation was done to study the distribution of virulence factors, O-serogroups and antibiotic resistance properties of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from milk and dairy products.

Methods
Six-hundred samples were randomly collected and immediately transferred to laboratory. All samples were cultured and E. coli strains were isolated. STEC strains were identified based on the presence of putative virulence factors and subtypes. STEC isolates were subjected to multiplex PCR and disk diffusion methods.

Results
One-hundred and eighty-one out of 600 samples (30.16%) harbored E. coli. Prevalence of STEC strains was 10.66%. O157 (43.75%) and O26 (37.50%) were the most frequently identified serogroups. Aac(3)-IV (100%), CITM (96.87%) and tetA (76.56%) were the most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes. STEC strains had the highest prevalence of resistance against ampicillin (100%), gentamicin (100%) and tetracycline (96.87%).

Conclusions
Kashk and dough were negative for presence of E. coli strains. High prevalence of resistant-O157 strains and simultaneous presence of multiple virulence factors pose an important public health problem regarding the consumption of raw milk and dairy products.
Effects of Long-Term Denosumab on Bone Histomorphometry and Mineralization in Women With Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Authors: Dempster David W , Brown Jacques P , Fahrleitner-Pammer Astrid , Kendler David , Rizzo Sebastien , Valter Ivo , Wagman Rachel B , Yin Xiang , Yue Susan V , Boivin Georges 
Published: April 2018

Abstract

Context
Denosumab is a potent antiresorptive agent that reduces fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Objective
Determine effects of up to 10 years of denosumab on bone histology, remodeling, and matrix mineralization characteristics.

Design and Setting
International, multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial [Fracture Reduction Evaluation of Denosumab in Osteoporosis Every 6 Months (FREEDOM)] with a long-term open-label extension.

Patients
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (92 women in FREEDOM, 46 in extension) who provided iliac bone biopsies, including 11 who provided biopsies at multiple time points.

Interventions
FREEDOM subjects were randomized 1:1 to subcutaneous denosumab 60 mg or placebo every 6 months for 3 years. Long-term extension subjects continued receiving denosumab, open-label, for 7 additional years.

Outcomes
Bone histology, histomorphometry, matrix mineralization.

Results
Ten-year denosumab biopsies showed normal histology. Bone histomorphometry indicated normal bone structure and reduced bone remodeling after 10 years of denosumab, similar to levels after 2 and/or 3 and 5 years of denosumab. The degree of mineralization of bone was increased and mineralization heterogeneity was reduced in the denosumab years 2/3 group vs placebo. Changes in these mineralization variables progressed from years 2/3 to year 5 of denosumab, but not thereafter.

Conclusions
Denosumab for 2/3, 5, and 10 years was associated with normal histology, low bone remodeling rate, increased matrix mineralization, and lower mineralization heterogeneity compared with placebo. These variables were unchanged from year 5 to year 10. These data, in combination with the maintenance of low fracture rates for up to 10 years as previously reported with denosumab therapy, suggest that strong, prolonged remodeling inhibition does not impair bone strength.