bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum Levels of Leptin in Multiple Myeloma Patients and Its Relation to Angiogenic and Inflammatory Cytokines
Authors: Alexandrakis M.G. , Passam F.H. , Sfiridaki A. , Pappa C.A. , Moschandrea J.A. , Kandidaki E. , Tsirakis G. , Kyriakou D.S. 
Published: January 2018

Background Leptin, apart from the regulation of food intake, has been implicated in hematopoiesis, the immune response and angiogenesis. Leptin has been found to be decreased in various hematological malignancies. In the present study leptin was measured in multiple myeloma (MM) patients before and after treatment and correlated with other angiogenic molecules and markers of disease activity. Methods Serum leptin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), beta 2 microglobulin (β2M) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 62 newly diagnosed MM patients, 22 of whom obtaining disease stabilization after treatment. The same parameters were measured in 20 healthy controls. Disease stage was defined according to the Durie-Salmon criteria. Results Leptin, VEGF, b-FGF, IL-1β, and β2M were significantly higher in newly diagnosed MM patients than in controls (p<0.05). VEGF, b-FGF, IL-1β, β2M, CRP but not leptin increased with advancing stage of disease (p<0.01). All parameters decreased significantly following treatment (p<0.001). Although IL-1β correlated positively with VEGF, β2M, b-FGF and CRP, leptin did not correlate with any of the measured parameters. Conclusion Leptin serum levels do not reflect disease severity in MM. However, there seems to be a decrease in leptin following treatment, which may be associated with an alteration in the metabolic state or the chemokine milieu.
Highly Conserved Sequence of Exon 15 BRAF Gene and KRAS Codon 12 Mutation among Greek Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Symvoulakis E.K. , Zaravinos A. , Panutsopulos D. , Zoras O. , Papalambros E. , Sigala F. , Spandidos D.A. 
Published: January 2018

Background The RAS/RAF/MEK/MAP kinase pathway is essential to intracellular signaling transduction regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and death. We investigated the occurrence of exon 15 BRAF and KRAS codon 12 mutations among Greek patients with colorectal cancer. Methods Sixty-one samples from patients with sporadic colorectal adenocarcinomas were studied for exon 15 BRAF mutations. DNA from surgically resected specimens was analyzed by a combination of polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. KRAS codon 12 mutational analysis was technically possible in 58 samples (58/61) by a combination of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results No exon 15 BRAF mutations were detected in any of the colon cancer specimens. The frequency of KRAS codon 12 mutations was 29.3% (17/58). Patients aged <70 years more frequently presented carcinomas harboring KRAS codon 12 mutations than patients aged >70 years (p=0.028). Patients between 61 and 70 years of age were more likely to be carriers of this mutation (p=0.040). Conclusions Despite the limited study sample, our data suggest that BRAF mutations might be present less frequently than KRAS mutations in Greek patients with colorectal carcinomas. Further research involving larger patient series will be necessary to confirm these findings and to assess possible ethnic, environmental and lifestyle influences on BRAF and KRAS mutagenesis.
Peritoneal Fluid Cytokines and the Differential Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Ovarian Tumors and Residual/Recurrent Disease Examination
Authors: Chechlinska M. , Kaminska J. , Markowska J. , Kramar A. , Steffen J. 
Published: January 2018

This study aimed to assess the potential value of peritoneal fluid cytokine examination for the differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors and for evaluating residual or recurrent disease after treatment. The cytokines that are commonly elevated in ovarian cancer, VEGF, IL-6, bFGF, IL-8 and M-CSF, and a reference ovarian tumor marker, CA 125, were measured in peritoneal fluids of 53 previously untreated patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 18 ovarian cancer patients after surgical treatment and chemotherapy, and 17 patients with benign epithelial ovarian tumors. Non-parametric statistical analysis of data was performed. Ovarian cancer peritoneal fluids, as compared to peritoneal fluids of patients with benign ovarian tumors, contained significantly higher concentrations of IL-6, VEGF and CA 125, and significantly lower concentrations of bFGF and M-CSF, but only the levels of IL-6 and VEGF were significantly higher in peritoneal fluids of stage I and II ovarian cancer patients than of patients with benign ovarian conditions. IL-6 at the cutoff level of 400 pg/mL discriminated benign and malignant ovarian tumors with 92% sensitivity and 60% specificity, while VEGF at the cutoff of 400 pg/mL had 90% sensitivity and 80% specificity. At the cutoff level of 1200 pg/mL, IL-6 had 84% sensitivity and 87% specificity. A radical decrease in local cytokine and CA 125 levels in patients after treatment was independent of therapy outcome. IL-6 and VEGF measurements in peritoneal fluids might be useful for the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ovarian conditions, but not for residual or recurrent disease examination.
MUC-1 (CA 15–3 Antigen) as a Highly Reliable Predictor of Response to EGFR Inhibitors in Patients with Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma: An Experience on 26 Patients
Authors: Bearz A. , Talamini R. , Vaccher E. , Spina M. , Simonelli C. , Steffan A. , Berretta M. , Chimienti E. , Tirelli U. 
Published: January 2018

Background Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is a histological subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly of adenocarcinoma. Given its multifocality and the poor activity of chemotherapy, there is no established treatment for BAC, although promising results have been achieved with inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). No tumor marker has been validated in the diagnosis and follow-up of lung cancer, in particular to predict the outcome of treatment with EGFR inhibitors. Purpose As CA 15–3 antigen serum levels are reported to be pathologically abnormal in adenocarcinoma of the lung, we chose this tumor marker to monitor treatment with EGFR inhibitors of patients affected by adenocarcinoma with BAC features or pure BAC. Patients and methods We collected data from 26 consecutive Caucasian patients with BAC, mostly women and never smokers, who received EGFR inhibitors. Results We noticed that all patients with normal CA 15–3 serum levels at baseline (15/26, 57.7%) showed a response to EGFR inhibitors, whereas all patients with abnormal CA 15–3 serum levels (11/26, 42.3%) did not. Conclusion Our data suggest that CA 15–3 levels might be a predictive factor for the response to EGFR inhibitors in patients with BAC.
Relationship between Genetic Polymorphism of CYP1A1 at Codon 462 (Ile462Val) in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Serafim P.V. Pereira , da Silva I.D. Cotrim Guerreiro , Forones N. Manoukian 
Published: January 2018

Aims and background The enzyme cytochrome P450 plays an important role in the metabolization and detoxification of various compounds. CYP1A1 is a polymorphic enzyme and some of its alleles have been correlated with an increased risk of developing various types of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of the polymorphism A→G (Ile462Val, exon 7) in colorectal cancer patients and the correlation of this polymorphism with others risk factors. Patients and methods 114 Brazilian patients with colorectal cancer were matched by age and sex to 114 healthy individuals. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the genotypes of the polymorphisms were assessed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results In the case group 64 subjects were male, 53 were alcohol users and 68 were smokers. In the control group 61 were male, 67 were alcohol users and 53 smokers. There were 14 subjects with wild-type homozygous A/A, 97 with heterozygous A/G, and 3 with homozygous mutated G/G in the cancer group versus 81 subjects with wild-type homozygous A/A and 33 with heterozygous A/G in the control group. The presence of the G allele (OR 5.14, 95%CI 3.15–10.80) was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (p=0.001). The prevalence of smokers was higher in the cancer group (p=0.047, OR 1.71, 95%CI 1.03–3.11). Conclusion These results suggest a positive association between the A→G polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition, smoking was also a colorectal cancer risk. We did not find any correlation between this polymorphism and sex, grade of differentiation, stage, or evolution of the disease.
Baseline Urinary Phytoestrogen Levels and the Natural History of Untreated, Localised Prostate Cancer in a British Population
Authors: Venkitaraman R. , Thomas K. , Grace P. , Dearnaley D. , Horwich A. , Huddart R. , Parker C.C. 
Published: January 2018

Aim To determine whether urinary concentrations of phytoestrogens are associated with the rate of disease progression in men with untreated, localised prostate cancer. Patients and methods Patients with untreated, localised prostatic adenocarcinoma on a prospective clinical study of active surveillance had urine samples collected at baseline. Patients underwent monitoring with serial PSA levels and repeat octant prostate biopsies. Disease progression was defined as either adverse histology on repeat biopsy (primary Gleason grade ≥4, or >50% positive cores) or radical treatment for PSA velocity >1 ng/mL/year. Time to disease progression was analysed with respect to baseline urinary levels of genistein, enterolactone, daidzein and equol, assayed using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Results 191 patients were evaluable, with a median follow-up of 2.5 years. 71 patients experienced disease progression. No significant association was seen between time to disease progression and baseline urinary levels of daidzein (p=0.85), genistein (p=0.81), enterolactone (p=0.085) or equol (p=0.33). No significant association was seen between adverse histology on repeat biopsy and urinary levels of either daidzein (p=0.85), genistein (p=0.58), enterolactone (p=0.88) or equol (p=0.71). There was no significant correlation between PSA velocity and urinary levels of daidzein (p=0.90), genistein (p=0.98), enterolactone (p=0.10) or equol (p=0.60). Conclusion These data do not support the hypothesis that phytoestrogens prevent disease progression in men with localised prostate cancer.
Aberrant interactions of peripheral measures and neurometabolites with lipids in complex regional pain syndrome using magnetic resonance spectroscopy: A pilot study
Authors: Jung Ye-Ha , Kim Hyeonjin , Jeon So Yeon , Kwon Jeong Min , Lee Dasom , Choi Soo-Hee , Kang Do-Hyung 
Published: January 2018

Background The aim of this study was to assess peripheral measures and central metabolites associated with lipids using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results Twelve patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and 11 healthy controls participated. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we measured the levels of lipid 13a (Lip13a) and lipid 09 (Lip09) relative to total creatine (tCr) levels in the right and left thalamus. We found negative correlations of Lip13a/tCr in the right thalamus with red blood cells or neutrophils, but a positive correlation between Lip13a/tCr and lymphocytes in the controls. We found negative correlations between Lip09/tCr and peripheral pH or platelets in the controls. There were positive correlations between Lip09a/tCr and myo-inositol/tCr, between Lip13a/tCr and N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/tCr, and between Lip09/tCr and NAA/tCr in healthy controls. On the other hand, there were positive correlations between Lip13a/tCr and Lip09/tCr and urine pH in CRPS patients. There were significant correlations between Lip13a/tCr or Lip09/tCr and different peripheral measures depending on the side of the thalamus (right or left) in CRPS patients. Conclusion This is the first report indicating that abnormal interactions of Lip13a and Lip09 in the thalamus with peripheral measures and central metabolites may mediate the complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CRPS.
Elbow Dislocation and Subluxation Injuries in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2009-2010 Through 2013-2014
Authors: Goodman Avi D. , Lemme Nicholas , DeFroda Steven F. , Gil Joseph A. , Owens Brett D. 
Published: January 2018

Background: Examination of the incidence of elbow dislocation and subluxation injuries in the collegiate athlete population is limited. Purpose: To determine the incidence of elbow dislocation and subluxation injuries in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and investigate the risk factors involved. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: All elbow subluxation and dislocation injuries from the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 academic years in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program database were extracted. The incidence was calculated for different injuries, sports, activity, time in game, competition status, and injury characteristics. Such differences were compared by use of risk ratios to determine risk factors for injury. Results: The overall incidence of elbow instability injuries was 0.04 per 10,000 athlete-exposures (AEs). Elbow dislocations were more common, with 553 injuries (82.2%, 0.03/10,000 AEs), while elbow subluxations were the minority, with 119 injuries (17.8%, 0.01/10,000 AEs). Men’s wrestling had the highest incidence of elbow instability (1.08/10,000 AEs), more than women’s gymnastics (0.74), men’s football (0.11), and women’s volleyball (0.06). All injuries occurred via a contact mechanism, and 99.2% were new injuries. Sixty-nine percent of injuries kept athletes sidelined for more than 2 weeks. Injuries were 3 times more likely to occur in competition (0.08/10,000 AEs) than practice (0.03/10,000 AEs). Injuries sustained during competition were 1.4 times more likely to occur early in the match than late. Conclusion: Elbow instability injuries are an infrequent but serious source of disability for select NCAA athletes, with a number of associated risk factors. Athletes sustaining these injuries, along with their coaches and medical providers, may benefit from these return-to-play data to best manage expectations and outcomes.
Microenvironment-induced CD44v6 promotes early disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Gutjahr Julia C. , Szenes Eva , Tschech Lisa , Asslaber Daniela , Schlederer Michaela , Roos Simone , Yu Xiaobing , Girbl Tamara , Sternberg Christina , Egle Alexander , Aberger Fritz , Alon Ronen , Kenner Lukas , Greil Richard , Orian-Rousseau Veronique , Hartmann Tanja N. 
Published: January 2018

Key PointsThe spleen but not bone marrow microenvironment induces CD44v6 variants in CLL, which promote early engraftment. CD44v6 expression is linked to NF-κB and MAPK signaling in murine and human B-cell leukemia and contributes to proliferation.
Dasatinib increases endothelial permeability leading to pleural effusion
Authors: Phan Carole , Jutant Etienne-Marie , Tu Ly , Thuillet Raphaël , Seferian Andrei , Montani David , Huertas Alice , Bezu Jan van , Breijer Fabian , Noordegraaf Anton Vonk , Humbert Marc , Aman Jurjan , Guignabert Christophe 
Published: January 2018

Pleural effusion is a frequent side-effect of dasatinib, a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesised that dasatinib alters endothelial integrity, resulting in increased pulmonary vascular endothelial permeability and pleural effusion.To test this, we established the first animal model of dasatinib-related pleural effusion, by treating rats with a daily regimen of high doses of dasatinib (10 mg·kg−1·day−1for 8 weeks).Pleural ultrasonography revealed that rats chronically treated with dasatinib developed pleural effusion after 5 weeks. Consistent with thesein vivoobservations, dasatinib led to a rapid and reversible increase in paracellular permeability of human pulmonary endothelial cell monolayers as reflected by increased macromolecule passage, loss of vascular endothelial cadherin and zonula occludens-1 from cell–cell junctions, and the development of actin stress fibres. These results were replicated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and confirmed by decreased endothelial resistance. Interestingly, we demonstrated that this increased endothelial permeability is a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanismin vitroandin vivousing a cotreatment with an antioxidant agent,N-acetylcysteine.This study shows that dasatinib alters pulmonary endothelial permeability in a ROS-dependent mannerin vitroandin vivoleading to pleural effusion.
Constrained multi-target tracking for team sports activities
Authors: Gade Rikke , Moeslund Thomas B. 
Published: January 2018

Abstract
In sports analysis, player tracking is essential to the extraction of statistics such as speed, distance and direction of motion. Simultaneous tracking of multiple people is still a very challenging computer vision problem to which there is no satisfactory solution. This is especially true for sports activities, for which people often wear similar uniforms, move quickly and erratically, and have close interactions with each other. In this paper, we introduce a multi-target tracking algorithm suitable for team sports activities. We extend an existing algorithm by including an automatic estimation of the occupancy of the observed field and the duration of stable periods without people entering or leaving the field. This information is included as a constraint to the existing offline tracking algorithm in order to construct more reliable trajectories. On data from two challenging sports scenarios—an indoor soccer game captured with thermal cameras and an outdoor soccer training session captured with RGB camera—we show that the tracking performance is improved on all sequences. Compared to the original offline tracking algorithm, we obtain improvements of 3–7% in accuracy. Furthermore, the method outperforms two state-of-the-art trackers.
Reflex Testing for GermlineBRCA1,BRCA2,PALB2, andATMMutations in Pancreatic Cancer: Mutation Prevalence and Clinical Outcomes From Two Canadian Research Registries
Authors: Smith Alyssa L. , Wong Cavin , Cuggia Adeline , Borgida Ayelet , Holter Spring , Hall Anita , Connor Ashton A. , Bascuñana Claire , Asselah Jamil , Bouganim Nathaniel , Poulin Véronique , Jolivet Jacques , Vafiadis Petro , Le Philippe , Martel Guillaume , Lemay Frédéric , Beaudoin Annie , Rafatzand Khashayar , Chaudhury Prosanto , Barkun Jeffrey , Metrakos Peter , Marcus Victoria , Omeroglu Atilla , Chong George , Akbari Mohammad R. , Foulkes William D. , Gallinger Steven , Zogopoulos George 
Published: January 2018

PurposeWe investigated the translational value of reflex testing for germline mutations in four homology-directed DNA repair predisposition genes ( BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and ATM) in consecutive patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.MethodsOne hundred fifty patients with French-Canadian (FC) ancestry were evaluated for founder mutations, and 114 patients were subsequently assessed by full gene sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification for nonfounder mutations. Two hundred thirty-six patients unselected for ancestry were also assessed for mutations by full gene sequencing.ResultsThe FC founder mutation prevalence among the 150 patients was 5.3% (95% CI, 2.6% to 10.3%), and the nonfounder mutation prevalence across the four genes among the 114 patients tested was 2.6% (95% CI, 0.6% to 7.8%). In the case series unselected for ancestry, 10.0% (95% CI, 2.7% to 26.4%) of patients reporting Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) ancestry carried an AJ founder mutation, with no nonfounder mutations identified. The mutation prevalence among patients without FC/AJ ancestry was 4.9% (95% CI, 2.6% to 8.8%). Mutations were more frequent in patients diagnosed at ≤ 50 years of age ( P = .03) and in patients with either two or more first- or second-degree relatives with pancreas, breast, ovarian or prostate cancer, or one such relative and a second primary of one of these cancer types ( P < .001). BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 carriers with late-stage (III or IV) disease had an overall survival advantage ( P = .049), particularly if treated with platinum-based chemotherapies ( P = .030).ConclusionConsidering these results, we recommend reflex founder mutation testing of patients with FC/AJ ancestry and full gene sequencing of patients who are ≤ 50 years or meet the identified family history criteria. Reflex testing of all incident patients for these four genes may become justified as full gene sequencing costs decline.
Physical Inactivity from Youth to Adulthood and Risk of Impaired Glucose Metabolism
Authors: KALLIO PETRI , PAHKALA KATJA , HEINONEN OLLI J. , TAMMELIN TUIJA , HIRVENSALO MIRJA , TELAMA RISTO , JUONALA MARKUS , MAGNUSSEN COSTAN G. , ROVIO SUVI , HELAJÄRVI HARRI , HUTRI-KÄHÖNEN NINA , VIIKARI JORMA , RAITAKARI OLLI T. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Physical activity (PA) is important in the prevention and treatment of impaired glucose metabolism. However, association of physical inactivity during the transition between childhood and adulthood with glucose metabolism is unknown. Therefore, we studied the association of persistent physical inactivity since childhood with glucose metabolism in adulthood.

Methods
Data were drawn from the ongoing, Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with repeated follow-ups between 1980 and 2011 (baseline age, 3–18 yr; n = 3596). Impaired glucose metabolism was defined as having impaired fasting glucose (6.1–6.9 mmol·L−1) or type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Leisure-time PA habits were repeatedly collected with a standardized questionnaire and expressed as a PA Index. Using PA Index, four groups were formed (n = 2000): 1) persistently low PA, 2) decreasingly active, 3) increasingly active, and 4) persistently active subjects. Poisson regression model was used to examine the association between PA groups and impaired glucose metabolism.

Results
The proportion of the sample with impaired glucose metabolism was 16.1% in individuals with persistently low PA, 14.5% in decreasingly active, 6.8% in increasingly active, and 11.1% in persistently active. Compared with individuals with persistently low PA, age and sex-adjusted risk for impaired glucose metabolism were lower in those who increased PA (relative risk [RR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29–0.76) and in those who were persistently active (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51–0.97), but similar in those who decreased PA (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.66–1.36).

Conclusions
Persistently physically inactive lifestyle from youth to adulthood is associated with increased risk of impaired glucose metabolism in adulthood. Importantly, a moderate increase in PA lowered the risk. The results highlight the importance of avoiding physically inactive lifestyle at all stages of life.