Liver cancer

To understand liver cancer and to provide care that is patient-centred, safe and effective, the healthcare assistant and the assistant practitioner (HCA and AP) need to know about the normal structure and function of the liver. This article provides an overview and insight regarding primary liver cancer. A brief overview of the anatomy and physiology of the liver is provided, along with a discussion of liver cancer. The signs and symptoms of the condition are described and treatment options discussed. The HCA and AP have a role to play as members of the multidisciplinary team who offer care to those people with liver cancer and their families. A glossary of terms is provided, as well as multiple-choice questions to aid retention and recall, and 3 CPD reflective questions.

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Testicular cancer

British Journal of Healthcare Assistants ◽

10.12968/bjha.2019.13.5.235 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 235-241

Author(s):

Ian Peate

Keyword(s):

Testicular Cancer ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Male Reproduction ◽

Multiple Choice Questions ◽

Anatomy And Physiology ◽

Reproduction System ◽

Reduce Risk ◽

Key Terms ◽

Healthcare Assistant

This article provides the healthcare assistant and the assistant practitioner (HCA and AP) with an overview of the male reproduction system. The anatomy and physiology of the testes is outlined. Understanding the anatomy and physiology can help the HCA and AP to offer support to a man (and, if appropriate, his family) with regards to testicular cancer. A discussion is made concerning the incidence of the condition, along with the risk factors associated with testicular cancer. The signs and symptoms of testicular cancer are described, and details given of how a diagnosis is made and the treatment options that may be available to a man. The HCA and AP have a role to play in offering men advice and information (health promotion) that can reduce risk and encourage men to seek help and support. The article provides a glossary of key terms and 5 multiple-choice questions that can help to promote learning and understanding.

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The Emerging Factors and Treatment Options for NAFLD-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13153740 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 3740

Author(s):

Chunye Zhang ◽

Ming Yang

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Liver Cancer ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Early Stage ◽

Primary Liver Cancer ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

T Cell Therapy ◽

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, followed by cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). HCC is the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide, and its incidence is rising, associated with an increased prevalence of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, current treatment options are limited. Genetic factors and epigenetic factors, influenced by age and environment, significantly impact the initiation and progression of NAFLD-related HCC. In addition, both transcriptional factors and post-transcriptional modification are critically important for the development of HCC in the fatty liver under inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. The early diagnosis of liver cancer predicts curative treatment and longer survival. However, clinical HCC cases are commonly found in a very late stage due to the asymptomatic nature of the early stage of NAFLD-related HCC. The development of diagnostic methods and novel biomarkers, as well as the combined evaluation algorithm and artificial intelligence, support the early and precise diagnosis of NAFLD-related HCC, and timely monitoring during its progression. Treatment options for HCC and NAFLD-related HCC include immunotherapy, CAR T cell therapy, peptide treatment, bariatric surgery, anti-fibrotic treatment, and so on. Overall, the incidence of NAFLD-related HCC is increasing, and a better understanding of the underlying mechanism implicated in the progression of NAFLD-related HCC is essential for improving treatment and prognosis.

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Headache

10.1093/med/9780190217518.003.0022 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Kurt F. Dittrich

Keyword(s):

Social Factors ◽

Alternative Treatment ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Headache Disorders ◽

Nonpharmacological Treatment ◽

Anatomy And Physiology ◽

Headache Management

Having a solid grasp of headaches is essential for the pain provider. This required knowledge should include understanding the anatomy and physiology of headaches; knowing how to classify headaches using the second edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders; recognizing the physical, psychological, and social factors that may contribute to headaches; and understanding the role of counseling and nonpharmacological treatment options. It is essential to understand the pharmacological aspects of headache management as well as some of the nuances of the specific medications most often used. A pain provider should be able to recognize when signs and symptoms of a headache warrant further investigation as well as when to offer alternative treatment options to patients. The questions in this chapter are designed to assist in gathering this knowledge base and assist the pain provider in analyzing the headache condition.

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Involvement of Kynurenine Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13205180 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (20) ◽

pp. 5180

Author(s):

Shivani Krishnamurthy ◽

David Gilot ◽

Seong Beom Ahn ◽

Vincent Lam ◽

Joo-Shik Shin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Cancer ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Early Stage ◽

Primary Liver Cancer ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Immune Surveillance ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Kynurenine Pathway ◽

Diagnostic Technology ◽

Proliferation And Metastasis

As the second and third leading cancer-related death in men and the world, respectively, primary liver cancer remains a major concern to human health. Despite advances in diagnostic technology, patients with primary liver cancer are often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Treatment options for patients with advanced hepatocarcinoma (HCC) are limited to systemic treatment with multikinase inhibitors and immunotherapy. Furthermore, the 5-year survival rate for these late-stage HCC patients is approximately 12% worldwide. There is an unmet need to identify novel treatment options and/or sensitive blood-based biomarker(s) to detect this cancer at an early stage. Given that the liver harbours the largest proportion of immune cells in the human body, understanding the tumour–immune microenvironment has gained increasing attention as a potential target to treat cancer. The kynurenine pathway (KP) has been proposed to be one of the key mechanisms used by the tumour cells to escape immune surveillance for proliferation and metastasis. In an inflammatory environment such as cancer, the KP is elevated, suppressing local immune cell populations and enhancing tumour growth. In this review, we collectively describe the roles of the KP in cancer and provide information on the latest research into the KP in primary liver cancer.

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Advances in the Research of Bioinks Based on Natural Collagen, Polysaccharide and Their Derivatives for Skin 3D Bioprinting

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12061237 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1237 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jie Xu ◽

Shuangshuang Zheng ◽

Xueyan Hu ◽

Liying Li ◽

Wenfang Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Normal Structure ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Future Research ◽

3D Bioprinting ◽

Extracellular Matrix Component ◽

Matrix Component ◽

Anatomy And Physiology ◽

The Matrix ◽

And Function ◽

Medical Therapeutics

The skin plays an important role in protecting the human body, and wound healing must be set in motion immediately following injury or trauma to restore the normal structure and function of skin. The extracellular matrix component of the skin mainly consists of collagen, glycosaminoglycan (GAG), elastin and hyaluronic acid (HA). Recently, natural collagen, polysaccharide and their derivatives such as collagen, gelatin, alginate, chitosan and pectin have been selected as the matrix materials of bioink to construct a functional artificial skin due to their biocompatible and biodegradable properties by 3D bioprinting, which is a revolutionary technology with the potential to transform both research and medical therapeutics. In this review, we outline the current skin bioprinting technologies and the bioink components for skin bioprinting. We also summarize the bioink products practiced in research recently and current challenges to guide future research to develop in a promising direction. While there are challenges regarding currently available skin bioprinting, addressing these issues will facilitate the rapid advancement of 3D skin bioprinting and its ability to mimic the native anatomy and physiology of skin and surrounding tissues in the future.

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Development of Alpha-emitting radioembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Longitudinal Monitoring of Actinium-225’s Daughters Through SPECT Imaging

10.21203/rs.3.rs-134829/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yong Du ◽

Angel Cortez ◽

Mohammadreza Zarisfi ◽

Anders Josefsson ◽

Rebecca Krimins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Liver Cancer ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Normal Tissue ◽

Liver Tumors ◽

Primary Liver Cancer ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Spect Imaging ◽

Hepatic Tumors

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer and the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. Most patients with advanced disease are offered non-surgical palliative treatment options. This work explores the first α-emitting radioembolization for the treatment and monitoring of hepatic tumors. Furthermore, this works demonstrates the first in vivo simultaneous multiple-radionuclide SPECT images of the complex decay chain of an [225Ac]Ac-labeled agent using a clinical SPECT system to monitor the temporal distribution. Methods: A DOTA chelator was modified with a lipophilic moiety and radiolabeled with Actinium-225. The resulting agent, [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-TDA, was emulsified in Lipiodol® and evaluated in vivo in mouse model and the VX2 rabbit technical model of liver cancer. SPECT imaging was performed to monitor distribution of the TAT agent and the free daughters.Results: [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-TDA was shown to retain within the HEP2G tumors and VX2 tumor, with minimal uptake within normal tissue. In the mouse model, significant improvements in overall survival were observed. SPECT imaging was able to distinguish between the Actinium-225 agent (Francium-221) and the loss of the longer lived daughter, Bismuth-213. Conclusion: A TAT agent emulsified in Lipiodol® is capable of targeting liver tumors with minimal accumulation in normal tissue, providing a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC as well as a variety of hepatic tumors. In addition, SPECT imaging presented here provides a foundation for imaging methodology and protocols that can be rapidly translated into the clinic to monitor Actinium-225-labeled agents.

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Surgery for Lung Cancer and the Consequences for the Swallow

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp1.sig13.162 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (13) ◽

pp. 162-168

Author(s):

Pippa Hales ◽

Corinne Mossey-Gaston

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Vocal Cord Palsy ◽

Subsequent Treatment ◽

Physiological Reserve ◽

Palliative Phase ◽

And Function ◽

The Impact ◽

Swallow Function

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers across Northern America and Europe. Treatment options offered are dependent on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, the staging, and the overall health of the person. When surgery for lung cancer is offered, difficulty swallowing is a potential complication that can have several influencing factors. Surgical interaction with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) can lead to unilateral vocal cord palsy, altering swallow function and safety. Understanding whether the RLN has been preserved, damaged, or sacrificed is integral to understanding the effect on the swallow and the subsequent treatment options available. There is also the risk of post-surgical reduction of physiological reserve, which can reduce the strength and function of the swallow in addition to any surgery specific complications. As lung cancer has a limited prognosis, the clinician must also factor in the palliative phase, as this can further increase the burden of an already compromised swallow. By understanding the surgery and the implications this may have for the swallow, there is the potential to reduce the impact of post-surgical complications and so improve quality of life (QOL) for people with lung cancer.

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