scholarly journals Prognostic Biomarkers in Uveal Melanoma: The Status Quo, Recent Advances and Future Directions

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Nuno Jorge Lamas ◽  
Arnaud Martel ◽  
Sacha Nahon-Estève ◽  
Samantha Goffinet ◽  
Adam Macocco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Uveal Melanoma ◽  
Metastatic Disease ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Surgical Excision ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Prognostic Biomarkers ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Blurred Vision ◽  
Eye Exams

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common malignant intraocular tumour in the adult population. It is a rare cancer with an incidence of nearly five cases per million inhabitants per year, which develops from the uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes in the choroid (≈90%), ciliary body (≈6%) or iris (≈4%). Patients initially present either with symptoms like blurred vision or photopsia, or without symptoms, with the tumour being detected in routine eye exams. Over the course of the disease, metastases, which are initially dormant, develop in nearly 50% of patients, preferentially in the liver. Despite decades of intensive research, the only approach proven to mildly control disease spread are early treatments directed to ablate liver metastases, such as surgical excision or chemoembolization. However, most patients have a limited life expectancy once metastases are detected, since there are limited therapeutic approaches for the metastatic disease, including immunotherapy, which unlike in cutaneous melanoma, has been mostly ineffective for UM patients. Therefore, in order to offer the best care possible to these patients, there is an urgent need to find robust models that can accurately predict the prognosis of UM, as well as therapeutic strategies that effectively block and/or limit the spread of the metastatic disease. Here, we initially summarized the current knowledge about UM by compiling the most relevant epidemiological, clinical, pathological and molecular data. Then, we revisited the most important prognostic factors currently used for the evaluation and follow-up of primary UM cases. Afterwards, we addressed emerging prognostic biomarkers in UM, by comprehensively reviewing gene signatures, immunohistochemistry-based markers and proteomic markers resulting from research studies conducted over the past three years. Finally, we discussed the current hurdles in the field and anticipated the future challenges and novel avenues of research in UM.

Current Status of Knowledge and Awareness of Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asirvatham Alwin Robert ◽  
Ahmad Dakeel Al Awad ◽  
Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Dawish
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
The Government

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease, and the complications may be life-threatening; however, with proper treatment and control measures, it can be very well-managed. Self-management training and education of diabetes are critical in diabetes care and management. It is essential that patients with diabetes must have a comprehensive understanding of the nature of the disease, risk factors, complications, and possible treatment modalities to attenuate the complications. Over the last few years, DM in Saudi Arabia has been rapidly growing at an alarming rate. It has affected around one-fifth of the adult population, and by 2030, the numbers are predicted to rise further and exceed more than double the present number. An estimated tenfold increase has been reported over the past three decades in Saudi Arabia. However, there has not been much research focusing on understanding the knowledge and awareness of DM in Saudi Arabia as compared to developed nations. This review aims to present an overview of the current knowledge and awareness level of DM among the population of Saudi Arabia through an extensive review of the currently available literature. The review findings could be of immense assistance to the government, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and researchers to develop evidence-based programs, policies, and guidelines towards increasing the knowledge and awareness about diabetes and its management, so that early detection and management can be ensured to control the escalating burden of diabetes, in Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Loose Ends in the Cortinarius Phylogeny: Five New Myxotelamonoid Species Indicate a High Diversity of These Ectomycorrhizal Fungi with South American Nothofagaceae

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 420
Author(s):  
María Eugenia Salgado Salomón ◽  
Carolina Barroetaveña ◽  
Tuula Niskanen ◽  
Kare Liimatainen ◽  
Matthew E. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
South American ◽  
Edible Fungi ◽  
Rdna Its ◽  
Morphological And Molecular Data ◽  
High Diversity

This paper is a contribution to the current knowledge of taxonomy, ecology and distribution of South American Cortinarius (Pers.) Gray. Cortinarius is among the most widely distributed and species-rich basidiomycete genera occurring with South American Nothofagaceae and species are found in many distinct habitats, including shrublands and forests. Due to their ectomycorrhizal role, Cortinarius species are critical for nutrient cycling in forests, especially at higher latitudes. Some species have also been reported as edible fungi with high nutritional quality. Our aim is to unravel the taxonomy of selected Cortinarius belonging to phlegmacioid and myxotelamonioid species based on morphological and molecular data. After widely sampling Cortinarius specimens in Patagonian Nothofagaceae forests and comparing them to reference collections (including holotypes), we propose five new species of Cortinarius in this work. Phylogenetic analyses of concatenated rDNA ITS-LSU and RPB1 sequences failed to place these new species into known Cortinarius sections or lineages. These findings highlight our knowledge gaps regarding the fungal diversity of South American Nothofagaceae forests. Due to the high diversity of endemic Patagonian taxa, it is clear that the South American Cortinarius diversity needs to be discovered and described in order to understand the evolutionary history of Cortinarius on a global scale.

scholarly journals Diversity, distribution, and drivers of Polychromophilus infection in Malagasy bats

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercia Rasoanoro ◽  
Steven M. Goodman ◽  
Milijaona Randrianarivelojosia ◽  
Mbola Rakotondratsimba ◽  
Koussay Dellagi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
Additional Material ◽  
Maxent Modelling

Abstract Background Numerous studies have been undertaken to advance knowledge of apicomplexan parasites infecting vertebrates, including humans. Of these parasites, the genus Plasmodium has been most extensively studied because of the socio-economic and public health impacts of malaria. In non-human vertebrates, studies on malaria or malaria-like parasite groups have been conducted but information is far from complete. In Madagascar, recent studies on bat blood parasites indicate that three chiropteran families (Miniopteridae, Rhinonycteridae, and Vespertilionidae) are infected by the genus Polychromophilus with pronounced host specificity: Miniopterus spp. (Miniopteridae) harbour Polychromophilus melanipherus and Myotis goudoti (Vespertilionidae) is infected by Polychromophilus murinus. However, most of the individuals analysed in previous studies were sampled on the western and central portions of the island. The aims of this study are (1) to add new information on bat blood parasites in eastern Madagascar, and (2) to highlight biotic and abiotic variables driving prevalence across the island. Methods Fieldworks were undertaken from 2014 to 2016 in four sites in the eastern portion of Madagascar to capture bats and collect biological samples. Morphological and molecular techniques were used to identify the presence of haemosporidian parasites. Further, a MaxEnt modelling was undertaken using data from Polychromophilus melanipherus to identify variables influencing the presence of this parasite Results In total, 222 individual bats belonging to 17 species and seven families were analysed. Polychromophilus infections were identified in two families: Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae. Molecular data showed that Polychromophilus spp. parasitizing Malagasy bats form a monophyletic group composed of three distinct clades displaying marked host specificity. In addition to P. melanipherus and P. murinus, hosted by Miniopterus spp. and Myotis goudoti, respectively, a novel Polychromophilus lineage was identified from a single individual of Scotophilus robustus. Based on the present study and the literature, different biotic and abiotic factors are shown to influence Polychromophilus infection in bats, which are correlated based on MaxEnt modelling. Conclusions The present study improves current knowledge on Polychromophilus blood parasites infecting Malagasy bats and confirms the existence of a novel Polychromophilus lineage in Scotophilus bats. Additional studies are needed to obtain additional material of this novel lineage to resolve its taxonomic relationship with known members of the genus. Further, the transmission mode of Polychromophilus in bats as well as its potential effect on bat populations should be investigated to complement the results provided by MaxEnt modelling and eventually provide a comprehensive picture of the biology of host-parasite interactions.

scholarly journals Primary Cardiac Fibroma in an Adult

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Samuel H. Cho ◽  
Timothy Fritz ◽  
Lynn J. Cronin ◽  
Stephen D. Cohle
Keyword(s):  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Left Ventricle ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Surgical Excision ◽  
Imaging Modalities ◽  
Cardiac Fibroma ◽  
Primary Tumors ◽  
Immunohistological Analysis ◽  
Unusual Finding

Cardiac fibromas are benign primary tumors composed of connective tissue and fibroblasts. These uncommon tumors are primarily found in the pediatric population, and their prevalence among the adult population is exceedingly rare. We report a case of an adult with nonspecific symptoms, who was subsequently found to have a solitary mass located in the left ventricle. This case highlights an unusual finding in an adult who through various imaging modalities, surgical excision, and immunohistological analysis was found to have a cardiac fibroma.

scholarly journals Vasculogenic Mimicry Correlates to Presenting Symptoms and Mortality in Uveal Melanoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiva Sabazade ◽  
Viktor Torgny Gill ◽  
Christina Herrspiegel ◽  
Gustav Stålhammar
Keyword(s):  
Visual Field ◽  
Uveal Melanoma ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Periodic Acid ◽  
Vasculogenic Mimicry ◽  
Clinicopathological Parameters ◽  
Tumor Diameter ◽  
Blurred Vision ◽  
Periodic Acid Schiff ◽  
Presenting Symptoms

Abstract PurposeFluid-conducting extracellular matrix patterns known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM) have been associated with poor prognosis in uveal melanoma and other cancers. We investigate the correlations between VM, presenting symptoms, mortality and the area density of periodic acid-Schiff positive histological patterns (PAS density).MethodsSixty-nine patients that underwent enucleation for uveal melanoma between 2000 and 2007 were included. Clinicopathological parameters, presenting symptoms and outcomes were collected. Histological tumor sections were evaluated for VM and PAS density was quantified with digital image analysis.ResultsThirty-four patients (49 %) presented with blurred vision. 18 (26 %) with a shadow in the visual field, 7 (10 %) with photopsia and/or floaters and 2 (3 %) with metamorphopsia. Nine patients (13 %) had no symptoms at all. Median follow-up was 16.7 years (SD 2.6). A shadow in the visual field, but no other symptom, was positively correlated with the presence of VM (φ 0.70, p<0.001) and greater PAS density (p<0.001). In multivariate regression, retinal detachment (RD), presence of VM and PAS density ≥ median were independent predictors of a shadow, but not tumor distance to the macula, tumor apical thickness, tumor diameter or ciliary body engagement. Presence of VM was associated with significantly shorter cumulative disease-specific survival (Wilcoxon p=0.04), but not PAS density ≥ median, presenting symptoms or RD (p>0.28).ConclusionTumors from uveal melanoma patients that report a visual field shadow are likely to display VM and greater PAS density, likely explaining the previously reported association between this symptom and poor prognosis.

scholarly journals Nine Cases of Merkel Cell Tumour

1997 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 439-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aniruddha Bose
Keyword(s):  
Metastatic Disease ◽  
Advanced Disease ◽  
Surgical Excision ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Cell Tumour ◽  
Neuroendocrine Neoplasm ◽  
Merkel Cell ◽  
Histochemical Examination

Merkel cell tumour is an aggressive neuroendocrine neoplasm arising in the dermis. Although only a few hundred cases have been reported worldwide, nine were seen in Nottingham between 1985 and early 1994. The patients were five women and four men age 63–88. One was the first Afro-Caribbean reported to have such a tumour. In no case was the diagnosis made clinically; histological and histochemical examination was necessary. Three of the patients died quickly with metastatic disease. The primary treatment is surgical excision. For advanced disease, radiotherapy is commonly beneficial

scholarly journals Branchial Cysts in Quito, Ecuador

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (03) ◽  
pp. e347-e350
Author(s):  
Luis Pacheco-Ojeda ◽  
Andrés Ayala-Ochoa ◽  
Karla Salvador
Keyword(s):  
General Hospital ◽  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Surgical Excision ◽  
Branchial Cleft Cyst ◽  
Complete Surgical Excision ◽  
Branchial Cleft ◽  
Lower Neck ◽  
Clinical Records

Introduction Branchial cleft anomalies are the second most common congenital anomaly in children. However, some lesions may not develop clinically and are not diagnosed until adulthood. The recent literature of branchial cysts (BCs) in the adult population is really scanty. For this reason, we analyzed the clinical and surgical management of the adult population treated for a BC at a tertiary care general hospital. Methods A retrospective review of the clinical records of all the patients with histological diagnosis of BC who were surgically treated at the Social Security Hospital in Quito, Ecuador, was performed. Fifty-one patients (27 women) with congenital anomalies of the 2nd (43 patients with cysts) and 3rd (6 patients with cysts and 2 with fistula) branchial arches were diagnosed and treated. Diagnosis was made on clinical grounds and by computed tomography scan. Results The 43 patients with a 2nd branchial cleft cyst underwent complete surgical excision through a wide mid-neck transverse cervicotomy. The 6 cases of 3rd branchial cleft cyst underwent surgical resection through a lower-neck transverse incision, and the 2 patients with clinical fistula in the lower aspect of the neck were operated on via an elliptical incision around this external fistula opening. Postoperative evolution was uneventful in all patients. Conclusions Branchial cysts can occasionally be diagnosed in adult patients in the setting of a general hospital population. A correct clinical and imaging assessment was diagnostic in most patients. Complete surgical resection was curative in all our patients, and postoperative complications were exceptional.

scholarly journals Immunoexpression of Macroh2a in Uveal Melanoma

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
pp. 3244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatorelli ◽  
Puzzo ◽  
Bartoloni ◽  
Palmucci ◽  
Longo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Uveal Melanoma ◽  
Metastatic Disease ◽  
Cutaneous Melanoma ◽  
High Expression ◽  
Melanoma Metastasis ◽  
Proper Treatment ◽  
Immunohistochemical Expression ◽  
Prognostic Role

MacroH2A is a histone variant whose expression has been studied in several neoplasms, including cutaneous melanomas (CMs). In the literature, it has been demonstrated that macroH2A.1 levels gradually decrease during CM progression, and a high expression of macroH2A.1 in CM cells relates to a better prognosis. Although both uveal and cutaneous melanomas arise from melanocytes, uveal melanoma (UM) is biologically and genetically distinct from the more common cutaneous melanoma. Metastasis to the liver is a frequent occurrence in UM, and about 40%–50% of patients die of metastatic disease, even with early diagnosis, proper treatment, and close follow-up. We wanted to investigate macroH2A.1 immunohistochemical expression in UM. Our results demonstrated that mH2A.1 expression was higher in metastatic UM (21/23, 91.4%), while only 18/32 (56.3%). UMs without metastases showed mH2A.1 staining. These data could suggest a possible prognostic role for mH2A.1 and could form a basis for developing new pharmacological strategies for UM treatment.

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