Amitriptyline effectiveness in burning mouth syndrome: An in-depth case series analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of amitriptyline (AMT), and to identify the determinants of the treatment's effectiveness in patients diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). BACKGROUND: Treatment of BMS is challenging and no established treatment protocol is available. AMT may be an important treatment option, cout not all patients benefit from this drug. Studies assessing factors related to treatment response are valuable in improving decision-making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case series study examined the medical records of all patients diagnosed with BMS at an oral medicine unit in a university hospital from 2008 to 2022. The patients were divided into responders to AMT and non-responders to AMT. Data on demographic information, comorbidities, medications, types of symptoms and oral subsites affected were collected. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted to assess the association between the independent variables and the outcome, using the Chi-squared test (P < .05). RESULTS: Three hundred and fourty-nine patients reported a burning mouth sensation, 50 of them (14.3%) being diagnosed with primary BMS. Of these, 35 were treated with AMT, and 26 (74.2%) responded significantly to AMT. All males responded to AMT, whereas only 67.9% of females responded. The mean dose of AMT among responders was 29.8 ± 12.3 mg, with most patients achieving a response with 25 mg (61.5% of patients), followed by 50 mg (23%). The concomitant use of an anticonvulsant resulted in non-response. CONCLUSIONS: AMT may be effective in BMS management for most patients.

Circulating and Endometrial Tissue microRNA Markers Associated with Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Response to Treatment.

In developed countries, endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common neoplasms of the female reproductive system. MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of single-stranded noncoding RNA molecules with lengths of 19-25 nucleotides that bind to target messenger RNA (mRNA) to regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. Although there is a large amount of research focused on identifying miRs with a diagnostic, prognostic, or response to treatment capacity in EC, these studies differ in terms of experimental methodology, types of samples used, selection criteria, and results obtained. Hence, there is a large amount of heterogeneous information that makes it difficult to identify potential miR biomarkers. We aimed to summarize the current knowledge on miRs that have been shown to be the most suitable potential markers for EC. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar without date restrictions or filters. We described 138 miRs with potential diagnostic, prognostic, or treatment response potential in EC. Seven diagnostic panels showed higher sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of EC than individual miRs. We further identified miRs up- or downregulated depending on the FIGO stage, precursor lesions, and staging after surgery, which provides insight into which miRs are expressed chronologically depending on the disease stage and/or that are modulated depending on the tumor grade based on histopathological evaluation.

Is radioiodine ablation with 1.1 GBq (30 mCi) 131I necessary in low-risk thyroid cancer patients? Results from a long-term follow-up prospective study.

BACKGROUND: In patients with low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), remnant ablation with radioiodine (RA) after total thyroidectomy (TT) is controversial. No benefits have been demonstrated in terms of mortality or disease-free survival. Recent evidence found that RA did not improve mid-term outcomes. PURPOSE: To evaluate initial response to treatment and long-term follow-up status in low-risk DTC patients after TT vs. TT + RA with 131I 1.11 GBq (30 mCi). METHODS: Prospective multicenter non-randomized study; 174 low-risk DTC that underwent TT were recruited an divided in two groups according to RA (87 ablated and 87 non-ablated). Response to treatment was evaluated at 6-18 months after thyroidectomy and at the end of follow-up with measurements of thyroglobulin, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies levels, and neck ultrasonography. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. Ablated patients: median age 45.5 years, 84% females, 95.4% papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), mean tumor size 16 mm; non-ablated: median age 45 years, 88.5% females, 96.6% PTC, mean tumor size 14 mm. Response to initial treatment was similar between both groups, with < 2% of structural incomplete response. Final status was evaluated in 139 cases (median follow-up of 60 months). Among ablated patients, 82.8% had no evidence of disease (NED), 12% had an indeterminate response (IR) and 5% a biochemical incomplete response (BIR). Non-ablated patients had NED in 90%, IR in 8.7% and BIR in 1.2%. No statistical difference was found between groups (p = 0.29). No patient had evidence of structural disease at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the recommendation against routine RA in low-risk DTC patients.

Recommendations for the use of biomarkers for head and neck cancer, including salivary gland tumours: a consensus of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology and the Spanish Society of Pathology.

The treatment of head and neck and salivary gland tumours is complicated and evolves constantly. Prognostic and predictive indicators of response to treatment are enormously valuable for designing individualized therapies, which justifies their research and validation. Some biomarkers, such as p16, Epstein-Barr virus, PD-L1, androgen receptors and HER-2, are already used routinely in clinical practice. These biomarkers, along with other markers that are currently under development, and the massively parallel sequencing of genes, ensure future advances in the treatment of these neoplasms. In this consensus, a group of experts in the diagnosis and treatment of tumours of the head and neck and salivary glands were selected by the Spanish Society of Pathology (Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica-SEAP) and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica-SEOM) to evaluate the currently available information and propose a series of recommendations to optimize the determination and daily clinical use of biomarkers.

Circulating Metabolites as Biomarkers of Disease in Patients with Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

A major challenge in the clinical management of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is identifying those who do not respond to antiseizure medication (ASM), allowing for the timely pursuit of alternative treatments such as epilepsy surgery. Here, we investigated changes in plasma metabolites as biomarkers of disease in patients with MTLE. Furthermore, we used the metabolomics data to gain insights into the mechanisms underlying MTLE and response to ASM. We performed an untargeted metabolomic method using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and multi- and univariate statistical analyses to compare data obtained from plasma samples of 28 patients with MTLE compared to 28 controls. The patients were further divided according to response to ASM for a supplementary and preliminary comparison: 20 patients were refractory to treatment, and eight were responsive to ASM. We only included patients using carbamazepine in combination with clobazam. We analyzed the group of patients and controls and found that the profiles of glucose (p = 0.01), saturated lipids (p = 0.0002), isoleucine (p = 0.0001), ß-hydroxybutyrate (p = 0.0003), and proline (p = 0.02) were different in patients compared to controls (p < 0.05). In addition, we found some suggestive metabolites (without enough predictability) by multivariate analysis (VIP scores > 2), such as lipoproteins, lactate, glucose, unsaturated lipids, isoleucine, and proline, that might be relevant to the process of pharmacoresistance in the comparison between patients with refractory and responsive MTLE. The identified metabolites for the comparison between MTLE patients and controls were linked to different biological pathways related to cell-energy metabolism and pathways related to inflammatory processes and the modulation of neurotransmitter release and activity in MTLE. In conclusion, in addition to insights into the mechanisms underlying MTLE, our results suggest that plasma metabolites may be used as disease biomarkers. These findings warrant further studies exploring the clinical use of metabolites to assist in decision-making when treating patients with MTLE.

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of primary biliary cholangitis in a highly admixed population.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in non-whites. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical features and outcomes of PBC in a highly admixed population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Brazilian Cholestasis Study Group multicentre database was reviewed to assess demographics, clinical features and treatment outcomes of Brazilian patients with PBC. RESULTS: 562 patients (95% females, mean age 51 ± 11 years) with PBC were included. Concurrent autoimmune diseases and overlap with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) occurred, respectively, in 18.9% and 14%. After a mean follow-up was 6.2 ± 5.3 years, 32% had cirrhosis, 7% underwent liver transplantation and 3% died of liver-related causes. 96% were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and 12% required add-on therapy with fibrates, either bezafibrate, fenofibrate or ciprofibrate. Response to UDCA and to UDCA/fibrates therapy varied from 39%-67% and 42-61%, respectively, according to different validated criteria. Advanced histological stages and non-adherence to treatment were associated with primary non-response to UDCA, while lower baseline alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels correlated with better responses to both UDCA and UDCA/fibrates. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features of PBC in highly admixed Brazilians were similar to those reported in Caucasians and Asians, but with inferior rates of overlap syndrome with AIH. Response to UDCA was lower than expected and inversely associated with histological stage and baseline AST and ALP levels. Most of patients benefited from add-on fibrates, including ciprofibrate. A huge heterogeneity in response to UDCA therapy according to available international criteria was observed and reinforces the need of global standardization.

Tegumentary leishmaniasis by Leishmania braziliensis complex in Cochabamba, Bolivia including the presence of L. braziliensis outlier: Tegumentary leishmaniasis in Cochabamba, Bolivia: Tegumentary leishmaniasis in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoans of the Leishmania genus, which includes more than 20 species capable of infecting humans worldwide. In the Americas, the most widespread specie is L. braziliensis, present in 18 countries including Bolivia. The taxonomic position of the L. braziliensis complex has been a subject of controversy, complicated further by the recent identification of a particular subpopulation named L. braziliensis atypical or outlier. The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic analysis of the L. braziliensis complex in Bolivia and to describe the associated clinical characteristics. Forty-one strains were analyzed by sequencing an amplified 1245 bp fragment of the hsp70 gene, which allowed its identification as: 24 (59%) L. braziliensis, 16 (39%) L. braziliensis outlier, and one (2%) L. peruviana. In a dendrogram constructed, L. braziliensis and L. peruviana are grouped in the same cluster, whilst L. braziliensis outlier appears in a separate branch. Sequence alignment allowed the identification of five non-polymorphic nucleotide positions (288, 297, 642, 993, and 1213) that discriminate L. braziliensis and L. peruviana from L. braziliensis outlier. Moreover, nucleotide positions 51 and 561 enable L. peruviana to be discriminated from the other two taxa. A greater diversity was observed in L. braziliensis outlier than in L. braziliensis-L. peruviana. The 41 strains came from 32 patients with tegumentary leishmaniasis, among which 22 patients (69%) presented cutaneous lesions (11 caused by L. braziliensis and 11 by L. braziliensis outlier) and 10 patients (31%) mucocutaneous lesions (eight caused by L. braziliensis, one by L. braziliensis outlier, and one by L. peruviana). Nine patients (28%) simultaneously provided two isolates, each from a separate lesion, and in each case the same genotype was identified in both. Treatment failure was observed in six patients infected with L. braziliensis and one patient with L. peruviana.

Is Lipidomic the Answer to the Search of a Biomarker for Organ Preservation Protocol in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

In the last decade organ preservation protocols based on chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been showing the possibility of preserving function without jeopardizing survival for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Still, only a percentage of the patients will benefit from this approach and, to date, no biomarkers are known to correctly predict these patients. More recently, modern mass spectrometry method has been used to determine metabolic profiles, and lipidomics, in particular, emerged as a new field of study in oncology and other diseases. This study aimed to analyze the lipid profile on saliva from patients undergoing to a prospective, single center, open-label, non-randomized phase II trial for organ preservation on HNSCC. The lipid analysis was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Multivariate statistical analyses based on principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis were applied to MALDI-TOF-MS data to visualize differences between the lipid profiles and identify potential biomarkers. The results assisted on distinguishing complete responders from non-responders to the treatment protocol. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a group of lipids is differentially abundant in saliva from HNSCC patients submitted to an organ preservation protocol, being able to differentiate responders from non-responders. These results suggest the potential use of lipid biomarkers to identify patients who may benefit from this treatment. Also, we showed that saliva testing might be routinely used in clinical practice, for being a non-invasive alternative to blood testing, besides inexpensive and easy to obtain.

Should Age at Diagnosis Be Included as an Additional Variable in the Risk of Recurrence Classification System in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of age at diagnosis on the frequency of structural incomplete response (SIR) according to the modified risk of recurrence (RR) staging system from the American Thyroid Association guidelines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 268 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) followed up for at least 3 years after initial treatment (total thyroidectomy and remnant ablation). The median follow-up in the whole cohort was 74.3 months (range: 36.1-317.9) and the median age at diagnosis was 45.9 years (range: 18-87). The association between age at diagnosis and the initial and final response to treatment was assessed with analysis of variance (ANOVA). Patients were also divided into several groups considering age younger and older than 40, 50, and 60 years. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis was not associated with either an initial or final statistically significant different SIR to treatment (p = 0.14 and p = 0.58, respectively). Additionally, we did not find any statistically significant differences when the percentages of SIR considering the classification of RR were compared between different groups of patients by using several age cutoffs. CONCLUSIONS: When patients are correctly risk stratified, it seems that age at diagnosis is not involved in the frequency of having a SIR at the initial evaluation or at the final follow-up, so it should not be included as an additional variable to be considered in the RR classifications.

Clinical, epidemiological, and therapeutic profile of patients with a retinoblastoma diagnosis experience in the Costa Rica National Children's Hospital Oncology Unit from January 2009 to December 2015.

INTRODUCTION: Retinoblastoma represents only 3% of paediatric cancers, but it is the most prevalent intraocular tumour in this population. It develops in the retina as a primitive neuroectodermal tumour that affects development during gestation. The tumour presents in two different forms depending on whether or not it expresses a genetic modification. For patients diagnosed at preschool age, 75% are unilateral non-hereditary cases. While enucleation is the preferred treatment for advanced stages of the tumour, other modalities, such as systemic and intraocular chemotherapy, radiotherapy and local treatments with thermotherapy, cryotherapy, and brachytherapy can be used to try to preserve the eye. However, applying radiation therapy treatments increases the risk of secondary tumours. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the results obtained from patients with a retinoblastoma diagnosis at the Costa Rica National Children's Hospital (HNN) Oncology Unit who received external beam radiation therapy and other therapeutic modalities during the period from January 2009 to December 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the patient's medical records and entered in a data collection instrument. We then analysed the results and formulated conclusions. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were evaluated. This corresponded to 45 cases or the number of eyes affected by bilateral presentation of retinoblastoma. The documented incidence was 0.83 cases per 10,000 live births and the majority were female preschool-age children. Of these, 40% presented bilaterally and 13% were of hereditary origin. Up to 78% of these cases were diagnosed with advanced stage D and stage E. All patients who received conservative treatment progressed, requiring up to four lines of treatment. Eight patients, all in the most advanced stage, received external beam radiation due to the failure of other modalities. The main adverse effects observed were radiodermatitis, facial hypoplasia and conjunctivitis. Additionally, we report the emergence of a secondary neoplasm in two patients, one post-chemotherapy and the other post-radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced-stage patients who initially received conservative treatments responded more poorly than those treated more aggressively with surgery alone or with surgery combined with another treatment modality. Treatment with radiation therapy was used in 22% of the cases (8 patients) and all patients treated with radiotherapy showed some adverse effects.

Claiming the validity of scientific evidence in post-truth times.

This letter is written in response to a review recently published in the journal. The aim is to highlight a potential methodological limitation common to many studies comparing bipolar patients with few previous episodes versus those with multiple episodes, and in which the results are interpreted as indicating the longitudinal course of the illness.

Aberrant expression of miRNAs predicts recurrence and survival in stage-II colorectal cancer patients from Egypt

Background: Patients with stage II CRC have a varying survival outcome. Therefore, it is critical to identify prognostic biomarkers that can define more aggressive forms of the disease. We assessed the expression levels of five miRNAs that have been previously addressed in relation to the development and progression of solid and hematological tumors. Methods: We measured the expression levels of miR-21, miR-137, miR-145, miR-320 and miR-498in stage II CRC patients from Egypt (124 tissues and 41 blood samples) by quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). The results were correlated with relevant clinicopathological factors, response to treatment and survival rates of the patients. Results: miR-137, miR-145 and miR-320 were significantly reduced in 39.5%, 48.4% and 52.4%; respectively whereas miR-21 and miR-498 were significantly overexpressed in 48.4% and 40.3% of the CRC tissues compared to the control group. In patients' blood, miR-137, miR-145 and miR-320 were significantly reduced in 46.3%, 46.3% and 51. 2%; respectively whereas mir-21 and miR-498 were significantly overexpressed in 46.3% and 43.9% of the cases, respectively. The concordance between tissue and blood was weak for miR-320 and miR-145 (kappa 40-65%), intermediate for miR-498 and miR-137 (kappa 65-75%) and strong for miR-21 (kappa 75-85%). In univariate analysis performance status, over-expression of miR-21 and miR-498 and reduced miR-137, miR-145, and miR-320 associated significantly with reduced DFS and OS. However, in multivariate analysis, miR-498 and miR-320 were independent prognostic factors for DFS whereas miR-21 was independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions: miRNAs play an important role in the development and progression of stage II CRC. A five markers panel (miR-21, miR-498, miR-137, miR-145 and miR-320) can predict recurrence and survival in stage II CRC patients from Egypt (AU)

Hipertensión pulmonar: importancia de un diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento específico / Pulmonary hypertension: importance of early diagnosis and specific treatment

La hipertensión arterial pulmonar (HAP) es una enfermedad crónica, que se caracteriza por el aumento de la resistencia vascular pulmonar (RVP) a nivel de la arteriola pulmonar, que provoca una progresiva sobrecarga y posterior disfunción del ventrículo derecho (VD), que en etapas finales lleva a la insuficiencia cardiaca derecha, la cual sella su pronóstico. La HAP es más frecuente en mujeres jóvenes en plena edad productiva, siendo la supervivencia media de 2-3 años, antes de la aparición de terapias específicas. La base genética sugiere una herencia autosómica dominante con penetrancia incompleta, reconociéndose principalmente la afección del BMPR2. En la etiopatogenia se reconoce una alteración en las señales que controlan fundamentalmente el equilibrio vasocontrictor-vasodilatador a nivel del endotelio, con un desbalance hacia la proliferación y vasoconstricción, en las que están involucradas 3 vías patogénicas: La del Óxido nítrico (ON), de la Prostaciclina (PG) y de la Endotelina (ET). El diagnóstico precoz de la HAP se asocia con una mejor supervivencia a largo plazo, por lo que su búsqueda ante un paciente con disnea, fatiga, dolor torácico y/o síncopes, así como en las poblaciones en riesgo, como son familiares en 1° con HAP, Esclerodermia y portadores de Hipertensión Portal, debería ser la estrategia de elección. La Ecocardiografía Doppler (ECO) es la herramienta de pesquisa más utilizada en la práctica clínica actual. El diagnóstico debe ser confirmado mediante un cateterismo derecho, con mediciones directas de la presión arterial pulmonar, y debe realizarse prueba de vasoreactividad. El advenimiento de los tratamientos farmacológicos-HAP específicos ha provocado un cambio en la evolución natural de la enfermedad, existiendo hoy terapias orientadas a controlar las principales vías patogénicas involucradas: ON, PG, y ET. Los principales factores pronósticos que permiten guiar la terapia y la adición de fármacos específicos a la terapia inicial son: clase funcional, ECO, NT pro-BNP, distancia recorrida en el test de caminata de seis minutos y variables hemodinámicas del cateterismo. El Trasplante bi-pulmonar está reservado para los pacientes que no responden al tratamiento médico en asociación máxima para el medio en que le paciente se encuentre.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic disease, characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) at the pulmonary arterioles, which causes a progressive overload and subsequent dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV), which final stages leading to right heart failure, which seals their prognosis. PAH is more common in young women in middle-age, with the median survival of 2-3 years, before the advent of targeted therapies. The genetic basis suggests an autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance, mainly recognizing the condition of BMPR2. An alteration in the etiopathogenesis is recognized in the control signals mainly vasoconstrictor-vasodilator balance level endothelium, with an imbalance towards proliferation and vasoconstriction, which are involved three pathogenic pathways: The nitric oxide (NO), Prostacyclin (PG) and endothelin (ET). Early diagnosis of PAH is associated with better long-term survival, so the search for a patient with dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain and / or syncope, as well as at-risk populations, such as with relatives 1 PAH, scleroderma and Portal Hypertension carriers, should be the strategy of choice. Doppler (ECO) Echocardiography is the most widely used research tool in current clinical practice. The diagnosis should be confirmed by right heart catheterization, with direct measurement of pulmonary artery pressure, and vasoreactivity testing should be performed. The advent of drug-specific PAH treatment has caused a change in the natural history of the disease, existing today aimed at controlling major pathogenic pathways involved therapies: ON, PG, and ET. The main prognostic factors that help guide therapy and the addition of specific drugs to initial therapy are: functional class, ECO, NT pro-BNP, distance covered in the walk test six minutes and catheterization hemodynamic variables. The bi-lung transplant is reserved for patients who do not respond to medical treatment in full partnership for the environment in which patient you are.