Search results for "effective"

Radiotherapy for the treatment of solitary plasmacytoma: 7-year outcomes by a mono-institutional experience.

2020

Objectives: Solitary plasmacytoma (SP) is characterized by a single mass of clonal plasma cells. Definitive RT can result in long-term local control of the SP. Due to the small number of patients and narrow range of doses, phase III randomized trials are lacking. The aim of this study is to further support the potential use of RT for the treatment of SP. Methods: Clinical data of all patients treated for SP at our Institution between 1992 and 2018 were reviewed. A total of 42 consecutive patients were analyzed. Results: The median follow-up was 84.8 months. Radiation dose did not differ significantly as a function of sex, type of SP (solitary bone plasmacytoma or as extramedullary plasmacyt…

Prospective Image Quality and Lesion Assessment in the Setting of MR-Guided Radiation Therapy of Prostate Cancer on an MR-Linac at 1.5 T: A Compariso…

2021

The objective of this study is to conduct a qualitative and a quantitative image quality and lesion evaluation in patients undergoing MR-guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) for prostate cancer on a hybrid magnetic resonance imaging and linear accelerator system (MR-Linac or MRL) at 1.5 Tesla. This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board. A total of 13 consecutive patients with biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer and an indication for MRgRT were included. Prior to radiation therapy, each patient underwent an MR-examination on an MRL and on a standard MRI scanner at 3 Tesla (MRI3T). Three readers (two radiologists and a radiation oncologist) conducted an independent qualita…

Immunobiology of Uveal Melanoma: State of the Art and Therapeutic Targets

2019

Uveal Melanoma (UM) represents the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults. Although it originates from melanocytes as cutaneous melanoma, it shows significant clinical and biological differences with the latter, including high resistance to immune therapy. Indeed, UM can evade immune surveillance via multiple mechanisms, such as the expression of inhibitory checkpoints (e.g., PD-L1, CD47, CD200) and the production of IDO-1 and soluble FasL, among others. More in-depth understanding of these mechanisms will suggest potential targets for the design of novel and more effective management strategies for UM patients.

DEBATE: Do interventions based on behavioral theory work in the real world?

2019

Abstract Background Behavioral scientists suggest that for behavior change interventions to work effectively, and deliver population-level health outcomes, they must be underpinned by behavioral theory. However, despite implementation of such interventions, population levels of both health outcomes and linked behaviors have remained relatively static. We debate the extent to which interventions based on behavioral theory work in the real world to address population health outcomes. Discussion Hagger argues there is substantive evidence supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions based on behavioral theory in promoting population-level health behavior change in the ‘real world…

Stem cell therapy. Old challenges and new solutions

2020

Stem cell therapy (SCT), born as therapeutic revolution to replace pharmacological treatments, remains a hope and not yet an effective solution. Accordingly, stem cells cannot be conceivable as a "canonical" drug, because of their unique biological properties. A new reorientation in this field is emerging, based on a better understanding of stem cell biology and use of cutting-edge technologies and innovative disciplines. This will permit to solve the gaps, failures, and long-term needs, such as the retention, survival and integration of stem cells, by employing pharmacology, genetic manipulation, biological or material incorporation. Consequently, the clinical applicability of SCT for chro…

Evolutionary impact of copy number variation rates.

2017

[Objective]: Copy number variation is now recognized as one of the major sources of genetic variation among individuals in natural populations of any species. However, the relevance of these unexpected observations goes beyond diagnosing high diversity. [Results]: Here, it is argued that the molecular rates of copy number variation, mainly the deletion rate upon variation, determine the evolutionary road of the genome regarding size. Genetic drift will govern this process only if the efective population size is lower than the inverse of the deletion rate. Otherwise, natural selection will do.

Early food for future health: a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of an eHealth intervention aiming to promote healthy food habits fr…

2017

Childhood overweight and obesity is a global public health challenge. Primary prevention initiatives targeting parents have been called for to encourage a positive feeding environment and healthy eating habits that may lay a good foundation for future health. At the same time, there is a need for interventions which combine accessibility and scalability with cost effectiveness. Today’s parents are extensive Internet-users, but only a few randomized controlled trials have investigated the use of Internet to promote healthy eating habits in early childhood. In Early Food for Future Health we have developed and will evaluate an Internet-based tool for parents of children between 6 and 12 month…

2020

β-thalassemia major (β-TM) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy caused by a quantitative defect in the synthesis of β-globin chains of hemoglobin, leading to the accumulation of free a-globin chains that aggregate and cause ineffective erythropoiesis. We have previously demonstrated that terminal erythroid maturation requires a transient activation of caspase-3 and that the chaperone Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) accumulates in the nucleus to protect GATA-1 transcription factor from caspase-3 cleavage. This nuclear accumulation of HSP70 is inhibited in human β-TM erythroblasts due to HSP70 sequestration in the cytoplasm by free a-globin chains, resulting in maturation arrest and apoptosis. Like…

The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing hospitalisations of elderly individuals in two influenza seasons: a multicentre case-control…

2017

Influenza vaccination may limit the impact of influenza in the community. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing hospitalisation in individuals aged ≥ 65 years in Spain. A multicentre case–control study was conducted in 20 Spanish hospitals during 2013/14 and 2014/15. Patients aged ≥ 65 years who were hospitalised with laboratory-confirmed influenza were matched with controls according to sex, age and date of hospitalisation. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE) was calculated by multivariate conditional logistic regression. A total of 728 cases and 1,826 matched controls were included in the study. Overall VE was 36% (95% confidence inte…

Providing choice and/or variety during a meal: Impact on vegetable liking and intake

2016

Food choice is defined as providing the opportunity for an individual to select the food he or she wants to consume while food variety is defined as providing an individual with foods that differ on at least one sensory characteristic. Literature shows that providing food choice or providing food variety may increase meal enjoyment and food intake. However, these two factors have been mainly investigated separately, while they may actually co-occur in real-life settings. In fact, in many out-of-home catering situations, individuals have the possibility to choose as many dishes as they desire from among different proposals for their meal. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact…