Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a universal heterogeneous disease that is characterized by genetic and epigenetic alterations. Immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and cancer vaccines are substitute strategies for CRC treatment. When cancer immunotherapy is combined with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, the CRC treatment would become excessively efficient. One of the compelling immunotherapy approaches to increase the efficiency of CRC therapy is the deployment of therapeutic mAbs, nanobodies, bi-specific antibodies and cancer vaccines, which improve clinical outcomes in patients. Also, among the possible therapeutic approaches for CRC patients, gene vaccines in combination with antibodies are recently introduced as a new perspective. Here, we aimed to present the current progress in CRC immunotherapy, especially using Bi-specific antibodies and dendritic cells mRNA vaccines. For this aim, all data were extracted from Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Elsevier, using keywords cancer vaccines; CRC immunotherapy and CRC mRNA vaccines. About 97 articles were selected and investigated completely based on the latest developments and novelties on bi-specific antibodies, mRNA vaccines, nanobodies, and MGD007.
31 January 2023 in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
Background: Knowledge of normal facial vascular variations could prevent catastrophic complications of cosmetic procedures as well as providing a guide for surgical planning. Color Doppler ultrasound is a safe and noninvasive method for real time vascular evaluation.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the normal variations of the facial, angular, transverse facial, supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries in a sample of normal individuals.Methods: Normal individuals referred for dermal filler injection to the tertiary dermatologic center, were selected. Patients who were smoker or had a history of facial filler injection, facial surgery, or trauma were excluded from the study. Facial artery at three levels as well as angular, supratrochlear, supraorbital, and transverse facial arteries were evaluated by an 18 MHz ultrasound linear probe regarding their distance from facial reference lines and landmarks, and also their depths in various regions of face.Results: A total number of 43 individuals were evaluated in this study. Thirty‐one (72.1%) were women. The number of absent facial artery was zero in level one, three (3.48%) in level two, and nine (10.46%) in level three. The angular artery was absent in 10 (11.62%) participants. The transverse facial artery was absent in 27 (31.39%) assessed individuals. Distance from reference lines at level 2 and 3 of facial artery and its depth at level 2 were significantly different between left and right side (p‐values: <0.001, 0.01, and 0.03, respectively). No significant difference was seen between depth and distance of two sides for angular and transverse facial arteries. The comparison of the depths and distances from the reference lines of the assessed arteries between two sexes revealed only a significantly greater value of facial artery distance in level 1 in males (p‐value: 0.001). BMI was also significantly correlated with the depth of facial artery in level 2 (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.471, p‐value = 0.002) and level 3 (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.357, p‐value = 0.03) and the distance of the facial artery in level 1 (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.333, p‐value = 0.029).Conclusions: Color Doppler ultrasound could be used to map the arteries of face to prevent vascular complications and safely guide cosmetic procedures.
Background and Aims: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is among the most common urologic conditions in elderly men, presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms. Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is a recent interventional treatment for BPH.Methods: This prospective single‐center study reviewed the results of cases that underwent PAE for BPH from 2020 to 2022. Inclusion criteria were men with BPH refractory to pharmacologic treatment or those experiencing persistent adverse effects from medications, who were not candidates for surgical management. Assessments were made using ultrasonography for prostate volume and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) before and at 3 and 12 months after PAE. The clinical success rate of PAE was assessed according to the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe Standards of Practice. Recurrence of symptoms and complications after PAE were also recorded.Results: From a total of 46 included patients, clinical success was achieved in 93% at 3 months and 85% at 12 months. Complications occurred in eight (17.4%) cases, including five cases of erectile dysfunction and three cases of urinary tract infection. Eight (17.4%) cases had recurrent symptoms and required pharmacologic treatment, while seven (15.2%) needed surgery. The IPSS score dropped significantly at 3 months, with a mean difference of −16.2 (95% CI: −17.7 to −14.8) (p < 0.001), and at 12 months after PAE, with a mean difference of −13.5 (95% CI: −15.9 to −11.1) (p < 0.001). Prostate volume decreased significantly at 3 months, with a mean difference of −36.0 (95% CI: −43.0 to −29.0) (p < 0.001), and at 12 months, with a mean difference of −37.3 (95% CI: −43.7 to −31.0) (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that PAE is an effective therapeutic approach for patients with BPH, demonstrated by the low rates of adverse events and the absence of major complications.
30 January 2023 in Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences
Objectives: Endometriosis is a significant cause of chronic abdominal pain and infertility in females, often overlooked due to its resemblance to other abdominopelvic pathologies. This study aims to compare the diagnostic performance and agreement rate between an abbreviated MRI protocol (aMRI) and a full MRI protocol (fMRI) for detecting pelvic endometriosis. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 446 consecutive MRI exams, including both full (fMRI) and abbreviated (aMRI) protocols, performed for suspected pelvic endometriosis. An expert radiologist assessed the presence of endometriosis at 14 distinct anatomical sites. Each MRI protocol was interpreted in random order, with a minimum two-week interval between sessions to minimize recall bias. Agreement between the protocols was evaluated using kappa statistics. Results: The average age of the patients was 34.13 years. The highest incidences of endometriosis were found in the ovaries (88.8%) and the recto-uterine pouch (65%). The MRI protocols demonstrated perfect agreement (kappa coefficient = 1) for the ovaries, bladder, uterus, and caesarean section scar. High agreement was also observed in the rectum and uterine ligaments (kappa coefficients of 0.98 and 0.97). Detection of malignant transformation in existing ovarian endometriomas showed substantial concordance with a kappa coefficient of 0.66. Conclusions: An abbreviated non-contrast MRI protocol exhibits diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of a comprehensive protocol in detecting pelvic endometriosis, with similar confidence and reproducibility. Advances in knowledge: This study demonstrates that an abbreviated MRI protocol is as effective as a full protocol in diagnosing pelvic endometriosis, potentially allowing for quicker, cost-effective imaging without compromising diagnostic accuracy.