Anaerobutyricum soehngenii Reduces Hepatic Lipogenic Pathways and Increases Intestinal Gluconeogenic Gene Expression in Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) Mice.

Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing health problem for which no therapy exists to date. The modulation of the gut microbiome may have treatment potential for MASLD. Here, we investigated Anaerobutyricum soehngenii, a butyrate-producing anaerobic bacterium with beneficial effects in metabolic syndrome, in a diet-induced MASLD mouse model. Male C57BL/6J mice received a Western-type high-fat diet and water with 15% fructose (WDF) to induce MASLD and were gavaged with A. soehngenii (108 or 109 colony-forming units (CFU) 3 times per week) or a placebo for 6 weeks. The A. soehngenii gavage increased the cecal butyrate concentrations. Although there was no effect on histological MASLD scores, A. soehngenii improved the glycemic response to insulin. In the liver, the WDF-associated altered expression of three genes relevant to the MASLD pathophysiology was reversed upon treatment with A. soehngenii: Lipin-1 (Lpin1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (Igfbp1) and Interleukin 1 Receptor Type 1 (Il1r1). A. soehngenii administration also increased the intestinal expression of gluconeogenesis and fructolysis genes. Although these effects did not translate into significant histological improvements in MASLD, these results provide a basis for combined gut microbial approaches to induce histological improvements in MASLD.

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein expression is associated to the metastatic status of osteosarcoma patients.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare malignant primary bone tumours characterized by a high genetic and cell composition heterogeneity. Unfortunately, despite the use of drug combinations and the recent development of immunotherapies, the overall survival has not improved in the last four decades. Due to the key role of the tumour microenvironment in the pathogenesis of OS, a better understanding of its microenvironment is mandatory to develop new therapeutic approaches. From retrospective biological cohorts of OS, we analysed by immunohistochemistry the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) in diagnostic biopsies with local disease and compared their level of infiltration to patients suffering from metastatic status. LBP is considered as a marker of LPS exposure and can indirectly reflect the presence of Gram-negative microbiota. LBP were detected in the cytoplasm of OS cells as well as in tumour-associated macrophage. Tumour samples of patients with local disease were significantly enriched in LBP compared to tumour tissues of patients with metastatic status. Lung metastatic tissues showed similar level of LBP compared to paired primary tumours. Overall, this study strongly suggests the presence of Gram-negative bacteria in OS tissues and demonstrated their significant differential level according the metastatic status. This tumour-associated microbiome may help in the conceptualisation of new therapeutic approach to trigger efficient therapeutic responses against cancer.

The intratumoral microbiome: Characterization methods and functional impact.

Live-pathogenic bacteria, which were identified inside tumors hundreds year ago, are key elements in modern cancer research. As they have a relatively accessible genome, they offer a multitude of metabolic engineering opportunities, useful in several clinical fields. Better understanding of the tumor microenvironment and its associated microbiome would help conceptualize new metabolically engineered species, triggering efficient therapeutic responses against cancer. Unfortunately, given the low microbial biomass nature of tumors, characterizing the tumor microbiome remains a challenge. Tumors have a high host versus bacterial DNA ratio, making it extremely complex to identify tumor-associated bacteria. Nevertheless, with the improvements in next-generation analytic tools, recent studies demonstrated the existence of intratumor bacteria inside defined tumors. It is now proven that each cancer subtype has a unique microbiome, characterized by bacterial communities with specific metabolic functions. This review provides a brief overview of the main approaches used to characterize the tumor microbiome, and of the recently proposed functions of intracellular bacteria identified in oncological entities. The therapeutic aspects of live-pathogenic microbes are also discussed, regarding the tumor microenvironment of each cancer type.

Patient positioning in radiotherapy based on surface imaging using time of flight cameras.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the patient positioning accuracy in radiotherapy using a stereo-time of flight (ToF)-camera system. METHODS: A system using two ToF cameras was used to scan the surface of the patients in order to position them daily on the treatment couch. The obtained point clouds were registered to (a) detect translations applied to the table (intrafraction motion) and (b) predict the displacement to be applied in order to place the patient in its reference position (interfraction motion). The measures provided by this system were compared to the effectively applied translations. The authors analyzed 150 fractions including lung, pelvis/prostate, and head and neck cancer patients. RESULTS: The authors obtained small absolute errors for displacement detection: 0.8 ± 0.7, 0.8 ± 0.7, and 0.7 ± 0.6 mm along the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral axes, respectively, and 0.8 ± 0.7 mm for the total norm displacement. Lung cancer patients presented the largest errors with a respective mean of 1.1 ± 0.9, 0.9 ± 0.9, and 0.8 ± 0.7 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed stereo-ToF system allows for sufficient accuracy and faster patient repositioning in radiotherapy. Its capability to track the complete patient surface in real time could allow, in the future, not only for an accurate positioning but also a real time tracking of any patient intrafraction motion (translation, involuntary, and breathing).

Accuracy of dynamic patient surface monitoring using a time-of-flight camera and B-spline modeling for respiratory motion characterization.

Time-of-flight (ToF) camera technology provides a real-time depth map of a scene with adequate frequency for the monitoring of physiological patient motion. However, dynamic surface motion estimation using a ToF camera is limited by issues such as the raw measurement accuracy and the absence of fixed anatomical landmarks. In this work we propose to overcome these limitations using surface modeling through B-splines. This approach was assessed in terms of both motion estimation accuracy and associated variability improvements using acquisitions of an anthropomorphic surface phantom for a range of observation distances (0.6-1.4 m). In addition, feasibility was demonstrated on patient acquisitions. Using the proposed B-spline modeling, the mean motion estimation error and associated repeatability with respect to the raw measurements decreased by a factor of 3. Significant correlation was found between patients' surfaces motion extracted using the proposed B-spline approach applied to the ToF data and the one extracted from synchronized 4D-CT acquisitions as the ground truth. ToF cameras represent a promising alternative for contact-less patient surface monitoring for respiratory motion synchronization or modeling in imaging and/or radiotherapy applications.

[Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis and leptomeningeal involvement in Hodgkin's disease. Case report and review of the literature]. / Atteinte de la moelle épinière et envahissement méningé lors d'une maladie de Hodgkin. A propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Central nervous system, especially spinal cord involvement, is unusual in Hodgkin's disease. We report the case of a patient with refractory Hodgkin's disease who presented with intramedullary involvement. EXEGESIS: A 36-year-old woman presented with weakness of the right lower extremity and sphincter dysfunction 13 years after initial diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease. Magnetic resonance imaging showed intraspinal tumor with contrast enhancement extending from C7 to D1. Cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. Specific intramedullary spinal cord metastasis and leptomeningeal involvement were confirmed. Despite intrathecal chemotherapy the neurologic deficit progressed to paraplegia and the patient died 2 months later. CONCLUSION: Intramedullary spinal cord metastases rarely occur in the course of Hodgkin's disease. Except for the initial presentation, their prognosis is poor despite early diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging. Other causes such as epidural cord compression, paraneoplasic myelopathy, granulomatous angiitis and radiation myelopathy are still delated.

[Computed tomography of lymphoma in adults. The Study Group of Lymphoma in Adults]. / Tomodensitométrie des lymphomes de l'adulte. Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte.

In order to avoid misinterpretation especially at the initial imaging procedure as well as on follow up CT, the authors illustrate the features of the multiple nodal and extranodal localisations of lymphoma. The evolutive findings are emphasized.

[Mammographic aspects of Aschoff's proliferative centres]. / Aspects mammographiques des centres prolifératifs d'Aschoff.

The pseudotumoral feature of radial scar cause considerable diagnostic problems mammographically and at the extemporaneous examination. From a series of 28 cases, the authors confront their experience with classical mammographic data and emphasize: the difficulty in analysing the central area of the radiating structure, the possibility of glandular retraction, the relationship between spicules and radiolucent linear structures. These radiological criterias do not allow us to affirm the diagnosis. Extraction with histological examination of the operatory fragment is the only attitude.

[Granular cell tumors (Abrikossoff's tumors) of the breast. Apropos of 4 cases]. / Les tumeurs à cellules granuleuses (tumeurs d'Abrikossoff) à localisation mammaire. A propos de 4 cas.

Granular cell tumors are rarely localized in the breast gland because of diagnosis is difficult compared to breast skin lesions. Clinically and radiologically, pseudo-neoplastic aspect can be encountered. Differential diagnosis with an invasive carcinoma can be difficult on frozen section. But final histological analysis easily confirms the diagnosis. The treatment consists in local excision of the tumor. Today we can admit that granular cell tumors are derived from schwann cells.

[Benign mammographic stellar images. Apropos of 15 cases]. / Les images stellaires mammographiques bénignes. A propos de 15 cas.

15 stellar types breast lesions were reviewed and classified according their etiology (fibrosing adenosis, dysplasia, dystrophy, radial scar of Aschoff, fat necrosis). Radio-anatomical confrontation allowed to understand the images given by the varying appearances of the connective skeleton surrounded by adipose lobules. The authors study the diagnosis of the stellar breast lesions and recall the determinant role of connective tissue in the genesis of mammographic stellar images.

[Multilocular cyst of the kidney in adults. Problems in arteriographic and tomodensitometric diagnosis. Apropos of a case]. / Kyste multiloculaire du rein de l'adulte. Difficultés du diagnostic artériographique et tomodensitométrique. A propos d'un cas.

A case of multilocular cyst of the kidney in a forty-eight old female is reported. The urography-ultrasonography association had shown the heterogeneous character of the renal tumor. The angiography and the computed tomography were alarming. The real diagnosis was established by histologic study after nephrectomy.

[Diagnosis of tumor recurrence within the breast after tumor removal for cancer, followed or not by radiotherapy. Apropos of 23 cases]. / Diagnostic des récidives tumorales intra-mammaires après tumorectomie pour cancer suivie ou non de radiothérapie. A propos de vingt-trois cas.

The diagnostic value of mammography was evaluated retrospectively in 23 recurrent carcinomas in patients previously treated by partial mastectomy with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. Mammography established accurate diagnosis in 11 of the 23 patients. Mammography should always be performed in addition to clinical and cytological examinations and results must be evaluated jointly. Confrontation of these three investigations may be inconclusive as a result of changes produced by radiotherapy or surgery. The authors recall the necessity of surgical control of any nodular lesion developed in the area of the initial operation, particularly during the first three years.

[Fibrosing adenosis (eleven cases reported) (author's transl)]. / L'adénose fibrosante du sein. A propos de onze cas.

The authors studied eleven cases of Fibrosing Adenosis of the breast. If the clinical findings and radiologic examination evoke this diagnosis only a histological proof is sure. The difficulties in histological diagnosis, the problems of the histogenesis of fibrosing adenosis are emphasized. The authors recall the excellent prognosis of fibrosing adenosis.

Pit viper snakebite in the United States.

Pit viper snakebite is a relatively uncommon medical emergency which must be adequately diagnosed and treated to minimize local tissue destruction and systemic complications and to prevent death. Severity is highly variable and may range from minimal local pain and swelling to marked pain, edema, tissue necrosis, hemorrhage, shock, and death within one hour. By far, the most common complication is local tissue destruction often resulting in loss of function. Pit viper venom is extremely complex, containing factors which directly destroy muscle, blood vessels, and renal tissues. Other components anticoagulate blood and cause hypotension, local edema, and pain. Neurotoxicity is unusual, but respiratory paralysis may follow Mojave rattlesnake bites. Proper first aid consists of a proximal mildly constricting tourniquet, superficial incision at fang marks, and constant suction. Medical management consists of early intravenous antivenin in adequate dosage, after hypersensitivity testing. Other measures are largely supportive. The early use of corticosteroids is controversial. Cryotherapy is to be avoided. Fasciotomy may be necessary when edema is severe and impairs arterial perfusion. Promising developments include immunization trials against pit viper venom as well as studies on the antivenom activity of rattlesnake plasma.