Notes

Bioleaching regarding E-Waste: Impact involving Produced Circuit Planks for the Action of Acidophilic Iron-Oxidizing Microorganisms.
The clinical relevance of telomerase subunits (human reverse transcriptase - hTERT, and human telomerase RNA - hTR) and TERT promotor mutations as biomarkers in genitourinary cancers was reviewed through the systematic analysis of the current literature. We performed a systematic literature search using 2 databases (Medline and Scopus) over the past 20 years. Primary outcomes were sensitivity and specificity of hTR, hTERT and TERT promoter mutations. Secondary outcomes were the biomarkers predictive values for tumor characteristics. Regarding bladder cancer, hTERT in urine showed high sensitivity (mean values 55%-96%), and specificity (69%-100%) it correlated with bladder cancer grade and/or stage. hTR sensitivity ranged from 77% to 92%. With adapted cut-off, it demonstrated 72% to 89% specificity. TERT promoter mutation rate was up to 80% both in tissue and urine, resulting in 62%-92% sensitivity for primary tumors and 42% for relapse. Specificity ranged from 73% to 96%, no correlations with stage were observed. In prostate cancer, hTERT in tissue, prostate secretion and serum showed high sensitivity (97.9%, 36%, and 79.2%-97.5%, respectively) and specificity values (70%, 66%, 60%-100%). hTR showed very high sensitivity (88% in serum and 100% in tissue) although specificity values were highly variable depending on the series and techniques (0%-96.5%). In RCC, hTERT sensitivity on tissue ranged from 90 to 97%, specificity from 25 to 58%. There was an association of hTERT expression with tumor stage and grade. hTERT showed high accuracy in genitourinary cancers, while the value of hTR was more controversial. hTERT and TERT promotor mutations may have predictive value for bladder cancer and RCC staging and grading, while no such relationship was observed in CaP. Although telomerase subunits showed clinically relevant values in genitourinary cancers, developing fast and cost-effective methods is required before contemplating routine use.
Given the relatively high frequency of metastatic recurrence of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), reliable prognostic markers of ccRCC, particularly those associated with metastasis, are needed. Here, in search of those factors, we assessed the contribution of sialyl Lewis x (sLe
) and sialyl Lewis a (sLe
), as well as functional E-selectin ligand carbohydrates expressed on carcinoma cells, to metastasis and consequent poor prognosis in ccRCC.

Patients who underwent surgical resection (curative nephrectomy) for RCC, and whose post-operative pathological diagnosis was ccRCC (n = 117) were enrolled in this study. Expression of sLe
/sLe
carbohydrate antigens in ccRCC was evaluated by immunohistochemistry with an anti-sLe
/sLe
monoclonal antibody HECA-452. To evaluate membrane expression of sLe
/sLe
carbohydrate antigens quantitatively, we employed a histological scoring system used to evaluate membrane expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer. We also cly in epithelial cells that constitute proximal tubules. Membrane expression of functional E-selectin ligand carbohydrates, as detected by the E-selectin•IgM chimera, correlated more significantly with poor prognosis of patients, namely, shortened progression-free, overall and cancer-specific survival, than did HECA-452 positivity.

Expression of E-selectin•IgM-binding functional E-selectin ligand carbohydrates can serve as a reliable and potentially superior prognostic biomarker of patients with ccRCC.
Expression of E-selectin•IgM-binding functional E-selectin ligand carbohydrates can serve as a reliable and potentially superior prognostic biomarker of patients with ccRCC.
To investigate the sensitivity of muscle velocity recovery cycles (MVRCs) for detecting altered membrane properties in critically ill patients, and to compare this to conventional nerve conduction studies (NCS) and quantitative electromyography (qEMG).

Twenty-four patients with intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW) and 34 healthy subjects were prospectively recruited. In addition to NCS (median, ulnar, peroneal, tibial and sural nerves) and qEMG (biceps brachii, vastus medialis and anterior tibial muscles), MVRCs with frequency ramp were recorded from anterior tibial muscle.

MVRC and frequency ramp parameters showed abnormal muscle fiber membrane properties with up to 100% sensitivity and specificity. qEMG showed myopathy in 15 patients (63%) while polyneuropathy was seen in 3 (13%). Decreased compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude (up to 58%) and absent F-waves (up to 75%) were frequent, but long duration CMAPs were only seen in one patient with severe myopathy.

Altered muscle fiber membrane properties can be detected in patients with ICUAW not yet fulfilling diagnostic criteria for critical illness myopathy (CIM). MVRCs may therefore serve as a tool for early detection of evolving CIM.

CIM is often under-recognized by intensivists, and large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to determine its incidence and pathogenesis.
CIM is often under-recognized by intensivists, and large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to determine its incidence and pathogenesis.
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) swept rapidly throughout the world. So far, no therapeutics have yet proven to be effective. Ribavirin was recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 in China because of its invitro activity. However, evidence supporting its clinical use with good efficacy is still lacking.

A total of 208 confirmed severe COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in Wuhan Union West Campus between 1 February 2020 and 10 March 2020 were enrolled in the retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the use of ribavirin. The primary endpoint was the time to clinical improvement. selleck compound The secondary endpoints included mortality, survival time, time to throat swab SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid negative conversion, and the length of hospital stay.

68 patients were treated with ribavirin while 140 not. There were no significant between-group differences in demographic characteristics, baseline laboratory test results, treatment, and distribution of ordinal scale scores at enrollment, except for coexisting diseases especially cancer (ribavirin group vs no ribavirin group, P=0.
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