Highlights ■ Hyperprolactinemia can be present in non-functioning pituitary adenomas because of the stalk effect. ■ Absolute prolactin levels may not always be reliable in discriminating non-functioning pituitary adenomas from prolactinomas. ■ Prolactin normalization after 48 h of 0.25mg cabergoline intake could be a strong predictor of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (100% sensitivity and specificity). ABSTRACT Objective: Clinical, imaging, and laboratory differentiation between non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) and prolactinomas can be challenging in clinical practice because of their similar presentation and […]

Highlights High fatigue and nutritional risk at discharge improved over one year in cancer survivors. Psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, remained prevalent for one year. 66% of patients had lasting symptoms or impairments after 12 months of follow-up. Nutritional risk was resolved in the following year. ABSTRACT Objective: Post-COVID symptoms are frequent and can be debilitating, particularly in individuals with cancer. However, their impact on this population remains unclear. This study aimed to prospectively assess […]

Highlights ■ Immersive virtual reality reduced heart rate, pain, agitation, and crying during pediatric venipuncture. ■ This technology effectively reduced pain during repeated invasive procedures, including catheter punctures. ■ The serious game strategy is low-cost, easy to implement, and well-suited for pediatric oncology care. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the impact of a serious immersive virtual reality game on the physiological and behavioral aspects of pain during peripheral venous access or central catheter puncture in children and adolescents with cancer. Methods: […]

Highlights ■ This prospective cohort study assessed prostate biopsy complications in 1,043 men. ■ The major outcomes included bleeding (Clavien-Dindo Grades 2–3 = 1.5%), infections (4.7%), and urinary retention (4.1%). ■ The key risk factors for infection were recent quinolone use, indwelling catheters, and high PSA levels. ■ Acute urinary retention was linked to untreated lower urinary tract symptoms, prostate volume, intravesical prostatic protrusion, and bladder wall thickness. ABSTRACT Objective: To identify complications following transrectal posterior biopsies in a public […]

Highlights ■ The reduction of miR-137 in tumor tissues is associated with a worse prognosis. ■ miR-137 has eight oncogenically relevant target genes acting in the PPARα lipid pathway. ■ NCOA1, NCOA3, MED27, and ESRRA are associated with advanced prostate cancer. ■ miR-137 exhibits significant clinical potential by repressing the activation of pathways that influence prostate tumorigenesis in hyperstimulated metabolic environments. ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the roles of miR-137 and its target genes in lipid metabolism and prostate tumorigenesis. Methods: […]

Highlights ■ In multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinomas: ■ The total tumor diameter was not associated with aggressiveness or initial evolution. ■ Other factors are associated with disease outcomes. ■ The number of metastatic lymph nodes is an independent predictor of American Joint Committee on Cancer stage. ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate whether the total tumor diameter (sum of the largest diameters of all foci) predicts tumor aggressiveness at initial presentation and treatment response at 1-year follow-up in patients with multifocal papillary […]

Highlights ■ Two gene groups with contrasting expression profiles were identified. ■ The ATP1B3 and SLCOB3 gene profiles classified patients with 90% accuracy. ■ The ATP1B3 and SLCOB3 gene signature is a potential predictor of treatment response. ABSTRACT Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Resistance to chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer has been widely associated with membrane transport-related genes, particularly those encoding efflux transport proteins, such as the ATP-binding cassette family members (including P-glycoprotein), which […]

Highlights ■ Performance was <70% in 10 of the 33 items. ■ Lowest performance domains were Oncologic Pain and Opioid Side Effects. ■ Residents in clinical specialties outperformed those in surgical or mixed specialties. ■ Residents with ≥3 years of training outperformed those on their first 2 years. ABSTRACT Objective: To translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Palliative Care Knowledge Questionnaire for PEACE (PEACE-Q) in Brazilian Portuguese. Methods: This study followed five steps: translation, back-translation, cultural adaptation, pre-test, and test-retest. […]

Highlights ■ MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-3 are upregulated in endometriotic lesions. ■ The study findings suggest a senescence-associted secretory phenotype in endometriosis. ■ The study findings support targeting senescence pathways in endometriosis. ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the roles of cellular senescence and dysfunctional extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in perpetuating chronic inflammation and facilitating the establishment of endometriotic lesions. By analyzing the MMP activity in the endometrial tissue and peritoneal fluid, we aimed to obtain novel insights into the molecular mechanisms […]

Highlights ■ Logistical factors were not responsible for most organ rejections in the single national waiting list. ■ Refusal information was operator dependent, as the reason for refusal was generic in most cases. ■ It is possible to increase the use of organs offered to the National Transplant Center by converting more offers into transplants performed through a more detailed study of the reasons for refusal. ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the outcomes and reasons for the refusal of organs offered […]