Epigenetics as a mechanism driving polygenic clinical drug resistance

Aberrant methylation of CpG islands located at or near gene promoters is associated with inactivation of gene expression during tumour development. It is increasingly recognised that such epimutations may occur at a much higher frequency than gene mutation and therefore have a greater impact on selection of subpopulations of cells during tumour progression or acquisition of resistance to anticancer drugs. Although laboratory-based models of acquired resistance to anticancer agents tend to focus on specific genes or biochemical pathways, such 'one gene : one outcome' models may be an oversimplification of acquired resistance to treatment of cancer patients. Instead, clinical drug resistance may be due to changes in expression of a large number of genes that have a cumulative impact on chemosensitivity. Aberrant CpG island methylation of multiple genes occurring in a nonrandom manner during tumour development and during the acquisition of drug resistance provides a mechanism whereby expression of multiple genes could be affected simultaneously resulting in polygenic clinical drug resistance. If simultaneous epigenetic regulation of multiple genes is indeed a major driving force behind acquired resistance of patients' tumour to anticancer agents, this has important implications for biomarker studies of clinical outcome following chemotherapy and for clinical approaches designed to circumvent or modulate drug resistance

Cistoadenoma de apêndice: relato de caso e revisão da literatura sobre tumores mucinosos do apêndice vermiforme Cyst adenoma of appendix: case report and literature review about mucinous vermiform appendix neoplasms

INTRODUÇÃO: Mucocele do apêndice (MA) é uma lesão rara, caracterizada pelo acúmulo de secreção mucoíde em sua luz. Diagnóstico precoce é fundamental para evitar o extravasamento de secreção mucoíde na cavidade peritoneal, causando pseudomixoma peritoneal. RELATO DE CASO: Paciente sexo masculino, 62 anos com história de dor abdominal em fossa ilíaca direita há cerca de 6 meses. Realizou uma ultra-sonografia do abdome que evidenciou no flanco direito pequena estrutura cística compatível com MA. Colonoscopia, exames laboratoriais e dosagem do CEA encontravam-se sem alterações. O paciente foi submetido à laparotomia exploradora com ressecção do apêndice e do seu meso em monobloco. O exame histológico mostrou tratar-se de cistoadenoma do apêndice vermiforme. O paciente evoluiu sem intercorrências. DISCUSSÃO: A MA é um achado raro. As principais causas patológicas incluem cisto de retenção, mucocele secundária a epitélio hiperplásico, cistoadenomas e cistoadenocarcinomas. A doença é geralmente assintomática e o diagnóstico pré-operatório é raro. O tratamento para mucocele do apêndice é cirúrgico e a preocupação principal do cirurgião é evitar o extravasamento do conteúdo da mucocele na cavidade abdominal. CONCLUSÃO: A MA é uma entidade incomum e com alto potencial de complicação, usualmente curável com tratamento cirúrgico adequado.<br>INTRODUCTION: Appendiceal mucocele (AM) is a rare lesion that is characterized by an appendiceal lumen distended with mucus. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are mandatory to prevent spillage of the mucinous content into the peritoneal cavity, causing pseudomyxoma peritonei. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old male was presented with a 6-months history of recurrent right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Ultrasonography showed a lesion in the right lumbar region compatible with AM. Colonoscopy, routine laboratory tests and CEA were normal. The patient underwent an appendectomy and complete excision of the cystic lesion. Pathologic examination revealed a mucinous cyst adenoma of appendix. The patient was symptom free after treatment. DISCUSSION: AM is a rare condtion. Mucoceles are histologically subdivided into retention mucocele, mucocele secondary a hiperpalsic epithelium, mucinous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. This disease is often asymptomatic and pre-operative diagnosis is rare. The treatment is essentially surgical and the surgeon need to avoid spillage of the mucinous content into the peritoneal cavity. CONCLUSION: AM is an uncomum entity and with high pontential of complication, usually curable with adequate surgical aproach

Compact helical antenna for smart implant applications

Smart implants are envisioned to revolutionize personal health care by assessing physiological processes, for example, upon wound healing, and communicating these data to a patient or medical doctor. The compactness of the implants is crucial to minimize discomfort during and after implantation. The key challenge in realizing small-sized smart implants is high-volume cost- and time-efficient fabrication of a compact but efficient antenna, which is impedance matched to 50 Ω, as imposed by the requirements of modern electronics. Here, we propose a novel route to realize arrays of 5.5-mm-long normal mode helical antennas operating in the industry-scientific-medical radio bands at 5.8 and 2.4 GHz, relying on a self-assembly process that enables large-scale high-yield fabrication of devices. We demonstrate the transmission and receiving signals between helical antennas and the communication between an antenna and a smartphone. Furthermore, we successfully access the response of an antenna embedded in a tooth, mimicking a dental implant. With a diameter of ~0.2 mm, these antennas are readily implantable using standard medical syringes, highlighting their suitability for in-body implant applications