TFE3 rearrangements characterize histogenetically, topographically, and biologically diverse neoplasms. Besides being a universal defining feature in alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) and clear cell stromal tumor of the lung, TFE3 fusions have been reported in subsets of renal cell carcinoma, perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and ossifying fibromyxoid tumors. TFE3 -related neoplasms are rare in the head and neck and may pose diagnostic challenges. We herein describe 22 TFE3 fusion neoplasms affecting 11 males and 11 females aged 4 to 79 years (median, 25) and involving different head and neck sites: sinonasal cavities (n = 8), tongue (n = 4), oral cavity/oropharynx (n = 3), salivary glands (n = 2), orbit (n = 2), and soft tissue or unspecified sites (n = 3). Based on morphology and myomelanocytic immunophenotype, 10 tumors qualified as ASPS, 7 as PEComas (3 melanotic; all sinonasal), and 5 showed intermediate (indeterminate) histology overlapping with ASPS and PEComa. Immunohistochemistry for TFE3 was homogeneously strongly positive in all cases. Targeted RNA sequencing/FISH testing confirmed TFE3 fusions in 14 of 16 successfully tested cases (88%). ASPSCR1 was the most frequent fusion partner in ASPS (4 of 5 cases); one ASPS had a rare VCP::TFE3 fusion. The 6 successfully tested PEComas had known fusion partners as reported in renal cell carcinoma and PEComas ( NONO, PRCC, SFPQ , and PSPC1 ). The indeterminate tumors harbored ASPSCR1::TFE3 (n = 2) and U2AF2::TFE3 (n = 1) fusions, respectively. This large series devoted to TFE3-positive head and neck tumors illustrates the recently proposed morphologic overlap in the spectrum of TFE3 -associated mesenchymal neoplasms. While all PEComas were sinonasal, ASPS was never sinonasal and occurred in diverse head and neck sites with a predilection for the tongue. The indeterminate (PEComa-like) category is molecularly more akin to ASPS but shows different age, sex, and anatomic distribution compared with classic ASPS. We report VCP as a novel fusion partner in ASPS and PSPC1 as a novel TFE3 fusion partner in PEComa (detected in one PEComa). Future studies should shed light on the most appropriate terminological subtyping of these highly overlapping tumors.
- MeSH
- Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part * genetics pathology MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Phenotype MeSH
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease MeSH
- Gene Rearrangement * MeSH
- In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence MeSH
- Immunohistochemistry MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Biomarkers, Tumor * genetics analysis MeSH
- Head and Neck Neoplasms * genetics pathology chemistry MeSH
- Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms * genetics pathology chemistry MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors * genetics MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three most essential micronutrients which play major roles in plant survivability by being a structural or non-structural component of the cell. Plants acquire these nutrients from soil in the fixed (NO3 ̄, NH4+) and solubilized forms (K+, H2PO4- and HPO42-). In soil, the fixed and solubilized forms of nutrients are unavailable or available in bare minimum amounts; therefore, agrochemicals were introduced. Agrochemicals, mined from the deposits or chemically prepared, have been widely used in the agricultural farms over the decades for the sake of higher production of the crops. The excessive use of agrochemicals has been found to be deleterious for humans, as well as the environment. In the environment, agrochemical usage resulted in soil acidification, disturbance of microbial ecology, and eutrophication of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. A solution to such devastating agro-input was found to be substituted by macronutrients-availing microbiomes. Macronutrients-availing microbiomes solubilize and fix the insoluble form of nutrients and convert them into soluble forms without causing any significant harm to the environment. Microbes convert the insoluble form to the soluble form of macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) through different mechanisms such as fixation, solubilization, and chelation. The microbiomes having capability of fixing and solubilizing nutrients contain some specific genes which have been reported in diverse microbial species surviving in different niches. In the present review, the biodiversity, mechanism of action, and genomics of different macronutrients-availing microbiomes are presented.
- MeSH
- Bacteria * metabolism genetics classification MeSH
- Biodiversity * MeSH
- Biotechnology * MeSH
- Potassium metabolism MeSH
- Nitrogen metabolism MeSH
- Phosphorus metabolism MeSH
- Microbiota * MeSH
- Soil chemistry MeSH
- Soil Microbiology MeSH
- Crops, Agricultural MeSH
- Agriculture MeSH
- Nutrients * metabolism MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) still has a relatively high complication rate, underscoring the importance of high-quality training. Despite existing guidelines, real-world data on training conditions remain limited. This pan-European survey aims to systematically explore the perceptions surrounding ERCP training. METHODS: A survey was distributed through the friends of United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Young Talent Group network to physicians working in a UEG member or associated states who regularly performed ERCPs. RESULTS: Of 1035 respondents from 35 countries, 649 were eligible for analysis: 228 trainees, 225 trainers, and 196 individuals who regularly performed ERCP but were neither trainees nor trainers. The mean age was 43 years, with 72.1% identifying as male, 27.6% as female, and 0.3% as non-binary. The majority (80.1%) agreed that a structured training regimen is desirable. However, only 13.7% of trainees and 28.4% of trainers reported having such a structured program in their institutions. Most respondents (79.7%) supported the concept of concentrating training in centers meeting specific quality metrics, with 64.1% suggesting a threshold of 200 annual ERCPs as a prerequisite. This threshold revealed that 36.4% of trainees pursued training in lower-volume centers performing <200 ERCPs annually. As many as 70.1% of trainees performed <50 annual ERCPs, whereas only 5.0% of trainers performed <50 ERCPs annually. A low individual trainee caseload (<50 ERCPs annually) was more common in lower-volume centers than in higher-volume centers (82.9% vs. 63.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The first pan-European survey investigating ERCP training conditions reveals strong support for structured training and the concentration of training efforts within centers meeting specific quality metrics. Furthermore, this survey exposes the low availability of structured training programs with many trainees practicing at lower-volume centers and 71% of all trainees having little hands-on exposure. These data should motivate to standardize ERCP training conditions further and ultimately improve patient care throughout Europe.
- MeSH
- Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde * standards adverse effects MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Gastroenterology * education MeSH
- Clinical Competence standards MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Surveys and Questionnaires statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Education, Medical, Graduate * standards methods MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Europe MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) can cause or aggravate heart failure (HF). Catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for AF. This study focused on the feasibility and outcomes of emergent AF ablation performed during hospitalization for acute HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively investigated patients who underwent emergent CA for AF during hospitalization for acute HF in 2018-2024. Arrhythmia recurrence was the primary endpoint. The combination of arrhythmia recurrence, HF hospitalization, and all-cause death was the secondary endpoint. Patients were censored 1 year after the index procedure. We included 46 patients, 35% females, with median age of 67 [interquartile rage: 61, 72] years and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 25 [23, 28]%. Thermal CA was performed in 14 patients, and pulsed field ablation (PFA) in 32 patients. Procedure time was significantly shorter with PFA compared to thermal CA (77 [57, 91] vs. 166 [142, 200] minutes, p < 0.001). Fluoroscopy time was longer with PFA (9.5 [7.6, 12.0] vs. 3.9 [2.9, 6.0] minutes, p < 0.001), with a borderline trend towards higher radiation dose (75 [53, 170] vs. 50 [30, 94] μGy.m2, p = 0.056). Extrapulmonary ablation was frequent (86% and 84% for thermal CA and PFA, p > 0.9). The estimated freedom from the primary endpoint was 79% after PFA and 64% after thermal CA (p = 0.44). The estimated freedom from the secondary endpoint was 76% after PFA and 57% after thermal CA (p = 0.43). LVEF improved by 24% ± 2% (p < 0.001) in patients with the first manifestation of HF and by 14% ± 4% (p = .004) in patients with decompensated HF diagnosed earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Emergent CA of AF during acute HF hospitalization is safe and associated with improved LVEF and good clinical outcomes. In the PFA era, the rate of these procedures is progressively increasing as they are readily available and easy to perform compared to thermal ablation.
- MeSH
- Action Potentials MeSH
- Acute Disease MeSH
- Time Factors MeSH
- Atrial Fibrillation * physiopathology surgery diagnosis MeSH
- Ventricular Function, Left * MeSH
- Catheter Ablation * adverse effects MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Recurrence * MeSH
- Retrospective Studies MeSH
- Risk Factors MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Heart Rate MeSH
- Heart Failure * physiopathology diagnosis therapy mortality MeSH
- Feasibility Studies * MeSH
- Stroke Volume MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Comparative Study MeSH
BACKGROUND: Modafinil is primarily used to treat narcolepsy but is also used as an off-label cognitive enhancer. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies indicate that modafinil modulates the connectivity of neocortical networks primarily involved in attention and executive functions. However, much less is known about the drug's effects on subcortical structures. Following preliminary findings, we evaluated modafinil's activity on the connectivity of distinct cerebellar regions with the neocortex. We assessed the spatial relationship of these effects with the expression of neurotransmitter receptors/transporters. METHODS: Patterns of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging connectivity were estimated in 50 participants from scans acquired pre- and postadministration of a single (100 mg) dose of modafinil (n = 25) or placebo (n = 25). Using specific cerebellar regions as seeds for voxelwise analyses, we examined modafinil's modulation of cerebellar-neocortical connectivity. Next, we conducted a quantitative evaluation of the spatial overlap between the modulation of cerebellar-neocortical connectivity and the expression of neurotransmitter receptors/transporters obtained by publicly available databases. RESULTS: Modafinil increased the connectivity of crus I and vermis IX with prefrontal regions. Crus I connectivity changes were associated with the expression of dopaminergic D2 receptors. The vermis I-II showed enhanced coupling with the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and matched the expression of histaminergic H3 receptors. The vermis VII-VIII displayed increased connectivity with the visual cortex, an activity associated with dopaminergic and histaminergic neurotransmission. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals modafinil's modulatory effects on cerebellar-neocortical connectivity. The modulation mainly involves crus I and the vermis and spatially overlaps the distribution of dopaminergic and histaminergic receptors.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging * MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Modafinil * pharmacology administration & dosage MeSH
- Cerebellum * drug effects diagnostic imaging metabolism MeSH
- Neocortex drug effects metabolism diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Neural Pathways drug effects metabolism MeSH
- Wakefulness-Promoting Agents pharmacology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Late capsular bag distension syndrome (CBS) is a rare complication of the ^lcataract surgery. AIM: The aim is to present 9 cases with delayed presentation and describe their successful management with surgical approach. METHOD: A two-year retrospective review of 9 cases was undertaken. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) was used to confirm this diagnosis. Aspiration of the milky fluid with 26 gauge needle followed by capsular bag lavage was performed and aspirated fluid was examined. RESULTS: Patients showed signs of late CBS 6,56 ± 1,94 years after uncomplicated phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation into the capsular bag. All 9 patients presented with a turbid fluid collection within the distended capsular bag. AS-OCT showed a hyper-reflective material in the space between the IOL and distended posterior capsule. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the manifestations of CBS and choice of the correct imaging modality may lead to regular diagnosis and successful treatment. Management with aspiration of the milky fluid and lavage of the capsular bag is technically safe and effective procedure. It has the advantage of microbial testing of the fluid. AS-OCT is useful tool to differentiate this condition clearly from IOL opacification and posterior capsule opacification.
- MeSH
- Phacoemulsification * MeSH
- Lens Implantation, Intraocular * MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Lens Diseases diagnosis etiology surgery MeSH
- Tomography, Optical Coherence * MeSH
- Postoperative Complications * MeSH
- Lens Capsule, Crystalline * surgery diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Retrospective Studies MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Syndrome MeSH
- Visual Acuity physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The 2024 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines for chronic kidney disease (CKD) evaluation and management bring important updates, particularly for European laboratories. These guidelines emphasize the need for harmonization in CKD testing, promoting the use of regional equations. In Europe, the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) equation is particularly suited for European populations, particularly compared to the CKD-EPI 2021 race-free equation. A significant focus is placed on the combined use of creatinine and cystatin C to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcr-cys), improving diagnostic accuracy. In situations where eGFR may be inaccurate or clinically insufficient, the guidelines encourage the use of measured GFR (mGFR) through exogenous markers like iohexol. These guidelines emphasize the need to standardize creatinine and cystatin C measurements, ensure traceability to international reference materials, and adopt harmonized reporting practices. The recommendations also highlight the importance of incorporating risk prediction models, such as the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE), into routine clinical practice to better tailor patient care. This article provides a European perspective on how these KDIGO updates should be implemented in clinical laboratories to enhance CKD diagnosis and management, ensuring consistency across the continent.
- MeSH
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic * diagnosis therapy MeSH
- Cystatin C blood MeSH
- Glomerular Filtration Rate * MeSH
- Laboratories, Clinical MeSH
- Creatinine blood MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Practice Guidelines as Topic * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
- Geographicals
- Europe MeSH
BACKGROUND: Trichophyton mentagrophytes ITS genotype VII (TMVII) has recently been identified in France as the causative agent of dermatophyte infections transmitted during sexual activity among men who have sex with men (MSM). OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to provide new insights into the epidemiology, clinical presentation and treatment of TMVII infections based on cases diagnosed from October 2022 to September 2023 in three medical mycology laboratories in Paris. Additionally, we aimed to perform molecular characterization of TMVII strains collected in Paris, as well as in Switzerland. METHODS: We identified all isolates from skin and hair belonging to the T. mentagrophytes complex by sequencing the ITS region. For isolates corresponding to TMVII, clinical data were retrieved from medical records. For all available TMVII strains that we isolated since January 2021, we sequenced tef1α and tubb and determined the MAT locus idiomorph. RESULTS: We identified 32 cases of TMVII Infections. All cases occurred in men, 30 of whom reported having sex with men. Fifteen cases were sporadic cases including four among sex workers. The other 17 cases belonged to a single cluster involving a tantric masseur who infected 15 clients and his roommate. The median time from massage to lesion onset was 16 [2-52] days. Except for one patient, all other patients received systemic antifungal treatment with terbinafine. We observed five patients whose cultures remained positive even after 3-4 weeks of treatment and five patients experienced a relapse of the infection after discontinuing antifungal treatment. All French isolates exhibited identical tef1α and tubb sequences, as well as the same MAT idiomorph locus. They displayed variations in the tef1α sequence compared to isolates from Switzerland and the Czech Republic. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the active circulation of TMVII among MSM in France, which is associated with challenges in diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
- MeSH
- Antifungal Agents * therapeutic use MeSH
- Arthrodermataceae MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Genotype * MeSH
- Homosexuality, Male MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Terbinafine therapeutic use MeSH
- Tinea * microbiology epidemiology drug therapy MeSH
- Trichophyton * genetics isolation & purification MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- France MeSH
OBJECTIVES: In axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients initiating secukinumab, we aimed to assess retention rates and proportions of patients achieving remission and low disease activity (LDA), according to disease activity measures and patient-reported outcomes at 24 and 48 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on patients with axSpA and PsA who initiated secukinumab treatment were pooled from 13 European registries. Analyses were performed overall and stratified according to the number of previous biologic/targeted synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (b/tsDMARDs, 0/1/≥2). Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression analyses were performed to assess and compare secukinumab retention rates. Comparisons of remission and LDA rates were performed by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The overall 24-/48-month secukinumab retention rates were 61%/51% in 767 axSpA patients, and 64%/49% in 975 PsA patients, respectively. Compared to b/tsDMARD naïve patients, a higher risk of withdrawal from secukinumab was found for those with≥2 prior b/tsDMARDs in axSpA and PsA, and 1 prior b/tsDMARD in axSpA. Generally, remission and LDA rates were numerically higher in b/tsDMARD naïve patients. After adjustment for confounders, statistically significantly higher remission and LDA rates were found for b/tsDMARD naïve patients compared to patients with≥ 2 prior b/tsDMARDs at 24 months in axSpA and PsA. CONCLUSION: This large European real-world study demonstrates that 4-year secukinumab retention rates were approximately 50% in both axSpA and PsA. b/tsDMARD naïve patients had higher retention, remission and LDA rates than patients with prior b/tsDMARD exposure.
- MeSH
- Antirheumatic Agents * therapeutic use MeSH
- Axial Spondyloarthritis * drug therapy diagnosis MeSH
- Time Factors MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Patient Reported Outcome Measures MeSH
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized * therapeutic use MeSH
- Remission Induction MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Follow-Up Studies MeSH
- Arthritis, Psoriatic * drug therapy diagnosis MeSH
- Registries MeSH
- Severity of Illness Index MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
- Observational Study MeSH
- Geographicals
- Europe MeSH
BACKGROUND: Psychotherapy outcomes are typically measured in terms of symptom relief. However, this method might overlook important changes from clients' perspectives when they are asked to report on them. A more client-centred approach might bring a deeper understanding of psychotherapy outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes identified by clients within qualitative psychotherapy research. METHODS: The PsycArticles, PsycInfo, and MEDLINE Complete databases were searched for English language studies published until Nov 11, 2023. Additional studies were identified through references in the primary studies and previous meta-analyses or systematic reviews. Search terms were related to psychotherapy and counselling, clients' or patients' experiences, psychotherapy outcomes and changes, post-treatment perspectives, and types of qualitative methods. Qualitative studies on client-identified outcomes of individual psychotherapy were included. Findings related to clients' perceptions of psychotherapy outcomes were extracted (by ML and checked by TR and LT) and analysed (by all authors) using the descriptive-interpretative meta-analytic approach. All authors have personally experienced psychotherapy as clients. This study was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021277330). FINDINGS: We included 177 studies in the qualitative meta-analysis, from 24 countries, including descriptions from 2908 clients. Most of the studies were of good quality; they covered a wide range of therapeutic approaches and diagnoses. The descriptions of psychotherapy outcomes were classified into 60 meta-categories and grouped into ten clusters. These clusters related to clients' relational and social functioning; their emotional functioning; self-awareness, self-understanding, and more adaptive cognitive processing; behavioural functioning; developing their own resources; clients' attitudes towards themselves; generally embracing life; symptom and problem change; and more general wellbeing. The tenth cluster was outcomes that could not be clearly attributed to psychotherapy, which was considered outside the scope of this study. INTERPRETATION: The meta-analysis showed that clients value outcome dimensions beyond symptom reduction, such as deeper self-understanding, enhanced self-agency, and greater social engagement. By examining psychotherapy outcomes across various diagnoses and therapeutic approaches, we highlight limitations in traditional outcome measures, showing the need for more comprehensive, client-centred assessment tools and the value of incorporating qualitative methods into understanding dimensions of change. FUNDING: European Union.
- MeSH
- Mental Disorders therapy psychology MeSH
- Qualitative Research MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Psychotherapy * methods MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Meta-Analysis MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH