METHODS AND RESULTS: Four groups of ferrets received a single vaccination with different recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vectors expressing: Group 1, control with no glycoprotein; Group 2, the NiV fusion protein (F); Group 3, the NiV attachment protein (G); and Group 4, a combination of the NiV F and G proteins. Animals were challenged intranasally with NiV 28 days after vaccination. Control ferrets in Group 1 showed characteristic clinical signs of NiV disease including respiratory distress, neurological disorders, viral load in blood and tissues, and gross lesions and antigen in target tissues; all animals in this group succumbed to infection by day 8. Importantly, all specifically vaccinated ferrets in Groups 2-4 showed no evidence of clinical illness and survived challenged. All animals in these groups developed anti-NiV F and/or G IgG and neutralizing antibody titers. While NiV RNA was detected in blood at day 6 post challenge in animals from Groups 2-4, the levels were orders of magnitude lower than animals from control Group 1.

METHODS: A longitudinal study of biopsy-proven NAFLD patients was conducted at the Asian tertiary hospital from November 2012 to January 2017. Patients with paired liver biopsies and LSM were followed prospectively for liver-related and non-liver related complications, and survival.

RESULTS: The data for 113 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (mean age 51.3 ± 10.6 years, male 50%) were analyzed. At baseline, advanced fibrosis based on histology and LSM was observed in 22 and 46%, respectively. Paired liver biopsy and LSM at 1-year interval was available in 71 and 80% of patients, respectively. High-risk cases (defined as patients with advanced fibrosis at baseline who had no fibrosis improvement, and patients who developed advanced fibrosis on repeat assessment) were seen in 23 and 53% of patients, based on paired liver biopsy and LSM, respectively. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was independently associated with high-risk cases. The median follow-up was 37 months with a total follow-up of 328 person-years. High-risk cases based on paired liver biopsy had significantly higher rates of liver-related complications (p = 0.002) but no difference in other outcomes. High-risk patients based on paired LSM had a significantly higher rate of liver-related complications (p = 0.046), cardiovascular events (p = 0.025) and composite outcomes (p = 0.006).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 320 consecutive patients staged with cM0 bladder cancer underwent radical cystectomy (RC) between 2004 and 2013. The presence of TAIC (either located peritumorally [PIC] and/or intratumorally [IIC]) on histological slides was retrospectively assessed and correlated with outcomes. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to estimate the impact of TAIC on recurrence-free (RFS), cancer-specific (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox-regression analysis was carried out to evaluate risk factors of recurrence. The median follow-up was 37 months (IQR: 10-55).

RESULTS: Of the 320 patients, 42 (13.1%) exhibited IIC, 141 (44.1%) PIC and 137 (42.8%) no TAIC in the cystectomy specimens. Absence of TAIC was associated with higher ECOG performance status (P = 0.042), histologically advanced tumor stage (≥pT3a; P < 0.001), lymph node tumor involvement (pN+; P = 0.022), positive soft tissue surgical margins (P = 0.006), lymphovascular invasion (P < 0.001), and elevated serum C-reactive protein levels (P < 0.001). The rate of never smokers was significantly higher in the IIC-group (64.3%) compared to the PIC-group (39.7%, P = 0.007) and those without TAIC (35.8%, P = 0.001). The 3-year RFS/CSS/OS was 73.9%/88.5%/76.7% for patients with IIC, 69.4%/85.2%/70.1% for PIC and 47.6%/68.5%/56.1% for patients without TAIC (P < 0.001/<0.001/0.001 for TAIC vs. no TAIC). In multivariable analysis, adjusted for all significant parameters of univariable analysis, histologically advanced tumor stage (P = 0.003), node-positive disease (P = 0.002), and the absence of TAIC (P = 0.035) were independent prognosticators for recurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study examined breast cancer patients between 1st January 1994 and 31st December 2004 in UMMC. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and comparisons between groups using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analysis on prognostic factors were carried out using the Cox's proportionate hazard model for patient demographics, and tumour and treatment factors.

RESULTS: One hundred and thirty six patients were identified, with a median age at diagnosis of 75 years. Most had at least one co-morbidity (61.8%). Only 75.0% had a good performance status (ECOG 0-1). Mean tumour size was 4.4 cm. Primary tumour stages (T stages) 3 and 4 were present in 8.1% and 30.1% of patients respectively, and 30.9% had stage III and 8.8% had stage IV disease based on overall AJCC staging. ER positivity was 58.1%. PR status was positive in 30.1%. Surgery was performed in 69.1% of the patients and mastectomy and axillary clearance were the commonest surgical procedures (50.7%). Some 79.4% of patients received hormonal therapy, 30.1% radiotherapy and only 3.6% chemotherapy. Non-standard treatment was given to 39.0% of patients due to a variety of reasons. The cumulative 5 years overall, relapse free and cause specific survivals were 51.9%, 79.7% and 73.3% respectively. Performance status, T3-4 tumour, presence of metastasis, tumour grade and ER status were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. For cause specific survival they were T4 tumour, presence of metastasis and ER status.