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Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
FIBRONECTIN (FN) AND UROTHELIAL DAMAGE SECONDARY TO ADJUVANT INTRAVESICAL THERAPY
No full textIntroduction and Objectives: Intravesical chemotherapy has
been proven effective in preventing recurrence of low-risk
non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). BCG is recognised as the best conservative treatment for intermediate
and high risk NMIBC. Maintenance for at least one year is
required to ameliorate the efficacy of adjuvant therapy.
Discomfort and toxicity often cause interruption of adjuvant
therapy, BCG particularly. Almost 50% of the patients
undergoing BCG does not complete one year. A biomarker of
urothelium damage would be helpful for timely detection of
toxicity in order to ameliorate patient’s tolerance and
compliance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the
gene expression of Fibronectin (FN) in bladder washing in
relation with local toxicity due to adjuvant intravesical therapy.
Patients and Methods: Out of 26 asymptomatic patients
undergoing intravesical prophylaxis with mitomycin (40
mg/40 ml), epirubicin (80 mg/50 ml) or BCG Connaught (81
mg/50 ml) and 10 volunteers as control group, 62 samples of
bladder washing were collected before, during and after
therapy. The samples were analyzed by isolation of cellular
RNA using a miRNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen®). FN gene
expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. The ΔΔCt method after
normalization with endogenous reference 18s rRNA was
adopted. An average Ct value for each RNA was obtained for
triplicate reactions. Local toxicity was classified into 3 grades:
0-1. mild (no medical therapy); 2. moderate (medical therapy);
3. severe (instillation postponed for 1-2 weeks or intravesical
solution of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate
administered). Results: FN gene expression, compared to
controls, was increased 1.1 fold after TUR and before
intravesical therapy. During therapy it remained unchanged
(1.0 fold). However it was increased 1.1 fold in absence of
local toxicity, but to a median value of 3.6 fold in presence of
severe toxicity. Particularly, the mean values, compared to
controls, were 2.4 (range: 0.3-6.1), 1.1 (range: 0.1-2.3), 9.3
(range: 0.2-45.2), before therapy, in absence and in presence
of local toxicity, respectively. Of interest, patients receiving
intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate solution
showed a median FN gene expression of 0.2 fold (range 0.1-
0.7), decreasing from 3 to 0.6 and from 4 to 0.2 fold in two
patients contemporary with symptomatic relief. Discussion:
Few studies have correlated the gene expression of FN to
bladder urothelial damage, in interstitial cystitis (1). FN plays
an important role on BCG activity (2). A marker of topical
toxicity would be helpful to improve the tolerance and to
reduce the drop-out rates of intravesical therapy. The
measurement in bladder washing is a simple and direct
evaluation of urothelial FN gene activity. This method avoids
all the bias due to the evaluation of FN protein expression in
urine. The overexpression of FN gene indicates the presence
of urothelial damage and activation of repairing processes.
Normal and downexpression indicate the absence or healing
of urothelial damage. Preliminarily, our study shows a
significant correlation between FN gene expression on bladder
washing and local toxicity. Furthermore, FN seems to be
reduced by the intravesical administration of intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate solution. Conclusion:
FN gene expression in bladder washing emerges as a simple
and promising marker of urothelial damage. Further and larger
studies should be justified.
Acknowledgements: We wish to thank IBSA for unrestricted grant
and the GSTU Foundation for administrative support.
1 Blalock EM et al: Gene expression analysis of urine
sediment: evaluation for potential noninvasive markers of
interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. J Urol 187: 725,
2012.
2 Eissa S et al: Diagnostic value of fibronectin and mutant p53
in the urine of patients with bladder cancer: impact on
clinicopathological features and disease recurrence 27: 1286,
2010
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Correlation between BMI and the pathological features of prostate cancer at biopsy
No full textIntroduction/Aim: Numerous clinical trials investigated the association between obesity and prostate cancer, but they yielded inconsistent results (1). Obesity has been found to be related to prostatic tumors at more advanced stages and higher Gleason grade when compared with normal population (2). An increased number of biopsy cores has been advocated by some Authors in obese and overweight men due to an increased difficulty and delay in cancer detection (3). The main aim of our research was to correlate
Body Mass Index (BMI) with the pathological characteristics of prostate cancer at biopsy.
Patients and Methods: Patients
with positive prostate biopsy performed for palpable prostate nodule and/or elevated PSA levels were considered in the present study. A transrectal prostate biopsy procedure, not less than 12 cores, was performed. The number of specimens was increased in case of re-biopsy (18-24 cores or more).
After informed consent, a database has been created, including clinical and pathological data: demographics, PSA, digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound and prostate cancer features at biopsy. Patients were divided into four categories according to their BMI as follows: 16-19,9 (underweight), 20.0-24.9 (normal weight), 25.0-29.9
(overweight) and ≥30.0 (obese). The statistical analysis was conducted with Fisher’s exact test for Gleason pattern 4 (<4 or ≥4) and BMI for single weight class and the Pearson’s Chisquared test with Yates’ continuity correction for
aggregate BMI classes.
Results: Out of 149 patients
diagnosed with prostate cancer, the Gleason score was available for 121 (81.2%), ASAP or PIN were found in 5
more patients (3.4%). Twenty-seven (21.4%) patients had a previous negative biopsy. The median age was 71 years (range 45-86). The median BMI was 26.7 kg/m2 (range 17.5-37.4). Two patients (1.3%) were underweight, 43 (28,6%)patients had normal weight (median BMI 23), 70 (47%) were
overweight (median BMI 26.8) and 34 (22.8%) were obese (median BMI 35.3). Median PSA was 9.5 ng/ml (range 0,41-
1339). A prostate nodule was palpable in 45 (30.2%) patients. The median prostate volume was 44.5 cc. A
Gleason pattern of 4 or more was evident in 49 (40.5%) patients, while it was not detected in the remaining 72
(59.5%) patients. The presence of Gleason pattern 4 did not result in relation to the class of BMI (p-value=0.9814), neither combining different classes: normal weight and overweight men versus obese ones (p-value=0.7696); normal weight versus overweight and obese men (p-value=0.9678).
Discussion and Conclusion: Our study, in contrast with some evidence in literature, did not show any significant
correlation between BMI and the presence of Gleason pattern 4. However, the small number of patients did not allow to include in our analysis important factors, such as biological, hormonal, environmental and life-style factors, involved in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. A larger, prospective, multicenter investigation is on going.
References
1 Howlader N, Krapcho M, Neyman N et al: SEER Cancer statistics review, 1975-2008. National Cancer Institute,
Bethesda,http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2008/, based on November 2010 SEER data submission.
2 Nunzio CD, Freedland S, Miano L, Agrò EF, Bañez L and Tubaro A: The uncertain relationship between obesity and prostate cancer: an Italian biopsy cohort analysis. European Journal of Surgical Oncology 37(12): 1025-1029, 2011.
3 Wallner LP, Morgenstern H, McGree ME et al: The effects of body mass index on changes in prostate-specific antigen
levels and prostate volume over 15 years of follow-up: implications for prostate cancer detection. Cancer
Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 20(3): 501-508, 2011. Doi: 10.1158/1055-9965. EPI-10-1006. Epub 2011 Jan 17. 3
FIBRONECTINA: NUOVO MARKER DI DANNO UROTELIALE NELLA TERAPIA ADIUVANTE INTRAVESCICALE DEI TUMORI VESCICALI NON MUSCOLO INVASIVI
No full textAppropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Membrane Attack Complex in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: A Systematic Review for Post Mortem Applications
Full text linkThe complement system has a significant role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury,
being responsible for cell lysis and amplification of inflammatory response. In this context, several studies
highlight that terminal complement complex C5b-9, also known as the membrane attack complex
(MAC), is a significant contributor. The MAC functions were studied by many researchers analyzing
the characteristics of its activation in myocardial infarction. Here, a systematic literature review
was reported to evaluate the principal features, advantages, and limits (regarding the application)
of complement components andMAC in post mortem settings to perform the diagnosis of myocardial
ischemia/infarction. The review was performed according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria,
and a total of 26 studies were identified. Several methods studiedMAC, and each study contributes to
defining better howandwhen it affects themyocardial damage in ischemic/reperfusion injury. The articles
were discussed, focusing on the specificity, sensibility, and post mortem stability ofMAC as a marker of
myocardial ischemia/infarction, supporting the usefulness in routine post mortem investigation
Leptin plasma levels in patients undergoing prostate biopsy. a preliminary study in 50 patients
No full textIntroduction/Aim: To reduce the number of negative prostate biopsies and to detect clinical significant prostate tumors in patients with elevated serum PSA represent major challenges in urological oncology. Prostate tumors diagnosed in patients with elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) show higher Gleason score and more aggressive biological behavior than those diagnosed in normal population (1). Elevated plasma levels of leptin and other adipose tissue derived factors (adipokines), are evident in obese men (2). Many studies have investigated the role of leptin as a putative molecular mediator between obesity and prostate cancer with contradictory results. Also in normal or overweight (BMI <30) men, leptin might represent a marker of tumor aggressiveness (3) and a useful tool in selecting
patients undergoing prostate biopsy.
Patients and Methods: Unselected patients ndergoing prostate biopsy for palpable
prostate nodule and/or elevated PSA levels were entered in the study. A cut-off PSA level of 4 ng/ml was adopted. The plasma levels of leptin were measured by BioPlex immunoassay in 50 patients undergoing prostate biopsy. A 12-core transrectal biopsy was planned. The serum leptin levels were related with the results of the biopsy and the PSA levels. ROC curve analysis was exploited to test the diagnostic accuracy of leptin and PSA by AUC calculation.
A potential cut-off level was computed. Results: Leptin was
evaluated in 50 patients, 15 (30%) after a previous negative biopsy. The median PSA was 6.8 ng/ml. A prostate nodule was palpable in 18 (36%) patients. The median prostate volume was 45 cc. The median number of biopsy cores was 12. Prostate cancer was detected in 25 (50%) and ASAP and PIN in 2 (4%) more patients respectively. At a cut-off value of 2.16 ng/ml, leptin demonstrates a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 75%. Sixteen patients (32%) had negative
leptin and negative prostate biopsy in spite of elevated PSA and/or palpable nodule.
Discussion and Conclusion: Leptin in our preliminary experience shows promising diagnostic accuracy for the selection of patients candidate to prostate biopsy. Further and larger studies are needed to confirm our
results. Adiponectin should be considered in further
research.
References
1 Discacciati A, Orsini N and Wolk A: Body mass index and
incidence of localized and advanced prostate cancer – a
dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Ann
Oncol 23: 1665-1671, 2012.
2 Adamczak M and Wiecek A: The adipose tissue as an
endocrine organ. Semin Nephrol 33(1): 2-13, 2013.
3 López Fontana CM, Maselli ME, Pérez Elizalde RF, di
Milta Mónaco NA, Uvilla Recupero AL and López Laur
JD: Leptin increases prostate cancer aggressiveness. J
Physiol Biochem 67(4): 531-538, 2011
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