In patients with liver cirrhosis, high levels of serum myostatin are associated with poor prognosis. We aimed to clarify the influence of myostatin on the prognosis of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC) without cirrhosis and on the progression of liver fibrosis.
 
  Serum myostatin levels were evaluated in 234 patients who underwent primary surgical resection for single HCC. To clarify the impact of myostatin on liver fibrosis, we established human primary liver fibroblasts from resected livers, and cultured them in the presence of myostatin.
 
  The median age was 67.4years, the median L3 skeletal muscle mass index was 44.4cm
  /m
  , and the median body mass index was 23.4kg/m
  . Eighty-two (35.0%) patients had sarcopenia (L3 skeletal muscle mass index men <42, women <38cm
  /m
  ). The etiologies of liver disease were hepatitis B virus (n=61), hepatitis C virus (n=86), and non-B non-C hepatitis (n=87) including NAFLD (n=74).  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Rapamycin.html  High preoperative serum myostatin and vascular invasion were independent predictors of poor overall survival (OS). High serum myostatin was associated with poor OS in patients with no sarcopenia (n=152). In patients without advanced liver fibrosis (Fibrosis stage, 0-2; n=58), high levels of serum myostatin were also associated with poor OS, regardless of sarcopenia. Serum myostatin levels were increased with the progression of liver fibrosis. Liver fibroblasts were activated and produced collagen following stimulation with myostatin.
 
  In patients with NAFLD-HCC without advanced liver fibrosis, high levels of serum myostatin were associated with poor OS. Myostatin activated primary fibroblasts and stimulated collagen production.
 In patients with NAFLD-HCC without advanced liver fibrosis, high levels of serum myostatin were associated with poor OS. Myostatin activated primary fibroblasts and stimulated collagen production.
  To examine the impact of first trimester crown lump length (CRL) measurement errors on the interpretation of estimated fetal weight (EFW) and classification of fetuses into small, large, or appropriate for gestational age in subsequent growth scans.
 
  We examine the effects of errors of ±2, ±3 and ±4 mm in the measurement of fetal CRL on percentiles of EFW at 20, 32, and 36 weeks' gestation and classification as small, large or appropriate for gestational age. Published data on CRL measurement error are used to determine variation present in practice.
 
  A measurement error of -2 mm in first trimester CRL shifts an EFW at the 20 week scan from the 10
  to around the 20
  percentile and the effect of CRL measurement errors of +2 mm is to shift an EFW on the 10
  to around the 5
  percentile. At 32 weeks a first trimester CRL measurement error would shift an EFW on the 10
  percentile to the 7
  (+2 mm) or 14
  (-2 mm) percentile, at 36 weeks the EFW would shift from the 10
  percentile to the 8
  (+2 mm) or 12
  (-2 mm) percentile. Published data suggests that measurement errors of 2mm or more are common in practice.
 
  Because of the widespread and potentially severe consequences of CRL measurement errors as small as 2 mm on clinical assessment, patient management, and research results, there is a need to increase awareness of the impact of CRL measurement and to reduce measurement error variation through standardization and quality control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
 Because of the widespread and potentially severe consequences of CRL measurement errors as small as 2 mm on clinical assessment, patient management, and research results, there is a need to increase awareness of the impact of CRL measurement and to reduce measurement error variation through standardization and quality control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
  The main objective of this prospective multicenter study was to examine whether illness representations of control, affect, and coping behaviors mediate the effects of self-efficacy to cope with cancer on psychological symptoms and overall quality of life, in breast cancer patients.
 
  Data from 413 women (Mean age=54.87; SD=8.01), coming from four countries (i.e., Finland, Israel, Italy, Portugal), who received medical therapy for their early breast cancer, were analyzed. Coping self-efficacy was assessed at baseline. Potential mediators were assessed three months later, and outcomes after six months.
 
  Coping self-efficacy was related to all mediators and outcomes. Illness representations of treatment control, positive and negative affect, and certain coping behaviors (mostly, anxiety preoccupation) mediated the effects of coping self-efficacy. Coping self-efficacy was related to each outcome through a different combination of mediators.
 
  Coping self-efficacy is a major self-regulation factor which is linked to well-being through multiple cognitive, emotional, and behavioral pathways. Enhancement of coping self-efficacy should be a central intervention goal for patients with breast cancer, towards promotion of their well-being.
 Coping self-efficacy is a major self-regulation factor which is linked to well-being through multiple cognitive, emotional, and behavioral pathways. Enhancement of coping self-efficacy should be a central intervention goal for patients with breast cancer, towards promotion of their well-being.
  To examine the possible risk factors amongst maternal characteristics, medical and obstetric history, preeclampsia-specific biomarkers and estimated risks that relate to development of preterm preeclampsia despite aspirin prophylaxis.
 
  This was a secondary analysis of data from the ASPRE trial. The study population consisted of women with singleton pregnancies who were deemed high-risk for preterm preeclampsia based on the Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm that combines maternal factors, mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, serum pregnancy associated plasma protein-A and placental growth factor (PlGF). High-risk women were randomized to receive aspirin (150 mg/day) vs. placebo from 11 to 14 until 36 weeks' gestation. The primary outcome was preterm preeclampsia with delivery at <37 weeks' gestation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of preterm preeclampsia after adjusting for the use of aspirin.
 
  Among 1,592 high-risk women, the incidence of preterm preeclampsia was 3.