EUS-CD can be an effective and safe alternative to PTBD with similar success, complication rate, cost, and quality of life.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is an incurable disease at the metastatic stage. Although there are different options for treatment, the results are limited. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small, noncoding, regulatory RNAs with important roles in regulating gene expression. miR-145 is reported to be a key tumor suppressor miRNA (tsmiR) that controls important oncogenes, such as MYC and RAS. In this study, in vitro studies were performed to show the control of MYC and RAS by miR-145. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell proliferation and apoptosis. The efficacy of miR-145 in treating metastatic PCa was tested in nude mice using a model of bone metastasis promoted by intraventricular injection of PC-3MLuc-C6 cells. Tumor growth was evaluated by an in vivo bioluminescence system. After the full establishment of metastases on day 21, six animals were treated with three intravenous doses of miR-145 (on days 21, 24 and 27), and six were injected with scramble miRNA as controls. Compared to the controls, tumor growth was significantly reduced in animals receiving miR-145, most importantly on day 7 after the third and last dose of miRNA. After discontinuing the treatment, tumor growth resumed, becoming similar to the group of non-treated animals. A decrease in MYC and RAS expression was observed in all cell lines after treatment with miR-145, although statistical significance was achieved only in experiments with LNCaP and PC3 cell lines, with a decrease in 56% (p = 0.012) and 31% (p = 0.013) of RAS expression, respectively. Our results suggest that miR-145 is a potential molecule to be tested for treatment of metastatic, castration-resistant PCa.

Until July 15, 2006, the time on the waiting list was the main criterion for allocating deceased donor livers in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. After this date, MELD has been the basis for the allocation of deceased donor livers for adult transplantation. Our aim was to compare the waitlist dynamics before MELD (1997–2005) and after MELD (2006–2012) in our state. A retrospective study was conducted including the data from all the liver transplant candidate waiting lists from July 1997 to December 2012. The data were related to the actual number of liver transplantations (Tr), the incidence of new patients on the list (I), and the number of patients who died while being on the waitlist (D) from 1997 to 2005 (the pre-MELD era) and from 2006 to 2012 (the post-MELD era). The number of transplantations from 1997 to 2005 and from 2006 to 2012 increased nonlinearly, with a clear trend to levelling to equilibrium at approximately 350 and 500 cases per year, respectively. The implementation of the MELD score resulted in a shorter waiting time until liver transplantation. Additionally, there was a significant effect on the waitlist dynamics in the first 4 years; however, the curves diverge from there, implying a null long-range effect on the waitlist by the MELD scores.

In this review, we will address the analysis of different types of malignant focal liver lesions (FLLs) by contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Specific enhancing patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and metastases will be discussed and exemplified with images. In addition, we will address the use of CEUS in malignant portal vein thrombosis . The advantages and limitations of CEUS in the analysis of malignant FLLs will also be discussed.

Prostate adenocarcinoma is the most common prostate cancer; however, there are several other malignant neoplasms that radiologists should be familiar with. The histological classification of malignant prostate neoplasms includes epithelial tumors, mesenchymal tumors, neuroendocrine tumors, hematolymphoid tumors, and stromal tumors. Knowledge of the main clinical and prostate magnetic resonance imaging features of uncommon tumors beyond adenocarcinoma is important for radiologists to enlarge their diagnostic ability and guide referring physician regarding the appropriate patient workup. The aim of this review article is to (1) review the main anatomical and histological concepts of the prostate gland and (2) provide an overview of uncommon prostate malignant neoplasms, emphasizing the key clinical, pathological, and imaging findings that may help radiologists in their daily interpretation of prostate magnetic resonance imaging.