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In the hippocampus, learning and memory are likely mediated by synaptic plasticity, known as long-term potentiation (LTP). While chronic intermittent stress is negatively correlated, and exercise positively correlated to LTP induction, we examined whether exercise could mitigate the negative consequences of stress on LTP when co-occurring with stress. Mice were divided into four groups: sedentary no stress, exercise no stress, exercise with stress, and sedentary with stress. Field electrophysiology performed on brain slices confirmed that stress alone significantly reduced dorsal CA1 hippocampal LTP and exercise alone increased LTP compared to controls. Exercise with stress mice exhibited LTP that was significantly greater than mice undergoing stress alone but were not different from sedentary no stress mice. An ELISA illustrated increased corticosterone in stressed mice compared to no stress mice. In addition, a radial arm maze was used to examine behavioral changes in memory during 6 weeks of stress and/or exercise. Exercised mice groups made fewer errors in week 2. RT-qPCR was used to examine the mRNA expression of components in the stress and exercise pathways in the four groups. Significant changes in the expression of the following targets were detected: BDNF, TrkB, glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and dopamine 5 receptors. Collectively, exercise can mitigate some of the negative impact stress has on hippocampal function when both occur concurrently.

Purpose: To perform a multi-institutional analysis of patients with synchronous prostate and rectosigmoid cancers. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center records was performed for men with both prostate and rectosigmoid adenocarcinomas from 1988 to 2017. Synchronous presentation was defined as symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment of both cancers within 12 months of each other. The primary study endpoint was overall survival. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression was performed. Results: Among 31,883 men with prostate cancer, 330 (1%) also had rectosigmoid cancer and 54 (16%) of these were synchronous. Prostate cancer was more commonly the initial diagnosis (59%). Fifteen (28%) underwent prostatectomy or radiotherapy before an established diagnosis of rectosigmoid cancer. Stage I, II-III, or IV rectosigmoid cancer was present in 26, 57, and 17% of men, respectively. At a median follow-up of 43 months, there were 18 deaths due rectosigmoid cancer and two deaths due to prostate cancer. Crude late grade ≥3 toxicities include nine (17%) gastrointestinal and six (11%) genitourinary. Two anastomotic leaks following low anterior resection occurred in men who received a neoadjuvant radiotherapy prostate dose of 70.6-76.4 Gy. Rectosigmoid cancer stages II-III (HR 4.3, p = 0.02) and IV (HR 16, p < 0.01) as well as stage IV prostate cancer (HR 31, p < 0.01) were associated with overall survival on multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Synchronous rectosigmoid cancer is a greater contributor to mortality than prostate cancer. Men aged ≥45 with localized prostate cancer should undergo colorectal cancer screening prior to treatment to evaluate for synchronous rectosigmoid cancer.

We report a case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia complicated by high output heart failure caused by intrahepatic arteriovenous malformations. This patient was treated using transcatheter embolization of the intrahepatic arteriovenous malformations with concurrent measurement of cardiac output to monitor progress of the embolization.

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33 Background: Synchronous prostate cancer (PC) and rectosigmoid (RS) cancer (RSC) is a challenging clinical situation. Methods: A retrospective review of Duke University and Durham VA charts was performed for men with adenocarcinomas of the prostate and RS colon from 1988-2017. Synchronous presentation was defined as symptoms, diagnosis (dx), or treatment (tx) of PC/RSC within 12 months. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), calculated from latest dx date. Univariate and multivariate (MVA) Cox regression was performed using STATA 15.1. Results: Among 31,883 men with PC identified, 330 (1%) also had RSC. 54 (16%) were considered synchronous (median age 67, IQR 62-72). PC was more commonly the first dx (59%), and 15 (28%) underwent prostatectomy (n=13) or radiotherapy (RT, n=2) before a dx of synchronous RSC. 26%, 57%, and 17% had stage I, II-III, and IV RSC, respectively. Prostatectomy, LAR, APR, and combined surgery for both PC/RSC was performed in 17 (31%), 24 (44%), 10 (19%), and 2 (4%) men, respectively. 35 (65%) received RT with median RS dose of 50.4 Gy (IQR 50.4-54 Gy) and prostate boost to 66 Gy (IQR 61-72 Gy). 34 (63%) received 5-FU based chemotherapy, 23 (43%) received ADT, and 9 (17%) received no PC-specific tx. After a median follow up of 43 (IQR 21-93) months, there were 34 deaths: 18 (53%) due to RSC, 2 (6%) due to PC, 3 (9%) due to grade 5 toxicity, 7 (21%) due to another malignancy, and 4 (12%) due to unknown cause without recurrence. Grade 5 toxicities resulted from sequential hepatectomy/LAR, combined prostatectomy/APR, and myocardial infarction while on ADT. Crude late grade ≥3 toxicities include 9 (17%) GI and 6 (11%) GU. Two anastomotic leaks <2.3 years after LAR occurred in men who received neoadjuvant prostate RT boost of 70.6-76.4 Gy. Stages II-III (HR 4.3, p=0.02) and IV (HR 16, p<0.01) for RSC but only stage IV (HR 31, p<0.01) for PC were significantly associated with OS on MVA. Among 30 men with stage II-III RSC and non-metastatic PC, 5-FU based chemotherapy (HR 0.34, p=0.04) but no PC-specific tx was significantly associated with OS on MVA. Conclusions: Synchronous RSC is a greater contributor to mortality than PC. Men aged ≥50 with localized PC should undergo colorectal cancer screening prior to tx to evaluate for synchronous RSC.

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