BACKGROUND Bladder cancer is the most common urological malignancy with a high tendency for progression and recurrence. So far, no reliable diagnostic marker is present with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Netrins are related to laminin proteins, and were first discovered to be involved in neural development. After that, they were found in other organs of the body and several studies stated that they have implicated in cancer progression. PURPOSE This study aimed at investigating the netrin-1 gene expression in bladder cancer tissues, in addition to the possibility of using urinary netrin-1 as a marker for muscle invasion diagnosis in bladder cancer cases. METHODS Netrin-1 gene expression in bladder cancer tissue was detected in this study by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, netrin-1 protein was measured in tissue and urinary deposit samples by western blotting. RESULTS The results of this study revealed that netrin-1 is expressed in bladder cancer and control tissues, with a strong positive correlation between netrin-1 in tissues and urinary netrin-1 (rs = 0.762, P less then 0.0005). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the muscle-invasion diagnostic value of urinary netrin-1 with bladder cancer cases, providing an area under the curve equals to 0.758 (95% confidence interval, 0.630-0.886, P less then 0.0005), with 96% sensitivity and 67% specificity. Bladder cancer patients had been included to examine risk factors for local recurrence, distant metastasis, and death. Cox regression models showed that netrin-1 gene expression, tumor size, and age are positive predictor markers for local tumor recurrence. Age is a predictor for distant metastasis, and tumor stage is a predictor for death. CONCLUSION Urinary netrin-1 can be used as a promising biomarker for diagnosis of muscle invasion, which may help in the follow up of non-invasive tumors. In addition, tissue netrin-1 expression may serve as a predictor of local tumor recurrence. The inhibition of retinal ischemia-induced damage by post-ischemic prothymosin alpha (ProTα) was not affected in toll-like receptor 4 knockout (TLR4-/-) mice but blocked by the pretreatment with antibody against F0/F1 ATPase α- or β-subunit, novel candidate for ProTα-receptor. In addition to the previous observation of ProTα-induced ATP release from cells, the present study showed a ProTα-induced enhancement of ATP hydrolysis activity of recombinant ATP5A1/5B complex. As the protection of retinal function by post-ischemic ProTα was abolished by anti-P2Y12 antibody, the activation of F0/F1 ATPase and subsequent P2Y12 receptor system may play roles in beneficial actions by post-ischemic ProTα. BACKGROUND An anomalous coronary artery is reported in 2% to 23% of patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Knowledge of coronary anatomy prior to corrective surgery is vital to avoid damage to vessels crossing the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). A meta-analysis on the prevalence of anomalous coronary arteries in TOF is lacking to date. Here, an overview of coronary anomalies in TOF is provided and implications for patient management are discussed. METHODS PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched. Analysis was done using Revman 5.3 (Cochrane Community, London). The primary analysis focused on the origin and proximal course of the right and left coronary arteries. In addition, the prevalence of large conus arteries and coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CAVF) was calculated. RESULTS Twenty-eight studies, encompassing 6956 patients, were included; 6% of TOF patients have an anomalous coronary artery. Hereof, 72% cross the RVOT; the majority of the remaining 28% courses behind the aorta. Six percent of patients have a large conus artery and 4% a CAVF. Other coronary anomalies include a left or right coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk or left or right pulmonary artery, coronary tree hypoplasia and anastomoses between coronary and bronchial arteries. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of coronary anomalies in TOF is 4-6%. In patients with an anomalous coronary artery, 72% cross the RVOT. The combined risk of encountering an anomalous coronary artery or a large conus artery crossing the RVOT is 10.3%. Coronary anatomy should be defined before surgery and the surgical approach adapted accordingly. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality in developing countries. Control of RHD requires addressing the disease at its different stages through health system variables that are complex and intersecting. To achieve that, a multi-sectoral program is needed that is best implemented through ministries of health. selleck In this report we present the SUR I CAAN program (Surveillance, Integration, Communication, Awareness, Advocacy and Training) that is implemented in Sudan utilizing nongovernmental resources and nonconventional funding. The program objectives are 1. To improve primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of RHD, 2. To improve public awareness, 3. To implement strategic research projects, and 4. To improve advocacy through collaboration with regional and international organizations dealing with RHD. We established a hospital-based register and managed to identify high burden areas where sentinel sites for RHD control were established. A package of training and awareness material was utilized to conduct training workshops in these areas. Handheld echocardiography was utilized for studying the prevalence as well as for early detection and treatment of RHD. Although we did not conduct a structured evaluation for this program, we believe that its structure can serve as a model for other resource-limited countries. INTRODUCTION Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with an increased risk of admission to hospital, however data on the main reasons for admission is lacking. Our objective was to determine the pooled prevalence of the most common factors leading to admissions among people with Parkinson’s disease. METHODOLOGY MA systematic literature search was conducted in 11 electronic databases. We included all studies providing reasons for admissions among PD patients without restrictions to diagnostic criteria of PD, language or year of study. In the included studies, methodological quality, publication bias and heterogeneity were assessed. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to calculate the pooled estimates of the identified top factors that lead to admission among people with PD. RESULTS A total of 7283 studies were identified of which nine studies including 7162 people with PD were included in this review. There was a high degree of heterogeneity between studies regarding reasons for hospitalisation.