Current real-world evidence on characteristics and treatment patterns of lung cancer in the single cancer center in the Czech Republic - data from Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute registry in 2018- 2022.

Background: Lung cancer (LC) represents the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Czech Republic. Over the past decade, there have been notable advancements in LC treatment based on findings from controlled clinical trials (CTs). However, patients enrolled in CTs may not fully represent the diversity of real-world patient populations from routine clinical practice.

Diagnostic-therapeutic management of pulmonary nodules.

Background: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with incidence and mortality significantly affected by population ageing and changes in the prevalence of risk factors. Lung nodules, which are often detected incidentally on imaging studies, pose a significant diagnostic challenge as they may indicate both benign and malignant processes. Correct diagnosis and management of these nodules is therefore essential to optimize clinical outcomes.

Early changes of peripheral circulating immune subsets induced by PD-1 inhibitors in patients with advanced malignant melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including those targeting PD-1, are currently used in a wide range of tumors, but only 20-40% of patients achieve clinical benefit. The objective of our study was to find predictive peripheral blood-based biomarkers for ICI treatment.

Methods: In 41 patients with advanced malignant melanoma (MM) and NSCLC treated with PD-1 inhibitors, we analyzed peripheral blood-based immune subsets by flow cytometry before treatment initialization and the second therapy dose.

Viral pneumonia in a patient treated with pembrolizumab - similarity with immune-related pneumonitis.

Background: Immunotherapy is one of the fundamental treatment modalities, especially in the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma, but it is also applied in neoadjuvant, or adjuvant therapy. A certain limitation continues to be immune-mediated toxicity and the broad clinical spectrum of its manifestations, which can present considerable differential diagnostic challenges.

Case: We present a case of a female patient who has been treated at our institute since February 2023 for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right lung with first-line systemic therapy of pembrolizumab in initial combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel.

Biomarker Dynamics and Long-Term Treatment Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients with Residual Cancer Burden after Neoadjuvant Therapy.

A residual cancer burden after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for breast cancer (BC) is associated with worse treatment outcomes compared to patients who achieved pathologic complete remission. This single-institutional retrospective study of 767 consecutive patients, including 468 patients with assessable residual cancer burden (aRCB) after NAT, with a median follow-up of 36 months, evaluated the biomarkers assessed before NAT from a biopsy and after NAT from a surgical specimen, their dynamics, and effect on long-term outcomes in specific breast cancer subtypes. The leading focus was on proliferation index Ki-67, which was significantly altered by NAT in all BC subtypes (p < 0.

Reprocessed magnetorheological elastomers with reduced carbon footprint and their piezoresistive properties.

Despite the vast amount of studies based on magnetorheological elastomers (MREs), a very limited number of investigations have been initiated on their reprocessing. This paper presents a new type of recyclable MRE which is composed of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and carbonyl iron particles (CI). The chosen TPU can be processed using injection moulding (IM), followed by several reprocessing cycles while preserving its properties.

Meigs syndrome.

Background: Meigs syndrome is defined by the presence of a benign ovarian tumor, ascites, and pleural effusion (predominantly on the right side). A characteristic sign of Meigs syndrome is the complete disappearance of exudate after surgical resection of the ovarian tumor.

Case Report: We present a case report of a 58-year-old patient admitted for an advanced ovarian tumor with pleural effusion, ascites, and tumor marker elevation typical for ovarian cancer.

Can Previous Chemotherapy Affect the Outcome of Nivolumab Treatment in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer?

Aim: This study compared the results of nivolumab treatment in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinomas based upon previous chemotherapeutic regimens.

Patients And Methods: The data source for this retrospective study was the Czech VILP registry of patients with nivolumab-treated adenocarcinomas in second and higher lines of treatment. In relation to objective response rate, progression-free interval, and overall survival, three comparisons of patient were made: A: Those treated in first line with cisplatin and pemetrexed versus carboplatin with paclitaxel or vinorelbine; B: treatment with cisplatin and pemetrexed versus carboplatin with paclitaxel/vinorelbine and bevacizumab; and C: treatment in previous lines with pemetrexed (first-line cisplatin and pemetrexed plus those treated in second line with pemetrexed) versus treatment with taxane (first-line carboplatin and paclitaxel only plus those treated with second-line docetaxel).

Influence of COVID-19 disease on subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage.

This study aims to make a comparative evaluation of the change in the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage [intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)] cases that attended our hospital in the Covid-19 pandemic period with that of the same term one year ago. This study included 80 patients diagnosed with ICH and/or SAH in the period that started with the pandemic in 2020. It was determined that 51 patients had been diagnosed with ICH and/or SAH during the same period of 2019.

The Awareness and Empowerment Aspects of the Needlesticks and Other Sharps Injuries and Reporting in Nursing Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Occurrence and underreporting of needlesticks and other sharps injuries (NSIs) are still immediate concerns among nursing students. This study examined the relationship between occupational health and safety (OHS) awareness and empowerment levels of nursing students and the occurrence and reporting of NSIs.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among purposively selected 840 students in a nursing school in 2018-2019.

Modifications of Parylene by Microstructures and Selenium Nanoparticles: Evaluation of Bacterial and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Viability.

Parylene-based implants or coatings introduce surfaces suffering from bacteria colonization. Here, we synthesized polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) as the antibacterial agent, and various approaches are studied for their reproducible adsorption, and thus the modification of parylene-C-coated glass substrate. The nanoparticle deposition process is optimized in the nanoparticle concentration to obtain evenly distributed NPs on the flat parylene-C surface.

Drug interaction profile of TKI alectinib allows effective and safe treatment of ALK+ lung cancer in the kidney transplant recipient.

ALK targeting with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is a highly potent treatment option for the therapy of ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, pharmacokinetics of TKIs leads to clinically significant drug interactions, and the interfering co-medication may hamper the anti-cancer therapeutic management. Here, we present for the first time a drug interaction profile of ALK-TKIs, crizotinib and alectinib, and immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine A in kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with ALK+ lung cancer.

Immunotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Immunotherapy with check-point inhibitors has demonstrated remarkable therapeutic benefits in many oncological diagnoses, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on the data from clinical trials, it has become an important part of the NSCLC treatment algorithm. Treatment with programmed cell death protein 1 / programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors can be indicated in various ways: as monotherapy or combination of immunotherapy with cytotox--ic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 inhibitors or in combination with other treatment modalities - chemotherapy, antiangiogenic therapy and radiotherapy.

The role of multidisciplinary team and molecular tumor board in the treatment of a patient with lung cancer.

Nowadays, selection of appropriate therapy in patients with lung cancer is based on comprehensive molecular characteristics of their tumors. On molecular level, lung cancer is one of the best described solid tumors. Currently, there are already methods in routine clinical practice that enable a relatively quick, accurate and cost-effective analysis of dozens of genes and thus make it possible to determine a complex molecular characteristic of a tumor.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Evaluation of Early Clinical Response, Pathological Complete Response Rates, and Addition of Platinum Salts Benefit Based on Real-World Evidence.

Pathological complete response (pCR) achievement is undoubtedly the essential goal of neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer, directly affecting survival endpoints. This retrospective study of 237 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients with a median follow-up of 36 months evaluated the role of adding platinum salts into standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). After the initial four standard NACT cycles, early clinical response (ECR) was assessed and used to identify tumors and patients generally sensitive to NACT.

Penis as a primary site of an extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma: A case report.

Rationale: The Ewing sarcoma family of malignant tumors is a group of tumors characterized by morphologically similar round-cell neoplasms and by the presence of a common chromosomal translocation; Ewing sarcoma family of tumors typically occur in children and young adults between 4 to 15 years of age. The primary tumor usually originates in the bone, extraskeletal localization is rare.

Patient Concern: We present a case report concerning a 32-year-old male patient with a primary involvement of the penis.

Antibacterial activity of AgNPs-TiO nanotubes: influence of different nanoparticle stabilizers.

Enhanced antibacterial properties of nanomaterials such as TiO nanotubes (TNTs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted much attention in biomedicine and industry. The antibacterial properties of nanoparticles depend, among others, on the functionalization layer of the nanoparticles. However, the more complex information about the influence of different functionalization layers on antibacterial properties of nanoparticle decorated surfaces is still missing.

Impact of Concomitant Medication Administered at the Time of Initiation of Nivolumab Therapy on Outcome in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Aim: To investigate potential association between administration of corticosteroids, antibiotics, probiotics, proton pump inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), statins and metformin and outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with nivolumab.

Patients And Methods: A total of 224 patients with advanced NSCLC treated at nine comprehensive cancer centers were analyzed in this national retrospective study. Survival statistics were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox analysis.

Uncommon EGFR Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Impact on the Treatment.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations play an important role in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer. Because these alterations are so-called targetable mutations, their identification is important in daily clinical practice. The diagnostic standard of EGFR mutations is currently based on polymerase chain reaction methods, particularly the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Oncology Case Report - When Is the Appropriate Time to Integrate Palliative Care?

Many patients with advanced, non-curable cancer experience disease progression to a stage requiring symptomatic care alone. The integration of palliative care into oncology practice is therefore important, with many studies showing the benefits of early introduction of palliative care. In addition to symptom relief, palliative care can include psychological, social, and spiritual support.

Effectiveness of Neoadjuvant Therapy with Platinum-Based Agents for Patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 Germline Mutations - A Retrospective Analysis of Breast Cancer Patients Treated at MMCI Brno.

Background: Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are associated with a high risk of developing breast cancer. Tumors arising from this mutation are expected to be more sensitive to platinum-based drugs. The role of platinum-based drugs in systemic neoadjuvant BRCA1/2 breast cancer therapy, and its efficacy in increasing the probability of pathological complete remission (pCR) are discussed repeatedly; however, there are no clear recommendations.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression and Their Impact on the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Treated with Palliative Antineoplasic Therapy - Results of the PALINT Trial.

Background: Anxiety, depression, and psychological distress are common syndromes of advanced cancer; all have a negative impact on overall quality of life. However, these symptoms are not monitored explicitly and they are managed only by pharmacotherapy. Given the complex etiology of these symptoms, this biomedical approach is inadequate and inefficient.

Enhanced antibacterial and anticancer properties of Se-NPs decorated TiO2 nanotube film.

Selenium nanoparticle modified surfaces attract increasing attention in the field of tissue engineering. Selenium exhibits strong anticancer, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and it maintains relatively low off-target cytotoxicity. In our paper, we present the fabrication, characterization and cytocompatibility of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanotube surface decorated with various surface densities of chemically synthesized selenium nanoparticles.

The Mersin Greenhouse Workers Study. Surveillance of Work-related Skin, Respiratory, and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

Background: Skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases in greenhouse workers are frequently observed due to exposure to plant products and pesticides in enclosed conditions and ergonomic risks. Current studies on occupational health risks of greenhouse workers in Turkey are insufficient.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess work-related skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases in greenhouse workers in the Erdemli province, Mersin, an area with a workforce predominantly active as greenhouse workers.