Molecular Detection of Lymph Node Metastases with One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) Pooling in Prostate Cancer: The POPCORN Study.

Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is the most accurate procedure for lymph node (LN) staging in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. LN sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of at least one slice remains the gold standard for LN evaluation, potentially leading to misdetection of small metastatic focus. Entire LN analysis is possible with One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) by detecting cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA as a surrogate for LN invasion.

Evaluating low and high vitamin D levels in Ecuadorian cities from 2018 to 2022: interrupted time series and a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To identify differences in the mean vitamin D concentrations in samples obtained from a private laboratory in Quito and to explore their relationship with the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods spanning from 2018 to 2022.

Design: A combination of an interrupted time series design and a retrospective cross-sectional approach.

Setting And Participants: The study involved 9285 participants who had their 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels tested at a well-known private laboratory in Quito, Ecuador, from 2018 to 2022.

Mathematical modeling in autoimmune diseases: from theory to clinical application.

The research & development (R&D) of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of autoimmune diseases is challenged by highly complex pathogenesis and multiple etiologies of these conditions. The number of targeted therapies available on the market is limited, whereas the prevalence of autoimmune conditions in the global population continues to rise. Mathematical modeling of biological systems is an essential tool which may be applied in support of decision-making across R&D drug programs to improve the probability of success in the development of novel medicines.

Model-Based Assessment of the Reference Values of CAVI in Healthy Russian Population and Benchmarking With CAVI0.

Background: Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and its modified version (CAVI0) are promising non-invasive markers of arterial stiffness, extensively evaluated primarily in the Japanese population. In this work, we performed a model-based analysis of the association between different population characteristics and CAVI or CAVI0 values in healthy Russian subjects and propose a tool for calculating the range of reference values for both types of indices.

Methods: The analysis was based on the data from 742 healthy volunteers (mean age 30.

Modelling of the Innate and Adaptive Immune Response to SARS Viral Infection, Cytokine Storm and Vaccination.

In this work, we develop mathematical models of the immune response to respiratory viral infection, taking into account some particular properties of the SARS-CoV infections, cytokine storm and vaccination. Each model consists of a system of ordinary differential equations that describe the interactions of the virus, epithelial cells, immune cells, cytokines, and antibodies. Conventional analysis of the existence and stability of stationary points is completed by numerical simulations in order to study the dynamics of solutions.

Statistical model applied in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the relationships between environmental variables and cyanotoxin concentrations in tropical reservoirs.

This article presents the use of generalized additive model for location scale and shape (GAMLSS) in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the relationships between environmental parameters and cyanotoxins in the tropical reservoirs of Colombia. The physicochemical parameters were evaluated on each of the cyanotoxins detected with levels high by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The models showed a relation between cyanotoxins and the nutrients as soluble total Kjeldahl nitrogen (NTK), soluble phosphorus (soluble P), total phosphorus (total P), and nitrates (NO), among other nutrients that are necessary for the growth of organisms that produce toxins.

Cardiovascular risk factors associated with coronary ectasia and acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Coronary ectasia has a low prevalence in the general population. Its risk factors may differ from those of coronary artery disease.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of coronary ectasia in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).

Acute Renal Failure in Kidney Transplantation Due to Subcapsular Hematoma After a Renal Allograft Biopsy: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review.

The compression of the renal parenchyma due to a subcapsular hematoma, also known as the "Page kidney," is a potentially serious but treatable complication of renal biopsy. Hypertension is very common and, in some cases, renal failure may be present. In kidney transplantation, it is a not well-described entity.

Study of cyanotoxin degradation and evaluation of their transformation products in surface waters by LC-QTOF MS.

In the present work, the degradation of three cyanotoxins from the hepatotoxins group was investigated under laboratory-controlled experiments in water samples. Surface waters spiked with microcystin-LR (MC-LR), nodularin (NOD) and cylindrospermopsin (CYN) were subjected to hydrolysis, chlorination and photo-degradation, under both sunlight (SL) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A total of 12 transformation products (TPs) were detected and tentatively identified by liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF MS).

Intraoperative Radiation Using Low-Kilovoltage X-Rays for Early Breast Cancer: A Single Site Trial.

Introduction: Two prospective, randomized trials, TARGIT-A and ELIOT, have shown intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) to be a safe alternative to whole breast radiation therapy following breast-conserving surgery for selected low-risk patients. However, minimal data are available about the clinical effectiveness of this modality of treatment using the Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx) System.

Methods: A total of 201 patients with 204 early-stage breast cancers were enrolled in a prospective X-ray IORT trial from June 2010 to September 2013.

Hepatitis C virus core antigen in the management of patients treated with new direct-acting antivirals.

We evaluated the utility of Architect core antigen assay® Abbott Diagnostics (HCVAg) for monitoring patients with HCV infection and compared to HCV-RNA quantification (Cobas Ampliprep TaqMan-Roche Diagnostics). Samples from 262 patients were studied. Mean baseline HCV RNA and HCVAg levels were similar for responders (6.

Acute and Chronic Complications in Patients with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Treated with Intraoperative Radiation Therapy.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) delivers radiation therapy directly to the tumor bed at the time of surgery. Minimal data are available regarding IORT complications in patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) using the Xoft Axxent eBx System. 146 patients with pure DCIS received X-ray based IORT therapy using the Xoft Axxent eBx System at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian between June 2010 to April 2016 and were accrued to an IORT data registry study.

Acute and Chronic Complications in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Intraoperative Radiation Therapy.

Introduction: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) permits the delivery of radiation therapy directly to the tumor bed at the time of surgery. Minimal data are available about the complications associated with this modality of treatment using the Xoft(®) Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy (Axxent) System.

Methods: A total of 702 patients who received IORT using the Xoft(®) Axxent System at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian between June 2010-February 2016 were accrued in an IORT data registry study.

Dendritic Versus Tumor Cell Presentation of Autologous Tumor Antigens for Active Specific Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma: Impact on Long-Term Survival by Extent of Disease at the Time of Treatment.

In patients with metastatic melanoma, sequential single-arm and randomized phase II trials with a therapeutic vaccine consisting of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with antigens from self-renewing, proliferating, irradiated autologous tumor cells (DC-TC) showed superior survival compared with similar patients immunized with irradiated tumor cells (TC). We wished to determine whether this difference was evident in cohorts who at the time of treatment had (1) no evidence of disease (NED) or (2) had detectable disease. Eligibility criteria and treatment schedules were the same for all three trials.

Tumor stem cell antigens as consolidative active specific immunotherapy: a randomized phase II trial of dendritic cells versus tumor cells in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Only 10% of metastatic melanoma patients survive 5 years, even though many can achieve substantial tumor reduction by surgical resection and/or radiation therapy and/or systemic therapy. An effective, nontoxic, consolidation immunotherapy could benefit such patients. We initiated a randomized trial to compare 2 promising patient-specific immunotherapy cell products.

Phase II trial of dendritic cells loaded with antigens from self-renewing, proliferating autologous tumor cells as patient-specific antitumor vaccines in patients with metastatic melanoma: final report.

Unlabelled: Between January 2001 and September 2007, we treated 54 metastatic melanoma patients with patient-specific tumor cell vaccines consisting of dendritic cells (DCS), derived from their peripheral blood cells that were cultured in interleukin (IL)-4 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which had phagocytosed irradiated autologous tumor cells from a continuously proliferating, self-renewing, autologus tumor cell (TC) culture. The loaded DCs were injected subcutaneously in 500 microg of GM-CSF weekly x three, and then monthly for 5 months, for a total of up to 8 injections. The 34 men and 20 women had a median age of 50.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and interleukin-2: dose and schedules of administration in the treatment of metastatic cancer.

Purpose: The potential for therapeutic use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), as adoptive cellular therapy has been touted for many years with some encouraging reports in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Materials And Methods: We previously described methodologies for TIL production and phenotypic characterization of TIL generated in our laboratory between 1991 and 1995 in semipermeable bags and between 1996 and 2000 in bioreactors. Patients treated in the earlier era were to have received a hybrid bolus and a 12-hour continuous infusion of interleukin (IL)-2 (total, 48 MIU), while in the latter era 4 days of interferon- alpha preceded the TIL and IL-2; which was given by a hybrid schedule that included bolus and 72- hour continuous IL-2 (total, 96 MIU).

Phase I/II trial of melanoma patient-specific vaccine of proliferating autologous tumor cells, dendritic cells, and GM-CSF: planned interim analysis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and clinical efficacy of patient-specific dendritic cell vaccines in patients with metastatic melanoma. A planned interim analysis was conducted on the first 20 patients.

Methods: Tumor cell lines were established from metastatic tumor, expanded to 200 million cells, and then incubated with interferon-gamma for patients who were candidates for therapy.

Phase I/II trial of autologous tumor cell line-derived vaccines for recurrent or metastatic sarcomas.

Aim: We previously reported the laboratory methodology for producing patient-specific irradiated autologous tumor-cell products derived from short-term cultured tumor cells. We attempted to determine the feasibility, safety, and clinical effects of autologous tumor vaccine-derived sarcomas.

Patients And Methods: Efforts were made to establish tumor cell lines in tissue culture with expansion to 100 million cells for patients who were candidates for therapy.

Autologous tumor cell line-derived vaccine for patient-specific treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Aim: We previously reported the laboratory methodology for producing patient-specific irradiated autologous tumor-cell products derived from short-term cultured tumor cells from resected renal cell carcinoma, and described preliminary clinical results. In this study, we report the final clinical results and efforts to define vaccine potency on the basis of clinical outcome for these 25 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Approximately 10(8) cells from successful short-term cell lines were irradiated, frozen in aliquots of 10(7) cells, then thawed and administered subcutaneously (s.

Intracavitary placement of autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells after resection of recurrent glioblastoma.

This study was performed to obtain safety and survival data for patients with histologically confirmed recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) who received intralesional lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells following surgery. LAK cells were generated by incubating peripheral blood mononuclear cells with interleukin-2 for 3 to 5 days in vitro. Forty patients with pathologic confirmation of GBM at surgery had placement of autologous LAK cells into the tumor cavity.

Treatment of human solid malignancies with autologous activated lymphocytes and cimetidine: a phase II trial of the cancer biotherapy research group.

Objective: The Cancer Biotherapy Research Group conducted a clinical trial to verify encouraging reports of antitumor activity of autolymphocyte therapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a variety of advanced solid malignancies underwent an initial leukapheresis procedure to collect about 5 x 10(9) autologous lymphocytes that were stimulated in vitro for 3 days with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody in the presence of indomethicin and cis-retinoic acid to obtain media that was frozen in aliquots. This media contained significant amounts of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, interferon-gamma, and IL6, but no IL-2.

Radioimmunotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan.

The increasing incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), coupled with the lack of optimal treatment options, has prompted the development of novel treatments. Of these, radioimmunotherapy is one of the most promising. Two of the radiolabeled monoclonal antibody therapies being studied in the treatment of NHL are yttrium 90 (90Y) ibritumomab tiuxetan and iodine 131 (131I) tositumomab.

Irradiated cells from autologous tumor cell lines as patient-specific vaccine therapy in 125 patients with metastatic cancer: induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity to autologous tumor is associated with improved survival.

Objective: We established short-term cultures of pure tumor cells for use as autologous tumor cell vaccines in an effort to study the effects of patients-specific immunotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Surgically resected fresh tumor was obtained from patients with metastatic cancer. Successful tumor cell lines (5 x 10(7)) were expanded to 10(8) cells, irradiated, and cryopreserved for clinical use.