Randomized Phase II Study of Cabazitaxel Versus Methotrexate in Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Previously Treated With Platinum-Based Therapy.

Lessons Learned: Cabazitaxel has activity in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and taxane-resistant cell lines. For the first time, cabazitaxel was investigated in incurable patients with recurrent SCCHN. Patients were randomly assigned to cabazitaxel every 3 weeks or weekly methotrexate.

Nuclear localization of glutamate-cysteine ligase is associated with proliferation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Glutathione (GSH) is the keystone of the cellular response toward oxidative stress. Elevated GSH content correlates with increased resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy of head and neck (HN) tumors. The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate whether the expression of glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) accounts for the increased GSH availability observed in HN squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Assessment of oxidative stress in tumors and histologically normal mucosa from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a preliminary study.

Over 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and the overall 5-year survival rate is up to 50%. The redox status of these cancers is an important factor in carcinogenesis and plays a role in radioresistance and therefore locoregional recurrences. However, knowledge of the redox status is rather limited.

Exposure of endothelial cells to physiological levels of myeloperoxidase-modified LDL delays pericellular fibrinolysis.

Background: Blood fluidity is maintained by a delicate balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis. The endothelial cell surface is a key player in this equilibrium and cell surface disruptions can upset the balance. We investigated the role of pericellular myeloperoxidase oxidized LDLs (Mox-LDLs) in this balance.

Temporal dissociation between myeloperoxidase (MPO)-modified LDL and MPO elevations during chronic sleep restriction and recovery in healthy young men.

Objectives: Many studies have evaluated the ways in which sleep disturbances may influence inflammation and the possible links of this effect to cardiovascular risk. Our objective was to investigate the effects of chronic sleep restriction and recovery on several blood cardiovascular biomarkers.

Methods And Results: Nine healthy male non-smokers, aged 22-29 years, were admitted to the Sleep Laboratory for 11 days and nights under continuous electroencephalogram polysomnography.

Effects of raloxifene treatment on the phenotype of blood monocytes.

Raloxifene (RLX), a selective oestrogen receptor modulator, has oestrogen-agonist effects on bone, lipoproteins, and homocysteine and oestrogen-antagonist activity in the breast and uterus, positioning it as a potential drug for long-term prevention of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. To further evaluate its influence on cardiovascular risk factors, we studied the effects of 60 mg/day RLX on serum lipid levels, inflammatory (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and coagulation (fibrinogen) markers, monocytes, and fibrinolysis in 15 healthy postmenopausal women. Markers were measured at baseline, after 1 month without treatment, and after 3 months of treatment.

Plasma fibrinolysis is related to the degree of organ dysfunction but not to the concentration of von Willebrand Factor in critically ill patients.

Background: Endothelial cell dysfunction, by promoting fibrin deposition, has been implicated in the development of multiple organ failure. Altered fibrinolysis during inflammation may participate in microvascular alterations. We sought to determine whether plasma fibrinolysis was related to the severity of organ dysfunction and/or to the levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF antigen), as a marker of endothelium dysfunction, in critically ill patients.

Neuraminidase alters red blood cells in sepsis.

Objective: To investigate the influence of neuraminidase, an enzyme that cleaves sialic acid from the red blood cell (RBC) membrane, on RBC shape and biochemistry in critically ill patients.

Design: Prospective, observational study and in vitro laboratory study.

Setting: A 31-bed medico-surgical department of intensive care and a university-affiliated cell biology laboratory.

Monocyte-platelet complexes on CD14/CD16 monocyte subsets: relationship with ApoA-I levels. A preliminary study.

The adhesion of the monocytes to the endothelium and their extravasation into the intima are key steps in atherogenesis. Studies showed the essential role of L-selectin (CD62-L), expressed by the monocytes, and the platelets by forming complexes with monocytes. The delipided apolipoprotein (Apo) A or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has antiinflammatory effects on monocytes and can bind platelets (monocyte-platelet complexes [MPCs]).

Sleep restriction increases white blood cells, mainly neutrophil count, in young healthy men: a pilot study.

Objectives: This study examines the effects of sleep restricted to four hours for three consecutive nights on blood parameters, known to be associated with cardiovascular risk, in young healthy men.

Material And Methods: Eight young healthy men (age 24.5 +/- 3.

Triggering of inflammatory response by myeloperoxidase-oxidized LDL.

The oxidation theory proposes that LDL oxidation is an early event in atherosclerosis and that oxidized LDL contributes to atherogenesis in triggering inflammation. In contrast to the copper-modified LDL, there are few studies using myeloperoxidase-modified LDL (Mox-LDL) as an inflammation inducer. Our aim is to test whether Mox-LDL could constitute a specific inducer of the inflammatory response.

Sleep restriction increases blood neutrophils, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in postmenopausal women: A preliminary study.

Objectives: This study examines the effects of sleep restricted to 4h for three consecutive nights on blood parameters known to be associated with cardiovascular risk in healthy postmenopausal women.

Material And Methods: Ten healthy postmenopausal women aged 55-65 years treated with hormonal replacement therapy (HT) were included in the study. After one baseline night, three nights of sleep restricted to 4h were performed and were followed by one recovery night of 8h.

Sleep apnoea-hypopnoea index is an independent predictor of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein elevation.

Background: Recent reports have identified the apnoea and hypopnoea index (AHI) as an additional independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, several studies reported contradictory results about the association between the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level and the severity of apnoea.

Objective: The purpose of this work is to study this association in patients referred to the sleep laboratory for clinical suspicion of sleep apnoea and presenting a wide range of AHI.

Fibrinolysis and cardiovascular risk factors: association with fibrinogen, lipids, and monocyte count.

Background: Numerous risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been determined by clinical epidemiological observations. The missing link could be related to endothelial dysfunction and the resulting hypofibrinolysis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 160 subjects (134 in primary prevention) characterized by their clinical cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), i.

Relationship between CRP and hypofibrinolysis: Is this a possible mechanism to explain the association between CRP and outcome in critically ill patients?

BACKGROUND-: Endothelial cell dysfunction may be implicated in the development of multiple organ failure (MOF) by a number of mechanisms. Among these, altered fibrinolysis promotes fibrin deposition, which may create microvascular alterations during inflammation. Elevated concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), especially when these persist over time, are correlated with an increased risk of MOF and death.