Antecedent viral immunization and efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade: an extensive serum antibody profile to predict outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) revolutionized the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but only a fraction of them obtain a response, and clinical benefit from these treatments is often difficult to predict. The aim of our study is to unveil the potential implications of antibody response to previous viral infections in predicting response to ICBs in patients with NSCLC.

Methods: Sera from patients treated with ICBs alone, chemotherapy (CT) or a combination of CT-ICBs were analyzed with VirScan (CDI Labs, USA), a high-throughput method that comprehensively analyzes epitope-level antiviral IgG antibodies via programmable phage display and immunoprecipitation sequencing.

Omega-3 polygenic score protects against altered eating behavior in intrauterine growth-restricted children.

Background: Alterations in eating behavior are common in infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) could provide protection. We hypothesized that those born IUGR with a genetic background associated with increased production of omega-3-PUFA will have more adaptive eating behaviors during childhood.

Methods: IUGR/non-IUGR classified infants from MAVAN and GUSTO cohorts were included at the age of 4 and 5 years, respectively.

Removal of paracetamol from aqueous solution by activated carbon and silica. Experimental and computational study.

The presence of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment is a known problem worldwide. Paracetamol is widely used as an analgesic and antipyretic. Its high consumption implies a continuous discharge in aqueous environments through industrial and domestic wastewater that requires mitigation and remediation strategies.

The health mediators-qualified interpreters contributing to health care quality among Romanian Roma patients.

In order to assure optimal care of patients with chronic illnesses, it is necessary to take into account the cultural factors that may influence health-related behaviors, health practices, and health-seeking behavior. Despite the increasing number of Romanian Roma, research regarding their beliefs and practices related to healthcare is rather poor. The aim of this paper is to present empirical evidence of specificities in the practice of healthcare among Romanian Roma patients and their caregivers.

Dying and death in some Roma communities: ethical challenges.

The Roma people have specific values, therefore their views and beliefs about illness, dying and death are important to be known for health care providers caring for members of this community. The aim of this qualitative study based on 48 semi-structured interviews with Roma patients and caregivers in communities in two regions of Romania was to examine their selfdescribed behaviors and practices, their experiences and perceptions of illness, dying and death. Five more important themes about the Roma people facing dying and death have been identified: (1) The perception of illness in the community as reason for shame and the isolation that results from this, as well as the tendency for Roma people to take this on in their self image; (2) The importance of the family as the major support for the ill/dying individual, including the social requirement that family gather when someone is ill/dying; (3) The belief that the patient should not be told his/her diagnosis for fear it will harm him/her and that the family should be informed of the diagnosis as the main decision maker regarding medical treatment; (4) The reluctance of the Roma to decide on stopping life prolonging treatment; (5) The view of death as 'impure'.

Ethical issues in communication of diagnosis and end-of-life decision-making process in some of the Romanian Roma communities.

Medical communication in Western-oriented countries is dominated by concepts of shared decision-making and patient autonomy. In interactions with Roma patients, these behavioral patterns rarely seem to be achieved because the culture and ethnicity have often been shown as barriers in establishing an effective and satisfying doctor-patient relationship. The study aims to explore the Roma's beliefs and experiences related to autonomy and decision-making process in the case of a disease with poor prognosis.