Biomarkers of Inflammation and Progression During Immunotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Biomarkers that would identify patients unlikely to respond to immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remain an unmet medical need.

Patients And Methods: In the present study, we have retrospectively evaluated the association between biomarkers of immune activation and outcome in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients treated with ICIs. The laboratory and clinical data of 79 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed mRCC treated with ICI-based immunotherapy have been analyzed.

The role of nCD64 in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in preterm newborns.

Background: Diagnosing neonatal sepsis is difficult, particularly in preterm newborns. A promising method appears to be evaluation of cell surface markers by flow cytometry.

Methods: This prospective study investigated 217 newborns suspected of having early- or late-onset neonatal sepsis.

Serum IL-6 in combination with synovial IL-6/CRP shows excellent diagnostic power to detect hip and knee prosthetic joint infection.

Background: The diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is still a challenge in some patients after total joint replacement. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) strongly participates in the arrangement of the host-bacteria response. Therefore, increased levels of IL-6 should accompany every PJI.

Excellent AUC for joint fluid cytology in the detection/exclusion of hip and knee prosthetic joint infection.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of synovial fluid (SF) white cell count (SWCC) and neutrophil/lymphocyte percentage in the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) for particular threshold values.

Methods And Results: This was a prospective study of 391 patients in whom SF specimens were collected before total joint replacement revisions. SF was aspirated before joint capsule incision.

Prognostic Significance of Serum and Urinary Neopterin Concentrations in Patients with Rectal Carcinoma Treated with Chemoradiation.

Aim: To analyze the prognostic significance of serum and urinary neopterin concentrations in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma treated with (chemo)radiation.

Patients And Methods: Urinary and serum neopterin and peripheral blood cell count were determined in 49 patients with rectal carcinoma before the start of (chemo)radiation.

Results: Neopterin concentrations exhibited a significant inverse correlation with hemoglobin and positive correlation with leukocyte count, platelet count and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Prognostic factors in patients with esophageal carcinoma treated with chemoradiation: single center experience.

Background/aims: The trimodality therapy including chemotherapy, external beam radiation and surgery is widely accepted as the standard of care in patients with locoregional esophageal carcinoma.

Methodology: We have performed a retrospective analysis of patients with locoregional esophageal carcinoma treated with chemoradiation.

Results: One-hundred and fifty-two consecutive patients with non-metastatic adenocarcinoma or squamous cell esophageal carcinoma treated with chemoradiation were included in the present analysis.