Correlations Between the Immune-related Adverse Events Spectrum and Efficacy of Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy in NSCLC Patients.

Background: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) developed during immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 agents, could be a predictive surrogate marker of clinical benefit in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Patients with NSCLC, treated with anti-PD-1 agents, were retrospectively evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between types of irAEs (differentiated according to system/organ involved and to single-site/multiple-site), overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Radio electric asymmetric conveyer neuromodulation in depression, anxiety, and stress.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of specific neuromodulation treatments performed with radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology in the treatment of the symptomatic triad depression, anxiety, and stress by the use of a specific psychometric test such as the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-42 items (DASS-42) version, which assesses simultaneously the severity of expression of this triad.

Patients And Methods: The design of this study was planned to compare two populations that performed DASS-42 test twice within a similar period of time. The first population performed the first DASS test before the treatment and the second test about 3 months later, at the end of two specific REAC neuromodulation treatments, neuropostural optimization (NPO) and neuropsychophysical optimization (NPPO), that have previously shown an efficacy in the treatment of depression, anxiety and stress.

A multicenter study of body mass index in cancer patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors: when overweight becomes favorable.

Background: Recent evidence suggested a potential correlation between overweight and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of advanced cancer patients consecutively treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, in order to compare clinical outcomes according to baseline BMI levels as primary analysis. Based on their BMI, patients were categorized into overweight/obese (≥ 25) and non-overweight (< 25).

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Advanced Cancer and Pre-Existing Autoimmune Diseases Treated with Anti-Programmed Death-1 Immunotherapy: A Real-World Transverse Study.

Background: Patients with a history of autoimmune diseases (AIDs) have not usually been included in clinical trials with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients with advanced cancer, treated with anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) agents, were evaluated according to the presence of pre-existing AIDs. The incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and clinical outcomes were compared among subgroups.

Single Cell Profiling Reveals PTEN Overexpression in Influenza-Specific B cells in Aging HIV-infected individuals on Anti-retroviral Therapy.

Memory B cells (MBC) respond to secondary antigen challenge to protect against infection and to boost immunity following vaccinations. Despite effective treatment, chronic HIV infection disturbs MBCs by reducing numbers and altering functionality due to hyper-activation and increased apoptosis leading to suboptimal antibody responses against common infectious agents. We used single cell gene expression analysis to evaluate antigen-specific memory B cells in peripheral blood of virally-suppressed HIV-infected individuals and healthy controls stratified by serum H1N1 antibody response 3 weeks post-administration of the seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine.

Natural Killer Cells Degenerate Intact Sensory Afferents following Nerve Injury.

Sensory axons degenerate following separation from their cell body, but partial injury to peripheral nerves may leave the integrity of damaged axons preserved. We show that an endogenous ligand for the natural killer (NK) cell receptor NKG2D, Retinoic Acid Early 1 (RAE1), is re-expressed in adult dorsal root ganglion neurons following peripheral nerve injury, triggering selective degeneration of injured axons. Infiltration of cytotoxic NK cells into the sciatic nerve by extravasation occurs within 3 days following crush injury.

Dietary intake and breast cancer risk in black South African women: the South African Breast Cancer study.

Incidence rates of breast cancer (BC) are increasing in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary intake and BC risk in black South African women. The study population included 396 BC cases and 396 population-based controls matched on age and residence, participating in the South African Breast Cancer study.

Physical stimulation by REAC and BMP4/WNT-1 inhibitor synergistically enhance cardiogenic commitment in iPSCs.

It is currently known that pluripotent stem cells can be committed in vitro to the cardiac lineage by the modulation of specific signaling pathways, but it is also well known that, despite the significant increase in cardiomyocyte yield provided by the currently available conditioned media, the resulting cardiogenic commitment remains a highly variable process. Previous studies provided evidence that radio electric fields asymmetrically conveyed through the Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) technology are able to commit R1 embryonic stem cells and human adipose derived stem cells toward a cardiac phenotype. The present study aimed at investigating whether the effect of physical stimulation by REAC in combination with specific chemical inductors enhance the cardiogenic potential in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Is phase angle an appropriate indicator of malnutrition in different disease states? A systematic review.

Background & Aims: Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) classifies malnutrition severity via a simple bedside assessment. Phase angle (PhA) is an indicator of cell integrity and has been suggested to be indicator of nutritional status.

Objective: To explore the relationship between PhA and SGA.

Molecular features of premenopausal breast cancers in Latin American women: Pilot results from the PRECAMA study.

Background: In Latin America (LA), there is a high incidence rate of breast cancer (BC) in premenopausal women, and the genomic features of these BC remain unknown. Here, we aim to characterize the molecular features of BC in young LA women within the framework of the PRECAMA study, a multicenter population-based case-control study of BC in premenopausal women.

Methods: Pathological tumor tissues were collected from incident cases from four LA countries.

Healthy lifestyle and breast cancer risk: A case-control study in Morocco.

Background: Some modifiable risk factors have been independently associated with breast cancer (BC) risk in Moroccan women, but no studies have investigated their joint association. This study aimed to investigate the association between a Healthy Lifestyle Index (HLI) score and BC risk among Moroccan women.

Methods: In this case-control study, 300 incident BC cases and 300 controls, matched by age and area of residence were recruited.

Ovarian cancer risk factors by tumor aggressiveness: An analysis from the Ovarian Cancer Cohort Consortium.

Ovarian cancer risk factors differ by histotype; however, within subtype, there is substantial variability in outcomes. We hypothesized that risk factor profiles may influence tumor aggressiveness, defined by time between diagnosis and death, independent of histology. Among 1.

Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis of the Anterior Capsulotomy Edge: A Comparative Study between Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Capsulotomy and Manual Capsulorhexis.

Purpose: To compare the capsule edges ultrastructure obtained by two femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) platforms and manual continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Setting: Eye Clinic, University of Trieste, Italy.

Design: Experimental comparative study.

Coffee and tea drinking in relation to the risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study.

Purpose: Coffee and tea constituents have shown several anti-carcinogenic activities in cellular and animal studies, including against thyroid cancer (TC). However, epidemiological evidence is still limited and inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this association in a large prospective study.

Dietary cadmium and risk of breast cancer subtypes defined by hormone receptor status: A prospective cohort study.

Diet is the primary source of cadmium-a proven Group 1 human carcinogen-for non-smokers. Observational studies investigating the effect of cadmium from food sources on breast cancer risk have produced inconsistent results. We examined the association between dietary cadmium and risk of breast cancer defined by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 status, in 8924 women recruited to a prospective study between 1987 and 1992.

Microinvasive breast carcinoma: An analysis from ten Senonetwork Italia breast centres.

Background And Objectives: We studied a large series of ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (MIDC) an infrequent disease whose diagnosis and management are not well defined.

Methods: 17,431 cases of breast carcinoma were treated between 2011 and 2016 by ten Italian Breast Units. Our analysis included diagnostic and clinic-pathological characteristics, surgical management, and the use of adjuvant therapies.

The prognostic and predictive role of hyponatremia in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with bone metastases.

Purpose: Hyponatremia and bone metastasis (BMs) are known as negative prognostic factors in patients affected by metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Hyponatremia is associated with higher risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture, but no data are available about the relationship between hyponatremia and bone metastasis. This study aims to analyze the prognostic impact of hyponatremia in NSCLC patients with bone metastases.

A Local Allosteric Network in Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70) Links Inhibitor Binding to Enzyme Activity and Distal Protein-Protein Interactions.

Allosteric inhibitors can be more difficult to optimize without an understanding of how their binding influences the conformational motions of the target. Here, we used an integrated computational and experimental approach to probe the molecular mechanism of an allosteric inhibitor of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). The anticancer compound, MKT-077, is known to bind a conserved site in members of the Hsp70 family, which favors the ADP-bound state and interferes with a protein-protein interaction (PPI) at long range.

Communication Differences between Oncologists and Palliative Care Clinicians: A Qualitative Analysis of Early, Integrated Palliative Care in Patients with Advanced Cancer.

Background: Growing evidence demonstrates the benefits of early, integrated palliative care (PC) for patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers. Yet, data are lacking on the communication patterns within this model of care.

Objective: The goals of this study were to describe the content of patient-clinician discussions among patients receiving PC and to compare differences in discussion content between oncologists and PC clinicians.

Repurposing simvastatin as a therapy for preterm labor: evidence from preclinical models.

Preterm birth (PTB), the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, urgently requires novel therapeutic agents. Spontaneous PTB, resulting from preterm labor, is commonly caused by intrauterine infection/inflammation. Statins are well-established, cholesterol-lowering drugs that can reduce inflammation and inhibit vascular smooth muscle contraction.

Regional variation of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a heterogeneous disorder regarding the clinical presentation, electrophysiological subtype and outcome. Previous single country reports indicate that Guillain-Barré syndrome may differ among regions, but no systematic comparative studies have been conducted. Comparative studies are required to identify factors determining disease susceptibility, variation and prognosis, and to improve diagnostic criteria.

Circulating insulin-like growth factor I in relation to melanoma risk in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis, and is thought to play a role in tumour development. Previous prospective studies have shown that higher circulating concentrations of IGF-I are associated with a higher risk of cancers at specific sites, including breast and prostate. No prospective study has examined the association between circulating IGF-I concentrations and melanoma risk.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Antibody Repertoire Estimates Reservoir Size and Time of Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation in Virally Suppressed Perinatally HIV-Infected Children.

Background: Assays to estimate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir size require large amounts of blood, which represents a drawback especially in pediatric settings. We investigated whether HIV-antibody repertoire could estimate the viral reservoir size. Moreover, we assessed the magnitude of HIV-antibody response as a predictor of time of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation.

Reproductive factors and molecular subtypes of breast cancer among premenopausal women in Latin America: the PRECAMA study.

Etiological differences among breast cancer (BC) subtypes have not been clearly established, especially among young women in Latin America. This study examined the relationship between reproductive factors and BC subtypes among 288 BC cases (20-45 years) and population-based matched controls in four Latin American countries. Immunohistochemistry was determined centrally.

Microbial Translocation and Immune Activation in HIV-1 Infected Pregnant Women.

Background: Immune Activation (IA) has been previously documented in both pregnant (PG) and non-PG HIV-1 infected (HIV+) women as well as in HIV- uninfected PG women; the latter as a result of the fetal allograft. To determine whether the combined effects of HIV and pregnancy result in increased IA and whether IA is associated with Microbial Translocation (MT), we performed a prospective, longitudinal, controlled study during pregnancy and the postpartum (PP) period.

Methods: HIV+ PG women had biomarkers of IA and MT tested at 12-20 weeks (T1), and 24-36 weeks (T2) of pregnancy and at 6-8 weeks Postpartum (T3).