Response to high-altitude triggers in seasonal asthmatics on and off inhaled corticosteroid treatment.

Background: Due to the effects of climate change, winter sport enthusiasts will be increasingly forced to stay at higher altitudes. High altitude (HA) environmental factors such as cold temperature, physical exertion, and hypoxia with subsequent hypocapnia due to hyperventilation have been shown to induce bronchoconstriction. With bronchial asthma being highly prevalent, asthmatics also will be increasingly exposed to HA environment and might experience increasing symptoms.

Markers of Immune Cell Exhaustion as Predictor of Survival in Surgically-Treated Early-Stage NSCLC.

Background: Tumor tissue as well as regional lymph nodes are removed during curative surgery for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These tissues provide a unique snapshot of the immune cell composition at the time of surgery. We investigated the immune landscape in matched tumor tissue, tumor bearing (tb) and non-tumor bearing (ntb) N1 as well as N2 lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with NSCLC and its relation to survival.

Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on lung cancer care and patient health in a German lung cancer center: results from a cross-sectional questionnaire.

Background: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global COVID-19 pandemic, leading to worldwide changes in public health measures. In addition to changes in the public sector (lockdowns, contact restrictions), hospitals modified care to minimize risk of infection and to mobilize resources for COVID-19 patients. Our study aimed to assess the impact of these measures on access to care and behaviour of patients with thoracic malignancies.

Effects of the NF-κB Pathway Agonist IL-1β on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines.

Objective: Canakinumab is an interleukin (IL)-1β inhibitory antibody. Recently, a large trial of canakinumab in cardiac patients described lower lung cancer incidence in patients treated with canakinumab compared to controls. This finding is the basis for ongoing clinical trials of canakinumab in lung cancer.

Systemic inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokine profile predict response to checkpoint inhibitor treatment in NSCLC: a prospective study.

Treatment with single agent immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has tremendously changed second line therapy in NSCLC. However, there are still no reliable biomarkers predicting response and survival in this group of patients. PD-L1 revealed to be a correlating, but no perfect marker.

Role of the erythropoietin receptor in Lung Cancer cells: erythropoietin exhibits angiogenic potential.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), a hormone regulating the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid cells, is one of the prescription drugs used to treat cancer-associated anemia. However, administration of rHuEPO to cancer patients has been reported to be associated with decreased survival, and the mechanism by which it acts remains controversial. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of the EPO-receptor in lung cancer cell lines and whether rHuEPO treatment affected its growth and migration.

Hedgehog Pathway Activation Might Mediate Pemetrexed Resistance in NSCLC Cells.

Background/aim: Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is the main cause of reduced survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The Hedgehog (HH) pathway has been shown to be crucial in cell development and survival. Activated in several types of cancer it might be a potent bypass mechanism mediating chemotherapy resistance.

The omega-3 index in patients with heart failure: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Epidemiologic studies on the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in heart failure are scarce, while one large intervention trial demonstrated a modest benefit.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis from the Interdisciplinary Network Heart Failure (INH) program. Patients hospitalized for systolic heart failure were enrolled and followed for 36 months.

Interleukin-22 is elevated in lavage from patients with lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases.

Background: Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is involved in lung diseases such as pneumonia, asthma and lung cancer. Lavage mirrors the local environment, and may provide insights into the presence and role of IL-22 in patients.

Methods: Bronchoscopic lavage (BL) samples (n = 195, including bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial washings) were analysed for IL-22 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Interactions among Lung Cancer Cells, Fibroblasts, and Macrophages in 3D Co-Cultures and the Impact on MMP-1 and VEGF Expression.

In vitro cell-based models of lung cancer are frequently employed to study invasion and the mechanisms behind metastasis. However, these models often study only one cell type with two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell cultures, which do not accurately reflect the complexity of inflammation in vivo. Here, a three-dimensional (3D) cell co-culture collagen gel model was employed, containing human lung adenocarcinoma cells (HCC), human lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5), and macrophages.

Trans-fatty acid levels in erythrocytes in Europe.

Purpose: High, but not low levels of trans-fatty acids (TFA) in erythrocytes are associated with increased mortality. Current erythrocyte TFA levels in Europe are not known.

Methods: TFA levels in samples submitted by physicians for erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acid analyses are reported, as analysed with a method (HS-Omega-3 Index) previously used in pertinent prospective epidemiologic studies.

Concomitant gemcitabine therapy negatively affects DC vaccine-induced CD8(+) T-cell and B-cell responses but improves clinical efficacy in a murine pancreatic carcinoma model.

Background: Multiple studies have shown that dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines can induce antitumor immunity. Previously, we reported that gemcitabine enhances the efficacy of DC vaccination in a mouse model of pancreatic carcinoma. The present study aimed at investigating the influence of gemcitabine on vaccine-induced anti-tumoral immune responses in a syngeneic pancreatic cancer model.

The hedgehog pathway inhibitor GDC-0449 alters intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and inhibits cell growth in cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells.

Aim: Cisplatin resistance is an important issue in lung cancer. We aimed at investigating if the Hedgehog pathway inhibitor GDC-0449 is effective in cisplatin-resistant cells and if it alters intracellular Ca(2+)-homeostasis.

Materials And Methods: The cytoplasmatic ([Ca(2+)](cyto)) and endoplasmatic ([Ca(2+)])(ER) Ca(2+) concentration of HCC (adeno carcinoma of the lung) and H1339 (small cell lung carcinoma) cells were measured with the calcium indicator dye Fura-2 AM.

Dendritic cell-based vaccination of patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma: results of a pilot study.

Background And Aims: Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination can induce antitumor T cell responses in vivo. This clinical pilot study examined feasibility and outcome of DC-based tumor vaccination for patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Tumor lysate of patients with pancreatic carcinoma was generated by repeated freeze-thaw cycles of surgically obtained tissue specimens.

Combined use of toll-like receptor agonists and prostaglandin E(2) in the FastDC model: rapid generation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells capable of migration and IL-12p70 production.

Phenotypical maturation, IL-12p70 production and migration upon chemokine receptor CCR7 ligation are currently proposed as requirements for the use of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) in antitumoral vaccination. We have previously described a short-term protocol for DC generation from monocytes including stimulation with TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and PGE(2) (FastDC). These "conventional" FastDC are mature, migrate in response to CCR7 ligation and effectively stimulate autologeous T cells in vitro, but are deficient in IL-12p70 production.

IFN-alpha promotes definitive maturation of dendritic cells generated by short-term culture of monocytes with GM-CSF and IL-4.

Dendritic cells (DC) generated in vitro have to be viable and phenotypically mature to be capable of inducing T cell-mediated immunity after in vivo administration. To facilitate optimization of DC-based vaccination protocols, we investigated whether the cytokine environment and the mode of activation affect maturation and survival of DC derived from monocytes by a short-term protocol. Monocytes cultured for 24 h with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and interleukin-4 were stimulated with proinflammatory mediators for another 36 h to generate mature DC.

FastDC derived from human monocytes within 48 h effectively prime tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells.

Previously, we have shown that dendritic cells (DCs) with full T-cell stimulatory capacity can be derived from human monocytes after 48 h of in vitro culture (FastDC). Compared to a standard 7-day protocol, this new strategy not only reduces the time span and the amount of recombinant cytokines required, but may also resemble DC development in vivo more closely. Using a melanoma antigen model, we show here that FastDC prime CTL responses against tumor antigens as effectively as standard monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs).