Retreatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the New Scenario of Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

The advent of immunotherapy has transformed the treatment paradigm for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the past few years, several studies have investigated the potential role of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in resectable and unresectable locally advanced disease, achieving remarkable results that led to their approval in clinical practice. However, there is limited evidence on immunotherapy rechallenge after recurrence, with the majority of available knowledge coming from retrospective studies which involve heavily pretreated patients with advanced NSCLC.

Rituximab in steroid-refractory immune-related pancreatitis: a case report.

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for treating several types of cancer is increasing, but they may be associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Pancreatitis is a rare irAE, mostly responsive to steroid treatment. There are no published data on the management of steroid-refractory ICI-induced pancreatitis.

The (AAT)n repeat of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor gene influences disease progression in relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Background: Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors (CB(1)Rs) exacerbates disease course in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, suggesting that CB(1)Rs might play a role in the neurodegenerative damage associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: To see whether CNR1 gene polymorphism could influence disease progression in relapsing-remitting MS.

Methods: The genotype of 350 patients for the number of AAT repeats was characterized and correlation studies were performed with measures of disease severity and progression.

Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 and GSTA1 as risk factors for schizophrenia.

Oxidative damage is thought to play a role in the predisposition to schizophrenia. We determined if the polymorphisms of the GSTP1, GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTA1 genes, which affect the activity of these enzymes against oxidative stress, have a role as susceptibility genes for schizophrenia, analyzing 138 schizophrenic patients and 133 healthy controls. We found that the combination of the absence of GSTM1 gene with the of the GSTM1 gene with the polymorphism GSTA1*B/*B, and the presence of the GSTT1 gene, represents a risk factor for schizophrenia, indicating that the combination of different GST polymorphisms has a role in the predisposition to schizophrenia, probably affecting the capacity of the cell to detoxify the oxidized metabolites of catecholamines.

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor polymorphisms and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Objective: To investigate the possible association between selected thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: University hospital.

Impact of storage conditions on genetic analysis or viral load determination in clinical specimens.

Background: Storage and shipment conditions of clinical specimens affect the quality of nucleic acids and may interfere with molecular analysis. The aim of our study was to verify whether blood storage at room temperature affects single nucleotide polymorphisms analysis; moreover, we analysed the consequences of serum storage at 4°C on viral load determination of hepatitis B and C viruses.

Methods: For single nucleotide polymorphism screening, genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA whole blood samples stored at room temperature for different times, quantified photometrically, and Factor V Leiden point mutation analysis was performed.