Absorption pharmacokinetics and feasibility of intranasal dexmedetomidine in patients under general anaesthesia.

Background: The use of intranasal dexmedetomidine is hampered by a limited understanding of its absorption pharmacokinetics.

Methods: We examined the pharmacokinetics and feasibility of intranasal dexmedetomidine administered in the supine position to adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia. Twenty-eight patients between 35 and 80 years of age, ASA 1-3 and weight between 50 and 100 kg, who underwent elective unilateral total hip or knee arthroplasty under general anaesthesia were recruited.

Exploring the Association Between Visual Field Testing and CERAD Neuropsychological Battery in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Patients.

Background: Association between visual field test indices and The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Neuropsychological Battery (CERAD-NB) is unknown. Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients provide a unique set of patient data for analysis.

Objective: To assess the reliability of visual field testing using the CERAD-NB in patients with iNPH and to investigate the association between visual field test results and cognitive function.

A case report of an accidental iatrogenic dexmedetomidine overdose in an adult.

Background: Dexmedetomidine is a sedative drug with a wide safety margin.

Case Presentation: We present a case of accidental iatrogenic dexmedetomidine overdose in an adult patient during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. This is the first case report of an adult patient receiving an intravenous push of dexmedetomidine.

High Numbers of CD163+ Tumor-Associated Macrophages Predict Poor Prognosis in HER2+ Breast Cancer.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are associated with a poor outcome in breast cancer (BC), but their prognostic value in different BC subtypes has remained somewhat unclear. Here, we investigated the prognostic value of M2-like TAMs (CD163+) and all TAMs (CD68+) in a patient cohort of 278 non-metastatic BC patients, half of whom were HER2+ ( = 139). The survival endpoints investigated were overall survival (OS), breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

A practical prognostic peripheral blood-based risk model for the evaluation of the likelihood of a response and survival of metastatic cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Less than half of unselected metastatic cancer patients benefit from the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Systemic cancer-related inflammation may influence the efficacy of ICIs and thus, systemic inflammatory markers could have prognostic and/or predictive potential in ICI therapy. Here, we aimed to identify a combination of inflammation-related laboratory parameters to establish a practical prognostic risk model for the pretreatment evaluation of a response and survival of ICI-treated patients with different types of metastatic cancers.

Previous radiotherapy improves treatment responses and causes a trend toward longer time to progression among patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-related adverse events.

Background: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are frequently encountered by patients during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment and are associated with better treatment outcomes. The sequencing of radiotherapy (RT) and ICIs is widely used in current clinical practice, but its effect on survival has remained unclear.

Methods: In a real-world multicenter study including 521 patients who received ICI treatment for metastatic or locally advanced cancer, RT schedules and timing, irAEs, time to progression, overall survival, and treatment responses were retrospectively reviewed.

Trends in cost of treatment of lung cancer patients in 2014-2019 in Finland - a descriptive register study.

Aim: The aim of this descriptive study is to analyze the cost for the treatment of NSCLC and SCLC patients (2014-2019) in Finland. The primary objective is to understand recent (2014-2019) cost developments.

Methods: The study is retrospective and based on hospital register data.

The prognostic and predictive role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (FoxP3 + and CD8 +) and tumor-associated macrophages in early HER2 + breast cancer.

Purpose: In HER2-positive (HER2 +) breast cancer, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) may influence the efficacy of the HER2-antibody trastuzumab and the patient's outcome. In this HER2 + patient cohort, our aim was to study the numbers of FoxP3 + regulatory TILs and CD8 + cytotoxic TILs, their correlations with CD68 + and CD163 + TAMs, and the prognostic and predictive value of the studied factors.

Methods: We evaluated 139 non-metastatic HER2 + breast cancer patients operated between 2001 and 2008.

The prognostic and predictive roles of plasma C-reactive protein and PD-L1 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Anti-PD-(L)1 agents have revolutionized the treatment paradigms of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while predictive biomarkers are limited. It has been previously shown that systemic inflammation, indicated by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level, is associated with a poor prognosis in anti-PD-(L)1 treated. The aim of the study was to analyze the prognostic and predictive value of CRP in addition to traditional prognostic and predictive markers and tumor PD-L1 score.

Trends in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in Finland 2014-2019.

Introduction: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in the Western world. However, emerging treatment options and more patients directed to active treatments might improve the outcomes. Here, we retrospectively studied the patient characteristics and treatment practices for NSCLC in Finland 2014-2019 with a special focus on changes in trends over time.

The prognostic and predictive role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio in early breast cancer, especially in the HER2+ subtype.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of two systemic inflammatory markers, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and their possible predictive role regarding the efficacy of adjuvant trastuzumab, in 209 early breast cancer cases, 107 of which were HER2-positive.

Methods: Baseline NLR and MLR values were divided into two groups, high and low, according to cut-off-points determined from the ROC curve (2.2 for NLR and 0.

Tumor microenvironment and breast cancer survival: combined effects of breast fat, M2 macrophages and hyaluronan create a dismal prognosis.

Purpose: Tumor microenvironment, including inflammatory cells, adipocytes and extracellular matrix constituents such as hyaluronan (HA), impacts on cancer progression. Systemic metabolism also influences tumor growth e.g.

Elevated CRP levels indicate poor progression-free and overall survival on cancer patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors.

Background: Anti-PD-(L)1 agents are standard of care treatments in various cancers but predictive factors for therapy selection are limited. We hypothesised that markers of systemic inflammation would predict adverse outcomes in multiple cancers treated with anti-PD-(L)1 agents.

Material And Methods: Discovery cohort consisted of patients who were treated with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) agents for advanced melanoma (MEL), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or renal and bladder cancers (GU) at Oulu University Hospital and had pretreatment C reactive protein (CRP), or neutrophil/lymphocyte values available.

Peritumoral ADC values in breast cancer: region of interest selection, associations with hyaluronan intensity, and prognostic significance.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the differences in peritumoral apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values by four different ROI selection methods and to validate the optimal method. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate if the peritumor-tumor ADC ratios are correlated with axillary lymph node positivity and hyaluronan accumulation.

Methods: Altogether, 22 breast cancer patients underwent 3.

Effects of a Two-Year Home-Based Exercise Training Program on Oxidized LDL and HDL Lipids in Coronary Artery Disease Patients with and without Type-2 Diabetes.

We investigated the effect of two-year home-based exercise training program on oxidized low-density lipoprotein LDL (ox-LDL) and high-density lipoprotein HDL (ox-HDL) lipids in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), both with and without type-2 diabetes (T2D). Analysis of lipoprotein-oxidized lipids was based on the determination of baseline conjugated dienes in lipoprotein lipids. In order to study the effect of an exercise load on ox-LDL and ox-HDL lipids patients in both CAD and CAD + T2D intervention, groups were divided in three based on exercise load (high, medium, and low).

UDP-sugar accumulation drives hyaluronan synthesis in breast cancer.

Increased uptake of glucose, a general hallmark of malignant tumors, leads to an accumulation of intermediate metabolites of glycolysis. We investigated whether the high supply of these intermediates promotes their flow into UDP-sugars, and consequently into hyaluronan, a tumor-promoting matrix molecule. We quantified UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) and UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcUA) in human breast cancer biopsies, the levels of enzymes contributing to their synthesis, and their association with the hyaluronan accumulation in the tumor.

Prognostic and predictive role of spatially positioned tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab.

Disease outcomes of HER2+ breast cancers have dramatically changed after targeted therapies, such as trastuzumab, came to clinical practice but predictive factors for trastuzumab sensitivity and resistance are frequently unknown. Current work included metastatic breast cancer patients (n = 48), who were treated with trastuzumab and had pre-treatment tumour samples available. The tumours were immunostained for T-cell (CD3, CD8), natural killer (NK)-cell (CD56) and macrophage (CD68) markers and quantitative analysis of the immune cells was carried out using a computer-assisted image analysis in different tumour locations.

6-mo aerobic exercise intervention enhances the lipid peroxide transport function of HDL.

During acute exercise, the concentration of oxidized high-density lipoprotein (HDL) lipids (ox-HDL) is reported to increase suggesting that HDL may function in decreasing the concentration of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lipids. However, the effect of exercise intervention on the lipid peroxide transport function of HDL is unknown. A randomized controlled trial with sedentary women (N = 161), aged 43-63, with no current use of hormone therapy, were randomized into a 6-month (mo) exercise group and a control group.

High extent of O-GlcNAcylation in breast cancer cells correlates with the levels of HAS enzymes, accumulation of hyaluronan, and poor outcome.

Purpose: Obesity and oversupply of glucose, e.g., due to nutritional factors may shape the tumor microenvironment favorable for tumor progression.

A quasi-experimental study of the effects of the Erggi action model of musculoskeletal symptoms and VDU working conditions among university staff.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate musculoskeletal symptoms and working conditions of university workers with and without contact with an Erggi action model.

Methods: A quasi-experimental and longitudinal field study design examined effects of the Erggi action model with 3 types of questionnaires filled by 1000 university workers. The statistical analyses used logistic regression.

High numbers of macrophages, especially M2-like (CD163-positive), correlate with hyaluronan accumulation and poor outcome in breast cancer.

Aims: High amounts of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) and hyaluronan (HA) correlate with tumour aggressiveness in breast cancer, but the relationship between these parameters is unclear. The aim of this study was to assay the numbers of TAMs in 278 human breast cancer cases, and their correlations with HA-related factors, clinical variables, and outcome.

Methods And Results: The immunoreactivities for CD163 and CD68 were considered as indicators for M2-like and all TAMs, respectively.

High density lipoprotein level is negatively associated with the increase of oxidized low density lipoprotein lipids after a fatty meal.

Recent reports show that a fatty meal can substantially increase the concentration of oxidized lipids in low density lipoprotein (LDL). Knowing the LDL-specific antioxidant effects of high density lipoprotein (HDL), we aimed to investigate whether HDL can modify the postprandial oxidative stress after a fatty meal. Subjects of the study (n = 71) consumed a test meal (a standard hamburger meal) rich in lipid peroxides, and blood samples were taken before, 120, 240, and 360 min after the meal.

Hypothermia-treated cardiac arrest patients with good neurological outcome differ early in quantitative variables of EEG suppression and epileptiform activity.

Objective: To evaluate electroencephalogram-derived quantitative variables after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University hospital intensive care unit.

Nrf2 regulates antioxidant gene expression evoked by oxidized phospholipids in endothelial cells and murine arteries in vivo.

Besides their well-characterized proinflammatory and proatherogenic effects, oxidized phospholipids, such as oxPAPC (oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine) have been shown to have beneficial responses in vascular cells via induction of antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1. We therefore hypothesized that oxPAPC could evoke a general cytoprotective response via activation of antioxidative transcription factor Nrf2. Here, we show that oxPAPC increases nuclear accumulation of Nrf2.

Physical fitness profiles in young Finnish men during the years 1975-2004.

Purpose: This population-based study describes fitness profiles in aerobic capacity (N = 387088) during the years 1975-2004, muscle performance (N = 280285) from 1982 to 2003, and body anthropometry (N = 324911) from 1993 to 2004 among the Finnish conscripts at the age of 20 yr.

Methods: Endurance performance was tested by the 12-min running test. Muscle fitness tests consisting of sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, a back-muscle test, and standing long jump were scored to muscle fitness index (MFI).