The evolving role of immuno-oncology for the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target immune co-signaling pathways have the potential to enable immune mediated tumor eradication. While early adoption of these agents for the treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) has produced some astounding clinical successes, the majority of patients fail to respond to therapy. The purpose of this review is to first provide a broad overview of the immuno-oncology (I-O) landscape and to then focus on the current status of mAb-based I-O (mAb:I-O) for the treatment of SCCHN, with particular attention to the development of strategies for improving treatment responses.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons' Knowledge and Comfort of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: A Survey of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Despite limited oncologic benefit, contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) rates have increased in the United States over the past 15 years. CPM is often accompanied by breast reconstruction, thereby requiring an interdisciplinary approach between breast and plastic surgeons. Despite this, little is known about plastic surgeons' (PS) perspectives of CPM.

Patient-reported Outcomes in Facial Reconstruction: Assessment of FACE-Q Scales and Predictors of Satisfaction.

Background: There is a paucity of patient-reported outcome measures for facial trauma reconstruction. To measure satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), following repair of traumatic facial fractures, we used the FACE-Q, a set of patient-reported outcome instruments designed for aesthetic facial surgery. As a step toward validating the scales for facial trauma, we evaluated their reliability.

Durability of Benefits From Supervised Treadmill Exercise in People With Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background It is currently unknown whether 6 months of supervised treadmill exercise has a durable benefit on 6-minute walk performance, even after exercise is completed, in people with peripheral artery disease. Methods and Results A total of 156 participants with peripheral artery disease were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: supervised treadmill exercise, supervised resistance training, or attention control. Participants received supervised sessions during months 1 to 6 and telephone contact during months 6 to 12.

Multitarget Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy Is Associated With Superior Immunologic Recovery in Patients Coinfected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus.

Patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have higher levels of immune activation, impaired antigen-specific responses, and accelerated fibrogenesis compared to patients monoinfected with HCV. Whether different direct-acting antiviral (DAA) combinations have differential effects on immunophenotypes and functions following successful HCV therapy remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess the peripheral T-cell immunophenotypes and functions in patients coinfected with HIV/HCV who were successfully treated with combination DAA treatment regimens.

A platform of genetically engineered bacteria as vehicles for localized delivery of therapeutics: Toward applications for Crohn's disease.

For therapies targeting diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, we and others envision probiotic bacteria that synthesize and excrete biotherapeutics at disease sites. Toward this goal, we have engineered commensal E. coli that selectively synthesize and secrete a model biotherapeutic in the presence of nitric oxide (NO), an intestinal biomarker for Crohn's disease (CD).

Laryngeal stenosis among hospitalized children: Results from a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: We aimed to study laryngeal stenosis among hospitalized children in the United States from 2003-2012. We hypothesized that the prevalence of laryngeal stenosis differs by race even when controlling for age, gender, and commonly associated disease conditions.

Methods: We report the results of a cross-sectional survey of hospitalized patients with laryngeal stenosis.

Is There a Role for Thiopurines in IBD?

Immunosuppressive therapy (IM) is inexpensive and nearly one-third of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience a benefit from treatment. IM may be ideal for IBD patients at low risk for a disabling disease course or colectomy and/or those patients with inadequate access to biologic therapy. A majority of IBD patients benefit from early biologic therapy with improved short and likely long-term outcomes.

Bone marrow niche trafficking of miR-126 controls the self-renewal of leukemia stem cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in individuals with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (hereafter referred to as CML LSCs) are responsible for initiating and maintaining clonal hematopoiesis. These cells persist in the bone marrow (BM) despite effective inhibition of BCR-ABL kinase activity by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Here we show that although the microRNA (miRNA) miR-126 supported the quiescence, self-renewal and engraftment capacity of CML LSCs, miR-126 levels were lower in CML LSCs than in long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) from healthy individuals.

mGluR2/3 activation of the SIRT1 axis preserves mitochondrial function in diabetic neuropathy.

Objectives: There is a critical need to develop effective treatments for diabetic neuropathy. This study determined if a selective mGluR2/3 receptor agonist prevented or treated experimental diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) through glutamate recycling and improved mitochondrial function.

Methods: Adult male streptozotocin treated Sprague-Dawley rats with features of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or Low Capacity Running (LCR) rats with insulin resistance or glucose intolerance were treated with 3 or 10 mg/kg/day LY379268.

Promyelocytic sarcoma of the right humerus: an unusual clinical presentation with unique diagnostic and treatment considerations.

Promyelocytic leukemia is a known medical emergency and requires rapid diagnosis and expedient therapy with differentiating agents. We present an unusual case in which the diagnosis is based on a fine needle aspirate of a humeral mass. Despite lack of systemic involvement, the sarcoma responded to traditional differentiation agents.

Medical genetics and genomics training in obstetrics and gynecology residencies: are we ready for the future?

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the availability and duration of formal medical genetics and genomics (MGG) education during obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residency training in the United States compared to other noncore OB/GYN rotations.

Methods: We performed a review of rotation schedules published in all American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited OB/GYN residency programs' websites during the month of December 2016. Information regarding availability and duration of MGG rotation and other noncore OB/GYN rotations (ultrasound, breast health, and family planning) were collected.

Unique amplification of BCR-ABL1 gene fusion in a case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: ABL1 gene translocations can be seen in precursor T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The typical translocation partner is the NUP214 gene. BCR-ABL translocations are relatively rare in this entity.

Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Tuina for Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Tuina with a No-Intervention Waiting List.

Objective: To evaluate whether tuina is more effective and cost-effective in reducing pain compared to no intervention in patients with chronic neck pain.

Design: Single-center randomized two-armed controlled trial.

Setting: University outpatient clinic specialized in Integrative Medicine.

Reproducibility of quantitative structural and physiological MRI measurements.

Introduction: Quantitative longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI/S) is used to assess progress of brain disorders and treatment effects. Understanding the significance of MRI/S changes requires knowledge of the inherent technical and physiological consistency of these measurements. This longitudinal study examined the variance and reproducibility of commonly used quantitative MRI/S measurements in healthy subjects while controlling physiological and technical parameters.

Lenalidomide-induced eosinophilic pneumonia.

Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell dyscrasia accounting for 10% of haematologic malignancies. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug analogous to thalidomide that is approved for use in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, and in combination with dexamethasone for refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma. Lenalidomide is preferred to thalidomide because of reduced toxicity, and pulmonary side effects are considered rare.

Reduced LPL and subcutaneous lipid storage capacity are associated with metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women with obesity.

Objectives: This study examines the hypothesis that lower adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and a limited capacity for subcutaneous adipocyte expansion will be associated with metabolic syndrome (MSyn) in postmenopausal women who are overweight and obese.

Methods: Women ( = 150; age 60 ± 1 year; BMI: 31.5 ± 0.

Science to Practice: Does FDG Differentiate Morphologically Unstable from Stable Atherosclerotic Plaque?

It has been reported that fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) may detect the inflammatory state and macrophage burden of atherosclerotic plaques and potentially identify vulnerable plaques. However, published reports have been inconsistent in this area. Tavakoli et al ( 1 ) hypothesized that differential regulation of macrophage glucose metabolism by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF; inflammation resolving) and granulocyte-M-CSF (GM-CSF; proinflammatory) may contribute to the inconsistency of FDG vessel wall inflammation.

Reproducibility of tract-based white matter microstructural measures using the ENIGMA-DTI protocol.

Background: In preparation for longitudinal analyses of white matter development in youths with family histories of substance use disorders (FH+) or without such histories (FH-), we examined the reproducibility and reliability of global and regional measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) values, measured using the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics Through Meta Analysis (ENIGMA)-diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) protocol. Highly reliable measures are necessary to detect any subtle differences in brain development.

Methods: First, we analyzed reproducibility data in a sample of 12 healthy young adults (ages 20-28) imaged three times within a week.