Bacterial infection disrupts established germinal center reactions through monocyte recruitment and impaired metabolic adaptation

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A SEER analysis of survival and prognostic factors in merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck region

While Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the head and neck is highly malignant, it remains poorly characterized due to its rarity. The purpose of this study was to examine prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) in patients with MCC of the head and neck region. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry was reviewed for patients diagnosed between 1984 and 2016 with histologically confirmed, primary MCC of the head and neck region. A total of 2818 patients met the inclusion criteria, with a median age at diagnosis of 77 years. At five and 10 years, respectively, the OS was 42.4% and 25.1% and the DSS was 67.9% and 64.1%. Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that predictors of decreased DSS included age at diagnosis ≥75 years, white race, increasing tumor spread, lymph node involvement and either the lip or the scalp/neck as a primary site. When adjusting for the aforementioned factors, tumor depth was not found to be a prognostic factor for DSS. We anticipate these results will help clinicians to counsel patients regarding expectations and potential prognosis.     

The role of SPP1 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignancies and has a low 5-year survival rate. Mounting evidence suggests that oral potentially malignant disorders, such as oral leukoplakia (OLK), may progress to HNSCC. Given that OLK and HNSCC are often insidious and asymptomatic, the identification of markers of OLK malignant transformation and therapeutic targets in HNSCC is critical. Using various online tools and publicly available gene expression datasets, the secreted phosphoprotein 1 gene (SPP1) was identified as a significant differentially expressed gene among OLK, HNSCC, and non-cancerous tissues. SPP1 mRNA levels were elevated in HNSCC tissues and were associated with cancer stage, tumor grade, and human papillomavirus infection status. High SPP1 mRNA levels were correlated with poor overall survival of HNSCC patients. In contrast, SPP1 mutations were not significantly associated with overall survival, although their frequency in HNSCC was very low (0.6%). Furthermore, SPP1 expression levels in HNSCC were positively correlated with the infiltration of CD4⁺ cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. The study results suggest that SPP1 may represent a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, as well as a potential therapeutic target in HNSCC.     

Diagnostic pitfalls in needle core biopsy of the breast

Breast core biopsies are a standard component of the triple approach that includes clinical examination, imaging and tissue sampling. Conventional cores, diagnostic vacuum assisted biopsy and vacuum assisted excisions are established methods for sampling and managing breast lesions. It is important to be aware of the potential pitfalls in the technical handling and interpretation of the limited core biopsy samples. Here, we present a clinically oriented, well illustrated overview of the common diagnostic pitfalls based on the author's diagnostic and second opinion practice, emphasize the value of clinicopathological correlation and provide histological tips and clues with useful immunohistochemistry to aid the reporting pathologists in their daily interpretation of breast core biopsies.     

Survival in node-positive early oral squamous cell carcinoma: sentinel node biopsy versus elective neck dissection

Patients undergoing sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) for early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who harbour occult metastases (pN+ve) may be at greater risk of mortality due to prolonged overall treatment times than those identified as pN+ve on elective neck dissection (ELND). A retrospective comparative survival analysis was therefore undertaken to test this hypothesis. Patients were identified from the South Glasgow multidisciplinary team (MDT) database. Group 1 comprised 38 patients identified as pN+ve, or who were false negative, on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Group 2 comprised 146 patients staged pN+ve on ELND. The groups were compared with the Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. In addition, a matched-pair analysis was performed. A unique and specifically designed algorithm was deployed to optimise the pairings. No difference in disease-specific or overall survival was found between the groups. Patients undergoing SLNB as the initial neck staging modality in early OSCC and are identified as pN+ve do not appear to be at a survival disadvantage compared with those staged with ELND.     

Surgical resection after neoadjuvant durvalumab and radiation is feasible and safe in non–small cell lung cancer: Results from a randomized trial

ObjectiveSeveral trials have recently reported the safety of pulmonary resection after neoadjuvant immunotherapy with encouraging major pathological response rates. We report the detailed adverse events profile from a recently conducted randomized phase II trial in patients with resectable non–small cell lung cancer treated with neoadjuvant durvalumab alone or with sub-ablative radiation.MethodsWe conducted a randomized phase II trial in patients with non–small cell lung cancer clinical stages I to IIIA who were randomly assigned to receive neoadjuvant durvalumab alone or with sub-ablative radiation (8Gyx3). Secondary end points included the safety of 2 cycles of preoperative durvalumab with and without radiation followed by pulmonary resection. Postoperative adverse events within 30 days were recorded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.0).ResultsSixty patients were enrolled and randomly assigned, with planned resection performed in 26 patients in each arm. Baseline demographics and clinical variables were balanced between groups. The median operative time was similar between arms: 128 minutes (97-201) versus 146 minutes (109-214) (P = .314). There was no 30- or 90-day mortality. Grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 10 of 26 patients (38%) after monotherapy and in 10 of 26 patients (38%) after dual therapy. Anemia requiring transfusion and hypotension were the 2 most common adverse events. The median length of stay was similar between arms (5 days vs 4 days, P = .172).ConclusionsIn this randomized trial, the addition of sub-ablative focal radiation to durvalumab in the neoadjuvant setting was not associated with increased mortality or morbidity compared with neoadjuvant durvalumab alone.     

Functions of the endothelium and its role in hematopoietic cell transplantation

The endothelium is a single-layered structure that responds to physical and chemical signals with various factors it synthesizes. In the early days of its discovery, as the inner wall of the vessels, the endothelium was thought to be a simple barrier that lays on the surface. Over time it is discovered that endothelium maintains body homeostasis with the molecules it synthesizes, despite its simple single-layer structure. It has been accepted as an important organ that contributes to the maintenance of vascular tone, cell adhesion, inflammation, vascular permeability and coagulation. Any imbalance in these physiological and pathological events causes endothelial dysfunction. This can cause many diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, or it can occur because of these. Endothelial related disorders may also complicate hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which is used to treat various hematologic and neoplastic diseases. These life-threatening complications include graft-versus-host disease, hepatic veno-occlussive disease, transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. They share a similar pathophysiology involving endothelial cells with different clinical presentations. Therefore, current researche on the issue is putting the endothelium under the spotlight for novel markers and treatment options that should be used to monitor or treat at least some of these complications following HSCT.     

半夏泻心汤对DSS诱导的溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道微生态及Th17/Treg细胞平衡的影响＊

目的 观察半夏泻心汤对饮用葡聚糖硫酸钠（DSS）诱导建立的溃疡性结肠炎（UC）模型小鼠Th17/Treg细胞平衡及肠道微生态的影响，从免疫失衡及菌群紊乱角度分析半夏泻心汤治疗UC的作用机制。方法 将40只C57BL/6J雄性小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、阳性药（美沙拉嗪）组及半夏泻心汤组，除空白组外的各小鼠采用2.5% DSS水溶液自由饮用7天诱导建立UC小鼠模型。自实验第8日起，分别采用灭菌水、美沙拉嗪水溶液、半夏泻心汤水溶液给上述各组别小鼠灌胃。采用HE染色观察结肠组织病理学变化，ELISA方法检测组织炎症因子含量，流式细胞术检测Th17及Treg细胞的相对数量，16S rRNA测序技术进一步检测模型小鼠粪便中菌群的变化。结果 与空白组比较，模型组小鼠结肠损伤严重，血清炎症因子含量显著升高（P<0.01）；与模型组比较，中药干预组小鼠结肠损伤减轻，血清TNF-α、IFN-γ含量显著下降（P<0.05）。较空白组小鼠相比，模型组小鼠Th17细胞百分比显著升高（P<0.01），而Treg细胞百分比显著降低（P<0.01）。经半夏泻心汤干预后，其小鼠Th17细胞数量均显著降低（P<0.05），Treg细胞数量则显著升高（P<0.05）。同时，半夏泻心汤可升高门水平上Firmicutes、属水平上Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group、unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae、Prevotellaceae_UCG-001、Alistipes；降低门水平上Actinobacteriota，科水平上Bifidobacteriaceae、Atopobiaceae、Clostridiaceae，属水平上Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1、Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002、Bifidobacterium的相对丰度。结论 半夏泻心汤可使Treg细胞相对数量升高、Th17细胞相对数量降低，以维持Th17/Treg细胞动态平衡；同时可降低有害菌Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1、Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002的相对丰度，升高产短链脂肪酸类菌Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group、Prevotellaceae_UCG-001、unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae等菌属的相对丰度，调控肠道微生物结构及动态平衡，从而发挥治疗UC的作用。