Benefits of positron emission tomography scans for the evaluation of radiotherapy

The assessment of tumour response during and after radiotherapy determines the subsequent management of patients (adaptation of treatment plan, monitoring, adjuvant treatment, rescue treatment or palliative care). In addition to its role in extension assessment and therapeutic planning, positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography provides useful functional information for the evaluation of tumour response. The objective of this article is to review published data on positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography as a tool for evaluating external radiotherapy for cancers. Data on positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography scans acquired at different times (during, after initial and after definitive [chemo-]radiotherapy, during post-treatment follow-up) in solid tumours (lung, head and neck, cervix, oesophagus, prostate and rectum) were collected and analysed. Recent recommendations of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network are also reported. Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography with (¹⁸F)-labelled fluorodeoxyglucose has a well-established role in clinical routine after chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancers, particularly to limit the number of neck lymph node dissection. This imaging modality also has a place for the evaluation of initial chemoradiotherapy of oesophageal cancer, including the detection of distant metastases, and for the post-therapeutic evaluation of cervical cancer. Several radiotracers for positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography, such as choline, are also recommended for patients with prostate cancer with biochemical failure. (¹⁸F)-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography is optional in many other circumstances and its clinical benefits, possibly in combination with MRI, to assess response to radiotherapy remain a very active area of research.     

HPV治疗性疫苗的研究进展

宫颈癌是影响全球女性健康的公共卫生问题。持续的高危型HPV感染是宫颈癌的主要致病因素。目前，HPV预防性疫苗已经在全球范围内逐渐广泛开展，但其对已感染HPV的女性没有治疗作用。迄今，多种治疗性疫苗已用于临床前模型和临床试验，包括肽和蛋白质疫苗、活载体疫苗、DNA疫苗等，并已经显示出良好的安全性和耐受性，为宫颈癌的防治工作带来了希望和动力。但其仍存在免疫原性低、需要寻找更多新的靶抗原基因等不足，仍需进一步研究。     

外泌体作为靶向治疗载体的研究进展

外泌体是来源于细胞内膜的纳米级的囊泡，包含有核酸、蛋白和脂质等生命物质，作为一种细胞间交流的机制，在生命活动中发挥着重要作用。相对于脂质体载体，外泌体更稳定，生物相容性好，免疫原性低，而且可以渗透生物屏障，例如血脑屏障、胎盘屏障等。重点介绍外泌体载体靶向性的基础、外泌体载体装载负荷的方法及外泌体载体目前的应用进展和前景。     

Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization after introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for US adults 65 years of age and older, 2015–2016

Background

Vaccination of children with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) led to declines in vaccine-type pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage among adults through indirect effects. In August 2014, PCV13 immunization of all U.S. adults ≥65?years of age was recommended. This study sought to define prevalence and serotype distribution of pneumococcal carriage among adults ≥65?years of age and to describe risk factors for colonization soon after introduction of PCV13 in adults.

A randomized,double-blind,controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an intranasally administered trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine with adjuvant LTh(αK): A phase I study

Background

A nasal influenza vaccine has been available only in a live attenuated form, which limits the range of recipients to immune-competent individuals. The present study evaluated a newly developed intranasal inactivated influenza vaccine with a novel adjuvant, heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) derived from E. coli (LTh(αK)).

HPV Vaccine recommendations: does a health care provider’s gender and ethnicity matter to Unvaccinated Latina college women?

Objectives: There are disparities in the uptake of HPV vaccine among racial/ethnic minority women. The strongest predictor of HPV vaccine uptake among adult women is health care provider (HCP) recommendation; however, it is unclear how issues relating to race/ethnicity may mitigate these recommendations. Research shows that racial/ethnic and gender concordance between a patient and HCP can improve patient satisfaction, access and quality of care. If concordance contributes to improved patient-provider interactions, then it may be a factor in patient decisions regarding HPV vaccination. The objectives of this study were to (1) explore gender and ethnicity HCP preference regarding HPV vaccination among unvaccinated; and (2) understand factors associated with those preferences.

Design: Unvaccinated Latina college students (n?=?187) completed a survey that assessed HCP preferences, medical mistrust, cultural assimilation and HPV vaccine recommendation. Logistic regression models evaluated associations between above variables with HPV knowledge and preference for a female and/or Latina HCP.

Results: Most respondents had health insurance (71%), a regular HCP (64%), were US-born (67%), with foreign-born parents (74%). Thirty-four percent and 18% agreed that they would be more likely to get the HPV vaccine if the recommending HCP was female and Latino, respectively. Latina women reporting higher medical mistrust preferred a HPV vaccine recommendation from a Latino/a provider.

Conclusions: Latinas’ preferences regarding gender and ethnicity of their HCPs may affect patient-provider interactions. Increasing diversity and cultural awareness among HCPs, and providing linguistically and culturally-appropriate information may decrease patient-provider mistrust, increase uptake of the HPV vaccine, and decrease persistent cervical cancer disparities.     

B cell and B cell-related pathways for novel cancer treatments

B cells are recognized as the main effector cells of humoral immunity which suppress tumor progression by secreting immunoglobulins, promoting T cell response, and killing cancer cells directly. Given these properties, their anti-tumor immune response in the tumor micro-environment (TME) is of great interest. Although T cell-related immune responses have become a therapeutic target with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, not all patients benefit from these treatments. B cell and B cell-related pathways (CCL19, −21/CCR7 axis and CXCL13/CXCR5 axis) play key roles in activating immune response through humoral immunity and local immune activation via tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) formation. However they have some protumorigenic works in the TME. Thus, a better understanding of B cell and B cell-related pathways is necessary to develop effective cancer control. In this review, we summarize recent evidences regarding the roles of B cell and B cell-related pathways in the TME and immune response and discuss their potential roles for novel cancer treatment strategies.     

L’éducation thérapeutique de patients souffrant de schizophrénie ayant commis ou pouvant commettre un ou des passage(s) à l’acte dangereux

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental pathology with polymorphous symptoms that have an invalidating impact on an emotional, interpersonal, behavioural and social level. In certain cases this pathology can increase the risk of self-harm or harm to others, making it necessary to put protocoles in place for specifically-adapted treatment, put forward notably by care units that deal with dangerous patients. The patient's therapeutic education, orientated towards acquiring knowledge about the illness and skills for dealing with it in day-to-day life, is now a recognised practice, having proven its effectiveness in the treatment of chronic psychiatric patients. There is significant interest in this method for treating dangerous mental patients. In this interview, the psychologist Diane Brulin-Solignac shares her knowledge and experience of this therapeutic practice.     

Induction of specific cell‐mediated immune responses and protection in BALB/c mice by vaccination with outer membrane vesicles from a Brucella melitensis human isolate

Brucellosis is a worldwide bacterial zoonosis caused by Brucella spp. No approved vaccine is available for human use against the disease. In this study, outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from a Brucella melitensis biovar 1 human isolate obtained in Iran were used to immunize BALB/c mice (n = 12) by 2 intramuscular injections with a 2‐week interval. Another group of 12 mice was used as non‐vaccinated controls. Two weeks after the last vaccination, six mice of each group were sacrificed, and proliferation and interferon gamma (IFNγ) production responses of their splenocytes were evaluated following in vitro stimulation with killed Brucella cells. The other mice were challenged with the virulent B. melitensis isolate. Two weeks later, mice were killed and spleens were cultured to determine the number of the challenge strain. The results showed proliferative response and IFNγ production of splenocytes from vaccinated mice (stimulation index: 2.18 ± 0.57, and 1519.35 ± 10.70 pg/mL, respectively) were significantly higher than those of control mice (stimulation index: 1.02 ± 0.02, and 210.01 ± 17.58 pg/mL, respectively). Numbers of the challenge strain in spleens of vaccinated mice were also significantly less than those in the controls with 1.6 units of protection. Our study revealed vaccination with OMVs of the B. melitensis isolate could induce specific immune responses and protection against infection in the mouse model suggesting their potential application for active immunization against brucellosis.     

西格列汀联合二甲双胍治疗肥胖型2型糖尿病的疗效及对体脂含量情况分析

目的研究肥胖型2型糖尿病患者联合采用西格列汀、二甲双胍治疗的临床效果。方法选择2018年10月—2020年4月该院100例肥胖型2型糖尿病患者为研究对象,采用随机数表法分成常规组和治疗组,每组50例。常规组予二甲双胍治疗,治疗组予二甲双胍+西格列汀治疗。比较两组治疗效果、血糖指标、体脂含量、胰岛功能指标及不良反应。。结果两组治疗效果比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后常规组血糖指标高于治疗组,差异有统计学意义(t=8.183、4.828、18.158,P<0.05)。治疗后常规组体脂含量高于治疗组,差异有统计学意义(t=5.993、7.657、4.420,P<0.05)。治疗后两组胰岛功能比较,差异有统计学意义(t=5.898、5.283、16.033,P<0.05)。常规组不良反应总发生率低于治疗组,但差异无统计学意义(χ²=0.136,P=0.712)。结论西格列汀、二甲双胍联合治疗肥胖型2型糖尿病效果确切。