Immune Response and the Tumor Microenvironment: How They Communicate to Regulate Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. A growing body of evidence indicates that inflammation is closely associated with the initiation, progression, and metastasis of many tumors, including those of gastric cancer. In addition, approximately 60% of the world''s population is colonized by Helicobacter pylori, which accounts for more than 50% of gastric cancers. While the role of inflammation in intestinal and colonic cancers is relatively well defined, its role in stomach neoplasia is still unclear because of the limited access of pathogens to the acidic environment and the technical difficulties isolating and characterizing immune cells in the stomach, especially in animal models. In this review, we will provide recent updates addressing how inflammation is involved in gastric malignancies, and what immune characteristics regulate the pathogenesis of stomach cancer. Also, we will discuss potential therapeutics that target the immune system for the efficient treatment of gastric cancer.     

Comparison of allergen-specific IgE levels between Immulite 2000 and ImmunoCAP systems against six inhalant allergens and ten food allergens

Abstract

In vitro allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) measurement has been used as an important diagnostic tool for allergic diseases. Currently, quantitative sIgE levels are detected mainly by using ImmunoCAP and Immulite 2000 assay system. These two systems have the same calibration scale at 0–100 kUA/L, but they differ in used allergens, detection methods and automation systems. We compared 1600 paired sIgE results for 204 allergic patients, including 100 paired sIgE assay results for each of 16 allergens (Alternaria alternata, birch-alder mix, cat dander, D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, dog dander, buckwheat, crab, egg white, mackerel, milk, peach, peanut, shrimp, soybean and wheat flour). Inter-method comparison was performed for qualitative data with a cutoff of 0.35 kUA/L and a detection limit of 0.1 kUA/L, semi-quantitative class results and quantitative data. In qualitative comparisons, the overall concordance rate ranged from 81.0% to 99.0% (k: 0.599–0.949) with the cutoff value of 0.35 kUA/L. It also ranged from 80.0% to 99.0% (k: 0.521–0.951) with the detection limit of 0.1 kUA/L. The class results from these two assays showed good agreements for all allergens. For quantitative sIgE results, these two assays showed moderate positive correlations for Dog dander (r?=?0.683) and Mackerel (r?=?0.573) but high to very high correlations for the other 14 allergens (r?=?0.734–0.972). Immulite 2000 and ImmunoCAP assays demonstrated good concordance and correlation for 16 common allergens, but international standards against each specific allergen for calibration and harmonization of sIgE tests are still needed.     

How Much Are Upper or Lower Extremity Disabilities Associated with General Health Status in the Elderly?

Background  

Musculoskeletal complaints influence general health status, but the relative contribution of concurrent upper and lower extremity disabilities on patient perceptions of general health is unclear.     

Males seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen are at risk of lower bone mineral density: the 2008–2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Background

Hepatic osteodystrophy has been reported in patients with various chronic liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis. However, it has not been well investigated in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositivity and bone mineral density (BMD) in a population representative of normal Koreans.

Methods

Subjects with both HBsAg and BMD levels examined during the 2008–2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were included. HBsAg-seropositive (+) subjects were compared with those who were HBsAg-seronegative (?). BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and femur by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multivariable logistic regression was performed for BMD.

Results

In total, 11,306 participants were included in this study, among which 423 (3.7 %) were HBsAg(+): 153 premenopausal female (3.4 %), 83 postmenopausal female (3.5 %), and 187 male (4.2 %). Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and body mass index showed that HBsAg(+) male had significantly lower BMD of the femoral neck than HBsAg(?) male (0.810 ± 0.009 vs. 0.827 ± 0.002 g/cm², p = 0.035). Further adjustment for waist circumference, smoking, drinking, exercise, income, occupation, and vitamin D levels showed that HBsAg(+) male had significantly lower BMD of the femur neck (0.810 ± 0.010 vs. 0.831 ± 0.002 g/cm², p = 0.032) and lumbar spine (0.953 ± 0.011 vs. 0.974 ± 0.003 g/cm², p = 0.049) than HBsAg(?) male.

Conclusions

HBsAg seropositivity was significantly associated with lower BMD in male. Future long-term prospective studies investigating bone turnover markers and hormones are needed to better understand the pathophysiology and clinical significance of chronic hepatitis B virus-related hepatic osteodystrophy.

     

A case of afferent loop syndrome treated by endoscopic drainage procedure using nasogastric tube]

Afferent loop syndrome is an uncommon complication which occurs in patients with Billroth II partial gastrectomy. Clinically, the diagnosis of afferent loop syndrome may be difficult to establish and thus, depends on the finding of computed tomography, abdominal ultrasound, barium studies and hepatobiliary scan. When the diagnosis is made, most of the cases are treated by surgical operation. We present a case of 67-year-old male patient with afferent loop syndrome associated with acute pancreatitis which was treated by endoscopic drainage procedure using a nasogastric tube.     

Efficacy of Random-start Controlled Ovarian Stimulation in Cancer Patients

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of random-start controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in cancer patients for emergency fertility preservation. In this retrospective comparative study, 22 patients diagnosed with cancer and 44 infertile women undergoing conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) were included. In cancer patients, ovarian stimulation was started on the day of referral, irrespective of their menstrual cycle date. The control group was selected by age matching among women undergoing conventional IVF. COS outcomes were compared between groups. The number of total and mature oocytes retrieved and the oocyte maturity rate were higher in the random-start group than in the conventional-start group. However, duration of ovarian stimulation was longer in the random-start group (11.4 vs. 10.3 days, P = 0.004). The addition of letrozole to lower the estradiol level during COS did not adversely affect total oocytes retrieved. However, oocyte maturity rate was lower in cycles with letrozole than in cycles without letrozole (71.6% vs. 58.2%, P = 0.019). Our study confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of random-start COS in cancer patients.

Graphical Abstract

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