Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the elderly. Age is not always an adverse prognostic factor

A retrospective study analyzing non-Hodgkin's lym-phoma (NHL) diagnosed in patients in our center above 65 years of age between the years 1977–1991 is reported. Histological classification has been completed following the criteria of the Working Formulation. Of 521 patients, 427 were candidates for evaluation. Those above 65 years of age comprised the subject of our study, with a total of 95 cases. Population: 43/52 male/female, 47 intermediate-grade NHL, 38 low-grade NHL, Ann Arbor stages I–II/III–IV 36/59, performance status (PS) 0-1/2-3 39/56, B symptoms yes/no 47/48, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) normal/high 33/62, albumin normal/low 75/20, Cu normal/high 44/37 (the rest not available), B2 microglobuline normal/high 17/11 (the rest not available), tumor burden (MD Anderson) high/intermediate/low 41/28/26. The median range of cause specific survival was 30 months (50 for the low-grade NHL, 17 for the intermediate-grade). Significant prognostic factors: Histological grade (low versus high and intermediate), PS 0/1 versus 2/3, presence versus absence of B symptoms, normal versus high LDH, tumor burden (low versus high and intermediate). There is no significant statistical difference between elderly patients and young patients with a poor PS, phases I and IV, low albumin level and high and low tumor burden. Age as an adverse prognostic factor is evident in patients with a strong PS, phases II and III, normal albumin and intermediate tumor burden. The characteristics and prognostic factors of elderly patients with NHL are similar to those of the young. Age does not always function as an independent prognostic factor; age has no effect on groups with favorable or unfavorable prognostic factors and it is in the intermediate prognostic groups in which age plays a part in survival.     

Radiomics for the Prediction of Treatment Outcome and Survival in Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

Prediction of outcome in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is challenging as a result of lack of a robust biomarker and heterogeneity between and within tumors. The aim of this review was to assess the current possibilities and limitations of radiomics (on computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], and positron emission tomography [PET]) for the prediction of treatment outcome and long-term outcome in CRC. Medline/PubMed was searched up to August 2020 for studies that used radiomics for the prediction of response to treatment and survival in patients with CRC (based on pretreatment imaging). The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool and Radiomics Quality Score (RQS) were used for quality assessment. A total of 76 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included for further analysis. Radiomics analyses were performed on MRI in 41 studies, on CT in 30 studies, and on ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT in 10 studies. Heterogeneous results were reported regarding radiomics methods and included features. High-quality studies (n = 13), consisting mainly of MRI-based radiomics to predict response in rectal cancer, were able to predict response with good performance. Radiomics literature in CRC is highly heterogeneous, but it nonetheless holds promise for the prediction of outcome. The most evidence is available for MRI-based radiomics in rectal cancer. Future radiomics research in CRC should focus on independent validation of existing models rather than on developing new models.     

Vaccination and Antibody Testing in Cats

Vaccines protect cats from serious diseases by inducing antibodies and cellular immune responses. Primary vaccinations and boosters are given according to vaccination guidelines provided by industry and veterinary organizations, based on minimal duration of immunity (DOI). For certain diseases, particularly feline panleukopenia, antibody titres correlate with protection. For feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus, a similar correlation is absent, or less clear. In this review, the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD) presents current knowledge and expert opinion on the use of antibody testing in different situations. Antibody testing can be performed either in diagnostic laboratories, or in veterinary practice using point of care (POC) tests, and can be applied for several purposes, such as to provide evidence that a successful immune response was induced following vaccination. In adult cats, antibody test results can inform the appropriate re-vaccination interval. In shelters, antibody testing can support the control of FPV outbreaks by identifying potentially unprotected cats. Antibody testing has also been proposed to support decisions on optimal vaccination schedules for the individual kitten. However, such testing is still expensive and it is considered impractical to monitor the decline of maternally derived antibodies.     

SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations in Camp Lemonnier,Djibouti, from April 2020 to January 2022

The global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has highlighted the disparity between developed and developing countries for infectious disease surveillance and the sequencing of pathogen genomes. The majority of SARS-CoV-2 sequences published are from Europe, North America, and Asia. Between April 2020 and January 2022, 795 SARS-CoV-2-positive nares swabs from individuals in the U.S. Navy installation Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, were collected, sequenced, and analyzed. In this study, we described the results of genomic sequencing and analysis for 589 samples, the first published viral sequences for Djibouti, including 196 cases of vaccine breakthrough infections. This study contributes to the knowledge base of circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages in the under-sampled country of Djibouti, where only 716 total genome sequences are available at time of publication. Our analysis resulted in the detection of circulating variants of concern, mutations of interest in lineages in which those mutations are not common, and emerging spike mutations.     

Effect of CSL112 (apolipoprotein A‐I [human]) on cholesterol efflux capacity in Japanese subjects: Findings from a phase I study and a cross‐study comparison

CSL112 (apolipoprotein A‐I [apoA‐I, human]) is a novel drug in development to reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events following acute myocardial infarction by increasing cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC). This phase I study aimed to compare the pharmacokinetics (PKs), pharmacodynamics (PDs), and safety of CSL112 in Japanese and White subjects. A total of 34 Japanese subjects were randomized to receive a single infusion of CSL112 (2, 4, or 6 g) or placebo and 18 White subjects were randomized to receive a single dose of 6 g CSL112 or placebo, followed by PK/PD assessment and adverse events monitoring. In addition, PK/PD parameters were compared across the CSL112 clinical development program. Plasma exposure of apoA‐I increased in a dose‐dependent but nonlinear manner in Japanese subjects receiving a single dose of CSL112. Mean baseline‐corrected area under the curve from 0 to 72 h (AUC_0–72) increased from 840 to 6490 mg h/dl, in the 2 and 6 g cohorts, respectively, followed by dose‐dependent increase of CEC. The plasma PK profile of apoA‐I and increases in total and ATP binding cassette transporter A1 dependent CEC were comparable in Japanese and White subjects. The geometric mean ratio (Japanese:White) for plasma apoA‐I AUC_0–72 and maximum plasma concentration (C_max) was 1.08 and 0.945, respectively. Cross‐study comparison analysis demonstrated similar CSL112 exposure and CEC enhancement in Japanese and non‐Japanese subjects (including patients with cardiovascular disease) and further confirmed consistent PKs/PDs of CSL112. This study suggests CSL112 acutely enhances CEC and is well‐tolerated with no differences between Japanese and White subjects.

Study Highlights WHAT IS THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON THIS TOPIC? Cholesterol efflux, mediated by apolipoprotein A‐I (apoA‐I), removes excess cholesterol from atherosclerotic plaque and transports it to the liver for excretion; impaired cholesterol efflux is associated with higher cardiovascular (CV) event rates. CSL112 (apoA‐I, human) has been shown to enhance cholesterol efflux capacity and is being investigated as a novel therapy to reduce the risk of early recurrent CV events. Japanese ethnicity is known to confer differences in lipoprotein metabolism. WHAT QUESTION DID THIS STUDY ADDRESS? This ethno‐bridging study characterized the pharmacokinetics (PKs), pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of CSL112 in healthy Japanese subjects compared with healthy White subjects to identify any ethnicity‐based differences in cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) and safety issues and determine the appropriate dose in Japanese subjects prior to inclusion in future or ongoing studies. WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD TO OUR KNOWLEDGE? Japanese ethnicity confers no clinically relevant difference in CSL112 exposure and CEC compared to White populations and safety profiles were comparable between populations. This study supports the inclusion of Japanese subjects in an ongoing phase III study, investigating the impact of CSL112 on CV risk reduction post‐myocardial infarction, with no dose adjustment needed. HOW MIGHT THIS CHANGE CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY OR TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE? This study contributes to the discussion around PK differences between ethnic groups. It confirms similarity of apoA‐I exposure and CEC responses in Japanese and White populations, which warrants further investigation of this novel treatment approach to reduce the risk of early recurrent CV events.     

Colorectal Cancer Screening Prevalence,Perceived Barriers,and Preference for Screening Colonoscopy Among Hospitalized Women

Background:Barriers to colorectal cancer screening persist despite screening campaigns, especially among women. This study explores the prevalence, preferences, and barriers associated with colorectal cancer screening and evaluates the effect of an inpatient intervention (one-on-one bedside education and handout about colorectal cancer) on screening adherence among hospitalized women.Methods:A prospective intervention study among 510 hospitalized women, who are cancer-free (except for skin cancer) at enrollment, aged between 50 and 75 years was conducted at an academic center. Socio-demographic, family history, and medical comorbidities data were collected for all patients. A post-hospitalization follow-up survey determined the effect of inpatient intervention on colorectal cancer screening adherence. Unpaired t-test and chi-square tests were used to compare characteristics, perspectives, and preferences for screening among adherent and non-adherent groups.Results:Mean age was 60.5 years, 45% reported an annual household income of <$20 000, 36% of women were African American, 27% of women were overdue for colorectal cancer screening, and 33% never had a screening colonoscopy. The most frequently reported barriers to colorectal cancer screening were “I have other problems more important than getting a colonoscopy,” “No transportation to get to the test,” and “Not counseled by primary care provider.” Sixty-six percent of the non-adherent women would agree to have an inpatient screening colonoscopy if offered.Conclusion:A significant number of hospitalized women are non-adherent to colorectal cancer screening, while the educational intervention was partially successful in enhancing colorectal cancer screening, most hospitalized women remained non-adherent after hospitalization. A majority of these women were amenable to inpatient screening colonoscopy if offered during a hospital stay.     

Silicone Materials for Flexible Optoelectronic Devices

Polysiloxanes and materials based on them (silicone materials) are of great interest in optoelectronics due to their high flexibility, good film-forming ability, and optical transparency. According to the literature, polysiloxanes are suggested to be very promising in the field of optoelectronics and could be employed in the composition of liquid crystal devices, computer memory drives organic light emitting diodes (OLED), and organic photovoltaic devices, including dye synthesized solar cells (DSSC). Polysiloxanes are also a promising material for novel optoectronic devices, such as LEDs based on arrays of III–V nanowires (NWs). In this review, we analyze the currently existing types of silicone materials and their main properties, which are used in optoelectronic device development.