Safety profile of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine: Pooled analysis of two large randomised phase 3 trials

Background

The ZOE-50 (NCT01165177) and ZOE-70 (NCT01165229) phase 3 clinical trials showed that the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) was ≥90% efficacious in preventing herpes zoster in adults. Here we present a comprehensive overview of the safety data from these studies.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Versus Metastasectomy in Patients With Pulmonary Metastases From Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The lung is the preferred site of metastasis from soft tissue sarcoma (STS). This systematic review aims to evaluate the outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and metastasectomy (MTS) for the treatment of lung metastases from STS. A systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA protocol. PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Ovid and Web of Knowledge databases were searched for English-language articles to December 2018 using a predefined strategy. Retrieved studies were independently screened and rated for relevance. Data were extracted by two researchers. In total, there were 1306 patients with STS: 1104 underwent MTS and 202 had SBRT. The mean age ranged from 40 to 55.8 years in the MTS group and from 47.9 to 64 years in the SBRT group. The cumulative death rate was 72% (95% confidence interval 59–85%) in the MTS group and 56% (38–74%) in the SBRT group. The cumulative mean overall survival time was 46.7 months (36.4–57.0%) in the MTS group and 47.6 months (33.7–61.5%) in the SBRT group. The cumulative rate of patients alive with disease was 5% (2–9%) in the MTS group and 15% (6–36%) in the SBRT group. Finally, the cumulative rate of patients alive without disease in the two groups was 19% (9–29%) and 20% (10–50%), respectively. Our study showed that local treatment of pulmonary metastases from STS with SBRT, compared with surgery, was associated with a lower cumulative overall death rate and similar overall survival time and survival rates without disease. By contrast, SBRT was associated with a higher survival rate with disease than MTS. Large randomised trials are necessary to confirm these findings and to establish whether SBRT may be a reliable option for early stage disease.     

Pinealectomy interferes with the circadian clock genes expression in white adipose tissue

Melatonin, the main hormone produced by the pineal gland, is secreted in a circadian manner (24‐hr period), and its oscillation influences several circadian biological rhythms, such as the regulation of clock genes expression (chronobiotic effect) and the modulation of several endocrine functions in peripheral tissues. Assuming that the circadian synchronization of clock genes can play a role in the regulation of energy metabolism and it is influenced by melatonin, our study was designed to assess possible alterations as a consequence of melatonin absence on the circadian expression of clock genes in the epididymal adipose tissue of male Wistar rats and the possible metabolic repercussions to this tissue. Our data show that pinealectomy indeed has impacts on molecular events: it abolishes the daily pattern of the expression of Clock, Per2, and Cry1 clock genes and Pparγ expression, significantly increases the amplitude of daily expression of Rev‐erbα, and affects the pattern of and impairs adipokine production, leading to a decrease in leptin levels. However, regarding some metabolic aspects of adipocyte functions, such as its ability to synthesize triacylglycerols from glucose along 24 hr, was not compromised by pinealectomy, although the daily profile of the lipogenic enzymes expression (ATP‐citrate lyase, malic enzyme, fatty acid synthase, and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase) was abolished in pinealectomized animals.     

Granulomatous slack skin T-cell lymphoma: an important differential diagnosis with giant cell tumor of soft tissue

Granulomatous slack skin is an indolent T-cell lymphoma, considered to be a variant of mycosis fungoides. Clinically it is characterized by areas of redundant skin, wrinkled, inelastic, with variable erythema and infiltration besides a poikilodermic surface. A differential diagnosis unknown to most dermatologists is the giant cell tumor of soft tissue, which is an extremely rare low-grade sarcoma. The authors report a patient who had undergone extensive surgery because of a primary diagnosis of giant cell tumor of soft tissue, but which proved to be granulomatous slack skin after a second interventional procedure with confirmatory histopathology.     

Brain impedance variation of directional leads implanted in subthalamic nuclei of Parkinsonian patients

ObjectiveConventional deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems with ring-shaped leads generate spherical electrical fields. In contrast, novel directional leads use segmented electrodes. Aim of this study was to quantify the impedance variations over time in subjects with the directional Cartesia-Boston® system.MethodsImpedance records, programming settings, and clinical data of 11 consecutive Parkinsonian patients implanted with DBS directional leads in two Italian centers (Udine and Vicenza) were retrospectively evaluated. Data were collected before starting stimulation (in the operating room and at days 5 and 40) and after switching stimulation on at the successive follow-up visits (1, 6 and 12 months).ResultsDirectional leads have significantly higher impedance than ring leads. Stimulated contacts had always lower impedance compared to non-stimulated contacts. Before DBS-on, all contacts had higher impedance in the operating room, with an initial decrease five days post-surgery and a subsequent increase at day 40, more evident for directional contacts. The impedance of directional leads increased post-implantation at 1 and 6 months with a plateau at 12 months.ConclusionsThere was a significant difference between the directional and ring leads at baseline (before activation of DBS) and during follow-up (chronic DBS).SignificanceOur study reveals new information about the impedance of segmented electrodes that is useful for patient management during the initial test period, as well as during long-term DBS follow-up.     

Optimization of immunohistochemical detection of collagen type II in osteochondral sections by comparing decalcification and antigen retrieval agent combinations

Bone containing tissues such as osteochondral joint are resistant to routine tissue processing, therefore require decalcification. This technique causes removal of mineral salts, but in the process may macerate the organic tissue, hence the need for tissue fixation. Such severe processing demands careful antigen retrieval to necessitate optimal staining. The aim of our study was to compare five different antigen retrieval protocols (heat retrieval and protein digestion) following decalcification of rabbit knee joints using two different techniques (20% formic acid and 10% ethylenediamine-tetra acetic acid: EDTA). Osteochondral sections were compared based on time required for decalcification, ease of sectioning, morphological integrity using HE staining and antigen preservation (Collagen type II) using immunohistochemistry. The two decalcification solutions did not impair the tissue morphology and ease of sectioning. Joints processed with formic acid decalcified four times faster than EDTA. Among the five antigen retrieval approaches, maximal collagen II uptake with minimal nonspecific staining was found with protein digestion (pronase and hyaluronidase) in both formic acid and EDTA sections. For osteo-chondral sections, we recommend using 10% EDTA for decalcification and pronase plus hyaluronidase for antigen retrieval if maintaining tissue morphology is crucial, whereas if time is of the essence, 20% FA with pronase plus hyaluronidase is the faster option while still preserving structural integrity. Clin. Anat. 33:343–349, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.