Anti-DFS70 among HIV-positive individuals – A prospective study

Anti-DFS70 is an anti-nuclear antibody directed against the DFS70 protein, which is produced in response to several stressful events. Since its discovery, this autoantigen–antibody complex has drawn the attention of many researchers, yet many questions remain unanswered. The DFS70 protein is crucial for HIV integration into the host DNA; however, the relationship between anti-DFS70 and HIV is unknown. A protective role of anti-DFS70 against HIV is possible due to the competition between the HIV integrase and the anti-DFS70 antibody on the same target site on DFS70.The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of anti-DFS70 in HIV-positive individuals seeking for possible interrelation.A total of 100 HIV-positive individuals followed up at the HIV unit at Sheba Medical Center were tested for the detection of anti-DFS70. A total of 92 non-HIV subjects, randomly selected, were tested and compared as controls. Chemiluminescence assay by QUANTA Flash was performed to evaluate the presence of anti-DFS70 antibodies.None of the HIV-positive individuals had a positive test result for anti-DFS70 (0%) compared to 10 out of 92 non-HIV individuals (10.9%).This is the first study addressing the prevalence of anti-DFS70 in HIV-positive patients. The rate of anti-DFS70 positivity was found to be significantly lower in HIV-positive individuals than in non-HIV individuals (p = 0.002). The absence of anti-DFS70 in HIV-positive subjects might imply that individuals who lack these antibodies are more susceptible to HIV infection. Further studies with large populations are needed to confirm this hypothesis.     

ERCC1表达对结肠癌患者术后辅助化疗疗效及预后的影响

目的：探讨结肠癌术后患者核苷酸切除修复交叉互补基因1（ exsicion repair cross-complementing group 1,ERCC1）的表达对术后辅助化疗疗效及预后的影响。方法：选取初次诊断为结肠癌并行结肠癌根治术且术后分期为Ⅱ、Ⅲ期的患者60例,所有患者术后均采用FOLFOX6（ L-OHP＋5-Fu＋CF）方案辅助化疗,并进行3年随访。运用免疫组织化学方法检测患者癌组织中ERCCl蛋白。结果：60例结肠癌患者组织中ERCC1的阳性表达率为41.67％,低分化腺癌患者中ERCC1阳性表达率较高分化患者低,差异有统计学意义（ P＜0.05）。 Kaplan-Meier生存曲线显示：ERCC1阴性表达者3年DFS优于阳性表达者,差异有统计学意义（ P＜0.05）。多因素Cox回归模型分析表明,ERCC1是结肠癌患者DFS的影响因素（ RR＝3.45,95％CI：1.47-7.54,P＝0.012）。其中在同一ERCC1表达水平下,分化程度越高的患者,预后越好（ RR＝0.41,95％CI：0.22-0.75,P＝0.023）。结论：ERCC1表达水平可以作为预测结肠癌Ⅱ、Ⅲ期患者术后辅助化疗无病生存时间的预测指标。 ERCC1阴性表达的患者无病生存时间延长,可以从奥沙利铂为主的FOLFOX方案中受益。     

Assessing vitamin D levels in an anti-DFS70 positive population: New insights emerging

Abstract

Background: Anti-dense fine speckled 70 (DFS70) autoantibodies have more often been described in apparently healthy individuals than in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). The aim of this study was to explore the link between anti-DFS70 autoantibodies and vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in an Italian adult cohort.

Methods: Serum samples from 34 (five males and 29 females) anti-DFS70 positive patients (index cases), 34 ANA-negative healthy controls, 34 ANA-positive anti-DFS70 negative SLE patients, both groups age- and gender-matched with the index cases, 23 ANA-positive anti-DFS70 negative healthy blood donors and six female SARD patients showing mixed DFS positive pattern were collected and tested for 25(OH)D levels. Relevant demographics and lifestyle practices, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and use of medication were recorded for patients and healthy controls.

Results: Mean serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly higher in anti-DFS70 positive subjects (mean?±?SD: 22.1?±?9.8?ng/ml) than in ANA-negative healthy controls (mean?±?SD: 17.3?±?6.7?ng/ml; p?=?.03), ANA-positive healthy controls (mean?±?SD: 15.2?±?6.8?ng/ml; p?=?.01), SLE patients (16.6?±?11.0?ng/ml; p?=?.01) and in patients with SARD (15.0?±?5.6?ng/ml; p?=?.01). No statistically relevant differences in BMI, clinical, or demographic parameters were found.

Conclusions: Our findings showed higher levels of vitamin D in anti-DFS70 positive subjects than in the controls, which is compatible with the hypothesis of the “benign” nature of anti-DFS70 antibodies.     

Treatment Outcome and Prognosis Factors of FIGO 2018 Stage III Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiation in Vietnam

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the treatment outcome and toxicities, along with prognosis factors of patients with FIGO 2018 stage III cervical cancer treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiation. Methods: A total of 83 stage III cervical cancer patients with good performance status (ECOG PS 0, 1) were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) combined with chemotherapy (weekly cisplatin), followed by high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy between January 2017 and March 2019 at Vietnam National Cancer hospital. Treatment outcomes and prognosis factors were assessed along with acute and late toxicities. Results: The 3-year DFS was 67.8% and 3-year OS was 80.3%. On multivariate analyses, short axis of pelvic lymph node diameter of ≥ 15mm, invasion of the lower third of vagina and para-aortic lymph node metastasis were identified as adverse prognostic factors for DFS. The cumulative incidence rate of gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity (≥ grade 2) at the 3-year follow-up were 29.6% and 11.6%, respectively. Conclusions: 3D CRT and HDR brachytherapy with concurrent chemotherapy is an effective treatment, with acceptable toxicity for FIGO 2018 stage III cervical cancer in Vietnam.     

Low expression of B-Cell-Associated protein 31 is associated with unfavorable prognosis in human colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. B cell-associated protein 31 (BAP31) was shown to participate in the apoptosis, and to be an immunotherapy target and a, prognostic factor for cancer, but its role in CRC has not been elucidated. In this study, we examined the expression of BAP31 in CRC to evaluate its prognostic values. We investigated the BAP31 expression level in 142 tissues (108 CRC and 17 paired human adjacent normal mucosa, and 17 liver metastatic CRC tissues) from 108 patients, using tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry. We further investigated the association between BAP31 expression and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in 77 CRC patients using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied to evaluate the potential prognostic value of BAP31 in CRC patients. BAP31 expression level was significantly increased in CRC tissues (p?=?0.0014) and liver metastatic CRC tissues (p?<?0.0001) compared with corresponding adjacent normal mucosa. BAP31 expression was also significantly increased in liver metastatic CRC tissues compared with corresponding primary CRC tissues (p?=?0.0116). Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that CRC patients with low BAP31 expression had significantly lower survival rate (p?=?0.001) and lower disease-free survival rate (P?=?0.009). Furthermore, multivariate Cox analysis showed that BAP31 was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio?=?0.410, 95% confidence interval?=?0.195–0.862, p?=?0.019).

Investigation of miR-136-5p key target genes and pathways in lung squamous cell cancer based on TCGA database and bioinformatics analysis

Background

Lung squamous cell cancer (LUSC) is a common but challenging malignancy. It is important to illuminate the molecular mechanism of LUSC. Thus, we aim to explore the molecular mechanism of miR-136-5p in relation to LUSC.

High NUSAP1 expression predicts poor prognosis in colon cancer

Background and aim

Nucleolar and spindle-associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) is an indispensable mitotic regulator. Aberrant NUSAP1 expression is associated with perturbed mitosis and tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the clinical significance of NUSAP1 expression in colon cancer.

Predicting anxiety during dental treatment using patients'self-reports: less is more

BACKGROUND: Self-reported dental fear measures seldom are used in clinical practice to assess patients' fears. This study examined how well dental fear measures predicted anxious behaviors displayed during dental treatment. METHODS: One hundred eight adult patients (54 percent female) in a periodontology clinic completed several paper-and-pencil demographic, dental fear and general anxiety measures before treatment. Dental practitioners, blinded to their patients' responses, rated their patients' anxiety during treatment on a series of 100-millimeter visual analog scales. RESULTS: Higher Dental Fear Survey scores, younger age, more invasive treatment type and previous avoidance of dental care because of a bad experience all were predictive of greater observed anxiety. Neither self-reported nor observed anxiety was affected by previous experience with a particular practitioner or treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists may assess patients' anxiety quickly and accurately with the Dental Fear Survey or a similar measure, as well as by asking patients about their current dental attendance and previous dental experiences.