Checkpoint-blocker-induced autoimmunity is associated with favourable outcome in metastatic melanoma and distinct T-cell expression profiles

Background Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) activate CD8⁺ T cells, eliciting both anti-cancer activity and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The relationship of irAEs with baseline parameters and clinical outcome is unclear.Methods Retrospective evaluation of irAEs on survival was performed across primary (N = 144) and secondary (N = 211) independent cohorts of patients with metastatic melanoma receiving single agent (pembrolizumab/nivolumab—sICB) or combination (nivolumab and ipilimumab—cICB) checkpoint blockade. RNA from pre-treatment and post-treatment CD8⁺ T cells was sequenced and differential gene expression according to irAE development assessed.Results 58.3% of patients developed early irAEs and this was associated with longer progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) across both cohorts (log-rank test, OS: P < 0.0001). Median survival for patients without irAEs was 16.6 months (95% CI: 10.9–33.4) versus not-reached (P = 2.8 × 10⁻⁶). Pre-treatment monocyte and neutrophil counts, but not BMI, were additional predictors of clinical outcome. Differential expression of numerous gene pathway members was observed in CD8⁺ T cells according to irAE development, and patients not developing irAEs demonstrating upregulated CXCR1 pre- and post-treatment.Conclusions Early irAE development post-ICB is associated with favourable survival in MM. Development of irAEs is coupled to expression of numerous gene pathways, suggesting irAE development in-part reflects baseline immune activation.Subject terms: Immunotherapy, Melanoma     

北京市养老机构老年人营养状况调查及其影响因素研究

背景　在人口老龄化日益加剧的社会背景之下，家庭养老功能不断减弱，机构养老成为今后发展的必然趋势。据报道，很多养老机构的老年人营养不合理，严重影响老年人的健康状况与生活质量。目的　通过调查北京市养老机构老年人营养现状及其影响因素，为全科医师营养教育及老年人生活质量提升提供理论依据。方法　2014年10月-2015年12月，采用方便整群抽样的方法，抽取了北京市7家养老机构，对符合纳入标准的老年人进行面对面问卷调查，问卷内容包括：一般情况、微型营养评定量表（MNA）、日常生活活动能力指数（BI）、老年人抑郁量表（GDS）。采用二元Logistic回归分析养老机构老年人营养状况的影响因素。结果　本研究共发放问卷258份，回收有效问卷258份，有效回收率为100%。被调查的258例老年人中，存在营养不良及存在营养不良发生风险的老年人共计75例（29.1%）。不同年龄、性别、婚姻状况、体质指数（BMI）、医疗费用支付方式、生活自理能力及精神状态的老年人营养状况比较，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。二元Logistic回归分析结果显示：年龄〔OR（95%CI）=2.349（1.070，5.156）〕、BMI〔OR（95%CI）=0.092（0.036，0.239）〕、医疗费用支付方式〔OR（95%CI）=0.208（0.083，0.522）〕、日常活动能力〔OR（95%CI）=10.214（3.099，33.669）〕、患病种数〔OR（95%CI）=2.682（1.248，5.763）〕及精神状态〔OR（95%CI）=4.822（2.005，11.600）〕是老年人营养状况的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论　北京地区养老机构的老年人面临着营养不良及营养不良发生风险的健康威胁，高龄、低BMI、抑郁、合并多种疾病、日常活动能力低下及无医保是其独立危险因素，需要对老年人加强个性化营养教育和营养治疗。     

淫羊藿、巴戟天中药提取物对恒河猴M0、M1型单核衍生巨噬细胞基因表达的影响

【目的】探讨中药淫羊藿、巴戟天提取物(中药注射液喘可治的组成)对恒河猴单核衍生的巨噬细胞在未极化(M0)、M1极化条件下基因表达的影响,分析其可能的免疫调节的作用机制。【方法】采用密度梯度离心法分离中国恒河猴外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs),采用贴壁法纯化出单核细胞,并以粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)刺激5 d以使单核细胞分化成巨噬细胞;然后不加入极化因子(M0)或以干扰素γ(IFN-γ,继续培养2 d)诱导巨噬细胞极化为M1表型,同时分别加入淫羊藿、巴戟天提取物进行干预;然后提取m RNA并逆转录后,采用实时荧光定量PCR检测CCR5、CD4、CTLA-4、Fox P3、IDO、IL-10、TGF-β等基因表达量。【结果】与空白对照组比较,加入巴戟天提取物培养的M0巨噬细胞基因表达上调不明显;经淫羊藿提取物培养的M0巨噬细胞,CCR5基因表达量上调4.21倍,TGF-β上调7.66倍,Fox P3、IL-10轻度上调,而CD4、CTLA-4、IDO等基因表达改变倍数无明显变化。经巴戟天提取物刺激的M1型巨噬细胞,CTLA-4基因表达量上调3.22倍,Fox P3上调3.69倍,CCR5、CD4、IL-10、IDO基因改变倍数均无明显变化,TGF-β未测出;而由淫羊藿提取物刺激的M1型巨噬细胞,IL-10的表达量上调11.83倍,Fox P3上调4.55倍,IDO、CCR5、CD4、CTLA-4基因改变倍数无明显变化,TGF-β未测出。【结论】巴戟天和淫羊藿提取物培养能够上调M1型巨噬细胞IL-10、Fox P3、CTLA-4等抑炎基因表达,淫羊藿提取物能够上调M0巨噬细胞CCR5和TGF-β等基因表达,促进病原体清除和组织修复,从而发挥多效免疫调节作用。     

Clinical analysis of high-intensity focussed ultrasound ablation for abdominal wall endometriosis: a 4-year experience at a specialty gynecological institution

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical effect of high-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) as a non-invasive modality for ablation of abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) foci.

Methods: All women who were diagnosed with cutaneous endometriosis and underwent HIFU ablation and 4-year follow-up were included. Patient symptoms, imaging performed, HIFU ablation, recurrence, lesion location, size and number were collected and analyzed.

Results: A total of 51 women with 57 painful abdominal wall masses with a median volume of 4.00?cm³ and a mean age of 30.5±2.12 years were treated with HIFU. The main symptoms were a palpable painful abdominal mass (93%), protrusion of the skin (28.1%, 16) or lack of protrusion of the skin (71.9%, 41). Ultrasound was initially performed in 100% (51) of women, whereas 6% (3) required MRI examinations to distinguish the features and range of the masses. Ablation was performed with a median 300?s of sonication time, 40?min treatment time, 150?W of power and 41800?J of total energy to treat lesions that were a median volume of 3.83?cm³. No severe complications occurred, except in one patient with a first-degree skin burn, during the 48-month follow-up period. The pooled recurrence of cutaneous endometriosis occurred in 3.9% (2) of women.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of AWE should be confirmed with imaging of the lesion number, location, size and features before HIFU ablation. HIFU should be the first choice for the treatment of AWE as it is a non-invasive method, with high efficiency and safety and rapid postoperative recovery.     

Improvements in epidermal function prevent relapse of psoriasis: a self‐controlled study

While therapeutic approaches for psoriasis are widely available, preventive regimens are lacking. We aimed to determine whether improvements in epidermal function could prevent psoriasis relapse. Two self‐controlled cohort studies were designed, enrolling two cohorts of patients with psoriasis (n = 30 and n = 60) to be treated topically with an in‐house‐prepared emollient or ATOPALM^® cream applied twice daily to one forearm for 20 and 30 days, respectively, while the same sites on the contralateral arm served as the untreated control. Epidermal function on both arms was assessed prior to and at the end of the trials. Delayed relapse on the treated arm was seen in 54.5% and 71% of patients in the first and second cohort, respectively. The time of psoriatic relapse correlated with the extent of abnormalities in baseline epidermal function. These results suggest that improvements in epidermal function with topical emollients can prevent/attenuate the development of psoriasis.     

涎腺导管内癌的病理诊断及新进展

涎腺导管内癌(intraductal carcinoma,IDC)是一种主要发生在腮腺,在导管内或囊内生长为主的罕见肿瘤,但也可伴浸润性生长,生物学行为相对惰性。具有独特的形态学、免疫表型及分子遗传学特征。主要包括4种亚型:闰管型、顶浆分泌型、闰管-顶浆分泌混合型和嗜酸型。闰管型多数存在NCOA4-RET融合,个别存在STRN-ALK融合;混合型存在TRIM27-RET融合,顶浆分泌型具有PIK3CA和HRAS突变或TP53缺失;嗜酸型具有TRIM33-RET融合或BRAF V600E突变。目前多数观点认为与涎腺导管癌不同,即使存在浸润,仍具有良好的预后,罕见复发和淋巴结转移,无远处转移。因此精准诊断对于临床治疗的选择极其重要。