Establishment and Verification of a Prediction Model for Identifying Pathologic Infections Based on the Clinical Characteristics of Epidermoid Cysts.

Background: To construct a prediction model based on the clinical characteristics of epidermoid cysts to identify pathologic infections, evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the model, and conduct preliminary verification. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 314 patients diagnosed with epidermoid cysts that had been removed surgically. The clinical and pathologic data of all patients were collected. The patients were divided randomly into modeling group and verification group in a 75:25 ratio. In the modeling group, the multifactor logistic regression method was used to construct a prediction model for identifying epidermoid cyst pathologic infection, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the model, which was then validated in the verification group. Results: All 314 patients with epidermoid cysts were divided into non-infected group (183 cases) and infected group (131 cases) according to the pathologic results. Logistic regression analysis showed that the disease course, growth trend, redness, and texture of epidermoid cysts were independent factors affecting pathologic infection. The above four indicators were selected to construct the prediction model of epidermoid cyst pathologic infection. In the modeling group, the prediction model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.898, with the sensitivity of 0.830, specificity of 0.890, positive likelihood ratio of 7.523, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.191. The AUC of the prediction model in the verification group was 0.919, which was not significantly different from that of the modeling group (p = 0.886). Conclusions: The prediction model based on the clinical characteristics of epidermoid cysts had good diagnostic accuracy and high specificity; it can be used to identify pathologic infections of epidermoid cysts.

Expression of CHL1 in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and its Association With Prognosis.

As a member of the L1 family of neural cell molecules, close homologue of L1 (CHL1) has been proved to be downregulated in several human cancers. In the present study, we aimed to assess the expression and prognostic value of CHL1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of CHL1 in tissue microarray chips. Then we compared specific clinicopathologic features in patients with different CHL1 expressions. The correlation between CHL1 expression and overall survival (OS) was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. We found that the expression of CHL1 was significantly lower in CCRCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues, which was correlated with TNM stage (P<0.001), Fuhrman grade (P=0.006), and LVI (P=0.004). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that CCRCC patients with low CHL1 expression had a poorer OS rate than those with high CHL1 expression (P<0.001). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses suggested that CHL1 was an independent and unfavorable prognostic factor for the OS rate of CCRCC patients. Collectively, low expression of CHL1 might predict poor OS rate of CCRCC.

Heterogeneous distribution of PD-L1 expression in the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification of lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: PD-L1 expression in tumor cells can predict the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and prognosis in patients. However, the correlation between the PD-L1 expression and the novel lung adenocarcinoma classification are obscure. METHODS: 94 lung adenocarcinoma cases were reviewed in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January to December 2019. PD-L1 (DAKO 22C3) was used to test the PD-L1 expression in lung cancer tissue. RESULT: TPS was used to interpret the PD-L1 expression. The negative, low positive and high positive of PD-L1 were 52 cases (55.30%), 29 cases (30.90%) and 13 cases (13.80%). The subtype ratio of acinar, lepidic and solid in adenocarcinoma were correlation with the PD-L1 TPS (r = - 0.37, P < 0.001; r = - 0.22, P = 0.013; r = 0.68, P < 0.001). The results of χ2 test showed the PD-L1 expression had the significant difference with gender (P = 0.027), age (P = 0.018), smoking history (P = 0.021), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), TNM stage (P = 0.002), acinar structure (P = 0.017) and solid structure (P < 0.001). Multi-factor linear regression results suggested that solid structure, TNM stage and smoking history were associated with PD-L1 expression (P < 0.05). The solid structure showed more capability to PD-L1 expression (ß = 0.398). CONCLUSION: PD-L1 expression was heterogeneity in lung adenocarcinoma. The solid structure, TNM stage and smoking history were correlation to up-regulation of PD-L1 expression, and solid structure was the most importance factor.

Sponge particulates for biomedical applications: Biofunctionalization, multi-drug shielding, and theranostic applications.

Sponge particulates have attracted enormous attention in biomedical applications for superior properties, including large porosity, elastic deformation, capillary action, and three-dimensional (3D) reaction environment. Especially, the tiny porous structures make sponge particulates a promising platform for drug delivery, tissue engineering, anti-infection, and wound healing by providing abundant reservoirs of broad surface and internal network for cargo shielding and shuttling. To control the sponge-like morphology and improve the diversity of drug loading, some optimized preparation techniques of sponge particulates have been developed, contributing to the simplified preparation process and improved production reproducibility. Bio-functionalized strategies, including target modification, cell membrane camouflage, and hydrogel of sponge particulates have been applied to modulate the properties, improve the performance, and extend the applications. In this review, we highlight the unique physical properties and functions, current manufacturing techniques, and an overview of spongy particulates in biomedical applications, especially in inhibition of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectivity. Moreover, the current challenges and prospects of sponge particulates are discussed rationally, providing an insight into developing vibrant fields of sponge particulates-based biomedicine.

CD8+ T cells located in tertiary lymphoid structures are associated with improved prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.

The presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in tumor tissues are of great prognostic significance in several types of human cancer. The present study investigated the density of TILs and TLSs in gastric cancer (GC) tissues and their association with pathological parameters. Moreover, the clinical significance of follicular CD8+ cytotoxic T cells present within the germinal centers of the tumor-associated TLSs was investigated. Immunohistochemistry and H&E staining were used to examine the infiltration and distribution patterns of TILs, TLSs and germinal center (gc) CD8+ TILs in tumor tissues obtained from 63 patients with GC. The number of TILs, TLSs, combination of TILs and TLSs (TILs-TLSs) and gcCD8+ TILs were used to define tumoral immune parameters, and the prognostic value of these parameters was assessed. The analysis revealed that patients with GC with increased levels of TILs, TLSs, or gcCD8+ TILs exhibited improved overall survival. In addition, gcCD8+ TILs levels were significantly associated with patient age, histological grade and pTN stage. Increased levels of TILs-TLSs were positively associated with nerve invasion, tumor thrombus, nodal metastasis and histological grade. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that TILs-TLSs and gcCD8+ TILs were independent prognostic factors. The data obtained in the present study demonstrated that high levels of tumoral immune parameters are important independent prognostic predictors for human GC. The results also suggested a possible role of gcCD8+ TILs in tumor immune surveillance.

Primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of salivary glands: a clinicopathological study of 21 cases.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of salivary glands is a rare kind tumor. In this study, the authors evaluated 21 patients with LELC of salivary glands who had long-term follow-up. Clinical characteristics, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, immunohistochemical features, oncoprotein expression, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. All patients were Chinese. Their ages ranged from 20 to 73 years. All tumors showed the typical syncytial growth pattern of undifferentiated epithelial cells with a significant lymphocyte reaction. All of patients were found by in situ hybridization to have the EBV genome. All tumors showed positive immunostaining of AE1/AE3, CK5/6 and p63. Nearly all cases had bcl-2 oncoprotein expression, but the detection rate of p53, and c-erb B-2 expression was extremely low. LELC of salivary glands is a distinct entity of salivary cancer. LELC of salivary glands can receive multimodality treatment and has a better prognosis similar to that of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.