Comparison of proximal and distal involvement of upper extremity metastatic lesions: an analysis of 55 cases.

We analysed the differences in clinical presentation between proximal (above elbow) and distal (below elbow) upper limb metastases in a retrospective review of patients presenting to our centre from 2011 to 2019. There were 55 cases, 64% involving the humerus and 62% occurring in men. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 64 years. Thirty-one per cent of the cases were proximal lesions. Distal upper limb metastases were more likely to be soft tissue lesions (71%) compared with proximal lesions (8%). The median age of patients with distal lesions was significantly lower at 58 years compared with 65 years for proximal lesions. Overall, non-small cell lung carcinoma was the most common primary malignancy (25%), however haematological cancers were most common in the distal group (29%). Distal upper limb metastases have distinct features that distinguish them from proximal lesions.Level of evidence: IV.

The STAT3-IL-10-IL-6 Pathway Is a Novel Regulator of Macrophage Efferocytosis and Phenotypic Conversion in Sterile Liver Injury.

The disposal of apoptotic bodies by professional phagocytes is crucial to effective inflammation resolution. Our ability to improve the disposal of apoptotic bodies by professional phagocytes is impaired by a limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the engulfment and digestion of the efferocytic cargo. Macrophages are professional phagocytes necessary for liver inflammation, fibrosis, and resolution, switching their phenotype from proinflammatory to restorative. Using sterile liver injury models, we show that the STAT3-IL-10-IL-6 axis is a positive regulator of macrophage efferocytosis, survival, and phenotypic conversion, directly linking debris engulfment to tissue repair.