Development of a Prognostic Model for Early Breast Cancer Integrating Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Clinical-Pathological Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-related inflammation is critical in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and patient prognosis. Several inflammatory markers derived from peripheral blood cells count, such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) are considered as prognostic markers in several types of malignancy. METHODS: We investigate and validate a prognostic model in early patients with breast cancer to predict disease-free survival (DFS) based on readily available baseline clinicopathological prognostic factors and preoperative peripheral blood-derived indexes. RESULTS: We analyzed a training cohort of 710 patients and 2 external validation cohorts of 980 and 157 patients with breast cancer, respectively, with different demographic origins. An elevated preoperative NLR is a better DFS predictor than others scores. The prognostic model generated in this study was able to classify patients into 3 groups with different risks of relapse based on ECOG-PS, presence of comorbidities, T and N stage, PgR status, and NLR. CONCLUSION: Prognostic models derived from the combination of clinicopathological features and peripheral blood indices, such as NLR, represent attractive markers mainly because they are easily detectable and applicable in daily clinical practice. More comprehensive prospective studies are needed to unveil their actual effectiveness.

Human Papillomavirus 16 Lineage A Variants Associated With Persistent Genital Infections in Men: The HPV Infection in Men (HIM) Study.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 non-A lineage variants have higher carcinogenic potential for cervical cancer. HPV-16 variants natural history among males is not established. We evaluated HPV-16 variants prevalence and persistence in the external genitalia of men enrolled in the prospective HPV Infection in Men (HIM) Study. METHODS: The HIM Study included men from the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. HPV-16 variants were distinguished using polymerase chain reaction sequencing. The prevalence of HPV-16 variants was assessed, and associations with infection persistence were estimated. RESULTS: We characterized the HPV-16 variants for 1700 genital swab samples from 753 men and 22 external genital lesions in 17 men. The prevalence of HPV-16 lineages differed by country and marital status (P < .001). Overall, 90.9% of participants harbored lineage A variants. The prevalence of non-A lineages was heterogenous among countries. HPV-16 lineage A variants were associated with a 2.69-fold increased risk of long-term persistent infections compared with non-A lineages. All high-grade penile intraepithelial neoplasia harbored lineage A variants and occurred in the context of long-term persistent infections with the same variants. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and persistence of HPV-16 variants observed at the male external genitalia suggest differences in the natural history of these variants between men and women, which may be associated with intrinsic differences in the infected genital epithelia.

Prognostic Impact of Pathology, Cytoreduction, and Tumor Markers in Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.

INTRODUCTION: The pathologic classification of pseudomyxoma peritonei is controversial. This study aimed to standardize the histopathological evaluation of pseudomyxoma peritonei and identify the clinicopathological factors associated with survival. METHODS: A pathologic review was performed to systematize the pathology report and verify the relationship between clinical features and survival. Terminology was based on the World Health Organization and Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International definitions. Preoperative serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, CA19-9, and CA-125 were evaluated to determine their association with overall survival (OS) and ability to predict CC0-1 cytoreduction. RESULTS: Among 109 patients with carcinomas resulting from primary appendiceal neoplasms, 72 had pseudomyxoma peritonei of appendiceal origin and underwent debulking surgery. CC0-1 cytoreduction and CC2-3 cytoreduction were achieved in 61% and 39% of patients, respectively. Patients in the CC0-1 and CC2-3 groups had an OS of 122.80 and 32.92 mo, respectively. The histologic grade was associated with CC0-1 cytoreduction; however, it did not influence OS. Patients with CC0-1 cytoreduction, acellular mucin, and low-grade lesions had better disease-free survival. Higher preoperative CA19-9 levels were associated with poor OS. Normal carcinoembryonic antigen values were associated with 100% sensitivity for predicting CC0-1. CA19-9 levels of 625 U/mL were associated with a low possibility of predicting CC0-1. CONCLUSIONS: Histologic grades are associated with disease-free survival when CC0-1 cytoreduction is achieved. Normal preoperative CA19-9 levels were associated with a better OS. CC0-1 cytoreduction is the main determinant of longer survival.

Prevalencia del distrés psicológico entre el personal de ventas y administrativo en una empresa de Ecuador / Prevalence of psychological distress among sales and administrative personnel in an Ecuadorian company

INTRODUCCIÓN. El distrés psicológico es un conjunto de síntomas ocasionados por un estrés continuo y progresivo. La pandemia de la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 llevó al gobierno de Ecuador a tomar medidas para evitar el contagio. Se adoptó el teletrabajo como opción para continuar con la actividad laboral. OBJETIVO. Determinar la prevalencia del distrés psicológico asociado a las condiciones de trabajo en personal que labora en modalidad presencial y teletrabajo. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS. Estudio observacional transversal. Población y muestra conocida de 81 trabajadores; grupo control de 43 administrativos y grupo de estudio de 38 personal de ventas, de una empresa dedicada a la venta de insumos médicos que laboraron en modalidad presencial y teletrabajo, en el periodo marzo a diciembre de 2020. RESULTADOS. La variable entre los dos grupos estudiados fue teletrabajo con una p< 0,01 con el personal de ventas en un 89,47% (34; 38) y los administrativos en un 60,47% (26; 43). Para determinar si el personal tuvo distrés psicológico se utilizó el cuestionario general de salud de Goldberg de 12 ítems con punto de corte > 3 puntos obteniendo una prevalencia de distrés psicológico en el personal de ventas de 89,47% y en administrativos de 86,05%; además una prevalencia mayor en mujeres 93,02% que en hombres del 81,58%. CONCLUSIÓN. No existió una diferencia estadísticamente significativa, lo que da a entender que hay otros factores no evaluados que generan distrés psicológico, se debe tomar en cuenta para realizar más estudios con una población mayor.

INTRODUCTION. Psychological distress is a set of symptoms caused by continuous and progressive stress. The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic led the Ecuadorian government to take measures to prevent contagion. Teleworking was adopted as an option to continue with the work activity. OBJECTIVE. To determine the prevalence of psychological distress associated with working conditions in personnel who work in person and telework. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Cross-sectional observational study. Population and known sample of 81 workers; control group of 43 administrative and study group of 38 sales personnel, from a company dedicated to the sale of medical supplies who worked in person and telework, from March to December 2020. RESULTS. The variable between the two groups studied was teleworking with a p<0,01 with sales staff in 89,47% (34; 38) and administrative staff in 60,47% (26; 43). To determine whether the staff had psychological distress, the 12-item Goldberg general health questionnaire with a cut-off point > 3 points was used, obtaining a prevalence of psychological distress in sales staff of 89,47% and in administrative staff of 86,05%; also, a higher prevalence in women 93,02% than in men 81,58%. CONCLUSION. There was no statistically significant difference, which suggests that there are other factors not evaluated that generate psychological distress, which should be considered to carry out more studies with a larger population.

Genetic variants of HPV-16 and their geographical and anatomical distribution in men: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) variants in men and the association with tumor development has not been fully investigated. We estimated the prevalence of genital, anal, and oral HPV-16 infections in men through a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Seven databases were searched and included studies that identified HPV-16 positive males, HPV-16 variants (lineages/sublineages), and indicated the sample's anatomical origin. This protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020178013). RESULTS: The database searches yielded 14 studies including 445 HPV-16 positive samples classified as lineage A (n = 390), lineage D (n = 43), lineage B (n = 10), and lineage C (n = 2) variants. Lineage A variants predominated among the anatomical sites and the diverse geographical regions. CONCLUSIONS: HPV-16 lineages vary according to anatomical and geographical region. According to this preliminary evaluation of the current literature, we hypothesize that, similar to women, specific HPV-16 variants may also be associated to increased cancer risk in men.

Resting energy expenditure and body composition in patients with head and neck cancer: An observational study leading to a new predictive equation.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with head and neck cancer have changes in body composition and resting energy expenditure (REE) related to significant inflammatory processes. We investigated REE and body composition in a population of patients with head and neck cancer, comparing the measured REE with predicted energy expenditure and deriving an equation of anthropometric values and body composition. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, descriptive study of a single center included patients with head and neck cancer. We evaluated nutritional status by body mass index (BMI) and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), body composition by electric bioimpedance, and REE by indirect calorimetry (IC). RESULTS: We included 140 patients, most of whom were men (80.7%), 60 y or older (58.6%), and had advanced disease (77.9%). Most were malnourished by BMI standards (77.9%) and severely malnourished according to the PG-SGA (49.3%), with a fat-free mass below the ideal values (82.9%) associated with sarcopenia (92.1%). Hypermetabolism was 57%. When comparing REE with the Harris-Benedict formula, we found the agreement limits from -546 613 to 240 708, the mean difference was -152 953 (95% confidence interval [CI], -185 844 to -120 062) and Pitman's variance test was r = -0.294 (P = 0.001). When we included the activity factor and the thermogenesis factor in REE and compared with Harris-Benedict, we found the agreement limits from -764.423 to 337.087, a mean difference of -213.668 (95% CI -259.684 to -167.652), and the Pitman's variance text at r = -0.292 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Predictive equations, generally recommended by guidelines, are imprecise when compared with IC measures. Therefore, we suggest a new predictive equation.

GTSP1 expression in non-smoker and non-drinker patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

INTRODUCTION: The main risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are tobacco and alcohol consumption and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, in a subset of patients, no risk factors can be identified. Glutathione S-transferase π (GTSP1) is a carcinogen-detoxifying enzyme that is activated by exposure to carcinogens, and it is associated with a reduction in response to toxic therapies. We studied the expression of GTSP1 in tumor and non-tumor tissue samples from patients with and without these risks to identify whether GTSP1 expression differs according to exposure to carcinogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-smoker/non-drinker (NSND) and smoker/drinker (SD) patients were matched according to age, gender, tumor site, TNM stage, grade and histological variants to establish 47 pairs of patients who have been previously tested for HPV. GTSP1 immunostaining was analyzed using a semi-quantitative method with scores ranging from 0 to 3 according to the area of immunostaining. RESULTS: GTSP1 expression was detected in the tumors of both groups. GTSP1 expression was higher in the non-tumor margins of SD patients (p = 0.004). There was no association between GTSP1 expression and positivity for HPV. No differences in survival were observed according to GTSP1 staining in tumors and non-tumor margins. CONCLUSION: This study showed that GTSP1 was expressed in tumors of HNSCC patients regardless of smoking, drinking or HPV infection status. The difference in GTSP1 expression in non-tumor margins between the two groups may have been due to two possible reasons. First, elevated GTSP1 expression in SD patients might be the result of activation of GTSP1 in response to exposure to carcinogens. Second, alternatively, impairment in the detoxifying system of GTSP1, as observed by the reduced expression of GTSP1, might make patients susceptible to carcinogens other than tobacco and alcohol, which may be the underlying mechanism of carcinogenesis in the absence of risk factors.

A critical analysis of test-retest reliability in instrument validation studies of cancer patients under palliative care: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome validation needs to achieve validity and reliability standards. Among reliability analysis parameters, test-retest reliability is an important psychometric property. Retested patients must be in a clinically stable condition. This is particularly problematic in palliative care (PC) settings because advanced cancer patients are prone to a faster rate of clinical deterioration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the methods by which multi-symptom and health-related qualities of life (HRQoL) based on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been validated in oncological PC settings with regards to test-retest reliability. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed (1966 to June 2013), EMBASE (1980 to June 2013), PsychInfo (1806 to June 2013), CINAHL (1980 to June 2013), and SCIELO (1998 to June 2013), and specific PRO databases was performed. Studies were included if they described a set of validation studies. Studies were included if they described a set of validation studies for an instrument developed to measure multi-symptom or multidimensional HRQoL in advanced cancer patients under PC. The COSMIN checklist was used to rate the methodological quality of the study designs. RESULTS: We identified 89 validation studies from 746 potentially relevant articles. From those 89 articles, 31 measured test-retest reliability and were included in this review. Upon critical analysis of the overall quality of the criteria used to determine the test-retest reliability, 6 (19.4%), 17 (54.8%), and 8 (25.8%) of these articles were rated as good, fair, or poor, respectively, and no article was classified as excellent. Multi-symptom instruments were retested over a shortened interval when compared to the HRQoL instruments (median values 24 hours and 168 hours, respectively; p = 0.001). Validation studies that included objective confirmation of clinical stability in their design yielded better results for the test-retest analysis with regard to both pain and global HRQoL scores (p < 0.05). The quality of the statistical analysis and its description were of great concern. CONCLUSION: Test-retest reliability has been infrequently and poorly evaluated. The confirmation of clinical stability was an important factor in our analysis, and we suggest that special attention be focused on clinical stability when designing a PRO validation study that includes advanced cancer patients under PC.

Influência dos polimorfismos genéticos relacionados à invasão e metástase, inflamação e reparo de DNA no prognóstico de carcinoma epidermóide de laringe / Influence of genetic polymorphisms related with invasion and metastasis, inflammation and repair of DNA and prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Introdução: O prognóstico dos carcinomas epidermóides de laringe é limitado e a taxa de sobrevida em cinco anos é menor que 70 por cento. A relação de características clínicas e epidemiológicas tem sido investigada na sobrevida de pacientes com tumores de laringe, mas pouco se conhece sobre o efeito dos polimorfismos genéticos no prognóstico da doença. Objetivo: Estudar o papel dos polimorfismos genéticos de genes relacionados aos processos de invasão e metástase (MMP1 e MMP3), de inflamação (Interleucina 2, Interleucina 6, LTA) e reparo de DNA (XRCC1) no prognóstico do carcinoma epidermóide de laringe. Material e métodos: Coorte com 170 pacientes com carcinoma epidermóide de laringe, confirmados por exame anátomo-patológico. Os casos tiveram origem em estudo caso-controle conduzido em cinco hospitais de São Paulo, um hospital em Porto Alegre e outro em Goiânia. As informações sobre o status vital dos pacientes foram levantadas dos prontuários médicos e dos bancos de óbitos municipais e estaduais. A extração do DNA das amostras de sangue dos pacientes foi realizada pelo Instituto de Medicina Tropical da USP e a genotipagem dos polimorfismos genéticos pela Fundação Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto da Faculdade de Medicina da USP.Resultados: Os polimorfismos genéticos estudados (MMP1 1607, MMP1 -519, MMP3 -1171, IL2 -384, IL2 114, IL6 -174, LTA 252 e XRCC1) não apresentaram efeitos com significância estatística na sobrevida global ou específica pela doença quando analisados isoladamente. Para a sobrevida global, o consumo excessivo de álcool, em g/L/dia, reduziu a sobrevida dos pacientes (80-119 g/L/dia: hazard ratio (HR)=4,0 intervalos com 95 por cento de confiança (IC95 por cento)=1,10-14,53:>120 g/L/dia:HR=5,6 IC95 por cento=1,71-18,24). No modelo de Cox múltiplo, quando ajustados pelo polimorfismo genético MMP3 -1171, a sobrevida piorou para esses pacientes (80-119 g/L/dia: HR=4,9 IC95 por cento=1,07-22,91; >120 g/L/dia: HR=6,3 IC95 por cento=1,49-26,84). Para ...