Global Forum of Cancer Surgeons: Cancer Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact and Lessons Learned.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this article is to summarize the opinions of the surgical oncology leaders from the Global Forum of Cancer Surgeons (GFCS) about the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer surgery. METHODS: A panel session (virtual) was held at the annual Society of Surgical Oncology 2021 International Conference on Surgical Cancer Care to address the impact of COVID-19 on cancer surgery globally. Following the virtual meeting, a questionnaire was sent to all the leaders to gather additional opinions. The input obtained from all the leaders was collated and analyzed to understand how cancer surgeons from across the world adapted in real-time to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The surgical oncology leaders noted that the COVID-19 pandemic led to severe disruptions in surgical cancer care across all domains of clinical care, education, and research. Several new changes/protocols associated with increased costs were implemented to deliver safe care. Leaders also noted that preexisting disparities in care were exacerbated, and the pandemic had a detrimental effect on well-being and financial status. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to severe disruptions in surgical cancer care globally. Leaders of the GFCS opined that new strategies need to be implemented to prepare for any future catastrophic events based on the lessons learned from the current events. The GFCS will embark on developing such a roadmap to ensure that surgical cancer care is preserved in the future regardless of any catastrophic global events.

[Reliability of the correction index in the surgical indication for pectus excavatum]. / Valor del índice de corrección en la indicación quirúrgica del pectus excavatum: correlación con el gold-standard.

OBJECTIVE: The Haller index (HI) is widely used to indicate surgical intervention in patients with pectus excavatum (PE). However, in patients with an atypical thoracic morphology, the severity of the defect can be incorrectly estimated. We propose comparing this index with the correction index (CI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed clinical data and CT scans of 50 patients who consulted for PE in our center between 2010 and 2017. Haller index (HI), Correction index (CI) and ideal thoracic index (ITI) were calculated for each patient. The ITI allowed dividing the sample into two groups based on the thoracic morphology by excluding the PE component, therefore separating those with thorax too wide or too narrow from the standard patients. A standard group (36 patients) and a non-standard group (14 patients) were generated, among which the HI and the CI were correlated. RESULTS: The mean HI and CI of all patients were 3.99 and 27%, respectively. 31 of the 50 patients (62%) underwent intervention, 8 of them with an HI below 3.25. When comparing both groups, there was a moderate correlation between HI and CI in the standard group (Spearman r 0.799, p <0.01) and a greater correlation in the non-standard group (Spearman r 0.858, p <0.01).ween the scale and the presence of foreign body, except for SCORE 1, which was 57% what we attribute to an information bias. If the foreign body were not nuts, inorganic or bone, its aspiration was very unlikely, that is why we included it in the SCORE with -1. CONCLUSION: In our cohort, correlation of HI and CI was not different between both groups of patients. The CI did not prove its superiority when compared to HI in the surgical indication of patients with PE.

OBJETIVO: El índice de Haller (IH) se utiliza ampliamente para indicar la intervención quirúrgica en pacientes con pectus excavatum (PE). Sin embargo, en pacientes con una morfología torácica atípica, puede estimarse erróneamente la severidad del defecto. Planteamos comparar este índice con el índice de corrección (IC). MATERIAL Y METODOS: Analizamos datos clínicos y TC torácicos de 50 pacientes que consultan por PE en nuestro centro entre 2010 y 2017. Para cada paciente, se recalcula el índice de Haller (IH), el índice de corrección (IC) y el índice torácico ideal (ITI). El ITI permite formar dos grupos en base a la morfología torácica excluyendo el componente del PE, separando aquellos con tórax demasiado anchos o estrechos, de los pacientes estándar. Se genera un grupo estándar (36 pacientes) y un grupo no-estándar (14 pacientes), entre los que se correlacionan el IH y el IC. RESULTADOS: El IH y el IC medio de todos los pacientes fue de 3,99 y 27%, respectivamente. Se intervinieron 31 de los 50 pacientes (62%), 8 de ellos con un IH inferior a 3,25. Al comparar ambos grupos, existe una correlación moderada entre IH e IC en el grupo estándar (r Spearman 0,789; p<0,01) y una correlación mayor en el grupo no-estándar (r Spearman 0,858; p<0,01). CONCLUSION: En nuestra cohorte, no se ha probado que la correlación del IH y el IC sea diferente entre ambos grupos de pacientes. El IC no ha demostrado tener mayor validez que el IH en la indicación quirúrgica del PE.

RAD51 foci as a functional biomarker of homologous recombination repair and PARP inhibitor resistance in germline BRCA-mutated breast cancer.

Background: BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2)-deficient tumors display impaired homologous recombination repair (HRR) and enhanced sensitivity to DNA damaging agents or to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi). Their efficacy in germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2)-mutated metastatic breast cancers has been recently confirmed in clinical trials. Numerous mechanisms of PARPi resistance have been described, whose clinical relevance in gBRCA-mutated breast cancer is unknown. This highlights the need to identify functional biomarkers to better predict PARPi sensitivity. Patients and methods: We investigated the in vivo mechanisms of PARPi resistance in gBRCA1 patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDXs) exhibiting differential response to PARPi. Analysis included exome sequencing and immunostaining of DNA damage response proteins to functionally evaluate HRR. Findings were validated in a retrospective sample set from gBRCA1/2-cancer patients treated with PARPi. Results: RAD51 nuclear foci, a surrogate marker of HRR functionality, were the only common feature in PDX and patient samples with primary or acquired PARPi resistance. Consistently, low RAD51 was associated with objective response to PARPi. Evaluation of the RAD51 biomarker in untreated tumors was feasible due to endogenous DNA damage. In PARPi-resistant gBRCA1 PDXs, genetic analysis found no in-frame secondary mutations, but BRCA1 hypomorphic proteins in 60% of the models, TP53BP1-loss in 20% and RAD51-amplification in one sample, none mutually exclusive. Conversely, one of three PARPi-resistant gBRCA2 tumors displayed BRCA2 restoration by exome sequencing. In PDXs, PARPi resistance could be reverted upon combination of a PARPi with an ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) inhibitor. Conclusion: Detection of RAD51 foci in gBRCA tumors correlates with PARPi resistance regardless of the underlying mechanism restoring HRR function. This is a promising biomarker to be used in the clinic to better select patients for PARPi therapy. Our study also supports the clinical development of PARPi combinations such as those with ATM inhibitors.

Characterization of male breast cancer: results of the EORTC 10085/TBCRC/BIG/NABCG International Male Breast Cancer Program.

Background: Male breast cancer (BC) is rare, managed by extrapolation from female BC. The International Male BC Program aims to better characterize and manage this disease. We report the results of part I, a retrospective joint analysis of cases diagnosed during a 20-year period. Methods: Patients with follow-up and tumor samples, treated between 1990 and 2010, in 93 centers/9 countries. Samples were centrally analyzed in three laboratories (the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States). Results: Of 1822 patients enrolled, 1483 were analyzed; 63.5% were diagnosed between 2001 and 2010, 57 (5.1%) had metastatic disease (M1). Median age at diagnosis: 68.4 years. Of 1054 M0 cases, 56.2% were node-negative (N0) and 48.5% had T1 tumors; 4% had breast conserving surgery (BCS), 18% sentinel lymph-node biopsy; half received adjuvant radiotherapy; 29.8% (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy and 76.8% adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET), mostly tamoxifen (88.4%). Per central pathology, for M0 tumors: 84.8% ductal invasive carcinomas, 51.5% grade 2; 99.3% estrogen receptor (ER)-positive; 81.9% progesterone receptor (PR)-positive; 96.9% androgen receptor (AR)-positive [ER, PR or AR Allred score ≥3]; 61.1% Ki67 expression low (<14% positive cells); using immunohistochemistry (IHC) surrogates, 41.9% were Luminal-A-like, 48.6% Luminal-B-like/HER-2-negative, 8.7% HER-2-positive, 0.3% triple negative. Median follow-up: 8.2 years (0.0-23.8) for all, 7.2 years (0.0-23.2), for M0, 2.6 years (0.0-12.7) for M1 patients. A significant improvement over time was observed in age-corrected BC mortality. BC-specific-mortality was higher for men younger than 50 years. Better overall (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were observed for highly ER+ (P = 0.001), highly PR+ (P = 0.002), highly AR+ disease (P = 0.019). There was no association between OS/RFS and HER-2 status, Ki67, IHC subtypes nor grade. Conclusions: Male BC is usually ER, PR and AR-positive, Luminal B-like/HER2-negative. Of note, 56% patients had T1 tumors but only 4% had BCS. ER was highly positive in >90% of cases but only 77% received adjuvant ET. ER, PR and AR were associated with OS and RFS, whereas grade, Ki67 and IHC surrogates were not. Significant improvement in survival over time was observed.

Monitoring changes in back fat thickness and its effect on the restoration of ovarian activity and fertility in Bos indicus cows.

With the objective of testing the hypothesis if animals with a stable layer of body fat (FAT) during the peripartum have a better chance of becoming pregnant after calving, fifty-nine multiparous Brahman cows in their last trimester of pregnancy were used. Animals averaged four parturitions and were stocked at a rate of 1.25 animal units per hectare and divided into two groups depending on the time postpartum (dpp) that the intravaginal releasing device CIDR was inserted; Group 1 (<30 dpp; n = 30) received the implant at 25.2 ± 4.21 and withdrawn 9 days later. Group 2 (≥30 dpp; n = 29) received the CIDR at 38.41 ± 5.8. Animals were AI at detected oestrus until 170 dpp and calculated as pregnant at first service or requiring more than one service (1s and >1s), not pregnant but cycling (not pregnant) and those not cycling at all (anestrus). The FAT measurements were taken twice each month from the last trimester of gestation until 96 dpp. The onset of ovarian activity was monitored through blood levels of progesterone (P4) at days 14 and 9 prior to CIDR insertion and days 10, 13, 30 and 33 after CIDR withdrawal. Animals pregnant did not have any major changes in their fat thickness. In contrast, cows pregnant in the group ≥30 dpp had changes in their FAT homoeostasis, and pregnant animals in the 1s and >1s groups did not show differences in dorsal back fat in the last trimester of pregnancy and early postpartum. In contrast, animals not pregnant and in anestrus FAT values decreased considerably after parturition. Overall, fertility was 49%, but 18% of all the animals remained anestrus losing FAT. Thus, animals with adequate metabolic conditions will have a better chance of pregnancy regardless of the time postpartum when the reproductive programme starts.

Meta-analysis of tumour burden in pre-operative axillary ultrasound positive and negative breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Management of the axilla in breast cancer is becoming increasingly conservative. Patients identified with a low axillary nodal burden (two or fewer involved nodes) at sentinel node biopsy (SNB) can avoid completion axillary node clearance (cANC). 'Fast track' to ANC in patients with involved nodes on pre-operative ultrasound may be over-treating a subgroup of these patients with low nodal burden, which would have precluded their need for ANC. This systematic review assesses the proportion of patients with involved nodes on pre-operative axillary ultrasound, which would fit low axillary burden criteria. METHODS: Meta-analysis of studies comparing axillary burden of breast cancer patients identified as pre-operative ultrasound negative versus positive was performed. The primary outcome measure was the number of patients with two or fewer involved nodes (macrometastases only). Pooled odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), means and probabilities of identifying two or fewer involved nodes versus greater than two were calculated. RESULTS: Six studies reported the axillary burden in 4271 patients who were either directed straight to ANC or cANC after SNB. There was a significantly greater axillary burden in the ultrasound positive versus negative groups (OR 5.95, 95% CI 5.80-6.11) with mean nodal retrieval values of 2.9 [standard error (SE) 0.2] and 1.6 (SE 0.2) nodes, respectively. Cumulative probabilities identified 78.9% of ultrasound negative and 43.2% of ultrasound positive patients possessed low axillary burden. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative ultrasound positive patients have significantly higher axillary burden. However, nearly half do fit the criteria of low axillary burden and could be considered for omission of ANC.

Meta-analysis of aberrant lymphatic drainage in recurrent breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in recurrent breast cancer offers targeted axillary staging compared with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or no treatment. The evidence for lymphatic mapping in recurrent breast cancer is reviewed, focusing on aberrant drainage and its implications for patient management. METHODS: A meta-analysis of studies evaluating lymphatic mapping in recurrent breast cancer was performed. Outcomes included sentinel node identification, aberrant lymphatic pathways and metastatic node rates in aberrant drainage and ipsilateral axilla. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals (c.i.) were estimated using fixed-effect analyses, or random-effects analyses in the event of statistically significant heterogeneity. RESULTS: Seven studies reported data on lymphatic mapping in 1053 patients with recurrent breast cancer. The intraoperative sentinel node identification rate was 59·6 (95 per cent c.i. 56·7 to 62·6) per cent, and significantly greater when the original axillary surgery was SNB compared with ALND (OR 2·97, 95 per cent c.i. 1·66 to 5·32). The rate of aberrant lymphatic drainage identification was 25·7 (23·0 to 28·3) per cent, and significantly greater when the original axillary surgery was ALND (OR 0·27, 0·19 to 0·38). The metastatic sentinel node rate was 10·4 (8·6 to 12·3) per cent, and a significantly greater metastatic nodal burden was identified in the ipsilateral axilla (OR 6·31, 1·03 to 38·79). CONCLUSION: Lymphatic mapping is feasible in recurrent breast cancer. It avoids ALND in over 50 per cent of patients who have undergone SNB, and allows the 4 per cent of patients with metastatically involved aberrant nodes to receive targeted surgical and adjuvant therapies.

Systematic review of axillary reverse mapping in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) assesses the lymphatic drainage of the arm simultaneously with that of the breast, enabling preservation of arm lymphatics during axillary surgery for breast cancer. This article systematically reviews the evidence on the lymphoedema rate and oncological safety of the ARM technique. METHODS: PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched systematically for studies that addressed the use of ARM during axillary surgery in breast cancer. Studies were eligible if they performed ARM during sentinel node biopsy (SNB) or axillary node clearance (ANC) for breast cancer in prospective studies of more than 50 patients, with assessment of lymphoedema and oncological outcomes during a minimum follow-up of 6 months. RESULTS: Eight studies reported data on ARM in 1142 patients undergoing axillary surgery for breast cancer. Lymphoedema rates ranged from 0 to 6 per cent during ARM-assisted SNB, and from 5.9 to 24 per cent during ARM lymphatic preservation at ANC. Crossover nodes between the arm and breast lymphatics were identified in 0-10 per cent of patients, and metastases were present in 0-20 per cent of these patients. ARM nodes were not preserved in between 11 and 18 per cent of patients with ARM nodes identified, and metastases were detected in 0-19 per cent of these patients. CONCLUSION: ARM can achieve low rates of lymphoedema, but the risk of metastasis in crossover and clinically suspicious ARM nodes, or those in close proximity to an involved sentinel node, warrants their excision.

Angular Leaf Spot of Cucurbits is Associated With Genetically Diverse Pseudomonas syringae Strains.

Angular leaf spot of cucurbits is generally considered to be caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans. It has a worldwide distribution and has been observed to emerge sporadically under humid and wet conditions. Reports of multiple P. syringae pathovars associated with the disease and lack of molecular analysis has left the true diversity of populations in the United States unclear. In this study, we collected 27 P. syringae strains causing foliar lesions and blighting on watermelon, cantaloupe, and squash in Florida, Georgia, and California over several years. Strains were fluorescent on King's medium B agar and displayed the typical phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of P. syringae. P. syringae pv. lachrymans is a member of genomospecies 2. However, the genetic profiles obtained through both MLSA (gyrB, rpoD, gapA, and gltA) and BOX-PCR (BOXA1R) identified 26 of the P. syringae strains to be distributed among three clades within genomospecies 1, and phylogenetically distinct from genomospecies 2 member P. syringae pv. lachrymans. A novel MLSA haplotype of the pathogen common to all states and cucurbit hosts was identified. Considerable genetic diversity among P. syringae strains infecting cucurbits is associated with the same disease, and reflects the larger ecological diversity of P. syringae populations from genomospecies 1.

Ash Interaction with Two Cu-Based Magnetic Oxygen Carriers during Biomass Combustion by the Chemical Looping with Oxygen Uncoupling Process.

Chemical-looping combustion (CLC) stands out as a promising method for carbon capture and storage for the purpose of mitigating climate change. The process involves the conversion of fuel facilitated by an oxygen carrier, with the resulting CO2 inherently separated from other air components. Notably, when applied to biomass combustion this process offers a pathway to achieving negative CO2 emissions. However, a significant challenge for CLC, particularly in its application to biomass, is the management of interactions between ash and oxygen carriers. Biomass-derived ashes typically contain substantial quantities of reactive ash-forming substances, such as alkaline and alkali earth elements. These interactions can impact the performance and longevity of the oxygen carrier, necessitating careful consideration and mitigation strategies in CLC systems utilizing biomass feedstocks. This study examined the interaction between biomass ash components and two recently developed oxygen carriers, Cu30MnFekao7.5 and Cu30MnFe, during combustion in a 1.5 kWth continuous unit. Both oxygen carriers achieved 100% combustion efficiency and a CO2 capture efficiency of 95% at 900 °C. Although the copper in both oxygen carriers did not exhibit any noticeable interaction with ash components, the accumulative presence of potassium and magnesium in Cu30MnFekao7.5 was identified by inductively coupled plasma and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, indicating an increase in the amount of both elements in the particles after combustion operation. No problems of agglomeration or fluidization were observed in any of the experiments.

Cardiac amyloidosis worsens prognosis in patients with heart failure: findings from the PREVAMIC study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a common pathology in elderly patients that usually presents as heart failure (HF). However, it is not clear whether CA associated with HF has a worse prognosis compared with HF due to other etiologies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational cohort study that recruited patients ≥65 years of age with HF in 30 Spanish centers. The cohort was divided according to whether the patients had AC or not. Patients were followed for 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 484 patients were included in the analysis. The population was elderly (median 86 years) and 49% were women CA was present in 23.8 % of the included patients. In the CA group, there was a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus and valvular disease. At one year of follow-up, mortality was significantly more frequent in patients with CA compared to those without (33.0 vs.14.9%, p < 0.001). However, there were no differences between both groups in visits to the emergency room or readmissions. In the multivariate analysis, the variables that were shown to predict all-cause mortality at one year of follow-up were chronic kidney disease (HR 1.75 (1.01-3.05) p 0.045), NT-proBNP levels (HR 2.51 (1.46-4.30) p < 0.001), confusion (HR 2.05 (1.01-4.17), p 0.048), and the presence of CA (HR 1.77 (1.11-2.84), p 0.017). CONCLUSION: The presence of CA in elderly patients with HF is related to a worse prognosis at one year of follow-up. Early diagnosis of the pathology and multidisciplinary management can help improve patient outcomes.

Factors associated with surgical management following neoadjuvant therapy in patients with primary HER2-positive breast cancer: results from the NeoALTTO phase III trial.

BACKGROUND: The NeoALTTO trial showed that dual HER2 blockade nearly doubles the rate of pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients with primary HER2-positive breast cancer. However, this did not translate into a higher rate of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In NeoALTTO, patients with HER2-positive breast cancer were randomly assigned to either trastuzumab, lapatinib or their combination with paclitaxel before surgery with pCR as the primary end point. We investigated the association between the surgery type and clinicopathological factors and response to treatment, adjusting for the treatment arm. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-nine patients were subjected to breast surgery. Two hundred and forty-two (56%) and 187 (44%) patients underwent mastectomy and BCS, respectively. In a logistic regression model, negative estrogen receptor (ER), multicentricity and the presence of a palpable mass before surgery were significantly associated with a low chance of BCS. Conversely, patients with small tumors and those eligible for BCS at diagnosis were managed more with BCS, independent of the treatment arm. Radiological response was not associated with the surgical decision. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor characteristics before neoadjuvant therapy play a main role in deciding the type of surgery calling for a clear consensus on the role of BCS in patients responding to neoadjuvant therapy.

Management of the axilla in early breast cancer patients in the genomic era.

Management of the axilla in early breast cancer (EBC) patients has dramatically evolved in recent years from more radical to increasingly conservative approaches. Classically, the EBC patients with a clinically positive axilla are offered axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and those with a clinically negative axilla (cN0) are offered sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, which obviates the complications related to ALND and provides adequate surgical staging and comparable locoregional control and survival. The need for performing ALND when the SLN is positive and contemporary adjuvant treatment is delivered has been questioned in recent years. On the other hand, ongoing trials are testing whether node-positive patients can be spared chemotherapy, based on intrinsic primary tumor biology. Because the integration of novel surgical management and tumor biology is needed, this article provides an overview of the current challenges that a more detailed knowledge of tumor biology has brought to EBC staging and treatment. We propose that breast cancer oncologists (surgeons, radiation therapists, and medical oncologists) should focus their efforts on offering therapy tailored to each patient's needs in such a way that no matter which treatment is used, no overtreatment occurs.

First Report of the Crucifer Pathogen Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis Causing Bacterial Blight on Radish (Raphanus sativus) in Germany.

In 2008, a bacterial blight was observed on Raphanus sativus in the Pfalz region in Germany. Disease was sporadic but severe when present within R. sativus fields, which resulted in unmarketable crops. Symptoms consisted of small, angular, water-soaked flecks that often were surrounded by chlorotic haloes. Lesions were visible from adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces and generally retained chlorotic borders. A gram-negative, bluefluorescing bacterium was isolated from surface-disinfested leaf tissue on King's medium B agar. The radish isolate was levan positive, oxidase negative, and arginine dihydrolase negative. The isolate did not rot potato slices but induced a hypersensitive reaction in tobacco. These reactions corresponded to Lelliot's LOPAT group 1 (2). Repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence (rep)-PCR assays using the BOXA1R primer resulted in different DNA fragment banding patterns between the radish isolate and the pathotype strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola (CFBP 1657), but identical DNA fragment banding patterns between the radish isolate and the pathotype strain of P. cannabina pv. alisalensis (CFBP 6866). Unlike P. syringae pv. maculicola, P. cannabina pv. alisalensis and the radish isolate were lysed by bacteriophage PBS1 (1). Pathogenicity was evaluated on two hosts, radish (R. sativus cv. Comet) and broccoli raab (Brassica rapa cv. Sorrento). In each of two independent experiments, 3-week-old radish and broccoli raab plants were inoculated with either the radish isolate, P. cannabina pv. alisalensis, or P. syringae pv. maculicola. Inoculum was prepared by growing the bacteria on nutrient agar for 48 h at 27°C, suspending the bacteria in 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), and adjusting each suspension to 0.6 OD at 600 nm (approximately 1 × 108 CFU/ml). All plants were inoculated by spraying until runoff, incubated in a humidity chamber for 48 h, then placed in a greenhouse at 20 to 25°C for symptom development. Plants inoculated with P. cannabina pv. alisalensis or sprayed with buffer served as positive and negative control treatments, respectively. Seven to ten days postinoculation, the development of symptoms similar to those originally observed in the field were observed on plants inoculated with the radish isolate. In addition, symptoms on radish and broccoli raab plants caused by the radish isolate were similar to symptoms caused by P. cannabina pv. alisalensis in contrast to the lack of symptoms on plants inoculated with P. syringae pv. maculicola. Bacteria isolated from symptomatic tissue and surface-disinfested with sodium hypochlorite (0.525%) had identical characteristics to the radish isolate used to inoculate plants and to the P. cannabina pv. alisalensis pathotype for LOPAT reactions, rep-PCR DNA fragment banding pattern analysis, and sensitivity to phage PBS1, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. cannabina pv. alisalensis isolated from diseased crucifers in Germany. Verification of P. cannabina pv. alisalensis in Germany indicates that German crucifer growers should differentiate between outbreaks caused by P. cannabina pv. alisalensis and P. syringae pv. maculicola and apply appropriate, specific management strategies. References: (1) C. T. Bull et al. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 33:105, 2010. (2) R. A. Lelliott. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 29:470, 1966.

Development and validation of an RP-HPLC method for CB13 evaluation in several PLGA nanoparticle systems.

A simple, fast, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method has been developed and validated for determining of a cannabinoid derivate, which displays potent antihyperalgesic activity, 1-naphthalenyl[4-(pentyloxy)-1-naphthalenyl]methanone (CB13) into PLGA nanoparticles. Separation was achieved in a C18 column using a mobile phase consisting of two solvents: solvent A, consisting of acetonitrile : water : acetic acid (75 : 23.7 : 1.3 v/v), and solvent B, consisting of acetonitrile. An isocratic method (70 : 30 v/v), with a flow rate of 1.000 mL/min, and a diode array detector were used. The developed method was precise, accurate, and linear over the concentration range of analysis with a limit of detection and a limit of quantification of 0.5 and 1.25 µg/mL, respectively. The developed method was applied to the analysis of CB13 in nanoparticles samples obtained by three different procedures (SEV, FF, and NPP) in terms of encapsulation efficiency and drug release. Nanoparticles size and size distribution were also evaluated founding that NPP method presented the most lowest particle sizes with narrow-size distribution (≈320 nm) and slightly negative zeta potential (≈-25 mV) which presumes a suitable procedure for the synthesis of PLGA-CB13 nanoparticles for oral administration.

Immune response in breast cancer surgery. A comparative and prospective study of different anesthetic techniques.

INTRODUCTION: The main reason for high mortality in breast cancer is local recurrence and metastasis, despite surgery as the first therapeutic option. The anesthesia used in the operation room can determine the immune response. METHODS: A prospective, comparative and non- randomised study in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery was conducted in our hospital after obtaining approval from the Hospital's Institutional Review Board. Patients were divided in two groups: Group A received general anesthesia with propofol and opioids. Group B, in addition to general anesthesia, three interfascial blocks (Pec I, Pec II and BRILMA) were performed in all patients. Three blood samples were taken 1) previous anesthetic induction; 2) two hours after the end of the surgery and 3) 24-48 h after surgery. Leukocytes, CD3, CD4, CD8 and Natural Killer cells were determined at each time. RESULTS: 103 patients were included. 59 (group A) received general anesthesia and 54 (group B) general anesthesia and interfascial blocks. Regarding baseline characteristics, age was significantly higher in the group that received general anesthesia and mastectomy was more frequent in the group that received interfascial blocks. We observed after surgery an increase in leukocytes level that returns close to baseline levels. On the other hand, a reduction in the immune response was observed that also returns to the previous level 48 h after surgery. Group A and B get similar results and also subgroups of hormonal receptors (HER+, PR and/or ER+). CONCLUSIONS: Interfascial blocks in chest wall added to general anesthesia in breast cancer surgery has not shown a significant difference in the inflammatory response or immunological depression compared to general anesthesia as the only anesthetic technique. It seems to trend less immunological depression in the interfascial block group.