Pharmacologic Treatment of Hypertensive Urgency in the Outpatient Setting: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive urgency (HU), defined as acute severe uncontrolled hypertension without end-organ damage, is a common condition. Despite its association with long-term morbidity and mortality, guidance regarding immediate management is sparse. Our objective was to summarize the evidence examining the effects of antihypertensive medications to treat. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase through May 2016. STUDY SELECTION: We evaluated prospective controlled clinical trials, case-control studies, and cohort studies of HU in emergency room (ER) or clinic settings. We initially identified 11,223 published articles. We reviewed 10,748 titles and abstracts and identified 538 eligible articles. We assessed the full text for eligibility and included 31 articles written in English that were clinical trials or cohort studies and provided blood pressure data within 48 h of treatment. Studies were appraised for risk of bias using components recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. The main outcome measured was blood pressure change with antihypertensive medications. Since studies were too diverse both clinically and methodologically to combine in a meta-analysis, tabular data and a narrative synthesis of studies are presented. RESULTS: We identified only 20 double-blind randomized controlled trials and 12 cohort studies, with 262 participants in prospective controlled trials. However, we could not pool the results of studies. In addition, comorbidities and their potential contribution to long-term treatment of these subjects were not adequately addressed in any of the reviewed studies. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal studies are still needed to determine how best to lower blood pressure in patients with HU. Longer-term management of individuals who have experienced HU continues to be an area requiring further study, especially as applicable to care from the generalist.

Ki67 Expression has Prognostic Significance in Relation to Human Papillomavirus Status in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major predictor of outcome in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) but the disease is heterogeneous and there is limited understanding of the prognostic significance of other molecular markers in relation to HPV. This multi-institutional, retrospective study examined the prognostic significance of Ki67 expression in association with HPV status in OSCC. METHODS: The 105 patients recruited had a median follow-up of 70 months. Tumor HPV status was determined by HPV E6-targeted multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction/p16 semiquantitative immunohistochemistry and Ki67 expression by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry. Determinants of recurrence and mortality hazards were modelled using Cox regression with censoring at dates of last follow-up. RESULTS: HPV and Ki67 positivity rates were 46 and 44 %, respectively. HPV-positive cancers were more likely to be Ki67-positive. On multivariate analysis, both HPV and Ki67 were predictors of outcome. Ki67-positive cancers were associated with a 3.13-fold increased risk of disease-related death compared with Ki67-negative cancers. Among HPV-negative patients, Ki67-positive disease was associated with 5.6-fold increased risk of oropharyngeal cancer-related death (p = 0.002), 5.5-fold increased risk of death from any cause (p = 0.001), and 2.9-fold increased risk of any event (p = 0.013). The risk of locoregional failure was lowest in patients with HPV-positive/Ki67-positive cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Ki67 predicts disease-related death in oropharyngeal cancer independent of HPV status. A combination of Ki67 and HPV status provides improved prognostic information relative to HPV status alone. Our data suggest, for the first time, that Ki67 status has prognostic value, particularly in HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer.

Analytical method for total chromium and nickel in urine using an inductively coupled plasma-universal cell technology-mass spectrometer (ICP-UCT-MS) in kinetic energy discrimination (KED) mode.

Biomonitoring and emergency response measurements are an important aspect of the Division of Laboratory Sciences of the National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The continuing advancement in instrumentation allows for enhancements to existing analytical methods. Prior to this work, chromium and nickel were analyzed on a sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (SF-ICP-MS). This type of instrumentation provides the necessary sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, and precision but due to the higher complexity of instrumentation and operation, it is not preferred for routine high throughput biomonitoring needs. Instead a quadrupole based method has been developed on a PerkinElmer NexION™ 300D ICP-MS. The instrument is operated using 6.0 mL min-1 helium as the collision cell gas and in kinetic energy discrimination mode, interferences are successfully removed for the analysis of 52Cr (40Ar12C and 35Cl16O1H) and 60Ni (44Ca16O). The limits of detection are 0.162 µg L-1 Cr and 0.248 µg L-1 Ni. Method accuracy using NIST SRM 2668 level 1 (1.08 µg L-1 Cr and 2.31µg L-1 Ni) and level 2 (27.7 µg L-1 Cr and 115 µg L-1 Ni) was within the 95% confidence intervals reported in the NIST certificate. Among-run precision is less than 10% RSDs (N = 20) for in house quality control and NIST SRM urine samples. While the limits of detection (LOD) for the new quadrupole ICP-UCT-MS with KED method are similar to the SF-ICP-MS method, better measurement precision is observed for the quadrupole method. The new method presented provides fast, accurate, and more precise results on a less complex and more robust ICP-MS platform.

Human papillomavirus, smoking status and outcomes in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma.

It is now clear that the two separate entitles of tonsillar cancer, HPV induced and non-HPV induced (smoking induced), have significantly different presenting stage and outcomes. A significant proportion of patients with human papillomavirus positive tonsillar cancer have had exposure to smoking. We examined the combined effect of human papillomavirus and smoking on the outcomes and determined whether smoking can modify the beneficial effect of human papillomavirus. A total of 403 patients from nine centers were followed up for recurrence or death for a median of 38 months. Determinants of the rate of loco-regional recurrence, death from tonsillar cancer and overall survival were modeled using Cox regression. Smoking status was a significant predictor of overall survival (p = 0.04). There were nonstatistically significant trends favoring never smokers for loco-regional recurrence and disease specific survival. In addition, there was no statistically significant interactions between smoking and human papillomavirus (p-values for the interaction were 0.26 for loco-regional recurrence, 0.97 for disease specific survival and 0.73 for overall survival). The effect of smoking on loco-regional recurrence and disease specific survival outcomes was not statistically significant, nor was there significant evidence that the effect of smoking status on these outcomes was modified by HPV status. Irrespective of HPV status, however, smokers did have poorer overall survival than never-smokers, presumably due to effects of smoking that are unrelated to the primary cancer.

HPV status of oropharyngeal cancer by combination HPV DNA/p16 testing: biological relevance of discordant results.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes up to 70 % of oropharyngeal cancers (OSCC). HPV positive OSCC has a more favorable outcome, thus HPV status is being used to guide treatment and predict outcome. Combination HPV DNA/p16(ink4) (p16) testing is commonly used for HPV status, but there are no standardized methods, scoring or interpretative criteria. The significance of discordant (HPV DNA positive/p16 negative and HPV DNA negative/p16 positive) cancers is controversial. In this study, 647 OSCCs from 10 Australian centers were tested for HPV DNA/p16 expression. Our aims are to determine p16 distribution by HPV DNA status to inform decisions on p16 scoring and to assess clinical significance of discordant cancers. METHODS: HPV DNA was identified using a multiplex tandem HPV E6 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and p16 expression by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: p16 distribution was essentially bimodal (42 % of cancers had ≥ 70 % positive staining, 52 % <5 % positive, 6 % between 5 and 70 %). Cancers with 5 to <50 % staining had similar characteristics to the p16 negative group, and cancers with 50 to <70 % staining were consistent with the ≥ 70 % group. Using a p16 cut-point of 50 %, there were 25 % HPV DNA positive/p16 negative cancers and 1 % HPV DNA negative/p16 positive cancers. HPV DNA positive/p16 negative cancers had outcomes similar to HPV DNA negative/p16 negative cancers. CONCLUSIONS: 50 % is a reasonable cut-point for p16; HPV DNA positive/p16 negative OSCCs may be treated as HPV negative for clinical purposes; HPV DNA/p16 testing may add no prognostic information over p16 alone.

A comparison of clinical laboratory data for assigning a consensus value for manganese in a caprine blood reference material.

Biomonitoring for manganese (Mn) exposure is important due to its potential to cause adverse health effects. In this study, we investigate how different sample preparation methods (simple dilution, digestion, volumetric, gravimetric), calibration protocols (aqueous, blood-based, standard additions), and instrumental techniques affect Mn method bias and analytical imprecision. The techniques used included graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (DRC-ICP-MS), and sector field (SF-) ICP-MS. We analyzed NIST SRM 1643e Trace Elements in Water and SRM 1598a Inorganic Constituents in Animal Serum (both certified for Mn), and SRM 955c Toxic Metals in Caprine Blood - Level 1 (not certified for Mn). Various matrix effects in ICP-MS produced inaccurate results for SRM 1643e and discrepant results for SRM 955c. In the absence of a certified value for Mn in SRM 955c, we assigned a "consensus" value by combining data from the New York State Department of Health (NYS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centre de toxicologie du Québec (CTQ). With this interlaboratory approach, we established an "all-lab" consensus value of 16.3 ± 0.8 µg L-1 based on data from DRC-ICP-MS with simple dilution sample preparation and blood-based calibration. We also assigned an "all-method" consensus value of 16.3 ± 0.9 µg L-1 based on GFAAS and SF-ICP-MS data from the NYS lab and the DRC-ICP-MS all-lab consensus value. Although the expanded uncertainty (U) calculated for the consensus values may not fully account for all sources of uncertainty, it does show the relative variation that might be expected from one study to the next for the determination of Mn in blood.

Use of cyclin D1 in conjunction with human papillomavirus status to predict outcome in oropharyngeal cancer.

There is increasing use of multiple molecular markers to predict prognosis in human cancer. Our aim was to examine the prognostic significance of cyclin D1 and retinoblastoma (pRb) expression in association with human papillomavirus (HPV) status in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical records and specimens of 226 patients with follow-up from 1 to 235 months postdiagnosis were retrieved. Tumor HPV status was determined by HPV E6-targeted multiplex real-time PCR/p16 semiquantitative immunohistochemistry and cyclin D1 and pRb expression by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry. Determinants of recurrence and mortality hazards were modeled using Cox regression with censoring at dates of last follow-up. The HPV-positivity rate was 37% (91% type 16). HPV was a predictor of recurrence, an event (recurrence or death) and death after adjustment for clinicopathological variables. There were inverse relationships between HPV status and cyclin D1 and pRb. On univariate analysis, cyclin D1 predicted locoregional recurrence, event and death and pRb predicted event and death. Within the HPV-positive group, after adjusting for clinicopathological factors, patients with cyclin D1-positive cancers had up to a eightfold increased risk of poor outcome relative to those with cyclin D1-negative tumors. However, within the HPV-negative group, there was only a very small adjusted increased risk. A combination of pRb and HPV did not provide additional prognostic information. Our data provide the first evidence that a combination of HPV and cyclin D1 provides more prognostic information in oropharyngeal cancer than HPV alone. If findings are confirmed, treatment based on HPV and cyclin D1 may improve outcomes.

Text Messaging and Home Blood Pressure Monitoring for Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension: Proposal for a Feasibility Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: A decrease in blood pressure, even modestly (ie, 2 mmHg), lowers cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Low patient adherence to antihypertensive medication is the most significant modifiable patient-related barrier to achieving controlled blood pressure. Preliminary studies have shown that SMS text messaging and home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) can be effective in promoting medication adherence and blood pressure control. The best strategy to engage with older patients of low socioeconomic status who are low adopters of technology and disproportionally affected by uncontrolled hypertension is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to improve blood pressure control in the older, low socioeconomic status population. The study will test two aims: First, we aim to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial by using an SMS-based approach among nonadherent, older patients of low socioeconomic status who have uncontrolled hypertension. Feasibility will be assessed in terms of recruitment rates per month (primary outcome); patient acceptability will be evaluated by monitoring retention rates and SMS response rates and using the validated Systems Usability Scale (secondary outcomes). Second, we aim to estimate the effects of the SMS approach on lowering blood pressure and adherence to antihypertensive medications. METHODS: We will recruit 24 patients of low socioeconomic status with uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP>140 mmHg or diastolic BP>90 mmHg) showing low medication adherence and taking at least two antihypertensives, who have presented to two outpatient clinics of Wake Forest Baptist Health (Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA). Participants will be randomly assigned to either SMS and HBPM (n=12) or usual care and HBPM (n=12) intervention. Clinicians adjusting the patients' medications will be blinded to the study assignment. Text messages will be sent from a secure platform to assess medication adherence and HBPM on a weekly basis. The content and delivery frequency of the proposed SMS intervention are based on input from three focus groups conducted in Spring 2019. Participants in both study arms will receive education on HBPM and using an HBPM device. We hypothesize that we will successfully recruit 24 participants and the intervention will be acceptable to the participants. It will also improve medication adherence (assessed by question Medication Adherence Questionnaire scores) and blood pressure control. RESULTS: Our study was funded in July 2020. As of May 2021, we have enrolled 6 participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings will help design a larger efficacy trial to advance the field of eHealth delivery systems particularly for older adults of low socioeconomic status. This study addresses a highly significant topic and targets a population of high morbidity and mortality that has been traditionally underrepresented in clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03596242; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03596242. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/18984.

Renal replacement treatment initiation with twice-weekly versus thrice-weekly haemodialysis in patients with incident dialysis-dependent kidney disease: rationale and design of the TWOPLUS pilot clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The optimal haemodialysis (HD) prescription-frequency and dose-for patients with incident dialysis-dependent kidney disease (DDKD) and substantial residual kidney function (RKF)-that is, renal urea clearance ≥2 mL/min/1.73 m2 and urine volume ≥500 mL/day-is not known. The aim of the present study is to test the feasibility and safety of a simple, reliable prescription of incremental HD in patients with incident DDKD and RKF. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This parallel-group, open-label randomised pilot trial will enrol 50 patients from 14 outpatient dialysis units. Participants will be randomised (1:1) to receive twice-weekly HD with adjuvant pharmacological therapy for 6 weeks followed by thrice-weekly HD (incremental HD group) or outright thrice-weekly HD (standard HD group). Age ≥18 years, chronic kidney disease progressing to DDKD and urine output ≥500 mL/day are key inclusion criteria; patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <30% and acute kidney injury requiring dialysis will be excluded. Adjuvant pharmacological therapy (ie, effective diuretic regimen, patiromer and sodium bicarbonate) will complement twice-weekly HD. The primary feasibility end points are recruitment rate, adherence to the assigned HD regimen, adherence to serial timed urine collections and treatment contamination. Incidence rate of clinically significant volume overload and metabolic imbalances in the first 3 months after randomisation will be used to assess intervention safety. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina, USA. Patient recruitment began on 14 June 2019, was paused between 13 March 2020 and 31 May 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, resumed on 01 June 2020 and will last until the required sample size has been attained. Participants will be followed in usual care fashion for a minimum of 6 months from last individual enrolled. All regulations and measures of ethics and confidentiality are handled in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03740048; Pre-results.

Renal Recovery in Critically Ill Adult Patients Treated with Veno-Venous Or Veno-Arterial Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation: a Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) therapy are critically ill and often develop acute kidney injury (AKI) during hospitalisation. Little is known about the association of exposure to and the effect of the type of ECMO and extent of renal recovery after AKI development. AIM OF THE STUDY: In patients who developed AKI, renal recovery was characterised as complete, partial or dialysis-dependent at the time of hospital discharge in both the Veno-Arterial (VA) and Veno-Venous (VV) ECMO treatment groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study consisted of a single-centre retrospective cohort that includes all adult patients (n=125) who received ECMO treatment at a tertiary academic medical centre between 2015 to 2019. Data on demographics, type of ECMO circuit, comorbidities, exposure to nephrotoxic factors and receipt of renal replacement therapy (RRT) were collected as a part of the analysis. Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria were used for the diagnosis and classification of AKI. Group differences were assessed using Fisher's exact tests for categorical data and independent t-tests for continuous outcomes. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients received VA ECMO, and 58 received VV ECMO. AKI developed in 58(91%) in the VA ECMO group and 51 (88%) in the VV ECMO group (p=0.77). RRT was prescribed in significantly higher numbers in the VV group 38 (75%) compared to the VA group 27 (47%) (p=0.0035). At the time of discharge, AKI recovery rate in the VA group consisted of 15 (26%) complete recovery and 5 (9%) partial recovery; 1 (2%) remained dialysis-dependent. In the VV group, 22 (43%) had complete recovery (p=0.07), 3(6%) had partial recovery (p=0.72), and 1 (2%) was dialysis-dependent (p>0.99). In-hospital mortality was 64% in the VA group and 49% in the VV group (p=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Renal outcomes in critically ill patients who develop AKI are not associated with the type of ECMO used. This serves as preliminary data for future studies in the area.

Development and validation of a biomonitoring method to measure As, Cr, and Ni in human urine samples by ICP-UCT-MS.

We developed an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method using Universal Cell Technology (UCT) with a PerkinElmer NexION ICP-MS, to measure arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) in human urine samples. The advancements of the UCT allowed us to expand the calibration range to make the method applicable for both low concentrations of biomonitoring applications and high concentrations that may be observed from acute exposures and emergency response. Our method analyzes As and Ni in kinetic energy discrimination (KED) mode with helium (He) gas, and Cr in dynamic reaction cell (DRC) mode with ammonia (NH3) gas. The combination of these elements is challenging because a carbon source, ethanol (EtOH), is required for normalization of As ionization in urine samples, which creates a spectral overlap (40Ar12C+) on 52Cr. This method additionally improved lab efficiency by combining elements from two of our previously published methods(Jarrett et al., 2007; Quarles et al., 2014) allowing us to measure Cr and Ni concentrations in urine samples collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) beginning with the 2017-2018 survey cycle. We present our rigorous validation of the method selectivity and accuracy using National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Materials (SRM), precision using in-house prepared quality control materials, and a discussion of the use of a modified UCT, a BioUCell, to address an ion transmission phenomenon we observed on the NexION 300 platform when using higher elemental concentrations and high cell gas pressures. The rugged method detection limits, calculated from measurements in more than 60 runs, for As, Cr, and Ni are 0.23 µg L-1, 0.19 µg L-1, and 0.31 µg L-1, respectively.

Is oral vitamin B(12) therapy effective for vitamin B(12) deficiency in patients with prior ileocystoplasty?

PURPOSE: We previously identified vitamin B(12) deficiency as a potential long-term consequence in pediatric patients with prior ileocystoplasty despite adequate preservation of terminal ileum. Vitamin B(12) deficiency can result in hematological and neurological deficits, of which some are irreversible. Deficiency discovered after ileocystoplasty is purportedly due to B(12) malabsorption since the principal absorption site is ileum. B(12) deficiency due to malabsorption is typically treated with intramuscular injection to ensure adequate treatment. We determined whether oral vitamin B(12) supplementation could increase serum vitamin B(12) in patients with deficiency who underwent ileocystoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During followup after ileocystoplasty we identified patients with low (200 pg/dl or less) or low normal (200 to 300 pg/dl) vitamin B(12). Oral vitamin B(12) was begun at 250 µg. Serum B(12) was assessed at 1, 2 and 3-month intervals after beginning therapy. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients with a mean followup of 83 months after ileocystoplasty had vitamin B(12) levels available for review. Of these patients 36 (28%) had a level of 300 pg/dl or less with a level of 200 pg/dl or less in 16 (13%). After oral vitamin B(12) treatment serum levels increased from a mean 235 to 506 pg/dl (114%) upon initial measurement (p <0.001). Subsequent measurements continued to increase from the first posttreatment level (p <0.05). No adverse effects were noted during a mean 4-month followup. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first study to show that oral vitamin B(12) effectively increases serum levels in pediatric patients with prior ileocystoplasty.

CD103+ tumor-resident CD8+ T cell numbers underlie improved patient survival in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is one of the fastest growing cancers in the Western world. When compared to OPSCCs induced by smoking or alcohol, patients with HPV+ OPSCC, have better survival and the mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was examined for genes associated with tissue-resident CD8+ T cells. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed on tumor specimen taken from 35 HPV+ and 27 HPV- OPSCC patients. RESULTS: TCGA database revealed that the expression of genes encoding CD103 and CD69 were significantly higher in HPV+ head and neck SCCs (HNSCC) than in HPV- HNSCC. Higher expression levels of these two genes were also associated with better overall survival. IHC staining showed that the proportion of CD103+ tumor-resident CD8+ T cells were significantly higher in HPV+ OPSCCs when compared to HPV- OPSCC. This higher level was also associated with both lower risk of loco-regional failure, and better overall survival. Importantly, patients with HPV- OPSCC who had comparable levels of CD103+ tumor-resident CD8+ T cells to those with HPV+ OPSCC demonstrated similar survival as those with HPV+OPSCC. CONCLUSION: Our results show that CD103+ tumor-resident CD8+ T cells are critical for protective immunity in both types of OPSCCs. Our data further suggest that the enhanced local protective immunity provided by tumor-resident T cell responses is the underlying factor driving favorable clinical outcomes in HPV+ OPSCCs over HPV- OPSCCs.

Prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor in squamous cell carcinomas of the tonsil in relation to human papillomavirus status and epidermal growth factor receptor.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis markers, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) have been associated with prognosis in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck. Other prognostic variables such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and epidermal growth factor (EGFR) may also be involved in tumour angiogenesis. This study determined relationships between VEGF, MVD, EGFR, HPV, response to radiotherapy and clinical outcome in 85 tonsillar SCCs. METHODS: HPV status was determined by an HPV multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay/p16 immunohistochemistry. Expression of VEGF, CD31 (as marker of MVD) and EGFR was assessed by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Strong VEGF expressers were significantly more likely to have higher MVD than were weak expressers. There were no associations between VEGF or MVD and gender, patient age, TNM stage, EGFR expression or HPV status. Tumours with MVD of >15 per high-power field were significantly more likely to be poorly differentiated. There was a significant inverse relationship between EGFR and HPV status. HPV was a strong independent marker of loco-regional recurrence and death. VEGF and EGFR were risk factors for local recurrence and disease-specific death on univariate analysis but the associations weakened after adjustment for HPV. Among patients treated with radiotherapy, VEGF was associated with disease-specific death after adjusting for HPV and TMN stage. High-VEGF-expressing tumours positive for EGFR had a worse prognosis than all other groups combined after adjusting for HPV and TNM stage. CONCLUSIONS: HPV is a stronger prognostic marker than VEGF or EGFR in tonsillar SCCs. VEGF correlates with MVD in these tumours.

Significant association of PD-L1 expression with human papillomavirus positivity and its prognostic impact in oropharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The programmed death pathway plays a role in persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection as well as in resistance to immune elimination during malignant progression. In this study, we examined PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in 214 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) to assess its clinical significance. RESULTS: HPV-positive OPSCC were significantly more likely to express PD-L1 than HPV-negative OPSCC (85.2% vs 57.1%, p < 0.05). PD-L1 staining was more likely to be associated with TILs in HPV-positive OPSCC (67.9% vs 49.6%, p = 0.01). Relative to those patients with HPV-positive/PD-L1-positive OPSCC, patients with HPV negative/PD-L1 negative OPSCC were 6.4 times more likely to develop a local recurrence, 5.8 times more likely to develop an event and 6.5 times more likely to die. Within the HPV positive cases, PD-L1 expression also significantly impacted on the outcomes with PD-L1 negative cases more likely to develop a locoregional recurrence (HR 4.16), to have an event (HR 2.5) and to die (HR 3.16). Evidence of an interaction between HPV status and PD-L1 expression was found for overall survival (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that different immune profiles in oropharyngeal cancer by HPV status and the effect of HPV on the outcomes is modified by PD-L1 expression.

The effect of pharmaceuticals on the nanoscale structure of PEO-PPO-PEO micelles.

We present results on the effects of various hydrophobic drugs and additives on the micellar structure of Pluronic F127 solutions. Small-angle neutron scattering experiments on 5wt% F127 solutions were used to measure micelle core size (R(1)), micelle corona size (R(2)), intermicellar interaction distance (R(int)), polydispersity (sigma), and aggregation number (N(agg)); dynamic light scattering was used to measure critical micelle concentration (CMC); and ultraviolet spectroscopy was used to measure drug solubility and apparent micelle-water partition coefficient (K(mw)). The core and corona size were found to generally increase in the presence of the drugs, as did R(int). Both sigma and N(agg) were found to decrease in the presence of most of the drugs, and the CMC was found to vary considerably with no clear correlation. A design of experiments (DOE) approach was used to analyze the results and build empirical correlations. All of the parameters from the SANS experiments were found to depend strongly on drug solubility, with a weak dependence on K(mw) in most cases. The aggregation number, however, was found to depend strongly on both K(mw) and solubility. The correlations can be used to roughly predict the structural parameters of F127 micelles for other hydrophobic drugs.

Assessing the stability of Cd, Mn, Pb, Se, and total Hg in whole human blood by ICP-DRC-MS as a function of temperature and time.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive information on the effect of time and temperature storage on the measurement of elements in human, whole blood (WB) by inductively coupled plasma-dynamic reaction cell-mass spectrometry (ICP-DRC-MS) is lacking, particularly for Mn and Se. METHODS: Human WB was spiked at 3 concentration levels, dispensed, and then stored at 5 different temperatures: -70 °C, -20 °C, 4 °C, 23 °C, and 37 °C. At 3 and 5 weeks, and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 36 months, samples were analyzed for Pb, Cd, Mn, Se and total Hg, using ICP-DRC-MS. We used a multiple linear regression model including time and temperature as covariates to fit the data with the measurement value as the outcome. We used an equivalence test using ratios to determine if results from the test storage conditions, warmer temperature and longer time, were comparable to the reference storage condition of 3 weeks storage time at -70 °C. RESULTS: Model estimates for all elements in human WB samples stored in polypropylene cryovials at -70 °C were equivalent to estimates from samples stored at 37 °C for up to 2 months, 23 °C up to 10 months, and -20 °C and 4 °C for up to 36 months. Model estimates for samples stored for 3 weeks at -70 °C were equivalent to estimates from samples stored for 2 months at -20 °C, 4 °C, 23 °C and 37 °C; 10 months at -20 °C, 4 °C, and 23 °C; and 36 months at -20 °C and 4 °C. This equivalence was true for all elements and pools except for the low concentration blood pool for Cd. CONCLUSIONS: Storage temperatures of -20 °C and 4 °C are equivalent to -70 °C for stability of Cd, Mn, Pb, Se, and Hg in human whole blood for at least 36 months when blood is stored in sealed polypropylene vials. Increasing the sample storage temperature from -70 °C to -20 °C or 4 °C can lead to large energy savings. The best analytical results are obtained when storage time at higher temperature conditions (e.g. 23 °C and 37 °C) is minimized because recovery of Se and Hg is reduced. Blood samples stored in polypropylene cryovials also lose volume over time and develop clots at higher temperature conditions (e.g., 23 °C and 37 °C), making them unacceptable for elemental testing after 10 months and 2 months, respectively.

Frequency of Transition From Stage A to Stage B Heart Failure After Initiating Potentially Cardiotoxic Chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the prevalence of American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation (AHA/ACCF) heart failure (HF) stages after potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy was initiated. BACKGROUND: For individuals receiving potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy, the frequency of transitioning from Stage A to more advanced HF stages is not well described. METHODS: In 143 Stage A HF patients with breast cancer, lymphoma and leukemia, renal cell carcinoma, or sarcoma prior to and then at 3, 6, and 12 to 24 months after potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy was initiated, we obtained blinded cardiac magnetic resonance measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). RESULTS: Three months after potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy was initiated, 18.9% of patients transitioned from Stage A to Stage B HF. A total of 83% and 80% of patients with Stage A HF at 3 months, respectively, exhibited Stage A HF at 6 and 12 to 24 months; 68% and 56% of those with Stage B HF at 3 months, respectively, exhibited Stage B HF at 6 and 12 to 24 months (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.026, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Transitioning from Stage A to Stage B or remaining in Stage A HF 3 months after potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy was initiated relates to longer-term (6 to 24 months post-treatment) assessments of HF stage.

Analysis of whole human blood for Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, and Mn by ICP-DRC-MS for biomonitoring and acute exposures.

We improved our inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) whole blood method [1] for determination of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) by including manganese (Mn) and selenium (Se), and expanding the calibration range of all analytes. The method is validated on a PerkinElmer (PE) ELAN® DRC II ICP-MS (ICP-DRC-MS) and uses the Dynamic Reaction Cell (DRC) technology to attenuate interfering background ion signals via ion-molecule reactions. Methane gas (CH4) eliminates background signal from 40Ar2+ to permit determination of 80Se+, and oxygen gas (O2) eliminates several polyatomic interferences (e.g. 40Ar15N+, 54Fe1H+) on 55Mn+. Hg sensitivity in DRC mode is a factor of two higher than vented mode when measured under the same DRC conditions as Mn due to collisional focusing of the ion beam. To compensate for the expanded method's longer analysis time (due to DRC mode pause delays), we implemented an SC4-FAST autosampler (ESI Scientific, Omaha, NE), which vacuum loads the sample onto a loop, to keep the sample-to-sample measurement time to less than 5min, allowing for preparation and analysis of 60 samples in an 8-h work shift. The longer analysis time also resulted in faster breakdown of the hydrocarbon oil in the interface roughing pump. The replacement of the standard roughing pump with a pump using a fluorinated lubricant, Fomblin®, extended the time between pump maintenance. We optimized the diluent and rinse solution components to reduce carryover from high concentration samples and prevent the formation of precipitates. We performed a robust calculation to determine the following limits of detection (LOD) in whole blood: 0.07µgdL-1 for Pb, 0.10µgL-1 for Cd, 0.28µgL-1 for Hg, 0.99µgL-1 for Mn, and 24.5µgL-1 for Se.

E6 viral protein ratio correlates with outcomes in human papillomavirus related oropharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to identify prognostic markers to improve the management of patients with HPV positive OSCC Methods: We determined the ratio of HPV E6*I and E6*II splice variants by quantitative RT-PCR in 177 HPV positive OSCC and correlated the findings with other clinicopathological data Results: There was no significant difference in locoregional recurrence (HR 1.72 p = 0.24) and death (HR 1.65, p = 0.13) among patients whose tumors had an E6*I/*II ratio ≥1 compared with an E6*I/*II ratio of <1. Univariate analysis showed that patients with E6*I/*II ≥1 OSCC were more likely to have an event. In the multivariable analysis, there was a trend for more events in patients with E6*I/*II ratio ≥1 (HR 1.70, 95% CI 0.95-3.03, p = 0.07) CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the use of HPV 16 spliced transcripts may help to predict for poorer outcomes in patients with HPV positive OSCC.