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BACKGROUND: Regular monitoring of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an indicator for traffic-related emissions, is a priority in urban environments. The health impacts associated with NO2 exposure are the result of a combination of factors, including concentration, duration of exposure, and interactions with other pollutants. WHO has established air quality guidelines based on epidemiological studies. OBJECTIVE: This study develops a new concept "Health Impact Pathways (HIPs)" using adversity as a probabilistic indicator of health effects. For this purpose, it integrates available toxicological and epidemiological information, using Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), in order to understand chemical-biological interactions and their consequences on health. METHODS: Literature review and meta-analysis of toxicological data supported by expert judgment were performed to establish: a) adversity pathways, b) quantitative criteria for scoring the observed toxicological effects (adversity indicators), c) NO2 exposure - adversity relationship for both long-term (1-36 months) and shortterm (1-7 days). The NO2 daily concentrations from January 2001 to December 2022, were obtained from Madrid city Air Quality network monitoring database. Adversity levels were compared with relative risk levels for all-cause and respiratory mortality estimated using linear equations from WHO 2021 guidelines. RESULTS: Non-linear relations were obtained for all long- and short-term NO2 related adversity indicators; for long-term effects, the best fitting was obtained with a modified Haber's law model with an exponential coefficient for the exposure time of 0.25. Estimations are presented for a set of case studies for Madrid city, covering temporal and spatial variability. A clear improvement trend along the two decades was observed, as well as high inter- and intra-station variability; the adversity indicators provided integrated information on the temporal and spatial evolution of population level risk. DISCUSSION: The proposed HIP conceptual approach offers promising advances for integrating experimental and epidemiological data. The next step is linking the concentration-adversity relationship with population health impacts through probability estimations, the preliminary estimations confirm the need for assessing independently different population groups.
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Air Pollutants , Air Pollution , Environmental Monitoring , Nitrogen Dioxide , Nitrogen Dioxide/analysis , Nitrogen Dioxide/toxicity , Air Pollutants/toxicity , Air Pollutants/analysis , Humans , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Air Pollution/statistics & numerical data , Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Adverse Outcome Pathways , Risk AssessmentABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Transcriptomic subtyping holds promise for personalized therapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). In this study, we aimed to assess intratumoral transcriptomic subtype diversity and to identify biomarkers of long-term chemoimmunotherapy benefit in human ES-SCLC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We analyzed tumor samples from 58 patients with ES-SCLC enrolled in two multicenter single-arm phase IIIb studies evaluating frontline chemoimmunotherapy in Spain: n = 32 from the IMfirst trial and n = 26 from the CANTABRICO trial. We used the GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler system to perform multi-region transcriptomic analysis. For subtype classification, we performed hierarchical clustering using the relative expression of ASCL1 (SCLC-A), NEUROD1 (SCLC-N), POU2F3 (SCLC-P), and YAP1 (SCLC-Y). RESULTS: Subtype distribution was found to be similar between bothcohorts, except for SCLC-P, which was not identified in the CANTABRICO_DSP cohort. A total of 44% of the patients in both cohorts had tumors with multiple coexisting transcriptional subtypes. Transcriptional subtypes or subtype heterogeneity was not associated with outcomes. Most potential targets did not show subtype-specific expression. Consistently in both cohorts, tumors from patients with long-term benefit (time to progression ≥12 months) contained an IFNγ-dominated mRNA profile, including enhanced capacity for antigen presentation. Hypoxia and glycolytic pathways were associated with resistance to chemoimmunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This work suggests that intratumoral heterogeneity, inconsistent association with outcome, and unclear subtype-specific target expression might be significant challenges for subtype-based precision oncology in SCLC. Preexisting IFNγ-driven immunity and mitochondrial metabolism seem to be correlates of long-term efficacy in this study, although the absence of a chemotherapy control arm precludes concluding that these are predictive features specific for immunotherapy.
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Biomarkers, Tumor , Gene Expression Profiling , Immunotherapy , Lung Neoplasms , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma , Transcriptome , Humans , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/genetics , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/drug therapy , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pathology , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/therapy , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Male , Female , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Aged , Immunotherapy/methods , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Treatment Outcome , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics , PrognosisABSTRACT
Introduction: RET inhibitors with impressive overall response rates are now available for patients with NSCLC, yet the identification of RET fusions remains a difficult challenge. Most guidelines encourage the upfront use of next-generation sequencing (NGS), or alternatively, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) when NGS is not possible or available. Taken together, the suboptimal performance of single-analyte assays to detect RET fusions, although consistent with the notion of encouraging universal NGS, is currently widening some of the clinical practice gaps in the implementation of predictive biomarkers in patients with advanced NSCLC. Methods: This situation prompted us to evaluate several RET assays in a large multicenter cohort of RET fusion-positive NSCLC (n = 38) to obtain real-world data. In addition to RNA-based NGS (the criterion standard method), all positive specimens underwent break-apart RET FISH with two different assays and were also tested by an RT-PCR assay. Results: The most common RET partners were KIF5B (78.9%), followed by CCDC6 (15.8%). The two RET NGS-positive but FISH-negative samples contained a KIF5B(15)-RET(12) fusion. The three RET fusions not identified with RT-PCR were AKAP13(35)-RET(12), KIF5B(24)-RET(9) and KIF5B(24)-RET(11). All three false-negative RT-PCR cases were FISH-positive, exhibited a typical break-apart pattern, and contained a very high number of positive tumor cells with both FISH assays. Signet ring cells, psammoma bodies, and pleomorphic features were frequently observed (in 34.2%, 39.5%, and 39.5% of tumors, respectively). Conclusions: In-depth knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the different RET testing methodologies could help clinical and molecular tumor boards implement and maintain sensible algorithms for the rapid and effective detection of RET fusions in patients with NSCLC. The likelihood of RET false-negative results with both FISH and RT-PCR reinforces the need for upfront NGS in patients with NSCLC.
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CONTEXT.: The neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK) family gene rearrangements have been recently incorporated as predictive biomarkers in a "tumor-agnostic" manner. However, the identification of these patients is extremely challenging because the overall frequency of NTRK fusions is below 1%. Academic groups and professional organizations have released recommendations on the algorithms to detect NTRK fusions. The European Society for Medical Oncology proposal encourages the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) if available, or alternatively immunohistochemistry (IHC) could be used for screening with NGS confirmation of all positive IHC results. Other academic groups have included histologic and genomic information in the testing algorithm. OBJECTIVE.: To apply some of these triaging strategies for a more efficient identification of NTRK fusions within a single institution, so pathologists can gain practical insight on how to start looking for NTRK fusions. DESIGN.: A multiparametric strategy combining histologic (secretory carcinomas of the breast and salivary gland; papillary thyroid carcinomas; infantile fibrosarcoma) and genomic (driver-negative non-small cell lung carcinomas, microsatellite instability-high colorectal adenocarcinomas, and wild-type gastrointestinal stromal tumors) triaging was put forward. RESULTS.: Samples from 323 tumors were stained with the VENTANA pan-TRK EPR17341 Assay as a screening method. All positive IHC cases were simultaneously studied by 2 NGS tests, Oncomine Comprehensive Assay v3 and FoundationOne CDx. With this approach, the detection rate of NTRK fusions was 20 times higher (5.57%) by only screening 323 patients than the largest cohort in the literature (0.30%) comprising several hundred thousand patients. CONCLUSIONS.: Based on our findings, we propose a multiparametric strategy (ie, "supervised tumor-agnostic approach") when pathologists start searching for NTRK fusions.
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Breast Neoplasms , Carcinoma , Neoplasms , Humans , Female , Receptor, trkA/genetics , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms/pathology , Genomics , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/geneticsABSTRACT
Objectives: In this preliminary and multidisciplinary exploratory study, we assessed whether a mindfulness practice could be enhanced through a multisensory experience design that mimics the "beginner's mind," relying on sensory awareness and biofeedback processes as participants interact with the experience. Methods: We piloted and designed two conditions, being (a) a guided mindfulness practice based on the senses as an anchor to the present moment, using audio instruction only; and (b) an experience of mindfulness practice with successive sensory stimulation (olfactory, audio, and visual stimulation) followed by an interactive experience with biofeedback that provides a visual representation of the person's heartbeat in real-time. For each of the conditions we assessed anxiety (state and trait), as well as other psychological variables pre- and post-experience. Additionally, we measured the heart rate variability (HRV) at baseline, during each stage of the experience as well as post intervention. Results: We collected valid data for a total of 68 individuals. Both groups were similar regarding mean age, sex, and occupation and had similar prior experience with mindfulness. There were no significant differences regarding prior state or trait anxiety between the groups. Analysis of the physiological variables showed that for both groups there was an increase in the parasympathetic activity after the multisensory experience, with small differences in the conditions of stimulation. We did not observe significant differences between the pre and post measures for state of test anxiety. The observed parasympathetic activity variations after both experiences compared with pre and post-surveys demonstrate the importance of physiological vs psychological inspection beyond the common human rational experience that is not always resonate with the body's response and impacts the needed literacy to self-awareness of emotional well-being. Conclusion: Participants in both conditions could effectively connect with the experience, while achieving a physiological response different from their baseline state. The acceptance of the designed stimuli was very high, although more research is still needed to uncover its full potential. In sum, the design of multisensory experiences using technology to create an interactive connection with the sensory stimulus, is a promising field in mindfulness and especially in practices involving sensory awareness through the monitoring of parasympathetic activity as an inference indicator of the present-moment connection.
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Background and Objective: This narrative review is intended to provide pragmatic knowledge of current methods for the search of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusions in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This information is very timely, because a recent survey has identified that almost 50% of patients with advanced NSCLC were not candidates for targeted therapies because of biomarker testing issues. Methods: PubMed was searched from January 1st, 2012 to February 28th, 2023 using the following keywords: "ALK" and "lung", including reviews and our own work. Key Content and Findings: Testing rates have not reached 85% among patients' candidates to ALK inhibition. The advantages and disadvantages of the different analytical options [immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), real-time polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing (NGS)] are discussed. The key factor for success in ALK testing is a deep understanding of the concept of "molecular redundancy". This notion has been recommended and endorsed by all the major professional organizations in the field and can be summarized as follows: "laboratories should ensure that test results that are unexpected, discordant, equivocal, or otherwise of low confidence are confirmed or resolved using an alternative method or sample". In-depth knowledge of the different ALK testing methodologies can help clinical and molecular tumor boards implement and maintain sensible algorithms for a rapid and effective detection of predictive biomarkers in patients with NSCLC. Conclusions: Multimodality testing has the potential to increase both the testing rate and the accuracy of ALK fusion identification.
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Suboptimal immunity to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination has frequently been observed in individuals with various immunodeficiencies. Given the increased antibody evasion properties of emerging SARS-CoV-2 subvariants, it is necessary to assess whether other components of adaptive immunity generate resilient and protective responses against infection. We assessed T cell responses in 279 individuals, covering five different immunodeficiencies and healthy controls, before and after booster mRNA vaccination, as well as after Omicron infection in a subset of patients. We observed robust and persistent Omicron-reactive T cell responses that increased markedly upon booster vaccination and correlated directly with antibody titers across all patient groups. Poor vaccination responsiveness in immunocompromised or elderly individuals was effectively counteracted by the administration of additional vaccine doses. Functionally, Omicron-reactive T cell responses exhibited a pronounced cytotoxic profile and signs of longevity, characterized by CD45RA+ effector memory subpopulations with stem cell-like properties and increased proliferative capacity. Regardless of underlying immunodeficiency, booster-vaccinated and Omicron-infected individuals appeared protected against severe disease and exhibited enhanced and diversified T cell responses against conserved and Omicron-specific epitopes. Our findings indicate that T cells retain the ability to generate highly functional responses against newly emerging variants, even after repeated antigen exposure and a robust immunological imprint from ancestral SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.
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COVID-19 , Aged , Humans , COVID-19/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2 , T-Lymphocytes , RNA, Messenger/genetics , VaccinationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have demonstrated transformational outcomes in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, but their widespread use is hindered by technical and logistical challenges associated with ex vivo cell manufacturing. To overcome these challenges, we developed VivoVec, a lentiviral vector-based platform for in vivo engineering of T cells. UB-VV100, a VivoVec clinical candidate for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, displays an anti-CD3 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) on the surface and delivers a genetic payload that encodes a second-generation CD19-targeted CAR along with a rapamycin-activated cytokine receptor (RACR) system designed to overcome the need for lymphodepleting chemotherapy in supporting successful CAR T-cell expansion and persistence. In the presence of exogenous rapamycin, non-transduced immune cells are suppressed, while the RACR system in transduced cells converts rapamycin binding to an interleukin (IL)-2/IL-15 signal to promote proliferation. METHODS: UB-VV100 was administered to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and from patients with B-cell malignancy without additional stimulation. Cultures were assessed for CAR T-cell transduction and function. Biodistribution was evaluated in CD34-humanized mice and in canines. In vivo efficacy was evaluated against normal B cells in CD34-humanized mice and against systemic tumor xenografts in PBMC-humanized mice. RESULTS: In vitro, administration of UB-VV100 resulted in dose-dependent and anti-CD3 scFv-dependent T-cell activation and CAR T-cell transduction. The resulting CAR T cells exhibited selective expansion in rapamycin and antigen-dependent activity against malignant B-cell targets. In humanized mouse and canine studies, UB-VV100 demonstrated a favorable biodistribution profile, with transduction events limited to the immune compartment after intranodal or intraperitoneal administration. Administration of UB-VV100 to humanized mice engrafted with B-cell tumors resulted in CAR T-cell transduction, expansion, and elimination of systemic malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that UB-VV100 generates functional CAR T cells in vivo, which could expand patient access to CAR T technology in both hematological and solid tumors without the need for ex vivo cell manufacturing.
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Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , T-Lymphocytes , Humans , Animals , Dogs , Mice , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Tissue Distribution , Cell Engineering/methodsABSTRACT
Introduction: Uveal melanoma (UM) is associated with poor outcomes in the metastatic setting and harbors activating mutations resulting in upregulation of MAPK signaling in almost all cases. The efficacy of selumetinib, an oral allosteric inhibitor of MEK1/2, was limited when administered at a continual dosing schedule of 75 mg BID. Preclinical studies demonstrate that intermittent MEK inhibition reduces compensatory pathway activation and promotes T cell activation. We hypothesized that intermittent dosing of selumetinib would reduce toxicity, allow for the administration of increased doses, and achieve more complete pathway inhibition, thus resulting in improved antitumor activity. Methods: We conducted a phase Ib trial of selumetinib using an intermittent dosing schedule in patients with metastatic UM. The primary objective was to estimate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and assess safety and tolerability. Secondary objectives included assessment of the overall response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Tumor biopsies were collected at baseline, on day 3 (on treatment), and between days 11-14 (off treatment) from 9 patients for pharmacodynamic (PD) assessments. Results: 29 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of selumetinib across 4 dose levels (DL; DL1: 100 mg BID; DL2: 125 mg BID; DL3: 150 mg BID; DL4: 175 mg BID). All patients experienced a treatment-related adverse event (TRAE), with 5/29 (17%) developing a grade 3 or higher TRAE. Five dose limiting toxicities (DLT) were observed: 2/20 in DL2, 2/5 in DL3, 1/1 in DL4. The estimated MTD was 150 mg BID (DL3), with an estimated probability of toxicity of 29% (90% probability interval 16%-44%). No responses were observed; 11/29 patients achieved a best response of stable disease (SD). The median PFS and OS were 1.8 months (95% CI 1.7, 4.5) and 7.1 months (95% CI 5.3, 11.5). PD analysis demonstrated at least partial pathway inhibition in all samples at day 3, with reactivation between days 11-14 in 7 of those cases. Conclusions: We identified 150 mg BID as the MTD of intermittent selumetinib, representing a 100% increase over the continuous dose MTD (75 mg BID). However, no significant clinical efficacy was observed using this dosing schedule.
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Introduction: Approximately 40% of patients with uveal melanoma (UM) will develop metastatic disease. Tumors measuring at least 12mm in basal diameter with a class 2 signature, as defined by a widely used gene expression-profiling test, are associated with significantly higher risk of metastasis, with a median time to recurrence of 32 months. No therapy has been shown to reduce this risk. Materials and Methods: This was a single-arm, multicenter study in patients with high-risk UM who received definitive treatment of primary disease and had no evidence of metastasis. Patients were consecutively enrolled to receive 12 four-week cycles of adjuvant crizotinib at a starting dose of 250mg twice daily and were subsequently monitored for 36 months. The primary outcome of this study was to assess recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with high-risk UM who received adjuvant crizotinib. Results: 34 patients enrolled and received at least one dose of crizotinib. Two patients were unevaluable due to early withdrawal and loss to follow-up, leaving 32 patients evaluable for efficacy. Eight patients (25%) did not complete the planned 48-week course of treatment due to disease recurrence (n=5) or toxicity (n=3). All patients experienced at least one adverse event (AE), with 11/34 (32%) experiencing a Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 3 or 4 AE. After a median duration of follow up of 47.1 months, 21 patients developed distant recurrent disease. The median RFS was 34.9 months (95% CI (Confidence Interval), 23-55 months), with a 32-month recurrence rate of 50% (95% CI, 33-67%). Analysis of protein contents from peripheral blood extracellular vesicles in a subset of patient samples from baseline, on-treatment, and off-treatment, revealed a change in protein content associated with crizotinib exposure, however without a clear association with disease outcome. Conclusions: The use of adjuvant crizotinib in patients with high-risk UM did not result in improved RFS when compared to historical controls. Analysis of blood extracellular vesicles revealed changes in protein content associated with treatment, raising the possibility of future use as a biomarker. Further investigation of adjuvant treatment options are necessary for this challenging disease.
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No disponible
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Humans , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Lung Diseases, Interstitial , Cystic Fibrosis , Recurrence , Longitudinal Studies , Retrospective Studies , Prospective Studies , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
In patients admitted for heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and a concomitant supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) it is a challenge to predict LVEF recovery and differentiate tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The role of the electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and in this acute setting remains unsettled. Forty-three consecutive patients admitted for HF due to SVT and LVEF < 50% undergoing CMR in the acute phase, were retrospectively included. Those who had LVEF > 50% at follow up were classified as TIC and those with LVEF < 50% were classified as DCM. Clinical, CMR and ECG findings were analyzed to predict LVEF recovery. Twenty-five (58%) patients were classified as TIC. Patients with DCM had wider QRS (121.2 ± 26 vs 97.7 ± 17.35 ms; p = 0.003). On CRM the TIC group presented with higher LVEF (33.4 ± 11 vs 26.9 ± 6.4%; p = 0.019) whereas late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was more frequent in DCM group (61 vs 16%; p = 0.004). On multivariate analysis, QRS duration ≥ 100 ms (p = 0.027), LVEF < 40% on CMR (p = 0.047) and presence of LGE (p = 0.03) were independent predictors of lack of LVEF recovery. Furthermore, during follow-up (median 60 months) DCM patients were admitted more frequently for HF (44 vs 0%; p < 0.001) than TIC patients. In patients with reduced LVEF admitted for HF due to SVT, QRS ≥ 100 ms, LVEF < 40% and LGE are independently associated with lack of LVEF recovery and worse clinical outcome.
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathies , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated , Heart Failure , Arrhythmias, Cardiac , Cardiomyopathies/complications , Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/complications , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/diagnosis , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/pathology , Contrast Media , Electrocardiography , Gadolinium , Heart Failure/complications , Heart Failure/diagnosis , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Retrospective Studies , Stroke Volume , Tachycardia , Ventricular Function, LeftABSTRACT
Patients with hematological malignancies are prioritized for COVID-19 vaccine due to their high risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection-related disease and mortality. To understand T cell immunity, its long-term persistence, and its correlation with antibody response, we evaluated the BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-specific immune response in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and myeloid dysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. Longitudinal analysis of CD8+ T cells using DNA-barcoded peptide-MHC multimers covering the full SARS-CoV-2 Spike-protein (415 peptides) showed vaccine-specific T cell activation and persistence of memory T cells up to six months post-vaccination. Surprisingly, a higher frequency of vaccine-induced antigen-specific CD8+ T cells was observed in the patient group compared to a healthy donor group. Furthermore, and importantly, immunization with the second booster dose significantly increased the frequency of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells as well as the total number of T cell specificities. Altogether 59 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine-derived immunogenic responses were identified, of which 23 established long-term CD8+ T cell memory response with a strong immunodominance for NYNYLYRLF (HLA-A24:02) and YLQPRTFLL (HLA-A02:01) epitopes. In summary, we mapped the vaccine-induced antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and showed a booster-specific activation and enrichment of memory T cells that could be important for long-term disease protection in this patient group.
Subject(s)
BNT162 Vaccine , COVID-19 , Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell , Myelodysplastic Syndromes , Humans , BNT162 Vaccine/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes , COVID-19/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Introduction: The development of several ROS1 inhibitors means that the importance of accurately identifying ROS1-positive lung cancer patients has never been greater. Therefore, it is crucial that ROS1 testing assays become more standardized.Areas covered: Based on primary literature, combined with personal diagnostic and research experience, this review provide a pragmatic update on the use of the recently released VENTANA ROS1 (SP384) Rabbit Monoclonal Primary Antibody.Expert opinion: This assay provides high sensitivity, so it is an excellent analytical option when screening for ROS1 fusions in patients with advanced non-small cell lung carcinomas.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Lung Neoplasms , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases , Proto-Oncogene ProteinsABSTRACT
T cells are important for effective viral clearance, elimination of virus-infected cells and long-term disease protection. To examine the full-spectrum of CD8+ T cell immunity in COVID-19, we experimentally evaluated 3141 major histocompatibility (MHC) class I-binding peptides covering the complete SARS-CoV-2 genome. Using DNA-barcoded peptide-MHC complex (pMHC) multimers combined with a T cell phenotype panel, we report a comprehensive list of 122 immunogenic and a subset of immunodominant SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes. Substantial CD8+ T cell recognition was observed in COVID-19 patients, with up to 27% of all CD8+ lymphocytes interacting with SARS-CoV-2-derived epitopes. Most immunogenic regions were derived from open reading frame (ORF) 1 and ORF3, with ORF1 containing most of the immunodominant epitopes. CD8+ T cell recognition of lower affinity was also observed in healthy donors toward SARS-CoV-2-derived epitopes. This pre-existing T cell recognition signature was partially overlapping with the epitope landscape observed in COVID-19 patients and may drive the further expansion of T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly the phenotype of the SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells, revealed a strong T cell activation in COVID-19 patients, while minimal T cell activation was seen in healthy individuals. We found that patients with severe disease displayed significantly larger SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell populations compared to patients with mild diseases and these T cells displayed a robust activation profile. These results further our understanding of T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection and hypothesize that strong antigen-specific T cell responses are associated with different disease outcomes.
Subject(s)
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , COVID-19/immunology , Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology , Immunodominant Epitopes/immunology , SARS-CoV-2 , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic , Epitope Mapping , Female , Genome, Viral , Humans , Major Histocompatibility Complex/genetics , Male , Middle Aged , Peptides/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/immunologyABSTRACT
Introducción: Las lesiones no intencionales se consideran un problema de salud en el mundo, las tasas se elevan de forma marcada. En Cuba ocupan una de las primeras causas de morbilidad en la edad pediátrica. Objetivo: Describir las principales características epidemiológicas de las lesiones no intencionales en menores de 18 años en Matanzas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en Matanzas entre el 2013 y el 2018. El universo estuvo constituido por las 4464 lesiones no intencionales ocurridas en menores de 18 años durante el periodo analizado. Para el análisis de las variables se utilizaron tasas crudas por 10 000 habitantes. Resultados: Las tasas de morbilidad en la provincia estuvieron entre 45,2 y 58,2 por 10 000 habitantes. Los municipios de mayor riesgo resultaron Matanzas y Limonar. La mayoría de las lesiones no intencionales ocurrieron en el hogar, las caídas fueron las más frecuentes y provocaron lesiones leves. Conclusiones: Las lesiones no intencionales constituyen un problema de salud. Es necesario evaluar y controlar los factores de riesgo en los distintos tipos de accidentes para prevenir o disminuir su incidencia a través de estrategias de información, educación y comunicación. Lograr que las familias estén conscientes de la vulnerabilidad de los niños es un factor esencial y básico en todos los esfuerzos que tengan como objetivo la prevención de las lesiones no intencionales en esta etapa de la vida(AU)
Introduction: Unintentional injuries are considered a health concern worldwide. Their rates rise drastically. In Cuba, they occupy one of the leading causes of morbidity in pediatric age. Objective: To describe the main epidemiological characteristics of unintentional injuries in children under 18 years of age in Matanzas. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out in Matanzas, between 2013 and 2018. The universe consisted of 4464 unintentional injuries experienced, during the period analyzed, by children under 18 years of age. Crude rates per 10 000 inhabitants were used for the analysis of the variables. Results: The morbidity rates in the province were between 45.2 and 58.2 per 10 000 inhabitants. The municipalities with the highest risk were Matanzas and Limonar. Most of the unintentional injuries occurred at home. Falls were the most frequent and caused minor injuries. Conclusions: Unintentional injuries constitute a health concern. It is necessary to assess and control the risk factors for the different types of accidents, in order to prevent or reduce their incidence, through information, education and communication strategies. Making families aware of the vulnerability of children is an essential and basic aspect in all efforts aimed at preventing unintentional injuries at this stage of life(AU)
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Humans , Male , Female , Child , Adolescent , Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control , Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology , Epidemiology, DescriptiveABSTRACT
CONTEXT.: Food and Drug Administration-approved TRK inhibitors with impressive overall response rates are now available for patients with multiple cancer types that harbor NTRK rearrangements, yet the identification of NTRK fusions remains a difficult challenge. These alterations are highly recurrent in extremely rare malignancies or can be detected in exceedingly small subsets of common tumor types. A 2-step approach has been proposed, involving a screening by immunohistochemistry (IHC) followed by a confirmatory method (fluorescence in situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, or next-generation sequencing) in cases expressing the protein. However, there is no interpretation guide for any of the available IHC clones. OBJECTIVE.: To provide a pragmatic update on the use of pan-TRK IHC. Selected examples of the different IHC staining patterns across multiple histologies are shown. DATA SOURCES.: Primary literature review with PubMed, combined with personal diagnostic and research experience. CONCLUSIONS.: In-depth knowledge of pan-TRK IHC will help pathologists implement a rational approach to the detection of NTRK fusions in human malignancies.