Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma with Cutaneous Manifestations in a Young Patient Using Clozapine for Schizophrenia: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common hematological malignancy in the world. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma the most common type and the cutaneous involvement due to this neoplasm is rare. Some risk factors, such as exposure to pesticides, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use, are well established. Over the past 10 years, the association between clozapine, which is the criterion standard treatment for refractory schizophrenia, and hematological malignancies has been described. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 44-year-old woman diagnosed with schizophrenia 31 years previously, who had been taking clozapine since 2009, presenting with diffuse cutaneous nodules and subcutaneous masses accompanied by asthenia, dry cough, and a weight loss of 12 kg. Computed tomography revealed multiple enlarged lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm, in addition to multiple large subcutaneous masses located on the right flank and on the right upper lateral chest wall (infra-axillary), homogeneous splenomegaly, and heterogeneous nodular areas of hypoenhancement, poorly delimited, in both kidneys. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in an advanced stage (IVBX) was diagnosed by skin biopsy, with extranodal involvement. Chemotherapy with R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone every 21 days) was performed and the decision to maintain clozapine was made. At 1.5 years after the initial diagnosis the patient presented with relapse of the disease and is in follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This case report suggests the potential association between clozapine and an increased risk of lymphoma, with a few case reports in the literature reinforcing this association. Additional studies are required to either confirm or dismiss this association, and new guidelines are needed to define the safety and monitoring of the long-term usage of clozapine.

Evaluating the ability of an artificial-intelligence cloud-based platform designed to provide information prior to locoregional therapy for breast cancer in improving patient's satisfaction with therapy: The CINDERELLA trial.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer therapy improved significantly, allowing for different surgical approaches for the same disease stage, therefore offering patients different aesthetic outcomes with similar locoregional control. The purpose of the CINDERELLA trial is to evaluate an artificial-intelligence (AI) cloud-based platform (CINDERELLA platform) vs the standard approach for patient education prior to therapy. METHODS: A prospective randomized international multicentre trial comparing two methods for patient education prior to therapy. After institutional ethics approval and a written informed consent, patients planned for locoregional treatment will be randomized to the intervention (CINDERELLA platform) or controls. The patients in the intervention arm will use the newly designed web-application (CINDERELLA platform, CINDERELLA APProach) to access the information related to surgery and/or radiotherapy. Using an AI system, the platform will provide the patient with a picture of her own aesthetic outcome resulting from the surgical procedure she chooses, and an objective evaluation of this aesthetic outcome (e.g., good/fair). The control group will have access to the standard approach. The primary objectives of the trial will be i) to examine the differences between the treatment arms with regards to patients' pre-treatment expectations and the final aesthetic outcomes and ii) in the experimental arm only, the agreement of the pre-treatment AI-evaluation (output) and patient's post-therapy self-evaluation. DISCUSSION: The project aims to develop an easy-to-use cost-effective AI-powered tool that improves shared decision-making processes. We assume that the CINDERELLA APProach will lead to higher satisfaction, better psychosocial status, and wellbeing of breast cancer patients, and reduce the need for additional surgeries to improve aesthetic outcome.

Augmented Reality in Breast Surgery Education.

Introduction: Augmented reality (AR) has demonstrated a potentially wide range of benefits and educational applications in the virtual health ecosystem. The concept of real-time data acquisition, machine learning-aided processing, and visualization is a foreseen ambition to leverage AR applications in the healthcare sector. This breakthrough with immersive technologies like AR, mixed reality, virtual reality, or extended reality will hopefully initiate a new surgical era: that of the use of the so-called surgical metaverse. Methods: This paper focuses on the future use of AR in breast surgery education describing two potential applications (surgical remote telementoring and impalpable breast cancer localization using AR), along with the technical needs to make it possible. Conclusion: Surgical telementoring and impalpable tumors noninvasive localization are two examples that can have success in the future provided the improvements in both data transformation and infrastructures are capable to overcome the current challenges and limitations.

Skin deformation analysis for pre-operative planning of DIEAP flap reconstruction surgery.

Deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEAP) flap reconstruction surgeries can potentially benefit from augmented reality (AR) in the context of surgery planning and outcomes improvement. Although three-dimensional (3D) models help visualize and map the perforators, the anchorage of the models to the patient's body during surgery does not consider eventual skin deformation from the moment of computed tomography angiography (CTA) data acquisition until the position of the patient while in surgery. In this work, we compared the 3D deformation registration from supine arms down (CTA position) to supine with arms at 90° degrees (surgical position), estimating the patient's skin deformation. We processed the data sets of 20 volunteers with a 3D rigid registration tool and performed a descriptive statistical analysis and statistical inference. With 2.45 mm of root mean square and 2.89 mm of standard deviation, results include 30% cases of deformation above 3 mm and 15% above 4 mm. Pose transformation deformation indicates that 3D surface data from the CTA scan position differs from data acquired in loco at the surgical table. Such results indicate that research should be conducted to construct accurate 3D models using CTA data to display on the patient, while considering projection errors when using AR technology.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced endocrinopathies: a possible indicator of improved survival.

Objective: To evaluate the association between the patients' characteristics and the development of endocrine toxicity and to assess the association between endocrine-related adverse effects (ERAE) development and mortality. Subjects and methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in 98 patients submitted to immunotherapy in our centre since its introduction in 2015 until March 2021. We excluded patients for which data regarding the corticotroph axis evaluation was missing. We used linear and logistic regression models to address our aims. Results: We observed a significant negative association between ERAE development and death (OR 0.32; p = 0.028). We detected no associations between ERAE and the following characteristics: age at immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) initiation, sex, diabetes mellitus, medical history, immunotherapy duration and ICI type. Conclusion: The development of an ERAE may be associated with a better overall survival rate in advanced oncologic disease, supporting the role of an unleashed immune system response to malignant cells.

The relationship between chikungunya virus and the kidneys: A scoping review.

Several atypical forms of chikungunya fever (CHIK) have been described, including neurological, cardiac and renal involvement. These forms may be related to high morbidity and mortality rates. This scoping review based on the PubMed, Scopus, and WOS databases aims to identify and summarise all the available evidence regarding the clinical and histopathological presentations and risk factors associated with kidney injury related to CHIK, as well as the clinical impact. Thus, a total of 54 papers were selected from 1606 initial references after applying the defined inclusion criteria. Data on the association between kidney injury and CHIK are scarce, with studies only conducted in the acute phase of the disease, lacking further characterisation. Kidney injury incidence in hospitalised patients using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria varies from 21% to 45%, being higher among patients with atypical and severe manifestations. Although acute kidney injury does not seem to be related to viraemia, it may be related to higher mortality. Few studies have described the renal histopathological changes in the acute phase of CHIK, with prevalent findings of acute interstitial nephritis with mononuclear infiltrate, glomerular congestion and nephrosclerosis. Only one study assessed the kidney function of patients in the subacute and chronic phases of CHIK. Additionally, individuals with comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease, may be among those with a greater risk of presenting worse outcomes when affected by CHIK. The results described herein may contribute to better understand the relationship between the kidneys and chikungunya virus.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced endocrinopathies: a possible indicator of improved survival

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the association between the patients' characteristics and the development of endocrine toxicity and to assess the association between endocrine-related adverse effects (ERAE) development and mortality. Subjects and methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in 98 patients submitted to immunotherapy in our centre since its introduction in 2015 until March 2021. We excluded patients for which data regarding the corticotroph axis evaluation was missing. We used linear and logistic regression models to address our aims. Results: We observed a significant negative association between ERAE development and death (OR 0.32; p = 0.028). We detected no associations between ERAE and the following characteristics: age at immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) initiation, sex, diabetes mellitus, medical history, immunotherapy duration and ICI type. Conclusion: The development of an ERAE may be associated with a better overall survival rate in advanced oncologic disease, supporting the role of an unleashed immune system response to malignant cells.

Applying Patient and Public Involvement in preclinical research: A co-created scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in research aims to improve the quality, relevance and appropriateness of research. PPI has an established role in clinical research where there is evidence of benefit, and where policymakers and funders place continued emphasis on its inclusion. However, for preclinical research, PPI has not yet achieved the same level of integration. As more researchers, including our team, aim to include PPI in preclinical research, the development of an evidence-based approach is important. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to identify and map studies where PPI has been used in preclinical research and develop principles that can be applied in other projects. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to search the literature in Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Web of Science Core Collection to identify applied examples of preclinical PPI. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection and data extraction separately. Data were extracted relating to PPI in terms of (i) rationale and aims, (ii) approach used, (iii) benefits and challenges, (iv) impact and evaluation and (v) learning opportunities for preclinical PPI. Findings were reviewed collaboratively by PPI contributors and the research team to identify principles that could be applied to other projects. RESULTS: Nine studies were included in the final review with the majority of included studies reporting PPI to improve the relevance of their research, using approaches such as PPI advisory panels and workshops. Researchers report several benefits and challenges, although evidence of formal evaluation is limited. CONCLUSION: Although currently there are few examples of preclinical research studies reporting empirical PPI activity, their findings may support those aiming to use PPI in preclinical research. Through collaborative analysis of the scoping review findings, several principles were developed that may be useful for other preclinical researchers. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study was conducted as part of a broader project aiming to develop an evidence base for preclinical PPI that draws on a 5-year preclinical research programme focused on the development of advanced biomaterials for spinal cord repair as a case study. A PPI Advisory Panel comprising seriously injured rugby players, clinicians, preclinical researchers and PPI facilitators collaborated as co-authors on the conceptualization, execution and writing of this review, including refining the findings into the set of principles reported here.

Autoimmune Hepatitis Associated With Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis.

Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis presents liver abnormalities usually associated with hepatitis C. We report a case of a 27-year-old woman with cryoglobulinemia and liver dysfunction secondary to autoimmune hepatitis. The patient developed purpura on the lower extremities and elevated aminotransferases. The investigation of hepatitis C was negative. Autoimmune hepatitis was confirmed by positive ANA, hypergammaglobulinemia, and compatible histological changes. Treatment with prednisone and azathioprine regressed cutaneous vasculitis and decreased aminotransferases. This case describes a rare association of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and autoimmune hepatitis.

Targeted Axillary Dissection after Chemotherapy: Feasibility Study with Clip and Carbon Dye Tattoo - Neotarget Trial.

Background: Axillary staging in patients with complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is still controversial. Our objective was to test tattoo alone and subsequentially tattoo plus clip as markers in the targeted axillary dissection of ycN0 patients. Methods: Prospective cohort of cT1-T3, cN1 (proven histologically), M0 patients scheduled to receive NAC. Exclusion criteria were lobular histology, prior axillary surgery, and clinical N2/3. In cohort 1 this positive node (Neotarget node) was tattooed at diagnosis. If ycN0, a targeted axillary dissection was performed. After an interim analysis with negative results we changed the protocol in order to do a double marking procedure (Cohort 2): the positive node was clipped at diagnosis and after NAC a tattoo was done before surgery. Results: Thirteen patients in Cohort 1 and 18 patients in Cohort 2. Failure to identify the Neotarget node with multiple nodes retrieved in 9/13 (69%) of Cohort 1 patients. Also in 5/13 (38%) of Cohort 1 patients and 3/18 (17%) of Cohort 2 there was a failure to clearly identify tattooed nodes. In Cohort 2, clip identification by surgical specimen radiography allowed the identification of the tagged node in 17/18 (94,4%) of cases. The concordance between the clipped node and sentinel nodes was 16/18 (89%). Conclusions: The introduction of double marking by clipping the metastatic node and verifying their removal by surgical specimen radiography, using carbon ink as a tracer, allowed the identification of the metastatic node in 94% of cases, with a simple, reproducible, and easy-to-implement targeted axillary dissection procedure.

3D Breast Volume Estimation.

INTRODUCTION: Breast volume estimation is considered crucial for breast cancer surgery planning. A single, easy, and reproducible method to estimate breast volume is not available. This study aims to evaluate, in patients proposed for mastectomy, the accuracy of the calculation of breast volume from a low-cost 3D surface scan (Microsoft Kinect) compared to the breast MRI and water displacement technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with a Tis/T1-T3 breast cancer proposed for mastectomy between July 2015 and March 2017 were assessed for inclusion in the study. Breast volume calculations were performed using a 3D surface scan and the breast MRI and water displacement technique. Agreement between volumes obtained with both methods was assessed with the Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with invasive breast cancer were included in the study and submitted to mastectomy. The level of agreement of the 3D breast volume compared to surgical specimens and breast MRI volumes was evaluated. For mastectomy specimen volume, an average (standard deviation) of 0.823 (0.027) and 0.875 (0.026) was obtained for the Pearson and Spearman correlations, respectively. With respect to MRI annotation, we obtained 0.828 (0.038) and 0.715 (0.018). DISCUSSION: Although values obtained by both methodologies still differ, the strong linear correlation coefficient suggests that 3D breast volume measurement using a low-cost surface scan device is feasible and can approximate both the MRI breast volume and mastectomy specimen with sufficient accuracy. CONCLUSION: 3D breast volume measurement using a depth-sensor low-cost surface scan device is feasible and can parallel MRI breast and mastectomy specimen volumes with enough accuracy. Differences between methods need further development to reach clinical applicability. A possible approach could be the fusion of breast MRI and the 3D surface scan to harmonize anatomic limits and improve volume delimitation.

Long-Term Persistence of Serum-Specific Anti-Chikungunya IgM Antibody - A Case Series of Brazilian Patients.

The persistence of serum-specific anti-chikungunya IgM antibodies (CHIKV-IgM) can vary after chikungunya fever (CHIK) infection. However, the factors related to its production are not yet known. We described a case series drawn up from data collected from 57 patients between 12 and 36 months after the acute phase of CHIK infection in Northeastern Brazil. CHIKV-IgM was detectable in 7/57 (12.3%) patients after 28.3 months of infection. No frequency differences in chronic musculoskeletal manifestations and underlying conditions were detected between patients with or without CHIKV-IgM. CHIKV-IgM was detected for up to 35 months in Brazilian patients after CHIK infection.

Development of collagen-poly(caprolactone)-based core-shell scaffolds supplemented with proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans for ligament repair.

Core-shell scaffolds offer a promising regenerative solution to debilitating injuries to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) thanks to a unique biphasic structure. Nevertheless, current core-shell designs are impaired by an imbalance between permeability, biochemical and mechanical cues. This study aimed to address this issue by creating a porous core-shell construct which favors cell infiltration and matrix production, while providing mechanical stability at the site of injury. The developed core-shell scaffold combines an outer shell of electrospun poly(caprolactone) fibers with a freeze-dried core of type I collagen doped with proteoglycans (biglycan, decorin) or glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate). The aligned fibrous shell achieved an elastic modulus akin of the human ACL, while the porous collagen core is permeable to human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC). Doping of the core with the aforementioned biomolecules led to structural and mechanical changes in the pore network. Assessment of cellular metabolic activity and scaffold contraction shows that hMSCs actively remodel the matrix at different degrees, depending on the core's doping formulation. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining and mRNA transcript levels show that the collagen-chondroitin sulphate formulation has the highest matrix production activity, while the collagen-decorin formulation featured a matrix production profile more characteristic of the undamaged tissue. Together, this demonstrates that scaffold doping with target biomolecules leads to distinct levels of cell-mediated matrix remodeling. Overall, this work resulted in the development of a versatile and robust platform with a combination of mechanical and biochemical features that have a significant potential in promoting the repair process of ACL tissue.

Breast cancer surgery with augmented reality.

INTRODUCTION: Innovations in 3D spatial technology and augmented reality imaging driven by digital high-tech industrial science have accelerated experimental advances in breast cancer imaging and the development of medical procedures aimed to reduce invasiveness. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 57-year-old post-menopausal woman presented with screen-detected left-sided breast cancer. After undergoing all staging and pre-operative studies the patient was proposed for conservative breast surgery with tumor localization. During surgery, an experimental digital and non-invasive intra-operative localization method with augmented reality was compared with the standard pre-operative localization with carbon tattooing (institutional protocol). The breast surgeon wearing an augmented reality headset (Hololens) was able to visualize the tumor location projection inside the patient's left breast in the usual supine position. DISCUSSION: This work describes, to our knowledge, the first experimental test with a digital non-invasive method for intra-operative breast cancer localization using augmented reality to guide breast conservative surgery. In this case, a successful overlap of the previous standard pre-operative marks with carbon tattooing and tumor visualization inside the patient's breast with augmented reality was obtained. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer conservative guided surgery with augmented reality can pave the way for a digital non-invasive method for intra-operative tumor localization.

Exuberant bullous vasculitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

We described a case of exuberant cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis in a 27-year-old male with mild CoVID-19 in Brazil. The patient presented painful purpuric papules and vesicobullous lesions with hemorrhagic content located in the larger amount in the lower limbs and, to a lesser extent in the region of the back and upper limbs, saving palms and soles of the feet. Influenza-like syndrome with anosmia and ageusia was reported seven days before the skin lesions. A real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was positive on a nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2. Histopathological study showed leukocytoclastic cutaneous vasculitis affecting small vessels and microthrombi occluding some vessels. The patient presented an improvement in skin lesions by the fifth day of prednisone therapy. This case highlights the importance of the SARS-CoV-2 test in investigating the etiology of cutaneous vasculitis during this pandemic.

Long-Term Persistence of Serum-Specific Anti-Chikungunya IgM Antibody - A Case Series of Brazilian Patients

Abstract The persistence of serum-specific anti-chikungunya IgM antibodies (CHIKV-IgM) can vary after chikungunya fever (CHIK) infection. However, the factors related to its production are not yet known. We described a case series drawn up from data collected from 57 patients between 12 and 36 months after the acute phase of CHIK infection in Northeastern Brazil. CHIKV-IgM was detectable in 7/57 (12.3%) patients after 28.3 months of infection. No frequency differences in chronic musculoskeletal manifestations and underlying conditions were detected between patients with or without CHIKV-IgM. CHIKV-IgM was detected for up to 35 months in Brazilian patients after CHIK infection.

Severe Aplastic Anemia Developed after Thymectomy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Thymus neoplasms are frequently related to paraneoplastic autoimmune manifestations. Its most common associations are myasthenia gravis and pure red cell aplasia. Aplastic anemia has been increasingly documented as an initial presentation of thymoma. Nevertheless, its development after successful surgical resection of thymoma is a rare condition. We report a case of a 53-year-old man with severe aplastic anemia preceded by amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia three years after thymectomy with no signs of disease recurrence. He underwent immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine 5 mg/kg/day and prednisone 2 mg/kg/day for six weeks. Considering the availability of a compatible donor, allogeneic stem cell transplantation was carried out. However, the patient died 11 days after transplant. A literature review was conducted, and another ten cases of aplastic anemia, diagnosed three months to four years after thymectomy, were identified. These cases suggest persistence of peripheral self-reactive T lymphocytes even years after tumor definitive treatment.