Presence Of Malignant Tumor Research Articles

Impact of Modified ZnO Nanoparticles on Immune Response in Mouse Lung Cancer Model

Background: Lung cancer, which is characterized by the presence of malignant tumors, offers a potential avenue for treatment through the use of nanomedicines. Previous in vitro studies have shown promising effects of modified zinc oxide nanoparticles on lung cancer cell lines. Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of this nanodrug on the immune response in a mouse model of lung cancer. Materials and Methods: In this study, a mouse model of lung cancer was utilized. Various aspects, including tumor size, infiltration of CD8+ cells and the survival rate of the mice, were carefully examined. The obtained results were subsequently analyzed using the GraphPrism software, version 9. Results: Mice treated with the nanodrug exhibited a reduction in tumor size. Additionally, there was an increase in the number of CD8+ cells infiltrating the tissue. Furthermore, the administration of the nanodrug led to improved survival rates among the mice. Conclusion: The use of this nanodrug has shown significant efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth. Moreover, it has demonstrated potential in enhancing CD8+ cell infiltration, thereby strengthening the immune response and suppressing tumor progression. Ultimately, this nanodrug improves the survival of mice receiving treatment.

Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Mortality in Children with Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae-Induced Bloodstream Infections

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is commonly found in human intestinal and respiratory tracts. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with mortality in children suffering from carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP)-induced bloodstream infections. Methods: We collected clinical data from 160 children diagnosed with CRKP-induced bloodstream infections. These children were divided into two groups based on their outcomes 30 days post-infection: A death group (n = 61) and a survival group (n = 99). Clinical symptoms and outcomes were meticulously documented. Results: The death group experienced a significantly shorter hospital stay than the survival group. Additionally, higher incidence rates of sepsis, malignant tumors, renal diseases, infectious shock, surgical site infections, higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, and elevated procalcitonin levels were observed in the death group (P < 0.05). These factors were all identified as independent risk factors for mortality among children with CRKP-induced bloodstream infections (P < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the length of hospital stay, presence of malignant tumors, sepsis, renal diseases, APACHE II score, procalcitonin levels, infectious shock, and surgical site infections all exceeded 0.700, indicating their high predictive value for mortality. Conclusions: The mortality rate among children with CRKP-induced bloodstream infections is high. Factors such as a brief hospital stay, presence of malignant tumors, sepsis, renal diseases, infectious shock, elevated APACHE II score, and high procalcitonin levels significantly contribute to the risk of death.

Current situation and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori eradication failure in Northwest China: a real-world evidence study.

Current situation and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori eradication failure in Northwest China: a real-world evidence study.

PS-BPC10-8: POST-VACCINATION SARS-COV-2 IGG ANTIBODY TITER IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background: Dialysis patients have a higher COVID-19 fatality rate than the general population and are priority candidates for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However, dialysis patients are immunocompromised, suggesting that they may develop a less immune response to COVID-19 vaccination than healthy individuals. Objective and Methods: A total of 358 hemodialysis patients who were twice-vaccinated with BNT162b2 were included. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titer was measured within 7 days to 1 month, 1∼2 months, and 3∼4 months after the second vaccination, and factors influencing antibody titer were statistically investigated. SARS-CoV-2 IgG measurement was performed using SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant Reagent (Abbott), which is a reagent to quantitatively measure IgG antibodies against the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Results: The patients were 240 males (67%) and 118 females, ranging from 37 to 95 years old, with a median age of 70 years. Causes of kidney failure were diabetes mellitus in 35.2%, hypertensive kidney disease in 7.3%, glomerular disease in 30.5%, and polycystic kidney disease in 4.5% of the patients. Comorbidities were hypertension in 64.3% and diabetes in 48.9%. Steroids or immunosuppressive drugs were used in 9% of the patients. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers at 7 days to 1 month, 1 to 2 months, and 3 to 4 months (median 10, 42, and 98 days) after the second vaccination have the median of 4092 AU/mL(with interquartile range: 1354, 7592), 2199 (927, 4692), and 789 (323, 1559), respectively. Post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers were significantly correlated with Kt/V, the presence of autoimmune diseases, the use of steroids or immunosuppressive drugs, malignancy treatment, and serum albumin and hemoglobin levels. Multivariate analysis showed that the factors that decreased post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer were the use of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, the presence of malignant tumors under treatment, and hypoalbuminemia. Conclusion: Compared to healthy subjects in previous reports, dialysis patients had lower SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers after COVID-19 vaccination, suggesting that the vaccine may not be sufficiently effective. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers are likely to be even lower in patients at high risk for decreased immune response due to medications or comorbidities. Additional vaccination may be essential for hemodialysis patients who are expected to have low SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers.

Preventive measures significantly reduced the risk of nosocomial infection in elderly inpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December 2019, there was an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown causes in Wuhan, China. The etiological pathogen was identified to be a novel coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The number of infected patients has markedly increased since the 2019 outbreak and COVID-19 has also proven to be highly contagious. In particular, the elderly are among the group of patients who are the most susceptible to succumbing to COVID-19 within the general population. Cross-infection in the hospital is one important route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, where elderly patients are more susceptible to nosocomial infections due to reduced immunity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to search for ways to improve the medical management workflow in geriatric departments to ultimately reduce the risk of nosocomial infection in elderly inpatients. The present observational retrospective cohort study analysed elderly patients who were hospitalised in the Geriatric Department of the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing, China). A total of 4,066 elderly patients, who were admitted between January and March in 2019 and 2020 and then hospitalised for >48 h were selected. Among them, 3,073 (75.58%) patients hospitalised from January 2019 to March 2019 were allocated into the non-intervention group, whereas the remaining 933 (24.42%) patients hospitalised from January 2020 to March 2020 after the COVID-19 outbreak were allocated into the intervention group. Following multivariate logistic regression analysis, the risk of nosocomial infections was found to be lower in the intervention group compared with that in the non-intervention group. After age stratification and adjustment for sex, chronic disease, presence of malignant tumour and trauma, both inverse probability treatment weighting and standardised mortality ratio revealed a lower risk of nosocomial infections in the intervention group compared with that in the non-intervention group. To rule out interference caused by changes in the community floating population and social environment during this 1-year study, 93 long-stay patients in stable condition were selected as a subgroup based on 4,066 patients. The so-called floating population refers to patients who have been in hospital for <2 years. Patients aged ≥65 years were included in the geriatrics program. The incidence of nosocomial infections during the epidemic prevention and control period (24 January 2020 to 24 March 2020) and the previous period of hospitalisation (24 January 2019 to 24 March 2019) was also analysed. In the subgroup analysis, a multivariate analysis was also performed on 93 elderly patients who experienced long-term hospitalisation. The risk of nosocomial and pulmonary infections was found to be lower in the intervention group compared with that in the non-intervention group. During the pandemic, the geriatric department took active preventative measures. However, whether these measures can be normalised to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections among elderly inpatients remain unclear. In addition, the present study found that the use of an indwelling gastric tube is an independent risk factor of nosocomial pulmonary infection in elderly inpatients. However, nutritional interventions are indispensable for the long-term wellbeing of patients, especially for those with dysphagia in whom an indwelling gastric tube is the most viable method of providing enteral nutrition. To conclude, the present retrospective analysis of the selected cases showed that enacting preventative and control measures resulted in the effective control of the incidence of nosocomial infections.

ПРОГНОЗ ИСХОДА ВТОРИЧНОГО ПЕРИТОНИТА

Objectives. To develop a new system for predicting the outcome of secondary peritonitis and analyze its accuracy in comparison with the most common analogous systems. Methods. The study is based on the analysis of treatment results in patients (n=352) with secondary peritonitis. At admission sepsis was diagnosed in 15 (4.3%) patients, septic shock - in 4 (1.1%) persons. There were the following main causes of death in the mortality structure: purulent intoxication and/or sepsis - 51 cases (87.9%), cancer intoxication - 4 (6.9%) cases, acute cardiovascular failure - 3 cases (5.2%). The efficacy of the Mantheim Peritoneal Index (MPI), WSES prognostic score, APACHE-II scale, gSOFA score and Peritonitis Prediction System (PPS) developed by the authors were analyzed. The likelihood of the effect of 85 clinical and laboratory parameters on the outcome of patients with secondary peritonitis using nonparametric methods of statistical research (Fisher’s test, Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square with Yates correction) have been analyzed. Criteria predictively associated with lethal outcome (p &lt;0.05) were selected, they were included in the PPS scale. To compare the predictive value of peritonitis prediction systems, ROC analysis was used with the construction of ROC curves for each of the systems. Results. The most important criteria in predicting fatal outcome are the patient’s age, the presence of malignant tumor, the exudate nature, sepsis (septic shock), and also polyorganic insufficiency which is not associated with developed peritonitis. To assess the prognostic value of peritonitis prediction systems, ROC curve analysis was used. The greatest accuracy in terms of predicting mortality in patients with generalized secondary peritonitis is possessed by PPS (AUC 0.942), minimal - APACHEII (AUC 0.840). Conclusion. APACHEII, MPI, WSESSSS and PPS systems can be considered as reliable in predicting mortality in patients with peritonitis. The greatest accuracy in predicting fatal outcome in patients with generalized secondary peritonitis had PPS (94%). What this paper adds An original system for predicting the outcome of peritonitis (PPS) has been developed. It was found that the criteria of the patient’s age, the presence of a malignant neoplasm, the nature of the exudate, sepsis (septic shock), as well as polyorganic insufficiency not associated with the developed peritonitis are of the greatest importance in predicting the death outcome. When conducting a comparative assessment with the most common similar systems (MPI, WSES SSS, APACHE-II), it was found that the most accurate in terms of predicting mortality in a patient with generalized secondary peritonitis is the PPS (AUC 0.942), the minimum - APACHEII (AUC 0.840).

An analysis of tumor-related skin temperature differences in malignant soft-tissue tumors.

BackgroundSoft tissue tumors are often accompanied with elevated skin temperature; however, studies concerning the relationship between soft-tissue tumors and skin temperature elevation are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of skin temperature elevation in soft-tissue tumors and identify factors related to skin temperature elevation.Patients and methodsThis study comprised 118 patients at our hospital with soft-tissue tumors, excluding lipomatous tumors, whose pathological diagnosis was surgically confirmed between February 2017 and March 2021. Sixty-one and 57 patients had been diagnosed with benign lesions and malignant tumors, respectively (men, 64; women, 54; median age, 61 [range, 20–92] years). The relationship between skin temperature, monitored using a thermography camera, and the presence of soft-tissue malignancy was investigated. We reviewed clinical data to identify factors related to elevated skin temperature.ResultsTemperature differences ≥ 0.2 °C compared to the unaffected side were significantly associated with the presence of malignant tumors (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that intertumoral blood supply was associated with elevated skin temperature (OR 3.22, 95% CI 2.03–5.13; p < 0.001).ConclusionsElevated skin temperature, influenced by intertumoral blood supply, may be an important adjunct to physical findings when diagnosing malignant soft-tissue tumors.Clinical relevanceIntertumoral blood supply influenced elevated skin temperature in malignant soft-tissue tumors. A skin temperature difference ≥ 0.2 °C compared to the unaffected side can help differentiate between benign and malignant tumors. Skin temperature differences may help in diagnosing malignant soft-tissue tumors.

Measurement and 3D Visualization of the Human Internal Heat Field by Means of Microwave Radiometry.

The possibility of non-invasive determination of the depth of the location and temperature of a cancer tumor in the human body by multi-frequency three-dimensional (3D) radiothermography is considered. The models describing the receiving of the human body’s own radiothermal field processes are presented. The analysis of the possibility of calculating the desired parameters based on the results of measuring antenna temperatures simultaneously in two different frequency ranges is performed. Methods of displaying on the monitor screen the three-dimensional temperature distribution of the subcutaneous layer of the human body, obtained as a result of data processing of a multi-frequency multichannel radiothermograph, are considered. The possibility of more accurate localization of hyperthermia focus caused by the presence of malignant tumors in the depth of the human body with multi-frequency volumetric radiothermography is shown. The results of the study of various methods of data interpolation for displaying the continuous intrinsic radiothermal field of the human body are presented. Examples of displaying the volumetric temperature distribution by the moving plane method based on digital models and the results of an experimental study of the thermal field of the human body and head are given.

Investigation of serum survivin in dogs suffering from cancer: a multicenter study

BackgroundIn contrast to human medicine, only a small number of serum tumor markers are established in veterinary medicine even though they are a non-invasive diagnostic tool.ObjectivesThis study examined whether survivin could be suitable as a potential canine serum tumor marker.MethodsThis study measured the serum survivin concentrations of dogs with mammary tumors (n = 33), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 9), soft-tissue sarcoma (n = 18) and multicentric lymphoma (n = 22), using a commercially available, competitive immunoassay kit (BlueGene). The serum survivin concentrations were compared with those of a healthy control group (n = 20) and a control group of dogs with non-neoplastic diseases (n = 17).ResultsDogs with malignant tumors had serum survivin concentrations between 15 and 5,906 pg/mL (median, 72 pg/mL), those in the healthy group ranged from 7 to 99 pg/mL (median, 21 pg/mL) and those in the group of dogs suffering from non-neoplastic diseases from 15 to 93 pg/mL (median, 42 pg/mL). The differences in the survivin concentrations between the healthy dogs and dogs with malignant tumors and between the dogs with non-neoplastic diseases and those with malignant tumors were significant (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively).ConclusionsThe serum survivin concentrations in dogs with malignant tumors, with some exceptions, are higher than in dogs with benign tumors and dogs that do not suffer from a malignancy. Therefore, survivin can provide information on the presence of malignant tumors and be used as a tumor marker in dogs.

Clinical Impact of Nutritional Status and Energy Balance in Elderly Hospitalized Patients.

This study aimed 1) to assess the nutritional status of patients hospitalized in a geriatric ward using the recent Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, 2) to determine the balance between the energy intake (EI) with an enriched diet and the energy requirement (ER) using indirect calorimetry, and 3) to assess whether undernutrition is associated with 1-year outcome. This is a prospective cross-sectional study. This study was performed in a geriatric unit. Patients of this geriatric unit were eligible for the study if they agreed to participate and if they did not meet the exclusion criteria (presence of malignant tumour, uncontrolled heart or renal failure, thyroidal disease, uncontrolled sepsis, oedema of the lower limbs, wearing of a pacemaker, biological thyroid dysfunction and inability to perform walking tests). Rest energy expenditure (REE) was measured by indirect calorimetry within the week of hospitalization. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was obtained by multiplying REE by a physical activity level coefficient and energy expenditure that was related to thermogenesis (i.e., 10% of the total amount of energy ingested over 24 h) was added. Food intake was measured over a 3-day period. Undernutrition was defined using MNA and the criteria of the GLIM leadership. Clinical outcomes included 1-year institutionalisation and mortality. Seventy-nine patients (84.9 ± 5.3 years) were included. A total of 21 (26.6 %) patients were found undernourished. REE was 1088 ± 181kcal/day (17.8 ± 2.9 kcal/kg/day) and TEE was 1556 ± 258 kcal/day (25.4 ± 4.2 kcal/kg/day). Weight-adjusted REE and TEE were higher in undernourished patients compared to those well-nourished (19.8 ± 3.1 vs. 17.1 ± 2.6 kcal/day and 28.4±4.5 vs. 24.4±3.7 kcal/day) (p<0.05). The lower was the Body Mass Index (BMI), the higher was the energy needs (p<0.01). EI was significantly greater than energy requirements (difference requirements - intake with enriched diet = -354 ± 491 kcal/day; p<0.0001). This difference did not depend on BMI (p=0.82), appendicular skeletal mass index (ASMI) (p=0.63), or the presence of undernutrition (p=0.33). At 1-year follow-up, 15 (19%) patients died and 20 (25.6%) were institutionalized. On multivariable analysis, male gender (OR=5.63; p=0.015) and undernutrition (OR=7.29; p=0.0043) emerged as independently associated with death. On multivariable analysis, only ASMI (OR 0.59 (0.35-0.99), p=0.044) and activities of daily living (ADL) (OR 1.14 (1.00-1.30), p=0.043) were significantly associated with institutionalization. Undernutrition as assessed by the GLIM criteria remains common in elderly patients hospitalized in a geriatric unit and is associated with increased 1-year mortality but not with institutionalization. Energy requirements are higher in undernourished patients and in patients with a low BMI. Enriched energy intakes could sufficiently cover the energy needs of this population.

Clinical significance of thermal detection of soft-tissue tumors.

Soft-tissue tumors are often accompanied by abnormal temperature distribution detected during palpation. However, the assessment of temperature distribution is subjective, limiting its wide use in cancer screening. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the thermal detection of soft-tissue tumors. This study involved 100 soft-tissue tumor patients, the pathological diagnosis of which was confirmed by surgery from February 2017 to March 2019 in our hospital. Sixty patients were diagnosed with benign lesions, while 40 patients had malignant tumors. The cohort consisted of 52 males and 48 females, with a median age of 62 (range 22-84). Temperature difference detection by orthopedic oncologists, as well as the consistency and accuracy of temperature distribution detection by orthopedic oncologists, were investigated. The relationship between abnormal temperature distribution and the presence of malignancy in soft tissue was also explored. We found that more than half of the orthopedic oncologists could detect a temperature difference of 0.2°C or higher. All three surgeons reported consistent temperature distribution findings after palpation in 92 out of 100 soft-tumor patients. The presence of abnormal temperature distribution was significantly associated with the presence of malignancy (P < 0.0017). Temperature differences of 0.2°C or higher were significantly associated with the presence of malignant tumors (P < 0.001). Diagnosis of abnormal temperature distribution by orthopedic oncologists could suggest the presence of malignancy in patients with soft-tissue lesions.

The spread of tuberculosis in the student milieu of Russian emigrants in Czechoslovakia in the 1920s: statistics, control measures, outcomes

The article is devoted to the analysis of the health status of emigrant students from Russia who lived in the Republic of Czechoslovakia in the 1920s. Special attention is paid to the spread of tuberculosis among students. The author gives the information about the ratio of sick students, severe cases, and lethal outcomes. It has been pointed out that death from tuberculosis accounted for 50% of all lethal outcomes. The data obtained gave grounds to draw a conclusion that the incidence rate of tuberculosis among students was high. There were cases of tuberculosis of bones and joints, the presence of malignant tumors. The author traced the relationship between a student’s academic performance and his illness. The article describes the methods used by the medical commission to reduce the number of severe cases: summer sanatoriums, colonies for ill students. The paper also describes control measures taken both at the government level and at the level of public activity of the emigrant community. The Committee on Tuberculosis Control in the Society of Russian Doctors in the Republic of Czechoslovakia made a contribution to the cause of preserving the life and health of students. The paper is based on archival materials from the records of the Committee on Education of Russian and Ukrainian Students in the Republic of Czechoslovakia in the National Archives of the Czech Republic.

Resistance Exercise Counteracts Tumor Growth in Two Carcinoma Rodent Models.

Although resistance exercise (RE) is now recognized as an adjuvant in cancer treatment because of its capacity to prevent muscle wasting, weakness, and cachexia, it is unknown whether RE can mitigate tumor development. Two solid adenocarcinoma models (Walker-256 and Ehrlich) were used to investigate the effects of RE on tumor cell proliferation, growth, and aggressiveness parameters in tumor-bearing animals' life span. Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats and Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice were subjected to RE, which consisted of climbing a ladder apparatus with loads tied to their tails. After 4 wk, animals were euthanized, and tumors were excised and assessed for tumor microenvironment evaluation such as cell proliferation and apoptosis determination, collagen deposit, and presence of malignant tumor morphology. Our data demonstrate that RE mitigated tumor growth and favored tumor end points such as lower Scarff-Bloom-Richardson histological grade tumor, denoting slow cell aberrant form and division, decreased tumor cell proliferation (evaluated by nucleus marked with antigen ki-67), and lower viable tumor area in both types of tumors studied. In addition, RE stimulated tumor microvessel density in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats, but there was no change in their life span. RE may mitigate tumor growth and tumor malignancy parameters such as lower histopathological grade, assuming less nuclear pleomorphism and mitotic cells, smaller viable tumor area, and decreased tumor cell proliferation in both adenocarcinomas. In addition, RE induced tumor vascularization.

Reconstructive trends and complications following parotidectomy: incidence and predictors in 11,057 cases

BackgroundParotidectomy is a common treatment option for parotid neoplasms and the complications associated with this procedure can cause significant morbidity. Reconstruction following parotidectomy is utilized to address contour deformity and facial nerve paralysis. This study aims to demonstrate national trends in parotidectomy patients and identify factors associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. This study includes the largest patient database to date in determining epidemiologic trends, reconstructive trends, and prevalence of adverse events following parotidectomy.MethodsA retrospective review was performed for parotidectomies included in the ACS-NSQIP database between January 2012 and December 2017. CPT codes were used to identify the primary and secondary procedures performed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was utilized to determine associations between pre- and perioperative variables with patient outcomes. Preoperative demographics, surgical indications, and common medical comorbidities were collected. CPT codes were used to identify patients who underwent parotidectomy with or without reconstruction. These pre- and perioperative characteristics were compared with 30-day surgical complications, medical complications, reoperation, and readmission using uni- and multivariate analyses to determine predictors of adverse events.ResultsThere were 11,057 patients who underwent parotidectomy. Postoperative complications within 30 days were uncommon (1.7% medical, 3.8% surgical), with the majority of these being surgical site infection (2.7%). Free flap reconstruction, COPD, bleeding disorders, smoking, and presence of malignant tumor were the strongest independent predictors of surgical site infection. Readmission and reoperation were uncommon at an incidence of 2.1% each. The strongest factors predictive of readmission were malignant tumor and corticosteroid usage. The strongest factors predictive of reoperation were free flap reconstruction, malignant tumor, bleeding disorder, and disseminated cancer. Surgical volume/contour reconstruction was relatively uncommon (18%). Facial nerve sacrifice was uncommon (3.7%) and, of these cases, only 25.5% underwent facial nerve reinnervation and 24.0% underwent facial reanimation.ConclusionsThere are overall low rates of complications, readmissions, and reoperations following parotidectomy. However, certain factors are predictive of adverse postoperative events and this data may serve to guide management and counseling of patients undergoing parotidectomy. Concurrent reconstructive procedures are not commonly reported which may be due to underutilization or underreporting.

Lithium as a coupling factor of mineral and glucose homeostasis disorders in malignant tumors of epithelial tissues

The impact of changes in orientation of the metabolism of carbohydrates and minerals in the cell malignancy has been demonstrated in several studies. The aim of this study was to analyze the molecular mechanisms and relationship of carbohydrate and mineral homeostasis with the processes of carcinogenesis. Parameters of carbohydrate and mineral metabolism of blood were defined in 73 patients with malignant tumors of epithelial tissues and 31 healthy subjects. In the presence of malignant tumors of epithelial tissues there was a statistically significant increase in the levels of glucose and glycated hemoglobin in the early stages of the disease and the absence of them at stage IV of the disease. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of C-peptide and immunoreactive insulin in blood samples of cancer patients, although they tended to increase compared with the control group. Analysis of the composition of macroelements at the early stages of carcinogenesis revealed a statistically significant reduction of sodium level in plasma which wasn’t observed at the terminal stage of the disease. The concentrations of potassium and chlorine tend to increase in cancer patients, but the differences between these parameters were not statistically significant. Concentrations of calcium and magnesium significantly increased in the presence of malignant tumors. Analysis of microelements in the blood plasma showed a decrease in the concentration of cuprum and lithium (in 2.5-5 times) and the growth of strontium concentrations. Lithium has multiple effects on the life of cells, affecting a number of elements of messengers, as well as being the link between the carbohydrate metabolism and cell malignancy. Disorders of mineral homeostasis are important element in the disintegration of the metabolic processes in carcinogenesis

Is “Prepectoral Edema” a Morphologic Sign for Malignant Breast Tumors?

A variety of morphologic and kinetic signs of benign or malignant breast lesions contribute to a final diagnosis and differential diagnosis in magnetic resonance (MR) mammography (MRM). As a new sign, prepectoral edema (PE) in patients without any history of previous biopsy, operation, radiation, or chemotherapy was detected during routine breast MR examinations. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the role of this morphologic sign in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions. Between January 2005 and October 2006, a total of 1109 consecutive MRM examinations have been performed in our institution. In this study, only patients who would later be biopsied or operated in our own hospital were included. They had no previous operation, biopsy, intervention, chemotherapy, hormone replacement therapy, or previous mastitis. In total, 162 patients with 180 lesions were included, histologically correlated later-on by open biopsy (124 patients and 136 lesions) or core biopsy (38 patients and 44 lesions). The evaluations were performed by four experienced radiologists in consensus. One hundred eighty evaluated lesions included 104 malignant lesions (93 invasive and 11 noninvasive cancers) and 76 benign lesions. PE was detected in 2.6% of benign lesions (2 of 76), in none of the Ductal cacinoma in situ (DCIS) cases (0 of 11), and in 25.8% of malignant lesions (24 of 93; P < .000). PE was found significantly more frequently in presence of malignant tumors >2 cm in diameter (48.5%, 17 of 35 vs. 13.8%, 8 of 58; P < .001). PE was not statistically associated to malignant tumor type, presence or absence of additional DCIS, and number of lesions. This resulted in the following diagnostic parameters for PE as an indicator for malignancy: sensitivity of 19.3%, specificity of 97.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 92.3%, negative predictive value of 48%, and accuracy of 57.7%. In case of occurrence, the "PE sign" seems to be a specific indicator for malignant tumors with a high PPV, independent from its entity.

Abstract 2071: The utility of FDG uptake as a surrogate biomarker to monitor tumor cell metabolism in response to anticancer therapy

Abstract [18F]FDG-PET imaging has been emerging as a powerful clinical tool for tumor diagnosis, staging and monitoring anticancer therapy. Due to some physiologic variants and technical artifacts, one of the limitations for [18F]FDG-PET imaging is the potential to show negative scans despite the presence of malignant tumors. In this report, we aimed to gain insights into the FDG tracer biology in different tumor models and subsequently to validate the use of FDG tracer uptake for monitoring targeted therapy. To measure the FDG tracer uptake in tumor cells, a LC/MS method was established to monitor the FDG monophosphate; these results were compared with the outcome of [18F]FDG-PET imaging. In a subset tumor models including patient derived xenografts, not all growing tumors showed high FDG tracer avidity. RT-PCR and IHC assays were performed to understand the potential physiological factors that could impact the FDG tracer avidity including the intrinsic glucose level, the exposure and distribution of FDG, as well as the expressions of glucose transporters and hexokinase. The results indicated that LC/MS analysis of FDG monophosphate served as a cost-effective tool to provide a surrogate measure of [18F]FDG-PET imaging. By using FDG tracer avid tumor models, several anticancer agents including the PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor PF-04691502, crizotinib and the γ-Secretase inhibitor PF-03084014 demonstrated suppression in FDG tracer uptake after treatment, which predicted their antitumor efficacies in the corresponding models. This work provides insights into the FDG tracer biology and the utility of [18F]FDG-PET imaging as a non-invasive biomarker for anticancer drug discovery. Citation Format: Nanni Huser, Wenlin Li, Maruja Lira, Patrick Lappin, Erick Kindt, Valeria Fantin, Gary Li, Cathy C. Zhang. The utility of FDG uptake as a surrogate biomarker to monitor tumor cell metabolism in response to anticancer therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2071. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2071

Basal cell carcinoma on rhinophyma: a case series analysis

Background Several authors described the presence of malignant tumors that rarely can grow hidden over rhinophymatous skin. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most commonly reported tumor and it should always be sought and diagnosed in presence of a rhinophyma.

Relevance of circulating tumor cells, extracellular nucleic acids, and exosomes in breast cancer

Early detection of cancer is vital to improved overall survival rates. At present, evidence is accumulating for the clinical value of detecting occult tumor cells in peripheral blood, plasma, and serum specimens from cancer patients. Both molecular and cellular approaches, which differ in sensitivity and specificity, have been used for such means. Circulating tumor cells and extracellular nucleic acids have been detected within blood, plasma, and sera of cancer patients. As the presence of malignant tumors are clinically determined and/or confirmed upon biopsy procurement-which in itself may have detrimental effects in terms of stimulating cancer progression/metastases-minimally invasive methods would be highly advantageous to the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer and the subsequent tailoring of targeted treatments for individuals, if reliable panels of biomarkers suitable for such an approach exist. Herein, we review the current advances made in the detection of such circulating tumor cells and nucleic acids, with particular emphasis on extracellular nucleic acids, specifically extracellular mRNAs and discuss their clinical relevance.

Pankreaslinksresektion

During recent years, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (SPDP) has broadened the operative spectrum in pancreatic surgery. The rationale for spleen-preserving procedures comprises prevention of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection syndrome (OPSI) and possibly an advantage regarding reduced carcinogenesis. Although there are no prospective randomized trials, SPDP and distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (DPSx) seem to be equivalent in terms of blood loss, operative time, mortality and frequency of reoperation. Concerning pancreatic fistulas and other major surgical complications, current data from the literature are conflicting. Long-term effects of SPDP, such as development of gastric varices due to portal hypertension, are still insufficiently investigated. However, SPDP should always be considered in patients with benign tumors of the pancreatic tail and chronic pancreatitis. Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy can also be combined with resection of the splenic vessels (DPSx-SVx) if the blood supply of the spleen via the small gastric vessels and the gastro-epoploic arcade is sufficient. In the presence of malignant tumors, DPSx is necessary for oncological reasons.