The immunomodulator mifamurtide plus a chemotherapy regimen has been shown to significantly improve the outcome in non-metastatic osteosarcoma patients. We report the results of the addition of ...mifamurtide to chemotherapy in newly diagnosed patients with osteosarcoma.
A total of 36 children with osteosarcoma without detectable metastasis were treated between November 2010 and April 2018 at the Ankara University Department of Pediatric Oncology. Mifamurtide was added to the chemotherapy regimen in 17 patients while the remaining 19 did not receive mifamurtide. The probabilities of metastasis and overall survival were compared between the groups.
The 43-month survival rate was 87.5% and 89.9% in the patients who received and did not receive mifamurtide, respectively (p=0.65). Common side effects of mifamurtide were chills and fever. The addition of mifamurtide in the high-risk group with ≤95% necrosis tended to decrease the probability of distant metastasis (36.4% vs. 58.3%) (p=0.39). The time to metastasis in the group with positive surgical margins (4 months in one patient in the non-mifamurtide group, 7 and 20 months in the mifamurtide group) was also longer in the mifamurtide group. During the 43-month follow up period, median time to metastasis was longer in the mifamurtide group (20 vs. 5 months). In addition, mifamurtide plus chemotherapy decreased the risk of metastasis in the cases with primary site relapse.
The addition of mifamurtide to chemotherapy might improve event-free survival by decreasing the probability of distant metastasis in bad histologic responders, and also by increasing the time to distant metastasis in the surgical margin positive group. Additional clinical studies are necessary to determine the long-term effects of mifamurtide on metastatic disease.
.
Background: This study aimed to compare CD31, smooth muscle myosin (SMM), and transgelin antibodies for their efficiency in detecting venous invasion (VI) and the nature of free tumor deposits (TDs) ...in gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal adenocarcinomas. Materials and Methods: Eleven Whipple, 5 gastrectomy, and 3 colectomy specimens and 1 low anterior resection specimen were reviewed and examined, revealing 254 probable foci. Foci were reviewed and divided into 3 types: Type A, the "orphan artery" pattern; Type F, free TDs in the periorgan adipose and connective tissue without an unaccompanied artery; and Type X, a focus that could be detected only with the immunohistochemical procedures mentioned. Results: No foci were positive for CD31. Transgelin staining was more sensitive than SMM staining in all focus types, Type A only and Type F only (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.10, respectively). In free TDs (Type F), 35.7% of the samples were negative for all four stains, and 64.2% of the samples were positive for SMM and transgelin. We did not make the distinction between a metastatic lymph node and VI in positive foci. Conclusion: We conclude that hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining is inadequate and that smooth muscle markers, such as transgelin and/or SMM, are more effective than endothelial markers, such as CD31, in revealing VI and lymph node/large extramural invasion.
The aim of this study was to investigate the inactivation effect of organic acids and ultrasound against Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on the surface of lettuce leaves and to ...determine the effect of these inactivation treatments on the quality characteristics of the lettuce. Lettuce leaves with biofilms formed following inoculation with E. coli and L. monocytogenes were treated individually or simultaneously with ultrasound and different organic acids (acetic acid, malic acid, citric acid and lactic acid) for periods of 10, 30 and 60 min. Combined treatments caused synergistic and antagonistic inactivation of pathogen biofilms. In addition, the anti-biofilm effect of combined treatments was found to be higher compared with a single treatment. With an increase in treatment time from 10 min to 60 min, biofilm detachment rate was increased on the surface of the lettuce. The reduction in E. coli and L. monocytogenes biofilms varied from 0.43 to 5.54 log CFU/cm2 and from 0.40 to 4.23 log CFU/cm2, respectively. Lactic acid and malic acid showed stronger anti-biofilm activities than the other organic acids. All these results indicate that biofilm inactivation on lettuce samples depends on target microbial species, the type of organic acid, the treatment time, and method. Additionally, decontamination treatments for 60 min did not adversely affect the colour, texture or sensory quality of the lettuce. In conclusion, the combined treatment of ultrasound and organic acid is suggested as a promising hurdle technology in order to remove pathogen biofilms from fresh produce.
Display omitted
•Lettuce was treated with US and/or organic acid for biofilm inactivation.•Highest biofilm reduction was obtained by combination of 60 min US and organic acid.•Highest E. coli and L. monocytogenes reduction was 5.54 and 4.23 log CFU/cm2.•Lactic and malic acid caused higher antibiofilm activity than other organic acid.•Decontamination with US and organic acid did not adversely affect quality of lettuce.
Androgens represent the historical therapeutic backbone of bone marrow failure (BMF) syndromes. However, their role has rarely been analyzed in a prospective setting, and systematic and long-term ...data regarding their usage, effectiveness and toxicity in both acquired and inherited BMF are currently unavailable. Here, taking advantage of a unique disease-specific international dataset, we retrospectively analyzed the largest cohort so far of BMF patients who received androgens before or in the absence of an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), re-evaluating their current use in these disorders. We identified 274 patients across 82 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) affiliated centers: 193 with acquired (median age 32 years) and 81 with inherited (median age 8 years) BMF. With a median duration of androgen treatment of 5.6 and 20 months, respectively, complete and partial remission rates at 3 months were 6% and 29% in acquired and 8% and 29% in inherited disorders. Five-year overall survival and failure-free survival (FFS) were respectively 63% and 23% in acquired and 78% and 14% in inherited BMF. Androgen initiation after second-line treatments for acquired BMF, and after >12 months post diagnosis for inherited BMF were identified as factors associated with improved FFS in multivariable analysis. Androgen use was associated with a manageable incidence of organ-specific toxicity, and low rates of solid and hematologic malignancies. Sub-analysis of transplant-related outcomes after exposure to these compounds showed probabilities of survival and complications similar to other transplanted BMF cohorts. This study delivers a unique opportunity to track androgen use in BMF syndromes and represents the basis for general recommendations on this category of therapeutics on behalf of the Severe Aplastic Anemia Working Party of the EBMT.
Acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) enzyme plays a key role in controlling the synthesis rate triglyceride from diacylglycerol. Leptin (LP, OB, obese) is an important hormone that ...synthesizes mostly from adipose tissue and regulates glucose metabolism and homeostasis.
and
genes are closely related to reproduction, growth, milk yield and composition in water buffalo breeds. This study aimed to identify genetic variation in the
and
gene regions in 150 water buffalo individuals from five different provinces of Turkey using DNA sequencing. A total of 38 nucleotide variations and indels have identified 761 bp long partial intron 2 and exon 3 and 5
UTR regions of the
gene in Anatolian water buffalo populations; 422 bp long partial exon 7-9 and exon 8 regions of
gene were amplified and two mutations were defined in the point of 155 and 275 nucleotide that is three genotypes for S allele and Y allele of
gene in intron 7 in Anatolian buffalo populations, respectively. These SNPs may have an effect on reproduction, growth, milk yield and composition in water buffalo populations and may prove to be useful for water buffalo breeding.
Oxidative stress has a potential role in carcinogenesis. Anti-oxidant enzymes have a neutralizing effect on both cancer initiation and progression. We aimed to assess the oxidant and anti-oxidant ...levels of pediatric cancer patients and to compare the levels in healthy controls.
The study involved 105 pediatric cancer patients (40 undergoing chemotherapy, 65 survivors) and 40 healthy children. The serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total anti-oxidant status (TAS) were measured.
The oxidative stress index was significantly lower in pediatric cancer patients compared to the levels in the controls (0.20 ± 0.07 vs. 0.26 ± 0.10; P = 0.001). The mean serum TAS level was significantly higher in patient groups compared to the level in the control (1.87 ± 0.48 vs. 1.63 ± 0.32 mmol/L, P = 0.001). The TAS level of children with cancer in survivors was also found to be significantly higher compared to the levels in the control group (1.85 ± 0.45 vs. 1.63 ± 0.32 mmol/L, P = 0.005). Radiotherapy, surgery, relapsed disease, presence of metastases, and receiving enteral nutritional support caused no change in the TAS/TOS level.
It has been revealed for the first time that the serum total anti-oxidant level was high in children undergoing chemotherapy and the survivor group as well. Moreover, the oxidative stress index was low in children with cancer. Longitudinal prospective studies are needed to reveal the alterations in oxidant status among children with cancer.
Microencapsulation is a promising method that has considerable effects on protection of probiotic viability. A variety of coating materials have been utilized to enhance the stability of probiotic ...microorganisms during the transition through gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this research was to determine optimum coating material combinations for probiotic microencapsulation against gastric conditions. Fructooligosaccharides, peptide, sodium alginate, gelatin and gellan gum were used as entrapment substances to microencapsulate Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei Shirota with extrusion technique. The response surface technique was applied to detect the optimum proportion of encapsulation substances against gastric condition. Microencapsulation protected probiotic cultures against stress factors such as simulated gastric juice and bile-salt solution. Optimum rate of encapsulation substances varied according to the type of probiotic bacteria. Test results showed that L. plantarum should be coated with 1.5% alginate, 0.92% gellan gum, 0.18% gelatin, 0.36% peptide and 1.31% fructooligosaccharides for highest protection. L. casei Shirota should also be coated with 2% alginate, 0.98% gellan gum, 0.51% gelatin, 0.86% peptide and 1.98% fructooligosaccharides for highest protection. This research concluded that microencapsulation with encapsulation materials at optimum concentration provided improved protection for the probiotics.
Significant advances in supportive care for patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major (TDT) have improved patients’ life expectancy. However, transfusion-associated iron overload remains ...a significant barrier to long-term survival with good quality of life. Today, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the current curative standard of care. Alongside selection of the best available donor, an optimized conditioning regimen is crucial to maximize outcomes for patients with TDT undergoing HSCT. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the role of busulfan–fludarabine-based and treosulfan–fludarabine-based conditioning in TDT patients undergoing HSCT. We included 772 patients registered in the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) database who underwent first HSCT between 2010 and 2018. Four hundred ten patients received busulfan–fludarabine-based conditioning (median age 8.6 years) and 362 patients received treosulfan–fludarabine-based conditioning (median age 5.7 years). Patient outcomes were retrospectively compared by conditioning regimen. Two-year overall survival was 92.7% (95% confidence interval: 89.3–95.1%) after busulfan–fludarabine-based conditioning and 94.7% (95% confidence interval: 91.7–96.6%) after treosulfan–fludarabine-based conditioning. There was a very low incidence of second HSCT overall. The main causes of death were infections, graft-versus-host disease, and rejection. In conclusion, use of busulfan or treosulfan as the backbone of myeloablative conditioning for patients with TDT undergoing HSCT resulted in comparably high cure rates. Long-term follow-up studies are warranted to address the important issues of organ toxicities and gonadal function.
Nanocomposite films based on polypropylene (PP) and zinc oxide or silver nanoparticles were obtained by the blown film method. The film color properties, mechanical properties, barrier properties, ...and migration values were investigated in dependence on the concentration and type of nanoparticles. The incorporation of nanoparticles in the PP matrix decreased oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability rates but increased the film's total color difference, overall migration value, and zinc and silver migration values depending on the concentration of nanoparticles. A high level of nanoparticles led to an increase in migration values and a decrease in film transparency. The migration tests of all the films in isooctane, ethanol, and acetic acid showed that the total migration limit was not exceeded. Also, the results showed that the nanocomposite films had a beneficial effect on improving the preservation quality of lemon juice compared with plain PP film.
Practical applications
In this study, the production methods of polypropylene (PP)‐based nanocomposite films are described. The broader analysis of films provides detailed information about film properties for industry and academia. The films produced were transformed into packaging by heat sealing them to package lemon juice. The result showed that nanocomposite films had better properties that maintained some quality attributes of the lemon juice. The present study represents a model for further studies. Also, the produced films may be used as an active packaging material for the fruit juice industry.
The prevalence of lymphoma in primary immunodeficiency cases and autoimmune diseases, as well as on a background of immunodeficiency following organ transplants, is increasing. The lymphoma treatment ...success rate is known to be a low prognosis. Our study aimed to emphasize the low survival rates in immunodeficient vs. immunocompetent lymphoma patients and also to investigate the effect of rituximab in patients with ataxia telangiectasia and other immunodeficiencies. We summarized the clinical characteristics and treatment results of 17 cases with primary immunodeficiency that developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) retrospectively. Seven patients were diagnosed with ataxia-telangiectasia, two with common variable immunodeficiency, two with selective IgA deficiency, one with X-related lymphoproliferative syndrome, one with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, one with Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative syndrome, one with interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) deficiency, and one with lymphoma developing after autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). One patient underwent a renal transplant. Of the nine males and eight females (aged 3–12 years, median = 7) that developed lymphoma, seven were diagnosed with HL and ten with NHL (seven B-cell, three T-cell). The NHL patients were started on the Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster, POG9317, LMB-96, or R-CHOP treatment protocols with reduced chemotherapy dosages. HL cases were started on the doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) and/or cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (COPP) protocol, also with modified dosages. Importantly, all seven cases of HL are alive and in remission, while six of the ten NHL patients have died. Primary immunodeficiency is a strong predisposing factor for developing lymphoma. Low treatment success rates relative to other lymphomas and difficulties encountered during treatment indicate that new treatment agents are needed. While some success has been achieved by combining rituximab with lymphoma treatment protocols in B-NHL cases with primary immunodeficiency, the need for new treatment approaches for these patients remains critical.
PDF
