Limited data are available on the prevalence and prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) in the Indian population.
The present study ...aimed to determine the prevalence of HPV and p16 in an Indian cohort of SCCHN and assess their correlation and influence of tobacco use on patient outcomes.
The p16 and HPV status of 170 patients of SCCHN treated with curative chemoradiotherapy was determined using immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction, respectively, and further correlated with their demographic characteristics. In addition, genotyping of HPV-positive samples was performed. Survival outcomes were analyzed and compared for both p16 positive (p16 +ve) and p16 negative (p16 -ve) population. The influence of tobacco use on outcomes was assessed.
p16 expression was observed in 20% (34/170) cases whereas HPV positivity was detected in 39.4% (67/170) of SCCHN patients with HPV16 being the most common (91%) subtype. About 73.5% patients were p16 +ve among the tobacco users in this cohort (83.5%). Interestingly, p16 positivity was significantly associated with nonusers of tobacco (P = 0.02) and younger females (P = 0.06). The p16 +ve and p16 -ve groups did not exhibit a significant difference in the 5-year cause-specific survival (CSS) (79% vs. 72.2%), disease-free survival (DFS) (78.3% vs. 68.3%, P = 0.5), and locoregional control (LRC) (82.2% vs. 71.5%, P = 0.4). However, the outcome analyses in tobacco nonusers revealed a definite large improvement in CSS (P = 0.08) and a trend toward improvement in DFS (P = 0.15) and LRC (P = 0.11) in the p16 +ve versus the p16 -ve groups.
The low prevalence of p16 positivity (20%) and dual HPV and p16 positivity (38.8%) in the studied Indian cohort indicates the low utility of p16 as a surrogate for HPV in the background of high tobacco burden. The outcomes are largely improved in a small subset of SCCHN cases comprising p16 +ve tobacco nonusers.
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) remains a valuable diagnostic tool in current clinical practice, offering crucial insights into endometrial cavity, fallopian tubes and the adjoining part of the pelvic ...peritoneal cavity. Despite the emergence of alternative imaging and non-imaging options, HSG continues to be widely utilized due to its diagnostic accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and easy accessibility. Due attention to the correct technique and optimal image interpretation will further enhance its diagnostic accuracy and precision in the work-up of patients with fertility problems.Hysterosalpingography (HSG) remains a valuable diagnostic tool in current clinical practice, offering crucial insights into endometrial cavity, fallopian tubes and the adjoining part of the pelvic peritoneal cavity. Despite the emergence of alternative imaging and non-imaging options, HSG continues to be widely utilized due to its diagnostic accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and easy accessibility. Due attention to the correct technique and optimal image interpretation will further enhance its diagnostic accuracy and precision in the work-up of patients with fertility problems.
A sudden change in the macroscopic parameters of a system will cause it to depart from equilibrium. In this paper we study how a lack of change can also inform of such a departure, and allow for work ...extraction. Potential events that are unrealized can provide information pertaining the microstates of the system, essentially playing the role of a passive Maxwell demon, thereby allowing one to infer details about the microstate probability distribution. Here, we first qualitatively argue that this effect is present and consequential in almost every physical system, but is ignored in the standard formulation of equilibrium statistical mechanics. Then, as a case study, we quantitatively investigate the local and global thermodynamic properties of an ideal gas placed in a fragile container that nevertheless, does not burst. This non-event indicates a departure from equilibrium and allows work extraction from the system. It also leads to corrections to the heat capacity of the gas.
Chest physicians need to be aware about MinIP images, as these are increasingly being used for the evaluation of a wide range of lung diseases in HRCT study of lungs. MinIP images highlight the areas ...with reduced CT attenuation in the lung parenchyma. This allows prompt and early diagnosis of cystic lung diseases or airway, vascular or parenchymal disorders, which manifest with hypoattenuation, mosaic attenuation or air trapping. MiniP images are therefore useful for accurate pre-operative planning and disease monitoring.
Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection, has the highest burden of death and medical expenses in hospitals worldwide. Leukocyte count and CD64 expression on neutrophils ...(nCD64) are known to correlate strongly with improved sensitivity and specificity of sepsis diagnosis at its onset. A major challenge is the lack of a rapid and accurate point-of-care (PoC) device that can perform these measurements from a minute blood sample. Here, we report a PoC microfluidic biochip to enumerate leukocytes and quantify nCD64 levels from 10 μl of whole blood without any manual processing. Biochip measurements have shown excellent correlation with the results from flow cytometer. In clinical studies, we have used PoC biochip to monitor leukocyte counts and nCD64 levels from patients' blood at different times of their stay in the hospital. Furthermore, we have shown the biochip's utility for improved sepsis diagnosis by combining these measurements with electronic medical record (EMR).
PDF
