Cytomegalovirus hepatitis after treatment with dostarlimab for colorectal cancer.

A man in his early 40s was receiving treatment for rectal cancer with dostarlimab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), when he developed fevers, headache and nausea. He was hospitalised with elevated liver enzymes and infectious work-up revealed an acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. With concern that his dostarlimab therapy could be contributing to his inflammatory response as an ICI-induced hepatitis, the patient underwent a liver biopsy.

Effects of traditional fitness qigong exercise on frailty status and overall well-being in frail or pre-frail patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of traditional Chinese Fitness qigong exercises (TFQs) in enhancing outcomes such as frailty status, physical function, psychological well-being, cognitive function, negative emotions, and sleep quality for older adults with frailty or pre-frailty.

Methods: We conducted searches in Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), and Google Scholar from their inception to 30th July 2024. Two reviewers independently selected and screened the papers, extracted the data, and assessed the bias risk.

Clinical Applications and Potential Mechanism of Cold Acclimation Therapy.

Cold acclimation therapy has emerged as a notable therapeutic approach with physical therapy and clinical medicine. Driven by the rising demand for effective pain management, sports recovery, and inflammation control, several studies have examined the physiological mechanisms and diverse applications of cold acclimation therapy. Current research shows that cold acclimation therapy can effectively alleviate both acute and chronic pain, promote post-exercise recovery, and mitigate inflammatory responses.

Integrated effects of cold acclimation: physiological mechanisms, psychological adaptations, and potential applications.

Cold acclimation refers to the gradual process by which individuals adapt to cold environments. With the increasing impact of global climate change and the growing popularity of extreme sports, research on cold acclimation has attracted significant attention in fields such as sports medicine, psychology, and physiology. Evidence indicates that cold acclimation enhances athletic performance, promotes health, and contributes to disease prevention.

Sintilimab and anlotinib with gemcitabine plus cisplatin in advanced biliary tract cancer: SAGC a randomized phase 2 trial.

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) has a poor prognosis with limited treatment options. This phase 2 trial randomized 80 patients with unresectable/metastatic BTC 1:1 to sintilimab, anlotinib, and gemcitabine/cisplatin (SAGC) or chemotherapy alone (GC). At 13.

GLUT1-mediated HMGB1 O-GlcNAcylation drives hyperglycemia-Induced neutrophil extracellular trap networks formation via TLR4 signaling and exacerbates fibroblast inflammation.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) exacerbate fibroblast inflammatory injury in hyperglycemic conditions, yet the role of glucose metabolism and O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) glycosylation in this process remains unclear. Here, we investigate how glucose transporter protein 1 (GLUT1)-dependent glucose uptake regulates O-GlcNAcylation of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) to drive NET formation and fibroblast inflammation. Mouse peripheral blood neutrophils (MPBN) were treated with high glucose (25 mM) and phorbol ester (PMA) to induce NETs.

The mechanism of action of GLUT1 in promoting NETs-mediated impairment of macrophage phenotypic switching based on macrophage-fibroblast interplay.

This study explored the mechanism by which glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) promotes neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-mediated macrophage phenotype conversion in a high-glucose environment, based on the interaction between fibroblasts and macrophages. We demonstrated that GLUT1 plays an important role in immune cell-fibroblast crosstalk. High glucose induces GLUT1 to upregulate high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels, thereby promoting NET release and macrophage M1 polarization.

Gut commensal Bifidobacterium-derived extracellular vesicles modulate the therapeutic effects of anti-PD-1 in lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although immunotherapy such as anti-programmed death-1 and its ligand 1 (PD-1/L1) is a standard treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), many patients do not derive benefit directly. Several studies have elucidated new strategies to improve the antitumor immune response through gut microbiota modulation.

Smart Biomimetic 3D Scaffolds Based on Shape Memory Polyurethane for Soft Tissue Repair.

Tissue-engineered biocompatible scaffolds could mimic the extracellular matrix structure for cell adhesion and proliferation; however, patients suffer from large volume implantation. In this study, a thermal sensitive shape memory polyurethane porous 3D scaffold based on poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol adipate) was developed, utilizing the water-splitting property of aliphatic hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) to crosslink rigid segments during the polymerization process. The chemical structure, microstructure, and morphology, as well as mechanical strength, of the scaffolds were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and tensile tests.

Time-restricted feeding reduced blood pressure and improved cardiac structure and function by regulating both circulating and local renin-angiotensin systems in spontaneously hypertensive rat model.

Objective: To investigate whether time-restricted feeding (TRF) can reduce blood pressure (BP) and improve cardiac structure and function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) by regulating the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).

Methods: Wistar Kyoto rats and SHR underwent 16 weeks of TRF intervention, with daily feeding restricted to 9 am-5 pm. The effects of TRF on systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean BP, body weight (BW), heart weight (HW), HW/BW ratio, cardiac structure and function, and RAS activity in the circulating and left ventricular (LV) tissues were investigated.

Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of Intestinal Origin in Reconstructed Ureters.

In patients with long ureteral defects, the use of bowel segments for reconstruction is an effective but suboptimal alternative because the bowel is not resistant to the potential carcinogenic effects of urine. Primary malignancies in reconstructed conduits have been scarcely described in the literature. This case report elaborates on a case of metastatic adenocarcinoma arising in ureters reconstructed using small intestinal segments.

Administration of corticosteroid therapy for HELLP syndrome in pregnant women: evidences from seven randomized controlled trials.

Background: HELLP syndrome, featuring hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia, is life-threatening disease of pregnancy that triggers comorbidities in both pregnant women and the fetus/newborn. This study provides an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies to assess the therapeutic efficacy of corticosteroids in maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: Randomized control trials (RCTs) regarding the use of corticosteroids in the HELLP population from three electronic databases, including Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, andCochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched from database inception to 23 March 202323 March 2023.

Circulating Tumor Cell Subpopulations Predict Treatment Outcome in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Patients.

There is a high clinical unmet need to improve outcomes for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, either with the discovery of new therapies or biomarkers that can track response to treatment more efficiently than imaging. We report an innovative approach that will generate renewed interest in using circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to monitor treatment efficacy, which, in this case, used PDAC patients receiving an exploratory new therapy, poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi)-niraparib-as a case study. CTCs were enumerated from whole blood using a microfluidic approach that affinity captures epithelial and mesenchymal CTCs using anti-EpCAM and anti-FAPα monoclonal antibodies, respectively.

Microsatellite Instability with BRAF V600E Associated with Delayed Presentation but Poor Survival in Stage III Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has tremendous molecular and genetic heterogeneity, making it a difficult cancer to treat. Two of the key prognostic indicators of CRC include microsatellite instability (MSI) and V600E mutation. Here, we performed a retrospective survival analysis on 145 stage II and III CRC patients treated at the University of Kansas Cancer Center between 2009 and 2020.

Real world outcomes in patients with neuroendocrine tumor receiving peptide receptor radionucleotide therapy.

Aim: Lu-Dotatate (Lu-177), a form of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), was approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of somatostatin-receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in 2018. Clinical trials prior to the FDA approval of Lu-177 showed favorable outcomes but there is limited published real world outcomes data. This study aims to describe and analyze real world outcomes of patients with NET who received Lu-177.

Circulating Tumor DNA as a Minimal Residual Disease Assessment and Recurrence Risk in Patients Undergoing Curative-Intent Resection with or without Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Emerging data have suggested that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be a reliable biomarker for minimal residual disease (MRD) in CRC patients. Recent studies have shown that the ability to detect MRD using ctDNA assay after curative-intent surgery will change how to assess the recurrence risk and patient selection for adjuvant chemotherapy. We performed a meta-analysis of post-operative ctDNA in stage I-IV (oligometastatic) CRC patients after curative-intent resection.

A phase II study of perioperative pembrolizumab plus mFOLFOX in patients with potentially resectable esophagus, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), and stomach adenocarcinoma.

Background: Perioperative chemotherapy/chemoradiation is standard in esophageal/gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) effect in setting of metastatic and postoperatively. This study is to assess ICI + chemotherapy perioperatively.

Methods: Patients with locally advanced (T1N1-3M0 or T2-3NanyM0) potentially resectable esophageal/gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma by PET/EUS/CT and staging-laparoscopy, were treated preoperative 4 cycles mFOLFOX6 (Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m /Leucovorin 400 mg/m /5-FU bolus 400 mg/m then infusion 2400 mg/m for 46 h q2weeks) and 3 cycles pembrolizumab (200 mg q3week).

A novel outpatient regimen in management of fluoropyrimidine-induced cardiotoxicity.

Introduction: Fluoropyrimidines (FP) are cornerstone drugs in the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Cardiotoxicity secondary to an FP chemotherapy is a serious complication. There are no standardized guidelines on the treatment of FP induced cardiotoxicity which may result in interruption and even discontinuation of life saving treatment.

Cabozantinib plus durvalumab in advanced gastroesophageal cancer and other gastrointestinal malignancies: Phase Ib CAMILLA trial results.

This is the phase Ib part of the phase I/II CAMILLA trial evaluating cabozantinib plus durvalumab in advanced chemo-refractory proficient mismatch repair or microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) gastrointestinal malignancies including gastric/gastroesophageal junction/esophageal (G/GEJ/E) adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer (CRC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thirty-five patients are enrolled. There are no observed dose-limiting toxicities during dose escalation.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Treatment Timing does not Impact Survival in Stage 4 Colon Cancer Treatment: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Colon cancer impacts the lives of Kansans and those across the United States. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, such as panitumumab and cetuximab, have gained popularity as first-line treatment for stage 4 colon cancer despite their toxicities and have been used by clinicians in later lines of therapy. EGFR inhibitors have been proven to be an efficacious first-line treatment for stage 4 colon cancer, but no study has investigated outcomes comparing EGFR inhibitors as first-line treatment to its use as second- or third-line treatment.