Medicina
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In the field of advanced melanoma, there is an urgent need to investigate novel approaches targeting specific components of the cancer-immunity cycle beyond immune checkpoint inhibitors. The authors reviewed the basic understanding of the role of neutrophils in cancer biology, and the latest clinical evidence supporting the correlation between cancer-associated neutrophils and the prognosis and response to the immunotherapy of advanced melanoma. Finally, they propose that granulocyte and monocyte apheresis, an emerging non-pharmacological treatment in current dermatology, could become an investigative treatment targeting melanoma-associated neutrophils which could be potentially used in combination with the usual immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Backgrounds and Objectives: There is a link between sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) and depressive and anxiety symptoms, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of these symptoms in patients with OSA and to evaluate the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on depression and anxiety scores. Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine consecutive new patients diagnosed with moderate or severe (apnea-hypopnea index AHI ≥ 15 events/h) OSA were accepted for the CPAP therapy. ⋯ The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores decreased significantly after 6 months of CPAP therapy in all groups and after 1 year of CPAP use. Conclusions: OSA patients should be screened for depression and anxiety. Furthermore, CPAP should be the first choice of treatment before starting other treatments for depression and anxiety symptoms.
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Background: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is reported to be related to the outcome of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, little is known about their associations with prognosis in newborn patients in neonatal ICU (NICU). The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the PLR for newborn patients in the NICU. ⋯ Lower PLR was associated with higher hospital mortality (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.75−0.95, p = 0.005) and 90-day mortality (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.76−0.96, p = 0.010). The prognostic predictive ability of models combining PLR with other variables for hospital mortality was good (AUC for Model 1 = 0.804, 95% CI = 0.73−0.88, p < 0.0001; AUC for Model 2 = 0.964, 95% CI = 0.95−0.98, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: PLR is a novel independent risk factor for newborn patients in the NICU.
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Background and Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous subtype that is associated with unresponsiveness to therapy and hence with high mortality rates. In this study we aimed to investigate the prognostic role of the rs822336 G>C and rs822337 T>A polymorphisms of the PD-L1 (Programmed Death-Ligand 1) in TNBC patients. Materials and methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 114 TNBC patients and blood samples from 124 healthy donors were genotyped, and subsequently extensive statistical analysis was performed in order to investigate the clinical value of these polymorphism in TNBC. ⋯ Moreover, it was revealed that women harboring mutated genotypes of both SNPs had shorter disease-free (Kaplan−Meier; p = 0.037, Cox analysis; p = 0.04) and overall (Kaplan−Meier; p = 0.025, Cox analysis; p = 0.03) survival compared to patients having normal genotype of at least one SNP. Multivariate analysis also showed that the presence of mutated genotypes of both SNPs is a strong and independent marker for predicting shorter DFS (p = 0.02) and OS (p = 0.008). Conclusion: Our study revealed that PD-L1 rs822336 G>C and rs822337 T>A polymorphisms were differentially expressed in our cohort of TNBC patients, and that this distribution was associated with markers of unfavorable prognosis and worse survival.
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Background and Objectives: Among the extra-pulmonary manifestations of COVID-19, neuromuscular signs and symptoms are frequent. We aimed to assess the correlation between neuromuscular abnormalities (electrophysiological) and mobility measures (Berg Balance Scale and Timed-Up-and-Go test) twice, at least 6 weeks after hospital discharge and 6 months later, taking into account cognitive performance, nutrition, muscle strength, and submaximal exercise capacity. Materials and Methods: 43 patients (51.4 ± 9.3 years old) accepted to participate in the study; they had a dyspnea score ≤ 3 (Borg scale), and no history of neurology/neuromuscular/orthopedic disorders, but high frequency of overweight/obesity and weight loss during hospital stay. ⋯ We concluded that, after hospital discharge, patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 may have neuromuscular abnormalities that can be related to BMI/weight loss, and contribute to mobility decrease. In patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 and high BMI/ large weight loss, neuromuscular and intended mobility assessments could be required to provide early rehabilitation. Apart from the 6MWT, handgrip dynamometry and the Timed-Up-and-Go test were useful tools to quickly assess fitness and mobility.