Longitudinal Immune Response to Three Doses of mRNA Vaccine Against COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Longitudinal Immune Response to Three Doses of mRNA Vaccine Against COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer via Clinical Infectious Diseases Advance Access Abstract Our study in 21 pediatric cancer patients demonstrates that three doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (BioNTech/Pfizer) elicited both humoral and cellular immunity in most patients during chemotherapy. Immunity was stronger in children with solid tumors and during maintenance therapy compared to those with hematological malignancies or during intensive chemotherapy. View on Web

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Nutrition impact symptoms and the risk of malnutrition in people with Parkinson's disease: a cross‐sectional study

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Nutrition impact symptoms and the risk of malnutrition in people with Parkinson's disease: a cross‐sectional study via Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics Abstract Background People with Parkinson's disease (PD) often experience symptoms that affect their ability to eat. This may contribute to weight loss and increased risk of malnutrition. Objective Our aim was to quantify the extent of nutrition impact symptoms (NIS) in the population and a scoring system of NIS is incorporated in the tool used to identify malnutrition. Methods In this cross-sectional study members of the Norwegian Parkinson's Association, with any PD diagnosis and stage of illness, were invited to respond to an online 24-item questionnaire. Questions from two validated questionnaires, abridged patient-generated subjective global assessment (aPG-SGA) and Radboud Oral Motor Inventory for Parkinson's disease (ROMP), were adapted to an online format. Results The questionnaire was sent to 3047 members, of which 508 persons (17%) responded (61% men). In total, 59% were categorized as well-nourished, 34% at risk of malnutrition a nd 6.5% as malnourished. A quarter of all participants reported symptoms that affected food intake. The most frequent symptoms were constipation (14.2%) and dry mouth (13.4%). On average (SD), malnourished participants reported 3.4 (1.4) symptoms as opposed to 0.1 (0.3) per well-nourished participant. Malnourished participants had more swallowing problems than well-nourished, a mean total ROMP score of 15.5 (6.0) versus 9.0 (2.9) (p <0.001). As the number of points in the ROMP-score increased by one, the points in the aPG-SGA score increased with 37% (95% CI 0.309-0.428). Conclusion Risk of malnutrition was largely related to NIS, especially dysphagia in people with PD. Symptoms affecting food intake should be systematically mapped and treated in conjunction with PD to prevent malnutrition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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A modified dentin infection model with Fluorescent Lipopolysaccharide and LPS sampling technique to compare XP‐Endo finisher and passive ultrasonic irrigation

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader A modified dentin infection model with Fluorescent Lipopolysaccharide and LPS sampling technique to compare XP‐Endo finisher and passive ultrasonic irrigation via International Endodontic Journal Abstract Aim The LPS-dentine-infection models and sampling techniques frequently used to evaluate LPS disinfection have limitations. In this study, a lipopolysaccharides-dentine-infection (LPS-dentine-infection) model was devised using fluorescent conjugate LPS. Secondly, a sampling technique using cryogenic grinding for intraradicular LPS analysis was evaluated. Thirdly, the effectiveness of the XP-endo Finisher (XP-EF) was compared with passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) in removing LPS from root canal system. Methodology Sixty-nine mandibular premolars was submitted to dentine pretreatment and inoculated with fluorescent LPS conjugate (Alexa Fluor® 594). Twenty-three teeth were analysed under confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to validate this modified LPS-dentine-infection model. Forty-six teeth were randomly divided into two experimental groups: XP-EF (n = 23) and PUI (n = 23). All teeth were instrumented with XP-endo shaper (XPS; FKG Dentaire, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) and 2.5% NaOCl. The root canals were sampled with paper points before (s1) and after (s2) instrumentation and after supplemental treatment (s3) with XP-EF and PUI. After s3, all roots were cryogenically ground for intraradicular LPS analysis (s4). Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay was used for LPS quantification. The Friedman test was used for differences in LPS among four timepoints (s1, s2, s3, and s4). Dunn's test was used for pairwise testing of timepoints. The significance level wa s set at 5% (P < .05). Results Fluorescent LPS conjugate was detected in 100% of the samples under CLSM with a penetration depth of approximately 400 μm into dentine. Chemo-mechanical preparation using XPS files significantly reduced LPS levels (p < .05). Both the XPS and PUI improved the LPS disinfection (p < .05), with no difference between them (p > .05). LPS was recovered from all samples after cryogenic grinding. The residual amount of LPS detected using the cryogenically sampling technique at s4 was approximately 3 times greater than with the paper point sampling technique at s3. Conclusion This study established a modified LPS-dentine-infection model using fluorescent conjugate LPS, and validated a LPS sampling technique for using cryopulverization intraradicular LPS analysis. Moreover, both the XP-EF and PUI further improved LPS disinfection from the root canals, and the innovative XP-EF was as effective as PUI. View on Web

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Case volume regionalization and volume‐based outcome differences in cutaneous head and neck melanoma

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Case volume regionalization and volume‐based outcome differences in cutaneous head and neck melanoma via Head & Neck Abstract Background Hospital volume has emerged as a prognostic factor in oncology but is not currently known whether volume is associated with improved outcomes for cutaneous head and neck (HN) melanoma. Methods A total of 556 079 cutaneous melanoma cases reported by the 2004–2016 National Cancer Database were separated into two cohorts (HN and non-HN) and facilities within each cohort were classified by case volume. Analysis employed chi-square, analysis of variance, Kaplan–Meier, and Cox proportional hazards models. Results Only 41 facilities (3.1% of 1326) treating HN melanoma and 50 facilities (3.7% of 1344) treating non-HN melanoma were classified as high-volume facilities (HVFs). The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) was 62.7% (standard error [SE]: 0.4%) for patients with HN at low-volume facilities (LVFs), 69.3% (SE: 0.4%) at IVFs, and 71.8% (SE 0.4%) at HVFs (p < 0.001). Differences in OS remained significant between HVFs versus LVFs after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion Volume is independently associated with OS and improved surgical outcomes for HN melanoma. View on Web

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Impact of a prognostic model for overall survival on the decision‐making process in a head and neck cancer multidisciplinary consultation meeting

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Impact of a prognostic model for overall survival on the decision‐making process in a head and neck cancer multidisciplinary consultation meeting via Head & Neck Abstract Background Multidisciplinary decision-making in head and neck cancer care is complex and requires a tradeoff between prolonging survival and optimizing quality of life. To support prognostication and decision-making in head and neck cancer care, an individualized prognostic model for overall survival (OncologIQ) is available. Methods By quantitative and qualitative research we have studied user value of OncologIQ and its impact on the decision-making process in a multidisciplinary consultation meeting. Results Healthcare professionals experienced added value upon using prognostic estimates of survival from OncologIQ in half (47.5%) of the measurements. Significant impact on the decision making process was seen when OncologIQ was used for older patients, patients having a WHO performance score ≥ 2, or high tumor stage. Conclusions The prognostic model OncologIQ enables patient-centered decision-making in a multidisciplinary consultation meeting and was mostly valued in complex patients. View on Web

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Eano-Euracan-Sno Guidelines on Circumscribed Astrocytic GLIOMAS, Glioneuronal and Neuronaltumors

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Eano-Euracan-Sno Guidelines on Circumscribed Astrocytic GLIOMAS, Glioneuronal and Neuronaltumors via Neuro-Oncology Advance Access Abstract In the new WHO 2021 Classification of CNS Tumors the chapter "Circumscribed astrocytic gliomas, glioneuronal and neuronal tumors" encompasses several different rare tumor entities, which occur more frequently in children, adolescents and young adults. The Task Force has reviewed the evidence of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, which is low particularly for adult patients, and draw recommendations accordingly. Tumor diagnosis, based on WHO 2021, is primarily performed using conventional histological techniques; however, molecular workup is important for differential diagnosis, in particular DNA methylation profiling for the definitive classification of histologically unresolved cases. Molecular factors are increasingly of prognostic and predictive importance. MRI finding are non specific, but for some tumors are characteristic and suggestive. Gross total resection, when feasible, is the most important treatment in terms of prolonging survival and achieving long-term seizure control. Conformal radiotherapy should be considered in grade 3 and incompletely resected grade 2 tumors. In recurrent tumors reoperation and radiotherapy, including stereotactic radiotherapy, can be useful. Targeted therapies may be used in selected patients: BRAF and MEK inhibitors in pilocytic astrocytomas, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas, and gangliogliomas when BRAF altered, and mTOR inhibitor everolimus in subependymal giant cells astrocytomas .Sequencing to identify molecular targets is advocated for diagnostic clarification and to direct potential targeted therapies. View on Web

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