PD-L1 expression in immune cells is a favorable prognostic factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been determined as a reliable prognostic factor for various malignancies. In this study, we aimed to determine the prognostic effect of PD-L1 expression in tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients.Methods: Seventy patients diagnosed with non-metastatic NPC were included in the study. PD-L1 expression on immune cells was analyzed by immunohistochemical method. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the PD-L1 expression level in TIICs (level of PD-L1 staining ≥5% positive vs <5% negative).Results: Median follow-up period was 34 months (range = 1 - 188). 1 and 2 years survival rate were found as 75% and 63% in PD-L1 negative TIICs group (47%), and 85% and 83% in PD-L1 positive TIICs group (53%), respectively. PD-L1 positivity in immune cells (ICs) was detected in 53% of the patients. The survival rate was found better in the PD- L1 positive group compared to the negative group (P = 0.049).Discussion: In conclusion, the survival rate was found significantly better in the PD-L1 positive TIICs group, compared to the negative group

The real-life efficacy of the second line treatment strategy in advanced pancreas cancer

ABS TRACT Objective: Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Despite the introduction of new therapeutic agents, survival rates remain low. Furthermore, few trials have evaluated the options for second-line therapy and the prognostic variables. In this study, we aimed to determine the real-world efficacy and prognostic parameters of second-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. Material and Methods: Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer from different centers who received second-line treatment were enrolled in the study. The patients’ demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics were retrieved retrospectively. Results: A total of 161 patients were enrolled in the study. The majority of the patients (50.3%) received oxaliplatin plus fluoropyrimidine as second-line treatment. The median progression-free survival and overall survival for the entire cohort were 2.5 months and 4.5 months, respectively. In univariate anal-yses, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥2, age ≥65 years, hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytosis, presence of metastatic peritoneal disease, elevated alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and a neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥3 were identified as poor prognostic factors. In multivariable analyses, low albumin level (p=0.031) and high NLR (p=0.05) were found to be independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusion: Pancreatic cancer is a unique malignancy, and advanced disease has a dismal prog-nosis. In univariate analyses, we identified multiple factors that were poor prognostic variables. In particular, the albumin level and NLR were independent prognostic factors for overall survival, and these parameters might be useful in selecting the second-line treatment and pre-dicting the survival of these patients

Predictive factor for lymph node metastasis in non-metastatic colorectal adenocarcinomas

Objectives: To evaluate the predictive factors of lymph node involvement in non-metastatic colorectal adenocarcinomas (nmCRC). Methods: A total of 453 patients diagnosed with nmCRC were analyzed regarding T stage, lymphovascular invasion status, tumor grade and proposed risk score (RS), determined by the combination of these three factors for lymph node metastasis. Results: The median age was 62 (25-90 years), M/F ratio was 1.4:1 and majority of the patients had tumors localized on the left colon (70.6%). The number of excised lymph nodes was ≥12 in 77% of the cases. The postoperative pathological assessments revealed that 57.2% of patie,nts had N0 disease, 29.1% had N1 disease, and 13.7% had N2 disease. The T stages (p=0.007), grade (p<0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.002), RS (p<0.001), and number of excised lymph nodes (p=0.029) were significantly different between N0, N1, and N2 patients. Higher RS was associated with lymph node metastasis (p<0.001). Conclusion: The risk score may predict lymph node metastasis in patients with nmCRC and if validated may be helpful in the decision-making of adjuvant chemotherapy, especially in the elderly and patients with inadequate lymph node dissection

The use of animation in chemistry education and importance

Bu çalışma, son on yılda animasyon teknolojisi üzerine yayınlanan birçok Türkçe ve yabancı makalelerden oluşmuş bir derleme çalışmasıdır. Bu derleme çalışmada, animasyon kullanımının kimya eğitimindeki rolü vurgulanmıştır. Bilgi çağı olarak nitelendirdiğimiz, bilimsel ve teknolojik açıdan olağanüstü gelişmelerin gözlendiği 21. yy. çağımızda, bilgisayar teknolojisi ile eğitim sistemimizin ezberci yapısının yerini anlamlı öğrenme almıştır. Yapılan araştırmalarda; doğru yerde ve zamanda profesyonelce animasyon uygulamalarının öğrencilerin kimyaya bakış açıları, kimyaya karşı ilgi ve tutumları, kimya dersindeki başarıları üzerine olumlu etkisi olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.This study is a compilation study consisted of many published in the last ten years Turkish and foreign articles on animation technology. In the study, the role of the use of animation in chemistry education was emphasized. In the 21st century described as the knowledge age in which the extraordinary developments have been observed in terms of scientific and technology, meaningful learning has taken the place of rote education system and computer technology. In the carried out researches, it was concluded that professionally animation applications in the right place and time have positive effects on students’ perspectives of chemistry, interests and attitudes towards chemistry, achievements in chemistry lesson

Synthesis and characterization of a triple enzyme-inorganic hybrid nanoflower (TrpE@ihNF) as a combination of three pancreatic digestive enzymes amylase, protease and lipase

Nanoflowers are recently developed flower-shaped nanoparticles consisting of several layers of petals to improve surface reaction and stability. Among them organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers have been spotlighted, since they can overcome enzyme-related limitations, including low stability, high production cost, substrate/product inhibition and difficult recovery. In this study, triple enzyme-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (TrpE@ihNFs) were synthesized using a mixture of three enzymes (alpha-amylase, lipase and protease) and Cu2+ ions. TrpE@ihNFs were characterized by their morphology and chemical point of view by using different techniques including SEM, FTIR, EDX, and XRD. Afterwards we compared the enzyme activity and stability of TrpE@ihNFs with the free enzymes, including lipase, amylase and protease at the different pH and temperatures spectrophotometrically. Our data reveal that enzyme activities and stability of TrpE@ihNFs were significantly higher compared to the each free enzyme. In conclusion, we showed TrpE@ihNFs which can be used for the treatment of wastewater, biosensors, biocatalysts, and bio-related devices in the future. (C) 2020, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved

Analysis of diabetes-related cerebellar changes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background/aim: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been extensively studied and reported, but the number of studies that have investigated diabetes-related changes in the central nervous system are limited, with even fewer studies on the cerebellum. The aim of this experimental study was to perform a histologic analysis of the diabetes-related changes in the cerebellums of diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Twenty Sprague Dawley rats weighing between 200 and 220 g were included in the study. Diabetes was induced in 14 of these rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in saline, while 6 animals constituted the control group. The induction of diabetes was confirmed by measuring the blood glucose levels in the tail blood with a glucometer. Levels equal to or above 200 mg/dL were considered diabetic. Induction of diabetes failed in 3 animals, who were then excluded from the study. Results: Light and electron microscopic studies revealed that the neurons and glial cells in the diabetic group had degenerative changes, irregularities and disruption in the myelin sheath, disintegration in the presynaptic vesicles, engorged axon terminals, perivascular and mitochondrial swelling, mitochondrial structural changes, and fragmentation of the neurofilaments. Conclusion: Ultrastructural alterations are observed in the diabetic rat cerebellum.Background/aim: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been extensively studied and reported, but the number of studies that have investigated diabetes-related changes in the central nervous system are limited, with even fewer studies on the cerebellum. The aim of this experimental study was to perform a histologic analysis of the diabetes-related changes in the cerebellums of diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Twenty Sprague Dawley rats weighing between 200 and 220 g were included in the study. Diabetes was induced in 14 of these rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in saline, while 6 animals constituted the control group. The induction of diabetes was confirmed by measuring the blood glucose levels in the tail blood with a glucometer. Levels equal to or above 200 mg/dL were considered diabetic. Induction of diabetes failed in 3 animals, who were then excluded from the study. Results: Light and electron microscopic studies revealed that the neurons and glial cells in the diabetic group had degenerative changes, irregularities and disruption in the myelin sheath, disintegration in the presynaptic vesicles, engorged axon terminals, perivascular and mitochondrial swelling, mitochondrial structural changes, and fragmentation of the neurofilaments. Conclusion: Ultrastructural alterations are observed in the diabetic rat cerebellum