The Low Incidence of Viral Hepatitis Reactivation Among Subjects on Immunotherapy Reduces the Impact of Suboptimal Screening Rate

Cancer; Checkpoint inhibitors; Hepatitis BCáncer; Inhibidores del punto de control; Hepatitis BCàncer; Inhibidors del punt de control; Hepatitis BBackground and Aims: Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is a pillar of many advanced tumors. However, there is scarce data concerning the rate of viral hepatitis screening in this population or the risk of viral reactivation. Methods: Retrospective–prospective study that includes all patients who began ICIs between January/2019 and December/2020 in a University Hospital. Data on viral hepatitis screening prior to the beginning of ICIs were collected. In subjects lacking information, serological tests were requested prospectively. Among HBsAg, anti-HBc, or anti-HCV positive subjects, reactivation was prospectively assessed. Results: During the 2-year period of study, 595 subjects received ICIs (61.2% male, mean age 63 years). The most prevalent cancers found were 35.5% lung cancer, 12.1% melanoma, and 8.2% head and neck; ICIs schemes were mainly anti-PD1 (65.7%), followed by anti-PD-L1 (19.2%), and combined therapy (13.6%). Prior to immunotherapy, anti-HCV screening was performed in 462 (77.6%) subjects, HBsAg in 462 (77.6%), anti-HBc in 335 (56.3%), and the complete screening in 328 (55.1%). The anti-HBc screening was more frequently ordered among patients treated with concomitant systemic therapy (p = 0.003), especially in the case of chemotherapy (p = 0.015), though HCV screening was more commonly performed in concomitant therapies different from chemotherapy (p = 0.001). Serological tests were completed prospectively in those alive, leading to an overall prevalence for anti-HCV of 3.5%, HBsAg at 1.3%, and anti-HBc of 15.2%. HCV-RNA was detected in 2/19 (both patients with hepatocellular carcinoma), HBV-DNA in 4/7 HBsAg positive, and in 1/75 anti-HBc positive subject. Five out of the 7 HBsAg carriers and 1/75 anti-HBc+ subjects (due to concomitant antiretroviral therapy) received antiviral prophylaxis. Neither cases of HBV reactivation nor changes in HCV viral load were observed. Discussion: HBV and HCV screening prior to immunotherapy is suboptimal. Though the rate of viral hepatitis reactivation seems extremely low, efforts should be made to optimize viral hepatitis screening prior to immunotherapy for the selection of candidates for either antiviral prophylaxis or periodical follow-up

Femtosecond double-pulse laser ablation and deposition of Co-doped ZnS thin films

Nanostructured thin films of Co-doped zinc sulfide were synthesized through femtosecond pulsed laser deposition. The scheme involved ablation of physically mixed Co and ZnS with pairs of ultrashort pulses separated in time in the 0-300 ps range. In situ monitorization of the deposition process was carried out through a simultaneous reflectivity measurement. The crystallinity of generated nanoparticles and the inclusion of Co in the ZnS lattice is demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (TEM-EDX) characterization. Surface morphology, Raman response, and photoluminescence of the films have also been assessed. The role of interpulse temporal separation is most visible in the thickness of the films obtained at the same total fluence, with much thicker films deposited with short delays than with individual uncoupled pulses. The proportion of Co in the synthesized doped ZnS nanoparticles is found to be substantially lower than the original proportion, and practically independent on interpulse delay

Vanadium oxide supported on porous clay heterostructure for the partial oxidation of hydrogen sulphide to sulfur

Vanadium oxide supported on porous clay heterostructures (PCH) catalysts have been synthesized, characterized and evaluated in the selective oxidation of H2S to elemental sulfur. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, adsorption-desorption of N-2 at -196 degrees C, diffuse reflectance UV-vis, H-2-TPR, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. The catalysts with higher vanadium content are more active and selective, exhibiting a H2S conversion close to 70% after 360h on stream with a high selectivity toward elemental sulfur and a low formation of undesired SO2. The catalysts with V2O5 crystallites have shown a higher activity and resistance to the deactivation. The analysis of the spent catalyst has revealed the formation of V4O9 crystals during the catalytic test, which has been reported as the active phase in the selective oxidation of the H2S. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The authors would like to thank the DGICYT in Spain (Projects CTQ2012-37925-C03-01, CTQ2012-37925-C03-03 and FEDER funds, and MAT2010-19837-C06-05) and project of Excellence of Junta de Andalucia (project P12-RNM-1565) for financial support. A. Natoli thanks to SECAT (Spain) for a grant.Soriano Rodríguez, MD.; Cecilia, JA.; Natoli, A.; Jimenez-Jimenez, J.; López Nieto, JM.; Rodriguez Castellon, E. (2015). Vanadium oxide supported on porous clay heterostructure for the partial oxidation of hydrogen sulphide to sulfur. Catalysis Today. 254:36-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2014.12.022S364225

Golimumab in refractory uveitis related to spondyloarthritis. Multicenter study of 15 patients

Objective: To assess the efficacy of golimumab (GLM) in refractory uveitis associated to spondyloarthritis (SpA). Methods: Multicenter study of SpA-related uveitis refractory to at least one immunosuppressive drug. The main outcome variables were degree of anterior and posterior chamber inflammation, visual acuity, and macular thickness. Results: Fifteen patients (13 men/2 women; 18 affected eyes; mean age 39±6 years) were evaluated. The underlying SpA subtypes were ankylosing spondylitis (n=8), psoriatic arthritis (n=6) and non-radiographic axial SpA (n=1). The ocular involvement patterns were recurrent anterior uveitis in 8 patients and chronic anterior uveitis in 7. Before GLM they have received methotrexate (n=13), sulfasalazine (n=6), pulses of methylprednisolone (n=4), azathioprine (n=3), leflunomide (n=2) and cyclosporine (n=1). Ten of them had also been treated with TNF-? blockers; etanercept (n=7), adalimumab (n=7), infliximab (n=6), and certolizumab (n=1). GLM was given at the standard dose (50 mg/sc/monthly) as monotherapy (n=7) or in combination with conventional immunosuppressive drugs (n=8), mainly methotrexate. Most patients had rapid and progressive improvement of intraocular inflammation parameters. The median number of cells in the anterior chamber at 2 years (0 [0-0]) was significantly reduced compared to baseline findings (1 [0-3]); p=0.04). The mean best corrected visual acuity value also improved (0.84±0.3 at 2 years versus 0.62±0.3 at baseline; p=0.03). Only minor side effects were observed after a mean follow-up of 23±7 months. Conclusions: Our results indicate that GLM may be a useful therapeutic option in refractory SpA-related uveitis

Proper assignation of reactivation in a COVID-19 recurrence initially interpreted as a reinfection

A 77-year-old-male (Case R) who had had a previous diagnosis of mild COVID-19 episode, was hospitalized 35 days later. On Day 23 post-admission, he developed a second COVID-19 episode, now severe, and finally died. Initially, Case R COVID-19 recurrence was interpreted as a reinfection due to the exposure to a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-positive room-mate. However, whole-genome-sequencing indicated that case R recurrence corresponded to a reactivation of the strain involved in his first episode. Case R reactivation had major consequences, leading to a more severe episode, and causing a subsequent transmission to another two hospitalized patients, one of them with fatal outcome.Peer reviewe

Case-control study for colorectal cancer genetic susceptibility in EPICOLON: previously identified variants and mucins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in developed countries. Familial aggregation in CRC is also important outside syndromic forms and, in this case, a polygenic model with several common low-penetrance alleles contributing to CRC genetic predisposition could be hypothesized. Mucins and GALNTs (N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase) are interesting candidates for CRC genetic susceptibility and have not been previously evaluated. We present results for ten genetic variants linked to CRC risk in previous studies (previously identified category) and 18 selected variants from the mucin gene family in a case-control association study from the Spanish EPICOLON consortium.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CRC cases and matched controls were from EPICOLON, a prospective, multicenter, nationwide Spanish initiative, comprised of two independent stages. Stage 1 corresponded to 515 CRC cases and 515 controls, whereas stage 2 consisted of 901 CRC cases and 909 controls. Also, an independent cohort of 549 CRC cases and 599 controls outside EPICOLON was available for additional replication. Genotyping was performed for ten previously identified SNPs in <it>ADH1C</it>, <it>APC</it>, <it>CCDN1</it>, <it>IL6</it>, <it>IL8</it>, <it>IRS1</it>, <it>MTHFR</it>, <it>PPARG</it>, <it>VDR </it>and <it>ARL11</it>, and 18 selected variants in the mucin gene family.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>None of the 28 SNPs analyzed in our study was found to be associated with CRC risk. Although four SNPs were significant with a <it>P</it>-value < 0.05 in EPICOLON stage 1 [rs698 in <it>ADH1C </it>(OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.06-2.50, <it>P</it>-value = 0.02, recessive), rs1800795 in <it>IL6 </it>(OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.10-2.37, <it>P</it>-value = 0.01, recessive), rs3803185 in <it>ARL11 </it>(OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.17-2.15, <it>P</it>-value = 0.007, codominant), and rs2102302 in <it>GALNTL2 </it>(OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.00-1.44, <it>P</it>-value = 0.04, log-additive 0, 1, 2 alleles], only rs3803185 achieved statistical significance in EPICOLON stage 2 (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.06-1.69, <it>P</it>-value = 0.01, recessive). In the joint analysis for both stages, results were only significant for rs3803185 (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.00-1.25, <it>P</it>-value = 0.04, log-additive 0, 1, 2 alleles) and borderline significant for rs698 and rs2102302. The rs3803185 variant was not significantly associated with CRC risk in an external cohort (MCC-Spain), but it still showed some borderline significance in the pooled analysis of both cohorts (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.98-1.18, <it>P</it>-value = 0.09, log-additive 0, 1, 2 alleles).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>ARL11</it>, <it>ADH1C</it>, <it>GALNTL2 </it>and <it>IL6 </it>genetic variants may have an effect on CRC risk. Further validation and meta-analyses should be undertaken in larger CRC studies.</p

Generation of CdS clusters using laser ablation: The role of wavelength and fluence

Trabajo presentado en el IX International Conference on Laser Ablation, celebrado en Tenerife (España) el 24 de septiembre de 2007.The generation of cationic CdS clusters by laser ablation was studied using a reflectron TOFMS. The analysis was carried out in the visible and the UV and at a broad range of laser fluences. The mass spectra revealed the presence of stoichiometric CdnSn (n=1-34) and CdnSn+m (m= -1,1,2,3) clusters. Cd34S34 was also detected, supporting previous work which identified n=13 and 34 as ultrastable magic numbers for chalcogenide clusters. We observed a significant decrease in the heavy to light mass ratio with UV irradiation, which suggests different mechanisms across the spectrum