Alpha Amylase Levels In Vaginal Fluid And Its Relation To Anti-bacterial And Membrane Degradation Mediators.

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CAR-T Cell Therapy in Ovarian Cancer: Where Are We Now?

The success of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies in the treatment of hematologic malignancies has led to the investigation of their potential in the treatment of solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. While the immunosuppressive microenvironment of ovarian cancer has been a barrier in their implementation, several early phase clinical trials are currently evaluating CAR-T cell therapies targeting mesothelin, folate receptor a, HER2, MUC16, and B7H3. Ongoing challenges include cytokine-associated and “on-target, off-tumor” toxicities, while most common adverse events include cytokine release syndrome, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation-like syndrome (HLH/MAS), and neurotoxicity. In the present review, we summarize the current status of CAR-T therapy in ovarian cancer and discuss future directions

α-amylase In Vaginal Fluid: Association With Conditions Favorable To Dominance Of lactobacillus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Vaginal glycogen is degraded by host -amylase and then converted to lactic acid by Lactobacilli. This maintains the vaginal pH at 4.5 and prevents growth of other bacteria. Therefore, host -amylase activity may promote dominance of Lactobacilli. We evaluated whether the -amylase level in vaginal fluid is altered in women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and whether its concentration was associated with levels of lactic acid isomers and host mediators. Vaginal fluid was obtained from 43 women with BV, 50 women with VVC, and 62 women with no vulvovaginal disorders. Vaginal fluid concentrations of -amylase, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), hyaluronan, hyaluronidase-1, -defensin, and elafin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Vaginal concentrations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 8, and d- and l-lactic acid levels in these patients were previously reported. The median vaginal fluid -amylase level was 1.83 mU/mL in control women, 1.45 mU/mL in women with VVC, and 1.07 mU/mL in women with BV. Vaginal levels of -amylase were correlated with d-lactic acid (P = .003) but not with l-lactic acid (P > .05) and with SLPI (P < .001), hyaluronidase-1 (P < .001), NGAL (P = .001), and MMP-8 (P = .005). The exfoliation of glycogen-rich epithelial cells into the vaginal lumen by hyaluronidase-1 and MMP-8 may increase glycogen availability and promote -amylase activity. The subsequent enhanced availability of glycogen breakdown products would favor proliferation of Lactobacilli, the primary producers of d-lactic acid in the vagina. Concomitant production of NGAL and SLPI would retard growth of BV-related bacteria.221113931398Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPESP [2011/19960-9]CAPES [4889-13-14

Ability of cervical length to predict spontaneous preterm delivery in twin pregnancies using the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis and an a priori cut-off value

In this retrospective study based on cervical length (CL) measurements between 20 and 24 + 6 weeks, we examined the ability of CL to predict spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) in 222 twin pregnancies using the receiver-operating curve (ROC) analysis and an a priori cut-off. CL predicted SPTB before 34 weeks. Using the ROC the selected cut-off was 37.5 mm. Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) regarding SPTB before 34 weeks for 37.5 mm were 15.7% and 5.3% respectively. Using the 5th percentile, PPV and NPV regarding SPTB before 34 weeks for 24 mm were 41.7% and 91.4%, respectively. The 5th centile of CL measurements should be employed in clinical practice. CL measurement is an adequate screening tool for SPTB since it has a high NPV. Studies on CL measurement and SPTB should explain which methodology they adopted to obtain a cut-off value and the rationale of their choice

Isolated distant lymph node metastases in ovarian cancer. Should a new substage be created?

Abstact: Objective: To evaluate the prognostic significance of isolated distant lymph node metastases in comparison to other metastatic sites and stage IIIC disease. Methods: The National Cancer Data Base was accessed and patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 with stage IV or IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer who met criteria for pathological staging were identified. Overall survival (OS) was calculated with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared with the log-rank test. A Cox model was constructed to control for confounders. Results: A total of 33,561 patients met the inclusion criteria; 582 (1.7%) had stage IV only due to distant lymph node metastases (stage IV-LN), 8130 (24.2%) had stage IV with other sites of distant metastases (stage IV-other) and 24,849 (75.4%) had stage IIIC disease. The median OS for patients with stage IV-LN was 42.41 months (95% CI: 37.59, 47.23) compared to 30.23 months (95% CI: 29.30, 31.16) for those with stage IV-other (p < .001) and 45.57 (95% CI: 44.86, 46.28) for those with stage IIIC disease (p = .54). On multivariate analysis, patients with stage IV-other had a worse survival (HR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.57) compared to those with stage IV-LN. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between patients with stage IV-LN and stage IIIC disease (HR: 1.00, CI: 0.90, 1.11, p = .99). Conclusions: Isolated distant LN metastases is associated with better survival compared to stage IV disease due to other metastatic sites and comparable to patients with stage IIIC disease. Keywords: Ovary, Cancer, Stage IV, Lymph nodes, Metastasi

Role of adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of stage IC ovarian granulosa cell tumors

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the patterns of use and prognostic significance of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) for patients with stage IC ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCTs). Methods: We identified patients with stage IC GCTs diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Logistic regression was performed to identify variables independently associated with chemotherapy administration. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated for patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 following generation of Kaplan-Meier curves and compared with the log-rank test. A Cox model was constructed to control for known confounders. Results: A total of 492 patients with stage IC GCTs were identified, of which 166 (33.7%) received CT. Tumor size > = 10 cm (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.82) was independently associated with the administration of CT. There was no difference in OS between patients who did (n = 145) and did not (n = 282) receive CT, p = 0.52; 5-yr OS rates were 93.7% and 91.6% respectively. After controlling for patient age (<50 vs ≥50 years), tumor size and performance of lymphadenectomy (LND), the administration of CT was not associated with a survival benefit (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.52, 2.21). Conclusions: Approximately one in three patients with stage IC GCTs received CT in the NCDB, however CT was not associated with a survival benefit. Keywords: Ovary, Tumor, Chemotherapy sex cord-stromal, Granulosa cel

Supplemental Material, Julie_reprod_Sci_Suppl_Table_1 - Properties of Epithelial Cells and Vaginal Secretions in Pregnant Women When <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> or <i>Lactobacillus iners</i> Dominate the Vaginal Microbiome

<p> Supplemental Material, Julie_reprod_Sci_Suppl_Table_1 for Properties of Epithelial Cells and Vaginal Secretions in Pregnant Women When <i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i> or <i>Lactobacillus iners</i> Dominate the Vaginal Microbiome by Julie Leizer, Dimitrios Nasioudis, Larry J. Forney, G. Maria Schneider, Karol Gliniewicz, Allison Boester, and Steven S. Witkin in Reproductive Sciences </p