The Oncolytic Caprine Herpesvirus 1 (CpHV-1) Induces Apoptosis and Synergizes with Cisplatin in Mesothelioma Cell Lines: A New Potential Virotherapy Approach.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive asbestos-related cancer, against which no curative modalities exist. Oncolytic virotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach, for which MM is an ideal candidate; indeed, the pleural location provides direct access for the intra-tumoral injection of oncolytic viruses (OVs). Some non-human OVs offer advantages over human OVs, including the non-pathogenicity in humans and the absence of pre-existing immunity. We previously showed that caprine herpesvirus 1 (CpHV-1), a non-pathogenic virus for humans, can kill different human cancer cell lines. Here, we assessed CpHV-1 effects on MM (NCI-H28, MSTO, NCI-H2052) and non-tumor mesothelial (MET-5A) cells. We found that CpHV-1 reduced cell viability and clonogenic potential in all MM cell lines without affecting non-tumor cells, in which, indeed, we did not detect intracellular viral DNA after treatment. In particular, CpHV-1 induced MM cell apoptosis and accumulation in G0/G1 or S cell cycle phases. Moreover, CpHV-1 strongly synergized with cisplatin, the drug currently used in MM chemotherapy, and this agent combination did not affect normal mesothelial cells. Although further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the selective CpHV-1 action on MM cells, our data suggest that the CpHV-1-cisplatin combination could be a feasible strategy against MM

Comparison of 3 randomized clinical trials of frontline therapies for malignant pleural mesothelioma

Importance: Some recently proposed frontline therapies for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are very costly, yet their impact on quality of life and overall survival of these patients remains arguable. Given the high social toll of this aggressive occupational cancer, it is paramount to establish the real clinical benefit of these treatments. Objective: To directly compare and analyze the statistical robustness of the 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of frontline therapies recommended for MPM since 2003. Design, Setting, and Participants: This comparative effectiveness study assessed the following phase 3 RCTs: the Mesothelioma Cisplatin Pemetrexed Study (MPS) of cisplatin plus pemetrexed vs cisplatin; the Mesothelioma Avastin Cisplatin Pemetrexed Study (MAPS) of cisplatin plus pemetrexed plus bevacizumab vs cisplatin plus pemetrexed; and the CheckMate743 (CM743) study of nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs cisplatin plus pemetrexed. Data collection dates for the RCTs ranged from April 1999 to April 2018. Data for this study were analyzed from February to October 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: Patient selection criteria, superiority of the intervention groups, survival-inferred fragility index, and censoring patterns in each RCT. Results: A total of 1501 patients were included in the analysis (1170 men [77.9%]; range of median age for treatment groups, 60 [IQR, 19-84] to 69 [IQR, 65-75] years). A virtual comparison of overall survival in MAPS vs the CM743 study showed no statistically significant difference (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.79-1.20]; P = .79), and the survival-inferred fragility index in the intention-to-treat (ITT) populations was as low as 0.22% of the total sample size in MPS, −0.45% of the total sample size in MAPS, and 0.99% of the total sample size in the CM743 trial. Moreover, reverse restricted mean survival time (RMST) analysis of overall survival using RMST-difference (RMST-D) demonstrated differential censoring in the ITT population of the CM743 trial favoring the control group (0.56 [95% CI, 0.18-0.94]; P = .004) and in the nonepithelioid group (reverse RMST-D, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.001-1.79]; P = .048). Conclusions and Relevance: This comparative effectiveness study found no survival benefit in the CM743 trial over MAPS, despite the inclusion of patients with worse prognosis in the latter trial. Moreover, the statistical conclusions of all the examined trials were shown to be extremely fragile, and the findings of differential censoring in the CM743 trial and in the ITT nonepithelial subset raised additional areas of concern. These findings suggest that selection criteria, fragility, and censoring patterns may affect the original conclusions drawn for the respective trials, casting a shadow on the real benefit. This model of analysis lays a rigorous groundwork extendable to trials of all cancer treatments before their registration

Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Previous Lobectomy or Partial Lung Resection: Long-Term Results of an International Multicenter Study

Introduction: Data regarding the efficacy of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and patients' previous history of pulmonary lobectomy/pneumonectomy are scanty. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and long-term follow-up of catheter ablation in this highly selected group of patients. Material and Methods: Twenty consecutive patients (8 females, 40%; median age 65.2 years old) with a history of pneumonectomy/lobectomy and paroxysmal or persistent AF, treated by means of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) at ten participating centers were included. Procedural success, intra-procedural complications, and AF recurrences were considered. Results: Fifteen patients had a previous lobectomy and five patients had a complete pneumonectomy. A large proportion (65%) of PV stumps were electrically active and represented a source of firing in 20% of cases. PVI was performed by radiofrequency ablation in 13 patients (65%) and by cryoablation in the remaining 7 cases. Over a median follow up of 29.7 months, a total of 7 (33%) AF recurrences were recorded with neither a difference between patients treated with cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation or between the two genders. Conclusions: Catheter ablation by radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation in patients with pulmonary stumps is feasible and safe. Long-term outcomes are favorable, and a similar efficacy of catheter ablation has been noticed in both males and females

Effect of oxygen contamination on densification of Fe(Se,Te)

Abstract The optimization of sintering behaviour of iron chalcogenides superconducting materials is mandatory to enhance their critical current density, in order to pursuit their application in the production of superconducting wires. In this context it has been investigated here the effect of oxygen contamination on the material densification, considering the issues related to industrial oxygen-free isolated production lines. Our results show that the densification process is negatively affected by oxygen contamination. However, despite the difference in density, all sintered samples are characterized by similar structural and morphological features, and show comparable electrical and magnetic properties, with low critical current densities (Jc<103 A/cm2). These results suggest that densification is not the key limiting factor in these conditions, and that grain boundary or misorientation factors may play a greater role in limiting the performance of sintered iron chalcogenides superconductors

Mid- and long-term clinical results of surgical therapy in unicameral bone cysts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Unicameral (or simple) bone cysts (UBC) are benign tumours most often located in long bones of children and adolescents. Pathological fractures are common, and due to high recurrence rates, these lesions remain a challenge to treat. Numerous surgical procedures have been proposed, but there is no general consensus of the ideal treatment. The aim of this investigation therefore was to study the long-term outcome after surgical treatment in UBC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective analysis of 46 patients surgically treated for UBC was performed for short and mid-term outcome. Clinical and radiological outcome parameters were studied according to a modified Neer classification system. Long-term clinical information was retrieved via a questionnaire at a minimum follow-up of 10 years after surgery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty-six patients (17 female, 29 male) with a mean age of 10.0 ± 4.8 years and with histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of UBC were included. Pathological fractures were observed in 21 cases (46%). All patients underwent surgery for UBC (35 patients underwent curettage and bone grafting as a primary therapy, 4 curettage alone, 3 received corticoid instillation and 4 decompression by cannulated screws). Overall recurrence rate after the first surgical treatment was 39% (18/46), second (17.4% of all patients) and third recurrence (4.3%) were frequently observed and were addressed by revision surgery. Recurrence was significantly higher in young and in male patients as well as in active cysts. After a mean of 52 months, 40 out of 46 cysts were considered healed. Prognosis was significantly better when recurrence was observed later than 30 months after therapy. After a mean follow-up of 15.5 ± 6.2 years, 40 patients acknowledged clinically excellent results, while five reported mild and casual pain. Only one patient reported a mild limitation of range of motion.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest satisfactory overall long-term outcome for the surgical treatment of UBC, although short-and mid-term observation show a considerable rate of recurrence independent of the surgical technique.</p

Effect of Systemic Hypertension With Versus Without Left Ventricular Hypertrophy on the Progression of Atrial Fibrillation (from the Euro Heart Survey).

Hypertension is a risk factor for both progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) and development of AF-related complications, that is major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). It is unknown whether left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as a consequence of hypertension is also a risk factor for both these end points. We aimed to assess this in low-risk AF patients, also assessing gender-related differences. We included 799 patients from the Euro Heart Survey with nonvalvular AF and a baseline echocardiogram. Patients with and without hypertension were included. End points after 1 year were occurrence of AF progression, that is paroxysmal AF becoming persistent and/or permanent AF, and MACCE. Echocardiographic LVH was present in 33% of 379 hypertensive patients. AF progression after 1 year occurred in 10.2% of 373 patients with rhythm follow-up. In hypertensive patients with LVH, AF progression occurred more frequently as compared with hypertensive patients without LVH (23.3% vs 8.8%, p = 0.011). In hypertensive AF patients, LVH was the most important multivariably adjusted determinant of AF progression on multivariable logistic regression (odds ratio 4.84, 95% confidence interval 1.70 to 13.78, p = 0.003). This effect was only seen in male patients (27.5% vs 5.8%, p = 0.002), while in female hypertensive patients, no differences were found in AF progression rates regarding the presence or absence of LVH (15.2% vs 15.0%, p = 0.999). No differences were seen in MACCE for hypertensive patients with and without LVH. In conclusion, in men with hypertension, LVH is associated with AF progression. This association seems to be absent in hypertensive women

Progression From Paroxysmal to Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Clinical Correlates and Prognosis

Objectives: We investigated clinical correlates of atrial fibrillation (AF) progression and evaluated the prognosis of patients demonstrating AF progression in a large population. Background: Progression of paroxysmal AF to more sustained forms is frequently seen. However, not all patients will progress to persistent AF. Methods: We included 1,219 patients with paroxysmal AF who participated in the Euro Heart Survey on AF and had a known rhythm status at follow-up. Patients who experienced AF progression after 1 year of follow-up were identified. Results: Progression of AF occurred in 178 (15%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed that heart failure, age, previous transient ischemic attack or stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension were the only independent predictors of AF progression. Using the regression coefficient as a benchmark, we calculated the HATCH score. Nearly 50% of the patients with a HATCH score &gt;5 progressed to persistent AF compared with only 6% of the patients with a HATCH score of 0. During follow-up, patients with AF progression were more often admitted to the hospital and had more major adverse cardiovascular events. Conclusions: A substantial number of patients progress to sustained AF within 1 year. The clinical outcome of these patients regarding hospital admissions and major adverse cardiovascular events was worse compared with patients demonstrating no AF progression. Factors known to cause atrial structural remodeling (age and underlying heart disease) were independent predictors of AF progression. The HATCH score may help to identify patients who are likely to progress to sustained forms of AF in the near future. \ua9 2010 American College of Cardiology Foundation