Local control and short-term outcomes after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery segmentectomy versus lobectomy for pT1c pN0 non-small-cell lung cancer.

The aim of this study was to compare short-term outcomes and local control in pT1c pN0 non-small-cell lung cancer that were intentionally treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy or segmentectomy. Multicentre retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing VATS lobectomy (VL) or VATS segmentectomy (VS) for pT1c pN0 non-small-cell lung cancer from January 2014 to October 2021. Patients' characteristics, postoperative outcomes and survival were compared. In total, 162 patients underwent VL (n = 81) or VS (n = 81). Except for age [median (interquartile range) 68 (60-73) vs 71 (65-76) years; P = 0.034] and past medical history of cancer (32% vs 48%; P = 0.038), there was no difference between VL and VS in terms of demographics and comorbidities. Overall 30-day postoperative morbidity was similar in both groups (34% vs 30%; P = 0.5). The median time for chest tube removal [3 (1-5) vs 2 (1-3) days; P = 0.002] and median postoperative length of stay [6 (4-9) vs 5 (3-7) days; P = 0.039] were in favour of the VS group. Significantly larger tumour size (mean ± standard deviation 25.1 ± 3.1 vs 23.6 ± 3.1 mm; P = 0.001) and an increased number of lymph nodes removal [median (interquartile range) 14 (9-23) vs 10 (6-15); P < 0.001] were found in the VL group. During the follow-up [median (interquartile range) 31 (14-48) months], no statistical difference was found for local and distant recurrence in VL groups (12.3%) and VS group (6.1%) (P = 0.183). Overall survival (80% vs 80%) was comparable between both groups (P = 0.166). Despite a short follow-up, our preliminary data shows that local control is comparable for VL and VS

Performance of prolonged air leak scoring systems in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery segmentectomy.

We assessed the accuracy of 3 validated lobectomy scoring systems to predict prolonged air leak (PAL) in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy. We reviewed all consecutive patients who had a VATS segmentectomy between January 2016 and October 2020. We determined PALs on postoperative day 5. These findings were correlated with the calculated Brunelli (gender, age, body mass index [BMI], forced expiratory volume in 1 s < 80 and pleural adhesion), Epithor (gender, location, dyspnoea score, BMI, type of resection and pleural adhesion) and European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) (gender, BMI and forced expiratory volume in 1 s) scores of each patient. A total of 453 patients (mean age: 66.5 years, female/male sex ratio: 226/227) underwent a VATS segmentectomy for malignant (n = 400) and non-malignant (n = 53) disease. Postoperative cardiopulmonary complications and in-hospital mortality rates were 19.6% and 0.4%, respectively. Median chest tube drainage duration and hospital stay were 2 (interquartile range: 1-4) and 4 (interquartile range: 3-7) days, respectively. On day 5, the prevalence of PAL was 14.1%. The ESTS, Brunelli and Epithor scores for the treated population were, respectively, class A (6.8%), class B (3.2%), class C (10.8%) and class D (28.2%); very low and low (0%), moderate (5%), high (6.3%) and very high (21%); and class A (7%), class B (13.2%), class C (24%) and class D (27.8%). All scores correlated with PAL (p ≤ 0.001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were 0.686, 0.680 and 0.644, respectively. All 3 scoring systems were correlated with PAL > 5 days following the VATS segmentectomies. ESTS scores seem easier to introduce in clinical practice, but validation by a multicentre cohort is mandatory

Genetic analysis of Lolium. I. Identification of linkage groups and the establishment of a genetic map

A genetic map of Lolium has been produced using isozyme, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers applied to a segregating family derived from an F1 hybrid plant of L. perenne x L. multiflorum provenance, crossed on to a doubled haploid L. perenne. A total of 106 markers, out of a total of 160 polymorphic loci analysed, have been ascribed to seven linkage groups covering a map distance of 692 cM. Two of these groups may be allocated to chromosomes 2 and 6 of the Lolium genome. The remaining unallocated markers, the majority of which showed severe segregation distortion, could be associated into small groups of two or three markers which showed no linkage with the main groups at a LOD of 2.8 or, if associated, could not be mapped in a satisfactory manner. This high incidence of disturbed segregations could be accounted for by the use of an interspecific hybrid between two species of differing genome size, with consequent cytological imbalance

Roles for the interleukin-4 receptor and associated JAK/STAT proteins in human articular chondrocyte mechanotransduction

SummaryObjectiveTo identify functional interleukin-4 (IL4) receptor (IL4R) subtypes and associated Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) molecules in human articular chondrocytes and assess the role of JAK/STAT proteins in chondrocyte mechanotransduction.MethodsExpression of IL4R subunits and associated molecules was assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Functional IL4R were identified by chemical crosslinking of IL4-stimulated chondrocytes and western blotting. JAK and STAT phosphorylation was assessed by western blotting.ResultsChondrocytes from normal and osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage express IL4Rα, γc and IL13Rα1 subunits (components of the Type I and Type II IL4R). In the presence of IL4 only functional Type II IL4Rs were identified in normal or OA chondrocytes. With the exception of STAT2, no differences in JAK/STAT expression were detected between normal and OA cartilage. STAT2 was expressed in OA but not normal chondrocytes. Mechanical stimulation (MS) resulted in an IL4R-dependent increase in phosphorylated Tyk2 in normal chondrocytes, which could be abolished by IL1β preincubation. No phosphorylation of STAT5 or STAT6 was detected in either normal or OA chondrocytes following mechanical stimulation (MS) IL4 stimulation resulted in a decrease in Tyk2 phosphorylation and an increase in phosphorylation of STAT6 in both normal and OA chondrocytes.ConclusionChondrocytes from normal and OA cartilage signal through a Type II IL4R. This signalling is via a STAT6-independent pathway. Differences in IL4 signalling are likely due to crosstalk between integrin and cytokine signalling pathways, and not differences in IL4R expression