The tale of TILs in breast cancer : a report from the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group

The advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in modern oncology has significantly improved survival in several cancer settings. A subgroup of women with breast cancer (BC) has immunogenic infiltration of lymphocytes with expression of programmed deathligand 1 (PD-L1). These patients may potentially benefit from ICI targeting the programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 signaling axis. The use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as predictive and prognostic biomarkers has been under intense examination. Emerging data suggest that TILs are associated with response to both cytotoxic treatments and immunotherapy, particularly for patients with triple-negative BC. In this review from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group, we discuss (a) the biological understanding of TILs, (b) their analytical and clinical validity and efforts toward the clinical utility in BC, and (c) the current status of PD-L1 and TIL testing across different continents, including experiences from low-to-middle-income countries, incorporating also the view of a patient advocate. This information will help set the stage for future approaches to optimize the understanding and clinical utilization of TIL analysis in patients with BC.The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; the Cure; the Royal Australasian College of Physicians; the NIH/NCI ; the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia Endowed Chair; the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, New York and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).www.nature.com/npjbcanceram2022Immunolog

Analysis of differential expression of protease-activated receptors in patients with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis

Background Ever since its characterization in the 1970s, allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) has been the subject of much controversy, especially regarding its pathogenesis. In this study, we analyzed the differential expression of genes that encode protease-activated receptors (PAR) in patients with AFRS and patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and tried to understand the pathogenic basis of this disease. Objective To analyze the differential expression of PAR genes in patients with AFRS and in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Methods Mucosa from ethmoid sinuses of 51 patients (tests and controls) was biopsied and evaluated for messenger RNA expression of PAR genes by using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. Each of the four PAR genes, i.e., par1, par2, par3 and par4 was amplified, the final gene products were run on 1.8% agarose gel and analyzed by densitometry to calculate differential expression. The significance level was determined as p ≤ 0.05. Results It was observed that the expressions of all four par genes were higher in the test samples compared with the controls, but statistical significance was achieved only for par1 (p=0.004) and par2 (p=0.05). Comparative expression of the four PAR genes was also performed within the test and control groups, and a statistically significant difference was seen between par1 and par2 (p=0.007), par1 and par3 (p=0.029), par1 and par4 (p=0.0001), par2 and par4 (p=0.002), and par3 and par4 (p=0.009) in the test group. In the control group as well, par1, par2, and par3 exhibited a higher expression compared with par4 but the difference was significant between par3 and par4 genes only. Conclusion Patients with AFRS expressed increased levels of PAR genes in their nasal mucosa, and, of the four PAR genes, a higher expression of par1, par2, and par3 was observed in both the groups compared with par4. This information contributes toward our understanding of pathogenesis and possibly treatment of AFRS

Clinical Symptoms and Psychosocial Problems of Cancer Patients Attending Pain and Palliative Care Clinic

Abstract Palliative care is the total care which improves the quality of life of patients suffering from cancer and chronic incurable disease. Palliative care will start immediately after the detection of cancer and continue throughout the course of illness and till the end of life. This study was conducted to understand the common symptoms and psychosocial problems of cancer patients attending the pain and palliative care clinic, Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. A record based cross-sectional study included all new cancer patients registered in OP during Aug 1 st to Oct 31 st 2012. Incomplete records were excluded and 150 study subjects were randomly selected for analysis. Mean age of the participants was 55.8±1.36. About 57.3% were males and 42.7% were females. Among males, most common cancer was in gastrointestinal tract and lung cancer was the second commonest. Among females, cancer in breast was the most common followed by cancer in gastrointestinal tract. Regarding the symptom analysis, majority (94.7%) had pain, 48.7% had sleeplessness, 40.7% had constipation and 38% each had loss of appetite and tiredness. This study focused the need for palliative care clinic and importance of proper intervention of physical, psychological and socio-economic problems of cancer patients

Nuclear Data Sheets for A=218A=218

International audienceThe evaluated data are presented for 11 known A=218 nulcides (Pb, Bi, Po, At, Rn, Fr, Ra, Ac, Th, Pa and U). For 218 Pb, 218 Bi, 218 At and 218 Pa, data are available only for the ground states. For 218 U, only the g.s. and a high-spin isomer are known, with no data on γ -ray transitions available. For 218 Po, ten excited states are known from 218 Bi decay, with no knowledge on the multipolarities of gamma-ray transitions. For 218 Th, five excited states in the g.s. band are known from an in-beam γ -ray study. Data on level half-lives, multipolarities and mixing ratios of gamma transitions is generally lacking for A=218 nuclei. The static magnetic dipole moment has been measured for only an isomer in 218 Fr. With the exception of a new nuclide, 218 Pb, and measurements of half-lives of ground states of a few nuclides of A=218 and A=222, no substantial structure information has become available since the previous evaluation in 2006. Q values are adopted from 2017Wa10 (AME-2016). The present evaluation supersedes the previous A=218 ENSDF evaluations, 2006Ja03, 1995El08, 1987El12 and 1977To13. This evaluation was carried out as part of a joint IAEA-ICTP workshop for Nuclear Structure and Decay Data, organized and hosted by the IAEA, Vienna, and ICTP, Trieste, October 15–26, 2018

Journal of International Academic Research for Multidisciplinary Editorial Board PANGS OF PARTITION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ICE CANDY MAN AND TRAIN TO PAKISTAN

ABSTRAC