Evaluating Risks and Benefits of Evolving Systemic Treatments of Neuroendocrine Tumors

In recent years, the number of treatments for metastatic, well-differentiated gastrointestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has expanded significantly. New medications for tumor control as well as symptom control include somatostatin analogues, everolimus, sunitinib, telotristat, and lutetium Lu 177 (¹⁷⁷Lu)-dotatate. These new therapies have been approved based on randomized clinical trials—an effort that has required international cooperation given the relative scarcity of metastatic NETs.

http://bit.ly/2tjZbXW

Error in Figure

In the Original Investigation by Unger et al, published online in JAMA Oncology on January 10, 2019, there was an error in Figure 3C. The number above the bar was 6318 but should have been 6317. This article has been corrected online.

http://bit.ly/2GOXLNh

Ageing profiles of Caucasian and Chinese cohorts – focus on hands skin

Topographic, colour and biophysic ageing profile of dorsal hand skin from a Caucasian and a Chinese cohort.

Abstract

Objective

In spite of hand care being a dynamic segment of skin care, hands skin physiology has been receiving little attention in comparison to facial skin. In the present study, we aimed at gathering a comprehensive set of skin data from the dorsal part of the hand to study age related‐changes in two ethnic groups (Caucasian and Chinese).

Methods

Skin topographic, skin colour/colour heterogeneities, skin chromophores and skin biophysical measurements of 116 Caucasian and Chinese female volunteers aged 30–65 years old were collected in Ireland and in China as part of a cross‐sectional study.

Results

Topographic alterations happened at both micro and macro scales with a noticeable delay in the onset of 10 years for the Chinese cohort. Similar evolution of skin colour with ageing was observed between the two cohorts and strong dissimilarities were seen when it came to colour heterogeneities and melanin hyper concentration, with a 20‐year delay in severity for the Chinese cohort. A similar sharp drop of skin hydration occurred when reaching the 60's regardless of the group and substantial differences were recorded for skin biomechanical properties of the skin.

Conclusion

These results provide additional insights about hand skin physiology in relation to ageing and ethnic differences, especially when put into perspective with what is currently known about facial ageing. This research yield additional material for hand cream product rationale and strategies for mitigating the appearance of ageing hands.

Résumé

Objectif

Même si le soin pour les mains demeure un segment dynamique en termes de ventes de produits cosmétiques, peu d'études se sont penchées sur la physiologie de la peau des mains en comparaison du visage. Le but de cette étude est d'élucider les changements de la partie dorsale de la main induits par le vieillissement, au sein de deux groupes ethniques (Caucasienne et Chinoise).

Methodes

Des mesures de la topographie, de couleur et de distribution de la couleur, de chromophores et des propriétés biophysiques de la peau de la main ont été collectées sur 116 sujets féminins d'origine caucasienne ou chinoise, âgées entre 30 et 65 ans, en Irlande et en Chine dans le cadre d'une étude cross‐sectionnelle.

Resultats

Des altérations de la topographie de la peau ont été observés à plusieurs échelles, micro et macroscopique, avec néanmoins un délai de 10 ans dans la détérioration de la peau en faveur du panel Chinois. Au niveau de la couleur, des évolutions similaires ont été mesurées dans les deux panels, avec cependant de fortes dissimilarités pour ce qui est de la distribution de la couleur de la peau et de l'hyperconcentration de mélanine, avec des changements retardés de 20 ans en faveur du panel d'origine chinoise. Un déclin d'hydratation significatif s'est produit à partir de la soixantaine dans les deux panels étudiés tandis que des différences flagrantes ont été relevées en ce qui concerne les propriétés biomécaniques de la peau.

Conclusion

Ces résultats offre des données supplémentaires sur la physiologie de la peau des mains lors du vieillissement cutané et sur les différences à prendre en compte entre deux groupes ethniques très distincts, surtout si l'on considère les différences avec le vieillissement du visage. Cette étude fournit un support additionnel pour la conception de crèmes pour les mains et les stratégies à mettre en place pour atténuer l'apparence de mains âgées.

http://bit.ly/2GpQLH6

Identification of the recently described plasminogen gene mutation p.Lys330Glu in a family from Northern Germany with hereditary angioedema

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a life-threatening disease characterized by recurrent episodes of subcutaneous and mucosal swellings and abdominal cramping. Corticosteroids and antihistamines, which are usually...

http://bit.ly/2V35c7n

Parotidectomy in patients with head and neck cutaneous melanoma with cervical lymph node involvement

Abstract

Background

Parotidectomy in melanoma of the coronal scalp and face with clinically involved cervical lymph node metastasis is based on predicted cervical lymphatic drainage described by O'Brien.

Methods

In total, 40 parotidectomies with en bloc therapeutic neck dissection were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Lymphatic spread of melanoma to the parotid lymph nodes was observed in 10 of 40 specimens (25%). Eight of the 10 parotid‐positive patients developed a recurrence vs 17 of the 30 parotid‐negative patients (P = 0.28). There were no differences in overall survival, melanoma‐specific survival, and disease‐free survival between the parotid‐positive and parotid‐negative patients.

Conclusion

Although in this series no survival differences were found, parotidectomy still merits a sustained role in therapeutic neck dissection procedures to improve regional control and to prevent facial nerve damage after surgery for a second relapse from occult metastases in the parotid.

http://bit.ly/2N5cCE3

Acknowledgment of Reviewers 2018

Violence and Gender, Ahead of Print.


http://bit.ly/2S1rDrt

Decreased ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine in the nasal polyp epithelium

Abstract

Objective

We investigated the difference in ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine in ex vivo and the difference in the expressions of associated molecules (M1/M3 muscarinic receptors, pannexin‐1 and P2X7 purinergic receptor) between the nasal polyp and turbinate mucosa.

Study Design

Laboratorial study.

Participants

Nasal polyp and inferior turbinate were collected from patients with hypertrophic rhinitis and/or nasal polyp during endoscopic sinonasal surgery.

Main outcome measures

The mucosa was cut into thin strips, and ciliary movement was observed under a phase‐contrast light microscope equipped with a high‐speed digital video camera. The samples were also examined by scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence immunohistochemistry, and quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Cilia were well preserved in both tissues at the ultrastructural level. The baseline ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was not different between the two tissues. The CBF of the turbinate was significantly increased by stimulation with acetylcholine (P<0.001), but that of the polyp was not. The ratio of the acetylcholine‐stimulated CBF to the baseline CBF was significantly lower in the polyp than in the turbinate (P<0.001). Immunohistochemical study revealed that immunoreactivities for M3, pannexin‐1 and P2X7 were weaker in the polyp than in the turbinate. The mRNA expressions of M1, M3 and P2X7 were significantly lower and that of pannexin‐1 tended to be lower in the polyp than in the turbinate.

Conclusions

These results indicate that ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine is decreased in the nasal polyp. This may be explained by the decreased expressions of M3, P2X7 and probably pannexin‐1 in this tissue.

Keywords

Nasal polyp, ciliary beat frequency, acetylcholine, muscarinic receptor, pannexin‐1 channel, P2X7 purinergic receptor

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

http://bit.ly/2N70jan