Sensor-Embedded Face Masks for Detection of Volatiles in Breath: A Proof of Concept Study

The correlation between breath volatilome and health is prompting a growing interest in the development of sensors optimized for breath analysis. On the other hand, the outbreak of COVID-19 evidenced that breath is a vehicle of infection; thus, the introduction of low-cost and disposable devices is becoming urgent for a clinical implementation of breath analysis. In this paper, a proof of concept about the functionalization of face masks is provided. Porphyrin-based sensors are among the most performant devices for breath analysis, but since porphyrins are scarcely conductive, they make use of costly and bulky mass or optical transducers. To overcome this drawback, we introduce here a hybrid material made of conducting polymer and porphyrins. The resulting material can be easily deposited on the internal surface of standard FFP face masks producing resistive sensors that retain the chemical sensitivity of porphyrins implementing their combinatorial selectivity for the identification of volatile compounds and the classification of complex samples. The sensitivity of sensors has been tested with respect to a set of seven volatile compounds representative of diverse chemical families. Sensors react to all compounds but with a different sensitivity pattern. Functionalized face masks have been tested in a proof-of-concept test aimed at identifying changes of breath due to the ingestion of beverages (coffee and wine) and solid food (banana- and mint-flavored candies). Results indicate that sensors can detect volatile compounds against the background of normal breath VOCs, suggesting the possibility to embed sensors in face masks for extensive breath analysis

Primary chest wall Burkitt lymphoma in a case of HIV infection with immune reconstitution

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) develops at an increased frequency in patients with HIV irrespective of the CD4 count. Lymph nodes and gastrointestinal tract are common sites of involvement by BL; however, primary chest wall BL is rare. A 52-year-old man on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV with a CD4 count of 0.204 x 109 cells/L presented with a 3-month history of enlarging chest wall mass. PET-CT scan imaging showed a bulky mass involving the musculoskeletal planes of left chest wall with the involvement of underlying pleura. Biopsy with immunohistochemistry confirmed BL. Patient received EPOCH-R (infusional etoposide, vincristine, and doxorubicin with prednisone, cyclophosphamide and rituximab) regime for six cycles along with HAART, attained complete remission (CR) and remains free of BL at 5 years. BL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue masses in HIV-infected patients irrespective of their CD4 count.

Malignant Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Pleura: Case Report

Background: Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura are rare diseases of the thoracic cavity. They frequently grow unnoticed until they exert compressive effects on adjacent organs. Treatment of solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura is surgical resection. Post-operative surveillance is recommended to identify early recurrent disease. Case Presentation: We present a rare case of a 76-year-old female patient with no previous pulmonary history who presented with progressive dyspnea, fatigue, and involuntary weight loss. On chest X-ray and computed chest tomography scan, she was found to have a 16.7 cm x 12.8 cm x 10.1 cm bulky mass occupying the left hemithorax with associated compressive atelectasis of the lung. She underwent a computed tomography guided biopsy that revealed the mass to be a solitary fibrous tumor. The patient underwent left muscle sparing lateral thoracotomy with complete resection of the tumor. Post procedure, the left lung fully expanded. 18 months post-resection, she developed a 3.3 cm x 1.7 cm tumor along the left internal thoracic artery lymph node chain which was histologically identical to the resected tumor. The patient is currently being treated with bevacizumab and temozolomide. Conclusion: Solitary fibrous tumors are very rare pleural tumors. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice followed by close post-operative surveillance.

The Case Selection for Vaginal Cuff Brachytherapy in Cervical Cancer Patients After Radical Hysterectomy and External Beam Radiation Therapy

ObjectiveTo explore the suitable cases for vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCB) combined with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in the postoperative treatment of cervical cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 214 postoperative cervical cancer patients who received radiotherapy from January 2008 to December 2015. Among them, 146 patients received postoperative EBRT, 68 received EBRT plus VCB. There was no statistical difference in clinical and pathological characteristics between these two groups. Those who with negative vaginal cuff underwent supplemented 12–18 Gy/2–3 Fx VCB. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan–Meier method, and Cox model was used to analyze prognostic factors.ResultsThe median follow-up was 52 months (9–136 months), and 4-year RFS (recurrence-free survival) was 77%. Among them, 58 patients (27.10%) had local or distant recurrences, 29 (13.55%) in pelvis, six (2.80%) with metastases to para-aortic, 19 (8.88%) with distant metastases (including inguinal lymph nodes) and four (1.87%) with both local and distant recurrences. The postoperative brachytherapy boost did not improve RFS or OS (overall survival) among the investigated subjects, P = 0.77, P = 0.99, respectively. Neither it decreased the local relapse in the pelvis or vaginal cuff, P = 0.56, P = 0.59. Subgroup analyses showed that brachytherapy boost improved RFS in patients who had bulky mass (>4 cm) as well as 1) with deep stromal invasion (>50% stromal invasion), P = 0.012 or 2) received low EBRT dose (≤45 Gy), P = 0.033, and in patients with deep stromal invasion as well as received low EBRT dose (P = 0.018).ConclusionsWe first proposed the case selection model for postoperative EBRT plus VCB. Brachytherapy boost were considered in the setting of postoperative radiotherapy if the patients had at least two out of these following factors: bulky mass, deep stromal invasion and low EBRT dose.

The Case Selection for Vaginal Cuff Brachytherapy in Cervical Cancer Patients after Radical Hysterectomy and External Beam Radiation Therapy

ObjectiveTo Explore the suitable cases for vaginal cuff brachytherapy(VCB) combined with external beam radiation therapy(EBRT) in the postoperative treatment of cervical cancer. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 214 postoperative cervical cancer patients who received radiotherapy from January 2008 to December 2015. Among them, 146 patients received postoperative EBRT, 68 received EBRT plus VCB. There was no statistical difference in clinical and pathological characteristics between these two groups. Those who with negative vaginal cuff underwent supplemented 12-18Gy/2-3Fx VCB. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox model was used to analyze prognostic factors. ResultsThe median follow-up was 52 months (9-136 months), and 4-year RFS (recurrence-free survival) was 77%. Among them, 58 patients had local or distant recurrences, 29 in pelvic, 8 with metastases to para-aortic or inguinal lymph nodes, 17 with distant metastases and 4 with both local and distant recurrences. The postoperative brachytherapy boost did not improve RFS or OS (overall survival) among the investigated subjects, P=0.77, P=0.99, respectively. Neither it decreased the local relapse in the pelvis or vaginal cuff, P=0.56, P=0.59. Subgroup analyses showed that brachytherapy boost improved RFS in patients who had bulky mass (>4cm) as well as 1) with deep stromal invasion (>50% stromal invasion), P=0.012 or 2) received low EBRT dose (≤ 45Gy), P=0.033, and in patients with deep stromal invasion as well as received low EBRT dose (P=0.018). ConclusionsWe first proposed the case selection model for postoperative EBRT plus VCB. Brachytherapy boost were considered in the setting of postoperative radiotherapy if the patients had at least 2 out of these following factors: bulky mass, deep stromal invasion and low EBRT dose.

Structural description of sea turtle fibropapilloma

Fibropapillomatosis is a neoplastic disease that affects sea turtles. It is characterized by multiple papillomas, fibropapillomas and cutaneous and/or visceral fibromas. Although its etiology has not been fully elucidated, it is known that there is a strong involvement of an alpha - herpesvirus, but the influence of other factors such as parasites, genetics, chemical carcinogens, contaminants, immunosuppression and ultraviolet radiation may be important in the disease, being pointed out as one of the main causes of a reduction in the green turtle population. Thus, the objective of this article was to describe the morphology of cutaneous fibropapillomas found in specimens of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), using light and scanning electron microscopy in order to contribute to the mechanism of tumor formation. Microscopically, it presented hyperplastic stromal proliferation and epidermal proliferation with hyperkeratosis. The bulky mass was coated with keratin, with some keratinocyte invaginations, that allowed the keratin to infiltrate from the epidermis into the dermis, forming large keratinized circular spirals. Another fact that we observed was the influence of the inflammation of the tumors caused by ectoparasites.

Rituximab and Specific Therapy for Patients with Burkitt's Leukemia and Lymphoma. Results of the BURKIMAB14 Trial from the Spanish Pethema and Geltamo Groups in 80 Patients

Background and objective. Specific immunochemotherapy is the standard treatment of patients with Burkitt leukemia or lymphoma (BL/L). The BURKIMAB08 trial showed 3-yr overall survival (OS) probability of 72% (Ribera JM et al, Cancer. 2013; 119:1660-8). However, the toxicity was high, and 11% of patients died in complete response (CR). In the BURKIMAB14 trial, dose-intensity of chemotherapy blocks was reduced in patients ≤55 years who achieved CR, with the aim to decrease the death rate without impact on efficacy. We present the results of this trial in 80 patients with BL/L and compare them with those of the BURKIMAB08 trial. Patients and method. All patients received a pre-phase with cyclophosphamide, prednisone and rituximab. Patients in localized stages (I-II non-bulky) received 4 blocks of immunochemotherapy (A1, B1, C1, A2), with 33% reduction of doses of iphosphamide, methotrexate and ARA-C in patients ≤55 years in CR (assessed by PET-CT) after B1 cycle. Patients in stages III-IV and mature B-ALL received 6 immunochemotherapy blocks (A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2), with the same dose reduction in cycles C1, A2, B2, C2 in patients ≤55 years in CR after B1 cycle. Patients >55 years received reduced intensity chemotherapy (as in BURKIMAB08) in both induction and post-induction cycles. The CR rate, cumulated incidence of relapse (CIR) and OS were analyzed and compared with those from the BURKIMAB08 trial. Results. From 2014-2019, 80 patients with BL/L were enrolled. Median age (range): 48 (17-80) years, 57 (71%) ≤55 years, 61 males (76%), 15 (19%) patients in stages I-II non-bulky and 65 (81%) in stages III-IV, 25 of whom (38%) had mature B-ALL. 18 patients (23%) were HIV positive, 13 (17%) showed CNS involvement at diagnosis and 23 (31%) bulky mass (>10 cm). 45 patients (60%) had intermediate-high or high IPI. All patients in stages I-II non-bulky showed CR. 4/65 patients in stages III-IV or mature B-ALL are receiving induction therapy, 1/65 withdrew the trial, 7/60 (12%) died in induction, 2/60 (3%) were resistant and 51/60 (85%) achieved CR. Of them, 6 relapsed, 3 withdrew the trial and 3 died in CR (one in the group of localized stage). OS probability at 3 years was 74% (95%CI: 64%-84%) (localized stages 100% [NE], advanced stages 68% [56%-80%], p=0.047, without difference in patients in stages III-IV vs. mature B-ALL, Figure 1). Patients >55 years showed a significantly lower probability of OS (61% [41%-81%] vs. 80% [68%-92%], p=0.022, Figure 2). A lower but non-statistically significant OS probability was observed in HIV-infected vs. non-HIV-positive patients (61% [36%-86%] vs. 78% [67%-89%], p=0.310). The CIR for patients in advanced stage/mature B-ALL was 13% (3%-28%)A trend for lower death rate in CR was observed in BURKIMAB14 vs. BURKIMAB 08 trial (3/62 vs. 16/151, p=0.180), without differences in CIR (9% [3%-21%] vs. 12% [6%-20%]) or in OS (74% [64%-84%] vs. 72% [65%-79%], respectively). Conclusions. The results of the BURKIMAB14 trial are promising, especially for patients in localized stages and for those <55 years. The death rate in CR was lower compared with the BURKIMAB08 trial. The reduction of the dose-intensity of chemotherapy in CR patients did not have impact on the CIR. Supported in part with the grants PI14/01971 FIS, Instituto Carlos III, SGR 288 (GRC) y Fundación "La Caixa". Figure 1. OS according to stage (I-II, vs. III-IV vs. mature B ALL) Figure 2. OS according to age (≤55 y vs >55 y) Figure 1 Disclosures Abrisqueta: Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodations, expenses, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodations, expenses, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodations, expenses, Speakers Bureau. Fernandez:Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Terol:Roche: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Gimeno Vázquez:JANSSEN: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Speakers Bureau. Sancho:Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board; Novartis: Honoraria; Kern Pharma: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Honoraria; Celltrion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squib: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sandoz: Consultancy; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Management of the Forest Soils Fertility Based on Ecological Models in the South-Eastern Part of the Great Caucasus

The bloks which are a structural part of the ecological fertility model in the mountain-forest brown and mountain-forest brown soils on the south-eastern slope of the Great Caucasus besides an importance of the ecological models composition have been analyzed in the article. By the main purpose of the given investigations a creation of ecological models of fertility was mountain-forest brown soils (middle mountain broken) and mountainforest brown soils (low mountain (mean broken), interrelation and dependence of biocenosis condition on the environment factors are studied a role of the main parameters (climate, relief, soil and etc) is revealed, the real and optimal parameters of the environment are established for the ecological models blocks creation. The model consists of 7 (seven) blocks: agroecological block soil structure block, soil regimes block, soil features block. value block, agromelioration block and forests biometric block. During the model blocks compiling the main diagnostic indiced as a granulometric composition, humus quantity and supply, water suspension pH, NPK, bulky mass, porosity and water-stable aggregates (> 0,25mm and > 1,00mm) in the mountain-forest brown and mountain-forest brown soils have been taken into account. A comparative character of the ecological fertility models in two different soil types which are dominant in forest ecosystems has been given.