Helicobacter pylori has been identified as a dominant factor in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer. The aim of this study was to examine peripheral blood and gastric lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production in patients with H pyloni colonisation. Sixty five dyspeptic patients attending for endoscopy were studied; 35 of these were H pyloni positive

Background: Some studies suggest smoking may result in poorer clinical outcomes in head and neck cancer, but the evidence is heterogeneous and some of it is poor quality. In a large, population-based, study we investigated: (i) whether smoking at diagnosis is an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival in head and neck cancer; and (ii) whether the association varies by site and treatment.Methods: Head and neck cancers (ICD10 C01-C14, and C30-32) diagnosed from 1994 to 2009 were abstracted from the National Cancer Registry Ireland, and classified by smoking status at diagnosis. Follow-up was for 5 years or until December 31, 2010. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare cancerspecific death rates in current, ex-, and never smokers. Subgroup analyses by site and treatment were conducted.Results: In total, 5,652 head and neck cancers were included. At diagnosis, 24% were never smokers, 20% exsmokers, and 56% current smokers. Compared with never smokers, current smokers had a significantly raised death rate from cancer [multivariate HR, 1.36; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21-1.53]. The association was similar after restriction to squamous cell tumors. A significantly increased cancer-related death rate was seen for current smokers with oral cavity, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers. The association was stronger in surgically treated patients [HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.25-1.79; P(interaction) ¼ 0.01]. Neither radiotherapy nor chemotherapy modified the effect of smoking.Conclusions: Patients with head and neck cancer who smoke at diagnosis have a significantly increased cancer death rate.Impact: Greater efforts are needed to encourage and support smoking cessation in those at risk of, and diagnosed with, head and neck cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(11); 2579-90. Ó2014 AACR.

Nanoparticles (NP) have emerged as a novel class of therapeutic agents that overcome many of the limitations of current cancer chemotherapeutics. However, a major challenge to many current NP platforms is unfavorable biodistribution, and limited tumor uptake, upon systemic delivery. Delivery, therefore, remains a critical barrier to widespread clinical adoption of NP therapeutics. To overcome these limitations, we have adapted the techniques of image-guided local drug delivery to develop nano-ablation and nano-embolization. Nano-ablation is a tumor ablative strategy that employs image-guided placement of electrodes into tumor tissue to electroporate tumor cells, resulting in rapid influx of NPs that is not dependent on cellular uptake machinery or stage of the cell cycle. Nano-embolization involves the image-guided delivery of NPs and embolic agents directly into the blood supply of tumors. We describe the design and testing of our innovative local delivery strategies using doxorubicin functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (DOX-SPIOs) in cell culture, and the N1S1 hepatoma and VX2 tumor models, imaged by high resolution 7T MRI. We demonstrate that local delivery techniques result in significantly increased intra-tumoral DOX-SPIO uptake, with limited off-target delivery in tumor bearing animal models. The techniques described are versatile enough to be extended to any NP platform, targeting any solid organ malignancy that can be accessed via imaging guidance.

Both receipt of blood transfusion and any degree of preoperative anemia were associated with increased length of hospital stay after controlling for other variables. Severe anemia, but not receipt of blood transfusion, was associated with increased rate of readmission. Our findings may help define actions to reduce length of stay and decrease rates of readmission.

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OBJECTIVESWe conducted a population-based analysis of time trends in length of stay (LOS), predictors of prolonged LOS and emergency readmission following resection for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).METHODSIncident lung cancers (ICDO2:C34), diagnosed between 2002 and 2008, were identified from the National Cancer Registry (NCR) of Ireland, and linked to hospital in-patient episodes (HIPE). For those with NSCLC who underwent lung resection, the associated hospital episode was identified. Factors predicting longer LOS (upper quartile, >20 days), and emergency readmission within 28 days of the index procedure (IP) were investigated using Poisson regression.RESULTSA total of 1284 patients underwent resection. Eighty-four (7%) subsequently died in hospital and 1200 (93%) were discharged. Hundred and nineteen of 1200 (10%) were readmitted as an emergency within 28 days of discharge. Median LOS after the IP was 13 days (inter-decile range: 7–35). Risk of prolonged LOS was significantly greater in patients >75 years, resident in an area of highest deprivation, with 2+ comorbidities, who had undergone surgery in a lower-volume hospital, and died in hospital subsequent to the IP. Emergency readmission was significantly more likely in patients who were resident in an area of highest deprivation, with 2+ comorbidities, and had Stage III disease or worse. The main reasons for emergency readmission were: pulmonary complications (29%), cardio/cerebrovascular events (21%) or infection (20%).CONCLUSIONSHalf of the patients had a LOS in excess of 13 days, which was longer than any other country with published data. Patient and health-service factors were associated with prolonged LOS, while patient and tumour characteristics were associated with risk of emergency readmission. Deprivation was a conspicuous determinant of both LOS and readmission.

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