No abstract

It is well known that extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NK/TCL) nasal type clusters in Asian countries. A large series of 78 cases of nasal NK/TCL from Peru is analyzed in the present study. Two histologic groups 1 (monomorphic) and 2 (polymorphic), were segregated according to the proportion of large cells (above and below 30%, respectively). Catalyzed signal amplification technique was performed for enhancement of immunohistochemistry reactivities. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) sequences and types were investigated using polymerase chain reaction. Clinical characteristics, stage, outcome, and response to treatment were evaluated in both groups. Fourteen cases (18%) and 64 cases (82%) corresponded to groups 1 and 2, respectively. Except for nasal obstruction, more common in group 2, all other symptoms were similar in both groups. Local extension and staging were also comparable. Both groups showed CD3c+ CD2+ CD56+ CD3s- CD20- immunophenotype. All cases were positive for EBV. In this series type-2 EBV was found more frequent than type-1 EBV, contrarily to that observed in Asian series. However, about one-third of cases simultaneously harbored both viral types. Both groups received an average of 50-Gy dose of radiation therapy (RT), with or without chemotherapy. Complete therapeutic response was achieved in 89% of group 1 and in 74% of group 2, but this difference was not statistically significant. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding disease-free survival, failure-free survival, relapse, and overall survival. The overall survival, in both groups, was longer for patients treated with RT alone compared with those treated with combined RT therapy and chemotherapy. The present study has shown that dividing nasal NK/TCL in monomorphic and polymorphic variants, according to frequency of large cells, does not correlate with clinical and prognostic factors.

No abstract

We have reviewed clinically, morphologically, and immunophenotypically a series of 14 Epstein-Bar virus (EBV)+ cutaneous natural killer cell (NK)/T-cell lymphoma from Peru. Most (11 out of 14) of these cases fit well into the category of Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma (HVLL), but 3 have a different clinical presentation, without facial involvement. In all 14 cases, skin lesions present in both the sun-exposed and nonexposed areas exhibited a slowly progressive relapsing course, changing from edema, to blistering, ulceration, and final scarring. The immunophenotype had a cytotoxic T or NK-cell lineage. The mean time of disease before admission to hospital was 69 months (range, 6 mo to 31 y). Only 2 patients had fever, hepatosplenomegaly, systemic lymphadenopathy, and a high lactate dehydrodenage (LDH) level at the time of diagnosis, whereas 10 had facial swelling. After treatment, only 4 patients remain alive, although with persistent disease. Ten patients died after a mean follow-up of 11.6 months after the initial diagnosis (range, 1 to 32 mo), because of concurrent infections (4 cases), disease progression (4 patients) or both (2 patients). Endemic Epstein-Bar virus (EBV)-positive cutaneous NK/T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders in childhood and early adulthood are characterized by a protracted clinical course, eventually leading to an aggressive phase characterized by concurrent infections and disease progression.

No abstract

Composite solid surfaces with high content of functional groups (FGs) are useful materials in different types of applications requiring stimuli-responsive “hard/soft” architectures, their improved properties rising from the combination of organic–inorganic parts. Among different types of weak polyelectrolytes, poly­(ethyleneimine) (PEI) is of great interest in the construction of composite systems with thin layer-by-layer (LbL) organic films due to the large number of amino groups per unit mass of polymer. Herein, the spherical silica microparticles were modified with linear (L) or branched (B) PEI chains using LbL deposition of a copper complex (PEIL–Cu2+ or PEIB–Cu2+) and poly­(acrylic acid) (PAA), glutaraldehyde selective cross-linking, followed by copper and PAA extraction from the multilayer. The newly formed silica/(PEIL)10 and silica/(PEIB)10 composites were used in batch and column sorption/desorption experiments of four heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Cd2+). In noncompetitive conditions ([FG]/Σ­[M2+] > 9), all heavy metal ions were retained on composites, demonstrating the potential application of the prepared functional microparticles in surface water treatment. However, in competitive conditions ([FG]/Σ­[M2+] < 9), only Cu2+ is sorbed in high amount (∼2.5 mmol·g–1 PEI) on composites, with simultaneous displacement of already sorbed ions, demonstrating the solid-phase extraction and chromatographic properties of the synthesized silica/(PEIL) n and silica/(PEIB) n composites.

There are different biological and clinical patterns of lung cancer between genders indicating intrinsic differences leading to increased sensitivity to cigarette smoke-induced DNA damage, mutational patterns of KRAS and better clinical outcomes in women while differences between genders at gene-expression levels was not previously reported. Here we show an enrichment of immune genes in NSCLC in women compared to men. We found in a GSEA analysis (by biological processes annotated from Gene Ontology) of six public datasets a repeated observation of immune gene sets enrichment in women. “Immune system process”, “immune response”, “defense response”, “cellular defense response” and “regulation of immune system process” were the gene sets most over-represented while APOBEC3G, APOBEC3F, LAT, CD1D and CCL5 represented the top-five core genes. Characterization of immune cell composition with the platform CIBERSORT showed no differences between genders; however, there were differences when tumor tissues were compared to normal tissues. Our results suggest different immune responses in NSCLC between genders that could be related with the different clinical outcome.

Polybetaines, that have moieties bearing both cationic (quaternary ammonium group) and anionic groups (carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate/phosphinate/phosphonate groups) situated in the same structural unit represent an important class of smart polymers with unique and specific properties, belonging to the family of zwitterionic materials. According to the anionic groups, polybetaines can be divided into three major classes: poly(carboxybetaines), poly(sulfobetaines) and poly(phosphobetaines). The structural diversity of polybetaines and their special properties such as, antifouling, antimicrobial, strong hydration properties and good biocompatibility lead to their use in nanotechnology, biological and medical fields, water remediation, hydrometallurgy and the oil industry. In this review we aimed to highlight the recent developments achieved in the field of biomedical applications of polybetaines such as: antifouling, antimicrobial and implant coatings, wound healing and drug delivery systems.