RESUMEN

Microsatellite instability (MSI) and POLD1 mutations are usually described in colorectal tumours in patients with polyposis syndrome but rarely found in breast tumours. This case describes a metastatic luminal B breast tumour in a young patient with an important family history of cancer. Mutational studies found a Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS)-type alteration in POLD1 that motivated the study for MSI, which was found positive. Recent data point towards the use of pembrolizumab as a treatment option for tumour presenting with MSI instead of chemotherapy.

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The prime incision technique is an oncoplastic surgery aimed to remove both the breast tumor and the sentinel lymph node through one incision, thus providing better aesthetic results than the conventional breast conservative two incision technique. We retrospectively evaluated 2 cohorts of 60 consecutive breast cancer patients operated by either conventional breast conservative surgery (N = 26) or one incision surgery (N = 34). There were no recurrence or death events observed in any group. No difference was seen regarding the incidence of surgical complications. In the prime incision group the breast volume removed was significantly lower than in the conventional surgery group as well as was the surgical time and the number of dissected lymph nodes. Aesthetical results were better in the one incision group. Further prospective studies are needed to validate the one incision technique as a surgical option for selected early stage breast cancer patients.

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In recent years, with the rise of immunotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment, we have observed a paradigm shift in oncology drug development. One common problem accompanying such paradigm shifts is how to build research strategies to fit the mechanism of action of the newer compounds. Developing immunotherapy in oncology requires us to address the unique characteristics of immunotherapeutic agents and to provide adequate tools for their evaluation, including the adjustment of clinical trial endpoints. Immunotherapy creates patterns of response different from those of chemotherapy, and thus they are not captured by the traditional World Health Organisation (WHO) tumour response criteria or the RECIST. Revisiting the results of pembrolizumab in patients with melanoma can help to evaluate the efficacy of the immune-related response criteria (irRC) as the gold standard for evaluating the clinical response of immunologic agents in oncology.

RESUMEN

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A síndrome de esmagamento é descrita como um conjunto de manifestações sistêmicas resultantes da lesão à célula muscular devida a pressão ou esmagamento. O fator de inibição da migração de macrófagos (MIF) é uma citocina multifuncional envolvida em amplo espectro de eventos patológicos relevantes para o sistema imune. A interleucina-6 (IL-6) é uma citocina pró-inflamatória envolvida nas fases precoces da resposta inflamatória por trauma e no desenvolvimento das fases precoce e tardia da disfunção orgânica múltipla (MODS). Há poucos estudos publicados sobre o perfil de citocinas na síndrome de esmagamento (SE). O objetivo deste trabalho foi relatar quatro casos de SE, avaliando os níveis séricos de MIF e IL-6 nestes pacientes e sua correlação com a gravidade. RELATO DOS CASOS: Foram estudados quatro pacientes internados no centro de terapia intensiva (CTI) do Hospital Central do Exército (HCE) com história de trauma que desenvolveram síndrome de esmagamento. O escore APACHE II foi realizado em cada paciente nas primeiras 24 horas de admissão no CTI. Foram coletadas amostras diárias de soro de cada um durante seis dias consecutivos e o escore SOFA foi aferido diariamente. Foram dosados no soro a creatinoquinase (CK) e as citocinas MIF e IL-6. Os dados foram analisados. CONCLUSÕES: Variações observadas nos níveis de CK foram acompanhadas por alterações nos níveis das citocinas inflamatórias bem como do escore SOFA, sugerindo interdependência entre essas variáveis. Estudos anteriores já haviam demonstrado resultado semelhante. Embora o emprego de citocinas como indicadores de gravidade no trauma possa ser assunto de interesse, há necessidade de estudos com amostragem maior para validar esta observação.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in a broad-spectrum pathological events relevant to the immune system. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the initial inflammatory response to trauma and the development of early and late multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Crush syndrome has been described as the systemic manifestation of muscle cell damage resulting from pressing or crushing. There are few data about MIF and IL-6 in crush syndrome. The aim of this study was to report four cases of crush syndrome, measuring seric levels of MIF and IL-6 and its correlation with severity. CASES REPORTS: Four patients suffering from crush syndrome after an accident with an explosive artifact were enrolled in the study. APACHE II score was checked at admission. It was collected serum sample of these patients during six consecutive days. Serum MIF, IL-6 and creatine kinase (CK) were measured. Sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was evaluated concomitantly. Data were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The variations observed in the CK measures were followed by alterations in the cytokines' level and at the SOFA score, suggesting interdependence between those factors. Other articles have already demonstrated similar results. Although the use of cytokines as biomarkers of severity in trauma is matter of interest, we need large studies with a higher number of patients to validate this observation.

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RESUMEN

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in a broad-spectrum pathological events relevant to the immune system. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the initial inflammatory response to trauma and the development of early and late multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Crush syndrome has been described as the systemic manifestation of muscle cell damage resulting from pressing or crushing. There are few data about MIF and IL-6 in crush syndrome. The aim of this study was to report four cases of crush syndrome, measuring seric levels of MIF and IL-6 and its correlation with severity. CASES REPORTS: Four patients suffering from crush syndrome after an accident with an explosive artifact were enrolled in the study. APACHE II score was checked at admission. It was collected serum sample of these patients during six consecutive days. Serum MIF, IL-6 and creatine kinase (CK) were measured. Sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was evaluated concomitantly. Data were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The variations observed in the CK measures were followed by alterations in the cytokines' level and at the SOFA score, suggesting interdependence between those factors. Other articles have already demonstrated similar results. Although the use of cytokines as biomarkers of severity in trauma is matter of interest, we need large studies with a higher number of patients to validate this observation.

RESUMEN

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: As abelhas empregadas inicialmente na produção melífera eram de origem européia, sendo de baixa produtividade e mansas. Em 1956 foram trazidas espécies africanas com maior capacidade produtiva, porém extremamente agressivas. Houve soltura acidental destas abelhas na natureza e ocorreu cruzamento entre as espécies, gerando linhagem de abelhas africanizadas. O objetivo deste relato é sugerir uma padronização de atendimento a pacientes vítimas da síndrome de envenenamento dado o número crescente de casos de ataques maciços por estas abelhas e a literatura escassa sobre o assunto. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 19 anos, que durante treinamento militar foi atacado por enxame de abelhas africanizadas. CONCLUSÕES: As abelhas africanizadas por serem muito agressivas, atacam suas vítimas com elevado numero de picadas inoculando grande quantidade de veneno. As reações às picadas podem variar desde reação inflamatória local em indivíduos não sensibilizados, reação de hipersensibilidade e choque anafilático em indivíduos sensibilizados ou síndrome de envenenamento, quando devido a grande quantidade de veneno inoculado, os efeitos tóxicos se sobrepõem à reação anafilática. O atendimento a este tipo de acidente deve ser o mais precoce possível, com a realização de suporte clínico adequado e remoção mecânica dos ferrões. A estabilização hemodinâmica é de suma importância.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Honeybees first used in the honey production came from Europe. They were gentle but their productivity was very low. In 1956 it was brought from Africa some species of honeybees that were more productible but also extremely aggressive. There was an accidental release of those bees, that proliferated by hybridizing with the European honeybees generating a new specimen of bees: the Africanized honeybees. The objective of this article is to suggest a pattern of treatment for this poisoning syndrome, because of the crescent number of these attacks and a few data about it. CASE REPORT: Male, 19 years old, soldier that in the course of his military training was attacked by a swarm of Africanized honeybees. CONCLUSIONS: As the Africanized honeybees are very aggressive, they attack their victims with lots of stings releasing a large quantity of venom. The reactions to the stings can vary from a local inflammatory reaction in non sensibilized people, hipersensibility reaction and anaphylactic shock in sensibilized people and poisoning syndrome when there is a big amount of inoculated venom. The medical attendance to this kind of accident must be as fast as possible. It must be done an adequate clinical support and a quick mechanical remotion of the stingers. The hemodynamic stabilization is a very important point.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Honeybees first used in the honey production came from Europe. They were gentle but their productivity was very low. In 1956 it was brought from Africa some species of honeybees that were more productible but also extremely aggressive. There was an accidental release of those bees, that proliferated by hybridizing with the European honeybees generating a new specimen of bees: the Africanized honeybees. The objective of this article is to suggest a pattern of treatment for this poisoning syndrome, because of the crescent number of these attacks and a few data about it. CASE REPORT: Male, 19 years old, soldier that in the course of his military training was attacked by a swarm of Africanized honeybees. CONCLUSIONS: As the Africanized honeybees are very aggressive, they attack their victims with lots of stings releasing a large quantity of venom. The reactions to the stings can vary from a local inflammatory reaction in non sensibilized people, hipersensibility reaction and anaphylactic shock in sensibilized people and poisoning syndrome when there is a big amount of inoculated venom. The medical attendance to this kind of accident must be as fast as possible. It must be done an adequate clinical support and a quick mechanical remotion of the stingers. The hemodynamic stabilization is a very important point.