The role of nutrition in harnessing the immune system: a potential approach to prevent cancer

The prealbumin-CD19+ index predicts surgical survival in patients with GC

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to establish a prealbumin (PALB)-CD19+ index that combines nutritional and immune statuses to comprehensively evaluate the prognosis of GC patients undergoing surgery.

METHODS

A total of 389 patients who were diagnosed with GC and who underwent surgical procedures at our institution between January 2016 and December 2020 were included in this study. Among them, 97 patients underwent subtotal gastrectomy, 271 underwent total gastrectomy, and 21 underwent palliative resection. The PALB-CD19+ index was developed using Cox regression analysis and regression coefficients, and LASSO regression analysis was employed to eliminate multicollinearity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to calculate optimal cut-off values, and the prognostic value of different indices was compared using the area under the curve (AUC). Cox regression analysis was further utilized to identify independent prognostic factors. Survival analysis was conducted to explore differences in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among patient groups. Finally, the prognostic significance of relevant factors was validated using a nomogram.

RESULTS

This study included 389 patients, 276 males and 113 females, with a mean age of 59.10 ± 10.19 years. Cox analysis identified PALB and CD19+ as significant factors influencing survival, forming the basis for the PALB-CD19+ index. The cut-off values for PALB and CD19+ were determined to be 230.50 mg/L and 15.40%, respectively. Cox regression analysis confirmed that the PALB-CD19+ index was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with a lower PALB-CD19+ index had significantly shorter PFS and OS (χ² = 45.54, P < 0.001; χ² = 47.69, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis across different TNM stages further validated the prognostic value of the PALB-CD19+ index (all P < 0.05). Nomograms incorporating the PALB-CD19+ index showed high accuracy, with concordance indices (C-index) in the training and validation cohorts approaching or exceeding 0.8.

CONCLUSIONS

The PALB-CD19+ index exhibits potential prognostic value in predicting surgical outcomes in GC patients. Its ability to integrate nutritional and immune parameters may provide clinicians with a novel and comprehensive tool for identifying high-risk patients and guiding personalized treatment strategies.

Effects of Malnutrition on the Immune System and Infection and the Role of Nutritional Strategies Regarding Improvements in Children's Health Status: A Literature Review

Malnutrition refers to a person's status as under- or overnourished, and it is usually associated with an inflammation status, which can subsequently imply a different health status, as the risk of infection is increased, along with a deterioration of the immune system. Children's immune systems are generally more susceptible to problems than adults. In the situation of malnutrition, because malnourished children's immune systems are compromised, they are more likely to die. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism of altered immune functioning and how it relates to starvation. Nutritional interventions have been reported as cost-effective strategies to prevent or treat the development of malnourishment, considering the link between food intake and health, especially in children, and also the susceptibility of this population to diseases and how their health status during childhood might affect their long-term physiological growth. The ingestion of specific nutrients (e.g., vitamins or oligoelements) has been reported to contribute to the proper functioning of children's immune systems. In this review, we aim to describe the basis of malnutrition and how this is linked to the immune system, considering the role of nutrients in the modulation of the immune system and the risk of infection that can occur in these situations in children, as well as to identify nutritional interventions to improve their health.

Efficacy of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index for Predicting Overall Survival in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a prevalent malignancy with a poor prognosis, necessitating the identification of prognostic biomarkers to guide management. The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), calculated from serum albumin and body weight, may predict survival in patients with HNC. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify this relationship. Databases were searched for studies examining the association between pretreatment GNRI and overall survival in patients with HNC. Ten studies with 2793 patients were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated that low GNRI was associated with significantly worse overall survival compared to high GNRI (hazard ratio [HR]:2.84, 95% CI 2.07-3.91, p < 0.00001). Older age (HR:1.73; 95% CI, 1.35-2.22; p < 0.0001), male sex (HR:1.7; 95% CI, 1.12-2.6; p = 0.01), advanced tumor stage (HR: 2.5; 95% CI, 1.72-3.63; p < 0.00001), and higher T-/N-stage (HR = 1.69 and 1.98, respectively) were also predictive of unfavorable outcomes. The GNRI had the highest HR, suggesting potent predictive ability. Despite limitations, including retrospective design and potential publication bias, our study indicates that low pretreatment GNRI predicts poor overall survival in patients with HNC. The GNRI is an inexpensive, routinely available biomarker that could improve prognostication and guide management decisions. Additional research is warranted to validate these findings.

Recent advances in electrochemical nanomaterial-based aptasensors for the detection of cancer biomarkers

New technologies have provided suitable tools for rapid diagnosis of cancer which can reduce treatment costs and even increase patients' survival rates. Recently, the development of electrochemical aptamer-based nanobiosensors has raised great hopes for early, sensitive, selective, and low-cost cancer diagnosis. Here, we reviewed the flagged recent research (2021-2023) developed as a series of biosensors equipped with nanomaterials and aptamer sequences (nanoaptasensors) to diagnose/prognosis of various types of cancers. Equipping these aptasensors with nanomaterials and using advanced biomolecular technologies have provided specified biosensing interfaces for more optimal and reliable detection of cancer biomarkers. The primary intention of this review was to present and categorize the latest innovations used in the design of these diagnostic tools, including the hottest surface modifications and assembly of sensing bioplatforms considering diagnostic mechanisms. The main classification is based on applying various nanomaterials and sub-classifications considered based on the type of analyte and other vital features. This review may help design subsequent electrochemical aptasensors. Likewise, the up-to-date status, remaining limitations, and possible paths for translating aptasensors to clinical cancer assay tools can be clarified.