Atezolizumab versus docetaxel in patients with previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer (OAK): a phase 3, open-label, multicentre randomised controlled trial

Investigation of the 1-week effect of traffic light nutrition labeling on diet selection among Japanese university students: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The method of displaying nutrition information labels on the front of food packaging (FOP: Front of Pack) has been implemented worldwide to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of the UK's Traffic Light Food (TLF) label, known as the FOP label, influences the dietary choices of Japanese youth and promotes healthy dietary choices.

METHODS

Diet selection was performed for one week each during the baseline and intervention periods. During the intervention period, TLF labels were displayed on meal images of the intervention group. Participants chose what they would like to have for dinner of the day from 15 images. Each meal was scored based on the color of the nutrition label, and a comparison between groups was made to determine whether TLF labeling influenced meal selection for dinner. The psychological stress caused by the presence or absence of nutrition labels and nutritional components when choosing meals was also evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 69 participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Dietary choice scores indicated that the TLF-labeled group made significantly healthier dietary choices than the unlabeled group. Additionally, the TLF-labeled group showed a significant increase in the percentage of people conscious of nutritional components when choosing meals. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of people conscious of protein, a nutritional ingredient not indicated on the TLF label, was observed. During the test period, no difference in psychological stress caused by the presence and absence of the TLF labels was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of TLF labels also encouraged healthy dietary choices among Japanese university students. The use of FOP nutrition labels should be considered in Japan to prevent lifestyle-related diseases through healthy dietary choices.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry Number: UMIN000047268. Registered March 23, 2022.

Comparing biologic options for the management of Behcet's disease-related uveitis

INTRODUCTION

Behçet's disease (BD) associated uveitis occurs in approximately 50-70% of the patients. Ocular involvement in BD may induce a severe affection of visual function, leading to a considerable decrease in patients' quality of life. The risk for severe visual loss increases when the ocular posterior segment is involved and in patients with no adequate treatment.

AREAS COVERED

Monoclonal tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biotechnological inhibitors represent a relatively recent milestone for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis (NIU) also in BD patients. In addition to TNF inhibitors, further biologic agents have been increasingly proposed for multi-recalcitrant cases, as for interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 inhibitors. However, evidence on these new opportunities requires to be widened in the next future.

EXPERT OPINION

Joining the forces for scientific efforts is essential to quickly obtain solid acquisitions useful for the everyday clinical practice. To this end, the Auto-Inflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) Network has recently supported the development of an international registry dedicated to NIU and other inflammatory ocular involvement observed in BD patients. This will be essential to resolve current and future unmet needs burdening the everyday clinical practice.

The efficacy and safety of first-line treatment in cisplatin-ineligible advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients: a comparison of PD-1 inhibitor and carboplatin plus gemcitabine chemotherapy

Although several programmed cell death (PD)-1 inhibitors are approved for the first-line treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma, their efficacy remains unknown in cisplatin-ineligible patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) compared with gemcitabine plus carboplatin. Data for patients with UTUC were retrospectively retrieved from the electronic medical records of nine institutions between 2018 and 2021. Patients considered ineligible for cisplatin who received either PD-1 inhibitors (n = 70) or gemcitabine plus carboplatin (n = 53) were included. Efficacy was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The objective response rate (ORR) was comparable between the PD-1 inhibitor and carboplatin–gemcitabine groups (38.6% versus 41.5%). Median PFS was 5.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0–8.0) in the PD-1 inhibitor group, versus 7.0 months (95% CI: 5.8–8.2) in the carboplatin–gemcitabine group (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.741, 95% CI: 0.485–1.132, p = .166). Median OS was 18 months (95% CI: 4.1–31.9) in the PD-1 inhibitor group, compared with 14 months (95% CI: 12.1–15.9) in the carboplatin–gemcitabine group (HR = 0.731, 95% CI: 0.426–1.256, p = .257). The duration of response was significantly longer in the PD-1 inhibitor group than in the carboplatin–gemcitabine group (not reached vs. 9 months, p < .001). Treatment-related adverse events were less frequent in the PD-1 inhibitor group than in the carboplatin–gemcitabine group (57.1% vs. 77.3%). In conclusion, PD-1 inhibitors displayed promising efficacy with less toxicity and longer DOR in the first-line treatment of UTUC in patients ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Therapeutic Benefits of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Potential Mechanisms and Challenges

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) presents as a form of acute respiratory failure resulting from non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema due to excessive alveolocapillary permeability, which may be pulmonary or systemic in origin. In the last 3 years, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in an increase in ARDS cases and highlighted the challenges associated with this syndrome, as well as the unacceptably high mortality rates and lack of effective treatments. Currently, clinical treatment remains primarily supportive, including mechanical ventilation and drug-based therapy. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies are emerging as a promising intervention in patients with ARDS and have promising therapeutic effects and safety. The therapeutic mechanisms include modifying the immune response and assisting with tissue repair. This review provides an overview of the general properties of MSCs and outlines their role in mitigating lung injury and promoting tissue repair in ARDS. Finally, we summarize the current challenges in the study of translational MSC research and identify avenues by which the discipline may progress in the coming years.

PD-L1 expression indicates favorable prognosis for advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with pemetrexed

Conventional chemotherapy for lung cancer exerts anti-tumor effects through cytotoxicity, and through immunologic regulation by reducing specific T cell subsets and inducing the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells. Even though pemetrexed has shown huge potential in combination with other targeted or immune therapies, there is still little information about the values of specific immune checkpoint markers for advanced lung adenocarcinoma treated with pemetrexed. In the present study, a total of 56 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma, who received pemetrexed-based chemotherapy, were included retrospectively. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess PD-L1, programmed death 1 (PD-1), thymidylate synthase, and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). In this cohort, the positive expression of PD-L1 and PD-1 were 26.8% and 33.9% respectively. PD-L1, PD-1, and thymidylate synthase expression were not significantly associated with any clinical features, while the expression of both PD-L1 and PD-1 were correlated with Ki-67 expression. Furthermore, the expression of PD-1 was significantly correlated with TILs. The progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with PD-L1⁺ specimens was significantly longer compared to PD-L1^- specimens. Moreover, PD-L1 expression was an independent protective factor for PFS, and the smoking status was an independent risk factor. PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with better prognosis for patients with pemetrexed-based treatment. Our findings suggested that PD-L1 expression might be a favorable prognostic biomarker for pemetrexed-based regimen, which is a rationale for combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy for lung cancer.