BMI and TLC increase Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the recommended therapy for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients. Unfortunately, no study has reported the relationship between body mass index (BMI), total lymphocyte count (TLC), and responses to this type of chemotherapy. This study aimed to determine the relationship between BMI, TLC, and response to doxorubicin/epirubicin neoadjuvant chemotherapy in LABC patients. A retrospective cohort design was applied to medical records of LABC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin, Indonesia, from July to December 2021. BMI and TLC data were assessed based on the values before chemotherapy, while the chemotherapy response was measured using the RECIST 1.1 criteria after 3 cycles. Multinomial logistic regression test with 95% confidence level was used to analyze these data. The results showed that as many as 71% of patients experienced a Partial Response (PR), while 5% and 23% of the patients demonstrated Stable Disease (SD) and Progressive Disease (PD), respectively. Each increase in BMI of 1 kg/m2 was significantly associated with an increase in the occurrence of PR and PD by 1.26 times and 1.29 times, respectively, when compared to the occurrence of PD. Meanwhile, an increase in TLC of 100 cells/mm3 was associated with an increase in the occurrence of PR by 6.83 times and an increase in the occurrence of SD. of 6.94 when compared to the occurrence of PD. Therefore, there is a significant relationship between BMI, TLC, and response to anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in LABC patients

Mast Cell Essential Roles: Will it be a Novel Tool for Differentiating the Severity of Pediatric Appendicitis?

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is an undesirable diagnosis, and the Alvarado score (AS) alone is insufficient in recognizing it. Many novel laboratory indicators, such as leukocytes and mast cells, differentiate. AIM: Our objective was to demonstrate that mast cells had a greater influence on appendicitis severity than the AS, neutrophils, and platelets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational research in which 35 individuals with acute appendicitis at our institutions were identified for the appendix grade and allocated to one of two groups: Complicated or non-complicated. The AS and white blood cell count were calculated using the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), thrombocyte-to-neutrophil ratio (TNR), and total leukocyte. Mast cell count and granulation are evaluated using pathological anatomy. RESULTS: TLR could not distinguish between severe appendicitis and others, but some showed potential. NLR, TNR, total leukocyte, ASs, mast cell count, and degranulation demonstrated good sensitivity-specificity values. CONCLUSIONS: Mast cells have the potential to become a promising approach for predicting complicated pediatric appendicitis.

Dayak Onions (Eleutherine americana L Merr) Reduced Mesothelial Cell Detachment After Laparoscopy in Rats

Background: Laparoscopy induces changes and detachment of mesothelial structure. Studies on the prevention of mesothelial cell detachment are rarely found. The Dayak tribe uses the Dayak onion (Eleutherine americana L. Merr) as a wound-healing agent due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to prove the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Dayak onions in preventing mesothelial cell damage after laparoscopy. Materials and methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were classified into five groups (n = 6 per group), namely: (a) control, (b) Mediclore, (c) Dayak onion, 30-, (d) 60-, and (e) 90 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and total oxidant status in the peritoneal fluid were determined 24 hours after laparoscopy. Histopathological analysis of mesothelial cell numbers and the protein Zone Occludin-1 (ZO-1) expression in the peritoneum, small intestines, greater omentum, and liver were performed 7 days after the procedure. An in-silico study was conducted to analyze the anti-inflammatory effects of the components of Dayak onions. Results: The in-silico study showed that one of the Dayak onion active compounds, eleutherine, had a potential anti-inflammatory effect and acted as a modulator of TGF-β. Following Dayak onion administration, the TGF- level, the number of mesothelial cell detachments, and ZO-1 expression were all significantly reduced (p<0.05), whereas the total oxidant status (TOS) level was not (p>0.05). Conclusions: Our study showed that Dayak onion administration reduced TGF-β level, number of mesothelial cell detachment, and ZO-1 expression following laparoscopy.

Laparoscopic procedures impact on mast cell mediators, extracellular matrix and adhesion scoring system in rats

Background

Laparoscopic procedures under certain pressure have the potential to cause intra-abdominal adhesions. However, the pathomechanism of this disorder is unknown. Release of mast cell mediators due to mast cell degranulation is thought to be the cause.

Materials and methods

Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into five groups (n = 6 per group): one control group and four intervention groups to which 60 min insufflation was performed using carbon dioxide at 5, 8, 10 and 12 mmHg. Seven days after laparoscopy, we euthanized and evaluated the levels of histamine, tryptase, and chymase of peritoneal fluid, the thickness of ECM of peritoneal tissue, and intraabdominal adhesion scoring system.

Results

Histamine and tryptase levels in peritoneal fluid were significantly higher at the 10- and 12 mm Hg intervention compared to control (histamine: 0.50 ± 0.35 vs. 0.41 ± 0.41 vs. 0.04 ± 0.02 ng/mL, respectively; and tryptase: 0.69 ± 0.11 vs. 0.65 ± 0.05 vs. 0.48 ± 0.02 ng/ml respectively). The ECM was significantly thicker in the intervention groups at 10- and 12-mm Hg compared to control (71.3 [66.7–85.2] vs. 48.4 [34.5–50.3] vs. 10.25 [8.7–12.1] μm, respectively). Moreover, the intra-abdominal scoring was also significantly higher in the intervention groups at 10- and 12 mm Hg compared to control (4 [0–4] vs. 4.5 [4–5], vs. 0, respectively).

Conclusions

Laparoscopic procedures increase the release of mast cell mediators in peritoneal fluid, the thickness of ECM and intraabdominal adhesion scoring in rats, implying that it might increase the possibility of intrabdominal adhesion in humans.

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Laparoscopic procedures at specific pressures potentially cause intra-abdominal adhesion, however, its pathomechanism is still challenging to understand.

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Laparoscopic procedures increase the release of mast cell mediators in peritoneal fluid, the thickness of ECM and intraabdominal adhesion scoring in rats.

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Our findings imply that laparoscopic procedures might increase the possibility of intrabdominal adhesion in humans.

The effect of laparoscopy on mast cell degranulation and mesothelium thickness in rats

Background

Laparoscopy induces adhesion due to ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the detail pathomechanism is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of laparoscopy on mast cell and mesothelium morphological changes in the rat.

Methods

Forty-nine males of Sprague-Dawley Rattus norvegicus were divided into four groups: a) control and b) intervention groups P1, P2, and P3 that underwent 60 min laparoscopic using carbon dioxide (CO₂) insufflation at 8, 10, and 12 mmHg groups, respectively. Serum hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were determined 24 h after laparoscopy. Histopathological analyses of mast cell infiltration and degranulation and mesothelium thickness in the liver, greater omentum, mesenterium, small intestine, and peritoneum were performed 7 days after the procedure.

Results

H₂O₂, MDA, and OSI levels were significantly increased in the intervention groups compared with the control (p<0.05), while the SOD and CAT levels were decreased in the intervention groups compared with the control (p<0.05). Mast cell infiltration and degranulation were higher in the intervention groups than in control (p<0.05), while the mesothelium thickness was significantly lower in the laparoscopic groups than in control (p<0.05). Interestingly, the decrease in mesothelium thickness was strongly associated with the increase in mast cell infiltration and degranulation (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Our study shows that laparoscopy in rats increases mast cell infiltration and degranulation, which also results in and correlates with a decrease in mesothelial thickness.

Extraction the Dayak Onion (Eleutherine sp): Scientific Based Herbal Medicine (OHT) Production Protocol

Abstract: Indonesia has the second largest tropical forest and the richest in flora biodiversity in the world. Based on the Basic Health Research 2010, 59.29% of Indonesian had consumed herbal medicine, noted that Indonesian had consumed herb since the VIII century. Dayak onion (Eleutherine sp) widely used as traditional medicine, as a bahimang /wound healing agent. Dayak onion is not reassured as a medical treatment and lacked scientific evidence. Until 2018, thousands of herbs consumed by Indonesian, only 85 ingredients clinically tested. Sixty-four herbs have been pre-clinically tested and designated as Scientific based Herbal Medicines/Obat Herbal Terstandar (OHT) and 21 herbs have been tested clinically and determined as Phytopharmaca by the Badan Pengawasan Obat dan Makanan Republik Indonesia (BPOM-RI). Based on the data, the Dayak onion appointed as a Scientific based Herbal medicine (OHT) based on pre-clinical and phase 0 clinical research.  Potential and promising for the treatment of metabolic, degenerative, catastrophic, neoplasmic, genetic and infectious diseases, Dayak onions can be developed into phytopharmaca in the future. The study aim is to make guidelines for the standardized herbal medicines development according to the rules and regulations. Keywords: Dayak Onion, Eleutherine sp, Scientific based Herbal Medicines, Phytopharmaca, Pre Clinic and Clinical Trials phases