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European wild carnations (Dianthus) are represented by a high number of taxa organized in unresolved taxonomies. In particular, taxa belonging to the Dianthus virgineus L. complex in the Central Mediterranean have been delimited mainly with qualitative morphological data and still await quantitative investigations, which are vital to understand boundaries and relations among plant diversity groups. Here, we examine the phenotypic features of nuclear genome organization testing for species boundaries in this complex. We have studied the chromosome number, the total haploid length (THL), and the relative genome size (RGS) in 122 populations belonging to 25 out of 33 taxa of the complex. All the studied populations have 2n = 2x = 30 chromosomes, and the THL ranges from 14.09 to 20.71 μm. Genome size estimations support the absence of polyploidization events, but show a certain degree of variation (0.318–0.423 arbitrary units). The RGS variation is not in agreement with current taxonomic treatment, but rather shows a geographical pattern, with higher values in Sicily and Sardinia. No correlation between the THL and the RGS was detected, possibly due to the stable chromosome number and the small size of chromosomes. A number of evolutionary unique groups lower than the number of currently accepted taxa may be hypothesized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Patients with haemato‐oncological malignancies are one of the high‐risk groups for a severe course in case of COVID‐19 infections. Furthermore, vaccination results in significantly lower response rates in haematological malignancies and lower antibody levels in patients with solid cancer. We investigated efficacy and safety of a heterologous booster vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S DNA vector vaccine in haemato‐oncological patients without antibody response after double‐dose BNT162b2 messenger (m‐)RNA COVID‐19 vaccine. A total of 32 haemato‐oncological non‐responders to double‐dose BNT162b2 received a heterologous booster vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S. Blood samples were assessed directly before the vaccination (T0) and four weeks after (T1). Safety assessment was performed using a standardised questionnaire. The overall response rate was 31%, with a mean (SD) antibody titre of 693·79 (1 096·99) binding activity units (BAU)/ml. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or lymphoma showed a significantly lower response rate (P = 0·048). Adverse events were reported in 29·6% of patients, of which 7·1% were graded as severe, including grade III and IV events following the Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events (CTCAE). The heterologous booster vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S led to a serological response in nine out of 29 patients without response after double‐dose BNT162b2. Furthermore, the vaccination was safe in our cohort, leading to mainly mild local and systemic reactions. Overall, this vaccination regimen should be further evaluated to increase the response rate in the highly vulnerable population of haemato‐oncological patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Haemato‐oncological patients are at risk in case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. Currently, vaccination is the best‐evaluated preventive strategy. In the present study, we aimed to assess serological response, predictive markers, and safety of BNT162b2 in haemato‐oncological patients. A total of 259 haemato‐oncological patients were vaccinated with two 30 µg doses of BNT162b2 administered 21 days apart. Serological response was assessed by ELECSYS® Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐S immunoassay before vaccination, and at 3 and 7 weeks after the first dose (T1, T2). Safety assessment was performed. At T2 spike protein receptor binding domain (S/RBD) antibodies were detected in 71·4% of haematological and in 94·5% of oncological patients (P < 0·001). Haematological patients receiving systemic treatment had a 14·2‐fold increased risk of non‐responding (95% confidence interval 3·2–63·3, P = 0·001). Subgroups of patients with lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were at highest risk of serological non‐response. Low immunoglobulin G (IgG) level, lymphocyte‐ and natural killer (NK)‐cell counts were significantly associated with poor serological response (P < 0·05). Vaccination was well tolerated with only 2·7% of patients reporting severe side‐effects. Patients with side‐effects developed a higher S/RBD‐antibody titre compared to patients without side‐effects (P = 0·038). Haematological patients under treatment were at highest risk of serological non‐response. Low lymphocytes, NK cells and IgG levels were found to be associated with serological non‐response. Serological response in oncological patients was encouraging. The use of BNT162b2 is safe in haemato‐oncological patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previously, we proposed long-range optical coherence tomography (LR-OCT) to be an effective method for the quantitative evaluation of the nasal valve geometry. Here, the objective was to quantify the reduction in the internal nasal valve angle and cross-sectional area that results in subjective nasal airway obstruction and to evaluate the dynamic behavior of the valve during respiration using LR-OCT.Methods: For 16 healthy individuals, LR-OCT was performed in each naris during: 1) normal respiration, 2) peak forced inspiration, 3) lateral nasal wall depression (to the onset of obstructive symptoms), and 4) after application of a topical decongestant. The angle and the cross-sectional area of the valve were measured.Results: A reduction of the valve angle from 18.3° to 14.1° (11° in Caucasians and 17° in Asians) and a decrease of the cross-sectional area from 0.65 cm2 to 0.55 cm2 led to subjective nasal obstruction. Forceful breathing did not significantly change the internal nasal valve area in healthy individuals. Application of nasal decongestant resulted in increased values.Conclusion: LR-OCT proved to be a fast and readily performed method for the evaluation of the dynamic behavior of the nasal valve. The values of the angle and the cross-sectional area of the valve were reproducible, and changes in size could be accurately delineated.Level Of Evidence: 2b. Laryngoscope, 128:E105-E110, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraoperative detection of residual malignant cells at tumor margins following excision of primary tumors could help improving surgery and thus patients' outcome. The feasibility of the tumor antigens epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) for antibody-dependent confocal laser scanning endomicroscopy (CLE)-mediated visualization of malignant cells was addressed. Both tumor antigens are highly and frequently expressed in the majority of carcinomas, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and represent prognostic and therapeutic tumor target molecules. FITC-conjugated EGF-R- and EpCAM-specific antibodies served as molecular tools for the detection of antigen-positive cells using the CLE technology. Specificity of both antibodies and their ability to discriminate tumor from non-tumor cells were assessed in vitro with human fibroblasts and PCI-1 HNSCC cell lines, and ex vivo on primary HNSCC samples ( n = 11) and healthy mucosa ( n = 5). Antigen specificity of the used EpCAM-specific antibody was superior to that of the EGF-R-specific antibody both in vitro and ex vivo (100% vs. 31.25%), and allowed visualization of cellular structures in CLE measurements. These results hold promise for possible future applications in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gold standard in the treatment of (pre)malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) is either surgery or (chemo)radiotherapy. Nevertheless, there are special indications where an alternative treatment, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), might be as effective for and better tolerated by the patients concerned. This article aims to present a contemporary and comprehensive review on the role of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of (pre)malignancies of the UADT. PubMed was searched for 'photodynamic therapy larynx/oral cavity/oropharynx/head and neck' in 01/2016. PDT can be efficient in the treatment of recurrent, residual or multiple carcinomas of the UADT without other treatment options. It has also been used with success in the treatment of early oral or laryngeal carcinomas, widespread precancerous lesions or 'difficult-to-treat' skin cancer, even though these treatments are off-label. For now, unsolved scientific and economical challenges hinder the methods spread. In special cases, PDT is a highly effective method to treat head and neck (pre)malignancies. Nevertheless, further clinical studies are needed to better define its true value in head and neck oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In this trial, the ability of confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), a new imaging modality with a cellular resolution, to further differentiate primary flat lesions of the larynx was evaluated. Methods First, an optical coherence tomography was used to filter out normal tissue and carcinoma. All other lesions (30 lesions in 19 patients) were investigated with CLE. The suspected diagnosis was compared to histopathology. Results Optical coherence tomography identified all noninvasive lesions. CLE provided further information with cellular resolution. In 2 of 30 cases, low image quality prevented classification. In laryngeal lesions (27 of 30), moderate to high-grade dysplasia was correctly suspected in 10 of 10 cases (100%). Hyperplasia was overrated as dysplasia in 7 of 15 cases (46.7%). Sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 40%. Conclusion When used in conjunction with optical coherence tomography, CLE seems helpful for discrimination of noninvasive lesions, although it tends to overrate the severity of the changes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1695-E1704, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study evaluated the capability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to differentiate premalignant and early malignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT). Methods An OCT screening was performed in 52 healthy volunteers. Epithelial thicknesses on 38 OCT images and histopathological slides were correlated. One hundred primary lesions were rated via OCT concerning invasiveness by an 'unblinded' investigator, then biopsied, and the results correlated. All OCT images were evaluated by 3 'blinded' investigators. Forty-eight images underwent retrospective image analysis. Results Screening showed large differences concerning epithelial thicknesses, but good correlation (κ = 0.63) between OCT and histopathological slides. In the unblinded evaluation, noninvasive and invasive lesions could be distinguished with a sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 89.0% whereas the blinded evaluations led to sensitivities of 100%, 66.7%, and 77.8% and specificities of 75.8%, 71.4%, and 70.3%. The difference of mean intraepithelial intensity reductions in dysplasias (38.7%) and hyperplasias (18.9%) was statistically significant. Conclusion OCT complements visual inspection for differentiating UADT-lesions. Head Neck, 35: 1558-1566, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prostate cancer detection rate at low total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) ranges of 2.6–4 and 4.1–10 ng/mL, according to different percentage free (f/t) PSA levels in a screening population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In all, 1809 consecutive screening volunteers with a tPSA level of 2.6–10.0 ng/mL were assessed. Ten systematic ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsies and, since 2000, an additional five Doppler-enhanced targeted biopsies were taken on the basis of age-specific tPSA reference ranges. We analysed the detection rate of prostate cancer according to f/tPSA ranges of 0–9%, 10–14%, 15–18% and >18%. RESULTS The detection rates for the subgroups with tPSA levels of 2.6–4.0 and 4.1–10.0 ng/mL were 20.2% and 27.0%, respectively. The cancer detection rate in the first group (2.6–4.0 ng/mL) at 0–10% fPSA was 22.9%, and that in the second group (4.1–10.0 ng/mL) at 0–10% was 36.9%. There were significant differences between these groups. If the f/tPSA was 10–15%, the cancer detection rate for the two groups were 22.6% and 32.5%, respectively ( P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the cancer detecting rates at an f/tPSA of 15–18% or >18%. CONCLUSION There is a statistically significantly higher cancer detection rate when the f/tPSA is <15% than in groups of men with a f/tPSA of >15% in screening population assessed primarily using tPSA level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we report the identification of a new HLA-A allele found in a DNA sample which was part of the routine bone marrow donor typing performed in our laboratory. This novel allele officially designated as A*2442 was found in a sample from a female Caucasoid donor (Franken, Bavaria, Germany; lab code 142654) and differs from the closest related allele A*2408 by two nucleotide exchanges. In position 81, the A (A*2408) is changed to 81 C in the novel allele A*2442, resulting in an amino acid substitution at codon 27, glutamine (A*2408) is replaced by histidine (31Gln→31His). In position 292, the G (A*2408) is changed to C also resulting in an amino acid replacement, the codon 98 asparagine is mutated to histidine (98Asn→98His) in the new A*2442 allele. The second allele was determined to be A*0301. Further typing of this sample is B*1501 B*4001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have sequenced exons 2, 3 and 4 of MIC-A in 23 homozygous cell lines, 22 families and 54 unrelated individuals. This has led to the definition of seven polymorphic positions in exon 2, 13 in exon 3 and 12 in exon 4, yielding a total of 33 different MIC-A allelic specificities, of which 16 have not been described before. The newly defined sequences and those of the alleles defined before were entered into a database of the SCORE program (Helmberg et al., 1998, Tissue Antigens, 51, 587) for comprehensive genotyping analysis. In the tested sample, only one genotype present in two individuals gave rise to an ambiguous genotype. If all possible combinations of the 33 alleles are considered, 10 of 636 combinations are ambiguous. The MIC-A exon 2, 3 and 4 polymorphism is characterized by diallelic single base exchanges and by a considerable degree of exon shuffling. The majority of heterozygote positions identified are non-synonymous, i.e. five of seven in exon 2, 13 of 13 in exon 3 and eight of 12 in exon 4, suggesting an important function for the MIC-A polymorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the losses in productivity of Norway spruce (Picea abies) due to the attack by Chrysomyxa rhododendri, a rust that only penetrates new developing flushes. Three-year-old seedlings were artificially infected once or twice in two consecutive years and the dry mass was determined at the end of the growing season. Dry mass accumulation of all parts including roots was significantly reduced if more than about one-third of the young foliage was infected. Shoot and root dry mass of once severely infected seedlings were 32 and 48% less than that of controls. This deficit could not be compensated during a following rust-free year. When seedlings were infected in two consecutive years, dry mass accumulation was reduced by 58% compared with controls. Results indicate that rejuvenation of and afforestation with Norway spruce can seriously be impaired by Chrysomyxa at the alpine timberline where Rhododendron sp. (the telial host of the parasite) is widespread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction of a novel human leukocyte antigen-DQB1 allele, DQB1*0404, which featured one nucleotide mismatch in comparison with DQB1*0402. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we report the identification of a new human leukocyte antigen-B allele in a sample that was tested in our routine typing for volunteer bone marrow donors. This novel allele officially designed B*5517 was found in a male donor of Bavarian Caucasoid origin (Laboratory code 150113). The search for unrelated bone marrow donors was initiated by the Aktion Knochenmark-spende Bayern. In comparison with the common B*5501 allele, B*5517 differs at three nucleotide positions all located in exon 3, at position 379 (C→G), 419 (T→A), and 420 (A→C), resulting in two amino acid substitutions at codons 127 and 140. The amino acid 127, leucine, is changed to valine, and the amino acid 140, also a leucine, is replaced by tyrosine in B*5517. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the identification of a new human leucocyte antigen-B (HLA-B) allele in a sample that was found in our routine typing. This novel allele, officially designed HLA-B*5514, was found in a male donor of Bavarian Caucasoid origin (Laboratory code: 117562) typed in order for a request of the bone marrow donor registry Aktion Knochenmarkspende Bayern. Although this novel allele was added to the HLA-B*55 family by the Nomenclature Committee, the next related alleles were found in the HLA-B*56 group; HLA-B*5612 differing in six positions from HLA-B*5514 is the closest related allele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we present the full length coding sequence of A*68:71, a novel allele with a single nucleotide difference to A*68:45. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction of a novel human leukocyte antigen-DPB1 allele, DPB1*123:01, which featured one nucleotide mismatch in comparison with DPB1*02:01:02. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new human leucocyte antigen-DRB1*0465 allele was identified in the Hodgkin’s lymphoma cell line KM-H2. This novel allele differs from the DRB1*0406 allele by a single nucleotide exchange at position 288 (211) (A→T), which results in an arginine to tryptophan amino acid replacement at codon 90 in the new allele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article cites a study which identifies the new human leukocyte antigen B allele among volunteer bone marrow donors. Based on a study, a novel allele named B*2734 has been found in a female donor who originated from Caucasoid. The objective of the study is to compare the nucleotide positions of the two closest related allele, the B*2707 and B*2734. These two alleles are said to be located in exon 3, position 412.

In this report, we describe the identification of a novel human leukocyte antigen-A*24 (HLA-A*24) allele, designated HLA-A*2467. The new allele differs from the most closely related allele HLA-A*2408 at five nucleotide positions all located in exon 2. Four of the five nucleotide changes result in amino acid substitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]