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The importance of polymeric transportation systems has been steadily increasing over the years. It is a useful material in numerous applications, such as packaging, oil and gas pipes, and household items. One particular aspect of polyethylene (PE) is the permeability of small molecules, such as low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons. In the present study, PE sheets were crosslinked by grafting and subsequent hydrolysis of organosilanes during a reactive extrusion process. The formation of a network structure was characterized by sol/gel analysis and by rheological measurements. It is shown that as a result of crosslinking the permeation of linear alkanes through the PE is reduced. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45374.

Introduction: An underlying basis of cancer immunotherapy is the activation of the patient's own immune effector cells to specifically eradicate tumor cells. Different strategies of cancer immunotherapy have shown outstanding success in a number of patients across various tumor types. However, currently only a fraction of patients respond to immunotherapy, and therapy works only in a subset of tumors. To understand why, an integrated analysis of host and tumor factors is required. Fundamental issues in the analysis of key prognostic and predictive components include elucidating the complex interaction between tumors and their microenvironment, determining the type and densities of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and understanding how the mutational load influences therapy outcome. Sophisticated analysis is required for patients with refractory or rare cancers to explore new therapeutic strategies. We established a systems medicine approach to obtain detailed data about tumor-host interactions, which may provide information on clinical outcome and help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy. Methods and Results: Whole-exome sequencing of tumor and control samples is performed from freshly obtained patient samples. In addition, whole-transcriptome sequencing of tumor tissue is performed if possible. Single nucleotide variations (SNVs) are detected in each tumor. Sequence-based HLA typing and computational epitope prediction methods are used to assess the immunogenicity of each SNV. The grade of immune cell infiltration and the expression of selected immunomodulatory proteins, e.g. PD-1 and PD-L1, is assessed by immunohistochemical stainings of tissue samples. Additionally, cytokine and chemokine profiles are determined in the tumor microenvironment. The resulting data can aid in treatment decision, e.g. PD-1 blocking antibodies can be administered when elevated PD-1 expression is detected. Alternatively, peptide vaccination is considered if a sufficient number of immunogenic mutations is detected. Based on the mutational profiles, mutation specific 29mer peptides and corresponding wild type peptides are produced for ELIspot assays with patient PBMCs to assess mutation-specific T cell reactivity. To assess the changes over time, blood and tissue are obtained during therapy to monitor therapy-induced changes in the periphery and the tumor microenvironment. Conclusion: Here we present our established workflow to systematically analyze tumor-host interactions in cancer patients and show preliminary data of different facets and clinical implications of these complex interactions. To evaluate and validate immunological and pathological characteristics of a tumor and the methods to assess its immunogenicity as well as its complex interplay with the microenvironment, comprehensive translational studies have to be conducted. Eventually, the obtained information will help to identify important subgroups and patients who are most likely to benefit from a certain type of immunotherapy. Citation Format: Zeynep Kosaloglu, Inka Zoernig, Niels Halama, Bruno Koehler, Anne Katrin Berger, Christoph Springfeld, Alexis Ulrich, Martin Schneider, Felix Lasitschka, Hanno Glimm, Stefan Froehling, Benedikt Brors, Dirk Jaeger. Combining immunomics and genomics for immunotherapy of refractory and rare cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-287.

Karposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is found predominantly in a latent state in most cell types, impeding investigations of the lytic replication cycle. Here, we engineered the cloned KSHV genome, bacterial artificial chromosome 36 (BAC36), to enforce constitutive expression of the main lytic switch regulator, the replication and transcription activator (RTA) (open reading frame 50 [ORF50]). The resulting virus, KSHV-lyt, activated by default the lytic cycle and replicated to high titers in various cells. Using KSHV-lyt, we showed that ORF33 (encoding a tegument protein) is essential for lytic KSHV replication in cell culture, but ORF73 (encoding the latent nuclear antigen [LANA]) is not. Thus, KSHV-lyt should be highly useful to study viral gene function during lytic replication.

Primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of our therapeutical management in patients with painful bladder syndrome (PBS)/interstitial cystitis (IC) on sexual function, quality of life and bladder symptoms using validated tools prospectivelyA prospective case controlled study The setting is a tertial referral centre. We included 69 patients with PBS/IC according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) into this study All patients were managed applying determined therapeutical steps including tetracycline, bladder instillation consisting of heparine, local anaesthetic and natrium-bicarbonate, prednisolon and antihistaminics or instillation with DMSO. Sexual function, quality of life and symptoms were evaluated with validated tools FSFI, King's Health Questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS).Pain, nocturia, urinary frequency and urgency were significantly reduced The King's Health questionnaire showed a significant improvement of all domains but emotions and sleep, and FSFI improved significantly in all domains but orgasm.Patients with PBS/IC undergoing defined therapeutical steps including tetracycline, bladder instillation and anti-inflammatory agents improved significantly regarding sexual function, quality of life and symptoms. Long term follow-up has to prove this management as well as profound research on the unknown aetiology have to been done to determine even more efficient therapeutical regimes.

Owing to the overwhelming popularity of oral piercing, general practitioners should be prepared to address complications arising as a result of oral piercing and to provide patients with accurate information. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of early and late complications associated with lip and tongue piercing in a population obtained from a nondental setting. Possible cofactors were evaluated.The study cohort included 130 lip and 80 tongue piercings. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to determine demographic data, smoking habits, characteristics of the piercing worn (time since piercing, material-plastic or metal), postpiercing complications, and possible cofactors.Prevalence of early piercing complications was 87.83%. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the overall prevalence of early postpiercing complications after lip or tongue piercing, the type of complication differed significantly according to the piercing location. Significant cofactors for early complications were oral hygiene behavior, gender, and the person who performed the piercing. The highest prevalence of late complications was found to be recurrent infections and gingival recessions. As cofactors, time since piercing and oral hygiene behavior had a significant impact on late complications.Early complications after oral piercing are frequent. Oral health care might be an important tool to minimize early and late postpiercing complications. Owing to the high prevalence of late complications-especially after median lip piercing-persons with oral piercing should attend regular dental checks and receive professional advice on tooth cleaning and oral hygiene.

Acute hyponatraemia after administration of alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide has been documented as an infrequent but life-threatening complication.A 69-year-old female patient with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the salivary glands presented with severe symptomatic hyponatraemia (nadir 112 mmol/l) after chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and doxorubicin. Serum sodium was carefully corrected at the intensive care unit. The patient recovered completely from her neurological symptoms within a couple of days. A literature review showed only few cases with cyclophosphamide-induced acute hyponatraemia, and to our knowledge this is the first case where hyponatraemia was seen with a dose of only 500 mg/m(2) of cyclophosphamide.Oncologists should be aware of cyclophosphamide-induced acute hyponatraemia as a rare but life-threatening side-effect, especially since its clinical features may mimic those of chemotherapy-induced nausea.

AIM: To investigate the outcome of palliative chemotherapy in old patients with gastroesophageal cancer at the National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg. METHODS: Using a prospectively generated database, we retrospectively analyzed 55 patients ≥ 70 years under palliative chemotherapy for advanced gastroesophageal cancer at the outpatient clinic of the National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg, Germany between January 2006 and December 2013. Further requirements for inclusion were (1) histologically proven diagnosis of gastroesophageal cancer; (2) advanced (metastatic or inoperable) disease; and (3) no history of radiation or radiochemotherapy. The clinical information included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), presence and site of metastases at diagnosis, date of previous surgery and perioperative chemotherapy, start and stop date of first-line treatment, toxicities and consecutive dosage reductions of first-line treatment, response to first-line therapy, date of progression, usage of second-line therapies and date and cause of death. Survival times [progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and residual survival (RS)] were calculated. Toxicity and safety were examined. Prognostic factors including ECOG PS, age and previous perioperative treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: Median age of our cohort was 76 years. 86% of patients received a combination of two cytotoxic drugs. 76 percent of patients had an oxaliplatin-based first-line therapy with the oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil regimen being the predominantely chosen regimen (69%). Drug modifications due to toxicity were necessary in 56% of patients, and 11% of patients stopped treatment due to toxicities. Survival times of our cohort are in good accordance with the major phase III trials that included mostly younger patients: PFS and OS were 5.8 and 9.5 mo, respectively. Survival differed significantly between patient groups with low (≤ 1) and high (≥ 2) ECOG PS (12.7 mo vs 3.8 mo, P < 0.001). Very old patients (≥ 75 years) did not show a worse outcome in terms of survival. Patients receiving second-line treatment (51%) had a significantly longer RS than patients with best supportive care (6.8 vs 1.4 mo, P = 0.001). Initial ECOG PS was a strong prognostic factor for PFS, OS and RS. CONCLUSION: Old patients with non-curable gastroesophageal cancer should be offered chemotherapy, and ECOG PS is a tool for balancing benefit and harm upfront. Second-line treatment is reasonable.