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Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine that is highly effective in preventing the most severe outcomes of COVID-19 infection. Nucleoside-modified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccines induce effective stimulation of T follicular helper (TFH) cells, leading to a robust germinal center B cell response. Side effects from the BNT162b2 vaccination, including significant lymphadenopathy, have been reported previously. Here, we present a case of angioimmunoblastic lymphoma (AITL), a rare, peripheral T-cell lymphoma with RHOA-G17v-mutated gene developing in a patient following BNT162B2 vaccine with a plausible explanation. A 60-year-old Asian female received her first dose of Pfizer BNT162B2 mRNA vaccine in August 2021. Right after her vaccination, she developed right axillary lymphadenopathy. She received her second vaccine dose in September 2021. Thereafter, she developed lymph node (LN) enlargement in her neck and groin. She underwent left posterior cervical and left groin LN excisional biopsy in April 2022 due to persistent palpable lymphadenopathy. Biopsy results then demonstrated benign follicular hyperplasia. For progressive B symptoms, a right axillary LN biopsy was done, which demonstrated AITL, with molecular studies revealing mutation in TET-2, IDH-2, and RHOA-G17v genes. Progression of AITL following BNT162B2 mRNA vaccine is limited in literature. Our case demonstrates a plausible correlation between the diagnosis of AITL following mRNA vaccination due to the malignant transformation of the TFH cells in patients who have a predisposing mutation of RHOA-17v. Given the rarity of AITL and the heterogeneity of molecular findings, more studies are needed to establish such an association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Empagliflozin, a known inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) decreases glucose reabsorption by the renal tubules and promotes glucose excretion into the urine. While the effectiveness of Empagliflozin in the management of hyperglycemia along with associated cardiovascular and all-cause mortality has been demonstrated previously, the therapeutic benefits associated with the long-term use of this drug in obese animals have yet to be investigated. Methods Male 5-week-old lean and obese Zucker rats were randomly assigned to one of the 4 groups- lean control, lean treated, obese control, obese treated and treated with either Empagliflozin (10 mg/kg BW / day) or placebo for 25 weeks to investigate the therapeutic effect of Empagliflozin. Results Empagliflozin treatment in the obese animals was associated with decreased body weight, attenuated the loss of F-actin from the renal tubules and improved renal structure and function. These changes in renal function were associated with significant improvements in the glucose tolerance, and decreased non-fasting circulatory levels of glucose, amylase, and other inflammatory markers including NGAL, cystatin C, and clusterin. Conclusion Long-term use of Empagliflozin in diabetic obese Zucker rats is associated with improvements in glucose tolerance and decreased loss of renal structure and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor heterogeneity implies the possibility of significantly different expression of key pathways between primary and metastatic clones. Colon adenocarcinoma is one of the few tumors where current practice includes resection of primary and isolated organ metastases simultaneously without neoadjuvant therapy. We performed a pilot study on 28 cases of colon adenocarcinoma resected simultaneously with metastases in patients with no history of neoadjuvant therapy. We assayed matched primary and metastatic tumors from each patient with common diagnostic antibodies to Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, AMACR, and ALDH-1 by immunohistochemistry with semi-quantitative interpretation on archived formalin fixed, paraffin embedded samples. We were powered for large, consistent differences between primary and metastatic expression, and found 21 of 28 had a significant difference in expression of at least one of the four proteins, accounting for multiplicity of testing. Cyclin D1 had significantly more cases with differential metastatic:primary expression than would be expected by chance alone ( p -value 0.0043), favoring higher expression in the metastatic sample. Bcl-2 and ALDH-1 had trends in this direction ( p -value 0.078 each). Proportionately more cases with significant differences were identified when a liver metastasis was tested. We conclude differences in expression between metastatic and primary colon adenocarcinoma within the same patient exist, and may have therapeutic and biomarker testing consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor heterogeneity implies the possibility of significantly different expression of key pathways between primary and metastatic clones. Colon adenocarcinoma is one of the few tumors where current practice includes resection of primary and isolated organ metastases simultaneously without neoadjuvant therapy. We performed a pilot study on 28 cases of colon adenocarcinoma resected simultaneously with metastases in patients with no history of neoadjuvant therapy. We assayed matched primary and metastatic tumors from each patient with common diagnostic antibodies to Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, AMACR, and ALDH-1 by immunohistochemistry with semi-quantitative interpretation on archived formalin fixed, paraffin embedded samples. We were powered for large, consistent differences between primary and metastatic expression, and found 21 of 28 had a significant difference in expression of at least one of the four proteins, accounting for multiplicity of testing. Cyclin D1 had significantly more cases with differential metastatic:primary expression than would be expected by chance alone (p-value 0.0043), favoring higher expression in the metastatic sample. Bcl-2 and ALDH-1 had trends in this direction (p-value 0.078 each). Proportionately more cases with significant differences were identified when a liver metastasis was tested. We conclude differences in expression between metastatic and primary colon adenocarcinoma within the same patient exist, and may have therapeutic and biomarker testing consequences., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)