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Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC, ICD-O M8247/3) is a rare, malignant, primary skin tumor with epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation. The tumor cells share many morphologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features with cutaneous Merkel cells. Nevertheless, the cell of origin of MCC is unclear. MCC appears clinically as a reddish to purple spherical tumor with a smooth, shiny surface and a soft to turgid, elastic consistency, usually showing rapid growth. Spontaneous and often complete regressions of the tumor are observed. These likely immunologically-mediated regressions explain the cases in which only lymph node or distant metastases are found at the time of initial diagnosis and why the tumor responds very well to immunomodulatory therapies even at advanced stages. Due to its aggressiveness, the usually given indication for sentinel lymph node biopsy, the indication of adjuvant therapies to be evaluated, as well as the complexity of the necessary diagnostics, clinical management should already be determined by an interdisciplinary tumor board at the time of initial diagnosis.

Das Merkelzellkarzinom (MCC, ICD-O M8247/3) ist ein seltener, maligner, primärer Hauttumor mit epithelialer und neuroendokriner Differenzierung. Die Tumorzellen teilen viele morphologische, immunhistochemische und ultrastrukturelle Eigenschaften mit den Merkel-Zellen der Haut. Die Ursprungszelle (cell of origin) des MCC ist dennoch unklar. Das MCC imponiert klinisch als ein rötlich bis violett farbiger kugeliger Tumor mit glatter glänzender Oberfläche und weicher bis prall-elastischer Konsistenz, der in der Regel ein schnelles Wachstum aufweist. Spontane, häufig auch komplette Regressionen des Tumors werden beobachtet. Diese wahrscheinlich immunologisch-vermittelten Regressionen erklären die Fälle, bei denen zum Zeitpunkt der Erstdiagnose nur Lymphknoten- oder Fernmetastasen gefunden werden und warum der Tumor auch in weit fortgeschrittenen Stadien sehr gut auf immunmodulierende Therapien anspricht. Aufgrund seiner Aggressivität, der in der Regel gegebenen Indikation zur Schildwächterlymphknotenbiopsie, der zu evaluierenden Indikation adjuvanter Therapien, sowie der Komplexität der notwendigen Diagnostik sollte das Vorgehen bereits bei Erstdiagnose durch ein interdisziplinäres Tumorboard festgelegt werden.

For patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma (aBCC) first-line treatment with hedgehog inhibitors (HHIs) and second-line treatment with PD1 inhibitors (PD1i) is available, offering combination and sequencing options. Here, we focus on the efficacy and safety of HHI reinduction after PD1i failure. Retrospective data analysis was performed with 12 patients with aBCC (locally advanced (n = 8)/metastatic (n = 4)). These patients (male:female 6:6, median age 68 years) initially received HHIs, leading to complete/partial response (66%) or stable disease (33%). Median treatment duration was 20.8 (2–64.5) months until discontinuation due to progression (n = 8), adverse events (n = 3), or patient request (n = 1). Subsequent PD1 inhibition (pembrolizumab 42%, cemiplimab 58%) yielded a partial response (8%), stable disease (33%), or progression (59%). Median treatment duration was 4.1 (0.8–16.3) months until discontinuation due to progression (n = 9), adverse events (n = 1), patient request (n = 1), or missing drug approval (n = 1). HHI reinduction resulted in complete/partial response (33%), stable disease (50%), or progression (17%). Median treatment duration was 3.6 (1–29) months. Response duration in the four responding patients was 2–29+ months. Thus, a subgroup of patients with aBCC responded to reinduction of HHI following PD1i failure. Therefore, this sequential treatment represents a feasible treatment option.

The food industry has been struggling with existing guidance on how to prepare health claim dossiers. Hence the EU-funded project PATHWAY-27 seeks to provide a more tailored guidance. Within this project, robust guidelines for the food industry will be developed. The guidelines will be applicable to bioactives and bioactive enriched foods in general, to facilitate health claim documentation and dossiers. Based on a questionnaire, information on the needs and difficulties of the food industry in reaching the requirements established by the national and EU authorities (EFSA) was gathered. Particular emphasis was placed on scientific, economic, technical and technological barriers., Proceedings in Food System Dynamics, Proceedings in System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks 2015

This paper examined the usage of cultural values in market segmentation. The study involved young Chinese consumers of apparel market in Hong Kong. Chinese Cultural Values Scale (CCVS) (Yau 1994) was adopted as the measurement instrument of the value construct. Samples were asked to rate the importance of various store attributes in their choices of where to purchase. The analysis involved multivariate statistical methods. Respondents were segmented into four clusters and contrasted. It revealed that clusters with different value orientations rated differently the importances of ten store attributes. Implications for marketers were proposed.

Background. Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses preferentially infect alveolar type II pneumocytes in human lung. However, it is unknown whether this cellular tropism contributes to high viral virulence because the primary target cells of other influenza viruses have not been systematically studied. Methods. We provide the first comparison of the replication, tropism, and cytokine induction of human, highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H5N1 and other animal influenza A viruses in primary human lung organ cultures. Results. Subytpe H5N1 and human-adapted subtype H1N1 and H3N2 viruses replicated efficiently in the lung tissue, whereas classic swine and low-pathogenicity avian viruses propagated only poorly. Nevertheless, all viruses examined were detected almost exclusively in type II pneumocytes, with a minor involvement of alveolar macrophages. Infection with avian viruses that have a low and high pathogenicity provoked a pronounced induction of cytokines and chemokines, while human and pandemic H1N1-2009 viruses triggered only weak responses. Conclusions. These findings show that differences in the pathogenic potential of influenza A viruses in the human lung cannot be attributed to a distinct cellular tropism. Rather, high or low viral pathogenicity is associated with a strain-specific capacity to productively replicate in type II pneumocytes and to cope with the induced cytokine response.

Chylothorax is a rare congenital condition associated with significant perinatal mortality and morbidity. Previous treatments with repeated thoracocentesis or thoracoamniotic shunting were technically demanding, and associated with significant procedure-related complications and neonatal complications. Here we report the first successful case in Hong Kong treated by a simple and effective intervention, namely pleurodesis with OK-432, in a fetus presenting at 20 weeks of gestation with bilateral pleural effusion.

Recent studies have shown that 'return to home cage' can serve as a reward for maze learning in adult male mice. The present study examined whether the same reward is an effective motivator of learning in young and old mice and included females in the study design. We tested 25- and 65-d-old HS mice and 85- and 800-d-old B6D2F2 mice in a Lashley III maze. Return to home cage motivated maze acquisition in all groups. Compared with 65-d-old HS mice, 25-d-olds acquired the maze more slowly, took longer to achieve the test criterion, and showed increased latency to reach the goal box. There was no difference between 85- and 800-d-old B6D2F2 mice in rate of acquisition. This reward procedure may reduce the potentially confounding effects of deprivation or aversive stimuli on maze performance and may be suitable as a motivational procedure for a wide range of subject groups.