A systematic review of the literature was carried out to determine the role of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) . To be eligible, full published trials needed to deal with SCLC and to have randomly assigned patients to receive PCI or not. Trials quality was assessed by two scores (Chalmers and ELCWP). Twelve randomised trials (1547 patients) were found to be eligible. Five evaluated the role of PCI in SCLC patients who had complete response (CR) after chemotherapy. Brain CT scan was done in the work-up in five studies and brain scintigraphy in six. Chalmers and ELCWP scores are well correlated (p < 0.001), with respective median scores of 32.6 and 38.8 %. This meta-analysis based on the available published data reveals a decrease of brain metastases incidence (hazard ratio (HR): 0.48; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.39 - 0.60) for all the studies and an improvement of survival (HR: 0.82; 95 % CI: 0.71 - 0.96) in patients in CR in favour of the PCI arm. Unfortunately, long-term neurotoxicity was not adequately described . PCI decreases brain metastases incidence and improves survival in CR SCLC patients but these effects were obtained in patients who had no systematic neuropsychological and brain imagery assessments. The long-term toxicity has not been prospectively evaluated. If PCI can be recommended in patients with SCLC and CR documented by a work-up including brain CT scan, data are lacking to generalise its use to any CR situations.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation in small cell lung cancer: a systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis.

An increasing number of therapeutic agents have been associated with a vasculitic syndrome. This usually involves small vessels, primarily capillaries, venules, and arterioles in leukocytoclastic vasculitis, small-vessel disease similar to an antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-related vasculitis, or mid-sized muscular arteries in a polyarteritis-like picture. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are present in many cases of vasculitis regardless of the size of the vessel involved. Monoclonal antibodies used to treat many autoimmune disorders have become the most common agents associated with drug-induced vasculitis. Important advances in epigenetics, genetics, and neutrophil apoptosis are providing new insights into the pathogenesis of both drug-induced vasculitis and idiopathic vasculitis. Although management has not changed significantly in the past few years where withdrawal of the offending agent is the primary intervention, increasing awareness of drug-induced vasculitis can lead to earlier diagnosis and prevention of severe organ damage and fatalities.

Drug-Induced Vasculitis: New Insights and a Changing Lineup of Suspects

Surgical resection remains the mainstay treatment for solid cancers, especially for localized disease. However, the postoperative immunosuppression provides a window for cancer cell proliferation and awakening dormant cancer cells, leading to rapid recurrences or metastases. This immunosuppressive status after surgery is associated with the severity of surgical trauma since immunosuppression induced by minimally invasive surgery is less than that of an extensive open surgery. The systemic response to tissue damages caused by surgical operations and the subsequent wound healing induced a cascade alteration in cellular immunity. After surgery, patients have a high level of circulating damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), triggering a local and systemic inflammation. The inflammatory metrics in the immediate postoperative period was associated with the prognosis of cancer patients. Neutrophils provide the first response to surgical trauma, and the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) promotes cancer progression. Activated macrophage during wound healing presents a tumor-associated phenotype that cancers can exploit for their survival advantage. In addition, the amplification and activation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs) or the elevated programmed death ligand-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression under surgical trauma, exacerbate the immunosuppression and favor of the formation of the premetastatic niche. Therapeutic strategies to reduce the cellular immunity impairment after surgery include anti-DAMPs, anti-postoperative inflammation or inflammatory/pyroptosis signal, combined immunotherapy with surgery, antiangiogenesis and targeted therapies for neutrophils, macrophages, MDSCs, and Tregs. Further, the application of enhanced recovery after surgery also has a feasible outcome for postoperative immunity restoration. Overall, current therapies to improve the cellular immunity under the special condition after surgery are relatively lacking. Further understanding the underlying mechanisms of surgical trauma-related immunity dysfunction, phenotyping the immunosuppressive cells, and developing the related therapeutic intervention should be explored.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ctm2.24

Surgical trauma-induced immunosuppression in cancer: Recent advances and the potential therapies.

How Has COVID-19 Affected the Costs of the Surgical Fellowship Interview Process?

Background The residency match is increasingly competitive. The interview is an essential component, yet little has been documented about the costs applicants incur during the interview process and it is unclear how they manage these expenses. Objective The purpose of this study was to define the economic burden of residency interviews for United States (U.S.) allopathic students participating in the 2016 Main Residency Match. We hypothesized that the financial burden of residency interviews varies based on specialty and plays a role in the applicant's ability to participate in all desired interviews. Methods A 26 question electronic survey was developed following pilot study of applicants to a single residency program. Following validation, the survey was distributed to administrative officials at all U.S. allopathic medical schools for circulation to senior students. Results were pooled for statistical analysis. Results We received responses from 759 U.S. allopathic seniors. A single interview most commonly costs $250 - $499. Most applicants incurred substantial interview related costs. Sixtyfour percent of respondents spent at least $2,500, while 13% spent $7,500 or more. Specialty competitiveness was predictive of higher interview costs. Seventy-one percent of respondents borrowed money to fund interview costs, and 41% declined interviews for financial reasons. Conclusions Senior medical students incur substantial costs to participate in residency interviews, often adding to already burdensome educational debt. We encourage residency programs, especially those in competitive specialty fields, to pursue cost reduction strategies. Additionally, medical schools should provide financial counseling to allow students to anticipate interview costs.

The Economic Burden of Residency Interviews on Applicants.

Survey of Applicant Experience and Cost in the Urology Match: Opportunities for Reform

Complete Surgical Metastasectomy of Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Post-Cytokine Era

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prognostic significance of various patterns of extrarenal extension that comprise pathological stage T3a clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) amongst patients undergoing nephrectomy for non-metastatic disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective review of 563 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy for pathologically confirmed T3aN0/NxM0 ccRCC between 1970 and 2011 was performed. All pathological slides were re-reviewed by one urological pathologist. Associations of patterns of extrarenal extension (perinephric fat [PF], renal sinus fat [SF], and renal vein [RV], in isolation or in any combination) with disease progression, cancer-specific mortality (CSM), and all-cause mortality were evaluated on multivariable analyses. RESULTS Overall, PF invasion, renal SF invasion, and RV tumour thrombus were present in 144 (26%), 51 (9%), and 163 (29%) patients, respectively, with multiple patterns of extrarenal extension identified in 205 (36%) patients. There were no significant differences in survival outcomes for isolated involvement of PF, renal SF, or RV. However, patients with multiple patterns of extrarenal extension were at significantly increased risk of disease progression (hazard ratio [HR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.65; P = 0.020), CSM (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.27-2.12; P < 0.001), and all-cause mortality (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.08-1.61; P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS The presence of multiple patterns of extrarenal extension is associated with a higher risk of disease progression and cancer-related death after radical nephrectomy compared to isolated involvement of the PF, renal SF, or RV, which carry similar prognostic weight. If validated, these findings may help refine risk stratification of non-metastatic T3a RCC by distinguishing patients with multiple vs one pattern of extrarenal extension.

Prognostic evaluation of perinephric fat, renal sinus fat, and renal vein invasion for patients with pathological stage T3a clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma

Timothy D. Lyon

Papers

Survey of Applicant Experience and Cost in the Urology Match: Opportunities for Reform

Complete Surgical Metastasectomy of Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Post-Cytokine Era

Prognostic evaluation of perinephric fat, renal sinus fat, and renal vein invasion for patients with pathological stage T3a clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma

Short-term Outcomes of Intraoperative Cell Saver Transfusion During Open Partial Nephrectomy.

Sarcopenia and Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.