Comparison of the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) infected patients from a single hospitalist service.

BACKGROUND: While existing evidence suggests less severe clinical manifestations and lower mortality are associated with the Omicron variant as compared to the Delta variant. However, these studies fail to control for differences in health systems facilities and providers. By comparing patients hospitalized on a single medical service during the Delta and Omicron surges we were able to conduct a more accurate comparison of the two varaints' clinical manifestations and outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 364 Omicron (BA.1) infected patients on a single hospitalist service and compared these findings to a retrospective analysis of 241 Delta variant infected patients managed on the same service. We examined differences in symptoms, laboratory measures, and clinical severity between the two variants and assessed potential risk drivers for case mortality. FINDINGS: Patients infected with Omicron were older and had more underlying medical conditions increasing their risk of death. Although they were less severely ill and required less supplemental oxygen and dexamethasone, in-hospital mortality was similar to Delta cases, 7.14% vs. 4.98% for Delta (q-value = 0.38). Patients older than 60 years or with immunocompromised conditions had much higher risk of death during hospitalization, with estimated odds ratios of 17.46 (95% CI: 5.05, 110.51) and 2.80 (1.03, 7.08) respectively. Neither vaccine history nor variant type played a significant role in case fatality. The Rothman score, NEWS-2 score, level of neutrophils, level of care, age, and creatinine level at admission were highly predictive of in-hospital death. INTERPRETATION: In hospitalized patients, the Omicron variant is less virulent than the Delta variant but is associated with a comparable mortality. Clinical and laboratory features at admission are informative about the risk of death.

The 'Danse Macabre'-Neutrophils the Interactive Partner Affecting Oral Cancer Outcomes.

Over the past few decades, tremendous advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer have taken place. However for head and neck cancers, including oral cancer, the overall survival rate is below 50% and they remain the seventh most common malignancy worldwide. These cancers are, commonly, aggressive, genetically complex, and difficult to treat and the delay, which often occurs between early recognition of symptoms and diagnosis, and the start of treatment of these cancers, is associated with poor prognosis. Cancer development and progression occurs in concert with alterations in the surrounding stroma, with the immune system being an essential element in this process. Despite neutrophils having major roles in the pathology of many diseases, they were thought to have little impact on cancer development and progression. Recent studies are now challenging this notion and placing neutrophils as central interactive players with other immune and tumor cells in affecting cancer pathology. This review focuses on how neutrophils and their sub-phenotypes, N1, N2, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, both directly and indirectly affect the anti-tumor and pro-tumor immune responses. Emphasis is placed on what is currently known about the interaction of neutrophils with myeloid innate immune cells (such as dendritic cells and macrophages), innate lymphoid cells, natural killer cells, and fibroblasts to affect the tumor microenvironment and progression of oral cancer. A better understanding of this dialog will allow for improved therapeutics that concurrently target several components of the tumor microenvironment, increasing the possibility of constructive and positive outcomes for oral cancer patients. For this review, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for manuscripts using keywords and combinations thereof of "oral cancer, OSCC, neutrophils, TANs, MDSC, immune cells, head and neck cancer, and tumor microenvironment" with a focus on publications from 2018 to 2021.

Estradiol-17ß stimulates H2 S biosynthesis by ER-dependent CBS and CSE transcription in uterine artery smooth muscle cells in vitro.

Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2 S), synthesized by cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), is a potent vasodilator that can be stimulated by estradiol-17ß (E 2 ß) in uterine artery (UA) smooth muscle (UASMC) in vivo; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. This study tested a hypothesis that E 2 ß stimulates H 2 S biosynthesis by upregulating CBS expression via specific estrogen receptor (ER). Treatment with E 2 ß stimulated time- and concentration- dependent CBS and CSE messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions, and H 2 S production in cultured primary UASMC isolated from late pregnant ewes, which were blocked by ICI 182,780. Treatment with specific ERα or ERß agonist mimicked these E 2 ß-stimulated responses, which were blocked by specific ERα or ERß antagonist. Moreover, E 2 ß activated both CBS and CSE promoters and ICI 182,780 blocked the E 2 ß-stimulated responses. Thus, E 2 ß stimulates H 2 S production by upregulating CBS and CSE expression via specific ER-dependent transcription in UASMC in vitro.

Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor in a 5-year-old boy: a case report.

The calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT), formerly known as calcifying odontogenic cyst, is a rare developmental neoplasm/cyst of odontogenic epithelial origin with considerable histopathologic diversity and variable clinical behaviour. The occurrence of CCOT in the first decade of life is very uncommon. We report an interestingly rare variant of CCOT with ameloblastomatous proliferation affecting the mandibular left posterior region associated with an impacted permanent tooth in a 5-year-old boy.

Altered immunohistochemical expression of mast cell tryptase and chymase in the pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis and malignant transformation of the overlying epithelium.

Mast cells (MCs) expressing serine proteases; tryptase and chymase, are associated with fibrosis in various diseases. However, little is known about their involvement in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Our goal was to evaluate the role of MC tryptase and chymase in the pathogenesis of OSF and its malignant transformation. Immunohistochemical expression of MC tryptase and chymase was evaluated in 20 cases of OSF, 10 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 10 cases of healthy controls. Subepithelial zone of Stage 1 and 2 while deep zone of Stage 3 and 4 OSF demonstrated increased tryptase positive MCs. OSCC revealed a proportionate increase in tryptase and chymase positive MCs irrespective of areas of distribution. An altered balance in the subepithelial and deep distribution of tryptase and chymase positive MCs play an important role in the pathogenesis of OSF and its malignant transformation.

Clinical and imaging findings of true hemifacial hyperplasia.

Congenital hemifacial hyperplasia is a rare developmental disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by a marked unilateral facial asymmetry. It involves the hard (bones and teeth) and soft tissues of the face. We report an interesting case of true hemifacial hyperplasia in a 25-year-old male highlighting the clinical and computed tomography imaging findings.