Changes in Confidence, Feelings, and Perceived Necessity Concerning COVID-19 Booster

The COVID-19 booster first became available to all adults in the U.S. in November 2021 and a bivalent version in September 2022, but a large population remains booster-hesitant; only 17% of Americans have obtained the updated vaccine as of June 2023. We conducted two cross-sectional surveys in 2021 and 2022 (n = 1889 and 1319) to determine whether changes in booster-related feelings or perceptions had occurred and whether they altered vaccination rates over time. We found that both positive and negative emotions had grown stronger between the two years, with the prevalence of annoyance increasing the most (21.5% to 39.7%). The impact of trust on booster intention more than doubled (OR = 7.46 to 16.04). Although perceived risk of infection decreased, more participants in 2022 indicated uncertainty or unwillingness to obtain a new booster than in 2021, while the proportion refusing a booster remained constant at 22.5%. Confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine and feelings of hope from the booster motivated acceptance; both were stronger predictors of booster receptivity than prior vaccination history. Our findings signal a need to rebuild trust by informing people of their continued risk and appealing to positive, especially optimistic emotions to encourage booster uptake. Future research should explore longitudinal trends in behavior and feelings toward new booster doses and the impact of prolonged vaccine hesitancy on infection rates.

Internal and External Motivations and Risk Perception toward COVID-19 Vaccination in Adolescents in the U.S

The COVID-19 vaccine is widely available to adolescents in the U.S.; however, vaccine hesitancy poses a threat to full coverage. The literature shows that perceived risks and the presence or lack of motivators are determinants for vaccination decisions, yet research evidence from minors is scant. This study adopted the Protection Motivation framework to identify differences in these facilitators and compare the influence of internal and external motivators among American adolescents in COVID-19 vaccine uptake. A nationwide online survey analyzed 13−17-year-old teenagers’ COVID-19 beliefs as well as present or potential reasons for accepting the vaccine. Of the 439 participants, 21.18% were not and did not plan to get vaccinated. Another 52.39% had at least one dosage, of which over three-quarters were internally motivated (whereas those unvaccinated were more likely to be externally motivated, X2 = 4.117, p = 0.042). In unvaccinated individuals, older adolescents reported slightly more internal motivators than younger adolescents (t = −2.023, p = 0.046). Internal motivation was associated with higher risk perception (r2 = 0.06651, p = 0.001), but risk perception had a stronger relationship with vaccination status (r2 = 0.1816, p < 0.001), with vaccinated individuals showing higher risk perception than those unvaccinated (mean difference = 0.42 on a scale of 1−4; t = −3.603, p < 0.001); the risk perception difference was even greater between hesitant and non-hesitant participants (mean difference = 0.63; t = −0.892, p < 0.001). The relationship was moderated by perceived knowledge, where the difference in risk perception between vaccination status was only significant for those with low perceived knowledge (f = 10.59, p = 0.001). Increasing awareness of disease risks and stressing internal motivators may be key to improving uptake in young people. Future research could delve deeper into risk perception formation of adolescents and why and how it differs across populations.

Uncovering the Imprints of Chronic Disease on Patients' Lives and Self-Perceptions

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients face psychological hardship due to physical discomfort, disabilities, and anxieties. Previous research indicated a bidirectional relationship and patient desire for emotional support from providers. This study examined lesser-understood RA experiences across the psychological and social contexts in relation to self-perception through the patients' expression of their struggles with these burdens. We conducted four semistructured focus groups and eleven interviews (total n = 31). A codebook was developed and refined through iterative transcript coding via NVivo-12. Four emerging themes were identified by inductive, thematic analysis: (1) the patients' healthy appearances were a myth, with subthemes revealing a conflict between an inclination to hide the disease and a desire for validation, while feeling embarrassed by symptom manifestations and disappointment at withdrawal from social interactions; (2) an identity crisis due to diminished functionality, autonomy, and sense of self; (3) RA constantly occupied the mind, as its unpredictability dictated daily schedules and altered plans; and (4) the disease's chronic nature influenced personal outlook to worry about or accept the uncertainty. Even with effective treatment, the invisibility of the disease, the fear and anticipation of flare-ups, and identity clashes caused emotional distress. The insights offer a different perspective on personalized medicine, complementing clinical treatments based on genetic or biomarker profile. For patient-centered holistic care, education is needed to prompt both patients and providers to discuss psychological issues for more customized, integrated interventions. The findings can help inform healthcare teams and families in recognizing and supporting these physical-psychological intertwined experiences, thereby ameliorating patients' wellbeing.

Immunophenotypic and prognostic analysis of E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression during breast carcinogenesis and tumour progression: a comparative study with CD44

AIMS

This study was performed to investigate whether immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) and beta-catenin (beta-cat) in conjunction with CD44 may correlate with the clinical evolution and prognosis of breast cancer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One-hundred and forty-two routinely processed breast tissue samples including normal breast, benign lesions, in situ and invasive carcinomas were investigated. E-cad and beta-cat were strongly expressed by luminal and basal cells in normal glands, benign proliferative and early neoplastic intraductal lesions. Contrarily, CD44 was expressed exclusively by myoepithelial cells in normal breast, whereas different isoform expression patterns were observed in premalignant and malignant lesions. Simultaneous lack of E-cad/beta-cat expression was detected in in situ and invasive lobular carcinomas in contrast to ductal lesions, in which the differential loss of the molecules was associated with poorer differentiation, irrespective of CD44 immunophenotype. Reduced E-cad (P = 0.003), beta-cat (P = 0.03) and increased CD44v4 (P = 0.005) and v7 (P = 0.007) expression were significantly associated with positive lymph node status. Decreased E-cad and lack of CD44v6 expression correlated with poor survival. There was no difference between the expression of either molecule in in situ and invasive components within the same tumour.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that changes in E-cad, beta-cat and CD44 expression occur early in breast carcinogenesis; they are involved in tumour differentiation, but events additional to their deranged expression are needed to acquire an invasive phenotype.

Gains and losses of CD44 expression during breast carcinogenesis and tumour progression

AIMS

This study was performed to investigate whether the CD44 immunophenotype of breast lesions correlates with the clinical evolution and prognosis of breast cancer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One-hundred and fifty-two routinely processed normal, benign and malignant breast tissue samples were investigated by the following monoclonal antibodies: CD44s (F10-44-2), CD44v3 (3G5), CD44v4 (11.10), CD44v5 (VFF-8), CD44v6 (VFF-18), CD44v7 (VFF-9), CD44v9 (11-24) after wet autoclave pretreatment for antigen retrieval. We found that: (1) in normal breast tissues luminal epithelial cells lacked detectable CD44 in contrast to basal cells, which constitutionally expressed CD44s, v3, v5 v6 and v9 isoforms; (2) in the intraductal compartment of benign hyperplastic lesions, there was scattered or focal staining for CD44s, v5, v6, v7 and v9 isoforms; (3) in neoplastic lesions restricted neo-expression of CD44v3 and v4 was detected; and (4) the CD44 immunophenotype of invasive breast carcinomas was influenced largely by differentiation grade, steroid receptor status of the tumours and significantly correlated with metastatic involvement of the axillary lymph nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Qualitative and quantitative changes of CD44 expression are implicated in early stages of breast carcinogenesis. The restricted neo-expression of certain CD44 isoforms in breast neoplasias suggests that CD44 might be a potential target for future antibody-based tumour therapy.

Demonstration of silver-stained nucleolar organizer region associated proteins (AgNORs) after wet autoclave pretreatment in breast carcinoma: correlation to tumor stage and long-term survival

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region associated proteins (AgNORs) are known to reflect cellular and nucleolar activity. Due to a novel staining procedure, which substantially improves visualisation of AgNORs on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material, AgNORs can be reliably demonstrated as true substructures of the nucleoli. The aim of the present study was to apply a standardized morphometric AgNOR quantification on a large series of breast carcinomas with regard to its prognostic relevance. AgNOR quantity was evaluated on archival tumor tissues of 115 adenocarcinomas of the breast treated with the wet autoclave method prior to standardized silver-staining and morphometric analysis. AgNOR parameters were correlated to prognostic features (steroid hormonal receptor status, tumor type, tumor size, histological grading, pTNM, and UICC stage) carrying out both univariate and multivariate survival analyses. AgNOR number and area were proven to be statistically significantly related (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.67, Bonferroni adjusted P = 0.0001). Almost all AgNOR parameters, in particular CV (coefficient of variation) of corrected area (delta-area) and CV of number, were statistically significantly correlated to estrogen and progesterone receptor status as well as histological grading of tumors. Increased AgNOR parameters were statistically significantly associated with early tumor relapse and cancer related death. Univariate and multivariate analysis by means of Cox regression revealed independent prognostic significance for CV of delta-area and number of AgNORs. Various AgNOR parameters (CV of number, CV of delta-area, CV of area, mean delta-area, and mean area of AgNORs per nucleus) determined on wet autoclave pre-treated formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues are statistically highly significantly associated with the prognostic outcome, independently predicting tumor-free and overall survival.

Metallothionein expression in duct carcinoma in situ of the breast

In a previous study immunocytochemically detectable metallothionein (MT) expression in tumor cells of invasive duct carcinoma of the breast was shown to be associated with a more aggressive behavior and these findings have been subsequently confirmed by others. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and significance of MT positivity in preinvasive duct carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Fifty-five specimens of pure screen-detected DCIS were stained immunocytochemically for MT using the antibody E9. The intensity and distribution of MT staining were assessed using a semiquantitative method resulting in intensity distribution (ID) scores allowing duct by duct analysis in relation to architectural and cytological features of the DCIS. In general, myoepithelial cells around benign and malignant structures stained uniformly strongly for MT. Staining in DCIS was analyzed by architecture irrespective of cytology and by nuclear grade irrespective of architecture. The results showed that MT staining was significantly greater in comedo (ducts with necrosis) DCIS (ID = 97) compared with noncomedo (ducts without necrosis) DCIS (ID = 56) (P = .05 by Mann Whitney U statistic) and that low cytological grade (ID = 50) was associated with less MT staining than was high cytological grade (ID = 92) (P = .05 by Mann Whitney U statistic). These observations thus are consistent with the previously observed association between MT positivity and more aggressive behavior in invasive duct carcinoma of the breast.

Wet autoclave pretreatment for immunohistochemical demonstration of oestrogen receptors in routinely processed breast carcinoma tissue

The immunohistochemical demonstration of oestrogen receptor (OR) was performed on 32 randomly selected and routinely processed breast carcinomas after wet autoclave pretreatment of sections. The autoclave method was compared to the OR status found on frozen sections as well as to alternative pretreatment methods such as enzymatic predigestion and microwave irradiation. Using four different monoclonal antibody clones (H222, LH1, CC4-5, 1D5.26), the OR status was evaluated for each of the various pretreatment methods applied. All cases with a high OR content on frozen sections (n = 11) also showed a high OR status on wet autoclave-pretreated paraffin tissues using antibody clones 1D5.26 and CC4-5; in cases with low OR content on frozen sections, no false-negative cases were recorded using only the antibody 1D5.26 neither after wet autoclave nor microwave pretreatment. In addition, with this antibody, OR was detectable after autoclave pretreatment in two cases which were considered to be OR-negative even on frozen sections. When the primary antibody was omitted, no false-positive cases were observed after wet autoclave pretreatment. Thus, in our hands, wet autoclave pretreatment, in combination with the antibody 1D5.26, offers a highly sensitive method for the immunohistochemical demonstration of OR in routinely formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of breast carcinomas.

Wet autoclave pretreatment improves the visualization of silver-stained nucleolar organizer-region-associated proteins in routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues

This study describes the effect of wet autoclave pretreatment of routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues on silver-stained nucleolar organizer-region-associated proteins (AgNORs) staining. The treatment of sections at superheated steam temperature (120 degrees C) before silver incubation leads to a significantly better discrimination of single-interphase AgNORs. Counting "black dots" both by eye and by means of a computer-aided image-analyzing system revealed considerably higher AgNOR mean numbers per nucleus in all pretreated cases when compared with the respective untreated controls. However, mean AgNOR numbers increased after autoclave pretreatment in a nonlinear manner (pairwise comparison by means of Spearman's Rank correlation coefficient: rho = 0.5), whereas measurement of the AgNOR area was less influenced by autoclave pretreatment (rho = 0.8). It is concluded that wet autoclave pretreatment of routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded archival material should be applied before AgNOR staining, particularly when quantitation of AgNORs involves counting procedures.

Wet autoclave pretreatment for antigen retrieval in diagnostic immunohistochemistry

Interest has recently been shown in adapting the microwave oven heating technique for antigen retrieval to routine diagnostic immunocytochemical practice. Although it has proved effective as a specialist method for individual antigen localization in many laboratories, it has certain drawbacks which have hampered its wider routine application. These include the need to monitor the sections during the microwave treatment to prevent damage or drying, the limited number of sections that can be accommodated in the microwave oven, and the inevitable alteration in nuclear morphology induced by the microwaves. In order to obviate these difficulties, we have modified the wet autoclave method of Shin et al. (Lab Invest 1991; 64: 693-702) as a routine technique for retrieval of a variety of cell surface, cytoplasmic, and nuclear antigens in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue. The technique produces even enhancement of several refractory antigens in anatomically different sites and has the potential to handle reliably up to 200 sections at a time without significant damage to the section or to nuclear morphology.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of metallothionein in normal human breast tissue and benign and malignant breast lesions

Metallothioneins (MTs) are a set of low molecular weight proteins with a high binding affinity to metal ions. MT over-expression has been recently demonstrated in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with poor clinical prognosis. In the present study, MTs have been immunohistochemically investigated in normal human breast tissue and a variety of benign, pre-invasive, and malignant breast lesions. In normal breast tissue, MTs were present in myoepithelial cells whereas the vast majority of luminal cells were MT negative. In lesions without increased cancer risk (adenosis and scleradenosis), MT was only immunolocalized in myoepithelial cells. In papillomas, MT was also found exclusively in myoepithelial cells. In most cases of epitheliosis, both the luminal and myoepithelial cells expressed MT. Atypical lobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, and 13/15 invasive lobular carcinomas showed no MT over-expression. The two invasive lobular carcinomas with MT over-expression were classified as pleomorphic lobular carcinomas with apocrine differentiation. In contrast to lobular cancerization, 12/24 ductal in situ carcinomas and 9/20 invasive ductal carcinomas showed MT over-expression. In situ components found within invasive ductal carcinomas usually reflected the MT status of their invasive counterpart. It is concluded from our immunohistochemical results that breast carcinoma cases with MT overexpression arise from lesions which also show MT overexpression. Thus MT expression in carcinomas may be regarded as a genuine feature of the tumour cells and seems not to be related to endogenous or exogenous factors known to induce MT synthesis.

[Hyperfractionated irradiation of non-small cell bronchial cancer. Final results of a Phase II study]

The study was performed for the evaluation of hyperfractionated radiotherapy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. From radiobiological data we expected that the twice daily irradiation with reduced single dose should result in a better sparing of the slowly proliferating healthy lung tissue without any loss in the tumoricidal effect. 34 patients were treated conventionally with 30 daily fractions of 2.0 Gy over six weeks and another 34 patients twice daily with 1.3 Gy over five weeks to a total dose of 65 Gy. The interval between two fractions lasted at least six hours. Life table (Kaplan-Meier estimate) indicated no contrast between the therapy schedules. The treatment groups did not differ in local response of the primary, progression-free interval and occurrence of distant metastases, the hyperfractionated schedule was very well tolerated. Comparison of the posttreatment quality of life showed a better course after the hyperfractionated regimen, without reaching a level of significance.

[Digital magnification mammography. A new technique for improved visualization of microcalcifications in breast cancer diagnosis]

Special X-ray tubes with electromagnetic focusing provide a spatial resolution of up to 50 lp/mm at a focal spot size of about 10 microns. Radiographs of whole female breast specimens as well as paraffin blocks were taken at magnifications up to x 10. The initial results revealed numerous microcalcifications smaller than < 100 microns that had not been detected by conventional grid mammography. The combination of a microfocal spot with digital radiography results in as yet unmatched resolution of microcalcifications and makes the advantages of image post-processing available to mammography. However, specific types of calcification could not be established in malignant or benign histological findings.

An immunohistochemical study of the breast using antibodies to basal and luminal keratins, alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, collagen IV and laminin. Part I: Normal breast and benign proliferative lesions

The distribution of simple epithelial (K8/18/19) and basal (myoepithelial) (K5/14) keratins, alpha-smooth-muscle actin, vimentin, collagen IV and laminin in normal mammary glands and in benign proliferative lesions was studied using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). These antibodies (Abs) identified myoepithelial cells and luminal cells specifically. In lesions with adenosis and papillomas, the two-layered formation resembled that of normal glands with a purely myoepithelial-epithelial differentiation. In scleradenotic lesions, the main cell was of myoepithelial immunophenotype with intermixed trabecular-tubular proliferations of simple-type epithelium. The sclerosis seems to be the result of an irregular basal lamina synthesis by the myoepithelial cells. In contrast to these lesions, epitheliosis represents a purely intraluminal cell proliferation of clearly simple epithelial immunophenotype and of cells with a basal keratin phenotype, lacking myoepithelial differentiation antigen actin. The basal keratin type epithelium may represent post-stem or intermediate cells developing into luminal epithelium. Epitheliosis appears to be a purely epithelial hyperplasia with striking similarity to the regeneration of normal breast epithelium. The different proliferative patterns may give an explanation for differences in potential cancer risks of patients with these lesions.

An immunohistochemical study of the breast using antibodies to basal and luminal keratins, alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, collagen IV and laminin. Part II: Epitheliosis and ductal carcinoma in situ

A detailed immunohistochemical study has been carried out on 63 breast lesions with epitheliosis, ductal carcinoma in situ and clinging carcinoma (lobular cancerization), using antibodies directed against keratins 5/14 and 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, vimentin, smooth muscle actin, collagen IV and laminin. The results have shown that epitheliosis on the one hand and ductal in situ and clinging carcinoma on the other are immunohistochemically different epithelial lesions. Epitheliosis appears to be epithelial hyperplasia with keratin 5/14 and keratin 14, 15, 16, 18, 19-positive cells. Compared to epitheliotic cells tumor cells of clinging carcinoma, lobular cancerization and ductal carcinoma in situ expressed only luminal keratins 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 in 85% of the cases studied; whereas in 15% there was a basal keratin expression. From our results we conclude that the clinging carcinoma (lobular cancerization) represents the initial morphological step in the development of ductal carcinoma in situ and thus may be interpreted as a minimal ductal neoplasia. With the immunohistochemical demonstration of basal and luminal keratins it may be possible in individual cases to differentiate between benign and malignant in situ lesions of the breast.

[Basilar aneurysm in the cerebello-pontine angle. Case report with review of the literature]

The importance of vascular lesions in the cerebello-pontine angle is discussed with reference to a case report of a basilar artery aneurysm with typical clinical signs of cerebello-pontine angle lesion. A review of 29 cases of aneurysms with cerebello-pontine angle syndrome is given. The presented case is the twelfth reported basilar artery aneurysm in this region with the typical clinical syndrome.

Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency and long-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency with Leigh's subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy

A female infant was seen at the age of 2 months because of hypotonia, delayed motor development, and lactic acidosis, and she died at age 13 months due to respiratory failure. In a muscle specimen taken at 11 months and in a liver specimen obtained 1.5 hours postmortem, we found decreased activities of cytochrome c oxidase and long-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase. Neuropathological changes were typical for Leigh's subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a combined defect of complex IV of the respiratory chain and of the long-chain specific acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase of beta-oxidation in muscle and liver.

Multiple cutaneous myxomas coinciding with repeated cardiac myxomas. A syndrome

We report on a 31-year-old woman who underwent surgery for two metachronous cardiac myxomas - 7 and 9 years after excision of several cutaneous myxomas. Our observation is a further case of a syndrome-like complex of cardiac and cutaneous myxoma(s), pigmentation anomalies and endocrine disorders described only recently. As modern investigative methods and the development of cardiovascular surgery have brought about an essential improvement in diagnostics and prognosis of cardiac myxomas, the knowledge of this syndrome-like complex is of great therapeutic importance. Therefore, in our opinion, echocardiographic investigations are strongly recommended even in asymptomatic patients, once several cutaneous myxomas are diagnosed histologically.

[Cushing syndrome--a leading symptom in bronchial carcinoid]

Bilateral adrenalectomy was performed in a 27-year-old male because of Cushing's syndrome. After 7 years a peripheral bronchial carcinoid was diagnosed; ACTH values went back to normal only after removal of the carcinoid. In the literature, there are 31 case reports on bronchial carcinoids associated with Cushing's syndrome. The Cushing's syndrome precedes the diagnosis of a tumor for months to years in at least half of the cases. Most of these patients first underwent adrenalectomy and/or hypophysectomy for their primarily endocrine symptoms and signs.