(1) Background: Although the important role of dietary energy intake in regulating both cancer progression and host immunity has been widely recognized, it remains unclear whether dietary calorie restriction (CR) has any impact on anti-tumor immune responses. (2) Methods: Using an immunogenic B16 melanoma cell expressing ovalbumin (B16-OVA), we examined the effect of the CR diet on B16-OVA tumor growth and host immune responses. To further test whether the CR diet affects the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, we examined the effect of CR against anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody (anti-PD-1 Ab) treatment. (3) Results: The CR diet significantly slowed down the tumor growth of B16-OVA without affecting both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell infiltration into the tumor. Although in vivo depletion of CD8⁺ T cells facilitated B16-OVA tumor growth in the control diet group, there was no significant change in the tumor growth in the CR diet group with or without CD8⁺ T cell-depletion. Anti-PD-1 Ab treatment lost its efficacy to suppress tumor growth along with the activation and metabolic shift of CD8⁺ T cells under CR condition. (4) Conclusions: Our present results suggest that a physical condition restricted in energy intake in cancer patients may impair CD8⁺ T cell immune surveillance and the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Multifocal fatty liver nodules can present a diagnostic challenge due to their resemblance to metastatic liver disease. This case report illustrates the complexity of such scenarios through the presentation of a middle-aged male patient. Despite the common nature of fatty liver disease, characterized by hepatocyte fat accumulation leading to diffuse and uniform liver lesions, rare instances exhibit heterogeneous appearances. The case underlines the potential confusion arising from imaging modalities when multiple small nodules disperse throughout the liver, mimicking multifocal tumors or metastases. The report emphasizes the critical role of comprehensive diagnostic procedures in preventing misdiagnosis and unwarranted interventions. Effective management hinges on multidisciplinary collaboration among specialists, ensuring accurate differentiation and appropriate treatment. This study serves as a reminder of the intricacies involved in interpreting multifocal fatty liver nodules that may masquerade as metastatic disease, highlighting the need for precision in clinical practice.

English: Objective: This study aimed to compare clinical characteristics and plasma cytokine profiles among patients with asthma, asthma combined with smoking history, asthma with fixed airflow obstruction (FAO) and asthma–COPD overlap (ACO), to identify distinct inflammatory signatures. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted involving 120 clinically stable asthma patients stratified into four groups: asthma (n = 56), asthma + smoking (n = 15), asthma + FAO (n = 34) and ACO (n = 15). Clinical assessments, spirometry and multiplex cytokine analysis were performed to evaluate inflammatory and functional parameters. Results: Significant elevations in IL-1β, IL-17 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were observed in the ACO group compared to asthma and asthma + FAO cohorts (P < 0.01). Specifically, IL-1β levels in ACO reached 3.8 ng/L [2.7–4.8], nearly threefold higher than in asthma (1.4 ng/L) and asthma + FAO (1.0 ng/L). IL-17 and TNF-α concentrations were similarly elevated in ACO (16.4 ng/L and 18.8 ng/L, respectively). No significant differences were found in IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-12 or IL-13. Conclusion: ACO exhibits distinct immunopathological characteristics, notably elevated concentrations of IL-1β, IL-17 and TNF-α relative to asthma and asthma + FAO cohorts. The combined use of spirometric indices and biomarker profiling may enhance phenotypic stratification and inform the development of targeted biologic therapies for obstructive airway diseases.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is common in left-sided heart valve disease, with historical studies reporting mortality rates up to 31% in severe cases undergoing mitral valve surgery. This study evaluates the impact of severe pulmonary hypertension on outcomes of mechanical mitral valve replacement with posterior leaflet preservation by comparing results with patients having mild-to-moderate pulmonary hypertension. Methods: Prospective analysis of 86 patients with mitral valve disease undergoing mechanical valve replacement with posterior leaflet preservation from March 2015 to September 2016 was conducted. Patients were stratified by pulmonary artery pressure: severe (≥60 mmHg, n = 19) versus mild–moderate (35–59 mmHg, n = 67). Primary outcomes included mortality, complications, and functional recovery at 1, 6, and 12 months. Results: The cohort included 67 patients (77.9%) with mild–moderate pulmonary hypertension and 19 patients (22.1%) with severe pulmonary hypertension. Severe pulmonary hypertension patients demonstrated higher NYHA functional class (73.7% class III vs. 46.2%, p = 0.03), larger left atrial diameter (56.3 ± 9.8 vs. 49.5 ± 6.7 mm, p = 0.01), and higher mean pressure gradients (14.4 ± 5.3 vs. 11.3 ± 5.0 mmHg, p = 0.025). Mortality was 5.3% in the severe group versus 0% in the mild–moderate group (p = 0.331). Patients with severe pulmonary hypertension required longer ICU stays (6.3 ± 3.7 vs. 4.7 ± 2.2 days, p = 0.024) but showed no significant differences in ventilation time, reoperation rates, or major complications. At the 12-month follow-up, both groups achieved equivalent outcomes in pulmonary artery pressures, left ventricular function, and cardiac dimensions. Conclusion: In this study with a relatively small sample size, severe pulmonary hypertension was associated with significantly longer intensive care unit stay but not with higher mortality compared to mild–moderate pulmonary hypertension, with both groups attaining comparable functional and hemodynamic parameters at 12 months after mechanical mitral valve replacement with posterior leaflet preservation.

Primary pericardial mesothelioma is an exceedingly rare malignancy with poor progno-sis. The nonspecific symptomatology frequently impedes early diagnosis, leading to therapeutic challenges. We present a case of primary pericardial mesothelioma success-fully managed through surgical intervention, with the patient demonstrating clinical sta-bility at 15-month follow-up, significantly exceeding the typical survival duration report-ed in the literature.