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A decreased number of macrophages has previously been demonstrated by means of skin-window assays in operable breast cancer patients. However, in this type of cellular inflammatory response, a varying intensity of cellular activation, cellular recruitment and macrophage chemotaxis exists. In this study, we performed skin windows after stimulation by a chemo-attractant (FMLP) and a recall antigen (Candidin-latex). Cellular responses were classified in 19 breast cancer patients according to the presence (A+) or absence (A0) of macrophage activation by comparison to healthy controls. In 13 A0 patients, the admixture of a cytokine (IFN alpha) and an immunodulator (P40) to one agent or the other or both resulted in the restoration of macrophage functions. Our study shows that uniform cellular responses to chemo-attractants and antigens are observed in healthy and not immunocompromised individuals as assessed by skin-window tests. However, the cellular response recorded in immunodeficient cancer patients is altered. It also shows that the admixture to chemoattractants and antigens of particular cytokines or better still of an immunomodulator displaying a wide spectrum of activity offers a way of restoring macrophage functions. Individual responses to immunotherapy in clinical oncology may be related to such results.

There is evidence to believe that numerous immunostimulating agents of bacterial origin inhibit tumor growth in a variety of experimental systems and in some human tumors. The mechanism of this action seems to be mainly related to stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system (or mononuclear phagocyte system, Lennert, 1978) with activation of macrophages (Halpern et al., 1966), but its morphological basis has not been clearly elucidated.

Objective Pelvic organ prolapse is a common condition among post-menopausal women, and surgery is often the standard treatment proposed. Native tissue vaginal surgery is burdened by a high rate of recurrence, and mesh vaginal surgery has become current practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of the vaginal kit Anterior/Apical single incision mesh Elevate™ for the correction of anterior and apical compartment prolapse. Study design Data of patients with symptomatic anterior vaginal prolapse stage ≥ II, receiving mesh repair with the Anterior/Apical Elevate single incision system between January 2010 and January 2015 were retrieved. Prolapse was classified according to the POP-Q system. The main outcome measure was anatomical success, while subjective and safety outcomes were secondary outcomes. Results Anatomical success rate was 87.2 % for anterior compartment prolapse and 84.6 % for combined anterior and apical prolapse, while overall functional success rate was 96.2 % after a median follow-up of 33.6 months. The most frequent short-term complications were urinary bladder injury (3.0 %) and transient urinary retention (6.9 %). The most common long-term complications were de novo or persistent symptomatic stress urinary incontinence (10.8 %) and vaginal mesh extrusion (3.8 %). Conclusion Mesh vaginal surgery with Anterior/Apical single incision mesh Elevate™ is a well-tolerated procedure with a very high anatomical and functional success rate. Short and long-term complications rate seem to be acceptable, and in most of cases, solvable. Further studies are needed to confirm our promising data.