Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-Adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017 : A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study

Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

A simulation-based framework to optimize occupant-centric controls given stochastic occupant behaviour

Occupant-centric control (OCC) strategies represent a novel approach to indoor climate control in which occupancy patterns and occupant preferences are embedded within control sequences. They aim to improve occupant comfort and energy efficiency by learning and predicting occupant behaviour (OB), then optimizing building operations accordingly. Previous studies estimate OCC can increase energy savings by up to 60% while improving occupant comfort. However, their performance is subject to several factors, including uncertainty due to OB, OCC configurational settings, as well as building design parameters. To this end, testing OCCs and adjusting their configurational settings before implementation are critical to ensure optimal performance. Furthermore, identifying building design alternatives that can optimize such performance is an important step that faces logistical constraints during field implementations. This research presents a framework to optimize OCC performance in a simulation environment, which entails coupling synthetic OB models with OCCs that learn their preferences. The framework features a parallel processing structure to obviate the computational burden and enhance optimization efficiency. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify the most influential variables on OCC performance in terms of increasing energy efficiency and occupant comfort. A two-step multi-objective optimization is then developed to identify the configurational settings and design parameters that minimize energy consumption and maximize occupant comfort. Results revealed significant improvement in OCC performance when they were customized with the identified optimal settings for different occupants. The proposed framework aims to improve OCC performance in actual buildings and avoid discomfort issues that may arise during its initial implementation

Finite Element Analysis of Tissue Conductivity during High-frequency and Low-voltage Irreversible Electroporation

Introduction: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a process in which the membrane of the cancer cells are irreversibly damaged with the use of high-intensity electric pulses, which in turn leads to cell death. The IRE is a non-thermal way to ablate the cancer cells. This process relies on the distribution of the electric field, which affects the pulse amplitude, width, and electrical conductivity of the tissues. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of the pulse width and intensity with the conductivity changes during the IRE using simulation. Materials and Methods: For the purpose of the study, the COMSOL 5 software was utilized to predict the conductivity changes during the IRE. We used 4,000 bipolar and monopolar pulses with the frequency of 5 kHz and 1 Hz, width of 100 µs, and electric fields of low and high intensity. Subsequently, we built three-dimensional numerical models for the liver tissue. Results: The results of our study revealed that the conductivity of tissue increased during the application of electrical pulses. Additionally, the conductivity changes increased with the elevation of the electric field intensity. Conclusion: As the finding of this study indicated, the IRE with high-frequency and low electric field intensity could change the tissue conductivity. Therefore, the IRE was recommended to be applied with high frequency and low voltage

Effect of Cationic Starch and Chitosan on Dry Strength of Bleached Soda Pulps Made of Pre-Extracted and Non-Extracted Bagasse

This study focused on the properties of alkaline pulp obtained from the soda pulping of pre-extracted bagasse and the effects of dry strength polymers on mechanical properties of paper in comparison to a paper obtained from nonextracted bagasse. Hot-water pre-extraction was carried out at 135°C for 30 min. Consequently, soda pulping and ECF bleaching were performed on pre-extracted and un-extracted bagasse, under similar conditions. It was found that pre-extraction of about 50% of hemicelloluse of the bagasse decreased total pulping yield, kappa number and increased bleachability of pulps and resulted in a significant loss in tensile and burst strengths of hand-sheets. Then, reinforcing effect of the pulps with chitosan and cationic starch applied in the wet-end were investigated. The results obtained with suitable amounts of chitosan and cationic starch were encouraging, because comparable strengths were obtained from pre-extracted and un-extracted bleached soda bagasse pulps with 1% chitosan and 1.5% cationic starch. According to the results, drop in paper strength due to hemicellulose pre-extraction of the bagasse could be compensated using suitable dry strength polymer. E     Effect of Cationic Starch and Chitosan on Dry   Strength of Bleached Soda Pulps Made of   Pre-Extracted and Non-Extracted Bagasse   Zeinab Khorasani 1, Yahya Hamzeh1*, Alireza Ashori2, and Mohammad Azadfallah 1   1. Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Wood and Paper Sciences and Technology, University of Tehran, P.O. Box: 31585-4314, Karaj, Iran 2. Department of Chemical Technologies, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), P.O. Box: 15815-3538, Tehran, Iran Received 2 April 2012, accepted 17 December 201

Quasi-3D Hyperbolic Shear Deformation Theory for the Free Vibration Study of Honeycomb Microplates with Graphene Nanoplatelets-Reinforced Epoxy Skins

A novel quasi-3D hyperbolic shear deformation theory (QHSDT) with five unknowns is here employed, together with the Hamilton’s principle and the modified couple stress theory (MCST) to analyze the vibrational behavior of rectangular micro-scale sandwich plates resting on a visco-Pasternak foundation. The sandwich structure features a Nomex or Glass phenolic honeycomb core, and two composite face sheets reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs). The effective properties of both face sheets are evaluated by means of the Halpin-Tsai and extended rule of mixture (ERM) micromechanical schemes. The governing equations of the problem are derived by applying the Hamilton’s principle, whose solutions are determined theoretically according to a classical Navier-type procedure. A parametric study checks for the effect of different material properties, length-scale parameters, foundation parameters and geometrical properties of the honeycomb cells, and the reinforcing GPLs, on the vibration response of the layered structure, which can be of great interest for many modern engineering applications and their optimization design

A Review of Patents on "Mozafari Method" as a Green Technology for Manufacturing Bioactive Carriers

Encapsulation and controlled release of bioactive compounds is now an established protocol to enhance the bioavailability and long-lasting efficacy of therapeutic and disease-preventive agents while minimizing or eliminating side effects. Currently, there are a number of products approved by the regulatory authorities for Human or animal use, which contain encapsulated drugs, nutraceuticals, diagnostic agents, cosmetics, or even vaccines. Manufacturing the encapsulation/carrier systems requires special considerations with respect to scalability, environmental issues, and cost-effectiveness. Among the many available procedures for large-scale preparation of micro-and nanocarriers, the "Mozafari method" has proven to be simple to implement and reproducible technique that does not require sophisticated equipment or use of potentially toxic solvents. The mentioned proprietary method and patents in which this method is utilized or incorporated is the focus of the present review article

Peripheral blood lymphocytes are able to maintain their viability and basic function in normal urine

Background: Similar to inflammatory cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can also infiltrate in to kidney and urinary tracts and subsequently excreted by urine. In this study we determined the viability rate and response to phytohemagglutinin-A (PHA) of human PBMCs in normal urine. Methods: A number of 1&times;106 ficoll-hypaque isolated PBMCs were dispensed in 1 ml normal urine and 6 molar urea and RPMI-1640+FBS10 % were considered as negative and positive control, respectively. After 20, 60 and 120 minutes the viability of these cells was measured by trypan blue dye exclusion assay. 1&times;105 of PBMCs were isolated from urine and cultured as triplicate in RPMI-1640`supplemented with FBS 10% and&nbsp; PHA for 96hr. MTT assay was performed to determine the PBMCs response to PHA. These experiments were repeated three times independently. Results: There was no significant difference between the viability rates of the PBMCs incubated in urine and positive control after 20, 60 and 120 minutes while after 60 minutes they exhibited 75.6% of reactivity to PHA versus positive control. Overall, there was a significant difference in trends of viability rate across the three groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results showed that not only PBMCs remained alive in urine after 120 minutes, but can also respond to PHA up to 60 minutes at a remarkable level. These data open a new avenue in the designation for cell culture-based techniques in urine cell analysis

Valorization of bagasse alkali lignin to water-soluble derivatives through chemical modification

Black liquor is the by-product of the pulping process where the lignin, hemicellulose, and extractive materials are separated from wood to produce paper pulp. As one of the primary lignin sources, black liquor is considered an important energy source from biomass to produce biofuels and value-added chemicals. However, soda alkaline lignin has limited industrial applications due to its insolubility in water and lack of reactivity. Therefore, chemical modification is essential to enhance its industrial applications. In this study, alkali lignin from bagasse was modified through sulfonation, sulfomethylation, and amination processes using different reaction conditions. The structural analysis of obtained products was investigated by FTIR and 1H-NMR. The molecular weight distribution and thermal stability of the water-soluble products were analyzed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The elemental analysis was used to measure the elements (CHNSO) of the obtained water-soluble derivatives. The chemical structure analysis of the samples with FTIR and 1HNMR confirmed the modification processes. The results indicate that modification led to increased water solubility and a decrease in the precipitation pH of lignin samples, due to the introduction of sulfonate and amin functunal groups on lignin. In addition, the molecular weight and thermal stability of modified lignins were increased due to the presence of sulfonate and amine groups compared to unmodified lignin. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

The global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its attributable risk factors in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Safiri S, Sepanlou SG, Ikuta KS, et al. The global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its attributable risk factors in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. LANCET GASTROENTEROLOGY &amp; HEPATOLOGY. 2019;4(12):913-933.Background Data about the global, regional, and country-specific variations in the levels and trends of colorectal cancer are required to understand the impact of this disease and the trends in its burden to help policy makers allocate resources. Here we provide a status report on the incidence, mortality, and disability caused by colorectal cancer in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2017. Methods Vital registration, sample vital registration, verbal autopsy, and cancer registry data were used to generate incidence, death, and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) estimates of colorectal cancer at the global, regional, and national levels. We also determined the association between development levels and colorectal cancer age-standardised DALY rates, and calculated DALYs attributable to risk factors that had evidence of causation with colorectal cancer. All of the estimates are reported as counts and age-standardised rates per 100 000 person-years, with some estimates also presented by sex and 5-year age groups. Findings In 2017, there were 1.8 million (95% UI 1.8-1.9) incident cases of colorectal cancer globally, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 23.2 (22.7-23.7) per 100 000 person-years that increased by 9.5% (4.5-13.5) between 1990 and 2017. Globally, colorectal cancer accounted for 896 000 (876 300-915 700) deaths in 2017, with an age-standardised death rate of 11.5 (11.3-11.8) per 100 000 person-years, which decreased between 1990 and 2017 (-13.5% [-18.4 to -10.0]). Colorectal cancer was also responsible for 19.0 million (18.5-19.5) DALYs globally in 2017, with an age-standardised rate of 235.7 (229.7-242.0) DALYs per 100 000 person-years, which decreased between 1990 and 2017 (-14.5% [-20.4 to -10.3]). Slovakia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand had the highest age-standardised incidence rates in 2017. Greenland, Hungary, and Slovakia had the highest age-standardised death rates in 2017. Numbers of incident cases and deaths were higher among males than females up to the ages of 80-84 years, with the highest rates observed in the oldest age group (>= 95 years) for both sexes in 2017. There was a non-linear association between the Socio-demographic Index and the Healthcare Access and Quality Index and age-standardised DALY rates. In 2017, the three largest contributors to DALYs at the global level, for both sexes, were diet low in calcium (20.5% [12.9-28.9]), alcohol use (15.2% [12.1-18.3]), and diet low in milk (14.3% [5.1-24.8]). Interpretation There is substantial global variation in the burden of colorectal cancer. Although the overall colorectal cancer age-standardised death rate has been decreasing at the global level, the increasing age-standardised incidence rate in most countries poses a major public health challenge across the world. The results of this study could be useful for policy makers to carry out cost-effective interventions and to reduce exposure to modifiable risk factors, particularly in countries with high incidence or increasing burden. Copyright (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd