Compounding process optimization for recycled materials using machine learning algorithms

The sustainable manufacturing of goods is one of the factors to minimize natural resource depletion and CO2 emissions. In the last decade a big effort has been done to transition from linear economy to circular economy. This transition requires to implement re-manufacturing processes into the current industrial manufacturing framework, replacing the sourcing of raw materials by re-manufacturing technologies. However, this transition is very challenging since it requires the transformation of the companies and more specially their processes, from traditional to circular. To speed up this transformation, the use of tools provided by the 4th industrial revolution are crucial. In particular, the use of artificial intelligence techniques enables the optimization of the re-manufacturing processes and make those optimizations available to all the stakeholders. This paper presents an optimization system for re-manufacturing of recycled fiber through compounding processes with materials that come from composite waste or end of life of products. The proposed approach has been trained with the data collected from several experiments carried out with a compounding machine under different specifications, fiber reinforcement grades, and output material properties. The system will allow to set up a compounding machine for different types of reinforced plastics needless of setting point experiments. The algorithms have been tested with previously unseen scenarios and they have proved to be efficient for giving the optimal material characteristics.This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 873111 (DIGIPRIME)

Use of gonadotropins in ovarian stimulation in Spain: Delphi consensus

Ovarian stimulation; In vitro fertilisation; Poor responderEstimulació ovàrica; Fecundació in vitro; Resposta pobreEstimulación ovárica; Fecundación in vitro; Respuesta pobreTwo-round Delphi study carried out in Spain. Three theme-based blocks were set out: 1) Patient profiles: therapeutic goal and parameters to be analysed according to POSEIDON patient profiles; 2) Ovarian stimulation protocols with antagonists: monotherapy (FSH) vs combined therapy (FSH + LH/HMG); 3) Safety and effectiveness of the devices. The antral follicle count and the anti-Müllerian hormone level were considered indicators that can be used to predict ovarian response. More than 80% of the participants agreed that FSH monotherapy is the recommended regimen in normal/hyper-responsive patients of < 35 years of age; that 150–300 IU is the dose to be used in ovarian stimulation in monotherapy depending on clinical parameters; and that FSH monotherapy improves patients’ comfort compared to two combined drugs. It was unanimously considered that the type of device used by the patient influences the comfort of the treatment.This project has been funded by Gedeon Richter. The sponsor took no part in designing, implementing, interpreting or writing the document. All the authors have accepted the participation in the group and give their consent for the publication of the document

Feasibility and outcomes after dose reduction of immunochemotherapy in young adults with Burkitt lymphoma and leukemia: results of the BURKIMAB14 trial

High dose -intensive or infusional intermediate -dose immunochemotherapy is highly effective treatment for Burkitt lymphoma irrespective of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, toxicities of these regimens are relevant, especially in older adults and elderly patients. The prospective multicenter BURKIMAB14 trial included four to six blocks of immunochemotherapy according to stage (localized: 1 and 2 non -bulky; advanced: 2 bulky, 3, 4) and age, with dose reduction in patients >55 years old. Dose -intensity of chemotherapy was reduced in patients 55 years old had a significantly higher treatment -related mortality despite dose reduction of chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 3.61 years the 4 -year OS probability was 73% (range, 63-81%). Age (55 years) and stage (localized vs. advanced) had prognostic significance. No significant differences in OS were observed in HIV -positive versus HIV -negative patients. The results of BURKIMAB14 are similar to those of other dose -intensive immunochemotherapy trials. Age >55 years and advanced stage, but not HIV infection, were associated with poor survival. Dose reduction of chemotherapy in young adults in CMR is safe and does not impact outcomes (clinicaltrials gov. Identifier: NCT05049473)

Biological versus chronological ovarian age:implications for assisted reproductive technology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Women have been able to delay childbearing since effective contraception became available in the 1960s. However, fertility decreases with increasing maternal age. A slow but steady decrease in fertility is observed in women aged between 30 and 35 years, which is followed by an accelerated decline among women aged over 35 years. A combination of delayed childbearing and reduced fecundity with increasing age has resulted in an increased number and proportion of women of greater than or equal to 35 years of age seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Literature searches supplemented with the authors' knowledge.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Despite major advances in medical technology, there is currently no ART treatment strategy that can fully compensate for the natural decline in fertility with increasing female age. Although chronological age is the most important predictor of ovarian response to follicle-stimulating hormone, the rate of reproductive ageing and ovarian sensitivity to gonadotrophins varies considerably among individuals. Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to depletion of the ovarian oocyte pool and reduction in oocyte quality. Thus, biological and chronological ovarian age are not always equivalent. Furthermore, biological age is more important than chronological age in predicting the outcome of ART. As older patients present increasingly for ART treatment, it will become more important to critically assess prognosis, counsel appropriately and optimize treatment strategies. Several genetic markers and biomarkers (such as anti-Müllerian hormone and the antral follicle count) are emerging that can identify women with accelerated biological ovarian ageing. Potential strategies for improving ovarian response include the use of luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH). When endogenous LH levels are heavily suppressed by gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues, LH supplementation may help to optimize treatment outcomes for women with biologically older ovaries. Exogenous GH may improve oocyte development and counteract the age-related decline of oocyte quality. The effects of GH may be mediated by insulin-like growth factor-I, which works synergistically with follicle-stimulating hormone on granulosa and theca cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Patients with biologically older ovaries may benefit from a tailored approach based on individual patient characteristics. Among the most promising adjuvant therapies for improving ART outcomes in women of advanced reproductive age are the administration of exogenous LH or GH.</p

Feasibility and outcomes after dose reduction of immunochemotherapy in young adults with Burkitt lymphoma and leukemia : results of the BURKIMAB14 trial

High dose-intensive or infusional intermediate-dose immunochemotherapy is highly effective treatment for Burkitt lymphoma irrespective of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, toxicities of these regimens are relevant, especially in older adults and elderly patients. The prospective multicenter BURKIMAB14 trial included four to six blocks of immunochemotherapy according to stage (localized: 1 and 2 non-bulky; advanced: 2 bulky, 3, 4) and age, with dose reduction in patients >55 years old. Dose-intensity of chemotherapy was reduced in patients ≤55 years old after achieving complete metabolic response (CMR). Their outcomes were compared with those of similar patients included in the former BURKIMAB08 trial, in which there was no dose reduction. CMR was attained in 86 of 107 (80%) patients (17/19 in localized stages and 69/88 in advanced stages). Patients from the BURKIMAB14 trial ≤55 years old showed similar overall survival (OS), fewer infections and cytopenias than patients from the BURKIMAB08 trial. Patients >55 years old had a significantly higher treatment- related mortality despite dose reduction of chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 3.61 years the 4-year OS probability was 73% (range, 63-81%). Age (≤55 vs. >55 years) and stage (localized vs. advanced) had prognostic significance. No significant differences in OS were observed in HIV-positive versus HIV-negative patients. The results of BURKIMAB14 are similar to those of other dose-intensive immunochemotherapy trials. Age >55 years and advanced stage, but not HIV infection, were associated with poor survival. Dose reduction of chemotherapy in young adults in CMR is safe and does not impact outcomes (clinicaltrials gov. Identifier: NCT05049473)

Targeted UPLC-MS Metabolic Analysis of Human Faeces Reveals Novel Low-Invasive Candidate Markers for Colorectal Cancer

Low invasive tests with high sensitivity for colorectal cancer and advanced precancerous lesions will increase adherence rates, and improve clinical outcomes. We have performed an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-(TOF) MS)-based metabolomics study to identify faecal biomarkers for the detection of patients with advanced neoplasia. A cohort of 80 patients with advanced neoplasia (40 advanced adenomas and 40 colorectal cancers) and 49 healthy subjects were analysed in the study. We evaluated the faecal levels of 105 metabolites including glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sterol lipids and sphingolipids. We found 18 metabolites that were significantly altered in patients with advanced neoplasia compared to controls. The combinations of seven metabolites including ChoE(18:1), ChoE(18:2), ChoE(20:4), PE(16:0/18:1), SM(d18:1/23:0), SM(42:3) and TG(54:1), discriminated advanced neoplasia patients from healthy controls. These seven metabolites were employed to construct a predictive model that provides an area under the curve (AUC) median value of 0.821. The inclusion of faecal haemoglobin concentration in the metabolomics signature improved the predictive model to an AUC of 0.885. In silico gene expression analysis of tumour tissue supports our results and puts the differentially expressed metabolites into biological context, showing that glycerolipids and sphingolipids metabolism and GPI-anchor biosynthesis pathways may play a role in tumour progression