Survey and data analysis of weak gel treatments in injection wells

Excessive water production is a major concern in mature reservoirs. Weak gels have been applied in injection wells for in-depth profile modification. However, the data range and distribution of each parameter that affects performance of weak gels have not been studied thoroughly. China has the largest amount of chemical-based conformance control treatments. This paper presents a summary of comprehensive data ranges and distributions for weak gel treatments based on the laboratory experiments and field applications in China from 2001 to 2010. The data set includes 76 cases compiled from China Academic Journals papers. In this study, reservoir properties, gel properties and production data are specifically studied with statistical analysis methods. Box plots and histograms are used to display the range and distribution of each parameter and bar charts and cross plots are used to show comparisons among different categories, such as polymer type and crosslinker type. Based on statistical analysis, HPAM is more widely used over broad ranges of temperatures and brine salinities in China, although other polymers, such as AP and KYPAM, have better stabilities in severe conditions (high temperature or high salinity). For crosslinkers, chromium(III) crosslinkers and phenol-formaldehyde crosslinkers are more widely used in China, and phenol-formaldehyde crosslinkers are more widely used over a broad range of temperatures, from low to high temperatures, although they are normally designed for high temperature applications --Abstract, page iii

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

“Major pathologic response” in lymph nodes: a modified nodal classification for non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy

Abstract We aim to examine the prognostic value of major pathologic response in metastatic lymph nodes (mLN-MPR) after immunochemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and demonstrate the pathological characteristic of regression in mLN. Adult patients consecutively undergone neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and radical-intent surgery for initial stage cIII NSCLC between 2020 and 2021 were included. Hematoxylin- and eosin-stained slides of paraffinembedded sections of the degree of pathologic response in the primary tumor (PT) and its paired involved LNs were reviewed. Imaging mass cytometry was conducted to quantify the immunological status. With 10% as residual viable tumor (RVT) cutoff, mLN-MPR (HR: 0.34, 95%CI: 0.14–0.78; P = 0.011, ref: mLN-MPR(-)) showed more significant correlation with DFS than ypN0 (HR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.17–0.94; P = 0.036, ref: ypN1-N2). And mLN-MPR combined with PT-MPR, compared with ypN stage combined with PT-MPR (p-value: 0.030 vs. 0.117), can better distinguished the DFS curves of the 4 subgroups of patients. mLN-MPR(+)/PT-MPR(+) patients had the best prognosis compared with other subgroups. Pathologic responses of RVT in PT and paired regional LNs [MPR inconsistency rate: 21/53 (39.6%)], and across different LNs could be inconsistent, especially in squamous cell carcinoma. RVT% in mLNs after immunochemotherapy appeared to be polarized [16 (30.2%) cases with RVT ≥ 70%; 34 (64.2%) with RVT ≤ 10%]. Partial regression of LN metastasis could present with distinct immune subtypes: immune-inflamed or immune-evacuation subtype, and the former presented with higher CD3, CD8, and PD-1 expression in the invasive margin. mLN-MPR demonstrated a potential prognostic value in predicting DFS in patients treated with neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy, but further research is needed to validate its usefulness for other survival outcomes, including OS

Association of adipokines with blood pressure, arterial elasticity and cardiac markers in dialysis patients: cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a cohort study

Abstract Background Adipokines are a set of cytokines secreted by white adipose tissue that have been suggested to be involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the cross-sectional associations of a panel of representative adipokines with cardiovascular measures in a cohort of hemodialysis patients. Methods We measured plasma adiponectin, resistin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), leptin, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and adipsin levels in 366 dialysis patients and 60 healthy controls. The associations of these adipokines with systolic blood pressure (assessed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cardiac markers (BNP, NT-proBNP, Troponin I, Troponin T) in these patients were determined by general linear models with stepwise adjustment for covariates. Results In unadjusted comparison with controls, dialysis patients showed increased adiponectin, resistin, MCP-1 and adipsin levels, decreased PAI-1 concentrations (all p <0.001) and similar leptin levels (p = 0.82). On adjustment for body mass index and diabetes, however, the PAI-1 level was comparable between group (p = 0.06), whereas leptin levels became significantly higher in the patients(p <0.001). Higher adiponectin, lower PAI-1 and leptin levels were associated with higher systolic blood pressure, even after extensive adjustment (all p ≤ 0.01). Adiponectin was also consistently and inversely associated with PWV in fully adjusted models (p = 0.003). Resistin, PAI-1, leptin and adipsin showed negative associations with one or more circulating cardiac markers (all p ≤ 0.02). Conclusions We found significant associations between adipokines and cardiovascular measures. Our data suggest the possible involvement of adipokines in cardiovascular modulation in dialysis patients

Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Formula Granules in Treating Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3: A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Background. It is generally considered that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy postpones the progression of some chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). Chinese medicine herbs are widely applied in TCM therapy. We aimed to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal formula granules in patients with CKD stage 3 through a prospective randomized controlled study. Methods. A total of 343 participants with CKD stage 3 were recruited from 9 hospitals in Jiangsu Province between April 2014 and October 2016. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Patients in the treatment group orally took Chinese herbal formula granules twice a day, while controls received placebo granules. The duration of intervention was 24 weeks. Primary outcomes were 24-hour proteinuria, serum creatinine, and eGFR, which were measured every 4 weeks. Results. There was no statistical difference in 24-hour proteinuria between the two groups (0.97 ± 1.14 g/d vs. 0.97 ± 1.25 g/d). Patients in the treatment group had significantly lower serum creatinine level (130.78 ± 32.55 μmol/L versus 149.12 ± 41.27 μmol/L) and significantly higher eGFR level (55.74 ± 50.82 ml/min/1.73·m2 versus 44.46 ± 12.60 ml/min/1.73·m2) than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups in the incidence of adverse events. Conclusion. The treatment adopting Chinese herbal formula granules for 24 weeks improved kidney function of patients with CKD stage 3

Additional file 1 of “Major pathologic response” in lymph nodes: a modified nodal classification for non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy

Supplementary Table S1. Demographic characteristics, clinical-pathological characteristics and survival outcomes of 53 study participants

Additional file 1: of Association of adipokines with blood pressure, arterial elasticity and cardiac markers in dialysis patients: cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a cohort study

Association of adipokines with blood pressure, arterial elasticity and cardiac markers in dialysis patients. (DOCX 3 kb