Role of patient-reported symptoms and functioning in the care of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Introduction: Regular assessment of patients’ health related quality of life (HRQoL) with feedback to clinicians can play an important role in patient-doctor communication, problem detection and monitoring. Many cancer specific HRQoL instruments are available but their clinical utility in routine practice has not been systematically evaluated. The aim was to develop a HRQoL questionnaire for patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) for use in routine practice and to explore ways to increase its’ clinical utility. Methods and results: A comprehensive development strategy was used to create CRC specific questionnaire for clinical practice. The strategy involved exploration of issues discussed in consultations of 17 CRC patients (68 consultations), review of literature, interviews with 7 oncologists and 10 patients, validation of the questionnaire in a sample of 155 CRC patients and validation in 448 patients as part of a wider study. A 55 item questionnaire, QuEST-Cr was created. Exploratory work was performed to examine the longitudinal impact of patient reported HRQoL collection with feedback using data from 198 patients’ oncology consultations over 4 consecutive visits. Impact of intervention on consultation content and communication preferences of patients and doctors were examined. Findings highlight lack of discussions about psychosocial issues even when patients reported poor functioning. Repeated assessment helped to maintain discussions of patients’ symptoms over time but not psychosocial issues. Training oncologists was considered a way of increasing the impact of patient reported HRQoL intervention. Review of literature identified barriers that needed to overcome. Conceptual models of adult learning guided the choice of teaching methods. Development of trigger DVDs provided valuable experiential learning opportunity. Conclusion: I developed and evaluated an instrument for screening and identifying the needs of CRC patients in routine clinical practice. I developed a training programme for oncologists which may help increase the clinical utility of patient reported HRQoL data

Role of patient-reported symptoms and functioning in the care of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Introduction: Regular assessment of patients’ health related quality of life (HRQoL) with feedback to clinicians can play an important role in patient-doctor communication, problem detection and monitoring. Many cancer specific HRQoL instruments are available but their clinical utility in routine practice has not been systematically evaluated. The aim was to develop a HRQoL questionnaire for patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) for use in routine practice and to explore ways to increase its’ clinical utility. Methods and results: A comprehensive development strategy was used to create CRC specific questionnaire for clinical practice. The strategy involved exploration of issues discussed in consultations of 17 CRC patients (68 consultations), review of literature, interviews with 7 oncologists and 10 patients, validation of the questionnaire in a sample of 155 CRC patients and validation in 448 patients as part of a wider study. A 55 item questionnaire, QuEST-Cr was created. Exploratory work was performed to examine the longitudinal impact of patient reported HRQoL collection with feedback using data from 198 patients’ oncology consultations over 4 consecutive visits. Impact of intervention on consultation content and communication preferences of patients and doctors were examined. Findings highlight lack of discussions about psychosocial issues even when patients reported poor functioning. Repeated assessment helped to maintain discussions of patients’ symptoms over time but not psychosocial issues. Training oncologists was considered a way of increasing the impact of patient reported HRQoL intervention. Review of literature identified barriers that needed to overcome. Conceptual models of adult learning guided the choice of teaching methods. Development of trigger DVDs provided valuable experiential learning opportunity. Conclusion: I developed and evaluated an instrument for screening and identifying the needs of CRC patients in routine clinical practice. I developed a training programme for oncologists which may help increase the clinical utility of patient reported HRQoL data

PcP_c pentaquarks with chiral tensor and quark dynamics

We investigate the hidden-charm pentaquarks as superpositions of $\Lambda_c \bar{D}^{(*)}$ and $\Sigma_c^{(*)} \bar{D}^{(*)}$ (isospin $I = 1/2$) meson-baryon channels coupled to a $uudc\bar{c}$ compact core by employing an interaction satisfying the heavy quark and chiral symmetries. Our model can consistently explain the masses and decay widths of $P_c^+(4312)$, $P_c^+(4440)$ and $P_c^+(4457)$ with the dominant components of $\Sigma_c \bar D$ and $\Sigma_c \bar D^\ast$ with spin parity assignments $J^P = 1/2^{-}, 3/2^{-}$ and $1/2^{-}$, respectively. We analyze basic properties of the $P_c$'s such as masses and decay widths, and find that the mass ordering is dominantly determined by the quark dynamics while the decay widths by the tensor force of the one-pion exchange.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

A short motif in Drosophila SECIS Binding Protein 2 provides differential binding affinity to SECIS RNA hairpins

Selenoproteins contain the amino acid selenocysteine which is encoded by a UGA Sec codon. Recoding UGA Sec requires a complex mechanism, comprising the cis-acting SECIS RNA hairpin in the 3′UTR of selenoprotein mRNAs, and trans-acting factors. Among these, the SECIS Binding Protein 2 (SBP2) is central to the mechanism. SBP2 has been so far functionally characterized only in rats and humans. In this work, we report the characterization of the Drosophila melanogaster SBP2 (dSBP2). Despite its shorter length, it retained the same selenoprotein synthesis-promoting capabilities as the mammalian counterpart. However, a major difference resides in the SECIS recognition pattern: while human SBP2 (hSBP2) binds the distinct form 1 and 2 SECIS RNAs with similar affinities, dSBP2 exhibits high affinity toward form 2 only. In addition, we report the identification of a K (lysine)-rich domain in all SBP2s, essential for SECIS and 60S ribosomal subunit binding, differing from the well-characterized L7Ae RNA-binding domain. Swapping only five amino acids between dSBP2 and hSBP2 in the K-rich domain conferred reversed SECIS-binding properties to the proteins, thus unveiling an important sequence for form 1 binding

Stable-Isotope Time Series and Precipitation Origin from Firn-Core and Snow Samples, Altai Glaciers, Siberia

In the summers of 2001 and 2002, glacio-climatological research was performed at 4110-4120 m a.s.l. on the Belukha snow/firn plateau, Siberian Altai. Hundreds of samples from snow pits and a 21 m snow/firn core were collected to establish the annual/seasonal/monthly depth-accumulation scale, based on stable-isotope records, stratigraphic analyses and meteorological and synoptic data. The fluctuations of water stable-isotope records show well-preserved seasonal variations. The delta(18)O and delta D relationships in precipitation, snow pits and the snow/firn core have the same slope to the covariance as that of the global meteoric water line. The origins of precipitation nourishing the Belukha plateau were determined based on clustering analysis of delta(18)O and d-excess records and examination of synoptic atmospheric patterns. Calibration and validation of the developed clusters occurred at event and monthly timescales with about 15% uncertainty. Two distinct moisture sources were shown: oceanic sources with d-excess \u3c 12 parts per thousand, and the Aral-Caspian closed drainage basin sources with d-excess \u3e 12 parts per thousand. Two-thirds of the annual accumulation was from oceanic precipitation, of which more than half had isotopic ratios corresponding to moisture evaporated over the Atlantic Ocean. Precipitation from the Arctic/Pacific Ocean had the lowest deuterium excess, contributing one-tenth to annual accumulation

ADMINISTRATION OF FRUCTOSE 1,6-DIPHOSPHATE DURING EARLY REPERFUSION SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES RECOVERY OF CONTRACTILE FUNCTION IN THE POSTISCHEMIC HEART

AbstractObjectives: Fructose-1,6-diphosphate is a glycolytic intermediate that has been shown experimentally to cross the cell membrane and lead to increased glycolytic flux. Because glycolysis is an important energy source for myocardium during early reperfusion, we sought to determine the effects of fructose-1,6-diphosphate on recovery of postischemic contractile function. Methods: Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts were infused with fructose-1,6-diphosphate (5 and 10 mmol/L, n = 5 per group) in a nonischemic model. In a second group of hearts subjected to 35 minutes of ischemia at 37° C followed by reperfusion (n = 6 per group), a 5 mmol/L concentration of fructose-1,6-diphosphate was infused during the first 30 minutes of reperfusion. We measured contractile function, glucose uptake, lactate production, and adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine levels by phosphorus 31–nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results: In the nonischemic hearts, fructose-1,6-diphosphate resulted in a dose-dependent increase in glucose uptake, adenosine triphosphate, phosphocreatine, and inorganic phosphate levels. During the infusion of fructose-1,6-diphosphate, developed pressure and extracellular calcium levels decreased. Developed pressure was restored to near control values by normalizing extracellular calcium. In the ischemia/reperfusion model, after 60 minutes of reperfusion the hearts that received fructose-1,6-diphosphate during the first 30 minutes of reperfusion had higher developed pressures (83 ± 2 vs 70 ± 4 mm Hg, p < 0.05), lower diastolic pressures (7 ± 1 vs 12 ± 2 mm Hg, p < 0.05), and higher phosphocreatine levels than control untreated hearts. Glucose uptake was also greater after ischemia in the hearts treated with fructose-1,6-diphosphate. Conclusions: We conclude that fructose-1,6-diphosphate, when given during early reperfusion, significantly improves recovery of both diastolic and systolic function in association with increased glucose uptake and higher phosphocreatine levels during reperfusion. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;116:335-43

Heavy Hadronic Molecules Coupled with Multiquark States

We investigate the hidden-charm pentaquarks as a Λc͞D⁽*⁾ – Σc⁽*⁾͞D⁽*⁾ hadronic molecule coupling to a compact five-quark state. The coupling to the compact state leads to an hadron short-range interaction generating an attraction. In addition, the one pion exchange potential (OPEP) as a long-range interaction is introduced by the Lagrangians satisfying the chiral and heavy quark spin symmetries. The OPEP has been known as a driving force to bind atomic nuclei, where the tensor term leading the coupled-channel effect generates a strong attraction. The mass degeneracy of heavy hadrons due to the heavy quark spin symmetry enhances the OPEP derived by the πD⁽*⁾͞D⁽*⁾ and πΣc⁽*⁾Σc⁽*⁾ couplings. Introducing those interactions, we consistently explain the masses and widths of the Pc states reported by LHCb in 2019. The short range interaction has a dominant role to determine the energy-level structures, while the OPEP tensor term does the decay width.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Physical Delithiation of Epitaxial LiCoO2 Battery Cathodes as a Platform for Surface Electronic Structure Investigation

We report a novel delithiation process for epitaxial thin films of LiCoO2(001) cathodes using only physical methods, based on ion sputtering and annealing cycles. Preferential Li sputtering followed by annealing produces a surface layer with a Li molar fraction in the range 0.5 < x < 1, characterized by good crystalline quality. This delithiation procedure allows the unambiguous identification of the effects of Li extraction without chemical byproducts and experimental complications caused by electrolyte interaction with the LiCoO2 surface. An analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides a detailed description of the delithiation process and the role of O and Co atoms in charge compensation. We observe the simultaneous formation of Co4+ ions and of holes localized near O atoms upon Li removal, while the surface shows a (2 × 1) reconstruction. The delithiation method described here can be applied to other crystalline battery elements and provide information on their properties that is otherwise difficult to obtainThis work was supported by the Spanish MICINN (grant nos. PID2021-123295NB-I00 and PID2020-117024GB-C43), MAT2017-83722-R, “María de Maeztu” Programme for Units of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000805-M), within the framework of UE M-ERA.NET 2018 program under StressLIC Project (grant no. PCI2019-103594) and by the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (contract no. PEJD-2019- PRE/IND-15769 and S2108-NMT4321). The authors acknowledge Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste for providing access to its synchrotron radiation facilities. They thank Ignacio Carabias from the Diffraction Unit CAI UCM for his experimental support and helpful comments. The research leading to this result has been supported by the project CALIPSOplus under Grant Agreement 730872 from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020. M.J., P.M., I.P., and F.B. acknowledge funding from EUROFEL (RoadMap Esfri). The work at the University of Maryland was supported by ONR MURI (Award No. N00014-17-1-2661). The work at Sandia National Laboratories was supported by the Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program and the DOE Basic Energy Sciences Award number DE-SC0021070. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA 000352