Sex and race and/or ethnicity differences in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for Barrett\u27s esophagus: results from the U.S. RFA Registry.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about differences in Barrett\u27s esophagus (BE) characteristics by sex and race and/or ethnicity or these differences in response to radiofrequency ablation (RFA). OBJECTIVE: We compared disease-specific characteristics, treatment efficacy, and safety outcomes by sex and race and/or ethnicity in patients treated with RFA for BE. DESIGN: The U.S. RFA patient registry is a multicenter collaboration reporting processes and outcomes of care for patients treated with RFA for BE. PATIENTS: Patients enrolled with BE. INTERVENTIONS: RFA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: We assessed safety (stricture, bleeding, perforation, hospitalization), efficacy (complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia [CEIM]), complete eradication of dysplasia, and number of treatments to CEIM by sex and race and/or ethnicity. RESULTS: Among 5521 patients (4052 men; 5126 white, 137 Hispanic, 82 African American, 40 Asian, 136 heritage not identified), women were younger (60.0 vs 62.1 years) and had shorter BE segments (3.2 vs 4.4 cm) and less dysplasia (37% vs 57%) than did men. Women were almost twice as likely to stricture (odds ratio 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.3). Although white patients were predominantly male, about half of African Americans and Asians with BE were female. African Americans and Asians had less dysplasia than white patients. Asians and African Americans had more strictures than did white patients. There were no sex or race differences in efficacy. LIMITATIONS: Observational study with non-mandated paradigms, no central laboratory for reinterpretation of pathology. CONCLUSION: In the U.S. RFA patient registry, women had shorter BE segments and less-aggressive histology. The usual tendency toward BE in men was absent in African Americans and Asians. Posttreatment stricture was more common among women and Asians. RFA efficacy did not differ by sex or race

Effects of the Learning Curve on Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation for Barrett’s Esophagus

Complete eradication of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) often requires multiple sessions of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Little is known about the effects of case volume on the safety and efficacy of RFA, or the presence or contour of learning curves for this procedure

Durability and Predictors of Successful Radiofrequency Ablation for Barrett’s Esophagus

Following radiofrequency ablation (RFA), patients may experience recurrence of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) after complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CEIM). Rates and predictors of recurrence after successful eradication are poorly described

Incidence of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Causes of Mortality After Radiofrequency Ablation of Barrett’s Esophagus

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is commonly used to treat Barrett's esophagus (BE). We assessed the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) after RFA, predictors of EAC, and EAC-specific and all-cause mortality rates

Designing a Solution Processable Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxyselenophene) Analogue

A new derivative (EDOS-POSS) of 3,4-ethylenedioxyselenophene integrated with alkyl-substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cage was synthesized and characterized. The electroactive monomer was successfully polymerized via both chemical and electrochemical methods. The obtained polymer called PEDOS-POSS was solution-processable and soluble in common organic solvents like tetrahydrofuran, toluene, dichloromethane, and chloroform. PEDOS-POSS polymer exhibited electrochromic behavior: pure blue when neutralized and highly transparent when oxidized. When compared to the parent PEDOS (1.40 eV with lambda(max) = 673 nm), PEDOS-POSS polymer film has a somewhat higher band gap (1.50 eV with lambda(max) = 668 and 724 nm). Also, PEDOS POSS exhibited high optical contrast ratio (59%) and coloration efficiency (593 cm(2)/C for 95% switching) with a low switching time (0.7 s) due to the presence of POSS cage in the polymer backbone. In addition, PEDOS-POSS polymer film was highly robust and stable under ambient conditions (without purging the electrolyte solution with inert gas). Polymer films demonstrated high electrochemical stability; for example, it retained 76% of its electroactivity after 5000 cycles. Furthermore, the polymers exhibited fluorescent properties and exhibited a reddish orange emission centered about at 640 nm. Based on the findings, to the best of our knowledge, it can be concluded that the polymers are the first examples of soluble and fluorescent PEDOS derivatives. These promising properties make PEDOS-POSS polymer a potential material for bioapplications like imaging the cancer cells as well as optoelectronic applications

Improvement of optical properties and redox stability of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

In order to improve the optical properties and redox stability of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) without changing its electrochemical and electrochromic behaviour, it was supported with alkyl-substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cage. The corresponding copolymers were obtained electrochemically via potentiostatic or potentiodynamic methods and compared to the parent homopolymers. Electrochemical polymerization of EDOT and POSS containing EDOT called EDOT-POSS in various monomer feed ratios was performed in an electrolyte solution of 0.1 M TBAPF(6) dissolved in a mixture of dichloromethane and acetonitrile (1/3: v/v). Just as PEDOT, the copolymers represented the similar band gap (1.61 eV), redox and electrochromic behaviors. On the other hand, when compared to the parent PEDOT, the presence of POSS cages in the copolymer backbone improved the redox stability and optical properties of PEDOT such as higher percent transmittance change (65% at 621 nm), higher transparency at oxidized state, lower switching time (similar to 1.0 s) and higher coloration efficiency (463 cm(2)/C for 95% switching) as well as higher electrochemical stability (86% of its electroactivity retains after 1750 cycles under ambient conditions)

A Platform to Synthesize a Soluble Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Analogue

Alkyl-substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cage is combined with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene under the same roof. The corresponding monomer called EDOT-POSS is used to get soluble poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT-POSS) analogue. Both chemically and electrochemically obtained polymers are soluble in common organic solvents like dichloromethane, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and so forth. The PEDOT-POSS has somewhat higher band gap (1.71 eV at 618 nm) than its parent PEDOT (1.60 eV at 627 nm) and as expected the PEDOT-POSS exhibits higher optical contrast (74% at 618 nm) and coloration efficiency (582 cm(2)/C for 100% switching), lower switching time (0.9 s), higher electrochemical stability (93% of its electroactivity retains after 5000 cycles under ambient conditions) when compared to the PEDOT. A number of advantages of the PEDOT-POSS over the PEDOT can make it a promising material in the areas of electro-optical applications. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc