Armodafinil versus Modafinil in Patients of Excessive Sleepiness Associated with Shift Work Sleep Disorder: A Randomized Double Blind Multicentric Clinical Trial

Aim. To compare the efficacy and safety of armodafinil, the R-enantiomer of modafinil, with modafinil in patients of shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). Material and Methods. This was a 12-week, randomized, comparative, double-blind, multicentric, parallel-group study in 211 patients of SWSD, receiving armodafinil (150 mg) or modafinil (200 mg) one hour prior to the night shift. Outcome Measures. Efficacy was assessed by change in stanford sleepiness score (SSS) by at least 2 grades (responder) and global assessment for efficacy. Safety was assessed by incidence of adverse events, change in laboratory parameters, ECG, and global assessment of tolerability. Results. Both modafinil and armodafinil significantly improved sleepiness mean grades as compared to baseline (P < .0001). Responder rates with armodafinil (72.12%) and modafinil (74.29%) were comparable (P = .76). Adverse event incidences were comparable. Conclusion. Armodafinil was found to be safe and effective in the treatment of SWSD in Indian patients. The study did not demonstrate any difference in efficacy and safety of armodafinil 150 mg and modafinil 200 mg

Age of Transfused Red Blood Cells and Health Outcomes in Two Surgical Cohorts

Rationale: Red blood cells (RBC) undergo morphologic and biochemical changes during storage which may lead to adverse health risks upon transfusion. In prior studies, the effect of RBC age on health outcomes has been conflicting. We designed the study to assess the effects of RBC units' storage duration on health outcomes specifically for hospitalized patients undergoing hip fracture surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Methods: Using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 codes, hip fracture surgery and CABG surgery patients, who received RBC transfusions between 2008 and 2013, were retrospectively identified from the electronic medical records system. Hip fracture surgery and CABG cohorts were sub-divided into 3 blood age groups based upon RBC unit age at the time of transfusion: young blood (RBC units stored less than or equal to 14 days), old blood (RBC units were stored for greater than or equal to 28 days), or mixed blood for the remaining patients. Outcome variables were 30-day, 90-day, and inpatient mortality as well as hospital length of stay. Results: A total of 3,182 patients were identified: 1,121 with hip fractures and 2,061 with CABG. Transfusion of old blood was associated with higher inpatient mortality in the hip fracture surgery cohort (OR 166.8, 95% CI 1.067-26064.7, p = 0.04) and a higher 30-day mortality in the CABG cohort (OR 4.55, 95% CI 1.01-20.49, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Transfusing RBC units stored for greater than or equal to 28 days may be associated with a higher mortality for patients undergoing hip fracture or CABG

The wide range of battery systems: From micro- to structural batteries, from biodegradable to high performance batteries

Data availability: Data will be made available on request.Battery systems are essential components of the on-going energy transition and digitalization of society. With the need to power an increasing variety of portable and stationary systems, ranging from disposable point-of-care devices or smart packaging systems to applications in portable computers and electric cars, an increasing variety of batteries and battery systems are being developed, each aiming to specific sets of required performance parameters, including energy and power density, cycling stability, flexibility, degradability, environmental impact or improved integration into the specific application context. This work analyzed the state of the art of the different materials and geometries, performance parameters and applications of the different battery systems. We discuss the rationale behind each material selection, the processing technologies and the integration into the specific application, taking into account the whole life-cycle of the battery. Further, the main challenges posed for each battery type will provide a roadmap for their successful development and application.The authors thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for financial Support under the framework of Strategic Funding UID/ 04650: Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), UIDB/04650/2020, UID/FIS/04650/2020, UID/EEA/04436/2020, and UID/QUI/00686/2020 and under projects POCI-01-0247-FEDER-046985, and 2022.03931. PTDC funded by national funds through FCT and by the ERDF through the COMPETE2020—Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI). NGS-New Generation Storage, C644936001-00000045, supported by IAPMEI (Portugal) with funding from the European Union NextGenerationEU (PRR). The author also thank the FCT for financial support under FCT investigator 2020.04028.CEECIND (DOI:10.54499/2020.04028.CEECIND/CP1600/CT0018) (C.M.C.). M.S acknowledges the funding from the European Union H2020 Program under the Marie Curie global fellowship (ROCHE, 101026163). This study forms part of the Advanced Materials program and was supported by MCIN with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR-C17.I1) and by the Basque Government under the IKUR program and Elkartek programs. The authors thank for technical and human support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU/ ERDF, EU). This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2024-00344021). The authors thank BBSRC (BB/X011445/1) for financial support. Cheng Yan appreciate the financial support from two ARC Discovery Projects (DP250102887 and DP250102885). The authors also acknowledge support from the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)/Research Ireland (RI) Connect Research Centre project co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under Grant Number 13/RC/2077_P2, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) BatterySense project under Grant Number RDD 864

The impact of COVID-19 on oncology professionals-one year on : lessons learned from the ESMO Resilience Task Force survey series

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the well-being and job performance of oncology professionals globally. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Resilience Task Force collaboration set out to investigate and monitor well-being since COVID-19 in relation to work, lifestyle and support factors in oncology professionals 1 year on since the start of the pandemic. An online, anonymous survey was conducted in February/March 2021 (Survey III). Key outcome variables included risk of poor well-being or distress (expanded Well-Being Index), feeling burnout (single item from expanded Well-Being Index), and job performance since COVID-19. Longitudinal analysis of responses to the series of three surveys since COVID-19 was carried out, and responses to job demands and resources questions were interrogated. SPSS V.26.0/V.27.0 and GraphPad Prism V9.0 were used for statistical analyses. Responses from 1269 participants from 104 countries were analysed in Survey III: 55% (n = 699/1269) female, 54% (n = 686/1269) >40 years, and 69% (n = 852/1230) of white ethnicity. There continues to be an increased risk of poor well-being or distress (n = 464/1169, 40%) and feeling burnout (n = 660/1169, 57%) compared with Survey I (25% and 38% respectively, P < 0.0001), despite improved job performance. Compared with the initial period of the pandemic, more participants report feeling overwhelmed with workload (45% versus 29%, P < 0.0001). There remain concerns about the negative impact of the pandemic on career development/training (43%), job security (37%). and international fellowship opportunities (76%). Alarmingly, 25% (n = 266/1086) are considering changing their future career with 38% (n = 100/266) contemplating leaving the profession. Oncology professionals continue to face increased job demands. There is now significant concern regarding potential attrition in the oncology workforce. National and international stakeholders must act immediately and work closely with oncology professionals to draw up future-proof recovery plans