Efficacy of crizotinib, ceritinib, and alectinib in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer treatment: a meta-analysis of clinical trials

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-inhibitors in the treatment of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by using a meta-analysis of clinical trials. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov by using keywords related to the topic in August 2018. The pooled effect sizes were calculated based on a random-effects model. We also performed subgroup meta-analysis by types of ALK inhibitors (crizotinib, ceritinib, and alectinib). A total of 20 clinical trials with 10 single-arm trials and 10 double-arm trials were included in the final meta-analysis. The median overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), 1 year survival rate, and 2 year survival rate were 19.14 months, 8.47 months, 62%, 78%, 74%, and 62%, respectively. ALK inhibitors showed a significantly superior efficacy compared with chemotherapy (hazard ratio (HR) for OS, 0.83; HR for PFS, 0.43; rate difference (RD) for ORR, 0.23; and RD for DCR, 0.10). The current meta-analysis of clinical trials showed the significant efficacy of ALK inhibitors in the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC. Further head-to-head trials are needed to compare their efficacy with other types of NSCLC treatment regimens. PROSPERO registration: CRD42018085987

Comparative efficacy of targeted therapies in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis of clinical trials

This study aims to investigate the efficacy of targeted therapies in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by using a network meta-analysis of clinical trials. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched by using keywords related to the topic on 19 September 2018. Two investigators independently selected relevant trials by pre-determined criteria. A pooled response ratio (RR) for overall response rate (ORR) and a hazard ratio (HR) for progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated based on both the Bayesian and frequentist approaches. A total of 128 clinical trials with 39,501 participants were included in the final analysis of 14 therapeutic groups. Compared with chemotherapy, both ORR and PFS were significantly improved for afatinib, alectinib, and crizotinib, while only PFS was significantly improved for cabozantinib, ceritinib, gefitinib, and osimertinib. Consistency was observed between the direct and indirect comparisons based on the Bayesian approach statistically and the frequentist approach visually. Cabozantinib and alectinib showed the highest probability for the first-line treatment ranking in ORR (62.5%) and PFS (87.5%), respectively. The current network meta-analysis showed the comprehensive evidence-based comparative efficacy of different types of targeted therapies, which would help clinicians use targeted therapies in clinical practice

Potassium chloride elicits enhancement of bilobalide and Ginkgolides production by Ginkgo biloba cell cultures

This study investigated the ability of potassium chloride (KCl) to elicit the production of bilobalide (BB), ginkgolide A (GA) and ginkgolide B (GB) by Ginkgo biloba cell suspension cultures. The salt stress by KCl treatments increased production of BB, GA and GB in both suspended cells and cultured medium. Especially, treatment of KCl 800 mM of highest concentration was stimulated emission into cultured medium BB, GA and GB compounds accumulated in cells. Although KCl 800 mM severely inhibited cells growth, the maximum content of GA and GB in cells was obtained in the treatment of KCl 800 mM, which was 1.9 and 4.0 times higher than the control. These results thus suggest that salt stress can afford enhanced production of secondary metabolites by plant cell cultures

Glassy Phase Transition and Stability in Black Holes

Black hole thermodynamics, confined to the semi-classical regime, cannot address the thermodynamic stability of a black hole in flat space. Here we show that inclusion of correction beyond the semi-classical approximation makes a black hole thermodynamically stable. This stability is reached through a phase transition. By using Ehrenfest's scheme we further prove that this is a glassy phase transition with a Prigogine-Defay ratio close to 3. This value is well placed within the desired bound (2 to 5) for a glassy phase transition. Thus our analysis indicates a very close connection between the phase transition phenomena of a black hole and glass forming systems. Finally, we discuss the robustness of our results by considering different normalisations for the correction term.Comment: v3, minor changes over v2, references added, LaTeX-2e, 18 pages, 3 ps figures, to appear in Eour. Phys. Jour.

Low energy fast events from radon progenies at the surface of a CsI(Tl) scintillator

In searches for rare phenomena such as elastic scattering of dark matter particles or neutrinoless double beta decay, alpha decays of Rn222 progenies attached to the surfaces of the detection material have been identified as a serious source of background. In measurements with CsI(Tl) scintillator crystals, we demonstrate that alpha decays of surface contaminants produce fast signals with a characteristic mean-time distribution that is distinct from those of neutron- and gamma-induced events.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Interacting entropy-corrected new agegraphic dark energy in Brans-Dicke cosmology

Motivated by a recent work of one of us [1], we extend it by using quantum (or entropy) corrected new agegraphic dark energy in the Brans-Dicke cosmology. The correction terms are motivated from the loop quantum gravity which is one of the competitive theories of quantum gravity. Taking the non-flat background spacetime along with the conformal age of the universe as the length scale, we derive the dynamical equation of state of dark energy and the deceleration parameter. An important consequence of this study is the phantom divide scenario with entropy-corrected new agegraphic dark energy. Moreover, we assume a system of dark matter, radiation and dark energy, while the later interacts only with dark matter. We obtain some essential expressions related with dark energy dynamics. The cosmic coincidence problem is also resolved in our model.Comment: 16 pages, no figure, accepted for publication in Gen. Relativ. Gra

First limit on WIMP cross section with low background CsI(Tl) crystal detector

The Korea Invisible Mass Search (KIMS) collaboration has been carrying out WIMP search experiment with CsI(T$\ell$)crystal detectors at the YanYang Underground Laboratory. A successful reduction of the internal background of the crystal is done and a good pulse shape discrimination is achieved. We report the first result on WIMP search obtained with 237 kg$\cdot$days data using one full-size CsI(T$\ell$)crystal of 6.6 kg mass.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Physics Letters

Modified Friedmann Equations From Debye Entropic Gravity

A remarkable new idea on the origin of gravity was recently proposed by Verlinde who claimed that the laws of gravitation are no longer fundamental, but rather emerge naturally as an entropic force. In Verlinde derivation, the equipartition law of energy on the holographic screen plays a crucial role. However, the equipartition law of energy fails at the very low temperature. Therefore, the formalism of the entropic force should be modified while the temperature of the holographic screen is very low. Considering the Debye entropic gravity and following the strategy of Verlinde, we derive the modified Newton's law of gravitation and the corresponding Friedmann equations which are valid in all range of temperature. In the limit of strong gravitational field, i.e. high temperature compared to Debye temperature, $T\gg T_D$, one recovers the standard Newton's law and Friedmann equations. We also generalize our study to the entropy corrected area law and derive the dynamical cosmological equations for all range of temperature. Some limits of the obtained results are also studied.Comment: 9 pages, no figures. The text was revised and new references added. Presented in national conferences in gravity and cosmology at Tehran Universit

Gynecological cancer and omega-3 fatty acid intakes: meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous observational epidemiological studies have reported inconsistent findings on the association between dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and endocrine-related gynecological cancer including ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. This study aimed to investigate this association using a metaanalysis of observational studies. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library by using keywords related to the topic in December 2019. The pooled odd ratios (pORs), pooled relative risks (pRRs), or pooled hazard ratios (pHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated based on a random- effects model. Also, we performed subgroup analyses by methodological quality, type of cancer, study design, and type of omega-3 fatty acids. RESULTS: A total of 10 observational studies with six case-control and four prospective cohort studies were included in the current meta-analysis. In the meta-analysis of all studies, dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was not significantly associated with the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers (pOR/HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.73-1.04; I2=67.2%) (highest versus lowest intake). In the subgroup analysis by type of study, no significant association was found in cohort studies (pHR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.63-1.67, I2=81.9%), whereas dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with the decreased risk of endocrine-related gynecological cancers in case-control studies (pOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.98, I2=55.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The current metaanalysis of observational studies suggests that dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids is not significantly associated with the risk of endocrine-related gynecological cancer

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of Ag(CN)2- in silver sol. Effect of pyridine

The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of Ag(CN)2− was investigated in a silver sol. The addition of pyridine significantly increased SERS by as much as 200. The role of pyridine was interpreted with the aid of the model of plasma resonance-enhanced Raman scattering.11Nscopu