Large Language Models respond to Influence like Humans

Two studies tested the hypothesis that a Large Language Model (LLM) can be used to model psychological change following exposure to influential input. The first study tested a generic mode of influence - the Illusory Truth Effect (ITE) - where earlier exposure to a statement boosts a later truthfulness test rating. Analysis of newly collected data from human and LLM-simulated subjects (1000 of each) showed the same pattern of effects in both populations; although with greater per statement variability for the LLM. The second study concerns a specific mode of influence – populist framing of news to increase its persuasion and political mobilization. Newly collected data from simulated subjects was compared to previously published data from a 15-country experiment on 7286 human participants. Several effects from the human study were replicated by the simulated study, including ones that surprised the authors of the human study by contradicting their theoretical expectations; but some significant relationships found in human data were not present in the LLM data. Together the two studies support the view that LLMs have potential to act as models of the effect of influence

Risk Factors for Active Asthma at School Age: an 8-Year Prospective Study

A sibilância recorrente na infância é uma entidade clínica prevalente e heterogénea do pontode vista da história natural e do prognóstico. Efectuou-se um estudo prospectivo com 8 anos de duração, com o objectivo de relacionar a evolução clínica da sibilância recorrente nos primeiros anos de vida, com factores de prognóstico associados com a persistência da sintomatologia. Uma coorte de 308 crianças com sibilância recorrente, com idade ≤6 anos, foi incluída no estudo em 1993. Foi aplicado um questionário clínico, realizados testes cutâneos por prick e efectuado doseamento sérico de IgE total. Em 1996 procedeu-se a uma primeira reavaliação sistemática destas crianças. Em 2001 foi efectuada nova reavaliação sistemática, possível em 81% destas crianças (n=249), com repetição dos testes cutâneos e realização de avaliação funcional respiratória,em período intercrise, com espirometria com prova de broncodilatação (BD). As crianças reavaliadas apresentavam média etária de 11 anos (8-14 anos) e relação sexo M/F de 1.7/1. Permaneciam sintomáticas em 61% dos casos. A prevalência de atopia foi de 48% em 1993, 65% em 1996 e 75% em 2001. Pela realização de um modelo de regressão logística múltiplo foram identificados como factores de risco para asma activa em idade escolar: história pessoal de rinite alérgica (OR=15.8, IC95%=6.1-40.8; p<0.001), asma paterna (OR=7.2, IC95%=1.7-29.7; p=0.007), história pessoal de eczema atópico (OR=5.9, IC95%=2.2-15.7; p<0.001), asma materna (OR=5.4, IC95%=1.7-17.1; p=0.004), evidência de sensibilização alergénica (OR=3.4, IC95%=1.2-10.4;p=0.03) e início dos sintomas ≥2 anos de idade (OR=2.1, IC95%=1.1-4.8; p=0.04); a frequência de infantário antes dos 12 meses de idade foi identificada como factor protector (OR=0.4, IC95%=0.2- 0.9; p=0.04). Desenvolveram sensibilização alergénica de novo (ácaros do pó >80%) 66 das 128 crianças não atópicas em 1993 (52%). Apresentavam obstrução brônquica 36% das crianças: 47% das sintomáticas e 18% das assintomáticas (p<0.001). A prova de BD foi positiva em 35%: 47% nos sintomáticos e 13% nos assintomáticos (p<0.001). Concluindo, foram identificados como factores de mau prognóstico, antecedentes pessoais de doença alérgica, história parental de asma, presença de sensibilização alergénica e início dos sintomas na segunda infância. Os sintomas clínicos podem preceder em anos a sensibilização alergénica, realçando a importância da instituição precoce de medidas de controlo ambiental. Alterações nas provas funcionais respiratórias, mais frequentes nas asmas activas, estavam também presentes em crianças actualmente sem clínica, reforçando a necessidade de valorizar marcadores objectivos nesta cada vez mais prevalente doença respiratória crónica

Large language models respond to influence like humans

Two studies tested the hypothesis that a Large Language Model (LLM) can be used to model psychological change following exposure to influential input. The first study tested a generic mode of influence - the Illusory Truth Effect (ITE) - where earlier exposure to a statement boosts a later truthfulness test rating. Analysis of newly collected data from human and LLM-simulated subjects (1000 of each) showed the same pattern of effects in both populations; although with greater per statement variability for the LLM. The second study concerns a specific mode of influence – populist framing of news to increase its persuasion and political mobilization. Newly collected data from simulated subjects was compared to previously published data from a 15 country experiment on 7286 human participants. Several effects from the human study were replicated by the simulated study, including ones that surprised the authors of the human study by contradicting their theoretical expectations; but some significant relationships found in human data were not present in the LLM data. Together the two studies support the view that LLMs have potential to act as models of the effect of influence

Immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of bladder cancer

none8A number of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been approved as first-line therapy in case of cisplatin-ineligible patients or as second-line therapy for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) of the bladder. About 30% of patients with mUC will respond to ICIs immunotherapy. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression detected by immunohistochemistry seems to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with mUC as supported by the objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS) associated with the response observed in most clinical trials. Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, demonstrated better OS respective to chemotherapy in a randomized phase 3 study for second-line treatment of mUC. Nivolumab, a PD-1 antibody, also demonstrated an OS benefit when compared to controls. Atezolizumab, Durvalumab, and Avelumab antibodies targeting PD-L1 have also received approval as second-line treatments for mUC with durable response for more than 1 year in selected patients. Atezolizumab and Pembrolizumab also received approval for first-line treatment of patients that are ineligible for cisplatin. A focus on the utility of ICIs in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting, or as combination with chemotherapy, is the basis of some ongoing trials. The identification of a clinically useful biomarker, single or in association, to determine the optimal ICIs treatment for patients with mUC is very much needed as emphasized by the current literature. In this review, we examined relevant clinical trial results with ICIs in patients with mUC alone or as part of drug combinations; emphasis is also placed on the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting. The current landscape of selected biomarkers of response to ICIs including anti-PD-L1 immunohistochemistry is also briefly reviewed.noneLopez-Beltran A.; Cimadamore A.; Blanca A.; Massari F.; Vau N.; Scarpelli M.; Cheng L.; Montironi R.Lopez-Beltran, A.; Cimadamore, A.; Blanca, A.; Massari, F.; Vau, N.; Scarpelli, M.; Cheng, L.; Montironi, R

Digital versus light microscopy assessment of extraprostatic extension in radical prostatectomy samples

Focal or non-focal/extensive extraprostatic extension of prostate carcinoma is an important pathologic prognostic parameter to be reported after radical prostatectomy. Currently, there is no agreement on how to measure and what are the best cutoff points to be used in practice. We hypothesized that digital microscopy would potentially provide more objective measurements of extraprostatic extension, thus better defining its clinical significance. To further our knowledge on digital prostate pathology, we evaluated the status of extraprostatic extension in 107 consecutive laparoscopic radical prostatectomy samples, using digital and conventional light microscopy. Mean linear and radial measurements of extraprostatic extension by digital microscopy significantly correlated to pT status (p = 0.022 and p = 0.050, respectively) but only radial measurements correlated to biochemical recurrence (p = 0.042) and grade groups (p = 0.022). None of the measurements, whether conventional or digital, were associated with lymph node status. Receiving operating characteristic analysis showed a potential cutoff point to assess linear measurements by conventional ( 24.21 mm) or digital microscopy ( 15 mm) or by radial measurement ( 1.6 mm). Finally, we observed an association between the number of paraffin blocks bearing EPE with pT (p = 0.041) status (digital microscopy), and linear measurements by conventional (p = 0.044) or digital microscopy (p = 0.045) with lymph node status. Reporting EPE measurements by digital microscopy, both linear and radial, and the number of paraffin blocks with EPE, might provide additional prognostic features after radical prostatectomy

Body mass index in patients treated with cabozantinib for advanced renal cell carcinoma: A new prognostic factor?

We analyzed the clinical and pathological features of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients treated with cabozantinib stratified by body mass index (BMI). We retrospectively collected data from 16 worldwide centers involved in the treatment of RCC. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves. Cox proportional models were used at univariate and multivariate analyses. We collected data from 224 patients with advanced RCC receiving cabozantinib as second-(113, 5%) or third-line (111, 5%) therapy. The median PFS was significantly higher in patients with BMI ≥ 25 (9.9 vs. 7.6 months, p &lt; 0.001). The median OS was higher in the BMI ≥ 25 subgroup (30.7 vs. 11.0 months, p = 0.003). As third-line therapy, both median PFS (9.2 months vs. 3.9 months, p = 0.029) and OS (39.4 months vs. 11.5 months, p = 0.039) were longer in patients with BMI ≥ 25. BMI was a significant predictor for both PFS and OS at multivariate analysis. We showed that a BMI ≥ 25 correlates with longer survival in patients receiving cabozantinib. BMI can be easily assessed and should be included in current prognostic criteria for advanced RCC

Real-world data on cabozantinib in previously treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Focus on sequences and prognostic factors

Cabozantinib is approved for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, prognostic factors are still lacking in this context. The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors in RCC patients treated with second-or third-line cabozantinib. A multicenter retrospective real-world study was conducted, involving 32 worldwide centers. A total of 237 patients with histologically confirmed clear-cell and non-clear-cell RCC who received cabozantinib as second-or third-line therapy for metastatic disease were included. We analyzed overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and time-to-strategy failure (TTSF) using Kaplan–Meier curves. Cox proportional models were used at univariate and multivariate analyses.The median PFS and OS of cabozantinib were 7.76 months (95% CI 6.51–10.88) and 11.57 months (95% CI 10.90–not reached (NR)) as second-line and 11.38 months (95% CI 5.79–NR) and NR (95% CI 11.51–NR) as third-line therapy. The median TTSF and OS were 11.57 and 15.52 months with the sequence of cabozantinib–nivolumab and 25.64 months and NR with nivolumab–cabozantinib, respectively. The difference between these two sequences was statistically significant only in good-risk patients. In the second-line setting, hemoglobin (Hb) levels (HR= 2.39; 95% CI 1.24–4.60, p = 0.009) and IMDC (International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium) group (HR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.04–2.87, p = 0.037) were associated with PFS while ECOG-PS (HR = 2.33; 95%CI, 1.16–4.69, p = 0.018) and Hb levels (HR = 3.12; 95%CI 1.18–8.26, p = 0.023) correlated with OS at multivariate analysis, while in the third-line setting, only Hb levels (HR = 2.72; 95%CI 1.04–7.09, p = 0.042) were associated with OS. Results are limited by the retrospective nature of the study.This real-world study provides evidence on the presence of prognostic factors in RCC patients receiving cabozantinib

Real-world data on cabozantinib in previously treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Focus on sequences and prognostic factors

Cabozantinib is approved for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, prognostic factors are still lacking in this context. The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors in RCC patients treated with second-or third-line cabozantinib. A multicenter retrospective real-world study was conducted, involving 32 worldwide centers. A total of 237 patients with histologically confirmed clear-cell and non-clear-cell RCC who received cabozantinib as second-or third-line therapy for metastatic disease were included. We analyzed overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and time-to-strategy failure (TTSF) using Kaplan–Meier curves. Cox proportional models were used at univariate and multivariate analyses.The median PFS and OS of cabozantinib were 7.76 months (95% CI 6.51–10.88) and 11.57 months (95% CI 10.90–not reached (NR)) as second-line and 11.38 months (95% CI 5.79–NR) and NR (95% CI 11.51–NR) as third-line therapy. The median TTSF and OS were 11.57 and 15.52 months with the sequence of cabozantinib–nivolumab and 25.64 months and NR with nivolumab–cabozantinib, respectively. The difference between these two sequences was statistically significant only in good-risk patients. In the second-line setting, hemoglobin (Hb) levels (HR= 2.39; 95% CI 1.24–4.60, p = 0.009) and IMDC (International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium) group (HR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.04–2.87, p = 0.037) were associated with PFS while ECOG-PS (HR = 2.33; 95%CI, 1.16–4.69, p = 0.018) and Hb levels (HR = 3.12; 95%CI 1.18–8.26, p = 0.023) correlated with OS at multivariate analysis, while in the third-line setting, only Hb levels (HR = 2.72; 95%CI 1.04–7.09, p = 0.042) were associated with OS. Results are limited by the retrospective nature of the study.This real-world study provides evidence on the presence of prognostic factors in RCC patients receiving cabozantinib