Impact of multidisciplinary team on the pattern of care for brain metastasis from breast cancer

PurposeThe aim of this study was to explore how a multidisciplinary team (MDT) affects patterns of local or systematic treatment.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the data of consecutive patients in the breast cancer with brain metastases (BCBM) database at our institution from January 2011 to April 2021. The patients were divided into an MDT group and a non-MDT group.ResultsA total of 208 patients were analyzed, including 104 each in the MDT and non-MDT groups. After MDT, 56 patients (53.8%) were found to have intracranial “diagnosis upgrade”. In the matched population, patients in the MDT group recorded a higher proportion of meningeal metastases (14.4% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.02), symptomatic tumor progression (11.5% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.04), and an increased number of occurrences of brain metastases (BM) progression (p < 0.05). Attending MDT was an independent factor associated with ≥2 courses of intracranial radiotherapy (RT) [odds ratio (OR) 5.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.7–10.9, p < 0.001], novel RT technique use (7.0, 95% CI 3.5–14.0, p < 0.001), and prospective clinical research (OR 5.7, 95% CI 2.4–13.4, p < 0.001).ConclusionPatients with complex conditions are often referred for MDT discussions. An MDT may improve the qualities of intracranial RT and systemic therapy, resulting in benefits of overall survival for BC patients after BM. This encourages the idea that treatment recommendations for patients with BMBC should be discussed within an MDT

The anode oxidation reaction in fuel cell: A DFT study

Although fuel cell (FC) has been regarded as promising “green” power generator, the Pt-based catalysts in the FC hampered their further development for its high cost and scarcity. Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) as another kind of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been manifested that Pd also performs a certain activity for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). To better know the mechanism of MOR, we present a DFT study on the first step reaction of MOR on the Pd(111). The results show that methanol prefers to physically adsorb on the Pd(111) through oxygen atom, while the dehydrogenated hydrogen atoms can adsorb either on face-cantered cubic (FCC) or hexagonal close packed (HCP) sites. The intermediate products will form a much stronger interaction with the Pd(111) since they contain more unsaturated bonds. The energy barrier of O-H bond scission is most favourable, while the C-O bond is unfavourable in the first step of MOR

Projecting your view attentively: Monocular road scene layout estimation via cross-view transformation

National Natural Science Foundation of Chin

Nodal response to primary systemic therapy predicts prognosis of cN3c breast cancer patients receiving multimodality therapy

Aim: To investigate the survival outcomes, patterns and risks of recurrence in cN3c breast cancer patients after multimodality therapy, as well as the predictors of candidates for ipsilateral supraclavicular (SCV) area boosting. Method: Consecutive cN3c breast cancer patients from January 2009 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Based on nodal response to primary systemic therapy (PST), patients were categorized into three groups: clinical complete response (cCR) not achieved in SCV lymph nodal (SCLN, Group A), SCLN cCR but axillary node (ALN) did not achieve pathological complete response (pCR, Group B), cCR in SCLN and pCR in ALN (Group C). Results: The median follow-up time was 32.7 months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 64.6% and 43.7% respectively. Multivariate analysis showed cumulative SCV dose and ypT stage, ALN response and SCV response to PST were significantly associated with OS and RFS respectively. Compared with Group A or B, Group C showed significantly improved 3 y-RFS (53.8% vs 73.6% vs 100%, p = 0.003), and the lowest rate of DM as first failure (37.9% vs 23.5% vs 0%, p = 0.010). In Group A, the 3 y-OS for patients receiving the cumulative SCV dose of ≥60 Gy versus <60 Gy was 78.0% versus 57.3% (p = 0.029). Conclusion: Nodal response to PST is an independent prognostic factor for survival and pattern of failure. A cumulative SCV dose of ≥60 Gy is positively associated with improved OS, especially in Group A. Our data supports the perspective of optimizing radiotherapeutic strategy based on nodal response

Epigenetic age acceleration and risk of aortic valve stenosis: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Abstract Background Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is the most prevalent cardiac valve lesion in developed countries, and pathogenesis is closely related to aging. DNA methylation-based epigenetic clock is now recognized as highly accurate predictor of the aging process and associated health outcomes. This study aimed to explore the causal relationship between epigenetic clock and AVS by conducting a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods Summary genome-wide association study statistics of epigenetic clocks (HannumAge, HorvathAge, PhenoAge, and GrimAge) and AVS were obtained and assessed for significant instrumental variables from Edinburgh DataShare (n = 34,710) and FinnGen biobank (cases = 9870 and controls = 402,311). The causal association between epigenetic clock and AVS was evaluated using inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median (WM), and MR-Egger methods. Multiple analyses (heterogeneity analysis, pleiotropy analysis, and sensitivity analysis) were performed for quality control assessment. Results The MR analysis showed that the epigenetic age acceleration of HorvathAge and PhenoAge was associated with an increased risk of AVS (HorvathAge: OR = 1.043, P = 0.016 by IVW, OR = 1.058, P = 0.018 by WM; PhenoAge: OR = 1.058, P = 0.005 by IVW, OR = 1.053, P = 0.039 by WM). Quality control assessment proved our findings were reliable and robust. However, there was a lack of evidence supporting a causal link from AVS to epigenetic aging. Conclusion The present MR analysis unveiled a causal association between epigenetic clocks, especially HorvathAge and PhenoAge, with AVS. Further research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and develop strategies for potential interventions. Graphical abstrac

Tuning the Acidity of Pt/CNTs Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Diphenyl Ether

We herein present a method for the synthesis of HNbWO6, HNbMoO6, HTaWO6 solid acid nanosheet modified Pt/CNTs. By varying the weight of various solid acid nanosheets, a series of Pt/xHMNO6/CNTs with different solid acid compositions (x = 5, 20 wt%; M = Nb, Ta; N = Mo, W) have been prepared by carbon nanotube pretreatment, protonic exchange, solid acid exfoliation, aggregation and finally Pt particles impregnation. The Pt/xHMNO6/CNTs are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and NH3-temperature programmed desorption. The study revealed that HNbWO6 nanosheets were attached on CNTs, with some edges of the nanosheets being bent in shape. The acid strength of the supported Pt catalysts increases in the following order: Pt/CNTs \u3c Pt/5HNbWO6/CNTs \u3c Pt/20HNbMoO6/CNTs \u3c Pt/20HNbWO6/CNTs \u3c Pt/20HTaWO6/CNTs. In addition, the catalytic hydroconversion of lignin-derived model compound: diphenyl ether using the synthesized Pt/20HNbWO6 catalyst has been investigated

Stratified analysis of pooled hazard ratios of cancer patients with Ezrin expression.

<p>Stratified analysis of pooled hazard ratios of cancer patients with Ezrin expression.</p