Growth and characterization of Eu-Cu-O thin films on YSZ(100) substrates

High quality epitaxial Eu2CuO4 (ECO) thin films have been deposited on yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) (100) substrates by magnetron rf sputtering method. The obtained ECO films are highly c-axis-oriented and well crystallized, as shown by x-ray diffraction, rocking curves. The influence of oxygen out-diffusion on the c-axis length and the resistance behavior were studied. The post vacuum annealing removes the excess oxygen from the structure of ECO. As a result, the c-axis length decreases and the resistivity increases. By using ECO as a buffer layer, extremely smooth surface of YBCO was obtained on YSZ substrates.published_or_final_versio

Initial experience with the Oncotype DX assay in decision-making for adjuvant therapy of early oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in Hong Kong

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Short-Term Prognosis of Transient Ischemic Attack and Predictive Value of the ABCD2 Score in Hong Kong Chinese

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Prevalence of Femoroacetabular Impingement “at-risk” Radiographic Parameters in Young Asymptomatic Chinese and Caucasian Subjects

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Survival analysis of transarterial radioembolization with yttrium-90 for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with HBV infection

Introduction: For patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatectomy remains one of the best treatment options to provide long-term survival. However, more than 50% of the patients have unresectable disease upon diagnosis even though there are no distant metastases. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a well-established treatment option that offers a palliative survival benefit for this group of patients. A better treatment for unresectable HCC has been sought after. There is some evidence that transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with the agent yttrium-90 produces encouraging outcomes, especially in patients with portal vein tumor thrombus. This study aims to analyze the outcomes of TARE at our center. Methods: From August 2009 to April 2013, 16 patients underwent TARE at our center. Sixteen patients with similar tumor characteristics were selected to undergo TACE alone for comparison. A retrospective analysis of the prospectively collected data of the patients was conducted. Only patients with newly diagnosed primary tumors were included in this study. Results: The median survival for patients having TARE was 19.9 versus 14.0 months in the TACE group (P=0.615). There was no difference in terms of tumor response according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) (P=0.632). The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates in the TARE group were 80.0%, 30.5% and 20.3% respectively. The 1-year survival in the TACE group was 58.3% (P=0.615). For patients who had major vascular invasion (eight in each group), the 1- and 2-year survival rates in the TARE group were 62.5% and 15.6% respectively, while the 1-year survival in the TACE group was 35.0% (P=0.664). Conclusions: The two groups showed similar results in terms of tumor response and overall survival benefit. TARE might provide a survival benefit for patients with major vessel invasion.published_or_final_versio

NF-κB p65 Subunit Is Modulated by Latent Transforming Growth Factor-β Binding Protein 2 (LTBP2) in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma HONE1 and HK1 Cells

NF-kappa B is a well-characterized transcription factor, widely known as a key player in tumor-derived inflammation and cancer development. Herein, we present the functional and molecular relevance of the canonical NF-kappa B p65 subunit in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Loss-and gain-of-function approaches were utilized to reveal the functional characteristics of p65 in propagating tumor growth, tumor-associated angiogenesis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in NPC cells. Extracellular inflammatory stimuli are critical factors that trigger the NF-kappa B p65 signaling; hence, we investigated the components of the tumor microenvironment that might potentially influence the p65 signaling pathway. This led to the identification of an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein that was previously reported as a candidate tumor suppressor in NPC. Our studies on the Latent Transforming Growth Factor-beta Binding Protein 2 (LTBP2) protein provides substantial evidence that it can modulate the p65 transcriptional activity. Re-expression of LTBP2 elicits tumor suppressive effects that parallel the inactivation of p65 in NPC cells. LTBP2 was able to reduce phosphorylation of p65 at Serine 536, inhibit nuclear localization of active phosphorylated p65, and impair the p65 DNA-binding ability. This results in a consequential down-regulation of p65-related gene expression. Therefore, the data suggest that the overall up-regulation of p65 expression and the loss of this candidate ECM tumor suppressor are milestone events contributing to NPC development.published_or_final_versio

Clinical Characteristics and Transmission of COVID-19 in Children and Youths During 3 Waves of Outbreaks in Hong Kong

IMPORTANCE: Schools were closed intermittently across Hong Kong to control the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to significant physical and psychosocial problems among children and youths. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical characteristics and sources of infection among children and youths with COVID-19 during the 3 waves of outbreaks in Hong Kong in 2020. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study involved children and youths aged 18 years or younger with COVID-19 in the 3 waves of outbreaks from January 23 through December 2, 2020. Data were analyzed from December 2020 through January 2021. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Demographic characteristics, travel and contact histories, lengths of hospital stay, and symptoms were captured through the central electronic database. Individuals who were infected without recent international travel were defined as having domestic infections. RESULTS: Among 397 children and youths confirmed with COVID-19 infections, the mean (SD) age was 9.95 (5.34) years, 220 individuals (55.4%) were male, and 154 individuals (38.8%) were asymptomatic. There were significantly more individuals who were infected without symptoms in the second wave (59 of 118 individuals [50.0%]) and third wave (94 of 265 individuals [35.5%]) than in the first wave (1 of 14 individuals [7.1%]) (P = .001). Significantly fewer individuals who were infected in the second and third waves, compared with the first wave, had fever (first wave: 10 individuals [71.4%]; second wave: 22 individuals [18.5%]; third wave: 98 individuals [37.0%]; P < .001) or cough (first wave: 6 individuals [42.9%]; second wave: 15 individuals [12.7%]; third wave: 52 individuals [19.6%]; P = .02). Among all individuals, 394 individuals (99.2%) had mild illness. One patient developed chilblains (ie, COVID toes), 1 patient developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and 1 patient developed post–COVID-19 autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In all 3 waves, 204 patients with COVID-19 (51.4%) had domestic infections. Among these individuals, 186 (91.2%) reported having a contact history with another individual with COVID-19, of which most (183 individuals [90.0%]) were family members. In the third wave, 18 individuals with domestic infections had unknown contact histories. Three schoolmates were confirmed with COVID-19 on the same day and were reported to be close contacts. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: his cross-sectional study found that nearly all children and youths with COVID-19 in Hong Kong had mild illness. These findings suggest that household transmission was the main source of infection for children and youths with domestic infections and that the risk of being infected at school was small

The Impact of the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay on Treatment Decisions for Women With Estrogen Receptor-Positive, Node-Negative Breast Carcinoma in Hong Kong

Background The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay is validated to assess risk of distant recurrence and likelihood of chemotherapy (CT) benefit in estrogen receptor-positive ESBC in various populations. In Hong Kong, > 80% of breast cancers are early stage breast cancer (ESBC) and > 60% of these women receive CT. This prospective study measured changes in CT type and recommendations, as well as physician impression of assay impact in a homogenous Chinese population. Methods Consecutive patients with estrogen receptor-positive, T1-3 N0-1mi M0 ESBC were offered enrollment. After surgery, physicians discussed treatment options with patients, then ordered the assay, then reassessed treatment recommendation considering assay results. Changes in treatment recommendation, CT utilization, physician confidence, and physician rating of influence on their treatment recommendations were measured. Results A total of 146 evaluable patients received pre- and post-testing treatment recommendations. CT recommendations (including changes in intensity of CT) were changed for 34 of 146 patients (23.3%; 95% confidence interval, 16.7%-31.0%); change in intensity occurred in 7 of 146 (4.8%). There were 27 changes in treatment recommendations of adding or removing CT altogether (18.5% change; 95% confidence interval, 12.6%-25.8%). CT recommendations decreased from 52.1% to 37.7%, a net absolute reduction of 14.4% (P < .001; 27.6% net relative reduction). Pre-assay, 96% of physicians agreed/strongly agreed that they were confident in their treatment recommendation; post-assay, 90% of physicians agreed/strongly agreed with the same statement. Thirty percent of physicians agreed/strongly agreed that the test had influenced their recommendation, similar to the proportion of changed recommendations. Conclusions The Oncotype DX Assay appears to influence physician ESBC adjuvant treatment recommendations in Hong Kong.published_or_final_versio

Saliva Viral Load Better Correlates with Clinical and Immunological Profiles in Children with Coronavirus Disease 2019

BACKGROUND: Pediatric COVID-19 studies exploring the relationships between NPS and saliva viral loads, clinical and immunological profiles are lacking. METHODS: Demographics, immunological profiles, nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), and saliva samples collected on admission, and hospital length of stay (LOS) were assessed in children below 18 years with COVID-19. FINDINGS: 91 patients were included between March and August 2020. NPS and saliva viral loads were correlated (r=0.315, p=0.01). Symptomatic patients had significantly higher NPS and saliva viral loads than asymptomatic patients. Serial NPS and saliva viral load measurements showed that the log10 NPS (r=-0.532, p<0.001) and saliva (r=-0.417, p<0.001) viral loads for all patients were inversely correlated with the days from symptom onset with statistical significance. Patients with cough, sputum, and headache had significantly higher saliva, but not NPS, viral loads. Higher saliva, but not NPS, viral loads were associated with total lymphopenia, CD3 and CD4 lymphopenia (all p<0.05), and were inversely correlated with total lymphocyte (r=-0.43), CD3 (r=-0.55), CD4 (r=-0.60), CD8 (r=-0.41), B (r=-0.482), and NK (r=-0.416) lymphocyte counts (all p<0.05). Interpretation: Saliva viral loads on admission in children correlated better with clinical and immunological profiles than NPS

Adequacy of therapy for people with both COPD and heart failure in the UK : historical cohort study

Acknowledgments We thank Derek Skinner for his contributions to the data acquisition and handling and Carole Nicholls and Priyanka Raju Konduru for statistical support. Writing and editorial support was provided by Elizabeth V. Hillyer, DVM, supported by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. Funding This work was supported by Novartis. Employees of the sponsor (listed as authors) participated in the study design, interpretation of the results, writing of the report, and the decision to submit the paper for publication.Peer reviewedPublisher PD