Nevin Manimala

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Mar 3;13:852422. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.852422. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic premature adrenarche (IPA) is considered a normal variant of puberty, presenting more commonly in female patients. There are concerns as to whether IPA alters the final height of these girls. Our main objectives were to (a) compare the adult height of girls with IPA against their target height and (b) design a mathematical model to predict adult height at diagnosis in female patients with IPA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort study of girls with IPA was conducted from the time of IPA diagnosis until adult height. The following data were collected: target height, perinatal history, anthropometric and biochemical variables and bone age at diagnosis, age at Tanner stage 2 and menarcheal age, and adult height. First, we performed a univariate statistical analysis after which we carried out a multiple linear regression analysis using adult height as the dependent variable.

RESULTS: We obtained data from 79 female patients diagnosed with IPA with a mean adult height of 164.6 cm (95% CI: 163.36-165.85 cm). The mean follow-up time was 6.60 years. Average age at Tanner stage 2 was 9.71 years. Mean menarcheal age was 11.64 years. There were no significant differences between target height and adult height. Of the several predictive models designed for these patients, one of them, which included bone age, obtained an R ² value of 71%.

CONCLUSIONS: Although slightly advanced puberty was observed among the girls with IPA, their adult height was preserved. The use of predictive models of adult height on diagnosis of IPA could facilitate closer follow-up of girls at risk of reduced adult height.

PMID:35311244 | PMC:PMC8927636 | DOI:10.3389/fendo.2022.852422

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Mar 4;13:852620. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.852620. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Blastocyst biopsy has become the most mainstream biopsy method. Currently, there are two blastocyst biopsy strategies. Many studies have compared the advantages and disadvantages between blastomere and blastocyst biopsy, but fewer articles have compared the two blastocyst biopsy strategies. For the moment, no published studies have explored the entire set of information on embryo development, next-generation sequencing results, and clinical outcomes, including the baby’s health status with the two blastocyst biopsy strategies.

METHODS: A total of 323 preimplantation genetic testing cycles from April 2018 to May 2020, including 178 cycles with Strategy A and 145 cycles with Strategy B. Strategy A was to create a laser-assisted zona pellucid opening for cleavage embryo on the third day after insemination, but Strategy B was not. Strategy A performed a biopsy for artificially assisted hatching blastocysts, while Strategy B performed a biopsy for expanded blastocysts on day 5 or 6. In this study, embryo development, next-generation sequencing results, pregnancy outcomes, and offspring health of the two strategies were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between the two groups in the rate of fertilization, blastocyst and abortion. The rate of cleavage from Strategy A was slightly higher than Strategy B, and the rate of high-quality cleavage embryo was lower than Strategy B, while the rate of high-quality blastocyst was higher than Strategy B. The rate of no-results blastocyst was significantly lower than Strategy B. In particular, the rate of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth of Strategy A were significantly lower than those of Strategy B. The average Apgar scores of newborns were ≥8 in both groups, and there was no significant difference in average height and weight. In Strategy A, a baby was born with thumb syndactyly, and Strategy B had no congenital disabilities.

CONCLUSIONS: Blastocyst biopsy strategy without laser-assisted zona pellucid drilling on day 3 achieves better clinical treatment effects. Therefore, Strategy B is an optimal treatment regime for PGT.

PMID:35311229 | PMC:PMC8931332 | DOI:10.3389/fendo.2022.852620

Food Sci Nutr. 2022 Jan 18;10(3):863-878. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.2717. eCollection 2022 Mar.

ABSTRACT

This study established physicochemical and sensory characteristics of virgin olive oils (VOOs) and linked them to consumers’ liking using external preference mapping. We used five Tunisian and two foreign VOO varieties produced by two processing systems: discontinuous (sp) and continuous three-phase decanter (3p). The samples were analyzed and evaluated by a panel of 274 consumers. The external preference mapping revealed five VOO clusters with a consumer preference scores rating from 40% to 65%. Consumers highly appreciated the foreign Coratina cultivar’s olive oil; the main drivers being richness in polyphenols (markers of bitterness and pungency), mainly the oleuropein aglycone, and volatile compounds (markers of green fruity, green leaves, green apple, cut grassy almond, and bitterness), particularly the trans-2-hexenol. The Tunisian Chemlali (3p) oil was second highly preferred (scoring 55%). The positive drivers for olive oil preference (a profile of almond fruity green and low bitterness and pungency) are the richness in hexanal compounds. Arbequina (sp and 3p) and Chemlali (sp) were the least appreciated due to the fact that Arbequina VOO is not in the tradition of Tunisian consumers, whereas Chemchali VOO is a minor variety representing only 2% of olive oil production in Tunisia and consumed mostly in blends. The differentiation between the two processing systems depends on the variety of cultivar; consumers are able to identify the two processing system in the case of Chetoui, Leguim, and Chemchali.

PMID:35311176 | PMC:PMC8907739 | DOI:10.1002/fsn3.2717

Front Oncol. 2022 Mar 3;12:843175. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.843175. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To retrospectively investigate empirical relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for mandible osteoradionecrosis (ORN) in head and neck (H&N) cancer patients treated with pencil-beam-scanning proton therapy (PBSPT).

METHODS: We included 1,266 H&N cancer patients, of which, 931 patients were treated with volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and 335 were treated with PBSPT. Among them, 26 VMAT and 9 PBSPT patients experienced mandible ORN (ORN group), while all others were included in the control group. To minimize the impact of the possible imbalance in clinical factors between VMAT and PBSPT patients in the dosimetric comparison between these two modalities and the resulting RBE quantification, we formed a 1:1 case-matched patient cohort (335 VMAT patients and 335 PBSPT patients including both the ORN and control groups) using the greedy nearest neighbor matching of propensity scores. Mandible dosimetric metrics were extracted from the case-matched patient cohort and statistically tested to evaluate the association with mandibular ORN to derive dose volume constraints (DVCs) for VMAT and PBSPT, respectively. We sought the equivalent constraint doses for VMAT so that the critical volumes of VMAT were equal to those of PBSPT at different physical doses. Empirical RBEs of PBSPT for ORN were obtained by calculating the ratio between the derived equivalent constraint doses and physical doses of PBSPT. Bootstrapping was further used to get the confidence intervals.

RESULTS: Clinical variables of age, gender, tumor stage, prescription dose, chemotherapy, hypertension or diabetes, dental extraction, smoking history, or current smoker were not statistically related to the incidence of ORN in the overall patient cohort. Smoking history was found to be significantly associated with the ORN incidence in PBSPT patients only. V40Gy[RBE], V50Gy[RBE], and V60Gy[RBE] were statistically different (p<0.05) between the ORN and control group for VMAT and PBSPT. Empirical RBEs of 1.58(95%CI: 1.34-1.64), 1.34(95%CI: 1.23-1.40), and 1.24(95%: 1.15-1.26) were obtained for proton dose at 40 Gy[RBE=1.1], 50 Gy[RBE=1.1] and 60 Gy[RBE=1.1], respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that RBEs were larger than 1.1 at moderate doses (between 40 and 60 Gy[RBE=1.1]) with high LET for mandible ORN. RBEs are underestimated in current clinical practice in PBSPT. The derived DVCs can be used for PBSPT plan evaluation and optimization to minimize the incidence rate of mandible ORN.

PMID:35311159 | PMC:PMC8928456 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2022.843175

Front Oncol. 2022 Mar 4;12:843880. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.843880. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer (LC) is well known for its prevalence as well as its poor prognosis. The aberrant expression of lysyl oxidase (LOX) family is associated with liver cancer, but their function and prognostic value in LC remain largely unclear. This study aimed to explore the function and prognostic value of LOX family in LC through bioinformatics analysis and meta-analysis.

RESULTS: The expression levels of all LOX family members were significantly increased in LC. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of LOXL2 was 0.946 with positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.994. LOX and LOXL3 were correlated with worse prognosis. Meta-analysis also validated effect of LOX on prognosis. Nomogram of these two genes and other predictors was also plotted. There was insufficient data from original studies to conduct meta-analysis on LOXL3. The functions of LOX family members in LC were mostly involved in extracellular and functions and structures. The expressions of LOX family members strongly correlated with various immune infiltrating cells and immunomodulators in LC.

CONCLUSIONS: For LC patients, LOXL2 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker, while LOX and LOXL3 have potential prognostic and therapeutic values. Positive correlation between LOX family and infiltration of various immune cells and immunomodulators suggests the need for exploration of their roles in the tumor microenvironment and for potential immunotherapeutic to target LOX family proteins.

PMID:35311155 | PMC:PMC8931681 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2022.843880

Front Oncol. 2022 Mar 4;12:827897. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.827897. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Study RTOG 9802 in high-risk diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGGs) showed the potential synergistic effect on survival of the procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine (PCV) radiotherapy (RT) combination. Limited data on long-term neurocognitive impact and quality of life (QoL) have yet been reported.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We described a monocentric series of patients treated at first line by the combination of PCV immediately followed by RT between January 01, 1982 and January 01, 2017. Radiological data were collected and included volume, velocity of diametric expansion (VDE), and MRI aspects. Long-term neurocognitive and QoL were analyzed.

RESULTS: Twenty patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The median response rate was 65.1% (range, 9.6%-99%) at the time of maximal VDE decrease corresponding to a median volume reduction of 79.7 cm³ (range, 3.1 to 174.2 cm³), which occurred after a median period of 7.2 years (range, 0.3-21.9) after the end of RT. An ongoing negative VDE was measured in 13/16 patients after the end of RT, with a median duration of 6.7 years (range, 9 months-21.9 years). The median follow-up since radiological diagnosis was 17.5 years (range, 4.8 to 29.5). Estimated median survival was 17.4 years (95% CI: 12; NR). After a long-term follow-up, substantial neurotoxicity was noticed with dementia in six progression-free patients (30%), leading to ventriculo-peritoneal shunt procedures in three, and premature death in five. Thirteen patients (65%) were unable to work with disability status. Successive longitudinal neurocognitive assessments for living patients showed verbal episodic memory deterioration.

CONCLUSIONS: PCV-RT combination seems to have not only an oncological synergy but also a long-term neurotoxic synergy to consider before initial therapeutic decision.

PMID:35311144 | PMC:PMC8931287 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2022.827897

Front Oncol. 2022 Mar 4;12:854408. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.854408. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have confirmed the advantages of laparoscopic surgery in early gastric cancer, and there are indications that this may also apply in advanced distal gastric cancer. The study objective was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG), in comparison to open gastrectomy (OG), in the management of locally advanced gastric cancer. The single-center, case-control study included 204 patients, in conveyance sampling, who underwent radical gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer. Out of 204 patients, 102 underwent LG, and 102 patients underwent OG. The primary endpoints were safety endpoints, i.e., complication rates, reoperation rates, and 30-day mortality rates. The secondary endpoints were efficacy endpoints, including perioperative characteristics and oncological outcomes. Even though the overall complication rate was higher in the OG group compared to the LG group (30.4% and 19.6%, respectively), the difference between groups did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.075). No significant difference was identified in reoperation rates and 30-day mortality rates. Time spent in the intensive care unit (ICU) and overall hospital stay were shorter in the LG group compared to the OG group (p < 0.001). Although the number of retrieved lymph nodes is oncologically adequate in both groups, the median number is higher in the OG group (35 vs. 29; p = 0.024). Resection margins came out to be negative in 92% of patients in the LG group and 73.1% in the OG group (p < 0.001). The study demonstrated statistically longer survival rates for the patients in the laparoscopic group, which particularly applies to patients in the most prevalent, third stage of the disease. When patients with the Clavien-Dindo grade ≥II were excluded from the survival analysis, further divergence of survival curves was observed. In conclusion, LG can be safely performed in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer and accomplish the oncological standard with short ICU and overall hospital stay. Since postoperative complications could affect overall treatment results and diminish and blur the positive effect of the minimally invasive approach, further clinical investigations should be focused on the patients with no surgical complications and on clinical practice to cut down the prevalence of complications.

PMID:35311139 | PMC:PMC8931216 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2022.854408

Front Oncol. 2022 Mar 3;12:813138. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.813138. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the value of 3.0T MRI Intravoxel Incoherent motion diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (IVIM-DWI) combined with texture analysis (TA) for evaluating extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) of rectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS: Ninety-six patients with pathologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma after surgical resections were collected. Patients were divided into the EMVI positive group (n=39) and the EMVI negative group (n=57). We measured the IVIM-DWI parameters and TA parameters of rectal adenocarcinoma. We compare the differences of the above parameters between the two groups and establish a prediction model through multivariate logistic regression analysis. the ROC curve was performed for parameters with each individual and in combination.

RESULTS: ADC, D, D* value between the two groups were statistically significant (P= 0.015,0.031,0). Six groups of texture parameters were statistically significant between the two groups (P=0.007,0.037,0.011,0.005,0.007,0.002). Logistic regression prediction model shows that GLCM entropy_ALL DIRECTION_offset7_SD and D* are important independent predictors, and the AUC of the regression prediction model was 0.821, the sensitivity was 92.98%, the specificity was 61.54%, and the Yoden index was 0.5452. The AUC was significantly higher than that of other single parameters.

CONCLUSION: 3.0T MRI IVIM-DWI parameters combined with texture analysis can provide valuable information for EMVI evaluation of rectal adenocarcinoma before the operation.

PMID:35311135 | PMC:PMC8927647 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2022.813138

Front Oncol. 2022 Mar 3;12:784839. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.784839. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance and the added value to radiologists of different levels of a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for the detection of pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with breast cancer. Besides, to investigate whether tumor molecular typing is associated with the efficiency of diagnosis of the CAD systems.

METHODS: 470 patients were identified with breast cancers who underwent NAC and post MR imaging between January 2016 and March 2019. The diagnostic performance of radiologists of different levels and the CAD system were compared. The added value of the CAD system was assessed and subgroup analyses were performed according to the tumor molecular typing.

RESULTS: Among 470 patients, 123 (26%) underwent pCR. The CAD system showed a comparable specificity as the senior radiologist (83.29% vs. 84.15%, p=0.488) and comparable area under the curve (AUC) (0.839 vs. 0.835, p =0.452). The performance of all radiologists significantly improved when aided by the CAD system (P<0.05), And there were no statistical differences in terms of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy between the two groups with CAD assistance(p>0.05).The AUC values for identifying pCR in TN patients were significant (0.883, 95%CI: 0.801-0.964, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The CAD system assessed in this study improves the performance of all radiologists, regardless of experience. The molecular typing of breast cancer is potential influencer of CAD diagnostic performance.

PMID:35311124 | PMC:PMC8928462 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2022.784839

Front Oncol. 2022 Mar 3;12:860532. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.860532. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Since the 20th century, cancer has been a growing threat to human health. Cancer is a malignant tumor with high clinical morbidity and mortality, and there is a high risk of recurrence after surgery. At the same time, the diagnosis of whether the cancer is in situ recurrence is crucial for further treatment of cancer patients. According to statistics, about 90% of cancer-related deaths are due to metastasis of primary tumor cells. Therefore, the study of the location of cancer recurrence and its influencing factors is of great significance for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this paper, we propose an assisted diagnosis model for cancer patients based on federated learning. In terms of data, the influencing factors of cancer recurrence and the special needs of data samples required by federated learning were comprehensively considered. Six first-level impact indicators were determined, and the historical case data of cancer patients were further collected. Based on the federated learning framework combined with convolutional neural network, various physical examination indicators of patients were taken as input. The recurrence time and recurrence location of patients were used as output to construct an auxiliary diagnostic model, and linear regression, support vector regression, Bayesling regression, gradient ascending tree and multilayer perceptrons neural network algorithm were used as comparison algorithms. CNN’s federated prediction model based on improved under the condition of the joint modeling and simulation on the five types of cancer data accuracy reached more than 90%, the accuracy is better than single modeling machine learning tree model and linear model and neural network, the results show that auxiliary diagnosis model based on the study of cancer patients in assisted the doctor in the diagnosis of patients, As well as effectively provide nutritional programs for patients and have application value in prolonging the life of patients, it has certain guiding significance in the field of medical cancer rehabilitation.

PMID:35311106 | PMC:PMC8928102 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2022.860532