Tag: pubmed

Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids. 2024 May 23:1-12. doi: 10.1080/15257770.2024.2354427. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Several studies showed that adipokines are associated with types of cancer which are documented to be effective in cancer biology. This study aimed to determine the relationship between vaspin rs2236242 polymorphism and the vaspin level with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and multinodular goiter (MNG). In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 170 candidates. Ninety patients with newly diagnosed (PTC 60 patients and MNG 30 patients), and 80 participants as a control group referred to Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were enrolled in the study. The vaspin hormone measurements were conducted utilizing the Elisa Kit. Using Tetra amplification resistant-mutation system polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR), the genotype of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2236242 was determined. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 20. Our findings showed significant age and genotype frequency differences in three groups (p-value < 0.05). There was no significant difference in vaspin levels between PTC, and control groups. The level of vaspin in MNG compared to the control group had significantly different, but there were no differences after adjustment for age. Results showed the genotypes of vaspin rs2236242 polymorphism are not associated with the level of vaspin. The genotypes and allele frequencies of vaspin rs2236242 in the PTC and MNG groups were significant compared to the control group. We have found vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism as a potential marker of papillary thyroid cancer. The A allele of the vaspin SNP rs2236242 plays a protective role against PTC and MNG. SNP at rs2236242 was not significantly associated with vaspin levels.

PMID:38781583 | DOI:10.1080/15257770.2024.2354427

Med Phys. 2024 May 23. doi: 10.1002/mp.17175. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Following yttrium-90 radioembolization (⁹⁰Y-RE), ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT and ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT imaging provide the means to calculate the voxelized absorbed dose distribution. Given the widespread use of the two imaging modalities and lack of well-established standardized dosimetry protocols for ⁹⁰Y-RE, there is a clinical need to systematically investigate and evaluate differences in the performance of voxel-based dosimetry between ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT and ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively analyze and compare ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT and ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT-based dosimetry following ⁹⁰Y-RE.

METHODS: ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT and ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT imaging was acquired for 35 patients following ⁹⁰Y-RE with TheraSphere for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Dosimetry was performed using the local deposition method with known activity and the mean dose (D_mean) was calculated for perfused liver volumes (PV), tumors (T), and perfused normal livers (NL). Additionally, the absorbed dose to x% of the volume (D_x, x $\in$ [5%, 10%, …, 90%, 95%]) and the volume receiving y Gy (V_y, y $\in$ [10 Gy, 20 Gy, …, 190 Gy, 200 Gy]) were calculated for T and NL, respectively. Dose metrics were compared using linear regression, Bland-Altman analysis, and statistical testing.

RESULTS: Both ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT and ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT-based tumor D_mean were strongly correlated (R² ≥ 0.90) with D_x, excluding metrics on the extrema. Intra-modality comparisons of various D_x and V_y metrics yielded statistically significant differences (ANOVA, p < 0.001) for both⁹⁰Y-PET/CT and ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT. Based on statistical testing, only D_x metrics separated by greater than 20%-30% coverage, and only V_y metrics separated by greater than 40-70 Gy, reported significant differences. For PV, there was a strong correlation (R² ≥ 0.99) between D_mean derived separately from ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT and ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT imaging. The strength of the correlation was slightly reduced for T and NL with R² = 0.91 and R² = 0.95, respectively. For PV, the mean bias ± standard error (SE) and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) between D_mean from the two modalities was effectively zero with -0.8 ± 0.4% (± 2.5%). For T and NL, the mean bias ± SE (± LOA) was -14.5 ± 3.7% (± 24%) and 9.4 ± 4.7% (± 27%), respectively.

CONCLUSION: The strong correlation between D_mean and D_x suggests information from multiple dose metrics (e.g., D₇₀ and D_mean) is largely redundant when establishing dose-response relationships in ⁹⁰Y-RE. D_mean is highly correlated between ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT and ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT-based dosimetry, for all liver VOIs. Relative to ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT, ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT, on average, yielded higher D_mean to tumors (14%) and lower D_mean to perfused normal livers (9%). Absorbed dose differences for perfused liver volumes between ⁹⁰Y-SPECT/CT and ⁹⁰Y-PET/CT were negligible.

PMID:38781554 | DOI:10.1002/mp.17175

JCO Glob Oncol. 2024 May;10:e2300458. doi: 10.1200/GO.23.00458.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Corticosteroids are known to diminish immune response ability, which is generally used in routine premedication for chemotherapy. The intersecting of timeframe between the corticosteroid’s duration of action and peak COVID-19 vaccine efficacy could impair vaccine immunogenicity. Thus, inquiring about corticosteroids affecting the efficacy of vaccines to promote effective immunity in this population is needed.

METHODS: This was a prospective longitudinal observational cohort study that enrolled patients with solid cancer classified into dexamethasone- and nondexamethasone-receiving groups. All participants were immunized with two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or CoronaVac vaccines. This study’s purpose was to compare corticosteroid’s effect on immunogenicity responses to the SARS-CoV-2 S protein in patients with cancer after two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the dexamethasone and nondexamethasone group. Secondary outcomes included the postimmunization anti-spike (S) immunoglobin G (IgG) seroconversion rate, the association of corticosteroid dosage, time duration, and immunogenicity level.

RESULTS: Among the 161 enrolled patients with solid cancer, 71 and 90 were in the dexamethasone and nondexamethasone groups, respectively. The median anti-S IgG titer after COVID-19 vaccination in the dexamethasone group was lower than that in the nondexamethasone group with a statistically significant difference (47.22 v 141.09 U/mL, P = .035). The anti-S IgG seroconversion rate was also significantly lower in the dexamethasone group than in the nondexamethasone group (93.83% v 80.95%, P = .023). The lowest median anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer level at 7.89 AU/mL was observed in patients with the highest dose of steroid group (≥37 mg of dexamethasone cumulative dose throughout the course of chemotherapy [per course]) and patients who were injected with COVID-19 vaccines on the same day of receiving dexamethasone, 25.41 AU/mL.

CONCLUSION: Patients with solid cancer vaccinated against COVID-19 disease while receiving dexamethasone had lower immunogenicity responses than those who got vaccines without dexamethasone. The direct association between the immunogenicity level and steroid dosage, as well as length of duration from vaccination to dexamethasone, was observed.

PMID:38781552 | DOI:10.1200/GO.23.00458

JCO Glob Oncol. 2024 May;10:e2300418. doi: 10.1200/GO.23.00418.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The number of cancer survivors living with and beyond cancer treatment is rising globally. It is fundamental to understand the extent and type of psychosocial care services offered worldwide. We evaluated models of cancer survivorship care, psychosocial care practices in the post-treatment survivorship phase, and barriers/facilitators to delivery of psychosocial care services, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS: The International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Survivorship Special Interest Group led a cross-sectional online survey between March and November 2022. Health care professionals and researchers in psycho-oncology were invited through the IPOS global membership, social media, and snowballing. The survey was administered to individuals but included questions related to practices in their country at a national level.

RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-three respondents from 37 countries participated (40% from LMICs), with a median of 12 years of experience (IQR, 6-20) in the psycho-oncology field. Participants reported that the most common elements of routine survivorship care were related to the prevention/management of recurrences/new cancers (74%), physical late effects (59%), and chronic medical conditions (53%), whereas surveillance/management of psychosocial late effects (27%) and psychosocial/supportive care (25%) were least common. Service availability was more commonly reported in high-income countries (HICs) than LMICs related to reproductive health (29% v 17%), genetic counseling/support (40% v 20%), and identifying/managing distress (39% v 26%) and pain (66% v 48%). Key barriers included providers focusing on treatment not survivorship (57%), medical not psychosocial care (60%), and a lack of allied health providers to deliver psychosocial care (59%).

CONCLUSION: The psychosocial needs of people living with cancer are not adequately available and/or provided in post-treatment survivorship even in HICs, because of barriers at patient, provider, and system levels.

PMID:38781550 | DOI:10.1200/GO.23.00418

JCO Glob Oncol. 2024 May;10:e2300287. doi: 10.1200/GO.23.00287.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Open-access publishing expanded opportunities to give visibility to research results but was accompanied by the proliferation of predatory journals (PJos) that offer expedited publishing but potentially compromise the integrity of research and peer review. To our knowledge, to date, there is no comprehensive global study on the impact of PJos in the field of oncology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 29 question-based cross-sectional survey was developed to explore knowledge and practices of predatory publishing and analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-six complete responses to the survey were reported. Almost half of the responders reported feeling pressure to publish from supervisors, institutions, and funding and regulatory agencies. The majority of authors were contacted by PJos through email solicitations (67.8%), with fewer using social networks (31%). In total, 13.4% of the responders confirmed past publications on PJo, convinced by fast editorial decision time, low article-processing charges, limited peer review, and for the promise of academic boost in short time. Over half of the participants were not aware of PJo detection tools. We developed a multivariable model to understand the determinants to publish in PJos, showing a significant correlation of practicing oncology in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and predatory publishing (odds ratio [OR], 2.02 [95% CI, 1.01 to 4.03]; P = .04). Having previous experience in academic publishing was not protective (OR, 3.81 [95% CI, 1.06 to 13.62]; P = .03). Suggestions for interventions included educational workshops, increasing awareness through social networks, enhanced research funding in LMICs, surveillance by supervisors, and implementation of institutional actions against responsible parties.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of predatory publishing poses an alarming problem in the field of oncology, globally. Our survey identified actionable risk factors that may contribute to vulnerability to PJos and inform guidance to enhance research capacity broadly.

PMID:38781549 | DOI:10.1200/GO.23.00287

JCO Precis Oncol. 2024 May;8:e2300543. doi: 10.1200/PO.23.00543.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Claudin 18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) is an emerging biomarker and therapeutic target in gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to obtain deeper understanding of CLDN18.2 positivity patterns, prognostic implications, and associations with various demographic, clinical, and molecular characteristics in G/GEJ adenocarcinoma.

METHODS: Archived tumor tissue samples from 304 patients with G/GEJ adenocarcinoma in the United States were assessed for CLDN18.2 positivity by immunohistochemistry. CLDN18.2 positivity was defined as ≥50% or ≥75% of tumor cells with CLDN18 staining intensity ≥2+. CLDN18.2 positivity patterns were analyzed for association with prognosis and clinicopathologic/demographic characteristics. Where possible, CLDN18.2 positivity was analyzed for matched tissue samples to assess concordance between primary and metastatic tumors and concordance before and after chemotherapy.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CLDN18.2-positive tumors (with ≥75% cutoff) was 44.4% (n = 135 of 304). CLDN18.2-positive tumors had a prevalence of 51.4% (n = 91 of 177) in gastric and 34.6% (n = 44 of 127) in GEJ adenocarcinoma. With a ≥50% cutoff, the prevalence of CLDN18.2-positive tumors was 64.4% (n = 114 of 177) in gastric adenocarcinoma and 44.9% (n = 57 of 127) in GEJ adenocarcinoma. There was no association between overall survival and CLDN18.2 positivity using either threshold. Statistically significant associations were noted between CLDN18.2 positivity and sex, histologic type of G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, and adenocarcinoma subtype (≥75% cutoff), and metastasis site and tumor grade (≥50% cutoff). The overall concordance of CLDN18.2 positivity (≥75% cutoff) was 73% (27 of 37) for matched primary versus metastatic tumor samples and 74% (29 of 39) for matched samples before and after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that CLDN18.2 positivity did not correlate with survival in G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, consistent with published data. On the basis of matched sample analysis, CLDN18.2 appears to demonstrate >70% concordance as a biomarker. Observed correlations with certain patient/tumor characteristics warrant further study.

PMID:38781542 | DOI:10.1200/PO.23.00543

Genetics. 2024 May 23:iyae086. doi: 10.1093/genetics/iyae086. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The UK Biobank is a large cohort study that recruited over 500,000 British participants aged 40-69 in 2006-2010 at 22 assessment centres from across the UK. Self-reported health outcomes and hospital admission data are two types of records that include participants’ disease status. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of death in the UK Biobank cohort. After distinguishing between prevalence and incidence CAD events for all UK Biobank participants, we identified geographical variations in age-standardised rates of CAD between assessment centres. Significant distributional differences were found between the pooled cohort equation scores of UK Biobank participants from England and Scotland using the Mann-Whitney test. Polygenic risk scores of UK Biobank participants from England and Scotland and from different assessment centres differed significantly using permutation tests. Our aim was to discriminate between assessment centres with different disease rates by collecting data on disease-related risk factors. However, relying solely on individual-level predictions and averaging them to obtain group-level predictions proved ineffective, particularly due to the presence of correlated covariates resulting from participation bias. By using the Mundlak model, which estimates a random effects regression by including the group means of the independent variables in the model, we effectively addressed these issues. In addition, we designed a simulation experiment to demonstrate the functionality of the Mundlak model. Our findings have applications in public health funding and strategy, as our approach can be used to predict case rates in the future, as both population structure and lifestyle changes are uncertain.

PMID:38781512 | DOI:10.1093/genetics/iyae086

Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2024 May 23:twae019. doi: 10.1093/dmfr/twae019. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the relationships between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of alveolar bone and those of lymph nodes (LNs) around the neck on 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET).

METHODS: The SUVmax values of alveolar bone and of level IA, level IB, and level IIA LNs of 174 patients, including those with and without active odontogenic inflammation, on PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) performed for a health check were retrospectively evaluated. The upper and lower jaws were divided into four blocks (right maxilla, left maxilla, right mandible, and left mandible). The SUVmax values of each block and of the LNs were calculated. The differences in the SUVmax of each LN level between patients with and without odontogenic inflammation, and the relationship between the SUVmax values of alveolar bone and of the LNs were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS: Significant differences in SUVmax values of bilateral level IB and IIA LNs were found between patients with and without odontogenic inflammation (Mann-Whitney U test: right level IB, p = 0.008; left level IB, p = 0.006; right level IIA, p < 0.001; left level IIA, p = 0.002), but not in bilateral level IA LNs (Mann-Whitney U test: right level IA, p = 0.432; left level IA, p = 0.549). The inflammatory site with the highest SUVmax in level IB LNs was the ipsilateral mandible (multivariate analysis: right, beta = 0.398, p < 0.001; left, beta = 0.472, p < 0.001), and the highest SUVmax in level IIA LNs was the ipsilateral maxilla (multivariate analysis: right, beta = 0.223, p = 0.002; left, beta = 0.391, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The SUVmax values of level IB and IIA LNs were associated with a tendency toward a higher SUVmax value of alveolar bone on 18F-FDG-PET.

PMID:38781496 | DOI:10.1093/dmfr/twae019

Nutr Neurosci. 2024 May 23:1-9. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2024.2352196. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Observational studies suggested a potential correlation between dietary intake and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but conflicting findings exist and causality remains unclear. Here, we performed a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal impact of relative intake of (i) carbohydrate, (ii) fat, and (iii) protein on ALS risk.

METHODS: The genome-wide association summary statistics of three dietary macronutrient intake traits and ALS were obtained. Initially, forward and reverse univariable MR (UVMR) analysis were conducted using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary approach, supplemented by MR-Egger, weighted median, and maximum likelihood. Subsequently, multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis was performed to assess the independent causal effects of each dietary. Additionally, diverse sensitivity tests were conducted to evaluate the reliability of the MR analyses.

RESULTS: The forward UVMR analysis conducted by IVW indicated that relative carbohydrate intake significantly increased ALS risk. Furthermore, results from three other MR methods paralleled those from IVW. However, the other two dietary intake traits did not have a causative impact on ALS risk. The reverse UVMR analysis indicated that ALS did not causatively influence the three dietary intake traits. The MVMR analysis showed that after adjusting for the effects of the other two dietary intake traits, relative carbohydrate intake independently and significantly increased ALS risk. Sensitivity tests indicated no significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy.

DISCUSSION: MR analysis supported relative carbohydrate independently increasing ALS risk. Nevertheless, further validation of this finding in future large cohorts is required.

Abbreviations: ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; CI: confidence interval; GWAS: genome-wide association study; IV: instrumental variable; IVW: iverse variance weighted; MR: Mendelian randomization; MVMR: multivariable Mendelian randomization; OR: odds ratio; RCT: randomized controlled trial; SNPs: single-nucleotide polymorphisms; UVMR: univariable Mendelian randomization.

PMID:38781481 | DOI:10.1080/1028415X.2024.2352196

J Strength Cond Res. 2024 Jun 1;38(6):1095-1102. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004747.

ABSTRACT

Jacobs, J, Olivier, B, Brandt, C, and Jafta, G. Physical profiles of all-rounders, batters, and bowlers in sub-elite women’s cricket. J Strength Cond Res 38(6): 1095-1102, 2024-The unique physical profile of each player’s role in sub-elite women’s cricket is vital for optimizing performance as these players progress to the elite levels. This quantitative, cross-sectional study investigates the physical profiles of sub-elite women’s cricket players as a group and compares these profiles across different player roles. Sub-elite female cricket players in the South African domestic women’s cricket league were included in this study. A battery of physical assessments were conducted at the start of the 2022/23 season. The physical assessments included body composition, individual muscle strength testing using dynamometry, 2-km time trial (TT), countermovement jump (CMJ), single-leg jump (SLJ), isometric mid-thigh pull, push-up, and hop test on force plates. A total of 44 female players (20.86 ± 1.6 years) were included in the study. Differences were found in muscle mass (p = 0.004) and peak power (p = 0.040) for all-rounders and bowlers. Player roles presented with different dominant (p = 0.006) and non-dominant (p = 0.066) knee flexion strength. The bowlers’ body composition and physical strength profile are compromised compared with batters and all-rounders. There were several physical strength and power differences between pace and spin bowlers in CMJ and SLJ tests for jump height (p = 0.009) and peak power (p = 0.006). Batters performed the best in the 2-km TT. Body composition and musculoskeletal profiles for each player role can be baseline markers in sub-elite women’s cricket. Stakeholders can use this information to guide physical preparation for players advancing to elite levels.

PMID:38781468 | DOI:10.1519/JSC.0000000000004747