Survival of patients with breast cancer can be prolonged by treatment with drugs, particularly new molecular-targeted drugs. However, these agents can be expensive and such treatments can be "an economic burden." In this ongoing trial, we aim to assess the usefulness of ChemoCalc, a software package for calculating drug costs, to help patients understand the financial outlays. In this multicenter, randomized controlled phase 2 trial, 106 patients with advanced breast cancer will be assigned to either the "ChemoCalc" or "Usual Explanation" group. Treatment using ChemoCalc will be discussed with patients in the ChemoCalc group, whereas standard treatments, without using ChemoCalc, will be discussed with patients in the Usual Explanation group. Subsequently, the participants will decide the treatment and complete a five-grade evaluation questionnaire; those in the Usual Explanation group will receive information about ChemoCalc. Investigators will report if patients subsequently decide to change treatments. The e with the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and the Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Health Research Involving Human Subjects (2017). The findings will be disseminated through scientific and professional conferences, and in peer-reviewed journals.
UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000039904. https//upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000041968.
UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000039904. https//upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000041968.Women experience more severe health consequences from smoking, have greater difficulty quitting, and respond less favorably to nicotine replacement therapy than men. The influence of fluctuating ovarian hormones, specifically estradiol (E) and progesterone (P), on brain and behavioral responses during exposure to smoking reminders (i.e., cues) may be a contributing factor. Results from our laboratory suggest that women in the late follicular phase of their menstrual cycle (MC) have enhanced smoking cue (SC) vulnerabilities and reduced functional connectivity in neurocircuitry underlying cognitive control, potentially placing them at greater risk for continued smoking and relapse. The primary aim of this study is to examine and link hormonal status with brain and behavioral responses to SCs over the course of three monthly MCs in naturally cycling women who are chronic cigarette smokers. This longitudinal, counterbalanced study collects brain and behavioral responses to SCs at three time points during a woman's MC. Participants complete psychological and physical examinations, biochemical hormonal verification visits, and at least three laboratory/neuroimaging scan visits. The scan visits include a 10-min SC task during blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) data acquisition and are timed to occur during the early follicular phase (low E and P), late follicular phase (high E, unopposed by P), and mid-luteal phase (high P, high E). The primary outcomes include brain responses to SCs (compared to non-SCs), subjective craving, E and P hormone levels, and behavioral responses to SCs. This study addresses a critical gap in our knowledge namely, the impact of the natural hormonal milieu on brain and behavioral responses to SCs, a powerful relapse trigger. Additionally, this study will provide a roadmap for human sex differences researchers who are obliged to consider the often confounding cyclic hormonal fluctuations of women.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is often accompanied by male hypogonadism and both conditions are associated with increased risk for fractures. Testosterone (T) has been shown to improve the bone health of hypogonadal men but has not been tested in patients who also have T2D in addition to low T. To date, there is no treatment that is specifically recommended for bone disease among patients with T2D. This study will evaluate the effect of T therapy on the bone health of male veterans with low T who also have T2D.
This is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 166 male veterans 35-65 years old, with T2D and hypogonadism, randomized to either T gel 1.62% or placebo for 12 months. We will evaluate the effect of T therapy on the following primary outcomes1) changes in bone strength as measured by microfinite elements analysis (μFEA) using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computer tomography, 2) changes in bone turnover markers, and 3) changes in circulating osteoblast progenitors (COP) and osteoclast precursors cells.
We anticipate that T therapy will result in improvement in bone strength owing to improvement in bone remodeling through an increase in osteoblastic differentiation and proliferation in patients with hypogonadism and T2D.
We anticipate that T therapy will result in improvement in bone strength owing to improvement in bone remodeling through an increase in osteoblastic differentiation and proliferation in patients with hypogonadism and T2D.The complex interrelationship between the built environment and social problems is often described but frequently lacks the data and analytical framework to explore the potential of such a relationship in different applications. We address this gap using a machine learning (ML) approach to study whether street-level built environment visuals can be used to classify locations with high-crime and lower-crime activities. For training the ML model, spatialized expert narratives are used to label different locations. Semantic categories (e.g., road, sky, greenery, etc.) are extracted from Google Street View (GSV) images of those locations through a deep learning image segmentation algorithm. From these, local visual representatives are generated and used to train the classification model. The model is applied to two cities in the U.S. to predict the locations as being linked to high crime. Results show our model can predict high- and lower-crime areas with high accuracies (above 98% and 95% in first and second test cities, accordingly).
The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and associated mortality are rising in low- and middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, colorectal cancer is among the leading causes of cancer morbidity and mortality in both sexes. Although some studies provided estimations on the national burden and regional distribution, the histological characteristics, survival pattern and determinants among colorectal cancer patients are not well-documented.
This study aimed to describe the histological characteristics, to determine the patterns of survival, and identify factors that determine mortality rate among CRC patients in Ethiopia.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted among CRC patients registered at cancer treatment center of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, from January 2012 to December 2016. Data were extracted from a total of 161 patient medical records using a pretested abstraction form and supplemented by phone calls with the patients/caregivers. To determine colorectal cancer specific survival overtimer-specific survival. Histology type, stage of cancer and CEA level at diagnosis, and the type of treatment a patient received significantly determine mortality rate. Hence, cancer screening programs could help to detect the disease at an earlier stage and to initiate available treatments timely so as to extend the lifespan of CRC patients.
In Ethiopia, patients diagnosed with CRC showed a low rate of cancer-specific survival. Histology type, stage of cancer and CEA level at diagnosis, and the type of treatment a patient received significantly determine mortality rate. Hence, cancer screening programs could help to detect the disease at an earlier stage and to initiate available treatments timely so as to extend the lifespan of CRC patients.This study aims to evaluate some biochemical parameters and serum electrolytes in cultured rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) to evaluate a potential correlation with biometric parameters (weight and length). For this purpose, 100 cultured trout (300-700 g weight range, 25-38 cm length range) bred on a fish-farm were used for the study. Physico-chemical characteristics of water were measured on the farm. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/midostaurin-pkc412.html Blood samples were collected from each fish to analyze the following parameters glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST); alanine aminotransferase (ALT), calcium (Ca2+), chlorine (Cl-), iron (Fe2+), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), sodium (Na+) and urea. Statistical data analysis showed a significant correlation between size and glucose and cholesterol. No correlation was found between size and other parameters studied. These results represent a contribution to the study of fish size leading to better understanding some biochemical parameters and serum electrolyte profiles in cultured rainbow trout. This research contributes to understanding the intra-individual variability of some blood parameters in cultured rainbow trout O. mykiss offering reliable information on chronic stress status, metabolic disorders and deficiencies in relation to different sizes. These could help in improve the health monitoring in trout fish farms.Glioblastoma is a severe cancer with extremely poor survival. Its treatment typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, glioma stem-like cells (GSCs)-a subpopulation of tumor-propagating glioblastoma cells-cause post-treatment recurrence and are a major factor in the poor prognosis of the disease. GSCs have higher proliferation than non-GSCs and are more resistant to invasive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this study, we subjected GSCs to nutrient starvation (deprived of glucose, glutamine, and calcium) to determine whether cell death can be triggered as a potential strategy to improve treatment outcomes. Flow cytometry revealed that 35.1%, 96.1%, and 99.9% of starved GSCs underwent apoptosis on days 1, 3, and 5, respectively, along with nearly 100% autophagy on all three days. Western blots detected cleaved caspase-3 (an apoptosis marker) and phospho-beclin 1, LC 3B-I, LC 3B-II (autophagy markers) in C6 GSCs after nutrient starvation for 1, 3, 4, and 5 days. Transmission electron microscopic observation of GSC ultrastructure after starvation treatment revealed that compared with control GSCs, starved cells had more pyknotic nuclei, membrane bleb, swollen endoplasmic reticulum, degenerative mitochondria, lipid droplets, and microvilli loss. Thus, nutrient starvation stresses cells by increasing free radicals. Cell stress opens more channels between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. This study demonstrated that nutrient starvation decreases proliferation by approximately 81%, while increasing apoptosis (99.9%) and autophagy (94.6%) in C6 GSCs by the fifth day. Nutrient starvation of GSCs may, therefore, be an effective therapeutic strategy that can trigger apoptotic and autophagic metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells.Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a crucial health issue and the most common nutritional deficiency-related problem that affects many adolescents worldwide. Considering its link with the lack of appropriate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), it could be preventable. The aims of this study were (1) assessing hemoglobin levels of female adolescent students, (2) examining their knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding IDA, and (3) evaluating the effect of a nutrition education program on the same. A quasi-experimental design (pretest-posttest control group) involving 363 students from four public secondary schools in Jordan was used. Two schools formed the intervention group (n = 194) and two formed the control group (n = 169). Blood tests for hemoglobin levels and self-report questionnaires were the measures employed. A month-long nutrition education program was conducted with the intervention group. The results revealed that 44.5% of the sample had mild anemia, and 10% had moderate anemia. In terms of knowledge, attitude, and practice, 52.