Kaplan-Meier Research Articles

Advanced lung cancer inflammation index is associated with mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure.

Nutrition and inflammation status play a vital role in the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). This study aimed to investigate the association between the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI), a novel composite indicator of inflammation and nutrition, and short-term mortality among critically ill patients with HF. This retrospective study included 548 critically ill patients with HF from the MIMIC-IV database. ALI was computed using body mass index, serum albumin and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. The primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality, and the secondary endpoint was 90day mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis with long-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to assess the relationship between baseline ALI and short-term mortality risk. The incremental predictive ability of ALI was evaluated by C-statistic, continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). The average age of 548 patients was 72.2 (61.9, 82.1) years, with 60% being male. Sixty-three patients (11.5%) died in the hospital, and 114 patients (20.8%)died within 90days of intensive care unit admission. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the cumulative incidences of both in-hospital and 90day mortality were significantly higher in patients with lower ALI (log-rank test, in-hospital mortality: P<0.001; 90day mortality: P<0.001). The adjusted Cox proportional hazard model revealed that ALI was inversely associated with both in-hospital and 90day mortality after adjusting for confounders [hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval) (CI): 0.97 (0.94, 0.99), P=0.035; HR (95% CI): 0.62 (0.39, 0.99), P=0.046]. A linear relationship was observed between ALI and in-hospital mortality (P for non-linearity=0.211). The addition of ALI significantly improved the prognostic ability of GWTG-HF score in the in-hospital mortality [C-statistic improved from 0.62 to 0.68, P=0.001; continuous NRI (95% CI): 0.44 (0.20, 0.67), P<0.001; IDI (95% CI): 0.03 (0.01, 0.04), P<0.001] and 90day mortality [C-statistic improved from 0.63 to 0.70, P<0.001; continuous NRI (95% CI): 0.31 (0.11, 0.50), P=0.002; IDI (95% CI): 0.01 (0.00, 0.02), P=0.034]. Subgroup analysis revealed stronger correlations between ALI and in-hospital mortality in males and patients aged over 65years (interaction P=0.031 and 0.010, respectively). The C-statistic of in-hospital mortality in patients over 65years was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.74). ALI at baseline can independently predict the risk of short-term mortality in critically ill patients with HF, with lower ALI significantly associated with higher mortality. Further large prospective research with extended follow-up periods is necessary to validate the findings of this study.

Incidence of intraocular inflammation and its risk factors in patients treated with brolucizumab: a nationwide cohort study

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of clinically significant intraocular inflammation (csIOI) after treatment with intravitreal injection (IVI) of brolucizumab and identify csIOI risk factors. We categorized 60,966 South Korean patients from a nationwide population-based cohort into 4 groups: groups 1 (Ranibizumab), 2 (Aflibercept), 3 (Brolucizumab), and 4 (switched to brolucizumab). We used the Kaplan–Meier method to estimate the cumulative incidence of csIOI in each group and calculated the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We constructed a multivariate model using forward selection methods to identify risk factors for csIOI. The cumulative incidence of csIOI within 180 days of the index date in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 0.36% (67/18,537), 0.49% (186/37,951), 3.47% (38/1,095), and 3.69% (125/3,383), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant increase in csIOI risk in groups 3 (HR 11.08, 95% CI 7.42–16.53, P < 0.001) and 4 (HR 10.40, 95% CI 7.67–14.09, P < 0.001). History of retinal vascular occlusion (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.01–2.40, P = 0.043) significantly increased csIOI risk after brolucizumab IVI treatment; female sex (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64–0.96, p = 0.020) and diabetes (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58–0.90, p = 0.004) decreased the risk. csIOI incidence was higher after brolucizumab IVI treatment than after ranibizumab and aflibercept IVI treatment. Retinal vein occlusion history, female sex, and diabetes are associated with csIOI after brolucizumab IVI treatment.

Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network 12: Pembrolizumab in HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma.

Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network 12 demonstrated safety of pembrolizumab in treating advanced cancer in people with HIV. Here, we report results of the Kaposi sarcoma (KS) cohort. In this multicenter phase I trial, we enrolled participants with HIV-associated KS on antiretroviral therapy with CD4+ ≥50 cells/μL and HIV plasma RNA <200 copies/mL. Pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously was administered once every 3 weeks for up to 35 cycles. The primary end point was safety, and the secondary end point was KS response by modified AIDS Clinical Trials Group Criteria. Thirty-two cisgender men enrolled with baseline median CD4+ T-cell count of 274 cells/µL. All but nine participants had received previous systemic KS therapy. Participants received a median of 11 cycles of pembrolizumab (range, 1-35). Sixty-six percent had grade ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse events, including one death from polyclonal KS herpesvirus-related B-cell lymphoproliferation. Thirty-one percent had ≥one immune-mediated AEs (imAEs) with 25% requiring systemic steroids. In 29 participants with evaluable KS, the overall response rate (ORR) was 62.1% (95% CI, 42.3 to 79.3) and did not differ by CD4+ T-cell count. ORR in the eight participants with evaluable disease without previous KS therapy was 87.5% (95% CI, 47.3 to 99.7). Median duration of response (DOR) was not reached, and the Kaplan-Meier estimate of DOR of ≥12 months was 92.3% (95% CI, 56.6 to 98.8). Median progression-free survival was 28.2 months (95% CI, 4.2 to noncalculable). Pembrolizumab yielded a high rate of durable responses in HIV-associated KS. imAEs were successfully managed with standard guidelines.

GLIS-defined sarcopenia increases the mortality of esophagus cancer patients after esophagectomy: a Chinese real-world cohort study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the impact of definition of the Global Leadership Initiative on Sarcopenia (GLIS) on mortality in esophageal cancer (EC) patients post-esophagectomy within a Chinese cohort and to validate the effectiveness of a new GLIS framework in oncology. MethodsWe performed an observational real-world cohort study in a single center at Daping Hospital, spanning from December 2014 to July 2022. The combined definition of muscle mass and muscle strength in a new GLIS framework was used for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Potential covariates were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses. The association between GLIS-defined sarcopenia and mortality was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox models. We also conducted stratified analyses to assess the stability of multivariate Cox models. ResultsA total of 520 EC patients were included in the study, with a median follow-up of 48.7 months. 229 (44.0%) EC patients were identified with GLIS-defined sarcopenia. Patients with GLIS-defined sarcopenia had significantly worse overall survival in Kaplan-Meier curves (log-rank P = 0.015). Age, sex, TNM stage, blood glucose, bleeding volume in operation and operating time were introduced as covariates in a fully-adjusted Cox model. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models revealed that GLIS-defined sarcopenia was an independent prognosis factor for EC patients post-esophagectomy (HR = 1.87, 95%CI = 1.28 - 2.74, P = 0.001). Stratified analyses confirmed the stability of the relationship between GLIS-defined sarcopenia and mortality in EC patients. ConclusionGLIS-defined sarcopenia is prevalent among Chinese EC patients and is linked with increased mortality risk post-esophagectomy. This finding offers compelling evidence and serves as a valuable reference for the establishment of an operational definition of GLIS-sarcopenia.

Novel multifactor predictive model for postoperative survival in gallbladder cancer: a multi-center study

BackgroundGallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy, with limited survival profiles after curative surgeries. This study aimed to develop a practical model for predicting the postoperative overall survival (OS) in GBC patients.MethodsPatients from three hospitals were included. Two centers (N = 102 and 100) were adopted for model development and internal validation, and the third center (N = 85) was used for external testing. Univariate and stepwise multivariate Cox regression were used for feature selection. A nomogram for 1-, 3-, and 5-year postoperative survival rates was constructed accordingly. Performance assessment included Harrell's concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves. Kaplan-Meier curves were utilized to evaluate the risk stratification results of the nomogram. Decision curves were used to reflect the net benefit.ResultsEight factors, TNM stage, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI), body mass index (BMI), R0 resection, blood platelet count, and serum levels of albumin, CA125, CA199 were incorporated in the nomogram. The time-dependent C-index consistently exceeded 0.70 from 6 months to 5 years, and time-dependent ROC revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of over 75% for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. The calibration curves, Kaplan-Meier curves and decision curves also indicated good prognostic performance and clinical benefit, surpassing traditional indicators TNM staging and CA199 levels. The reliability of results was further proved in the independent external testing set.ConclusionsThe novel nomogram exhibited good prognostic efficacy and robust generalizability in GBC patients, which might be a promising tool for aiding clinical decision-making.

Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Statin Users Compared to Fibrate Users in the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink (UK CPRD) GOLD.

A substantial proportion of adults receive statins for treatment of hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular risk, and statins have been found to improve outcomes in this patient population. However, studies have not consistently demonstrated the potential benefits of statins in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE). Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate this association. We conducted a cohort analysis in a study sample comprised of 40-79-year-old patients with hyperlipidemia who received at least one fibrate or statin prescription between January 1995 and December 2018 in the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD. We evaluated the association between statin use and incident unprovoked VTE, compared to fibrate use, an active comparator, using Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis, Poisson regression (with and without propensity score matching), and inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) marginal structural models (MSM). In this cohort of 166,292 patients with hyperlipidemia, 0.81% (N=1,353) developed incident unprovoked VTE. In analyses using the KM method, patients who received statins had a slightly lower risk of VTE compared to those who received fibrates (Log rank test: p=0.0524). The adjusted incident rate ratio (95% CI) for VTE, calculated using Poisson regression, controlling for serum cholesterol and other baseline covariates, in patients prescribed statins compared to fibrates was 0.77 (0.45-1.33) in the full cohort, 0.74 (0.38-1.45) in the propensity score matched analysis, and 0.51 (95% conservative CI: 0.34-0.76) in the IPTW MSM analysis. While the magnitude of effect varied across the different analytic methods, there is consistent evidence for a protective effect of statin use on the occurrence of unprovoked VTE.

The Prognostic Value of Left Atrial Strain and Strain Rate in Predicting Heart Failure Outcomes in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and a Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction of 50% or higher.

ObjectivesIdentifying high-risk hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients for heart failure (HF) is a challenge. Previous studies noted left atrial (LA) abnormalities in HCM patients, but the predictive value of LA strain and strain rate for HF in those with LVEF ≥ 50% remains unclear. Our study aimed to explore if LA strain and strain rate predict HF-related outcomes in HCM patients with LVEF ≥ 50%. MethodsIn this retrospective study, 284 patients aged 51 (range 40-62), 68% male, were studied. 34 experienced HF-related outcomes including death to HF, NYHA III-IV class progression, HF worsening leading to hospitalization. LA strain and rate were analyzed using CMR feature tracking technique. ROC curves, Kaplan–Meier curves, violin plot, LASSO analysis, forest plot, and Cox regression were used. The strength of the association was represented as HR*, where HR* is defined as hazards ratio (HR) when the HR > 1 and as 1/HR when HR < 1. ResultsAfter adjusting for the NYHA classification and the extent of LV-LGE, the booster strain (HR*: 1.094; 95% CI: 0.845-0.989; p=0.026) and booster strain rate (HR*: 2.593; 95% CI: 1.369-4.910; p=0.003) were significantly associated with HF-related events. Reservoir strain, conduit strain, and their respective strain rates did not emerge as independent predictors for HF-related outcomes. ConclusionsLA booster strain and strain rate showed a stronger association with HF-related outcomes, highlighting significant functional changes in the LA. Identifying these parameters as key predictors underscores their importance in managing particularly in HCM patients with LVEF ≥ 50%.

Timing of recurrence after treatment of pulmonary TB

Pulmonary TB (PTB) may recur due to reinfection or relapse after initial successful treatment. Based on microbiologically documented cases, we searched Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline for PTB recurrence. The timeframe of overall recurrences, relapse, reinfection, and risk factors were assessed. We compared the time to recurrence, relapse, and reinfection from treatment completion and plotted this using Kaplan–Meier curves. This systematic review included 23 articles describing 2,153 PTB recurrences in 75,224 treated people across all continents. Genotyping data to distinguish relapse from reinfection was available for 402 recurrences. The cumulative recurrence percentage was 2.9% over 5 years, and the median time for recurrence was 18 months (95% CI 16.99–19.0). Most recurrences (93%) were in HIV-negative people. Relapse occurred earlier than reinfection at 12 months (95% CI 10.86–13.14) vs 24 months (95% CI 21.61–26.39) (P &lt; 0.001, χ2 59.89). In low TB burden settings, recurrences were mainly caused by relapse (85%), whereas in high-burden settings, relapses comprised 56% of recurrences. Recurrences occurred slightly earlier in HIV-positive patients (P = 0.038, χ2 4.30). The emergence of resistance to one or more first-line anti-TB agents was documented in 40 of 421 cases (9.5%). Early recurrences are mainly relapses, while late recurrences are mainly reinfections.

Elevated expression of ELK1 promotes breast cancer cell growth and correlates with poor prognosis of breast cancer patients

Background: Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women and poses a serious threat to women’s physical and mental health. The ETS-like gene 1 (ELK1), upregulated in various malignancies, serves as a transcription regulatory factor. This study primarily investigates the biological functions and prognostic significance of ELK1 in breast cancer. Materials and methods: The authors conducted an analysis of ELK1 expression in breast cancer and adjacent tissues using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and validated these findings with clinical specimens. Additionally, the authors employed siRNA transfection, proliferation and apoptosis assays to elucidate the roles of ELK1 in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, we assessed the correlations between ELK1 expression and the tumor microenvironment, as well as tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), utilizing the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms. Finally, we used Kaplan–Meier plots and COX regressions to identify prognostic factors, and developed a predictive alignment diagram to evaluate the prognostic significance of ELK1 in breast cancer. Results: A marked increase in ELK1 expression is evident in breast cancer tissues (P&lt;0.01). Experimental findings demonstrate that silencing ELK1 suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis in breast cancer cells. ELK1 plays a pivotal role in regulating the immune microenvironment of breast cancer. Furthermore, the alignment diagram indicates that ELK1 may serve as an independent prognostic factor for breast cancer patients. Conclusion: The authors’ study reveals that ELK1 exhibits a high expression level in breast cancer tissues and is associated with disease progression and poor prognosis.

Assessment of Treatment Sequence in Patients With Stage III Breast Cancer

IntroductionStage III breast cancer is defined as locally advanced breast cancer and is treated with curative intent. Historically, overall survival (OS) did not differ based on treatment sequence (neoadjuvant chemotherapy [NAC] followed by surgery versus surgery followed by chemotherapy). Given recent advancements, we examined if treatment sequence may be associated with improved OS in a contemporary cohort of patients with stage III breast cancer. MethodsPatients aged 18-80 years with prognostic stage III breast cancer who received chemotherapy and surgery were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Patients were stratified by treatment sequence (NAC versus surgery first). Unadjusted OS and breast cancer–specific survival (BCSS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with log-rank tests. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association of treatment sequence with OS and BCSS after adjustment for selected covariates. ResultsThe study included 26,573 patients; median follow-up was 62.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 61.0-63.0). Patients receiving NAC had a worse OS and BCSS compared to those who underwent surgery first (5-year OS rates 0.66 versus 0.73; 5-year BCSS rates 0.70 versus 0.77; both log-rank P < 0.001). After adjustment for tumor subtype, receipt of NAC (versus surgery first) remained associated with a worse OS (hazard ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.2-1.34, P < 0.001) and BCSS (hazard ratio 1.35, 95% CI 1.27-1.43, P < 0.001). ConclusionsBased on data from patients treated largely before 2020, undergoing surgery first may be associated with improved survival, even after adjustment for known covariates including tumor subtype. These findings may inform treatment when caring for patients with operable, locally advanced breast cancer.

Outcomes and failure patterns after chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer with positive lateral pelvic lymph nodes: a propensity score-matched analysis

PurposeThis study aimed to use propensity score matching (PSM) to explore the long-term outcomes and failure patterns in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients with positive versus negative lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN).Materials and methodsPatients with LARC were retrospectively divided into LPLN-positive and LPLN-negative groups. Clinical characteristics were compared between the groups using the chi-square test. PSM was applied to balance these differences. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and local–regional recurrence (LRR) and distant metastasis (DM) rates were compared between the groups using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests.ResultsA total of 651 LARC patients were included, 160 (24.6%) of whom had positive LPLN and 491 (75.4%) had negative LPLN. Before PSM, the LPLN-positive group had higher rates of lower location (53.1% vs. 43.0%, P = 0.025), T4 stage (37.5% vs. 23.2%, P = 0.002), mesorectal fascia (MRF)-positive (53.9% vs. 35.4%, P < 0.001) and extramural venous invasion (EMVI)-positive (51.2% vs. 27.2%, P < 0.001) disease than the LPLN-negative group. After PSM, there were 114 patients for each group along with the balanced clinical factors, and both groups had comparable surgery, pathologic complete response (pCR), and ypN stage rates. The median follow-up was 45.9 months, 3-year OS (88.3% vs. 92.1%, P = 0.276) and LRR (5.7% vs. 2.8%, P = 0.172) rates were comparable between LPLN-positive and LPLN-negative groups. Meanwhile, despite no statistical difference, 3-year PFS (78.8% vs. 85.9%, P = 0.065) and DM (20.4% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.061) rates slightly differed between the groups. 45 patients were diagnosed with DM, 11 (39.3%) LPLN-positive and 3 (17.6%) LPLN-negative patients were diagnosed with oligometastases (P = 0.109).ConclusionsOur study indicates that for LPLN-positive patients, there is a tendency of worse PFS and DM than LPLN-negative patients, and for this group patients, large samples are needed to further confirm our conclusion.

Capecitabine enhances sensitivity to oxaliplatin in advanced gastric cancer and the effects on patients' FOXP1 and GGT levels

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of capecitabine on the sensitivity of oxaliplatin and on the level of transcription factor forkhead box P1 (FOXP1) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in patients with intermediate and advanced gastric cancer. MethodsA total of 152 patients with intermediate and advanced gastric cancer diagnosed and treated in our hospital from April 2018 to May 2019 was selected as the research objects, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different treatment methods, they were divided into the study group and the control group, with 76 cases in each group. The patients in the control group received with oxaliplatin, while the patients in the study group received with capecitabine on the basis of the control group. The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the therapeutic effect evaluation criteria of solid tumors. The FOXP1 expression level in gastric cancer tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry. Serum levels of GGT were measured by chemiluminescence. The prognostic factors were analyzed by COX regression model, and the Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the relationship between the influencing factors and the survival of gastric cancer. ResultsThe effective rate of capecitabine combined with oxaliplatin and oxaliplatin alone in the treatment of patients with intermediate and advanced gastric cancer were 94.74% and 76.32% respectively. Capecitabine enhanced the sensitivity of intermediate and advanced gastric cancer to oxaliplatin (P<0.05). Compared with adjacent normal tissues, the expression level of FOXP1 in gastric cancer tissues was lower (P<0.05). Before treatment, the expression of FOXP1 was low, and no significant difference was observed in the GGT level between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the low expression rate of FOXP1 and serum GGT level were both significantly decreased, and those in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). The 1-year survival rates of the study group and the control group were 90.79% and 78.95%, while the 3-year survival rates of the study group and the control group were 75.00% and 51.32%, respectively. Both the 1-year and 3-year survival rate of the study group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The 1-year survival rate of 152 patients with gastric cancer was 84.87% (129/152) and the 3-year survival rate was 63.17% (96/152). Age, tumor diameter, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, lymph node metastasis, chemotherapy regimen and the expression of FOXP1 and GGT had significant effects on the survival rate (P<0.05). Gastric cancer patients with age < 60 years, TNM stage of Ⅰ ∼ Ⅱ, lymph node metastasis N0 ∼ N1, high expression of FOXP1, GGT < 387.2, and combined with drug chemotherapy had higher survival rate. ConclusionCapecitabine effectively enhanced the sensitivity of intermediate and advanced gastric cancer to oxaliplatin, improved the therapeutic effect, reduced the proportion of patients with low FOXP1 expression rate and serum GGT level, decreased the recurrence rate and ameliorated the prognosis of patients.This is a retrospective study, all data were analyzed retrospectively. This research was approved by the Ethics Review Committees of Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital (approval number: 2023-EC-015).

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of serum lncRNA MBNL1-AS1 expression in patients with atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the pathological basis of many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. To further the investigation of treatments for AS, this research analyzed the role of lncRNA MBNL1-AS1. MBNL1-AS1 expression in the serum of AS patients and healthy controls were detected by qPCR. Its diagnostic value in AS was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Additionally, the link between MBNL1-AS1, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) was examined using the Spearman correlation coefficient. The prognostic value of MBNL1-AS1 in AS was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The present study consisted of 103 patients with AS and 92 healthy patients (HC) and comparison of baseline data between the two groups revealed no remarkable difference (P>0.05) except for CRP (P<0.0001). The serum of AS patients exhibited a considerably higher expression of MBNL1-AS1 in comparison to the HC group. Furthermore, MBNL1-AS1 was highly expressed in patients following higher CIMT and CRP values, which was positively linked with both, respectively (r>0.5, P<0.001). Meanwhile. MBNL1-AS1 has enhanced diagnostic accuracy in AS patients (AUC=0.893) and can be utilized as an independent prognostic factor for AS. Patients with high MBNL1-AS1 expression have a higher likelihood of cardiovascular events. (log rang P=0.0025). Elevated MBNL1-AS1p can be used as a potential marker for the clinical diagnosis of AS and is linked to a poor prognosis of AS.

Conservative management of brain arteriovenous malformations: results of the prospective observation registry of a pragmatic trial.

Many patients recruited in the Treatment of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Study (TOBAS) are managed conservatively. The aim of this study was to monitor what happened to those patients. TOBAS comprises two randomized controlled trials and multiple prospective registries. All patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can participate. This report concerns patients selected for conservative management. The primary trial outcome measure is related death or dependency (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score > 2) at 10 years. Secondary outcomes include intracranial hemorrhages, nonhemorrhagic neurological events, and serious adverse events (SAEs). For this report, outcome results are presented using patient-years, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and Cox log-rank tests. There was no blinding. From June 2014 to May 2021, 1010 patients were recruited, of whom 498 (49%) were proposed the prospective observation registry. After exclusions, 434 (87%) patients remained for analysis. The majority of patients had unruptured AVMs (378/434 [87%]), of which 195 (52%) were low grade (Spetzler-Martin grade I or II). During a mean follow-up period of 3.2 years (total 1368 patient-years), the primary outcome occurred in 23 of 434 (5%) patients, corresponding to an incidence of 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.5) per 100 patient-years. For unruptured AVMs the incidence was 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.9) per 100 patient-years, and for low-grade unruptured AVMs it was 0.6 (95% CI 0.2-1.7) per 100 patient-years. Poor outcomes were more frequent in patients with a history of rupture (HR 5.6 [95% CI 2.4-13.0], p < 0.001), infratentorial AVMs (HR 2.9 [95% CI 1.1-7.3], p = 0.027), and age ≥ 55 years (HR 3.2 [95% CI 1.4-7.6], p = 0.007). Major intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 35 of 434 (8%) patients (incidence of 2.6 [95% CI 1.9-3.6] per 100 patient-years; 2.0 [95% CI 1.3-2.9] per 100 patient-years for unruptured AVMs and 1.3 [95% CI 0.6-2.6] per 100 patient-years for low-grade unruptured AVMs). Major AVM hemorrhages were more frequent in ruptured (HR 4.4 [95% CI 2.1-8.9], p < 0.001), large (HR 2.6 [95% CI 1.1-6.6], p = 0.039), and high-grade (HR 2.5 [95% CI 1.2-5.3], p = 0.013) AVMs and those with deep venous drainage (HR 2.1 [95% CI 1.1-4.2], p = 0.032). SAEs occurred in 48 of 434 (11%) patients (incidence of 3.6 [95% CI 2.7-4.8] per 100 patient-years). For unruptured AVMs the incidence was 2.8 (95% CI 2.0-4.0) per 100 patient-years, and for low-grade unruptured AVMs it was 1.8 (95% CI 1.0-3.2) per 100 patient-years. Nearly half of TOBAS participants were observed. Rates of untoward neurological events were within expected boundaries.

Survival Difference of Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: A SEER Database Study.

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, racial disparities continue to exist in colorectal cancer (CRC) survival. This study aims to characterize the CRC survival differences among racial and ethnic minority groups. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was used to identify adults diagnosed with CRC from 2015 to 2019. Demographics, disease characteristics, surgical treatment, stages, and survival data for individuals who are Hispanic, Black, Southeast Asian, Chinese, American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN), Asian Indian and Pakistani (AIP), and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) were extracted. Survival analysis was done using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Multivariate analysis was done with the Cox proportional hazard model. There were 40 091 individuals with CRC. NHOPI had the youngest median age of 59 years, while Chinese individuals had the oldest median age of 65 years. From the total sample of their respective subgroups, 43.8% of Black patients and 36.7% of AIAN patients had a median household income of <$60 000, while 55.3% of Southeast Asian patients, 59.7% of Chinese patients, 55.8% of AIP patients, and 65.6% of NHOPI patient had a median household income >$70 000. The 1-year survival rate was lower for patients who were Hispanic (62.0%), Black (60.9%), and AIAN (63.1%). Even after multivariate analysis, Black patients had a significant hazard ratio (HR) of 1.21 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.05-1.38), while AIP had a HR of 0.68 (95% CI 0.55-0.84), compared to AIAN. Other significant variables that were linked with survival included older age, advanced stage of CRC, a median household income <$60 000, male sex, no surgery, subtotal colectomy/hemicolectomy, and total colectomy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the specific causes of these differences and create appropriate strategies to reduce this survival disparity.

The value of D-dimer-albumin ratio as a prognostic biomarker in critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective single-center study

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the potential prognostic significance of the D-dimer-albumin ratio (DAR) in critically ill patients with sepsis. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was carried out at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, involving 1123 patients diagnosed with sepsis from January 2015 to November 2023. The patients were categorized into four groups (Q1-Q4) based on their DAR levels. The primary outcomes measured were in-hospital mortality and ICU mortality. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test. Additionally, Cox proportional hazards regression models were utilized to investigate the relationship between the DAR and all-cause mortality. ResultsThe study population had a median age of 75 years (interquartile range: 65-84), and the median DAR was 0.15 (interquartile range: 0.08-0.32). The rates of hospital mortality and ICU mortality were 33.7% and 31.9% respectively. There was an observed increase in the cumulative incidence of 30-/60-day mortality with higher DAR levels (log-rank test, P<0.001). After accounting for other variables, the results from multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses demonstrated that DAR independently predicted hospital death [HR (95%CI): 1.419 (1.205-1.670); P<0.001] and ICU death [HR (95%CI): 1.437 (1.219-1.693); P<0.001]. ConclusionsThe DAR was found to be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis.

Analysis of Correlation between Blood Inflammation Indicators in Peripheral Blood and Prognosis of Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

This study aimed to investigate the value of the peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Before treatment, the NLR and LMR and all clinical indicators of 168 patients, diagnosed with MM at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from April 2013 to April 2022, were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were grouped according to their median NLR counts and median LMR counts. Differences between the groups were compared by using the chi-squared (χ²) test, the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis and difference comparison, and the COX proportional risk model was constructed to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of the MM patients. The test level was α = 0.05. The groups were divided into high NLR group (> 2.19) and low NLR group (≤ 2.19) and high LMR group (> 3.45) and low LMR group (≤ 3.45), according to the median NLR and LMR values. The clinical stage, blood β2 microglobulin, and serum creatinine levels in the high NLR group were higher than in the low NLR group, and the differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The clinical stage and blood β2 microglobulin in the low LMR group were higher than in the high LMR group, and the differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The Cox univariate and multivariate analyses showed that peripheral blood NLR < 2.19 and LMR ≤ 3.45 were independent risk factors for the prognosis in patients with MM (p < 0.05). High NLR and low LMR counts of peripheral blood suggest a poor prognosis; NLR and LMR may be prognostic indicators in MM patients.

Characteristics and survival outcomes of male breast cancer in Brazil: a large population-based study

BackgroundThis study evaluated the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment trends and overall survival (OS) in male breast cancer (BC) in Sao Paulo State of Brazil. MethodsMen diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between January 2000 and June 2020 were identified from Fundação Oncocentro de Sao Paulo database encompasses data pertinent to 46 million residents of the Sao Paulo State of Brazil. Patients were described according to age, education level, clinical stage, treatment modalities, and medical practice. Categorical variables were described as percentages and frequencies. Demographic, treatment factors, and OS were associated using a Cox proportional hazard regression model while accounting for different lengths of participant follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier curves were used to display survival curves. ResultsA total of 907 male BC patients were included. The age distribution at diagnosis was <51 years, 51-70 years, and >70 years in 21.5%, 51.5% and 27.0% of patients, respectively. The proportions of stages I, II, III, and IV were 19.5%, 36.6%, 31.5% and 12.3%. For each stage I, II, III, and IV, 5- and 10-years OS were 87.9% and 77.8%, 79.9% and 58.9%, 51.6% and 24.5%, 20.0% and 5.6%, respectively. Patients who received postoperative radiotherapy experienced a significant improvement in OS (HR 0.67; 95% CI 0.53 - 0.84; p<0.001). In the multivariable analysis adjusted for practice (public or private), education (low or medium/high), age, stage at diagnosis, and treatment modalities, the significant independent predictor for OS was stage at diagnosis. ConclusionMale BC tends to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage and older age at the time of diagnosis. Age, and educational level did not influence survival outcomes. Stage at diagnosis and the use of postoperative radiotherapy were factors associated with improved OS.

Improved outcomes of palliative radiotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in recurrent or metastatic cervical cancers

BackgroundImmunotherapy provides a remarkable survival advantage for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer (R/M CC). However, the role of immunotherapy in combination with radiotherapy in R/M CC remains unclear. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed factors affecting immunotherapy effectiveness in patients with R/M CC. Clinical outcomes including tumor response and patient survival were assessed. Kaplan-Meier curves with the log-rank test were employed to compare survival data. Cox regression analysis was utilized to investigate prognostic factors. ResultsA total of 65 R/M CC patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors were eligible for analysis. We found that immunotherapy combined with palliative radiotherapy showed a significant positive correlation with complete response (OR = 6.31; 95 %CI: 1.74–22.91; p = 0.005). The 36-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate (73.7 % vs 33.8 %, p = 0.0048) and 36-month overall survival (OS) rate (85.7 % vs 38.7 %, p = 0.0043) were also prominently increased. We further demonstrated that patients prolonged 36-month PFS rate (69.9 % vs 15.2 %; p < 0.001) and 36-month OS rate (64.6 % vs 39.7 %; p = 0.032) when they had more than 4 cycles of immunotherapy. Meanwhile, our findings showed that patients with only recurrence had longer 36-month OS rate (77.7 % vs 44.4 % vs 40.1 %; p = 0.024) compared to those with only metastasis and both. We also observed that patients with squamous carcinoma had higher 2-year PFS rate (57.9 % vs 14.6 %; p = 0.042) than those with other pathological subtypes (adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma). ConclusionsThe combination of immunotherapy and palliative radiotherapy increased complete response rates and improved survivals in recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer patients.

Patients with fibromyalgia have increased risk of 90-day postoperative adverse events following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BackgroundArthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) is a common surgical intervention for symptomatic rotator cuff tears when conservative management fails. Understanding the potential correlation of short- and longer-term outcomes associated with defined comorbidities can help with patient selection, counseling, and related care pathways. The association of fibromyalgia, one potential comorbidity, with outcomes following RCR has not been reported in the literature. MethodsPatients with and without fibromyalgia diagnosed prior to undergoing RCR were identified from the PearlDiver Mariner161 database between 2016 and April 30, 2022, using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Exclusion criteria were age less than 18 years, a diagnosis of neoplasm, trauma, or infection within 90 days prior to surgery, and postoperative records of fewer than 90 days. Patients with and without fibromyalgia were matched 1:4 based on age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI).Ninety-day adverse events were assessed. Severe adverse events were defined as the occurrence of sepsis, surgical site infection, cardiac events, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. Minor adverse events were defined as the occurrence of wound dehiscence, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, transfusion, hematoma, or acute kidney injury. Also identified was the occurrence of any adverse event, emergency department (ED) visits, and readmission. These outcomes were compared with multivariate analysis. One-year revisions were assessed with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared with the log-rank test. ResultsIn total, 295,169 RCR patients were identified, of which fibromyalgia was noted for 12,366 (4.2%). Following matching, the final cohort sizes for those with and without fibromyalgia were 11,387 and 45,354 respectively.Diagnosis of fibromyalgia was independently associated with increased risk of all individual adverse events as well as aggregated incidence of severe, minor, and any adverse events (p<0.0001 for all). Additionally, patients with fibromyalgia had independently 90-day increased odds of ED utilization (p<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in reoperation between the cohorts within 1 year of surgery. Discussion and ConclusionFibromyalgia was associated with significantly increased 90-day postoperative adverse events and ED visits. These findings are relevant in surgical planning but are also balanced by a lack of difference in one-year revisions.