Lancet Oncol Research Articles

Missing outcome data in randomised clinical trials of psychological interventions: a review of published trial reports in major psychiatry journals.

Missing outcome data can pose a serious threat to the validity of randomised clinical trial results. We aimed to study the extent of missing outcome data in randomised clinical trials of psychological interventions. We performed a retrospective study of randomised clinical trial reports of psychological interventions published in World Psychiatry, JAMA Psychiatry, Lancet Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry, or Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics from 2017 to 2022. We assessed the proportion of missing outcome data, whether missing data patterns differed between types of outcomes, participants, intervention lengths, and psychological intervention types, how missing outcome data were handled in the statistical analyses, and whether trialists discussed missing outcome data in the discussion section of the manuscript. We identified 182 randomised clinical trials (233 primary outcomes), of which 206 outcomes (88.4%) were assessed at high risk of bias due to missing data. The overall mean percentage of missing outcome data was 18.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 16.7-20%) for all outcomes. The percentages of missing data were 18.9% (95% CI: 17.1-20.6%; 180 outcomes) for symptom severity scales and 1.8% (95% CI: 2.3-3.3%; 6 outcomes) for 'hard' binary outcomes. Trials including participants with borderline personality disorder had the highest percentage of missing outcome data (33.1%; 95% CI: 22.3-43.9%) compared with other psychiatric disorders. Fisher's exact test showed that intervention lengths and psychological intervention types were associated with the proportion of missing outcome data (p < 0.001), but there were no clear patterns. Missing outcome data is a considerable problem in randomised clinical trials of psychological interventions, and trialists should consider the corresponding methodological limitations in the design and analysis to reduce the risk of bias due to missing outcome data. Not applicable.

ASO Visual Abstract: Series on the Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery : Action 1-Clinical Care and Access to Cancer Surgery.

ASO Visual Abstract: Series on the Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery : Action 1-Clinical Care and Access to Cancer Surgery.

Nomenclature for human and animal fungal pathogens and diseases: a proposal for standardized terminology.

Medically important pathogenic fungi invade vertebrate tissue and are considered primary when part of their nature life cycle is associated with an animal host and are usually able to infect immunocompetent hosts. Opportunistic fungal pathogens complete their life cycle in environmental habitats or occur as commensals within or on the vertebrate body, but under certain conditions can thrive upon infecting humans. The extent of host damage in opportunistic infections largely depends on the portal and modality of entry as well as on the host's immune and metabolic status. Diseases caused by primary pathogens and common opportunists, causing the top approximately 80% of fungal diseases [D. W. Denning, Lancet Infect Dis, 24:e428-e438, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00692-8], tend to follow a predictive pattern, while those by occasional opportunists are more variable. For this reason, it is recommended that diseases caused by primary pathogens and the common opportunists are named after the etiologic agent, for example, histoplasmosis and aspergillosis, while this should not be done for occasional opportunists that should be named as [causative fungus] [clinical syndrome], for example, Alternaria alternata cutaneous infection. The addition of a descriptor that identifies the location or clinical type of infection is required, as the general name alone may cover widely different clinical syndromes, for example, "rhinocerebral mucormycosis." A list of major recommended human and animal disease entities (nomenclature) is provided in alignment with their causative agents. Fungal disease names may encompass several genera of etiologic agents, consequently being less susceptible to taxonomic changes of the causative species, for example, mucormycosis covers numerous mucormycetous molds.

CTNI-14. RADIOTHERAPY VERSUS TMZ FOR HIGH-RISK LOW-GRADE GLIOMA. FINAL RESULTS AFTER MEDIAN FOLLOW-UP OF 13 YEARS OF PHASE III EORTC/NCIC-CTG/TROG/MRC-CTU (EORTC 22033-26033) STUDY

Abstract BACKGROUND We previously reported on progression-free survival of our randomized phase 3 trial [Lancet Oncol. 2016;17:1521-1532]. Here we report results of long-term follow-up (FU) including overall survival (OS) and molecular subgroup analyses. METHODS 487 patients were randomized between 2005-2012 to either standard radiotherapy (RT, 50.4 Gy/ 28 fractions) or primary dose-dense temozolomide [TMZ] chemotherapy (75 mg/m² daily x 21/28 days, up to 12 cycles). Treatment at progression was at investigators discretion and commonly included cross-over to the alternative treatment modality. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 13 years, 68% of patients had died. Median age at inclusion was 45 years (range 18-75), 96% had a performance status of 0-1. There was no significant difference in PFS nor OS: PFS was 3.6 years (95% CI: 3.0-4.1) and 3.1 years (95% CI: 2.7-3.6), HR 1.12 (95% CI: 0.92-1.36); OS 6.6 years (95% CI: 5.8-7.5) and 8.0 years (95% CI: 6.9-9.1), HR 0.87 (95% CI: 0.69-1.09), for RT or TMZ, respectively. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients when available tissue allowed for molecular analyses (n=351/487,73%). In astrocytoma, IDHmt/1p/19q non-codeleted (n = 178), median OS with RT was 6.6 years (95% CI: 5.3-7.6) and with TMZ was 6.7 years (95% CI: 5.7-8.0); HR 0.98 (95% CI: 0.67-1.44). For oligodendroglioma, IDHmt/codeleted (n = 109) median OS with RT was 12.9 years (95% CI: 9.4 - NE) and with TMZ 14.9 years (95% CI: 10.1 - NE); HR 1.01 (95% CI: 0.56-1.81). For a heterogenous group of IDHwt tumors (n = 64), median OS with RT was 2.5 years (95% CI: 1.8-3.3) and with TMZ 4.7 years (95% CI: 2.2-7.2); HR 0.37 (95% CI: 0.18-0.77). CONCLUSIONS Primary treatment with RT or TMZ provided comparable PFS and OS. Choice of primary treatment can be tailored to individual tumor characteristics and patient preference.

Series on The Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery-Action 1: Clinical Care and Access to Cancer Surgery.

The second Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery was conceived to develop a roadmap of pragmatic solutions to address inequities and propel improvements in access to cancer surgery on the global stage. This Commission included nine solutional domains and eight Actions to help catalyze improvements in access to cancer surgery. The Annals of Surgical Oncology series on The Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery will highlight these eight Actions individually with additional refinements. The first article will highlight the Action of clinical care and access to cancer surgery. To increase the likelihood of success in implementing the recommendations within this Action, we incorporated the principles of implementation science taken from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The CFIR identifies several steps to implementing new changes in health care that include the intervention, outer setting, inner setting, people involved, and the process. We enhanced this framework by including two additional steps: barriers and time to implement the new change. Cascading along the CFIR pathway, we outline initiatives and other details to improve access to and address inequities in access to cancer surgical care. The Annals of Surgical Oncology Series on the second Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery hopes to enhance the visibility of the eight critical Actions within this important Commission to the primary stakeholders, the surgeons. We hope this article of the Series will help to amplify the message and serve as a catalyst for implementing efforts to improve cancer surgical care on the global stage.

In T2D, SGLT-2 inhibitor effects on CV and kidney outcomes were consistent regardless of GLP-1 receptor agonist use.

Apperloo EM, Neuen BL, Fletcher RA, et al. Efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors with and without glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists: a SMART-C collaborative meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2024;12:545-557. 38991584.

Reports on gambling focus on harms of online betting

Last week, a report from the Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling concluded that gambling industry growth has been fueled by the rise of online betting. Gamblers, including young people who are not allowed into casinos, can now easily gamble. The commission also found, alarmingly, that the spread is notable in low‐income countries.

Correction to Lancet Public Health 2024; 9: e834–35

Correction to Lancet Public Health 2024; 9: e834–35

Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission

Global action on problematic usage of the internet: announcing a Lancet Psychiatry Commission

A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends About Congenital Toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoon that infects approximately one-third of the human population. The parasite could transmit from mother to fetus in cases of acute infection during pregnancy and cause complications in the fetus. The bibliometric analysis is a popular research area that evaluates all the studies indexed in particular databases on a subject. This article puts forth bibliometric review of the literature on maternal and congenital toxoplasmosis research indexed in the Web of Science database between 1945 and 2024. VOS viewer, Web of Science and MS Office Excel 17 programs were used in the study. The results of the search showed 1476 publications. The countries that most contributed to the literature were France (n=306, 20.73%), the USA (n=229, 15.52%), and Brazil (n=146, 9.89%). The most cited country was also France (n=10271, 35.52%), followed by the USA (n=9113, 31.51%), and England (n=2611, 9.03%). The top three countries by number of citations per document were Denmark (44.88), the USA (39.79) and France (33.57). The five departments with the most publications are Pediatrics (20.26%), General Internal Medicine (18.16%), Infectious Diseases (16.8%), Obstetrics (14.57%), and Immunology (11.86%). Wallon M. (n=57), Peyron F. (n=49), Thulliez P. (n=36) and Vilena I. (n=36) were the leading authors in terms of contribution to the literature. The five most published journals were Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal (3.66%), Journal of Clinical Microbiology (2.78%), Lancet (2.3%), Presse Medicale (1.76%), and American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1.63%). France is one of the countries that pays the most attention to congenital toxoplasmosis and compatible with this, in our study, the country with the highest number of studies on congenital toxoplasmosis was France. It is thought that drawing more attention to this issue and conducting more studies in countries where the disease is common might yield successful results, as in France.

7790 A Non-interventional, Multinational, Phase IV Study to Evaluate the Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Osilodrostat in Patients with Endogenous Cushing's Syndrome (LINC 6): 1-Year Real-World Interim Analysis

Abstract Disclosure: I. Bancos: Advisory Board Member; Self; Adrenas, Diurnal, Neurocrine, Spruce, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Sparrow, Recordati Rare Diseases, Xeris, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Corcept. Consulting Fee; Self; Adrenas, Diurnal, Neurocrine, Spruce, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Sparrow, Recordati Rare Diseases, Xeris, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Corcept. Grant Recipient; Self; Recordati, HRA Pharmaceuticals. Other; Self; Adrenas, Diurnal, Neurocrine, Spruce, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Sparrow, Recordati Rare Diseases, Xeris, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Corcept. E.B. Geer: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. Consulting Fee; Self; Lundbeck, Crinetics, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Recordati Rare Diseases, Sparrow, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge). Grant Recipient; Self; Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge), Corcept, Recordati Rare Diseases, Sparrow. F. Castinetti: Consulting Fee; Self; HRA Pharmaceuticals, Recordati. Grant Recipient; Self; HRA Pharmaceuticals, Recordati. R. Feelders: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati. Consulting Fee; Self; HRA Pharmaceuticals, Recordati. Grant Recipient; Self; Corcept Therapeutics. M. Fleseriu: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. Consulting Fee; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases, Sparrow, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge). Grant Recipient; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases, Sparrow, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge). R. Pivonello: Consulting Fee; Self; Corcept Therapeutics, Recordati, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, H Lundbeck. Grant Recipient; Self; Recordati, Corcept Therapeutics, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge), Neurocrine Biosciences. M. Reincke: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. Consulting Fee; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, Crinetics. Grant Recipient; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, Crinetics. Speaker; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, Crinetics. A. Tabarin: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. Consulting Fee; Self; H Lundbeck, Crinetics, HRA Pharmaceuticals, Recordati Rare Diseases. J. Le Mouhaër: Employee; Self; Recordati. J. Stermenska: Employee; Self; Recordati. M. Maldonado: Employee; Self; Recordati. B.M. Biller: Advisory Board Member; Self; Recordati Rare Diseases. Consulting Fee; Self; H Lundbeck, Recordati Rare Diseases, Sparrow, Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Strongbridge). Introduction: Osilodrostat, a potent oral 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor, provides control of cortisol production and improves outcomes in patients (pts), as shown by the clinical development program of Cushing’s disease (CD; Fleseriu M et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2021;9:847-75) leading to EMA approval for Cushing’s syndrome (CS) and FDA approval for CD. The prospective LINC 6 study (NCT05382156) evaluates long-term safety and efficacy of osilodrostat in routine clinical practice over a 3-­year follow-up of CS pts. Here, we report 1-year interim data. Methods: Pts aged ≥18 years with endogenous CS are being enrolled in countries where osilodrostat is approved and available (including USA and Europe), irrespective of prior osilodrostat use. Treatment decisions and follow-up are at investigator discretion. The primary endpoint is incidence of osilodrostat-related adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs, focusing on AEs related to hypocortisolism, accumulation of adrenal hormone precursors, QT prolongation and pituitary tumor enlargement. Secondary endpoints include change in mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC), serum cortisol and late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC). Evaluation of biochemical parameters is recommended at baseline, months 1 and 3, and every 3 months thereafter, as available. AEs are recorded at baseline and each visit. Analyses are descriptive. We report change for pts with assessments at baseline and every 3 months. Results: Of 106 pts enrolled at the 1-year interim analysis, 94 were included in the safety population: CD, n=78; non-CD CS, n=16 (adrenal adenoma, n=3; adrenal hyperplasia, n=3; ectopic, n=9; other, n=1). Mean (SD) age was 53.2 years (12.7); 70.2% (n=66) were female. Median (min-max) osilodrostat exposure and dose were 5.5 months (0.1-13.9) and 5.0 mg/day (1.0-60.0). 29 pts reported 109 AEs; 12 pts reported 44 AEs that were considered treatment related. Overall, the most common (≥5%) AEs were asthenia and vomiting (both n=6/109; 5.5%); treatment-related AEs with highest frequency were vomiting and dizziness (both n=4/44; 9.1%). 7 AEs led to discontinuation in 4 pts; 5 AEs were considered osilodrostat related (nausea and vomiting in 1 pt; worsening hypertension, uncontrolled blood pressure and dizziness in another) and 2 were not (pituitary tumor surgery and right adrenalectomy). AEs related to hypocortisolism, accumulation of adrenal hormone precursors, QT prolongation and pituitary tumor enlargement occurred in 7 (7.4%), 4 (4.3%), 2 (2.1%) and 0 pts, respectively. At month 3, mUFC, serum cortisol and LNSC were normalized in 71.4% (n=10/14), 69.2% (n=18/26) and 50.0% (n=7/14) of pts. Conclusions: Results from this real-world clinical setting show that osilodrostat is generally well tolerated and provides early improvements in mUFC and LNSC in pts with endogenous CS, building on evidence from the previous randomized, controlled trials LINC 3 and LINC 4. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Overall congenital defect risk unchanged by antidepressant/benzo use

A population‐based cohort study has found that concomitant use of antidepressants and benzodiazepines in the first trimester of pregnancy did not substantially increase risk overall for congenital malformations. Digestive system malformations were the only defects for which a significant risk remained in adjusted analyses. Study results were published online July 2, 2024, in Lancet Psychiatry.

Neurological complications caused by SARS-CoV-2.

SUMMARYSARS-CoV-2 can not only cause respiratory symptoms but also lead to neurological complications. Research has shown that more than 30% of SARS-CoV-2 patients present neurologic symptoms during COVID-19 (A. Pezzini and A. Padovani, Nat Rev Neurol 16:636-644, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-020-0398-3). Increasing evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can invade both the central nervous system (CNS) (M.S. Xydakis, M.W. Albers, E.H. Holbrook, et al. Lancet Neurol 20: 753-761, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00182-4 ) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) (M.N. Soares, M. Eggelbusch, E. Naddaf, et al. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 13:11-22, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12896), resulting in a variety of neurological disorders. This review summarized the CNS complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, including encephalopathy, neurodegenerative diseases, and delirium. Additionally, some PNS disorders such as skeletal muscle damage and inflammation, anosmia, smell or taste impairment, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, ICU-acquired weakness, and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 were described. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2-induced neurological disorders were also discussed, including entering the brain through retrograde neuronal or hematogenous routes, disrupting the normal function of the CNS through cytokine storms, inducing cerebral ischemia or hypoxia, thus leading to neurological complications. Moreover, an overview of long-COVID-19 symptoms is provided, along with some recommendations for care and therapeutic approaches of COVID-19 patients experiencing neurological complications.

Description of Baseline Quality of Life in Patients Diagnosed with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Introduction: Renal cancer (RC) is not typically symptomatic until it reaches a considerable size and an advanced stage [World J Oncol. 2020;11(3):79–87]. The 5-year survival rate for metastatic renal cancer (mRC) is estimated at 13% [CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(1):7–33]. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), obtained as patient-reported outcomes (PRO), reflects the patient’s subjective perception of the disease and treatment impact on their normal activity and well-being [Lancet Oncol. 2016;17(11):e510–4]. Measuring HRQoL can facilitate doctor-patient communication, aid in decision-making, and improve clinical outcomes [Eur Urol Focus. 2020;6(1):26–30]. We will analyse the baseline quality of life of patients diagnosed with mRC, who are candidates for systemic treatment, in our setting, as measured by responses to the NCCN-FKSI 19 questionnaire. Methods: We analysed 78 consecutive patients diagnosed and treated for mRC from September 2012 to September 2019. We described the baseline questionnaire responses of our patients before initiating systemic treatment and analysed their responses. Results: Over 60% of the patients reported some degree of lack of energy or fatigue, 60.8% were very or extremely worried about their disease worsening, and 47.9% had some issues related to rest. Additionally, 26.8% of the patients were not at all satisfied with their quality of life at that time. Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with mRC exhibit deterioration in their quality of life, mostly showing asthenia and concern about their disease. The quality of life of “real-life patients” seems to be worse than that of those included in clinical trials.

509. DOES SARCOPENIA AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOMA AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY?

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is increasingly recognized as an independent predictor of clinical outcomes of cancer patients such as post-operative complications and prolonged hospital stays. Additionally, sarcopenia can also negatively impact overall survival because of reduced ability to tolerate treatments like neoadjuvant therapy and surgery. At particular risk among cancer patients is the esophageal cancer population because of tumor stenosis leading to dysphagia and impossibility of oral feeding in many patients. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative complications in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Methods This retrospective study includes all patients who underwent full-robotic abdominothoracic esophageal resection because of esophageal cancer at our institution between 06/2020 and 12/2022. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was assessed using the preoperative computed tomographic staging scans by measuring the cross-sectional muscle area at the third lumbar vertebral level. Following cut off SMI values were used to define sarcopenia: men: 52,4 cm2/m2, women: 38,5 cm2/m2 according to Prado et al (Lancet Oncol, 2008). Recorded parameters included demographic data, neo-adjuvant treatment, histologic findings, postoperative course and overall- and disease-free survival. Results A total of 113 cases were included in this preliminary analysis. 97 patients (86%) were classified as having sarcopenia. Of these, 38 patients (40%) had a preoperatively or during esophageal resection implemented percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) tube to ensure enteral nutrition. Despite age, groups were comparable regarding neoadjuvant treatment and histologic findings (mean age sarcopenic patients: 66y vs. 61y non-sarcopenic patients, p = 0.03). There was no difference in the incidence of occurrence of anastomotic leakage, pulmonary complications, need for re-operation, length of (ICU) stay and overall- and disease-free survival between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients. Conclusion Incidence of sarcopenia is very high among esophageal cancer patients. In our study population, however, preoperative sarcopenia failed to predict complications or long-term outcome after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. 40% of the sarcopenic patients received a PEJ. This relatively high proportion of implemented PEJ could have contributed to the observed comparable outcomes between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients. This observation underlines the importance of prehabilitation and nutritional support for patients with preoperative sarcopenia.

680. P02.06 MATTERHORN PCR BY REGION

Abstract Background FLOT was established as a perioperative therapy for GC/GEJC following the Phase 2/3 FLOT4 study conducted in Germany, with a pCR rate of 16% (Al-Batran et al, Lancet Oncol 2016). The global MATTERHORN study (NCT04592913) showed a statistically significant improvement in pCR with perioperative D+FLOT vs placebo (P) + FLOT in GC/GEJC at first interim analysis (Janjigian et al, ESMO Congress 2023). Subgroup analyses by region and country were completed to assess pCR rates with FLOT and benefit of D+FLOT across the global study population. Methods Participants (pts) with resectable GC/GEJC were randomized 1:1 to D 1500 mg or P every 4 weeks (Q4W) on Day 1 plus FLOT Q2W on Days 1 and 15 for 4 cycles (2 doses of D or P and 4 doses of FLOT pre- and post-operative), followed by D 1500 mg or P on Day 1 Q4W for 10 further cycles. Randomization was stratified by Asia vs non-Asia. pCR (Modified Ryan; central review) was assessed in prespecified (Asia) and post hoc regional subgroups, including 6 countries with the highest numbers of randomized pts. Results Of 948 pts randomized globally, 180 (19%) were in Asia. pCR outcomes with FLOT in Asia were consistent with global outcomes. pCR rates were improved with D+FLOT vs P+FLOT in all regions (Asia, Europe, North America and South America; Table), despite some imbalances in baseline characteristics and numerical differences in pCR rates by geographic location. The pCR rate with P+FLOT in the German subgroup (13%; 95% CI, 6.1–23.0) was similar to that with FLOT in the FLOT4 study. Improvement in pCR with D+FLOT vs P+FLOT was observed across subgroups by country. Similar trends across regional subgroups were observed for combined complete and near-complete response rate. Conclusions In MATTERHORN, pCR was consistently improved with the addition of D to perioperative FLOT in GC/GEJC across geographic regions. The study is ongoing for the primary objective of event-free survival.

Parent-mediated intervention in infants with an elevated likelihood for autism reduces dwell time during a gaze-following task.

Cognitive markers may in theory be more sensitive to the effects of intervention than overt behavioral measures. The current study tests the impact of the Intervention with the British Autism Study of Infant Siblings-Video Interaction for Promoting Positive Parenting (iBASIS-VIPP) on an eye-tracking measure of social attention: dwell time to the referred object in a gaze following task. The original two-site, two-arm, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) of this intervention to increase parental awareness, and responsiveness to their infant, was run with infants who have an elevated familial likelihood for autism (EL). Fifty-four EL infants (28 iBASIS-VIPP intervention, 26 no intervention) were enrolled, and the intervention took place between 9 months (baseline) and 15 months (endpoint), with gaze following behavior measured at 15 months. Secondary intention to treat (ITT) analysis showed that the intervention was associated with significantly reduced dwell time to the referent of another person's gaze (β = -0.32, SE = 0.14, p = 0.03) at 15-month treatment endpoint. Given the established link between gaze following and language, the results are considered in the context of a previously reported, non-significant and transient trend toward lower language scores at the treatment endpoint (Green et al. (2015) The Lancet Psychiatry, 2(2), 133-140). Future intervention trials should aim to include experimental cognitive measures, alongside behavioral measures, to investigate mechanisms associated with intervention effects.

Bibliometric analysis of global research in palliative care for cervical cancer.

The present study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research in palliative care for cervical cancer, providing insights into publication trends, authorship patterns, influential journals, and thematic concentrations. A bibliometric analysis approach was employed using metadata extracted from Scopus spanning 2000-2023. The search utilized main terms related to cervical cancer and palliative care. Data analysis and visualization were performed using the Bibliometrix R Package's web app Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software. The study identified 2,492 publications on palliative care for cervical cancer, with a notable peak in 2021. The analysis revealed a diverse publication landscape, encompassing primarily articles. Citation analysis showed a staggering 63,994 citations. The most relevant journals were The Lancet Oncology, Gynecologic Oncology, and International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. The study also highlighted influential authors, institutions, and countries, with Harvard University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center leading in publications. The findings reflected a growing interest in palliative care for cervical cancer, marked by increasing publications over the years. However, the analysis indicated limited international collaborations, with research efforts concentrated in high-income countries. Thematic areas include surgery, palliative care, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and quality of life. Thus, further collaborations and research in developing countries are needed. This bibliometric analysis showcased a comprehensive overview of the global research landscape on palliative care for cervical cancer. The study identified trends, key contributors, and thematic concentrations, offering valuable insights for future research directions and enhancing palliative care services. Addressing the identified gaps, fostering international collaborations, and directing research efforts toward developing countries can contribute to the advancement of palliative care for cervical cancer globally.

Knowledge domain and emerging trends in the rupture risk of intracranial aneurysms research from 2004 to 2023.

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) pose significant health risks, attributable to their potential for sudden rupture, which can result in severe outcomes such as stroke and death. Despite extensive research, the variability of aneurysm behavior, with some remaining stable for years while others rupture unexpectedly, remains poorly understood. To employ bibliometric analysis to map the research landscape concerning risk factors associated with IAs rupture. A systematic literature review of publications from 2004 to 2023 was conducted, analyzing 3804 documents from the Web of Science Core Collection database, with a focus on full-text articles and reviews in English. The analysis encompassed citation and co-citation networks, keyword bursts, and temporal trends to delineate the evolution of research themes and collaboration patterns. Advanced software tools, CiteSpace and VOSviewer, were utilized for comprehensive data visualization and trend analysis. Analysis uncovered a total of 3804 publications on IA rupture risk factors between 2006 and 2023. Research interest surged after 2013, peaking in 2023. The United States led with 28.97% of publications, garnering 37706 citations. Notable United States-China collaborations were observed. Capital Medical University produced 184 publications, while Utrecht University boasted a citation average of 69.62 per publication. "World Neurosurgery" published the most papers, contrasting with "Stroke", the most cited journal. The PHASES score from "Lancet Neurology" emerged as a vital rupture risk prediction tool. Early research favored endovascular therapy, transitioning to magnetic resonance imaging and flow diverters. "Subarachnoid hemorrhage" stood out as a recurrent keyword. This study assesses global IA research trends and highlights crucial gaps, guiding future investigations to improve preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Electrokinetics with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Bacterial Identification in Wastewater

Bacterial presence in wastewater serves as a crucial bioindicator for monitoring population-level infections and offering early disease outbreak warnings [1,2]. However, identifying bacteria in wastewater presents outstanding challenges; notably, current culturing or fluorescence-based methods [3] to identify bacteria are slow and expensive, unsuitable for high-throughput screening of diverse bacterial species, and may not work well in the complex wastewater matrix. Here, we harness the potential of surface chemistry and electrokinetics to introduce an innovative electro-optical approach that has the promise to detect a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria in wastewater.We combine surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) [4] with alternating current electric fields, complemented by machine learning models [5], to enable rapid and amplification-free bacteria detection in filtered wastewater, at cell concentrations as low as 104 cells/mL. First, we synthesize gold nanorods that can electrostatically bind to bacteria surfaces, allowing for SERS from cell surfaces. We collect SERS from bacteria spiked into filtered wastewater, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli, spanning concentrations from 109 cells/mL to 104 cells/mL. Spectral clustering analysis shows that bacteria signals become more indistinguishable from wastewater as the concentrations decrease. Further, we incorporate electrokinetic effects into SERS by employing gold microelectrodes to apply electric fields, utilizing dielectrophoresis [6] to rapidly displace and concentrate bacteria based on their dielectric responses within minutes. The enrichment of bacteria with nanorods is directly visualized through microscopy, resulting in Raman signal intensities increased by up to tenfold under electrical fields for bacterial concentrations ranging from 106 down to 104 cells/mL. Such enhancement may enable the detection sensitivity to reach environmentally-relevant concentrations. Moreover, employing data science analysis, we identify biologically-relevant “fingerprint” Raman peaks characterizing proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids from bacteria surfaces, allowing for rapid identification of bacteria species in wastewater. This novel method exhibits potential for generalized pathogen detection and molecular recognition in complex liquid samples, such as wastewater, blood, and seawater.[1] Hellmér, et al. Applied and environmental microbiology. (2014).[2] Keshaviah, et al. The Lancet Global Health. (2023).[3] Jahn, et al. Nature Microbiology. (2022).[4] Tadesse, et al., Nano Lett. (2020).[5] Ho, et al., Nat. Comm. (2019).[6] Pethig. John Wiley & Sons (2010).