Positive Growth Research Articles

A Critical Examination and Scrutiny between Tata Steels and JSW Steels Limited in India

Abstract: Over the past few years, the Indian steel sector has advanced quickly thanks to solid foundations. The industry is receiving all of the necessary components needed for rapid expansion. The industry is receiving billions of dollars in investments from the private sector and advantageous industrial changes from the government. Due to the robust domestic demand from the building, automotive, and infrastructure sectors, the industry was able to maintain its positive growth momentum even during the difficult economic downturn. With a stellar history, the nation is now well-known in the global steel sector. The remarkable performance of the industry has attracted global steel companies from all over the world. For instance, India's production of crude steel reached 56.6 million metric tonnes in 2009, a modest year-over-year increase of 2.7%. Conversely, a number of Asian nations, including South Korea and Japan, experienced a sharp drop in their production levels. This further demonstrates the Indian steel industry's robustness and resilience against outside risk factors. The impact of the steel industry on two significant businesses, Tata Steels and JSW Steels, is discussed in this essay. Additionally, the author has attempted to use ratio analysis in the study to highlight Tata Steels' and JSW Steels' financial performance.

Влияние санкций на развитие транспортной логистики в современной России

The development of the infrastructure of the international transport corridor (ITC) “North – South” is considered, changes in the tonnage of the marine fleet due to an increase in the number of cargo shipments along the ITC “North – South” are analyzed. As a result of the beginning of EU sanctions against Russia, namely the ban on the import of many goods into Russia, as well as limits on the transportation of goods along European highways and the ban on Russian ships entering and parking at ports, measures are being taken at the level of the Government of the Russian Federation aimed at developing transport logistics focused on the south. These measures are aimed at expanding the volume of cargo transportation: both domestic and international. The “North – South” route starts from St. Petersburg and ends at the port of Mumbai (India). It is an alternative route passing through the Suez Canal. The problem of the functioning of railway communication between Iran and Azerbaijan within the framework of the “North – South” transport corridor is considered. The structure of trade turnover of the countries participating in this corridor is shown, it is noted that the corridor has a beneficial effect on the economy of the Astrakhan region. The bottlenecks of this corridor and ways to eliminate these barriers are outlined. The corridor is not only an economic prerogative of the state, but also a strategic direction. Prospects for increasing cargo traffic have been identified, cargo transportation along the “North – South” MTC in 2023 amounted to 17.6 million tons. The data of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation are presented, which assess the positive growth of cargo traffic along this corridor to 41 million tons by 2030. Conclusions are drawn about the prospects for Russia to further develop the transport corridor, which in the future will become one of the main trade routes in the country.

MYCOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CYSTIC CONTENT IN PATIENTS WITH POLYMICROCYSTIC CHANGES OF THE MAXILLARY SINUS MUCOSA

The prevalence of mycotic infections of the paranasal sinuses is constantly increasing worldwide. Pathogens can enter the sinuses through the respiratory tract that leads to the colonization of microorganisms in both the lungs and paranasal sinuses as part of the normal microflora. The presence of filamentous fungi in the maxillary sinus may result from endodontic treatment of molars directly adjacent to the sinus, increasing the risk of fungal foci development. Fungal paranasal sinusitis manifests in invasive or non-invasive forms. While mycological culture remains the traditional gold standard for mycosis diagnosis, its sensitivity is reportedly low. Paranasal sinus cysts comprise 4-8% of general ENT pathologies and approximately 4-16% of chronic paranasal sinus diseases, with a predominant presence in the maxillary sinus. Factors that contribute to the development of sinusitis and create favorable conditions for fungal spore adhesion and growth include impaired ventilation and transport function of the sinus mucosa, inadequate use of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs and steroid therapy, as well as household factors. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of cases of multiple small cysts in maxillary sinuses. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic incidental findings to varying degrees of discomfort and/or pain localized in the maxillary sinus area. The aim of this study is to identify the involvement of a fungal agent and to develop a set of therapeutic and prophylactic measures for polymicrocystic changes in the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses. The study enrolled 37 patients aged 18 to 65 years. Atypical cystic content was collected and cultured in Sabouraud's nutrient broth and Amies transport medium at 35-37°C for 5-7 days, with final measurements on day 21. Treatment involved a 14-day regimen of itraconazole (100 mg once daily) alongside topical miramistin (0.01% solution, 2 ml) sinus injections. The findings obtained demonstrate the following: positive fungal growth was observed in 26 cases (70.3%), predominantly Penicillium (48.6%) and Aspergillus (21.6%). Absence of growth was noted in 11 cases (29.7%). Follow-up examinations in 6 months and in a year revealed no crusts in the nasal cavity, moderate mucous discharge in the sinuses, and no polymicrocystic changes. Conclusion. The analysis has demonstrated the involvement of fungal flora in the development and recurrence of cystic changes in the maxillary sinus mucosa, advocating for mycological examination alongside bacteriological analysis. Itraconazole for systemic therapy and miramistin for topical therapy demonstrate efficacy in treatment and recurrence prevention.

Consumer Preferences for Turmeric Quality Attributes: A Conjoint Analysis in Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka, India

Consumer purchasing behaviour, heavily influenced by quality preferences, drives the need to understand the desired quality attributes of turmeric. With the increasing emphasis on health and wellness, there's a growing demand for organic and sustainably sourced turmeric among health-conscious consumers. To meet these preferences, quality control measures throughout production and processing stages are crucial. The study employed conjoint analysis to elucidate consumer preferences for turmeric quality attributes in Chamarajanagar district utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. Well-structured questionnaires were employed to gather consumer preference data on attributes such as quantity, colour, texture, origin and longevity. Turmeric's area and production exhibited a positive growth rate despite moderate instability. The additive model was used for analysis proved to be a good fit, with both Pearson’s rank correlation coefficient (0.97) and Kendall’s correlation coefficient (0.89) significant at the one percent probability level. Preferred attributes for turmeric powder among respondents included light-yellow colour, fine texture, a 50g quantity pack, organic origin, and long-lasting nature. Insights gained from this analysis inform product development, marketing strategies, and pricing decisions, enabling producers to tailor turmeric offerings to meet consumer demands effectively and enhance market competitiveness. Promoting domestic turmeric cultivation not only boosts foreign exchange inflow but also improves the economic standing of farmers. Thus, prioritizing enhancements in turmeric cultivation presents a promising avenue for encouraging the agricultural sector and fostering economic growth.

The prognostic value of preoperative neoindices consisting of lymphocytes, neutrophils and albumin (LANR) in operable breast cancer: a retrospective study.

Preoperative inflammatory factors and nutritional status are strongly associated with the prognosis of a variety of cancers. We explored the relationship between preoperative lymphocytes, neutrophils and albumin (LANR) and progression-free survival in breast cancer patients. The clinical and follow-up data of 200 breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed in this study, and the value of LANR was determined as follows: LANR, lymphocytes × albumin/neutrophils. ROC curves, COX proportional risk regression analysis and subgroup analysis were used to assess the prognostic value of LANR in progression-free survival of breast cancer patients. The median age of the patients was 55.5 years (range 50-62 years). The median follow-up time was 46 months (range 33-55 months). In progression-free survival, the area under the LANR curve was 0.748 and the HR (95% CI) was 0.035 (0.679-0.817). LANR was associated with age (p=0.02), positive axillary lymph nodes (p<0.001), TNM stage (p<0.001) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(p=0.004). The results indicated that preoperative LANR may be a reliable predictor of progression-free survival in patients with operable breast cancer. LANR may be an essential predictor for breast cancer patients and provides a therapeutic basis for clinicians and patients.

Projected volume of primary total joint arthroplasty in the USA from 2019 to 2060.

The global incidence of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has consistently risen over time, and while various forecasts differ in magnitude, future projections suggest a continued increase in these procedures. Differences in future United States projections may arise from the modeling method selected, the nature of the national arthroplasty registry employed, or the representativeness of the specific hospital discharge records utilized. In addition, many models have not accounted for ambulatory surgery as well as all payer types. Therefore, to attempt to make a more accurate model, we utilized a national representative sample that included outpatient arthroplasties and all insurance types to predict the volumes of primary TJA in the USA from 2019 to 2060. A national, all-payer database was queried. All patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019, were identified using international classification of disease Ninth Revision (9) and Tenth Revision (10) codes and current procedure terminology codes. Absolute frequencies and incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 for both THA and TKA procedures, with 95% confidence intervals. Mean growth in absolute frequency and incidence rates were calculated for each procedure from 2010 to 2014, and 2010 to 2019, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The overall increase in THA and TKA procedures are expected to grow + 10 and + 36%, respectively, using linear regressions and + 9 and + 37%, respectively. The most positive mean growth in procedure frequency occurred from 2010 to 2014 for THA (+ 24, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): + 21, + 27) and 2010-2019 for TKA (+ 11%, 95% CI: + 9, + 14). There positive trend patterns in incidence rate growth for both procedures, with similar 2010-2019 incidence rates + 6%) for THA (+ 3%, 95% CI: + 0, + 6%) and TKA (+ 3%, 95% CI: + 1%, + 6%). Utilizing a nationally representative database, we demonstrated that TJA procedures would continue with an increased growth pattern to 2060, though slightly decreased from the surge from 2014 to 2019. While this finding applies to the representativeness of the population at hand, the inclusion of outpatient arthroplasty and all payer types validates an approach that has not been undertaken in previous projection studies.

Impact of agricultural price policy on farm harvest and wholesale prices of legumes in Maharashtra

Legumes have been used as an entry point to improve productivity, food security in terms of nutrition and availability aspect and income for smallholder farmers. The findings reveal that the growth in the area of soybean, tur and gram was significantly increased and the production growth in all the selected crops was significantly increased. Productivity growth was significantly increased in gram on the other hand it was stagnant in case of soybean. The high variability in WSPs in almost all the selected crops indicated that all the crops were volatile in terms of prices and also that large variability in MSP were observed. Significantly positive growth rates were observed for FHP and MSP of all the selected crops.

An Analysis of Positive Switching Impulse Voltage and negative streamer growth in point-sphere gap towards Valve Hall

An Analysis of Positive Switching Impulse Voltage and negative streamer growth in point-sphere gap towards Valve Hall

Point-of-care testing: a critical analysis of the market and future trends

Point-of-care testing (POCT) involves conducting diagnostic tests outside the laboratory. These tests are utilized for their quick and reliable results in detecting chronic diseases and acute infections. We examined the historical market value trends of the POCT industry and projected its future growth. POCT devices offer several advantages, such as portability, no specific storage requirements, and simplicity of use. However, issues such as inaccurate results can reduce demand for POCT compared to traditional laboratory testing alternatives. While the benefits of POCT are clear, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges. The accuracy of POCT devices can be compromised due to factors such as user error, environmental conditions, and limitations in technology. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of these devices is often a concern, particularly in resource-limited settings. The regulatory landscape for POCT is also complex and varies by region, which can pose challenges for manufacturers and end-users. Improvements in POCT devices’ sensitivity, specificity, cost, and turnaround time for test results could enhance their utility. Enhancements to a POCT device should be considered if they are economically viable and lead to a significant increase in demand. Our financial analysis of the POCT market revealed a positive growth trend. We identified potential areas for growth that could help the industry progress and expand in line with its projected growth in the coming years. The industry could focus on integrating intelligent technologies into POCT devices and collaborating with the innovative technology sector to increase revenue. It could also develop more sensitive and accurate POCT devices for non-communicable diseases. Another potential area of growth is in diseases that require continuous patient monitoring but where conventional clinical testing is time-consuming. Enhancing the POCT devices used in these areas could revolutionize medical diagnosis and potentially save many lives, provided they meet clinical standards.

Trend Analysis of Industry Payments to Dermatologists in the United States from 2015-2022

Background: Open Payments, established in 2013 to address concerns about industry-driven healthcare influence, aims to enhance transparency regarding financial relationships between industry and physicians. This study investigates trends in industry payments to dermatologists between 2015 and 2022, a topic that has not been explored since a prior characterization in 2014. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of United States dermatologists appearing in the Open Payments database between 2015 and 2022. A Joinpoint analysis was performed to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) across study years. A sensitivity analysis excluding 2020-2021 data was conducted. Results: This study reviewed 2,616,289 payments totaling $494,271,790 made to dermatologists during the study period. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) across these years for the number of recipient dermatologists, total value of payments, and total number of payments were 1.5%, 5.5%, and 3.9%, respectively, with confirmed positive growth when excluding data from 2020-2021. Conclusions: Payments per dermatologist have increased over the years, even when adjusting for inflation, but this growth is likely attributed to the overall expansion of the specialty. Most individual payments to dermatologists were less than $50. However, a substantial proportion of dermatologists (60%) received total payments exceeding $1000 during the study period. These findings suggest a longitudinal nature of industry-dermatologist relationships and emphasize the financial significance of payments over time. Notably, the impact of physician-industry relationships on patient care in dermatology remains debated but may influence medical decision-making and engender patient distrust.

Understanding Evolutionary Rescue and Parallelism in Response to Environmental Stress.

Evolutionary rescue, the process by which populations facing environmental stress avoid extinction through genetic adaptation, is a critical area of study in evolutionary biology. The order in which mutations arise and get established will be relevant to the population's rescue. This study investigates the degree of parallel evolution at the genotypic level between independent populations fac- ing environmental stress and subject to different demographic regimes. Under density regulation, two regimes exist: in the first, the population can restore positive growth rates by adjusting its population size or through adaptive mu- tations, whereas in the second regime, the population is doomed to extinction unless a rescue mutation occurs. Analytical approximations for the likelihood of evolutionary rescue are obtained and contrasted with simulation results. We show that the initial level of maladaptation and the demographic regime signifi- cantly affect the level of parallelism. There is an evident transition between these two regimes. Whereas in the first regime, parallelism decreases with the level of maladaptation, it displays the opposite behavior in the rescue/extinction regime. These findings have important implications for understanding population persis- tence and the degree of parallelism in evolutionary responses as they integrate demographic effects and evolutionary processes.

Paradigm of integrative OMICS of microbial technology towards biorefinery prospects

Climate change, finite natural resources, and increasing population necessitate producing sustainable energy with positive economic growth. Recent advances in OMICS coupled with genome editing and synthetic biology have paved the way for the development of sustainable technologies. These techniques help identify critical genes/pathways and re-construct and redesign biological pathways to develop eco-friendly and economically viable industrial metabolites. With the help of microbial technology, biorefinery-related research is actively pursued in many countries to develop microbial strains, producing varied value-added biochemicals and biofuels. The application of multi-omics data in deciphering key genes, their manipulation, and outcomes implies the domain's potential to find new horizons in biorefineries using microbial factories to produce various biofuels and biorefinery products. This review illustrates OMICS role in developing industrial chemicals and microbial biorefineries. Besides, prospects for genome editing and synthetic biology have been elucidated.

Decadal Performance of Major Kharif Pulse Crops in Madhya Pradesh: In Context of Growth, Decomposition and Instability Analysis

The study purpose examined the growth, decomposition and instability of major kharif pulses i. e. pigeon pea, green gram and black gram in Madhya Pradesh. The study was based on secondary data. The data of area, production, and productivity of selected pulse crops have been taken for 30 years from 1992-93 to 2021-22. The study period was divided into four periods i.e. period-I (1992-93 to 2001-02), period-II (2002-03 to 2011-12), period- III (2012-13 to 2021-22) and overall period (1992-93 to 2021-22). Three different analyses had been carried out in the study viz. (a) Compound annual growth rates, (b) Decomposition analysis and (c) Instability analysis. It was revealed from the outcomes that during the entire study period, a mixed growth pattern was observed in the area, production and productivity of pigeon pea and green gram while significant and positive growth was noticed in area, production and productivity of black gram with the magnitude of 4.31, 6.19 and 1.80 percent, respectively in Madhya Pradesh. During overall study period, area expansion was major instrument to increase the production of pigeon pea and black gram. The highest variability was noticed production of all selected crops during period – I, II, III and entire study period.

Successful medical management of a pituitary macroadenoma with features of resistant acromegaly and hyperprolactinemia using pasireotide.

The somatostatin analog, pasireotide, is used for the treatment of acromegaly after the failure of surgery and/or first-line medical treatment. A 48-year-old male reported that during a workup for obesity in his home country, hyperprolactinemia was diagnosed and a 3.5 × 3.5 cm pituitary macroadenoma was identified on pituitary MRI. He received cabergoline for 6 months; then he was lost to follow-up. He presented at our Endocrine clinic 2 years later for treatment of obesity (BMI 49.5 kg/m2). Biochemical workup revealed that in addition to hyperprolactinemia (7,237 [normal: 85-323 mIU/L), he had acromegaly, evident by elevated insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) level (450 [normal: 88-210 µg/L]), and a positive growth hormone suppression test, secondary hypothyroidism, and secondary hypogonadism. Pituitary MRI showed that the adenoma encased parts of the left and right internal carotid arteries and encroached on the optic chiasm. Surgical excision was therefore not feasible. He was treated with cabergoline and later, long-acting release (LAR) octreotide. Prolactin levels were reduced with cabergoline, but IGF-1 levels did not respond to octreotide, and it was discontinued. The patient abandoned radiotherapy after two sessions. He was started on LAR pasireotide 40 mg every 4 weeks and continued on cabergoline 0.5 mg per week. His biochemical response was dramatic, with a near normalization of IGF-1 levels in 3 months. After 6 months from starting pasireotide, we increased cabergoline dose from 0.5 mg/week to 3 mg/week. Three months later, IGF-1 level was normalized. The patient developed type 2 diabetes as a side effect of pasireotide; however, this was well-controlled with medications. The case suggests that pasireotide can provide marked biochemical improvement in acromegaly after the failure of both cabergoline monotherapy and cabergoline plus octreotide. This further confirms a potentially efficacious treatment regimen in treatment-resistant acromegaly with hyperprolactinemia.

Real-world efficacy of adjuvant therapy for totally resected stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients with pathological high-risk factors: propensity score analysis

BackgroundWe investigated the real-world efficacy of adjuvant therapy for stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients with pathological high-risk factors.MethodsStudy participants were enrolled from November 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020. Clinical bias was balanced by propensity score matching. Disease-free survival (DFS) outcomes were compared by Kaplan–Meier analysis. The Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify survival-associated factors. p ≤ 0.05 was the threshold for statistical significance.ResultsA total of 454 patients, among whom 134 (29.5%) underwent adjuvant therapy, were enrolled in this study. One hundred and eighteen of the patients who underwent adjuvant therapy were well matched with non-treatment patients. Prognostic outcomes of the treatment group were significantly better than those of the non-treatment group, as revealed by Kaplan-Meier analysis after PSM. Differences in prevention of recurrence or metastasis between the targeted therapy and chemotherapy groups were insignificant. Adjuvant therapy was found to be positive prognostic factors, tumor size and solid growth patterns were negative.ConclusionsAdjuvant therapy significantly improved the DFS for stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients with high-risk factors. Larger prospective clinical trials should be performed to verify our findings.

Evaluation of the immune system status and hematological dyscrasias, among amphetamine and cannabis abusers at Eradah Hospital in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the immune system status and hematological disturbances among individuals who abuse amphetamines and cannabis. Substance abuse, particularly of amphetamines and cannabis, has been associated with various adverse effects on the body, including potential impacts on the immune system and hematological parameters. However, limited research has been conducted to comprehensively assess these effects in a cross-sectional design. Additionally, fungal infections are on the rise internationally, and immune-compromised people are particularly susceptible. The study will recruit a sample of amphetamine and cannabis abusers (n = 50) at the Eradah Hospital in the Qassim Region of Buraydah and assess their sociodemographic and biochemical variables, including blood indices and differential WBC indices, liver, and kidney profiles. Additionally, 50 sputum samples in total were cultured for testing for fungus infections. To obtain the descriptive statistics, the data was imported into Microsoft Excel and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 22.0. Amphetamine and cannabis abuser's sociodemographic variables analysis observed that the majority (52%) were aged 18–30, with 56% in secondary school. Unemployment was a significant issue, and most had no other health issues. The majority (50%) had 5–10 years of abuse, while 32% had less than 5 years, and only 18% had been drug abusers for more than 10 years. There were significant changes (p < 0.001) in all different leukocyte blood cells, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Furthermore, a microscopic examination of blood films from individuals who misuse the combination of the medications "amphetamine and cannabis" reveals hazardous alterations in Neutrophils. Out of 50, 35 sputum samples showed positive growth on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) with chloramphenicol antibiotic, indicating a unicellular fungal growth. The present study explores the immune system and hematological disturbances linked to amphetamine and cannabis abuse, providing insights into health risks and targeted interventions. The findings complement previous research on drug users' hematological abnormalities, particularly in white blood cells. Routine hematological tests help identify alterations in homeostatic conditions, improving patient knowledge and preventing major issues. Further research is needed on multi-drug abuse prevention, early detection, and intervention. The cross-sectional design allows for a snapshot of the immune system and hematological status among abusers, laying the groundwork for future longitudinal studies. Key Words: Drug Effect, Immunity, Epidemiology, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation.

Overexpressing S100A9 ameliorates NK cell dysfunction in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

BackgroundEstrogen receptor (ER) positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer (ER+/HER2−BC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are two distinct breast cancer molecular subtypes, especially in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The TIME of TNBC is considered to be more inflammatory than that of ER+/HER2−BC. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play an important role of tumor eradication in TME. However, studies focusing on the different cell states of NK cells in breast cancer subtypes are still inadequate.MethodsIn this study, single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk mRNA sequencing data from ER+/HER2−BC and TNBC were analyzed. Key regulator of NK cell suppression in ER+/HER2−BC, S100A9, was quantified by qPCR and ELISA in MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The prognosis predictability of S100A9 and NK activation markers was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier analyses using TCGA-BRAC data. The phenotype changes of NK cells in ER+/HER2−BC after overexpressing S100A9 in cancer cells were evaluated by the production levels of IFN-gamma, perforin and granzyme B and cytotoxicity assay.ResultsBy analyzing scRNA-seq data, we found that multiple genes involved in cellular stress response were upregulated in ER+/HER2−BC compared with TNBC. Moreover, TLR regulation pathway was significantly enriched using differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from comparing the transcriptome data of ER+/HER2−BC and TNBC cancer cells, and NK cell infiltration high/low groups. Among the DEGs, S100A9 was identified as a key regulator. Patients with higher expression levels of S100A9 and NK cell activation markers had better overall survival. Furthermore, we proved that overexpression of S100A9 in ER+/HER2-cells could improve cocultured NK cell function.ConclusionIn conclusion, the study we presented demonstrated that NK cells in ER+/HER2−BC were hypofunctional, and S100A9 was an important regulator of NK cell function in ER+BC. Our work contributes to elucidate the regulatory networks between cancer cells and NK cells and may provide theoretical basis for novel drug development.

Effectiveness of Developing the Technique of Attacking Movements of Young Volleyball Players

In this article, the process of development of attacking techniques of 13-14-year-old volleyball players is studied. During the research, a set of exercises aimed at increasing the efficiency of the participants' attack techniques was developed and these exercises were used by the participants of the experimental group. The developed set of exercises had a positive effect on the effectiveness of the offensive movements of the participants in the experimental group. In particular, the quality of attack movements, and the accuracy and efficiency of shots achieved positive growth in the experimental group. The results of the research serve to improve the technical and tactical training of young volleyball players and to organize training effectively.

Abstract PO3-05-11: Enhancing the interpretation of real-world quality of life (QoL) in patients (pts) with hormone receptor positive human epidermal growth factor 2 negative (HR+/HER2−) advanced breast cancer (ABC) enrolled in the POLARIS trial

Abstract Background POLARIS is a prospective, observational real-world study of pts with HR+/HER2− ABC receiving palbociclib in routine clinical practice. We have previously shown that palbociclib treatment did not have any significant adverse impact on pt QoL when assessed by the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire,1 consistent with published clinical trial findings. Now, to enhance interpretation, we sought to characterize EORTC scores (using updated POLARIS data) into terms that are meaningful to pts, physicians, and other stakeholders, using a similar approach to established clinical problem threshold methodology.2 Methods EORTC data were collected at baseline (BL), monthly for the first 3 months, and every 3 months thereafter until palbociclib discontinuation. Response options for each EORTC question (ordinal scale from 1=very poor to 7=excellent) were grouped into “favorable” (taking a conservative approach of using only responses 5, 6 or 7) and “less favorable” (response of ≤4) for the two items on global health status/QoL. The proportion of pts with favorable or less favorable response was compared between subgroups (line of therapy, age, race, bone metastases, visceral metastases, and dose modification) at timepoints BL, month 6, 12, and 18 using Fisher’s exact test. Results Between January 2017 and December 2018, 1285 pts were enrolled, of whom 1250 received at least one dose of palbociclib and subsequently analyzed as part of the final data cut of 09 Jan 2023. EORTC Q29 ‒ Overall Health completion rates were 1167/1250 (93.4%) at baseline, 732/1250 (58.6%) at month 6, 484/1250 (38.7%) at month 12, and 353/1250 (28.2%) at month 18 (Table). The proportion of pts with a favorable response for EORTC Q29 was consistently higher than with a not favorable response (BL, 56.1% vs 43.9%; month 6, 69.3% vs 30.7%; month 12, 68.6% vs 31.4%; and month 18, 70.0% vs 30.0%; Table). When analyzed by subgroup, no significant differences were observed in the proportion of pts with a favorable (to less favorable) response for any subgroup covariate, except for age at BL; however, this significance was not observed at month 6, 12 or 18 (Table). Similar results were observed for EORTC Q30 – Overall QoL (data not shown). Conclusions The proportion of pts indicating a favorable response in the EORTC questionnaire Overall Health and Overall QoL questions increased or were maintained in pts with HR+/HER2− ABC treated with palbociclib from BL through to month 18 across overall and all subgroups. It is important to note that these data are conditional on the pts who responded to the questions, whose numbers diminished over time. XX XX Citation Format: Gabrielle Rocque, Joanne Blum, Yan Ji, Timothy Pluard, John Migas, Shailendra Lakhanpal, Erin Jepsen, Eric Gauthier, Yao Wang, Monica Montelongo, Joseph C. Cappelleri, Connie Chen, Meghan Karuturi, Debu Tripathy. Enhancing the interpretation of real-world quality of life (QoL) in patients (pts) with hormone receptor positive human epidermal growth factor 2 negative (HR+/HER2−) advanced breast cancer (ABC) enrolled in the POLARIS trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-05-11.

Abstract PO1-04-13: CARDIAC-STAR: Prevalence of Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Hormone Receptor Positive Human Epidermal Growth Factor Negative metaStatic breasT cAnceR

Abstract BACKGROUND: Baseline cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities can impact treatment decisions for patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (mBC). There is limited data on the prevalence of CV comorbidities at the time of hormone receptor positive human epidermal growth factor negative (HR+/HER2-) mBC diagnosis. The primary objective of this study is to describe the prevalence of pre-existing CV comorbidities in women and men with newly diagnosed HR+/HER2- mBC. A secondary objective is to describe the first documented cancer treatment for patients with or without CV comorbidities. METHODS: Women and men ≥18 years of age with newly diagnosed HR+/HER2- mBC from 01/2016 to 12/2021 were included in this retrospective, observational study using the Merative™ Marketscan® Commercial and Medicare Databases which is nationally representative. Evidence of mBC was defined as having two or more claims containing one or more diagnosis code for BC at least 30 days apart and at least two secondary malignancy diagnosis codes. Previously published claims-based algorithms were used to identify the HR+/HER2- molecular subtype. The index date is defined as the date of first mBC diagnosis. Patients had a 1-year pre-index period for observation of CV comorbidities and a 6-month post-index period for first documented cancer treatmen RESULTS: We identified 5,452 pts with HR+/HER2- mBC, 99% of whom were female, with a median age of 58 years (yrs) (IQR 13), and 83% having a health plan from an employer; i.e., are still employed. At mBC diagnosis, 3,335 pts (61.2%) had at least one pre-existing CV comorbidity (see Table). The most reported CV comorbidities were hypertension (50.7%), hyperlipidemia (33.7%), and diabetes (19.2%). The median age of pts with or without a CV comorbidity was 61 and 52 yrs, respectively; 16.2% with CV comorbidities were ≥75 yrs. Additional data, including first documented treatment, will be presented at the meeting. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CV comorbidities in pts with HR+/HER2- mBC is often underrecognized. In this analysis, more than half of pts had at least one CV comorbidity by mBC diagnosis. CV comorbidities may impact treatment decisions in the HR+/HER2- mBC population, particularly in older pts. Table Citation Format: Susan Dent, Avirup Guha, Heather Moore, Rachael McCaleb, Irene Arias, Stella Stergiopoulos, Benjamin Li, Doris Makari, Michael Fradley. CARDIAC-STAR: Prevalence of Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Hormone Receptor Positive Human Epidermal Growth Factor Negative metaStatic breasT cAnceR [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-04-13.