Rate Of Progression Research Articles

The Analysis of the Impact of Gender and Age in Competitive Sports: A Case Study of Olympic Swimming Finals from 2012 to 2024

The elite swimming performance progression is impacted by variable factors such as training advancements, athlete demographics, and physiological traits. A deep understanding of influencing factors and performance trends allows for the development of optimized training strategies and maximizing athletes overall performance. This study conducts a comprehensive investigation into the influence of gender and age on Olympic swimming performance across the 2012 to 2024 Olympic Games, with a detailed analysis of performance trends in various strokes and distances. Data from the top eight finalists in each event were subjected to rigorous statistical analysis, employing t-tests and ANOVA to assess progression patterns and age-related shifts. The findings demonstrate that both female and male swimmers exhibited comparable rates of performance progression over the Olympic cycles, with no statistically significant differences in gender-based performance trends. However, notable exceptions were observed in specific events, such as stagnation in the mens 100m freestyle and womens 200m butterfly during certain periods. The age analysis revealed a general upward trend in the ages of competitors, though younger swimmers were more prevalent in endurance events, while older athletes excelled in sprint disciplines like the 50m freestyle. While the Olympic year did not significantly influence age trends, stroke type and distance were identified as key determinants of age variation among competitors. These results provide nuanced insights into the interaction of gender and age with elite swimming performance, with potential implications for optimizing training protocols and talent development in competitive swimming.

Impact of thyrotropin levels on outcomes in T1N0M0 papillary thyroid cancer after microwave ablation

Objective To evaluate the impact of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels on tumor progression and survival in patients with uni- and multifocal T1N0M0 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) treated with microwave ablation (MWA). Methods This retrospective study analyzed the records of 525 patients with uni- and multifocal T1N0M0 PTC who underwent MWA from January 2015 to December 2022. Patients were stratified into uni-focal (U-PTC) and multifocal (M-PTC) groups and further categorized based on post-ablation TSH levels into low (≤1 mU/L), medium (1–2 mU/L), and high (>2 mU/L) subgroups. The tumor progression rates and progression-free survival were assessed. Results In U-PTC patients, lower TSH levels were significantly associated with higher tumor progression rates (10.1%) compared to those in the medium (2.9%) and high (2.1%) TSH groups (p = .009). Conversely, in M-PTC patients, tumor progression rates did not vary significantly across TSH levels. Progression-free survival rates in U-PTC patients were notably lower at the 5-year mark in the low TSH group (85.7%) compared to the medium TSH group (96.5%, p = .046). However, progression-free survival rates in M-PTC patients showed convergence across all TSH levels by the 5-year follow-up. Conclusion Maintaining TSH levels within the normal range post-ablation may be appropriate for managing T1N0M0 PTC treated with MWA, but randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm optimal TSH targets and their impact on outcomes.

Croplands proximity is associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis incidence and age at onset.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting from an intricate interplay between genetics and environmental factors. Many studies have explored living in rural areas as a possible risk factor for ALS, without focusing simultaneously on incidence, age at onset and phenotypic features. To evaluate the effect of croplands residential proximity on ALS incidence and phenotype, focusing on age of onset, site of onset and progression rate. The address history of ALS patients belonging to the population-based Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta registry (PARALS), diagnosed between 2007 and 2014, was obtained for the 20 years prior to the onset date. The smoothed ALS incidence per year (im) was compared with the percentage of area covered by each crop for each municipality. A proximity score was calculated for each cropland by geolocation, measuring the percentage of area surrounding patients' residence for variable radii, and was used to compare croplands exposure and phenotype. We observed an increased ALS incidence in the municipalities with a higher percentage of area covered by arable crops (R = 0.191, p < 0.001). Age at onset was significantly lower in those patients who lived near arable crops, with a median anticipation ranging from 1.8 to 3.4 years; using historical data, a significant anticipation was found also for patients living near vineyards. Our study proved a direct association between arable crops and ALS risk and an inverse association between arable crops and vineyards proximity and age at onset, suggesting the possible causative role of specific environmental contaminants.

New-Occurrence of Postoperative Modic Changes and Its Influence on the Surgical Prognosis After Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Disc Discectomy.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common degenerative spinal disease in clinical practice. This study aims to investigate the impact of Modic changes (MCs) on postoperative recovery and disease recurrence following percutaneous endoscopic lumbar disc discectomy (PELD), providing important insights for improving the management of chronic low back pain. This study investigates the 1-year progression rate of MCs after PELD and their impact on surgical outcomes and recurrence. This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 419 patients with single-segment lumbar disc herniation who underwent PELD between January 2019 and December 2022. Lumbar MRI assessed preoperative and postoperative MCs. Pain levels and surgical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Macnab criteria. Univariate analysis explored the relationship between postoperative MCs and pain, while subgroups investigated the associations between postoperative efficacy, recurrence, and MCs type and area. One-year follow-up revealed that the probability of MCs postsurgery was 24.8%. Patients with postoperative MCs had significantly lower pain scores compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that the type and area of postoperative MCs were risk factors for poor outcomes in PELD patients (p < 0.05). During the 1-year follow-up, recurrence rates in the no-MCs and MCs groups were 3.8% and 9.6%, respectively (p < 0.05). Univariate analysis concluded that the area of postoperative MCs was a risk factor for PELD recurrence. The postoperative MCs, as a risk factor, may have a detrimental effect on the surgical efficacy and short-term recurrence of LDH following PELD based on a large sample. Furthermore, the harmful effect is affected by the area and type of the postoperative MCs.

Capabilities of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in a comparative assessment of the effect of various targeted therapy options in patients with &lt;i&gt;EGFR&lt;/i&gt;-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: No publications in the Russian medical literature have examined the potential of positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography through a comparative evaluation of the effect of various targeted therapies involving tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and mutations in the EGFR gene. AIM: To explore the capabilities of positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography based on the RECIST 1.1 criteria and changes in SUVmax and SUVmean metabolic parameters for the comparative assessment of the tumor response to targeted monotherapy and combination therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 2019–2022 examination records of positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in 105 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were analyzed, including 75 patients with EGFR-activating mutation. The radiation exposure was adjusted individually and ranged from 45 to 90 mSv. The volume activity of the 18F-FDG radiopharmaceutical was 260–500 MBq. The change in the total largest diameters of the target lesions and SUVmax and SUVmean metabolic parameters were assessed before treatment initiation and 1.5–2.0 months after it. The follow-up duration for the changes in positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography findings in 17 patients with non-small cell lung cancer was at least 12 months. RESULTS: According to positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography images and SUVmax and SUVmean changes, disease progression was significantly less common (p = 0.043 and p =0.029) in patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer from Groups 2 and 3 who received combination therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and bevacizumab or chemotherapy than in Group 1 and control group (4.2% vs. 20.0%–21.8%). An insignificant trend (p =0.092) to a higher partial response to therapy (58.3% vs. 40.0%) was noted. Similar changes in the total largest diameters of the target lesions at the early stage of therapy appeared to be not significant (p =0.187). Within the long-term follow-up of some patients with non-small cell lung cancer, in at least 50% of cases, changes in the total largest lesion diameters are consistent with the relevant SUVmax and SUVmean alterations found in the first control study. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography data and alterations in SUVmax and SUVmean metabolic parameters, the early tumor response to combined therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and bevacizumab or chemotherapy compared with targeted monotherapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or chemotherapy of the control group was characterized by a significantly lower rate of metabolic disease progression, although a similar tendency of the change in the total largest diameters of target lesions according to RECIST 1.1. was not significant. Changes in SUVmax and SUVmean metabolic parameters at the early stage of therapy are at least 50% faster than similar changes in the total largest diameters of the target lesions, which can be used for the timely identification of patients with a high risk of further progression as determined by RECIST 1.1.

β-Blocker Use and Delayed Onset and Progression of Huntington Disease

Huntington disease (HD) is characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric decline. β-Blockers may play a therapeutic role by decreasing enhanced sympathetic tone in HD. To evaluate the impact of β-blockers on the timing of motor diagnosis onset and progression of HD symptoms. This observational, longitudinal multicenter study used the Enroll-HD platform database (initiated September 2011 to present), including propensity score-matched cohorts of patients with premanifest HD (preHD) and early motor-manifest HD (mmHD) who were either users or nonusers of β-blockers. Participants included patients with genetically confirmed preHD (n = 4683 eligible participants) or mmHD (n = 3024 eligible participants) who were taking a β-blocker and were matched to similar non-β-blocker users. Uninterrupted use of a β-blocker for more than 1 year. For PreHD: risk of receiving a motor diagnosis of HD over time. For mmHD: progression rate of total motor score, total functional capacity score, and the symbol digit modalities test. Post hoc analyses were performed to test additional clarifying hypotheses after the primary analyses were completed. This study included 174 preHD β-blocker users (59 males; 115 females) with a mean age of 46.4 (SD, 13.1) years and a mean cytosine-adenine guanine repeat length of 41.1 (SD, 2.4) who were well matched to 174 preHD non-β-blocker users. The preHD β-blocker users showed a statistically significant reduction in the annualized hazard of receiving a motor diagnosis compared with nonusers (n = 174) (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.94; P = .02). There were 149 mmHD β-blocker users (86 males; 60 females) with a mean age of 58.9 (SD, 11.3) years and a mean cytosine-adenine guanine repeat length of 42.0 (SD, 2.3) matched to 149 mmHD non-β-blocker users. The β-blocker users had a slower mean annualized worsening in total motor score (mean difference [MD], -0.45; 95% CI, -0.85 to -0.06; q = 0.025), total functional capacity score (MD, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.02-0.18; q = 0.025), and symbol digit modalities test (MD, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.10-0.56; q = 0.017) compared with matched nonusers. In this study, β-blocker use was associated with delayed motor onset in preHD and reduced the rate of worsening of symptoms in mmHD. These findings demonstrated that β-blockers may have a therapeutic role in HD but further studies are required.

Sensitivity of Septoria lycopersici Speg. isolates to fungicides in Brazil

Disease management using synthetic fungicides is the main strategy used by tomato growers to prevent tomato yield reductions caused by Septoria leaf spot (SLS). Despite the importance of this plant disease, there is little information about the sensitivity of Septoria lycopersici isolates to fungicides. The sensitivity of 94 isolates of S. lycopersici to azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, tebuconazole, and thiophanate-methyl was assessed in experiments using fungicide-amended 96-well microtiter plates. The highest EC 50 values above 100 mg/L were detected for azoxystrobin, thiophanate-methyl, and tebuconazole. Based on these results, five isolates classified as resistant and five as sensitive to each fungicide were selected for the experiments. Tomato plants were inoculated with sensitive (S) and resistant (R) isolates and sprayed by the fungicides in three greenhouse assays. The differences in the values of the area under the progress curve of Septoria leaf spot (AUDPC), disease severity progress, and progress rates were not so pronounced between tomato plants sprayed and non-sprayed with fungicides. The AUDPC values for plants inoculated with S and R isolates and treated with chlorothalonil, tebuconazole, and thiophanate-methyl ranged from 10 to 320, 0 to 80, and 50 to 150, respectively. For azoxystrobin, the AUDPC values were around 200 in plants inoculated with S and R isolates. There is evidence of reduced sensitivity of individuals of S. lycopersici to azoxystrobin, tebuconazole, and thiophanate-methyl in the population in Brazil. Therefore, tomato growers should rotate and combine fungicides with different mechanisms of action and low-risk of resistance to control SLS.

Duration and Frequency of Spirometry Needed to Accurately Reflect Annualized Change of FEV1 in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Rationale: The slope of decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) is commonly used to reflect the rate of disease progression for descriptive studies and therapeutic trials in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The frequency and duration of spirometric testing needed to report the true slope are unknown. Objectives: We sought to define the minimum frequency and follow-up duration needed to accurately describe the annualized rate of FEV1 change among patients with moderate to very severe COPD. Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of the annualized rate of FEV1 change among 4,412 subjects previously enrolled in the 4-year Understanding Potential Long-Term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium-or, UPLIFT-trial of tiotropium versus placebo. Slope estimates were modeled for different iterations of semiannual or annual testing over a variable duration up to 42 months. All models were compared with a reference of semiannual spirometry for 42 months. Results: The overall annual rate of postbronchodilator FEV1 decline measured semiannually for 42 months (44.6 ml; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 42.5-46.6) did not differ significantly from annual spirometry over the same period (43.7 ml; 95% CI = 41.3-46.1) or semiannual spirometry over the first 2 years (44.3 ml; 95% CI = 41.1-47.5). Agreement was consistent for two follow-up values as far as 24 months apart (43.3 ml; 95% CI = 39.9-46.8). Models that are based on less than two follow-up values or a duration less than 18 months were characterized by relative underestimation of the slope. Conclusions: In a large cohort of patients with moderate to very severe COPD, the annualized rate of change in FEV1 was accurately represented by a minimum of two annual follow-up measurements over 18 months compared with semiannual testing over 42 months.

Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 receiving remdesivir in the inpatient setting in Japan.

Remdesivir (RDV) was approved in Japan for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in May 2020. However, large-scale research describing the characterized use of RDV in the inpatient setting in Japan is limited. This study aimed to describe the treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 treated with RDV. We used a secondary nationwide administrative claims database of acute care hospitals in Japan. The study period was from October 19, 2020, to September 30, 2022. Patients with COVID-19 treated with RDV during hospitalization were included, and the proportion of patients with death and disease progression were calculated. The analysis included a total of 2,171 immunocompromised patients treated with RDV. The mean (standard deviation) age at index date was 75.1 (13.6) years. The median time to RDV initiation from hospitalization was 1.0 days (Q1-Q3: 1.0-2.0), and the median duration of RDV treatment was 5.0 days (Q1-Q3: 3.0-5.0). At RDV initiation, 53.02% (n=1,151) of patients required non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, nasal high-flow or low-flow oxygen, and 2.26% (n=49) required mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or intensive care unit admission. Inpatient mortality rate by day 28 was 8.98% (95% confidence interval, 7.81-10.26). By day 28, the rate of disease progression was 9.86% (n=214), and 76.83% (n=1,668) were discharged. This study presents practical information on outcomes and treatment patterns of RDV in immunocompromised inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Population-Based Evidence for the Use of Serum Neurofilaments as Individual Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Neurofilament light chains (NfL) and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chains (pNfH), established as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in hospital-based amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cohorts, are now surrogate markers in clinical trials. This study extends their evaluation to a population level, with the aim of advancing their full establishment and assessing the transferability of biomarker findings from controlled cohorts to real-world ALS populations. We measured serum NfL and pNfH levels in all ALS patients (n = 790) and general population controls (n = 570) with available baseline samples participating in the epidemiological ALS Registry Swabia, providing platform-specific (ELLA™) reference data and Z-scores for controls, as well as reference data, disease-specific Z-scores and longitudinal data in ALS. We evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic utility of neurofilaments and quantified the impact of ALS-related factors and non-ALS confounders. Neurofilaments showed high diagnostic and prognostic utility at the population level, with NfL superior to pNfH. The novel concept of a population-based ALS Z-score significantly improved the prognostic utility compared to absolute raw values. Both biomarkers increased more strongly with age in controls than in ALS, and age adjustment improved diagnostic accuracy. Our data show that disease progression rates, ALS phenotype, body mass index (BMI), and renal function need to be considered when interpreting neurofilament levels; longitudinal neurofilament levels were generally stable in individual patients, especially when adjusted for age and baseline levels. Population-based assessment enhances the utility of particularly serum NfL as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in ALS and improves the translation of findings from controlled cohorts to real-world populations. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:1040-1057.

SLC12A9 is an immunological and prognostic biomarker for glioma

BackgroundGlioma is one of the most common malignant brain tumors. It has a high rate of progression and a poor prognosis, and effective biomarkers still need to be identified. The solute carrier family 12 (SLC12) family has been reported to be involved in various physiological and pathological processes, but their functional roles in glioma remain unclear. MethodsUsing public datasets, we studied the mutation and expression level of SLC12 family genes in glioma and identified the significantly differentially expressed member solute carrier family 12 member 9 (SLC12A9). We further predicted the prognostic role of SLC12A9 in glioma by using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Then, we performed biological functional enrichment analysis. We focused on the relationships between SLC12A9 expression and immune infiltration in glioma. Meanwhile, we conducted in vitro experiments to evaluate the effect of SLC12A9 expression on glioma cells. ResultsAmong the members of the SLC12 family, SLC12A9 had the highest mutation rate in glioma, with gene amplification as the major mutation type, and its expression was significantly upregulated in glioma. Higher SLC12A9 expression was significantly associated with older age, higher grade, wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and a worse prognosis. The functional enrichment analysis indicated that SLC12A9 is mainly related to ion channel annotation. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that SLC12A9 was mainly related to the DNA replication pathway. Furthermore, we found that SLC12A9 correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoints. Thus, SLC12A9 may be involved in regulating the immune response of glioma. Finally, our in vitro experiments revealed that silencing SLC12A9 dramatically inhibited glioma cell growth and migration. ConclusionsWe showed that SLC12A9 may be a new predictive biomarker for glioma diagnosis, prognosis, and immunotherapy response, offering helpful guidelines to advance glioma treatment.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy for cavernous malformations: a meta-analysis of individual patient-level data.

Several case series have investigated the use of laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) to treat cavernous malformations (CMs), for either seizure control or reduction of neurological symptoms and future hemorrhage risk. However, pooled outcomes are largely unknown. The authors aimed to quantify posttreatment seizure freedom, symptomatic progression or hemorrhage, perioperative complications, and imaging outcomes from the available literature. This study was a PRISMA-compliant systematic review and individual patient-level data meta-analysis of studies reporting LITT ablation of CMs. For patients with epilepsy, the pooled Engel seizure freedom rate was calculated. The rate of symptomatic progression or hemorrhage was calculated for all patients. Fixed-effects logistic regression models were used to test for predictors of seizure freedom and postoperative complications. Linear regression models were used to obtain pooled estimates of the percent CM volume ablated. A total of 39 patients (28 with epilepsy) underwent LITT for the treatment of 45 CMs (37 cortical, 8 subcortical) at six centers. Among patients with epilepsy, 88.0% (95% CI 68.7%-96.1%) were seizure free at the last follow-up (median 30.0 months, range 12.0-49.0 months). Six patients (15.4%) experienced immediate postoperative neurological deficits. No perioperative hemorrhage was reported, and no patients experienced subsequent hemorrhage or symptomatic progression during follow-up (median 26.0 months, range 2.0-53.0 months). There was no difference in the odds of seizure freedom or adverse events based on preoperative characteristics. Nonepileptogenic CMs (mean volume 2.5 cm3) were significantly larger than epileptogenic CMs (mean volume 0.8 cm3; p = 0.002). LITT was associated with a mean CM volume reduction of 73.7% (95% CI 64.1%-83.2%, p < 0.0001) for epileptogenic CMs and 53.8% (95% CI 14.2%-93.3%, p < 0.023) for nonepileptogenic CMs (p = 0.14). LITT is a promising therapy for CMs with the goal of seizure control or prevention of symptomatic progression or hemorrhage. While there is a notable risk of immediate postablation neurological deficit, most were transient and nondisabling, and this risk must be weighed against that of continued observation or open resection. Considering the limited number of studies, small number of patients, and limited follow-up time available, additional experience and research with larger patient cohorts and longer-term follow-up will be necessary to validate these findings.

A new stage of personal income taxation in Russia

Subject. The article deals the latest changes in the Russian legislation regarding the taxation of personal income that is planned to be legally effective as of January 1, 2025. Objectives. The article aims to examine historical, theoretical, and practical foundations of personal income taxation to determine the feasibility of introducing a progressive scale. Methods. The study draws on methods of comparison, observation, and scientific abstraction. Results. We established that the indicators of budget revenues from the payment of personal income tax tended to increase both at progressive and flat tax rate. The performance of the payment under study is influenced by such factors as employment, income received by an individual, manufacturing sector expansion, and creation of new jobs. The findings can be applied in the work of executive authorities, budgetary, and other organizations, including the educational process of academic institutions. Conclusions. The transition to progressive scale of taxation can lead to undesirable consequences, since there is a high risk of hiding citizens' incomes. The order of differentiation of tax rates requires economic thinking. A system should be created to eliminate social inequality by taking into account the income level of individuals.

SOMATOSTATIN ANALOGUES VS ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE IN SMALL PANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS.

The best strategy for non-functioning, sporadic, G1-G2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors ≤2 cm is unknown. An active surveillance is usually recommended. The PROMID and the CLARINET studies proved the value of somatostatin analogue (SSA) treatment in advanced gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Aim of this study is to assess the value of SSA in PanNET≤2 cm. We retrospectively collected data from 72 patients with sporadic non-functioning G1-G2 PanNETs≤2 cm, that were either treated with somatostatin analogues (n = 31) or underwent active surveillance (n = 41) at our Institution. At a median follow-up of 53.7 months, the median progression free survival was not reached in the treatment group versus an estimated PFS of 85 months in the control group (HR 0.11, p = 0.01), with a rate of progression or death up to 21.9% in the active surveillance group. Additionally, in the group of patients treated with somatostatin analogues the response rate was 16.1% with one complete response. Our monocentric experience demonstrated a significant antiproliferative activity of somatostatin analogues in patients with sporadic, non-functionating G1-G2 PanNETs ≤2 cm delaying tumor progression and distant spread in small lesions that sometimes may reveal unpredictable aggressiveness.

Additive and Non-additive Genetic Effects on Growth and Egg Production Performance of Crossbred Chicken in Ethiopia

The present review article aims to provide an overview of the additive and non-additive genetic effects of crossbreeding and their contribution to the improvement of growth and egg production traits in chickens. It discusses the advancement in crossbreeding effects and mating design contribution to a significant rate of genetic progress in indigenous chicken. In Ethiopia, crossbreeding practice may be used to enhance the performance of local chicken ecotypes. The article extensively reviews various papers related to crossbreeding trials conducted in Ethiopia, evaluating their effectiveness in improving growth and egg production. It discusses the mating design and breeds used in these programs, such as exotic breeds like Rhode Island Red, Fayoumi, White Leghorn, Koekoek, Sasso, Kuroiler, and local Ethiopian chicken ecotypes. Among the exotic breeds involved in crossbreeding, Rhode Island Red and Sasso are considered more favorable for improving growth rate and color preference, while White Leghorn is preferred for enhancing egg production traits. In opposite to these indigenous chickens are preferred for disease resistance and product quality. Additive genetic effects are typically responsible for the genetic improvement of traits over generations through selection. In egg production, additive genetic effects influence the overall capacity of a chicken to lay eggs, affecting traits like egg number and egg size. Whereas, In growth performance, additive genetic effects influence traits like body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and overall growth rate. Non-additive genetic effects include dominance and epistatic interactions between genes. These effects can lead to genetic heterogeneity and can impact traits like egg production and growth performance besides playing a role in hybrid vigor or heterosis. In conclusion, both additive and non-additive genetic effects play a crucial role in determining egg production and growth performance in chickens. Additive effects drive genetic improvement over generations, while non-additive effects provide immediate benefits like hybrid vigor. Understanding and utilizing both types of genetic effects is essential for enhancing these traits in poultry breeding programs. Chicken crossbreeding programs are highly important in the poultry industry as they continuously improve the genetic potential of chickens, leading to more efficient production systems and higher profitability for producers.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography guidance avoids US-CT/MR fusion error for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundThis study evaluated the impact of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) combined with CT or MRI fusion imaging on percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) inconspicuous on conventional ultrasonography (US).MethodsPatients were categorized into US-inconspicuous (USI) and US-conspicuous (USC) groups based on US imaging. The parameters of viable HCCs ⎯ including diameter, location, and RFA efficacy ⎯ were compared between USI and USC groups. Moreover, the breathing fusion imaging errors were measured. The differences in technical success, technical efficacy, local tumor progression, new tumor occurrence, and overall survival rate between USI and USC groups were analyzed.ResultsSixty-five patients with 106 lesions were included. CEUS showed high consistency with CT/MRI but revealed larger diameters (p < 0.001) and more feeding arteries (p = 0.019) than CT/MRI. Breathing fusion imaging errors averaged 17 ± 4 mm, significantly affecting lesions in segments II, III, V, and VI (p < 0.001). The USI group had more lesions ablated per patient in a single RFA procedure (p = 0.001) than the USC group. No significant differences were observed in technical success rate, technical efficacy rate, local tumor progression rate, and overall survival rate between the two groups.ConclusionsCEUS combined with fusion imaging provides detailed information on viable HCCs and their feeding arteries. CEUS-guided RFA avoids fusion imaging errors and achieves comparable efficacy in both US-conspicuous and US-inconspicuous HCCs.

The influence of menopause on multiple sclerosis.

One third of the multiple sclerosis (MS) population consists of peri- or postmenopausal women. Many symptoms of menopause overlap those of MS. Some studies show increased speed of disability progression after menopause, while others indicate an unaltered trajectory. Determine the association between menopause and MS disease course. Cohort study with clinical data collected prospectively. Self-reported age of menopause, smoking and parity collected retrospectively. We included 559 peri-/postmenopausal women and 386 similarly aged men. There was no significant difference in EDSS progression (slope coef 0.03, 0.02-0.08, p = 0.208) or annual relapse rate (ARR) (0.10, 0.29-0.10, p = 0.324) in the 5 years before and after menopause. Women's EDSS progressed slower than men's after menopause (coef -0.02, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.002, p = 0.032), but there was no difference in ARR [coef. -0.01, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.01, p = 0.262]. Women who reached menopause before MS onset had shorter time to diagnosis than women who reached menopause after onset (3.1 years (3.1) vs. 7.4 years (8.1), p < 0.001). Women who reached menopause before diagnosis had an even longer time to diagnosis (8.8 (9.3) vs. 5.5 (6.3), p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in EDSS progression or ARR before and after menopause. In fact, men progressed faster than women, suggesting there is no negative impact of menopause on disease progression, as measured by EDSS and relapses.

Clinical outcomes of microwave ablation for solitary T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma: a more than 5-year follow-up study.

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) for solitary T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and compare them between T1a and T1b disease. This retrospective study included 136 patients with solitary T1N0M0 PTC who were treated with MWA and followed up for more than 5 years. Outcomes were compared between patients with T1a and T1b disease. The primary outcomes were disease progression and disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary outcomes included the volume reduction rate (VRR), the rate of complete disappearance, and complications. During a mean follow-up period of 70.6 ± 10.5 months, the overall disease progression rate was 5.88%. The incidences of lymph node metastases (LNMs) and new tumors were 2.21% and 5.15%, respectively. No patient was diagnosed with local recurrence, distant metastasis, or death due to PTC. There were no significant differences between the T1a and T1b groups in terms of disease progression (3.81% vs 12.90%, p = 0.15), LNMs (1.90% vs 3.23%, p = 0.54), or new tumors (2.86% vs 12.90%, p = 0.08). The 5-year DFS rate was 94.85%, the VRR was 99.7% ± 2.0%, and 97.79% of the tumors disappeared. Hoarseness occurred in five patients (3.68%). MWA is a long-term effective and safe option for patients with solitary T1N0M0 PTC, providing a minimally invasive alternative for those who refuse surgery or active surveillance. Question MWA, as a minimally invasive alternative for treating PTC, lacks comparison with surgical resection and active surveillance. Findings MWA resulted in overall disease progression in 5.88% of patients with solitary T1N0M0 PTC over more than 5 years of follow-up. Clinical relevance MWA is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment for solitary T1N0M0 PTC, with high DFS rates and low complication rates, benefiting patients seeking alternatives to surgery or active surveillance.

Evaluating Agricultural Production Efficiency in Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces: A Three-Stage DEA and Malmquist Index Approach

This study assesses the agricultural production efficiency of Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces from 2018 to 2022, with a focus on the impact of the Yangtze River Delta Regional Integration Development Plan. Utilizing a three-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model and the Malmquist index, the research controls for environmental factors and analyzes efficiency changes dynamically. The results indicate that Jiangsu achieved a higher rate of technological progress, with an average annual growth rate of 1.0066, which drove its overall productivity gains. In contrast, Anhui demonstrated substantial potential in scale efficiency, reflecting opportunities for future productivity improvements through optimized resource allocation. The regional integration plan appears to have played a pivotal role in advancing agricultural productivity in Jiangsu by facilitating technology-driven improvements. Findings suggest that while Jiangsu should continue to enhance its technological capabilities, Anhui could focus on harnessing its scale efficiency potential to bridge the productivity gap between the two provinces. These insights underscore the significance of regional integration policies in fostering balanced agricultural development, promoting both technological progress and scale efficiency across different regional contexts.

Anti-Tetanus Vaccination Is Associated with Reduced Occurrence and Slower Progression of Parkinson’s Disease—A Retrospective Study

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively damages the autonomic and central nervous systems, leading to hallmark symptoms such as resting tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity. Despite extensive research, the underlying cause of PD remains unclear, and current treatments are unable to halt the progression of the disease. In this retrospective study, based on historical electronic health records (EHR) from a national health provider covering the period from 2003 to 2023, we investigated the impact of vaccination and medication purchases on PD occurrence and severity. Methods: Using a case–control design, we compared the vaccination histories of 1446 PD patients with 7230 matched controls to assess the association between vaccination and PD onset. Additionally, we explored statistical associations between vaccination, medication purchases, and PD severity over an average of 9 years of follow-up, utilizing a machine learning algorithm to quantify disease severity based on annual antiparkinsonian medication purchases.Results: Our analysis revealed a significant reduction in PD occurrence following tetanus–diphtheria (Td) vaccination, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.17 (95% CI [0.04, 0.70]) for PD onset within 5 years post-vaccination. Furthermore, a time-dependent relationship was identified between the duration since vaccination and both the rate of PD onset and disease progression. Notably, we observed that antimicrobial treatments significantly influenced disease severity, consistent with the antibiotic sensitivity profile of Clostridium tetani. Conclusions: These findings support the hypothesis that tetanus vaccination and/or C. tetani eradication may reduce PD occurrence and slow its progression, suggesting promising directions for future research in PD prevention and treatment.