Generating and using real-world data: A worthwhile uphill battle

The precision oncology paradigm challenges the feasibility and data generalizability of traditional clinical trials. Consequently, an unmet need exists for practical approaches to test many subgroups, evaluate real-world drug value, and gather comprehensive, accessible datasets to validate novel biomarkers. Real-world data (RWD) are increasingly recognized to have the potential to fill this gap in research methodology. Established applications of RWD include informing disease epidemiology, pharmacovigilance, and healthcare quality assessment. Currently, concerns regarding RWD quality and comprehensiveness, privacy, and biases hamper their broader application. Nonetheless, RWD may play a pivotal role in supplementing clinical trials, enabling conditional reimbursement and accelerated drug access, and innovating trial conduct. Moreover, purpose-built RWD repositories may support the extension or refinement of drug indications and facilitate the discovery and validation of new biomarkers. This perspective explores the potential of leveraging RWD to advance oncology, highlights its benefits and challenges, and suggests a path forward in this evolving field.

Prognosis and course of pain in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: A 1-year follow-up cohort study

BACKGROUND

It remains unclear to what extent patients recover from chronic non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). The objective of this study was to determine (1) the course of chronic NSLBP in tertiary care and (2) which factors predicted 5- and 12-month outcomes.

METHODS

This prospective study includes 1760 chronic NSLBP patients from a rehabilitation clinic (mean age 40.1 years, SD 10.6). After baseline measurement, patients followed a 2-month multidisciplinary therapy programme; evaluation took place at 2, 5 and 12 months post baseline. Recovery was defined as (1) relative recovery [30% improvement on the pain, visual analogue scale (VAS) compared with baseline] and (2) absolute recovery (VAS pain ≤ 10 mm). The multivariate logistic regression analysis included 23 baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

Patient-reported intensity of back pain decreased from 55.5 (SD 23.0) at baseline to 37.0 (SD 23.8), 35.3 (SD 26.1) and 32.3 (SD 26.9) at 2-, 5- and 12-month follow-up, respectively. Younger age, back pain at baseline, no psychological/physical dysfunction (Symptom Check List-90, item 9), and higher baseline scores on the physical component scale and mental component scale of quality of life (Short Form-36) were positively associated with recovery at 5 and 12 months. At 5-month follow-up, higher work participation at baseline was also a prognostic factor for both definitions of recovery. At 12-month follow-up, having co-morbidity was predictive for both definitions.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that in chronic NSLBP patients, bio-psychosocial prognostic factors may be important for clinicians when predicting recovery in back pain intensity during a 1-year period.

Effects of soil and air temperature on growth, development and water use of tomatoes

In glasshouse experiments (a) without air temperature control and soil temperatures ranging from 14 degrees to 29 degrees C, and (b) with constant air temperatures of 17 degrees , 21 degrees and 25 degrees C and soil temperatures ranging from 12 degrees to 30 degrees C, growth of tomato plants was reduced at soil temperatures below 17 degrees C and air temperatures below 20 degrees C. Soil temperature did not influence reproductive development very much; root extension was somewhat influenced by soil temperature, and high soil temperatures increased the water use. A late but rather profuse flowering was produced by low air temperatures. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

The pollination of tomatoes

Studies were carried out on the effect of pollination on fruit set, normal fruit growth, earliness of yield and size of fruit. A high positive correlation was found between the number of seeds per fruit and the fruit weight. When flowers were pollinated with a mixture of inert powder and pollen, fruits were larger and earlier as the proportion of pollen in the mixture was increased. Heavier pollination resulted in larger, earlier fruits with more seeds. A negative correlation was found between fruit weight per seed and number of seeds on the plant when seed growth began. Good pollination was obtained by using an electric vibrator, resulting in earlier ripening and better quality fruits. Auxin sprays increased the number of large fruits containing few seeds. Under poor light conditions extra lighting improved the production of normal flowers.-Lab. Tuinbouwpl., Wageningen. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)