Multicentre, prospective, randomized control non-inferiority trial of bladder catheter management in colon surgery

AIM

Perioperative bladder catheterization is a controversial issue. Most current recommendations are based on data from open surgery extrapolated to enhanced recovery after surgery or fast-track programmes ranging between 24 and 48 h. The aim of this study is to provide a rationale for reducing catheterization time while at the same time avoiding acute urine retention (AUR), in patients undergoing scheduled laparoscopic colon surgery.

METHOD

This is a multicentre, prospective, controlled, randomized non-inferiority study of bladder catheter management in patients undergoing scheduled laparoscopic colon surgery, randomized into two groups: experimental (with catheter removal immediately after surgery) and control (with catheter removal 24 h post-surgery). The main outcome will be the development of AUR, and secondary outcomes the development of urinary infection within the first 30 days and hospital stay. Demographic, surgical and pathological variables will also be evaluated, especially the development of adverse effects assessed according to the Clavien scale and the Comprehensive Complication Index. Following the literature, we assume an incidence of AUR of 11% and a margin of non-inferiority (delta) of 8% and estimate that a sample size of 208 patients per group will be required (with an estimated 10% of losses per group).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study we try to demonstrate that the bladder catheter can be removed immediately after scheduled laparoscopic colon surgery, without increasing acute urine retention. This measure would offers the benefits of earlier mobilization and reduces catheter-related morbidity.

Association between a Frailty Index from Common Laboratory Values and Vital Signs (FI-LAB) and Hospital and Post-Hospital Outcomes in Veterans with COVID-19 Infection

OBJECTIVES

Determine the association of higher FI-LAB scores, derived from common laboratory values and vital signs, with hospital and post-hospital outcomes in Veterans hospitalized with COVID-19 infection.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study of 7 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers in Florida and Puerto Rico. Patients aged 18 years and older hospitalized with COVID-19 and followed for up to 1 year post discharge or until death. Clinical Frailty Measure: FI-LAB.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Hospital and post-hospital outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 671 eligible patients, 615 (91.5%) patients were included (mean [SD] age, 66.1 [14.8] years; 577 men [93.8%]; median stay, 8 days [IQR:3-15]. There were sixty-one in-hospital deaths. Veterans in the moderate and high FI-LAB groups had a higher proportion of inpatient mortality (13.3% and 20.6%, respectively) than the low group (4.1%), p <0.001. Moderate and high FI-LAB scores were associated with greater inpatient mortality when compared to the low group, OR:3.22 (95%CI:1.59-6.54), p=.001 and 6.05 (95%CI:2.48-14.74), p<0.001, respectively. Compared with low FI-LAB scores, moderate and high scores were also associated with prolonged length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and transfer.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this study of patients admitted to 7 VHA Hospitals during the first surge of the pandemic, higher FI-LAB scores were associated with higher in-hospital mortality and other in-hospital outcomes; FI-LAB can serve as a validated, rapid, feasible, and objective frailty tool in hospitalized adults with COVID-19 that can aid clinical care.

COGNITION: a prospective precision oncology trial for patients with early breast cancer at high risk following neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

COGNITION (Comprehensive assessment of clinical features, genomics and further molecular markers to identify patients with early breast cancer for enrolment on marker driven trials) is a diagnostic registry trial that employs genomic and transcriptomic profiling to identify biomarkers in patients with early breast cancer with a high risk for relapse after standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) to guide genomics-driven targeted post-neoadjuvant therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

At National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg patients were biopsied before starting NACT, and for patients with residual tumors after NACT additional biopsy material was collected. Whole-genome/exome and transcriptome sequencing were applied on tumor and corresponding blood samples.

RESULTS

In the pilot phase 255 patients were enrolled, among which 213 were assessable: thereof 48.8% were identified to be at a high risk for relapse following NACT; 86.4% of 81 patients discussed in the molecular tumor board were eligible for a targeted therapy within the interventional multiarm phase II trial COGNITION-GUIDE (Genomics-guided targeted post neoadjuvant therapy in patients with early breast cancer) starting enrolment in Q4/2022. An in-depth longitudinal analysis at baseline and in residual tumor tissue of 16 patients revealed some cases with clonal evolution but largely stable genetic alterations, suggesting restricted selective pressure of broad-acting cytotoxic neoadjuvant chemotherapies.

CONCLUSIONS

While most precision oncology initiatives focus on metastatic disease, the presented concept offers the opportunity to empower novel therapy options for patients with high-risk early breast cancer in the post-neoadjuvant setting within a biomarker-driven trial and provides the basis to test the value of precision oncology in a curative setting with the overarching goal to increase cure rates.

Characterization of neuropsychiatric symptoms in a group of individuals with manifest or pre-motor Huntington’s disease in Medellín, Colombia

Introduction

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare (1-9/100 000), inherited disease characterized by an elongated CAG repeat on chromosome 4p, leading to a degeneration of neurons. Also, psychiatric symptoms are very common in the early stage and may appear before motor symptoms.

Objectives

To characterize neuropsychiatric symptoms in a group of individuals with manifest or pre-motor Huntington’s disease in Medellín, Colombia.

Methods

Data obtained from clinical records of individuals with HD (motor-manifest or pre-motor with triplets count) evaluated for ENROLL-HD project in the Group of Neuroscience of Antioquia. We explored variables related to substances abuse, neuropsychiatric symptoms, the respective age of onset, sex, and triplet count when available.

Results

Twenty-six (53%) were women, 8% had a familiar history of psychotic illness in a first-degree relative and 88% presented motor symptoms. Also, 59% had a history of depression, 53% irritability, 57% aggressiveness, 34% apathy, 29% perseverative/obsessive behavior, 14% psychosis, and 30% mild cognitive impairment. Ten individuals (20%) had motor without neuropsychiatric symptoms. Also, thirty-seven individuals (76%) presented motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms; of these, 41% had neuropsychiatric symptoms before motor symptoms. No psychiatric symptoms were associated with the use of alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs of abuse.

Conclusions

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are highly prevalent among individuals with HD and studies oriented to create relevant knowledge for the development of advice oriented to people with this disease are necessary.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

POS0707 POTENTIAL USE OF BELIMUMAB IN LUPUS PATIENTS FROM ARGENTINE COHORT ACCORDING DISEASE ACTIVITY STATE

Background

The goal of targeted treatment in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is to achieve clinical remission or low disease activity, with the best quality of life, low damage rates and better survival 1-4. RELESSAR is a multicenter, cross-sectional study registry of ≥18 years SLE (ACR 97) patients 5.

Objectives

To describe demographic, clinical characteristics and treatments in SLE patients according to disease activity state. To evaluate the proportion of SLE and refractory SLE patients that are potentially candidates for Belimumab treatment (Active SLE despite standard treatment including increased acDNA autoantibodies and low complement).

Methods

We evaluated demographic and clinical data, treatments, score of damage (SLICC), activity (SLEDAI) and comorbidity (Charlson), hospital admissions and severe infections. The patients were compared according to disease activity: remission (SLEDAI = 0 and without corticosteroids), low disease activity (LDA, SLEDAI> 0 and ≤4 and without corticosteroids) and non-optimal control (SLEDAI> 4 and any dose of corticosteroids). Refractory SLE was defined according to Rituximab (RTX) use, non-response to cyclophosphamide or two or more immunosuppressant or splenectomized patients. Potential use of Belimumab according approved prescription in Argentina was analyzed.

Results

Overall, 1277 patients were analyzed: 299 (23.4%) were in remission, 162 (12.7%) in LDA and 816 (63.9%) with non-optimal control of the disease.

Patients in non-optimal control group were younger, less frequently female and they showed less time of disease and lower socioeconomic status (p < 0.001). They were also more prevalent mestizos (p= 0.004), had higher SLEDAI and SLICC indexes (p <0.001) and higher use of immunosuppressant therapy (p <0.001). There was no difference regarding biologic treatment (RTX p= 0.547 and Belimumab p= 0.08). This group had higher proportion of hospital admissions and severe infections (p<0.001, respectively).

Two hundred and one SLE patients fulfilled the use of Belimumab prescription criteria but only 45/201 patients (22,3%) received it in the last visit. Malar rash was the only clinical variable associated with the use of Belimumab (72.7% vs 29.8% p= 0.005).

Seventy-six patients classified as refractory SLE (15.7%) and 56/76 (75.7%) never received Belimumab. Patients on Belimumab therapy were associated to treatment with lower doses of corticoids (p= 0.018) and lower rate of hospital admission caused by SLE flare (p= 0.027).

Conclusion

A high percentage of patients had uncontrolled disease upon entry into the registry and were potential candidates for treatment with Belimumab. The patients who received biologic treatment showed the benefit of requiring fewer doses of corticosteroids and having a lower rate of hospitalizations.

References

[1]Mok CC. Treat-to-target in systemic lupus erythematosus: Are we there yet? Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2016;9(5).

[2]Morand EF, Mosca M. Treat to target, remission and low disease activity in SLE. Vol. 31, Best Practice and Research: Clinical Rheumatology. 2017.

[3]Golder V, Tsang-A-Sjoe MWP. Treatment targets in SLE: Remission and low disease activity state. Rheumatol (United Kingdom). 2020;59.

[4]Ruiz-Irastorza G, Bertsias G. Treating systemic lupus erythematosus in the 21st century: new drugs and new perspectives on old drugs. Vol. 59, Rheumatology (United Kingdom). 2021.

[5]Hochberg MC. Updating the American College of Rheumatology revised criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum [Internet]. 1997;40(9):1725. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9324032

Disclosure of Interests

Rosana Quintana: None declared, Lucila Garcia: None declared, Paula Alba: None declared, Susana Roverano: None declared, Analia Alvarez: None declared, Cesar Graf: None declared, Cecilia Pisoni: None declared, Alberto Spindler: None declared, Catalina Gomez: None declared, Heber Matias Figueredo: None declared, Silvia Papasidero: None declared, Raul Horacio Paniego: None declared, Maria DeLaVega: None declared, Emma Estela Civit De Garignani: None declared, Luciana Gonzalez Lucero: None declared, Victoria Martire: None declared, Rodrigo Águila Maldonado: None declared, Sergio Gordon: None declared, Carla Gobbi: None declared, Romina Nieto: None declared, Gretel Rausch: None declared, Vanina Góngora: None declared, Maria Agustina D´Amico: None declared, Diana Dubinsky: None declared, Alberto Omar Orden: None declared, Johana Zacariaz: None declared, Julia Romero: None declared, Mariana Alejandra Pera: None declared, Oscar Rillo: None declared, Roberto Baez: None declared, Valeria Arturi: None declared, Andrea Gonzalez: None declared, Florencia Vivero: None declared, Marcela Schmid: None declared, Victor Caputo: None declared, Maria Silvia Larroude: None declared, Graciela Gomez: None declared, Graciela Rodriguez: None declared, Josefina Marin: None declared, Maria Victoria Collado: None declared, Marisa Jorfen: None declared, Zaida Bedran: None declared, Judith Sarano: None declared, David Zelaya: None declared, MONICA SACNUN: None declared, Pablo Finucci: None declared, Romina Rojas Tessel: None declared, Maria Emilia Sattler: None declared, MAXIMILIANO MACHADO ESCOBAR: None declared, Pablo Astesana: None declared, Ursula Vanesa Paris: None declared, Alberto Allievi: None declared, Juan Manuel Vandale: None declared, Bernardo Pons-Estel: None declared, Guillermo Pons-Estel: None declared, Mercedes García Grant/research support from: GSK grant

Aflatoxin B1 contamination of feedstuff on a dairy farm in Northern Peru and aflatoxin M1 concentrations in raw milk

Research regarding aflatoxin contamination levels in Peru is limited, although aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) require surveillance because of their toxicity. European regulations state that the harmonised maximum level (ML) is 5 μg/kg for AFB1 in feedstuffs and 0.05 μg/kg for AFM1 in milk. Our study aimed to determine the annual variation levels of AFB1 in ingredients used in feedstuffs for dairy cows and those of AFM1 in milk at a typical intensive dairy farm in Northern Peru. For 1 year, milk (n=529) and feedstuff samples (n=235) were collected and aflatoxin levels were determined using a lateral flow immunoassay. We found that 16% of milk samples had AFM1 contamination above the ML. AFM1 level was significantly higher (P<0.05) in December (end of spring) than that in all other months. Throughout the year, the most used feedstuffs were maize, soybean meal and whole soybean. Among the maize samples (n=77), 2.59% had an AFB1 level above the ML, whereas 45% had an AFB1 level below the ML. On the other hand, neither the soybean meal (n=69) nor whole soybean samples (n=64) had an AFB1 level above the ML, 46.4 and 20%, respectively. In 50% (n=10) of cottonseed meal samples, AFB1 level was above the ML; in 20% of wheat middling samples, it was above the ML. Cottonseed and wheat middling samples were used for 2 and 5 months, respectively. AFB1 level in feedstuff showed a significant difference in December (P<0.05) compared with other months, specifically for maize and soybean meal. As the AFM1 level in milk results from AFB1 contaminated feedstuff, our results emphasise the need to implement specific quality measures to reduce contamination.

O-126 Endometrial microbiota composition is associated with reproductive outcome in infertile patients

Study question

Is there an association between the composition of the endometrial microbiota and the reproductive outcomes in infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

Summary answer

The composition of the endometrial microbiota (EM) prior to embryo transfer is associated with the different reproductive outcomes: live birth, no pregnancy or clinical miscarriage.

What is known already

The investigation of bacterial communities in the female reproductive tract using molecular methods has revealed the existence of a continuum microbiota that extends from the vagina to the upper genital tract.

Previous evidence suggests the existence of an association between the vaginal and endometrial microbiome composition with reproductive and obstetrical outcomes. Specifically, the presence of specific pathogens together with low abundance of Lactobacilli has been associated with poor IVF outcomes.

Study design, size, duration

Multicentre prospective observational clinical study analysing the EM of infertile patients undergoing IVF (with maternal age ≤40) or ovum donation (≤50 years). A total of 452 infertile patients undergoing IVF/ovum donation were assessed for eligibility in 13 reproductive clinics in Europe, America, and Asia. The duration of the study was 30 months and the recruitment period extended between August 2017 and February 2019 (ct.gov 03330444).

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Endometrial fluid and endometrial biopsy were collected during a hormonal replacement therapy cycle after 5 days of progesterone (P) administration prior to a frozen embryo transfer cycle. Endometrial microbiota (EM) composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing using compositional data to transform scale-invariant values in both sample types. The EM in fluid and biopsy was associated with live birth, biochemical pregnancy, clinical miscarriage, or no pregnancy.

Main results and the role of chance

Of the 452 patients assessed, 44 did not meet the selection criteria and were excluded for the study and 66 patients were lost to follow-up. Of the 342 remaining patients, 198 (57.9%) became pregnant [141 (41.2%) had a live birth, 27 (7.9%) had a biochemical pregnancy, 2 (0.6%) had an ectopic pregnancy, and 28 (8.2%) a clinical miscarriage], while 144 (42.1%) did not become pregnant. The baseline characteristics, clinical and embryological variables were homogeneous and no bias toward the clinical outcome categories was observed.

Our association study showed that the composition of the EM was associated with the reproductive outcome in both endometrial fluid and biopsy. A dysbiotic endometrial microbiota profile composed of Atopobium, Bifidobacterium, Chryseobacterium, Gardnerella, Haemophilus, Klebsiella, Neisseria, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus was significantly associated with unsuccessful outcomes, especially no pregnancy and clinical miscarriage. In contrast, Lactobacillus was consistently enriched in patients with live birth outcomes. The EM in endometrial fluid did not fully reflect that in endometrial biopsy, although their association with clinical outcome was consistent.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The main limitation was the small number of biochemical pregnancy and clinical miscarriage analysed. During transcervical collection of endometrial samples caution was taken to avoid contamination with the cervix although cervical contamination cannot be fully discarded.

Wider implications of the findings

Our data indicate that EM dysbiosis is associated with poor clinical outcome in ART. Thus, the EM composition before embryo transfer could be a useful biomarker to consider offering an opportunity to further improve diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Trial registration number

Clinical trials.gov 03330444

Monolithic AlGaAs second-harmonic nanoantennas: erratum

Figure 1(b) in [V. F. Gili et al, Opt. Express24, 15965 (2016)10.1364/OE.24.015965] is corrupted and is corrected in this erratum.

Blood CD9+ B cell, a biomarker of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome is the main limitation for long-term survival after lung transplantation. Some specific B cell populations are associated with long-term graft acceptance. We aimed to monitor the B cell profile during early development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation. The B cell longitudinal profile was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and patients who remained stable over 3 years of follow-up. CD24^hi CD38^hi transitional B cells were increased in stable patients only, and reached a peak 24 months after transplantation, whereas they remained unchanged in patients who developed a bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. These CD24^hi CD38^hi transitional B cells specifically secrete IL-10 and express CD9. Thus, patients with a total CD9⁺ B cell frequency below 6.6% displayed significantly higher incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (AUC = 0.836, PPV = 0.75, NPV = 1). These data are the first to associate IL-10-secreting CD24^hi CD38^hi transitional B cells expressing CD9 with better allograft outcome in lung transplant recipients. CD9-expressing B cells appear as a contributor to a favorable environment essential for the maintenance of long-term stable graft function and as a new predictive biomarker of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome-free survival.

The Relationship between strength and academic performance: A new reason to promote physical activity

Background

Experimental studies have determined that higher strength values are associated with more efficient cognitive function and better academic performance. In spite of this, the universities in Colombia are decreasing the time available for physical activity in favour of increasing the time devoted to theoretical subjects. This is one of the reasons why in Colombia, only 18% of young people complied with the world recommendations of physical activity. To examine this problem, the objective of this research was to establish the relationship between strength and academic performance in university students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was developed in 135 (21.8 ± 4.5 yr; 78.69 ± 9.1kg) students of the fifth semester of the Areandina University in Bogota, Colombia. Each participant developed incremental protocols to determine the maximum weight that he or she could move in six different exercises: squat in smith machine, leg press, leg extension, bench press, pull down and military press. The average of the results of these tests was taken as the value of maximum strength. To determine academic performance, the average of the scores accumulated in the five semesters of their university studies was evaluated. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to find the linear relationship between strength and academic performance.

Results

Overall, 70.3 % of the participants were men and 29.7% were women. The results of the maximum strength tests were significantly higher in the male group than in the female group (P &lt; 0.05). Academic performance was similar in both genders (P &gt; 0.05). A positive correlation was established between maximum strength and academic performance. (r = 0.64 P &lt; 0.05).

Conclusions

The conclusion of this research was that there is a significant relationship between strength and academic performance. These results are fundamental to justify the inclusion of spaces for the promotion of physical activity in public and private universities.

Key messages

Universities are institutions that only focus on academic training and generate contexts in which sedentary behaviours are promoted. Sedentary lifestyles are a public health problem in Colombia.

Abstract P4-15-06: Results of a randomized double blind trial of neoadjuvant anastrozole plus placebo vs anastrozole plus saracatinib for ER+ postmenopausal breast cancer

Antiestrogen mediated cell cycle arrest requires the CDK inhibitor, p27. Src kinase mediates p27 loss and antiestrogen resistance in ER+ breast cancer lines in vitro. In ER+ xenografts, the Src inhibitor, saracatinib, restored antiestrogen responses in resistant tumors. This led to a Phase I/randomized double-blind Phase II trial to test effects of saracatinib with anastrozole for ER+ and/or PR+ postmenopausal breast cancer.

Phase I accrued 12 subjects and showed 175 mg po saracatinib is safely given with 1 mg po daily anastrozole with good PK . In Phase II, postmenopausal women with new ER+ and/or PR+, HER2- breast cancers ≥ 2 cm were randomized 2:1 to either neoadjuvant anastrozole with saracatinib or anastrozole/placebo over 6 months. Response was assayed by clinical 2D measurements each cycle and by MRI pre-study, at 10 weeks and prior to surgery. The Phase II primary endpoint was to test if tumor volume decrease (from 2D clinical measures) with dual therapy (dual) exceeded that of monotherapy (mono) by &gt;20%. Secondary endpoints included tumor response by 3D MRI measures and by RECIST, PK and toxicity, and molecular predictors of drug efficacy in pre-/ post-therapy tumors. Of 58 subjects, 15% were Black, 5% Asian and 79% White. 61% were Hispanic. Dual therapy was well tolerated, with the following grade 1 toxicities: flu-like syndrome 20%, non-pruritic rash 48% (17% for mono), self-limited diarrhea in 55% (33% mono). Transaminasemia with dual therapy was 52.5% and 17% with mono. 6/59 stopped dual due to drug related AEs: 2 had gr 3 hepatitis, one gr 3 anemia, 3 had grade 3 urticarial rash. Dual Rx increased mean anastrozole levels to 50 ng/ml vs 38 ng/ml for mono (T test p= 5.45201 E-05). Mean saracatinib level, 269 ng/ml, was similar to prior studies. All of 50 evaluable subjects showed clinical and MRI tumor responses. 17% in both groups progressed, usually after 16 weeks. Mean tumor vol (calculated from 2D clinic measures) declined more rapidly (by 63% in dual vs 55% in mono at 8 weeks), but both groups showed an 89% mean tumor volume decrease by 20 weeks. Clinical RECIST showed size reductions of 61% in dual and 62% after monotherapy. Tumor volumes based on 3D MRI show a non-significant trend to greater response to dual therapy, with mean volume decreased by 64% vs 45% at the end of dual vs monotherapy. RECIST response by MRI also showed a trend to greater % decrease tumor size post treatment by 34% vs 25% in dual vs mono. Thus, clinical volumetric assessment of response to this neoadjuvant endocrine therapy may overestimate response compared to volumes calculated by MRI, while RECIST may underestimate it. Pathologic responses based on initial and residual tumor burden calculated from initial and final tumor volumes and % cellularity in biopsy and surgical specimens will be presented.

Citation Format: Slingerland JM, Mark P, Hurley J, Net J, Collado-Mesa F, Lippman M, Avisar E, Yepes M, Jorda M, Gomez C. Results of a randomized double blind trial of neoadjuvant anastrozole plus placebo vs anastrozole plus saracatinib for ER+ postmenopausal breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-15-06.

Tumor Biology as Predictor of Mortality in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary malignant liver tumor, with the Milan criteria considered to be the gold standard for patient selection for liver transplantation (LT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a descriptive observational study, reviewing 20 years of experience of LT in patients with HCC in the Fundacion Valle del Lilí in Cali, Colombia. Subgroup analysis was undertaken for periods 1999 to 2007 and 2008 to 2015.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven cases with a pretransplant HCC diagnosis were reviewed. In the first period patients within the Milan criteria had a recurrence-free survival at 5 years of 66.6%, and in those who exceeded the Milan criteria, recurrence-free survival was 75%. In the second period, patients within the Milan criteria, recurrence-free survival at 5 years was 93.5%, and in those who exceeded the Milan criteria, recurrence-free survival was 75.7%. No statistically significant difference was found in either period. For patients with mild and moderate tumor differentiation, the relapse survival rate at 5 years was 69.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 35.8-87.8) and 74.7% (95% CI 44.5-90), respectively. All patients with poor tumor differentiation relapsed and died within 3 years.

CONCLUSION

Global and recurrence-free survival among patients who met and patients who exceeded the Milan criteria was not significantly different, suggesting an expansion of the Milan criteria to include potential recipients who were previously excluded. Obtaining histologic differentiation and identifying vascular invasion will provide a more worthwhile contribution to LT decision making.

Directionally induced quasi-phase matching in homogeneous AlGaAs waveguides

We report on the experimental observation of quasi-phase matching in a homogeneous waveguide. By fabricating a monolithic snake-shaped suspended AlGaAs nanowire on a (001) GaAs wafer, we demonstrate the unraveled version of a χ⁽²⁾ whispering-gallery-mode microdisk, obtaining second-harmonic generation in the optical telecom wavelength range. With a radius of curvature of 50 μm and four spatial oscillations along the (110) average direction, a splitting of the second-harmonic spectrum occurs around the phase-matching wavelength of the corresponding straight waveguide. This splitting, which increases as the radius of curvature decreases, provides a useful degree of freedom for the design of small-footprint nonlinear photonic devices on-chip.

Demographic Characteristics of Personality Disorders in an Emergency Department

Objective

The aim of our study is to outline the demographic characteristics of the patients with a diagnosis of personality disorder that come to the ED. A second objective is to find specific risk factor for this type of patients.

Methods

We selected patients that came to the ED with the diagnosis of personality disorder, between October 2015 and February 2016. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Chi2 test and t-Test were used as appropriate. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Sixty-eight of the 402 patients that were attended in the ED met the criteria of personality disorder; 44.92% of these patients presented with suicidal ideation or attempt. We found in the use of drugs, statistically significant differences between men and women, using drugs all the men with a personality disorder that came to the ED except one. The most frequent reason for consult were anxiety, conduct alterations, suicidal ideation, and suicidal attempt, being these consultations the 77%.

Conclusion

Anxiety and suicide risk are the most common reasons for a personality disorder patient to go to an ED. We have to be even more careful due to the high rate of suicide conducts in these patients. Also, it is important to think of drug use and dual pathology when assessing these patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Novel measure of the weigh distribution balance on the brain network: graph complexity applied to schizophrenia

The aim of this study was to assess brain complexity dynamics in schizophrenia (SCH) patients during an auditory oddball task. For this task, we applied a novel graph measure based on the balance of the node weights distribution. Previous studies applied complexity parameters that were strongly dependent on network topology. This could bias the results, as well as making correction techniques, such as surrogating process, necessary. In the present study, we applied a novel graph complexity measure derived from the information theory: Shannon Graph Complexity (SGC). Complexity patterns from electroencephalographic recordings of 20 healthy controls and 20 SCH patients during an auditory oddball task were analyzed. Results showed a significantly more pronounced decrease of SGC for controls than for SCH patients during the cognitive task. These findings suggest an important change in the brain configuration towards a more balanced network, mainly in the connections related to long-range interactions. Since these changes are significantly more pronounced in controls, a deficit in the neural network reorganization can be associated with SCH. In addition, an accuracy of 72.5% was obtained using a receiver operating characteristic curve with a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure. The independence of network topology has been demonstrated by the novel complexity measure proposed in this study, therefore, it complements traditional graph measures as a means to characterize brain networks.

Light-Mediated Cascaded Locking of Multiple Nano-Optomechanical Oscillators

Collective phenomena emerging from nonlinear interactions between multiple oscillators, such as synchronization and frequency locking, find applications in a wide variety of fields. Optomechanical resonators, which are intrinsically nonlinear, combine the scientific assets of mechanical devices with the possibility of long distance controlled interactions enabled by traveling light. Here we demonstrate light-mediated frequency locking of three distant nano-optomechanical oscillators positioned in a cascaded configuration. The oscillators, integrated on a chip along a common coupling waveguide, are optically driven with a single laser and oscillate at gigahertz frequency. Despite an initial mechanical frequency disorder of hundreds of kilohertz, the guided light locks them all with a clear transition in the optical output. The experimental results are described by Langevin equations, paving the way to scalable cascaded optomechanical configurations.

A systematic review on the behavioural responses of wild marine mammals to noise: the disparity between science and policy

Noise can cause marine mammals to interrupt their feeding, alter their vocalizations, or leave important habitat, among other behavioural responses. The current North American paradigm for regulating activities that may result in behavioural responses identifies received levels (RL) of sound at which individuals are predicted to display significant behavioural responses (often termed harassment). The recurrent conclusion about the need for considering context of exposure, in addition to RL, when assessing probability and severity of behavioural responses led us to conduct a systematic literature review (370 papers) and analysis (79 studies, 195 data cases). The review summarized the critical and complex role of context of exposure. The analysis emphasized that behavioural responses in cetaceans (measured via a linear severity scale) were best explained by the interaction between sound source type (continuous, sonar, or seismic/explosion) and functional hearing group (a proxy for hearing capabilities). Importantly, more severe behavioural responses were not consistently associated with higher RL and vice versa. This indicates that monitoring and regulation of acoustic effects from activities on cetacean behaviour should not exclusively rely upon generic multispecies RL thresholds. We recommend replacing the behavioural response severity score with a response/no response dichotomous approach that can represent a measure of impact in terms of habitat loss and degradation.

Analysis of the non-stationarity of neural activity during an auditory oddball task in schizophrenia

The aim of this study was to characterize brain dynamics during an auditory oddball task. For this purpose, a measure of the non-stationarity of a given time-frequency representation (TFR) was applied to electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. EEG activity was acquired from 20 schizophrenic (SCH) patients and 20 healthy controls while they underwent a three-stimulus auditory oddball task. The Degree of Stationarity (DS), a measure of the non-stationarity of the TFR, was computed using the continuous wavelet transform. DS was calculated for both the baseline [-300 0] ms and active task [150 550] ms windows of a P300 auditory oddball task. Results showed a statistically significant increase (p<;0.05) in non-stationarity for controls during the cognitive task in the central region, while less widespread statistically significant differences were obtained for SCH patients, especially in the beta-2 and gamma bands. Our findings support the relevance of DS as a means to study cerebral processing in SCH. Furthermore, the lack of statistically significant changes in DS for SCH patients suggests an abnormal reorganization of neural dynamics during an oddball task.

Monolithic AlGaAs second-harmonic nanoantennas

We demonstrate monolithic aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) optical nanoantennas. Using a selective oxidation technique, we fabricated epitaxial semiconductor nanocylinders on an aluminum oxide substrate. Second harmonic generation from AlGaAs nanocylinders of 400 nm height and varying radius pumped with femtosecond pulses delivered at 1554-nm wavelength has been measured, revealing a peak conversion efficiency exceeding 10^-5 for nanocylinders with an optimized geometry.

Shift in precipitation regime promotes interspecific hybridization of introduced Coffea species

The frequency of plant species introductions has increased in a highly connected world, modifying species distribution patterns to include areas outside their natural ranges. These introductions provide the opportunity to gain new insight into the importance of flowering phenology as a component of adaptation to a new environment. Three Coffea species, C. arabica, C. canephora (Robusta), and C. liberica, native to intertropical Africa have been introduced to New Caledonia. On this archipelago, a secondary contact zone has been characterized where these species coexist, persist, and hybridize spontaneously. We investigated the impact of environmental changes undergone by each species following its introduction in New Caledonia on flowering phenology and overcoming reproductive barriers between sister species. We developed species distribution models and compared both environmental envelopes and climatic niches between native and introduced hybrid zones. Flowering phenology was monitored in a population in the hybrid zone along with temperature and precipitation sequences recorded at a nearby weather station. The extent and nature of hybridization events were characterized using chloroplast and nuclear microsatellite markers. The three Coffea species encountered weak environmental suitability compared to their native ranges when introduced to New Caledonia, especially C. arabica and C. canephora. The niche of the New Caledonia hybrid zone was significantly different from all three species' native niches based on identity tests (I Similarity and D Schoener's Similarity Indexes). This area appeared to exhibit intermediate conditions between the native conditions of the three species for temperature-related variables and divergent conditions for precipitation-related ones. Flowering pattern in these Coffea species was shown to have a strong genetic component that determined the time between the triggering rain and anthesis (flower opening), specific to each species. However, a precipitation regime different from those in Africa was directly involved in generating partial flowering overlap between species and thus in allowing hybridization and interspecific gene flow. Interspecific hybrids accounted for 4% of the mature individuals in the sympatric population and occurred between each pair of species with various level of introgression. Adaptation to new environmental conditions following introduction of Coffea species to New Caledonia has resulted in a secondary contact between three related species, which would not have happened in their native ranges, leading to hybridization and gene flow.

Manic episode associated with interferon alpha therapy: A case report

Interferon alpha is a cytokine with antiviral and antineoplastic action, which is commonly used for treatment of Hepatitis C and B, malignant melanoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, kidney cancer and certain hematologic diseases. It is well-known some of its neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, chronic fatigue, dysphoria and anxiety, but there are also other less common like mania, psychotic symptoms and suicide risk that have been reported. These symptoms interfere in the quality of life very significantly, which at the end can affect treatment adherence.

We report a case of a 33-year-old man who was taken to the emergency department by his family referring nervousness, irritability, verbose, and insomnia during the last 5 days. The patient had not psychiatric history. He was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma stage III A a year ago which required to start interferon alpha treatment.

Patient and family tell that symptoms began after forgetting last interferon dose. In the psychopathology exploration, we could observe mood lability, delusion ideas of prosecution, which includes his entire family and autorreferentiality. In the emergency room the blood test, urine drug test and CT were normal.

During the admission, and in collaboration with the Oncology service, it was agreed the reintroduction and maintenance of interferon combined with olanzapine up to 30 mg/day and clonazepam up to 6 mg/day, which resulted in the resolution of symptoms in two weeks.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Seom guidelines for the treatment of gastric cancer 2015

Gastric cancer is the fourth cause of death by cancer in Spain and a significant medical problem. Molecular biology results evidence that gastroesophageal junction tumors and gastric cancer should be considered as two independent entities with a different prognosis and treatment approach. Endoscopic resection in very early tumors is feasible. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy in locally advanced resectable tumor increase overall survival and should be considered standard treatments. In stage IV tumors, platinum–fluoropyrimidine-based schedule, with trastuzumab in HER2-overexpressed tumors, is the first-line treatment. Different therapies in second line have demonstrated in randomized studies their clear benefit in survival improvement.

HLA-G*01:04∼UTR3 Recipient Correlates With Lower Survival and Higher Frequency of Chronic Rejection After Lung Transplantation

Lung transplantation (LTx) is a valid therapeutic option for selected patients with end-stage lung disease. Soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) has been associated with increased graft survival and decreased rejection episodes in solid organ transplantation. HLA-G haplotypes named UTRs, defined by SNPs from both the 5'URR and 3'UTR, have been reported to reliably predict sHLA-G level. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the impact of HLA-G alleles and UTR polymorphism from LTx recipients on anti-HLA allo-immunization risk, overall survival and chronic rejection (CLAD). HLA-G SNPs were genotyped in 124 recipients who underwent LTx from 1996 to 2010 in Marseille, 123 healthy individuals and 26 cystic fibrosis patients not requiring LTx. sHLA-G levels were measured for 38 LTx patients at D0, M3 and M12 and for 123 healthy donors. HLA-G*01:06∼UTR2 was associated with a worse evolution of cystic fibrosis (p = 0.005) but not of long-term survival post-LTx. HLA-G*01:04∼UTR3 haplotype was associated with lower levels of sHLA-G at D0 and M3 (p = 0.03), impaired long-term survival (p = 0.001), increased CLAD occurrence (p = 0.03) and the production of de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSA) at M3 (p = 0.01). This study is the first to show the deleterious association of different HLA-G alleles and UTRs in LTx.

High-frequency nano-optomechanical disk resonators in liquids

Nano- and micromechanical resonators are the subject of research that aims to develop ultrasensitive mass sensors for spectrometry, chemical analysis and biomedical diagnosis. Unfortunately, their merits generally diminish in liquids because of an increased dissipation. The development of faster and lighter miniaturized devices would enable improved performances, provided the dissipation was controlled and novel techniques were available to drive and readout their minute displacement. Here we report a nano-optomechanical approach to this problem using miniature semiconductor disks. These devices combine a mechanical motion at high frequencies (gigahertz and above) with an ultralow mass (picograms) and a moderate dissipation in liquids. We show that high-sensitivity optical measurements allow their Brownian vibrations to be resolved directly, even in the most-dissipative liquids. We investigate their interaction with liquids of arbitrary properties, and analyse measurements in light of new models. Nano-optomechanical disks emerge as probes of rheological information of unprecedented sensitivity and speed, which opens up applications in sensing and fundamental science.

First detection of insertion sequence element ISPa1328 in the oprD porin gene of an imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate from an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patient in Marseille, France

We report here the first case of a carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolate harboring the insertion sequence (IS) element ISPa1328 in the oprD gene in an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patient in France previously treated with imipenem.