TERT promoter mutations have been associated with increased risk of recurrence in meningioma cohorts, thus a potential biomarker for aggressive phenotypes. A main purpose of refining tumour ...classification is better predictions on the patient level. We compiled data from previous published cohorts to investigate patient‐level predictions of recurrence based on TERTp‐mut status. Implementation of TERTp‐mut into the WHO grading led to better patient prognostication by improved prediction of recurrence. Our results support implementation of TERTp‐mut into diagnostics and classification of meningiomas.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) selectively heats up tissue by coupling alternating current (AC) magnetic fields to targeted magnetic fluids, so that boundaries of different conductive tissues do ...not interfere with power absorption. In this paper, a new AC magnetic field therapy system for clinical application of MFH is described. With optimized magnetic nanoparticle preparations it will be used for target-specific glioblastoma and prostate carcinoma therapy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Thermoelectric materials could play an important role in global sustainable energy. However, improving thermoelectric efficiency has proved difficult, largely due to the complex interdependence of ...electronic properties of solids. Early work by Ioffe has developed into the standard thermoelectric optimization paradigm of tuning the electronic carrier concentration in semiconductors. Although the localization theory of electrons by Anderson and Mott has developed in parallel, its potential for thermoelectrics optimization has not been explored. Here, we show that structural-disorder-induced electron localization also provides an effective optimization strategy for thermoelectric materials. By using a transport model that includes the relevant physics of localization, it is shown that the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit can be increased ∼20% by tuning both carrier concentration and disorder. The benefit of slight disorder is confirmed in two model Ge-Sb-Te material systems. Particularly for highly degenerate semiconductors, this bidimensional optimization strategy provides a new methodology to attain high thermoelectric performance.
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•Charge transport model for order-disorder transitions•Characterization of Anderson-like localization effects•Disorder optimization of thermoelectric materials
A certain level of disorder is inherent to every solid, since it contributes to entropy and minimizes the Gibbs free energy of a system in thermodynamic equilibrium and can be a defining quality of metastable materials like glasses. Controlling and manipulating disorder provides scientists with excellent and widespread opportunities to optimize material properties (e.g., the electronic conductivity). Such endeavors (e.g., optimizing thermoelectrics, photovoltaics, batteries, and microelectronics) require a profound understanding of charge transport in solids. This work provides a transferable and experimentally verified model that adds to our understanding of charge transport in disordered solids. By including the relevant physics of Anderson-like electron localization with current state-of-the-art methods of thermoelectric material optimization, we demonstrate a new avenue of charge transport engineering in solids.
Decades of thermoelectric research has focused on the optimization of charge carrier concentration to maximize the thermoelectric efficiency. However, analytical considerations of electron localization show that some degree of structural disorder can be necessary to reach the true optimum of thermoelectric efficiency. This is experimentally demonstrated in an exemplary Ge-Sb-Te material system. Furthermore, a quantitative transport model is developed that gives insights for disorder-controlled electronic transport beyond thermoelectrics, including phase-change materials and microelectronics.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Recent success in the use of immunotherapy for a broad range of cancers has propelled the field of cancer immunology to the forefront of cancer research. As more and more young investigators join the ...community of cancer immunologists, the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation Cancer Immunology Symposium provided a platform to bring this expanding and vibrant community together and support the development of the future leaders in the field. This commentary outlines the lessons that emerged from the inaugural symposium highlighting the areas of scientific and career development that are essential for professional growth in the field of cancer immunology and beyond. Leading scientists and clinicians in the field provided their experience on the topics of scientific trajectory, career trajectory, publishing, fundraising, leadership, mentoring, and collaboration. Herein, we provide a conceptual and practical framework for career development to the broader scientific community.
Minimal-invasive techniques are increasingly applied in clinical practice and have contributed towards improving postoperative outcomes. While comparing favorably with open surgery in terms of ...safety, the occurrence of severe complications remains a grave concern. To date, no objective predictive system has been established to guide clinicians in estimating complication risks as the relative contribution of general patient health, liver function and surgical parameters remain unclear. Here, we perform a single-center analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection for primary hepatic malignancies since 2010. Among the 210 patients identified, 32 developed major complications. Several independent predictors were identified through a multivariate analysis, defining a preoperative model: diabetes, history of previous hepatectomy, surgical approach, alanine aminotransferase levels and lesion entity. The addition of operative time and whether conversion was required significantly improved predictions and were thus incorporated into the postoperative model. Both models were able to identify patients with major complications with acceptable performance (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) for a preoperative model = 0.77 vs. postoperative model = 0.80). Internal validation was performed and confirmed the discriminatory ability of the models. An easily accessible online tool was deployed in order to estimate probabilities of severe complication without the need for manual calculation.
Shoulder arthroplasty (SA) complications require standardization of definitions and are not limited to events leading to revision operations. We aimed to define an international consensus core set of ...clinically relevant unfavorable events of SA to be documented in clinical routine practice and studies.
A Delphi exercise was implemented with an international panel of experienced shoulder surgeons selected by nomination through professional societies. On the basis of a systematic review of terms and definitions and previous experience in establishing an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair core set, an organized list of SA events was developed and reviewed by panel members. After each survey, all comments and suggestions were considered to revise the proposed core set including local event groups, along with definitions, specifications, and timing of occurrence. Consensus was reached with at least two-thirds agreement.
Two online surveys were required to reach consensus within a panel involving 96 surgeons. Between 88% and 100% agreement was achieved separately for local event groups including 3 intraoperative (device, osteochondral, and soft tissue) and 9 postoperative event groups. Experts agreed on a documentation period that ranged from 3 to 24 months after SA for 4 event groups (peripheral neurologic, vascular, surgical-site infection, and superficial soft tissue) and that was lifelong until implant revision for other groups (device, osteochondral, shoulder instability, pain, late hematogenous infection, and deep soft tissue).
A structured core set of local unfavorable events of SA was developed by international consensus to support the standardization of SA safety reporting. Clinical application and scientific evaluation are needed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The study aim was to investigate prosthesis-specific predictors for paravalvular aortic regurgitation (PAR) in self-expandable versus balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves (THVs). PAR is ...frequently observed after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). As self-expandable and balloon-expandable THVs engage differently with the native aortic valve structures, factors that impact PAR may differ between the prosthesis types.
A total of 137 TAVR patients who underwent pre-procedural multidetector computed tomography and post-procedural transthoracic echocardiography were studied. Predictors for PAR, including annulus area oversizing and aortic valve calcification mass and volume, were analyzed in a multivariate model.
The Medtronic CoreValve (MCV) prosthesis was utilized in 68 patients (50%), and the Edwards SAPIEN (ES) prosthesis in 69 (50%). More than mild PAR was observed in 43 patients (32%). Among MCV patients, aortic valve calcification volume and mass were higher in those with more than mild PAR than in those with none or mild PAR (p = 0.04, p = 0.03, respectively). Among ES patients, the annulus area and perimeter oversizing were lower in those with more than mild PAR compared to those with no or mild PAR (p = 0.001). By univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, aortic valve calcification mass was the only independent predictor for PAR in MCV patients (p = 0.02), whereas in ES patients it was THV undersizing (p = 0.002), irrespective of the calcific burden.
For self-expandable THVs, aortic valve calcification mass was the strongest predictor of PAR, whereas for balloon-expandable THVs it was prosthesis undersizing. Hence, in patients evaluated for TAVR these parameters should guide the selection of prosthesis type.
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