The Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment (MGA) is currently used for assessing geriatric oncological patients, but a new prognostic index ‐ the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) ‐ has a ...demonstrated prognostic value in cancer patients too. The present work was designed to compare the MPI and MGA as predictors of 12‐month mortality. 160 patients ≥70 years old with locally‐advanced or metastatic solid cancers consecutively joining our Geriatric Oncology Program were administered a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment to calculate their MGA and MPI scores. Settings: Geriatric Clinic, Geriatric Surgery Clinic, Medical Oncology Unit, Padova Hospital, Italy. Using Cohen's Kappa coefficient, there was a poor concordance between the MPI and MGA. Severe MPI being associated with a higher mortality risk than Frail in the MGA. The ROC curves indicated that the MPI had a greater discriminatory power for 12‐month mortality than the MGA. In our population of elderly cancer patients, the MPI performed better than the MGA in predicting mortality. Further evidence from larger prospective trials is needed to establish whether other geriatric scales, such as the GDS and CIRS‐SI, could enhance the value of prognostic indexes applied to elderly cancer patients.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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•Easy and low-cost synthesis route to obtain CaWO4 nanoparticles.•High purity and crystallinity degree by sonochemistry route at room temperature and synthesis time of ...30 min.•Increase of photocatalytic performance in the photodegradation of RhB dye in comparison with CaWO4 nanoparticles synthesized by conventional route.
In summary, we report a fast, easy, and low-cost green synthesis approach to obtain calcium tungstate nanoparticles (CaWO4NPs_GS) using eggshells as a source of calcium by the sonochemistry method at room temperature. These nanomaterials were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement analysis, where a pure phase with very close structural parameters with calcium tungstate nanoparticles was synthesized at the conventional route (CaWO4NPs_CS). All vibrational Raman active modes characteristic of symmetry point C4h6 were confirmed. An optical band gap value (Egap = 3.92(2) eV) for CaWO4NPs_GS lower than for CaWO4NPs_CS (Egap = 3.92(2) eV) was archived, and that is associated with the intermediate electronic levels due to the oxygen vacancy and micro-strain effect. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) images show several nanoparticles with a particle size of 62.7 ± 1.3 nm for CaWO4NPs_CS and 48.7 ± 1.2 nm for CaWO4NPs_GS, where all elements characteristic of calcium tungstate (Ca, W, and O) were appointed by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. While the photocatalytic performance of CaWO4NPs_GS was 2.5 times faster than CaWO4NPs_CS in the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in an aqueous solution under UV light in 120 min. Therefore, confirming that chicken eggshell is a promissory raw material as a biogenic source of calcium ions for synthesizing calcium tungstate with promissory photocatalytic properties.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Prospective studies have suggested that hypovitaminosis D can predict the onset of obesity, but they relied mainly on body mass index, which could be scarcely reliable in older people. We ...investigated whether baseline hypovitaminosis D could predict higher fat mass (FM) levels using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in a sample of 116 fit and healthy older subjects. Although no significant differences in FM estimates emerged between subjects with and without hypovitaminosis D at the baseline, abdominal FM was found significantly higher in the former group (with hypovitaminosis D at the baseline) than in the latter after 3 years of follow-up. Adjusted logistic regression analysis confirmed these findings: hypovitaminosis D coincided with an approximately sixfold higher risk of subjects having higher abdominal FM levels at the follow-up. In conclusion, hypovitaminosis D predicts higher abdominal FM levels in the elderly.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, VSZLJ, ZAGLJ
Abstract
We report the identification of metastable isomeric states of
$$^{228}$$
228
Ac at 6.28 keV, 6.67 keV and 20.19 keV, with lifetimes of an order of 100 ns. These states are produced by the
...$$\beta $$
β
-decay of
$$^{228}$$
228
Ra, a component of the
$$^{232}$$
232
Th decay chain, with
$$\beta $$
β
Q-values of 39.52 keV, 39.13 keV and 25.61 keV, respectively. Due to the low Q-value of
$$^{228}$$
228
Ra as well as the relative abundance of
$$^{232}$$
232
Th and their progeny in low background experiments, these observations potentially impact the low-energy background modeling of dark matter search experiments.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract We report the identification of metastable isomeric states of $$^{228}$$ 228 Ac at 6.28 keV, 6.67 keV and 20.19 keV, with lifetimes of an order of 100 ns. These states are produced by the ...$$\beta $$ β -decay of $$^{228}$$ 228 Ra, a component of the $$^{232}$$ 232 Th decay chain, with $$\beta $$ β Q-values of 39.52 keV, 39.13 keV and 25.61 keV, respectively. Due to the low Q-value of $$^{228}$$ 228 Ra as well as the relative abundance of $$^{232}$$ 232 Th and their progeny in low background experiments, these observations potentially impact the low-energy background modeling of dark matter search experiments.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
Isolated posterior inferior cerebellar artery dissecting aneurysms are rare lesions. Their underlying pathology, presentation, and natural history are poorly understood. Their treatment is ...controversial, and few data are available regarding the best treatment. We conducted the first study comparing selective coiling and parent artery occlusion for the treatment of isolated PICA dissecting aneurysms.
Methods
All patients harboring isolated PICA dissecting aneurysms treated between January 2006 and October 2012, in a single center, were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were consecutively submitted either to selective coiling or parent artery occlusion. The safety and durability (recanalization and rebleeding rates) of each treatment were established. In order to compare the results of both treatment modalities, we also performed a literature search of all cases of isolated PICA dissecting aneurysms endovascularly treated.
Results
Fourteen patients harboring isolated PICA dissecting aneurysms were assigned to endovascular treatment in our center (eight to selective coiling vs six to parent artery occlusion). There was no statistical difference between both groups regarding complications. No patient experienced rebleeding. One recanalization was observed in the selective coiling group. Based on literature review (83 cases), selective coiling and parent artery occlusion showed similar success rate in preventing rebleeding. Parent artery occlusion was significantly associated with a higher risk of ischemic complication (
p
= 0.013).
Conclusions
Both selective coiling and parent artery occlusion are highly effective in preventing rebleeding in isolated PICA dissecting aneurysms. Although total complication rate is similar between both modalities, parent artery occlusion is significantly associated to a higher risk of ischemic events.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ