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Background: Lymphoma survivors are at risk for long term and late effects which may negatively impact quality of life (QOL). Few studies have assessed the impact of change in health behaviors ...(physical activity (PA), alcohol and smoking) on QOL, specifically in lymphoma survivors.
Methods: Patients were prospectively enrolled <9 months of diagnosis into the Lymphoma SPORE Molecular Epidemiology Resource cohort. At baseline and 3-year follow-up (FU3), patients self-reported QOL, smoking, alcohol use and PA. At FU3, survivors reported change in health behaviors since diagnosis. The Godin Leisure Score Index (LSI) was calculated as a measure of PA (Pophali et al. ASH 2017); modeled by tertile. QOL was measured via FACT-G; the total and sub-scales emotional (EWB), functional (FWB), physical (PWB), and social/family well-being (SFWB) scores were transformed to a 0-100 scale. Patients who completed <80% of QOL questions were excluded. The association of QOL with health behaviors was evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis test (categorical) and Spearman's rank correlation (continuous).
Results: At baseline, 2805 participants were evaluable for QOL of which 2025 were evaluable at FU3. The median age at diagnosis was 62 (IQR 52-69) years. Majority were males (N=1148, 56.8%), with advanced stage III-IV disease (N=941, 62%) and ECOG performance status <2 (N=1935, 96%).
At baseline, smoking status was current (N=237), former (N=802), never (N=1310) or not available (NA, N= 456). Current smokers had a significantly lower median QOL scores compared to former and never smokers for EWB (75 vs 79 vs 79, p<0.01), FWB (71 vs 79 vs 79, p<0.01), PWB (86 vs 89 vs 89, p=0.02), SFWB (86 vs 90 vs 89, p=0.02) and total FACT-G (67 vs 82 vs 82, p<0.01). The median number of pack years smoked among current &former smokers was 15.6 (range 0.5-126). There was a significant negative correlation of pack years smoked with FWB (p=0.05), and total FACT-G (p=0.04). At FU3, current smokers had significantly lower median scores compared to former and never smokers for FWB (80 vs 86 vs 86, p=0.01), PWB (89 vs 93 vs 93, p<0.01) and total FACT-G (82 vs 86 vs 87, p<0.01). EWB (83 vs 88 vs 88, p=0.12) and SFWB (83 vs 86 vs 86, p=0.12) were also lower than never and former smokers but not statistically significant. Smoking status was decreased (N=30), increased (N=0) and unchanged (N=1439) at FU3. There was no association of change in smoking with change in QOL.
At baseline, alcohol use status was current (N=1189), former (N=506), never (N=518) and NA (N=592). Current alcohol users had the highest FWB (79 vs 75 vs 75, p<0.01) vs former and never users. Former users vs current and never users had the lowest PWB (86 vs 89 vs 89, p<0.01), SFWB (88 vs 89 vs 92, p<0.01) and total FACT-G (80 vs 83 vs 82, p<0.01). EWB was similar in all 3 groups. Among current & former alcohol users, the average number of drinks/week was 3.4. There was no association of the number of drinks/week with QOL except positive correlation with PWB (p=0.01). At FU3, alcohol use was reported as increased (N=40), decreased (N=312) and no change (N=875). There was no association between change in alcohol use and change in QOL.
At baseline, participants with PA in the high vs low LSI tertile had significantly better median scores for FWB (79 vs 75, p=0.01), SFWB (93 vs 89, p<0.01) and total FACT-G (83 vs 82, p<0.01). At FU3, participants in the high vs low LSI tertile had significantly better scores on all subscales and total FACT-G with a significant positive correlation between the continuous LSI and QOL (FACT-G total and subscales). PA was reported as increased (N=107), decreased (N=394) and no change (N=495). There was a significant association of increase in PA with change in PWB (p<0.01), EWB (p=0.01), FWB (p<0.01) and total FACT-G (p<0.01) from baseline to FU3, but not with change in SFWB (p=0.06).
In a sensitivity analysis, QOL was modeled for health behaviors in the subset of patients with QOL assessed prior to treatment; results were consistent with the QOL in all patients.
Conclusions: Health behaviors in lymphoma survivors are significantly associated with QOL: better QOL is associated with not smoking, more PA, and moderate alcohol use. Current alcohol consumption, as opposed to former alcohol use, may be related to overall health status. An increase in PA after lymphoma diagnosis is associated with an increase in the QOL. Thus, modification of health behaviors has the potential to impact QOL in lymphoma survivors.
Cerhan:Celgene: Research Funding; Nanostring: Research Funding; Jannsen: Other: Scientific Advisory Board.
This study focused at the potential of transforming growth factor
β1 (TGF-
β1) loaded gelatin microparticles to enhance the bone response and mechanical strength of rabbit femoral defects filled with ...injectable calcium phosphate (CaP)/gelatin microparticle composites. Therefore, TGF-
β1 loaded composites and non-loaded controls were injected in circular defects as created in the femoral condyles of rabbits and were left in place for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The specimens were evaluated mechanically (push-out test), and morphologically (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histology, and histomorphometry). The results showed a gradual increase in mechanical strength with increasing implantation periods. Histological and histomorphometrical evaluation showed similar results for both composite formulations regarding histological aspect, new bone formation and bone/implant contact. However, TGF-
β1 loading of the composites demonstrated a significant effect on composite degradation after twelve weeks of implantation. The results of this study showed that CaP/gelatin composites show excellent osteogenic properties and a rapid increase in mechanical strength. The addition of TGF-
β1 significantly enhances the bone remodeling process.
University research parks constitute a potentially important mechanism for university technology transfer and regional economic development. Unfortunately, there is little theoretical or empirical ...evidence on the firm-level choice decision to locate on such a facility. We fill this gap by outlining and testing a theoretical model of this selection process. Our empirical results suggest that U.S. firms locating on university research parks are more research active and more diversified than the typical public firm reporting R&D activity. We discuss the managerial implications of these findings.
In this study, the cytocompatibility and early osteogenic characteristics of rat bone marrow cells (RBMCs) on injectable calcium phosphate (CaP) cement (Calcibon) were investigated. In addition to ...unmodified CaP cement discs, 2 other treatments were given to the discs: preincubation in MilliQ and sintering at different temperatures. After primary culture, RBMCs were dropwise seeded on the discs and cultured for 12 days. The samples were evaluated in terms of cell viability, morphology (live and dead assays and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)), cell proliferation (deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analyses), early cell differentiation (alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity), and physicochemical analyses (x-ray diffraction (XRD)). The live and dead, DNA, and SEM results showed that Calcibon discs without any additional treatment were not supporting osteoblast-like cells in vitro. There were fewer cells, and cell layers were detached from the disc surface. Therefore, different preincubation periods and sintering temperatures were evaluated to improve the cytocompatibility of the CaP cement. Preincubating discs in MilliQ for periods of 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks resulted in the hydrolysis of alpha-tri calcium phosphate (TCP) into an apatite-like structure with some beta-TCP, as shown with XRD, but the material was not cytocompatible. Sintering the discs between 800 degrees C and 1100 degrees C resulted in conversion of alpha-TCP to beta-TCP with some hydroxyapatite and an increase in crystallinity. Eventually, the discs sintered at 1100 degrees C achieved better cell attachment, more-abundant cell proliferation, and earlier differentiation than other sintered (600 degrees C, 800 degrees C, and 1000 degrees C), preincubated, and unmodified specimens. On basis of our results, we conclude that in vivo results with CaP-based cements do not guarantee in vitro applicability. Furthermore, unmodified Calcibon is not cytocompatible in vitro, although preincubation of the material results in a more-favorable cell response, sintering of the material at 1100 degrees C results in the best osteogenic properties. In contrast to in vivo studies, the Calcibon CaP cement is not suitable as a scaffold for cell-based tissue-engineering strategies.
This study focused at the potential of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) loaded gelatin microparticles to enhance the bone response and mechanical strength of rabbit femoral defects filled ...with injectable calcium phosphate (CaP)/gelatin microparticle composites. Therefore, TGF-beta1 loaded composites and non-loaded controls were injected in circular defects as created in the femoral condyles of rabbits and were left in place for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The specimens were evaluated mechanically (push-out test), and morphologically (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histology, and histomorphometry). The results showed a gradual increase in mechanical strength with increasing implantation periods. Histological and histomorphometrical evaluation showed similar results for both composite formulations regarding histological aspect, new bone formation and bone/implant contact. However, TGF-beta1 loading of the composites demonstrated a significant effect on composite degradation after twelve weeks of implantation. The results of this study showed that CaP/gelatin composites show excellent osteogenic properties and a rapid increase in mechanical strength. The addition of TGF-beta1 significantly enhances the bone remodeling process.
Abstract This study focused at the potential of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF- β 1) loaded gelatin microparticles to enhance the bone response and mechanical strength of rabbit femoral defects ...filled with injectable calcium phosphate (CaP)/gelatin microparticle composites. Therefore, TGF- β 1 loaded composites and non-loaded controls were injected in circular defects as created in the femoral condyles of rabbits and were left in place for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The specimens were evaluated mechanically (push-out test), and morphologically (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histology, and histomorphometry). The results showed a gradual increase in mechanical strength with increasing implantation periods. Histological and histomorphometrical evaluation showed similar results for both composite formulations regarding histological aspect, new bone formation and bone/implant contact. However, TGF- β 1 loading of the composites demonstrated a significant effect on composite degradation after twelve weeks of implantation. The results of this study showed that CaP/gelatin composites show excellent osteogenic properties and a rapid increase in mechanical strength. The addition of TGF- β 1 significantly enhances the bone remodeling process.
Federal laboratories as research partners Leyden, Dennis Patrick; Link, Albert N.
International journal of industrial organization,
05/1999, Letnik:
17, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Since the passage of the National Cooperative Research Act (NCRA) in 1984, nearly 600 formal research joint ventures (RJVs) have been filed with the U.S. Attorney General and the Federal Trade ...Commission. Researchers have documented this trend and have examined, both theoretically and empirically, various aspects of collaborative research behavior. However, the composition of the membership of RJVs has yet to be explored. In this paper we present a theoretical explanation consistent with the empirical observation that Federal laboratories are most prevalent as research partners when the membership of the RJV is large.
Stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a syndrome of transient ventricular dysfunction triggered by severe emotional or physical stress, likely resulting from catecholamine-mediated myocardial toxicity. ...Repolarization abnormalities associated with other hyperadrenergic states can cause QT prolongation and lethal arrhythmia including torsades de pointes (TdP). Despite the development of repolarization abnormalities and QT prolongation in SCM, little is known about the risk of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and TdP.
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical predictors of ventricular arrhythmias in a cohort of patients with SCM.
Data from a registry of consecutive patients with SCM from 2 institutions were reviewed. Patients who developed VF or TdP were identified. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were analyzed and compared with a control group of patients with SCM without VF/TdP.
Of 93 patients with SCM, 8 (8.6%) experienced VF/TdP. Of these 8 patients, 2 presented with VF and were subsequently diagnosed with SCM. Six other patients experienced pause-dependent TdP or VF after SCM diagnosis in the setting of substantial QT prolongation. Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) was significantly associated with the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia (odds ratio 1.28 for each 10 ms increase in QTc, 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 1.50).
SCM can be associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia in over 8% of cases. SCM should be recognized among the causes of acquired long QT syndrome and can be associated with a risk of TdP.
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