Purpose
To assess the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Fuhrman grade in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). As secondary endpoints, we studied its association ...with tumor size, metastasis-free survival (MFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).
Methods
We reviewed the databases of two tertiary care centers, identifying 2579 patients who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy for ccRCC between 1991 and 2014. Descriptive statistics were used to compare pathologic variables between patients with and without OSA. Linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the association of OSA with Fuhrman grade and tumor size. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine OSA association with MFS and CSS. A pathway analysis was performed on a cohort with available gene expression data.
Results
In total, 172 patients (7 %) had self-reported OSA at diagnosis. More patients with OSA had high Fuhrman grade compared to those without OSA 51 vs. 38 %; 13 % risk difference; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 5–20 %;
p
= 0.003. On multivariable analysis, the association remained significant (OR 1.41; 95 % CI 1.00–1.99;
p
= 0.048). OSA was not associated with tumor size (
p
> 0.5), MFS (
p
= 0.5) or CSS (
p
= 0.4). A trend toward vascular endothelial growth factor pathway enrichment was seen in OSA patients (
p
= 0.08).
Conclusions
OSA is associated with high Fuhrman grade in patients undergoing surgery for ccRCC. Pending validation of this novel finding in further prospective studies, it could help shape future research to better understand etiological mechanisms associated.
Do Interruptions Affect Content Production? Foroughi, Cyrus K.; Werner, Nicole E.; Hatcher, M. Cameron ...
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting,
09/2014, Letnik:
58, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Interruptions have become a persistent annoyance in our lives; they reduce performance in many domains. Traditional interruption research uses time and errors as measures of disruption. However, in ...creative tasks, time and errors may not be suitable measures of disruption. This study investigates how interruptions affect content production in a creative task as the amount of content created can be a better indicator of the effect of interruptions. Interruptions were found to reliably reduce the production of content while outlining and writing essays. Moreover, interruptions in both conditions (outlining and writing) reliably reduced the final quality of essays. A carry-over effect from impoverished outlines appeared to have reduced quality of the final essays.
PURPOSE: To assess the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Fuhrman grade in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). As secondary endpoints, we studied its association ...with tumor size, metastasis-free survival (MFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). METHODS: We reviewed the databases of two tertiary care centers, identifying 2579 patients who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy for ccRCC between 1991 and 2014. Descriptive statistics were used to compare pathologic variables between patients with and without OSA. Linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the association of OSA with Fuhrman grade and tumor size. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine OSA association with MFS and CSS. A pathway analysis was performed on a cohort with available gene expression data. RESULTS: In total, 172 patients (7 %) had self-reported OSA at diagnosis. More patients with OSA had high Fuhrman grade compared to those without OSA 51 vs. 38 %; 13 % risk difference; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 5-20 %; p = 0.003. On multivariable analysis, the association remained significant (OR 1.41; 95 % CI 1.00-1.99; p = 0.048). OSA was not associated with tumor size (p > 0.5), MFS (p = 0.5) or CSS (p = 0.4). A trend toward vascular endothelial growth factor pathway enrichment was seen in OSA patients (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: OSA is associated with high Fuhrman grade in patients undergoing surgery for ccRCC. Pending validation of this novel finding in further prospective studies, it could help shape future research to better understand etiological mechanisms associated.
Abstract Because physical inactivity and unhealthy diets are highly prevalent, there is a need for cost-effective interventions that can reach large populations. Electronic health (eHealth) and ...mobile health (mHealth) solutions have shown promising outcomes and have expanded rapidly in the past decade. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the state of the evidence for the use of eHealth and mHealth in improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors in general and special populations. The role of theory in eHealth and mHealth interventions is addressed, as are methodological issues. Key recommendations for future research in the field of eHealth and mHealth are provided.
Fungal biofilms are a major cause of human mortality and are recalcitrant to most treatments due to intrinsic drug resistance. These complex communities of multiple cell types form on indwelling ...medical devices and their eradication often requires surgical removal of infected devices. Here we implicate the molecular chaperone Hsp90 as a key regulator of biofilm dispersion and drug resistance. We previously established that in the leading human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, Hsp90 enables the emergence and maintenance of drug resistance in planktonic conditions by stabilizing the protein phosphatase calcineurin and MAPK Mkc1. Hsp90 also regulates temperature-dependent C. albicans morphogenesis through repression of cAMP-PKA signalling. Here we demonstrate that genetic depletion of Hsp90 reduced C. albicans biofilm growth and maturation in vitro and impaired dispersal of biofilm cells. Further, compromising Hsp90 function in vitro abrogated resistance of C. albicans biofilms to the most widely deployed class of antifungal drugs, the azoles. Depletion of Hsp90 led to reduction of calcineurin and Mkc1 in planktonic but not biofilm conditions, suggesting that Hsp90 regulates drug resistance through different mechanisms in these distinct cellular states. Reduction of Hsp90 levels led to a marked decrease in matrix glucan levels, providing a compelling mechanism through which Hsp90 might regulate biofilm azole resistance. Impairment of Hsp90 function genetically or pharmacologically transformed fluconazole from ineffectual to highly effective in eradicating biofilms in a rat venous catheter infection model. Finally, inhibition of Hsp90 reduced resistance of biofilms of the most lethal mould, Aspergillus fumigatus, to the newest class of antifungals to reach the clinic, the echinocandins. Thus, we establish a novel mechanism regulating biofilm drug resistance and dispersion and that targeting Hsp90 provides a much-needed strategy for improving clinical outcome in the treatment of biofilm infections.
Virus‐like nanoparticles (VLPs) have been used as an attractive means in cancer immunotherapy because of their unique intrinsic immunostimulatory properties. However, for treating metastatic tumors ...in the peritoneal cavity, such as ovarian cancer, multiple injections of therapy are needed due to the large peritoneal space and fast excretion of therapy. Here, it is reported on the development of active VLP delivery vehicles for the treatment of peritoneal ovarian tumors using biocompatible Qβ VLPs‐loaded Mg‐based micromotors. The autonomous propulsion of such Qβ VLPs‐loaded Mg‐micromotors in the peritoneal fluid enables active delivery of intact immunostimulatory Qβ VLPs to the peritoneal space of ovarian tumor bearing mice, greatly enhancing the local distribution and retention of Qβ VLPs. Such improved distribution and longer retention time of Qβ in the peritoneal cavity leads to enhanced immunostimulation and therefore increased survival rate of tumor‐bearing mice compared to a passive Qβ treatment. For clinical translation, the active delivery of VLPs holds great promise for tumor immunotherapy toward the treatment of different types of primary and metastatic tumors in the peritoneal cavity.
Biocompatible Qβ virus‐like nanoparticles (VLPs) loaded Mg‐based micromotors with autonomous propulsion in peritoneal fluid enable active delivery of immunostimulatory Qβ VLPs to the tumor microenvironment, greatly enhancing the local distribution and retention of Qβ VLPs, leading to enhanced immunostimulation and therefore increased survival rate of tumor‐bearing mice compared to a passive Qβ treatment.
Changes in criteria and differences in populations studied and methodology have produced a wide range of prevalence estimates for mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Uniform criteria were applied to ...harmonized data from 11 studies from USA, Europe, Asia and Australia, and MCI prevalence estimates determined using three separate definitions of cognitive impairment.
The published range of MCI prevalence estimates was 5.0%-36.7%. This was reduced with all cognitive impairment definitions: performance in the bottom 6.681% (3.2%-10.8%); Clinical Dementia Rating of 0.5 (1.8%-14.9%); Mini-Mental State Examination score of 24-27 (2.1%-20.7%). Prevalences using the first definition were 5.9% overall, and increased with age (P < .001) but were unaffected by sex or the main races/ethnicities investigated (Whites and Chinese). Not completing high school increased the likelihood of MCI (P ≤ .01).
Applying uniform criteria to harmonized data greatly reduced the variation in MCI prevalence internationally.
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