Statin Use During Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy With Improved Survival Outcomes in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched Nationwide Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: To determine the effect of statin use during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) on overall survival and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)-specific survival in patients with ESCC receiving standard CCRT. METHODS: In this propensity score-matching cohort study, we used data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database and National Health Insurance Research Database to investigate the effects of statin use during the period of CCRT on overall survival and ESCC-specific survival. RESULTS: Statin use during the period of CCRT was found to be a considerable and independent prognostic factor for overall survival and ESCC-specific survival. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for all-cause mortality in the statin group compared with that of the non-statin group was 0.65 (95% confidence interval: 0.51-0.84, p = 0.0009). The aHR for ESCC-specific mortality in the statin group compared with that of the non-statin group was 0.63 (95% confidence interval: 0.47-0.84, p = 0.0016). The use of hydrophilic statins such as rosuvastatin and pravastatin was associated with the greatest survival benefits. A dose-response relationship was also found, with higher cumulative defined daily doses and higher daily intensity of statin use associated with lower mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to reveal that statin use during the period of CCRT for ESCC is associated with improvement in overall survival and ESCC-specific survival. In addition, we found that use of rosuvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin was associated with better survival outcomes for patients with ESCC receiving CCRT. Furthermore, we found a dose-response relationship of statin use associated with lower ESCC-specific mortality.

Association of Antihistamine Use with Increased Risk of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Nationwide, Long-Term Follow-Up Study Using Propensity Score Matching.

Esophageal cancer is a common and aggressive cancer, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 20%. Therefore, identifying safe and effective medications that can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer is of great importance. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between H1-antihistamines (AHs) use and the incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a head-to-head propensity score matching (PSM) comparative study. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Nationwide population-based study in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: 1289,526 adults from the National Health Insurance Research Database from 2008 to 2018. EXPOSURES: AH use. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Incidence rates (IRs), incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of ESCC in AH users compared with nonusers. RESULTS: AH users had a significantly higher IR of ESCC than nonusers (1.47 vs. 1.36 per 100,000 person-years). The IRR (95% CI) for ESCC was 1.18 (1.08-1.28) in AH users compared with nonusers. After adjustment for age, sex, income levels, urbanization, cigarettes smoking, alcoholic related diseases, comorbidities, medication use, and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores, the aHR (95% CI) for ESCC was 1.22 (1.12-1.33) in AH users compared with nonusers. A dose-response relationship was also observed, with aHRs for AH use at 28-182, 183-488, 489-1043, and >1043 cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) of 1.12, 1.20, 1.25, and 1.37, respectively, compared with <28 cDDDs. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our study found a significant association between AH use and the increased risk of ESCC, with a dose-response relationship. This study suggests that AH use may increase the risk of ESCC, especially at high doses, and highlights the importance of caution when prescribing AHs.

Risk of Re-Rupture, Vasospasm, or Re-Stroke after Clipping or Coiling of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: Long-Term Follow-Up with a Propensity Score-Matched, Population-Based Cohort Study.

Scarce evidence is available in Asia for estimating the long-term risk and prognostic factors of major complications such as re-rupture, vasospasm, or re-stroke for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) undergoing endovascular coil embolization or surgical clipping. This is the first head-to-head propensity score-matched study in an Asian population to demonstrate that endovascular coil embolization for aneurysmal SAH treatment is riskier than surgical clipping in terms of re-rupture, vasospasm, or re-stroke. In addition, the independent poor prognostic factors of vasospasm or re-stroke were endovascular coil embolization, male sex, older age (≥65 years; the risk of vasospasm increases with age), hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, previous transient ischemic attack, or stroke in aneurysmal SAH treatment. BACKGROUND: To estimate the long-term complications and prognostic factors of endovascular coil embolization or surgical clipping for patients with ruptured aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: We selected patients diagnosed with aneurysmal SAH between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2017. Propensity score matching was performed, and Cox proportional hazards model curves were used to analyze the risk of re-rupture, vasospasm, and re-stroke in patients undergoing the different treatments. FINDINGS: Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of re-rupture for endovascular coil embolization compared with surgical clipping was 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-1.57; p < 0.0001). The aHRs of the secondary endpoints of vasospasm and re-stroke (delayed cerebral ischemia) for endovascular coil embolization compared with surgical clipping were 1.14 (1.02-1.27; p = 0.0214) and 2.04 (1.83-2.29; p < 0.0001), respectively. The independent poor prognostic factors for vasospasm and re-stroke were endovascular coil embolization, male sex, older age (≥65 years; risk increases with age), hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and previous transient ischemic attack or stroke. INTERPRETATION: Endovascular coil embolization for aneurysmal SAH carries a higher risk than surgical clipping of both short- and long-term complications including re-rupture, vasospasm, and re-stroke.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Its Acute Exacerbation before Colon Adenocarcinoma Treatment Are Associated with Higher Mortality: A Propensity Score-Matched, Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and COPD severity (acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD)) affect the survival outcomes of patients with colon adenocarcinoma receiving standard treatments. METHODS: From the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database, we recruited patients with clinical stage I-III colon adenocarcinoma who had received surgery. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze all-cause mortality. We categorized the patients into COPD and non-COPD (Group 1 and 2) groups through propensity score matching. RESULTS: In total, 1512 patients were eligible for further comparative analysis between non-COPD (1008 patients) and COPD (504 patients) cohorts. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR; 95% confidence interval (CI)) for all-cause mortality for Group 1 compared with Group 2 was 1.17 (1.03, 1.29). In patients with colon adenocarcinoma undergoing curative resection, the aHRs (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality in patients with hospitalization frequencies of ≥1 and ≥2 times for AECOPD within 1 year before adenocarcinoma diagnosis were 1.08 (1.03, 1.51) and 1.55 (1.15, 2.09), respectively, compared with those without AECOPD. CONCLUSION: In patients with colon adenocarcinoma undergoing curative resection, COPD was associated with worse survival outcomes. Being hospitalized at least once for AECOPD within 1 year before colon adenocarcinoma diagnosis was an independent risk factor for poor overall survival in these patients, and a higher number of hospitalizations for AECOPD within 1 year before diagnosis was associated with poorer survival. Our study highlights the importance of COPD management, particularly the identification of frequent exacerbators and the prevention of AECOPD before standard colon adenocarcinoma treatments are applied.

Long-Term Medical Resource Consumption between Surgical Clipping and Endovascular Coiling for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Propensity Score-Matched, Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To estimate long-term medical resource consumption in patients with subarachnoid aneurysmal hemorrhage (SAH) receiving surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we enrolled patients with aneurysmal SAH who received clipping or coiling. After propensity score matching and adjustment for confounders, a generalized linear mixed model was used to determine significant differences in the accumulative hospital stay (days), intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and total medical cost for aneurysmal SAH, as well as possible subsequent surgical complications and recurrence. RESULTS: The matching process yielded a final cohort of 8102 patients (4051 and 4051 in endovascular coil embolization and surgical clipping, respectively) who were eligible for further analysis. The mean accumulative hospital stay significantly differed between coiling (31.2 days) and clipping (46.8 days; p < 0.0001). After the generalized linear model adjustment of gamma distribution with a log link, compared with the surgical clipping procedure, the adjusted odds ratios (aOR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of the medical cost of accumulative hospital stay for the endovascular coil embolization procedure was 0.63 (0.60, 0.66; p < 0·0001). The mean accumulative ICU stay significantly differed between the coiling and clipping groups (9.4 vs. 14.9 days; p < 0.0001). The aORs (95% CI) of the medical cost of accumulative ICU stay in the endovascular coil embolization group was 0.61 (0.58, 0.64; p < 0.0001). The aOR (95% CI) of the total medical cost of index hospitalization in the endovascular coil embolization group was 0·85 (0.82, 0.87; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Medical resource consumption in the coiling group was lower than that in the clipping group.

Long-term survival outcomes and prognostic factors related to ruptured intracranial aneurysms: A comparison of surgical and endovascular options in a propensity score-matched, nationwide population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To determine the long-term survival outcomes of and prognostic factors for survival in patients with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm (RIA) who underwent endovascular coil embolization or surgical clipping. METHODS: We selected patients who had received a diagnosis of RIA between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017. Propensity score matching was performed, and Cox proportional hazards model curves were plotted to analyze all-cause mortality in patients undergoing different treatments. RESULTS: The matching process yielded a final cohort of 8102 patients (4051 and 4051 in endovascular coil embolization and surgical clipping groups, respectively) who were eligible for inclusion. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for endovascular coil embolization compared with surgical clipping were 0.87 (95% CI, 0.79-0.97). The aHRs for the ages of 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and ≥85 years compared with the ages of 20 to 64 years were 1.82 (95% CI, 1.60-2.07), 3.35 (95% CI, 2.93-3.84), and 6.99 (95% CI, 5.51-8.86), respectively. Surgical clipping; old age; male sex; treatment during 2011 to 2013; presence of diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or end-stage renal disease; history of stroke or transient ischemic attack; Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2; attendance of nonacademic hospitals; and low income were significant independent prognostic factors for poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with surgical clipping, endovascular coil embolization led to more favorable survival outcomes in patients with RIAs.

Cobalt-60 and electron beam irradiation-induced lipid oxidation in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).

BACKGROUND: Irradiation can cause lipid oxidation of fish. This study aimed to examine the effect of radiation (method, dose and dose rate) on the acid value (AV), peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content and fatty acid profile of fresh and freeze-dried largemouth bass flesh. RESULTS: AV, PV and TBARS presented a dose-dependent increase in fish meat for both cobalt-60 (60 Co) and electron beam (EB) irradiation. With a 6 kGy dose of radiation, all measured indices in the 60 Co group were significantly higher than those in the EB group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). With a 3 kGy dose of radiation, AV, PV and TBARS in the 200 Gy min-1 dose rate group were significantly lower than those in the 2 and 80 Gy min-1 groups (P < 0.05). After 60 Co irradiation, AV, PV and TBARS in most fresh samples were significantly higher than those in freeze-dried samples (P < 0.01). And 60 Co irradiation decreased the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) content in fresh samples and increased the UFA content in freeze-dried samples. Our study indicated that 60 Co irradiation, particularly at a low dose rate, accelerated lipid oxidation in fish meat. A large amount of muscle moisture enhances the amount of UFA loss in fish meat during 60 Co irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: A low dose (3 kGy) of EB irradiation, a high dose rate (200 Gy min-1 ) of 60 Co irradiation or freeze-drying treatment can alleviate the lipid oxidation of largemouth bass meat. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Three pairs of luminescent coordination polymers based on CoII and CdII clusters for the detection of antibiotics, pesticides and chiral nitro aromatic compounds.

Three couples of coordination polymers (CPs), namely, [Co((R/S)-Hcna)2] n (1-D/L), [Cd6((1R,2R/1S,2S)-cpba)4(phen)6(H2O)3] n (2-D/L) and [Cd2((1R,2R/1S,2S)-Hcpba)2(phen)2] n (3-D/L) {(R/S)-H2cna = (R/S)-6-(1-carboxyethoxy)-2-naphthoic acid, (1R,2R/1S,2S)-H3cpba = (1R,2R/1S,2S)-2,2'-((5-carboxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(oxy))dipropionic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline} are successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Structural analysis shows that CP 1 has a 3D 3,6-c net structure with a point symbol of (4·62)2(42·610·83). CPs 2 and 3 are obtained under very similar reaction conditions except using different solvent ratios. The presence of the planar chelating ligand phen in CPs 2 and 3 limited the spatial growth of the structure, resulting in the formation of different 1D structures. All CPs crystallized in the chiral space group P21, CPs 1-3 are all SHG active. Their luminescence sensing activities for organics such as antibiotics, pesticides and nitro aromatics are also investigated. The results showed that CP 1 can effectively identify trace amounts of nitrofurans (NFs) and CP 3 has obvious recognition ability toward nitrofurans (NFs) and nitroimidazoles (NMs). Both CPs 1 and 3 could selectively detect 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline (DCN). The luminescence of CPs 1 and 3 can also be quenched by (D/L)-4-nitrophenylalanine ((D/L)-NPA) and (1R,2R/1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)propane-1,3-diol ((1R,2R/1S,2S)-ANPO).

Three new coordination polymers based on bis(4-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)phenyl)methane: syntheses, structures, multiresponsive luminescent sensitive detection for antibiotics and pesticides, and antitumor activities.

Three novel coordination polymers (CPs), namely, {[Ag2(L)2(Mo4O13)·(CH3CN)]} n (1), {[Zn(L)(1,4-bdc)2·2(1,4-H2bdc)]} n (2), {[Cd(L)(1,4-bdc)0.5]} n (3) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions by the reaction of bis(4-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)phenyl)methane (L) and varied metal salts. Their structures are determined by single X-ray crystal diffraction, and further characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TGA and PXRD. CP 1 with ammonium molybdate as a secondary ligand displays a 2D network with (2,3,3,3,4)-connected net topology and the point symbol of {4·82}6{4·84·10}2{8}, CP 2 and CP 3 with 1,4-H2bdc as a secondary ligand demonstrate 3D structures with different topologies. CP 2 exhibits high sensibility and low detection limit in the recognition of antibiotics (NZF, NFT and FZD) and pesticide (DCN) identification. CP 1 demonstrates good anti-tumor activity toward the tested glioma cells. The possible luminescent sensitivity and anti-tumor mechanisms are also discussed.

catena-Poly[[nickel(II)-µ2-[1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene-κ2N3:N3']-µ2-(5-carboxybenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ4O1,O1':O3,O3')] 0.41-hydrate].

The title compound, {[Ni(C(9)H(4)O(6))(C(14)H(14)N(4))]·0.41H(2)O}(n), exhibits a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded supramolecular framework. The Ni(II) cation is six-coordinated in a distorted triangular prism defined by two N atoms from two 1,3-bis(imidazol-l-ylmethyl)benzene (bix) ligands and four O atoms from two 5-carboxybenzene-1,3-dicarboxylate (HBTC) dianions. The bix molecules and HBTC dianions both act as bidentate ligands, linking the Ni(II) cations to form a one-dimensional coordination polymer. A two-dimensional wave-like net is constructed by O-H...O hydrogen bonds linking adjacent chains. Partially occupied solvent water molecules fill the cavities and link these layers to form a three-dimensional supramolecular structure via O-H...O hydrogen bonds. The title compound was also characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis.

Bis[1,1'-(1,3-phenyl-enedimethyl-ene)di(1H-imidazol-3-ium)] ß-octa-molybdate.

In the title compound, (C(14)H(16)N(4))(2)[Mo(8)O(26)], the ß-octa-molybdate anion is centrosymmetric. N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the diimidazolium cations and the polyoxidoanions into a chain structure along [100]. π-π inter-actions between the imidazole rings and between the imidazole and benzene rings [centroid-centroid distances = 3.611 (2) and 3.689 (3) Å, respectively] connect the chains.

4-(2,2-Difluoro-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile.

In the title compound, C(12)H(6)F(2)N(2)O(2), the 2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzodioxole ring system is approximately planar [maximum deviation = 0.012 (2) Å] and its mean plane is twisted with respect to the pyrrole ring, making a dihedral angle of 2.51 (9)°. In the crystal, N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains running along the a axis. π-π stacking is also observed between parallel benzene rings of adjacent mol-ecules, the centroid-centroid distance being 3.7527 (13) Å.

Ethane-1,2-diaminium (R)-2-[4-(1-carboxyl-atoeth-oxy)phen-oxy]acetate.

In the title compound, C(2)H(10)N(2) (2+)·C(11)H(10)O(6) (2-), the two acetate groups of the cation form dihedral angles of 74.2 (4) and 63.9 (5)° with the central benzene ring. In the crystal, N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions into layers parallel to the ab plane.

1,1'-[(Biphenyl-4,4'-di-yl)bis-(methyl-ene)]di-1H-imidazol-3-ium tetra-chlorido-mercurate(II).

In the title compound, (C(20)H(20)N(4))[HgCl(4)], the Hg(II) ion is four-coordinated in a tetra-hedral environment defined by four chloride ions. The dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 32.83 (15)°. The protonated 1,1'-[(biphenyl-4,4'-di-yl)bis-(meth-yl-ene)]di-1H-imidazol-3-ium cations, showing a cis conformation, link the [HgCl(4)](2-) anions into an R(4) (4)(42) motif via N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds.

Di-µ-chlorido-bis-{[1,2-bis-(pyridin-2-ylmeth-oxy)benzene-κN,O,O',N']chloridocadmium}.

In centrosymmetric dinuclear title compound, [Cd(2)Cl(4)(C(18)H(16)N(2)O(2))(2)], the Cd(II) atom is seven-coordinated in a penta-gonal-bipyramidal environment defined by two N atoms and two O atoms from one ligand and three Cl(-) anions, two of which are bridging. A π-π inter-action between adjacent pyridine rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.773 (1) Å] further stablizes the dimer.

catena-Poly[[bis-(nitrato-κO)cadmium]bis-[µ-1,4-bis-(pyridin-3-yl-meth-oxy)benzene-κN:N']].

In the title compound, [Cd(NO(3))(2)(C(18)H(16)N(2)O(2))(2)](n), the six-coordinated Cd(II) ion is located on an inversion center and has a distorted octa-hedral environment defined by four N atoms from four 1,4-bis-(pyridin-3-ylmeth-oxy)benzene ligands and two O atoms from two nitrate anions. The ligands link the Cd(II) ions into a ribbon-like structure running along [201]. One O atom of the nitrate anion is disordered over two positions with site-occupancy factors of 0.59 (2) and 0.41 (2).

[1,2-Bis(pyridin-2-ylmeth-oxy)benzene-κN,O,O',N']bis-(nitrato-κO)cobalt(II).

In the title compound, [Co(NO(3))(2)(C(18)H(16)N(2)O(2))], the Co(II) ion is six-coordinated in a distorted octa-hedral environment defined by two O and two N atoms from the ligand and by two O atoms from two nitrate anions. A two-dimensional network parallel to the ab plane is built up by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which link adjacent mol-ecules in the crystal structure.

(Z)-N-{3-[(6-Chloro-pyridin-3-yl)meth-yl]-1,3-thia-zolidin-2-yl-idene}cyanamide.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(10)H(9)ClN(4)S, common name thia-cloprid, comprises two mol-ecules. In both mol-ecules, the thia-zolidine rings are almost planar (with r.m.s. deviations of 0.016 and 0.065 Å) and form dihedral angles of 73.36 (6) and 70.25 (8)° with the 2-chloro-pyridine rings. In the crystal, inter-molecular C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds links the mol-ecules into chains propagating in [[Formula: see text]01].