Rash with different types of BCR-ABL inhibitors in chronic myelogenous leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: A meta-analysis was conducted to systematically review the risks of all-grade as well as high-grade rash in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients using different types of BCR-ABL inhibitors. Methods: Literature published between 2000 and April 2022 were searched using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov. Results: A total of 12 studies were included for meta-analysis. The results showed that the incidence of all-grade or high-grade rash associated with new-generation BCR-ABL inhibitors had no significant difference compared with a standard dose of imatinib. Subgroup analysis suggested that, compared with imatinib, the incidence of all grades of rash was higher in the nilotinib, bosutinib and ponatinib groups. Conclusion: For CML patients treated with nilotinib, bosutinib and ponatinib, the occurrence of skin toxicity should not be ignored.

Emphysema-Predominant COPD Had a Greater 5-Year Mortality and a Worse Annual Decline in Lung Function Than Airway Obstruction-Predominant COPD or Asthma at Initial Same Degree of Airflow Obstruction.

Background and Objectives: We studied whether the extent of exertional oxygen desaturation and emphysema could cause greater mortality in COPD and asthma independent of airflow obstruction. Materials and Methods: We performed a 5-year longitudinal observational study in COPD and asthma patients who matched for airflow obstruction severity. All subjects performed a 6-min walk test (6MWT) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and followed spirometry and oxygen saturation (SpO2) during the 6MWT every 3-6 months. Overall survival was recorded. Cumulative survival curves were performed according to the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Results: The COPD group had higher emphysema scores, higher Δinspiratory capacities (ICs) and lower SpO2 during the 6MWT, which showed a greater yearly decline in FEV1 (40.6 mL) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (28 mL) than the asthma group (FEV1, 9.6 mL; FVC, 1.2 mL; p < 0.05). The emphysema-predominant COPD group had an accelerated annual decline in lung function and worse survival. The nadir SpO2 ≤ 80% and a higher emphysema score were the strong risk factors for mortality in COPD patients. Conclusions: The greater structural changes with a higher emphysema score and greater desaturation during the 6MWT in COPD may contribute to worse yearly decline in FEV1 and higher five-year mortality than in asthma patients with a similar airflow obstruction. The lowest SpO2 ≤ 80% during the 6MWT and emphysema-predominant COPD were the strong independent factors for mortality in chronic obstructive airway disease patients.

Oxygen desaturation during the 6-min walk test as a risk for osteoporosis in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a common comorbidity in non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis patients. We determined whether desaturation during 6-min walk test (6MWT) can be a predictor for osteoporosis risk. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Sixty-six non-CF bronchiectasis patients were enrolled. Lung function, walking distance, the lowest oxygen saturation (SpO2), the fall in SpO2 (ΔSpO2), and the distance-saturation product (DSP) were determined during the 6MWT. Desaturators (n = 45) were defined as those with ΔSpO2 > 10% or the lowest SpO2 < 88%. Bone mineral density (BMD) was determined through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The severity of non-CF bronchiectasis was evaluated using high-resolution computed tomography. RESULTS: Osteoporosis was evident in more desaturators (82%) than non-desaturators (43%, p < 0.01). BMD at the level of the femoral neck was significantly lower in desaturators than in non-desaturators (- 3.6 ± 1.1 vs. - 2.4 ± 0.9, p < 0.01). BMD was correlated positively with the lowest SpO2 and negatively with ΔSpO2 and severe exacerbations. In multivariate linear regression analysis, desaturation during 6MWT was the most significant predictive factor for osteoporosis (95% confidence interval - 1.60 to - 0.26, p = 0.01). Other risk factors included old age, low body mass index and severe exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS: Exertional desaturation during the 6MWT was a significant predictive factor for osteoporosis in Asian non-CF bronchiectasis patients. The 6MWT may be useful in identifying the osteoporotic phenotype of non-CF bronchiectasis and increasing clinician awareness to promote early intervention.

Breast masses in mammography classification with local contour features.

BACKGROUND: Mammography is one of the most popular tools for early detection of breast cancer. Contour of breast mass in mammography is very important information to distinguish benign and malignant mass. Contour of benign mass is smooth and round or oval, while malignant mass has irregular shape and spiculated contour. Several studies have shown that 1D signature translated from 2D contour can describe the contour features well. METHODS: In this paper, we propose a new method to translate 2D contour of breast mass in mammography into 1D signature. The method can describe not only the contour features but also the regularity of breast mass. Then we segment the whole 1D signature into different subsections. We extract four local features including a new contour descriptor from the subsections. The new contour descriptor is root mean square (RMS) slope. It can describe the roughness of the contour. KNN, SVM and ANN classifier are used to classify benign breast mass and malignant mass. RESULTS: The proposed method is tested on a set with 323 contours including 143 benign masses and 180 malignant ones from digital database of screening mammography (DDSM). The best accuracy of classification is 99.66% using the feature of root mean square slope with SVM classifier. CONCLUSION: The performance of the proposed method is better than traditional method. In addition, RMS slope is an effective feature comparable to most of the existing features.

Dietary intake, glucose metabolism and sex hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared with women with non-PCOS-related infertility.

The present study investigated dietary intake, glucose metabolism and sex hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of forty-five women (aged 25­40 years) with PCOS and 161 control women (aged 25­43 years) with non-PCOS-related infertility were recruited. Anthropometry, glucose tolerance and sex hormones were determined and dietary intake was assessed. Women with PCOS had lower serum sex hormone-binding globulin and increased BMI, waist:hip ratio, luteinising hormone, ratio of luteinising hormone: follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone and free androgen index (FAI). Postprandial glucose, fasting insulin and insulin resistance were elevated in women with PCOS. Women with PCOS had reduced energy and carbohydrate intake but higher fat intake. Serum sex hormone-binding globulin level was negatively associated with BMI in both groups and negatively correlated with macronutrient intake in the PCOS group with hyperandrogenism. However, FAI was positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference and glucose metabolic parameters in both groups. Therefore, women with PCOS consume lower energy and carbohydrate compared with those with non-PCOS-related infertility and macronutrient intake is only negatively associated with serum sex hormone-binding globulin level in the PCOS group with hyperandrogenism.

High-Density Ultra-small Clusters and Single-Atom Fe Sites Embedded in Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) for Highly Efficient Catalytic Advanced Oxidation Processes.

Ultra-small metal clusters have attracted great attention owing to their superior catalytic performance and extensive application in heterogeneous catalysis. However, the synthesis of high-density metal clusters is very challenging due to their facile aggregation. Herein, one-step pyrolysis was used to synthesize ultra-small clusters and single-atom Fe sites embedded in graphitic carbon nitride with high density (iron loading up to 18.2 wt %), evidenced by high-angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The catalysts exhibit enhanced activity and stability in degrading various organic samples in advanced oxidation processes. The drastically increased metal site density and stability provide useful insights into the design and synthesis of cluster catalysts for practical application in catalytic oxidation reactions.