Navigating the challenges: exploring the association between COVID-19 lockdowns and eating behavior in university students: a systematic review and investigation of factors impacting ed levels.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental and physical well-being of individuals globally, with university students being particularly susceptible to mental health issues. Factors such as the transition to adulthood, economic hardships, and academic responsibilities, compounded by pandemic-related disruptions like lockdowns and remote learning, have elevated stress levels and altered daily routines. The pandemic has given rise to post-traumatic stress symptoms in certain individuals, including university students which may contribute to the emergence of emotional eating or adopting unhealthy eating patterns as a coping mechanism, leading to excessive consumption or unhealthy dietary choices. This review aims to investigate the influence of COVID-19 restrictions on eating disorders among university students and identifying the contributing factors. CONTENT: Out of 59 identified articles, 10 met the inclusion criteria, involving 23,542 participants (70.2 % women, 29.35 % men, 0.42 % gender fluid/undisclosed). The lockdown led to increased prevalence and severity of eating disorders among university students, particularly in women. SUMMARY: The review highlights a notable increase in eating disorders among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health issues, reduced physical activity, and economic stress were significant contributors to this trend, with women being disproportionately affected. OUTLOOK: To mitigate the impact of future pandemics or similar disruptions, universities should implement early screening, provide mental health counseling, virtual support groups, nutritional guidance, and opportunities for physical activity. Encouraging students to seek professional help is crucial for managing mental health and eating habits in such scenarios.

Refinement of Risk-Stratification of Cytogenetically Normal Acute Myeloid Leukemia Adult Patients by MN1 Expression.

INTRODUCTION: Acute myeloid leukemia with normal cytogenetics (CN-AML) represents a heterogeneous group having diverse genetic mutations. Understanding the significance of each of these mutations is necessary. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic role of MN1 expression in adult CN-AML patients. METHOD: One hundred and sixty-three de-novo adult AML patients were evaluated for MN1 expression by real-time PCR. MN1 expression was correlated with the clinical characteristics of the patients and their outcomes. RESULTS: Higher MN1 expression was associated with NPM1 wild-type (p<0.0001), CD34 positivity (p=0.006), and lower clinical remission rate (p=0.027). FLT3-ITD and CEBPA mutations had no association with MN1 expression. On survival analysis, a high MN1 expression was associated with poor event-free survival (Hazard Ratio 2.47, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.42-4.3; p<0.0001) and overall survival (Hazard Ratio 4.18, 95% Confidence Interval: 2.17-8.08; p<0.0001). On multivariate analysis, the MN1 copy number emerged as an independent predictor of EFS (p<0.0001) and OS (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: MN1 expression is an independent predictor of outcome in CN-AML.

Fortifying Micronutrient Supplementation in India: Indian Expert consensus.

Micronutrients play a key role in human health, being involved in energy metabolism, immunity, cellular functioning, growth, and development. Deficiencies in micronutrients occur in individuals of all ages due to several factors, including inadequate diets, disease states, and overweight/obesity. Guidelines from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) Expert Group on Nutrient Requirements for Indians (2023) have specified the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for macronutrients and micronutrients. In addition, a healthy diet is crucial for overall health and should be the first step toward addressing micronutrient deficiencies. When diet is inadequate, micronutrient supplements can be provided to compensate. An expert panel of Indian doctors was convened to develop a pathway toward micronutrient supplementation among the Indian population. This Consensus Statement recognizes that different populations have varying needs for specific micronutrients, and ensuring adequate intake of such micronutrients can improve health outcomes. The panel provided recommendations for dietary practices and micronutrient supplementation when diet is inadequate. Addressing micronutrient deficiencies at the primary care level can prevent chronic deficiencies and their consequences. This Consensus Statement can serve as a primer for physicians to monitor and address deficiencies and thus help individuals maintain their health.

Implementation of the recommended immunohistochemistry algorithm for classification of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified into the prognostically significant GATA3 and TBX21 subtypes.

INTRODUCTION: Current molecular research has shown the several oncogenic pathways that give rise to the peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise defined (PTCL, NOS) subtypes, which alter prognosis and might have predictive value. This study was conducted to assess the immunohistochemistry (IHC) algorithm by Amador et al for the subtyping of PTCL, NOS and determine its applicability in relation to the clinicopathological profile. METHODS: This study included 43 patients with PTCL, NOS diagnosis. Following the use of IHC for the transcription factors GATA3, TBX21, CCR4, and CXCR3, two pathologists subtyped the samples. Comprehensive clinicopathological correlation was carried out. RESULTS: Applying the algorithm of Amador et al., cases were classified into GATA3 (20), TBX21 (15), and unclassified (8) subtypes. No significant association with clinical parameters of subtypes or CD4/ CD8 positivity was observed. Although a higher proportion of cases in the TBX21 subgroup showed a polymorphic population compared with the GATA3 subgroup, which had a monomorphic population, no significant p-value (0.111) was observed. Two Lennert lymphomas were classified into the GATA3 subgroup. Multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in overall survival (p-value = 0.105) and progression-free survival (p-value = 0.0509) between IHC-defined subtypes; trends indicate that overall survival and progression-free survival are worse in the GATA3 subgroup. CONCLUSION: Although the algorithm is reproducible, a proportion of cases remains unclassifiable and may require additional investigation and gene expression profiling. The GATA3 subgroup was found to have a monomorphic population with a poor overall prognosis and thus requires a larger sample size for validation.

Recent Biochemical Advances in Antitubercular Drugs: Challenges and Future.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death world-wide after AIDS. It infects around one-third of global population and approximately two million people die annually from this disease because it is a very contagious disease spread by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The increasing number of drug-resistant strains and the failure of conventional treatments against this strain are the challenges of the coming decades. New therapeutic techniques aim to confirm cure without deterioration, to reduce deaths, contagions and the formation of drug-resistant strains. A plethora of new diagnostic tests are available to diagnose the active tuberculosis, screen latent M. tuberculosis infection, and to identify drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. When effective prevention strategies do not prevail, high rates of early case detection and successive cures to control TB emergence would not be possible. In this review, we discussed the structural features of M. tuberculosis, Multi drug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), the mechanism of M. tuberculosis infection, the mode of action of first and second-line antitubercular drugs, the mechanism of resistance to the existing drugs, compounds in preclinical and clinical trial and drugs presently available for the treatment of tuberculosis. Moreover, the new diagnostic techniques to detect M. Tuberculosis are also discussed in this review.

Does Public Spending Reflect the Need for Health: A Cross-sectional Analysis at District Level in India.

BACKGROUND: There is mixed evidence on the extent of association between the allocation of public revenue for healthcare and its indicators of need. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined the relationship between allocations through state health financing (SHF) and the Central Government with infant mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: District-wise infant mortality rate (IMR) was computed using National Family Health Survey-4 data. State-wise data for health budgets through SHF and National Health Mission (NHM, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme), were obtained for the year 2015-16. We used a multivariable analysis through generalized linear model method using identity-link function. RESULTS: We found per capita SHF (₹3169) to be more than 12 times that of public health spending per capita through NHM (₹261). IMR was lower in districts with higher SHF allocation, although statistically insignificant. The allocation through NHM was higher in districts with higher IMR, which is statistically significant. Every unit percentage increase in per capita net state domestic product and female literacy led to 0.31% and 0.54% decline, while a 1% increase in under-five diarrhoea prevalence led to 0.17% increase in IMR. CONCLUSION: The NHM has contributed to enhancing vertical equity in health-care financing. The States' need to be more responsive to the differences in districts while allocating health-care resources. There needs to be a focus on spending on social determinants, which should be the cornerstone for any universal health coverage strategy.

Clinical Significance of MUC4 and Associated Proteins in Pancreatic and Periampullary Cancers.

OBJECTIVE: This study primarily aimed to assess the expression of MUC4 in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as compared with controls and assess its clinical relevance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum MUC4 levels and MUC4 gene expression in snap-frozen tissue were analyzed through surface plasmon resonance and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Tumor tissues and control tissues were analyzed for MUC4 and other mucins through immunohistochemistry. RESULT: MUC4 expression in tumor tissue was found to be significantly elevated in PDAC patients as compared with chronic pancreatitis tissues and normal pancreatic tissues. Periampullary carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma tissue also showed increased expression of MUC4 and other mucins. CONCLUSIONS: Differential expression of MUC4 in pancreatic tumor tissues can help to differentiate PDAC from benign conditions.

7-amino carboxycoumarin 2 inhibits lactate induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via MPC1 in oral and breast cancer cells.

Lactate is an oncometabolite that play important role in tumor aggressiveness. Lactate from the tumor microenvironment (TME) is taken up by cancer cells as an energy resource via mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (or OXPHOS). In the present study, by using an online meta-analysis tool we demonstrated that in oral squamous cancer cells (OSCCs) glycolytic and OXPHOS governing genes are overexpressed, like in breast cancer. For experimental demonstration, we treated the OSCC cell line (SCC4) and breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) with sodium L-lactate and analyzed its effects on changes in EMT and migration. For the therapeutic intervention of lactate metabolism, we used AZD3965 (an MCT1 inhibitor), and 7ACC2 (an MPC inhibitor). Like breast cancer, oral cancer tissues showed increased transcripts of 12 genes that were previously shown to be associated with glycolysis and OXPHOS. We experimentally demonstrated that L-lactate treatment induced mesenchymal markers and migration of cancer cells, which was significantly neutralized by MPC inhibitor that is, 7ACC2. Such an effect on EMT status was not observed with AZD3965. Furthermore, we showed that lactate treatment increases the MPC1 expression in both cancer cells, and this might be the reason why cancer cells in the high lactate environment are more sensitive to 7ACC2. Overall, our present findings demonstrate that extracellular lactate positively regulates the MPC1 protein expression in cancer cells, thereby putting forward the notion of using 7ACC2 as a potential therapeutic alternative to inhibit malignant oxidative cancers. Future preclinical studies are warranted to validate the present findings.

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma at a Tertiary Care Center in India: Analysis of Outcomes and Prognostic Factors.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is the standard of care treatment in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (rrHL). Published long-term follow-up data concerning this modality from the Indian subcontinent is lacking. In this retrospective study, the data on adults (> 16 years) with biopsy-confirmed rrHL who were autografted from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2021 at our transplant unit were analyzed. Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as time from transplant to disease progression or death due to any cause. Overall survival (OS) was determined from date of transplant to date of death due to any cause. Overall, 134 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma underwent ASCT. At a median follow-up of 38.2 (range, 0.1-240) months, 5 years PFS was 45.3% (95% CI 35.4-54.4). The probability of OS at 5 years was 60.5% (95% CI 49.6-69.6). Eleven (8.2%) patients suffered transplant-related mortality by 100 days. Post-transplant persistent disease, pre-transplant serum hypoalbuminemia (< 3.5 g/dl) and chemo-resistance (< PR after last salvage regimen) of tumour at transplant were independent prognostic factors associated with worse PFS in multivariable analysis. Likewise, age ≥ 30 years, ECOG performance status ≥ 1 and residual disease after transplantation correlated with inferior OS. Long-term outcomes of rrHL patients undergoing ASCT in India match those from the developed world in the era of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Pre-transplant performance status, chemo-sensitivity of disease, serum albumin and post-transplant remission status determined survival in our cohort. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12288-023-01690-x.

Quality of life and symptom burden in hematological cancer patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: an observational study at Regional Cancer Centre, India.

PURPOSE: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is an intense form of treatment, resulting in major symptom burden but can prove curative. The quality of life (QOL) is a major endpoint for these patients as the survival rate in them has improved over time. The aim of the study is to assess the QOL and symptom burden of hematological malignancy patients at admission to hospital for HSCT, at 1 month and at 3 months following HSCT. METHODS: This prospective observational study was done on hematological malignancy patients who were admitted for HSCT in a regional cancer center. The study subjects were assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant Scale (FACT-BMT Scale), Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale-revised (r-ESAS), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) at the time of hospital admission for transplantation, on day 30 (~ 1 month) and day100 (~ 3 months) of transplantation. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients were included in this study. FACT-BMT scores have decreased from baseline (F0) to the first follow-up (F1) and then increased in the third follow-up (F2). The maximum r-ESAS mean score was for tiredness among all other symptoms at F0 as well as at F1 and at F2. The DASS 21 scores for depression, anxiety, and stress were maximum during F1 and minimum during F2. CONCLUSION: Symptom burden is maximum during the first month of BMT, which improves later and QOL becomes improved with time.

Carboplatin in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Harboring Somatic or Germline Homologous Recombination Repair Gene Mutations: Phase II Single-Arm Trial.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20%-25% of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) harbor a deleterious germline or somatic mutation in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway genes, which is involved in the repair of double-stranded DNA damage. Half of these mutations are germline, while the remaining are exclusively somatic. While polyadenosine 5'diphosphoribose [poly (ADP-ribose)] polymerase inhibitors, such as olaparib and rucaparib, are effective in this subgroup, their widespread use is limited due to the associated high cost, especially in resource-constrained settings. Notably, platinum agents like carboplatin have exquisite sensitivity to cells with defective DNA repair machinery. Carboplatin, a conventional, inexpensive chemotherapeutic agent, offers a potential alternative treatment in such patients. Several retrospective small case series support this hypothesis. However, there are no prospective clinical trials of carboplatin in patients with mCRPC with HRR mutations. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective is to assess the objective response rate of 3 weekly carboplatin treatments in patients with mCRPC harboring deleterious mutations in the HRR pathway genes and previously treated with a taxane or a novel antiandrogen agent. The secondary objectives include progression-free survival, health-related quality of life, and safety profile of carboplatin. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with mCRPC harboring HRR pathway mutations previously treated with docetaxel or novel antiandrogen agents (abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide, or darolutamide) or both will be eligible. Genes involved directly or indirectly in the HRR pathway will be tested. In this single-arm phase II study, we will screen approximately 200 patients to enroll 49 patients, and carboplatin (dosing at the area under curve=5) will be administered every 3 weeks until progression or intolerable side effects. The primary end point will be assessed as the proportion of patients with a reduction of serum prostate-specific antigen by more than 50% from enrollment. Secondary outcomes include progression-free survival-soft-tissue disease progression (by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors, version 1.1, and bone lesion progression using Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group 3 criteria), health-related quality of life during carboplatin treatment using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate questionnaire and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire and safety profile of carboplatin (National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0). RESULTS: The trial started enrollment in September 2023. This trial is ongoing, and 12 patients have been recruited to date. All 49 participants will be enrolled according to plan. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective phase II trial represents a critical step toward addressing the therapeutic gap in patients with mCRPC harboring HRR pathway mutations, particularly in demographic regions with limited access to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors. Outcomes from this study will inform clinical practice and guide future phase III randomized trials, ultimately improving patient outcomes globally. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registry of India CTRI/2023/04/051507; https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?EncHid=Njc0NjU=&Enc=&userName=. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/54086.

Immunophenotypic characterization of leukemic stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia using single tube 10-colour panel by multiparametric flow cytometry: Deciphering the spectrum, complexity and immunophenotypic heterogeneity.

INTRODUCTION: Despite extensive research, comprehensive characterization of leukaemic stem cells (LSC) and information on their immunophenotypic differences from normal haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is lacking. Herein, we attempted to unravel the immunophenotypic (IPT) characteristics and heterogeneity of LSC using multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC) and single-cell sequencing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bone marrow aspirate samples from patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) were evaluated using MFC at diagnostic and post induction time points using a single tube-10-colour-panel containing LSC-associated antibodies CD123, CD45RA, CD44, CD33 and COMPOSITE (CLL-1, TIM-3, CD25, CD11b, CD22, CD7, CD56) with backbone markers that is, CD45, CD34, CD38, CD117, sCD3. Single-cell sequencing of the whole transcriptome was also done in a bone marrow sample. RESULTS: LSCs and HSCs were identified in 225/255 (88.2%) and 183/255 (71.6%) samples, respectively. Significantly higher expression was noted for COMPOSITE, CD45RA, CD123, CD33, and CD44 in LSCs than HSCs (p < 0.0001). On comparing the LSC specific antigen expressions between CD34+ (n = 184) and CD34- LSCs (n = 41), no difference was observed between the groups. More than one sub-population of LSC was demonstrated in 4.4% of cases, which further revealed high concordance between MFC and single cell transcriptomic analysis in one of the cases displaying three LSC subpopulations by both methods. CONCLUSION: A single tube-10-colour MFC panel is proposed as an easy and reproducible tool to identify and discriminate LSCs from HSCs. LSCs display both inter- and intra-sample heterogeneity in terms of antigen expressions, which opens the facets for single cell molecular analysis to elucidate the role of subpopulations of LSCs in AML progression.

Methylation study of tumor suppressor genes in human aberrant crypt foci, colorectal carcinomas, and normal colon.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are the earliest preneoplastic lesions in human colon, identifiable on chromoendoscopic screening. Our objective was to evaluate the %methylation of APC, CDKN2A, MLH1, RASSF1, MGMT, and WIF1 tumor suppressor genes (TSG) in ACF, corresponding colorectal carcinomas (CRC), and normal colonic mucosal controls. METHODS: In this study, macroscopically normal-appearing mucosal flaps were sampled 5-10 cm away from the tumor mass from 302 fresh colectomy specimens to identify ACF-like lesions. Thirty-five cases with multiple ACFs were selected (n 35) as the main study group, with corresponding sections from CRC (n 35) as disease controls, and mucosal tissue blocks from 20 colectomy specimens (normal controls), operated for non-neoplastic pathologies. Genomic DNA was extracted, and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on a customized methylation array model. %Methylation data were compared among the groups and with clinicopathological parameters. Selected target mRNA and protein expression studies were performed. RESULTS: %Methylation of TSGs in ACF was intermediate between normal colon and CRC, although a statistically significant difference was observed only for the WIF1 gene (P < 0.01). Also, there was increased nuclear ß-catenin expression and upregulation of CD44-positive cancer-stem cells in ACF and CRCs than in controls. Right-sided ACFs and dysplastic ACFs had a higher %methylation of CDKN2A (P < 0.01), whereas hyperplastic ACFs had a higher %methylation of RASSF1 (P 0.04). The topographic characteristics of ACFs did not correlate with TSG %methylation. CONCLUSIONS: Early epigenetic methylation of WIF1 gene is one of the mechanisms for ACF development in human colon.

Swallowing dysfunction between the community-living older adults with and without comorbid conditions using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROM).

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate older adults' perspective on their swallowing physiology using a PROM tool. The study further explored the swallowing issues among older adults with and without comorbid conditions. METHOD: One hundred twenty-two (122) participants participated in the e-survey. A questionnaire was developed to assess the swallowing deficits among older adults, and Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) was administered to assess the PROM. RESULTS: The results revealed that 40% of older adults with comorbid conditions had EAT-10 scores greater than 3, suggesting swallowing deficits. A significant difference was observed between the two groups with respect to swallowing deficits, as reported on EAT-10. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, it can be delineated that swallowing deficits emerge with aging. More of older adults with comorbid conditions reported swallowing deficits in comparison to those without comorbid conditions. Hence, their nutritional and health status gets compromised, leading to poor quality of life.

Topical Diclofenac for Prevention of Capecitabine-Associated Hand-Foot Syndrome: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a dose-limiting side effect of capecitabine. Celecoxib prevents HFS by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) that is upregulated because of the underlying associated inflammation. However, systemic side effects of celecoxib have limited routine prescription. Topical diclofenac inhibits COX-2 locally with minimal risk of systemic adverse events. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the efficacy of topical diclofenac in the prevention of capecitabine-induced HFS. METHODS: In this single-site phase III randomized double-blind trial, we enrolled patients with breast or GI cancer who were planned to receive capecitabine-based treatment. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive topical diclofenac or placebo gel for 12 weeks or until the development of HFS, whichever occurred earlier. The primary end point was the incidence of grade 2 or 3 HFS (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5), which was compared between the two groups using simple logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 264 patients were randomly assigned to receive topical diclofenac gel (n = 131) or placebo (n = 133). Grade 2 or 3 HFS was observed in 3.8% of participants in the diclofenac group compared with 15.0% in the placebo group (absolute difference, 11.2%; 95% CI, 4.3 to 18.1; P = .003). Grade 1-3 HFS was lower in the diclofenac group than in the placebo group (6.1% v 18.1%; absolute risk difference, 11.9%; 95% CI, 4.1 to 19.6). Capecitabine dose reductions because of HFS were less frequent in the diclofenac group (3.8%) than in the placebo group (13.5%; absolute risk difference, 9.7%; 95% CI, 3.0 to 16.4). CONCLUSION: Topical diclofenac prevented HFS in patients receiving capecitabine. This trial supports the use of topical diclofenac to prevent capecitabine-associated HFS.

SMART-ESAS: Smartphone Monitoring and Assessment in Real Time of Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Scores for Patients With Cancer.

PURPOSE: Serial patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurements in clinical practice are associated with a better quality of life and survival. Recording electronic PROs using smartphones is an efficient way to implement this. We aimed to assess the feasibility of the electronically filled Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (e-ESAS) scale in the lower-middle-income country (LMIC) setting. METHODS: Baseline clinical features and conventional paper-based ESAS (p-ESAS) were collected in newly diagnosed patients with solid organ tumors. Text message link was sent to these patients for filling e-ESAS. ESAS was categorized into physical, psychological, and total symptom domains. Scores were divided into none to mild (0-3) and moderate to severe (4-10). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to determine the correlation between p-ESAS and e-ESAS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent factors affecting symptom burden. RESULTS: Of 1,160 participants who filled out p-ESAS, 595 completed both e-ESAS and p-ESAS questionnaires and were included in the final analysis. Moderate to severe physical, psychological, and total symptom scores were seen in 39.8%, 40%, and 39% of participants. Tiredness and anxiety were the most common physical and psychological symptoms, respectively. ICCs between the p-ESAS and e-ESAS varied between 0.75 and 0.9. Total symptom scores were independently predicted by metastatic disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.83; 95% CI, 1.26 to 2.67; P = .001) and a higher level of education (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.72; P = .001). CONCLUSION: Paper-based and electronically filled ESASs have good intraobserver reliability across individual symptoms and domain scores in a representative cohort at a tertiary care institute in the LMIC. This may help us incorporate e-ESAS in routine clinical care in the real-world setting with financial, infrastructural, and manpower limitations.

Decoding the genetic symphony: Profiling protein-coding and long noncoding RNA expression in T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia for clinical insights.

T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a heterogeneous malignancy characterized by the abnormal proliferation of immature T-cell precursors. Despite advances in immunophenotypic classification, understanding the molecular landscape and its impact on patient prognosis remains challenging. In this study, we conducted comprehensive RNA sequencing in a cohort of 35 patients with T-ALL to unravel the intricate transcriptomic profile. Subsequently, we validated the prognostic relevance of 23 targets, encompassing (i) protein-coding genes-BAALC, HHEX, MEF2C, FAT1, LYL1, LMO2, LYN, and TAL1; (ii) epigenetic modifiers-DOT1L, EP300, EML4, RAG1, EZH2, and KDM6A; and (iii) long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs)-XIST, PCAT18, PCAT14, LINC00202, LINC00461, LINC00648, ST20, MEF2C-AS1, and MALAT1 in an independent cohort of 99 patients with T-ALL. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clusters aligning with immunophenotypic subtypes, providing insights into the molecular heterogeneity of T-ALL. The identified signature genes exhibited associations with clinicopathologic features. Survival analysis uncovered several independent predictors of patient outcomes. Higher expression of MEF2C, BAALC, HHEX, and LYL1 genes emerged as robust indicators of poor overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS). Higher LMO2 expression was correlated with adverse EFS and RFS outcomes. Intriguingly, increased expression of lncRNA ST20 coupled with RAG1 demonstrated a favorable prognostic impact on OS, EFS, and RFS. Conclusively, several hitherto unreported associations of gene expression patterns with clinicopathologic features and prognosis were identified, which may help understand T-ALL's molecular pathogenesis and provide prognostic markers.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for detection of salivary cortisol in stress conditions.

A natural stress response induces elevated cortisol levels in biological fluids, such as saliva. While current sensor technologies can detect cortisol in real time, their sensitivity and reliability for human subjects have not been assured. This is due to relatively low concentrations of salivary cortisol, which fluctuate throughout the day and vary significantly between individuals. To address these challenges, we present an improved electrochemical biosensor leveraging graphene's exceptional conductivity and physicochemical properties. A 1-pyrenebutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (PBASE-NHS)-modified commercial graphene foam (GF) electrode is presented to realize an ultra-sensitive biosensor for cortisol detection directly in human saliva. The biosensor fabrication process entails the attachment of anti-cortisol monoclonal antibodies (mAb-cort) onto a PBASE-NHS/GF electrode through noncovalent immobilization on the vertically stratified graphene foam electrode surface. This unique immobilization strategy preserves graphene's structural integrity and electrical conductivity while facilitating antibody immobilization. The binding of cortisol to immobilized mAb-cort is read out via differential pulse voltammetry using ferri/ferro redox reactions. The immunosensor demonstrates an exceptional dynamic range of 1.0 fg mL-1 to 10,000 pg mL-1 (R2 = 0.9914) with a detection limit of 0.24 fg mL-1 (n = 3) for cortisol. Furthermore, we have established the reliability of cortisol sensors in monitoring human saliva. We have also performed multiple modes of validation, one against the established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a second by a third-party service Salimetric on 16 student volunteers exposed to different stress levels, showing excellent correlation (r = 0.9961). These findings suggest the potential for using mAb-cort/PBASE-NHS/GF-based cortisol electrodes for monitoring salivary cortisol in the general population.

Stimuli-responsive and self-healing supramolecular Zn(II)-guanosine metal-organic gel for Schottky barrier diode application.

Spontaneous formation of a supramolecular metal-organic hydrogel using unsubstituted guanosine as a ligand and Zn2+ ions is reported. Guanosine, in the presence of NaOH, self-assembled into a stable G-quadruplex structure, which underwent crosslinking through Zn2+ ions to afford a stable hydrogel. The gel has been characterized using several spectroscopic as well as microscopic studies. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent stimuli responsiveness towards various chemicals and pH. Furthermore, the gel exhibited intrinsic thixotropic behavior and showed self-healing and injectable properties. The optical properties of the Zn-guanosine metallo-hydrogel suggested a semiconducting nature of the gel, which has been exploited for fabricating a thin film device based on a Schottky diode interface between metal and a semiconductor. The fabricated device shows excellent charge transport characteristics and linear rectifying behavior. The findings are likely to pave the way for newer research in the area of soft electronic devices fabricated using materials synthesized by employing simple biomolecules.

Dexamethasone-free antiemetic strategy for highly emetogenic chemotherapy: safety and efficacy-pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Dexamethasone sparing strategies have shown success. The feasibility of a dexamethasone-free antiemetic strategy remains undetermined. A prospective, single-arm, pilot study was planned to determine the efficacy of an olanzapine-based, dexamethasone-free, three-drug antiemetic regimen. METHODS: Chemotherapy naïve, adult patients (≥18 years) who received ondansetron, aprepitant and olanzapine during the first cycle of highly emetogenic chemotherapy were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the rate of complete response (CR: no vomiting and no use of rescue medications) during the overall period (0-120 hours). RESULTS: Out of the total of 101 patients enrolled, most were women (82%) and received anthracycline cyclophosphamide (73%) combination therapy. The rate of CR for the overall period was 65% (95% CI 55.2% to 74.5%). The rate of CR for the acute and delayed period was 79% (95% CI 70% to 86.7%) and 76% (95% CI 66.7% to 84.1%). The rate of nausea control rates for the acute, delayed and overall periods were 34%, 29% and 24%, respectively. The grade I, II and III sedation rates over the 5 days were 8%, 5% and 1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The dexamethasone-free antiemetic strategy showed modest efficacy with low incidence of clinically significant somnolence. There is a need to prospectively investigate the role of dexamethasone in the era of newer potent antiemetics in a randomised fashion. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CTRI/2021/07/034813.