Imaging leachate runoff from a landfill using magnetotellurics: The Garraf karst case.

Electrical and active source electromagnetic geophysical methods have been traditionally employed to approach and tackle environmental problems, such as those caused by landfills. However, since these problems are more consequential and cover broader areas, it is necessary to use deeper penetration methods, such as magnetotellurics. In the Garraf Massif (Catalan Coastal Ranges, NE Spain), an urban waste disposal landfill had been in operation from 1974 to 2006, during which >26 million metric tons of garbage had been deposited. This landfill overlies karstic terrain, thus principally impacting groundwater circulation. Previous electrical resistivity tomography profiles had partially imaged the infill but were not able to penetrate below the base of the original landfill. During 2019 and 2020 we performed a magnetotelluric study over the landfill and its surrounding with the goals of characterizing the electrical resistivity of the infill and below it. The 2D and 3D resistivity models confirmed the highly conductive nature of the leachate and allowed us to identify its presence below the landfill base, which we quantified with maximum thicknesses of 90 m. This proved that landfill leachate had filtered through the original impermeable layer, enhanced by the karstic drainage structure.

The Role of Text in Visualizations: How Annotations Shape Perceptions of Bias and Influence Predictions.

This paper investigates the role of text in visualizations, specifically the impact of text position, semantic content, and biased wording. Two empirical studies were conducted based on two tasks (predicting data trends and appraising bias) using two visualization types (bar and line charts). While the addition of text had a minimal effect on how people perceive data trends, there was a significant impact on how biased they perceive the authors to be. This finding revealed a relationship between the degree of bias in textual information and the perception of the authors' bias. Exploratory analyses support an interaction between a person's prediction and the degree of bias they perceived. This paper also develops a crowdsourced method for creating chart annotations that range from neutral to highly biased. This research highlights the need for designers to mitigate potential polarization of readers' opinions based on how authors' ideas are expressed.

Characterization and nutritional valorization of agricultural waste corncobs from Italian maize landraces through the growth of medicinal mushrooms.

The research investigates the potential use of maize cobs (or corncobs) from five genotypes, including the B73 inbred line and four locally cultivated landraces from Northern Italy, as substrate for implementing Solid State fermentation processes with four Medicinal Mushrooms (MMs). The corncobs were characterized based on their proximate composition, lignin, phenolics content (both free and bound), and total antioxidant capacity. Among the MMs tested, Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma annularis demonstrated the most robust performance. Their growth was parametrized using Image Analysis technique, and chemical composition of culture samples was characterized compared to that of corncobs alone. In all culture samples, the growth of MMs led to a significant reduction (averaging 40%) in the total phenolics contents compared to that measured in corncobs alone. However, the high content of free phenolics in the cobs negatively impacted the growth of P. ostreatus. The final MM-corncob matrix exhibited reduced levels of free sugars and starch (≤ 2.2% DW, as a sum) and increased levels of proteins (up to 5.9% DW) and soluble dietary fiber (up to 5.0% DW), with a notable trend toward higher levels of ß-glucan compared to corncobs alone. This research paves the way for the use of this matrix as an active ingredient to enhance the nutritional value of food preparations.

Volcanic monitoring of the 2021 La Palma eruption using long-period magnetotelluric data.

Between September and December 2021, the first subaerial volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands in 50 years took place on the island of La Palma. Since November 2021, we have been conducting a long-period magnetotelluric (MT) monitoring experiment at a site located 2.4 km east of the volcanic cone. Having continuously recorded data since then, the obtained dataset shows significant changes in resistivity over the fourteen months following the eruption: more than ± 20% in apparent resistivity and ± 2 degrees in phase. These temporal variations in electrical resistivity, recorded continuously using long-period MT during both the syn- and post-eruptive stages, have not been reported to date, making this dataset unique. Four estimated impedances have been selected as representatives of the major temporal changes observed and inverted to generate new 3-D resistivity models. The results provide novel key information on the spatiotemporal evolution of the subsoil's electrical resistivity, enabling the characterization of a set of structures acting as preferred magmatic fluid pathways. Therefore, our study highlights the strong potential of MT as a volcanic monitoring tool and provides new insights about the evolution of the fluid pathways during the post-eruptive stage. These findings enhance our understanding of the magmatic system and may contribute to volcanic hazard mitigation in the future.

Overall survival with adjuvant atezolizumab after chemotherapy in resected stage II-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (IMpower010): a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase III trial.

BACKGROUND: IMpower010 (NCT02486718) demonstrated significantly improved disease-free survival (DFS) with adjuvant atezolizumab versus best supportive care (BSC) following platinum-based chemotherapy in the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive and all stage II-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) populations, at the DFS interim analysis. Results of the first interim analysis of overall survival (OS) are reported here. PATIENT AND METHODS: The design, participants, and primary-endpoint DFS outcomes have been reported for this phase III, open-label, 1 : 1 randomised study of atezolizumab (1200 mg q3w; 16 cycles) versus BSC after adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy (1-4 cycles) in adults with completely resected stage IB (≥4 cm)-IIIA NSCLC (per the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer and American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system, 7th edition). Key secondary endpoints included OS in the stage IB-IIIA intent-to-treat (ITT) population and safety in randomised treated patients. The first pre-specified interim analysis of OS was conducted after 251 deaths in the ITT population. Exploratory analyses included OS by baseline PD-L1 expression level (SP263 assay). RESULTS: At a median of 45.3 months' follow-up on 18 April 2022, 127 of 507 patients (25%) in the atezolizumab arm and 124 of 498 (24.9%) in the BSC arm had died. The median OS in the ITT population was not estimable; the stratified hazard ratio (HR) was 0.995 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78-1.28]. The stratified OS HRs (95% CI) were 0.95 (0.74-1.24) in the stage II-IIIA (n = 882), 0.71 (0.49-1.03) in the stage II-IIIA PD-L1 tumour cell (TC) ≥1% (n = 476), and 0.43 (95% CI 0.24-0.78) in the stage II-IIIA PD-L1 TC ≥50% (n = 229) populations. Atezolizumab-related adverse event incidences remained unchanged since the previous analysis [grade 3/4 in 53 (10.7%) and grade 5 in 4 (0.8%) of 495 patients, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Although OS remains immature for the ITT population, these data indicate a positive trend favouring atezolizumab in PD-L1 subgroup analyses, primarily driven by the PD-L1 TC ≥50% stage II-IIIA subgroup. No new safety signals were observed after 13 months' additional follow-up. Together, these findings support the positive benefit-risk profile of adjuvant atezolizumab in this setting.

Striking a Balance: Reader Takeaways and Preferences when Integrating Text and Charts.

While visualizations are an effective way to represent insights about information, they rarely stand alone. When designing a visualization, text is often added to provide additional context and guidance for the reader. However, there is little experimental evidence to guide designers as to what is the right amount of text to show within a chart, what its qualitative properties should be, and where it should be placed. Prior work also shows variation in personal preferences for charts versus textual representations. In this paper, we explore several research questions about the relative value of textual components of visualizations. 302 participants ranked univariate line charts containing varying amounts of text, ranging from no text (except for the axes) to a written paragraph with no visuals. Participants also described what information they could take away from line charts containing text with varying semantic content. We find that heavily annotated charts were not penalized. In fact, participants preferred the charts with the largest number of textual annotations over charts with fewer annotations or text alone. We also find effects of semantic content. For instance, the text that describes statistical or relational components of a chart leads to more takeaways referring to statistics or relational comparisons than text describing elemental or encoded components. Finally, we find different effects for the semantic levels based on the placement of the text on the chart; some kinds of information are best placed in the title, while others should be placed closer to the data. We compile these results into four chart design guidelines and discuss future implications for the combination of text and charts.

Calidad de vida tras una intervención comunitaria sociomotriz en mayores con riesgo social. Ensayo clínico / Quality of life after a social-physical activity community intervention in elderly people with social risk. Clinical trial

Objetivo Valorar la efectividad de un programa sociomotriz en la mejora de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de pacientes mayores de 65años con riesgo social. Material y métodos Ensayo clínico aleatorizado. Ámbito: comunitario; atención primaria y centro educativo público. Sujetos: mayores de 65años con riesgo social que acudieron al centro de salud durante el período de estudio y cumplieron los criterios de inclusión, n=102. Intervenciones: los sujetos se aleatorizaron en dos grupos; el grupo de intervención realizó dos sesiones semanales de una hora de ejercicio físico durante 4meses, sesiones mensuales sobre hábitos saludables y tres jornadas de actividades sociales; el grupo control recibió los consejos habituales. Se evaluó la calidad de vida mediante el cuestionario SF-36, previamente y al finalizar el programa. Resultados Completaron el estudio 80 sujetos (edad media 71,5±5 años; 91,3% mujeres). Basalmente no existieron diferencias significativas entre grupos y sus componentes sumarios estandarizados físico y mental del SF-36 estuvieron por debajo de los valores de referencia poblacionales (p<0,01). Tras el programa, el grupo de intervención mejoró significativamente respecto al grupo control en las 8 escalas del SF-36 y en los componentes sumarios, con un incremento mayor de 4puntos (p<0,01) en el componente físico y de 10 puntos en el mental (p<0,01). Conclusiones El programa comunitario de intervención sociomotriz mejora la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de los mayores con riesgo social (AU)

Objective To assess the effectiveness of a social-physical activity program to improve the health-related quality of life of patients over 65years old with social risk. Material and methods Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Community; primary care and public schools. Subjects: patients over 65years old with social risk, who went to the health center during the study period and met the inclusion criteria, n=102. Interventions: Subjects were randomized into two groups. The intervention group conducted two weekly sessions of 1hour of physical exercise, for 4months; monthly sessions on healthy habits and three days of social activities. The control group received the usual advice. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire; previously and at the end of the program. Results The study was completed by 80 subjects (mean age 71.5±5 years; 91.3% women). Baseline, there were no significant differences between groups, and their standardized physical and mental summary components of the SF-36 were below the population reference values (P<.01). After the program, the intervention group improved significantly, compared to the control group, in the 8 scales of the SF-36 and in the summary components, with a greater increase of 4points (P<.01) in the physical component, and 10 points in the mental component (p<0.01). Conclusion The community program of social-physical activity intervention improves the health-related quality of life in older people at social risk (AU)

[Quality of life after a social-physical activity community intervention in elderly people with social risk. Clinical trial]. / Calidad de vida tras una intervención comunitaria sociomotriz en mayores con riesgo social. Ensayo clínico.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a social-physical activity program to improve the health-related quality of life of patients over 65years old with social risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Community; primary care and public schools. SUBJECTS: patients over 65years old with social risk, who went to the health center during the study period and met the inclusion criteria, n=102. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomized into two groups. The intervention group conducted two weekly sessions of 1hour of physical exercise, for 4months; monthly sessions on healthy habits and three days of social activities. The control group received the usual advice. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire; previously and at the end of the program. RESULTS: The study was completed by 80 subjects (mean age 71.5±5 years; 91.3% women). Baseline, there were no significant differences between groups, and their standardized physical and mental summary components of the SF-36 were below the population reference values (P<.01). After the program, the intervention group improved significantly, compared to the control group, in the 8 scales of the SF-36 and in the summary components, with a greater increase of 4points (P<.01) in the physical component, and 10 points in the mental component (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The community program of social-physical activity intervention improves the health-related quality of life in older people at social risk.

Epilepsy in elderly patients: does age of onset make a difference?

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is most frequent in children and elderly people. Today's population is ageing and epilepsy prevalence is increasing. The type of epilepsy and its management change with age. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational study comparing patients aged ≥ 65 years with epilepsy diagnosed before and after the age of 65, and describing epilepsy characteristics and comorbidities in each group. RESULTS: The sample included 123 patients, of whom 61 were diagnosed at < 65 years of age (group A), 62 at ≥ 65 of age (group B). Sex distribution was similar in both groups, with 39 men (62.9%) in group A and 37 (60.7%) in group B. Mean age was 69.97 ±â€¯5.6 years in group A and 77.29 ±â€¯6.73 in group B. The most common aetiology was cryptogenic in group A (44.3%, n = 27) and vascular in group B (74.2%, n = 46). History of stroke was present in 12 patients from group A (19.7%) and 32 (51.6%) in group B. Antiepileptic drugs were prescribed at lower doses in group A. Statistically significant differences were found between groups for history of ischaemic stroke, cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorders, and diabetes mellitus; degree of dependence; and number of antiepileptic drugs. CONCLUSION: Age of onset ≥ 65 years is closely related to cardiovascular risk factors; these patients require fewer antiepileptic drugs and respond to lower doses. Some cases initially present as status epilepticus.

Asociación entre salud cardiovascular ideal y longitud telomérica en una población de edad avanzada de la cohorte SUN / Association between ideal cardiovascular health and telomere length in participants older than 55 years old from the SUN cohort

Introducción y objetivos: Los telómeros son regiones no codificantes localizadas al final de los cromosomas de células eucariotas, y su acortamiento se ha visto relacionado con la enfermedad cardiovascular y sus factores de riesgo. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la asociación entre el índice de salud cardiovascular ideal y el riesgo de telómero corto en una población de sujetos de edad avanzada de la cohorte Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN). Métodos: Se valoró a 886 adultos mayores de 55 años (645 varones y 241 mujeres). La longitud telomérica se midió utilizando qPCR (quantitative protein chain reaction) en tiempo real y reacción única. El índice de salud cardiovascular «Life's simple 7» se definió según la American Heart Association mediante la puntuación de 7 ítems con valores de 0 a 2 para cada uno: tabaquismo, actividad física, dieta, índice de masa corporal, presión arterial, colesterol total y glucosa en sangre. La máxima puntuación del índice corresponde a 14 puntos. Se categorizó en terciles: pobre (0-9 puntos), intermedio (10-11 puntos) e ideal (12-14 puntos). El riesgo de telómero corto se definió como una longitud telomérica por debajo del percentil 20. Resultados: Sujetos con altos valores en el índice de salud cardiovascular ideal tenían menos riesgo de telómero corto (OR ajustada=0,60; IC95%, 0,34-1,05; p de tendencia lineal=0,052). Esta asociación fue significativa en varones (OR ajustada=0,37; IC95%, 0,17-0,83; p de tendencia lineal=0,025), pero no en mujeres. Conclusiones: En varones mayores de 55 años, existe una asociación inversa entre el índice de salud cardiovascular y el riesgo de tener telómeros cortos (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Telomeres are noncoding regions located at the end of chromosomes and their shortening has been associated with risk factors and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between ideal cardiovascular health (Life's simple 7) and the odds of having short telomeres in a subsample of participants older than 55 years from the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) study. Methods: We included 886 participants older than 55 years (645 men and 241 women). Telomere length was measured using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cardiovascular health score was defined by the American Heart Association as a composite score of 7 key risk factors (smoking status, physical activity, diet, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose) with 0 to 2 points for each factor. We categorized this score in tertiles as poor (0-9 points), intermediate (10-11 points) and ideal (12-14 points). The odds of having short telomeres was defined as telomere length below the 20th percentile. Results: Individuals with higher ideal cardiovascular health had a lower prevalence of having short telomeres (adjusted OR, 0.60; 95%CI, 0.34-1.05; P trend=.052). This association was statistically significant in men (adjusted OR, 0.37; 95%CI, 0.17-0.83; P trend=.025) but not in women. Conclusions: An inverse association between cardiovascular health score and short telomeres was found especially for men older than 55 years in the SUN population (AU)

Tranexamic acid in cardiac surgery: Are low doses enough?

OBJECTIVES: Tranexamic acid is used to prevent hyperfibrinolysis and reduce postoperative bleeding and blood transfusions in on-pump cardiac surgery. We evaluate the efficacy of low or high dose tranexamic acid in a prospective cohort study conducted in Valencia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 427 patients were recruited between January 2019 and January 2020, 207 in the Hospital General Universitario (low dose [LD]) and 220 in the Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (high dose [HD] and intermediate dose [ID]). We recorded the presence of hyperfibrinolysis on rotational thromboelastometry, intra- and postoperative administration of blood products, chest tube output within the first 12 h, and incidence of convulsions. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were performed. Univariate analysis of all categories was performed after propensity score matching between LD and HD and between LD and ID. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in: appearance of hyperfibrinolysis, administration of blood products, postoperative chest tube output within the first 12 h, or occurrence of convulsions. Group LD received less fibrinogen than group HD (P = .014) and ID (P = .040) but more fresh frozen plasma than group ID (P = .0002). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of low-dose tranexamic acid is as effective as higher doses in hyperfibrinolysis prophylaxis and the prevention of postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery.

Tranexamic acid in cardiac surgery: Are low doses enough? / Ácido tranexámico en cirugía cardíaca: ¿las dosis bajas son suficientes?

OBJECTIVES: Tranexamic acid is used to prevent hyperfibrinolysis and reduce postoperative bleeding and blood transfusions in on-pump cardiac surgery. We evaluate the efficacy of low or high dose tranexamic acid in a prospective cohort study conducted in Valencia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 427 patients were recruited between January 2019 and January 2020, 207 in the Hospital General Universitario (low dose [LD]) and 220 in the Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (high dose [HD] and intermediate dose [ID]). We recorded the presence of hyperfibrinolysis on rotational thromboelastometry, intra- and postoperative administration of blood products, chest tube output within the first 12h, and incidence of convulsions. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were performed. Univariate analysis of all categories was performed after propensity score matching between LD and HD and between LD and ID. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in: appearance of hyperfibrinolysis, administration of blood products, postoperative chest tube output within the first 12h, or occurrence of convulsions. Group LD received less fibrinogen than group HD (P=.014) and ID (P=.040) but more fresh frozen plasma than group ID (P=.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of low-dose tranexamic acid is as effective as higher doses in hyperfibrinolysis prophylaxis and the prevention of postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery.

[Functional physical condition after a multi-component community intervention of active aging: Pragmatic clinical trial]. / Condición física funcional tras una intervención comunitaria multicomponente de envejecimiento activo. Ensayo clínico pragmático.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent program of active aging in the improvement of the functional physical condition of patients older than 65years old with social risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pragmatic clinical trial non-blinded. SETTING: Community activity; primary care and public education center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients older than 65years and diagnosed with social risk. The patients who attended at the health center and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected consecutively (n=102). INTERVENTIONS: The patients were randomized into the intervention group or to the control group. The intervention included two weekly sessions of 1h of exercise during 4months, monthly health education sessions, and three days of social activities. The control group received the regular tips. The physical conditions were evaluated before and at the end the study. RESULTS: Eighty of the patients completed the study. Their middle age was 71.5±5 years old, and 91.3% of them were women. There was no significant differences between both groups. After the intervention, all the test for physical qualities improved in the intervention group; in the 6-minutes walk test the patients improved their mark in a 98% from the baseline marks, with an average increase of 65±35m. Flexibility improved in the 60% of the patients (95%CI: 50-70); strength increased an 84% (95%CI: 76-92), and dynamic balance increased a 79% (95%CI: 70-88). In control group improve some test marks but it had no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The socio-motor intervention program coordinated between health services and educational centers improves the functional physical condition of the elderly with social risk.

Peer Support in the Treatment of Chronic Pain in Adolescents: A Review of the Literature and Available Resources.

Peer support has found applications beyond the mental health field and is useful for managing several chronic disorders and supporting healthy lifestyle choices. Communication through telephone and the Internet allows for greater access to those who cannot meet in person. Adolescent chronic pain would seem ideally suited to benefit from online peer support groups. Research is lacking, however, to characterize benefit in terms of pain and function, despite a clear desire among adolescents for access to such programs. More rapid development of online applications is needed for peer support, and research into the associated outcomes will be necessary to optimally design such programs.

[Temporal plus epilepsy: a review]. / Epilepsia del lóbulo temporal plus: revisión.

Temporal plus epilepsy is defined as focal epilepsy in which the primary epileptogenic area extends beyond the temporal lobe. It involves the neighboring regions such as the insula, the suprasilvian opercular cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex and the temporo-parieto-occipital junction. The objective of this review is to provide an update in temporal plus epilepsy. A previous history of brain trauma, a history of tonic clonic seizures, and previous central nervous system infection are risk factors. They likely allowed the generation of complex hippocampal and extrahypocampic neural networks. Clinical manifestations will depend on the location of the epileptogenic zone as well as the rapid propagation into temporal mesial structures. Video-electroencephalography usually shows involvement of the temporal lobe, with rapid propagation into the perisilvian, orbitofrontal or temporo-parieto-occipital regions. The magnetoelectroencephaography has lesser muscle contamination and could be considered as a biomarker of early states in the diagnosis process. Brain MRI is usually negative or shows non-specific mesial temporal abnormalities. Stereoelectroencephalography is the invasive method of choice. Temporal plus epilepsy is considered to be the most common cause of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery failure and represents up to 30%.

TITLE: Epilepsia del lóbulo temporal plus: revisión.La epilepsia del lóbulo temporal plus se define como la epilepsia en la cual la zona epileptógena primaria se localiza en el lóbulo temporal y se extiende a regiones vecinas, como la ínsula, la corteza opercular suprasilviana, la corteza orbitofrontal y la unión temporoparietooccipital. El objetivo de esta revisión es proveer una actualización de la información en la epilepsia del lóbulo temporal plus. La historia de traumatismo craneoencefálico, infección cerebral (meningitis-encefalitis) o crisis epiléptica tonicoclónica generalizada está involucrada en su etiología, y permite la generación de redes neuronales complejas hipocámpicas y extrahipocámpicas. Las manifestaciones clínicas dependen de la zona epileptógena involucrada y de su rápida proyección a las estructuras temporales mesiales. El videoelectroencefalograma evidencia actividad interictal extensa e ictal en el lóbulo temporal, pero con rápida propagación perisilviana, orbitofrontal o temporoparietooccipital. La magnetoelectroencefalografía tiene menos contaminación muscular y podría considerarse como un biomarcador de estados tempranos en el proceso diagnóstico. La resonancia cerebral generalmente es negativa o muestra una ligera alteración de señal en la zona mesial temporal en grado variable. El estereoelectroencefalograma es el método invasivo de elección, especialmente guiado por robot. La epilepsia temporal plus se considera la causa más frecuente de fracaso de la cirugía de la epilepsia del lóbulo temporal, hasta un 30%.

The role of the epilepsy monitoring unit in the investigation of patients with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of the people with intellectual disabilities (ID) has epilepsy and lives in institutions. These patients tend to have atypical presentations of epileptic seizures with an increased risk of misdiagnoses. They often have drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) requiring polypharmacy with increased risk of morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) in the diagnosis and management of these patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of people with epilepsy and ID living in institutions that were admitted to the EMU at London Health Sciences Center (LHSC), from January 2014 to December 2016. RESULTS: Out of 1121 patients admitted to the EMU at the LHSC, 1.96% (N = 22) fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this study. The mean age was 34.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 28.8-53); 50%(N = 11) were female. Fourteen (63.6%) had generalized epilepsy. Six (27.3%) had a history of status epilepticus. The mean number of antiseizure medications (ASMs) in those patients was three (IQR: 2-4). Eight (36.4%) patients had severely impaired or no language skills and seven (31.8%) required wheelchair. Eleven (50%) had a mood disorder and seven (31.8%) of them were taking antipsychotic medications. The mean duration of admission duration was 6.6 days (IQR: 3.5-8.5). There was a clinical-electrographic correlation between the behavioral events and epileptic seizures in nineteen (86.4%) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Admission to the EMU provided an accurate characterization of transient events in people with ID and epilepsy with improvement in their medical management.

SciSight: Combining faceted navigation and research group detection for COVID-19 exploratory scientific search

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked unprecedented mobilization of scientists, generating a deluge of papers that makes it hard for researchers to keep track and explore new directions. Search engines are designed for targeted queries, not for discovery of connections across a corpus. In this paper, we present SciSight, a system for exploratory search of COVID-19 research integrating two key capabilities: first, exploring associations between biomedical facets automatically extracted from papers (e.g., genes, drugs, diseases, patient outcomes); second, combining textual and network information to search and visualize groups of researchers and their ties. SciSight1 has so far served over 15K users with over 42K page views and 13% returns.

Analysis of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins expression in a series of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients.

BACKGROUND: Promising results have been reported with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in a small proportion of MPM patients. MMR deficiency (dMMR) has been well described in several malignancies and was approved as a biomarker for anti-PD-1 inhibitors. Next generation sequencing (NGS) data demonstrated that 2% of MPM harbor microsatellite instability. The aim of this study is to characterize MMR by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a series of MPM including a subset of patients treated with immunotherapy. METHODS: Tumors of 159 MPM p diagnosed between 2002 and 2017 were reviewed. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue was stained for MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 and tumors were classified as dMMR (MMR protein expression negative) and MMR intact (all MMR proteins positively expressed). We retrospectively collected clinical outcomes under standard chemotherapy and experimental immunotherapy in the entire cohort. RESULTS: MMR protein expression was analyzed in 158 samples with enough tissue and was positive in all of the cases. Twenty two patients received ICI with anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD-1 blockade in clinical trials, 58% had a response or stable disease for more than 6 m, with median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.7 m (2.1-26.1 m). The median overall survival (mOS) in all population was 15 months (m) (13.5-18.8 m). In a multivariable model factors associated to improved mOS were PS 0, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) < 5 and epithelioid histology (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our series we were unable to identify any MPM patient with dMMR by IHC. Further studies are needed to elucidate potential predictive biomarkers of ICI benefit in MPM.