Score for the Overall Survival Probability Scores of Fibrosarcoma Patients after Surgery: A Novel Nomogram-Based Risk Assessment System

Background. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors affecting overall survival (OS) in patients with fibrosarcoma after surgery and to develop a prognostic nomogram in these patients. Methods. Data were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database on 439 postoperative patients with fibrosarcoma who underwent surgical resection from 2004 to 2015. Independent risk factors were identified by performing Cox regression analysis on the training set, and based on this, a prognostic nomogram was created. The accuracy of the prognostic model in terms of survival was demonstrated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curves. In addition, the prediction consistency and clinical value of the nomogram were validated by calibration curves and decision curve analysis. Results. All included patients were divided into a training set (n = 308) and a validation set (n = 131). Based on univariate and multivariate analyses, we determined that age, race, grade, and historic stage were independent risk factors for overall survival after surgery in patients with fibrosarcoma. The AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated the high predictive accuracy of the prognostic nomogram, while the decision curve analysis revealed the high clinical application of the model. The calibration curves showed good agreement between predicted and observed survival rates. Conclusion. We developed a new nomogram to estimate 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS based on the independent risk factors. The model has good discriminatory performance and calibration ability for predicting the prognosis of patients with fibrosarcoma after surgery.

Predictive value of hemoglobin, platelets, and D-dimer for the survival of patients with stage IA1 to IIA2 cervical cancer: a retrospective study

Objective Coagulation indexes may be useful survival biomarkers for cervical cancer. This study evaluated the ability of hemoglobin, red blood cells (RBCs), platelets, and D-dimer levels to predict post-hysterectomy survival outcomes in patients with stage IA1 to IIA2 cervical cancer. Methods In this retrospective study, coagulation-related indexes were compared between the anemia and non-anemia groups. Independent variables were analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards model. Survival was assessed by the Kaplan–Meier method with the log-rank test. Mortality predictions were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Among this study’s 1088 enrolled patients, 152 had anemia. The 10-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were 90.8% and 86.5%, respectively. Hemoglobin, RBC, and the rate of abnormal platelet counts were significantly lower in the anemia group. Abnormal preoperative D-dimer was an independent factor for recurrence-free survival. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that D-dimer had area under the curve of 0.734 (cut-off value: 0.685, sensitivity: 85.7%, and specificity: 64.0%). Hemoglobin and platelets had areas under the curves of 0.487 and 0.462, respectively. Conclusion Preoperative D-dimer was the most effective prognostic predictor for patients with cervical cancer. The prognosis of patients with cervical cancer was poorer if their D-dimer levels were >0.685 mg/L.

Relação da qualidade de vida, índice de massa corporal e força muscular em idosos

Durante o processo de envelhecimento humano acontecem mudanças que podem interferir na qualidade de vida das pessoas. Algumas destas alterações podem ser identificadas pelo índice de massa corporal e pela força de preensão manual, e podem estar relacionadas à qualidade de vida. Neste sentido, objetivou-se discriminar, através de curvas de sensibilidade e especificidade, os pontos de corte do índice de massa corporal e da força de preensão manual como preditores de qualidade de vida em idosos residentes na zona urbana de um município de pequeno porte. Estudo epidemiológico e transversal, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia. Os dados foram analisados por receiver-operating characteristic curves no Statistical Package for Social Sciences, e pontos de corte discriminados pelo método de Youden. Os dados sobre qualidade de vida foram coletados por meio de questionário, o índice de massa corporal por medidas antropométricas, e a força de preensão manual foi avaliada por um dinamômetro. Identificou-se 264 idosos, estes com médias de idade e de força de preensão manual de 71,85 anos (DP±7.73) e 9,99 kgf (DP±13,01), respectivamente. Os pontos de cortes preditores do desfecho, para homens e mulheres, foram <22,8 kg/m² (IC: 95%= 0,37- 0,72) para o índice de massa corporal, e <13 kgf 0,379 (IC: 95%=0,32- 0,43) para força de preensão manual. Conclui-se que os pontos de corte possuem boa capacidade para predizer elevada qualidade de vida para os idosos avaliados, entre os quais o índice de massa corporal teve maior capacidade preditiva.

Complete characteristic curve processing method based on improved backpropagation neural network and Logarithmic curve projection

The calculation of transient process is the basis of the design and construction of pumped storage power plant, which directly affects operation stability of pumped storage units. However, for satisfying the design of uniform and smooth flow in both directions, the complete characteristic curves of pumped turbine show a significant S feature, which brings difficulties to the interpolation calculation in the transient process as there are crossover and overlap phenomenon in pump and turbine working conditions. In this paper, a transformation method for complete characteristic curves based on logarithmic curve projection and improved backpropagation neural network is presented to solve the above problem. Furthermore, the feasibility and accuracy of the method are verified through the comparison of load rejection condition with on-site measurement, the results show that the proposed method overcomes the multi-value problem that exists in the original curve, in especial makes the small opening region well expressed. The simulation based on the transformed curve reaches a high similarity of transient process with the field test, both in the trend and extreme values, which provides great convenience for the calculation of transient process.

Characteristic Curves of the Lennard-Jones Fluid

Equations of state based on intermolecular potentials are often developed about the Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential. Many of such EOS have been proposed in the past. In this work, 20 LJ EOS were examined regarding their performance on Brown’s characteristic curves and characteristic state points. Brown’s characteristic curves are directly related to the virial coefficients at specific state points, which can be computed exactly from the intermolecular potential. Therefore, also the second and third virial coefficient of the LJ fluid were investigated. This approach allows a comparison of available LJ EOS at extreme conditions. Physically based, empirical, and semi-theoretical LJ EOS were examined. Most investigated LJ EOS exhibit some unphysical artifacts.

Analysis of Some Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Matrix Composites Reinforced by Linen Fabric. Orthopaedic Applications

Great interest has been shown lately in bio-composite materials because they are inexpensive and sustainable. Composites with matrices and natural reinforcers have been little studied. Here, we study certain mechanical properties of composite materials with a Dammar-based matrix (also named hybrid matrix) and flax fabric reinforcement. To be precise, we examine three types of resins where Dammar is the major component, with a volume proportion of 55%, 65% and 75%. In this respect, we have made composite materials reinforced by two types of flax fabric and we have measured the characteristic curves and some mechanical properties, such as the Young�s modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break using tensile tests. Based on the obtained properties, it is proposed or possible to use these materials in orthopedics.

The Influence of Anxiety on Response to Negative Sentiment Override Assessment Protocols During Couples Counseling

Negative sentiment override (NSO), or messages and experiences interpreted in an increasingly negative manner, is one way to explain dissatisfaction in romantic relationships. In addition, psychological factors, like anxiety, have been shown to increase levels of dissatisfaction. In the current study, we examined the extent that significant anxiety, determined by responses to the Symptom Checklist–90, influenced the endorsement of items on Gottman’s NSO scale. We examined the item characteristic curves (ICCs) of the individual items on Gottman’s NSO scale and then tested for differential item functioning between those with significant anxiety and those without significant anxiety for a sample of 262 individuals seeking counseling. Our results demonstrate different ICC patterns between those with anxiety and those without. More specifically, individuals with anxiety reported elevated NSO compared to individuals without anxiety. Implications of these findings are discussed.