A novel method to predict nonvisible symptoms using machine learning in cancer palliative care

Patients with cancer at the end of life may find it difficult to express their symptoms if they can no longer communicate verbally because of deteriorating health. In this study, we assessed these symptoms using machine learning. We conducted a clinical survey of 213 cancer patients from August 2015 to August 2016. We divided the reported symptoms into two groups—visible and nonvisible symptoms. Our machine learning model used patient background data and visible symptoms to predict nonvisible symptoms: pain, dyspnea, fatigue, drowsiness, anxiety, delirium, inadequate informed consent, and spiritual issues. The highest and/or lowest values for prediction accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively, are as follows: 88.0%/55.5%, 84.9%/3·3%, and 96.7%/24.1%. This work will facilitate better assessment and management of symptoms in patients with cancer.

Treatment, recurrence rates and follow-up of Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor (TGCT) of the foot and ankle—A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a usually benign lesion which arises from the synovium. It affects joints, tendon sheaths and bursae. The clinical course is often unpredictable, and local recurrences frequently occur. The aim of this study was to describe different treatment options, surgical complications, and to develop a follow-up regime based on a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of foot and ankle lesions. Methods and results 1284 studies published between 01/1966 and 06/2021 were identified. 25 met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 382 patients. Of these, 212 patients had a diffuse (dTGCT) and 170 a localized (lTGCT) TGCT. Patients with a dTGCT had a mean age of 36.6±8.2 years, and 55% were female. The overall complication rate was 24% in dTGCT, irrespective of the therapeutic procedure; the mean follow-up was 37.9±27.4 months with a recurrence rate of 21%, and recurrences occurred between 3 and 144 months, the vast majority (86%) within the first 5 years following intervention. Patients with a lTGCT had a mean age of 31.2±5.7 years, and 53% were female. Complications occurred in 12%. The mean follow-up was 51.1±24.6 months, the recurrence rate was 7%, and recurrence occurred between 1 and 244 months after intervention. Conclusion Diffuse TGCTs of the foot and ankle region have a remarkable recurrence rate irrespective of therapeutic procedures, and most lesions reoccurred within 5, with more than half of these in the first 2 years. The lTGCTs are well treatable lesions, with a low recurrence and a moderate complication rate. Based on these findings, we propose a follow-up regime for the dTGCT including a clinical survey and MR imaging 3 months after surgical intervention (baseline), followed by twice-yearly intervals for the first 2 years, yearly intervals up to the fifth year, and further individual follow-up due to the fact that recurrences can even occur for years later. For the lTGCT a clinical survey and MRT is proposed after 3–6 months after intervention (baseline), followed by annual clinical examination for 3 years, and in case of symptoms MR-imaging. Larger prospective multi-center studies are necessary to confirm these results and recommendations.

Therapy of spinal cord injury by zinc modified gold nanoclusters via immune-suppressing strategies

Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the central nervous system (CNS) that causes devastating complications from chronic pain to breathing problems. Unfortunately, few effective and safe treatments are known to relieve the damages of SCI. Nanomedicines are used for the treatment of SCI with relatively few side effects, but only depending on the delivery of additional drugs, which increase complexity to the treatment. Considering the urgent need for saving SCI patients, it is important to develop promising nanobiotechnology for relieving their pains. Methods The clinical survey was used to investigate SCI patients, thereafter the therapy plan was designed. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves of the prediction model were built to find symptoms after SCI. The treatment plan (i.e. immunosuppressive strategy) was designed by manufacturing therapies based on gold nanoclusters (AuNCs). The response of the immune cells (macrophages) was studied accordingly. The western blot, reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and immunochemical staining were used for evaluation of the in vivo and in vitro therapeutic effects. Results We found increased monocytes/macrophages (M/Ms) levels in 114 SCI subjects (44.7% with severe SCI complications) by the clinical survey. Additionally, the enhanced macrophage level was found to be closely related to the walking disorder after SCI. Since macrophages were central effector cells of the immune system, we assumed that the immune-suppressing strategies could be used for SCI therapy. Thereafter, AuNCs were stabilized by dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) enantiomers (including DL-DHLA, R-DHLA; A racemic mixture (R and S) was denoted as DL; R and S refer to Rectus and Sinister), obtaining DL-DHLA-AuNCs and R-DHLA-AuNCs, respectively. In addition, zinc-modified DL-DHLA and R-DHLA stabilized AuNCs (i.e., DL-DHLA-AuNCs-Zn and R-DHLA-AuNCs-Zn) were investigated. Among these AuNCs, R-DHLA-AuNCs-Zn showed the most remarkable therapeutic effect for promoting the polarization of pro-inflammatory macrophages and reducing neuronal ROS-induced apoptosis and inflammation in vitro and in vivo; the lesion size was decreased and the survival rate of ventral neurons is higher. Conclusions R-DHLA-AuNCs-Zn have comprehensive therapeutic capabilities, especially the immune-suppressing effects for the therapy of SCI, which is promising to relieve the pain or even recover SCI for the patients. Graphical abstract

Physical activity in Sami and non-Sami populations in rural Northern Norway, the SAMINOR 2 Clinical Survey

Background The Sami people is an indigenous minority population living in the northern parts of Norway and mainly in rural areas. We lack data of contemporary levels of physical activity (PA) in rural regions of Northern Norway and in the Sami population in particular. We aimed to describe the PA levels and investigate whether PA levels differs between Sami and non-Sami and between coastal and inland areas. Methods We used data from the second survey of the Population-based Study on Health and Living Conditions in Regions with Sami and Norwegian Populations – the SAMINOR 2 Clinical Survey (2012–2014) that includes the adult population in 10 municipalities in the counties Troms, Finnmark and Nordland. Participants self-reported on PA, ethnicity and modifiable lifestyle factors. Twelve thousand four hundred fifty-five individuals were invited with a response rate of 48.2% (n = 6004 participants). We tested differences using chi-square tests, two sample t-tests and linear regression models. Results Among 5628 participants, 41.1 and 40.9% of men and women, respectively, were defined as Sami. We found no ethnic differences in PA in men overall. However, Sami men living in Tana, and Nesseby reported higher PA compared to non-Sami men in the same area. For Sami women there was overall lower PA levels compared to non-Sami women, especially pronounced in Kautokeino/ Karasjok. Conclusion This study showed small differences in PA levels between Sami and non-Sami men. Sami women had lower PA levels compared to their non-Sami counterparts. It is important to identify whether there are differences in various ethnic populations, together with other predictors for PA in future planning of public health interventions.

The phenotypic difference of IgA nephropathy and its race/gender-dependent molecular mechanisms

IgA nephropathy (IgAN), defined by the predominant deposition of IgA in the glomerular mesangium, is the most common form of glomerulonephritis throughout the world. However, its incidence, gender distribution, clinical presentation and progression and pathogenic initiating factors are largely variable on such simple definition. To assess the heterogeneity of this disease, we recently conducted clinical survey regarding presentation and clinical management of IgAN patients in Europe and Japan. This clinical survey highlights similarities and differences in patients from different continents. The survey revealed obvious differences between nations in the frequency of gastrointestinal complications including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and celiac disease more frequent in European patients. Such findings are compatible with susceptibility loci related to intestinal immunity and IBD in recent genome wide association studies (GWAS) on IgAN. However, most of the molecules in these mucosal related loci fulfil the immunological function not only of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), but also nasopharyngeal/bronchial-associated lymphoid tissues (NALT/BALT). Indeed, similar frequency of macrohematuria coinciding with upper respiratory infection, known as hallmark manifestation of this disease, was found in the survey, emphasizing pathogenic roles of these molecules in NALT/BALT of IgAN patients. Recent experimental and clinical studies including GWAS on multiple common infections and IBD indicate immune cross talks between GALT and NALT/BALT and some related mediators such as TNF superfamily ligands (APRIL/BAFF). This review explains epidemiological heterogeneity of this disease with the clinical survey and discusses race and gender-dependent molecular mechanisms.