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This research investigates the influence of temperature on the performance of Cadmium Selenium (CdSe) semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSSCs) with tin oxide (SnO2) deposition. CdSe thin films were synthesized at different temperatures (room temperature, 55 and 70 °C) and characterized for their optical and structural properties. The results reveal temperature-dependent variations in the bandgap energy and crystal structure of CdSe, with higher temperatures leading to a red shift in absorption spectra and increased crystallinity. The CdSe-coated SnO2 films showed enhanced nanoparticle density at higher bath temperatures, indicating improved particle binding and aggregation. Moreover, the elemental analysis confirmed the successful loading of CdSe onto SnO2 substrates without impurities. Solar cells constructed with these materials exhibited temperature-dependent efficiency, with maximum efficiency achieved at room temperature due to optimal bandgap characteristics and reduced recombination rates. The solar cell with the optimal SnO2:(FTO)/SnO2/CdSe/CuS nanostructure array electrode produced a short-circuit current density of 4.155 mA/cm2 and a power conversion efficiency of 0.26% when exposed to one sun's rays. These findings suggest that temperature control during CdSe synthesis plays a crucial role in optimizing the performance of SSSCs, highlighting the importance of understanding temperature effects in semiconductor-based solar cell technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Totally 300 demonstrations were initiated in four districts (Dharwad, Belagavi, Bagalkot and Vijayapur) of northern Karnataka, but 50 farmers terminated the demonstrations half way due to use of the produce for consumption or marketing of produce. Hence, the inferences were drawn from 250 successful demonstrations. Immediately after the harvest, the seeds should be dried properly and stored. For cereals, as a preventive measure, to reduce the pest infestation, mix sweet flag rhizome powder @ 1 per cent (100 g/q) or neem seed powder @ 2 per cent (200 g/q) in case of cereals such as sorghum, maize, wheat and paddy. For pulses, as a preventive measure, to reduce the pest infestation, mix sweet flag rhizome powder @ 1 per cent (100 g/q) or smear groundnut oil @ 5 per cent (500 ml/q) in case of pulses such as bengal gram, red gram, cowpea and green gram. For oilseeds, as a preventive measure, to reduce the pest infestation, mix sweet flag rhizome powder @ 1 per cent (100 g/q) in oilseeds such as groundnut, sunflower and soybean. These give protection against storage pests for a period of six months. As curative measure, in the infested seeds/grains of cereals or pulses, place Aluminium Phosphide tablets (@ 3 tablets per tonne tied in the muslin cloth) in the middle of the stack in the storage structures under airtight conditions for seven days. After this, open the gunny bags and air dry for 48 hours and sieve the produce to remove dead insects and store/use further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel hybrid deep neural network (DNN) with the White Shark optimization (WSO) algorithm to predict and optimize the gas sensing performance of Ni0.6−xMgxCo0.4Fe2O4 nanoparticles at different sizes (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5). In order to create Ni0.6−xMgxCo0.4Fe2O4, the sol–gel process was employed, with x varying from 0.1 to 0.5 ppm. This study utilized precursors such as Ni(NO3)2·6H2O, Mg(NO3)2·6H2O, Co(NO3)2·6H2O, and Fe(NO3)3·9H2O. Response–recovery curves were analyzed, and a hybrid DNN-WSO model was created to predict gas sensing properties for Ni0.6−xMgxCo0.4Fe2O4 ferrite materials with different Mg levels. Fit statistics like the sum of squares (SSE), R-squared (R2), degrees of freedom (DFE), adjusted R2, and RMSE were calculated. In XRD analysis, the (311) peak shifted from 35.6561° to 35.5614° for Ni0.6−xMgxCo0.4Fe2O4. At 200 °C, the sensor is more responsive to NO2 gas than NH3 gas, with Ni0.6−xMgxCo0.4Fe2O4(x = 0.5) showing the highest response due to increased oxygen adsorption sites for gas oxidation. Smaller particle sizes (x = 0.1) in SEM analysis exhibited well-defined nanocrystalline structures with high crystallinity and smooth surfaces, enhancing sensitivity. The TGA results confirm the stability and functionality of the proposed materials up to the operating temperature of 250 °C. The Ni0.6−xMgxCo0.4Fe2O4(x=0.2) concentration exhibited the best predictive accuracy with high R2, high adjusted R2, enhanced DFE, and low RMSE. The hybrid DNN-WSO algorithm effectively predicts and optimizes gas sensing performance, which is significant for advancing efficient gas sensor development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A need for meat is rising day by day and the production of poultry, cows, pigs and fisheries is reduced as there is no good commercial production. Wider livestock production is becoming unavailable on a global scale in requisites of welfare of animals, ecological sustenance and human health conditions. Choices for cultured meat are being explored using innovative techniques like stem cells, embryonic stem cells, Induced pluri potent stem cells [(iPSC) derived from skin or blood cells of an animal that have been reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like pluripotent], Totipotent stem cells [immature cells capable of giving rise to any cell type or (of a blastomere) a complete embryo], pluripotent stem cells (immature cells capable of giving rise to several different cell types), satellite cells or myoblasts, etc. In these methods, animal tissue is grown in a controlled surroundings using culture cell technology. Several attempts are made to develop different types of media and techniques like the self-organizing techniques and scaffold-based techniques to advance the growth of the cell. Cultured meat is also called in various names like 'clean meat', 'in-vitro meat', or 'artificial meat'. The concept is in the budding stage of commercialization. Therefore, along with the improvement in technical phase there is a lot of work is being carried on in the developmental aspects of biological, commercial, social, economic and ethical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trimanganese tetraoxide (Mn3O4) nanostructured thin films doped with 2 mol% of nickel (Ni) and molybdenum (Mo) ions were deposited by a simple electrophoretic deposition technique. The structural, optical, and morphological studies of these doped thin films were compared with pure Mn3O4 thin films. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the tetragonal Hausmannite spinel structure. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) provided information about the molecular composition of the thin films and the presence of specific chemical bonds. The optical study and band gap energy values of all thin films were evaluated by the UV-visible spectroscopy technique. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) illustrated the morphological modifications of the Mn3O4 thin films due to doping of the nickel and molybdenum ions. The Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) method has confirmed the mesoporous nanostructure and nanopores of the thin films. The supercapacitive performance of the thin films was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) techniques using the threeelectrode arrangement. An aqueous 1M Na2SO4 electrolyte was used for the electrochemical study. The 2 mol% Ni-doped Mn3O4 thin film has shown maximum specific capacitance than pure and Mo-doped Mn3O4 thin films. Hence, this study proved the validity of the strategy - metal ion doping of Mn3O4 thin films to develop it as a potential candidate for electrode material in futuristic energy storage and transportation devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has been an important health concern for over a decade, causing serious health issues worldwide. Treatments available for obesity include FDA-approved drugs such as Lorcaserin, Orlistat, Bupropion, combinations of Phentermine and Topiramate, and Sibutramine; however, these have adverse effects on health. To address the said issue, the current study was conducted to evaluate the anti-obesity potential of Phyllanthus fraternus leaves. These leaves are a rich source of different phytochemicals (e.g., alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins), and the plant has been shown to exhibit medicinal properties; therefore, it can be used for treating obesity disorders. The crude extract of plants was prepared in three different solvents (e.g., methanol, hydro alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol). Lipid inhibition was determined using lipase inhibition assay, and amylase assay was carried out to determine if the plant extract had anti-diabetic properties. An oil red staining was carried out to determine lipid accumulation in which the cells were incubated with plant extract for 48 h. To determine if the plant extract was toxic to 3T3 cells, an MTT assay was carried out to assess cell viability. Through lipase inhibition assay, we depicted potent anti-obesity properties, isopropyl alcohol extract exhibited 67.45% inhibition at the concentration of 500µg/ml. Methanol extract showed the highest percent of a amylase inhibition i.e., 90.03% at a concentration of 1,000 µg/ml. The MTT assay concluded that the plant extracts were not cytotoxic to the cells at a concentration range between 20µg/ml to 100µg/ml, and the percentage of viable cells was 98-63%. The results obtained from the current study revealed that the plant exhibits potent anti-obesity properties. Thus, this plant extract is a potential source as an alternative treatment to treat obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the effect of nickel (Ni) ion doping on the structure, morphology, and supercapacitive performance of Mn3O4 thin film electrodes, deposited by a simple electrophoretic deposition technique. The structural and compositional studies of these thin films were conducted by x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphological and optical properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–visible spectroscopy. These studies confirmed the nanoflake-type surface morphology of nickel-doped thin films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy provided information about various valence states and surface composition of the thin films. Cyclic voltammetry study confirmed the surface redox pseudocapacitive behavior of all thin films. The 2 mol.% nickel ion-doped thin film electrode displayed the highest specific capacitance of 816 F g−1 and was evaluated from the galvanostatic charge/discharge curve. It also exhibited outstanding cyclic stability, with 93% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed the improved supercapacitive performance of the nickel-doped Mn3O4 thin film electrodes, attributed to improved conductivity and charge transport for surface redox reactions. Thus, the present study suggests that the nickel-doped Mn3O4 thin film is a promising candidate as electrode material in supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilm infections are quite difficult to manage due to their resistance against conventional antifungal drugs. To address this issue, there is a desperate need for new therapeutic drugs. In the present study, a green and efficient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 2-amino-4H-pyran-3-carbonitrile scaffolds 4a-i, 6a-j, and 8a-g by Knoevenagel-Michael-cyclocondensation reaction between aldehydes, malononitrile, and diverse enolizable C-H activated acidic compounds using guanidinium carbonate as a catalyst either under grinding conditions or by stirring at room temperature. This protocol is operationally simple, rapid, inexpensive, has easy workup and column-free purification. A further investigation of the synthesized compounds was conducted to examine their antifungal potential and their ability to inhibit the growth and development of biofilm-forming yeasts like fungus C. albicans. According to our findings, 4b, 4d, 4e, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6i, 8c, 8d, and 8g were found to be active and potential inhibitors for biofilm infection causing C. albicans. The inhibition of biofilm by active compounds were observed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Biofilm inhibiting compounds were also tested for in vitro toxicity by using 3T3-L1 cell line, and 4b, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6i, 8c, and 8d were found to be biocompatible. Furthermore, the in silico ADME descriptors revealed drug-like properties with no violation of Lipinski's rule of five. Hence, the result suggested that synthesized derivatives could serve as a useful aid in the development of novel antifungal compounds for the treatment of fungal infections and virulence in C. albicans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

In the era of free flaps, we propose a simple yet effective local flap, the digastric muscle flap, to reconstruct floor of the mouth defects and to repair an orocervical fistula that is created during excision of tongue and/or floor of the mouth malignancies. The digastric muscle flap was used in 15 patients who were diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and/or floor of the mouth. Partial glossectomy was performed in 4 cases, hemiglossectomy in 4 cases, and wide local excision in 7 cases. Adjuvant radiation was given in 9 patients. In all cases, the neck was addressed followed by the tumour excision. The floor of the mouth defect created while excising the tumour was repaired with the digastric muscle flap. Post-operative healing was satisfactory in all the cases. No flap failure was seen even in radiated cases. Patients were discharged by the 5th-7th day. Oral feeds were started by the 10th day. Patients were followed for 3 months to 5 years. The digastric muscle flap is an ideal flap for reconstructing small- to medium-sized floor of the mouth defects. The flap can withstand radiation. Due to the high success rate, we propose utilisation of this flap in reconstructing floor of the mouth defects and to seal orocervical fistulas., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Indian Association of Surgical Oncology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent and malignant cancers in women. Most breast cancer patients show overexpression of the HER2 protein. The current study focused on identifying potent inhibitors of HER2 using a structure-based drug design approach. Prefiltered compounds from the Drugbank and the ZINC database were docked on HER2 protein using the FlexX docking tool of LeadIT. The docking study identified the 12 best molecules that interacted strongly with the active site of HER2 and also fulfilled the ADMET parameters. The complexes of these compounds with HER2 were further subjected to molecular dynamics simulation using GROMACS 2021.4, followed by the end-state MMGBSA binding energy calculations. The RMSD analysis was conducted to study the conformational changes, which revealed stability throughout the 100 ns simulation period. The local flexibility and dynamics of the simulated ligand-protein complexes were studied using RMSF analysis. The values of the radius of gyration were computed to analyze the compactness of HER2. The MMGBSA analysis provided insights into the energetic aspects of the system. The compound DB15187 emerged as the most potent candidate, showing MMGBSA-computed binding energy of -63.60 ± 3.39 kcal/mol. The study could help develop targeted therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Objective: Medication abortions now make up the majority of abortions in the US, with new service delivery models such as telehealth; however, it is unclear how this may impact patient experiences. The objective of the study is to adapt and validate a person-centered abortion care (PCAC) scale for medication abortions that was developed in a global South context (Kenya) for use in the United States., Study Design: This study includes medication abortion patients from a hospital-based clinic who had one of two modes of service delivery: (1) telemedicine with no physical exam or ultrasound; or (2) in-person with clinic-based exams and ultrasounds. We conducted a sequential approach to scale development including: (1) defining constructs and item generation; (2) expert reviews; (3) cognitive interviews (n = 12); (4) survey development and online survey data collection (N = 182, including 45 telemedicine patients and 137 in-person patients); and (5) psychometric analyses., Results: Exploratory factor analyses identified 29-items for the US-PCAC scale with three subscales: (1) Respect and Dignity (10 items), (2) Responsive and Supportive Care (nine items for the full scale, one additional mode-specific item each for in-person and telemedicine), and (3) Communication and Autonomy (10 items for the full scale, one additional item for telemedicine). The US-PCAC had high content, construct, and criterion validity. It also had high reliability, with a standardized alpha for the full 29-item US-PCAC scale of 0.95. The US-PCAC score was associated with overall satisfaction., Conclusion: This study found high validity and reliability of a newly-developed person-centered abortion care scale for use in the US. As medication abortion provision expands, this scale can be used in quality improvement efforts., Implications: This study found high validity and reliability of a newly-developed person-centered care scale for use in the United States for in-person and telemedicine medication abortion., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: MICRA implantation is not commonly done as a day-case procedure. Elective leadless pacemakers are implanted routinely in our centre., Objective: To assess whether the day-case MICRA procedure is safe., Methods: We retrospectively collected data from all patients undergoing elective MICRA implantation at our centre between May 2014 and Nov 2022 (n = 81). Two patient groups were stratified: those planned to be discharged on the same day (SD, n = 52) and those planned to be observed overnight after the procedure (ON, n = 29). Patient demographics, size of the sheath used, type of MICRA device, and rate of complications were recorded. In patients with successful implants (n = 80), device function at discharge and first routine follow-up were evaluated., Results: There were 58% males in the SD group and 45% in the ON group. Median age was 49 years in the SD and 67 years in the ON. Among patients who were planned as a day case, 8 patients had to stay in the hospital but for < 48 h: 2 due to minor groin bleeding, 1 due to patient's request despite fit to discharge, 4 due to the procedure carried out later in the day, and 1 for observation due to procedural complexity. MICRA implantation was successful in 80 patients. The rate of the major complications was 2% in the SD group and 7% in the ON group (p = 0.223), and none of the co-morbidities assessed showed an association with any complications. Device parameters at the follow-up were available in 76 patients. The rate of patients with low and stable PCT at follow-up was also 98% in the SD group and 96% in the ON group., Conclusions: Day case MICRA procedure can be performed safely in an appropriately selected patient population., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction Cancer is a major health problem and a devastating disease. People living with cancer experience a variety of signs and symptoms. Cancer patients undergo physical, psychological, social, and financial implications due to the disease and its treatment. Cancer harshly affects the individual's health and deteriorates the quality of life (QoL). This study assesses the QoL determinants among various cancer patient groups in western Maharashtra, India. Materials and methods This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the oncology center, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Karad, India. The study consisted of 270 cancer patients selected by purposive sampling technique. The data regarding the QoL was collected using a structured and validated questionnaire consisting of 50 questions elicited through one-to-one interviews. Data were analyzed using statistical software. Results Of 270 cancer patients, 135 (50%) were males and 135 (50%) were females aged between 22 and 66 years. Maximum patients (N = 89, 32.9%) were in the age group of 41-50 years, and the majority of patients (N = 34, 12.6%) suffered from breast cancer. The QoL among our patients was very low in 104 (38.5%) and 127 (47.0%), average in 36 (13.3%), and high only in 3 (1.1%) patients. Conclusion QoL among cancer patients was influenced by their symptoms, treatment, and the financial strain they experienced. There is a need to develop interventions to effectively manage symptoms that will help patients gain a greater sense of control over their illness and treatment, thereby improving their QoL., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) issued approval 202/2022-2023 dated: 17.1.2023. The study was carried out according to the Modified Helsinki Declaration (2000). Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Patil et al.)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global health concern, and effective primary prevention strategies are essential to mitigate its impact. This comprehensive review examines current risk assessment strategies for primary prevention of CVD, emphasizing the importance of early identification and intervention to reduce disease incidence. Traditional risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and lifestyle choices are discussed alongside emerging factors, including genetic predispositions and biomarkers. The review evaluates various risk assessment tools and models, such as the Framingham risk score, atherosclerotic CVD risk calculator, QRISK, and Reynolds risk score, highlighting their methodologies, strengths, and limitations. Additionally, the review explores lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes, physical activity, weight management, smoking cessation, and pharmacological interventions like statins and antihypertensives. Special considerations for different populations, including the elderly, women, and those with a family history of CVD, are addressed. Future directions in cardiovascular risk assessment are also discussed, focusing on technological advancements and personalized medicine. This review aims to enhance the implementation of effective primary prevention measures and improve cardiovascular health outcomes by providing a thorough analysis of risk assessment strategies., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Karwa et al.)

Purpose: Patients with chemotherapy-responsive advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are usually observed after 6 months of gemcitabine-based therapy. There is limited prospective evidence for maintenance strategies after chemotherapy., Methods: This investigator-initiated, open-label, randomized, integrated phase II-III study enrolled adult patients with advanced BTC from two cancer centers in India. Patients with histologically confirmed advanced biliary tract adenocarcinoma who had at least disease stabilization after 6 months of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned (1:1) to either active surveillance or switch maintenance, which was a combination of bevacizumab 5 mg/kg intravenous once every 21 days plus erlotinib 100 mg once daily. Both arms were continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient decision to withdraw. The primary end point of the phase II component of the trial was investigator-evaluated progression-free survival. This trial is registered with Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2019/05/019323I)., Results: From May 2021 to November 2022, 98 patients were randomly assigned to active surveillance (n = 49) or bevacizumab-erlotinib (n = 49). A majority of patients had gallbladder cancer (80%). The median follow-up was 13.4 months. The median progression-free survival was 3.1 months (95% CI, 2.47 to 3.64) in the active surveillance group versus 5.3 months (95% CI, 3.53 to 7.04) in the bevacizumab-erlotinib group (hazard ratio, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.33 to 0·74]; P = .0013). The most common grade 3 class-specific adverse events associated with bevacizumab-erlotinib were acneiform rash 1 (2%) and oral stomatitis 1 (2%) with erlotinib and bleeding 1 (2%) with bevacizumab., Conclusion: The combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib as switch maintenance improves progression-free survival with an acceptable safety profile compared with active surveillance in patients with advanced BTCs in this phase II study. The trial moves on to the phase III component to evaluate improvement in overall survival.

Importance: The role of olanzapine has not been adequately evaluated in moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) regimens with or without neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists., Objective: To evaluate whether addition of olanzapine to an MEC regimen reduces nausea, vomiting, and use of nausea rescue medications among patients with solid malignant tumors., Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, open-label phase 3 randomized clinical trial included patients aged 18 years or older with solid malignant tumors who were receiving oxaliplatin-, carboplatin-, or irinotecan-based chemotherapy. The trial was conducted at 3 institutes in India from March 26, 2019, to August 26, 2023; the final cutoff date for analysis was September 10, 2023., Exposure: Patients were randomized 1:1 to dexamethasone, aprepitant, and palonosetron with olanzapine (experimental group) or without olanzapine (observation group). The experimental group received 10 mg of olanzapine orally once at night on days 1 through 3 of the chemotherapy regimen., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was complete response (CR), defined as the proportion of patients with no vomiting, no significant nausea (scored as <5 on a visual analog scale of 1 to 100), and no use of rescue medications for nausea. Secondary end points included the proportion of patients experiencing nausea and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), receiving rescue medications, and experiencing adverse events., Results: A total of 560 patients (259 [64%] male; median age, 51 years [range, 19-80 years]) were randomized. The analysis included 544 patients with evaluable data (274 assigned to olanzapine and 270 to observation). Baseline characteristics were evenly matched between the 2 groups. The proportion of patients with CR was significantly greater in the group with (248 [91%]) than without (222 [82%]) olanzapine in the overall 120-hour treatment period (P = .005). Likewise, there were significant differences between the olanzapine and observation groups for nausea control (264 [96%] vs 234 [87%]; P < .001) and CINV (262 [96%] vs 245 [91%]; P = .02) during the overall assessment period, and the proportion of patients receiving rescue medications significantly increased in the observation group (30 [11%]) compared with the olanzapine group (11 [4%]) (P = .001). Grade 1 somnolence was reported by 27 patients (10%) following administration of chemotherapy and olanzapine and by no patients in the observation group., Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, the addition of olanzapine significantly improved CR rates as well as nausea and vomiting prevention rates in chemotherapy-naive patients who were receiving MEC regimens containing oxaliplatin, carboplatin, or irinotecan. These findings suggest that use of olanzapine should be considered as one of the standards of care in these chemotherapy regimens., Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI) Identifier: CTRI/2018/12/016643.

Marantic endocarditis is defined as a sterile endocarditis that is rarely encountered in clinical practice. This case series illustrates five cases of marantic endocarditis. All cases were diagnosed on trans thoracic echocardiography and verified on transesophageal echocardiography. The first three cases occur in the setting of antiphospholipid syndrome; the last two occur in the setting of advanced malignancy. Two cases were treated successfully with anticoagulation, while two others required valvular surgery. One case resulted in mortality. The treatment course of these five patients mirrors certain patterns described in the literature., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Importance: There is limited evidence with regard to the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy chemoradiotherapy in resected gallbladder cancers (GBCs)., Objective: To establish a baseline survival rate for operated GBCs in patients receiving either gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) or capecitabine and capecitabine concurrent with chemoradiation (CCRT)., Design, Setting, and Participants: The GECCOR-GB study was a multicenter, open-label, randomized phase 2 noncomparator "pick the winner" design trial of adjuvant GC and CCRT in patients with resected histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of the gallbladder, (stage II/III) with no local residual tumor (R0) or microscopic residual tumor (R1). The study was carried out in 3 tertiary cancer institutions in India. Patients 18 years or older with adequate end-organ functions, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 1 or lower between May 2019 and February 2022 were enrolled. The cutoff date for data analysis was February 28, 2023., Interventions: Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either GC every 3 weeks (maximum of 6 cycles) or CCRT comprising capecitabine with concurrent chemoradiation (capecitabine concurrent with radiotherapy) sandwiched between capecitabine chemotherapy., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS) at 1 year in randomized patients. This study was conducted as 2 parallel, single-stage phase 2 clinical trials. Within each treatment arm, a 1-year DFS rate of less than 59% was considered as insufficient activity, whereas a 1-year DFS rate of 77% or higher would be considered as sufficient activity., Results: With a median follow-up of 23 months, 90 patients were randomized, 45 in each arm. Overall, there were 31 women (69%) and 14 men (31%) in the GC arm with a mean (range) age of 56 (33-72) years and 34 women (76%) and 11 men (24%) in the CCRT group with a mean (range) age of 55 (26-69) years. In the GC and CCRT arms, 1-year DFS and estimated 2-year DFS was 88.9% (95% CI, 79.5-98.3) and 74.8% (95% CI, 60.4-89.2), and 77.8% (95% CI, 65.4-90.2) and 74.8% (95% CI, 59.9-86.3), respectively. Completion rates for planned treatment was 82% in the GC arm and 62% in the CCRT arm., Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, GC and CCRT crossed the prespecified trial end points of 1-year DFS in patients with resected stage II/III GBCs. The results set a baseline for a larger phase 3 trial evaluating both regimens in operated GBCs., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: CTRI/2019/05/019323I.