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Abstract The life‐history traits of ectothermic animals can be influenced by many abiotic factors, including climate. As an ectothermic species, we questioned whether the life‐history characteristics of the orange‐tailed skink (Eumeces schneiderii) populations differ between two different environments/climates. Our findings showed that the average body size of lizards living in the Mediterranean climate zone was higher than those in the continental climate zone. However, although Mediterranean population had higher mean values regarding average age, there was no discernible difference between the two climate zone populations. When considering all populations collectively, it has been discovered that the species' maximum lifespan is 18 years. Body size notably increased with age in both populations. Through the utilization of the von Bertalanffy equation, the anticipated growth parameters portrayed a highly accurate connection between age and snout–vent length. In conclusion, lizards living in habitats characterized by milder Mediterranean climates were found to have larger body sizes than continental populations, but both populations were comparable in terms of mean age. This difference can be explained by several factors, including activation time, temperature, precipitation, food abundance, and the presence of predators.

Abstract Objectives To examine the association between the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and overall survival rate in patients with oral cancer. Methods This retrospective cohort study examined HPV status in 454 patients who were diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using the records of patients who underwent an initial treatment for OSCC between 2012 and 2021 at our institution as retrieved from the Cancer Registry database. The survival rates of the HPV‐positive and HPV‐negative groups were assessed and compared, and independent factors associated with survival were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression models. Results Of the 454 patients with OSCC included in this study, 73 were excluded for invalid HPV tests. Of the remaining patients, 39 and 342 patients were categorized into HPV‐positive and HPV‐negative groups, respectively. The prevalence of HPV‐positive in the patients with OSCC was 10.2% (95% confidence interval 7.2%–13.2%). The 3‐year overall survival rates were 56.2% and 53.9% in the HPV‐positive and HPV‐negative groups, respectively. The 3‐year disease‐specific survival rates in the HPV‐positive and HPV‐negative groups were 60.2% and 56.9%, respectively. The survival differences were not statistically significant. HPV‐positive status was not a significant predictor of overall survival in the multivariable Cox regression analyses (p = 0.728). Conclusion The prevalence of HPV‐positivity among patients with OSCC in the study was 10.2%. No association was found between HPV‐positive status and 3‐year overall survival in patients with oral cancer. Level of evidence Level 3.

Abstract Rabies is a lethal infectious disease caused by rabies virus (RABV). The mortality rate is very high after the appearance of clinical symptoms, with a survival rate of almost 0%. There is presently no cure for rabies. In the present study, we investigated whether the extract of Shougong powder—a calcium powder prepared from gecko that has demonstrated immunomodulatory properties in mice—is an effective treatment for rabies. The antiviral effects of the extract were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo with the cytotoxicity and antiviral assays and by immunofluorescence analysis, quantitative real‐time (qRT)‐PCR, and western blotting. The results showed that Shougong powder and its extract increased survival rate in RABV‐infected mice is up to 60% and 50%, respectively, even in 20 times of LD50, whereas the control groups treated with isoprinosine (IPS) or saline are only 20% and 0% survival (p = .011). qRT‐PCR and western blotting analyses showed that the extract strongly inhibited viral mRNA expression and protein synthesis in vitro: expression of the N, P, M, G, and L genes of RABV was decreased by 28.8%–45.0% in the IPS group (p < .05) and by 50.1%–59.0% in the extract group (p < .05) relative to the control group. These results demonstrate that Shougong powder has certain antiviral effects against RABV and can potentially be used for the treatment for rabies.

Abstract Objectives Comparing the survival rate and the cumulative success rates of custom‐milled polyetherketone ketone posts and cores (MPP) with prefabricated fiber posts (PFP) in restoring compromised endodontically treated premolars. Material and Methods This was a randomized, double‐blind, parallel, two‐arm controlled pilot study. A total of 24 patients (12 males, 12 females), each had a compromised lower premolar, needed a root canal treatment and to be restored with post and core. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups, MPP‐group: restored with MPP, and PFP‐group: restored with PFP and composite cores. After that, premolars were restored with single porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns. Clinical and radiographic follow‐ups were conducted after 3, 6, and 12 months. The Kaplan–Meier, log‐Rank, and χ2 tests were used to investigate differences between the two groups at the 0.05 significance level. Results The survival rate after 12 months in the MPP and PFP groups was 66.7% and 100%, respectively. Meanwhile, the cumulative success rates were 63.6% and 100% in the same order. The log‐rank test showed a significant difference between the two groups (p = .031). The difference in cumulative success rates was also significant, as the χ2 test revealed (p = .011). Conclusion The PFP group showed a higher success rate than the MPP group and according to the failure types, PEKK posts seem to be inferior to PFP in terms of the mechanical properties and bonding to resin mechanism. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN13456471. October, 14, 2019. (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13456471ISRCTN13456471).

Abstract Background Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI) is the first‐line treatment for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Approximately 40% of patients achieve a durable response; however, 20% develop primary resistant disease (PRD) to NIVO+IPI, about which little is known in patients with mRCC. Therefore, this investigation aimed to evaluate the clinical implication of PRD in patients with mRCC to select better candidates in whom NIVO+IPI can be initiated as first‐line therapy. Methods This multi‐institutional retrospective cohort study used data collected between August 2015 and January 2023. In total, 120 patients with mRCC treated with NIVO+IPI were eligible. Associations between immune‐related adverse events and progression‐free survival, overall survival (OS), and objective response rate were analyzed. The relationship between other clinical factors and outcomes was also evaluated. Results The median observation period was 16 months (interquartile range, 5–27). The median age at NIVO+IPI initiation was 68 years in the male‐dominant population (n = 86, 71.7%), and most patients had clear cell histology (n = 104, 86.7%). PRD was recorded in 26 (23.4%) of 111 investigated patients during NIVO+IPI therapy. Patients who experienced PRD showed worse OS (hazard ratio: 4.525, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.315–8.850, p

Abstract Objective To evaluate the long‐term efficacy of no‐touch radiofrequency ablation (NT‐RFA) for treating single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) less than 3 cm. Methods A total of 331 patients with HCC less than 3 cm undergoing RFA in Southwest Hospital from 2015 to 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were divided into NT‐RFA group (n = 113) and conventional RFA (C‐RFA) group (n = 218). The survival rate, local tumor progression (LTP) and intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR) of the two groups were calculated and compared. Results A significant difference was observed in ablation range (p = 0.000) and safety margin (p = 0.000) between the two groups. The 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, 4‐and 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates in NT‐RFA and C‐RFA group were 99.12%, 93.73%, 76.18%, 57.00%, 45.17% and 99.08%, 89.91%, 71.26%, 54.28%, 41.77%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.281). The 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, 4‐and 5‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) rates in NT‐RFA and C‐RFA group were 78.51%, 52.59%, 41.02%, 34.36%, 30.92% and 68.81%, 44.95%, 30.88%, 23.73%, 22.88%, respectively. The two groups differed significantly (p = 0.044). The 1‐, 3‐and 5‐year LTP‐free survival rates in NT‐RFA and C‐RFA group were 87.12%, 74.99%, 72.32% and 75.75%, 65.52%, 65.52%, respectively. The two groups also differed significantly (p = 0.024). Furthermore, the RFS rates of D ≤ 2 cm subgroups in NT‐RFA and C‐RFA groups differed significantly (p = 0.037), while the RFS rates of 2 cm

Abstract The report describes the rehabilitation of a maxillary arch with limited bone volume in a 67‐year‐old female taking antiresorptives due to osteopenia. One 10‐mm and two extra‐short 4‐mm implants were inserted, and implant‐supported splinted crowns were fabricated. The 5‐year follow‐up showed stable bone levels, despite poor initial stability (ISQ: 14–51).

Abstract Objective Severe pneumonia occurs commonly in children and is the main cause of clinical infant mortality. This study tested the expression pattern of long noncoding RNA cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) in the serum of children with severe pneumonia and explored its clinical values. Methods Serum levels of CASC2 were detected in 145 children with severe pneumonia. All cases were divided into two groups based on their respiratory failure (RF) condition. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan–Meier (K‐M) curves were plotted for the diagnostic and prognostic ability evaluation. Multivariate cox regression analysis was done for the examination of independent influence factors. Results The serum levels of CASC2 significantly decreased in children with severe pneumonia in contrast with healthy individuals and reached the lowest value in those with RF. Serum CASC2 can distinguish severe pneumonia and predicted the development of RF. Based on the 28‐day survival data, cases with low CASC2 levels had a poor survival rate. CASC2 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.068, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.016–0.292, P

Abstract Objective To evaluate how the addition of concurrent chemotherapy to radiation therapy (RT) affects outcomes for Asian American patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods Using the California Cancer Registry – a population‐based, state‐sponsored database – Asian American patients with newly‐diagnosed, locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed between 1998 and 2010 were identified. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to analyze overall survival and cancer‐specific survival. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to investigate the association with chemotherapy. Propensity score methods were used to control for measure confounders. Results A total of 812 Asian Americans were included; 91 (11.2%) underwent RT alone, and 721 (88.8%) underwent RT with chemotherapy. The overall survival at 5 years was 65% with RT alone versus 72% with RT plus chemotherapy (p = 0.31). The corresponding rates of cancer‐specific survival were 70% and 78% (p = 0.35). Cox regression analysis confirmed a trend toward reduced mortality (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.62–1.25, p = 0.37) in patients receiving RT and chemotherapy. Conclusion Consistent with other studies that have been published, the addition of chemotherapy to RT was associated with improved clinical outcomes. Although this improvement did not reach statistical significance, the use of concurrent chemoradiation seems reasonable for Asian Americans with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract Background The prognosis for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is still poor, and the best therapeutic option is still unknown. The common treatments for LAPC, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), 125I seed implantation combined with chemotherapy (125IC), and chemotherapy alone (CA), were studied. In addition, we looked into the impact of radiation dose on the survival of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy. Methods This study included 202 patients with unresectable LAPC who were separated into three groups based on treatment methods: CCRT, 125IC, and CA. Overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan‐Meier and Cox regression methods. The differences between groups were analyzed using the chi‐square test and the Fisher exact test. All three groups were compared at the same time and then in pairs. To investigate the impact of radiation dose on survival, patients with CCRT were divided into groups based on radiation dose (0.05). Multivariate analyses showed that age ≥ 64.5 years (p=0.038), ECOG score 2(p=0.001), and CCLRT (p=0.001) were significantly associated with poor OS, while being male (p=0.023) was associated with poor PFS. Conclusions Patients who received CCRT for unresectable LAPC had a greater OS rate than those who received 125IC or CA. Within permitted bounds, CCHRT outperformed CCLRT in terms of OS.

Abstract Objective To assess the influence of systemic sclerosis (SSc) on the survival rate of dental implants in SSc patients receiving implant‐supported treatments. Methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis (PRISMA) Statement and the Cochrane Collaboration's guiding principles were followed during the study's execution. The data from three databases, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, available until January 2023, were used to compile the material for our research. Only English‐language publications were submitted for this research and evaluated based on their titles, abstracts, and full texts. For performing a quality assessment, quality scores were calculated. Results The total number of patients and implants studied were 37 and 153, respectively, all having had scleroderma. The patients’ ages ranged from 28 to 77 years old, with a mean (SD) age of 58.16 (12.88). All the patients in the case reports and most in the case series study were female. The range of follow‐up duration was from 1 to 10 years. In case report studies, the survival rate was 100%; in case series, it was 89.2%. Conclusion The SSc status had no discernible impact on the implant survival rate. Implant‐based treatments in SSc patients should not worsen the overall morbidity and should not conflict with systemic treatments. Before starting implant therapy, a thorough risk assessment is essential, though.

Objective: To assess the stage distribution and stage-related disease-specific survival rates for endometrial cancer using the FIGO (the International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics) 2009 and 2023 staging systems. Further, we sought to evaluate the prognostic utility of additional covariates beyond the FIGO 2023 stage., Methods: Endometrial carcinomas were molecularly classified by the Proactive Molecular Risk Classifier for Endometrial Cancer and staged according to FIGO 2009 and 2023 criteria. Disease-specific survival was calculated as the time from surgery to death from endometrial cancer., Results: Data from 604 patients were analyzed. Median follow-up time was 81 months. A total of 118 stage shifts (19.5%) occurred between the FIGO 2009 and FIGO 2023 systems, with upshifts accounting for 107 (90.7%) of these changes. Within the FIGO 2023 system, molecular classification resulted in restaging of 69 patients (11.4%). Shifts that could alter adjuvant therapy decisions were identified in 23 patients (3.8%). The FIGO 2023 system effectively categorized endometrial cancers into prognostic subgroups. The FIGO 2023 stage, tumor size, positive peritoneal cytology, and mismatch repair deficiency were associated with disease-specific survival in a multivariable analysis, whereas age and adjuvant therapy were not., Conclusion: The FIGO 2023 staging system for endometrial cancer appears highly prognostic. Prognostic assessment of the patients can be further enhanced by readily accessible covariates. A stage shift between the FIGO 2009 and 2023 systems occurs in about one-fifth of patients. The implementation of molecular classification within the FIGO 2023 system bears implications for decisions regarding adjuvant therapy., (© 2024 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Background: Little progress has been made in determining the prognostic factors for children and adolescents with high-grade mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HG B-NHL). Based on the important role of body mass index (BMI) in cancer, this study explored the effect of BMI on the prognosis of patients with HG B-NHL., Methods: Patients aged <18 years with newly diagnosed HG B-NHL were enrolled. Patients were divided into normal, overweight, obese, and emaciated BMI groups according to the growth criteria for children and adolescents., Results: In total, 435 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 329 (75.6%), 46 (10.6%), 13 (3.0%), and 47 (10.8%) patients stratified into the normal, overweight, obese, and emaciated BMI groups, respectively. The event-free survival and overall survival rates of the entire cohort were 89.3% and 92.4%, respectively. The 5-year event-free survival rate for the patients with obese BMI was worse than those with overweight BMI (76.2% vs. 95.6%, p = .04). The 5-year overall survival rate for the patients with emaciated BMI was worse than those with normal (84.5% vs. 93.1%, p = .04) or overweight BMI (84.5% vs. 97.7%, p = .03). Cox multivariate analysis showed that obese or emaciated BMI at diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of death (p = 0.04; HR, 2.26) and was identified as an independent adverse prognostic factor in pediatric HG B-NHL., Conclusion: Obese or emaciated BMI at diagnosis is associated with poor prognosis in pediatric HG B-NHL and can be used for risk stratification., (© 2024 American Cancer Society.)

Background: Low physical performance is associated with higher mortality rate in multiple pathological conditions. Here, we aimed to determine whether body composition and physical performance could be prognostic factors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Moreover, we performed an exploratory approach to determine whether plasma samples from NSCLC patients could directly affect metabolic and structural phenotypes in primary muscle cells., Methods: This prospective cohort study included 55 metastatic NSCLC patients and seven age-matched control subjects. Assessments included physical performance, body composition, quality of life and overall survival rate. Plasma samples from a sub cohort of 18 patients were collected for exploratory studies in cell culture and metabolomic analysis., Results: We observed a higher survival rate in NSCLC patients with high performance in the timed up-and-go (+320%; p = .007), sit-to-stand (+256%; p = .01) and six-minute walking (+323%; p = .002) tests when compared to NSCLC patients with low physical performance. There was no significant association for similar analysis with body composition measurements (p > .05). Primary human myotubes incubated with plasma from NSCLC patients with low physical performance had impaired oxygen consumption rate (-54.2%; p < .0001) and cell proliferation (-44.9%; p = .007). An unbiased metabolomic analysis revealed a list of specific metabolites differentially expressed in the plasma of NSCLC patients with low physical performance., Conclusion: These novel findings indicate that physical performance is a prognostic factor for overall survival in NSCLC patients and provide novel insights into circulating factors that could impair skeletal muscle metabolism., (© 2024 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Men exhibit higher prevalence of modifiable risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, leading to greater cancer incidence and lower survival rates. Comprehensive evidence on global cancer burden among men, including disparities by age group and country, is sparse. To address this, the authors analyzed 30 cancer types among men in 2022, with projections estimated for 2050., Methods: The 2022 GLOBOCAN estimates were used to describe cancer statistics for men in 185 countries/territories worldwide. Mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) were calculated by dividing age-standardized mortality rates by incidence rates., Results: In 2022, a high MIR (indicating poor survival) was observed among older men (aged 65 years and older; 61%) for rare cancer types (pancreatic cancer, 91%) and in countries with low a Human Development Index (HDI; 74%). Between 2022 and 2050, cancer cases are projected to increase from 10.3 million to 19 million (≥84%). Deaths are projected to increase from 5.4 million to 10.5 million (≥93%), with a greater than two-fold increase among men aged 65 years and older (≥117%) and for low-HDI and medium-HDI countries/territories (≥160%). Cancer cases and deaths are projected to increase among working-age groups (≥39%) and very-high-HDI countries/territories (≥50%)., Conclusions: Substantial disparities in cancer cases and deaths were observed among men in 2022, and these are projected to widen by 2050. Strengthening health infrastructure, enhancing workforce quality and access, fostering national and international collaborations, and promoting universal health coverage are crucial to reducing cancer disparities and ensuring cancer equity among men globally., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Background: This study aimed to indirectly examine whether the implementation of clinical breast examination-based screening program in Morocco has been successful in downstaging and improving survival rates. Breast cancer patients detected through the screening pathway were compared with those detected through self-referral over the same period in terms of cancer stage at diagnosis, tumor characteristics, care delays, and survival., Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted between April 2019 and August 2020 at two major public oncology centers., Results: A total of 896 women with confirmed breast cancer were recruited (483 were program-referred and 413 were self-referred). The authors did not report any significant difference between the two groups in terms of stage at diagnosis, molecular profile, or histopathological grade. Early-stage cancer (stage I-II) was detected in 55.7% of self-referred participants compared to 55.5% of program-referred participants. Median intervals between symptom recognition, pathological diagnosis, and treatment initiation were not significantly different between the two groups. Similarly, survival after treatment showed no significant difference between patients screened by the program and self-referred patients. The 3-year survival rate after treatment was 94.5% for patients referred through the program and 88.6% for patients not referred through the program (p = .16)., Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of equitable and timely access to high-quality diagnosis and treatment facilities, leading to substantial downstaging and enhanced survival rates. Continued efforts to improve quality and expand coverage to include asymptomatic women will consolidate the health infrastructure gains achieved by the Moroccan breast cancer screening program., (© 2024 World Health Organization; licensed by American Cancer Society. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. In those with recurrence, survival is dismal. Immunotherapy is an emerging area of investigation; however, there is a scarcity of data on immunotherapy outcomes in SNMM patients with recurrence. We report outcomes of immunotherapy in recurrent SNMM patients with distant versus nondistant recurrence. Fifty-four patients with recurrent SNMM were identified, and 31 (57.4%) had distant recurrence. One-year overall survival (OS) following recurrence was 47.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 34.0%-60.9%), with a median survival of 2.8 years (95% CI: 2.0-5.3). In those with distant recurrence, receipt of immunotherapy was associated with better OS compared to those without immunotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.29 [95% CI: 0.12-0.68], P = .004). While patients with nondistant recurrence (n = 23), who received immunotherapy (n = 6) had worse OS compared to those who did not receive immunotherapy (HR = 4.76 [95% CI: 1.36, 15.89], P = .02). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the survival rates of pulpectomized primary teeth treated under general anesthesia (GA) or local anesthesia (LA), and to determine which factors affected tooth survival following pulpectomy. Materials and methods This retrospective study collected data from dental records. Patients under 5 years of age received dental treatment under GA or LA during 2007–2016, with at least one anterior or posterior tooth receiving a pulpectomy, were recruited. Pulpectomy was considered a failure if the tooth required extraction or retreatment due to pulp treatment failure. Survival analysis was used to assess the outcome. The cumulative survival probability was analyzed with the Kaplan–Meier estimator. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between tooth survival and possible prognosis factors; sex, age, dental arch (upper/lower), tooth type (anterior/posterior), molar type (first/second molar), molar location (upper/lower molar), root filling material type, restoration type, preoperative radiographic findings and presence of pathologic root resorption. Results Two hundred and twenty‐seven primary teeth were included. At the 5‐year follow‐up, the survival rates of the pulpectomized teeth treated under GA and LA were 81.4% and 87.4%, respectively, which were not significantly different (p ≥ 0.05). A radiolucency on the preoperative radiograph was the only factor associated with tooth extraction or retreatment following pulpectomy, with a hazard ratio of 3.88 (95% CI = 1.29–11.65). Conclusions Pulpectomized primary teeth treated under GA and LA demonstrated high survival rates. Preoperative radiolucency is a possible associated factor that decreases tooth survival following pulpectomy. Why this paper is important Pulpectomy treatment under GA and LA provided high 5‐year cumulative survival rates, which were not significantly different. Pulpectomy treatment in teeth with a preoperative radiolucency were 3.9‐fold as likely to fail as teeth without pathology. Based on our findings, practitioners could apply these findings and discuss with caregivers about the treatment options, outcomes, and prognosis of pulpectomized teeth.

Abstract Background The survival outcome for primary cardiac malignant tumors (PMCTs) based on race has yet to be fully elucidated in previously published literature. This study aimed to address the general long‐term outcome and survival rate differences in PMCTs among African Americans and Caucasian populations. Methods The 18 cancer registries database from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program from 1975 to 2016 were utilized. Ninety‐four African American (AA) and 647 Caucasian (CAU) patients from the SEER registry were available for survival analysis. The log‐rank test was used to compare the difference in mortality between two populations and presented by the Kaplan–Meier curves. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine the independent predictors of all‐cause mortality. Results The overall 30‐day, 1‐year, and 5‐year survival rates were 74%, 44.3%, and 16.6%, respectively, with a median survival of 10 months. There was no significant difference in survival rate between the two races (p‐value = 0.55). The 1‐year survival rate improved significantly during the study timeline in the AA population (13.3% during 1975–1998, 40.9% during 1999–2004, 50% during 2005–2010, and 59.7% during 2011–2016, p‐value = 0.0064). Age of diagnosis, type of tumor, disease stage, and chemotherapy administration are the main factors that predict survival outcomes of PMCT patients. Interactive nomogram was developed based on significant predictors. Conclusions PMCTs have remained one of the most lethal diseases with poor survival outcome. Survival rate improved during the timeline in AA patients, but in general, racial differences in survival outcome were not observed.

Abstract Background Pyroptosis plays a dual role in the development of cancer and malignancy; as such, it may potentially be a new target for cancer treatment. However, the inflammatory response to pyroptosis may have adverse effects on the body. The roles of gasdermin E (GSDME), caspases, and related proteins associated with pyroptosis in cancer remain controversial. Aim The goal of this study was to determine whether the expression levels of caspase‐3 and GSDME affect the clinical stage, pathological grade, or survival prognosis of patients with lung cancer. Methods We examined the protein levels of GSDME, caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9 in lung tissue samples from 100 patients with lung cancer by using immunohistochemistry. Results We found that GSDME, caspase‐3, and caspase‐8 were more highly expressed in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, we found that GSDME could serve as a prognostic factor as there was a positive correlation between its expression level and the postoperative survival rate of patients with lung cancer. Conclusions GSDME may be an independent factor affecting the prognosis of patients with lung cancer. However, the role of GSDME and its related proteins in cancer requires further research.

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the deadliest cancers of the gastrointestinal tract worldwide and a growing global health concern. Aim This study was aimed to evaluate the survival rate and prognostic factors of survival in patients with PC. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, the records of 556 patients with PC registered in the hospital cancer registration system from September 2007 to September 2020 were evaluated. In this regard, demographic data, tumor characteristics, received treatments, and patients' final status were analyzed. Kaplan–Meier and Cox's regression were used for univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively. Results The 5‐year survival rate was found to be 4.3%. The median survival time was 12.4 ± 6.6 months. Univariate analysis showed that age, BMI (kg/m2), blood transfusions, differentiation, tumor stage, tumor size, number of involved lymph nodes, lymph node ratio (LNR), and type of treatment received were significantly associated with patient survival (p 2.5 cm (HR = 4.61, 95% CI = 3.30–6.78), metastasis presence (HR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.49–2.60), more than two involved lymph nodes (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.31–1.77), LNR

Abstract Objective We investigated the clinical characteristics, treatments, and survival of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) who experienced recurrence. Factors predictive of recurrence were also investigated. Methods Patients with GTN who recurred after completing chemotherapy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital Trophoblastic Disease Center were identified between January 2004 and December 2017. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors predictive of GTN recurrence. Results A total of 1827 patients with GTN achieved complete remission (CR) at our center, of whom 118 (6.5%) experienced recurrence during follow‐up. The recurrence rates for patients initially treated at our center and those referred to us were 2.7% and 14.6%, respectively. The majority of recurrent patients received floxuridine‐based multiagent chemotherapy (n = 64). Patients who underwent surgery achieved a significantly higher CR rate than those who did not (88.6% vs 61.1%, P = .001). Although 94.1% of recurrent patients reachieved CR, 33.3% of them recurred for a second time. The 5‐year survival rate of the entire cohort was 80.4%. An interval between antecedent pregnancy and chemotherapy >12 months (OR: 6.600, 95% CI [3.217‐13.540], P 14 weeks (OR: 2.226, 95% CI [1.080‐4.588], P = .030) were predictors of recurrence. Conclusions Patients with recurrent GTN are prone to recurring for a second time. Surgery plays a beneficial role in the management of recurrent GTN. An interval between antecedent pregnancy and chemotherapy >12 months, and an interval from first chemotherapy to achieving β‐hCG normalization >14 weeks were predictors of recurrence.

Aim The coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic has led to an increase in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) and mortality. However, there has been no reports in Japan using nationwide registry data. We compared survival among patients with OHCAs and detailed information on the cause during the COVID‐19 pandemic (2020), and during the pre‐pandemic period (2019). Methods Using a Japanese population‐based retrospective cohort study design, we analyzed registry data on 39,324 and 39,170 patients with OHCAs in 2019 and 2020, respectively. We compared patient outcomes in 2019 and 2020 using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results The proportion of OHCAs of cardiac origin increased significantly from 61.6% in 2019 to 62.7% in 2020 (P = 0.001). The use of bystander CPR (6.9% versus 5.7%, P < 0.001) and publicaccess automated external defibrillator pads (3.7% versus 3.0%, P < 0.001) decreased significantly from 2019 to 2020. The 1‐month survival for OHCA of cardiac origin (12.1% versus 10.7%; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87–1.00), asphyxia (10.9% versus 8.8%; adjusted OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.70–0.92), and external causes (adjusted OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.46–0.96), also decreased significantly from 2019 to 2020. Conclusions In Japan, the 1‐month survival after OHCA of cardiac origin, or due to asphyxia or external causes, decreased significantly during the COVID‐19 pandemic period.

Background: Despite significant advances in breast cancer control and survival with endocrine therapies (ETs), treatment utilization and outcomes in developing countries have not been adequately explored. This review evaluated ET adherence, potential benefits, and harms in populations across developing countries., Methods: A literature search was conducted through August 2023 in five databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Global Health, and WHO Global Index Medicus. Retrieved records were screened to identify observational research presenting at least one outcome in women with nonmetastatic breast cancer in developing countries who received ET (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors). A random effects model was used to compute the rates of adherence, discontinuation, adverse events (AEs), disease progression, and death., Results: A total of 104 studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was low in most studies, and a large portion of the patients involved Asians. The overall heterogeneity between studies was partially attributed to variations in study design or outcome measurement method. Results showed a pooled adherence rate of 75% (95% confidence interval [CI], 67%-81%) and a discontinuation rate of 16% (95% CI, 10%-25%). Treatment side effects and young age consistently emerged as significant predictors of nonadherence. A wide range of AEs was identified in our analysis. The estimated average rates of cancer recurrence and mortality at 5-years were 16% and 8%, respectively., Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore suboptimal ET use in developing countries and provide comprehensive insights into treatment experiences in the real-world setting. Targeted strategies are warranted to enhance adherence and subsequently optimize treatment benefits., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Background: Despite randomized trials demonstrating a mortality benefit to low-dose computed tomography screening to detect lung cancer, uptake of lung cancer screening (LCS) has been slow, and the benefits of screening remain unclear in clinical practice., Methods: This study aimed to assess the impact of screening among patients in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) health care system diagnosed with lung cancer between 2011 and 2018. Lung cancer stage at diagnosis, lung cancer-specific survival, and overall survival between patients with cancer who did and did not receive screening before diagnosis were evaluated. We used Cox regression modeling and inverse propensity weighting analyses with lead time bias adjustment to correlate LCS exposure with patient outcomes., Results: Of 57,919 individuals diagnosed with lung cancer in the VA system between 2011 and 2018, 2167 (3.9%) underwent screening before diagnosis. Patients with screening had higher rates of stage I diagnoses (52% vs. 27%; p ≤ .0001) compared to those who had no screening. Screened patients had improved 5-year overall survival rates (50.2% vs. 27.9%) and 5-year lung cancer-specific survival (59.0% vs. 29.7%) compared to unscreened patients. Among screening-eligible patients who underwent National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline-concordant treatment, screening resulted in substantial reductions in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67-0.92; p = .003) and lung-specific mortality (aHR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.50-0.74; p < .001)., Conclusions: While LCS uptake remains limited, screening was associated with earlier stage diagnoses and improved survival. This large national study corroborates the value of LCS in clinical practice; efforts to widely adopt this vital intervention are needed., (© 2024 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Background: Clinicopathological findings and their association with the outcome and development of laminitis in horses with acute diarrhoea has not been investigated in a multicentre study across different geographic regions., Objectives: Describe and compare clinicopathologic findings of diarrhoeic horses between different geographic regions, survival rates and factors associated with non-survival and laminitis., Study Design: Multicentre retrospective case series., Methods: Information from horses with acute diarrhoea presenting to participating institutions between 2016 and 2020 was collected, and clinicopathological data were compared between surviving and non-surviving horses and horses that did and did not develop laminitis. Survival rates and seasonal and geographic differences were also investigated., Results: One thousand four hundred thirty-eight horses from 26 participating institutions from 4 continents were included; 76% survived to discharge with no differences identified between geographic regions. The survival proportion of horses with SIRS and creatinine concentrations > 159 μmol/L was 55% (154/279) compared with 81% (358/437) for those with SIRS and creatinine concentrations < 159 μmol/L (p < 0.001). The survival proportion of horses with SIRS that had an L-lactate concentration > 2.8 mmol/L was 59% (175/298) compared with 81% (240/296) in horses with SIRS and L-lactate concentration < 2.8 mmol/L (p < 0.001). The proportion of horses that developed laminitis was lower in Europe (4%, 19/479) compared with North America (8%, 52/619), Australia (8%, 12/138) and Latin America (11%, 16/146) (p < 0.05). More horses developed laminitis in the summer (46%, 39/85) compared with winter (18%, 15/85), spring (18%, 15/85) and fall (19%, 16/85) (p < 0.01). Horses with laminitis had greater odds of non-survival than those without laminitis (OR: 3.73, 95% CI: 2.47-5.65)., Main Limitations: Not all variables were available for all horses due to the retrospective nature., Conclusions: Clinicopathological findings in horses with acute diarrhoea and their association with survival are similar across geographic regions. However, developing laminitis secondary to diarrhoea is less common in Europe. In addition, factors associated with non-survival were indicative of disease severity and subsequent cardiovascular compromise., (© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.)

Objective: As the majority of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is diagnosed in males, outcomes among females are not well-characterized. We identify sex-specific factors in OPSCC to refine female prognostication., Study Design: Retrospective cohort., Setting: National Cancer Database (NCDB)., Methods: OPSCC cases from the 2004 to 2019 NCDB were identified. Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics (including timing between diagnosis and treatment administration) were compared between sexes. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were constructed to characterize survival in overall and female-only cohorts. Similar multivariable binomial logistic regression and survival models were constructed to assess odds of treatment delays and their effects on survival, respectively., Results: A total of 192,973 OPSCC patients were identified; 36,695 (19%) were female. Females had more human papillomavirus (HPV) negative, lower clinical T and N stage, and higher comorbidity disease. Females experienced lower survival in HPV negative (hazard ratio, HR = 1.11, P < .001) but not HPV-positive disease. Females were more likely to have any treatment initiated over the median of 28 days (odds ratio, OR = 1.04, P = .014) or delays in adjuvant radiotherapy initiation over 6 weeks (OR = 1.11, P = .032). Treatment delay over 60 days (HR = 1.17, P = .016) and delay in adjuvant therapy initiation (HR = 1.24, P = .02) were associated with worse survival among females., Conclusion: In one of the largest analyses of OPSCC, females had poorer survival than males, specifically in HPV-negative disease, despite presentation with less advanced disease. Notably, delays in any treatment initiation and adjuvant radiotherapy initiation were more likely in HPV-negative women and associated with worse survival, highlighting potential systemic weaknesses contributing to poor prognosis among females., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Background: Although concomitant traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not infrequently associated with spinal cord injury (SCI), there is relatively scarce information about the effects of concomitant TBI on outcomes after SCI., Objective: To assess the impact of concomitant mild-to-moderate TBI on survival, and neurological and functional outcomes within the first year after acute traumatic SCI., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Acute spine trauma centers in the United States., Participants: This study includes all individuals who were enrolled into the Third National Spinal Cord Injury Study (NASCIS-3). The study population was classified into SCI + TBI group and SCI-alone group. TBI was defined as a Glasgow Coma Scale score <15 on admission., Intervention: Not applicable., Main Outcome Measures: Both groups were compared regarding their survival and neurological outcomes (ie, NASCIS motor, sensory and pain scores) and functional outcome (ie, Functional Independence Measure score) within the first year following SCI. Data analyses were adjusted for major potential confounders., Results: There were 413 individuals in the SCI-alone group and 86 individuals in the SCI + TBI group (17.2%). Both groups were comparable regarding gender distribution (p = .621). However, the SCI + TBI group was older (p < .001), had a higher proportion of complete (p = .006) and cervical SCI (p = .003), and had a higher blood alcohol level (p < .001) than the SCI-alone group. The SCI + TBI group did not significantly differ from the SCI-alone group regarding survival within the first year after SCI (p = .768). Among the survivors, concomitant mild-to-moderate TBI did not significantly affect neurological and functional outcomes at 1 year after SCI in the multiple regression analyses after adjusting for major potential confounders., Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that concomitant mild-to-moderate TBI did not have a significant impact on survival, neurological recovery, and functional outcomes at 1 year after SCI, even though there were some epidemiological differences between SCI-alone and SCI + TBI groups., (© 2023 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.)

Objective: To investigate the survival benefit of elective neck dissection (END) over neck observation in surgically resected cT1-4 N0M0 head and neck basaloid carcinoma (HNBC)., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: The 2006 to 2017 hospital-based National Cancer Database., Methods: Patients with surgically resected cT1-4 N0M0 HNBC were selected. Linear, binary logistic, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox proportional hazards regression models were implemented., Results: Of 857 patients satisfying inclusion criteria, the majority were male (77.0%) and white (88.1%) with disease of the oral cavity (21.5%) or oropharynx (42.9%) classified as high grade (76.9%) and cT1-2 (72.9%). 389 (45.4%) patients underwent END. END utilization between 2006 and 2017 increased for cT1-2 disease (33.3% vs 56.9%, R 2  = .699) but remained relatively constant for cT3-4 disease (66.7% vs 57.9%, R 2  = .062). One-hundred and fifteen (29.6%) ENDs detected occult nodal metastases (ONMs). The 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients undergoing neck observation and END was 65.6% and 66.8%, respectively (P = .652). END was not associated with improved OS in survival analyses stratified by patient demographics, clinicopathologic features, and adjuvant therapy. Compared with surgery alone, adjuvant radiotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.97, P = .031) was associated with improved OS. END (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.71-1.28, P = .770) and ONM (HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.78-1.61, P = .551) were not associated with OS., Conclusion: END is performed in nearly half of patients with HNBC but is not associated with improved OS, even after stratifying survival analyses by patient demographics, clinicopathologic features, and adjuvant therapy. The rate of ONM approaching 30%, however, justifies inclusion of END in the surgical management of HNBC., (© 2024 The Authors. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors for uterine clear-cell carcinoma (UCCC) and construct nomograms predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of patients with UCCC., Methods: The demographic and clinical information of 1674 patients diagnosed with UCCC between 2004 and 2015, including age, race, marital status, tumor size, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, and details of surgery and radiotherapy/chemotherapy, was collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. After excluding patients with unknown AJCC stage, race, marital status, or lymph node information, 1469 patients remained. Risk factors were determined using univariate and multivariate analyses, and nomograms were developed to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival of UCCC. Various indicators were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram, such as the C-index, net classification improvement (NRI) and decision curve analysis (DCA)., Results: Age, log odds of positive lymph nodes, AJCC stage, surgery status, and chemotherapy status were independent risk factors for UCCC. The C-indexes of the training group and AJCC stage groups were 0.771 and 0.697, respectively. The results for the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve, NRI, and calibration curves indicated that the nomogram had good predictive ability. DCA revealed that the nomogram had greater clinical applicability than AJCC stage alone. Internal validation using the validation cohort also demonstrated that this nomogram had good predictive performance., Conclusion: A new nomogram comprising a combination of demographic and clinical characteristics provided better survival predictions than the AJCC staging system alone, which will facilitate prognostic assessments and clinical decision-making., (© 2024 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Background: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by rapid proliferation and early dissemination. The objective of this study was to examine the demographic trends and outcomes in SCLC., Methods: The authors queried the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to assess the trends in incidence, demographics, staging, and survival for SCLC from 1975 to 2019. Trends were determined using joinpoint analysis according to the year of diagnosis., Results: Among the 530,198 patients with lung cancer, there were 73,362 (13.8%) with SCLC. The incidence per 100,000 population peaked at 15.3 in 1986 followed by a decline to 6.5 in 2019. The percentage of SCLC among all lung tumors increased from 13.3% in 1975 to a peak of 17.5% in 1986, declining to 11.1% by 2019. There was an increased median age at diagnosis from 63 to 69 years and an increased percentage of women from 31.4% to 51.2%. The percentage of stage IV increased from 58.6% in 1988 to 70.8% in 2010, without further increase. The most common sites of metastasis at diagnosis were mediastinal lymph nodes (75.3%) liver (31.6%), bone (23.7%), and brain (16.4%). The 1-year and 5-year overall survival rate increased from 23% and 3.6%, respectively, in 1975-1979 to 30.8% and 6.8%, respectively, in 2010-2019., Conclusions: The incidence of SCLC peaked in 1988 followed by a gradual decline. Other notable changes include increased median age at diagnosis, the percentage of women, and the percentage of stage IV at diagnosis. The improvement in 5-year overall survival has been statistically significant but clinically modest., (© 2024 American Cancer Society.)

Objective: Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (TBSCC) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis, and optimal treatment for advanced cases is uncertain. Our systematic literature review aimed to assess 5-year survival outcomes for advanced TBSCC across different treatment modalities., Data Sources: EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science., Review Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for articles published between January 1989 and June 2023., Results: The review yielded 1229 citations of which 31 provided 5-year survival data for TBSCC. The final analysis included 1289 patients. T classification data was available for 1269 patients and overall stage for 1033 patients. Data for 5-year overall survival (OS) was 59.6%. Five-year OS was 81.9% for T1/2 and 47.5% for T3/4 (P < .0001). OS for T1/T2 cancers did not significantly differ between surgery and radiation (100% vs 81.3%, P  = .103). For advanced-stage disease (T3/T4), there was no statistical difference in OS when comparing surgery with postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (OS 50.0%) versus surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (XRT) (OS 53.3%) versus definitive CRT (OS 58.1%, P  = .767-1.000). There was not enough data to assess the role of neoadjuvant CRT., Conclusion: Most patients will present with advanced-stage disease, and nodal metastasis is seen in nearly 22% of patients. This study confirms the prognostic correlation of the current T classification system. Our results suggest that OS did not differ significantly between surgery and XRT for early stage disease, and combined treatment modalities yield similar 5-year OS for advanced cancers., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objective: We aim to evaluate the role of elective neck dissection (END) and adjuvant radiation on survival in N0 high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC)., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database., Methods: All patients diagnosed with high-grade MEC with node-negative disease (N0) from 2004 to 2018 were included. Demographic, clinicopathologic, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to evaluate 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) and 5-year overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to control for confounders., Results: A total of 310 patients with high-grade MEC and N0 (clinical and pathologic) disease were identified. The parotid was the most common primary site (266, 86%). Of included patients, 133 (42.9%) were T3-T4 tumors and 212 (68%) received adjuvant radiation. END was performed on 223 (71.9%) of cases. END in T3-T4 high-grade MEC led to significant improvements in DSS (74.3% vs 34.0%, P < .01) and OS (55.2% vs 20.5%, P < .01) as compared to no END. Subanalysis shows that in patients who received neck dissections and were pathologic N0, adjuvant radiation had no impact on DSS (84.0% vs 72.1%, P = .45) and OS (52.1% vs 55.8%, P = .91). Benefits persisted when controlling for confounders using multivariate Cox proportional regression., Conclusion: Patients with T3-T4 high-grade MEC who underwent END and found to be pathologically node-negative (pN0) had significantly improved 5-year DSS and 5-year OS than patients who were cN0 and did not undergo END. Importantly, although 68% of patients received adjuvant radiation, we show no benefit of this treatment modality on outcomes in pN0 high-grade MEC., (© 2024 The Authors. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Background: Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasms (PEComas) encompass a heterogeneous family of mesenchymal tumors. Previously described clinicopathologic features aimed at distinguishing benign from malignant variants but lacked prognostic value., Methods: This retrospective analysis examined clinicopathologic data from patients who had localized PEComa across French Sarcoma Network centers. The authors analyzed 12 clinicopathologic features in a Cox proportional hazard framework to derive a multivariate prognostic risk model for event-free survival (EFS). They built the PEComa prognostic score (PEC-PRO), in which scores ranged from 0 to 5, based on the coefficients of the multivariate model. Three groups were identified: low risk (score = 0), intermediate risk (score = 1), and high risk (score ≥ 2)., Results: Analyzing 87 patients who had a median 46-month follow-up (interquartile range, 20-74 months), the median EFS was 96.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.1 months to not applicable), with 2-year and 5-year EFS rates of 64.7% and 58%, respectively. The median overall survival was unreached, with 2-year and 5-year overall survival rates of 82.3% and 69.3%, respectively. The simplified Folpe classification did not correlate with EFS. Multivariate analysis identified three factors affecting EFS: positive surgical margins (hazard ratio [HR], 5.17; 95% CI, 1.65-16.24; p = .008), necrosis (HR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.16-13.43; p = .030), and male sex (HR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.19-8.27; p = 0.023). Four variables were retained in the prognostic model. Patients with low-risk PEC-PRO scores had a 2-year EFS rate of 93.7% (95% CI, 83.8%-100.0%), those with intermediate-risk PEC-PRO scores had a 2-year EFS rate of 67.4% (95% CI, 53.9%-80.9%), and those with high-risk PEC-PRO scores had a 2-year EFS rate of 2.3% (95% CI, 0.0%-18.3%)., Conclusions: The PEC-PRO score reliably predicts the risk of postoperative recurrence in patients with localized PEComa. It has the potential to improve follow-up strategies but requires validation in a prospective trial., (© 2024 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Objective: To investigate adjuvant therapy indications, utilization, and associated survival disparities in major salivary gland cancer (MSGC)., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: The 2006 to 2017 National Cancer Database., Methods: Patients with surgically resected MSGC were included (N = 11,398). pT3-4 classification, pN2-3 classification, lymphovascular invasion, pathologic extranodal extension (pENE), and positive surgical margin (PSM) were considered indications for adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT). pENE and PSM were considered possible indications for adjuvant chemotherapy. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression models were implemented., Results: Among 6694 patients with ≥ $\ge $ 1 indication for aRT, 1906 (28.5%) received no further treatment and missed aRT. Age, race, comorbidity status, facility type, and distance to reporting facility were associated with missed aRT (P < .025). Among 4003 patients with ≥1 possible indication for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (aCRT), 914 (22.8%) received aCRT. Patients with pENE only (38.5%) and both pENE and PSM (44.0%) received aCRT more frequently than those with PSM only (17.0%) (P < .001). Academic facility was associated with aCRT utilization (P < .05). aCRT utilization increased between 2006 and 2017 in both academic (14.8% vs 23.9%) and nonacademic (8.8% vs 13.5%) facilities (P < .05). Among 2691 patients with ≥1 indication for aRT alone, missed aRT portended poorer OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28-2.03, P < .001). Among 4003 patients with ≥1 possible indication for aCRT, aRT alone (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.89-1.18, P = .780) and aCRT were associated with similar OS., Conclusion: Missed aRT in MSGC occurs frequently and portends poorer OS. Further studies clarifying indications for aCRT are required., (© 2024 The Authors. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objective: Evaluate the effect of treatment delay on survival in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients undergoing primary surgical resection., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study using the 2010-2017 National Cancer Database., Setting: Multicenter database study., Methods: Patients >18 years old with OPSCC and known HPV status, treated surgically with or without postoperative radiation/chemotherapy were included. Two cohorts based on HPV status were grouped by time to treatment initiation (T D-TI , ≤30, 31-60, ≥61 days) and surgery to radiotherapy (T S-RT , ≤42, 43-66, ≥67 days). Univariate, Kaplan-Meier, and multivariate analyses assessed correlations between demographic and clinical factors with overall survival in treatment delay groups., Results: Included were 1643 HPV-positive OPSCC patients and 391 HPV-negative OPSCC patients. No associations between survival and gender, age, race, insurance, or radiotherapy length were observed. Regardless of HPV status, larger tumor size (>2 cm) and lymphovascular invasion predicted worse survival. HPV negative patients with >4 lymph nodes involved had 2.5× greater mortality risk (P = .039). Robotic surgery was associated with improved survival only in HPV positive patients (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.41, P < .001). In HPV positive patients, higher T D-TI related to lower mean survival, although this was not significant on multivariate analysis. HPV negative patients with >42 days of T S-RT had decreased survival (43-66 days, HR 1.63, P = .049; ≥67 days, HR 2.10, P = .032)., Conclusion: Longer T S-RT was associated with lower overall survival in HPV negative patients. Treatment delay was not associated with survival in HPV positive OPSCC according to multivariate analysis. These findings enhance knowledge about treatment delay effects in OPSCC, aiding providers in decisions and patient communication., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objective: We describe the demographics, clinical features, disease course, and survival of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) through an international collaboration (GLOBAL-PAN)., Methods: Patients with PAN were recruited between 1990 and 2020 from observational cohorts of nine countries across Europe, Japan, and North America. Eligibility was retrospectively defined using the European Medicines Agency classification algorithm. Patients with PAN related to hepatitis B virus (n = 12) and two monogenic diseases mimicking PAN, deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 enzyme (n = 16) or familial Mediterranean fever (n = 11), were excluded. Data regarding organ involvement, relapse, disease-related damage, and survival were analyzed., Results: Three hundred fifty-eight patients (female:male ratio 174:184), including those with systemic PAN (sPAN, n = 282) and cutaneous PAN (n = 76), were included. Twenty-five were pediatric onset. Mean ± SD age at diagnosis was 44.3 ± 18.1 years. Constitutional symptoms (71.5%), cutaneous involvement (70.5%), musculoskeletal findings (69.1%), and neurologic features (48.0%) were common manifestations. Among patients with sPAN, gastrointestinal involvement and proteinuria over 400 mg/day were reported in 52.2% and 11.2%, respectively. During a median (interquartile range) 59.6 (99.5) months of follow-up, relapse occurred in 48.5% of patients. One, 5- and 10-year survival rates for sPAN were 97.1%, 94.0%, and 89.0%, respectively. Predictors of death for sPAN included age ≥65 years at diagnosis, serum creatinine at diagnosis >140 μmol/L, gastrointestinal manifestations, and central nervous system (CNS) involvement., Conclusion: The spectrum of PAN remains a complex, multifaceted disease. Relapse is common. Age ≥65 years and serum creatinine >140 μmol/L at diagnosis, as well as gastrointestinal and CNS involvement, are independent predictors of death in sPAN., (© 2024 American College of Rheumatology.)

Abstract Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been widely used to monitor insects and conduct surface sterilizations at 365 nm and 254 nm wavelengths, respectively. The global increase in the use of UV light has raised concerns about environmental impacts and effects on non‐target organisms. We, therefore, examined the effects of three UV radiation wavelengths (365 nm, 308 nm and 254 nm) on the survival and antioxidant activities of a tephritid fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. Exposure to UV radiation significantly increased B. dorsalis cohort mortality and the duration of pre‐oviposition. Moreover, the application of UV‐B and UV‐C significantly decreased egg laying. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were irreversibly decreased by UV‐A, UV‐B and UV‐C radiation. Decreases in catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutases (SOD) and glutathione‐S‐transferases (GST) activity were observed at both immediately after exposure and also at 120 h after exposure. However, while peroxidase (POD) activity was decreased immediately after UV‐B and UV‐C radiation, the activity had recovered at 120 h post‐exposure. These results demonstrate UV‐dependent decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes are associated with decreased B. dorsalis survival rates. While UV radiation can, therefore, be harmful to non‐target organisms, it is a potential strategy for integrated pest management.

Abstract Background Prognostic factors for single primary gliosarcoma (PGS) remain unknown. Objective The purpose of our study was to examine patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics as potential predictors of survival using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program data (1973‐2013). Methods The patients of single PGS were selected based on the exclusion criteria from SEER. Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis, log‐rank test and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze all the data. Results Single PGS has an apparent popularity for the temporal lobe (35.2%, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.440, 95%CI = 0.251‐0.770) and frontal lobe (20.9%, HR = 0.408, 95%CI = 0.231‐0.720) which could achieve a better survival rate than cerebrum (P = .034). The mean age at diagnosis was 60.07 ± 14.161. The overall 6‐month, 1‐year, 2‐year, and 5‐year survival was 55.40%, 29.58%, 10.01%, and 2.73%. Age at diagnosis was proved to be a significant predictor of overall survival (OS) (P 60 mm (P= .003, HR = 1.899, 95%CI = 1.244‐2.901) showed a higher risk of death. Surgery played a critical role in OS (P 40 mm). Surgery intervention and radiation therapy were beneficial factors.

Abstract The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in atmosphere is not only a major cause of global warming, but it also adversely affects the ecological diversity of invertebrates. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of elevated CO2 concentration (ambient, 400 ppm and high, 800 ppm) and Wolbachia (Wolbachia‐infected, W+ and Wolbachia‐uninfected, W−) on Hylyphantes graminicola. The total survival rate, developmental duration, carapace width and length, body weight, sex ratio, net reproductive rate, nutrition content, and enzyme activity in H. graminicola were examined under four treatments: W− 400 ppm, W− 800 ppm, W+ 400 ppm, and W+ 800 ppm. Results showed that Wolbachia‐infected spiders had significantly decreased the total developmental duration. Different instars showed variations up to some extent, but no obvious effect was found under elevated CO2 concentration. Total survival rate, sex ratio, and net reproductive rate were not affected by elevated CO2 concentration or Wolbachia infection. The carapace width of Wolbachia‐uninfected spiders decreased significantly under elevated CO2 concentration, while the width, length and weight were not significantly affected in Wolbachia‐infected spiders reared at ambient CO2 concentration. The levels of protein, specific activities of peroxidase, and amylase were significantly increased under elevated CO2 concentration or Wolbachia‐infected spiders, while the total amino content was only increased in Wolbachia‐infected spiders. Thus, our current finding suggested that elevated CO2 concentration and Wolbachia enhance nutrient contents and enzyme activity of H. graminicola and decrease development duration hence explore the interactive effects of factors which were responsible for reproduction regulation, but it also gives a theoretical direction for spider's protection in such a dynamic environment. Increased activities of enzymes and nutrients caused by Wolbachia infection aids for better survival of H. graminicola under stress.

Abstract As a key parameter in population dynamics, mortality rates are frequently estimated using mark–recapture data, which requires extensive, long‐term data sets. As a potential rapid alternative, we can measure variables correlated to age, allowing the compilation of population age distributions, from which mortality rates can be derived. However, most studies employing such techniques have ignored their inherent inaccuracy and have thereby failed to provide reliable mortality estimates. In this study, we present a general statistical model linking birth rate, mortality rate, and population age distributions. We next assessed the reliability and data needs (i.e., sample size) for estimating mortality rate of eight different aging techniques. The results revealed that for half of the aging techniques, correlations with age varied considerably, translating into highly variable accuracies when used to estimate mortality rate from age distributions. Telomere length is generally not sufficiently correlated to age to provide reliable mortality rate estimates. DNA methylation, signal‐joint T‐cell recombination excision circle (sjTREC), and racemization are generally more promising techniques to ultimately estimate mortality rate, if a sufficiently high sample size is available. Otolith ring counts, otolithometry, and age‐length keys in fish, and skeletochronology in reptiles, mammals, and amphibians, outperformed all other aging techniques and generated relatively accurate mortality rate estimation with a sample size that can be feasibly obtained. Provided the method chosen is minimizing and estimating the error in age estimation, it is possible to accurately estimate mortality rates from age distributions. The method therewith has the potential to estimate a critical, population dynamic parameter to inform conservation efforts within a limited time frame as opposed to mark–recapture analyses.

Objectives: To examine the association between the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and overall survival rate in patients with oral cancer., Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined HPV status in 454 patients who were diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using the records of patients who underwent an initial treatment for OSCC between 2012 and 2021 at our institution as retrieved from the Cancer Registry database. The survival rates of the HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups were assessed and compared, and independent factors associated with survival were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression models., Results: Of the 454 patients with OSCC included in this study, 73 were excluded for invalid HPV tests. Of the remaining patients, 39 and 342 patients were categorized into HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups, respectively. The prevalence of HPV-positive in the patients with OSCC was 10.2% (95% confidence interval 7.2%-13.2%). The 3-year overall survival rates were 56.2% and 53.9% in the HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups, respectively. The 3-year disease-specific survival rates in the HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups were 60.2% and 56.9%, respectively. The survival differences were not statistically significant. HPV-positive status was not a significant predictor of overall survival in the multivariable Cox regression analyses ( p  = 0.728)., Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV-positivity among patients with OSCC in the study was 10.2%. No association was found between HPV-positive status and 3-year overall survival in patients with oral cancer., Level of Evidence: Level 3., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024 The Author(s). Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Triological Society.)

Background: Population-based cancer survival is a key indicator for assessing the effectiveness of cancer control by a health care system in a specific geographic area. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in India, accounting for over one quarter of all female cancers. The objective of this study was to estimate the 5-year survival of female patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2012 and 2015 from the existing Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) in India., Methods: In total, 17,331 patients who had breast cancer diagnosed between 2012 and 2015 from 11 PBCRs were followed until June 30, 2021. Active methods were used to track the vital status of registered breast cancer cases. The study conducted survival analysis by calculating the difference between the date of first diagnosis and the date of death or censoring to estimate observed survival and relative survival using the actuarial survival approach and the Ederer-II approach, respectively., Results: The 5-year age-standardized relative survival (95% confidence interval [CI]) of patients with breast cancer was 66.4% (95% CI, 65.5%-67.3%). Mizoram (74.9%; 95% CI, 68.1%-80.8%), Ahmedabad urban (72.7%; 95% CI, 70.3%-74.9%), Kollam (71.5%; 95% CI, 69.2%-73.6%), and Thiruvananthapuram (69.1%; 95% CI, 67.0%-71.2%) had higher survival rates than the national average. Conversely, Pasighat had the lowest survival rate (41.9%; 95% CI, 14.7%-68.6%). The 5-year observed survival rates for localized, regional, and distant metastasis in the pooled PBCRs were 81.0%, 65.5%, and 18.3%, respectively., Conclusions: The overall disparity in survival rates was observed across 11 PBCRs, with lower survival rates reported in Manipur, Tripura, and Pasighat. Therefore, it is imperative to implement comprehensive cancer control strategies widely throughout the country., (© 2024 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Several methods in survival analysis are based on the proportional hazards assumption. However, this assumption is very restrictive and often not justifiable in practice. Therefore, effect estimands that do not rely on the proportional hazards assumption are highly desirable in practical applications. One popular example for this is the restricted mean survival time (RMST). It is defined as the area under the survival curve up to a prespecified time point and, thus, summarizes the survival curve into a meaningful estimand. For two-sample comparisons based on the RMST, previous research found the inflation of the type I error of the asymptotic test for small samples and, therefore, a two-sample permutation test has already been developed. The first goal of the present paper is to further extend the permutation test for general factorial designs and general contrast hypotheses by considering a Wald-type test statistic and its asymptotic behavior. Additionally, a groupwise bootstrap approach is considered. Moreover, when a global test detects a significant difference by comparing the RMSTs of more than two groups, it is of interest which specific RMST differences cause the result. However, global tests do not provide this information. Therefore, multiple tests for the RMST are developed in a second step to infer several null hypotheses simultaneously. Hereby, the asymptotically exact dependence structure between the local test statistics is incorporated to gain more power. Finally, the small sample performance of the proposed global and multiple testing procedures is analyzed in simulations and illustrated in a real data example., (© 2024 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To compare surgical and nonsurgical definitive treatment in cT4b major salivary gland cancer (MSGC)., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: The 2004 to 2019 National Cancer Database., Methods: The NCDB was queried for patients with cT4b MSGC (N = 976). Patients undergoing definitive treatment with (1) surgical resection + adjuvant therapy, (2) radiotherapy (RT) alone, or (3) chemoradiotherapy (CRT) were included in Kaplan-Meier and Cox survival analyses., Results: Of 219 patients undergoing definitive treatment, 148 (67.6%) underwent surgical resection + adjuvant therapy and 71 (32.4%) underwent RT or CRT. There were no documented mortalities within 90 days of surgical resection. Tumor diameter and nodal metastasis were associated with decreased odds of undergoing definitive treatment (P < 0.025). Patients with positive surgical margins (PSM) had higher 5-year overall survival (OS) than those undergoing definitive RT or CRT (48.5% vs 30.1%, P = 0.018) and similar 5-year OS as those with negative margins (48.5% vs 54.0%, P = 0.205). Surgical resection + adjuvant therapy (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37-0.84) was associated with higher OS than definitive RT or CRT (P < 0.025). A separate cohort of 961 patients with cT4a tumors undergoing surgical resection + adjuvant therapy was created; cT4a and cT4b (hazard ratio: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.80-1.29, P = 0.896) tumors had similar OS., Conclusion: A minority of patients with cT4b MSGC undergo definitive treatment. Surgical resection + adjuvant therapy was safe and associated with higher OS than definitive RT or CRT, despite high rate of PSM. In the absence of clinical trial data, appropriately selected patients with cT4b MSGC may benefit from surgical resection., (© 2024 The Authors. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objective: To investigate the association of social determinants of health (SDoH) in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in the United States and to evaluate the real-world contribution of specific disparities., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: United States., Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and National Cancer Institute-Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database were used to study 62,103 adult tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients from 1975 to 2017. Regression analysis assessed trends in months of follow-up and survival across social vulnerability and 4 subcategories of social vulnerability., Results: As overall SVI score increases (increased social vulnerability), there is a significant decrease in the average length of follow-up (22.95% decrease from 63.99 to 49.31 months; P < .001) across patients from the lowest and highest social vulnerability groups. As overall SVI score increases, there is a significant decrease in the average months of survival (28.00% decrease from 49.20 to 35.43 months; P < .001). There is also a significantly greater odds ratio (OR = 1.05; P < .001) of advanced cancer staging upon presentation at higher SVI scores. Patients with higher SVI scores have a lower OR (0.93; P < .001) of receiving surgery as their primary treatment when compared to patients with lower SVI scores. Patients with higher SVI scores also have a significantly greater OR (OR = 1.05; P < .001) of receiving chemotherapy as their primary treatment when compared to patients with lower SVI scores., Conclusion: Increased social vulnerability is shown to have a detrimental impact on the treatment and prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue., (© 2024 The Authors. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objectives: Comparing the survival rate and the cumulative success rates of custom-milled polyetherketone ketone posts and cores (MPP) with prefabricated fiber posts (PFP) in restoring compromised endodontically treated premolars., Material and Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel, two-arm controlled pilot study. A total of 24 patients (12 males, 12 females), each had a compromised lower premolar, needed a root canal treatment and to be restored with post and core. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups, MPP-group: restored with MPP, and PFP-group: restored with PFP and composite cores. After that, premolars were restored with single porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns. Clinical and radiographic follow-ups were conducted after 3, 6, and 12 months. The Kaplan-Meier, log-Rank, and χ 2 tests were used to investigate differences between the two groups at the 0.05 significance level., Results: The survival rate after 12 months in the MPP and PFP groups was 66.7% and 100%, respectively. Meanwhile, the cumulative success rates were 63.6% and 100% in the same order. The log-rank test showed a significant difference between the two groups (p = .031). The difference in cumulative success rates was also significant, as the χ 2 test revealed (p = .011)., Conclusion: The PFP group showed a higher success rate than the MPP group and according to the failure types, PEKK posts seem to be inferior to PFP in terms of the mechanical properties and bonding to resin mechanism., Trial Registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN13456471. October, 14, 2019. (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13456471ISRCTN13456471)., (© 2024 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background No data are available on sex disparities in prevalence and survival for primary malignant cardiac tumors (PMCT). This study aimed to compare male and female PMCT prevalence and long‐term survival rates. Methods and Results We utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 database from the National Cancer Institute for all PMCTs diagnosed between 1973 and 2015. From a total of 7 384 580 cases of cancer registered in SEER, we identified 327 men and 367 women with PMCTs. The majority (78%) of patients were white. Sarcoma was the most common type of PMCT in both men and women (≈60%). Individuals diagnosed with lymphoma exhibited better survival than those with other types of PMCTs. Men were diagnosed at a younger age than women; however, there was no significant difference in overall survival between the sexes. Men diagnosed with PMCT between the ages of 51 and 65 years demonstrated prolonged survival compared with those diagnosed at younger or older ages. There was no difference in survival rates among women based on age at diagnosis. Conclusions PMCTs are rare in both men and women. Tumors tend to be diagnosed at an earlier age in men compared with women, but there is no sex disparity in survival rate. Sarcoma is the most common type of PMCT, and lymphoma is associated with the highest survival rate among both sexes.