Universal Behavior of Fractal Water Structures Observed in Various Gelation Mechanisms of Polymer Gels, Supramolecular Gels, and Cement Gels

So far, it has been difficult to directly compare diverse characteristic gelation mechanisms over different length and time scales. This paper presents a universal water structure analysis of several gels with different structures and gelation mechanisms including polymer gels, supramolecular gels composed of surfactant micelles, and cement gels. The spatial distribution of water molecules was analyzed at molecular level from a diagram of the relaxation times and their distribution parameters (τ-β diagrams) with our database of the 10 GHz process for a variety of aqueous systems. Polymer gels with volume phase transition showed a small decrease in the fractal dimension of the hydrogen bond network (HBN) with gelation. In supramolecular gels with rod micelle precursor with amphipathic molecules, both the elongation of the micelles and their cross-linking caused a reduction in the fractal dimension. Such a reduction was also found in cement gels. These results suggest that the HBN inevitably breaks at each length scale with relative increase in steric hindrance due to cross-linking, resulting in the fragmentation of collective structures of water molecules. The universal analysis using τ-β diagrams presented here has broad applicability as a method to characterize diverse gel structures and evaluate gelation processes.

Efficacy and safety of pemafibrate versus bezafibrate in coronary artery disease patients receiving statin treatment: a randomized, open-label, cross-over study

Background

Fibrates activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α which is associated with lipid metabolism. Bezafibrate is a non-selective PPAR-α agonist, whereas pemafibrate has been developed as a higher selective PPAR-α agonist.

Objective

The efficacy and safety of pemafibrate for 24-week in patients with dyslipidemia was examined in comparison with bezafibrate.

Methods

Sixty patients with hypertriglyceridemia (fasting triglyceride (TG) level of ≥150 mg/dL) were treated with pemafibrate of 0.2 mg/day or bezafibrate of 400 mg/day for 24-week in a randomized cross-over study. Percent change from baseline in TG levels was the primary endpoint, and that in HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I) levels was the secondary endpoints.

Results

A significantly greater reduction in TG percent change was observed in pemafibrate than in bezafibrate (−46.1% vs. −34.7%, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in HDL-C percent change between pemafibrate and bezafibrate (18.4% vs. 14.0%, p=0.067), whereas Apo A-I percent change was significantly greater in pemafibrate than in bezafibrate (9.2% vs. 5.7%, p=0.018). Pemafibrate and bezafibrate significantly decreased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) levels, and pemafibrate showed a greater reduction than bezafibrate (ALT: −21.9% vs. −10.6%, p=0.048; γ-GT: −43.5% vs. −33.1%, p=0.025). Creatinine levels significantly increased in both treatments (both p<0.001), however, creatinine percent change was significantly smaller in pemafibrate than in bezafibrate (5.72% vs. 15.5%, p<0.001). There was no difference in frequency of adverse event (AE) or serious AE between two treatments, but frequency of creatinine elevation (≥0.5 mg/d and/or 25%) was significantly higher in bezafibrate than in pemafibrate (16/60 vs. 3/60, p=0.004).

Conclusion

As compared with bezafibrate, pemafibrate is more effective to reduce TG levels and to elevate Apo A-I levels, and it is safer in terms of liver and renal function.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

O-080 Impact of age-limit policy change for assisted reproductive technology (ART) subsidy in Japan

Study question

What was the impact on treatment age in Japan after a subsidy policy change that set age limits for assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment?

Summary answer

The national policy introducing age limits in the subsidy may have promoted ART treatment among younger women.

What is known already

Japan has provided partial subsidies for ART treatment since 2004. To promote treatment at a younger age, the government introduced a subsidy policy in 2016 that set age limits: up to six treatment cycles for women younger than 40 years of age; and up to three cycles for women between 40 and 42 years old. However, two out of 47 prefectures continued to provide subsidies to women aged 43 and older.

Study design, size, duration

We conducted a time series analysis of the utilisation of ART before and after the introduction of age limits, using data from the Japanese national ART registry from 2012 to 2016.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

We described the number of fresh and frozen treatment cycles, comparing the number between 45 prefectures that followed the national policy change (hereafter, prefectures with age limits) and two prefectures that did not (hereafter, prefectures without age limits). Ordinary least squares regression models were used to assess the impact of the policy change by prefecture on the number of ART cycles by women of different ages.

Main results and the role of chance

The overall number of fresh and frozen ART cycles continuously increased in all age groups from 2012 to 2016. Meanwhile, the number of fresh ART cycles among women aged ≤ 36 and 37-39 years in 2016 increased from the previous year by + 4.0% and +1.8% in prefectures with age limits, whereas it decreased in prefectures without age limits: -3.1% and -2.3%, respectively. The number of fresh ART cycles among women aged 40-42 and 43-45 years in prefectures with age limits in 2016 changed by + 1.5% and -0.1%, respectively, whereas it increased considerably in prefectures without age limits by + 9.6% and +65.4%, respectively. Similar changes were shown for the frozen cycles. After controlling for underlying time trends and prefectural characteristics, the policy change significantly increased the number of fresh and frozen ART treatment cycles among women aged ≤ 36 years and decreased the treatment cycles of women aged 40-42 years.

Limitations, reasons for caution

We evaluated the change observed in the year of the policy change and could not assess longer-term trends. Additionally, unobserved factors might have contributed to the change in treatment numbers.

Wider implications of the findings

The introduction of a policy to set an age limit for the partial ART subsidy resulted in a significant increase in treatment even among age groups younger than the boundary groups. The policy change might have conveyed educational messages regarding the benefits of early treatment.

Trial registration number

not applicable

The orthostatic hypotension in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection after surgery

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is sometimes observed during cardiac rehabilitation in patients with surgery for aortic dissection. However, little is known about the primary determinant of OH and influence of surgical range on incidence of OH.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence of OH in patients with surgery for aortic dissection, and compare it between the patients with ascending aortic replacement surgery (ascending group) and those with ascending aorta and hemiarch or total arch replacement surgery (arch group).

Methods

We analyzed 59 patients who underwent emergent surgery due to Stanford type A aortic dissection from January 2014 to March 2018, and compared the incidence of OH between ascending group (n = 28, age 69.8 ± 11.3 years) and arch group (n = 31, age 64.1 ± 13.0 years).

Results

The incidence of OH in total patients was 30.5%. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics including body tall, body weight, antihypertensive use and progress of rehabilitation between 2 groups. The arch group showed a significant higher incidence of OH as compared with ascending group (arch group: 46.4% vs. ascending group: 16.1%, p = 0.03). Moreover, the patients who occurred OH were significantly taller than those who did not occur OH.

Conclusions

OH was observed in about one third of patients with surgery for aortic dissection and it showed a close relationship with patient’s height and the range repaired by surgical operation. More careful cardiac rehabilitation is needed for tall patients with large area replacement of aorta.

Meta-regression Analysis of Study Heterogeneity for Systemic Outcomes after Periodontal Therapy

INTRODUCTION

The contribution of periodontal disease to adverse systemic consequences remains controversial. This analysis examined 2 well-investigated conditions independently and combined-adverse pregnancy outcomes and glycemic control for patients with diabetes-based on shared pathogenic mechanisms of periodontal infection and inflammation. It was proposed that inconsistencies in study design significantly contribute to outcome discrepancies found between periodontal intervention studies undergoing meta-analysis.

METHODS

Meta-analyses evaluating periodontal interventions on the rate of preterm birth and changes in glycated hemoglobin A1c in type 2 diabetes populations were conducted based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Meta-regression covariates for exploring heterogeneity included sample size, level of medical management, and bias risk as moderator variables in a random-effects meta-regression.

RESULTS

Systematic review identified 17 studies of diabetes and 13 of pregnancy outcomes. Analyses of these studies identified 0.50% reduction in HbA1c and 0.78 odds ratio for preterm births. The heterogeneity associated with the models was high (I2 = 92.4 and I2 = 62.7%, respectively). The adjusted models evaluating each systemic condition separately accounted for 52.2% of the effect for diabetes and 81.4% for pregnancy outcome effects independently, and 63.5% collectively, across interventional studies.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review with meta-regression analysis of heterogeneity demonstrates that disparate results seen in randomized controlled trials of periodontal therapy affecting systemic outcomes may be explained in large part by study design, specifically stringency in consideration of medical management and sample size. The potential for confounding factors to influence outcomes remains a concern in understanding the implications of oral health on systemic conditions.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

The findings of this study demonstrate that much of the benefits seen from periodontal therapy on adverse systemic outcomes for diabetes and pregnancy are due to limitations in study design.

P–721 Probability of receiving assisted reproductive technology treatment through out-of-pocket payment and household income: A discrete choice experiment in Japan

Study question

What is the probability that patients will receive assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment based on their out-of-pocket payment and income class?

Summary answer

Higher-income patients opted for ART even at a higher cost, whereas an out-of-pocket payment was the most influential determinant in all income groups.

What is known already

Economic disparities affect access to ART treatment in many countries. At the time of this survey, Japan provided partial reimbursement for ART treatment exclusively for those in low- or middle-income classes due to limited governmental budgets. However, the optimal financial support by income class is unknown.

Study design, size, duration

We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) in Japan in January 2020 including 824 women with fertility problems who were recruited via an online social research panel.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Participants included women aged 25–44 years undergoing fertility diagnosis or treatment. They completed a DCE questionnaire including 16 hypothetical scenarios, created by orthogonal design, to measure six relevant ART attributes (pregnancy rate, risk of adverse effects, number of visits to outpatient clinics, consultation hours, kindness of staff, and out-of-pocket expense) and their relation to treatment choice. We used mixed-effect logistic regression models to estimate the probability of receiving ART treatment for each attribute.

Main results and the role of chance

Of the 1,247 eligible women recruited, 824 completed the survey (66% participation rate). All six attributes significantly influenced treatment preference, with participants valuing out-of-pocket payment the most, followed by pregnancy rates and kindness of staff. The odds ratios of each attribute to receiving ART treatment were 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57 − 0.59) for out-of-pocket payments per additional 100,000 Japanese yen (JPY; i.e., 800 euros), 1.47 (95% CI: 1.43 − 1.53) for pregnancy rates per additional 5%, and 4.16 (95% CI: 3.73 − 4.64) for kindness of staff, after adjusting for clinical and socioeconomic factors. Significant interactions occurred between high household income (≥8 million JPY) and high out-of-pocket payment (≥500,000 JPY). However, the mean predicted probability of the highest-income patients (i.e., ≥10 million JPY) to receive ART treatment at the average cost without public funding (i.e., 400,000 JPY) was 47% (interquartile range: 18%−76%), whereas that of middle-income patients (i.e., 6–8 million JPY) to receive ART at the average subsidized cost (i.e., 100,000 JPY) was 60% (interquartile range: 33%–88%).

Limitations, reasons for caution

Other attributes not included in our DCE scenarios might be relevant in real-life settings. Choices made in a DCE would not wholly match the actual treatment choices.

Wider implications of the findings: The present DCE suggested that out-of-pocket payment was the primary determinant in patients’ ART decisions. High-income patients were more likely to receive ART treatment even at a high cost, but their ineligibility for government financial support due to their high income might discourage them from receiving treatment.

Trial registration number

NA

Radiomics analysis of myocardial perfusion SPECT images in patients with cardiomyopathy and heart failure

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): JSPS KAKENHI Grants

Background

Although myocardial perfusion heterogeneity due to focally damaged cardiomyocytes is observed in single−photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, a current perfusion defect scoring system does not allow us to provide sufficient diagnostic information for heterogeneity.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to perform radiomics analysis of myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) images to investigate the potential to detect myocardial perfusion heterogeneity.

Methods

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 3), heart failure (n = 9), and with a low likelihood of coronary artery disease (n =15) (Figure 1), who underwent a rest 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT, were assessed using a LIFEx software. Four shape−based features, 6 histogram−based features, and 32 textural features were computed. The relevant features for the classification of the patients were selected using the Boruta algorithm, and hierarchical clustering of the selected features using the Spearman correlation coefficient was also performed for the feature reduction. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed by the support vector machine to calculate the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the selected features.

Results

Of 40 features, 17 were selected by the classification analysis, and these features were classified into 7 classes by the correlation analysis (Figure 2). The ROC AUCs for 7 features extracted from each class were 0.99, 0.97, 0.96, 0.92, 0.90, 0.86, and 0.83 for the contrast of NDGLDM, the entropy of histogram, ZLNU of GLZLM, the energy of GLCM, the energy of histogram, SZLGE of GLZLM, and the correlation of GLCM, respectively, as compared to 0.39 for a summed rest score.

Conclusions

Radiomics analysis successfully determined the myocardial perfusion heterogeneity in patients with cardiomyopathy and heart failure. It might be promising for the evaluation of myocardial damages that cannot be analyzed by the conventional scoring method.

Electric Quadrupolar Contributions in the Magnetic Phases of UNi_{4}B

We present acoustic signatures of the electric quadrupolar degrees of freedom in the honeycomb-layer compound UNi_{4}B. The transverse ultrasonic mode C_{66} shows softening below 30 K both in the paramagnetic phase and antiferromagnetic phases down to ∼0.33  K. Furthermore, we traced magnetic field-temperature phase diagrams up to 30 T and observed a highly anisotropic elastic response within the honeycomb layer. These observations strongly suggest that Γ_{6}(E_{2g}) electric quadrupolar degrees of freedom in localized 5f^{2} (J=4) states are playing an important role in the magnetic toroidal dipole order and magnetic-field-induced phases of UNi_{4}B, and evidence some of the U ions remain in the paramagnetic state even if the system undergoes magnetic toroidal ordering.

Immunohistochemical expression levels of cyclin D1 and CREPT reflect the course and prognosis in oral precancerous lesions and squamous cell carcinoma

Cyclin D1 is the most essential progressive regulator of the cell cycle, and its transcription is enhanced by CREPT (cell cycle-related and expression-elevated protein in tumour). These molecules regulate cell growth, and their aberrant expression can cause malignant transformation. In this study, the expression of these molecules was explored to investigate the molecular alterations in oral precancerous lesions and squamous cell carcinoma. Cyclin D1 and CREPT expression was examined immunohistochemically in tissue specimens from 55 patients with oral epithelial precursor lesions (OEPLs) and 84 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Associations between the results and clinicopathological variables were examined. Cyclin D1 and CREPT expression levels were higher in OSCC than in OEPLs. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in cyclin D1 expression among the different grades of OEPLs and OSCC lesions. In OSCC, there were statistically significant differences in CREPT expression according to sex, T stage, and degree of differentiation. In addition, the expression of both molecules was significantly correlated with postoperative metastasis and modes of invasion. The expression of cyclin D1 and CREPT was found to depend upon the state of development and progression of the oral epithelial lesions, and clinicopathological behaviours might be affected by these molecules in OSCC.

Factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence after HCV eradication in patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis

The present study aimed to investigate the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and factors related to HCC occurrence after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in the Fukushima Liver Academic Group (FLAG). We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 1068 patients without cirrhosis (NC) or with compensated liver cirrhosis (LC) who achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR). First, we compared the cumulative HCC incidence and survival rates in NC (n = 880) and LC (n = 188) patients without a history of HCC treatment. Second, we performed multivariate analysis of factors related to HCC occurrence after DAA treatment. Overall, the average age was 65 years, and the male/female ratio was 511/557. Thirty-nine (4%) patients developed HCC. The cumulative 4-year HCC incidence and survival rates were 3.0% and 99.8% in NC patients and 11.5% and 98.5% in LC patients, respectively. The independent factors affecting HCC occurrence identified by multivariate analysis were the serum albumin (ALB) level before SVR for NC patients and the ALBI score, platelet count, and diabetes before SVR for LC patients. The factors related to HCC occurrence differed between NC and LC patients. Careful surveillance of post-SVR patients with these risk factors is needed.

Prognostic significance of 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia update on definition of sarcopenia

Background/Introduction

Sarcopenia plays a major role in the pathophysiology of frailty and is associated with worse outcome in the elderly population including patients with heart failure. A recent update of the most common definition of sarcopenia in Asia, Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS2019), included significant changes in the diagnostic algorithm with newly dividing sarcopenia into severe and “non-severe” sarcopenia.

Purpose

The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences between AWGS2014 and AWGS2019 in patients with heart failure.

Methods

In the multicenter prospective FRAGILE-HF registry, which included elderly (≥65 years old) patients who were hospitalized with heart failure, we studied 865 patients (80±8 years old, 42% female). All-cause death in 1-year follow-up was tracked.

Results

Based on the original version of AWGS (AWGS2014), 183 patients (21%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia, which was associated with higher age, lower physical performance, less muscle mass, and greater heart failure risk (all p<0.001) as well as higher rate of all-cause death (HR 1.90, p=0.004 after adjustment by multivariable regression). Those patients with sarcopenia by AWGS2014 were reclassified mainly to severe sarcopenia (155, 84.7%) by AWGS2019, and 25 (13.7%) and 2 (1.1%) were classified into sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia. Meanwhile, 24 (3.5%) and 4 (0.6%) of patients without sarcopenia by AWGS2014 were reclassified into sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia, respectively. Although severe sarcopenia by AWGS2019 was associated with higher age, lower physical performance, less muscle mass, and greater heart failure risk (all p<0.001), patients with “non-severe” sarcopenia was rather younger (p<0.001) and had better physical performance (p=0.021) despite less muscle mass (p<0.001) than those without sarcopenia. Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated severe sarcopenia by AWGS2019 was an independent prognostic factor (HR 1.77, p=0.014), but “non-severe” sarcopenia was not (HR 1.52, p=0.37). The prognosis of patients who were reclassified from non-sarcopenia to sarcopenia or severe sarcopenia were comparable to those remained non-sarcopenia. When added to other risk factors, the prognostic predictability of AWGS2019 was significantly lower than AWGS2014 (net reclassification improvement −0.26, p=0.025).

Conclusions

About a half of “non-severe” sarcopenia in AWGS2019 were patients without sarcopenia in AWGS2014. The prognosis of such patients who were newly diagnosed as sarcopenia was good, resulting in low overall prognostic predictability of AWGS2019. A further consideration for diagnostic algorithms of sarcopenia may be warranted in patients with heart failure.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Japan Heart Foundation

Negative impact of skeletal muscle impairment in older patients with heart failure with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction

Background/Introduction

Reduced functional capacity is an important phenotype of heart failure (HF), even though it may be considered multifactorial, especially in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Impairment in skeletal muscle may be one of extra-cardiac factors for reduced functional capacity and subsequent poor outcome.

Purpose

We sought to investigate the impact of the impairment in skeletal muscle, defined by the cut-offs proposed by the international consensus, on functional capacity and clinical outcome, in HF patients with preserved and reduced EF (HFrEF).

Methods

This is a multicenter prospective study including 1317 consecutive older (≥65 years) hospitalized patients with HF [HFpEF (ejection fraction ≥45%, n=675, 82±7 years, 46.4% male) and HFrEF (ejection fraction <45%, n=642, 78±8 years, 68.4% male)].

Results

HFrEF patients were more likely to have low skeletal muscle mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (30.9% vs 22.1%, p=0.003) whereas less likely to have low muscle strength (handgrip strength; 62.9% vs 73.8%, p<0.001) than HFpEF, resulting in similar prevalence of sarcopenia between the two groups (21.6% vs 18.1%, p=0.19). In HFrEF, presence of sarcopenia was an independent predictor of reduced functional capacity assessed by a 6-minute walk distance (standardized beta=−0.093, p=0.039 in multivariate linear regression analysis) and 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% CI; 2.14 (1.22–3.70), p=0.009 in multivariate Cox-regression analysis). In patients with HFpEF, sarcopenia could predict mortality (aHR and 95% CI; 2.23 (1.23–3.91), p=0.009), though its association with reduced functional capacity was not significant after multivariate adjustment (standardized beta=−0.059, p=0.20). Kaplan-Meier survival curves in HFpEF and HFrEF are shown (Figure).

Conclusion(s)

In older patients with HF, sarcopenia was similarly contributed to mortality in HFpEF and HFrEF whereas its influence on functional capacity was pronounced in HFrEF.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Japan Heart Foundation Research Grant

Chronotropic incompetence and exercise capacity after mitral valve surgery: the importance of blood hemoglobin level

Background

Chronotropic incompetence (CI) is sometimes observed during exercise training of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with cardiac surgery, however, little is known concerning the differences between patients with mitral valve (MV) and aortic valve (AV) surgery.

Purpose

Because the possibility exists that cardiac sympathetic nerves might be impaired by left atrium incision, we hypothesized that the incidence of CI was higher in patients with MV surgery (Mitral Valve Replacement and Mitral Valvuloplasty) as compared with patients with AV surgery (Aortic Valve Replacement). And if so, which factor determines the exercise capacity of patients after MV surgery. We thus aimed this study to elucidate the hypothesis with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX).

Methods

We performed CPX by ramp loading with ergometer exercise in total 61 patients who had undergone elective cardiac valve operation (25 patients with MV surgery, age 59.2±9.9 years; 36 patients with AV surgery, age 64.6±12.3 years). We analyzed chronotropic response index (CRI), peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2/W), anaerobic threshold (AT), and peak oxygen pulse (peak VO2/HR) with CPX, and blood hemoglobin concentration (Hb).

Results

The value of CRI was significantly decreased in the patients with MV surgery compared with those with AV surgery (MV; 0.19±0.10 vs. AV; 0.41±0.17, p<0.001). Peak VO2, peak VO2/HR and Hb were not significantly different between patients with MV and those with AV surgery. Patients with MV surgery showed correlations between peak VO2 and Hb (r=0.45, p<0.05), AT and Hb (r=0.52, p<0.01), and a strong correlation between peak VO2 and peak VO2/HR (r=0.63, p<0.001), but not in those with AV surgery.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that higher incidence of CI was shown in patients with MV surgery as compared with those with AV surgery. The exercise capacity of patients with MV surgery was determined by peak VO2/HR and Hb. These results suggest that 1) left atrium incision impairs cardiac sympathetic nerves and causes CI, 2) peak VO2/HR which is consisted of arterio-venous oxygen difference and Hb is critical indicator for exercise capacity in patients with MV surgery with CI.

Main results

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Social frailty provides additive prognostic impact on one-year outcome in aged patients with congestive heart failure

Background

Frailty is associated with multisystem declines in physiologic reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, resulting in increased risks of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Although frailty is conceptualized as an accumulation of deficits in multiple areas, most of the studies have focused mainly on physical frailty, and the social domains is one of the least investigated area.

Objectives

We prospectively evaluated the incidence and prognostic implication of social frailty (SF) in older patients with HF.

Methods

The FRAGILE-HF is a multicenter, prospective cohort study including patients hospitalized for HF and aged ≥65 years old. We defined SF by Makizako's 5 items, which are 5 questions proposed and validated to be associated with future disability. The primary endpoint of this study was a composite of death from any cause and rehospitalization due to HF. The impact of SF on all-cause mortality alone was also evaluated.

Results

Among 1,240 hospitalized HF patients, 5 simple questions revealed that 825 (66.5%) were in SF. During 1-year observation period after the discharge, the combined endpoint was observed in 399 (32.2%) patients, and 145 (11.7%) patients died. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that SF patients had significantly higher rates of both the combined endpoint and all-cause mortality than those without SF (Log-rank test: p<0.05 for both, Figures). Moreover, SF remained independently associated with higher event rate of the combined endpoint (hazard ratio: 1.30; 95% confidence interval: 1.02 to 1.66; p=0.038) and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.53; 95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 2.30; p=0.044), even after adjusting for other covariates. Significant incremental prognostic value was shown when information on social frailty was added to known risk factors for combined endpoint (NRI: 0.189, 95% confidence interval: 0.063–0.316, p=0.003) and all-cause mortality (NRI: 0.234, 95% confidence interval: 0.073–0.395, p=0.004).

Conclusions

Among older hospitalized patients with heart failure, two-thirds of the population was with SF. Evaluating SF provides additive prognostic information in elderly patients with heart failure.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Novartis Pharma Research Grants, Japan Heart Foundation Research Grant

Dielectric Properties of Glass Beads with Talc as a Reference Material for Calibration and Verification of Dielectric Methods and Devices for Measuring Soil Moisture

This paper presents dielectric measurements of talc, glass beads, and their mixtures under different moisture and salinity levels. The measurements were conducted using a prototype seven-rod probe (15 mm long central rod) connected to a single port of vector network analyzer. The samples were moistened with distilled water and KCl solutions in order to obtain six different moisture content levels. The complex dielectric permittivity was determined from vector network analyzer reflection-coefficient measurements based on the open-water-liquid calibration procedure. Next, the fitting of volumetric water content-real part of dielectric permittivity calibration curves was performed for each material at selected frequencies, and the obtained relations were compared with well-known calibration equations. Additionally, a salinity index for the tested materials was calculated. It was concluded that pure talc is not an optimal material for the calibration and verification of dielectric methods. The calibration curves obtained for glass beads and the mixtures of glass beads with talc gave results close to well-known reference calibration functions. Additionally, the addition of talc caused the data points to be less scattered. Moreover, the values of the salinity index for the tested materials were in a good agreement with literature data for sand. The obtained results indicated that glass beads with the addition of talc can be used as a reference material for the calibration and verification of dielectric methods and devices for soil moisture measurement.

New physician specialty training system impact on distribution of trainees in Japan

OBJECTIVES

The problem of uneven distribution of medical services and inequitable distribution of physicians is drawing much attention worldwide. Revealing how changes in the specialty training system in Japan have affected the distribution of doctors could help us understand this problem. In 2018, a new and standardized specialty training system was implemented by the Japanese Medical Specialty Board, which is recognized by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The purpose of this study was to investigate how this new system has affected the geographical distribution of doctors commencing specialty training (trainees) and choice of specialty in Japan.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

METHODS

The change in the number of trainees between the control period (2012-2014) and 2018 was investigated, taking into account the prefecture and specialty selected. Population, the proportion of residents aged 65 years or older (aging rate), and the total number of overall doctors in each prefecture were considered as the background characteristics of each prefecture. We created a Lorenz curve and calculated the Gini coefficient for the distribution of trainees.

RESULTS

In 2018, the number of trainees per 100,000 population increased to 6.6 nationwide compared with 5.5 during the control period. The number of trainees per 100,000 population in 2018 increased in prefectures with a large population of ≧ 2,000,000, a low aging rate (<27%), and a high doctor density (≧ 250 doctors per 100,000 population). The Gini coefficient showed an increase to 0.226 in 2018 compared with only 0.160 during the control period.

CONCLUSIONS

After the implementation of the new training system, there was an increase in the number of doctors enrolling in specialty programs, and the specialties other than internal medicine and surgery have attracted more trainees. Inequality in the distribution of doctors between urban and rural prefectures worsened. This indicates the need to explore new ways of balancing distribution while maintaining optimal opportunities for specialist training.

Final overall survival results of WJTOG3405, a randomized phase III trial comparing gefitinib versus cisplatin with docetaxel as the first-line treatment for patients with stage IIIB/IV or postoperative recurrent EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Primary analysis of the phase III study WJTOG 3405 demonstrated superiority of progression-free survival (PFS) for gefitinib (G) in patients treated with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) gefitinib compared with cisplatin plus docetaxel (CD) as the first-line treatment of stage IIIB/IV or postoperative recurrent EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer. This report presents final overall survival (OS) data.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were randomized between G (250 mg/day orally) and cisplatin (80 mg/m2 intravenously) plus docetaxel (60 mg/m2 i.v.), administered every 21 days for three to six cycles. After the exclusion of 5 patients, 172 patients (86 in each group, modified intention-to-treat population) were included in the survival analysis. OS was re-evaluated using updated data (data cutoff, 30 September 2013; median follow-up time 59.1 months). The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were used for analysis, and hazard ratios (HRs) for death were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

OS events in the G group and CD group were 68 (79.1%) out of 86 and 59 (68.6%) out of 86, respectively. Median survival time for G and CD were 34.9 and 37.3 months, respectively, with an HR of 1.252 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.883-1.775, P = 0.2070]. Multivariate analysis identified postoperative recurrence and stage IIIB/IV disease as independent prognostic factors, with an HR of 0.459 (95% CI: 0.312-0.673, P < 0.001). Median survival time (postoperative recurrence versus stage IIIB/IV disease) were 44.5 and 27.5 months in the G group and 45.5 and 32.8 months in the CD group, respectively.

CONCLUSION

G did not show OS benefits over CD as the first-line treatment. OS of patients with postoperative recurrence was better than that of stage IIIB/IV disease, even though both groups had metastatic disease.This study was registered with UMIN (University Hospital Medical Information Network in Japan), number 000000539.

P4516Incremental prognostic values of cognitive impairment diagnosed by mini-mental state examination and mini-cog in older hospitalized patients with heart failure

Introduction

Cognitive impairment (CI) is associated with worse prognosis in patients with heart failure, especially in the elderly; however, its incremental prognostic ability in pre-existing prognostic models has not been well elucidated. Moreover, although some tools have been proposed for evaluating cognitive function, their difference in prognostic prediction has not been explicitly compared.

Methods

A total of 352 heart failure patients aged ≥75 years admitted to three hospitals were evaluated for their cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Mini-cog during index hospitalization. We diagnosed CI if MMSE and Mini-cog were ≤23 and ≤2, respectively. The primary endpoint was all-cause death.

Results

The median age of the entire cohort was 85 (IQR: 80–88) years, and 47.7% of the subjects were male. Based on the MMSE and Mini-cog, the CI was diagnosed in 167 (47.4%) and 159 (45.2%) patients, respectively. The two diagnostic tools showed poor to moderate agreement (Cohen's kappa coefficient: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.27–0.47). During the follow-up period of median 346 (IQR: 195–489) days, 53 patients (15.1%) died. Although the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that CI diagnosed using Mini-cog (CI-MC) was associated with significantly higher mortality (P=0.001), this association was not significant for CI diagnosed using MMSE (CI-MMSE) (P=0.059). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, CI-MMSE and CI-MC were individually associated with worse prognosis in older heart failure patients even after adjustment for Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) risk model and log B-type natriuretic peptide levels (CI-MMSE, HR: 2.05 [95% CI: 1.16–3.61]; and CI-MC, HR: 2.57 [95% CI: 1.46–4.53]). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for Mini-cog showed significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) than that for MMSE (0.61 vs. 0.52, p=0.045). To test the incremental prognostic capability, models were constructed by individually adding each score to the MAGGIC risk model, and the net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were evaluated. CI-MMSE did not show incremental prognostic predictability (NRI: 0.28, p=0.069; IDI: 0.01, p=0.090), whereas CI-MC (NRI: 0.45, p=0.001; IDI: 0.03, p=0.001) did. Adding CI-MC instead of CI-MMSE to the MAGGIC risk model showed significant reclassification improvement (NRI: 0.45, p=0.002, IDI: 0.02, p=0.041).

Conclusion

In older patients with heart failure, CI defined by Mini-Cog is superior in providing additive prognostic value than that defined by CI based on MMSE.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This study is partially funded by Japan Heart Foundation Research Grant and Novartis Research Grants.

Oral administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 elevates the ratio of acyl/des-acyl ghrelin in blood and increases short-term food intake

It is known that gastrointestinal microbiota, probiotics and heat-killed microbes can regulate intestinal immunity; however, their effect on the secretion of gastrointestinal hormones is unclear. The secretion of gastrointestinal hormones can be mediated by the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, suggesting that these hormones may act through common mechanisms. We have previously shown that heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 (hk-SBC8803) induced the secretion of serotonin and elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration in serotonin-producing RIN-14B cells, suggesting that hk-SBC8803 could potentially cause the same effect on other gastrointestinal hormones, including hunger hormone ghrelin. Here, we tested this hypothesis by treating cultured cells and experimental animals with hk-SBC8803 and assessing ghrelin secretion, expression of ghrelin-related genes, and food intake. The results indicated that hk-SBC8803 treatment for 30 min significantly upregulated the secretion of acyl ghrelin (active form) (P=0.046) and mRNA expression of the Syt3 (synaptotagmin 3) gene related to ghrelin exocytosis (P<0.05) in primary mouse stomach cells. In addition, oral administration of 500 mg/kg hk-SBC8803 to rats tended to upregulate acyl ghrelin concentration (P=0.10) and significantly increased the ratio of acyl to des-acyl (inactive) ghrelin (P=0.027) in blood, which corresponded to a tendency of stimulating food intake (P=0.087) at 30 min post-treatment. However, when in order to minimise individual differences we normalised the data on food intake to those on one-day food intake prior to food deprivation, the resultant food intake ratio showed a significant increase (by 5% compared to control; P=0.032) at 30 min after hk-SBC8803 treatment, indicating that hk-SBC8803 administration stimulated rats to take more food during the first meal after fasting. These results suggest that hk-SBC8803 induces short-term ghrelin secretion and transiently increases appetite, which is an important effect for individuals with low energy intake.

Regulatory T cells and M2-polarized tumour-associated macrophages are associated with the oncogenesis and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to the tumour microenvironment by inhibiting anti-tumour immune responses. This study was performed to investigate the roles of Tregs and TAMs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral epithelial precursor lesions (OEPL). The expression of Treg markers CD25 and FoxP3 and TAM markers CD163 and CD204 was investigated in 82 OSCC and 45 OEPL specimens, and their associations with clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. Correlations were found among CD25, FoxP3, CD163, and CD204 levels (P <  0.001), and these targets were up-regulated in OSCC compared to OEPL (P <  0.001). In OSCC, infiltration of Tregs and/or M2 TAMs was associated with sex and clinicopathological features, such as tumour size, nodal metastasis, tissue differentiation, stromal reaction, invasive behaviour, and invasive depth. In OEPL, CD25, FoxP3, CD163, and CD204 immunoreactivities were significantly associated with sex, postoperative recurrence, and cancerization to OSCC. This study is novel in showing that the infiltration of Tregs and M2 TAMs is significantly associated with the progression of premalignant lesions to OSCC. This suggests that these cells represent prognostic biomarkers for premalignant lesion progression and that immunotherapeutic approaches to control Treg/M2 TAM numbers could protect against progression to malignancy.