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Background: We previously showed worse outcomes among lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups following metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS). In light of healthcare changes in response to COVID-19, this study aims to evaluate post-pandemic MBS outcomes and determine if prior socioeconomic disparities persisted in the post-COVID era. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) between 2015 and 2022 was performed. Patients were stratified into pre- and post-COVID groups. Post-COVID cohort was further stratified into high (HT) and low (LT) tier status based on Distressed Communities Index, a geocoded composite measure of SES. Preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes were compared between pre- and post-COVID cohorts, as well as between post-COVID HT and LT groups. Results: Of 709 patients, 82.9% were pre-COVID and 17.1% were post-COVID. Post-COVID cohort had greater rate of public insurance (46% vs. 37%, p< 0.001), longer wait time to surgery (mean 358 ± 609.8 days vs 241.9 ± 368.5 days, p= 0.045), and were more likely to undergo RYGB (69% vs. 56%, p= 0.010). Post-COVID patients also had lower risk of any complications on multivariable analysis (OR 0.599, 95% CI 0.372–0.963), had higher follow-up rates at post-discharge (95.8% vs 79.7%, p< 0.005), 6-month (93% vs. 82%, p< 0.001) and 12-month visits (75% vs. 63%, p= 0.005), and lost more weight at 12 months (67% excess weight loss (%EWL) vs. 58%EWL, p= 0.002). Among post-COVID HT and LT cohorts, previously seen disparities in complications were no longer seen. Finally, there were no differences in weight or follow-up rates between post-COVID HT and LT. Conclusions: Post-COVID changes to MBS care have resulted in improved short-term outcomes and reduced disparities for patients of lower SES. Further studies are needed to identify these positive factors to perpetuate practice patterns that optimize care for patients of all socioeconomic status.

AbstractThe employment of machine learning approaches has shown promising results in predicting cancer. In the current study, polymorphisms data of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of DNA repair gene XRCC1 (XRCC1 399, XRCC1 194, XRCC1 206, XRCC1 632, XRCC1 280) of the north Indian population along with four smoking status data is considered as an input to the proposed ensemble model to predict the risk of individual susceptibility to the lung cancer. The prediction accuracy of the proposed ensemble model for cancer predisposition was found to be 85%. The model performance is also evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, precision and the Gini index, which is found in the range of 0.83–0.87. The proposed model also outperformed in all evaluation parameters when compared with the individual Model (LM, SVM, RF, KNN and baseline neural net). Collectively, current results suggest the potential of the proposed ensemble model in predicting the risk of cancer based on XRCC1 SNPs data.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

In the present paper, we examined Erebidae specimens collected from different parts of India, and describe a new species in Arctiinae, Miltochrista terraregasp. nov.and report five species new to the Indian fauna: Ericeia sobriaWalker, [1858] in Erebinae; Euproctis cryptostictaCollenette, 1934, Artaxa kanshireia(Wileman, 1910), Nygmia ganesaKishida, 2020 and N. hanumanKishida, 2020 in Lymantriinae. Genitalia of B. calopasafrom India is also provided. We studied, for the first time, the females of N. ganesaand N. hanuman, and the female genitalia of A. kanshireiaand E. cryptosticta. The diagnoses of all the seven species along with their habitus and genitalia illustrations are provided along with the distributions.

AbstractLung cancer, the leading cause of death worldwide, arises from an intricate combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic variations can influence the chemotherapeutic response of lung cancer patients in DNA repair genes. This study examines the response to platinum-based drugs among lung cancer patients of North Indian descent who possess genetic variations in the MGMT and ERCC1 genes. P CR-RFLP method was used for genotypic analysis. MedCalc statistical software was used to calculate odds ratios and Median Survival Time (MST). GROMACS software was used to perform Molecular dynamic simulation. ADCC Patients revealed a significant association with MGMT in the heterozygous genotype (HR= 1.56, p=0.02) and also with ERCC1 in both mutant and combined variants (HR= 1.25, p=0.01; HR=0.78, p=0.03). SQCC subjects harbouring ERCC1 polymorphism also reported a 2-fold increase in hazard ratio and a corresponding decrease in survival time for heterozygous and combined variants (HR= 2.55, p=0.02; HR 2.33, p=0.01, respectively). MD simulation results demonstrate a lower RMSD, stable radius of gyration, and lower RMSF, indicating the mutated MGMT protein is more stable than the wild. Further, the docking score for DNA-Wild and DNA-L84F mutants are -201.6 and -131.8, respectively. MD Simulation of the complexes further validated the results. Our study concludes that MGMT and ERCC1 polymorphisms are associated with decreased overall survival. Further, computational analysis of MGMT (rs12917) polymorphism revealed that mutated MGMT cannot bind properly to the DNA and hence cannot properly repair DNA, resulting in lower overall survival.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Nowadays, renewable energy sources (RESs) are widely used as distributed generation sources, leading to issues such as unintentional islanding, protection concerns, and reverse power flow. Unintentional islanding is dangerous because it can endanger utility workers, damage DG units, and jeopardize grid stability. To overcome these issues, Researchers are developing islanding detection schemes. This article proposes a novel passive technique for islanding detection of multi-bust test systems, based on the differential impedance of a series inductor. The differential impedance changes during islanding and non-islanding events. However, in grid-connected mode, the voltage and frequency of the microgrid are handled by the utility grid. Therefore, no significant changes in differential impedance occur. The voltage and frequency of the microgrid are not handled by the power grid while in islanded mode. Therefore, the differential impedance varies significantly. The islanding is detected if the value of differential impedance is greater than the predefined threshold. This scheme detects islanding in 24 ms at zero mismatch power, has no impact on power quality, and is computationally simple. The proposed approach easily discriminates between islanding and non-islanding events. The distribution test system is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink environment. Additionally, the novel passive technique has been validated on an OPAL-RT real-time platform.

The dispersion, threshold, and gain characteristics of the Brillouin scattered Stokes mode (BSSM) in ion-implanted semiconductor quantum plasmas are analytically investigated using coupled mode theory. Taking into account that the origin of stimulated Brillouin scattering lies in nonlinear induced polarisation of the medium, expressions are derived for complex effective Brillouin susceptibility (due to electrons and implanted colloids) and consequently the threshold pump amplitude and the gain constant of BSSM. Inclusion of quantum effects (QEs) is done via quantum correction term in the hydrodynamic model of semiconductor plasmas. QEs modify the dispersion, threshold and gain characteristics of BSSM in ion-implanted semiconductor plasmas. In contrast to the threshold and gain characteristics of BSSM, which are impacted only by electrons and are unaffected by implanted charged colloids, the Brillouin susceptibility caused by implanted colloids has a significant impact on the dispersion characteristics of BSSM. Finally, an extensive numerical study of the n-InSb/CO2laser system is performed for two different cases: (i) without QEs and (ii) with QEs. In both cases, the analysis offers two achievable resonances, at which the changes of sign as well as an enhancement of real part of effective Brillouin susceptibility and an enhancement of effective Brillouin gain constant are obtained. When QEs are included in the analysis, the entire spectrum shifts towards decreased levels of electron and colloidal carrier concentration.

The current study investigates the thermo-physical properties of the Mg-based hybrid composite produced via hot press sintering. The Al2O3Al2O3SiC and Al2O3particulates were selected as reinforcement in the Mg matrix. The volume fraction of the matrix and the reinforcements is kept constant at 40:60. However, by varying the volume fraction ratio of SiC and Al2O3five different composites were prepared, designated as Mg–10SiC50Al2O3, Mg–20SiC40Al2O3, Mg–30SiC30Al2O3, Mg–40SiC20Al2O3and Mg–50SiC10Al2O3. The effect of SiC and Al2O3reinforcement on thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity and density were evaluated. XRD analysis determined the formation of intermittent phases like Mg2Si and MgO in the Mg matrix composite, whereas SEM analysis confirmed an almost uniform distribution of the reinforcements in the Mg matrix. Among the developed composites, the highest thermal conductivity of 193.42 W/mK (for Mg–50SiC10Al2O3) and highest specific heat of 4.68 kJ/kg°C (for Mg–30SiC30Al2O3) were observed along with the relative density of 85–77%. The properties achieved by the developed composites are found to be aligned with the requirement of third-generation solar energy storage materials and could be used for thermal storage usage such as solar thermal applications.

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer are highest in Asia compared with Europe and USA, with the incidence and mortality rates being 34.4 and 28.1 per 100,000 respectively in East Asia. Diagnosing lung cancer at early stages makes the disease amenable to curative treatment and reduces mortality. In some areas in Asia, limited availability of robust diagnostic tools and treatment modalities, along with variations in specific health care investment and policies, make it necessary to have a more specific approach for screening, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with lung cancer in Asia compared with the West.

In the past 20 years, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) has been working on a global project to revise the TNM classification of lung cancer. The first and second phases of the staging projects proposed recommendations for revision of the TNM classification, which were adopted by the Union for International Cancer Control and the American Joint Committee on Cancer as their seventh and eighth editions of the TNM classifications of lung cancer. For the third phase of the IASLC Staging Project, a new database of lung cancer cases diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2019 has been established. The Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee of the IASLC is in charge of the process of proposing new recommendations. The newly established database consisted of 124,581 cases. The data were obtained from Asia and Australia (56.0%), Europe (24.7%), North America (15.7%), South/Central America (3.4%), and Africa and the Middle East (0.1%). After cases with incomplete data are excluded, 87,043 cases were enrolled in the analysis, of which 52,069 (59.8%) were invasive adenocarcinoma and 15,872 (18.2%) were squamous cell carcinoma. Both clinical and pathologic stages were available in 44,831 (51.5%) cases. Analyses of this database are expected to provide proposals for changing the TNM classification toward the ninth edition, which is scheduled to be in use in January 2024. This newly established global database on lung cancer is described to provide fundamental elements for revisions of the TNM rules for staging lung cancer.

Most published guidelines for genomic biomarker testing in NSCLC reflect the disease epidemiology and treatments readily available in Europe and North America. Nevertheless, 60% of annual global NSCLC cases occur in Asia, where patient characteristics, tumor molecular profiles, and treatments vary greatly from the Western world. For example, mutations in the EGFRoccur at a higher prevalence in Asia than in other world regions. Although medical associations such as the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, European Society for Medical Oncology, and American Society of Clinical Oncology have described principles for tumor genomic biomarker testing in NSCLC, there is a need for recommendations specific for Asia.

AbstractIn the present study, we investigated the relationship between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677Tand A1298Cpolymorphisms and overall survival, toxicity and treatment response for North Indian adenocarcinoma patients. The polymorphisms of MTHFR gene in north Indian adenocarcinoma patients were assessed by PCR-RFLP. Our data observed that patients with mutant genotype (C/C) for 1298 A>C) polymorphism showed higher trend of median survival time compared to patients bearing the wild type genotype (A/A) (MST= 13.93 vs. 7.97, p=0.12). Further, we observed patients with the heterozygous genotype for A1298Cpolymorphism had 12-fold risk of diarrhea (AOR =12.54, 95% CI = 1.54-101.86, p=0.018). The patients with heterozygous genotype (CT) of the C677Tpolymorphism had 5.34-fold increased risk of developing neutropenia (AOR=5.34, 95% CI=1.49-19.06, p=0.009). Our results suggest that MTHFR polymorphisms are associated with hematological toxicity. MTHFRpolymorphism might impact the development of pemetrexed and platinum-related toxicities but not as a clinical predictor of efficiency.

Thymic epithelial tumors are presently staged using a consistent TNM classification developed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and approved by the Union for International Cancer Control and the American Joint Committee on Cancer. The stage classification is incorporated in the eight edition of the TNM classification of thoracic malignancies. The IASLC Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee (SPFC)—Thymic Domain (TD) is in charge for the next (ninth) edition expected in 2024. The present article represents the midterm report of the SPFC-TD: in particular, it describes the unresolved issues identified by the group in the current stage classification which are worth being addressed and discussed for the ninth edition of the TNM classification on the basis of the available data collected in the central thymic database which will be managed and analyzed by Cancer Research And Biostatistics. These issues are grouped into issues of general importance and those specifically related to T, N, and M categories. Each issue is described in reference to the most recent reports on the subject, and the priority assigned by the IASLC SPFC-TD for the discussion of the ninth edition is provided.

Two species, Casminola arminbecheriLászló, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 and Casminola johannstumpfiLászló, Ronkay & Witt, 2010, are reported for the first time from India. Images of the adults and genitalia are provided. A checklist of all the known species of the genus is also provided.

A new species, Psaphis gerhardiN. Singh, Ahmad & Joshi, sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the Great Nicobar Island, India. The new species represents the second species of PsaphisWalker, 1854 from India and also the first record of the genus from Nicobar Islands. Apart from this a checklist of the known species of the genus is also provided.

Our aim was to validate the prognostic relevance in NSCLC of potential residual tumor (R) descriptors, including the proposed International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer definition for uncertain resection, referred to as R(un).

The expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC transporters) has been reported in various tissues such as the lung, liver, kidney, brain and intestine. These proteins account for the efflux of different compounds and metabolites across the membrane, thus decreasing the concentration of the toxic compounds. ABC transporter genes play a vital role in the development of multidrug resistance, which is the main obstacle that hinders the success of chemotherapy. Preclinical and clinical trials have investigated the probability of overcoming drug-associated resistance and substantial toxicities. The focus has been put on several strategies to overcome multidrug resistance. These strategies include the development of modulators that can modulate ABC transporters. This knowledge can be translated for clinical oncology treatment in the future.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in millions of deaths globally. The pandemic has had a severe impact on oncology care and research. Patients with underlying cancer are more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, and also have a more severe clinical course following the infection. The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in many parts of the world has raised hopes of controlling the pandemic. In this editorial, the authors outline key characteristics of the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines, provide a brief overview of key emerging issues such as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia and SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, and review the available data related to the efficacy and side effects of vaccinating patients with cancer.

Alternative ingredients and waste management from various primary processes are active study areas across the globe. In the present study, the mechanical properties of concrete improved with the partial replacement of cement by incorporating biomedical waste ash and compared to that with the conventional concrete were reviewed. It has been revealed that the addition of too much waste ash to the concrete impaired its workability. Furthermore, it has been observed that adding waste ash within a range of 15–25% resulted in the improvement of the strength of concrete. However, there is still a critical need for awareness about the utilization of such waste. In the present study, an effort has been made to develop a model for the utilization of waste as an engineering material.