Study on the variation of arable land use and management countermeasures under rapid urbanization: the application of a gravity model in a regional perspective

Scientifically determining the characteristics of arable land use in different regions is significant in promoting arable land protection. Most studies on the changes in arable land focus on an isolated analysis of the impact of urban development on arable land. Studies on the influence mechanism of regional spatial forces in different cities from the macro perspective are limited. A gravity model and ArcGIS spatial analysis methods were used to analyze the characteristics and driving mechanisms of arable land changes in different urban function orientations from the perspective of interregional economic interaction. We hope to provide guidance for the establishment of arable land protection in a similar city circle. The results indicated the following: (1) During the study period, the geographic range of arable land with strong dynamic changes (average annual change exceeding 1.5%) gradually widened from the core area to the surrounding area, while the annual change rate decreased. (2) There is a strong correlation between the change in arable land use and the scope of gravitational action. The dynamic changes in arable land in areas with strong gravitational relationships with the core area are strong, while in the weak gravitational areas that are less affected by the core area, the average annual rate of change is nearly below 1%. (3) In the 10-year study period, the overall changing trend of the radiation circle in the core area expanded. The gravitational value where the breaking point falls within its own administrative division is more related to the change of its arable land area, and the greater the gravitational attraction is, the more likely the correlation. In a city circle, it is essential to both protect arable land resources and promote coordinated economic development. Future research on arable land utilization in different city circles should consider overall area development. Different functional areas can be determined by calculating the gravitational value, then regional development potential and key development types can be determined, and arable land protection measures can be optimized based on these functional areas.

Monocarboxylate transporter 1 is an independent prognostic factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) has been reported to have significant prognostic value in several solid tumors. The present study aimed to explore its clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). After acquiring and analyzing MCT1 (solute carrier family 16 member; SLC16A1) mRNA expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the prognostic potential of MCT1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The impact of the knockdown of MCT1 by shRNA was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit‑8 (CCK‑8) and colony formation assays to determine whether MCT1 suppression affected the proliferation and survival of ESCC cells. MCT1 expression was found to correlate with T stage (P=0.005), N stage (P=0.036) and TNM stage (P=0.035). Kaplan‑Meier survival analysis showed that patients in a high‑MCT1 group had a lower overall survival (OS) (P<0.001) and lower progression‑free survival (PFS) (P<0.001). The results of univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that MCT1 is an independent prognostic factor for OS (P=0.001 and 0.01) and PFS (P=0.001 and 0.012). Downregulation of MCT1 suppressed proliferation and survival of ESCC cells in vitro. The proliferation rate and colony numbers were decreased in the sh‑MCT1 groups (all P<0.05). Downregulation of MCT1 suppressed VEGF expression (all P<0.05). MCT1 may act as a biomarker for ESCC to identify patients with poor outcomes.

A Clinical Report of Two Cases of Cryptogenic Brain Abscess and a Relevant Literature Review

Brain abscess, a severe intracranial infectious disease, refers to the parenchyma abscess caused by local infection or remote spread. Recently, advancements in modern medicine, especially the wide application of antimicrobial drugs, have contributed to the gradual decrease in the prevalence of this disease. However, cases of cryptogenic brain abscess that feature an unknown origin and atypical symptoms are rising. In this retrospective study, we report and analyze two cases of cryptogenic brain abscess. The first patient was a 30-year-old healthy man who was admitted to our hospital due to 1 week of headache and 3 days of headache aggravation, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Head MRI shows a circular space-occupying as well as apparently enhanced DWI signals were observed in the right parietal lobe, and the ring wall manifested an apparent increase in signal intensity after enhancement. The patient was diagnosed as a brain abscess before operation and given craniotomy. The postoperative pathology confirmed brain abscess and recovered well after surgery. The second patient was a 45-year-old healthy woman who was hospitalized in a local hospital due to symptoms of headache and right limb weakness for 1 week. Head MRI shows a circular space-occupying lesion in the left basal ganglia, and the ring wall manifested an apparent increase in signal intensity after enhancement. The patient was suspected of glioma at the local hospital and was transferred to our hospital. Twelve hours after hospitalization, the patient was suspected of developing cerebral palsy and thus underwent emergency surgery including lesion resection in the left basal ganglia, resection of the polus temporalis, and a decompressive craniotomy. Postoperative pathology confirmed brain abscess. The patient was eventually conscious, but left the right limb hemiplegia. Hence, when a patient develops the classical triad of fever, headache, and focal neurologic deficits, the possibility of brain abscess should be investigated. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimize various complications and the number of deaths.

Endovascular Treatment of Ruptured Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Aneurysm with Celiac Axis Stenosis

BACKGROUND

Splanchnic artery aneurysms are relatively rare diseases. Pancreaticoduodenal arterial (PDA) aneurysms are especially uncommon and account for approximately 2% of all visceral aneurysms. However, rupture of a PDA aneurysm often results in fatal consequences. Intervention therapy has evolved as a mainstream method because of its low risk and rapid recovery. Previous studies have demonstrated that PDA aneurysms are often associated with occlusion or stenosis of the celiac artery, but management of the celiac artery lesion remains controversial. Here, we report a case of PDA aneurysm concurrent with celiac axis stenosis (CAS) that has been successfully treated by embolization of the PDA aneurysm and subsequent stenting of the celiac artery.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 50-year-old man complaining of epigastric pain for 15 hours was admitted to our emergency department. Blood tests revealed low hemoglobin, and an abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a retroperitoneal hematoma. To determine the source of bleeding, celiac arteriography was performed immediately. Celiac truck stenosis was observed, and a PDA ruptured aneurysm was diagnosed. The outflow, aneurysm sac, and inflow of the aneurysm were embolized. The patient was discharged on the sixth day postoperatively. Unfortunately, the patient returned to our department 2 weeks later complaining of nausea and vomiting for 2 days. The abdominal CT scan showed no recurrent bleeding. Celiac artery stenting was performed, and the symptoms were significantly relieved. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the CT scan follow-up at 24 months showed patency of the celiac artery stent and total occlusion of the PDA.

CONCLUSIONS

PDA aneurysms associated with celiac stenosis are relatively rare. Once the PDA aneurysm ruptures, endovascular treatment is the first choice. The necessity for revascularization of the celiac axis remains controversial. If the patient develops gastric ischemia symptoms after initial treatment, proceeding to CAS treatment is necessary.

Altered Urinary Amino Acids in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect 1% of children. Although there is no cure, early diagnosis and behavioral intervention can relieve the symptoms. The clinical heterogeneity of ASD has created a need for improved sensitive and specific laboratory diagnostic methods. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based analysis of the metabolome has shown great potential to uncover biomarkers for complex diseases such as ASD. Here, we used a two-step discovery–validation approach to identify potential novel metabolic biomarkers for ASD. Urine samples from 57 children with ASD and 81 matched children with typical development (TD) were analyzed by LS-MS/MS to assess differences in urinary amino acids and their metabolites (referred to as UAA indicators). A total of 63 UAA indicators were identified, of which 21 were present at significantly different levels in the urine of ASD children compared with TD children. Of these 21, the concentrations of 19 and 10 were higher and lower, respectively, in the urine of ASD children compared with TD children. Using support vector machine modeling and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we identified a panel of 7 UAA indicators that discriminated between the samples from ASD and TD children (lysine, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, 5-hydroxytryptamine, proline, aspartate, arginine/ornithine, and 4-hydroxyproline). Among the significantly changed pathways in ASD children were the ornithine/urea cycle (decreased levels of the excitatory amino acid aspartate [p = 2.15 × 10^-10] and increased arginine/ornithine [p = 5.21 × 10^-9]), tryptophan metabolism (increased levels of inhibitory 5-hydroxytryptamine p = 3.62 × 10^-9), the methionine cycle (increased methionine sulfoxide [p = 1.46 × 10^-10] and decreased homocysteine [p = 2.73 × 10^-7]), and lysine metabolism (reduced lysine [p = 7.8 × 10^-9], α-aminoadipic acid [p = 1.16 × 10^-9], and 5-aminovaleric acid [p = 1.05 × 10^-5]). Collectively, the data presented here identify a possible imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory amino acid metabolism in ASD children. The significantly altered UAA indicators could therefore be potential diagnostic biomarkers for ASD.

Newborn Screening for Methylmalonic Acidemia in a Chinese Population: Molecular Genetic Confirmation and Genotype Phenotype Correlations

Background: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) incidence was evaluated based on newborn screening in Xuzhou from November 2015 to December 2017, and the clinical, biochemical and molecular characteristics of patients with MMA harboring MMACHC and MUT mutations were summarized. Methods: During the study, 236,368 newborns were screened for MMA by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in the Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Xuzhou. C3, C3/C2 and methionine, and tHcy if necessary, were measured during the first screening. Blood samples from the infants and/or their family members were used for DNA analysis. The entire coding regions of the MMACHC and MUT genes associated with MMA were sequenced by DNA MassARRAY and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: Eleven patients with MMACHC mutations and three with MUT mutations were identified among the 236,368 screened newborns; the estimated total incidence of MMA was 1:16,883. Among the MMA patients, two died of infection-triggered metabolic crisis approximately 3 months after birth. All the patients identified had two mutant alleles except for one individual with early-onset disease. The most common MMACHC mutation was c.609G > A. The laboratory levels of C3 and C3/C2 were elevated in MMA individuals compared to other infants. Importantly, we demonstrate that accelerated C2 degradation is related to air temperature and humidity. Conclusion: Our study reports the clinical characteristics of MMA and diagnosis through MS/MS and NGS. There was a higher incidence of MMA with homocysteinemia than of isolated MMA in Xuzhou. Insight from this study may help explain the high false-positive rate of MMA in summer.

Powder exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets with highly monolayer-rich structures as high-performance lithium-/sodium-ion-battery electrodes

Due to their low yield and easy aggregation during the electrode preparation process, exfoliated MoS2 monolayers cannot fulfill the requirements of alkali-metal-ion battery tests. Hence, we have developed a facile process to fabricate powder exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets capable of large-scale production and having highly monolayer-rich structures. This process contains two steps: liquid-phase exfoliation of the edge-rich MoS2 precursor and a freeze-drying procedure. The proposed MoS2 precursors contain rich edge fractions that are easily exfoliated by this method, and the freeze-drying procedure can maintain the unique monolayer-rich structure of MoS2 in the powder phase. The electrochemical evaluations of both lithium- and sodium-ion batteries reveal that the proposed powder exfoliated monolayer-rich MoS2 electrode exhibits remarkable specific capacities and stable cyclic performances. In particular, the monolayer-rich MoS2 nanosheet electrode delivers a superior lithium-storage capacity of ∼1400 mA h g-1. The exfoliated MoS2 nanosheet electrode can withstand over 1000 cycles even at 1 A g-1. The mechanism reveals that these unique MoS2 nanosheets not only have a large surface area but also their inclusive monolayer structures exhibit much higher charge mobility than those of bulk MoS2.

Excellent Microwave Absorption Properties Derived from the Synthesis of Hollow Fe₃o₄@Reduced Graphite Oxide (RGO) Nanocomposites

Magnetic nanoparticles, such as Fe₃O₄ and Co₃O₄, play a vital role in the research on advanced microwave absorbing materials, even if problems such as high density and narrow band impedance matching are still unsolved. Herein, the study of lightweight hollow Fe₃O₄@reduced graphite oxide (RGO) nanocomposites synthesized via the solvothermal method is presented. The microstructure and crystal morphology of the materials were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. Single crystalline hollow Fe₃O₄ spheres were grown onto RGO flakes, leading to the formation of heterojunction, which further influenced the microwave absorption properties. The latter were evaluated by standard microwave characterization in the frequency range of 2⁻18 GHz. It was found that, for a specific Fe₃O₄@0.125 g RGO composite, the minimum reflection loss can reach -41.89 dB at 6.7 GHz, while the reflection loss was less than -10 dB from 3.4 GHz to 13.6 GHz for a nanocomposite sample thickness in the range of 1⁻4 mm. The combination of these two materials thus proved to give remarkable microwave absorption properties, owing to enhanced magnetic losses and favorable impedance matching conditions.

Protective Effects of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Rats

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a destructive and rare disorder characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary artery pressure and vasoconstriction, ultimately leading to right ventricular failure and death. 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) is an active ingredient in the commonly used Chinese herbal medicine radix glycyrrhizae, and it possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and other pharmacological properties. This study aimed to determine whether 18β-GA has protective effects against monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH and whether it is associated with oxidative stress. The PAH of rats was induced by MCT (60 mg/kg) and oral administration of 18β-GA (100, 50, or 25 mg/kg/day), sildenafil (30 mg/kg), or saline for 21 consecutive days. The development of PAH was evaluated by hemodynamic parameters and right ventricular hypertrophy index. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson trichrome staining, and electron microscopy were used to determine the degree of vascular remodeling and proliferation in lung tissue. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels in the lungs were measured according to the instructions provided by the test kits, and the expression levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase-2 (Nox2) and Nox4 were detected through Western blot analysis. Results of our study indicated that 18β-GA treatment significantly improved the hemodynamic and pathomorphological data of the rats, reduced the changes in oxidative stress biomarkers, and inhibited Nox2 and Nox4 expression. Our research indicated that 18β-GA has a protective effect against MCT-induced PAH by inhibiting oxidative stress in rats.

Anticancer activity of 1,25-(OH)2D3 against human breast cancer cell lines by targeting Ras/MEK/ERK pathway

Purpose

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women with ~1.67 million cases diagnosed annually worldwide, and ~1 in 37 women succumbed to breast cancer. Over the past decades, new therapeutic strategy has substantially improved the curative effect for women with breast cancer. However, the currently available ER-targeted and HER-2-based therapies are not effective for triple-negative breast cancer patients, which account for ~15% of total breast cancer cases.

Materials and methods

We reported that 1,25-(OH)₂D₃, a biologically active form of vitamin D₃, exhibited a strong anticancer effects on the proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis of both ER-positive (MCF-7) and ER-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-453).

Results

The anticancer effect of 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ was more potent compared to the classical chemotherapeutics tamoxifen in MDA-MB-453 cells. Furthermore, we also found that 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ decreased the expression of Ras and resulted in decrease of the phosphorylation of downstream proteins MEK and ERK1/2, indicating that 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ plays its anticancer roles through targeting the Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. In addition, Ras overexpression abrogated 1,25-(OH)₂D₃-induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of breast cancer cells, as well as the suppression of proliferation, migration, and invasion. Our study suggested that 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ suppressed breast cancer tumorigenesis by targeting the Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Conclusion

1,25-(OH)₂D₃ might serve as a promising supplement for breast cancer drug therapy, especially for the ER-negative breast cancer and drug-resistant breast cancer.

Use of Grafted Voltage Stabilizer to Enhance Dielectric Strength of Cross-Linked Polyethylene

Aromatic voltage stabilizers can improve the dielectric properties of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE); however, their poor compatibility with XLPE hinders their practical application. Improving the compatibility of aromatic voltage stabilizers with XLPE has, therefore, become a new research goal. Herein 1-(4-vinyloxy)phenylethenone (VPE) was prepared and characterized. It can be grafted onto polyethylene molecules during the cross-linking processes to promote stability of the aromatic voltage stabilizers in XLPE. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that VPE was successfully grafted onto XLPE, and effectively inhibited thermal migration. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the grafted VPE/XLPE composite exhibits a better thermal stability than a VPE/PE blend composite. Evaluation of the electrical properties showed that the breakdown strength and electrical tree initiation voltage of the VPE/XLPE composite were increased by 15.5% and 39.6%, respectively, when compared to those of bare XLPE. After thermal aging, the breakdown strength and electrical tree initiation voltage of the VPE/XLPE composite were increased by 9.4% and 25.8%, respectively, in comparison to those of bare XLPE, which indicates that the grafted voltage stabilizer can effectively inhibit its migration and enhance the stability of the composite material.

Hypothermia alleviated LPS-induced acute lung injury in Rat models through TLR2/MyD88 pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common clinical syndrome in ICU departments with high mortality. The pathology of ALI is still not clear and there is no specific and efficient treatment against ALI. In this study, we established ALI rat model through lipopolysaccharide administration. We found that hypothermia therapy led to significant improvement in oxygenation index, edema formation and pathological score, demonstrating that hypothermia is beneficial to the recovery of lung function and alleviation of lung injury. Besides, hypothermia resulted in a decrease in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) concentration, showing the inflammation was partially inhibited. This was also confirmed by a decrease in TNF-α mRNA and protein level in hypothermia group. The effect of hypothermia was mediated by TLR2/MyD88 signaling, which led to the alteration in NF-κB p65 level. Collectively, this study indicated that hypothermia therapy was potentially an efficient therapy against ALI.

ACT Values after Neutralization Lower than Pre-heparinization ACT Leads to Lower Operative Times, Bleeding, and Post-Operative Transfusions in CABG Patients: an Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if lower activated coagulation time (ACT) value after neutralization than preoperative ACT value was effective in reducing bleeding, operative times, and post-operative transfusions in patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS

Retrospective selection of 398 patients from January 2014 to May 2017. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to final ACT after neutralization: A - final ACT lower than preoperative ACT; and B - final ACT higher than or equal to preoperative ACT. Hemostatic time, intraoperative blood loss, ACT after final neutralization, mediastinal blood loss, and transfusion requirements were observed.

RESULTS

The hourly blood loss in the Group A was generally lower than in the Group B at first 3 hours, which has significant difference (P<0.05). However, there was no difference after 3 hours between the two groups. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, mediastinal blood loss, transfusion requirements, and drainage in the first postoperative 12 hours in the Group A were lower than in Group B, which has significant difference (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

As a result, final ACT values lower than pre-heparinization ACT values are safe and lead to lower operative times, bleeding, and post-operative transfusions.

Efficacy of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for postprandial distress syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) has a considerable impact on quality of life. Our previous pilot trial suggested that acupuncture might be a potential treatment option for PDS. We will conduct this large trial to determine the efficacy of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for PDS.

Methods/design

A total of 280 eligible patients who meet the Rome IV criteria for PDS will be randomly allocated to either the acupuncture group or the sham acupuncture group. Each patient will receive 12 sessions over four weeks. The primary outcomes will be the response rate of overall treatment effect (OTE) and the elimination rate of all three cardinal symptoms (postprandial fullness, upper abdominal bloating, and early satiation) at four weeks after randomization. Secondary outcomes will include assessments of the severity of dyspepsia symptoms and disease-specific quality of life at weeks 4, 8, and 16 after randomization. All patients who receive randomization will be included in the intent-to-treat analysis.

Discussion

The finding of this trial will provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture for treatment of PDS. Results of this research will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration

ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN12511434. Registered on 31 March 2017.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-3051-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

PRMT5 as a druggable target for glioblastoma therapy

Background

In spite of standard multimodal therapy consisting of surgical resection followed by radiation and concurrent chemotherapy, prognosis for glioblastoma (GBM) patients remains poor. The identification of both differentiated and undifferentiated "stem cell like" populations in the tumor highlights the significance of finding novel targets that affect the heterogeneous tumor cell population. Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is one such candidate gene whose nuclear expression correlates with poor survival and has been reported to be required for survival of differentiated GBM cells and self-renewal of undifferentiated GBM cells. In the current study we screened the specificity and efficacy of 4 novel PRMT5 inhibitors in the treatment of GBM.

Methods

Efficacies of these inhibitors were screened using an in vitro GBM neurosphere model and an in vivo intracranial zebrafish model of glioma. Standard molecular biology methods were employed to investigate changes in cell cycle, growth, and senescence.

Results

In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that among the 4 PRMT5 inhibitors, treatment of GBM cells with compound 5 (CMP5) mirrored the effects of PRMT5 knockdown wherein it led to apoptosis of differentiated GBM cells and drove undifferentiated primary patient derived GBM cells into a nonreplicative senescent state.

Conclusion

In vivo antitumor efficacy combined with the specificity of CMP5 underscores the importance of developing it for translation.

Memantine prevents acute radiation-induced toxicities at hippocampal excitatory synapses

Background

Memantine has shown clinical utility in preventing radiation-induced cognitive impairment, but the mechanisms underlying its protective effects remain unknown. We hypothesized that abnormal glutamate signaling causes radiation-induced abnormalities in neuronal structure and that memantine prevents synaptic toxicity.

Methods

Hippocampal cultures expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein were irradiated or sham-treated and their dendritic spine morphology assessed at acute (minutes) and later (days) times using high-resolution confocal microscopy. Excitatory synapses, defined by co-localization of the pre- and postsynaptic markers vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and postsynaptic density protein 95, were also analyzed. Neurons were pretreated with vehicle, the N-methyl-d-aspartate-type glutamate receptor antagonist memantine, or the glutamate scavenger glutamate pyruvate transaminase to assess glutamate signaling. For animal studies, Thy-1-YFP mice were treated with whole-brain radiotherapy or sham with or without memantine.

Results

Unlike previously reported long-term losses of dendritic spines, we found that the acute response to radiation is an initial increase in spines and excitatory synapses followed by a decrease in spine/synapse density with altered spine dynamics. Memantine pre-administration prevented this radiation-induced synaptic remodeling.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that radiation causes rapid, dynamic changes in synaptic structural plasticity, implicate abnormal glutamate signaling in cognitive dysfunction following brain irradiation, and describe a protective mechanism of memantine.

LIMD1 phosphorylation in mitosis is required for mitotic progression and its tumor-suppressing activity

LIM domains containing 1 (LIMD1) is a member of the Zyxin family proteins and functions as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer. LIMD1 has been shown to regulate Hippo-YAP signaling activity. Here, we report a novel regulatory mechanism for LIMD1. We found that cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases 1/2 (JNK1/2) phosphorylate LIMD1 in vitro and in cells during anti-tubulin drug-induced mitotic arrest. Phosphorylation also occurs during normal mitosis. S272, S277, S421, and S424 were identified as the main phosphorylation sites in LIMD1. Deletion of LIMD1 resulted in a shortened mitotic cell cycle and phosphorylation of LIMD1 is required for proper mitotic progression. We further showed that the phosphorylation-deficient mutant LIMD1-4A is less active in suppressing cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, cell migration, and invasion in lung cancer cells. Together, our findings suggest that LIMD1 is a key regulator of mitotic progression, and that dysregulation of LIMD1 contributes to tumorigenesis.

High-performance Ho:YAG single-crystal fiber laser in-band pumped by a Tm-doped all-fiber laser

We report on, to the best of our knowledge, the first Q-switched single-crystal fiber (Ho:YAG SCF) laser in the 2 μm spectral range, in-band pumped by a Tm-doped all-fiber laser. A continuous-wave laser with 12.5 W output power and Q-switched laser with 1.44 mJ pulse energy and 7.5 ns pulse duration at a repetition rate of 1 kHz were demonstrated. The high laser performance is attributed to the high gain, suppressed nonlinear effects, and easy thermal management which benefited from the unique geometric construction of the SCF.

Real-Time Monitoring of Ligand Exchange Kinetics on Gold Nanoparticle Surfaces Enabled by Hot Spot-Normalized Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Nanoparticle surface coatings dictate their fate, transport, and bioavailability. We used a gold nanoparticle-bacterial cellulose substrate and "hot spot"-normalized surface-enhanced Raman scattering (HSNSERS) to achieve in situ and real-time monitoring of ligand exchange reactions on the gold surface. This approach enables semiquantitative determination of citrate surface coverage. Following exposure of the citrate-coated nanoparticles to a suite of guest ligands (thiolates, amines, carboxylates, inorganic ions, and proteins), the guest ligand signal exhibited first-order growth kinetics, while the desorption mediated decay of the citrate signal followed a first-order model. Guest ligand functional group chemistry dictated the kinetics of citrate desorption, while the guest ligand concentration played only a minor role. Thiolates and BSA were more efficient at ligand exchange than amine-containing chemicals, carboxylate-containing chemicals, and inorganic salts due to their higher binding energies with the AuNP surface. Amine-containing molecules overcoated rather than displaced the citrate layer via electrostatic interaction. Citrate exhibited low resistance to replacement at high surface coverages, but higher resistance at lower coverage, thus suggesting a transformation of the citrate-binding mode during desorption. High resistance to replacement in streamwater suggests that the role of surface-adsorbed citrate in nanomaterial fate and transport must be better understood.

Active surveillance for young patients with insular thyroid cancer: an initial and novel finding

Insular thyroid cancer (ITC) is a relatively rare thyroid malignancy that has an unclear prognosis. Recent studies have indicated that watchful waiting is sufficient for younger patients with more differentiated thyroid lesions such as papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). In this study, we investigated the prognosis of younger patients (< 45 and < 55 years old) with ITC and compared their outcomes to patients with PTMC and follicular thyroid microcarcinoma (FTMC). We hypothesized that ITC, like PTMC and FTMC, can be managed with active surveillance in younger patients with this disease. We investigated a large cohort of younger patients with ITC, PTMC, or FTMC who were listed in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2004 and 2013. Patient mortality was examined by Kaplan-Meier analyses with log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. In the study cohort, the rate of cancer-specific mortality per 1000 person-years for younger ITC patients (< 45 and < 55 years) was lower than that for PTMC and FTMC. Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that the cancer-specific and all-cause mortality rates in younger ITC patients were similar to those of PTMC and FTMC. Similar results were obtained when cases with tumor extension were excluded from the analysis. The unanticipated excellent prognosis of younger patients with ITC challenges the current clinical practice of automatically treating this disease, and offers new implications for management such as pursuing active surveillance instead.

Hemispheric processing of lexical information in Chinese character recognition and its relationship to reading performance

Hemispheric predominance has been well documented in the visual perception of alphabetic words. However, the hemispheric processing of lexical information in Chinese character recognition and its relationship to reading performance are far from clear. In the divided visual field paradigm, participants were required to judge the orthography, phonology, or semantics of Chinese characters, which were presented randomly in the left or right visual field. The results showed a right visual field/left hemispheric superiority in the phonological judgment task, but no hemispheric advantage in the orthographic or semantic task was found. In addition, reaction times in the right visual field for phonological and semantic tasks were significantly correlated with the reading test score. These results suggest that both hemispheres involved in the orthographic and semantic processing of Chinese characters, and that the left lateralized phonological processing is important for Chinese fluent reading.

Outcomes Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in Patients with Mild Preoperative Renal Insufficiency

INTRODUCTION

Preoperative renal insufficiency is an independent predictor of mortality after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. However, there are few reports aimed to evaluate the impact of mild preoperative renal insufficiency on long-term follow-up outcomes after isolated CABG surgery. This study investigates the effect of mild preoperative renal insufficiency on long-term follow-up outcomes of patients after CABG.

METHODS

Five hundred eighty-four patients' data that underwent CABG between 1 January 2009 and 1 December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups: normal group [Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2, n=304] and mild group (eGFR ranges from 60 to 89 ml/min/1.73 m2, n=280). Clinical material and long follow-up outcomes were compared inthe two groups.

RESULTS

Two groups had similar baseline and intraoperative data except eGFR. Six (0.01%) patients died in hospital, 15 in normal group and 28 in mild group during the long-term follow-up, which had statistical significance (P<0.05). Univariate factor analysis displayed that the two groups had similar in-hospital outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a better long-term survival in patients with normal preoperative renal function compared to mild preoperative renal insufficiency (x 2=4.255, P=0.039). Cox proportional model presented the hazard ratio of long-term mortality in patients with mild preoperative renal insufficiency compared to normal preoperative renal function was 1.79 (95% CI 1.17-2.88, P=0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with mild preoperative renal insufficiency had a higher mortality rate than normal patients in long-term survival, whereas no evidence of worse in-hospital mortality rate was found. Patients with mild preoperative renal insufficiency showed a higher mortality rate than other studies.

Three inflammation-related genes could predict risk in prognosis and metastasis of patients with breast cancer

Background

Current predictive model is not developed by inflammation‐related genes to evaluate clinical outcome of breast cancer patients.

Methods

With mRNA expression profiling, we identified 3 mRNAs with significant expression between 15 normal samples and 669 breast cancer patients. Using 7 cell lines and 150 paraffin‐embedded specimens, we verified the expression pattern by bio‐experiments. Then, we constructed a three‐mRNA model by Cox regression method and approved its predictive accuracy in both training set (n = 1095) and 4 testing sets (n = 703).

Results

We developed a three‐mRNA (TBX21, TGIF2, and CYCS) model to stratify patients into high‐ and low‐risk subgroup with significantly different prognosis. In training set, 5‐year OS rate was 84.5% (78.8%‐90.5%) vs 73.1% (65.9%‐81.2%) for the low‐ and high‐risk group (HR = 1.573 (1.090‐2.271); P = 0.016). The predictive value was similar in four independent testing sets (HR>1.600; P < 0.05). This model could assess survival independently with better predictive power compared with single clinicopathological risk factors and any of the three mRNAs. Patients with both low‐risk values and any poor prognostic factors had more favorable survival from nonmetastatic status (HR = 1.740 (1.028‐2.945), P = 0.039). We established two nomograms for clinical application that integrated this model and another three significant risk factors to forecast survival rates precisely in patients with or without metastasis.

Conclusions

This model is a dependable tool to predict the disease recurrence precisely and could improve the predictive accuracy of survival probability for breast cancer patients with or without metastasis.

Unusual synergistic effect in layered Ruddlesden-Popper oxide enables ultrafast hydrogen evolution

Efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction are key to realize clean hydrogen production through water splitting. As an important family of functional materials, transition metal oxides are generally believed inactive towards hydrogen evolution reaction, although many of them show high activity for oxygen evolution reaction. Here we report the remarkable electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction of a layered metal oxide, Ruddlesden−Popper-type Sr₂RuO₄ with alternative perovskite layer and rock-salt SrO layer, in an alkaline solution, which is comparable to those of the best electrocatalysts ever reported. By theoretical calculations, such excellent activity is attributed mainly to an unusual synergistic effect in the layered structure, whereby the (001) SrO-terminated surface cleaved in rock-salt layer facilitates a barrier-free water dissociation while the active apical oxygen site in perovskite layer promotes favorable hydrogen adsorption and evolution. Moreover, the activity of such layered oxide can be further improved by electrochemistry-induced activation.

Water may serve as a renewable hydrogen fuel source to replace fossil fuels, although such electrolysis requires highly active catalysts. Here, authors explore Ruddlesden−Popper oxides as hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts that feature an unusual synergistic effect to promote high activity.