Differentiation of pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using magnetic resonance imaging: The value of contrast-enhanced and diffusion weighted imaging

Pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (PNEC) is often misdiagnosed as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This retrospective study differentiated PNEC from PDAC using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including contrast-enhanced (CE) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Clinical data and MRI findings, including the T1/T2 signal, tumor boundary, size, enhancement degree, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), were compared between 37 PDACs and 13 PNECs. Boundaries were more poorly defined in PDAC than PNEC (97.3% vs. 61.5%, p<0.01). Hyper-/isointensity was more common in PNEC than PDAC at the arterial (38.5% vs. 0.0), portal (46.2% vs. 2.7%) and delayed phases (46.2% vs. 5.4%) (all p<0.01). Lymph node metastasis (97.3% vs. 61.5%, p<0.01) and local invasion/distant metastasis (86.5% vs. 46.2%, p<0.01) were more common in PDAC than PNEC. Enhancement degree via CE-MRI was higher in PNEC than PDAC at the arterial and portal phases (p<0.01). PNEC ADC values were lower than those of normal pancreatic parenchyma (p<0.01) and PDAC (p<0.01). Arterial and portal phase signal intensity ratios and ADC values showed the largest areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve and good sensitivities (92.1%–97.2%) and specificities (76.9%–92.3%) for differentiating PNEC from PDAC. Thus the enhancement degree at the arterial and portal phases and the ADC values may be useful for differentiating PNEC from PDAC using MRI.

Metallic CuCo2S4 nanosheets of atomic thickness as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for portable, flexible Zn-air batteries

Optimized catalysts show great potential for renewable energy storage and conversion. Herein, we report metallic CuCo2S4 nanosheets (NSs) of atomic thickness as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for use in portable, flexible Zn-air batteries. The metallic CuCo2S4 NSs of atomic thickness with 4-atom-thick to 6-atom-thick layers are confirmed by temperature-dependent electrical resistance measurements and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy confirms that CuCo2S4 NSs with sulfur vacancies can further increase the OER activity. Due to high electrical conductivity and ultrathin nanosheet structure with abundant defects, CuCo2S4 NSs exhibit excellent reversible oxygen catalytic performance with an overpotential of 287 mV (at j = 10 mA cm-2) for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and an onset potential of 0.90 V for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Additionally, the portable, flexible Zn-air battery using CuCo2S4 NSs as the air-cathode displays a high open circuit voltage and strong rechargeable capacity for 18 h. The present study highlights the importance of designing metallic catalysts having atomic thickness with surface defects for highly efficient and stable renewable energy storage and conversion.

Molecular identification of goose (Anser cygnoide) suppressor ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) and the effects of goose IFN and TMUV on its comparative transcripts

Ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) is known as an inhibition factor and has been associated with the innate immune response to pathogens. USP18 is the only deconjugating protease with specificity for interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), which is supposed to be missing in birds. To analyze the efficacy of goose USP18 (goUSP18) against Tembusu virus (TMUV) infection, we first cloned USP18 homologous cDNA from TMUV infected geese. The coding sequence was 1131 bp, and the deduced amino acid sequence shared conserved motifs with its homologues. Tissue-specific expression has shown that goUSP18 transcripts are strongly expressed in the spleen and liver of adult geese, as well as in the pancreas of goslings. Moreover, the goUSP18 transcripts were induced by goose interferons (goIFN) in goose embryo fibroblasts (GEF) and by TLR ligands in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Notably, goUSP18 transcripts were highly up-regulated by TMUV infection compared to the basal level in uninfected birds. Taken together, these results suggested that goUSP18 was involved in host innate immunity against TMUV infection.

Oxidation resistance of biochars as a function of feedstock and pyrolysis condition

Assessing biochar's ability to resist oxidation is fundamental to understanding its potential to sequester carbon. Chemical oxidation exhibits good performance in estimating the oxidation resistance of biochar. Herein, oxidation resistance of 14 types of biochars produced from four feedstocks at different pyrolysis conditions (hydrothermal versus thermal carbonization) was investigated via hydrogen peroxide oxidation with varying concentrations. The oxidation resistance of organic carbon (C) of hydrochars was relatively higher than that of 250°C pyrochars (P250) but was comparable to that of 450°C pyrochars (P450). Both hydrochars and P450 from ash-rich feedstocks contained at least three different C pools (5.9-18.3% labile, 43.2-56.5% semi-labile and 26.9-45.9% stable C). Part (<33%) of aromatic C within 600°C pyrochars (P600) was easily oxidizable, which consisted of amorphous C. The influence of pyrolysis temperature upon oxidation resistance of biochars depended on the feedstock. For ash-rich feedstock (rice straw, swine manure and poultry litter), the oxidation resistance of biochars was determined by both aromaticity and mineral components, and mineral protection was regulated by pyrolysis conditions. The amorphous silicon within hydrochars and P450 could interact with C, preventing C from being oxidized, to some extent. Nevertheless, this type of protection did not occur for P250 and P600.

Comparison between Soil- and Biochar-Derived Humic Acids: Composition, Conformation, and Phenanthrene Sorption

Biochar-derived organic matter (BDOM) plays an important role in determining biochar's application potential in soil remediation. However, little is known about the physicochemical properties of BDOM and its sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs). Humic acids (HAs) were extracted from oxidized biochars produced from plant straws and animal manures at 450 °C, and their sorption of phenanthrene, a representative of HOCs, was investigated. The organic carbon recovery of biochar-derived HAs (BDHAs) was 13.9-69.3%. The ¹³C NMR spectra of BDHAs mainly consisted of aromatic and carboxylic C, while those of soil-derived HAs (SDHAs) contained abundant signals in aliphatic region. BDHAs and SDHAs had comparable CO₂ cumulative surface areas. BDHAs were found to exhibit higher phenanthrene sorption than SDHAs. After the removal of amorphous aromatic components, the logK_oc values of BDHAs were significantly decreased, implying that amorphous aromatic C regulated phenanthrene sorption by BDHAs. In contrast, aliphatic moieties dominated phenanthrene sorption by SDHAs, as evidenced by the enhanced sorption after the removal of amorphous aromatics. This study clearly demonstrated the contrasting characteristics and sorption behaviors of BDHA and SDHA, indicating that biochar addition and subsequent weathering could greatly affect native organic matter properties and the fate of HOCs in biochar-amended soils.

Integration of Web-based and PC-based Clinical Research Databases

We have created a Web-based repository or data library of information about measurement instruments used in studies of multi-factorial geriatric health conditions (the Geriatrics Research Instrument Library – GRIL) based upon existing features of two separate clinical study data management systems. GRIL allows browsing, searching, and selecting measurement instruments based upon criteria such as keywords and areas of applicability. Measurement instruments selected can be printed and/or included in an automatically generated standalone microcomputer database application, which can be downloaded by investigators for use in data collection and data management.

Methods: Integration of database applications requires the creation of a common semantic model, and mapping from each system to this model. Various database schema conflicts at the table and attribute level must be identified and resolved prior to integration. Using a conflict taxonomy and a mapping schema facilitates this process.

Results: Critical conflicts at the table level that required resolution included name and relationship differences.

Conclusions: A major benefit of integration efforts is the sharing of features and cross-fertilization of applications created for similar purposes in different operating environments. Integration of applications mandates some degree of metadata model unification.

Self-Management Protocol for a Moving-Actuator Type Artificial Heart

In this paper, we describe the development of a self-management protocol for a controller of a moving-actuator type artificial heart, AnyHeart™. The developed protocol analyzes motor current signals and detects abnormal pumping statuses. If preset abnormal pumping statuses are detected by an implemented algorithm, a controller triggers an emergency management procedure and transmits an alarm message to predetermined medical and engineering staffs via a cellular phone network to notify them of an abnormal pumping status occurrence and its likely cause.

Results of in vitro performance experiments showed that the developed protocol can detect simulated abnormalities in motor current, manage the operating status of the blood pump during an emergency, and transmit an alarm message as desired.

Development of a New Pulsatile Extracorporeal Life Support Device Incorporating a Dual Pulsatile Blood Pump

A new pulsatile extracorporeal life support device (ECLS) has been developed, designed to sustain pulsatile blood flow during emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitations and cardiopulmonary operations. This device features two identical pulsatile pumps that operate alternately and can therefore provide blood inflow in a more uniform manner than similar systems featuring a single-pump configuration. In order to confirm the presumed benefits of this newly-developed dual pulsatile pump configuration, we have conducted a series of in vitro experiments designed to compare the properties of the new system with a single pump system, specifically with regard to pump delivery rate and active filling efficiency. Our results reveal that the dual pump configuration can, indeed, deliver a higher flow than can the single-pump system, and exhibits an active filling efficiency superior to that of the single-pump configuration. We performed a series of animal experiments to measure the pulsatility of the dual-pump configuration in terms of equivalent energy pressure (EEP). In order to measure EEP, we measured femoral arterial pressure and pump outflow. The results of our animal experiments revealed that the newly-developed pulstile ECLS exhibits sufficient pulsatility in terms of the EEP considerations.

Wireless Patient Monitoring System for a Moving-Actuator Type Artificial Heart

In this study, we developed a wireless monitoring system for outpatients equipped with a moving-actuator type pulsatile bi-ventricular assist device, AnyHeart™. The developed monitoring system consists of two parts; a Bluetooth-based short-distance self-monitoring system that can monitor and control the operating status of a VAD using a Bluetooth-embedded personal digital assistant or a personal computer within a distance of 10 meters, and a cellular network-based remote monitoring system that can continuously monitor and control the operating status of AnyHeart™ at any location.

Results of in vitro experiments demonstrate the developed system's ability to monitor the operational status of an implanted AnyHeart™.

Successful treatment of a giant ossified benign mesenteric schwannoma

Primary benign schwannoma of the mesentery is extremely rare. To date, only 9 cases have been reported in the English literature, while mesenteric schwannoma with ossified degeneration has not been reported thus far. In the present study, we present the first giant ossified benign mesenteric schwannoma in a 58-year-old female. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were used, but it was still difficult to determine the definitive location and diagnose the mass. By laparotomy, a 10.0 cm × 9.0 cm × 9.0 cm giant mass was found in the mesentery and was then completely resected. Microscopically, the tumour located in the mesentery mainly consisted of spindle-shaped cells with a palisading arrangement. Some areas of the tumour were ossified, and a true metaplastic bone formation was observed, with the presence of bone lamellae and osteoblasts. Immunohistochemical investigation of the tumour located in the mesentery showed that the staining for the S-100 protein was strongly positive, while the stainings of SMA, CD34, CD117 and DOG-1 were negative. The cell proliferation index, measured with Ki67 staining, was less than 3%. Finally, a giant ossified benign mesenteric schwannoma was diagnosed. After surgery, the patient was followed up for a period of 43 mo, during which she remained well, with no evidence of tumour recurrence.

A Preclinical Cadaver Fitting Study of Implantable Biventricular Assist Device - AnyHeart™

A multifunctional, Korean-made artificial heart (AnyHeart™) was developed, and prior to its clinical application, a cadaver-fitting study was performed. The study proposed to determine the optimal cannulation approach, implantation technique and route of the cannula to minimize the organ compression of AnyHeart™. The anatomical feasibility and a variety of surgical techniques were evaluated using ten preserved, human cadavers. Implanting AnyHeart™ with ease is possible using various approaches, including a median sternotomy, and a right or left lateral thoracotomy. The lateral thoracotomy approach is shown to be safe and reproducible, especially in patients who have already undergone an operation that used a median sternotomy. The results of this study will guide improvements in the designs of cannulae and AnyHeart™ for future clinical applications.

Tumour endothelial marker 1/endosialin-mediated targeting of human sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Tumour endothelial marker 1 (TEM1/endosialin/CD248) is a tumour-restricted cell-surface protein expressed by human sarcomas. We previously developed a high-affinity human single-chain variable fragment (scFv)-Fc fusion protein (78Fc) against TEM1 and demonstrated its specific binding to human and mouse TEM1.

PATIENT AND METHODS

Clinical sarcoma specimens were collected between 2000 and 2015 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as approved by the institutional review board and processed by standard formalin-fixed paraffin embedded techniques. We analysed TEM1 expression in 19 human sarcoma subtypes (n = 203 specimens) and eight human sarcoma-cell lines. Near-infrared (NIR) imaging of tumour-bearing mice was used to validate 78Fc binding to TEM1⁺ sarcoma in vivo. Finally, we tested an immunotoxin conjugate of anti-TEM1 78Fc with saporin (78Fc-Sap) for its therapeutic efficacy against human sarcoma in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

TEM1 expression was identified by immunohistochemistry in 96% of human sarcomas, of which 81% expressed TEM1 both on tumour cells and the tumour vasculature. NIR imaging revealed specific in vivo targeting of labelled 78Fc to TEM1⁺ sarcoma xenografts. Importantly, 78Fc-Sap was effective in killing in vitro TEM1⁺ sarcoma cells and eliminated human sarcoma xenografts without apparent toxicity in vivo.

CONCLUSION

TEM1 is an important therapeutic target for human sarcoma, and the high-affinity TEM1-specific scFv fusion protein 78Fc is suitable for further clinical development for therapeutic applications in sarcoma.

Crizotinib in patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer versus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment

Background

To compare the efficacy of crizotinib, pemetrexed and other chemotherapy regimens as a first-line treatment in patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in real world clinical use and to evaluate the +86–571-87,236,876 predictive clinical factors of the efficacy of crizotinib.

Methods

The 73 patients with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC were divided into three groups based on the first-line treatment: first-line crizotinib group (1-CRZ group, n = 32); first-line platinum-based pemetrexed treatment group (1-PP group, n = 28), and first-line chemotherapy platinum-based non-pemetrexed group (N1-PP, n = 12). Sixty eight of the 73 patients received crizotinib treatment and followed up in our hospital. Differences in the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared in the different groups. The clinical factors were evaluated to predict the efficacy of crizotinib by the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

The PFS, ORR, DCR were 16.1 months, 78.1% (25/32) and 100% (32/32) in the 1-CRZ group; were 6.0 months, 17.9% (5/28) and 57.2% (16/28) in the 1-PP group; and were 2.9 months, 15.4% (2/13) and 46.2% (6/13) in the N1-PP group. The PFS of the 1-CRZ group was significantly longer than that of the 1-PP group (P < 0.001) and the N1-PP group (P < 0.001). The ORR and DCR of the 1-CRZ group was significantly greater than that of the 1-PP group and the N1-PP group (all the P < 0.001). Higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score (> = 2) (HR 2.345, 95% CI 1.137–4.834, P = 0.021) and patients received crizotinib after N1-PP chemotherapy (HR 2.345, 95% CI 1.137–4.834, P = 0.021) were two factors associated with shorter PFS after crizotinib treatment.

Conclusions

In patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who did not receive previous treatment, crizotinib was superior to standard chemotherapy for the longer PFS and greater ORR and DCR. Higher ECOG score (> = 2) and patients received crizotinib after N1-PP chemotherapy predict poor efficacy of crizotinib.

Detection of nucleic acids via G-quadruplex-controlled l-cysteine oxidation and catalyzed hairpin assembly-assisted signal amplification

A novel homogeneous strategy for detection of DNA via biomimetic synthesis of luminescent QDs coupled with nucleic acid signal amplification.

Dietary Intake is Positively Associated with Cognitive Function of a Chinese Older Adults Sample

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between cognitive function and dietary intake in older adults was under-studied in China. This study examined this relationship in a Chinese sample while controlling for the effects of sleep quality and socio demographic confounders.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 340 Chinese older adults (age > 60) who were randomly selected from Wuhan city in central China. Cognitive function was assessed by the Mini-mental State Examination [MMSE], sleep quality by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], and dietary intake by frequencies of intake of meat products, fruits, fish/seafood/aquatic products, nuts and mushroom/algae over the past year. First, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to evaluate the measurement properties of cognitive function, dietary intake, and sleep quality. Second, structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the relations of cognitive function, dietary intake, and sleep quality.

RESULTS

Dietary intake was found to be positively related to cognitive function. Older age, lower education status, monthly income, and living alone or without a spouse were significantly associated with poorer cognitive function. SES status had an indirect effect on cognitive function via dietary intake.

CONCLUSION

Dietary intake may be critical to maintain normal cognitive function of older adults in China.

Photoinduced hydroxylperfluoroalkylation of styrenes

“No Catalyst is Better” is confirmed in the hydroxylperfluoroalkylation of styrenes with perfluoroalkyl iodides under irradiation by visible light.

Identification of double-yolked duck egg using computer vision

The double-yolked (DY) egg is quite popular in some Asian countries because it is considered as a sign of good luck, however, the double yolk is one of the reasons why these eggs fail to hatch. The usage of automatic methods for identifying DY eggs can increase the efficiency in the poultry industry by decreasing egg loss during incubation or improving sale proceeds. In this study, two methods for DY duck egg identification were developed by using computer vision technology. Transmittance images of DY and single-yolked (SY) duck eggs were acquired by a CCD camera to identify them according to their shape features. The Fisher’s linear discriminant (FLD) model equipped with a set of normalized Fourier descriptors (NFDs) extracted from the acquired images and the convolutional neural network (CNN) model using primary preprocessed images were built to recognize duck egg yolk types. The classification accuracies of the FLD model for SY and DY eggs were 100% and 93.2% respectively, while the classification accuracies of the CNN model for SY and DY eggs were 98% and 98.8% respectively. The CNN-based algorithm took about 0.12 s to recognize one sample image, which was slightly faster than the FLD-based (about 0.20 s). Finally, this work compared two classification methods and provided the better method for DY egg identification.

Generation of regulatory dendritic cells after treatment with paeoniflorin

Regulatory dendritic cells are a potential therapeutic tool for assessing a variety of immune overreaction diseases. Paeoniflorin, a bioactive glucoside extracted from the Chinese herb white paeony root, has been shown to be effective at inhibiting the maturation and immunostimulatory function of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. However, whether paeoniflorin can program conventional dendritic cells toward regulatory dendritic cells and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. Here, our study demonstrates that paeoniflorin can induce the production of regulatory dendritic cells from human peripheral blood monocyte-derived immature dendritic cells in the absence or presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but not from mature dendritic cells, thereby demonstrating the potential of paeoniflorin as a specific immunosuppressive drug with fewer complications and side effects. These regulatory dendritic cells treated with paeoniflorin exhibited high CD11b/c and low CD80, CD86 and CD40 expression levels as well as enhanced abilities to capture antigen and promote the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells and reduced abilities to migrate and promote the proliferation of CD4(+) T cells, which is associated with the upregulation of endogenous transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-mediated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression. Collectively, paeoniflorin could program immature dendritic cells (imDCs) and imDCs stimulated with LPS toward a regulatory DC fate by upregulating the endogenous TGF-β-mediated IDO expression level, thereby demonstrating its potential as a specific immunosuppressive drug.

Sustained Abdominal Aorta Compression Elevates Coronary Perfusion Pressure after Asphyxia-Induced Cardiac Arrest in a Rabbit Model

Objective

To investigate whether sustained abdominal aorta compression (SAAC) can improve coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and improve resuscitation outcomes without causing liver laceration.

Design and Setting

Animal study.

Methods

Cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxia in 28 New Zealand rabbits and maintained for 2 minutes before resuscitation. Animals were resuscitated using either standard CPR (STD-CPR group) or standard CPR and SAAC (SAAC-CPR group). Restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), restoration of spontaneous breathing (ROSB) and cerebral performance category score were determined. CPP, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and ROSC were compared in the two groups.

Results

MAP and CPP in the SAAC-CPR group were significantly higher than in the STD-CPR group. However, MAP and blood gas results showed no significant difference between the two groups during ROSC. ROSC was achieved in seven of fourteen animals in the STD-CPR group and in eleven of fourteen animals in the SAAC-CPR group. Five animals in the STD-CPR group and nine in the SAAC-CPR group survived 24 hours after ROSC. No liver injury occurred in the two groups.

Conclusions

SAAC-CPR produces an increased CPP and MAP than traditional CPR and it does not lead to liver laceration/injury.

Oxygen Vacancies Dominated NiS2 /CoS2 Interface Porous Nanowires for Portable Zn-Air Batteries Driven Water Splitting Devices

The development of highly active and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is crucial for improving the efficiency of water splitting and metal-air battery devices. Herein, an efficient strategy is demonstrated for making the oxygen vacancies dominated cobalt-nickel sulfide interface porous nanowires (NiS₂ /CoS₂ -O NWs) for boosting OER catalysis through in situ electrochemical reaction of NiS₂ /CoS₂ interface NWs. Because of the abundant oxygen vacancies and interface porous nanowires structure, they can catalyze the OER efficiently with a low overpotential of 235 mV at j = 10 mA cm^-2 and remarkable long-term stability in 1.0 m KOH. The home-made rechargeable portable Zn-air batteries by using NiS₂ /CoS₂ -O NWs as the air-cathode display a very high open-circuit voltage of 1.49 V, which can maintain for more than 30 h. Most importantly, a highly efficient self-driven water splitting device is designed with NiS₂ /CoS₂ -O NWs as both anode and cathode, powered by two-series-connected NiS₂ /CoS₂ -O NWs-based portable Zn-air batteries. The present work opens a new way for designing oxygen vacancies dominated interface nanowires as highly efficient multifunctional electrocatalysts for electrochemical reactions and renewable energy devices.