Real-time holographic quantitative measurement of vapor density distribution of suspended droplets

We applied digital holography (DH) technology in a quantitative measurement of the density distribution of a low refractive index transparent substance (e.g., the vapor of suspended droplets). An optical setup was built based on the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A measurement performance test showed the mean relative error of the measurement error was about 2.0%; that of the environment disturbance error was about 0.47%. By a quantitative method to assess the precision limit, the temperature measurement precision could achieve 0.01°C, and the vapor density measurement precision could achieve 0.0001kg/m³. We believe that all the benefits above make the setup a good choice for application in the Chinese space station.

TGF-β blockade-improved chemo-immunotherapy with pH/ROS cascade-responsive micelle via tumor microenvironment remodeling

Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and low delivery efficiency severely impede the tumor chemotherapy effect. To address this issue, we develop a pH/ROS cascade-responsive prodrug micelle to deliver siTGF-β with size-shrinkage and charge-reversal property, leading to synergistical tumor microenvironment remodeling. The nanosystem highly improved endocytosis efficiency and tumor penetration depth through charge reversal and size reduction upon exposure to weakly acidic tumor microenvironment. Moreover, the nanocarrier would rapidly escape from endo/lysosome, disassemble and release siTGF-β and hydroxycamptothecin in response to high intracellular ROS. Furthermore, the nanosystem significantly boosted antitumor immune response and reduced immune tolerance with remodeling tumor microenvironment, which significantly prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing mice (75% survival rate upon 35 days). It is realized by the combined effects of chemotherapy-enhanced immunogenicity and recruitment of effector T cells, TGF-β-blockade immunotherapy-activated inhibition immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and regulation physical tumor microenvironment via reducing the dense tumor extracellular matrix and the high tumor interstitial pressure obstacles. To this end, the nanosystem not only overcame biobarriers and reinforced antitumor immune response, but also effectively inhibited tumor growth, metastasis and recurrence in vivo.

[The change of quality of life in 52 patients with non-severe aplastic anemia after cyclosporine A therapy]

目的

研究非重型再生障碍性贫血（NSAA）患者接受环孢素A（CsA）治疗前后生活质量的变化，并分析生活质量改善的影响因素。

方法

收集2014年1月至2016年1月在北京协和医院门诊初次治疗、仅使用CsA的NSAA患者，在治疗前和治疗2年后分别填写SF-36量表，与正常中国人模型（常模）比较；并调查评估患者的年龄、性别、文化程度、家庭年收入、付费方式、依从性、治疗前一般健康状况及治疗2年后的疗效，分析其与生活质量改善的关系。

结果

共52例患者符合入组条件，其中男性27例（51.9％），女性25例（48.1％），中位年龄48（21～85）岁。CsA治疗2年，完全治疗反应（CR）15例（28.8％），部分治疗反应（PR）25例（48.1％），无治疗反应（NR）12例（23.1％），治疗总有效率（CR+PR）76.9％。患者治疗前SF-36量表躯体和心理健康得分差于常模（P值均<0.05）。治疗后，躯体方面及总体生活质量虽仍然低于常模（P值均<0.05），但心理健康与常模比较差异无统计学意义（P值均>0.05），精力（VT）、精神健康（MH）得分高于常模［VT：（58.8±20.1）分对（52.3±20.9）分，P＝0.023；MH：（65.9±17.6）分对（59.7±22.9）分，P＝0.014］。不同社会背景与生活质量改善均无显著相关性。起病时体能状况评分（ECOG评分）较低者生活质量改善更大。CsA治疗有效者生活质量均得到显著改善。

结论

NSAA患者生活质量低于常人，CsA治疗可以改善患者的生活质量，尤其是心理健康情况。不同社会背景的患者均可从治疗中获益，而起病较重者获益更大。

Early drain removal does not increase the rate of surgical site infections following an open transversus abdominis release

PURPOSE

Intraoperative drain placement during an open transversus abdominis release (TAR) is common practice. However, evidence detailing the optimal timing of drain removal is lacking. Surgical dogma teaches that drains should remain in place until output is minimal. This practice increases the risk of drain-associated complications (infection, pain, and skin irritation) and prolongs the burden of surgical drain maintenance. The objective of this study is to review infectious outcomes following TAR with early or late drain removal.

METHODS

Patients who underwent an open bilateral TAR from 1/2018 to 1/2020 were eligible for the study. Prior to 2019, one of the two intraoperative drains was left in place at discharge. In 2019, clinical practice shifted to remove both drains at hospital discharge irrespective of output. The rate of infectious morbidity was compared between the two cohorts.

RESULTS

A total of 184 patients were included: 89 late and 95 early drain removal. No differences in wound complications existed between the two cohorts: surgical site occurrence (SSO): 21.3% vs. 18.9% (p = 0.68); surgical site infection (SSI): 14.6% vs. 10.5% (p = 0.40); abscess: 8.9% vs. 4.2% (p = 0.20); seroma: 6.7% vs. 10.5% (p = 0.36); cellulitis: 14.6% vs. 8.4% (p = 0.19%); or SSO requiring procedural intervention (SSOPI): 5.6% vs. 5.2% (p = 0.92). Rates of antibiotic prescription and 30-day readmission were also similar (p = 0.69 and p = 0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

Early removal of abdominal wall surgical drains at discharge irrespective of drain output does not increase the prevalence of infectious morbidity following TAR. It is likely safe to remove all drains at discharge regardless of drain output.

[Effect of posterior lumbar fusion on the degeneration of adjacent segments using cortical bone trajectory screw fixation]

Objective: To compare the degenerative changes of adjacent segments after posterior lumbar fusion surgery using cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screws and pedicle screws (PS) in lumbar spinal degenerative disease. Methods: According to certain inclusion and exclusion criteria, prospective non-randomized study on cases of the single-segment lumbar spinal fusion surgery using cortical bone trajectory screws fixation and pedicle screws fixation in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from January 2015 to February 2016 was performed. The intervertebral space height (ISH), foramen height (FH), foramen width (FW), cephalad adjacent segment (CAS) and intervertebral disc degeneration grades at MRI scans were measured before surgery and during follow-up. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by Oswestry Dysfunction Index (ODI) score and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) before and during the follow-up. Radiologic adjacent segment degeneration (R-ASD) and symptomatic adjacent segment disease (S-ASD) patients were diagnosed during the follow-up. Paired sample t test was performed when data were compared before surgery and during follow-up. Results: A total of 69 patients were included in the study, 33 in the CBT group (male/female, 15/18), with an average age of (65±11) years, and 36 in the PS group (male/female, 17/19), with an average age of (64±10) years. The follow-up time was no less than 36 months. At the last follow-up, the ISH of the adjacent segments in the CBT group were not statistically different from that before surgery; the ISH of the adjacent segments in the PS group were significantly reduced compared with that before surgery (t=6.78, P<0.05). The loss of ISH, FH, and FW in the adjacent segments in the CBT group were smaller than those in the PS group, and the differences were statistically significant. During follow-up, 4 cases (12.1%) of R-ASD and no S-ASD were found in the CBT group, while 12 cases (33.3%) of R-ASD appeared in the PS group, which was significantly higher than that in the CBT group (χ(2)=4.35, P=0.04). According to MRI, the adjacent discs of PS group had significantly more severe degeneration at the last follow-up than the CBT group (Z=-2.14, P=0.03). Conclusions: Compared with the PS fixation fusion, the CBT screw fixation can effectively reduce the occurrence of adjacent segment degeneration.

LncRNA LINC02418 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells by regulating miR-4677-3p/SEC61G

OBJECTIVE

Increasing studies indicated that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has crucial roles in cancer development, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). LINC02418 was reported to promote colorectal cancer development. However, whether LINC02418 has a role in NSCLC remains to be explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, expression level of LINC02418 in NSCLC tissues and normal tissues was analyzed at ENCORI. Moreover, expression level of LINC02418 in NSCLC cells and normal cell was analyzed with quantitative real-time PCR. Cell counting kit-8 assay, transwell invasion assay, and flow cytometry assay were used to analyze cell proliferation, cell invasion, and cell apoptosis.

RESULTS

LINC02418 was found as upregulated expression in both NSCLC tissues and cells. Functional assays showed that LINC02418 knockdown suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion but promoted cell apoptosis, while the overexpression of LINC02418 exerts opposite effects. Mechanistically, we showed LINC02418 could interact with microRNA-4677-3p (miR-4677-3p) to regulate Sec61 gamma subunit (SEC61G) expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that LINC02418 functions as an oncogene, and regulated miR-4677-3p/SEC61G axis to accelerate NSCLC progression.