The impact of social support on benefit finding among patients with advanced lung cancer and their caregivers: based on actor-partner interdependence mediation model

PURPOSE

Advanced lung cancer and its treatment serve as a sudden stressful event that profoundly impacts the psychological experience of both the patients and their primary caregiver. This study used dyadic analyses to explore the dyadic effects of social support on benefit finding and whether hope level mediates the patient-caregiver dyads in advanced lung cancer.

METHODS

Two hundred ninety-five pairs of patients with advanced lung cancer and primary caregivers completed the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), the Herth Hope Index (HHI), and the Benefit Finding Scale (BFS). Dyadic analyses were conducted using structural equation modelling based on the actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

RESULTS

The results indicated that for both patients (B = 0.259, 95% CI = 0.135-0.423, P < 0.001) and their primary caregivers (B = 0.596, 95% CI = 0.403-0.838, P < 0.001), hope level mediated the actor effect of social support on benefit finding; social support was positively associated with hope level and further enhanced benefit finding. Regarding partner effects (B = 0.242, 95% CI = 0.119-0.404, P < 0.001), primary caregivers' social support significantly indirectly affected patients' benefit finding through patients' hope level.

CONCLUSION

There is an interaction between social support, hope level, and benefit finding in patients with advanced lung cancer and their primary caregivers. Healthcare professionals ought to be vigilant in recognizing patients and caregivers who are vulnerable, have limited social support, and possess diminished hope levels. At the same time, nurses should provide timely psychological support and counseling to patients and their caregivers, encourage them to actively participate in social activities, and inspire their confidence and hope in life, thus improving their benefit findings.

[Analysis of ultrasound images features and diagnostic model establishment of alveolar soft part sarcoma and intramuscular capillary-type hemangiomas]

Objective: The ultrasonography features of alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) and intramuscular capillary-type hemangiomas (ICTH) were analyzed, and the diagnostic model of ASPS was established. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The clinical data of 52 patients [28 males and 24 females, aged (20.7±15.1) years] with pathologically confirmed ASPS and ICTH admitted to People's Hospital of Henan Province from January 2005 to February 2023 were included in the study. According to pathological types, the patients were divided into ASPS group and ICTH group. Clinical data of patients were retrospectively collected, and meaningful indicators in the univariate analysis were included in the regression analysis for screening. After comprehensive consideration of clinical significance and statistical significance, eligible indicators were selected for inclusion in the regression analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to screen the factors that distinguished the pathological types of ASPS and ICTH, and the diagnostic model was established. The area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of the diagnostic model in distinguishing ASPS from ICTH. Results: There were 20 patients in ASPS group, 10 males and 10 females, aged (26.9±13.5) years, and 32 patients in ICTH group, 18 males and 14 females, aged (16.8±15.0) years. The age difference between the ASPS group and the ICTH group was statistically significant (P<0.05), and there were statistically significant differences in the ultrasound imaging features of "clear boundary" "peripheral lobe" "thin blood vessels inside the lesion are straight and out of shape" "intra-lesion liquification" "peripheral thick blood vessels" and "peripheral muscle fiber disruption" between the two groups (all P<0.001).Variables with clinical and statistical significance were selected as independent variables. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that peripheral muscle fiber interruption (OR=97.358, 95%CI:6.833-1 387.249) and internal thin blood vessels were flat and out of shape (OR=0.052, 95%CI:0.003-0.921) was the correlation factor to distinguish the pathological types of ASPS and ICTH. Two ultrasonic image features of "peripheral muscle fiber interruption" and "internal thin blood vessels are straight and out of shape" were used to establish the diagnostic model. The sensitivity of "peripheral muscle fiber interruption" diagnostic model was 81.3%, and the specificity was 95.0%. The AUC was 0.811(95%CI: 0.761-0.954). The sensitivity, specificity and AUC of the diagnosis model of "internal thin vessels with flat misshape" were 90.0%, 96.9% and 0.934(95%CI: 0.830-0.984). The sensitivity, specificity and AUC of the combined diagnosis model of "peripheral muscle fiber interruption" and "internal thin blood vessel straight out of shape" were 96.9%, 90.0% and 0.974(95%CI:0.877-0.999). Conclusion: Ultrasonography can be used to distinguish ASPS from ICTH, and the combined diagnostic model based on the two ultrasonic imaging features of "peripheral muscle fiber interruption" and "internal thin blood vessel straight out of shape" can further improve the diagnostic efficiency.

Quantitative CT features on admission combined with laboratory biomarkers for predicting severe acute pancreatitis

AIM

To assess the association of quantitative computed tomography (CT) features on admission with acute pancreatitis (AP) severity, and to explore the performance of combined CT and laboratory markers for predicting severe AP (SAP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 208 AP patients were reviewed retrospectively. Pancreas volume, the area of extrapancreatic inflammation, extrapancreatic fluid collection volume, and number were calculated based on CT images on admission. Laboratory biomarkers within 24 h of admission were collected. Interobserver agreement for CT measurements was measured by calculating interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The associations of quantitative CT features with AP severity were evaluated. Predictive models for SAP were constructed based on CT and laboratory markers. Performances of single marker and the models were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Pancreas volume, area of extrapancreatic inflammation, extrapancreatic fluid collection volume, and number were significantly different between severe and non-severe AP groups. In predicting SAP, the AUCs of quantitative CT indicators ranged from 0.72 to 0.79; the AUCs of laboratory biomarkers were between 0.53 and 0.66. The combined model of area of extrapancreatic inflammation, serum calcium, and haematocrit yielded an AUC of 0.84, significantly higher than that of the laboratory model, single CT, or laboratory marker. Interobserver agreements for quantitative CT indicators were excellent, with ICC ranging from 0.91 to 0.98.

CONCLUSION

Quantitative CT features on admission were significantly associated with AP severity; the combination of extrapancreatic inflammation area, serum calcium, and haematocrit could be taken as a new method for predicting SAP.

Diamond-Like Carbon: A Surface for Extreme, High-Wear Environments

In this study, we present an in-depth characterization of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film, using a range of techniques to understand the structure and chemistry of the film both in the interior and particularly at the DLC/air surface and DLC/liquid interface. The DLC film is found to be a combination of sp2 and sp3 carbon, with significant oxygen present at the surface. The oxygen seems to be present as OH groups, making the DLC somewhat hydrophilic. Quartz-Crystal Microbalance (QCM) isotherms and complementary neutron reflectivity data indicate significant adsorption of a model additive, bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) surfactant, onto the DLC from water solutions and indicate the adsorbed film is a bilayer. This initial study of the structure and composition of a model surfactant is intended to give a clearer insight into how DLC and additives function as antiwear systems.

Beyond Vision: A View from Eye to Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

With the aging of the global population, the health care burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia is considered to increase dramatically in the coming decades. Given the insufficiency of effective interventions for AD and dementia, clinical research on identifying potentially modifiable risk factors and early diagnostic biomarkers becomes a public health priority. Currently, extracerebral manifestations with a large proportion of ocular involvement are usually recognized to precede the symptoms of AD and dementia. Growing epidemiologic evidence also suggests that eye disorders, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and so on, are closely associated with and even have a higher incidence of AD and dementia. The eye, as an extension of the central nervous system, therefore has the potential to provide a feasible approach to detecting structural and functional abnormalities of the brain. Numerous new imaging modalities are developed and give novel insights into the detection of several neurodegenerative, vascular, neuropathological, and other ocular abnormalities of AD and dementia in scientific research and clinical application. This review provides an overview of the epidemiologic associations between eye disorders and AD or dementia and summarizes the recent advances in ocular examinations and techniques employed for the detection of AD and dementia. With more brain-and-eye interconnections being identified, the eye is becoming a noninvasive and easily accessible window for the early diagnosis and prevention of AD and dementia.

Factors influencing the detection rate of fumarate peak in 1H MR spectroscopy of fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma at 3 T MRI

AIM

To identify factors that may be associated with fumarate detection rate in 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma (FH-RCC).

MATERIALS AND MEHODS

Between February 2018 and March 2022, 16 FH-RCC patients with 30 lesions underwent 1H-MRS. Detection results were classified as having a detected fumarate peak (n=12), undetected peak (n=10), or technical failure (n=8). Factors including tumour size, tumour location, treatment history, and metastasis status were collected and analysed. A Bayesian logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the association between these factors and the detection result.

RESULTS

Bayesian analysis demonstrated significant associations between fumarate detection results and the following factors: long-axis diameter (odds ratio [OR] of 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] of 1.07-2.53), short-axis diameter (OR of 1.90; 95% CI of 1.19-3.06), voxel size (OR of 2.85; 95% CI of 1.70-4.75), treatment history (OR of 0.35; 95% CI of 0.21-0.58), non-metastatic state (OR of 2.45; 95% CI of 1.48-4.06), and lymph node metastasis (OR of 0.35; 95% CI of 0.21-0.58). Technical failure results were associated with factors such as treatment history (OR of 2.59; 95% CI of 1.37-4.66), non-metastatic state (OR of 0.36; 95% CI of 0.19-0.66), and lymph node metastasis (OR of 2.61; 95% CI of 1.39-4.74).

CONCLUSION

Tumour size, treatment history, and metastasis character were associated with the detection of abnormal fumarate accumulation. This finding will serve as a reference for interpreting 1H-MRS results and for selecting suitable scenarios to evaluate FH-RCC.

Clonal hematopoiesis related TET2 loss-of-function impedes IL1β-mediated epigenetic reprogramming in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is defined as a single hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) gaining selective advantage over a broader range of HSPCs. When linked to somatic mutations in myeloid malignancy-associated genes, such as TET2-mediated clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential or CHIP, it represents increased risk for hematological malignancies and cardiovascular disease. IL1β is elevated in patients with CHIP, however, its effect is not well understood. Here we show that IL1β promotes expansion of pro-inflammatory monocytes/macrophages, coinciding with a failure in the demethylation of lymphoid and erythroid lineage associated enhancers and transcription factor binding sites, in a mouse model of CHIP with hematopoietic-cell-specific deletion of Tet2. DNA-methylation is significantly lost in wild type HSPCs upon IL1β administration, which is resisted by Tet2-deficient HSPCs, and thus IL1β enhances the self-renewing ability of Tet2-deficient HSPCs by upregulating genes associated with self-renewal and by resisting demethylation of transcription factor binding sites related to terminal differentiation. Using aged mouse models and human progenitors, we demonstrate that targeting IL1 signaling could represent an early intervention strategy in preleukemic disorders. In summary, our results show that Tet2 is an important mediator of an IL1β-promoted epigenetic program to maintain the fine balance between self-renewal and lineage differentiation during hematopoiesis.

Roxadustat protects rat renal tubular epithelial cells from hypoxia-induced injury through the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

Roxadustat is used to treat renal anemia. The renoprotective effect of roxadustat needs to be further confirmed, and the mechanism of action is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the effect and mechanism of roxadustat in hypoxia-related nephropathy with the renal tubular epithelial cell line NRK-52E.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was employed to assess cellular proliferation in the current investigation. Flow cytometry was used to conduct cell apoptosis analysis. The utilization of electron microscopy facilitated the identification of changes in cellular ultrastructure. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression trend of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). The connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad family member 3 (Smad3), p-Smad3, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and HIF-1α were assessed by western blotting. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA.

RESULTS

Significant growth inhibition and increased apoptosis were observed in NRK-52E cells cultured under hypoxic conditions (1% and 5% O2), which can be rescued by roxadustat. From a morphological perspective, it has been observed that roxadustat can counteract cellular damage features produced by hypoxia. These features include the contraction of the nuclear envelope and an increase in the formation of apoptotic bodies. Roxadustat increases HIF-1α expression acutely at 24 h, followed by a gradual reduction of HIF-1α expression to levels significantly below that of the hypoxia group by 72 h. Roxadustat can also inhibit hypoxia-induced increased expression of CTGF, TGF-β1, p-Smad3, α-SMA, collagen I, and HIF-1α. Combined treatment with roxadustat and siRNA against TGF-β1 synergistically reduced the expression of CTGF and HIF-1α, while the effect on TGF-β1 and p-Smad3 were comparable to that of the individual treatment alone. Comparably, the combined administration of roxadustat and siRNA targeting Smad3 had a synergistic impact on diminishing the expression of CTGF.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that roxadustat attenuates experimental renal fibrosis likely by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathways, while its effect on CTGF and HIF-1α may involve other signaling pathways.

Towards texture accurate slice interpolation of medical images using PixelMiner

Quantitative image analysis models are used for medical imaging tasks such as registration, classification, object detection, and segmentation. For these models to be capable of making accurate predictions, they need valid and precise information. We propose PixelMiner, a convolution-based deep-learning model for interpolating computed tomography (CT) imaging slices. PixelMiner was designed to produce texture-accurate slice interpolations by trading off pixel accuracy for texture accuracy. PixelMiner was trained on a dataset of 7829 CT scans and validated using an external dataset. We demonstrated the model's effectiveness by using the structural similarity index (SSIM), peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), and the root mean squared error (RMSE) of extracted texture features. Additionally, we developed and used a new metric, the mean squared mapped feature error (MSMFE). The performance of PixelMiner was compared to four other interpolation methods: (tri-)linear, (tri-)cubic, windowed sinc (WS), and nearest neighbor (NN). PixelMiner produced texture with a significantly lowest average texture error compared to all other methods with a normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) of 0.11 (p < .01), and the significantly highest reproducibility with a concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) ≥ 0.85 (p < .01). PixelMiner was not only shown to better preserve features but was also validated using an ablation study by removing auto-regression from the model and was shown to improve segmentations on interpolated slices.

Identification of novel characteristic biomarkers and immune infiltration profile for the anaplastic thyroid cancer via machine learning algorithms

PURPOSE

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and lethal malignant cancer. In recent years, the application of molecular-driven targeted therapy and immunotherapy has markedly improved the prognosis of ATC. This study aimed to identify characteristic genes for ATC diagnosis and revealed the role of ATC characteristic genes in drug sensitivity and immune cell infiltration.

METHODS

We downloaded ATC RNA-sequencing data from the GEO database. Following the combination and normalization of the dataset, we first divided the combined datasets into the training cohort and the validation cohort. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ATC by differential expression analysis in the training cohort. We used two machine learning algorithms, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) to identify ATC characteristic genes. The CIBERSORT algorithm was performed to calculate the abundance of various immune cells in ATC. Finally, we validated the expression of ATC characteristic genes by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) in ATC cell lines and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

A total of 425 DEGs were identified in the training cohort, including 240 upregulated genes and 185 downregulated genes. Four ATC characteristic genes (ADM, PXDN, MMP1, and TFF3) were identified, and their diagnostic value was validated in the validation cohort (AUC in ROC analysis > 0.75). We established a practical gene expression-based nomogram to accurately predict the probability of ATC. We also found that ATC characteristic biomarkers are associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and drug sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

ADM, PXDN, MMP1, and TFF3 might serve as potential ATC diagnostic biomarkers and may be helpful for ATC molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

[Application of branch-first technique in total thoracic aorta replacement: short and medium term effect of 11 cases]

Objective: To examine the short and medium term effect of branch-first technique in total thoracic aorta replacement. Methods: The clinical data of eleven patients with ascending aortic aneurysms or type A aortic dissection+Crawford Ⅰ or Ⅱ total thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm who were treated at Department of Cardiovascular Surgery in Henan Province Chest Hospital from January 2018 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 7 males and 4 females, aging (38±5) years (range: 28 to 45 years), 7 cases of whom were diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, 1 case was diagnosed with coarctation of aorta. Operations were performed under mild hypothermic and branch-first technique. Firstly, the middle and small incision in the chest was combined with the 6th intercostal incision in the left posterior lateral side. Secondly, four branches artificial blood vessels were anastomosed with the brachiocephalic artery to ensure the blood supply to the brain. After the circulation was blocked, intracardiac and aortic proximal operations were performed. Intercostal artery reconstruction and thoracic descending aorta replacement were completed after opening circulation. Results: The operative time of this group was (645.9±91.7) minutes (range: 505 to 840 minutes). One case had cerebral infarction and 1 case had chylothorax. The patients were followed up 4 to 47 months, 1 patient underwent thoracic and abdominal aorta+iliac artery resection and replacement due to the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm 3 months after operation. Intercostal artery obstruction occurred in 2 cases, and the rest lived well. Conclusions: One-stage whole thoracic aorta replacement with branch-first technique has satisfactory results in the short and medium term, with no risk of residual aortic aneurysm rupture. It is an effective treatment for young and organs function well patients with complex aortic lesions.

P15.11.A 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT to distinguish radiation necrosis from tumour progression in brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery: results of a prospective pilot study

Background

Amino acid PET radiopharmaceutical, 18F-fluciclovine, shows increased uptake in brain tumors relative to normal tissue and may be a useful tool for detecting recurrent brain metastases. Here, we report results from a prospective pilot study evaluating the use of 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT to distinguish radiation necrosis from tumour progression among patients with brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Material and Methods

The primary objective was to estimate the accuracy of 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT in distinguishing radiation necrosis from tumour progression. The trial included adults with brain metastases who underwent SRS and presented with a follow up MRI brain (with DSC MR perfusion) which was equivocal for radiation necrosis versus tumour progression. Within 30 days of equivocal MRI brain, patients underwent an 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT (Siemens mCT) acquired 5-15 min post-injection with images generated by PSF reconstruction. Quantitative metrics for each lesion were documented and lesion to normal brain SUVmean ratios were calculated. The reference standard for diagnosis of radiation necrosis vs tumour progression was clinical follow up with MRI brain every 2-4 months until multidisciplinary consensus or tissue confirmation.

Results

Of 16 patients enrolled between 7/2019-11/2020, 1 patient died prior to diagnosis, allowing 15 evaluable subjects with 20 lesions. Primary histology was NSCLC in 9 (45%) lesions, breast in 7 (35%), melanoma in 3 (15%), and endometrial in 1 (5%). The final diagnosis was radiation necrosis in 16 (80%) lesions and tumour progression in 4 (20%). SUVmax was a statistically significant predictor of tumour progression (P = 0.011), with higher SUVmax values indicative of tumour progression. The area under the ROC curve was 0.833 (95% CI: 0.590, 1.0). A cutoff of 4.3 provided a sensitivity to identify tumour progression of 1.0 (4/4) and specificity to rule out tumour progression of 0.63 (10/16). SUVmean (P = 0.018), SUVpeak (P = 0.007), and SUVpeak/normal (P = 0.002) also reached statistical significance as predictors of tumour progression, with higher SUVmax values indicative of tumour progression. SUVmax/normal (P = 0.1) and SUVmean/normal (P = 0.5) were not statistically significant. The AUC for SUVmax was not significantly higher than the AUCs for the other quantitative variables (P-values &gt; 0.2).

Conclusion

In this prospective pilot study, 18F Fluciclovine PET/CT demonstrated promising accuracy to distinguish radiation necrosis from tumour progression among patients with brain metastases previously treated with SRS. Using SUVmax, a cutpoint of 4.3 provided a sensitivity of 1.0 and specificity of 0.63. Confirmatory phase II and III studies are ongoing.

3D-Stacked Multistage Inertial Microfluidic Chip for High-Throughput Enrichment of Circulating Tumor Cells

Whether for cancer diagnosis or single-cell analysis, it remains a major challenge to isolate the target sample cells from a large background cell for high-efficiency downstream detection and analysis in an integrated chip. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a 3D-stacked multistage inertial microfluidic sorting chip for high-throughput enrichment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and convenient downstream analysis. In this chip, the first stage is a spiral channel with a trapezoidal cross-section, which has better separation performance than a spiral channel with a rectangular cross-section. The second and third stages adopt symmetrical square serpentine channels with different rectangular cross-section widths for further separation and enrichment of sample cells reducing the outlet flow rate for easier downstream detection and analysis. The multistage channel can separate 5 μm and 15 μm particles with a separation efficiency of 92.37% and purity of 98.10% at a high inlet flow rate of 1.3 mL/min. Meanwhile, it can separate tumor cells (SW480, A549, and Caki-1) from massive red blood cells (RBCs) with a separation efficiency of >80%, separation purity of >90%, and a concentration fold of ~20. The proposed work is aimed at providing a high-throughput sample processing system that can be easily integrated with flowing sample detection methods for rapid CTC analysis.

Lactobacillus acidophilus and HKL Suspension Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis in Rats by Regulating Gut Microbiota, Suppressing TLR9, and Promoting Metabolism

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory bowel disease with complex pathogenesis. The intestinal flora disturbance affects the homeostasis of the intestinal environment, leading to metabolic imbalance and immune abnormalities of the host, contributing to the perpetuation of intestinal inflammation. We suggest that the combination of anti-inflammatory therapy and the regulation of intestinal flora balance may help in the treatment process. Previously, we used a combination treatment consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus (Lac) and Chinese medicine Huan Kui Le (HKL) suspension in a UC rat model, where the combined intervention was more effective than either treatment alone. Herein, the mechanism of action of this combined treatment has been investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA methods in the colon, and untargeted metabolomics profiling in serum. Colon protein expression levels of IL-13 and TGF-β were upregulated, whereas those of TLR9 and TLR4 were downregulated, consistent with an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, gut microbiota structure changed, shown by a decrease in opportunistic pathogens correlated with intestinal inflammation, such as Klebsiella and Escherichia-Shigella, and an increase in beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium. The latter correlated positively with IL-13 and TGF-β and negatively with IFN-γ. Finally, this treatment alleviated the disruption of the metabolic profile observed in UC rats by increasing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)–producing bacteria in the colonic epithelium. This combination treatment also affected the metabolism of lactic acid, creatine, and glycine and inhibited the growth of Klebsiella. Overall, we suggest that treatment combining probiotics and traditional Chinese medicine is a novel strategy beneficial in UC that acts by modulating gut microbiota and its metabolites, TLR9, and cytokines in different pathways.

The Antitumor Effect and Mechanism of Total Flavonoids From Coreopsis Tinctoria Nutt (Snow Chrysanthemum) on Lung Cancer Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt (C. tinctoria), also known as Snow Chrysanthemum, is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids. It has important pharmacological effects such as lowering blood lipids, regulating blood glucose, and anti-tumor effect. However, its anti-tumor mechanism has not yet been investigated thoroughly. This study aimed to explore the anti-tumor effect of total flavonoids extracted from C. tinctoria (CTFs) on lung cancer and the possible mechanism. The components of CTFs were analyzed using Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The active components of CTFs were screened according to oral bioavailability (OB) and drug-likeness (DL). Totally, 68 components of CTFs were identified and 23 active components were screened. Network pharmacological analysis on the active components identified 288 potential targets associated with lung cancer. After protein-protein interaction (PPI) network topology analysis, 17 key protein targets including Akt1, MAPK1, TP53, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Bax, GSK3B and CCND1 were screened. The molecular docking results showed that the active components of CTFs had good binding activity with key targets. GO and KEGG analysis of candidate targets found that the main enrichment was in PI3K/Akt-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Finally, according to the results of network pharmacology, the potential molecular mechanism of CTFs intervention in lung cancer was validated experimentally in vitro and in vivo. The experimental validation results demonstrated that the antitumor activity of CTFs on lung cancer may be related to inhibiting the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and activating the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway.

Molecular simulation of linear octacosane via a CG10 coarse grain scheme

Following our previous work on the united-atom simulation on octacosane (C₂₈H₅₈) (Dai et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021, 23, 21262-21271), we developed a coarse grain scheme (CG10), which is able to reproduce the pivotal phase characteristics of octacosane with highly improved computational efficiency. The CG10 octacosane chain was composed of 10 consecutive beads, maintaining the fundamental zigzag chain morphology. When the potential functions were set up and the coefficients were parameterized, our CG10 models yielded solid phase diagrams and transitions during an annealing process. We also detected the melting point by various means: direct observation, bond order, density tracking, and an enthalpy plot. Furthermore, our CG10 successfully reproduced the liquid density with only 2% underestimation, indicating its applicability across the solid and liquid phases. Therefore, with the ability to reproduce critical structure and property characteristics, our CG10 scheme provides an effective means of numerically modelling octacosane with highly improved computational efficiency.

Large Culprit Plaque and More Intracranial Plaques Are Associated with Recurrent Stroke: A Case-Control Study Using Vessel Wall Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intracranial atherosclerotic plaque features are potential factors associated with recurrent stroke, but previous studies only focused on a single lesion, and few studies investigated them with perfusion impairment. This study aimed to investigate the association among whole-brain plaque features, perfusion deficit, and stroke recurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with ischemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerosis were retrospectively collected and categorized into first-time and recurrent-stroke groups. Patients underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging and DSC-PWI. Intracranial plaque number, culprit plaque features (such as plaque volume/burden, degree of stenosis, enhancement ratio), and perfusion deficit variables were recorded. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent factors associated with recurrent stroke.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-five patients (mean age, 59 [SD, 12] years; 115 men) were included. Compared with the first-time stroke group (n = 100), the recurrent-stroke group (n = 75) had a larger culprit volume (P = .006) and showed more intracranial plaques (P < .001) and more enhanced plaques (P = .003). After we adjusted for other factors, culprit plaque volume (OR, 1.16 per 10-mm³ increase; 95% CI, 1.03-1.30; P = .015) and total plaque number (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.13-1.52; P < .001) were independently associated with recurrent stroke. Combining these factors increased the area under the curve to 0.71.

CONCLUSIONS

Large culprit plaque and more intracranial plaques were independently associated with recurrent stroke. Performing whole-brain vessel wall imaging may help identify patients with a higher risk of recurrent stroke.

Comparison of clinical outcome between stereotactic body radiotherapy and radiofrequency ablation for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a novel noninvasive treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Whether its efficacy is comparable to radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a recommended therapy for unresectable HCC, is unknown. The present study aims to compare the clinical outcome between SBRT and RFA for patients with unresectable HCC.The clinical data of 60 patients with unresectable HCC from January 2018 to January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 22 cases treated by SBRT and 38 cases by RFA. The short-term and long-term clinical outcomes were compared.There was no significant difference in the baseline demographic characteristics between two groups. The complete remission rate at 3 months was comparable between SBRT group (81.8%) and RFA group (89.4%). Local tumor control rate was also similar between two groups (90.9% vs. 94.7%). There was no severe complication (grade IIIa or above) in both groups. The 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates were 88.2% and 85.7% in SBRT group and 100% and 75% in RFA group, respectively. There was no statistical significant difference between groups (P = .576).SBRT can achieve similar short and long-term clinical outcome as RFA for unresectable HCC. Future prospective clinical study is needed to justify its role in patients with HCC.

[Outcome of radiotherapy for low-risk early-stage patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal-type]

Objective: To evaluate the prognosis and determine the failure patterns after radiotherapy for low-risk early-stage patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal-type (ENKTCL). Methods: A total of 557 patients from 2000-2015 with low-risk early-stage ENKTCL who received radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy (CT) from China Lymphoma Collaborative Group were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 427 patients received combined modality therapy, whereas 130 patients received RT alone. Survivals were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared with Log-rank test. Overall survival (OS) was compared with age and sex-matched general Chinese population using expected survival and standardized mortality ratio (SMR). Cox stepwise regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The 5-year OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were 87.2% and 77.2%. The SMR was 3.59 (P<0.001) at 1 year after treatment, whereas it was 1.50 at 4 years after treatment, without significant difference between ENKTCL group and country-matched general population (P=0.146). Compared with RT alone, CMT did not result in significantly superior 5-year OS (87.0% vs 87.4%, P=0.961) or PFS (76.1% vs 80.7%, P=0.129). Local failure (11.5%, 64/557) and distant failure (10.8%, 60/557) were the main failure modes, while regional failure was rare (2.9%, 16/557). The 5-year locoregional control rate (LRC) was 87.2% for the whole group, with 89.5% for ≥50 Gy versus 73.7% for <50 Gy (P<0.001). Radiotherapy dose was an independent factor affecting LRC(P<0.05). Conclusions: Radiotherapy achieves a favorable prognosis in patients with low-risk early-stage ENKTCL. The incidence of either locoregional or distant failure is low. Radiation dose still is an important prognostic factor for LRC.

Electrochemical sulfonylation of enamides with sodium sulfinates to access β-amidovinyl sulfones

The electrochemical sulfonylation of enamides with sodium sulfinates was developed in an undivided cell in constant current mode, leading to the formation of β-amidovinyl sulfones in moderate to good yields. The catalyst-, electrolyte- and oxidant-free protocol features good functional group tolerance and employs electric current as a green oxidant. Mechanistic insights into the reaction indicate that the reaction may proceed via a radical mechanism.

On the intersystem crossing rate in a Platinum(II) donor-bridge-acceptor triad

The rates of ultrafast intersystem crossing in acceptor-bridge-donor molecules centered on Pt(II) acetylides are investigated. Specifically, a Pt(II) trans-acetylide triad NAP--Pt--Ph-CH₂-PTZ [1], with acceptor 4-ethynyl-N-octyl-1,8-naphthalimide (NAP) and donor phenothiazine (PTZ), is examined in detail. We have previously shown that optical excitation in [1] leads to a manifold of singlet charge-transfer states, S*, which evolve via a triplet charge-transfer manifold into a triplet state ³NAP centered on the acceptor ligand and partly to a charge-separated state ³CSS (NAP^--Pt-PTZ⁺). A complex cascade of electron transfer processes was observed, but intersystem crossing (ISC) rates were not explicitly resolved due to lack of spin selectivity of most ultrafast spectroscopies. Here we revisit the question of ISC with a combination and complementary analysis of (i) transient absorption, (ii) ultrafast broadband fluorescence upconversion, FLUP, which is only sensitive to emissive states, and (iii) femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy, FSR. Raman resonance conditions allow us to observe S* and ³NAP exclusively by FSR, through vibrations which are pertinent only to these two states. This combination of methods enabled us to extract the intersystem crossing rates that were not previously accessible. Multiple timescales (1.6 ps to ∼20 ps) are associated with the rise of triplet species, which can now be assigned conclusively to multiple ISC pathways from a manifold of hot charge-transfer singlet states. The analysis is consistent with previous transient infrared spectroscopy data. A similar rate of ISC, up to 20 ps, is observed in the trans-acetylide NAP--Pt--Ph [2] which maintains two acetylide groups across the platinum center but lacks a donor unit, whilst removal of one acetylide group in mono-acetylide NAP--Pt-Cl [3] leads to >10-fold deceleration of the intersystem crossing process. Our work provides insight on the intersystem crossing dynamics of the organo-metallic complexes, and identifies a general method based on complementary ultrafast spectroscopies to disentangle complex spin, electronic and vibrational processes following photoexcitation.

Molecular dynamics simulation of octacosane for phase diagrams and properties via the united-atom scheme

We used the united-atom scheme to build three types of crystalline structures for octacosane (C₂₈H₅₈) and carried out molecular dynamics simulations to investigate their phase properties. By gradually heating the three polymorphs, we managed to reproduce the sequence of experimentally reported crystalline phases and rotator phases. By studying the system density, molecule morphology, chain tilt angle and cell anisotropy, we hypothesized three mechanisms behind the observed system deformations and phase transformations during the annealing process. Furthermore, our model successfully predicted the melting temperature and heat of fusion. We also reproduced the characteristics of the rotator phases and the liquid phase, validating the transferability of the united-atom scheme among the different condensed phases of octacosane. Our methodology represents an effective and efficient means of numerical study for octacosane and may be used for other members of the n-alkane family.

Decreased fasting serum glucogenic amino acids with a higher compared to normal protein diet during energy restriction in women: a randomized controlled trial

Dietary protein alters circulating amino acid (AAs) levels and higher protein intake (HP) is one means of losing weight. We examined 34 overweight and obese women (57 ± 4 years) during 6 months of energy restriction (7.3 ± 3.8% weight loss) divided into groups consuming either normal protein (NP; 18.6 energy% protein) or HP (24.3 energy% protein). There was a reduction in fasting serum glucogenic AAs (p = 0.015) that also associated with greater weight loss (p < 0.05) in the HP group, but not in the NP group. These findings have implications for nutrient prioritization during energy restriction.

Yb(OTf)3-Mediated Regioselective Hydroamination of Ynamides with Anilines and p-Toluenesulfonamide

A rare-earth salt Yb(OTf)3-catalyzed regioselective hydroamination of ynamides with anilines and p-toluenesulfonamide has been developed. This protocol provided facile access to a diverse range of amidines with good functional group tolerance in moderate to high yields.

Genome-wide scanning for CHD1L gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) represents the most common subtype of thyroid cancer (TC). This study was set out to explore the potential effect of CHD1L on PTC and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

We searched for T2DM susceptibility genes through the GWAS database and obtained T2DM-related differentially expressed gene from the GEO database. The expression and clinical data of TC and normal samples were collated from the TCGA database. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was subsequently applied to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the CHD1L for the diagnosis of PTC. The MCP-counter package in R language was then utilized to generate immune cell score to evaluate the relationship between CHD1L expression and immune cells. Then, we performed functional enrichment analysis of co-expressed genes and DEGs to determine significantly enriched GO terms and KEGG to predict the potential functions of CHD1L in PTC samples and T2DM adipose tissue.

RESULTS

From two genes (ABCB9, CHD1L) were identified to be DEGs (p < 1 * 10^-5) that exerted effects on survival (HR > 1, p < 0.05) in PTC and served as T2DM susceptibility genes. The gene expression matrix-based scoring of immunocytes suggested that PTC samples with high and low CHD1L expression presented with significant differences in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The enrichment analysis of CHD1L co-expressed genes and DEGs suggested that CHD1L was involved in multiple pathways to regulate the development of PTC. Among them, Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection, salmonella infection and TNF signaling pathways were highlighted as the three most relevant pathways. GSEA analysis, employed to analyze the genome dataset of PTC samples and T2DM adipose tissue presenting with high and low expression groups of CHD1L, suggests that these differential genes are related to chemokine signaling pathway, leukocyte transendothelial migration and TCELL receptor signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

CHD1L may potentially serve as an early diagnostic biomarker for PTC, and a target of immunotherapy for PTC and T2DM.

MiRNA-324-5p inhibits inflammatory response of diabetic vessels by targeting CPT1A

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the regulatory role of microRNA-324-5p (miRNA-324-5p) in inhibiting inflammatory response of diabetic vessels by regulating CPT1A level, thus alleviating the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Arterial vessels (splenic artery) and serum exosomes were extracted from 30 T2DM patients and 30 non-T2DM subjects treated in Binzhou People's Hospital from 2015 to 2019. Relative levels of miRNA-324-5p and CPT1A in each subject were detected. Then, VSMCs were induced with high-glucose, followed by detection of inflammatory factor levels. Next, the regulatory effects of miRNA-324-5p and CPT1A on viability, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU)-positive ratio, and release of inflammatory factors in VSMCs were determined. Finally, Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify the interaction between miRNA-324-5p and CPT1A.

RESULTS

The results revealed that compared with non-T2DM subjects, miRNA-324-5p was downregulated in splenic arteries and exosomes in T2DM patients. High-glucose treatment in VSMCs triggered the release of the inflammatory factors. In addition, the overexpression of miRNA-324-5p in VSMCs reduced viability and inflammatory factor levels, and the inhibited trends were partially reversed by overexpression of CPT1A. CPT1A was indicated to be the target gene binding miRNA-324-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

MiRNA-324-5p exerts an inhibitory effect on T2DM-induced inflammation in blood vessels by negatively regulating CPT1A level and reducing the release of inflammatory factors. MiRNA-324-5p might be a promising therapeutic target for T2DM.

Multiclass CBCT Image Segmentation for Orthodontics with Deep Learning

Accurate segmentation of the jaw (i.e., mandible and maxilla) and the teeth in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans is essential for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Although various (semi)automated methods have been proposed to segment the jaw or the teeth, there is still a lack of fully automated segmentation methods that can simultaneously segment both anatomic structures in CBCT scans (i.e., multiclass segmentation). In this study, we aimed to train and validate a mixed-scale dense (MS-D) convolutional neural network for multiclass segmentation of the jaw, the teeth, and the background in CBCT scans. Thirty CBCT scans were obtained from patients who had undergone orthodontic treatment. Gold standard segmentation labels were manually created by 4 dentists. As a benchmark, we also evaluated MS-D networks that segmented the jaw or the teeth (i.e., binary segmentation). All segmented CBCT scans were converted to virtual 3-dimensional (3D) models. The segmentation performance of all trained MS-D networks was assessed by the Dice similarity coefficient and surface deviation. The CBCT scans segmented by the MS-D network demonstrated a large overlap with the gold standard segmentations (Dice similarity coefficient: 0.934 ± 0.019, jaw; 0.945 ± 0.021, teeth). The MS-D network–based 3D models of the jaw and the teeth showed minor surface deviations when compared with the corresponding gold standard 3D models (0.390 ± 0.093 mm, jaw; 0.204 ± 0.061 mm, teeth). The MS-D network took approximately 25 s to segment 1 CBCT scan, whereas manual segmentation took about 5 h. This study showed that multiclass segmentation of jaw and teeth was accurate and its performance was comparable to binary segmentation. The MS-D network trained for multiclass segmentation would therefore make patient-specific orthodontic treatment more feasible by strongly reducing the time required to segment multiple anatomic structures in CBCT scans.

Y-shaped airway self-expanding covered metallic stent removal via the interventional technique

AIM

To review the removal of Y-shaped airway self-expanding covered metallic stents using the interventional technique under fluoroscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical data of 33 patients who underwent removal of Y-shaped airway self-expanding covered metallic stents from March 2011 to August 2019 were analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS

A total of 35 Y-shaped stents were removed. The average indwelling duration of the tracheal stents was 101.7 ± 105.4 days. Four cases were removed via the conventional method (grasping the upper tip of the stent to collapse and adduct the proximal end of the stent), whereas 31 cases were removed using the reversal method (grasping the distal end of the stent to invert and strip out the stent). The duration of stent removal was 24.3 ± 12.4 minutes (median time, 20 minutes).

CONCLUSION

The interventional radiology technique is a feasible, safe, and effective method for removing Y-shaped airway self-expanding covered metallic stents, and can be considered for use in the clinical setting.

A3 THE LOSS OF THE CIRCADIAN CLOCK GENE BMAL1 INCREASES TUMOUR INITIATION IN APCMIN MICE

Background

Circadian rhythms are autonomously running 24h cycles in bodily processes. In animals these rhythms are driven by a molecular time keeper known as the circadian clock. The clock is a transcription-translation feedback loop composed of the transcription factors Bmal1 and Clock as well as their repressors Per and Cry. The circadian clock regulates over 40% of the genome rhythmically. Chronic circadian disruption, in the case of shift work, can lead to pathologies including cancer. Colorectal cancer is most frequently initiated through a mutation in the Wnt pathway regulator, Apc. Several studies have attempted to provide a mechanistic link between cancer and circadian clock disruption but the use of mice on mixed genetic backgrounds and poor circadian models have made this link unclear.

Aims

We aim to determine if the circadian clock plays a role in intestinal tumourigenesis.

Methods

We crossed the Apcmin mouse strain, a common intestinal tumour model, with Bmal1 mutant mice, which lack a functioning circadian clock. After creating an isogenic strain, we examined the number of tumours in control (Bmal1+/+) and clock dead (Bmal1-/-) animals. We derived organoids, a 3D cell culture method, from Apc+/+; Bmal1+/+ (healthy, clock-live), Apc+/+, Bmal1-/-(healthy, clock-dead), Apcmin; Bmal1+/+(adenoma, clock-live), Apcmin; Bmal1-/- (adenoma, clock-live) mouse ileum and collected every 2h from 24-48h after synchronizing their circadian clock. Collected samples were sent for RNA sequencing and assessed for circadian regulated transcripts. This experiment was followed up by in vitro organoid assays.

Results

The circadian clock controls 41 genes in the intestinal epithelium, including genes like Tead4 which are known to be important in intestinal biology. There are twofold more tumours in Bmal1-/- mice than their Bmal1+/+ littermates, and Bmal1-/- tumours upregulate Tead4 and Hippo pathway targets and downregulate Wnt pathway targets. Bmal1-/- adenoma organoids show increased self-renewal when compared to Bmal1+/+ adenoma organoids. However, this increase in self-renewal is lost when organoids are treated with inhibitors of the hippo pathway.

Conclusions

The circadian clock is important in maintaining the health of an organism, and disruption of the clock can lead to many health consequences including cancer. We show for the first time that the circadian clock controls the hippo signaling mediator Tead4. Additionally, we show that the loss of the clock leads to an increase in the number of tumours present in the epithelium which are characterized by an increase in hippo signaling. This research shows the important of considering time of day when studying stem cells during homeostasis and in cancer.

Funding Agencies

CIHRNSERC