[Characteristics and clinical analysis of MLH1 c.463dupC gene mutation in a Lynch syndrome family]

In this study, a case of Lynch syndrome (LS) family line with a novel mutation site in the MLH1 c.463dupC gene was reported and the clinical and pathogenic genetic features of this family were analyzed. A 40-year-old female patient with colon cancer diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University on October 2, 2020 was retrospectively included. The clinical data of the family were collected and the family lineage was drawn. The family tumor history met the Amsterdam Criteria Ⅱ and the diagnostic criteria of LS in Chinese, which was a typical LS family lineage. A germline code-shift missense mutation c.463dupC in the MLH1 gene located in exon 6, a possible pathogenic variant, was detected by second-generation sequencing (NGS) in the patient. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing was performed on a total of 20 direct lineage members of the family of the MLH1 gene, 7 cases were found to harbor the mutation and included in the LS high-risk control. Follow-up to October 2023 showed that the patient had endometrial and cervical polyps, one case had colorectal cancer, and two cases had intestinal polyps, all were treated with early intervention and therapy; two cases did not show any clinical symptoms. This study is the first to report a new mutation site for the potentially pathogenic MLH1 c.463dupC, providing a rationale for the pathogenicity of the mutation and standardized health management for familial carriers.

[Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell tumor treated with DVT regimen: a case report and literature review]

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and highly aggressive hematological malignancy, there is no standard treatment and the prognosis is very poor. Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University report a case of 85-year-old BPDCN male patient treated with DVT regimen (decitabine combined with Venetoclax and thalidomide) and achieved complete remission. The patient with skin nodules and the pathology diagnosed BPDCN, the next generation sequencing of skin nodules showed mutations of IDH2 and ASXL1. DVT (decitabine combined with Venetoclax and thalidomide) has significant efficacy with rapid and deep remission for BPDCN, and the adverse effects is less, especially suitable for elderly patients who cannot tolerate intense chemotherapy.

[Metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objectives: To investigate the value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Methods: The data of 98 patients with suspected pulmonary infection after allo-HSCT who underwent pathogen detection from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid between June 2016 and August 2023 at Nanfang Hospital were analyzed. The diagnostic performance of mNGS, conventional methods, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for PJP were compared. Results: A total of 12 patients were diagnosed with PJP, including 11 with a proven diagnosis and 1 with a probable diagnosis. Among the patients with a proven diagnosis, 1 was positive by both conventional methods and qPCR, and 10 were positive by qPCR only. Pneumocystis jirovecii was detected by mNGS in all 12 patients. The diagnostic sensitivity of mNGS for PJP was 100%, which was greater than that of conventional methods (8.3%, P=0.001) and similar to that of qPCR (91.6%, P=1.000) . A total of 75% of the patients developed mixed pulmonary infections, and cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus were the most common pathogens. Mixed infection was detected in eight patients by mNGS and in five patients by qPCR, but not by conventional methods (P=0.008) . Conclusions: mNGS had good sensitivity for diagnosing PJP after allo-HSCT and was advantageous for detecting mixed infectious pathogens; therefore, mNGS might be an effective supplement to regular detection methods and qPCR.

[An investigation on the nutritional status and support of in-patients with common variable immunodeficiency]

The study aimed to reveal for the first time the clinical characteristics, nutritional and metabolic status and support of hospitalized patients with common variant immunodeficiency disease (CVID), and provide reference to improve the long-term nutritional management for such patients. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Through searching the electronic medical record system of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the study included 33 consecutive in-patients with CVID diagnosed in Jan 2016 to Jun 2021, with the male to female ratio of 16∶17. All their medical data, nutritional assessment and intervention retrospectively summarized and analyzed. Data with normal distribution were described using (x¯±s), and analyzed with independent sample t-test. Data with non-normal distribution were compared with non-parametric test. The results showed that the median onset-age of the included patients was 22 (10.0,36.5) years old, and the median duration was 9.0 (2.0,16.0) years. All patients had recurrent infections involving various systems (33/33), with development of autoimmune diseases (8/33) and lymphoproliferative disease or malignancy (9/33) in some cases among them. The nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) scores revealed that 85.19% of adults had an NRS 2002≥3 points, and 33.33% of children had a BMI-for-age z score<-2. Weight loss occurred in 66.67% of patients (22/33), while 87.88% (29/33), 69.70% (23/33) and 81.82% (27/33) of patients respectively had anemia, hypoalbuminemia and decreased prealbumin. Among 22 patients with micronutrients status evaluated, 77.27% (17/22), 22.73% (5/22) and 31.82% (7/22) of patients respectively had lowered serum iron, folate deficiency and vitamin B12 insufficiency. Six patients underwent 25-OH-VD3 measurement, and were all testified to have vitamin D deficiency. Among all patients with nutritional risk, 56.00% of them underwent nutritional support: oral nutritional supplements (14 cases), enteral feeding (4 cases) and parenteral nutrition (5 cases). In conclusion, the condition of malnutrition was prevalent in patients with CVID, but was under-recognized and undertreated to some degree.

Prediction of high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma using a combined intratumoural and peritumoural MRI-based radiomics nomogram

AIM

To develop an intratumoural and peritumoural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics nomogram for predicting tumour grade to improve clinical treatment and long-term prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MRI (3 T) features and T2-weighted imaging with fat-saturation (T2WI-FS)-based radiomics features of 57 patients with soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) were analysed retrospectively. Tumour size, ratio of width and length, relative depth to the peripheral fascia, peritumoural oedema, heterogeneity on T2WI, necrosis signal, enhancement model, and peritumoural enhancement were obtained. Independent risk factors were screened to construct an MRI feature nomogram. Radiomics features were obtained from intratumoural and peritumoural images on T2WI-FS. The optimal radiomics model was selected by the four-step dimensionality reduction method of minimum and maximum normalisation, optimal feature selection, selection based on support vector machine with L1-norm regularisation model, and iterative feature selection. MRI features and optimal radiomics features were used to construct a radiomics nomogram. The MRI feature nomogram model, the radiomics model, and the radiomics nomogram model were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves of the training and validation sets.

RESULTS

Heterogeneity on T2WI and peritumoural enhancement were independent risk factors for predicting high-grade STS. The areas under the curves of the training set and verification set of the three models were as follows: MRI feature nomogram, 0.86 and 0.83, respectively; intratumoural and peritumoural combined radiomics model, 0.99 and 0.86, respectively; and radiomics nomogram model, 0.98 and 0.96, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The radiomics nomogram model based on MRI features and combined intratumoural and peritumoural radiomic features was best able to predict high-grade STS.

[Spatial distribution characteristics of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody, and to examine the correlation between the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020, so as to provide insights into advanced schistosomiais control in the province.

METHODS

The epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province in 2020 were collected, including number of permanent residents in survey villages, number of advanced schistosomiasis patients, number of residents receiving serological tests and number of residents seropositive for anti-Schistosoma antibody, and the prevalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody were descriptively analyzed. Village-based spatial distribution characteristics of prevalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody were identified in Hunan Province in 2020, and the correlation between the revalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody was examined using Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis was 0 to 2.72% and the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody was 0 to 20.25% in 1 153 schistosomiasis-endemic villages in Hunan Province in 2020. Spatial clusters were identified in both the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis (global Moran's I = 0.416, P < 0.01) and the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody (global Moran's I = 0.711, P < 0.01) in Hunan Province. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis identified 98 schistosomiasis-endemic villages with high-high clusters of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis, 134 endemic villages with high-high clusters of the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody and 36 endemic villages with high-high clusters of both the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province. In addition, spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody (rs = 0.235, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There were spatial clusters of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020, which were predominantly located in areas neighboring the Dongting Lake. These clusters should be given a high priority in the schistosomiasis control programs.

Hyperon Polarization along the Beam Direction Relative to the Second and Third Harmonic Event Planes in Isobar Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam direction has been measured relative to the second and third harmonic event planes in isobar Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. This is the first experimental evidence of the hyperon polarization by the triangular flow originating from the initial density fluctuations. The amplitudes of the sine modulation for the second and third harmonic results are comparable in magnitude, increase from central to peripheral collisions, and show a mild p_{T} dependence. The azimuthal angle dependence of the polarization follows the vorticity pattern expected due to elliptic and triangular anisotropic flow, and qualitatively disagrees with most hydrodynamic model calculations based on thermal vorticity and shear induced contributions. The model results based on one of existing implementations of the shear contribution lead to a correct azimuthal angle dependence, but predict centrality and p_{T} dependence that still disagree with experimental measurements. Thus, our results provide stringent constraints on the thermal vorticity and shear-induced contributions to hyperon polarization. Comparison to previous measurements at RHIC and the LHC for the second-order harmonic results shows little dependence on the collision system size and collision energy.

[To compare the efficacy and incidence of severe hematological adverse events of flumatinib and imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia]

Objective: To analyze and compare therapy responses, outcomes, and incidence of severe hematologic adverse events of flumatinib and imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) . Methods: Data of patients with chronic phase CML diagnosed between January 2006 and November 2022 from 76 centers, aged ≥18 years, and received initial flumatinib or imatinib therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China were retrospectively interrogated. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to reduce the bias of the initial TKI selection, and the therapy responses and outcomes of patients receiving initial flumatinib or imatinib therapy were compared. Results: A total of 4 833 adult patients with CML receiving initial imatinib (n=4 380) or flumatinib (n=453) therapy were included in the study. In the imatinib cohort, the median follow-up time was 54 [interquartile range (IQR), 31-85] months, and the 7-year cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) were 95.2%, 88.4%, 78.3%, and 63.0%, respectively. The 7-year FFS, PFS, and OS rates were 71.8%, 93.0%, and 96.9%, respectively. With the median follow-up of 18 (IQR, 13-25) months in the flumatinib cohort, the 2-year cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) were 95.4%, 86.5%, 58.4%, and 46.6%, respectively. The 2-year FFS, PFS, and OS rates were 80.1%, 95.0%, and 99.5%, respectively. The PSM analysis indicated that patients receiving initial flumatinib therapy had significantly higher cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) and higher probabilities of FFS than those receiving the initial imatinib therapy (all P<0.001), whereas the PFS (P=0.230) and OS (P=0.268) were comparable between the two cohorts. The incidence of severe hematologic adverse events (grade≥Ⅲ) was comparable in the two cohorts. Conclusion: Patients receiving initial flumatinib therapy had higher cumulative incidences of therapy responses and higher probability of FFS than those receiving initial imatinib therapy, whereas the incidence of severe hematologic adverse events was comparable between the two cohorts.

Erratum: Global Polarization of Ξ and Ω Hyperons in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 162301 (2021)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.162301.

Measurements of the Elliptic and Triangular Azimuthal Anisotropies in Central ^{3}He+Au, d+Au and p+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The elliptic (v_{2}) and triangular (v_{3}) azimuthal anisotropy coefficients in central ^{3}He+Au, d+Au, and p+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV are measured as a function of transverse momentum (p_{T}) at midrapidity (|η|<0.9), via the azimuthal angular correlation between two particles both at |η|<0.9. While the v_{2}(p_{T}) values depend on the colliding systems, the v_{3}(p_{T}) values are system independent within the uncertainties, suggesting an influence on eccentricity from subnucleonic fluctuations in these small-sized systems. These results also provide stringent constraints for the hydrodynamic modeling of these systems.

[A single-center study on the distribution and antibiotic resistance of pathogens causing bloodstream infection in patients with hematological malignancies]

Objective: To study the incidence of bloodstream infections, pathogen distribution, and antibiotic resistance profile in patients with hematological malignancies. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2021, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics, pathogen distribution, and antibiotic resistance profiles of patients with malignant hematological diseases and bloodstream infections in the Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Results: A total of 582 incidences of bloodstream infections occurred in 22,717 inpatients. From 2018 to 2021, the incidence rates of bloodstream infections were 2.79%, 2.99%, 2.79%, and 2.02%, respectively. Five hundred ninety-nine types of bacteria were recovered from blood cultures, with 487 (81.3%) gram-negative bacteria, such as Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Eighty-one (13.5%) were gram-positive bacteria, primarily Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterococcus faecium, whereas the remaining 31 (5.2%) were fungi. Enterobacteriaceae resistance to carbapenems, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam, and tigecycline were 11.0%, 15.3%, 15.4%, and 3.3%, with a descending trend year on year. Non-fermenters tolerated piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam, and quinolones at 29.6%, 13.3%, and 21.7%, respectively. However, only two gram-positive bacteria isolates were shown to be resistant to glycopeptide antibiotics. Conclusions: Bloodstream pathogens in hematological malignancies were broadly dispersed, most of which were gram-negative bacteria. Antibiotic resistance rates vary greatly between species. Our research serves as a valuable resource for the selection of empirical antibiotics.

Observation of Directed Flow of Hypernuclei _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H in sqrt[s_{NN}]=3 GeV Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report here the first observation of directed flow (v_{1}) of the hypernuclei _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H in mid-central Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3  GeV at RHIC. These data are taken as part of the beam energy scan program carried out by the STAR experiment. From 165×10^{6} events in 5%-40% centrality, about 8400 _{Λ}^{3}H and 5200 _{Λ}^{4}H candidates are reconstructed through two- and three-body decay channels. We observe that these hypernuclei exhibit significant directed flow. Comparing to that of light nuclei, it is found that the midrapidity v_{1} slopes of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H follow baryon number scaling, implying that the coalescence is the dominant mechanism for these hypernuclei production in the 3 GeV Au+Au collisions.

Beam Energy Dependence of Triton Production and Yield Ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}) in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the triton (t) production in midrapidity (|y|<0.5) Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=7.7-200  GeV measured by the STAR experiment from the first phase of the beam energy scan at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The nuclear compound yield ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}), which is predicted to be sensitive to the fluctuation of local neutron density, is observed to decrease monotonically with increasing charged-particle multiplicity (dN_{ch}/dη) and follows a scaling behavior. The dN_{ch}/dη dependence of the yield ratio is compared to calculations from coalescence and thermal models. Enhancements in the yield ratios relative to the coalescence baseline are observed in the 0%-10% most central collisions at 19.6 and 27 GeV, with a significance of 2.3σ and 3.4σ, respectively, giving a combined significance of 4.1σ. The enhancements are not observed in peripheral collisions or model calculations without critical fluctuation, and decreases with a smaller p_{T} acceptance. The physics implications of these results on the QCD phase structure and the production mechanism of light nuclei in heavy-ion collisions are discussed.

[Optimization of the medium and fermentation condition for the Penicillium aurantiocandidum Z12 strain with molluscicidal actions against Oncomelania hupensis]

OBJECTIVE

To optimize the culture and fermentation conditions of the Penicillium aurantiocandidum Z12 strain, a fungal strain with molluscicidal actions against Oncomelania hupensis, so as to provide the basis for the research and development of molluscicidal active substances from the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain and its fermentation broth and large-scale fermentation.

METHODS

The carbon source, nitrogen source and mineral salts were identified in the optimal culture medium for the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain with a single-factor experiment to determine the best fermentation condition for the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain. Factors that significantly affected the growth of the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain were identified using the Plackett-Burman design, and the best range of each factor was determined using the steepest climb test. Response surface analyses of temperature, pH value, seeding amount and liquid-filling quantity were performed using the Box-Behnken design to create a regression model for fermentation of the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain to identify the optimal culture medium.

RESULTS

Single-factor experiment preliminarily identified the best culture medium and conditions for the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain as follows: sucrose as the carbon source at approximately 20 g/L, tryptone as the nitrogen source at approximately 5 g/L, K₂HPO₄ as the mineral salt at approximately 5 g/L, initial pH at approximately 8, temperature at approximately 28 °C, seeding amount at approximately 6%, and liquid-filling quantity at approximately 50 mL/100 mL. Plackett-Burman design showed that factors that significantly affected the growth of the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain included temperature (t = -5.28, P < 0.05), seeding amount (t = 5.22, P < 0.05), pH (t = -4.30, P < 0.05) and liquid-filling quantity (t = -4.39, P < 0.05). Steepest climb test showed the highest mycelial growth at pH of 7.5, seeding amount of 8%, and liquid-filling quantity of 40 mL/100 mL, and this condition was selected as the central point of response surface analysis for the subsequent optimization of fermentation conditions. Response surface analyses using the Box-Behnken design showed that the optimal conditions for fermentation of the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain included sucrose at 15 g/L, tryptone at 5 g/L, K₂HPO₄ at 5 g/L, temperature at 28.2 °C, pH at 7.5, seeding amount at 10%, and liquid-filling quantity at 35.8 mL/100.0 mL, resulting in 0.132 g yield of the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal culture condition for the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain has been identified, and the optimized culture medium and fermentation condition may effectively improve the fermentation yield of the P. aurantiocandidum Z12 strain.

Suvemcitug as second-line treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors and with FOLFIRI for pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer: phase Ia/Ib open label, dose-escalation trials

BACKGROUND

Suvemcitug (BD0801), a novel humanized rabbit monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has demonstrated promising antitumor activities in preclinical studies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The phase Ia/b trials investigated the safety and tolerability and antitumor activities of suvemcitug for pretreated advanced solid tumors and in combination with FOLFIRI (leucovorin and fluorouracil plus irinotecan) in second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer using a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design. Patients received escalating doses of suvemcitug (phase Ia: 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.5 mg/kg; phase Ib: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg/kg plus FOLFIRI). The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability in both trials.

RESULTS

All patients in the phase Ia trial had at least one adverse event (AE). Dose-limiting toxicities included grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia (one patient), hypertension and proteinuria (one patient), and proteinuria (one patient). The maximum tolerated dose was 5 mg/kg. The most common grade 3 and above AEs were proteinuria (9/25, 36%) and hypertension (8/25, 32%). Forty-eight patients (85.7%) in phase Ib had grade 3 and above AEs, including neutropenia (25/56, 44.6%), reduced leucocyte count (12/56, 21.4%), proteinuria (10/56, 17.9%), and elevated blood pressure (9/56, 16.1%). Only 1 patient in the phase Ia trial showed partial response, [objective response rate 4.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1% to 20.4%] whereas 18/53 patients in the phase Ib trial exhibited partial response (objective response rate 34.0%, 95% CI 21.5% to 48.3%). The median progression-free survival was 7.2 months (95% CI 5.1-8.7 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Suvemcitug has an acceptable toxicity profile and exhibits antitumor activities in pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors or metastatic colorectal cancer.

First-in-human, phase I study of AK109, an anti-VEGFR2 antibody in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors

BACKGROUND

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) plays a key role in antiangiogenesis which has been an essential strategy for cancer treatment. We report the first-in-human study of AK109, a novel anti-VEGFR2 monoclonal antibody, to characterize the safety profile and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) properties, and explore the preliminary antitumor efficacy in patients with solid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, open-label, phase I study, including dose escalation and dose expansion (NCT04547205). Patients with advanced cancers were treated 2 and 3 weekly with escalating doses of AK109. A 3 + 3 design was used to determine the maximum tolerated dose. Blood was sampled for PK/PD analysis. The primary endpoint was safety and recommended phase II dose (RP2D).

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients were enrolled. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed. However, 38 patients reported treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs); grade ≥3 TRAEs occurred in 10 patients. The most common TRAEs were proteinuria (n = 24, 60%), hypertension (n = 13, 32.5%), increased aspartate transaminase (n = 11, 27.5%), thrombopenia (n = 10, 25%), and anemia (n = 10, 25%). A total of 28 patients (70%) reported adverse events of special interest (AESIs). The most common AESIs were proteinuria (60%), hypertension (32.5%), and hemorrhage (32.5%), mainly including gum bleeding and urethrorrhagia. AK109 exhibited an approximately linear PK exposure with dose escalation at 2-12 mg/kg. PD analyses showed rapid target engagement. Among the 40 patients, 4 achieved partial response and 21 achieved stable disease with an objective response rate of 10% and a disease control rate of 62.5%. Based on the safety profile, the PK/PD profile, and preliminary antitumor activities, 12 mg/kg Q2W and 15 mg/kg Q3W were selected as RP2D.

CONCLUSIONS

AK109 showed manageable safety profile and promising antitumor activity, supporting further clinical development in a large population.

Measurement of Sequential ϒ Suppression in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV with the STAR Experiment

We report on measurements of sequential ϒ suppression in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) through both the dielectron and dimuon decay channels. In the 0%-60% centrality class, the nuclear modification factors (R_{AA}), which quantify the level of yield suppression in heavy-ion collisions compared to p+p collisions, for ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) are 0.40±0.03(stat)±0.03(sys)±0.09(norm) and 0.26±0.08(stat)±0.02(sys)±0.06(norm), respectively, while the upper limit of the ϒ(3S) R_{AA} is 0.17 at a 95% confidence level. This provides experimental evidence that the ϒ(3S) is significantly more suppressed than the ϒ(1S) at RHIC. The level of suppression for ϒ(1S) is comparable to that observed at the much higher collision energy at the Large Hadron Collider. These results point to the creation of a medium at RHIC whose temperature is sufficiently high to strongly suppress excited ϒ states.

[Clinical and genetic characteristics of young patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms]

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and genetic features of young Chinese patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anonymous questionnaires were distributed to patients with MPN patients nationwide. The respondents were divided into 3 groups based on their age at diagnosis: young (≤40 years) , middle-aged (41-60 years) , and elderly (>60 years) . We compared the clinical and genetic characteristics of three groups of MPN patients. Results: 1727 assessable questionnaires were collected. There were 453 (26.2%) young respondents with MPNs, including 274 with essential thrombocythemia (ET) , 80 with polycythemia vera (PV) , and 99 with myelofibrosis. Among the young group, 178 (39.3%) were male, and the median age was 31 (18-40) years. In comparison to middle-aged and elderly respondents, young respondents with MPN were more likely to present with a higher proportion of unmarried status (all P<0.001) , a higher education level (all P<0.001) , less comorbidity (ies) , fewer medications (all P<0.001) , and low-risk stratification (all P<0.001) . Younger respondents experienced headache (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.007; MF, P=0.001) at diagnosis, had splenomegaly at diagnosis (PV, P<0.001) , and survey (ET, P=0.052; PV, P=0.063) . Younger respondents had fewer thrombotic events at diagnosis (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.011) and during the survey (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.003) . JAK2 mutations were found in fewer young people (ET, P<0.001; PV, P<0.001; MF, P=0.013) ; however, CALR mutations were found in more young people (ET, P<0.001; MF, P=0.015) . Furthermore, mutations in non-driver genes (ET, P=0.042; PV, P=0.043; MF, P=0.004) and high-molecular risk mutations (ET, P=0.024; PV, P=0.023; MF, P=0.001) were found in fewer young respondents. Conclusion: Compared with middle-aged and elderly patients, young patients with MPN had unique clinical and genetic characteristics.

Chitosan derivatives as promising green corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in acidic environment: Inhibition performance and interfacial adsorption mechanism

Among the biodegradable polysaccharide, chitosan is widely present in the cell membranes of bacteria and algae and in the cell walls of higher plants. As a promising biopolymer, chitosan has great potential as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor. Herein, two synthetic chitosan derivatives (N-phenylthiourea chitosan (CS-PT), N-phenyl-O-benzylthiourea chitosan (CS-PT-Bn)) were investigated as high-efficient acidic corrosion inhibitors to deal with the corrosion issue of carbon steel. The anti-corrosion property of the chitosan derivatives was explored by electrochemical tests, surface characterization and theoretical calculations. The experimental results indicate that both CS-PT and CS-PT-Bn present high-efficient inhibition performance with the inhibition efficiency of 98.4% and 98.5% at the concentration of 100 mg/L, respectively. Their adsorption mechanism at steel/solution interface is revealed by quantum chemical calculations, molecular dynamics (MD) and GFN-xTB calculations. It is found that CS-PT and CS-PT-Bn adsorb at the steel/solution interface by forming Fe-N and Fe-S bonds. Compared to CS-PT molecule, the introduction of benzyl group endows CS-PT-Bn molecule with stronger electrostatic effect and hydrophobicity, which favors the interfacial adsorption of CS-PT-Bn molecule on carbon steel surface.

Beam Energy Dependence of Fifth- and Sixth-Order Net-Proton Number Fluctuations in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the beam energy and collision centrality dependence of fifth and sixth order cumulants (C_{5}, C_{6}) and factorial cumulants (κ_{5}, κ_{6}) of net-proton and proton number distributions, from center-of-mass energy (sqrt[s_{NN}]) 3 GeV to 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Cumulant ratios of net-proton (taken as proxy for net-baryon) distributions generally follow the hierarchy expected from QCD thermodynamics, except for the case of collisions at 3 GeV. The measured values of C_{6}/C_{2} for 0%-40% centrality collisions show progressively negative trend with decreasing energy, while it is positive for the lowest energy studied. These observed negative signs are consistent with QCD calculations (for baryon chemical potential, μ_{B}≤110  MeV) which contains the crossover transition range. In addition, for energies above 7.7 GeV, the measured proton κ_{n}, within uncertainties, does not support the two-component (Poisson+binomial) shape of proton number distributions that would be expected from a first-order phase transition. Taken in combination, the hyperorder proton number fluctuations suggest that the structure of QCD matter at high baryon density, μ_{B}∼750  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3  GeV is starkly different from those at vanishing μ_{B}∼24  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and higher collision energies.

Muscle Fat Content Is Associated with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Fibrosis in Chinese Adults

OBJECTIVES

Several studies have linked myosteatosis with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in individuals with obesity. The clinical significance of myosteatosis in individuals with NAFLD in the general population has not been well investigated. Here, we wanted to explore and compare the associations of NAFLD and liver fibrosis with muscle fat content and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in a relatively large general population in China.

METHODS

We retrospectively included all participants who underwent abdominal CT scans in our health promotion center between April 2021 and October 2021. Muscle fat content was assessed by abdomen quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scans, and SMM was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance. NAFLD was assessed by ultrasonography. The NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) score were calculated to assess liver fibrosis.

RESULTS

Compared with participants without NAFLD, patients with NAFLD showed significantly increased intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT%) (7.40±3.37% vs. 6.76±2.66%, P <0.01). According to a multiple logistic regression model, IMAT% (OR=1.091, 95% CI 1.030-1.155, P=0.003) was only independently correlated with NAFLD in obese participants. Mediation analysis showed that BMI mediated the association between IMAT% and NAFLD. In participants with NAFLD, increased IMAT% was independently associated with an increased intermediate to high risk of advanced fibrosis assessed by the NFS or FIB-4 score after adjusting for multiple potential confounders. However, SMM was only independently correlated with an intermediate to high risk for advanced fibrosis evaluated by the NFS and not by the FIB-4 score.

CONCLUSION

Increased muscle fat content is positively correlated with NAFLD and intermediate to high risk for advanced fibrosis in the general Chinese population.

Collision-System and Beam-Energy Dependence of Anisotropic Flow Fluctuations

Elliptic flow measurements from two-, four-, and six-particle correlations are used to investigate flow fluctuations in collisions of U+U at sqrt[s_{NN}]=193  GeV, Cu+Au at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and Au+Au spanning the range sqrt[s_{NN}]=11.5-200  GeV. The measurements show a strong dependence of the flow fluctuations on collision centrality, a modest dependence on system size, and very little if any, dependence on particle species and beam energy. The results, when compared to similar LHC measurements, viscous hydrodynamic calculations, and trento model eccentricities, indicate that initial-state-driven fluctuations predominate the flow fluctuations generated in the collisions studied.

[Effect of P311 microspheres-loaded thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel on the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in rats]

Objective: To explore the effect of P311 microspheres-loaded thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel on the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in rats. Methods: The method of experimental study was adopted. The polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate microspheres (simple microspheres), P311 microspheres, and bovine serum albumin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-BSA) microspheres were prepared by water-in-oil emulsification, and then their morphology was observed under a light microscope/inverted fluorescence microscope. Chitosan solution was prepared, chitosan solution and β-glycerol phosphate disodium hydrate were mixed to prepare simple thermosensitive hydrogels, and thermosensitive hydrogels loaded with simple microspheres or P311 microspheres were prepared by adding corresponding substances in simple thermosensitive hydrogels. The morphological changes of the prepared four liquids in the state of tilt was observed at 37 ℃. After being freeze-dried, the micromorphology of the prepared four liquids was observed under a scanning electron microscope. Eighteen 3-4-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal group without any treatment, dressing group, chitosan group, hydrogel alone group, simple microspheres-loaded hydrogel group, and P311 microspheres-loaded hydrogel group, which were inflicted with one full-thickness skin defect wound on both sides of the back spine and were dealt correspondingly, with 3 rats in each group. Rats with full-thickness skin defects in the five groups were collected, the wound healing was observed on post injury day (PID) 0 (immediately), 5, 10, and 15, and the wound healing rates on PID 5, 10, and 15 were calculated. The wound and wound margin tissue of rats with full-thickness skin defects in the five groups on PID 15 and normal skin tissue in the same site of rats in normal group were collected, hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to observe the histological changes, immunohistochemical staining was performed to observe the expressions of CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Western blotting was conducted to detect the protein expressions of CD31 and VEGF. The number of samples was all three. Data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and Bonferroni correction. Results: Simple microspheres were spherical, with loose and porous surface. The surfaces of P311 microspheres and FITC-BSA microspheres were smooth without pores, and the FITC-BSA microspheres emitted uniform green fluorescence. The diameters of the three microspheres were basically consistent, being 33.1 to 37.7 μm. Compared with chitosan solution and simple thermosensitive hydrogel, the structures of the two microspheres-loaded hydrogels were more stable in the state of tilt at 37 ℃. The two microspheres-loaded hydrogels had denser network structures than those of chitosan solution and simple thermosensitive hydrogel, and in the cross section of which microspheres with a diameter of about 30 μm could be seen. Within PID 15, the wounds of rats in the five groups were healed to different degrees, and the wound healing of rats in P311 microspheres-loaded hydrogel group was the best. On PID 5, 10, and 15, the wound healing rates of rats in dressing group and chitosan group were (26.6±2.4)%, (38.5±3.1)%, (50.9±1.5)%, (47.6±2.0)%, (58.5±3.6)%, and (66.7±4.1)%, respectively, which were significantly lower than (59.3±4.8)%, (87.6±3.2)%, (97.2±1.0)% in P311 microspheres-loaded hydrogel group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The wound healing rates of rats in hydrogel alone group on PID 10 and 15, and in simple microspheres-loaded hydrogel group on PID 15 were (76.0±3.3)%, (84.5±3.6)%, and (88.0±2.6)%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in P311 microspheres-loaded hydrogel group (P<0.05). The epidermis, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands could be seen in the normal skin of rats in normal group, without positive expressions of CD31 or VEGF. The wounds of rats in P311 microspheres-loaded hydrogel group on PID 15 were almost completely epithelialized, with more blood vessels, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and positive expressions of CD31 and VEGF in the wounds than those of rats with full-thickness skin defects in the other four groups, and more protein expressions of CD31 and VEGF than those of rats in the other five groups. Conclusions: The P311 microspheres-loaded thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel can release the encapsulated drug slowly, prolong the drug action time, and promote wound healing in rats with full-thickness skin defects by promoting wound angiogenesis and re-epithelialization.

[Effects of individual factors and labor organization on neck pain in auto assembler]

Objective: To investigate the influence of individual factors and labor organization on the prevalence of neck pain (hereinafter referred to as neck pain) in automotive assemblers, and to provide a basis for enterprises to optimize neck pain interventions. Methods: A cluster random sampling method was taken in January 2021, at an automobile manufacturing plant in Shiyan, 656 assemblers with ≥1.0 years of service were selected, the "Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire" was used to investigate the incidence and influencing factors of neck pain. Pearson χ(2) test or trend χ(2) test was used to compare the data rates. The influencing factors of neck pain were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence rate of neck pain (hereinafter referred to as the prevalence rate of neck pain) of automobile assemblers within one year was 53.94% (342/634) . The prevalence of neck pain in women was higher than that in men (69.1% vs 48.6%, P<0.01) . The prevalence of neck pain was related to length of service, self-assessment of fatigue, working hours per week, working in the same workshop, rest days per shift, and accumulated rest time per shift (P<0.05) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of neck pain in women was 2.434 times higher than that in men; The risk of neck pain increased by 18.9% for each hour of work per week; Rest during work was a protective factor for neck pain. The number of rest per shift increased and the risk of neck pain decreased (r=0.405, 0.311, 0.302, 95%CI=0.205~0.803, 0.169~0.572, 0.142~0.642, P<0.05) . Conclusion: The annual prevalence of neck pain was higher in automobile assemblers. Enterprises should fully consider the influencing factors such as gender, working hours per week and the number of breaks when arranging production.

[Clinical features and prognoses of re-operated patients for persistent/recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and the survival of re-operated patients for persistent/recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and risk factors for re-recurrence after the second operation. Method: A retrospective analysis of 69 cases underwent re-operation for persistent/recurrent PTC in Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January 2010 to December 2016 was performed. There were 21 males and 48 females, aged 14-85 (44.8) years old. According to the imaging after initial treatment, they were divided into a recurrence group (42 cases) and a persistent disease/residual group (27 cases). The positive rates of ipsilateral paratracheal lymph node metastases at re-operation were calculated and compared by chi-square test. Patients were divided into different subgroups according to potential risk factors for re-recurrence. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) method was used for survival analysis. Results: The positive rate of ipsilateral paratracheal lymph node metastasis in recurrence group (15/42, 35.7%) was significantly lower than that in the persistent disease/residual group (17/27, 63.0%) (χ²=4.91, P<0.05). The follow-up period after re-operation was 60-104 months, with a median of 66 months, and 8 patients were lost to follow-up. Permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 2 cases (2.9%) and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in 1 case (1.4%). Twenty patients had structural recurrences and/or distant metastases. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 92.8% and the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 68.1%. Survival analysis was performed on risk factors such as age≥55 years old, recurrent tumor diameter ≥4 cm, number of positive lymph nodes ≥ 10, and obvious extracapsular invasion (ENE). Among them, age and diameter of recurrent tumor had significant influences on recurrence-free survival rate (χ² was 6.36, 8.17, respectively, both P values<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in recurrence-free survival rates between ENE(+) group and ENE(-) group (χ²=5.52, P<0.05). Conclusion: For the re-operated patients due to persistence/ recurrence PTC, attention should be paid to protecting the parathyroid gland and recurrent laryngeal nerve during re-operation. Timely and effective postoperative follow-up for patients aged ≥ 55 years, with recurrent tumor diameter ≥ 4 cm and ENE(+), can significantly improve their prognoses.

Evidence for Nonlinear Gluon Effects in QCD and Their Mass Number Dependence at STAR

The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of back-to-back azimuthal correlations of di-π^{0}s produced at forward pseudorapidities (2.6<η<4.0) in p+p, p+Al, and p+Au collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. We observe a clear suppression of the correlated yields of back-to-back π^{0} pairs in p+Al and p+Au collisions compared to the p+p data. The observed suppression of back-to-back pairs as a function of transverse momentum suggests nonlinear gluon dynamics arising at high parton densities. The larger suppression found in p+Au relative to p+Al collisions exhibits a dependence of the saturation scale Q_{s}^{2} on the mass number A. A linear scaling of the suppression with A^{1/3} is observed with a slope of -0.09±0.01.

[Clinical study of mesenchymal stem cells from third-party donors in the treatment of refractory late onset hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplanation]

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of third-party bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of refractory delayed hemorrhagic cystitis (LOHC) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Methods: Twenty patients with refractory LOHC received conventional therapy combined with MSCs obtained from third-party donors' bone marrow (BM) . MSCs were given intravenously at a dose of 1 × 10(6) cells/kg once weekly until either the symptoms improved or no changes in LOHC were seen after continuous infusion four times. BK viruria (BKV) -DNA, JC viruria (JCV) -DNA, and CMV-DNA were detected by real-time quantitative PCR before and 8 weeks after the MSCs infusion. Results: ① Of the 20 patients with refractory LOHC, 15 were males, and 5 were females, and the median age was 35 (15-56) years. There were 5 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) , 9 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) , 5 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) , and 1 case of maternal plasma cell like dendritic cell tumor (BPDCN) . There were 4 cases of HLA identical transplantation and 16 cases of HLA incomplete transplantation. ②The median number of MSC infusions for each patient was 3 (range: 2-8) . Seventeen patients achieved complete response, and one had a partial response after treatment. The overall response rate was 90%. Over a median follow-up period of 397.5 days (range 39-937 days) post-transplantations, 13 patients survived, and 7 died. The causes of death included aGVHD (1 case) , infections (5 cases) , and TMA (1 case) . ③The copy numbers of BKV-DNA and CMV-DNA in urine in the 8th week after MSCs infusion were significantly lower than those observed before treatment (11342.1×10(8) copies/L vs 5.2×10(8) copies/L, P=0.016; 3170.0×10(4) copies/L vs 0.2×10(4) copies/L, P=0.006, respectively) , while JCV-DNA did not significantly differ when compared to before treatment (P=0.106) . ④ No adverse reactions related to MSC infusion occurred in any of the 20 patients. Conclusion: Third-party bone marrow-derived MSC has significant efficacy and good safety in the treatment of refractory LOHC after allogeneic HSCT.

[Impact of prolonging dual antiplatelet therapy on long-term prognosis of elderly patients with coronary heart disease complicated with diabetes mellitus undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation]

Objective: To explore and compare the effect of standard or prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) on the long-term prognosis of elderly patients with coronary heart disease complicated with diabetes mellitus after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Methods: Consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus, ≥65 years old, underwent DES implantation, and had no adverse events within 1 year after operation underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from January to December 2013 in Fuwai Hospital were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. These patients were divided into three groups according to DAPT duration: standard DAPT duration group (11 ≤ DAPT duration≤ 13 months) and prolonged DAPT duration group (13<DAPT duration≤ 24 months; DAPT duration>24 months). All the patients were followed up at 1, 6 months, 1, 2 and 5 years in order to collect the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), and type 2 to 5 bleeding events defined by the Federation of Bleeding Academic Research (BARC). MACCE were consisted of all cause death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization or stroke. The incidence of clinical adverse events were compared among 3 different DAPT duration groups, and Cox regression model were used to analyze the effect of different DAPT duration on 5-year long-term prognosis. Results: A total of 1 562 patients were enrolled, aged (70.8±4.5) years, with 398 female (25.5%). There were 467 cases in standard DAPT duration group, 684 cases in 13<DAPT duration≤ 24 months group and 411 cases in DAPT duration>24 months group. The patients in standard DAPT duration group and the prolonged DAPT duration groups accounted for 29.9% (467/1 562) and 70.1% (1 095/1 562), respectively. The 5-year follow-up results showed that the incidence of all-cause death in 13<DAPT duration≤ 24 months group (4.8%(33/684) vs. 8.6%(40/467),P=0.011) and DAPT duration>24 month group(4.1%(17/411) vs. 8.6%(40/467),P=0.008) were significantly lower than in standard DAPT group. The incidence of myocardial infarction in 13<DAPT duration≤ 24 months group was lower than in standard DAPT duration group (1.9%(13/684) vs. 5.1%(24/467),P=0.002). The incidence of MACCE in 13<DAPT duration≤ 24 months group was the lowest (standard DAPT duration group, 13<DAPT duration≤ 24 months group and DAPT duration>24 month group were 19.3% (90/467), 12.3% (84/684), 20.2% (83/411), respectively, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of stroke and bleeding events among the three groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that compared with the standard DAPT group, prolonged DAPT to 13-24 months was negatively correlated with MACCE (HR=0.601, 95%CI 0.446-0.811, P=0.001), all-cause death (HR=0.568, 95%CI 0.357-0.903, P=0.017) and myocardial infarction (HR=0.353, 95%CI 0.179-0.695, P=0.003). DAPT>24 months was negatively correlated with all-cause death (HR=0.687, 95%CI 0.516-0.913, P=0.010) and positively correlated with revascularization (HR=1.404, 95%CI 1.116-1.765, P=0.004). There was no correlation between prolonged DAPT and bleeding events. Conclusions: For elderly patients with coronary heart disease complicated with diabetes mellitus underwent DES implantation, and had no MACCE and bleeding events within 1 year after operation, appropriately prolonging of the DAPT duration is related to the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular adverse events. Patients may benefit the most from the DAPT between 13 to 24 months. In addition, prolonging DAPT duration does not increase the incidence of bleeding events in this patient cohort.

Measurements of Proton High-Order Cumulants in sqrt[s_{NN}]=3 GeV Au+Au Collisions and Implications for the QCD Critical Point

We report cumulants of the proton multiplicity distribution from dedicated fixed-target Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3.0  GeV, measured by the STAR experiment in the kinematic acceptance of rapidity (y) and transverse momentum (p_{T}) within -0.5<y<0 and 0.4<p_{T}<2.0  GeV/c. In the most central 0%-5% collisions, a proton cumulant ratio is measured to be C_{4}/C_{2}=-0.85±0.09 (stat)±0.82 (syst), which is 2σ below the Poisson baseline with respect to both the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The hadronic transport UrQMD model reproduces our C_{4}/C_{2} in the measured acceptance. Compared to higher energy results and the transport model calculations, the suppression in C_{4}/C_{2} is consistent with fluctuations driven by baryon number conservation and indicates an energy regime dominated by hadronic interactions. These data imply that the QCD critical region, if created in heavy-ion collisions, could only exist at energies higher than 3 GeV.

Measurements of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H Lifetimes and Yields in Au+Au Collisions in the High Baryon Density Region

We report precision measurements of hypernuclei _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H lifetimes obtained from Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3.0  GeV and 7.2 GeV collected by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, and the first measurement of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H midrapidity yields in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3.0  GeV. _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H, being the two simplest bound states composed of hyperons and nucleons, are cornerstones in the field of hypernuclear physics. Their lifetimes are measured to be 221±15(stat)±19(syst)  ps for _{Λ}^{3}H and 218±6(stat)±13(syst)  ps for _{Λ}^{4}H. The p_{T}-integrated yields of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H are presented in different centrality and rapidity intervals. It is observed that the shape of the rapidity distribution of _{Λ}^{4}H is different for 0%-10% and 10%-50% centrality collisions. Thermal model calculations, using the canonical ensemble for strangeness, describes the _{Λ}^{3}H yield well, while underestimating the _{Λ}^{4}H yield. Transport models, combining baryonic mean-field and coalescence (jam) or utilizing dynamical cluster formation via baryonic interactions (phqmd) for light nuclei and hypernuclei production, approximately describe the measured _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H yields. Our measurements provide means to precisely assess our understanding of the fundamental baryonic interactions with strange quarks, which can impact our understanding of more complicated systems involving hyperons, such as the interior of neutron stars or exotic hypernuclei.

[Analysis of the effect of gene mutations on the efficacy of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis based on second-generation sequencing technology]

Objective: To assess the effect of gene mutations on the efficacy of ruxolitinib for treating myelofibrosis (MF) . Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 56 patients with MF treated with ruxolitinib from July 2017 to December 2020 and applied second-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to detect 127 hematologic tumor-related gene mutations. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between mutated genes and the efficacy of ruxolitinib. Results: ①Among the 56 patients, there were 36 cases of primary bone marrow fibrosis (PMF) , 9 cases of bone marrow fibrosis (ppv-mf) after polycythemia vera, and 11 cases of bone marrow fibrosis (PET-MF) after primary thrombocytosis (ET) . ②Fifty-six patients with MF taking ruxolitinib underwent NGS, among whom, 50 (89.29%) carried driver mutations, 22 (39.29%) carried ≥3 mutations, and 29 (51.79%) carried high-risk mutations (HMR) . ③ For patients with MF carrying ≥ 3 mutations, ruxolitinib still had a better effect of improving somatic symptoms and shrinking the spleen (P=0.001, P<0.001) , but TTF and PFS were significantly shorter in patients carrying ≥ 3 mutations (P=0.007, P=0.042) . ④For patients carrying ≥ 2 HMR mutations, ruxolitinib was less effective in shrinking the spleen than in those who did not carry HMR (t= 10.471, P=0.034) , and the TTF and PFS were significantly shorter in patients carrying ≥2 HMR mutations (P<0.001, P=0.001) . ⑤Ruxolitinib had poorer effects on spleen reduction, symptom improvement, and stabilization of myelofibrosis in patients carrying additional mutations in ASXL1, EZH2, and SRSF2. Moreover, patients carrying ASXL1 and EZH2 mutations had significantly shorter TTF [ASXL1: 360 (55-1270) d vs 440 (55-1268) d, z=-3.115, P=0.002; EZH2: 327 (55-975) d vs 404 (50-1270) d, z=-3.219, P=0.001], and significantly shorter PFS compared to non-carriers [ASXL1: 457 (50-1331) d vs 574 (55-1437) d, z=-3.219, P=0.001) ; 428 (55-1331) d vs 505 (55-1437) d, z=-2.576, P=0.008]. Conclusion: The type and number of mutations carried by patients with myelofibrosis and HMR impact the efficacy of ruxolitinib.

Site-specific therapy in cancers of unknown primary site: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is a term applied to characterize pathologically confirmed metastatic cancer with unknown primary tumor origin. It remains uncertain whether patients with CUP benefit from site-specific therapy guided by molecular profiling.

Patients and methods

A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov, and of conference abstracts from January 1976 to January 2021 was performed to identify studies investigating the efficacy of site-specific therapy on patients with CUP. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Eligible studies were weighted and pooled for meta-analysis. Hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed to compare the efficacy of site-specific therapy with empiric therapy in patients with CUP. In addition, subgroup analyses were conducted.

Results

Five studies comprising 1114 patients were identified, of which 454 patients received site-specific therapy, and 660 patients received empiric therapy. Our meta-analysis revealed that site-specific therapy was not significantly associated with improved PFS [HR 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-1.17, P = 0.534] and OS (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.55-1.03, P = 0.069), compared with empiric therapy. However, during subgroup analysis significantly improved OS was associated with site-specific therapy in the high-accuracy predictive assay subgroup (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26-0.81, P = 0.008) compared with the low accuracy predictive assay subgroup (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.75-1.15, P = 0.509). Furthermore, compared with patients with less responsive tumor types, more survival benefit from site-specific therapy was found in patients with more responsive tumors (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.46-0.97, P = 0.037).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that site-specific therapy is not significantly associated with improved survival outcomes; however, it might benefit patients with CUP with responsive tumor types.

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Studies evaluating the role of site-specific therapy guided by molecular profiling in CUP provided contradictory results.

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Site-specific therapy is not significantly associated with improved survival outcomes in the overall CUP population.

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Molecularly defined site-specific therapy may improve OS only when high-accuracy assays assign CUP to responsive tumor types.

Probing the Gluonic Structure of the Deuteron with J/ψ Photoproduction in d+Au Ultraperipheral Collisions

Understanding gluon density distributions and how they are modified in nuclei are among the most important goals in nuclear physics. In recent years, diffractive vector meson production measured in ultraperipheral collisions (UPCs) at heavy-ion colliders has provided a new tool for probing the gluon density. In this Letter, we report the first measurement of J/ψ photoproduction off the deuteron in UPCs at the center-of-mass energy sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV in d+Au collisions. The differential cross section as a function of momentum transfer -t is measured. In addition, data with a neutron tagged in the deuteron-going zero-degree calorimeter is investigated for the first time, which is found to be consistent with the expectation of incoherent diffractive scattering at low momentum transfer. Theoretical predictions based on the color glass condensate saturation model and the leading twist approximation nuclear shadowing model are compared with the data quantitatively. A better agreement with the saturation model has been observed. With the current measurement, the results are found to be directly sensitive to the gluon density distribution of the deuteron and the deuteron breakup process, which provides insights into the nuclear gluonic structure.

Treatment-related adverse events as predictive biomarkers of efficacy in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors treated with surufatinib: results from two phase III studies

Background

No validated biomarkers currently exist for predicting the efficacy outcomes in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) treated with antiangiogenic therapy. We aimed to evaluate the association between treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and efficacy outcomes of surufatinib in patients with advanced NET.

Patients and methods

We included patients with NET treated with surufatinib in two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trials (SANET-p and SANET-ep) in this study. The main exposure was the presence of any of the TRAEs including hypertension, proteinuria, and hemorrhage in the first 4 weeks of surufatinib treatment. The primary outcome of the study was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). PFS outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method with the log-rank test. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated by using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models. Blinded independent image review committee (BIIRC) assessments and 4-week landmark analysis were also performed as supportive evaluations.

Results

During the study period, a total of 242 patients treated with surufatinib were included in the analysis, and 164 (68%) patients had at least one of hypertension, proteinuria, and hemorrhage in the first 4 weeks of treatment. The presence of TRAEs in the first 4 weeks was associated with prolonged median PFS [11.1 versus 9.2 months; HR 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47-0.97; P = 0.036]. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, the presence of TRAEs was also significantly associated with longer PFS (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.97; P = 0.035). Similar results were obtained in the BIIRC assessments and 4-week landmark analysis.

Conclusions

Treatment-related hypertension, proteinuria, and hemorrhage could be potential biomarkers to predict antitumor efficacy of surufatinib in patients with advanced NET. Future prospective studies are needed to validate the findings.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT02589821; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02589821 and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02588170; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02588170

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Treatment-related hypertension, proteinuria, or hemorrhage is associated with longer survival in NETs.

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The association is confirmed by the BIIRC assessments and 4-week landmark analysis.

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TRAEs can be biomarkers to predict antitumor efficacy in patients with NET.

Search for the Chiral Magnetic Effect via Charge-Dependent Azimuthal Correlations Relative to Spectator and Participant Planes in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The chiral magnetic effect (CME) refers to charge separation along a strong magnetic field due to imbalanced chirality of quarks in local parity and charge-parity violating domains in quantum chromodynamics. The experimental measurement of the charge separation is made difficult by the presence of a major background from elliptic azimuthal anisotropy. This background and the CME signal have different sensitivities to the spectator and participant planes, and could thus be determined by measurements with respect to these planes. We report such measurements in Au+Au collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider. It is found that the charge separation, with the flow background removed, is consistent with zero in peripheral (large impact parameter) collisions. Some indication of finite CME signals is seen in midcentral (intermediate impact parameter) collisions. Significant residual background effects may, however, still be present.

Measurement of the Sixth-Order Cumulant of Net-Proton Multiplicity Distributions in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=27, 54.4, and 200 GeV at RHIC

According to first-principle lattice QCD calculations, the transition from quark-gluon plasma to hadronic matter is a smooth crossover in the region μ_{B}≤T_{c}. In this range the ratio, C_{6}/C_{2}, of net-baryon distributions are predicted to be negative. In this Letter, we report the first measurement of the midrapidity net-proton C_{6}/C_{2} from 27, 54.4, and 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The dependence on collision centrality and kinematic acceptance in (p_{T}, y) are analyzed. While for 27 and 54.4 GeV collisions the C_{6}/C_{2} values are close to zero within uncertainties, it is observed that for 200 GeV collisions, the C_{6}/C_{2} ratio becomes progressively negative from peripheral to central collisions. Transport model calculations without critical dynamics predict mostly positive values except for the most central collisions within uncertainties. These observations seem to favor a smooth crossover in the high-energy nuclear collisions at top RHIC energy.

[Analysis of the anatomical features of vestibular nerve canal based on 10 μm otology CT]

Objective: To analysis the anatomical features of normal vestibular nerve canal based on 10 μm otology CT. Methods: Sixty-seven patients (103 ears) underwent 10 μm otology CT examinations in Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from September 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively recruited. There were 24 males and 43 females, aged from 18 to 70 (40±17) years. According to the morphology of the inferior vestibular nerve canal, it can be divided into four types as follows: uniform straight type, curved type, ampullary type and direct connection. The anatomical variables of the superior vestibular nerve canal (external orifice, isthmus and internal orifice widths, canal length, angle with labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve) and inferior vestibular nerve canal (widths of the externaland internal orifice, canal length, angles with long axis of the vestibule and the modiolus) between the different sides, genders and canal morphologies were analyzed and compared, respectively. Results: 100% superior vestibular nerve canals and 75.7% (78/103) inferior vestibular nerve canals are clearly depicted by otology CT. The left-side ear presented with larger internal orifice diameter of the superior vestibular neve canal [(1.46±0.47) mm vs (1.31±0.41) mm], and a smaller angle between the inferior vestibular neve canal and the modiolus [(41.6±16.9)° vs (51.6±21.0)°] than the right-side ear (all P<0.05, respectively), respectively. Compared to females, males demonstrated larger internal orifice of the superior vestibular nerve canal [(1.55±0.37) mm vs (1.28±0.36) mm, P<0.05]. The uniform straight type of the inferior vestibular nerve canal was the most common type (62.1%, 64/103), followed by the direct connection (19.4%, 20/103), and the ampullary type was the least common type (4.9%, 5/103). There were significant differences in external diameter and angles with the long axis of the vestibule and the modiolus between the four morphologies of the superior vestibular nerve canal (all P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Ten μm otology CT is capable of depicting normal vestibular nerve canal clearly. Quantitative measurement of the normal vestibular nerve canal can provide references for the imaging diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of lesions in this area.

[Analysis of the imaging characteristics of otosclerosis based on 10 μm otology CT]

Objective: To evaluate the imaging features of otosclerosis based on10 μm otology CT. Methods: Data of 27 patients with otosclerosis (51 sides) in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2020 to July 2021 were retrospectively collected, including 9 males and 18 females age ffrom 22 to 70 (42±12) years. All patients underwent 10 μm otology CT examination and surgical treatment. The types, amounts and involved sites of otosclerosis were analyzed and the sensitivity of 10 μm otology CT in diagnosing otosclerosis were evaluated. Results: Fenestral type accounted for 49.0% (25/51 sides), and diffuse type accounted for 51.0% (26/51 sides),and he retrofenestral type without fenestral lesion was not seen. Single lesions accounted for 45.1% (23/51 sides) and multiple lesions accounted for 54.9% (28/51 sides). The incidence of involvement of the fissula ante fenestram and annular ligaments were both 100%. The incidence of involvement of stapes footplate, vestibule, cochlea, round window, inner auditory canal wall, facial nerve canal, stapes muscle and semicircular canal was 60.8% (31 sides), 33.3% (17/51 sides), 21.6% (11/51 sides), 17.6% (9/51 sides), 13.7% (7/51 sides), 9.8% (5/51 sides), 7.8% (4/51 sides) and 5.9% (3/51 sides), respectively. The sensitivity of 10 μm otology CT in diagnosis of otosclerosis was 100%. Conclusion: 10 μm otology CT can fully display the imaging features of otosclerosis, and has the potential to be an effective routine method for otosclerosis.

[Study on the relationship between the morphology of the isthmus of the vestibular aqueduct and Meniere's disease based on 10 μm otology CT]

Objective: To evaluate the morphology of isthmus of the vestibular aqueduct (VA) and its relationship with the occurrence, course of Meniere's disease (MD) and the degree of hearing loss based on 10 μm otology CT. Methods: A total of 13 patients with MD in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2020 to July 2021, including 4 males and 9 females, age from 16 to 77 (56±16) years, were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent 10 μm otology CT examination. The included lesion side was the MD affected group (14 sides), and the non-lesion side was the MD healthy group (12 sides). According to the 1∶2 side, 16 sex-and side matched cases (28 sides) without external and middle ear disease were included in the control group, including 4 males and 12 females, age from 16 to 77 (56±14) years. The horizontal semicircular canal showed on the largest plane was considered as the standard cross-section, and continuous observation was made on this image. According to the display type of isthmus of the VA, it was divided into Ⅰ to Ⅳ grades. Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the morphological differences of VA isthmus among the affected group, the healthy group and the control group. The degree of hearing impairment was assessed by pure tone audiometry (PTA) results, which were divided into normal/mild/moderate/moderately severe/severe/extremely severe hearing impairment. Spearman correlation analysis was used to compare the correlation between the morphological rating of VA isthmus on the affected side and age, course of disease and the results of pure tone audiometry (PTA). Results: The proportions of VA isthmic morphology GRADE Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ in the MD affected group were 28.6% (4/14), 42.9% (6/14), 21.4% (3/14), 7.1% (1/14), those in the MD healthy group were 0 (0/12), 33.3% (4/12), 33.3% (4/12), 33.3% (4/12), and those in the control group were 0 (0/28), 7.1% (2/28), 64.2% (18/28), 28.6% (8/28). The VA isthmus scores [M (Q1, Q3)] of MD affected group was lower than that of MD healthy group [2 (1, 3) vs 3 (2, 4)] and control group [2 (1, 3) vs 3 (3, 4)] (all P<0.05, respectively). The morphology of the VA isthmus on the affected side of MD was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.81, P=0.002), and there was no correlation with the course of disease and degree of hearing impairment (r=-0.40, r=-0.26; all P>0.05, respectively). Conclusion: The stenosis of the VA isthmus in MD was a possible anatomical factor for the occurrence of MD.

[Research progress in endoluminal treatment of urethral stricture]

Urethral stricture is regarded as a common disease in urology whose treatment modalities usually include open surgery and endoluminal treatment. Endoluminal techniques have gradually become one of the essential treatments in urethral stricture due to easier operation, less trauma, faster recovery, higher safety and fewer complications. The popularity of plasma knife and laser, and the application of new urethral stents and grafts, make endoscopic surgery easier and less invasive. However, due to its anatomical particularity and diverse etiologies of urethral stricture, the endoluminal treatment is still not satisfactory and a considerable number of patients still experience poor long-term treatment effect. Non-operative managements, such as intracavitary brachytherapy, intracavitary injection of drugs or stem cells and new urinary catheters are also being explored in treating urethral stricture, which would improve the effect of endoscopic surgery. This review summarizes the clinical application and new progress of various kinds of endoluminal treatments and pharmacotherapy in urethral stricture at home and abroad. More prospective randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm its feasibility, effectiveness and optimal time of operation.

Dexamethasone-Induced FKBP51 Expression in CD4+ T-Lymphocytes Is Uniquely Associated With Worse Asthma Control in Obese Children With Asthma

Introduction

There is evidence that obesity, a risk factor for asthma severity and morbidity, has a unique asthma phenotype which is less atopic and less responsive to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are important to the immunologic pathways of obese asthma and steroid resistance. However, the cellular source associated with steroid resistance has remained elusive. We compared the lymphocyte landscape among obese children with asthma to matched normal weight children with asthma and assessed relationship to asthma control.

Methods

High-dimensional flow cytometry of PBMC at baseline and after dexamethasone stimulation was performed to characterize lymphocyte subpopulations, T-lymphocyte polarization, proliferation (Ki-67+), and expression of the steroid-responsive protein FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51). T-lymphocyte populations were compared between obese and normal-weight participants, and an unbiased, unsupervised clustering analysis was performed. Differentially expressed clusters were compared with asthma control, adjusted for ICS and exhaled nitric oxide.

Results

In the obese population, there was an increased cluster of CD4+ T-lymphocytes expressing Ki-67 and FKBP51 at baseline and CD4+ T-lymphocytes expressing FKBP51 after dexamethasone stimulation. CD4+ Ki-67 and FKBP51 expression at baseline showed no association with asthma control. Dexamethasone-induced CD4+ FKBP51 expression was associated with worse asthma control in obese participants with asthma. FKBP51 expression in CD8+ T cells and CD19+ B cells did not differ among groups, nor did polarization profiles for Th1, Th2, Th9, or Th17 percentage.

Discussion

Dexamethasone-induced CD4+ FKBP51 expression is uniquely associated with worse asthma control in obese children with asthma and may underlie the corticosteroid resistance observed in this population.

Upregulation of miR-142-5p induced by lipopolysaccharide contributes to apoptosis of hepatocytes and hepatic failure

OBJECTIVE

This study was probed to uncover the mechanism of miR-142-5p in septic liver injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, in-vitro and in-vivo models of sepsis were used. For in-vitro sepsis model, hepatocyte cell line (L02 cells) was treated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide). Whereas for in-vivo sepsis model, cecal ligation and puncture were performed in mice. Mice were assigned into three groups: control, CLP (Cecal Ligation Puncture), CLP + miR-142-5p inhibitor group. Liver injury was assessed via H&E staining. IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β expressions were assayed through ELISA kits. C-caspase-9, C-caspase-3, ERK, p65, and IκBα expressions were determined via western blot and RT-qPCR. Apoptosis in LPS-induced L02 cells was detected by TUNEL staining.

RESULTS

Our results show that miR-142-5p exhibited perspicuous upregulation in CLP mice tissues and LPS-induced L02 cells. On the other hand, inhibition of miR-142-5p could promote LPS-induced L02 cell activity and reduce apoptosis and inflammation. In terms of molecular mechanism, downregulation of miR-142-5p could abate sepsis-mediated acute hepatic injury by targeting SOCS1, through ERK and NF-κB pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall our results demonstrate that miR-142-5p inhibitors can mitigate septic liver injury by downregulating the inflammation and apoptosis via targeting SOCS1. Thus, miR-142-5p can serve a potential therapeutic target for sepsis mediated acute hepatic injury.