Identification of an 8 HPV-related RNA signature as a novel prognostic biomarker for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is a commonly detected cancer worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is emerging as an important risk factor affecting SCCHN prognosis. Therefore, identification of HPV status is essential for effective therapies in SCCHN. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of HPV-associated RNA biomarkers for SCCHN. The clinical data, survival data, and RNA-seq data of SCCHN were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Before the differential expression analysis, the heterogeneity between the 2 groups (HPV+ vs HPV-) of samples was analyzed using principal component analysis. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HPV+ and HPV- SCCHN samples were analyzed using the R edgeR package. The Gene Ontology functional annotations, including biological process, molecular function and cellular component (CC), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes And Genomes pathways enriched by the DEGs were analyzed using DAVID. The obtained matrix was analyzed by weighed gene coexpression network analysis. A total of 350 significant DEGs were identified through differential analysis, and these DEGs were significantly enriched in functions associated with keratinization, and the pathway of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Moreover, 72 hub genes were identified through weighed gene coexpression network analysis. After the hub genes and DEGs were combined, we obtained 422 union genes, including 65 survival-associated genes. After regression analysis, a HPV-related prognostic model was established, which consisted of 8 genes, including Clorf105, CGA, CHRNA2, CRIP3, CTAG2, ENPP6, NEFH, and RNF212. The obtained regression model could be expressed by an equation as follows: risk score = 0.065 × Clorf105 + 0.012 × CGA + 0.01 × CHRNA2 + 0.047 × CRIP3 + 0.043 × CTAG2-0.034 × ENPP6 - 0.003 × NEFH - 0.068 × RNF212. CGA interacted with 3 drugs, and CHRNA2 interacted with 11 drugs. We have identified an 8 HPV-RNA signature associated with the prognosis of SCCHN patients. Such prognostic model might serve as possible candidate biomarker and therapeutic target for SCCHN.

Lactulose vs Polyethylene Glycol for Bowel Preparation: A Single-Center, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study Based on BMI

INTRODUCTION

Colonoscopy is currently considered as one of the principal techniques to diagnose the colorectal diseases. Admittedly, qualified bowel preparation before colonoscopy is a premise for high-quality examination. Lower quality bowel preparation might seriously impede visualization of the intestinal mucosa, resulting in missed and misdiagnosed intestinal lesions. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the appropriate oral laxative based on the guarantee of safety and efficacy.

METHODS

This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to compare lactulose oral solution and polyethylene glycol (PEG) electrolyte powder for bowel preparation using the following indicators: Boston Bowel Preparation Scale, Bowel Bubble Score, detection rate of adenoma and lesion, patients' satisfaction, and adverse effects. Our study investigated the suitability of 2 bowel preparation reagents for patients with different body mass indices mainly based on body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS

In the lactulose group, there was a significant improvement in the quality of bowel preparation compared with those in the PEG group ( P < 0.05), especially in people with normal BMI and higher BMI. Compared with the PEG group, individuals in the lactulose group had a significantly higher adenoma detection rate (50% vs 33.5%, P < 0.05) and taste scores (8.82 vs 6.69, P < 0.05), as well as significantly fewer adverse reactions (6.5% vs 32.5%, P < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

Lactulose oral solution is superior to PEG in bowel preparation quality and taste, especially in normal BMI and higher BMI groups. It can be used clinically as a potential and promising bowel preparation agent in the future. Clinical Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100054318.

Physiological and pathological mechanisms of oocyte meiosis

Normal oogenesis is crucial to successful reproduction. During the human female fetal stage, primordial germ cells transform from mitosis to meiosis. After synapsis and recombination of homologous chromosomes, meiosis is arrested at the diplotene stage of prophase in meiosis I. The maintenance of oocyte meiotic arrest in the follicle is primarily attributed to high cytoplasmic concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate. During the menstrual cycle, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone lead to the resumption of meiosis that occurs in certain oocytes and complete the ovulation process. Anything that disturbs oocyte meiosis may result in failure of oogenesis and seriously affect both the fertilization and embryonic development. The rapid development of the assisted reproduction technology, high-throughput sequencing technology, and molecular biology technology provide new ideas and means for human to understand molecular mechanism of meiosis and diagnosis and treatment of oocyte maturation defects. In this review, we mainly summarize the recent physiological and pathological mechanisms of oogenesis, involving homologous recombination, meiotic arrest and resumption, maternal mRNA degradation, post-translational regulation, zona pellucida assembly, and so on. We wish to take this opportunity to raise the awareness of researchers in related fields on oocyte meiosis, providing a theoretical basis for further research and disease treatments.

[The efficacy analysis of neurosurgical robot-assisted DBS in the treatment of elderly Parkinson's disease]

Objective: To investigate the surgical efficacy of neurosurgery robot deep brain stimulation(DBS) in the treatment of elderly Parkinson's disease(PD). Methods: The clinical data of elderly patients (≥75 years) with PD who underwent neurosurgical robot-assisted DBS surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from September 2016 to September 2022 were collected retrospectively. Operation time, electrode implantation duration, postoperative pneumocephalus volume, electrode implantation accuracy, the Tao's DBS surgery scale, perioperative complications were analyzed.The unified Parkinson's disease rating scales (UPDRS), UPDRS-Ⅲ, tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, axial, Barthel Activities of Daily Living (ADL-Barthel), Levodopa Equivalent Daily Dose (LEDD), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores and mortality were assessed respectively before operation, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation and last follow-up. Results: A total of 25 elderly patients were enrolled, including 14 males and 11 females, aged(78.3±3.2) years. Nine patients had underlying diseases. Nine patients (36%) underwent bilateral Globus Pallidus pars Interna deep brain stimulation (GPi-DBS) and 16 patients (64%) underwent bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS).The operation time was (1.56±0.19) hours, the electrode implantation duration was (1.01±0.19) hours, the pneumocephalus volume was 9.8(4.7, 23.3) cm3, and the electrode implantation accuracy was (0.84±0.24) mm, the Tao's DBS surgery scale was (80.2±6.2).The follow-up time [M(Q1, Q3)] was 57.3(27.9, 75.7) months. No serious complications such as intracranial hemorrhage, infection or poor wound healing occurred during the perioperative period. The improvement rate of UPDRS, UPDRS-Ⅲ, rigidity, bradykinesia, and LEDD at 6 months after surgery was significantly higher than that at 24 months after surgery and at the last follow-up (all P<0.05); the improvement rate of axial symptoms, ADL-Barthel score, and MoCA score at 6 months after surgery was significantly higher than that at the last follow-up (P<0.05). HAMD and HAMA scores showed no significant improvement during follow-up after surgery (both P>0.05). At the last follow-up, 12 patients died, with death time of (35.1±20.2) months after operation, and the death age of [M(Q1, Q3)] 80(79, 83)years. Conclusions: Robot-assisted DBS surgery for elderly patients with PD is accurate and safe, and the postoperative symptoms are significantly improved, and they can benefit from neuromodulation for long term, and the risks are controllable.

Compound heterozygous variants in CFTR with potentially reducing ATP-binding ability identified in Chinese infertile brothers with isolated congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens

BACKGROUND

Isolated congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (iCBAVD) in men results in obstructive azoospermia and is mainly caused by pathogenic variants in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) or adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2).

METHODS

The next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to screen the mutations in the proband, and Sanger sequencings were performed to validate the compound heterozygous variant of CFTR in his family members. Protein structure simulation was performed to discover the potential pathological mechanism.

RESULTS

This study reported novel compound heterozygous CFTR mutations (NM:000492.4, Intron: 5T; c.3965_3969dupTTGGG: p.R1325Gfs*5) in two brothers with obstructive azoospermia. The compound heterozygous CFTR mutations were first screened out by NGS in an infertile male patient who exhibited iCBAVD from a nonconsanguineous Chinese family. Histological analysis of the testicular biopsy from this patient revealed normal spermatogenesis and mature spermatozoa were observed in the seminiferous tubules. Surprisingly, the same compound heterozygous CFTR mutations were also observed in his brothers who also exhibited iCBAVD, with their parents being a heterozygous carrier for the mutations, as verified by Sanger sequencing. Protein structure simulation revealed that these mutations potentially led to impaired ATP-binding ability of CFTR.

CONCLUSION

We identified novel compound heterozygous CFTR mutations in two brothers and summarized the literature regarding CFTR mutation and male infertility. Our study may contribute to the genetic diagnosis of iCBAVD and future genetic counseling.

Thermal, photonic, and electrocatalysis in lignin depolymerization research

In order to realize a sustainable bio-based future, it is essential to fully harness the potential of biomass, including lignin - a readily available biopolymer that ranks second in abundance and serves as a renewable source of aromatics. While lignin has traditionally been used for lower-value applications like fuel and power generation, unlocking its higher-value potential through diverse conversion and upgrading techniques is of paramount importance. This review focuses on the catalytic conversion of lignin, with a specific emphasis on selective depolymerization, a process that not only supports economically and environmentally sustainable biorefineries but also aligns with Green Chemistry principles, mitigating adverse environmental impacts. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive discussion of reaction pathways and mechanisms, including C-O and C-C bond cleavage, among different catalysts. Lastly, we analyze and briefly discuss the prospects of rational catalyst design in biomass valorization.

[Efficacy and safety of fourth-generation CD19 CAR-T expressing IL7 and CCL19 along with PD-1 monoclonal antibody for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma]

Objective: This study systematically explore the efficacy and safety of fourth-generation chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T), which express interleukin 7 (IL7) and chemokine C-C motif ligand 19 (CCL19) and target CD19, in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Methods: Our center applied autologous 7×19 CAR-T combined with tirelizumab to treat 11 patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. The efficacy and adverse effects were explored. Results: All 11 enrolled patients completed autologous 7×19 CAR-T preparation and infusion. Nine patients completed the scheduled six sessions of tirolizumab treatment, one completed four sessions, and one completed one session. Furthermore, five cases (45.5%) achieved complete remission, and three cases (27.3%) achieved partial remission with an objective remission rate of 72.7%. Two cases were evaluated for disease progression, and one died two months after reinfusion because of uncontrollable disease. The median follow-up time was 31 (2-34) months, with a median overall survival not achieved and a median progression-free survival of 28 (1-34) months. Two patients with partial remission achieved complete remission at the 9th and 12th months of follow-up. Therefore, the best complete remission rate was 63.6%. Cytokine-release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome were controllable, and no immune-related adverse reactions occurred. Conclusion: Autologous 7×19 CAR-T combined with tirelizumab for treating relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma achieved good efficacy with controllable adverse reactions.

Secure and Privacy-Preserving Intrusion Detection and Prevention in the Internet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

In smart cities, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) play a vital role in surveillance, monitoring, and data collection. However, the widespread integration of UAVs brings forth a pressing concern: security and privacy vulnerabilities. This study introduces the SP-IoUAV (Secure and Privacy Preserving Intrusion Detection and Prevention for UAVS) model, tailored specifically for the Internet of UAVs ecosystem. The challenge lies in safeguarding UAV operations and ensuring data confidentiality. Our model employs cutting-edge techniques, including federated learning, differential privacy, and secure multi-party computation. These fortify data confidentiality and enhance intrusion detection accuracy. Central to our approach is the integration of deep neural networks (DNNs) like the convolutional neural network-long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) network, enabling real-time anomaly detection and precise threat identification. This empowers UAVs to make immediate decisions in dynamic environments. To proactively counteract security breaches, we have implemented a real-time decision mechanism triggering alerts and initiating automatic blacklisting. Furthermore, multi-factor authentication (MFA) strengthens access security for the intrusion detection system (IDS) database. The SP-IoUAV model not only establishes a comprehensive machine framework for safeguarding UAV operations but also advocates for secure and privacy-preserving machine learning in UAVS. Our model's effectiveness is validated using the CIC-IDS2017 dataset, and the comparative analysis showcases its superiority over previous approaches like FCL-SBL, RF-RSCV, and RBFNNs, boasting exceptional levels of accuracy (99.98%), precision (99.93%), recall (99.92%), and F-Score (99.92%).

NADPH oxidase 4 facilitates progression of chondrosarcoma via generation of reactive oxygen species

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4) is an enzyme that regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and its function in the development of chondrosarcoma remains unclear. In the present study, we studied NOX4 expression in chondrosarcoma by immunochemical examination, and analyzed the role of NOX4 in viability and apoptosis of human chondrosarcoma cell line SW1353 using NOX4 siRNA or NOX4 inhibitor GKT137831. NOX4 level significantly increased in tumor compared to that in para-carcinoma sample. The levels of NOX4 were positively correlated with histological grade and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society stage of the patients. NOX4 level was significantly increased in SW1353 compared with that in chondrocytes CHON-001. Knockdown of NOX4 or inhibition of NOX4 by GKT137831 both decreased generation of ROS, and induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in SW1353, accompanied with the activation of caspases (caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspses-9), upregulation of Bax, cytochrome C(cyt-c), cleaved-PARP and down-regulation of Bcl-2. Moreover, NOX4 siRNA and GKT137831 decreased the expression of p-Akt, p-ERK and p-p65 in SW1353 cells. In an in vivo study, NOX4 shRNA transfected SW1353 have shown impaired growth ability compared to the SW1353 when they were injected into the nude mice. Meanwhile, GKT137831 induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in SW1353 xenograft animals, together with increased expression of Bax, cyt-c, cleaved-PARP, and decreased expression of Bcl-2, p-Akt, p-ERK and p-p65. NOX4 plays a positive role in the development of chondrosarcoma and could serve as a promising target against chondrosarcoma clinically.

Role of ELK1 in regulating colorectal cancer progression: miR-31-5p/CDIP1 axis in CRC pathogenesis

Background and Objective

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor that affects the digestive system. With the increased of modernization of society, the incidence of colorectal cancer has increased throughout the world. As a transcription factor, ELK1 has been widely studied in colorectal cancer. However, there are still many unknown factors regarding its specific mechanism of action.This study explored the role of ELK1 and its downstream pathway in CRC pathogenesis.

Methods

Based on clinical samples, this study examined miR-31-5p expression in CRC cells and its impact on malignant behaviors (migration, invasion, apoptosis) and autophagy. The promoter sequence of miR-31-5p was obtained from the UCSC database, and ELK1 was identified as its transcription factor. In ELK1-knockdown CRC cells, miR-31-5p was overexpressed, and its response in malignant behaviors and autophagy was analyzed. The target gene CDIP1 was predicted and verified using a dual-luciferase assay. The influence of CDIP1 on malignant behavior in CRC cells was assessed, and CDIP1 siRNA was used as a rescue treatment for miR-31-5p inhibition. The role of ELK1/miR-31-5p in tumor growth was validated in vivo.

Results

miR-31-5p expression was upregulated in the colorectal cancer tissues and cells. The knockdown of miR-31-5p markedly inhibited cancer cells' malignant behaviors and mediated autophagy. ELK1 was confirmed to bind with the miR-31-5p promoter and enhance miR-31-5p transcription. miR-31-5p was found to bind with the CDIP1 3'UTR and inhibit CDIP1 expression. CDIP1 siRNA partially rescued the effects of miR-31-5p knockdown on cell metastatic ability, autophagy, and apoptosis. Based on the in vivo experiments, results showed that the ELK1/miR-31-5p axis positively regulated tumor growth in nude mice.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that ELK1 regulates the progression of colorectal cancer via an miR-31-5p/CDIP1 axis, and the ELK1/miR-31-5p/CDIP1 axis could be a therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

Design strategy and research progress of multifunctional nanoparticles in lung cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer is one of the cancer types with the highest mortality rate, exploring a more effective treatment modality that improves therapeutic efficacy while mitigating side effects is now an urgent requirement. Designing multifunctional nanoparticles can be used to overcome the limitations of drugs and conventional drug delivery systems. Nanotechnology has been widely researched, and through different needs, suitable nanocarriers can be selected to load anti-cancer drugs to improve the therapeutic effect. It is foreseeable that with the rapid development of nanotechnology, more and more lung cancer patients will benefit from nanotechnology. This paper reviews the merits of various multifunctional nanoparticles in the treatment of lung cancer to provide novel ideas for lung cancer treatment.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on summarizing various nanoparticles for targeted lung cancer therapy and their advantages and disadvantages, using nanoparticles loaded with anti-cancer drugs, delivered to lung cancer sites, enhancing drug half-life, improving anti-cancer drug efficacy and reducing side effects.

EXPERT OPINION

The delivery mode of nanoparticles with superior pharmacokinetic properties in the in vivo circulation enhances the half-life of the drug, and provides tissue-targeted selectivity and the ability to overcome biological barriers, bringing a revolution in the field of oncology.

Nonfood Probiotic, Prebiotic, and Synbiotic Use Reduces All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality Risk in Older Adults: A Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Pro-, pre-, and synbiotic supplements improve cardiovascular risk factors. However, the association between nonfood pro-, pre-, and synbiotics (NPPS) and long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality has not been studied. Thus, our objective was to determine the impact of nonfood pro-, pre-, and synbiotics on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This was a retrospective, cohort study of 4837 nationally representative American participants aged 65 years or older with a median follow-up duration of 77 months.

MEASUREMENTS

All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were measured.

RESULTS

A total of 1556 participants died during the median 77-month follow-up, and 517 died from cardiovascular disease. Compared with participants without NPPS use, participants who used NPPS experienced a reduced risk of all-cause mortality by nearly 41% (hazard ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.79) and cardiovascular mortality by 52% (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.76). Such an effect persisted in most subgroup analyses and complete-case analyses.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

In this study, we found a protective effect of NPPS against all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in Americans aged 65 years or older. Nonfood pro-, pre-, and synbiotics can be a novel, inexpensive, low-risk treatment addition for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality for older individuals.

Factors Affecting the Quality of Bowel Preparation Before Colonoscopy in Outpatient: A Prospective Observational Study

Colonoscopy is an effective method for screening colorectal cancer and adenoma, but the adenoma detection rate depends on the quality of bowel preparation. Our study investigates the influencing factors of the quality of bowel preparation before colonoscopy in outpatients and the influence of the number of walking steps on the quality of bowel preparation. We prospectively collected the clinical data of 150 outpatients undergoing colonoscopy in our department in 2019. Ordinal logistic regression shows that the overweight, not drinking, the number of walking steps before colonoscopy, and the time interval between start PEG and colonoscopy (4-6 hours) were independent factors affecting bowel preparation quality. There was a curving relationship between the reciprocal of Ottawa score and the number of walking steps before colonoscopy, and the regression equation is 1/ Ottawa score = -0.198 + 0.062 × ln steps (p = .035), a minimum of 5,270 walking steps before a colonoscopy is required for a high quality of bowel preparation.

Effect of Seeding Strategy on the Efficiency of Brand Spreading in Complex Social Networks

In social networks, consumers gather to form brand communities, and the community structure significantly impacts the dissemination of brand information. Which communication strategy is more conducive to information dissemination in different structured brand communities? Considering the above factors, we propose the word-of-mouth (WOM) agent model based on the traditional rumor model and bass model, in which the brand WOM spreading is affected by the user's psychological mechanisms, the network structure, and other factors. Through simulation experiments, the results showed the following: (1) the conclusion of the traditional bass model is no longer applicable to social marketing in brand information diffusion, that is, the effect of external marketing stimulation on information dissemination is limited. (2) The communication effect and the efficiency of information in different structures of the learning-community network are very different. (3) The strategy of hub nodes is not suitable for all types of networks, and the impact of different seeding strategies on the efficiency and effect of brand information dissemination was verified. Finally, the conclusion was verified again using the social network data on Facebook.

[CXCL5 inhibits tumor immune of lung cancer via modulating PD1/PD-L1 signaling]

Objective: To investigate the role of CXCL5 in tumor immune of lung cancer and to explore the potential molecular mechanisms. Methods: A total of 62 cases of patients with lung cancer admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University from May 2018 to December 2019 were recruited as study object. Another 20 cases of patients with pulmonary infectious diseases and 20 cases of healthy control were selected as control. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine serum levels of CXCL5 in patients with lung cancer, pulmonary infectious diseases and healthy control. Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) was used to detect the expressions of CXCL5 and PD-1/PD-L1 in tumor and paracarcinoma tissues of patients with lung cancer. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between CXCL5 and PD-1 in tumor and paracarcinoma tissues of patients with lung cancer. Lewis cells either expressing CXCL5 or vector plasmids were used to establish C57BL/6J mice model of lung cancer, and all mice were then divided into vehicle and PD-1 antibody treatment groups, 10 mice for each group. The mice survival and tumor growth curves were recorded. IHC was used to evaluate the expressions of CXCL5, PD-1 as well as the proportions of CD8(+) T and Treg cells in xenograft tumor tissues. Results: In patients with lung cancer, the serum level of CXCL5 [(351.7±51.5) ng/L] was significant higher than that in patients with pulmonary infectious diseases and healthy control [(124.7±23.4) ng/L, P<0.001]. The expression levels of CXCL5 (0.136±0.034), CXCR2 (0.255±0.050), PD-1 (0.054±0.012) and PD-L1 (0.350±0.084) in tumor were significant higher than those in paracarcinoma normal tissues [(0.074±0.022), (0.112±0.023), (0.041±0.007) and (0.270±0.043) respectively, P<0.001]. CXCL5 was significant positively correlated with PD-1 in tumor tissues of lung cancer (r=0.643, P<0.001), but not correlated with PD-1 in paracarcinoma tissues(r=0.088, P=0.496). The vector control group, CXCL5 overexpression group, vector control + anti-PD-1 antibody treatment group and CXCL5 overexpression + anti-PD-1 antibody treatment group all successfully formed tumors in mice, while CXCL5 overexpression increased the tumor growth significantly (P<0.01), which was abrogated by the treatment of anti-PD-1 antibody. CXCL5 overexpression decreased the mice survival time significantly (P<0.01), this effect was also abrogated by the treatment of anti-PD-1 antibody. The proportion of CD8(+) T cells in CXCL5 overexpression group [(10.40±2.00)%] was significant lower than that in vector control group [(21.20±3.30)%, P=0.002]. The proportion of CD4(+) Foxp3(+) Treg cells in CXCL5 overexpression group [(38.40±3.70)%] was significant higher than that in vector control group [(23.30±2.25)%, P<0.001]. After the treatment of anti-PD-1 antibody, no significant difference were observed for the proportion of CD8(+) T cells [(34.10±5.00)% and (33.40±4.00)% respectively] and Treg cells [(14.70±3.50)% and (14.50±3.30)% respectively] in xenograft tumor tissues between CXCL5 overexpression+ anti-PD-1 antibody treatment group and vector control + anti-PD-1 antibody treatment group (P>0.05). Conclusion: The expressions of CXCL5 and PD-1/PD-L1 are all increased significantly in the tumor tissues of patients with lung cancer, CXCL5 may inhibit tumor immune of lung cancer via modulating PD-1/PD-L1 signaling.

[Spatial analysis of echinococcosis in pastoral area of Qinghai province, 2019]

Objective: To understand the spatial characteristics of echinococcosis and associated factors in the pastoral area of Qinghai province, and provide evidence for the effective prevention and control of echinococcosis. Methods: The number of echinococcosis cases in the pastoral areas of Qinghai in 2019 was collected to perform spatial epidemiological analysis. The thematic map of the distribution of echinococcosis cases was generated with software ArcGIS 10.8 for visual analysis and spatial autocorrelation analysis. The spatial autocorrelation and spatial scanning analysis were performed to estimate the clustering of echinococcosis with software SaTScan 9.5. Software GeoDa 1.14 and ArcGIS 10.8 were used to establish spatial lag model and geographical weighted regression model to analyze the related factors of echinococcosis epidemic. Results: In 2019, the echinococcosis surveillance covered 64 741 people in the pastoral area of Qinghai, and 829 echinococcosis cases were found, with a prevalence rate of 1.28%. The distribution of the cases had spatial correlation (Moran's I=0.41, P<0.001). The most possible clustering areas indicated by spatial scanning analysis included Banma, Jiuzhi, Dari and Gande counties of Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (LLR=460.77, RR=9.20, P<0.001). The prevalence of echinococcosis in the pastoral areas was positively associated with the total annual precipitation (β=0.13, P=0.036), and negatively associated with population density (β=-1.36, P=0.019) and doctors/nurse ratio (β=-25.60, P=0.026). Conclusions: The distribution of echinococcosis cases in the pastoral areas of Qinghai in 2019 had spatial correlation, and the prevalence was affected by total annual precipitation, population density, and doctors/nurse ratio.

Assessing the dynamic linkage between energy efficiency, renewable energy consumption, and CO2 emissions in China

Efficient energy is crucial in reducing CO2 emissions. The researchers are digging for a new efficient source of energy in the modern era. Therefore, this study explores the dynamic impacts of energy efficiency and renewable energy consumption on CO2 emissions from 1991 to 2019 for China. By using the non-linear ARDL approach, we found that a negative shock in energy efficiency has a positive impact on CO2 emissions in long run. Furthermore, renewable energy consumption with positive shock has a negative significant impact on CO2 emissions, but negative shock in renewable energy consumption leads to increase pollution emissions in long run. Besides, positive shocks to energy efficiency and renewable energy consumption have also a favorable negative effect on CO2 emissions in the short run. While a negative shock in energy efficiency has only unobservable negative impacts on CO2 emissions in the short run. Based on findings, some policy measures are suggested to attain environmental sustainability in China.

Diagnosing of primary cutaneous amyloidosis using dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy

BACKGROUND

Primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) is apruritic and potentially disfiguring disorder; this disease is usually diagnosed clinically due to its common occurrence. However, for cases with atypical presentations or for those physicians not familiar with PCA, the diagnosis can be a challenge.

OBJECTIVE

To observe the characteristics of PCA under dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in order to gain experience and reference for clinicians to facilitate diagnosis.

METHODS

The typical lesions of 110 patients with primary cutaneous amyloidosis were observed by dermoscopy and RCM, and scanning results were recorded. Thirty patients followed by complete excision for histopathological analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 110 patients with clinically diagnosed PCA were enrolled. Forty-seven patients had lesions consistent with macular amyloidosis and 63 with lichen amyloidosus. The dermoscopic findings of PCA shared a common feature, each 'macule' was composed of a central hub pattern surrounded by brownish pigmentation, The pattern of the central hub could be brown, white, scar-like and structureless area. RCM features of total patients consisted of dermal papilla present cloud-like agglomerate which are high refractive index.

CONCLUSIONS

Dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy can be used in the diagnosis of PCA, which can provide a basis for doctors to diagnose.

Do Product Characteristics Affect Customers' Participation in Virtual Brand Communities? An Empirical Study

The virtual brand community has become an important marketing tool for companies. A successful brand community marketing strategy should attract a large number of consumers. Although past studies have revealed consumer motivations for participating in virtual brand communities, they fail to answer an important question: Why is it so easy for some virtual brand communities to attract users while others have such difficulty? In this study, product characteristics are hypothesized to be important factors that determine consumer motivation to participate in brand communities. Product characteristics (e.g., product complexity, product symbolism, and product satisfaction) can directly affect how actively consumers participate in brand communities. The results of questionnaires show that product complexity, product symbolism, and product satisfaction have a positive influence on consumers’ willingness to participate in brand communities. Notably, the duration of product use has a regulating effect on the influence of product satisfaction and product symbolism. A long period of product use weakens the influence of product satisfaction on consumers’ willingness to participate in brand communities. On the contrary, a long period of product use strengthens the influence of product symbolism on consumers’ willingness to participate in brand communities. This study enriches the literature on brand community participation and has implications for companies that aim to utilize brand communities for marketing.

Do economic policy uncertainty and financial development influence the renewable energy consumption levels in China?

Last few decades, several economic uncertainty challenges have emerged in the energy market. This study newly contributes to existing research by inspecting the asymmetric effect of economic policy uncertainty and financial development on renewable energy consumption in China. We employ a nonlinear ARDL approach by using a time-series dataset spanning from 1990 to 2019. Our symmetric model shows that economic policy uncertainty matters in the short run, as it increases renewable energy consumption while exhibiting a negative impact on renewable energy in long run in China. Our asymmetric results in the short and long run have deviated from the symmetric results. Our asymmetric results of the short and long run are similar in direction but different in magnitude. The results show that positive change in economic policy uncertainty has increased 3.216% and negative change in economic policy uncertainty has decreased 1.461% in renewable energy consumption in long run in China. Financial development does not matter in renewable energy consumption in China. Based on these outcomes, we can draw some robust economic policies in China as well as for other pollutant economies. Policymakers should be made economic policies more predictable in the modern era.

Added value of systemic inflammation markers in predicting pulmonary infection in stroke patients: A retrospective study by machine learning analysis

Exploring candidate markers to predict the clinical outcomes of pulmonary infection in stroke patients have a high unmet need. This study aimed to develop machine learning (ML)-based predictive models for pulmonary infection.Between January 2008 and April 2021, a retrospective analysis of 1397 stroke patients who had CT angiography from skull to diaphragm (including CT of the chest) within 24 hours of symptom onset. A total of 21 variables were included, and the prediction model of pulmonary infection was established by multiple ML-based algorithms. Risk factors for pulmonary infection were determined by the feature selection method. Area under the curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis were used to determine the model with the best resolution and to assess the net clinical benefits associated with the use of predictive models, respectively.A total of 889 cases were included in this study as a training group, while 508 cases were as a validation group. The feature selection indicated the top 6 predictors were procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, consciousness disorder, dysphagia, and invasive procedure. The AUCs of the 5 models ranged from 0.78 to 0.87 in the training cohort. When the ML-based models were applied to the validation set, the results also remained reconcilable, and the AUC was between 0.891 and 0.804. The decision curve analysis also showed performed better than positive line and negative line, indicating the favorable predictive performance and clinical values of the models.By incorporating clinical characteristics and systemic inflammation markers, it is feasible to develop ML-based models for the presence and consequences of signs of pulmonary infection in stroke patients, and the use of the model may be greatly beneficial to clinicians in risk stratification and management decisions.

Cadmium-induced hormesis effect in medicinal herbs improves the efficiency of safe utilization for low cadmium-contaminated farmland soil

Compared to other soil remediation technologies, Cd-contaminated farmland soil with low cadmium accumulation (LCA) plant-based safe utilization is more catered to developing countries with food in high demand. Hormesis, which describes the fortification of plant growth performance by a low level of environmental stress, can be innovatively used to achieve increases in crop yield and plant functional components, thus amplifying the safe utilization efficiency of low Cd-contaminated soil by LCA plants. In the present study, the growth and physiological responses of Polygonatum sibiricum, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, were investigated under laboratory conditions of gradient Cd dosage concentrations and times. As a result, the growth performance of P. sibiricum reached the peak of an inverse U-shaped curve of hormesis under e⁰ mg kg^-1 and 9 months of Cd stress, with elevations in tuber biomass (medicinal part), plant height and polysaccharide content (medicinal components) of 143%, 25% and 90%, respectively. Meanwhile, trace Cd accumulation (0.41 mg kg^-1) in the tuber guaranteed medicinal edible safety. In addition, Cd-induced hormesis in P. sibiricum was verified to be overcompensated by antioxidation systems. In conclusion, such 'win-win' results, including low Cd accumulation and enhancement of plant pharmaceutical value, provided medicinal herbs with a possibility for safe soil utilization.

Higher Liver Stiffness Predicting Adverse Outcomes in Cirrhotic Patients with Child-Pugh Grades A and B

OBJECTIVE

To describe the baseline characteristics and two-year outcomes of patients with Child-Pugh grades A and B cirrhosis; and evaluate the predictive value of liver stiffness for the development of adverse outcomes (AOs) in this patient population.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China between September 2018 and March 2021.

METHODOLOGY

The present study consecutively included patients with Child-Pugh grades A and B cirrhosis. Patients were followed up every six months until two years. Baseline demographic characteristics and laboratory indexes were collected. Liver stiffness and controlled attenuation parameter were measured at baseline, month 6 and month 12. The observational endpoint was AOs, including liver-related patient death and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

RESULTS

A total of 174 patients were included in the final cohort. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced liver cirrhosis accounted for the vast majority of enrolled cases (82.2%). AOs were observed in six patients. Multivariate logistic regression model was performed and liver stiffness was considered as the only independent predictor for AOs (OR 1.071, p = 0.006). Liver stiffness was also significantly improved at 12 months compared with the baseline data (median 10.6 vs. 13.3 kPa, p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with Child-Pugh grades A and B cirrhosis had an acceptable short-term prognosis. Greater liver stiffness predicted two-year AOs in these patients with relatively mild cirrhosis. The prognostic value of changes in liver stiffness warrants further investigation. Key Words: Liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh score, Liver stiffness, Asian population, Outcome.

An analysis of clinical characteristics and postoperative complications in children craniopharyngioma

OBJECTIVE

Children treated for craniopharyngioma (CP) experience significant morbidity. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and postoperative complications of pediatric CP and to determine risk factors for complications to provide a theoretical basis for postoperative treatment.

METHODS

In this retrospective analysis, we screened clinical data concerning children with CP who had undergone surgery at our hospital from December 2011 to June 2015. We statistically analyzed the relationship between age, sex, disease course, tumor location, extent of tumor resection, and neuroendocrine axis dysfunction.

RESULTS

Of 240 patients (males, n = 144; females, n = 96; mean age, 8.33 ± 4.64 years), the main clinical presentations were headache (n = 151, 62.92%), vomiting (n = 84, 35%), vision changes (n = 101, 42.08%), polydipsia and polyuria (n = 47, 19.58%), and growth retardation (n = 42, 17.5%). Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction was the most common postoperative complication. There were 216 (90.00%) and 181 (75.42%) patients with pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-adrenal axis injuries, respectively. Being a prepubescent girl was a risk factor for impaired pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-adrenal axis function (P < 0.05). No correlation was found between sex (male), age, disease course, tumor location, extent of tumor resection, and impaired pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-adrenal axis function (P > 0.05). Pituitary-gonad axis injury was observed in 91 (37.92%) patients. Saddle and suprasellar region tumors were risk factors for impaired pituitary-gonad axis function (P < 0.05). No statistically significant correlation was found between sex, disease course, extent of resection, and impaired pituitary-gonad axis function (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine screening for complications during treatment is indicated for children with CP, to optimize the timing of interventions and reduce long-term morbidity.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio: A Biomarker for Predicting Systemic Involvement in Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

BACKGROUND

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is one of the commonest entities included within the category of cutaneous vasculitis (CV). Our work is purposed to explore the predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for systemic involvement in Henoch- Schonlein purpura patients. This ratio is known as an inflammatory marker, and is used to assess the systemic inflammation associated with various diseases. Our objective is to establish whether it can be applied for the prediction of renal and gastrointestinal (GI) or purely renal involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

AIM

To determine the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and systemic involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura Methods: This is a retrospective review of the patients who were diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura in our hospital between 2012 and 2018.

RESULTS

A total of 57 patients met our inclusion criteria. Pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly associated with renal and/or GI manifestations of the disease (p<0.001). The optimal cut-off value of this ratio for predicting systemic involvement was 2.48, with a 95% specificity and a 94% sensitivity. In addition, pretreatment ratio was also found to be significantly correlated with the severity of relevant systemic manifestations of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (r=0.831; p<0.01).

LIMITATIONS

The small number of patients recruited for our research, its retrospective design, and the inclusion of patients attending the same hospital.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is suitable as a potential indicator for predicting the systemic involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

Clinicopathologic profiling and oncologic outcomes of secretory carcinoma of the breast

Secretory carcinoma of the breast (SCB) is a rather rare entity of invasive breast cancer, the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes remain to be elaborated. A retrospective review was conducted in SEER database. A total of 190 SCB patients identified in SEER were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. Median age at diagnosis was 56 years (range 2–96 years). Both sexes and bilateral breast could be affected. Intriguingly, the incidence of SCB tended towards to decreasing in recent decades. Small tumor burden was observed with a mean tumor size of 2.13 cm. In a subgroup with sufficient details, positive staining of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) was 58% and 40%, respectively. The vast majority of patients were of well to moderate differentiation (86.86%) and negative regional lymph nodes involvement (70.71%). Nearly half of the patients took radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Seniors were inclined to have an inferior breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) than their younger counterparts (P = 0.018). Patients underwent breast conserving surgery (BCS) and radiotherapy had much better BCSS than its mastectomy counterparts (P = 0.014). Collectively, SCB is a clinical indolent invasive breast cancer with excellent prognosis. BCS in conjunction with radiotherapy would be a rational alternative for this distinct entity.

Epidemiological analysis of single center of acute poisoning cases based on poisoning treatment platform

To studied epidemiological characteristics of 493 cases of acute poisoning in Nantong city, Jiangsu province.Based on the analysis platform of poisoning treatment, adopted single center and prospective investigation method, analyzed data of acute poisoning patients from May 2015 to December 2018 in the second affiliated hospital of Nantong University.Among 493 patients with acute poisoning, men 227 (46.04%), women 266 (53.96%). Age ranged from 12 to 89 years old, average age 41.6 years. In the occupational distribution, farmers were 30.02%; 351 cases (71.20%) visited the hospital within 6 hours after exposure. Oral exposure poisoning 415 cases (84.18%). Pesticide poisoning accounted for 45.45% of deaths.Using the poisoning treatment platform to analyze the clinical characteristic had accurately and reliably in Nantong. The fatality rate of pesticide poisoning in cases of acute poisoning is high. Management of highly toxic pesticides should be continued and effective health education on pesticide use should be carried out.

Resection of Giant Tumor of Chest Wall under Cardiopulmonary Bypass after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Case Report

Osteosarcoma, one of the most common sources of bone malignant tumors, often occurs at the epiphysis, such as in the distal femoral and proximal tibia, but seldom occurs at the costa. Here, we present the case of a 15-year-old girl with giant osteosarcoma on the chest wall. Osteosarcoma is extremely malignant and has a high death rate. We surgically resected the osteosarcoma using cardiopulmonary bypass and administered neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Emerging strategies against tumor-associated fibroblast for improved the penetration of nanoparticle into desmoplastic tumor

The therapeutic effect of nanoparticles is limited in solid tumors, especially desmoplastic tumors, because the tumor matrix hinders the delivery of nanoparticles. As the most abundant cells in the tumor stroma, tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) produce a dense extracellular matrix, which leads to higher tissue fluid pressure, thereby creating a physical barrier for nanoparticle delivery. Therefore, researchers focused on eliminating TAFs to combat desmoplastic tumors. In recent years, a series of methods for TAFs have been developed. In this paper, we first introduced the biological mechanism of TAFs hindering the penetration of nanoparticles. Then, the different methods of eliminating TAFs were summarized, and the mechanism of nanomedicine in eliminating TAFs was highlighted. Finally, the problems and future development directions for TAFs treatment were discussed from the perspective of the treatment of desmoplastic tumors.

Clinical target volume design of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for major salivary gland tumours according to surgical principles: an innovative method

BACKGROUND

No international consensus has been reached regarding delineation of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (PO-IMRT) clinical target volumes (CTV) for major salivary gland carcinoma (SGC). The purpose of this article was to report our experience according to surgical principles.

METHODS

Between June 2010 and June 2018, 54 consecutive patients were enrolled. Reserved tissues around the margin of resection that were less than 5 mm from the invasive tumour edge before surgery were defined as high-risk clinical target volumes (CTV-HD), those less than 10 mm away were defined as medium-risk CTV (CTV1), and those 10-20 mm away were defined as low-risk CTV (CTV2), and were irradiated with 63-65 Gy, 59.5-61 Gy, and 45-54 Gy, respectively. Target volume distributions of reserved tissues were analysed and actuarial estimates of overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were obtained with the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

In parotid gland tumours, the percentages of defined CTV-HD in the styloid process, mandibular ramus, posterior venter of the digastric muscle, carotid sheath and stylomastoid foramen reached 34.29%, 25.71%, 54.29%, 40.00%, and 37.10%, respectively. The median follow-up was 33 months (range, 5-98 months). The 3-year and 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of OS, RFS and DMFS were 85.4% and 77.8%, 97.4%, and 97.4%, and 82.0% and 82.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

It is feasible to delineate CTVs according to distances between various reserved tissues and the primary tumour edge before operation.

lncRNA MIR155HG Alleviates Depression-Like Behaviors in Mice by Regulating the miR-155/BDNF Axis

Depression is one of most common psychiatric disorders, and the detailed molecular mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a critical neurotrophic factor that is decreased and closely involved in the development of depression. Noncoding RNAs are central regulators of cellular activities that modulate target genes. However, the roles of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MIR155HG and miRNA-155 (miR-155) in the pathophysiology of depression are unclear. In the present study, we aimed to explore the effects of lncRNA MIR155HG and miR-155 on the development of depression and uncover the underlying molecular mechanism. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the expression of MIR155HG and miR-155. Western blotting was applied to measure the expression of BDNF. A luciferase reporter assay was utilized to determine the regulatory relationship between MIR155HG and miR-155. Our current work found that lncRNA MIR155HG and BDNF levels decreased while miR-155 levels increased in the hippocampal region of CUMS (chronic unpredictable mild stress) mice, a well-accepted mouse model of depression. Moreover, MIR155HG rescued while miR-155 exacerbated the depression-like behaviors of CUMS mice. Through bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays, we found that MIR155HG directly bound to and negatively modulated the expression of miR-155. Moreover, increased miR-155 was found to repress the expression of BDNF, a critical neurotrophic factor that has been reported to alleviate the depression-like behaviors of CUMS mice. Our present study revealed that lncRNA MIR155HG protected CUMS mice by regulating the miR-155/BDNF axis. Our study aimed to understand the pathophysiology of depression and provided potential therapeutic targets to diagnose and treat depression.

Radiomics Analysis to Enhance Precise Identification of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Based on Positron Emission Tomography Images of Lung Cancer Patients

How to recognize precisely epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation in lung cancer patients owns great clinical requirement. In this study, 1575 radiomics features were extracted from PET images of 75 lung cancer patients based on contrast agents such as 18F-MPG and 18F-FDG. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for single factor analysis, the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (Lasso) Regression was used for feature screening, then the radiomics classification models were established by using support vector machines and ten-fold cross-validation, and were used to identify EGFR mutation in primary lung cancers and metastasis lung cancers, accuracy based on 18F-MPG PET images are respectively 90% for primary lung cancers, and 89.66% for metastasis lung cancers, accuracy based on 18F-FDG PET images are respectively 76% for primary lung cancers and 82.75% for metastasis lung cancers. The area under the curves (AUC) based on 18F-MPG PET images are respectively 0.94877 for primary lung cancers, and 0.91775 for metastasis lung cancers, AUC based on 18F-FDG PET images are respectively 0.87374 for primary lung cancers, and 0.82251 for metastasis lung cancers. In conclusion, both 18F-MPG PET images and 18F-FDG PET images combined with established classification models can identify EGFR mutation, but 18F-MPG PET images have more precisely than 18F-FDG PET images, own clinical translational prospects.

MiR-573 suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion via regulation of E2F3 in pancreatic cancer

Background: Pancreatic cancer is among the most lethal malignancies worldwide. In this study, we aimed to determine whether miR-573 could suppress pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting E2F3. Materials and Methods: MiR-573 expression in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines was measured using real-time PCR. Target genes of miR-573 were screened using bioinformatics tools and confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter assay and real-time PCR. Pancreatic cancer cells were transfected using an miR-573 mimic or siRNA E2F3. Furthermore, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed using CCK-8, Edu staining, colony-forming assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay in vitro. The in vivo effects of miR-573 were verified using tumor xenografts. Differential expression and prognostic analyses of miR-573 and E2F3 were visualized using the Kaplan‑Meier plotter and GEPIA. Results: We found that the expression of miR-573 was significantly reduced in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-573 obviously suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. The Dual-luciferase assay showed that miR-573 could specifically target E2F3. Furthermore, E2F3 was up-regulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines and E2F3 down-regulation inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. The ectopic expression of miR-573 inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Results from the Kaplan-Meier analysis and GEPIA showed that patients with a high level of miR-573 had a significantly reduced risk of death while those with a high level of E2F3 displayed significant correlation with the tumor stage and suffered worse prognosis. Conclusions: MiR-573 could suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by targeting E2F3, thereby establishing miR-573 as a novel regulator of E2F3 and indicating its critical role in tumorigenesis, especially in pancreatic cancer.

High-throughput screening of multifunctional nanocoatings based on combinations of polyphenols and catecholamines

Biomimetic surface coatings based on plant polyphenols and catecholamines have been used broadly in a variety of applications. However, the lack of a rational cost-effective platform for screening these coatings and their properties limits the true potential of these functional materials to be unleashed. Here, we investigated the oxidation behavior and coating formation ability of a library consisting of 45 phenolic compounds and catecholamines. UV-vis spectroscopy demonstrated significant acceleration of oxidation and polymerization under UV irradiation. We discovered that several binary mixtures resulted in non-additive behavior (synergistic or antagonistic effect) yielding much thicker or thinner coatings than individual compounds measured by ellipsometry. To investigate the properties of coatings derived from new combinations, we used a miniaturized high-throughput strategy to screen 2,532 spots coated with single, binary, and ternary combinations of coating precursors in one run. We evaluated the use of machine learning models to learn the relation between the chemical structure of the precursors and the thickness of the nanocoatings. Formation and stability of nanocoatings were investigated in a high-throughput manner via discontinuous dewetting. 30 stable combinations (hits) were used to tune the surface wettability and to form water droplet microarray and spot size gradients of water droplets on the coated surface. No toxicity was observed against eukaryotic HeLa cells and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (strain PA30) bacteria after 24 h incubation at 37 °C. The strategy introduced here for high-throughput screening of nanocoatings derived from combinations of coating precursors enables the discovery of new functional materials for various applications in science and technology in a cost-effective miniaturized manner.

[Research progress on chemical structures and pharmacological activities of Poria cocos polysaccharide and its derivatives]

Poria cocos is a both medicinal and edible Chinese herb variety, with the effects of diuretic, spleen-enhancing and tranquilizing. P. cocos polysaccharide(PCP) is one of the most important active substances of P. cocos. Pharmacological research shows that PCP has a variety of pharmacological activities such as regulating immunity, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, antitumor, and liver protection, with a huge development and utilization value. By consulting the relevant literature, we systematically summarized the chemical structures and the research progress on pharmacological activities of PCP and its derivatives in recent years to explore the chemical compositions and activities of PCP thoroughly. In addition, the current problems were discussed in this article to provide reference for further exploration of the structure-activity relationship of PCP and its further development and utilization.

The Usefulness of Pretreatment MR-Based Radiomics on Early Response of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

The aim of this study was to explore the predictive role of pretreatment MRI-based radiomics on early response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Between January 2016 and December 2016, a total of 108 newly diagnosed NPC patients who were hospitalized in the Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences were reviewed. All patients had complete data of enhanced MR of nasopharynx before treatment, and then received two to three cycles of TP-based NAC. After 2 cycles of NAC, enhanced MR of nasopharynx was conducted again. Compared with the enhanced MR images before treatment, the response after NAC was evaluated. According to the evaluation criteria of RECIST1.1, 108 cases were divided into two groups: 52 cases for the NAC-sensitive group and 56 cases for the NAC-resistance group. ITK-SNAP software was used to manually sketch and segment the region of interest (ROI) of nasopharyngeal tumor on the MR enhanced T1WI sequence image. The parameters were analyzed and extracted by using AI Kit software. ANOVA/MW test, correlation analysis, and LASSO were used to select texture features. We used multivariate logistic regressions to select texture features and establish a predictive model. The ROC curve was used to evaluate the efficiency of the predictive model. A total of 396 texture features were obtained by using feature calculation. After all features were screened, we selected two features including ClusterShade_angle135_offset4 and Correlation_AllDirection_offshe1_SD. Based on these two features, we established a predictive model by using multivariate logistic regression. The AUC of the two features used alone (0.804, 95% CI=0.6020.932; 0.762, 95% CI=0.5560.905) was smaller than the combination of these two features (0.905, 95% CI=0.7240.984, p=0.0005). Moreover, the sensitivity values of the two features used alone and the combined use were 92.9%, 51.7%, and 85.7%, respectively, while the specificity values were 66.7%, 91.7%, and 83.3%, respectively, in the early response of NAC for NPC. The predictive model based on MRI-enhanced sequence imaging could distinguish the sensitivity and resistance to NAC and provide new biomarkers for the early prediction of the curative effect in NPC patients.

Effect of Nanobubbles on the Slime Coating of Kaolinite in Coal Flotation

Understanding the coating behavior of fine gangue slimes in the presence of nanobubbles (NBs) is important for the application of NB technology in flotation. In this study, slime coating of kaolinite in the flotation of a low-ash coal using deionized (DI) water and NB water was investigated. Kaolinite was found to depress coal flotation by the formation of coating on coal surfaces, but its deleterious effect was less pronounced in the NB water with mitigated slime coating. Setting tests, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurements, and dynamic light scattering were conducted to understand the underpinning mechanism. In comparison with DI water, the degree of kaolinite aggregation was enhanced in the NB water. The intensified self-aggregation of kaolinite platelets which appears to be induced by the presence of NBs reduces the solid-liquid interfacial area as well as the number of free kaolinite particles in the suspension, mitigating the coating of kaolinite on coal surfaces in NB water flotation.

Optimal induction chemotherapeutic regimen followed by concurrent chemotherapy plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy as first-line therapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

For patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), induction chemotherapy (IC) regimens based on TPF (docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil), TP (docetaxel and cisplatin), and GP (gemcitabine and cisplatin) have shown excellent survival outcomes as the first-line therapy; however, no trials comparing the efficacy and safety of TPF, TP, and GP have been reported. We report 2 phase II trials comparing the treatment outcomes and side effects of 3 different IC regimens followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally advanced patients with NPC.A total of 206 locoregionally advanced patients with NPC treated with a combination treatment from January 2012 to January 2014 were enrolled in the 2 studies. The patients received TPF-, TP-, and GP-based IC regimens every 3 weeks, followed by intensity-modulated radiotherapy and concurrent therapy with cisplatin every 3 weeks.After a median follow-up duration of 47 months (10-60 months), the 3-year local recurrence-free survival, regional recurrence-free survival, distant metastases-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 96.4%, 100%, 87.7%, 86%, and 94.7% in the TPF arm; 91.7%, 95.9%, 91.9%, 85.2%, and 92% in the TP arm; 98.6%, 100%, 89.0%, 87.6%, and 89.2% in the GP arm. The survival differences among the 3 arms were not statistically significant (P > .05). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the IC regimen was not an independent prognostic factor for any survival outcomes. The patients in the TP arm experienced significantly lower grade 3/4 toxicities than the patients in the other 2 arms.TP-based IC regimen has similar efficacy compared with TPF- and GP-based IC regimens; however, TP-based IC regimen has a lower toxicity profile.

Potential mechanisms of action of celastrol against rheumatoid arthritis: Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis

The clinical efficacy for treating of celastrol rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been well-documented, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here we explored through what proteins and processes celastrol may act in activated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients. Differential expression of genes and proteins after celastrol treatment of FLS was examined using RNA sequencing, label-free relatively quantitative proteomics and molecular docking. In this paper, expression of 26,565 genes and 3,372 proteins was analyzed. Celastrol was associated with significant changes in genes that respond to oxidative stress and oxygen levels, as well as genes that stabilize or synthesize components of the extracellular matrix. These results identify several potential mechanisms through which celastrol may inhibit inflammation in RA.