Genetic analysis of a Kaijiang duck conservation population through genome-wide scan

1. The Kaijiang duck is a native Chinese breed known for its excellent egg laying performance, killing-out percentage (88.57%), and disease resistance. The assessment of population genetic structure is the basis for understanding the genetics of indigenous breeds and for their protection and management.2. In this study, whole-genome sequencing was performed on 60 Kaijiang ducks to identify genetic variations and investigate the population structure. Homozygosity (ROH) analysis was conducted to assess inbreeding levels in the population.3. The study revealed a moderate level of inbreeding, indicated by an average inbreeding coefficient of 0.1043. This may impact the overall genetic diversity.4. Genomic Regions of Interest identified included 168 genomic regions exhibiting high levels of autozygosity. These regions were associated with processes including muscle growth, pigmentation, neuromodulation, and growth and reproduction.5. The significance of these pathways indicated their potential role in shaping the desirable traits of the Kaijiang duck. These findings provide insights into the genetic basis of the Kaijiang duck's desirable traits and can inform future breeding and conservation efforts.

Achromobacter species (sp.) outbreak caused by hospital equipment containing contaminated water: risk factors for infection

BACKGROUND

Nosocomial outbreaks of urinary tract infections caused by Achromobacter spp. have been rare in recent decades.

AIM

To identify the origin of an Achromobacter sp. outbreak, conduct multi-modal infection control measures, and finally to stop the outbreak. To this end, an epidemiological outbreak investigation and risk factor analysis were performed.

METHODS

Achromobacter sp. was detected in 22 patients in our urology wards and six environmental cultures of specimens obtained from the operating rooms. Strains isolated were submitted for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. An on-site epidemiological investigation, evaluation of patient medical records, and environmental sampling were performed to identify the source of the outbreak, and implementation of infection control intervention. A case-control study was performed to analyse the potential risk factors.

FINDINGS

Environmental sampling showed that the source of the infection for 22 patients was an ISA-IIIA-type medical pressurizer containing contaminated water. A case-control analysis showed that the risk factors for infection were: diagnosis of kidney/ureteral stones, surgery, placement of a double-J stent, and history of hospitalization in the past three months.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the outbreak occurred in patients who underwent internal lithotripsy and double-J stent placement, due to contact transmission with the contaminated sensor and connecting tubes of the ISA-IIIA-type medical pressurizer.

Amplitude Analysis of the B^{0}→K^{*0}μ^{+}μ^{-} Decay

An amplitude analysis of the B^{0}→K^{*0}μ^{+}μ^{-} decay is presented using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7  fb^{-1} of pp collision data collected with the LHCb experiment. For the first time, the coefficients associated to short-distance physics effects, sensitive to processes beyond the standard model, are extracted directly from the data through a q^{2}-unbinned amplitude analysis, where q^{2} is the μ^{+}μ^{-} invariant mass squared. Long-distance contributions, which originate from nonfactorizable QCD processes, are systematically investigated, and the most accurate assessment to date of their impact on the physical observables is obtained. The pattern of measured corrections to the short-distance couplings is found to be consistent with previous analyses of b- to s-quark transitions, with the largest discrepancy from the standard model predictions found to be at the level of 1.8 standard deviations. The global significance of the observed differences in the decay is 1.4 standard deviations.

Fraction of χ_{c} Decays in Prompt J/ψ Production Measured in pPb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV

The fraction of χ_{c1} and χ_{c2} decays in the prompt J/ψ yield, F_{χ_{c}→J/ψ}=σ_{χ_{c}→J/ψ}/σ_{J/ψ}, is measured by the LHCb detector in pPb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV. The study covers the forward (1.5 Collapse

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Observation of Cabibbo-Suppressed Two-Body Hadronic Decays and Precision Mass Measurement of the Ω_{c}^{0} Baryon

The first observation of the singly Cabibbo-suppressed Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}K^{+} and Ω_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+} decays is reported, using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4  fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector between 2016 and 2018. The branching fraction ratios are measured to be B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}K^{+})/B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+})=[6.08±0.51(stat)±0.40(syst)]%,B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+})/B(Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+})=[15.81±0.87(stat)±0.44(syst)±0.16(ext)]%. In addition, using the Ω_{c}^{0}→Ω^{-}π^{+} decay channel, the Ω_{c}^{0} baryon mass is measured to be M(Ω_{c}^{0})=2695.28±0.07(stat)±0.27(syst)±0.30(ext)  MeV, improving the precision of the previous world average by a factor of 4.

Enhanced Production of Λ_{b}^{0} Baryons in High-Multiplicity pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The production rate of Λ_{b}^{0} baryons relative to B^{0} mesons in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=13  TeV is measured by the LHCb experiment. The ratio of Λ_{b}^{0} to B^{0} production cross sections shows a significant dependence on both the transverse momentum and the measured charged-particle multiplicity. At low multiplicity, the ratio measured at LHCb is consistent with the value measured in e^{+}e^{-} collisions, and increases by a factor of ∼2 with increasing multiplicity. At relatively low transverse momentum, the ratio of Λ_{b}^{0} to B^{0} cross sections is higher than what is measured in e^{+}e^{-} collisions, but converges with the e^{+}e^{-} ratio as the momentum increases. These results imply that the evolution of heavy b quarks into final-state hadrons is influenced by the density of the hadronic environment produced in the collision. Comparisons with several models and implications for the mechanisms enforcing quark confinement are discussed.

Improved Measurement of CP Violation Parameters in B_{s}^{0}→J/ψK^{+}K^{-} Decays in the Vicinity of the ϕ(1020) Resonance

The decay-time-dependent CP asymmetry in B_{s}^{0}→J/ψ(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K^{+}K^{-} decays is measured using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Using a sample of approximately 349 000 B_{s}^{0} signal decays with an invariant K^{+}K^{-} mass in the vicinity of the ϕ(1020) resonance, the CP-violating phase ϕ_{s} is measured, along with the difference in decay widths of the light and heavy mass eigenstates of the B_{s}^{0}-B[over ¯]_{s}^{0} system, ΔΓ_{s}, and the difference of the average B_{s}^{0} and B^{0} meson decay widths, Γ_{s}-Γ_{d}. The values obtained are ϕ_{s}=-0.039±0.022±0.006  rad, ΔΓ_{s}=0.0845±0.0044±0.0024  ps^{-1}, and Γ_{s}-Γ_{d}=-0.0056_{-0.0015}^{+0.0013}±0.0014  ps^{-1}, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. These are the most precise single measurements to date and are consistent with expectations based on the Standard Model and with the previous LHCb analyses of this decay. These results are combined with previous independent LHCb measurements. The phase ϕ_{s} is also measured independently for each polarization state of the K^{+}K^{-} system and shows no evidence for polarization dependence.

Blockade of V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation reprograms tumour-associated macrophages and improves efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In gastric cancer, the response rate of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor is far from satisfactory, indicating additional nonredundant pathways might hamper antitumour immunity. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) has been reported in several malignancies as a novel immune-checkpoint. Nevertheless, the role of VISTA in gastric cancer still remains obscure. Our purpose is to explore the clinical significance and potential mechanism of VISTA in affecting gastric cancer patients' survival and immunotherapeutic responsiveness.

METHODS

Our study recruited eight independent cohorts with a total of 1403 gastric cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, flow cytometry or intracellular flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, magnetic-activated cell sorting, smart-seq2, in vitro cell co-culture and ex vivo tumour inhibition assays were applied to investigate the clinical significance and potential mechanism of VISTA in gastric cancer.

RESULTS

VISTA was predominantly expressed on tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), and indicated poor clinical outcomes and inferior immunotherapeutic responsiveness. VISTA+ TAMs showed a mixed phenotype. Co-culture of TAMs and CD8+ T cells indicated that VISTA+ TAMs attenuated effective function of CD8+ T cells. Blockade of VISTA reprogrammed TAMs to a proinflammatory phenotype, reactivated CD8+ T cells and promoted apoptosis of tumour cells. Moreover, blockade of VISTA could also enhance the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor, suggesting that blockade of VISTA might synergise with PD-1 inhibitor in gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data revealed that VISTA was an immune-checkpoint associated with immunotherapeutic resistance. Blockade of VISTA reprogrammed TAMs, promoted T-cell-mediated antitumour immunity, and enhanced efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor, which might have implications in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Measurement of CP Violation in B^{0}→ψ(→ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-})K_{S}^{0}(→π^{+}π^{-}) Decays

A measurement of time-dependent CP violation in the decays of B^{0} and B[over ¯]^{0} mesons to the final states J/ψ(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K_{S}^{0}, ψ(2S)(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K_{S}^{0} and J/ψ(→e^{+}e^{-})K_{S}^{0} with K_{S}^{0}→π^{+}π^{-} is presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb^{-1} collected at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the LHCb detector. The CP-violation parameters are measured to be S_{ψK_{S}^{0}}=0.717±0.013(stat)±0.008(syst) and C_{ψK_{S}^{0}}=0.008±0.012(stat)±0.003(syst). This measurement of S_{ψK_{S}^{0}} represents the most precise single measurement of the CKM angle β to date and is more precise than the current world average. In addition, measurements of the CP-violation parameters of the individual channels are reported and a combination with the LHCb Run 1 measurements is performed.

The global burden of lymphoma: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to describe the global trends in the burden of lymphoma from 1990 to 2019.

STUDY DESIGN

The data used in this study were from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.

METHODS

This study described the age-standardised rates of incidence, prevalence, mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of lymphoma (non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin's lymphoma, NHL and HL, respectively) annually from 1990 to 2019, stratified by sociodemographic index (SDI) and 21 world regions. The estimated annual percentage changes in these indexes were calculated.

RESULTS

In 2019, the age-standardised rates of HL per 100,000 population were lower than those of NHL in terms of incidence (1.1 vs 6.7 per 100,000 person-years, respectively) and prevalence (0.3 vs 5.7 per 100,000 person-years, respectively) but not mortality (21.6 vs 3.2 per 100,000 person-years, respectively). From 1999 to 2019, the global incidence of HL decreased and the incidence of NHL increased, and the prevalence of both HL and NHL increased, but the mortality rates decreased. When stratified by SDI, the incidence of HL decreased in all but middle-SDI regions, the mortality rate of HL decreased in all regions, and both the incidence and mortality rate of NHL increased in all but high-SDI regions. The prevalence of HL and NHL increased in all SDI regions, especially in middle-SDI regions. YLLs and DALYs of HL in all SDI regions and those of NHL in high-SDI regions decreased. YLDs slightly increased in middle- to high-SDI regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphoma remains a major public health issue, and better prevention, precise identification, and promising treatments are vitally important.

How much organic carbon could the soil store? The carbon sequestration potential of Australian soil

Soil is a huge carbon (C) reservoir, but where and how much extra C can be stored is unknown. Current methods to estimate the maximum amount of mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) stabilized in the fine fraction (clay + silt,< 20 μm $$ <20\;\upmu \mathrm{m} $$ ) fit through the MAOC versus clay + silt relationship, not their maxima, making their estimates more uncertain and unreliable. We need a function that 'envelopes' that relationship. Here, using 5089 observations, we estimated that the uppermost 30 cm of Australian soil holds 13 Gt (10-18 Gt) of MAOC. We then fitted frontier lines, by soil type, to the relationship between MAOC and the percentage of clay + silt to estimate the maximum amounts of MAOC that Australian soils could store in their current environments, and calculated the MAOC deficit, or C sequestration potential. We propagated the uncertainties from the frontier line fitting and mapped the estimates of these values over Australia using machine learning and kriging with external drift. The maps show regions where the soil is more in MAOC deficit and has greater sequestration potential. The modelling shows that the variation over the whole continent is determined mainly by climate, linked to vegetation and soil mineralogy. We find that the MAOC deficit in Australian soil is 40 Gt (25-60 Gt). The deficit in the vast rangelands is 20.84 Gt (13.97-29.70 Gt) and the deficit in cropping soil is 1.63 Gt (1.12-2.32 Gt). Management could increase C sequestration in these regions if the climate allowed it. Our findings provide new information on the C sequestration potential of Australian soils and highlight priority regions for soil management. Australia could benefit environmentally, socially and economically by unlocking even a tiny portion of its soil's C sequestration potential.

Proportion of participants with type 2 diabetes achieving a metabolic composite endpoint with once-weekly semaglutide treatment versus comparators: Post hoc pooled analysis from SUSTAIN 1-5, 7-10 and SUSTAIN China

AIM

To compare the proportion of participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with once-weekly (OW) subcutaneous (SC) semaglutide versus comparators who achieved a composite metabolic endpoint.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SUSTAIN 1-5, 7-10 and SUSTAIN China trial data were pooled. Participants with T2D (aged ≥18 years) and glycated haemoglobin ≥7.0% (≥53 mmol/mol) who had been randomized to OW SC semaglutide (0.5 or 1.0 mg) or comparator in addition to background medication. Using patient-level data pooled by treatment, proportions of participants achieving the metabolic composite endpoint, defined as glycated haemoglobin <7% (<53 mmol/mol), blood pressure <140/90 mmHg and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <130 mg/dl (<3.37 mmol/L), were evaluated following baseline adjustments. Endpoints were analysed per trial using a binomial logistic regression model with treatment, region/country and stratification factor as fixed effects and baseline value as covariate. Pooled analysis used logistic regression with treatment and trial as fixed effects and baseline value as covariate.

RESULTS

This post hoc analysis included data from 7633 participants across 10 trials. The proportion of participants who achieved the metabolic composite endpoint was significantly higher with OW SC semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg versus comparators (23.7% and 32.0% vs. 11.5%, respectively; p < .0001). Likewise, when the OW SC semaglutide doses were pooled, significantly higher proportions of patients receiving semaglutide achieved the composite metabolic endpoint versus comparators (29.1% vs. 11.4%, respectively; p < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with OW SC semaglutide versus comparators was associated with increased proportions of participants with T2D meeting the composite metabolic endpoint.

Observation of New Baryons in the Ξ_{b}^{-}π^{+}π^{-} and Ξ_{b}^{0}π^{+}π^{-} Systems

The first observation and study of two new baryonic structures in the final state Ξ_{b}^{0}π^{+}π^{-} and the confirmation of the Ξ_{b}(6100)^{-} state in the Ξ_{b}^{-}π^{+}π^{-} decay mode are reported using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. In addition, the properties of the known Ξ_{b}^{*0}, Ξ_{b}^{'-} and Ξ_{b}^{*-} resonances are measured with improved precision. The new decay mode of the Ξ_{b}^{0} baryon to the Ξ_{c}^{+} π^{-} π^{+} π^{-} final state is observed and exploited for the first time in these measurements.

Precision Measurement of CP Violation in the Penguin-Mediated Decay B_{s}^{0}→ϕϕ

A flavor-tagged time-dependent angular analysis of the decay B_{s}^{0}→ϕϕ is performed using pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at the center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb^{-1}. The CP-violating phase and direct CP-violation parameter are measured to be ϕ_{s}^{ss[over ¯]s}=-0.042±0.075±0.009  rad and |λ|=1.004±0.030±0.009, respectively, assuming the same values for all polarization states of the ϕϕ system. In these results, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. These parameters are also determined separately for each polarization state, showing no evidence for polarization dependence. The results are combined with previous LHCb measurements using pp collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, yielding ϕ_{s}^{ss[over ¯]s}=-0.074±0.069  rad and |λ|=1.009±0.030. This is the most precise study of time-dependent CP violation in a penguin-dominated B meson decay. The results are consistent with CP symmetry and with the standard model predictions.

Measurement of the Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ(1520)μ^{+}μ^{-} Differential Branching Fraction

The branching fraction of the rare decay Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ(1520)μ^{+}μ^{-} is measured for the first time, in the squared dimuon mass intervals q^{2}, excluding the J/ψ and ψ(2S) regions. The data sample analyzed was collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. The result in the highest q^{2} interval, q^{2}>15.0  GeV^{2}/c^{4}, where theoretical predictions have the smallest model dependence, agrees with the predictions.

[Efficacy evaluation of 0.05% cyclosporine A and 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops in the treatment of severe dry eye associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 0.05% cyclosporine A and 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops in treating severe dry eye associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Methods: This non-randomized concurrent control trial enrolled 83 eyes from 83 patients with cGVHD-associated severe dry eye. The treatment had two phases. During the initial shock treatment period (0-3 months), 44 patients received 0.05% cyclosporine A eye drops (4 times/day; group A) and 39 patients received 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops (twice/day; group B) alongside basic treatment. In the maintenance treatment period (3-6 months), both groups used 0.05% cyclosporine A eye drops (twice/day) and sodium hyaluronate. Examinations were conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment initiation, assessing the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, and fluorescein tear break-up time (BUT) for efficacy. visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) were evaluated for safety, and patients' post-medication irritation symptoms were recorded. Results: The study included 52 males and 31 females, aged (28.57±15.67) years. After 1 month of treatment, the CFS score in group A significantly decreased from 10.0 (6.0, 14.0) to 5.0 (3.0, 8.5) (P<0.001). in group B, the CFS score also significantly decreased from 10.0 (6.0, 15.0) to 6.0 (2.0, 10.0), and the BUT increased from 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) s to 2.0 (1.8, 3.3) s (P<0.001). No significant OSDI decrease was observed in either group. No significant differences were found in OSDI, CFS score, and BUT between the two groups. After 3 months, group A showed significant improvement in OSDI, CFS score, and BUT (P<0.05), while group B only demonstrated significant CFS score decrease (P<0.05). OSDI was significantly lower in group A than group B (P<0.05). No significant differences were noted in CFS score and BUT between groups. After 6 months, OSDI, CFS score, and BUT were 18.9 (9.3, 34.2), 7.0 (3.0, 8.5), and 2.0 (1.0, 3.0) s in group A, and 10.9 (3.6, 35.4), 5.5 (2.8, 10.0), and 2.0 (1.0, 10.0) s in group B. In both groups, CFS scores significantly decreased and BUT increased (P<0.05). Visual acuity improved significantly in group A at 1, 3, and 6 months (P<0.05), while no significant changes were seen in group B. Irritation symptoms were transient and self-resolving in both groups. Conclusions: Both 0.05% cyclosporine A and 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops, when combined with local glucocorticoids, exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects, effectively and safely treating severe dry eye in cGVHD patients. Although the onset of 0.05% cyclosporine A was slower than 0.1% tacrolimus, it offered more stable long-term effects and better symptom improvement.

Fibulin-1 Regulates Initiation of Successional Dental Lamina

In humans, teeth are replaced only once, and the successional dental lamina (SDL) of the permanent tooth is maintained in a quiescent state until adolescence. Recently, we showed that biomechanical stress generated by the rapid growth of the deciduous tooth inhibits SDL development via integrin β1-RUNX2 signaling at embryonic day 60 (E60) in miniature pigs. However, the mechanism by which RUNX2 regulates SDL initiation within the SDL stem cell niche remains unclear. In the current study, we transcriptionally profiled single cells from SDL and surrounding mesenchyme at E60 and identified the landscape of cellular heterogeneity. We then identified a specific fibroblast subtype in the dental follicle mesenchyme between the deciduous tooth and the SDL of the permanent tooth (DFDP), which constitutes the inner part of the niche (deciduous tooth side). Compared with traditional dental follicle cells, the specific expression profile of DFDP was identified and found to be related to biomechanical stress. Subsequently, we found that RUNX2 could bind to the enhancer regions of Fbln1 (gene of fibulin-1), one of the marker genes for DFDP. Through gain- and loss-of-function experiments, we proved that the biomechanical stress-mediated RUNX2-fibulin-1 axis inhibits the initiation of SDL by maintaining SDL niche homeostasis.

Modeling Acute Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) Diarrhea Severity Using Automatically Contoured Small Bowel

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Acute severe diarrhea is a common toxicity in rectal cancer patients receiving CRT. A better understanding of the radiation tolerance of the small bowel is needed especially for novel radiation drug combinations. We investigate the dose impact by providing auto-contoured small bowel, using data from the ARISTOTLE phase III trial ISRCTN: 09351447.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A subset of participants (n = 93/564) with locally advanced rectal cancer in the ARISTOTLE trial testing the addition of concurrent irinotecan (n = 48) to neoadjuvant capecitabine (n = 45) CRT (45/25 Gy/fx), in an MRI defined high risk of loco-regional failure. CRT was delivered with conformal techniques. Diarrhea was measured using CTCAE v4.0 weekly. We applied an AI-based auto-contouring model to segment the small bowel on planning CT. The small-bowel DVH parameters were combined with the treatment arm, age, sex and MRI-defined tumor stage in a linear regression (LR) model to predict acute diarrhea severity. Explainable Shapley values (conditional marginalized expectation of a machine learning model per feature) were used to quantify the independent and normalized impact of radiation dose vs Irinotecan on the likelihood of severe diarrhea.

RESULTS

The auto-contouring model accuracy was consistent with clinical practice (mean dice coefficient = 0.739) and clinically acceptable when reviewed by clinicians. The treatment arm, MRI-defined T stage and small-bowel mean dose were found to be independently correlated to the diarrhea severity (p<0.001). V30Gy showed the strongest correlation to diarrhea severity in all the DVH parameters. The LR using the three variables yielded mean AUC scores of 0.898 (95% CI: [0.831,0.958]) on predicting Grade 2 and higher diarrhea, and 0.774 (95% CI: [0.678,0.869]) on predicting Grade 3 diarrhea based on 10-fold cross-validation. Shapley values showed that V30Gy>30.56 cm3 increases the likelihood of more severe diarrhea against the average (grade = 1.03) in the cohort. The impact of irradiation will be larger than the usage of Irinotecan within the patients with V30Gy >160.93 cm3.

CONCLUSION

We accurately modelled acute diarrhea (AUC = 0.90) for rectal cancer patients receiving CRT using AI-contoured small-bowel structures. The treatment arm and small-bowel dose were independently correlated to the diarrhea severity. The explainable model allowed us to quantify the impact of radiation dose, usage of irinotecan, and its combination, with a threshold of V30Gy = 160.93 cm3 yielding an equivalent impact. We will be extending the analysis to the whole trial cohort to improve the statistical power.

Observation of New Ω_{c}^{0} States Decaying to the Ξ_{c}^{+}K^{-} Final State

Two new excited states, Ω_{c}(3185)^{0} and Ω_{c}(3327)^{0}, are observed in the Ξ_{c}^{+}K^{-} invariant-mass spectrum using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. Five previously observed excited Ω_{c}^{0} states are confirmed, namely Ω_{c}(3000)^{0}, Ω_{c}(3050)^{0}, Ω_{c}(3065)^{0}, Ω_{c}(3090)^{0}, and Ω_{c}(3119)^{0}. The masses and widths of these seven states are measured with the highest precision to date.

Evidence of a J/ψK_{S}^{0} Structure in B^{0}→J/ψϕK_{S}^{0} Decays

An amplitude analysis of B^{0}→J/ψϕK_{S}^{0} decays is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. Evidence with a significance of 4.0 standard deviations of a structure in the J/ψK_{S}^{0} system, named T_{ψs1}^{θ}(4000)^{0}, is seen, with its mass and width measured to be 3991_{-10}^{+12} _{-17}^{+9}  MeV/c^{2} and 105_{-25}^{+29} _{-23}^{+17}  MeV, respectively, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The T_{ψs1}^{θ}(4000)^{0} state is likely to be the isospin partner of the T_{ψs1}^{θ}(4000)^{+} state, previously observed in the J/ψK^{+} system of the B^{+}→J/ψϕK^{+} decay. When isospin symmetry for the charged and neutral T_{ψs1}^{θ}(4000) states is assumed, the signal significance increases to 5.4 standard deviations.

Measurement of the Ratios of Branching Fractions R(D^{*}) and R(D^{0})

The ratios of branching fractions R(D^{*})≡B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ}) and R(D^{0})≡B(B^{-}→D^{0}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(B^{-}→D^{0}μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ}) are measured, assuming isospin symmetry, using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to 3.0  fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The tau lepton is identified in the decay mode τ^{-}→μ^{-}ν_{τ}ν[over ¯]_{μ}. The measured values are R(D^{*})=0.281±0.018±0.024 and R(D^{0})=0.441±0.060±0.066, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The correlation between these measurements is ρ=-0.43. The results are consistent with the current average of these quantities and are at a combined 1.9 standard deviations from the predictions based on lepton flavor universality in the standard model.

Measurement of the Prompt D^{0} Nuclear Modification Factor in p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV

The production of prompt D^{0} mesons in proton-lead collisions in both the forward and backward rapidity regions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV is measured by the LHCb experiment. The nuclear modification factor of prompt D^{0} mesons is determined as a function of the transverse momentum p_{T}, and the rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass frame y^{*}. In the forward rapidity region, significantly suppressed production with respect to pp collisions is measured, which provides significant constraints on models of nuclear parton distributions and hadron production down to the very low Bjorken-x region of ∼10^{-5}. In the backward rapidity region, a suppression with a significance of 2.0-3.8 standard deviations compared to parton distribution functions in a nuclear environment expectations is found in the kinematic region of p_{T}>6  GeV/c and -3.25 Collapse

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Measurement of the Time-Integrated CP Asymmetry in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} Decays

The time-integrated CP asymmetry in the Cabibbo-suppressed decay D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} is measured using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.7  fb^{-1} collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the LHCb detector. The D^{0} mesons are required to originate from promptly produced D^{*+}→D^{0}π^{+} decays, and the charge of the companion pion is used to determine the flavor of the charm meson at production. The time-integrated CP asymmetry is measured to be A_{CP}(K^{-}K^{+})=[6.8±5.4±1.6]×10^{-4} where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The direct CP asymmetries in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} decays, a_{K^{-}K^{+}}^{d} and a_{π^{-}π^{+}}^{d}, are derived by combining A_{CP}(K^{-}K^{+}) with the time-integrated CP asymmetry difference, ΔA_{CP}=A_{CP}(K^{-}K^{+})-A_{CP}(π^{-}π^{+}), and other inputs, giving a_{K^{-}K^{+}}^{d}=(7.7±5.7)×10^{-4},a_{π^{-}π^{+}}^{d}=(23.2±6.1)×10^{-4},with a correlation coefficient corresponding to ρ=0.88. The compatibility of these results with CP symmetry is 1.4 and 3.8 standard deviations for D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} decays, respectively. This is the first evidence for direct CP violation in a specific D^{0} decay.

Measurement of the Branching Fractions B(B^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯]) and B(B_{s}^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯])

Searches for the rare hadronic decays B^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯] and B_{s}^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯] are performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. Significances of 9.3σ and 4.0σ, including statistical and systematic uncertainties, are obtained for the B^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯] and B_{s}^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯] signals, respectively. The branching fractions are measured relative to the topologically similar normalization decays B^{0}→J/ψ(→pp[over ¯])K^{*0}(→K^{+}π^{-}) and B_{s}^{0}→J/ψ(→pp[over ¯])⁢ϕ(→K^{+}K^{-}). The branching fractions are measured to be B(B^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯])=(2.2±0.4±0.1±0.1)×10^{-8} and B(B_{s}^{0}→pp[over ¯]pp[over ¯])=(2.3±1.0±0.2±0.1)×10^{-8}. In these measurements, the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third one is due to the external branching fraction of the normalization channel.

Observation of a Resonant Structure near the D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} Threshold in the B^{+}→D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-}K^{+} Decay

An amplitude analysis of the B^{+}→D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-}K^{+} decay is carried out to study for the first time its intermediate resonant contributions, using proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. A near-threshold peaking structure, referred to as X(3960), is observed in the D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} invariant-mass spectrum with significance greater than 12 standard deviations. The mass, width, and the quantum numbers of the structure are measured to be 3956±5±10  MeV, 43±13±8  MeV, and J^{PC}=0^{++}, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The properties of the new structure are consistent with recent theoretical predictions for a state composed of cc[over ¯]ss[over ¯] quarks. Evidence for an additional structure is found around 4140 MeV in the D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} invariant mass, which might be caused either by a new resonance with the 0^{++} assignment or by a J/ψϕ↔D_{s}^{+}D_{s}^{-} coupled-channel effect.

[Progress of lung organoids in lung epithelial repair and regenerative medicine]

The mechanical barrier of lung is made up of epithelial cells which participate in gas exchange. Some of these cells have stem cell potential and are known as lung epithelial stem cells. They play an important role in maintaining lung homeostasis and repairing injured epithelial cells. Organoids are derived from pluripotent stem cells or adult stem cells cultured in a three-dimensional manner in vitro. Their structure and function are very similar to original tissues or organs. They can also self-renew, proliferate, and differentiate. Lung organoids can simulate the structure and function of epithelial cells in vitro. They provide an ideal model for the study of lung epithelial stem cells, which repair epithelial cells in vitro. Meanwhile, they provide an ideal graft for regenerative medicine. Around the lung organoids, this review concludes the mechanisms involved in lung epithelial stem cells repairing epithelial cells, summarizes their applications in regenerative medicine, and provides related reference for the therapy of lung diseases.

Evidence for Modification of b Quark Hadronization in High-Multiplicity pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The production rate of B_{s}^{0} mesons relative to B^{0} mesons is measured by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=13  TeV over the forward rapidity interval 2 Collapse

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Test of Lepton Universality in b→sℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} Decays

The first simultaneous test of muon-electron universality using B^{+}→K^{+}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} and B^{0}→K^{*0}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} decays is performed, in two ranges of the dilepton invariant-mass squared, q^{2}. The analysis uses beauty mesons produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector between 2011 and 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. Each of the four lepton universality measurements reported is either the first in the given q^{2} interval or supersedes previous LHCb measurements. The results are compatible with the predictions of the Standard Model.

First Observation of a Doubly Charged Tetraquark and Its Neutral Partner

A combined amplitude analysis is performed for the decays B^{0}→D[over ¯]^{0}D_{s}^{+}π^{-} and B^{+}→D^{-}D_{s}^{+}π^{+}, which are related by isospin symmetry. The analysis is based on data collected by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. The full data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. Two new resonant states with masses of 2.908±0.011±0.020  GeV and widths of 0.136±0.023±0.013  GeV are observed, which decay to D_{s}^{+}π^{+} and D_{s}^{+}π^{-} respectively. The former state indicates the first observation of a doubly charged open-charm tetraquark state with minimal quark content [cs[over ¯]ud[over ¯]], and the latter state is a neutral tetraquark composed of [cs[over ¯]u[over ¯]d] quarks. Both states are found to have spin-parity of 0^{+}, and their resonant parameters are consistent with each other, which suggests that they belong to an isospin triplet.

Search for Rare Decays of D^{0} Mesons into Two Muons

A search for the very rare D^{0}→μ^{+}μ^{-} decay is performed using data collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. The search is optimized for D^{0} mesons from D^{*+}→D^{0}π^{+} decays but is also sensitive to D^{0} mesons from other sources. No evidence for an excess of events over the expected background is observed. An upper limit on the branching fraction of this decay is set at B(D^{0}→μ^{+}μ^{-})<3.1×10^{-9} at a 90% C.L. This represents the world's most stringent limit, constraining models of physics beyond the standard model.

Nuclear Modification Factor of Neutral Pions in the Forward and Backward Regions in p-Pb Collisions

The nuclear modification factor of neutral pions is measured in proton-lead collisions collected at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon of 8.16 TeV with the LHCb detector. The π^{0} production cross section is measured differentially in transverse momentum (p_{T}) for 1.5 Collapse

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Observation of a J/ψΛ Resonance Consistent with a Strange Pentaquark Candidate in B^{-}→J/ψΛp[over ¯] Decays

An amplitude analysis of B^{-}→J/ψΛp[over ¯] decays is performed using 4400 signal candidates selected on a data sample of pp collisions recorded at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV with the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. A narrow resonance in the J/ψΛ system, consistent with a pentaquark candidate with strangeness, is observed with high significance. The mass and the width of this new state are measured to be 4338.2±0.7±0.4  MeV and 7.0±1.2±1.3  MeV, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The spin is determined to be 1/2 and negative parity is preferred. Because of the small Q-value of the reaction, the most precise single measurement of the B^{-} mass to date, 5279.44±0.05±0.07  MeV, is obtained.

[STIP1 correlates with tumor immune infiltration and prognosis as a potential immunotherapy target: a pan-cancer bioinformatics analysis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation of stress-inducible phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1) expression level with prognosis of different cancers and its potential role in immunotherapy.

METHODS

TCGA, TARGET and GTEx databases were used for bioinformatic analysis of STIP1 expression level and its prognostic value in different cancers. We also detected STIP1 expression immunohistochemically in 10 pairs of colorectal cancer and adjacent tissues. We further analyzed the correlation of STIP1 expression level with tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, immune cell infiltration, immune regulators and outcomes of different cancers. STIP1- related proteins were identified using protein- protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and functional enrichment analysis was performed to analyze the regulatory pathways involving STIP1.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analysis showed that STIP1 was highly expressed in most tumors compared with the normal tissues (P < 0.05), which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry of the 10 pairs of colorectal cancer tissues. STIP1 expression level was correlated with clinical stages of multiple cancers (P < 0.05), and in some cancer types, an upregulated STIP1 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis of the patients in terms of overall survival, disease-specific survival, disease-free survival and progression-free survival (P < 0.05). STIP1 expression was significantly correlated with tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, immune cell infiltration and immunomodulatory factors in most tumors (P < 0.05). PPI network analysis indicated that STIP1-related proteins included HSPA4, HSPA8, and HSP90AA1. KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that the high expression of STIP1 in liver cancer was related mainly with valerate metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and butyrate metabolism pathways; HALLMARK enrichment analysis suggested high STIP1 expression in liver cancer was involved in bile acid and fatty acid metabolism.

CONCLUSION

STIP1 is up-regulated in multiple cancer types and its expression level is correlated with clinical tumor stage, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, immune cell infiltration and immunomodulatory factors.

Correction: The role of ion solvation in lithium mediated nitrogen reduction

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D2TA07686A.].

The role of ion solvation in lithium mediated nitrogen reduction

Since its verification in 2019, there have been numerous high-profile papers reporting improved efficiency of lithium-mediated electrochemical nitrogen reduction to make ammonia. However, the literature lacks any coherent investigation systematically linking bulk electrolyte properties to electrochemical performance and Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) properties. In this study, we discover that the salt concentration has a remarkable effect on electrolyte stability: at concentrations of 0.6 M LiClO₄ and above the electrode potential is stable for at least 12 hours at an applied current density of -2 mA cm^-2 at ambient temperature and pressure. Conversely, at the lower concentrations explored in prior studies, the potential required to maintain a given N₂ reduction current increased by 8 V within a period of 1 hour under the same conditions. The behaviour is linked more coordination of the salt anion and cation with increasing salt concentration in the electrolyte observed via Raman spectroscopy. Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal a more inorganic, and therefore more stable, SEI layer is formed with increasing salt concentration. A drop in faradaic efficiency for nitrogen reduction is seen at concentrations higher than 0.6 M LiClO₄, which is attributed to a combination of a decrease in nitrogen solubility and diffusivity as well as increased SEI conductivity as measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

[Effects and mechanism of annexin A1-overexpressing human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome]

Objective: To explore the effects and mechanism of annexin A1 (ANXA1)-overexpressing human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) in the treatment of mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: The experimental study method was adopted. After the adult AMSCs were identified by flow cytometry, the 3rd passage cells were selected for the follow-up experiments. According to the random number table (the same grouping method below), the cells were divided into ANXA1-overexpressing group transfected with plasmid containing RNA sequences of ANXA1 gene and no-load control group transfected with the corresponding no-load plasmid. The other cells were divided into ANXA1-knockdown group transfected with plasmid containing small interfering RNA sequences of ANXA1 gene and no-load control group transfected with the corresponding no-load plasmid. At post transfection hour (PTH) 72, the fluorescence expression was observed under a fluorescence microscope imaging system, and the protein and mRNA expressions of ANXA1 were detected by Western blotting and real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction respectively (with the sample numbers being 3). Fifty male C57BL/6J mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into sham injury group, ARDS alone group, normal cell group, ANXA1-overexpressing group, and ANXA1-knockdown group, with 10 mice in each group. Mice in the last 4 groups were treated with endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide to make ARDS lung injury model, and mice in sham injury group were simulated to cause false injury. Immediately after injury, mice in sham injury group and ARDS alone group were injected with normal saline through the tail vein, while mice in normal cell group, ANXA1-overexpressing group, and ANXA1-knockdown group were injected with normal AMSCs, ANXA1-overexpressing AMSCs, and ANXA1-knockdown AMSCs, correspondingly. At post injection hour (PIH) 24, 5 mice in each group were selected, the Evans blue staining was performed to observe the gross staining of the right lung tissue, and the absorbance value of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatant of left lung was detected by microplate reader to evaluate the pulmonary vascular permeability. Three days after injection, the remaining 5 mice in each group were taken, the right lung tissue was collected for hematoxylin-eosin staining to observe the pathological changes and immunohistochemical staining to observe the CD11b and F4/80 positive macrophages, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in BALF supernatant of left lung were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were statistically analyzed with paired sample t test, one-way analysis of variance, and least significant difference test. Results: At PTH 72, AMSCs in both ANXA1-overexpressing group and ANXA1-knockdown group expressed higher fluorescence intensity than AMSCs in corresponding no-load control group, respectively. At PTH 72, compared with those in corresponding no-load control group, the protein and mRNA expressions of ANXA1 in ANXA1-overexpressing group were significantly increased (wth t values of 249.80 and 6.56, respectively, P<0.05), while the protein and mRNA expressions of ANXA1 in ANXA1-knockdown group were significantly decreased (wth t values of 176.50 and 18.18, respectively, P<0.05). At PIH 24, compared with those in sham injury group (with the absorbance value of BALF supernatant being 0.041±0.009), the lung tissue of mice in ARDS alone group was obviously blue-stained and the absorbance value of BALF supernatant (0.126±0.022) was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with those in ARDS alone group, the degree of blue-staining in lung tissue of mice was significantly reduced in normal cell group or ANXA1-overexpressing group, and the absorbance values of BALF supernatant (0.095±0.020 and 0.069±0.015) were significantly decreased (P<0.05), but the degree of blue-staining in lung tissue and the absorbance value of BALF supernatant (0.109±0.016, P>0.05) of mice in ANXA1-knockdown group had no significant change. Compared with that in normal cell group, the absorbance value of BALF supernatant of mice in ANXA1-overexpressing group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Three days after injection, the lung tissue structure of mice in ARDS alone group was significantly damaged compared with that in sham injury group. Compared with those in ARDS alone group, hemorrhage, infiltration of inflammatory cells, alveolar collapse, and interstitial widening in the lung tissue of mice were significantly alleviated in normal cell group and ANXA1-overexpressing group, while no significant improvement of above-mentioned lung tissue manifestation was observed in ANXA1-knockdown group. Three days after injection, the numbers of CD11b and F4/80 positive macrophages in the lung tissue of mice in ARDS alone group were significantly increased compared with those in sham injury group. Compared with those in ARDS alone group, the numbers of CD11b and F4/80 positive macrophages in lung tissue of mice in normal cell group, ANXA1-overexpressing group, and ANXA1-knockdown group reduced, with the most significant reduction in ANXA1-overexpressing group. Three days after injection, compared with those in sham injury group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in BALF supernatant of mice in ARDS alone group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with those in ARDS alone group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in BALF supernatant of mice in normal cell group and ANXA1-overexpressing group, as well as the level of IL-1β in BALF supernatant of mice in ANXA1-knockdown group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with that in normal cell group, the level of TNF-α in BALF supernatant of mice was significantly decreased in ANXA1-overexpressing group (P<0.05) but significantly increased in ANXA1-knockdown group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Overexpression of ANXA1 can optimize the efficacy of AMSCs in treating ARDS and enhance the effects of these cells in inhibiting inflammatory response and improving pulmonary vascular permeability, thereby alleviating lung injury of mice with ARDS.

Does resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 (DOS regimen) benefit for gastric cancer patients with single non-curable factor? a multicenter, prospective cohort study (Neo-REGATTA)

BACKGROUND

The Neo-REGATTA study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of Docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 (DOS regimen) followed by radical resection vs. chemotherapy in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma patients with single non-curable factor.

METHODS

This cohort study prospectively enrolled advanced gastric adenocarcinoma patients with single non-curable factor between November 2017 and June 2021. Patients without progression after four cycles of DOS were divided into resection group and chemotherapy group. The outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and safety. Effectiveness analysis was also performed by propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

A total of 73 patients were enrolled and 13 patients were withdrawn due to disease progression after 4 cycles of DOS. Afterwards, 35 and 25 participants were in the resection and chemotherapy groups, respectively. After a median follow-up time of 30.0 months, the median PFS and OS were 9.0 months, and 18.0 months for the chemotherapy group, but not reached in the resection group. After PSM, 19 matched participants were in each group, and the median PFS and OS were longer in resection group than that in chemotherapy group. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events both in the resection group and chemotherapy groups were neutropenia (5.7%, 8.0%) and leukopenia (5.7%, 8.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Radical resection might provide survival benefit compared with continuous chemotherapy alone in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma patients who had a disease control after DOS, with a good safety profile.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was registered on ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT03001726, 23/12/2016).

A Multicentre Clinical Study of Sarcoma Personalised Treatment Using Patient-Derived Tumour Xenografts

AIMS

Medication for advanced sarcomas has not improved for three decades. Patient-derived tumour xenografts (PDTX) are a promising solution for developing new therapies and real-time personalised medicine because of their highly effective prediction of drug efficacy. However, there is a dearth of PDTX models for sarcomas due to the scarcity and heterogeneity of the disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multicentre clinical collaborative study (ChiCTR-OOC-17013617) was carried out. Fresh patient tumour tissues via resection or biopsy were used for the PDTX set-up. The standard medical care chosen by the physician was given to the patient, in parallel with testing on multiple regimens. The outcomes of patients' responses and PDTX tests were compared. Comprehensive analyses were carried out to assess the clinical value of PDTX for the treatment of sarcomas. Living tissues from successfully engrafted cases were deposited into a repository.

RESULTS

Forty-two cases, including 36 bone sarcomas and six soft-tissue sarcomas, were enrolled; the overall engraftment rate was 73.8%. Histopathological examination showed a 100% consistency between primary tumours and tumour grafts. The engraftment rate was independent of age, gender and sampling methods, but was associated with subtypes of tumour. The outgrowth time of tumour grafts could be associated with prognosis. Major somatic mutations in tumour grafts occurred primarily in common tumour driver genes. Poor prognosis was associated with the KMT2C mutation. A drug efficacy test showed complete concordance between the PDTX model and patients' responses in 17 regimens.

CONCLUSION

PDTX is an ideal preclinical model for sarcomas because of its faithful preservation of the heterogeneity of the disease, a satisfactory engraftment rate and high accuracy in its prediction of drug efficacy.

The Neo-PLANET phase II trial of neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced adenocarcinoma of stomach or gastroesophageal junction

The synergistic effect of neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in gastric adenocarcinoma is unclear. This phase II trial (NCT03631615) investigated this neoadjuvant combination in locally advanced adenocarcinoma of stomach or gastroesophageal junction. Thirty-six patients received capecitabine 850 mg/m² twice daily and simultaneous radiotherapy for 5 weeks, sandwiched by a 21-day cycle of oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² (day 1) plus capecitabine 1000 mg/m² twice daily (days 1-14), respectively, followed by surgery. Camrelizumab 200 mg (day 1) was given for 5 cycles since initiating chemotherapy. Primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR, ypT0) rate. Secondary endpoints included total pCR (tpCR, ypT0N0) rate, major pathological response (MPR, < 10% residual tumor cells) rate, margin-free (R0) resection rate, downstaging, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. The pCR rate was 33.3% (95% CI, 18.6-51.0), meeting pre-specified endpoint. TpCR, MPR, and R0 resection rates were 33.3%, 44.4%, and 91.7%, respectively. Twenty-eight (77.8%) patients reached ypN0. Two-year PFS and OS rates were 66.9% and 76.1%, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 adverse event was decreased lymphocyte count (27 [75.0%]). Neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy exhibits promising pathological response in patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, with an acceptable safety profile.

[Detection and analysis of intestinal flora diversity in patients with complex anal fistula]

Objective: To explore the possibility that the intestinal flora profile in complex anal fistula patients is different to that of healthy controls. This was assessed by sequencing of 16S rDNA in fecal samples from cohorts representing these populations. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 30 complex anal fistula patients and 30 matched healthy controls. Patients were included if they met the diagnostic criteria of cryptoglandular anal fistula and had exhibited symptoms for more than 3 months. Complex anal fistula is diagnosed under the following circumstances: if the fistula in question spans 2/3 or more of the diameter of the anal sphincter; if there are more than two external orifices or fistula tracks; or if recurrence is observed after previous anal fistula surgery. Patients were excluded if there were comorbities including inflammatory bowel disease (as assessed by colonoscopy), chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation, diabetes, gastrointestinal malignancies, liver/ kidney dysfunction, or cognitive impairment. Patients whose anal fistulas were caused by Crohn's disease, trauma, special infections (such as actinomycosis and tuberculosis) were also excluded, as were those who had used antibiotics, prebiotics, or probiotics that may affect intestinal microecology in the month prior to the study. Total bacterial genomic DNA was extracted by PCR amplification of the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA sequences. High-throughput sequencing and data analysis were performed on the Illumina Miseq platform. Finally, operational taxonomic unit (OTU) clustering, alpha diversity and LEfSE data analysis were carried out. The larger the Chao or ACE index is, the higher the species abundance of the microflora is expected to be. Similarly, a smaller value for the Simpson index or a larger value for the Shannon index indicates greater microflora diversity. There was no statistically significant difference in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), drinking history, or smoking history between the two groups (P>0.05), indicating that they were comparable. Results: The α-diversity analysis including ACE, Chao, Shannon and Simpson indexes indicated a richer diversity of intestinal microflora in complex anal fistula patients than in healthy controls. In both patients and controls, OUT cluster analysis demonstrated that 93.4%±32.0% and 87.4%±41.2% of sequences were from Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes spp., respectively. On a genus level, samples from anal fistula patients showed a greater abundance of Prevotella spp. (4.9%±7.4% vs. 0.1%±1.1%, P<0.001), Megamonas (3.9%±8.2% vs. 0.5%±4.2%, P<0.05) and Lachnospira (2.6%±5.7% vs. 0.1%±3.4%, P<0.05), while showing a lesser abundance of Proteobacteria spp. (0.02%±4.2% vs. 9.3%±14.4%, P<0.01), Enterococcus (0.02%±2.3% vs. 9.3%±19.6%, P<0.05), Bacteroides (24.7%±9.9% vs. 29.8%±9.1%, P<0.05) and Klebsiella (0.4%±4.2% vs. 3.9%±7.3%, P<0.05) compared with healthy controls. Intestinal flora diversity in the complex anal fistula group was richer than in controls, as indicated by a higher ACE index (293.30±44.00 vs. 218.75±33.83, t=102.069, P<0.001), a higher Chao index (318.40±41.99 vs. 250.00±46.38, t=77.818, P=0.028), a higher Shannon index (3.36±0.29 vs. 2.43±0.34, t=9.657, P=0.001), and a lower Simpson index (0.103±0.013 vs. 0.131±0.013, t=5.551, P=0.046). LDA effect size analysis suggests that the main strains of Veillonellaceae, Selenemondales and Negativicutes, which all belong to the phylum Firmicutes, have the greatest influence on the above difference (LDA>4). Conclusions: The diversity of intestinal flora in patients with complex anal fistula is greater than in healthy controls, suggesting that these bacteria or their metabolites may be involved in the occurrence and development of anal fistulas.

First Measurement of the Z→μ^{+}μ^{-} Angular Coefficients in the Forward Region of pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The first study of the angular distribution of μ^{+}μ^{-} pairs produced in the forward rapidity region via the Drell-Yan reaction pp→γ^{*}/Z+X→ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-}+X is presented, using data collected with the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.1  fb^{-1}. The coefficients of the five leading terms in the angular distribution are determined as a function of the dimuon transverse momentum and rapidity. The results are compared to various theoretical predictions of the Z-boson production mechanism and can also be used to probe transverse-momentum-dependent parton distributions within the proton.

Manufacturing transfer and environmental efficiency: Evidence from the spatial agglomeration of manufacturing in China

Manufacturing transfer is an important factor in optimizing the spatial distribution of resources and promoting regional environmental efficiency. Based on the manufacturing data of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2017, the spatial Durbin model is used to investigate the impact of three types of manufacturing transfer and spatial agglomeration effects on environmental efficiency under the spatial weight matrix of economic distance. The results show that the improvement of environmental efficiency is inhibited by the transfer of labor-intensive manufacturing but facilitated by the spatial agglomeration of such manufacturing. The transfer of capital and technology-intensive manufacturing has no significant impact on environmental efficiency. Environmental efficiency is significantly improved by the spatial agglomeration of technology-intensive manufacturing but significantly inhibited by that of capital-intensive manufacturing. Third, the impact of three types of manufacturing transfer on environmental efficiency is analyzed from the perspective of regional heterogeneity. This paper puts forward relevant policy suggestions from the perspectives of manufacturing transfer, the agglomeration effect, so as to further improve the environmental efficiency.

PLOD3 contributes to HER-2 therapy resistance in gastric cancer through FoxO3/Survivin pathway

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), a famous therapeutic target for breast cancer, is also associated with an increased risk of recurrence and poor outcomes of other malignancies, including gastric cancer. Yet the mechanism of HER-2 therapy resistance remains controversial due to the heterogeneity of gastric adenocarcinoma. We know, Procollagen-Lysine,2-Oxoglutarate 5-Dioxygenase 3 (PLOD3), a key gene coding enzymes that catalyze the lysyl hydroxylation of extracellular matrix collagen, plays an important contributor to HER-2 targeting agent Trastuzumab resistance in gastric cancer. Herein, we analyzed clinical samples of gastric cancer patients and gastric cancer cell lines and identified PLOD3, unveiled that depletion of PLOD3 leads to decreased cell proliferation, tumor growth and Trastuzumab sensitivity in these Trastuzumab resistant GC cell lines. Clinically, increased PLOD3 expression correlates with decreased Trastuzumab therapy responsiveness in GC patients. Mechanistically, we show that PLOD3 represses tumor suppressor FoxO3 expression, therefore upregulating Survivin protein expression that contributes to Trastuzumab resistance in GC. Therefore, our study identifies a new signaling axis PLOD3-FoxO3- Survivin pathway that may be therapeutically targeted in HER-2 positive gastric cancer.

Study of the doubly charmed tetraquark [Formula: see text]

Quantum chromodynamics, the theory of the strong force, describes interactions of coloured quarks and gluons and the formation of hadronic matter. Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. Particles with an alternative quark content are known as exotic states. Here a study is reported of an exotic narrow state in the D0D0π+ mass spectrum just below the D*+D0 mass threshold produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar [Formula: see text] tetraquark with a quark content of [Formula: see text] and spin-parity quantum numbers JP = 1+. Study of the DD mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell D*+ mesons is consistent with the observed D0π+ mass distribution. To analyse the mass of the resonance and its coupling to the D*D system, a dedicated model is developed under the assumption of an isoscalar axial-vector [Formula: see text] state decaying to the D*D channel. Using this model, resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are determined to reveal important information about the nature of the [Formula: see text] state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed.

Angular Analysis of D^{0}→π^{+}π^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-} and D^{0}→K^{+}K^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-} Decays and Search for CP Violation

The first full angular analysis and an updated measurement of the decay-rate CP asymmetry of the D^{0}→π^{+}π^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-} and D^{0}→K^{+}K^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-} decays are reported. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}. The full set of CP -averaged angular observables and their CP asymmetries are measured as a function of the dimuon invariant mass. The results are consistent with expectations from the standard model and with CP symmetry.

Tests of Lepton Universality Using B^{0}→K_{S}^{0}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} and B^{+}→K^{*+}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} Decays

Tests of lepton universality in B^{0}→K_{S}^{0}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} and B^{+}→K^{*+}ℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} decays where ℓ is either an electron or a muon are presented. The differential branching fractions of B^{0}→K_{S}^{0}e^{+}e^{-} and B^{+}→K^{*+}e^{+}e^{-} decays are measured in intervals of the dilepton invariant mass squared. The measurements are performed using proton-proton collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1} . The results are consistent with the standard model and previous tests of lepton universality in related decay modes. The first observation of B^{0}→K_{S}^{0}e^{+}e^{-} and B^{+}→K^{*+}e^{+}e^{-} decays is reported.

Observation of the Decay Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ}

The first observation of the semileptonic b-baryon decay Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ}, with a significance of 6.1σ, is reported using a data sample corresponding to 3  fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity, collected by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV at the LHC. The τ^{-} lepton is reconstructed in the hadronic decay to three charged pions. The ratio K=B(Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}π^{-}π^{+}π^{-}) is measured to be 2.46±0.27±0.40, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The branching fraction B(Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})=(1.50±0.16±0.25±0.23)% is obtained, where the third uncertainty is from the external branching fraction of the normalization channel Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}π^{-}π^{+}π^{-}. The ratio of semileptonic branching fractions R(Λ_{c}^{+})≡B(Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ}) is derived to be 0.242±0.026±0.040±0.059, where the external branching fraction uncertainty from the channel Λ_{b}^{0}→Λ_{c}^{+}μ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{μ} contributes to the last term. This result is in agreement with the standard model prediction.

Observation of Two New Excited Ξ_{b}^{0} States Decaying to Λ_{b}^{0}K^{-}π^{+}

Two narrow resonant states are observed in the Λ_{b}^{0}K^{-}π^{+} mass spectrum using a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6  fb^{-1}. The minimal quark content of the Λ_{b}^{0}K^{-}π^{+} system indicates that these are excited Ξ_{b}^{0} baryons. The masses of the Ξ_{b}(6327)^{0} and Ξ_{b}(6333)^{0} states are m[Ξ_{b}(6327)^{0}]=6327.28_{-0.21}^{+0.23}±0.12±0.24 and m[Ξ_{b}(6333)^{0}]=6332.69_{-0.18}^{+0.17}±0.03±0.22  MeV, respectively, with a mass splitting of Δm=5.41_{-0.27}^{+0.26}±0.12  MeV, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the Λ_{b}^{0} mass measurement. The measured natural widths of these states are consistent with zero, with upper limits of Γ[Ξ_{b}(6327)^{0}]<2.20(2.56) and Γ[Ξ_{b}(6333)^{0}]<1.60(1.92)  MeV at a 90% (95%) credibility level. The significance of the two-peak hypothesis is larger than nine (five) Gaussian standard deviations compared to the no-peak (one-peak) hypothesis. The masses, widths, and resonant structure of the new states are in good agreement with the expectations for a doublet of 1D Ξ_{b}^{0} resonances.

Measurement of the Nuclear Modification Factor and Prompt Charged Particle Production in p-Pb and pp Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5 TeV

The production of prompt charged particles in proton-lead collisions and in proton-proton collisions at the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy sqrt[s_{NN}]=5  TeV is studied at LHCb as a function of pseudorapidity (η) and transverse momentum (p_{T}) with respect to the proton beam direction. The nuclear modification factor for charged particles is determined as a function of η between -4.8<η<-2.5 (backward region) and 2.0<η<4.8 (forward region), and p_{T} between 0.2<p_{T}<8.0  GeV/c. The results show a suppression of charged particle production in proton-lead collisions relative to proton-proton collisions in the forward region and an enhancement in the backward region for p_{T} larger than 1.5  GeV/c. This measurement constrains nuclear PDFs and saturation models at previously unexplored values of the parton momentum fraction down to 10^{-6}.