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Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a novel method for anastomosis reinforcement to minimize the occurrence of anastomotic complications after surgical resection of rectal and sigmoid cancer. Methods: We recruited 378 patients who underwent laparoscopic rectal anterior resection of rectal cancer and sigmoid cancer in SYSUCC. The occurrence rates of intraoperative bleeding, operation time, and postoperative anastomotic complications were compared between the treatment group receiving anastomotic reinforcement and the control group without anastomotic reinforcement. Results: The incidence of anastomotic leakage in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.59% vs. 11.64%, p < 0.001). Following the application of inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to adjust for factors influencing the occurrence of anastomotic leakage, the incidence of anastomotic leakage remained significantly lower in the treatment group compared to the control group (2.54% vs. 12.08%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The circumferential continuous anastomosis reinforcing suture method, recommended for laparoscopic surgery for rectal and sigmoid cancer, has the potential to effectively minimize the occurrence of anastomotic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) was considered a superior staging system to N stage in colon cancer, yet its value in determining the optimal duration of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer patients has not been evaluated. This study aims to assess the prognostic value of a model that combines LODDS with clinicopathological information for stage III colon cancer patients and aims to stratify these patients using the model, identifying individuals who could benefit from varying durations of adjuvant chemotherapy. Method: A total of 663 consecutive patients diagnosed with stage III colon cancer, who underwent colon tumor resection between November 2007 and June 2020 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, were enrolled in this study. Survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier, Cox regression. Nomograms were developed to forecast patient DFS, with the Area Under the Curve (AUC) values of time-dependent Receiver Operating Characteristic (timeROC) and calibration plots utilized to assess the accuracy and reliability of the nomograms. Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that perineural invasion (HR = 1.776, 95% CI: 1.052–3.003, P = 0.032), poor tumor differentiation (HR = 1.638, 95% CI: 1.084–2.475, P = 0.019), and LODDS groupings of 2 and 1 (HR = 1.920, 95% CI: 1.297–2.842, P = 0.001) were independent predictors of disease-free survival (DFS) in the training cohort. Nomograms constructed from LODDS, perineural invasion, and poor tumor differentiation demonstrated robust predictive performance for 3-year and 5-year DFS in both training (3-year AUC = 0.706, 5-year AUC = 0.678) and validation cohorts (3-year AUC = 0.744, 5-year AUC = 0.762). Stratification according to this model showed that patients in the high-risk group derived significant benefit from completing 8 cycles of chemotherapy (training cohort, 82.97% vs 67.17%, P = 0.013; validation cohort, 89.49% vs 63.97%, P = 0.030). Conclusion: The prognostic model, integrating LODDS, pathological differentiation, and neural invasion, demonstrates strong predictive accuracy for stage III colon cancer prognosis. Moreover, stratification via this model offers valuable insights into optimal durations of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intrahepatic recurrence is one of the main causes of treatment failure in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM). Hepatic steatosis was reported to provide fertile soil for metastasis. The effect of irinotecan-inducted hepatic steatosis on the progression of liver metastasis remains to be verified. Therefore, we aim to clarify the effect of hepatic steatosis on postoperative intrahepatic recurrence in CRLM and whether it is relevant to irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Methods: Data for a total of 284 patients undergoing curative surgical treatment for CRLMs were retrospectively reviewed between March 2007 and June 2018. Hepatic steatosis score (HSS) was established by combining Liver to Spleen CT ratio (LSR) and Uric acid to HDL-cholesterol ratio (UHR) to detect the presence of hepatic steatosis. Results: The evaluation model is consistent with pathological results and has high prediction ability and clinical application value. Patients with HSS high risk (HSS-HR) had significantly worse prognosis than those with HSS low risk (HSS-LR) (3-year intrahepatic RFS: 42.7% vs. 29.4%, P = 0.003; 5-year OS: 45.7% vs. 26.5%, P = 0.002). Univariate and multivariate analysis confirmed its essential role in the prediction of intrahepatic RFS. Besides, patients treated with preoperative irinotecan chemotherapy were more likely to end up with HSS-HR than those with non-irinotecan chemotherapy (63.3% vs. 21.8%, P < 0.001). Furthermore, irinotecan chemotherapy is relevant to worse prognosis in baseline HSS-HR patients. Conclusion: In summary, patients with HSS-HR had significantly worse 5-year OS and 3-year intrahepatic RFS. Irinotecan chemotherapy is more likely to lead to HSS-HR and pre-existing hepatic steatosis may be a worse prognostic factor limiting patients underwent IRI-based chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the safety and short-term outcomes of robotic surgery for sigmoid colon and rectal cancer patients are well-documented, there is limited research on the long-term survival outcomes of robotic colorectal surgery. This is a retrospective study that includes 502 patients who underwent either laparoscopic or robotic anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection for rectal or sigmoid colon cancer between August 2016 and September 2021. All patients were diagnosed with rectal or sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma. Propensity score matching (PSM) was implemented to minimize selection bias. Perioperative outcomes, complication rates, and pathological data were evaluated and compared. The 5-year overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate were calculated and compared. Before matching, patients in the robotic group had earlier pathological T and N stages and were more likely to have received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy compared to the laparoscopic group. After matching, most clinicopathological outcomes were similar between the two groups, but the robotic group had longer operative times and a lower conversion rate to open surgery compared with laparoscopic group. After matching for clinical factors, the 5-year DFS rates were 88.19% for the robotic group and 82.46% for the laparoscopic group (P = 0.122), and the OS rates were 90.5% and 79.5% (P = 0.342), showing no significant differences. In the stratified analysis, patients in the robotic surgery group had significantly higher 5-year DFS rates in the following subgroups: age < 65 years, TNM stage I-II, received neoadjuvant therapy, and primary tumor located in the rectum. The safety and efficacy of robotic surgery for sigmoid colon and rectal cancer were validated compared to laparoscopic surgery, with both groups of patients exhibiting comparable long-term prognoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: DNA ploidy (P), stroma fraction (S), and nucleotyping (N) collectively known as PSN, have proven prognostic accuracy in stage II colorectal cancer (CRC). However, few studies have reported on the prognostic value of the PSN panel in stage III colon cancer patients receiving capecitabine and oxaliplatin adjuvant chemotherapy. Objectives: This study aimed to validate PSN's prognostic impact on stage III colon cancer, identifying candidates for optimized adjuvant chemotherapy duration. Design: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of stage III colon cancer patients from April 2008 to June 2020. Methods: Postoperative pathological samples from stage III colon cancer patients who underwent radical surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were retrospectively collected. Automated digital imaging assessed PSN, categorizing risk groups. Kaplan–Meier, Cox regression, and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis compared model validity. Results: Significant differences in 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were noted among PSN-based low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups (DFS: 92.10% versus 83.62% versus 79.80%, p = 0.029; OS: 96.69% versus 93.99% versus 90.12%, p = 0.016). PSN emerged as an independent prognostic factor for DFS [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.409, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002–1.981, p = 0.049] and OS (HR = 1.720, 95% CI: 1.127–2.624, p = 0.012). The PSN model, incorporating perineural invasion and tumor location, displayed superior area under the curve for 5-year (0.692 versus 0.553, p = 0.020) and 10-year (0.694 versus 0.532, p = 0.006) DFS than TNM stage. In the PSN high-risk group, completing eight cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved 5-year DFS and OS compared to four to seven cycles (DFS: 89.43% versus 71.52%, p = 0.026; OS: 96.77% versus 85.46%, p = 0.007). Conclusion: The PSN panel effectively stratifies stage III colon cancer, aiding in optimized adjuvant chemotherapy duration determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin, derived from Curcuma longa (turmeric), exhibits significant potential in dermatology, addressing conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, chronic wounds, skin cancer, and infections through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. This review synthesizes evidence on curcumin's mechanisms, including modulation of immune responses and promotion of wound healing, showcasing its efficacy in reducing inflammation, cytokine levels, and enhancing skin barrier functions. Studies highlight curcumin's ability to selectively target tumor cells, suggesting a multifaceted approach to cancer therapy with minimal side effects. Despite promising therapeutic benefits, challenges remain in bioavailability, potency, and targeted delivery, underscoring the need for further research to optimize dosages, delivery methods, and assess long-term safety. The integration of curcumin into dermatological practice requires a balanced consideration of evidence-based efficacy and safety. Curcumin's comprehensive utility in dermatology, coupled with the necessity for advanced scientific exploration, emphasizes the importance of combining traditional knowledge with contemporary research to improve patient care in dermatology. This approach could significantly enhance outcomes for individuals with skin-related conditions, marking curcumin as a versatile and promising agent in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutant KRAS (KRASMUT) is often exploited by cancers to shape tumor immunity, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we report that tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) from KRASMUT cancers are sensitive to activation-induced cell death (AICD). circATXN7, an NF-κB-interacting circular RNA, governs T cell sensitivity to AICD by inactivating NF-κB. Mechanistically, histone lactylation derived from KRASMUT tumor cell-produced lactic acid directly activates transcription of circATXN7, which binds to NF-κB p65 subunit and masks the p65 nuclear localization signal motif, thereby sequestering it in the cytoplasm. Clinically, circATXN7 upregulation in tumor-specific CTLs correlates with adverse clinical outcomes and immunotherapeutic resistance. Genetic ablation of circAtxn7 in CD8+ T cells leads to mutant-selective tumor inhibition, while also increases anti-PD1 efficacy in multiple tumor models in female mice. Furthermore, targeting circATXN7 in adoptively transferred tumor-reactive CTLs improves their antitumor activities. These findings provide insight into how lymphocyte-expressed circRNAs contribute to T-cell fate decisions and anticancer immunotherapies. Oncogenic KRAS mutations can dictate the formation of an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment. Here the authors report that, in KRAS mutant colorectal cancer, the upregulation of circATXN7 in tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes is associated with increased sensitivity to activation-induced cell death and resistance to immunotherapy." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bevacizumab plays an important role in the first and second line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). And induction of hypoxia and the tumors response to it plays an important role in determining the efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy while the connection between them remains unclear. Here, we found that lactate accumulated in the tumor environment of CRC and acted as substrates for histone lactylation, and this process was further induced by cellular enhanced glycolysis in hypoxia. We determined that CRC patients resistant to bevacizumab treatment presented with elevated levels of histone lactylation and inhibition of histone lactylation efficiently suppressed CRC tumorigenesis, progression and survival in hypoxia. Histone lactylation promoted the transcription of RUBCNL/Pacer, facilitating autophagosome maturation through interacting with BECN1 (beclin 1) and mediating the recruitment and function of the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex, which had a crucial role in hypoxic cancer cells proliferation and survival. Moreover, combining inhibition of histone lactylation and macroautophagy/autophagy with bevacizumab treatment demonstrated remarkable treatment efficacy in bevacizumab-resistance patients-derived pre-clinical models. These findings delivered a new exploration and important supplement of metabolic reprogramming-epigenetic regulation, and provided a new strategy for improving clinical efficacy of bevacizumab in CRC by inhibition of histone lactylation. Abbreviations: 2-DG: 2-deoxy-D-glucose; BECN1: beclin 1; CQ: chloroquine; CRC: colorectal cancer; DMOG: dimethyloxalylglycine; H3K18la: histone H3 lysine 18 lactylation; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; Nala: sodium lactate; PDO: patient-derived orgnoid; PDX: patient-derived xenograft; RUBCNL/Pacer: rubicon like autophagy enhancer; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiVO4 is a promising material for water oxidation due to its suitable physical and chemical properties. However, the BiVO4 film has limitations such as poor electron transport, surface charge recombination, and low catalytic activity, which affect its performance. To address these issues, under light assistance (AM 1.5G), we employed a simple electrodeposition method to selectively react the film for only 10 seconds in a 1 M potassium borate electrolyte (pH = 9.5) containing iron and cobalt sources. This method allowed for the fast loading of bimetallic borate compounds onto the vanadium–bismuth oxide photoanode, resulting in efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The modification of the BiVO4 electrode through this process reduces the electron–hole composite rate, thereby improving PEC performance, photocurrent, and oxygen release. The CoFeBi/BiVO4 photoanode demonstrated a significant photocurrent density of 4.4 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is approximately 2.6 times higher than that of BiVO4. This improvement can be attributed primarily to the synergistic effect of the cobalt–iron-based cocatalyst, which exhibits outstanding water oxidation activity through its Fe3+ and Co2+ active sites. This work introduces a new research pathway for applications in photovoltaics and photoelectrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Emerge evidence suggests that circular RNA (circRNA) is a pivotal player in cancer progression. However, its role in CRC liver metastasis remains largely unknown. Methods: Circ-YAP expression was detected by qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization. The function of circ-YAP was tested by wound healing, transwell and CCK-8 assays. RNA immunoprecipitation, pull-down, luciferase reporter, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to investigate the mechanism underlying circ-YAP promoting CRC liver metastasis. CRC liver metastasis animal model was established to assess the effect of circ-YAP in vivo. Results: Circ-YAP was notably upregulated in CRC with liver metastasis, which was associated with dismal prognosis. Circ-YAP promoted CRC cell migration and invasion in vitro, and facilitated liver metastasis in patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models in vivo. Mechanistically, circ-YAP encoded a novel truncated protein containing 220 amino acids, termed as YAP-220aa, which competitively bound to LATS1, resulting in YAP dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation, thereby activating a cohort of metastasis-promoting genes. Importantly, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification orchestrated efficient initiation of circ-YAP translation, requiring m6A reader YTHDF3 and eIF4G2 translation initiation complex. Intriguingly, circ-YAP was transcriptionally enhanced by YAP/TEAD complex, thus forming a positive regulatory feed-forward loop. Conclusions: Our findings reveal a previously uncharacterized oncoprotein encoded by circ-YAP, implying a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for CRC patients with liver metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Population-based studies have shown that adequate magnesium intake is associated with a lower risk of stroke and all-cause mortality. Whether adequate magnesium intake is important for reducing all-cause mortality risk after stroke remains unclear. Methods: We analyzed data from 917 patients with a self-reported history of stroke from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018. The total magnesium intake was calculated by summing the magnesium intake from dietary and dietary supplements, and then adjusting for total energy intake according to the nutrient density method. Mortality status was determined using public-use linked mortality files from 2019. Cox regression model and restricted cubic splines were used to explore the relationship between magnesium intake and all-cause mortality. Results: The average total magnesium intake across all patients was 251.0 (184.5–336.5) mg/d, and 321 (70.2%) males and 339 (73.7%) females had insufficient magnesium intake. During a median follow-up period of 5.3 years, 277 deaths occurred. After fully adjusting for confounding factors, total magnesium intake levels were inversely associated with all-cause mortality risk (HR per 1-mg/(100 kcal*d) increase, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94–1.00; p = 0.017). Participants with the highest quartile of total magnesium intake (≥ 18.5 mg/(100 kcal*d)) had a 40% reduction in all-cause mortality risk compared to those with the lowest quartile (≤ 12.0 mg/(100 kcal*d)) (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38–0.94; p = 0.024). Stratified analyses showed that this inverse association was statistically significant in those who were older, female, without hypertension, and had smoking, normal renal function, and adequate energy intake. Dietary magnesium intake alone might be not related to all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Stroke survivors who consumed adequate amounts of magnesium from diet and supplements had a lower risk of all-cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has become an essential component of the comprehensive treatment of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). However, not all patients respond to chemotherapy due to individual differences in sensitivity and tolerance to chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, accurately predicting the sensitivity of CSCC patients to NACT was vital for individual chemotherapy. This study aims to construct a machine learning radiomics model based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess its efficacy in predicting NACT susceptibility among CSCC patients. Methods: This study included 234 patients with CSCC from two hospitals, who were divided into a training set (n = 180), a testing set (n = 20), and an external validation set (n = 34). Manual radiomic features were extracted from transverse section MRI images, and feature selection was performed using the recursive feature elimination (RFE) method. A prediction model was then generated using three machine learning algorithms, namely logistic regression, random forest, and support vector machines (SVM), for predicting NACT susceptibility. The model's performance was assessed based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, and sensitivity. Results: The SVM approach achieves the highest scores on both the testing set and the external validation set. In the testing set and external validation set, the AUC of the model was 0.88 and 0.764, and the accuracy was 0.90 and 0.853, the sensitivity was 0.93 and 0.962, respectively. Conclusions: Machine learning radiomics models based on MRI images have achieved satisfactory performance in predicting the sensitivity of NACT in CSCC patients with high accuracy and robustness, which has great significance for the treatment and personalized medicine of CSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pathological tumor burden score (TBS) has been proven to be a better risk stratification tool for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer than the traditional clinical risk score (CRS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the pathological tumor burden score in patients with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods: A total of 348 patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) who underwent curative hepatic resection were retrospectively enrolled from September 1999 to December 2016. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify the independent predictors of prognosis. Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to determine whether TBS has enough discriminatory ability under certain grouping. Results: Patients who received NAC had a higher median TBS than patients who did not receive NAC (4.07 vs. 2.69, P < 0.001). Among patients who did not receive NAC, those with TBS > 3 showed a significantly worse 3-year RFS (41.1% vs. 63.6%, P < 0.001) and 3-year OS rate (73.3% vs. 84.1%, P = 0.003) than those with TBS ≤ 3. Among the patients who received NAC, those with TBS ≤ 3 or TBS > 3 showed comparable 3-year RFS (33.3% vs. 26.4%, P = 0.400) and 3-year OS rates (76.5% vs. 58.2%, P = 0.064) to those who did not. Regardless of the regimen and response to NAC, there was no significant difference about 3-year RFS and 3-year OS rates between the TBS ≤ 3 and TBS > 3 groups. Conclusion: Pathological TBS can be applied to predict the RFS and OS of patients suffering from CRLM who did not receive NAC. However, pathological TBS might not be regard as prognosis in patients who did receive NAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration process and deterioration mechanism of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) in an alkaline environment were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and a micro-electro-hydraulic servo pressure testing machine to investigate the effects of soaking time in 10 wt.% NaOH solution on the macro- and micro-morphology, phase composition and compressive strength of MOC samples. The results show that the deterioration of MOC samples under an alkaline environment is mainly caused by the alkaline environment providing more OH− ions, which can react with 5Mg(OH)2·MgCl2·8H2O (P 5) in the sample. The resulting reaction gives rise to a faster decomposition of 5Mg(OH)2·MgCl2·8H2O (P 5) and a substantial reduction in the strength of the sample, and finally leads to a gradual deterioration of MOC samples. Meanwhile, immersion time exhibits a significant effect on MOC samples. The extension of immersion time coincides with more OH− ions entering the sample, and the greater presence of OH ions increases the likelihood that more P 5 will produce a hydrolysis reaction, further resulting in the increased deterioration of the sample. After soaking for 6 h in alkaline media, the main phase composition of the surface layer of an MOC sample changes to MgO and Mg(OH)2, and its microscopic morphology is also dominated by round sheets, giving rise to a sharp decrease in its compressive strength (52.2%). When the immersion time is prolonged to 72 h, OH− ions have already immersed into the inner core of the sample, causing the disappearance of P 5 from the whole sample. At the same time, both the surface and inner core of the sample exhibit a disc-shaped morphology, and chalking phenomena also appear on the surface of the sample. This reduces the compressive strength of the sample to 13.5 MPa, only 20% of its compressive strength in water. The compressive strength of the sample after 120 h of immersion is as low as 8.6 MPa, which is lower than that of the sample dipped in water for 21 days (9.5 MPa). As a result, the MOC samples studied in alkaline environments exhibit a faster deterioration rate, mainly because of a faster hydrolysis reaction by P 5, caused by more OH− ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well aligned TiO2 nanotube arrays have been synthesized via electrochemical anodization, and Pd-based nanoparticles (NPs) were decorated by electrodeposition with the aid of UV irradiation. A new back-to-back Schottky barrier diode (SBD) was formed by connecting with Ag–(Pd decorated TiO2)–Ti. We found that such an SBD sensor has excellent hydrogen (H2) sensing performances at a working temperature of 80 °C, with a detection limit as low as 1 ppm as well as a quick response time within 10 s at a low bias voltage (0.025 V). I–V curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis demonstrate a typical rectification characteristic of SBD as well as a dramatic decrease of the barrier height of SBD during the H2 sensing process. The high H2 sensing performance of a Pd-based NP decorated TiO2 nanotube array film SBD could be attributed to the synergism of the highly ordered nano-porous configurations and the Pd-based NP (with a high catalytic active metallic Pd nanoshell layer) decoration providing the enhancement of H2 spillover effect (and/or electronic sensitization) related redox processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of supramolecular adhesives with strong tolerance to extreme conditions has emerged as an important research area. In this study, by balancing supramolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding interactions, electrostatic interactions, π–π stacking interactions, and cation‐π interactions, we designed and prepared a series of two‐component supramolecular adhesives derived from small organic molecules. Highly efficient interfacial adhesion with maximum adhesion strength of ≈10.0 MPa was realized on various surfaces in air, organic solvents, or liquid nitrogen. Owing to balanced supramolecular interactions, water participation prolonged and increased the tolerance of the adhesives in extreme environments. We demonstrate that the combination of imidazole‐based ionic liquids and phenols can be applied for various interfacial adhesions, thereby aiding the development of next‐generation adhesives capable of adapting to various extreme conditions in a controlled manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of supramolecular adhesives with strong tolerance to extreme conditions has emerged as an important research area. In this study, by balancing supramolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding interactions, electrostatic interactions, π–π stacking interactions, and cation‐π interactions, we designed and prepared a series of two‐component supramolecular adhesives derived from small organic molecules. Highly efficient interfacial adhesion with maximum adhesion strength of ≈10.0 MPa was realized on various surfaces in air, organic solvents, or liquid nitrogen. Owing to balanced supramolecular interactions, water participation prolonged and increased the tolerance of the adhesives in extreme environments. We demonstrate that the combination of imidazole‐based ionic liquids and phenols can be applied for various interfacial adhesions, thereby aiding the development of next‐generation adhesives capable of adapting to various extreme conditions in a controlled manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeVO4 is considered to be a potential anode material for alkaline ion batteries due to its abundant resources, low price, and high specific capacity. To enhance the energy storage performance of FeVO4, carbon coated FeVO4 (FeVO4@C) growing on carbon cloth (CC) (FeVO4@C/CC) was prepared by a hydrothermal method in this work. The needle-like FeVO4 grew obliquely on CC, forming a 3D structure. This 3D structure was beneficial to shortening the Li-ion diffusion distance, buffering the strain caused by the volumetric change of FeVO4 during phase transition process and improving the conductivity of the material. Profiting from the morphology and component, FeVO4@C/CC demonstrated superior electrochemical performance as an anode for alkaline ion batteries. It delivered specific capacities of 835 mAh/g, 239 mAh/g, 306 mAh/g, and 211 mAh/g after 120 cycles at the current density of 0.1 A/g for Li-ion battery, K-ion battery, Na-ion battery, and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full battery, respectively. Carbon coated FeVO4 growing on carbon cloth is prepared by hydrothermal method. The needle-like FeVO4 grows obliquely on carbon cloth, forming a 3D structure. This 3D structure is beneficial for shortening the Li-ion diffusion distance, buffering the strain of volume change, and improving the conductivity of the material. The prepared materials demonstrate superior electrochemical performance as the anodes for Li-ion battery, K-ion battery, Na-ion battery, and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnO2 is a theoretically excellent transformed anode material with high theoretical capacity for SIBs. However, SnO2 faces serious volume effect and high resistance, which greatly damages its electrochemical performance. Given that, the SnS−SnO2 heterostructures is constructed with special internal electric field, which is beneficial to promote the transfer ability of sodium ions. Besides, the graphene oxide (GO) modification is carried out to isolate the intrinsic materials from direct contact with electrolyte, and alleviate volume expansion of the anode, ultimately promote the electrochemical performance. Furthermore, the structure and the conductivity characteristics of SnS, SnO2, SnS−SnO2 and SnS−SnO2@ GO are simulated respectively by first principles and are compared with the correspondence experiment results to verify the accuracy of established models. Owing to the special p‐n junction in SnS−SnO2@GO heterostructures, the resistance of SnS−SnO2@GO can be reduced to 36.23 Ω, much lower than that of SnO2 (Rct=341.9 Ω). Notably, the combination of GO has effectively alleviated the volume expansion of SnS−SnO2@GO electrodes, and present excellent capacity higher than 384.7 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles. Thus, the efficient synthesis of SnS−SnO2@GO heterostructure electrodes with excellent performance for sodium storage is expected to provide valuable direction for SIBs anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is exactly the high potential and high energy density that makes the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) an attractive material for lithium-ion battery cathode. However, the poor cycle performance of LNMO caused by John-Teller effect during the Li+ ion insertion/desertion process has been a hindrance for its practical application. Herein, the influence of M-doped (M= Cr and Co) on structure, morphology, and electrochemical performances of LiMyNi0.5-yNi1.5O4 spinel materials are deeply investigated to improve the structural stability and cycling ability. The results reveal that the cell volume and of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 are decreased with Cr3+ and Co2+ doping; the stability of structure and electrical conductivity is correspondingly improved. The state density diagrams demonstrate that Cr3+ and Co2+ cationic doping have clearly enhanced the interaction between oxygen and transition metals (Ni and Mn) and improved the transition capacity of Li+. The initial discharge specific capacities of LiCo0.12Ni0.38Mn1.5O4 and LiCr0.12Ni0.38Mn1.5O4 samples are 113.3 mAh·g−1 and 107.7 mAh·g−1 respectively at a high rate of 0.5 C, which are higher than that of pure LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4. Additionally, the capacity retention rates of 87.2% and 63.97% come through respectively after 50 cycles while only 59.8% for pure LNMO. The rate of LiCo0.12Ni0.38Mn1.5O4 exhibits a better stability than LiCr0.12Ni0.38Mn1.5O4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so‐called lower tungsten carbides W2C and Fe3W3C often appear in tungsten carbide–reinforced iron matrix (WC–Fe) composites. The effect of their presence on the mechanical properties of the material, such as hardness, is not well understood. In this study, we extensively measured the hardness distribution in the WC–Fe composites and also performed hundreds of microhardness measurements to determine the hardness values for the lower carbides. The hardness values calculated by ab initio were compared, where the theoretical values of Fe3W3C had little difference from the experimental values. However, the experimentally obtained hardness data for W2C were significantly smaller than the reported theoretical data. Moreover, the experimental hardness values for W2C reported in the literatures are very different. To understand the origin of the discrepancy, the focused‐ion‐beam–transmission‐electron‐microscopy technique was used to obtain the high‐resolution images of W2C, which revealed a high density of planar defects. As a further comparison, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations illustrate that the complex interactions between different atomic pairs in Fe3W3C make it difficult for this type of crystal defect to occur. The lattice of W2C can adjust—resulting in shuffle defects and stacking faults—to a certain degree affecting its hardness, which was not revealed in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) can indicate poor survival outcomes in colorectal cancer, but few studies have focused on stage III colon cancer. The current study aimed to confirm the prognostic value of LVI and PNI and identify patients who could benefit from a complete duration of adjuvant chemotherapy based on the two pathological factors. Methods: We enrolled 402 consecutive patients with stage III colon cancer who received colon tumor resection from November 2007 to June 2016 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Survival analyses were performed by using Kaplan–Meier method with log-rank tests. Risk factors related to disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified through Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results: 141 (35.1%) patients presented with LVI, and 108 (26.9%) patients with PNI. The LVI-positive group was associated with poorer 3-year DFS (86.5% vs. 76.3%, P = 0.001) and OS (96.0% vs. 89.1%, P = 0.003) rates compared with the LVI-negative group. The PNI-positive group showed a worse outcome compared with the PNI-negative group in 3-year DFS rate (72.5% vs. 86.7%, P < 0.001). Moreover, LVI-positive group present better 3-year DFS and OS rate in patients completing 6–8 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy than those less than 6 cycles (3-year DFS: 80.0% vs. 64.9%, P = 0.019; 3-year OS: 93.2% vs. 76.3%, P = 0.002). Conclusions: LVI is a superior prognostic factor to PNI in stage III colon cancer patients undergoing curative treatment. PNI status can noly predict the 3-year DFS wihout affecting the 3-year OS. Furthermore, LVI also represents an effective indicator for adjuvant chemotherapy duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium vanadium oxide (Li3VO4, LVO) is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity (394 mAh g−1) and safe working potential (0.5–1.0 V vs. Li+/Li). However, its electrical conductivity is low which leads to poor electrochemical performance. Graphene (GN) shows excellent electrical conductivity and high specific surface area, holding great promise in improving the electrochemical performance of electrode materials for LIBs. In this paper, LVO was prepared by different methods. SEM results showed the obtained LVO by sol-gel method possesses uniform nanoparticle morphology. Next, LVO/GN composite was synthesized by sol-gel method. The flexible GN could improve the distribution of LVO, forming a high conductive network. Thus, the LVO/GN composite showed outstanding cycling performance and rate performance. The LVO/GN composite can provide a high initial capacity of 350.2 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C. After 200 cycles, the capacity of LVO/GN composite remains 86.8%. When the current density increased from 0.2 C to 2 C, the capacity of LVO/GN composite only reduced from 360.4 mAh g−1 to 250.4 mAh g−1, demonstrating an excellent performance rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The n–n heterojunction is formed at the interfaces of FeVO4 and ZnO under hydrothermal conditions to increase the mobility of electrons and to decrease the barrier of oxygen activation. The results from X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses confirm the co-existence of the FeVO4 and ZnO phases in the composite. The formation of n–n heterojunction and electron transfer behavior are explored by applying electrochemical techniques and corresponding simulation calculation. The FeVO4/ZnO (Fe:Zn = 1:0.5) sensor shows a high response value of Sg = 42 at 300 °C, excellent selectivity, fast response, stable, and superior sensitivity for ethanol detection. The effect of the formed n–n heterojunction on enhancing the gas sensitivity for detecting ethanol is discussed by electron depletion theory. When the gas atmosphere is changed from air to ethanol gas, the depletion layer on the sensor surface is also changed significantly, altering the macroscopic resistance of the material. This work offers a new mechanistic understanding of the role of n–n heterojunction in detecting target gases and paves the way for designing excellent selectivity, fast response, and stable sensors based on n–n heterojunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLMs) is usually considered a contradictory indicator to surgical resection. However, some patients with initially unresectable CRLMs can receive radical local treatment after conversion therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of radical local treatment after conversion therapy and the prognosis of patients with more than 10 initially unresectable CRLMs. Methods: Data for a total of 229 patients with initially unresectable CRLMs were retrospectively reviewed between December 2012 and January 2020. Among these patients, 107 had ≥10 CRLMs, and 122 had <10 CRLMs. Overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were used to reflect the prognosis of different groups of patients. Conversion therapy was defined as an initially unresectable liver metastasis converted into an R0 resectable lesion after systemic chemotherapy. Radical local treatment included hepatectomy and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Results: Patients with ≥10 CRLMs had a lower conversion rate (42.7% vs. 56.6%, p = 0.001). Baseline clinical N stage 1–2, ≥8 first‐line chemotherapy courses, and stable disease (SD) according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) were independent factors predictive of conversion failure. Primary tumour location in the right colon, RECIST response of SD, and the absence of targeted therapy were independent factors predictive of unfavourable OS. The survival curves revealed that the OS of patients with or without conversion could be distinguished only among patients with <10 CRLMs (89.9% [95% CI, 82.5%–98.0%] vs. 58.9% [95% CI, 45.2%–76.7%], p < 0.001); this cut‐off point could also distinguish patients with a successful conversion outcome according to OS (89.9% [95% CI, 82.5–98.0%] vs. 58.2% [95% CI, 42.2–80.4%], p = 0.008). Conclusion: For CRLMs ≥ 10, patients with a successful conversion outcome cannot be distinguished from those without successful conversion outcome according to OS. Thus, conversion therapy with the intent to perform radical local treatment may not be suitable for patients with 10 or more liver metastases from colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) could achieve survival benefit from successful conversion therapy. Recently, Tumor Burden Score (TBS) was proposed as a valuable index to predict outcome following resection of CRLM. The study is aimed to investigate the association of TBS with conversion outcome. Methods: A total of 234 patients who underwent first-line treatment in our center were enrolled as training cohort. The validation cohort was developed from 89 patients in our previous study. Cut-off value of TBS was calculated to stratify patients into two groups. Significance test and logistic regression model were used to examine the prediction value of TBS for conversion outcome after first-line systemic therapy. Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model were applied to assess the prognostic value of TBS. Results: TBS showed good discriminatory power [area under curve (AUC) 0.726, p < 0.001] with cut-off value defined as 14.3 in training cohort, which was validated in the validation cohort. Increasing TBS was related to adverse chemotherapy response and conversion outcome. Low TBS group had three times higher conversion rate than that in high TBS group (57.3% versus 19.0%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that high TBS [odds ratio (OR) = 3.676, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.671–8.429, p = 0.002], first-line treatment response as stable disease (SD) or progressive disease (PD) (OR = 9.247; 95% CI 4.736–18.846, p < 0.001), and absence of targeted therapy (OR = 2.453, 95% CI 1.139–5.455, p = 0.024) were three independent risk factors for failure conversion outcome. High TBS was significantly associated with conversion outcome whatever chemotherapy response, addition of targeted therapy, and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) status. High TBS was also associated with worse overall survival. Conclusion: TBS should be applied in clinical practice to predict conversion outcome in patients with initially unresectable CRLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) has not been identified as a unified disease entity due to the differences in the severity of metastatic disease and tumor aggressiveness. A screen for specific prognostic risk subgroups is urgently needed. The current study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of DNA ploidy, stroma fraction and nucleotyping of initially resectable liver metastases from patients with CRLM. Methods: One hundred thirty-nine consecutive patients with initially resectable CRLM who underwent curative liver resection from 2006 to 2018 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were selected for analysis. DNA ploidy, stroma fraction and nucleotyping of liver metastases were evaluated using automated digital imaging systems. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression models. Results: DNA ploidy was identified as an independent prognostic factor for RFS (HR, 2.082; 95% CI 1.053–4.115; P = 0.035) in the multivariate analysis, while stroma-tumor fraction and nucleotyping were not significant prognostic factors. A significant difference in 3-year RFS was observed among the low-, moderate- and high-risk groups stratified by a novel parameter combined with the tumor burden score (TBS) and DNA ploidy (72.5% vs. 63.2% vs. 37.3%, P = 0.007). The high-risk group who received adjuvant chemotherapy had a significantly better 3-year RFS rate than those without adjuvant chemotherapy (46.7% vs. 24.8%; P = 0.034). Conclusions: Our study showed that DNA ploidy of liver metastases is an independent prognostic factor for patients with initially resectable CRLM after liver resection. The combination of DNA ploidy and TBS may help to stratify patients into different recurrence risk groups and may guide postoperative treatment among the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We successfully dispersed MoS2 on Co-doped g-C3N4 nanosheets via a facile ultrasonic dispersion method to build a 2D/2D heterojunction in the present work. The structures of samples were investigated by characterization methods including TEM, SEM, XPS, and XRD, and the results clearly indicated that the Co species doped into the framework of bulk g-C3N4 and MoS2 nanosheets were dispersed well on the 2D-CoCN sample. The photocatalytic activity of the MoS2/CoCN-3 composite presents the optimum performance for hydrogen evolution of 54.1 μmol h−1, which is approximately 8.07 times that of the B-CN sample. The results of UV-vis spectra, PL spectra, time-resolved fluorescence decay spectra, etc. confirmed that the optimum performance for the hydrogen evolution of the MoS2/CoCN-3 composites mainly results from the most visible light absorption, the largest specific surface area and the best efficiency of transferring charge carriers at the 2D/2D heterojunction. Furthermore, Co could partially replace C element in the g-C3N4 framework and lead to carbocation formation. These carbocations facilitate the trapping of electrons and enhance the separation of photoproduced electron–hole pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic reprograming have been associated with cancer occurrence and progression within the tumor immune microenvironment. However, the prognostic potential of metabolism-related genes in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been comprehensively studied. Here, we investigated metabolic transcript-related CRC subtypes and relevant immune landscapes, and developed a metabolic risk score (MRS) for survival prediction.Methods: Metabolism-related genes were collected from the Molecular Signatures Database and metabolic subtypes were identified using an unsupervised clustering algorithm based on the expression profiles of survival-related metabolic genes in GSE39582. The ssGSEA and ESTIMATE methods were applied to estimate the immune infiltration among subtypes. The MRS model was developed using LASSO Cox regression in the GSE39582 dataset and independently validated in the TCGA CRC and GSE17537 datasets.Results: We identified two metabolism-related subtypes (cluster-A and cluster-B) of CRC based on the expression profiles of 539 survival-related metabolic genes with distinct immune profiles and notably different prognoses. The cluster-B subtype had a shorter OS and RFS than the cluster-A subtype. Eighteen metabolism-related genes that were mostly involved in lipid metabolism pathways were used to build the MRS in GSE39582. Patients with higher MRS had worse prognosis than those with lower MRS (HR 3.45, P < 0.001). The prognostic role of MRS was validated in the TCGA CRC (HR 2.12, P = 0.00017) and GSE17537 datasets (HR 2.67, P = 0.039). Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve and stratified analyses revealed the robust predictive ability of the MRS in each dataset. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicted that the MRS could predict OS independent of TNM stage and age.Conclusions: Our study provides novel insight into metabolic heterogeneity and its relationship with immune landscape in CRC. The MRS was identified as a robust prognostic marker and may facilitate individualized therapy for CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) could achieve survival benefit from successful conversion therapy. Recently, Tumor Burden Score (TBS) was proposed as a valuable index to predict outcome following resection of CRLM. The study is aimed to investigate the association of TBS with conversion outcome. Methods: A total of 234 patients who underwent first-line treatment in our center were enrolled as training cohort. The validation cohort was developed from 89 patients in our previous study. Cut-off value of TBS was calculated to stratify patients into two groups. Significance test and logistic regression model were used to examine the prediction value of TBS for conversion outcome after first-line systemic therapy. Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model were applied to assess the prognostic value of TBS. Results: TBS showed good discriminatory power [area under curve (AUC) 0.726, p < 0.001] with cut-off value defined as 14.3 in training cohort, which was validated in the validation cohort. Increasing TBS was related to adverse chemotherapy response and conversion outcome. Low TBS group had three times higher conversion rate than that in high TBS group (57.3% versus 19.0%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that high TBS [odds ratio (OR) = 3.676, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.671–8.429, p = 0.002], first-line treatment response as stable disease (SD) or progressive disease (PD) (OR = 9.247; 95% CI 4.736–18.846, p < 0.001), and absence of targeted therapy (OR = 2.453, 95% CI 1.139–5.455, p = 0.024) were three independent risk factors for failure conversion outcome. High TBS was significantly associated with conversion outcome whatever chemotherapy response, addition of targeted therapy, and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) status. High TBS was also associated with worse overall survival. Conclusion: TBS should be applied in clinical practice to predict conversion outcome in patients with initially unresectable CRLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, quantum dot-assisted self-assembled MoSe2–MoO3 with a porous structure is synthesized via a MOF-directed strategy involving a thermal-induced reaction with Se. As an anode material for sodium ion batteries, due to inheriting the chemical activity of quantum dots and physical stability of the porous heterogeneous structure, it exhibits an outstanding electrochemical performance (i.e., 400 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 with a capacity retention of 90% and 218.5 mA h g−1 after 2000 cycles at 3.0 A g−1 with a capacity retention of almost 100%) superior to that of MoSe2–MoO3 with different ratios and the traditional bulk MoSe2. Moreover, the improved potassium-ion storage of the anode is obtained (i.e., 308.7 mA h g−1 with a capacity retention of 97.9% after 300 cycles at 0.05 A g−1). This work paves the way for developing high-performance anode materials with a large reversible capacity and a long cycle-life for sodium/potassium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our previous study reported the favorable efficacy and good tolerance associated with a modified XELOX adjuvant chemotherapy with eight cycles of capecitabine and six cycles of oxaliplatin for operated stage III colon cancer. The current study aimed to confirm the feasibility of modified XELOX chemotherapy for treating specific high-risk (T4, N2, or both) stage III colon cancer. Methods: We selected 142 consecutive patients with high-risk stage III colon cancer who received colon tumor resection followed by modified XELOX or standard full-cycle XELOX chemotherapy from November 2007 to June 2016 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events of patients treated with the two chemotherapy regimens were compared. Results: Seventy-four (52.1%) patients received standard XELOX chemotherapy, and 68 (47.8%) received modified XELOX chemotherapy. Neurotoxicity was the most common adverse event in 99 (69.7%) patients. Grade 2-3 neurotoxicity, grade 2–4 thrombocytopenia and grade 3–4 leucopenia were the major severe adverse events related to the decision to treat patients with modified XELOX chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 69 months, the modified XELOX group presented a comparable 5-year DFS rate (79.0 vs. 80.3%, P = 0.891) and 5-year OS rate (93.8 vs. 87.8%, P = 0.446) as those in the standard XELOX group. Univariate survival analysis indicated that poor tumor differentiation (HR: 2.381, 95% CI: 1.141–4.968, P = 0.021) was the only significant risk factor for DFS, but no significant prognostic factor was identified for OS. Conclusions: The modified XELOX adjuvant chemotherapy presented a comparable oncologic efficacy as standard XELOX chemotherapy for high-risk stage III colon cancer. The modified XELOX adjuvant chemotherapy could be an alternative treatment for patients suffering severe adverse events, especially severe neurotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) has been shown as a prognostic marker in many cancers. The aim of this study was to explore whether serum GGT could predict tumor recurrence in patients with liver-confined colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) undergoing R0 resection. Methods: We reviewed patients who had underwent liver surgery for CRCLM. Patients with liver-only metastases that underwent R0 resection were included. Pre-operative serum GGT were classified into either high or low using a cut-off value of 33 U/L for female and 51 U/L for male. Relapse-free survival (RFS) was compared in relation to GGT and other clinicopathological factors. Results: Of the 350 patients included, 108 (30.9%) had a high serum GGT. Patients with metachronous liver metastases, number of metastases ⩾2, size of the largest metastasis ⩾3 cm, or a history of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a higher GGT level (p = 0.001, 0.027, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). In survival analyses, patients with a high GGT had a shorter RFS than those with a low GGT, with a median RFS of 11.8 versus 30.3 months (p < 0.001). RFS was also associated with the number of metastases, size of the largest metastasis and the delivery of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In multivariate analysis, GGT remained an independent prognostic factor of RFS. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the serum GGT level before liver surgery is an adverse prognostic factor of RFS for patients with liver-confined CRCLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) has been shown as a prognostic marker in many cancers. The aim of this study was to explore whether serum GGT could predict tumor recurrence in patients with liver-confined colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) undergoing R0 resection. Methods: We reviewed patients who had underwent liver surgery for CRCLM. Patients with liver-only metastases that underwent R0 resection were included. Pre-operative serum GGT were classified into either high or low using a cut-off value of 33 U/L for female and 51 U/L for male. Relapse-free survival (RFS) was compared in relation to GGT and other clinicopathological factors. Results: Of the 350 patients included, 108 (30.9%) had a high serum GGT. Patients with metachronous liver metastases, number of metastases ⩾2, size of the largest metastasis ⩾3 cm, or a history of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a higher GGT level (p = 0.001, 0.027, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). In survival analyses, patients with a high GGT had a shorter RFS than those with a low GGT, with a median RFS of 11.8 versus 30.3 months (p < 0.001). RFS was also associated with the number of metastases, size of the largest metastasis and the delivery of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In multivariate analysis, GGT remained an independent prognostic factor of RFS. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the serum GGT level before liver surgery is an adverse prognostic factor of RFS for patients with liver-confined CRCLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Photocatalysis technology based on green renewable solar energy has broad prospects in environmental protection and new energy utilization. The energy of the light can be utilized to convert the pollutants in the environment into non‐toxic substances even available products. Due to its low cost and environmental protection, photocatalysis technology has been further developed in the fields of water splitting, sewage treatment and nitrogen oxides (NOx) removal. RESULTS: In this study, zinc tungstate (ZnWO4) nanorods loaded on bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) nanosheets with exposed {001} facet forming a 1D/2D BiOI/ZnWO4 p‐n heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized and their photocatalytic activities for nitric oxide (NO) removal were investigated. The 20% BOI/ZWO composite exhibited the most excellent photocatalytic NO removal performance, which were 32.32% and 48.24% under visible light and simulated sunlight irradiation, respectively. CONCLUSION: A novel 1D/2D BiOI/ZnWO4 p‐n heterojunction was successfully synthesized by a two‐step procedure. Compared to the pure ZnWO4 and BiOI, the 20% BOI/ZWO composite has a significant increase in photocatalytic activity which is attributed to the enhanced visible light absorption and the improved separation of charge carriers. Trapping experiments and electron spin resonance results indicate that the hole (h+), super oxygen radical (·O2−) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) play minor roles, while the electron (e−) has a major contribution to the NO removal process. Therefore, the BiOI/ZnWO4 p‐n heterojunction is a promising material for NO removal. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium-based oxides are considered to be a type of promising electrode materials for Li-ion batteries due to their low cost and high theoretical capacity. However, the dissolution of vanadium (V3+), low electron conductivity and volume change during charge and discharge processes hamper their application. A novel porous structure was synthesized by hydrothermal method in this study. The hierarchical porous structure is assembled with nanoflake and coated with carbon. The hierarchical porous structure provides multitudinous reaction sites, shortens the Li-ion transfer distance and buffers the volume variety. The carbon improves the conductivity of the composite. It is also found that the tetravalent and trivalence vanadium coexists in the prepared composite. V4+ can prevent V3+ from dissolution. The synergistic effects of hierarchical porous structure, carbon coating and the coexistence of V3+ and V4+ endow the composite with excellent performance as an anode material. The composite exhibits a low resistance and sizeable capacitive effects during the charge and discharge process, which are beneficial to the energy storage performance. A discharge capacity of 439.6 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 is delivered, which is 90.0% of its initial specific capacity (488.2 mAh g−1). The composite processes a decent prospect in high-performance Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date, the prognostic significance of acellular mucin pools in tumors from patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and subsequently obtaining pathological complete response (pCR) has not been well determined. Our current study aimed to explore the prognostic impact on these patients of acellular mucin pools. Methods: We collected clinical data from 117 consecutive LARC patients who achieved pCR after preoperative CRT and then underwent radical resection. Two groups of patients were generated, according to the presence or absence of acellular mucin pools. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were compared between the two groups of patients. Results: A total of 27 (23.1%) patients presented with acellular mucin pools. At a median follow-up period of 64 months, patients with acellular mucin pool showed a 5-year DFS rate (96.3% versus 83.7%, p = 0.110) and 5-year OS rate (100% versus 87.5%, p = 0.054) statistically similar to those of patients without acellular mucin pools. In univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses, the presence of acellular mucin pools was not determined as an independent risk factor for DFS [hazard ratio (HR): 0.222; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.029–1.864; p = 0.145] or OS (HR: 0.033; 95% CI: 0.000–9.620; p = 0.238). Conclusions: Acellular mucin pools had no significant prognostic impact on LARC patients showing pCR after preoperative CRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

V2O3 is considered to be a potential anode material due to its large specific capacity and rich resources. Herein, flock‐like V2O3 coated with carbon is prepared through a facile and simple solvothermal method followed by annealing at a relatively low temperature. The structure of V2O3/C is composed of porous strips. Due to the unique morphology and structure, the V2O3/C anode material shows excellent electrochemical performance. It delivers a specific discharge capacity of 696 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, which is 95% of the specific discharge capacity (732 mAh g−1) after the sixth cycle. The V2O3/C anode material annealed at 360 °C (V2O3/C‐360) delivers 601 mAh g−1 at a current density of 300 mA g−1 after 500 cycles. It implies superior cyclic stability of V2O3/C‐360. In addition, the anode also shows excellent rate capability. Specific capacities of approximately 600, 420, and 300 mAh g−1 are obtained at the current densities of 0.3, 2, and 5 A g−1, respectively. The large current contribution of the capacitive reveals favorable superior lithium storage kinetics. This anode material presents great application potential in high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Photocatalysis is one of the effective ways to solve the problem of water and gas pollution. An excellent photocatalyst should have the following advantages: efficient photocatalytic activity for gas and water pollutants, recyclable and stable characteristics, non‐toxic and low‐cost. Constructing heterojunctions and introducing oxygen vacancies (OVs) are two effective measures to achieve these targets. RESULTS: It is found that the 1.0% Pd/PdO/β‐Bi2O3 exhibits the best photocatalytic activity with an efficiency of 97.4% for Bisphenol A (BPA) degradation and 47.6% for nitric oxide (NO) removal within 30 min. The 1.0% Pd/PdO/β‐Bi2O3 composite shows 23.3% efficiency in the photodegradation of BPA under 595 nm monochromatic light irradiation, while β‐Bi2O3 tends to be invalid. Moreover, the OVs promote the removal of NO without irradiation. CONCLUSION: In this work, a novel ternary Pd/PdO/β‐Bi2O3 material as high‐performance photocatalyst for the BPA degradation and NO removal was synthesized. The presence of OVs promotes the activation of the oxygen molecule, thereby facilitating the photocatalytic process. The p‐n junction of PdO/β‐Bi2O3 and the Schottky barrier of Pd/β‐Bi2O3 significantly limit the recombination of photoinduced electron–hole pairs in the composite. Furthermore, an artifact in the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum obtained by spin trapping with 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline N‐oxide (DMPO) as adducts confirms that both hydroxyl radical (•OH) and superoxide radical (•O2−) species are involved in the photocatalytic process. The present work offers a new perspective for developing the composite photocatalysts with high efficiency through loading of metal nanoparticles and creating an heterojunction. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date, the prognostic significance of acellular mucin pools in tumors from patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and subsequently obtaining pathological complete response (pCR) has not been well determined. Our current study aimed to explore the prognostic impact on these patients of acellular mucin pools. Methods: We collected clinical data from 117 consecutive LARC patients who achieved pCR after preoperative CRT and then underwent radical resection. Two groups of patients were generated, according to the presence or absence of acellular mucin pools. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were compared between the two groups of patients. Results: A total of 27 (23.1%) patients presented with acellular mucin pools. At a median follow-up period of 64 months, patients with acellular mucin pool showed a 5-year DFS rate (96.3% versus 83.7%, p = 0.110) and 5-year OS rate (100% versus 87.5%, p = 0.054) statistically similar to those of patients without acellular mucin pools. In univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses, the presence of acellular mucin pools was not determined as an independent risk factor for DFS [hazard ratio (HR): 0.222; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.029–1.864; p = 0.145] or OS (HR: 0.033; 95% CI: 0.000–9.620; p = 0.238). Conclusions: Acellular mucin pools had no significant prognostic impact on LARC patients showing pCR after preoperative CRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to assess trophoblast antigen protein 2 (TROP2) expression in liver oligometastases and its prognostic value for colorectal liver oligometastasis (CLO) patients undergoing liver resection. Methods: We retrospectively selected 129 consecutive CLO patients who underwent curative liver resection between June 1999 and December 2016. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to detect TROP2 expression in paraffin-embedded specimens. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test, and independent prognostic factors were identified with Cox regression modeling. Results: TROP2 was expressed in 72.9% (94/129) of liver oligometastatic tissues. TROP2 expression in primary tumors and liver oligometastases was significantly positively correlated (r = 0.758, p < 0.001). Survival analysis indicated that CLO patients with high TROP2 expression had worse 3-year RFS (44.2% versus 66.4%, p = 0.007) and 3-year OS rates (70.3% versus 85.4%, p = 0.035) than did those with low TROP2 expression. Multivariate analysis indicated that high TROP2 expression was independently associated with poor RFS [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.017; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.198–3.396; p = 0.023] and OS (HR = 2.090; 95% CI 1.037–4.214; p = 0.039). Gene expression profile analysis indicated that high TROP2 expression was associated with TNFα signaling via NF-κB, the inflammatory response and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Conclusions: TROP2 overexpression was associated with an unfavorable oncologic prognosis in patients with CLO undergoing liver resection. Detecting TROP2 expression may be valuable for guiding postoperative treatment among CLO patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It was reported that tumor-expressed dickkopf-related (DKK) proteins affect micro-environment. However, the influence of DKK1 on colorectal cancer (CRC) liver oligometastases (CRCLOM) remains unclear.Methods: CRC cases after resection of liver oligometastases were enrolled in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center with intact clinical data. Serum DKK1 was detected by ELISA assay. Immunofluorescent staining examination for CD3 and CD8 in slices were also conducted.Results: Among 65 patients included, the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly better in the low serum DKK1 group (RFS: P = 0.021; OS: P = 0.043). DKK1 was overexpressed in stage IV CRC patients in TCGA data. The number of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in invasive margin of CRC liver oligometastases was significantly higher in low serum DKK1 group (P = 0.042).Conclusion: Elevated serum DKK1 level was associated with poorer RFS and OS, and less CD8+ TILs in invasive margin in CRC liver oligometastases. DKK1 might serve as a supplementalprognostic factor for clinical risk score and a potential target for immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolation of viable circulating tumor cells (CTC) holds the promise for improving screening, early diagnosis, and personalized treatment of lymphoma. In this study, we isolated and characterized spontaneously immortalized B‐lymphocyte (SIBC) lines from HIV‐infected patients with and without Non‐Hodgkin's Lymphoma (AIDS‐NHL). A total of 22 SIBC lines was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HIV‐infected patients with (n = 40) and without (n = 77) clinically detectable NHL, but not from healthy individuals (n = 34). Of these, 8 SIBC lines named HIV‐SIBC were generated from HIV‐infected patients without AIDS‐NHL (10%, 8/77), while 14 SIBCs named AIDS‐NHL‐SIBC were from 13 of the AIDS‐NHL patients (32.5%, 13/40). Among the 14 AIDS‐NHL‐SIBCs, 12 were derived from AIDS‐NHL patients with poor prognoses (survival time less than 1 year). SIBCs displayed markers typical of memory B cells (CD3‐CD20+CD27+) with EBV infection. Moreover, AIDS‐NHL‐SIBCs were representative of CTC as evidenced by monoclonal Ig gene rearrangement, abnormal chromosomal karyotype, and the formation of xenograft tumors, while HIV‐SIBCs generated harbored some features of tumor cells, none had the capacity of xenograft tumor formation, suggesting HIV‐SIBC present the precursor of CTC. These results indicate that SIBCs is associated with poor prognosis in AIDS‐NHL patients and can be isolated from HIV‐infected patients with NHL and without NHL. This findings point to the need for further molecular characterization and functional studies of SIBCs, which may prove the value of SIBCs in the diagnosis, prognoses, and screening for NHL among HIV‐infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Magnesium intake and all-cause mortality after stroke: a cohort study" published in the Nutrition Journal. The correction states that there was an error in Figure 1 of the original article, where the number of participants without self-reported stroke should be 58,444 instead of 99,119. The original article has been corrected. The publisher, Springer Nature, maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. The authors of the article are Mengyan Wang, Jianhong Peng, Caili Yang, Wenyuan Zhang, Zicheng Cheng, and Haibin Zheng. [Extracted from the article]