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Purpose This study aimed to develop web-based nomograms to precisely predict survival outcomes in patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in an endemic area. Materials and Methods A total of 10,126 patients who underwent radical intensity-modulated radiotherapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) from 2009 to 2015 were analyzed. We assigned patients into a training cohort (SYSUCC-A, n=6,751) and an internal validation cohort (SYSUCC-B, n=3,375) based on computer-generated random numbers. Patients collected from Wuzhou Red Cross Hospital (WZRCH) between 2012 and 2015 were used as the independent external validation cohort (WZRCH, n=450). Concordance index (C-index) was used to determine predictive accuracy and discriminative ability for the nomogram. The web-based clinicopathologic prediction models for predicting survival were based on Cox regression. Results The C-indexes for SYSUCC-A, SYSUCC-B, and WZRCH cohorts for the established nomograms to predict 3-year overall survival (OS) was 0.736, 0.715, and 0.691. Additionally, C-indexes to predict 3-year distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) was 0.717, 0.706, and 0.686, disease-free survival (DFS) was 0.713, 0.697, and 0.656, local relapse-free survival was 0.695, 0.684, and 0.652, and regional relapse-free survival was 0.672, 0.650, and 0.616. The calibration plots showed great agreement between nomogrampredicted 3-year survival outcomes and actual 3-year survival outcomes. Moreover, C-indexes of the nomograms for OS, DMFS, and DFS were significantly superior than TNM stage (p < 0.001 for all). Conclusion These user-friendly nomograms can precisely predict survival endpoints in patients with non-metastatic NPC. They may serve as a useful tool for providing patient counseling and help physicians to make individual follow-up plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We aim to examine nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) characteristics and survival outcomes in patients aged 70 years and older in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. Materials and Methods From 2006 to 2013, 126 non-metastatic NPC patients aged ⩾ 70 years who were treated with IMRT +/- chemotherapy were included. Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 (ACE-27) was used to measure patient comorbidities. The overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were compared using the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to carry out multivariate analyses. Results For the entire group, only two patients (1.6%) presented stage I disease, and up to 84.1% patients had stage III-IVB disease. All patients had a comorbidity score of 0 in 24 (19.0%), 1 in 45 (35.7%), 2 in 42 (33.3%), and 3 in 15 (11.9%) patients. The main acute grade during radiotherapy was 3-4 adverse events consisting of mucositis (25.4%), bone marrow suppression (16.7%), and dermatitis (8.7%). After treatment, four patients (3.2%) developed temporal lobe injury. Five-year CSS and OS rates were 67.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 58.6% to 77.4%) and 54.0% (95% CI, 45.6% to 63.9%), respectively. Five-year OS was significantly higher for ACE-27 score 0-1 than ACE-27 score 2-3 (72.9% and 39.9%, respectively; p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed ACE-27 score 0-1 was significantly associated with superior OS (hazard ratio [HR], 3.02,95% CI, 1.64 to 5.55,p < 0.001). In addition, the rate of OS was higher for stage I-III than that of stage IV, with borderline significance (HR, 1.67,95% CI, 0.99 to 2.82,p=0.053). But no significant advantage was observed in OS when chemotherapy was used (p > 0.05). Conclusion Our findings suggest IMRT +/- chemotherapy has a manageable toxicity and provides an acceptable survival in patients aged ⩾ 70 years with NPC. ACE-27 score was significantly associated with survival outcomes in this group population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to systematically review the association between angiogenesis and clinicopathological characteristics and its prognostic value in patients with endometrial cancer.Methods: Eligible studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database. Studies that assessed blood microvessel density (BMVD) and correlated with clinicopathological features and/or overall survival (OS) were included. Geometric mean values and hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval were pooled to examine the risk or hazard association. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on populations, BMVD criteria, BMVD markers, and type of survival analysis.Results: A total of 29 studies of 2517 patients were included. BMVD was associated with depth of myometrial invasion (MI) [standard mean difference (SMD) 1.24; 95% CI 0.53-1.95; P = 0.0006], lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) (SMD 0.75; 95% CI 0.3-1.21; P = 0.001), and lymph node metastasis (LNM) (SMD 0.99; 95% CI 0.46-1.52; P = 0.0003). BMVD was also significantly associated with poor OS (HR 2.65; 95% CI 1.86-3.77; P < 0.00001). The association remained significant in the subgroups Asian population, BMVD criteria using Weidner method, BMVD marker CD34 for MI, LVSI, and LNM, CD105 for MI, and factor VIII for MI and LNM, respectively. For OS, either Asian or non-Asian population, BMVD criteria using Weidner or non-Weidner method, BMVD marker CD31, or factor VIII antibody and analysis using univariate or multivariate were all significantly associated.Conclusions: BMVD was associated with deeper MI, positive LVSI, positive LNM, and poor OS in patients with endometrial cancer. Therefore, angiogenesis is a useful measure for poor clinicopathological outcomes and prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rab11‑family interacting proteins (Rab11‑FIPs) are associated with the progression of various tumors; however, their expression and clinical significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains largely undetermined. In this study, the clinical implications, functions and underlying mechanisms of Rab11‑FIP4 in CRC were investigated. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that expression of Rab11‑FIP4 was significantly increased in human CRC tissues and correlated with poor prognosis of patients with CRC. Overexpression of Rab11‑FIP4 in the CRC cell line significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and tumor metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, the results of a co‑immunoprecipitation assay and western blot analysis demonstrated that Rab11‑FIP4 interacted with Rab11 and insulin‑like growth factor 1 receptor, and increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‑regulated kinase 1/2 and AKT serine/threonine kinase. In addition, hypoxia contributed to the upregulation of Rab11‑FIP4 expression via hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α activation of the Rab11‑FIP4 promoter. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that Rab11‑FIP4 may act as an oncogene in CRC, and may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review for optical fiber sensors based on fiber ring laser (FRL) demodulation technology is presented. The review focuses on the principles, main structures, and the sensing performances of different kinds of optical fiber sensors based on FRLs. First of all, the theory background of the sensors has been discussed. Secondly, four different types of sensors are described and compared, which includes Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) typed sensors, Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) typed sensors, Sagnac typed sensors, and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) typed sensors. Typical studies and main properties of each type of sensors are presented. Thirdly, a comparison of different types of sensors are made. Finally, the existing problems and future research directions are pointed out and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distant metastasis has become the predominant model of treatment failures in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Effort should therefore be made to stratify locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients into different groups based on the risk of metastasis to improve prognosis and tailor individualized treatments. This study aims to assess the value of primary gross tumor volume and the maximum standardized uptake value for predicting distant metastasis--free survival of patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A total of 294 locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who were identified from prospectively maintained database and underwent fluor-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging before treatment were included. The maximum standardized uptake value was recorded for the primary tumor (SUVmax-P) and neck lymph nodes (SUVmax-N). Computed tomography-derived primary gross tumor volume was measured using the summation-of- area technique. At 5 years, the distant metastasis--free survival rate was 83.7%. The cut-off of the SUVmax-P, SUVmax-N, and primary gross tumor volume for distant metastasis--free survival was 8.95, 5.75, and 31.3 mL, respectively, by receiver operating characteristic curve. In univariate analysis, only SUVmax-N (hazard ratio: 7.01; 95% confidence interval: 1.70-- 28.87; p < 0.01) and clinical stage (hazard ratio: 3.03; 95% confidence interval: 1.67--5.47; p = 0.007) were confirmed as independent predictors of distant metastasis--free survival. A prognostic model was derived by SUVmax-N and clinical stage: low risk (SUVmax-N < 5.75 regardless of clinical stage), medium risk (stage III and SUVmax-N ≥ 5.75), and high risk (stage IV and SUVmax-N ≥ 5.75). Multivariate analysis revealed that SUVmax-N and the prognostic model remained independent prognostic factors for distant metastasis--free survival (p = 0.023 and p < 0.001, respectively), but the clinical stage became insignificant (p = 0.133). Furthermore, the adjusted hazard ratios for the prognostic model were higher than SUVmax-N (hazard ratio = 6.27 vs 5.21, respectively). In summary, compared with SUVmax-P, SUVmax-N may be a better predictor of distant metastasis--free survival for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Combining SUVmax-N with clinical stage gives a more precise picture in predicting distant metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribocorrosion is an important phenomenon encountered in many practical engineering situations, resulting in accelerated materials degradation and serious economic losses. In this work, pin-on-disk friction experiments were carried out in seawater to investigate the dependence of tribocorrosion on time. As rubbing proceeded, the mass loss rate of 304SS decreased, and the dominant wear mechanism changed from abrasion to delamination. In addition, during tribocorrosion, friction-induced α′-martensite would be transformed at room temperature. The volume fraction of transformed martensite was determined by test time, which played a dual role in accelerating corrosion and reducing wear. Additionally, the synergistic effect between corrosion and wear was analyzed; the main causes of 304SS degradation during tribocorrosion were pure mechanical wear and corrosion accelerated wear. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background To investigate the effects of telmisartan on the protein profiles of the left ventricular myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods Sixteen SHR were randomly divided into control and telmisartan treatment groups. Rats were treated with sterile water (10 ml/kg) or telmisartan (4.33 mg/kg) by gavage for 12 weeks. Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats treated with sterile water (10 ml/kg) as controls. At the end of 12 weeks of control or telmisartan treatment, rats were sacrificed, and hearts were collected for protein preparations, isotope labeling, and mass spectrometric analysis. Results In total, there were 23 differentially expressed proteins in the left ventricular myocardium between control and telmisartan treatment groups in SHR. Compared with the telmisartan group, the upregulated proteins in the SHR were dual-specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3-like, transgelin, and haptoglobin subtype 2. The downregulated proteins in the SHR were as follows: von Willebrand factor (fragment), kininogen 1, small ribonucleoprotein-related protein, fibrinogen beta chain, protein mass 3 (fragment), proteasome 26s, heat shock protein 27-related protein 1, tenascin X, fibronectin subtype 2, transferrin receptor protein, platelets 1, cathepsin L1, complement factor B, isoform CRA_b, fibrinogen isomer, immunoglobulin heavy chain (γ polypeptide), and α 1 antiprotease. Conclusions Telmisartan differentially regulates myocardial protein expression in hypertensive rats including heat shock protein 27, fibrinogen, fibronectin, proteasome 26s, and transgelin, as well as proteins in biochemical, metabolic, and signal transduction pathways. These changes in protein expression may contribute to the antihypertrophic effects of telmisartan in hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To investigate the effects of telmisartan on the protein profiles of the left ventricular myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods Sixteen SHR were randomly divided into control and telmisartan treatment groups. Rats were treated with sterile water (10 ml/kg) or telmisartan (4.33 mg/kg) by gavage for 12 weeks. Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats treated with sterile water (10 ml/kg) as controls. At the end of 12 weeks of control or telmisartan treatment, rats were sacrificed, and hearts were collected for protein preparations, isotope labeling, and mass spectrometric analysis. Results In total, there were 23 differentially expressed proteins in the left ventricular myocardium between control and telmisartan treatment groups in SHR. Compared with the telmisartan group, the upregulated proteins in the SHR were dual-specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3-like, transgelin, and haptoglobin subtype 2. The downregulated proteins in the SHR were as follows: von Willebrand factor (fragment), kininogen 1, small ribonucleoprotein-related protein, fibrinogen beta chain, protein mass 3 (fragment), proteasome 26s, heat shock protein 27-related protein 1, tenascin X, fibronectin subtype 2, transferrin receptor protein, platelets 1, cathepsin L1, complement factor B, isoform CRA_b, fibrinogen isomer, immunoglobulin heavy chain (γ polypeptide), and α 1 antiprotease. Conclusions Telmisartan differentially regulates myocardial protein expression in hypertensive rats including heat shock protein 27, fibrinogen, fibronectin, proteasome 26s and transgelin, as well as proteins in biochemical, metabolic, and signal transduction pathways. These changes in protein expression may contribute to the antihypertrophic effects of telmisartan in hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]