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The aim of this study was to develop a new nicotine transdermal patch: S‐(‐)‐Nicotine‐loaded nano flexible liposome hydrogel patch (S‐(‐)‐Nicotine‐NFL‐HGP), which combined liposome and hydrogel to achieve the long‐lasting and sustained release of S‐(‐)‐Nicotine for the treatment of nicotine withdrawal syndrome (NWS). The S‐(‐)‐Nicotine nanoscale flexible liposomes (S‐(‐)‐Nicotine‐NFL) were prepared using the thin film hydration method, and then combined with a three‐dimensional structured hydrogel to prepare S‐(‐)‐Nicotine‐NFL‐HGP. The initial bond strength (IBS) was (18 ± 2) s, the lasting bond strength (EBS) was (23.5 ± 3.4) s, and the appearance was pale yellow. The cumulative release rate of the patch was 64.8% within 48 h and the Higuchi equation of the drug release process was y = 9.47x1/2−1.13 (R2 = 0.99412). The cumulative transmittance per unit area of the patch after 48 h was (1047 ± 25.0) µg/cm2 and the dermal retention was (35.1 ± 4.2) µg/cm2. The Higuchi equation of the transdermal drug process showed the highest fit in the transdermal experiments with a long‐lasting and sustained release of S‐(‐)‐Nicotine. Stability study results showed that the IBS, EBS, appearance, and the performance of drug release of the patch were almost unchanged within 90 days, which had excellent stability. The patch prepared in this study has potential application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ash deposition is a general problem that needs to be solved effectively for the rotary air preheater of the coal-fired boiler. Taking the rotary air preheater of a 600 MW power station as the object, the mesh model of the flue gas side of the air preheater, considering the influences of steam soot blowing, is established using the Gambit 2.4.6 software. Based on the SIMPLE algorithm, the velocity field and the temperature field in the air preheater under varied working conditions are simulated using the software of Ansys Fluent 2021R1, and the influences of the boiler load, the operation parameters of the steam soot blower, and the running and outage of the soot blower on the flue gas velocity distribution in the depth direction of the corrugated plates, the soot-blowing coverage area, the inlet flue gas velocity, and the inlet flue gas temperature of the corrugated plates are analyzed. Under the base working condition, the flue gas velocity on the axis of the steam nozzle first decreases rapidly with increasing the corrugated plate depth (Z < 1.0 m), and then it decreases slowly with an almost equal slope. The longitudinal flue gas velocity has a positive correlation with the boiler load. The longitudinal flue gas velocity obviously decreases when the boiler load is decreased, and its reduction increases as the corrugated plate depth increases. It is one reason that the ash deposition is prone to occur on the cold end surface of corrugated plates under the condition of low boiler load. The longitudinal flue gas velocity increases with the soot-blowing steam velocity increasing when the corrugated plate depth is less than 1.5 m, but after that, it is almost not affected by the change in soot-blowing steam velocity. The soot-blowing coverage area has a negative correlation with the boiler load but a slight positive correlation with the steam velocity of the soot blower on the whole. The inlet flue gas velocity of the corrugated plates has a positive correlation with the boiler load and the inlet steam velocity of the soot blower. The average inlet flue gas velocity decreases by 21.7% when the boiler load is reduced by 50%. For every 5 m/s variation in the inlet steam velocity, the inlet flue gas velocity changes by about 10–14% whether the steam soot blower is put into operation or not, which has an obvious effect on the inlet gas velocity of the corrugated plates. The inlet flue gas temperature of the corrugated plates is, respectively, positively correlated with the boiler load and the inlet steam temperature of the soot blower. When the boiler load is reduced from 100% BMCR to 50% BMCR, the average inlet flue gas temperature of the corrugated plates is reduced by 44.2 K; however, when the soot-blowing steam temperature varies by 20 K, the average inlet flue gas temperature of the corrugated plates varies by only about 1.8 K. It means that it is difficult to enhance the cold end flue gas temperature of the corrugated plates only by raising the soot-blowing steam temperature at low boiler load. Adding a soot blower using high-temperature steam or hot air at the outlet of the corrugated plates may be an option to solve the ash deposition of the corrugated plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel drug delivery system (MSN-PEG-Hypericin) was successfully fabricated using tetraethyl orthosilicate and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as raw materials, and the PEGylation of the prepared aminated mesoporous silica and grafting of hypericin onto the carrier were further conducted to obtain MSN-PEG-Hypericin. The successful preparation of MSN-PEG-Hypericin was characterized by several physical-chemical techniques. Furthermore, the MSN-PEG-Hypericin system increased the ability of hypericin to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. The cytotoxicity assay and hemolysis analysis showed that MSN-PEG-Hypericin had good biocompatibility. For antibacterial studies, the irradiation time and incubation time of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for S. aureus and E. coli were respectively 8 min and 8 h, and the concentrations of hypericin were 2.5 and 5 μg/mL. The result of triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay indicated that MSN-PEG-Hypericin had stronger photodynamic antibacterial activity than free hypericin, and S. aureus was more sensitive to PDT than E. coli, which was related to their cell structural differences. The antibacterial mechanism study indicated that the generated ROS could destroy the bacterial structures and cause bacterial death due to the leakage of the contents. The MSN-PEG-Hypericin system prepared in this study had potential application prospects in the antibacterial field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the strong coupling relationship between the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity, achieving a significant increase in the thermoelectric power factor (PF) remains a formidable challenge. Previous studies have demonstrated that the ErAs:InGaAs system has the potential to leverage the energy filtering (EF) effect to enhance the Seebeck coefficient while maintaining high electron concentrations. Here, we present a method that significantly enhances the thermoelectric PF of InGaAs through the dual effects of quantum confinement and EF effects. Density Functional Theory calculations further demonstrate that the alterations in the ErAs band structure induce the EF effect. The results show that the ErAs quantum dots:In0.53Ga0.47As composite films exhibit high electrical conductivity and high Seebeck coefficient in the intermediate temperature range, resulting in a fivefold increase in the PF at 515 K. Our research presents a prospective approach to leveraging the combined effects for the advancement of high-performance thermoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the predominant malignancies globally. Percutaneous thermal ablation (PTA) has gained widespread use among NSCLC patients, with the potential to elicit immune responses but limited therapeutic efficacies for advanced-stage disease. T-helper type 9 (Th9) cells are a subset of CD4+ effector T cells with robust and persistent anti-tumor effects. This study proposes to develop PTA-Th9 cell integrated therapy as a potential strategy for NSCLC treatment. Methods: The therapeutic efficacies were measured in mice models with subcutaneously transplanted, recurrence, or lung metastatic tumors. The tumor microenvironments (TMEs) were evaluated by flow cytometry. The cytokine levels were assessed by ELISA. The signaling molecules were determined by quantitative PCR and Western blotting. The translational potential was tested in the humanized NSCLC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Results: We find that PTA combined with adoptive Th9 cell transfer therapy substantially suppresses tumor growth, recurrence, and lung metastasis, ultimately extending the survival of mice with NSCLC grafts, outperforming both PTA and Th9 cell transfer monotherapy. Analysis of TMEs indicates that combinatorial therapy significantly augments tumor-infiltrating Th9 cells, boosts anti-tumor effects of CD8+ T cells, and remodels tumor immunosuppressive microenvironments. Moreover, combinatorial therapy significantly strengthens the regional and circulation immune response of CD8+ T cells in mice with tumor lung metastasis and induces peripheral CD8+ T effector memory cells in mice with tumor recurrence. Mechanically, PTA reinforces the anti-tumor ability of Th9 cells primarily through upregulating interleukin (IL)-1β and subsequently activating the downstream STAT1/IRF1 pathway, which could be effectively blocked by intercepting IL-1β signaling. Finally, the enhanced therapeutic effect of combinatorial therapy is validated in humanized NSCLC PDX models. Conclusions: Collectively, this study demonstrates that combinatorial therapy displays robust and durable anti-tumor efficacy and excellent translational potential, offering excellent prospects for translation and emerging as a promising approach for NSCLC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Immune checkpoint blockades (ICB) have been proven to improve prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer in the neoadjuvant setting, while whether its perioperative use could bring extra benefit remained unidentified. We aimed to demonstrate the prognostic benefit of perioperative ICB over preoperative-only use and investigate who could benefit from this 'sandwich ICB therapy'. METHODS Patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery from 2018 to 2022 were retrospectively reviewed, and were divided into 4 groups based on the perioperative regimens: pre-ICB + post-computed tomography (CT), pre-ICB-only, pre-CT + post-ICB and pre-CT-only. Treatment-related adverse events, surgical outcomes, therapeutic response, recurrence-free survival and overall survival were compared. RESULTS Of 214 enrolled patients with preoperative therapy, 108 underwent immunochemotherapy and 106 underwent platinum-based chemotherapy. Compared with preoperative chemotherapy, preoperative immunochemotherapy was demonstrated with significantly higher major pathologic response (57/108 vs 12/106) and pathologic complete response (35/108 vs 4/106) rates with comparable adverse events. Regarding survival, perioperative ICB significantly improved the recurrence-free survival [versus pre-CT-only hazard ratio (HR) 0.15; 95% CI 0.09–0.27; versus pre-ICB-only HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.15–0.88] and overall survival (versus pre-CT-only HR 0.24; 95% CI 0.08–0.68). In patients without major pathologic response, perioperative ICB was observed to decrease the risk of recurrence (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.11–0.83) compared with preoperative ICB, and was an independent prognostic factor (P  < 0.05) for recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSIONS Perioperative ICB showed promising efficacy in improving pathological response and survival outcomes of resectable non-small cell lung cancer. For patients without major pathologic response after resection followed by preoperative ICB, sequential ICB treatment could be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors, as high-performance energy storage devices, have garnered extensive research interest. Furthermore, capacitive deionization technology based on a supercapacitor has emerged as a crucial solution to tackling issues of freshwater scarcity and seawater pollution. However, their power density and cycling lifespan remain constrained by electrode materials. In recent years, 3D network graphene materials have gained prominence as an ideal choice due to their unique porous structure, high specific surface area, and excellent conductivity. This review summarizes the preparation methods of 3D network graphene materials, including techniques like chemical vapor deposition, graphene oxide reduction, and foaming methods. It also discusses their applications and the ongoing research advancements in supercapacitor energy storage and capacitive deionization. Ultimately, this review offers researchers an understanding and outlook on the application of 3D network graphene materials in supercapacitor energy storage and capacitive deionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Minimally invasive sub-lobectomy is sufficient in treating small early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, comparison of the feasibility and oncologic efficacy between robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in performing sub-lobectomy for early-stage NSCLC patients age 80 years or older is scarce. Methods: Octogenarians with clinical stage IA NSCLC (tumor size, ≤ 2 cm) undergoing minimally invasive wedge resection or segmentectomy at Shanghai Chest Hospital from 2011 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively maintained database. Propensity score-matching (PSM) with a RATS versus VATS ratio of 1:4 was performed. Perioperative and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Results: The study identified 594 patients (48 RATS and 546 VATS patients), and PSM resulted in 45 cases in the RATS group and 180 cases in the VATS group. The RATS patients experienced less intraoperative bleeding (60 mL [interquartile range (IQR), 50–100 mL] vs. 80 mL [IQR, 50–100 mL]; P = 0.027) and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (4 days [IQR, 3–5 days] vs. 5 days [IQR, 4–6 days]; P = 0.041) than the VATS patients. The two surgical approaches were comparable concerning other perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications (20.00% vs. 26.11%; P = 0.396). Additionally, during a median follow-up period of 66 months, RATS and VATS achieved comparable 5-year overall survival (90.48% vs. 87.93%; P = 0.891), recurrence-free survival (83.37% vs. 83.18%; P = 0.782), and cumulative incidence of death. Further subgroup comparison also demonstrated comparable long-term outcomes between the two approaches. Finally, multivariate Cox analysis indicated that the surgical approach was not independently correlated with long-term outcomes. Conclusions: The RATS approach shortened the postoperative hospital stay, reduced intraoperative bleeding by a statistically notable but clinically insignificant amount, and achieved long-term outcomes comparable with VATS in performing sub-lobectomy for octogenarians with early-stage small NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is critical to develop a highly efficient and sensitive method for detecting the biomarker sarcosine (SA) of prostate cancer due to its importance for men's health. In our work, a fluorescence (FL) and colorimetric dual-mode multienzyme cascade nanoplatform for SA detection was designed and constructed. CuNCs/FeMn-ZIF-8/PCN nanocomposites with high FL properties and peroxidase-like activity were successfully prepared by encapsulating copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) into FeMn-ZIF-8 and then loaded onto P-doped graphitic carbon nitride (PCN). Furthermore, the nanocomposites served as carriers for the immobilization of sarcosine oxidase (SOX) to construct a high-efficiency dual-mode multienzyme cascade nanoplatform CuNCs/SOX@FeMn-ZIF-8/PCN for the detection of SA. The intermediate H2O2 generated in the cascade caused the FL quenching of nanocomposites and the discoloration of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidin. The linear ranges for SA detection in the dual-mode system were 1–100 μM (FL) and 1–200 μM (colorimetric), with detection limits of 0.34 and 0.59 μM, respectively. This nanoplatform exhibited notable repeatability, specificity, and stability, making it suitable for detecting sarcosine in real human urine samples. Therefore, this dual-mode multienzyme cascade nanoplatform would have a potential applicative prospect for detecting SA and other biomarkers in real clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reliable pre-surgical prediction of spreading through air spaces (STAS) in primary lung cancer is essential for precision treatment and surgical decision-making. We aimed to develop and validate a dual-delta deep-learning and radiomics model based on pretreatment computed tomography (CT) image series to predict the STAS in patients with lung cancer. Method: Six hundred seventy-four patients with pre-surgery CT follow-up scans (with a minimum interval of two weeks) and primary lung cancer diagnosed by surgery were retrospectively recruited from three Chinese hospitals. The training cohort and internal validation cohort, comprising 509 and 76 patients respectively, were selected from Shanghai Chest Hospital; the external validation cohorts comprised 36 and 53 patients from two other centers, respectively. Four imaging signatures (classic radiomics features and deep learning [DL] features, delta-radiomics and delta-DL features) reflecting the STAS status were constructed from the pretreatment CT images by comprehensive methods including handcrafting, 3D views extraction, image registration and subtraction. A stepwise optimized three-step procedure, including feature extraction (by DL and time-base radiomics slope), feature selection (by reproducibility check and 45 selection algorithms), and classification (32 classifiers considered), was applied for signature building and methodology optimization. The interpretability of the proposed model was further assessed with Grad-CAM for DL-features and feature ranking for radiomics features. Results: The dual-delta model showed satisfactory discrimination between STAS and non-STAS and yielded the areas under the receiver operating curve (AUCs) of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92–0.96), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.82–0.86), and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.83–0.85) in the internal and two external validation cohorts, respectively, with interpretable core feature sets and feature maps. Conclusion: The coupling of delta-DL model with delta-radiomics features enriches information such as anisotropy of tumor growth and heterogeneous changes within the tumor during the radiological follow-up, which could provide valuable information for STAS prediction in primary lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing severity of the water crisis, electrochemical capacitive deionization has emerged as a promising technology for water purification. Graphene is a powerful candidate among carbon materials for the electrochemical electrode, and monolithic graphene is a high-end material for capacitive deionization considering its potentially large surface area and fast adsorption kinetics. However, monolithic graphene electrode materials still suffer from either weak deionization performances or high manufacturing costs. Herein, a novel electrode material, a porous monolith composed of nitrogen-doped graphene building-blocks, has been developed via low-cost zinc-assisted pyrolysis. The monolith is hydrophilic, possesses a high specific surface area, and has abundant hierarchical mesopores. Remarkable electrochemical capacitive deionization performances are provided by such a graphene monolith, with a salt adsorption capacity of 39.6 mg g−1 and a salt adsorption rate near 3.5 mg g−1 min−1. This development thus underlines the promise of novel monolithic electrode materials for high-efficiency desalination of seawater into freshwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study compared short- and long-term outcomes of robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lobectomy in young adults aged ≤ 35 years with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), aiming to assess the superiority of RATS over VATS for this special group of patients. Methods: A total of 1355 consecutive NSCLC cases aged 18–35 years undergoing RATS (n = 105) or VATS (n = 1250) between 2014 and 2021 were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to establish a 1:3 RATS versus VATS ratio. Baseline clinicopathological characteristics, perioperative outcomes, lymph node (LN) assessment, and long-term survival were investigated. Results: Following PSM, 105 and 315 cases were in the RATS and VATS groups, respectively. RATS led to a shorter postoperative hospital stay than VATS (4.0 ± 1.5 vs 4.3 ± 1.7 days, p = 0.02). The two groups were comparable in other perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications (all p > 0.05). Moreover, RATS assessed more LNs (9.4 ± 4.4 vs 8.3 ± 3.6, p = 0.03), especially N1 LNs (4.2 ± 3.1 vs 3.5 ± 2.2, p = 0.02), than VATS. By comparison, no difference in 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), or recurrence or mortality patterns was found between the two groups (all p > 0.05). Further subgroup analyses also observed similar long-term outcomes between the two groups regarding age, gender, and smoking history. Finally, Cox's analyses found that the surgical approach was not independently correlated with RFS or OS. Conclusion: RATS shortened postoperative hospital stay, assessed more N1 and total LNs, and achieved comparable long-term outcomes to VATS for very young NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The application of video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for complex carina surgeries in treating non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with involved carina is controversial. This study compared short‐ and medium‐term outcomes of VATS versus thoracotomy for carinal lung resection with carina reconstruction in treating locally advanced NSCLC, aiming to assess the potential benefit of VATS over thoracotomy for these patients. Methods: A total of 37 consecutive NSCLC cases receiving VATS (n = 14) or thoracotomy (n = 23) for carinal lung resection with carina reconstruction from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively identified. Baseline clinicopathological characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and survival profiles were investigated. Results: Patients in the VATS and thoracotomy groups had comparable baseline clinicopathological characteristics (all p > 0.050). VATS decreased postoperative drainage volume compared with thoracotomy (1280 [1170–1510] vs. 1795 [1510–1905] mL, p = 0.012). Regarding surgical‐related pains, VATS reduced numeric rating scale scores on the postoperative day 1 (4 [3, 4] vs. 5 [4, 5], p = 0.021) and day 2 (3 [3, 4] vs. 5 [3–5], p = 0.023) than thoracotomy. No difference was found between the VATS and thoracotomy groups in other perioperative outcomes, postoperative complications, and assessment of lymph nodes (LNs) and LN stations (all p > 0.050). Moreover, patients in the two groups had comparable 3‐year disease‐free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and recurrence and mortality patterns. Further subgroup and Cox hazards regression analyses also observed no difference in DFS or OS between the two groups. Conclusions: VATS reduced postoperative drainage volume and ameliorated surgical‐related pain, and achieved comparable medium‐term survival compared to thoracotomy for carinal lung resection with carina reconstruction in treating locally advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors, as high-performance energy storage devices, have garnered extensive research interest. Furthermore, capacitive deionization technology based on a supercapacitor has emerged as a crucial solution to tackling issues of freshwater scarcity and seawater pollution. However, their power density and cycling lifespan remain constrained by electrode materials. In recent years, 3D network graphene materials have gained prominence as an ideal choice due to their unique porous structure, high specific surface area, and excellent conductivity. This review summarizes the preparation methods of 3D network graphene materials, including techniques like chemical vapor deposition, graphene oxide reduction, and foaming methods. It also discusses their applications and the ongoing research advancements in supercapacitor energy storage and capacitive deionization. Ultimately, this review offers researchers an understanding and outlook on the application of 3D network graphene materials in supercapacitor energy storage and capacitive deionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photomediated immunotherapy explored to combine the anti‐cancer effect of phototherapy with the immune enhancement ability of immunotherapy, and shown great prospects for cancer treatment strategies. However, photomediated immunotherapy triggered antitumor immunity through the release of tumor antigens and damage‐associated molecular patterns from necrotic tumor cells was not enough mighty to improve the therapeutic benefits due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. Herein, a tumor‐targeted nano‐adjuvant Fucoidan@Al(OH)3‐Poly(I:C)/IR‐820 for tumor‐targeted therapy and metastasis inhibition was designed and prepared. The intrinsic immunomodulatory effects of tumor‐targeted nano‐adjuvant and their ability to simultaneously trigger tumor antigen release, thereby reversing immunosuppression and achieving potent antitumor immunity and augmented cancer therapy, were explored. The results proved that the multifunctional nano‐adjuvant combined with photothermal, photodynamic, and immunotherapy could effectively treat breast cancer and had metastasis inhibition effect by enhancing anti‐tumor immunity through immunomodulation, it should have great application potential in the treatment of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is one of the common side effects in cancer treatment. The psychological distress caused by hair loss may cause patients to discontinue chemotherapy, affecting the efficacy of the treatment. The JAK inhibitor, Tofacitinib citrate (TFC), showed huge potential in therapeutic applications for treating baldness, but the systemic adverse effects of oral administration and low absorption rate at the target site limited its widespread application in alopecia. To overcome these problems, we designed phospholipid-calcium carbonate hybrid nanoparticles (PL/ACC NPs) for a topical application to target deliver TFC. The results proved that PL/ACC-TFC NPs showed excellent pH sensitivity and transdermal penetration in vitro. PL/ACC NPs offered an efficient follicular targeting approach to deliver TFC in a Cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced alopecia areata mouse model. Compared to the topical application of TFC solution, PL/ACC-TFC NPs significantly inhibited apoptosis of mouse hair follicles and accelerated hair growth. These findings support that PL/ACC-TFC NPs has the potential for topical application in preventing and mitigating CYP-induced Alopecia areata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A competitive fluorescent immunoassay is described for the ultrasensitive determination of amyloid beta peptide1-42 (Aβ1-42), a biomarker for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. N, S-doped graphene quantum dots (N, S-GQDs) were freely assembled on the surface of Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles to obtain a composite (Ag@SiO2@N, S-GQD nanocomposite), which was successfully prepared and characterized. By theoretical study, the optical properties of nanocomposites are improved compared with GQDs, due to the advantages of combining N, S co-doping and metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) effect of Ag NPs. In addition, Aβ1-42 was modified by Ag@SiO2@N, S-GQDs to prepare a probe with high photoluminescence properties (Ag@SiO2@N, S-GQDs-Aβ1-42). In the presence of Aβ1-42, a competitive reaction towards anti-Aβ1-42 fixed on the ELISA plate was proceeded between Aβ1-42 and Ag@SiO2@N, S-GQDs-Aβ1-42 by specific capture of antigen-antibody. The emission peak of Ag@SiO2@N, S-GQDs-Aβ1-42 (400 nm emission) was used for the quantitative determination of Aβ1-42. Under the optimal conditions, the fluorescent immunoassay exhibited a linear range of 0.32 pg·mL−1–5 ng·mL−1 with a detection limit of 0.098 pg·mL−1. The results show that the immunoassay has good analytical ability and can provide a new method for the clinical determination of Aβ1-42. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of chemotherapy (CT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) via nanoscale drug delivery systems has great potential for tumor therapy. Nevertheless, the low intracellular H2O2 and high reductive glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as the mildly acidic conditions (pH 5.8–6.8) of the tumor microenvironment (TME) still limit their further applications. To tackle these problems, a TME-modulating nanoreactor (denoted as Fe3O4-DOX@PDA-GOx@HA, FDPGH) was developed through a simple and practicable method to achieve multiply enhanced CDT synergized with CT, starvation therapy (ST), and photothermal therapy (PTT). Upon cellular uptake, the hyaluronic acid (HA) and PDA shells rapidly collapsed to release Fe3O4, glucose oxidase (GOx) and doxorubicin (DOX), and the overexpressed GSH could promote the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+, resulting in CDT activation. GOx-driven oxidation reaction not only produced H2O2 for enhanced CDT, but also killed tumor cells by initiating ST. In addition, the acid amplification caused by gluconic acid production in turn accelerated the degradation of FDPGH, promoting the Fenton reaction to enhance CDT. Most importantly, the nanoreactor had excellent photothermal performance to achieve PTT and PTT-enhanced CDT with the release of DOX into tumor tissue to achieve enhanced CT. This novel cascade nanoreactor with TME-modulating capability is intended to provide further inspiration for multimodal treatment paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most prevalent and deadly malignancies worldwide, and patients with metastatic N1 lymph nodes (LNs) are associated with a worse prognosis. Despite the fact that robotic-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (RATL) has been prevalently applied in treating early stage NSCLC, its advantages for patients with involved N1 LNs remain unknown. This retrospective study compared perioperative and oncological outcomes among RATL, video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATL), and open lobectomy (OL) in a cohort of 855 consecutive cases with pathological N1 NSCLC, thereby aiming to assess the superiority of RATL over traditional surgical approaches for NSCLC patients with metastatic N1 LNs. RATL resulted in the most optimal surgical outcomes, the fastest recovery, and the lowest morbidities of postsurgical complications among the three surgical methods, and also assessed more N1 and total LNs and led to a higher incidence of postoperative upstaging than VATL, though it achieved comparable oncological outcomes in relation to VATL and OL. (1) Background: Despite the fact that robotic-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (RATL) has been prevalently applied for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its superiorities are still to be fully revealed for patients with metastatic N1 lymph nodes (LNs). We aim to evaluate the advantages of RATL for N1 NSCLC. (2) Methods: This retrospective study identified consecutive pathological N1 NSCLC patients undergoing RATL, video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATL), or open lobectomy (OL) in Shanghai Chest Hospital between 2014 and 2020. Further, perioperative and oncological outcomes were investigated. (3) Results: A total of 855 cases (70 RATL, 435 VATL, and 350 OL) were included. Propensity score matching resulted in 70, 140, and 140 cases in the RATL, VATL, and OL groups, respectively. RATL led to (1) the shortest surgical time (p = 0.005) and lowest intraoperative blood loss (p < 0.001); (2) the shortest ICU (p < 0.001) and postsurgical hospital (p < 0.001) stays as well as chest tube duration (p < 0.001); and (3) the lowest morbidities of postsurgical complications (p = 0.016). Moreover, RATL dissected more N1 (p = 0.027), more N1 + N2 (p = 0.027) LNs, and led to a higher upstaging incidence rate (p < 0.050) than VATL. Finally, RATL achieved a comparable 5-year disease-free and overall survival in relation to VATL and OL. (4) Conclusions: RATL led to the most optimal perioperative outcomes among the three surgical approaches and showed superiority in assessing N1 and total LNs over VATL, though it did achieve comparable oncological outcomes in relation to VATL and OL for N1 NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a major threat to people's health. PRDM1 is a transcription factor with multiple functions, and its functions have been validated in a variety of tumors; however, there are few studies reported on PRDM1 in PAAD. Using the GEPIA2 database, this research found that PRDM1 expression in PAAD was significantly higher than that in normal pancreatic tissue. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter database showed that high expression of PRDM1 in PAAD has a poor prognosis, suggesting that PRDM1 may be a potential prognostic marker in PAAD. The cBioPortal database shows that the expression of PRDM1 in PAAD is significantly correlated with its methylation degree. Further analysis on the coexpressed genes of PRDM1 in PAAD was performed by using LinkedOmics database to explore potential mechanisms. Based on gene enrichment analysis, PRDM1 was implicated in many pathways involved in tumor progression. In the construction of a PPI network of PRDM1 and its coexpressed gene protein via the STRING database, we found that PRDM1 may be involved in the pathogenesis and development of PAAD. TIMER database suggested that a high level of PRDM1 has a significant positive correlation with macrophages, neutrophils, and DCs. Potential methylation sites of PRDM1 were found through DNMIVD database, and MethSurv database explored eight sites which were significantly related with the prognosis of PAAD. In conclusion, PRDM1 may work as a prognostic marker or even provide a potential therapeutic strategy in PAAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The influence of foliar nitrogen fertilizer during veraison (FNFV) on anthocyanin accumulation and chromatic characteristics of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapes over two seasons was investigated. RESULTS: Urea and phenylalanine fertilizers (TU and TP, respectively) and a control were sprayed three times at veraison. In 2018, TU displayed a significant enhancement in total individual anthocyanin content and a* and Cab* profiles. In 2019, FNAV significantly improved the content of total non‐acylated, acylated anthocyanin and total individual anthocyanin, and the profiles of L*, a* and Cab*, except a* in TU. The whole process from phenylalanine variation to anthocyanin accumulation in grape skins was analyzed. On the whole, after the first FNFV to harvest, the increase in phenylalanine metabolism, abscisic acid content, effects of PAL (Phenylalanine ammonia lyase), UFGT (UDP glucose‐flavonoid 3‐O‐glucosyltransferase) and transcript concentrations of VvPAL and VvUFGT involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were also strong evidence explaining the increased anthocyanin and chromatic profiles in 2019. CONCLUSION: Overall, FNFV for nitrogen‐deficient grapevines could significantly improve grape color, especially in the 2019 veraison with a proper climate. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CQMUH‐011 is a modified adamantane sulfonamide compound, that inhibits macrophage proliferation and possesses anti‐inflammatory properties. Here, fresh mouse splenocytes were obtained and stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA, 5 μg/ml) in vitro; and experimental autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was induced by ConA (20 mg/kg, iv) in vivo, to clarify the protective effects of CQMUH‐011 against AIH and its possible mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that CQMUH‐011 pretreatment can dose‐dependently inhibit the proliferation of splenocytes in vitro. In vivo, CQMUH‐011 administration reduced the hepatic histopathological score and the infiltration of lymphocytes in the liver parenchyma; additionally, it downregulated the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and pro‐inflammatory cytokines interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and interleukin (IL)‐6 in serum, as well as those of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde and myeloperoxidase in the liver tissues. It also down‐regulated the expression of p‐NF‐κB and related proteins in the liver tissues. Furthermore, CQMUH‐011 could maintain the balance of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ and decrease the percentages of CD8+CD69+ and CD4+CD25+/‐CD69+ T‐cells in the splenocytes of ConA‐challenged mice. Moreover, we found thatCD4+CD25+/−CD69+ T‐cells were significantly correlated with ALT levels, especially CD4+CD25−CD69+ T‐cells. In conclusion, CQMUH‐011 exerts potential protective effects against ConA‐induced hepatitis, which may be partially attributed to its inhibition of T cells, especially the suppression of the proliferation of CD4+CD25−CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ subsets in the spleen. CQMUH‐011 also reduced the early apoptosis of lymphocytes in the thymus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood holds significant insights for cancer diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and precision medicine. To efficiently capture and release CTCs with high viability, we reported the development of hyaluronic acid (HA)-functionalized redox responsive immunomagnetic nanocarrier (Fe3O4@SiO2-SS-HA). First, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared and modified with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) and 2,2′-dithiodipyridine (DDPy) to form the magnetic substrate (Fe3O4@SiO2-SSPy). Modified with targeted segment HA-functionalized L-cysteine ethyl ester hydrochloride (HA-Cys) via disulfide exchange reaction, the Fe3O4@SiO2-SS-HA was formed. The nanocarrier with prominent magnetic property, targeting ligand, and redox-sensitive disulfide linkages was able to specially capture MCF-7 cells with an efficiency of 92% and effectively release captured cells with an efficiency of 81.4%. Furthermore, the Fe3O4@SiO2-SS-HA could successfully be used for the capture of MCF-7 cells, and the captured cells could be diferntiated from the blood cells. Almost all of released tumor cells kept good viability and a robust proliferative capacity after being re-cultured. It is likely that the as-prepared nanocarrier will serve as a new weapon against CD44 receptor-overexpressed cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most dangerous subtype of breast cancer with high rates of metastasis and recurrence. The efficacy of capecitabine in chemotherapy for TNBC is still controversial. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of capecitabine combining with standard, adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for TNBC. Methods: We systematically searched clinical studies through PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, Wanfang Database, China Academic Journals (CNKI), and American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) annual conference report. Studies were assessed for design and quality by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager to quantify the effect of capecitabine combined with standard, adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the disease-free survival (DFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate of TNBC patients. Furthermore, safety analysis was performed to evaluate the adverse events. Results: Twelve randomized controlled clinical trials involving totally 4854 TNBC patients were included, of which 2,214 patients received chemotherapy as control group, and 2,278 patients received capecitabine combining with chemotherapy. The results indicated that capecitabine could significantly improve the DFS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71–0.90, P = 0.0003] and OS (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.93, P = 0.001). In subgroup analysis, the combination of capecitabine and cyclophosphamide exhibited a significant benefit in all outcomes (DFS HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63–0.90, P = 0.002; OS HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.52–0.80, p < 0.0001). Additionally, defferent dose of capecitabine subgroup showed same significant effect on the results. Safety analysis showed that the addition of capecitabine was associated with a much higher risk of hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea and mucositis or stomatitis. Conclusion: The results showed that adjuvant capecitabine could bring significant benefits on DFS and OS to unselected TNBC patients, the combination of capecitabine and cyclophosphamide could improve the survival rate of patients, although the addition of capecitabine could bring significant side effects such as hand foot syndrome (HFS) and diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the corrosion resistance of molybdate conversion coating, the molybdate coating is subjected to micro-arc oxidation treatment in electrolyte with Na2SiO3 as a main salt. The electrochemical behavior and corrosion weight loss of different coating were studied. The surface morphology, element composition, roughness and phase composition of different coatings were analyzed by SEM, EDS, laser confocal microscopy and XRD, the growth process of different micro-arc oxidation coatings was explored. The results shows that the arcing voltage of the molybdate coating enhanced by micro-arc oxidation is significantly reduced, the corrosion potential is shifted to the right, and the corrosion weightlessloss of the coating is the lowest, compared with the molybdate coating and the micro-arc oxidation coating. Micro-arc oxidation on the surface of the molybdate coating is beneficial to the formation of MgAl2O4 and the production of new phase is MoSi2, which can better improve the corrosion resistance of the molybdate coating. The micro-arc oxide coating does not form a ceramic film with a pore structure at the moment of arcing. As the micro-arc oxidation time prolongs, the ceramic film is gradually formed. When the time reaches 60 s, the ceramic film is completely formed. In this paper, micro-arc oxidation treatment is performed on the basis of molybdate conversion coating to obtain micro-arc oxidation enhanced molybdate coating. The experiment is mainly divided into three parts: the first part, molybdate conversion treatment of the magnesium alloy substrate to obtain a molybdate conversion coating. The second part, the micro-arc oxidation treatment is performed on the surface of the molybdate coating, and discharge channels appear on the surface. The third part, micro-arc oxidation enhanced molybdate coating is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible and stretchable dry active electrodes for multi bio-potentials sensing based on Ag flakes / polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) electrically conductive composite (ECC) are developed and characterized. The proposed dry active electrode consists of soft substrate, electrode, and simple circuits with an amplifier and a capacitor. The soft substrate is made of silicone with a molding process, while the electrode is fabricated by bar coating the ECC on the patterned substrate. Furthermore, circuits interconnect, soldering of chip and other components, and connection with flexible PCB (FPC) are all implemented with ECC directly, which simplifies the fabrication process. A portable bio-potential sensing system is also designed and implemented to work with the proposed electrodes. Various experiments were carried out to verify the proposed electrodes as well as the whole sensing system. The connectivity and proper functionality of the electrodes and cables remain stable during the stretching test. The system and the sensors yield good signal quality for multiple bio-potentials. Compared with conventional Ag/AgCl wet passive electrodes in electrocardiogram (ECG) sensing, the proposed dry active electrodes showed comparable noise floor and less sensitivity to power line interferences and motion artifacts. In electroencephalogram (EEG) sensing, the observed alpha rhythm was 12.66 dB higher than the baseline in the eye-close state. The proposed sensors exhibited potential applications in wearable systems in the electromyogram (EMG) grip force measurement and classification test. Overall, the proposed sensors could provide better comforts during long-time wearing according to its better matching modulus with skin and can meet the requirements of high quality multi bio-potential sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A therapeutic nanoplatform with effective photothermal cancer treatment attracts enormous attention but still faces great challenges, such as a tedious preparation process, poor biocompatibility and low efficiency. In this study, we prepared Au/Bi2S3 nanoflowers (NFs) as high-performance cancer photothermal agents for the first time. This was achieved in a facile and mild way by using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as reducer and stabilizer. In this process, Bi3+ and Au3+ underwent in situ reduction and growth, and then formed flower-like Au/Bi2S3 nanocomposites. The results revealed that the as-prepared Au/Bi2S3 NFs with special morphology showed high stability, excellent biocompatibility and good photostability. Apart from these, it was also observed that the Au/Bi2S3 NFs can efficiently convert the near-infrared (NIR) light into heat leading to high performance in photothermal conversion efficiency (up to 58.34%), and then suppressed the growth of tumor cells under NIR laser irradiation. This work highlights the potential of Au/Bi2S3 NFs as photothermal agents for cancer ablation treatment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Adjuvant radiotherapy is the main treatment modality for high grade meningioma after surgical resection; however, recurrence and survival outcomes vary. The aim of this study was to create a new "prognostic score" that allows personalized recommendations for post-operative adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with high grade meningioma. Methods: Clinical data were collected from 115 patients with high grade meningioma treated with surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. A prognostic model was built based on the hazards ratios of independent prognostic factors yielded by multivariate cox proportional analysis. Calibration and discrimination of the prognostic score was evaluated using good of fit test and Harrel's C index, respectively. Results: A total of 115 high grade meningioma patients (72 atypical and 43 anaplastic meningiomas) were enrolled. Three factors were independently associated with progression-free survival (PFS): extent of resection (GTR vs. STR), recurrent status (de novo vs. recurrent), and Ki-67 labeling index (<5% vs. ≥ 5%). The respective β-coefficients were used to generate the "prognostic score". The cohort was divided into low-risk and high-risk groups based on the median prognostic score. Good of fit test showed strong calibration (P = 0.7133) and Harrel's C index 0.766 indicated a strong discrimination capability of the prognostic score. The Harrel's C index for OS was 0.60. Conclusions: Our prognostic model using three basic clinical parameters robustly separated high grade meningioma patients who benefit vs. do not benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. External validation of our model is warranted to help improve patient selection suitable for adjuvant radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have shown mitochondrial genome content (mtDNA content) varies in many malignancies. However, its distribution and prognostic values in high-grade meningioma remain largely unknown. In this retrospective study, we sought to assess a putative correlation between the mtDNA content and clinical characteristics. Methods: Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from 87 World Health Organization grade III meningioma samples using a qPCR method. The distribution of mtDNA content in WHO grade III meningioma and its correlations with clinical variables were assessed. Furthermore, we prognostic values were also determined. Results: Mean mtDNA content was 617.7 (range, 0.8–3000). There was no mtDNA distribution difference based on the histological subtypes (P = 0.07). Tumors with preoperative radiation were associated with lower mtDNA content (P = 0.041), whereas no correlations with other clinical variables were observed. A high mtDNA content was associated with significantly better PFS (P = 0.044) and OS (P = 0.019). However, in patients who received postoperative radiotherapy, low mtDNA content was associated with better PFS (P = 0.028), while no difference in OS was observed (P = 0.272). Low mtDNA content was also associated with better OS and PFS in subgroups of patients with ER negative status (PFS, P = 0.002; OS, P = 0.002). Conclusions: Consistent with other tumors, high mtDNA content was associated with better outcome in WHO grade III meningioma in our cohort. However, for patients who received post-operative radiation therapy, low mtDNA content was associated with better PFS. These findings suggest that mtDNA content may further be explored as a potential biomarker for high-grade meningioma patients and for those who received postoperative radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) may offer a strategy to improve the effect of the therapeutic treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by eliciting broad antitumor immunity. However, chemotherapy shows a limited therapeutic effect because of multi-drug resistance and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) of TNBC. The unique pharmacological actions of sunitinib (SUN) indicate its possible synergies with paclitaxel (PTX) to enhance chemo-immunotherapy for TNBC. Here, we prepared a co-delivery platform composed of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) via a self-assembly process for a combination of PTX and SUN, which was able to induce a higher synergistic ICD. The nanomicellar delivery of PTX and SUN loaded at an optimal ratio of 1:5 (PTX:SUN) presented the characteristics of an appropriate particle size, long-term stability, and time sequence release which synergistically promoted the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 tumor cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that the combination of PTX and SUN could significantly induce a synergistic effect because it promoted an ICD response, improved tumor immunogenicity, and regulated immunosuppressive factors in the TME. Overall, PTX and SUN with synergistic effects entrapped in a self-assembly nano-delivery system could offer the potential for clinical applicationof a combination chemo-immunotherapy strategy to improve the effect of the therapeutic treatment of TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to prepare composite micro-arc oxide coatings with better wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Design/methodology/approach: A nickel powder composite micro-arc oxide film was prepared on the surface of the magnesium alloy by the method of organically combining ultra-fine Ni powder with micro arc oxidation film layer. In this experiment, the changes in the corrosion resistance and microstructure of the composite film layer after adding Ni powder were studied, and the effect of the addition of glycerin on the corrosion resistance of the film layer was analyzed. Findings: The results show that the ultra-fine nickel powder was successfully prepared by the liquid phase reduction method, and the micro-arc oxidation process was modified under the optimal addition amount. The surface of the micro-arc oxide film made of ultra-fine nickel powder was found by SEM to have smooth surfaces and few holes. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, the phase composition of the micro-arc oxide film layer was Mg, Ni, NiSiO4, MgNi (SiO4) and Mg2SiO4. According to the results of electrochemical tests, the corrosion resistance of the micro-arc oxidation composite film layer was improved after the addition of ultra-fine Ni powder, the corrosion current was greatly reduced and the impedance has been improved. And after adding glycerin, the surface of the film layer becomes denser, and the corrosion resistance of the micro-arc oxide film is significantly improved. Originality/value: Through this experimental research, a micro-arc oxide coating of powder composite magnesium alloy was successfully prepared. The corrosion resistance of the micro-arc oxidation film layer has been improved, and certain functions had been given to the micro-arc oxidation composite film, which has increased the application field of magnesium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montmorillonite (MMT) clay modified with lanthanum (La) ions and Fe3 O4 nanoparticles was proposed for the effective removal of phosphate ions from aqueous solution. Characterisation of the adsorbent using FTIR, SEM, XRD, XPS, XRF, BET and VSM techniques were carried out. The effects of initial phosphate concentration, contact time, dosage and pH on the phosphorus adsorption were investigated. La‐MMT/Fe3 O4 exhibited an excellent adsorption capacity of up to 14.35 mg/g, with 97.8% removal within 60 min. Langmuir isotherm model fits well with the equilibrium isotherm data, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 15.53 mg/g at room temperature. The kinetic study was well fitted with pseudo‐second‐order kinetics, and the adsorption rate was mainly controlled by liquid‐film diffusion. The manufactured adsorbent was effectively regenerated using 0.1 M NaOH solutions, with 90.18% adsorption efficiency remaining after six adsorption/desorption cycles. These results demonstrate that La‐MMT/Fe3 O4 provides an example of regenerable high‐performance adsorbents for removal of PO43− from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten and niobium incorporated KIT‐6 (WNb‐KIT‐6) materials were synthesized by a one‐pot sol‐gel method. During 2‐butene+ethylene metathesis with these materials at 450 °C, the propene yield is maximized (∼70 %) at a certain metal composition (∼20 wt% W and ∼1 wt% Nb), significantly surpassing those reported with an industrial WO3/SiO2 catalyst. The enhanced propene yield is attributed to better dispersion of W species on the catalyst surface and the formation of new active site precursors (O=)2W(O−Si)(O−Nb), as confirmed by XRD, TEM, H2‐TPR, XPS, EXAFS, and ToF‐SIMS techniques. Complementary DFT calculations reveal a positive correlation between the O=W=O bond angle and the propene yield. We therefore speculate that the −O−Nb moiety tunes the electronic environment around the W atom and increases the propene yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to systematically analyze the clinical characteristics of a large cohort of parasagittal meningioma (PM) and to evaluate the patients' outcomes and best treatment strategies based on tumor features. Methods: To minimize selection bias we performed a single-institutional review of PM with restricted criteria. One hundred and ninety-two consecutive patients who met criteria for inclusion were reviewed from 2003 to 2011 in our general hospital. Results: A total of 131 cases (68.2%) were with WHO grade I, while grade II and grade III PMs constituted 40 (20.8%) and 21 cases (10.9%). Higher histological grade was associated with loss of trimethylation of H3K27 (P = 0.000). For WHO grade I PMs, GTR was significantly associated with a better PFS (P = 0.023); however, adjuvant radiotherapy did not benefit patients with STR (P = 0.215). For de novo high-grade (WHO grade II and III) PMs (n = 37), adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with a significantly longer OS (P = 0.013), while no difference was observed between GTR and STR (P = 0.654). In recurrent high-grade PM patients (n = 24), GTR combined with adjuvant radiotherapy increased PFS (P = 0.005). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that PMs were a heterogeneous group of tumors with a high proportion of high-grade tumors that often displayed aggressive clinical behaviors. Low-grade PM benefited from radical resection, whereas high-grade de novo PM did not. Adjuvant radiotherapy significantly prolonged OS for high-grade primary PM, but did not impact survival of patients with subtotally resected low-grade tumors. Long-term outcome of high-grade recurrent PMs was dismal. We thus show that extent of tumor resection, tumor grade and tumor recurrent status inform therapeutic decisions for PMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal alteration of N‐glycosylation structure contributes to glioma progression. N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (MGAT1) plays an essential role in the conversion of processed high‐mannose cores into complex or hybrid N‐linked oligosaccharide structures. The function of MGAT1 in glioma development remains largely unknown. Here, we found that the expression of MGAT1 is higher in glioblastoma compared to normal brain tissues. Inhibition of EGFR signalling pathway or serum starvation reduces MGAT1 expression. Knockdown of MGAT1 inhibits glioma cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, MGAT1 promotes complex N‐glycosylation of glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) and increases Glut1 protein levels. In summary, our findings indicate that MGAT1 is highly expressed in glioblastoma and promotes glioma cells at least partly through upregulation of Glut1 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aims to evaluate the potential role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) in detecting high-grade meningiomas and predicting the prognosis of patients after meningioma surgery. Patients and methods: A total of 124 patients met the final inclusion criterion. Tumor to gray ratio (TGR) was compared with Ki-67 labeling index, and its correlations with pre-operative neurological function and treatment status were also evaluated. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to determine a cut-off value which could discriminate meningioma of different grades. Prognostic factors including TGR were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curve and cox proportional model. Results: The TGR of higher World Health Organization (WHO) grade meningioma was significantly higher than that in lower grade (p < 0.001), and it was correlated with the Ki-67 labeling index (p < 0.001, r = 0.1545). The TGR of 1.30 was the best cutoff value for the detection of high grade (WHO grade II&III) meningioma from low grade (WHO grade I) according to ROC analysis, with a sensitivity of 61.5%, the specificity of 86.7%, and accuracy of 81.5%. The TGR (p < 0.001), treatment status (p = 0.035), tumor grade (p < 0.001) and Ki-67 labeling index (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with progression-free survival (PFS). Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that TGR (p = 0.013) was an independent prognostic factor for PFS. Conclusion: A high uptake of FDG was correlated with a more proliferative biological behavior and is a risk factor for tumor recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New drug delivery system (ZnO@CMS) of the redox and pH dual‐stimuli responsive based on colloidal mesoporous silica nanoparticles (CMS) has been designed, in which zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) as a capping agent was conjugated on the surface of nanoparticles by amide bonds. The release behaviour of doxorubicin (DOX) as the model drug from ZnO@CMS (ZnO@CMS‐DOX) indicated the redox and pH dual‐stimuli responsive properties due to the acidic dissolution of ZnO QDs and cleavage of the disulphide bonds. The haemolysis and bovine serum albumin adsorption assays showed that the modification of ZnO QDs on the mesoporous silica nanoparticles modified by mercapto groups (CMS‐SH)(ZnO@CMS) had better biocompatibility compared to CMS‐SH. The cell viability and cellular uptake tests revealed that the ZnO@CMS might achieve the antitumour effect on cancer cells due to the cytotoxicity of ZnO QDs. Therefore, ZnO@CMS might be potential nanocarriers of the drug delivery system in cancer therapy. The in vivo evaluation of ZnO@CMS would be carried out in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with carboxyl group (Znq-CMS-COOH) were successfully synthesized by in situ formation route of 8-hydroxyquinolinate zinc complexes in channels of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and post-grafting of carboxyl group on the surface. Moreover, the particle size and structural properties of Znq-CMS-COOH were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis spectrometer, fluorescence spectrometer and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements. The obtained results suggest that the Znq-CMS-COOH presents the uniform spherical shape with the mean diameter of about 85 nm and the obvious wormhole arrangement mesoporous. In addition, the Znq-CMS-COOH possesses green fluorescence with the emission peaks at 495 nm. So the Znq-CMS-COOH, which is beneficial to further modification and tracing, might be a great potential carrier for applying in drug delivery system in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mild chemistry route was developed to prepare carbonaceous nanofibers-titanium dioxide (CNF-TiO2) nanocomposites for removal of dye pollutants. In the process of the template-directed hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), ultrathin Te nanowires were adopted as templates and glucose as the carbon source, and TiO2 was decorated on CNF via the hydrolysis of tetrabutyltitanate in the presence of CNF in ethanol. The as-prepared materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). SEM and TEM observations displayed that TiO2 nanoparticles were anchored on the CNF. EDX and XRD data confirmed that the assynthesized samples were CNF-TiO2, and TiO2 belonged to anatase titania. Taking advantage of combined benefits of carbonaceous nanofibers and titanium dioxide, these CNF-TiO2 nanocomposites exhibited higher removal efficiency in a short time and showed good reusability. It was showed that over 97% of Rhodamine B could be removed in 15 min without generating the solid and liquid wastes. The removal efficiency of dyes was still over 80% after reuse in five cycles. All the results demonstrate that the as-prepared CNF-TiO2 composites are effective materials for fast and effective removal of dye pollutants and thus can provide a new platform for dye decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of adjuvant radiotherapy in management for high‐grade meningiomas, especially atypical meningiomas, remains controversial. We aimed to explore the role of adjuvant radiotherapy in this population. A total of 162 adults with high‐grade meningiomas (99 atypical meningiomas and 63 anaplastic meningiomas) were treated from 2003 to 2008 at Huashan Hospital. One hundred and seventeen patients presented with primary and 45 with recurrent disease. One hundred and fifteen patients (70.9%) were treated with adjuvant radiotherapy after surgical resection. The median follow‐up was 76.5 months (range 1‐142 months). Kaplan‐Meier survival curve and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used for analyses. Adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with prolonged progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic meningiomas irrespective of extent of resection (PFS, P = .001; OS, P = .003). Gross total resection was the only independent prognostic factor for those with newly diagnosed atypical meningiomas (PFS, P < .001; OS, P = .012). A survival benefit for adjuvant radiation was also found in subgroup analysis of patients with high‐grade meningiomas who underwent subtotal resection (PFS, P = .023; OS, P = .013). Among recurrent high‐grade meningiomas, radiotherapy offered no statistically significant improvement in either PFS or OS. Adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with improved survival in patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic meningiomas and those high‐grade meningiomas following subtotal resection. However, there was no significant correlation identified between postoperative radiation and outcome for recurrent high‐grade meningiomas. Future prospective randomized trials may help clarify the optimal tailored treatment for patients with high‐grade meningioma. The article focuses on the prognostic value of postoperative radiation in patients with atypical or anaplastic meningioma. We demonstrate that adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with improved survival in patients with high‐grade meningiomas following subtotal resection. However, postoperative radiation was not associated with significant improvement in outcome for patients with recurrent high‐grade meningiomas. The article focuses on the prognostic value of postoperative radiation in patients with atypical or anaplastic meningioma. We demonstrate that adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with improved survival in patients with high‐grade meningiomas following subtotal resection. However, postoperative radiation was not associated with significant improvement in outcome for patients with recurrent high‐grade meningiomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to thoroughly analyze the clinical characteristics of a large cohort of spinal meningioma (SM) from a single neurological center and identify risk factors associated with worse progression free survival and neurological function outcome.Methods: Clinical information was retrieved from 483 SM and 9806 cranial meningioma cases who were operated in our center between 2003 and 2013. 194 SM patients who were followed at the main branch were used for prognostic analyses that included both recurrence free survival and neurological functions based on Modified McCormick scale (MMS).Results: Females were predominant (P < 0.001). High grade tumors were not common (WHO grade II, 2.9%; grade III, 1.7%), while the clear cell subtype was frequent within grade II SMs (6/14, 42.9%). Macroscopic total resection was achieved in all SMs (Simpson grade I, 30.9%; grade II, 65.5%; grade III, 3.6%) with a low complications rate (4.6%) and provided neurological improvement in 80 patients (41.2%). Recurrence was seen in 9 cases (4.6%) and associated with high WHO grade, male, prior recurrence, and Simpson grade III. High WHO grade and high Ki-67 index were identified to be independent factors predictive of both neurological function deterioration and impaired post-operative neurological status.Conclusions: Our analysis of the largest SM cohort in scale from a single institution offers a comprehensive view of the clinical characteristics of surgically treated SM, revealing the distinct biology of SM in comparison to its cranial counterparts, and providing guidance to improve surgical management of SM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]