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Tumor-derived exosomes and their contents promote cancer metastasis. Phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (PGAM1) is involved in various cancer-related processes. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of exosomal PGAM1 in prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we performed in vitro and in vivo to determine the functions of exosomal PGAM1 in the angiogenesis of patients with metastatic PCa. We performed Glutathione-S-transferase pulldown, co-immunoprecipitation, western blotting and gelatin degradation assays to determine the pathway mediating the effect of exosomal PGAM1 in PCa. Our results revealed a significant increase in exosomal PGAM1 levels in the plasma of patients with metastatic PCa compared to patients with non-metastatic PCa. Furthermore, PGAM1 was a key factor initiating PCa cell metastasis by promoting invadopodia formation and could be conveyed by exosomes from PCa cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, exosomal PGAM1 could bind to γ-actin (ACTG1), which promotes podosome formation and neovascular sprouting in HUVECs. In vivo results revealed exosomal PGAM1 enhanced lung metastasis in nude mice injected with PCa cells via the tail vein. In summary, exosomal PGAM1 promotes angiogenesis and could be used as a liquid biopsy marker for PCa metastasis., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: It is well known that the common chimpanzee, as both the closest living relative to humans and a facultative bipedal, has the capability of bipedal standing but cannot do so fully upright. Accordingly, they have been of exceeding significance in elucidating the evolution of human bipedalism. There are many reasons why the common chimpanzee can only stand with its hips-knees bent, such as the distally oriented long ischial tubercle and the almost absent lumbar lordosis. However, it is unknown how the relative positions of their shoulder-hip-knee-ankle joints are coordinated. Similarly, the distribution of the biomechanical characteristics of the lower-limb muscles and the factors that affect the erectness of standing as well as the muscle fatigue of the lower limbs remain a mystery. The answers are bound to light up the evolutional mechanism of hominin bipedality, but these conundrums have not been shed much light upon, because few studies have comprehensively explored the effects of skeletal architecture and muscle properties on bipedal standing in common chimpanzees. Methods: Thus, we first built a musculoskeletal model comprising the head-arms-trunk (HAT), thighs, shanks, and feet segments of the common chimpanzee, and then, the mechanical relationships of the Hill-type muscle-tendon units (MTUs) in bipedal standing were deduced. Thereafter, the equilibrium constraints were established, and a constrained optimization problem was formulated where the optimization objective was defined. Finally, thousands of simulations of bipedal standing experiments were performed to determine the optimal posture and its corresponding MTU parameters including muscle lengths, muscle activation, and muscle forces. Moreover, to quantify the relationship between each pair of the parameters from all the experimental simulation outcomes, the Pearson correlation analysis was employed. Results: Our results demonstrate that in the pursuit of the optimal bipedal standing posture, the common chimpanzee cannot simultaneously achieve maximum erectness and minimum muscle fatigue of the lower limbs. For uni-articular MTUs, the relationship between muscle activation, relative muscle lengths, together with relative muscle forces, and the corresponding joint angle is generally negatively correlated for extensors and positively correlated for flexors. For bi-articular MTUs, the relationship between muscle activation, coupled with relative muscle forces, and the corresponding joint angles does not show the same pattern as in the uni-articular MTUs. Discussion: The results of this study bridge the gap between skeletal architecture, along with muscle properties, and biomechanical performance of the common chimpanzee during bipedal standing, which enhances existing biomechanical theories and advances the comprehension of bipedal evolution in humans., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Xv, Chen, Xiong, Huang, Cheng and Sun.)

PURPOSE：The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of various storage methods on shear bond strength of enamel of bovine teeth and find the storage condition that could preserve the similar bond strength as the freshly extracted teeth., Methods: One hundred and thirty freshly extracted bovine teeth were divided into 13 groups. One was the reference group and 12 were the experimental group. Each group contained 10 teeth. Teeth in the reference group were operated on the same day as the teeth were extracted, while teeth in the experimental groups were stored in different methods (4% formaldehyde solution at 4 ℃, 23 ℃, 1% chloramine T at 4 ℃, 23 ℃, distilled water at 4 ℃, 23 ℃). After stored for 30 days and 90 days, the bovine teeth were taken out and then the shear bond strength was tested. The data were analyzed with SPSS 20.0 software package., Results: The bovine teeth stored in 4% formaldehyde and 1% chloramine T at 23 ℃ and in distilled water at 4 ℃ achieved similar bond strength as freshly extracted teeth at 30 days and 90 days, and the bond strength did not change over time. The bovine teeth stored in 4% formaldehyde solution and 1% chloramine T at 4 ℃ at 30 days had higher shear bond strength than freshly extracted bovine teeth, but over time the bond strength reduced and reached the similar level at 90 days. The bovine teeth stored in distilled water at 23 ℃ obtained similar bond strength as freshly extracted teeth at 30 days but over time the bond strength reduced until 90 days., Conclusions: Bovine teeth stored in 4% formaldehyde solution and 1% chloramine T at 23 ℃ and in distilled water at 4 ℃ achieved similar bond strength as freshly extracted teeth and does not change over time. These three methods are recommended for storing bovine teeth.

The self-starting performance of a figure-9 fiber laser is critically dependent on the phase shift difference between the counter-propagating beams. Herein, we propose an effective approach to dynamically control the phase shift difference in a figure-9 fiber laser by utilizing the thermal nonlinearity of graphene-decorated microfiber device. With the adjustment of the control laser power injected into the graphene-decorated microfiber, the self-starting mode-locked threshold of the figure-9 fiber laser can be attained in a flexible pump power range, i.e., from 300 mW to 390 mW. These findings demonstrated that the graphene-decorated microfiber could act as a dynamical control device of phase shift difference for improving the performance of figure-9 fiber lasers, and might also open up new possibilities for applications of microfiber photonic devices in the field of ultrafast optics.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in pigs is a promising technology in biomedical research by association with transgenesis for xenotransplantation and disease modeling technologies. Handmade cloning (HMC) is a simplified SCNT method that does not require micromanipulators and facilitates the generation of cloned embryos in large quantities. As a result of HMC fine-tuning for porcine-specific requirements of both oocytes and embryos, HMC has become uniquely efficient (>40% blastocyst rate, 80-90% pregnancy rates, 6-7 healthy offspring per farrowing, and with negligible losses and malformations). Therefore, this chapter describes our HMC protocol to obtain cloned pigs., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

How to generate anthropomorphic reaching movement remains a challenging problem in service robots and human motor function repair/reconstruction equipment. However, there is no universally accepted computational model in the literature for reproducing the motion of the human upper limb. In response to the problem, this article presents a computational framework for generating reaching movement endowed with human motion characteristics that imitated the mechanism in the control and realization of human upper limb motions. This article first establishes the experimental paradigm of human upper limb functional movements and proposes the characterization of human upper limb movement characteristics and feature movement clustering methods in the joint space. Then, according to the specific task requirements of the upper limb, combined with the human sensorimotor model, the estimation method of the human upper limb natural postures was established. Next, a continuous task parametric model matching the characteristic motion class is established by using the Gaussian mixture regression method. The anthropomorphic motion generation method with the characteristics of the smooth trajectory and the ability of natural obstacle avoidance is proposed. Finally, the anthropomorphic motion generation method proposed in this article is verified by a human-like robot. The measurement index of the human-likeness degree of the trajectory is given. The experimental results show that for all four tested tasks, the human-likeness degrees were greater than 90.8%, and the trajectories' jerk generated by this method is very similar to the trajectories' jerk of humans, which validates the proposed method.

Thunberg fritillary (Fritillaria thunbergii), a perennial used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is a members of the family Liliaceae. The degeneration of germplasm is a severe problem in the production of Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis. However, no information about viral infections of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis has been reported. In this study, we sequenced the small RNAs of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis from leaves and bulbs, and viruses were identified using a phylogenetic analysis and BLAST search for sequence. In addition, multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to rapidly detect viruses in this variety. Our study first reported that five viruses infected F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Among them, fritillary virus Y (FVY), lily mottle virus (LMoV), Thunberg fritillary mosaic virus (TFMV), and hop yellow virus (HYV) had been reported in F. thunbergii, while apple stem grooving virus was first reported in the genus Fritillaria. A multiplex RT-PCR method was developed to rapidly test the four viruses FVY, LMoV, TFMV, and HYV in F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Our results provide a better understanding of the infection of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis by viruses and a basic reference for the better design of suitable control measures.

The optimum femtosecond laser direct writing of Bragg gratings on silica optical waveguides has been investigated. The silica waveguide has a 6.5 × 6.5 µm 2 cross-sectional profile with a 20-µm-thick silicon dioxide cladding layer. Compared with conventional grating inscribed on fiber platforms, the silica planar waveguide circuit can realize a stable performance as well as a high-efficiency coupling with the fiber. A thin waveguide cladding layer also facilitates laser focusing with an improved spherical aberration. Different from the circular fiber core matching with the Gaussian beam profile, a 1030-nm, 400-fs, and 190-nJ laser is optimized to focus on the top surface of the square silica waveguide, and the 3rd-order Bragg gratings are inscribed successfully. A 1.5-mm long uniform Bragg gratings structure with a reflectivity of 90% at a 1548.36-nm wavelength can be obtained. Cascaded Bragg gratings with different periods are also inscribed in the planar waveguide. Different reflection wavelengths can be realized, which shows great potential for wavelength multiplexing-related applications such as optical communications or sensing.

Objective: Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) has remained one of the most prevalent urological diseases, particularly in older men. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been identified as a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin that exhibits broad protective effects. However, the role of DHA in inhibiting CNP inflammation and prostatic epithelial cell proliferation remains largely unknown., Materials and Methods: CNP animal model was induced by carrageenan in C57BL/6 mouse. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to examine inflammatory cytokines and proliferation genes expression. Immunofluorescence and immunochemistry staining were used to detect and E2F7 expression. Human prostatic epithelial cells (HPECs) and RWPE-1 was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic CNP model in vitro. Cell proliferation was determined using MTS assay., Results: DHA significantly alleviated the rough epithelium and inhibited multilamellar cell formation in the prostatic gland cavity and prostatic index induced by carrageenan. In addition, DHA decreased the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 inflammatory factors in prostatitis tissues and in LPS-induced epithelial cells. Upregulation of transcription factor E2F7, which expression was inhibited by DHA, was found in CNP tissues, human BPH tissues and LPS-induced epithelial cells inflammatory response. Mechanically, we found that depletion of E2F7 by shRNA inhibited epithelial cell proliferation and LPS-induced inflammation while DHA further enhance these effects. Furthermore, HIF1α was transcriptional regulated by E2F7 and involved in E2F7-inhibited CNP and cellular inflammatory response. Interestingly, we found that inhibition of HIF1α blocks E2F7-induced cell inflammatory response but does not obstruct E2F7-promoted cell growth., Conclusion: The results revealed that DHA inhibits the CNP and inflammation by blocking the E2F7/HIF1α pathway. Our findings provide new evidence for the mechanism of DHA and its key role in CNP, which may provide an alternative solution for the prevention and treatment of CNP., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Chemoresistance and migration represent major obstacles in the therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer patients in clinic. In the present study, we report that the compound C1632 is preferentially distributed in the lung after oral administration in vivo with high bioavailability and limited inhibitory effects on CYP450 isoenzymes. We found that C1632 could simultaneously inhibit the expression of LIN28 and block FGFR1 signalling transduction in NSCLC A549 and A549R cells, resulting in significant decreases in the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9. Consequently, C1632 effectively inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 and A549R cells. Meanwhile, C1632 significantly suppressed the cell viability and the colony formation of A549 and A549R cells by inhibiting DNA replication and inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Interestingly, compared with A549 cells, C1632 possesses the same or even better anti-migration and anti-proliferation effects on A549R cells, regardless of drug resistance. In addition, C1632 also displayed the capacity to inhibit the growth of A549R xenograft tumours in mice. Altogether, these findings reveal the potential of C1632 as a promising anti-NSCLC agent, especially for chemotherapy-resistant NSCLC treatment., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Three mononuclear, dinuclear and one-dimensional dysprosium(III) complexes based on 3-azotriazolyl-2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid (H 4 ATB) of [Dy(H 3 ATB) 3 ]·3H 2 O (1), [Dy 2 (H 2 ATB) 2 (H 2 DHB) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ]·2CH 3 CN·5H 2 O (2), and [Dy 2 (H 2 ATB) 2 (DCB)(DMF) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·4DMF (3) were synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction (H 3 DHB = 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid, H 2 DCB = 1,4-dicarboxybenzene). Complex 1 was used as a precursor to synthesize complexes 2 and 3, and 2 was further used to synthesize 3. Complex 1 is a mononuclear complex, in which the Dy(III) ion is in a nine-coordinated structure surrounded by three tridentate chelate H 3 ATB - ligands. Complex 2 displays a dinuclear structure bridged by two μ 2 carboxyl groups of two H 2 DHB - ligands and two μ 1,1 -O atoms from the phenolic hydroxyl groups of two H 2 ATB 2- ligands. Complex 3 shows a one-dimensional structure formed by two bridging DCB 2- ligands. The magnetic measurements were performed on three complexes 1-3, and they showed different magnetic behavior. Complex 1 shows a field-induced slow magnetic relaxation. Complexes 2 and 3 display distinct slow magnetic relaxation under zero dc field with energy barriers ( U eff ) of 26(2) cm -1 and 11(1) cm -1 , respectively. The magnetic behavior of three complexes 1-3 was investigated by ab initio calculations.

Although in vitro culture of human embryos is a crucial step in assisted reproduction, the lack of focused research hampers worldwide standardisation and consistent outcomes. Only 1.2% of research papers published in five leading journals in human reproduction in 2019 focused on in vitro culture conditions, creating the impression that the optimisation process has approached its limits. On the other hand, in vitro culture of mammalian embryos is based on old principles, while there is no consensus on basic issues as density, time, medium change, gas atmosphere and small technical details including the way of drop preparation. This opinion paper aims to highlight and analyse the slow advancement in this field and stimulate research for simple and affordable solutions to meet the current requirements. A possible way for advancement is discussed in detail. Selection of embryos with the highest developmental competence requires individual culture and modification of the widely used "drop under oil" approach. Current use of three-dimensional surfaces instead of large flat bottoms is restricted to time-lapse systems, but these wells are designed for optical clarity, not for the needs of embryos. The size and shape of the original microwells (Well of the Well; WOW) offer a practical and straightforward solution to combine the benefits of communal and individual incubation and improve the overall quality of cultured embryos., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The aim of this brief report is to offer a solution for a problem that compromises the quality of in vitro -produced mammalian embryos. The harmful effects of evaporation-induced osmotic changes in mammalian embryo cultures have been recognized only recently. In this technical report, we describe a modified embryo culture dish (Humdish) that provides consistent >97% humidity and fully eliminates osmotic changes in the commonly used drop-under-oil culture systems from day 0 to 6. As an additional benefit, the Humdish also increases the temperature stability of cultures. If subsequent laboratory and clinical experiments prove its value, our suggested approach may help to improve the in vitro environment and quality of all preimplantation stage mammalian embryos, including the most sensitive ones produced from artificial gametes or by somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Objective: To investigate the expression of phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (PGAM1) in the mouse testis after exposure to single heat stress (SHS)., Methods: We randomly assigned 32 C57 male mice to an SHS (n = 16) and a control group (n = 16), the former bathed in water at 43 ℃ and the latter at 25 ℃ for 15 minutes. At 1 and 7 days after exposure, we harvested the testicular tissue for observation of the morphological changes of testicular cells by HE staining and determination of the location and expression of the PGAM1 protein by immunohistochemistry and Western blot., Results: The testis volume of the mice were reduced significantly, the spermatogenic tubules were disorganized, and the cells were reduced in number after heat stress and basically disappeared after 7 days. Immunohistochemistry showed extensive expression of the PGAM1 protein in the testicular spermatogenic tubules of the SHS-exposed mice, significantly higher than in the control group at 1 day after exposure, which was down-regulated in the testis tissue at 7 days, but still markedly higher than that in the control. Western blot exhibited significantly up-regulated expression of the PGAM1 protein after heat stress compared with that in the control group., Conclusions: The expression of the PGAM1 protein undergoes dynamic changes in the mouse testis after exposed to single heat stress, which is related to heat stress-induced proliferation and division of testicular spermatogenic cells.

Two ion-pair Fe(iii) complexes (PPh4)[FeIII(HATD)2]·2H2O (1, H3ATD = azotetrazolyl-2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene) and [FeII(phen)3][FeIII(HATD)2]2·3DMA·3.5H2O (2, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, DMA = N,N-dimethylformamide) were synthesized by employing the tridentate ligand H3ATD. Crystal structure analyses reveal that complexes 1 and 2 consist of FeIII ions in an octahedral environment where a FeIII ion is coordinated by two HATD2- ligands forming the [FeIII(HATD)2]- core. The shortest cationanion distance between the phosphorus ion of the (PPh4)+ cation and the ferric ion of the [FeIII(HATD)2]- anion is 13.190 Å in complex 1, whereas that between the ferrous ion of the [FeII(Phen)3]2+ cation and the ferric ion of the [FeIII(HATD)2]- anion is 7.821 Å in complex 2. C-HC and C-HO hydrogen interactions between the [FeII(phen)3]2+ cation and the [FeIII(HATD)2]- anion are observed in 2. Face-to-face π-π stacking interactions between naphthalene rings with the separated interplanar center to center distances of 3.421-3.680 Å were observed, which result in a one-dimensional supramolecular chain in complexes 1 and 2. Magnetic measurements show that complex 1 is in the low-spin (LS) state below 500 K, whereas 2 undergoes a high temperature spin crossover (SCO) between 360 and 500 K. Magneto-structural relationship studies reveal that π-stacking, hydrogen interactions and Coulomb interactions between the [FeIII(HATD)2]- anion and the [FeII(phen)3]2+ cation play a crucial role in the high temperature Fe(iii) SCO behaviour of complex 2.

The interaction between LncRNA and RNA-binding protein (RBPs) plays an essential role in the regulation over the malignant progression of tumors. Previous studies on the mechanism of SNHG1, an emerging lncRNA, have primarily focused on the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism between SNHG1 and RBPs in tumors remains to be explored, especially in prostate cancer (PCa). SNHG1 expression profiles in PCa were determined through the analysis of TCGA data and tissue microarray at the RNA level. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed to investigate the biological role of SNHG1 in PCa initiation and progression. RNA-seq, immunoblotting, RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation analyses were utilized to clarify potential pathways with which SNHG1 might be involved. Finally, rescue experiments were carried out to further confirm this mechanism. We found that SNHG1 was dominantly expressed in the nuclei of PCa cells and significantly upregulated in PCa patients. The higher expression level of SNHG1 was dramatically correlated with tumor metastasis and patient survival. Functionally, overexpression of SNHG1 in PCa cells induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), accompanied by down-regulation of the epithelial marker, E-cadherin, and up-regulation of the mesenchymal marker, vimentin. Increased proliferation and migration, as well as accelerated xenograft tumor growth, were observed in SNHG1-overexpressing PCa cells, while opposite effects were achieved in SNHG1-silenced cells. Mechanistically, SNHG1 competitively interacted with hnRNPL to impair the translation of protein E-cadherin, thus activating the effect of SNHG1 on the EMT pathway, eventually promoting the metastasis of PCa. Our findings demonstrate that SNHG1 is a positive regulator of EMT activation through the SNHG1-hnRNPL-CDH1 axis. SNHG1 may serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for PCa.

A series of innovative thermosetting polymer nanocomposites comprising of polysiloxane-imide-containing benzoxazine (PSiBZ) as the matrix and double-decker silsesquioxane (DDSQ) epoxy or polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) epoxy were prepared for improving thermosetting performance. Thermomechanical and dynamic mechanical characterizations indicated that both DDSQ and POSS could effectively lower the coefficient of thermal expansion by up to approximately 34% and considerably increase the storage modulus (up to 183%). Therefore, DDSQ and POSS are promising materials for low-stress encapsulation for electronic packaging applications.

A parasitoid's decision to reject or accept a potential host is fundamental to its fitness. Superparasitism, in which more than one egg of a given parasitoid species can deposit in a single host, is usually considered sub-optimal in systems where the host is able to support the development of only a single parasitoid. It follows that selection pressure may drive the capacity for parasitoids to recognize parasitized hosts, especially if there is a fitness cost of superparasitism. Here, we used microsatellite studies of two distinct populations of Cotesia vestalis to demonstrate that an egg laid into a diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) larva that was parasitized by a conspecific parasitoid 10 min, 2 or 6 h previously was as likely to develop and emerge successfully as was the first-laid egg. Consistent with this, a naive parasitoid encountering its first host was equally likely to accept a healthy larva as one parasitized 10 min prior, though handling time of parasitized hosts was extended. For second and third host encounters, parasitized hosts were less readily accepted than healthy larvae. If 12 h elapsed between parasitism events, the second-laid egg was much less likely to develop. Discrimination between parasitized and healthy hosts was evident when females were allowed physical contact with hosts, and healthy hosts were rendered less acceptable by manual injection of parasitoid venom into their hemolymph. Collectively, these results show a limited capacity to discriminate parasitized from healthy larvae despite a viability cost associated with failing to avoid superparasitism.

Fasteners are critical and indispensable locking components in mechanical assembly. Submillimeter fasteners are massively and widely used in electronic devices. This study proposed an adjustable panoramic inspection system for M2 to M0.8 submillimeter fasteners. The system mainly consists of a panoramic imaging module, a back-light module, and an image grabbing and computing module. The panoramic imaging module would form four equal optical path lengths to keep the same imaging amplification between the different directions of the field of view. The back-light module was designed to provide uniform illumination and enhance the contrast of the pitch edge between the fasteners and the background. The image grabbing and computing module with a high-speed camera was designed to be adjustable for different sizes of submillimeter fasteners. The realized system can offer the function of four images in one shot to make a panoramic scene, independent illumination for recognizing, inspect screws from M0.8 to M2.0 screws, and short time consumption of image processing, such as 3.284 ms for M0.8 screws and 2.384 ms for M2.0 screws, to achieve examination of 6000 pieces in 1 min.

The unique electronic configurations of lanthanide(III) ions generate abundant electronic energy levels, resulting in the fantastic magnetic and optical multifunctional properties of lanthanide complexes. Here, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (H 2 MBA) was used to construct four Dy(III) and Tb(III) complexes containing two isostructural dinuclear complexes of [Ln 2 (HMBA) 2 (MBA) 2 (DMF) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·6H 2 O [Ln = Dy ( 1 ), Tb ( 2 ); DMF = N , N -dimethylformamide] and two other isostructural beltlike one-dimensional-chain complexes of [NH 4 ][Ln(HMBA) 4 ] [Ln = Dy ( 3 ), Tb ( 4 )]. Fluorescence measurements reveal that H 2 MBA can sensitize Dy(III) and Tb(III) characteristic luminescence. Furthermore, complex 3 can emit white light under UV-light irradiation originating from a dichromatic mixture of a blue emission of H 2 MBA and a dominating yellow emission of Dy 3+ ions. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that two Dy(III) complexes are single-molecule magnets with anisotropy barriers of 90(2) and 31(5) cm -1 for 1 and 3 , respectively. The magnet-luminescence-structure correlations as well as relaxation pathways are investigated by ab initio calculations and fluorescent spectrometry.

One-dimensional zig-zag chain and two-dimensional network dysprosium(iii) single-molecule toroics with anisotropy barriers of about 5 and 31 cm-1 under a zero dc field are reported. These are the first one- and two- dimensional homometallic single-molecule toroics reported to date. Furthermore, the two complexes also display white-light emission under UV-light irradiation.

The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, produces natural rubber that serves as an essential industrial raw material. Here, we present a high-quality reference genome for a rubber tree cultivar GT1 using single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) and Hi-C technologies to anchor the ∼1.47-Gb genome assembly into 18 pseudochromosomes. The chromosome-based genome analysis enabled us to establish a model of spurge chromosome evolution, since the common paleopolyploid event occurred before the split of Hevea and Manihot. We show recent and rapid bursts of the three Hevea-specific LTR-retrotransposon families during the last 10 million years, leading to the massive expansion by ∼65.88% (∼970 Mbp) of the whole rubber tree genome since the divergence from Manihot. We identify large-scale expansion of genes associated with whole rubber biosynthesis processes, such as basal metabolic processes, ethylene biosynthesis, and the activation of polysaccharide and glycoprotein lectin, which are important properties for latex production. A map of genomic variation between the cultivated and wild rubber trees was obtained, which contains ∼15.7 million high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We identified hundreds of candidate domestication genes with drastically lowered genomic diversity in the cultivated but not wild rubber trees despite a relatively short domestication history of rubber tree, some of which are involved in rubber biosynthesis. This genome assembly represents key resources for future rubber tree research and breeding, providing novel targets for improving plant biotic and abiotic tolerance and rubber production., (Copyright © 2019 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The combination of magnetic interaction with high magnetic anisotropy provides a promising way for modulating/fine-tuning molecular magnetic behaviors. Here, we show the building block approach for the synthesis of a family of dilanthanide single-molecule magnets (SMMs) bridged with a cyanometallate starting from a monolanthanide SMM. Contingent on the central para-/diamagnetic [M(CN) 6 ] 3- (M = Fe, Co) integrated between two highly anisotropic pentagonal-bipyramid Dy(III) subunits, the remanence of magnetization is OFF/ON below 15 K and they respectively display a record reversal barrier of 659 K among d-f SMMs and 975 K among cyano-bridged SMMs.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) has a mean survival time of 6 months and accounts for 1-2% of all thyroid tumors. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and progression in ATC would contribute to the identification of novel therapeutic targets. A previous study revealed that microRNA (miR)-599 was associated with tumor initiation and development in certain types of cancer. However, the specific functions and mechanisms of miR-599 in ATC are poorly understood. The objective of the present study was to identify its expression, function and molecular mechanism in ATC. The expression levels of miR-599 in 10 pairs of surgical specimens and human ATC cell lines were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Function assays illustrated that miR-599 overexpression not only suppressed KAT-18 cell viability, proliferation and metastasis in vitro and decreased tumor growth in the tumor xenograft model but also induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, T-cell intracellular antigen (TIA1), a tumor suppressor, was confirmed as a direct target of miR-599. It was demonstrated that TIA1 silencing rescued the inhibitory effect of migration and invasion induced by the overexpression of miR-599 in KAT-18 cells. In conclusion, the present study revealed that miR-599 inhibited ATC cell growth and metastasis via activation of TIA1. Therefore miR-599 may be a novel molecular therapeutic target for ATC.

Four isostructural dinuclear lanthanide complexes based on 4-azotriazolyl-3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (H 3 ATNA) and 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (H 2 NA) ligands, {[Ln 2 (HATNA) 2 (HNA) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ]·6DMF} (Ln = Dy (1), Tb (2), Sm (3), Eu (4); DMF = N, N-dimethylformamide) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction crystallography, dc/ac magnetic characterization, and fluorescent spectrometry. The crystallographic data reveal dinuclear lanthanide cores of complexes 1-4, bridged by phenoxo and μ 1,3 carboxyl groups. Each nine-coordinated Ln(III) ion is located in a slightly distorted monocapped square antiprism. The ligand of H 3 ATNA displays a unique antenna effect in complex 4. Complexes 1-3 display only two ligand-centered fluorescent emissive peaks around 450 and 600 nm, and complex 4 shows four characteristic Eu(III)-centered emission bands at 593, 618, 653, and 698 nm under excitation at 348 nm. Complex 1 exhibits single-molecule magnet behavior that is rationalized through ab initio calculations.

Four 3-(tetrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrid-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (H 2 TPT) based complexes of [Co 2 (TPT) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] (1), [Mn 2 (TPT) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] (2), [Mn(TPT)(H 2 O) 2 ] n (3) and [Cu(TPT)] n (4) have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. Complexes 1 and 2 display isostructural dinuclear structures, while complex 3 exhibits a 1D zigzag chain structure. The structural difference for 2 and 3 may be caused by 100 and 160 °C temperature-controlled conditions. Complex 4 is a 3D framework structure in which the Cu 2+ ion is in square pyramid coordination geometry. Complexes 1-4 display good thermal stability evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. Complexes 1 and 4 show very strong antiferromagnetic interactions. The electrocatalytic oxygen evolution of complexes 1-4 was tested under neutral conditions, which revealed that the four complexes possess electrocatalytic oxygen evolution activity. Complex 1 exhibits a current density of 10.0 mA cm -2 at a potential of 2.00 V (vs. RHE), presenting 50-fold improvement in specific activity over the glassy carbon electrode.

A family of dinuclear dysprosium cores bridged by different ligands within a polyoxometalates (POMs) framework, (TBA) 8.5 H 1.5 [(PW 11 O 39 ) 2 Dy 2 X 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·6H 2 O (X = OH (1), F (2), OAc (3); TBA = tetra- n-butylammonium), was successfully synthesized and structurally characterized. Magnetic studies indicate that the bridging ligands can significantly affect the magnetic behaviors, with 1 and 3 showing antiferromagnetic coupling and 2 bridged by fluoride ions showing ferromagnetic interaction. 1 and 2 behaved as single-molecule magnets (SMMs) with the thermally activated energy barrier of 98(5) and 74(6) cm -1 under zero dc filed, respectively, whereas no SMM behavior was observed for 3 bridged by two μ-η 1 :η 2 -acetato ligands. Notably, the low-temperature fluorescence spectra of 1-3 provide valuable information on the energy levels, which are consistent with the anisotropic barriers determined by magnetic measurements. These results offer an insight into the magneto-optical correlation. Furthermore, the effective energy barrier of 1 reaches a breakthrough among all POM-based SMMs.

A new salicylaldehyde-based azo dye 5-azotriazolyl-3-methoxysalicylaldehyde (H2TMSA) and its two Ln3+ complexes {[Ln(HTMSA)3(H2O)2][Ln(HTMSA)3(DMF)(H2O)]}·15H2O (Ln = Dy(1) and Tb(2)) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, Raman, 1H NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. H2TMSA shows an azo form in acidic (pH < 5.05) and strong basic (pH > 12.41) conditions, and a pH-dependent azo-hydrazone tautomerism in the range of pH 5.05 to 12.41, which is demonstrated by the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that 1 and 2 are isostructural complexes in which the Ln3+ ions are surrounded by six oxygen atoms from three dichelate HTMSA- ligands and two oxygen atoms from two solvent molecules forming a distorted square-antiprismatic geometry. Complex 1 shows distinct slow magnetic relaxation under a zero dc field, while 2 displays field-induced slow magnetic relaxation. Ab initio calculations were performed on the two complexes to understand their magnetic anisotropy and their different magnetic dynamics.

Upon dehydration, a dinuclear Fe(ii)-Dy(iii) cluster {FeDy(H2O)2} undergoes two-step single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation, giving another dinuclear cluster {FeDy(H2O)} and finally a tetranuclear cluster {Fe2Dy2}. Further, both the single crystals of {FeDy(H2O)} and {Fe2Dy2} can return to {FeDy(H2O)2} by rehydration. This multistep SCSC transformation leads to notable OFF/Part/ON switching of single-molecule magnet behaviour.

Two structurally intriguing dysprosium(III)-substituted polyoxometalates, [Dy 6 (ampH) 4 (H 2 O) 23 (ampH 2 )(PW 11 O 39 ) 2 ] (1) and [Dy 9 (CO 3 ) 3 (ampH) 2 (H 2 O) 12 (PW 10 O 37 ) 6 ] 35- (2), are assembled by the same precursor under different pH conditions. The structure of 1 contains an octahedral {Dy 6 (ampH) 4 } core, and a unique windmill-type {Dy 9 (CO 3 ) 3 (ampH) 2 } for 2. Single-molecule magnet behavior is observed for 2 with a thermally activated energy barrier of 56 K and no appreciable quantum tunneling of magnetization under zero field.

A 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (NH 2 -trz) based linear trinuclear Fe(ii) complex of [Fe 3 (NH 2 -trz) 6 (SCN) 4 (H 2 O) 2 ](SCN) 2 ·H 2 O (1) has been hydrothermally synthesized by the reaction of a NH 2 -trz ligand with FeSO 4 . A single crystal of complex 1 is able to extrude one lattice water and one coordinated water, leading to another single crystal of complex 1a with a formula [Fe 3 (NH 2 -trz) 6 (SCN) 5 (H 2 O)](SCN) by heating. Complex 1a can be reversed to 1 upon the reabsorption of water. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that these two complexes consist of a linear trinuclear core where a central Fe1 ion is coordinated to six nitrogen atoms from six bridged NH 2 -trz ligands and one of the terminal Fe2 ions is coordinated to five nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The terminal Fe3 ion in 1 coordinates to five nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom; however, the terminal Fe3 ion in 1a coordinates to six nitrogen atoms. Magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate that they exhibited gradual spin crossover (SCO) for the central Fe(ii) ion; however, different spin transition temperatures were displayed for complexes 1 and 1a (T 1/2 = 202 K for 1 and 160 K for 1a). These different spin transition temperatures arise from the different intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in the two complexes.

Metabolic disorders are classified clinically as a complex and varied group of diseases including metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. Fat toxicity, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress, which may change cellular functions, are considered to play an essential role in the pathogenetic progress of metabolic disorders. Recent studies have found that cells secrete nanoscale vesicles containing proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and membrane receptors, which mediate signal transduction and material transport to neighboring and distant cells. Exosomes, one type of such vesicles, are reported to participate in multiple pathological processes including tumor metastasis, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Research on exosomes has focused mainly on the proteins they contain, but recently the function of exosome-associated microRNA has drawn a lot of attention. Exosome-associated microRNAs regulate the physiological function and pathological processes of metabolic disorders. They may also be useful as novel diagnostics and therapeutics given their special features of non-immunogenicity and quick extraction. In this paper, we summarize the structure, content, and functions of exosomes and the potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of exosome-associated microRNAs in the treatment of metabolic disorders.

A wheel-shaped Dy(iii) single-molecule magnet (SMM), supported by polyoxotungstates, Cs 15 K 8 Na 12 [K⊂{(AsW 9 O 33 )Dy(H 2 O) 2 } 6 ]·71H 2 O (1), is described here. The polyanion of 1 possesses an idealized S 6 symmetry. The effective energy barrier (68 K) obtained from magnetic studies is consistent with the deconvolution of the luminescence spectra of 1.

Hydrothermal reactions of metal nitrates and ligand bis(5-(pyridine-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methane (H 2 L 1 ) gave three cluster compounds, {Cr 2 }, {Zn 12 } and {Fe 8 }. Notably, methylene group of H 2 L 1 was in situ oxidized either to hydroxymethylated (L 2 -O) 3- in the metallo-ring {Zn 12 } or to a rigid carbonylated (L 3 =O) 2- in the screw-type {Fe 8 }. In light of comparative experimental results, NO 3 - was deduced to be of a catalytic role in the ligand oxidation. Metal ion could be regarded as an "induced" tool for clusters generation in self-assembly process., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

This study was performed to evaluate effects of Armillariella tabescens (A. tabescens) on the growth performance and intestinal immune response and microflora in early-weaned pigs when used as feed additive. A. tabescens mycelia were added to basal diets at concentrations of 0%, 0.1%, 0.3% or 0.9% (w/w). A total of 144 commercial cross-bred piglets were randomly allocated to one of these four diets and fed for 30 days. The growth performance of early-weaned piglets displayed improvement with diets containing 0.1% and 0.3% dried mycelia powder from A. tabescens. Supplementing with 0.1% or 0.3% A. tabescens mycelia induced a 2.6- and three-fold increase in secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) content in the jejunal mucosa, respectively, but had only a marginal effect on sIgA in the ileal mucosa. Expression of interleukin-2, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the jejunal mucosa were elevated with A. tabescens mycelia administration. Increased amounts of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. in the jejunum, and decreased amounts of Escherichia coli in the jejunum and ileum were observed with the administration of A. tabescens-containing diets. This study demonstrated that A. tabescens had beneficial effects on the growth performance and intestinal microflora of early-weaned pigs., (© 2017 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

A bifunctional dysprosium(III) dimer, [Dy 2 (HTPEIP OMe ) 2 (OAc) 4 (NO 3 ) 2 ] (1), comprising an AIE-active (AIE = aggregation-induced emission) ligand of 2-methoxy-6-[[[4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl]imino]methyl]phenol (HTPEIP OMe ), was successfully synthesized. It not only behaves as a single-molecule magnet (SMM) with an energy barrier of 168(15) K at zero field but also exhibits piezochromism during the pressing-fuming cycle with switchable color, photoluminescence, and magnetic response.

Reversible crystal-to-crystal transformation between a linear trinuclear Fe(ii) complex [Fe 3 (NH 2 -trz) 6 (SCN) 5 (H 2 O)] (SCN)·4H 2 O (1, NH 2 -trz = 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole) and a 1D chain [Fe 3 (NH 2 -trz) 6 (SCN) 5 ] n (SCN) n (1a) and the SCO behaviour change have been studied by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, magnetic measurements and DSC. Complex 1a exhibits one more SCO step at a low temperature.

Introduction: Duodenal lipoma is very rare with limited case reports present in literature. Owing to recent advances in endoscopy and modern imaging techniques, more cases are being diagnosed and treated. However, no systematic study of duodenal lipomas has been reported., Aim: To study the diagnosis and treatment of duodenal lipoma in a female patient and review the relative literatures to enhance the knowledge of it., Materials and Methods: A literature search for 'duodenal lipoma' was performed on PubMed. Papers published from 1948 to 2016 in the English language were identified. Each article was then read in detail and analysed for clinical data, imaging features, diagnosis and therapy. Also, we hereby present a case of upper gastrointestinal obstruction secondary to multiple duodenal lipomas in a 67-year-old woman. The patient underwent a limited bowel resection with an uneventful recovery., Results: Literature review demonstrated 59 cases of duodenal lipoma, which indicate that duodenal lipomas are rare to occur but commonly found in the second part. The peak of incidence seems to be around the fifth and seventh decade of life. Duodenal lipomas may present as gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, obstruction or upper abdominal fullness. CT, MRI, Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), endoscopy are highly accurate diagnostic tools. The disease could be managed by endoscopy or surgery., Conclusion: Our review of literature indicated duodenal lipoma is extremely rare. The symptoms are nonspecific and CT is the first choice for diagnosis. The treatment depends on the patient's condition as well as the size and position of the tumour.

Intra-guild predation (IGP) is an important phenomenon structuring ecological communities and affects the success of biological control. Here we show that parasitism by the koinobiont wasp Cotesia vestalis is associated with behavioural changes in its larval host (diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella) that reduce risk of IGP. Compared with unparasitised caterpillars, parasitised P. xylostella moved less frequently to new feeding patches on plants and were less likely to fall from the plant. Wolf spiders killed significantly fewer parasitised larvae. Reflecting their reduced movement and capacity to select plant tissue of optimal quality, parasitised caterpillars fed at a lower rate and exhibited delayed development suggesting a trade-off between IGP avoidance and nutrient intake by the host. This change in behaviour to reduce risk may cascade to the first trophic level and help explain the stability of IGP systems.

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility, safety, and technical strategies of hand-assisted laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision (HAL-CME) and to compare oncological outcomes between HAL-CME and the open approach (O-CME) for right colon cancers., Methods: Patients who were scheduled to undergo a right hemicolectomy were divided into HAL-CME and O-CME groups. Measured outcomes included demographic variables, perioperative parameters, and follow-up data. Demographic variables included age, sex distribution, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification, previous abdominal surgery, tumor localization, and potential comorbidities. Perioperative parameters included incision length, operative time, blood loss, conversion rate, postoperative pain score, postoperative first passage of flatus, duration of hospital stay, total cost, number of lymph nodes retrieved, TNM classification, and postoperative complications. Follow-up data included follow-up time, use of chemotherapy, local recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate, and short-term survival rate., Results: In total, 150 patients (HAL-CME, 78; O-CME, 72) were included. The groups were similar in age, sex distribution, BMI, ASA classification, history of previous abdominal surgeries, tumor localization, and potential comorbidities. Patients in the HAL-CME group had shorter incision lengths, longer operative times, less operative blood loss, lower pain scores, earlier first passage of flatus, shorter hospital stay, higher total costs, similar numbers of lymph nodes retrieved, similar TNM classifications, and a comparable incidence of postoperative complications. The 2 groups were also similar in local recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate, and short-term survival rate., Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the HAL-CME procedure is a safe, valid, and feasible surgical method for right hemicolon cancers., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Chromatic dispersion from optical fiber is the most important problem that produces temporal skews and destroys the rectangular structure of code patterns in the spectra-amplitude-coding-based optical code-division multiple-access (SAC-OCDMA) system. Thus, the balance detection scheme does not work perfectly to cancel multiple access interference (MAI) and the system performance will be degraded. Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is the fastest developing technology in the academic and industrial fields of wireless transmission. In this study, the radio-over-fiber system is realized by integrating OFDM and OCDMA via polarization multiplexing scheme. The electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) equalizer element of OFDM integrated with the dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) is used in the proposed radio-over-fiber (RoF) system, which can efficiently suppress the chromatic dispersion influence in long-haul transmitted distance. A set of length differences for 10 km-long single-mode fiber (SMF) and 4 km-long DCF is to verify the compensation scheme by relative equalizer algorithms and constellation diagrams. In the simulation result, the proposed dispersion mechanism successfully compensates the dispersion from SMF and the system performance with dispersion equalizer is highly improved., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that regulate gene expression by modifying chromatin structure through removal of acetyl groups from target histones or non-histone proteins. Previous in vitro studies suggest that HDACs may be novel pharmacological targets in immune-mediated islet β-cell destruction. However, the role of specific HDAC in islet β-cell development and function remain unclear. Here, we generated a conditional islet β-cells specific HDAC3 deletion mouse model to determine the consequences of HDAC3 depletion on islet β-cell differentiation, maintenance and function. Islet morphology, insulin secretion, glucose tolerance, and multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes incidence were evaluated and compared between HDAC3 knockout and wild type littermate controls. Mice with β-cell-specific HDAC3 deletion displayed decreased pancreatic insulin content, disrupted glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, with intermittent spontaneous diabetes and dramatically enhanced susceptibility to STZ-induced diabetes. Furthermore, islet β-cell line, MIN6 cells with siRNA-mediated HDAC3 silence, showed decreased insulin gene transcription, which was mediated, at least partially, through the upregulation of suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3). These results indicate the critical role of HDAC3 in normal β-cell differentiation, maintenance and function., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTREST The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest associated with this manuscript.

The aim of this study is to introduce a new technique of modified spontaneously closed defunctioning tube ileostomy after anterior resection of the rectum for rectal cancer with a low colorectal anastomosis. Patients with rectal cancer who underwent anterior resection of rectum with a low colorectal anastomosis and chose a modified defunctioning tube ileostomy between March 2012 and August 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on the success of the operation procedures, post-operative hospital stay, and post-operative tube ileostomy-related complications were analyzed. One hundred fifty-two patients (87 males and 65 females; 57.1 ± 17.4 years) undergoing the modified defunctioning tube ileostomy after anterior resection for rectal cancer were included. The post-operative hospital stay was 11.9 ± 3.2 days. The tube was removed on days 22.6 ± 4.1 after operation and the ileostomy wound closed spontaneously within 13.1 ± 1.9 days. Twenty-five patients felt tube-associated pain or discomfort, which was relieved after a period of adaptation and appropriate tube adjustment. Nine patients suffered from tube blockage and were treated successfully with saline irrigation. Two patients had intestinal obstruction, which was resolved with conservative treatment. Three patients developed leakage of the distal anastomosis: two were successfully treated with conservative measures and the other completely recovered after reoperation. The modified spontaneously closed defunctioning tube ileostomy appears efficacious and safe. This technique may be used to protect the distal anastomosis and simultaneously decrease the ileostomy complications, and minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with stoma takedown.

Colonic schwannomas are rare gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors, and only a limited number of cases has been reported. The occurrence of these tumors is less common in the large intestine than in the stomach. The present study reports a case of colonic schwannoma in a 62-year-old female patient with no specific symptoms. The patient was diagnosed with a mass in the ascending colon by colonoscopy and abdominal computed tomography scanning. A right hemicolectomy was performed. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was ascending schwannoma. This case is noteworthy as colonic schwannomas are rare and are typically treated as colon cancer. No recurrence of the lesion was observed after 24 months of follow-up.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of antegrade continence enema (Malone operation) in abdominoperineal resection (Miles' operation). Between January 2008 and May 2009, five cancer patients (two men and three women) underwent abdominoperineal resection and digestive reconstruction by perineal colostomy and Malone antegrade continence enema in our institution. Their functional results and quality of life were recorded. None of the patients died, but two had wound infections and one experienced urinary retention. Patients performed antegrade enema every 24 h with 2,000 mL of normal saline by themselves. The duration of the enema lasted for an average of approximately 35 min, and fecal contamination was not detected at 24 h. Patient satisfaction was determined to be 88 %. Malone antegrade continence enema associated with abdominoperineal resection and perineal colostomy provided acceptable continence. It preserved the body image of the patients and resulted in a satisfactory quality of life. It is a potential alternative for patients who are not willing to have a permanent colostomy.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is a sacrococcygeal neoplasm derived from more than one primitive germ layer and is only occasionally encountered in adults. The primary treatment for all primary SCTs is surgical excision. The present study reports the case of a giant SCT in a middle-aged female with a history lasting >3 decades. Multi-staged surgical treatment was performed, including ileostomy plus tumor excision, four debridement plus flap repair procedures, and closure of the ileostomy. Follow-up showed improved quality of life without evidence of local recurrence after resection. The study also presents a brief overview of the relevant literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of multi-staged surgical treatment for giant SCT in an adult patient.

Extracolonic invasion of the duodenum and/or pancreatic head rarely occurs in patients with right hemicolon cancer. However, when necessary, combined radical operation is a challenge to the surgeon. We reported 7 patients with locally advanced right hemicolon cancer who underwent combined right hemicolectomy (RH) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) due to direct involvement of the duodenum or pancreatic head. This study included four males and three females with a mean age of 66.9+/-5.9 years. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed right hemicolon cancer with duodenal invasion (5 patients) and pancreatic invasion (2). The mean operation time was 410+/-64 minutes and the estimated blood loss was 514+/-157 mL. After the operation, the mean postoperative hospital stay was 22.1+/-7.2 days. Five patients had postoperative complications. The mean follow-up time was 16.4+/-5.9 months. During this period, three patients died from tumor recurrence, one from postoperative complications, one from pulmonary disease, and two survived until the last scheduled follow-up. Five patients survived more than one year. Combined RH and PD for locally advanced right hemicolon cancer can be performed safely, thus providing a long-term survival rate in selected patients in a high-volume center.