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Author(s): Ruoxin Zhang [1]; Fan Chen [1]; Junyong Weng [1]; Zilan Ye [1]; Xinxiang Li (corresponding author) [1] INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most prevalent malignancy globally.[sup.[1]] [...], Objective: Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) serve as pivotal tumor markers in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, uncertainty persists regarding the prognostic significance of the two tumor markers when falling within the normal range. We attempt to compare the prognostic differences of tumor markers at different levels within the reference range. Methods: This retrospective study scrutinized 2,167 cases of stage II CRC verified by pathology after surgery at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Using R software to calculate the optimal critical value to compare the clinical and pathological characteristics and prognosis of different levels of tumor markers. The survival and regression modeling strategies packages of R software drew the nomograms. Results: Utilizing R software, the optimal critical value of CA19-9 was determined as 12.12 U/mL and that of CEA as 1.89 U/mL. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis unveiled that, within the normal range, higher levels of CEA were linked to poorer overall survival (OS) [HR = 1.829 (1.280, 2.989), P = 0.0033] and disease-free survival (DFS) [HR = 1.472 (1.114, 1.944), P = 0.0444]. Similarly, heightened levels of CA19-9 also indicated inferior OS [HR = 1.750 (1.203, 2.455), P = 0.0076] and DFS [HR = 1.361 (1.098, 1.686), P = 0.0049]. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified CA19-9 as an independent risk factor for OS (HR = 1.49,95 CI: 1.086-2.045, P = 0.014) and DFS (HR = 1.327,95 CI: 1.070-1.647, P = 0.01), while the impact of CEA on OS and DFS was not statistically significant. A nomogram constructed based on the Cox regression model can effectively evaluate the prognosis of CRC patients. Conclusion: Although within the normal range, elevated CA19-9 was associated with an inferior prognosis, chemotherapy decisions of different intensities can be adjusted based on nomograms. This work will contribute to standardizing the diagnosis and treatment of stage II CRC and provide clinicians with essential insights for chemotherapy decisions. Keywords: CA19-9, CEA, colorectal cancer, chemotherapy decisions, survival

Author(s): Zhichao Li [1]; Gang Wang [1]; Guoliang Xue [1]; Nan Wang [1]; Yanting Hu [1]; Pikun Cao [1]; Hongchao Cai [1]; Zhigang Wei (corresponding author) [1]; Xin Ye (corresponding [...], Osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has revolutionized one of the standard most efficient treatments for EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR-TKI, is currently one of most efficient treatments in clinical practice. However, it has a potentially fatal side effect: interstitial lung disease (ILD). When severe ILD occurs, a drug substitution is often required, and there is a rising concern about which drug to choose to inhibit the progression of NSCLC and avoid aggravating while alleviating ILD. Herein, we report an NSCLC case with osimertinib-induced ILD successfully rechallenged by almonertinib. In addition, we conducted a literature review on the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of almonertinib, hoping to provide insight into NSCLC treatment. Keywords: Almonertinib, interstitial lung disease, non-small cell lung cancer, osimertinib

This expert consensus reviews current literature and provides clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple ground glass nodule-like lung cancer. The main contents of this review include the following: ① follow-up strategies, ② differential diagnosis, ③ diagnosis and staging, ④ treatment methods, and ⑤ post-treatment follow-up. Keywords: Multiple ground glass nodule-like lung cancer, multiple primary lung cancer, pulmonary ground glass nodule, Author(s): Baodong Liu (corresponding author) [1]; Xin Ye (corresponding author) [2]; Weijun Fan (corresponding author) [3]; Xiuyi Zhi (corresponding author) [1]; Haitao Ma [4]; Jun Wang [2]; Peng Wang [5]; [...]

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing worldwide. Approximately, 60 of patients with pancreatic cancer have distant metastases at the time of diagnosis, of which only 10 can be removed using standard resection. Further, patients derive limited benefits from chemotherapy or radiotherapy. As such, alternative methods to achieve local control have emerged, including permanent iodine-125 seed interstitial brachytherapy. In 2023, the Chinese College of Interventionalists, affiliated with the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, organized a group of multi-disciplinary experts to compose guidelines for this treatment modality. The aim of this conference was to standardize the procedure for permanent iodine-125 seed interstitial brachytherapy, including indications, contraindications, pre-procedural preparation, procedural operations, complications, efficacy evaluation, and follow-up. Keywords: Brachytherapy, guideline, iodine-125, pancreatic cancer, Author(s): Bin Liu [1,2]; Wei Huang [3]; Fujun Zhang [4]; Junjie Wang [5]; Jinhe Guo [6]; Xuequan Huang [7]; Guangyan Lei [8]; Juan Wang [9]; Xin Ye [10]; Ruoyu Wang [...]

Purpose: Determination of the appropriate ablative parameters is the key to the success and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) of lung tumors. The purpose of this study was to provide guidelines and recommendations for the optimal time and power for lung tumor MWA. Material and Methods: MWA using a 2450-MHz system was evaluated in a porcine lung. The independent variables were power (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 W) and time (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 min), and the outcome variable was the volume of ablation. Lung tissues were procured after MWA for measurement and histological evaluation. Analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis, followed by least significant difference (LSD) t-tests where appropriate. A P value of Results: The outcome variable (ablative volume) was significantly affected by time, power, and time/power interaction (P < 0.05). When the total output energy was kept constant, the combination of higher power and shorter time obtained a larger ablative volume, especially in the low- and medium-energy groups (P < 0.01). Conclusions: We propose guidelines for ablative volume based on different time and power variables to provide a reference for clinical applications. Keywords: Microwave ablation, Porcine lung, Power and time, In vitro, Author(s): Hongchao Cai [1]; Guanglian Shan [2]; Zhigang Wei [1]; Wenhua Zhao [1]; Guoliang Xue [1]; Chao Zhang (corresponding author) [3]; Xin Ye (corresponding author) [1] INTRODUCTION With an estimated [...]

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ABSTRACT This literature explores the immunostimulatory effects of thermal ablation in the tumor microenvironment, elucidating the mechanisms such as immunogenic cell death, tumor-specific antigens, and damage-associated molecular patterns. Furthermore, it outlines critical issues associated with thermal ablation-induced immunostimulatory challenges and offers insights into future research avenues and potential therapeutic strategies. Keywords: Immunomodulation, thermal ablation, tumor microenvironment, Author(s): Peng Liu [1]; Zhigang Wei (corresponding author) [1]; Xin Ye (corresponding author) [1] INTRODUCTION Over the past few decades, cancer treatment has significantly progressed.[sup.[1]] Currently, the primary approaches for [...]

Aim: The accurate reconstruction of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) from sparse projections is one of the most important areas for study. The compressed sensing theory has been widely employed in the sparse reconstruction of CBCT. However, the total variation (TV) approach solely uses information from the i-coordinate, j-coordinate, and k-coordinate gradients to reconstruct the CBCT image. Materials and Methods: It is well recognized that the CBCT image can be reconstructed more accurately with more gradient information from different directions. Thus, this study introduces a novel approach, named the new multi-gradient direction total variation minimization method. The method uses gradient information from the ij-coordinate, ik-coordinate, and jk-coordinate directions to reconstruct CBCT images, which incorporates nine different types of gradient information from nine directions. Results: This study assessed the efficacy of the proposed methodology using under-sampled projections from four different experiments, including two digital phantoms, one patient's head dataset, and one physical phantom dataset. The results indicated that the proposed method achieved the lowest RMSE index and the highest SSIM index. Meanwhile, we compared the voxel intensity curves of the reconstructed images to assess the edge structure preservation. Among the various methods compared, the curves generated by the proposed method exhibited the highest level of consistency with the gold standard image curves. Conclusion: In summary, the proposed method showed significant potential in enhancing the quality and accuracy of CBCT image reconstruction. Keywords: Compressed sensing (CS), Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), iterative reconstruction, sparse reconstruction, total variation (TV), Author(s): Junlong Cui [1,2]; Yong Hou [3]; Zekun Jiang [4,5]; Gang Yu [2]; Lan Ye [1]; Qiang Cao (corresponding author) [6]; Qian Sun (corresponding author) [1,7] INTRODUCTION In recent years, [...]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the presence of stem-like CD8 T (CD8 T[sub.SL]) cells in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and explore their relationships with the clinical outcomes. Methods: Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) was performed to identify CD8 T[sub.SL] and antigen-presenting cells (APC) in 76 LUAD patients. Differences in the number of CD8 T[sub.SL] cells based on tumor stage and the spatial relationships between CD8 T[sub.SL] cells and APC niches were determined. The optimal cutoff value of CD8 T[sub.SL] cells for predicting survival in patients with stage I LUAD was calculated. Results: CD8 T[sub.SL] cells were present in all tumors, and their numbers were significantly higher in stage I patients than in stage III patients (P = 0.010); CD8 T[sub.SL] cells located in the APC niches accounted for 69.7 (53/76) of the hotspot fields. The optimal cutoff value for the number of CD8 T[sub.SL] cells required to predict the overall survival (OS) in patients with stage I LUAD was 2.5 per 10000 μm[sup.2]. The median OS and progression-free survival (PFS) in the high-level group (>2.5) were significantly (P < 0.001) longer than those in the low-level group (≤2.5). The number of CD8 T[sub.SL] cells was an independent prognostic factor for stage I LUAD. Patients with more CD8 T[sub.SL] cells had a lower risk of death and disease progression than those with less CD8 T[sub.SL] cells. Conclusion: CD8 T[sub.SL] cells were observed in patients with stages I-III LUAD and might serve as prognostic biomarkers for stage I LUAD. Keywords: Antigen-presenting cells, lung cancer, overall survival, progression-free survival, stem-like CD8 T cells, Author(s): Jing Sang [1,2]; Peng Liu [1]; Meixiang Wang [1]; Fengkuo Xu [1]; Ji Ma [1]; Zhigang Wei (corresponding author) [1]; Xin Ye (corresponding author) [1] INTRODUCTION Lung cancer has [...]

Objective. Postpartum diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) influences women&apos;s appearance and health. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can affect the structure of the rectus abdominis muscles. However, the relationship between GDM and postpartum DRA is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between GDM and postpartum DRA. Methods. This retrospective cohort study included 241 women in the first year postdelivery. Women with GDM were matched with those without GDM using propensity score matching. They underwent an oral glucose tolerance test during pregnancy and a random blood glucose test before delivery. At follow-up, DRA was diagnosed by palpation, and interrectus distance was measured using ultrasound to evaluate the severity of DRA. The strength of the rectus abdominis was evaluated using the manual muscle testing method. Results. Among the 241 participants, 174 (72.2%) had postpartum DRA, and 46 women with GDM were matched with 46 women without GDM on the basis of propensity scores. Women with GDM had higher odds of experiencing postpartum DRA (adjusted odds ratio = 4.792; 95% CI = 1.672 to 13.736) and larger interrectus distance values at the upper part of the rectus abdominis than those without GDM. There was a weak and positive correlation between the fasting oral glucose tolerance test level and the interrectus distance values (0.267 [less than or equal to]r [less than or equal to] 0.367). Conclusion. GDM was associated with postpartum DRA in women in the first year of delivery. Women with GDM had larger interrectus distance values at the upper part of the rectus abdominis than those without GDM. The fasting oral glucose tolerance test level showed a positive and weak correlation with the severity of postpartum DRA. Impact. Women with GDM have higher odds of experiencing postpartum DRA than those without GDM. The upper part of the rectus abdominis deserves increased focus during and after rehabilitation. Controlling the fasting oral glucose tolerance test level may help reduce the severity of postpartum DRA. Keywords: Diastasis Recti, Gestational Diabetes, Postpartum, Introduction Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) refers to the separation of 2 rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba. Women usually develop DRA during pregnancy, and some of them recover spontaneously [...]

Background: Breast cancer is the most common female malignant tumor type globally. The occurrence and development of breast cancer involve ferroptosis, which is closely related to its treatment. The development of breast cancer organoids facilitates the analysis of breast cancer molecular background and tumor biological behavior, including clinical pathological characteristics, drug response, or drug resistance relationship, and promotes the advancement of precision treatment for breast cancer. The three-dimensional (3D) cell culture of breast cancer MCF-7 organoid is more similar to the in vivo environment and thus obtains more realistic results than 2D cell culture. Our study examined the new mechanism of tamoxifen in treating breast cancer through breast cancer MCF-7 organoids. Methods: We used 3D cells to culture breast cancer MCF-7 organoid, as well as tamoxifen-treated MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 (MCF-7 TAMR) cells. We used transcriptome sequencing. We detected GPX4 and SLC7A11 protein levels using Western blotting and the content of ATP, glutathione, and ferrous ions using the Cell Counting Lite 3D Kit. We assessed cell viability using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Results: Tamoxifen significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 organoids and significantly induced ferroptosis in MCF-7 organoids. The ferroptosis inhibitor reversed the significant tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 organoid inhibition activity. Moreover, the ferroptosis activator enhanced the tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 TAMR cell activity inhibition. Conclusion: Our study revealed that ferroptosis plays an important role in tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 organoid cell death and provides a new research idea for precise treatment of breast cancer through an organoid model. Keywords: Ferroptosis, MCF-7, organoids, tamoxifen, Author(s): Lei Ye [1]; Fei Zhong [1]; Shishen Sun [1]; Xiaowei Ou [2]; Jie Yuan [1,2]; Jintao Zhu (corresponding author) [3]; Zhiqiang Zeng (corresponding author) [1,3] INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is [...]

Purpose: To investigate the changes in pulmonary function after computed tomography (CT)-guided microwave ablation (MWA) in patients with a malignant lung tumor. Materials and Methods: From June 2020 to January 2022, 133 patients with a malignant lung tumor who underwent CT-guided percutaneous MWA were included in the study. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed before (the baseline) and 1 month after the MWA. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1%, maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO-SB) at 1 month post MWA were compared with that at the baseline. The time of procedure and post-procedure length of hospital stay were also recorded. Results: The mean VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, MMEF, and DLCO-SB at the baseline and 1 month post MWA were 3.23 ± 0.75 and 3.22 ± 0.77 (P = 0.926), 3.20 ± 0.75 and 3.21 ± 0.77 (P = 0.702), 2.35 ± 0.70 and 2.35 ± 0.71 (P = 0.992), 91.97 ± 23.14 and 91.87 ± 23.16 (P = 0.837), 1.83 ± 0.93 and 1.81 ± 0.95 (P = 0.476), and 6.38 ± 1.67 and 6.32 ± 1.62 (P = 0.389), respectively. There was no significant difference in the PFT results before and 1 month post MWA. The mean time of procedure and post-MWA length of hospital stay were 33 min and 2.5 days, respectively. Conclusions: MWA is a lung parenchyma-sparing local treatment, and pulmonary function at 1 month post MWA was not statistically different from the baseline, indicating that MWA may not affect pulmonary function. Keywords: Lung, microwave ablation, pulmonary function, tumor, Author(s): Zhichao Li [1]; Feng Zhao [2]; Gang Wang [1]; Guoliang Xue [1]; Nan Wang [1]; Pikun Cao [1]; Yanting Hu [1]; Zhigang Wei (corresponding author) [1]; Xin Ye (corresponding [...]

Purpose: To retrospectively examine the imaging characteristics of chest-computed tomography (CT) following percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of the ground-glass nodule (GGN)-like lung cancer and its dynamic evolution over time. Materials and Methods: From June 2020 to May 2021, 147 patients with 152 GGNs (51 pure GGNs and 101 mixed GGNs, mean size 15.0 ± 6.3 mm) were enrolled in this study. One hundred and forty-seven patients underwent MWA procedures. The imaging characteristics were evaluated at predetermined time intervals: immediately after the procedure, 24-48 h, 1, 3, 6, 12, and ≥18 months (47 GGNs). Results: This study population included 147 patients with 152 GGNs, as indicated by the results: 43.5% (66/152) adenocarcinoma in situ, 41.4% (63/152) minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, and 15.1% (23/152) invasive adenocarcinoma. Immediate post-procedure tumor-level analysis revealed that the most common CT features were ground-glass opacities (93.4%, 142/152), hyperdensity within the nodule (90.7%, 138/152), and fried egg sign or reversed halo sign (46.7%, 71/152). Subsequently, 24-48 h post-procedure, ground-glass attenuations, hyperdensity, and the fried egg sign remained the most frequent CT findings, with incidence rates of 75.0% (114/152), 71.0% (108/152), and 54.0% (82/152), respectively. Cavitation, pleural thickening, and consolidation were less frequent findings. At 1 month after the procedure, consolidation of the ablation region was the most common imaging feature. From 3 to 12 months after the procedure, the most common imaging characteristics were consolidation, involutional parenchymal bands and pleural thickening. At ≥18 months after the procedure, imaging features of the ablation zone revealed three changes: involuting fibrosis (80.8%, 38/47), consolidation nodules (12.8%, 6/47), and disappearance (6.4%, 3/47). Conclusions: This study outlined the anticipated CT imaging characteristics of GGN-like lung cancer following MWA. Diagnostic and interventional radiologists should be familiar with the expected imaging characteristics and dynamic evolution post-MWA in order to interpret imaging changes with a reference image. Keywords: Lung cancer, Ground-glass nodule, Microwave ablation, Computed tomography, Imaging feature, Author(s): Guoliang Xue [1]; Wenjing Jia [2]; Gang Wang [1]; Qingshi Zeng [2]; Nan Wang [1]; Zhichao Li [1]; Pikun Cao [1]; Yanting Hu [1]; Jie Xu [3]; Zhigang Wei [...]

Introduction State governments made major changes in how workplace accidents were compensated when they passed workers' compensation laws between 1911 and 1948. The laws required employers to provide compensation to [...]

ABSTRACT Introduction: Microwave ablation (MWA) is an effective and safe approach for the treatment of ground-glass nodule (GGN)-like lung cancer, but long-term follow-up is warranted. Therefore, this multi-center retrospective study aimed to evaluate the results of MWA for the treatment of peripheral GGN-like lung cancer with a long-term follow-up. Materials and Methods: From June 2013 to January 2018, a total of 87 patients (47 males and 40 females, mean age 64.6 ± 10.2 years) with 87 peripheral lung cancer lesions showing GGN (mean long axis diameter, 17 ± 5 mm) underwent computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous MWA. All GGN-like lung cancers were histologically verified. The primary endpoints were local progression-free survival (LPFS) and overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were cancer-specific survival (CSS) and complications. Results: During a median follow-up of 65 months, both the 3-year and 5-year LPFS rates were 96.6 and 96.6. The OS rate was 94.3 at 3 years and 84.9 at 5 years, whereas the 3-year and 5-year CSS rates were 100 and 100, respectively. No periprocedural deaths were observed. Complications were observed in 49 patients (51.6). Grade 3 or higher complications included pneumothorax, pleural effusion, hemorrhage, and pulmonary infection, which were identified in ten (10.5), two (2.1), two (2.1), and one (1.1) patient, respectively. Conclusions: CT-guided percutaneous MWA is an effective, safe, and potentially curative treatment regimen for GGN-like lung cancer. Keywords: Complications, Ground-glass nodules, Lung cancer, Microwave ablation, Survival, Author(s): Xia Yang [1]; Yong Jin [2]; Zhengyu Lin [3]; Xiaoguang Li [4]; Guanghui Huang [1]; Yang Ni [1]; Wenhong Li [1]; Xiaoying Han [1]; Min Meng [1]; Jin Chen [...]

ABSTRACT With the addition of immunotherapy, lung cancer, one of the most common cancers with high mortality rates, has broadened the treatment landscape. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated significant efficacy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are now used as the first-line therapy for metastatic disease, consolidation therapy after radiotherapy for unresectable locally advanced disease, and adjuvant therapy after surgical resection and chemotherapy for resectable disease. The use of adjuvant and neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with early-stage NSCLC, however, is still debatable. We will address several aspects, namely the initial efficacy of monotherapy, the efficacy of combination chemotherapy, immunotherapy-related biomarkers, adverse effects, ongoing randomized controlled trials, and current issues and future directions for immunotherapy in early-stage NSCLC will be discussed here. Keywords: Adjuvant therapy, Immunotherapy, Neoadjuvant therapy, Non-small cell lung cancer, Author(s): Jingyi Gao [1,2]; Chao Zhang (corresponding author) [3]; Zhigang Wei (corresponding author) [2]; Xin Ye (corresponding author) [2] INTRODUCTION Lung cancer is widely regarded as the leading cause of [...]

ABSTRACT Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly aggressive malignancy rising from the biliary tree with poor prognosis. We report the feasibility and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with PD-1 inhibitor and apatinib for the treatment of a patient with unresectable ICC. A 70-year-old female presented with intermittent right upper abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and vomiting after eating for more than one month. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed multiple intrahepatic lesions, retroperitoneal lymph node, and left lung metastasis. Based on the patient&apos;s medical history and pathology, the diagnosis was confirmed as locally advanced unresectable ICC. Multimodal therapy was applied to the ICC. The therapy comprised TACE every three months, and a combination regimen of the PD-1 inhibitor camrelizumab and the antiangiogenic agent apatinib. The patient underwent microwave ablation for a lesion on the left lung that had not responded to systemic therapies. Enhanced CT scan after every 2-3 months was performed. After several sessions, the primary lesion reduced dramatically in size. At 20 months from diagnosis, the patient was alive, in good condition, and stable. The patient experienced no critical complications and toxicity associated with the administered therapies. This case suggests that treatment with TACE combined with systemic therapy of camrelizumab combined with apatinib may be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with inoperable ICC. Keywords: Advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, Microwave ablation, PD-1 inhibitor, Targeted therapy, Transarterial chemoembolization, Author(s): Haitao Zhang [1]; Cuiping Han [1]; Xiaohuan Zheng [1]; Wenhua Zhao [1]; Yuanshui Liu (corresponding author) [1]; Xin Ye (corresponding author) [1] INTRODUCTION Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive [...]

There was once a spring so windy the fields were empty, the people were lifted off their feet, and the sky was dotted with flying leaves. 'My god,' Mole exclaimed [...]

ABSTRACT The standard treatment of stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer is lobectomy with systematic mediastinal lymph node evaluation. Unfortunately, up to 25 of patients with stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer are not candidates for surgery due to severe medical comorbidities (poor cardiopulmonary function). Image-guided thermal ablation is an alternative for those patients, includes radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation (MWA), cryoablation, and laser ablation. Compared to them, MWA is a relatively new technique with some potential advantages, such as faster heating times, higher intralesional temperatures, larger ablation zones, less procedural pain, relative insensitivity to "heat sinks," and less sensitivity to tissue types. However, some advantages of MWA mentioned above (such as higher intralesional temperatures, larger ablation zones) also have potential risks and problems, and an innovative and standardized guidance system is needed to avoid and solve these risks and problems. This article combs our team&apos;s clinical experience over the past decade, summarizes a systematic and standardized guidance system, and names it SPACES (Selection, Procedure, Assessment, Complication, Evaluation, Systemic therapy). Both primary and metastatic pulmonary tumors can be efficiently treated with image-guided thermal ablation in selected candidates. The selection and use of ablation techniques should consider the size and location of the target tumor, the risk of complications, and the expertise and skills of the professionals, among which the size of the target tumor ( Keywords: Complication, ground-glass opacity, lung cancer, microwave abation, pulmonary metastases, Author(s): Zhigang Wei [1,2]; Xia Yang [3]; Jing Wu [4]; Peng Zhang [5]; Guanghui Huang [3]; Yang Ni [3]; Guoliang Xue [1]; Xin Ye (corresponding author) [1] INTRODUCTION The standard [...]

ABSTRACT Lung cancer is a common type of carcinoma and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The two broad histological subtypes of lung cancer are non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for 85 of cases and includes adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), which accounts for 15 of cases. Substantial improvements in treatment have led to remarkable progress and changed outcomes for many patients in the past two decades. However, with prolonged survival time and awareness of repeat biopsy, more and more patients with lung cancer have been found to undergo a histological transformation during treatment, with lung adenocarcinoma (LAdC) to SCLC transformation being the most frequent. In this article, we summarized findings on the mechanism, clinical characteristics, therapeutic strategies, and predictors of the transformation of LAdC to SCLC. A non-systematic narrative review was performed using the Pubmed/MEDLINE (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health) database with the following keywords: "transformation from NSCLC to SCLC," "transformation from lung adenocarcinoma to small-cell lung cancer," "NSCLC transformation in SCLC," and "NSCLC and transformation and SCLC." Articles published until June 2022 were analyzed. Search results were limited to human studies without restriction for language. Keywords: Lung adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung cancer, transformation, Author(s): Aiguang Wang [1]; Cuiping Han [1]; Hui Zhao [2]; Zhaomin Zheng [1]; Xin Ye (corresponding author) [1]; Rong Shan (corresponding author) [2] INTRODUCTION Lung cancer is a common type [...]

ABSTRACT Background: Microwave ablation (MWA) of lung tumors is a technique that is dependent on the ablationist&apos;s level of expertise. The selection of the optimum puncture path and determination of appropriate ablative parameters is the key to the success and safe of the procedure. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical use of a novel three-dimensional visualization ablation planning system (3D-VAPS) for aided MWA of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: This was a single-arm, single-center, retrospective study. From May 2020 to July 2022, 113 consented patients with stage I NSCLC received MWA treatment in 120 MWA sessions. The 3D-VAPS was used to determine that (1) the overlap between the gross tumor region and simulated ablation; (2) the proper posture and appropriate puncture site on the surface of the body; (3) the puncture path; and (4) presetting preliminarily ablative parameters. Patients were monitored with contrast-enhanced CT scans at 1, 3, and 6 months, as well as every 6 months following that. The primary endpoints were technical success and a complete ablation rate. Local progression-free survival (LPFS), overall survival (OS), and comorbidities were secondary study objectives. Results: The mean diameter of tumors was 1.9 ± 0.4 cm (range 0.9-2.5 cm). The mean duration was 5.34 ± 1.28 min (range 3.0-10.0 min). The mean power output was 42.58 ± 4.23 (range 30.0-50.0W). The median follow-up time was 19.0 months (6.0-26.0 months). The technical success rate was 100. Three-month after the procedure, the complete ablation rate was 97.35. 6, 9, 12, and 24 months LPFS rates were 100, 98.23, 98.23, and 96.46, respectively. One-year and 2-year OS rates were 100 and 100. There were no patients who died both during the procedure and after the MWA of 30 days. The complications after MWA included pneumothorax (38.33), pleural effusion (26.67), intrapulmonary hemorrhage (31.67), and pulmonary infection (2.50). Conclusions: This research describes and confirms that 3D-VAPS is a feasibility and safe method for MWA of stage I NSCLC treatment. 3D-VAPS may be helpful to optimize the puncture path, assess reasonable ablative parameters, and minimize complications. Keywords: Microwave ablation, non-small cell lung cancer, three-dimensional visualization planning system, Author(s): Yanting Hu [1]; Guoliang Xue [1]; Xinyu Liang [1,2]; Jing Wu [3]; Peng Zhang [4]; Nan Wang [1]; Zhichao Li [1]; Pikun Cao [1]; Gang Wang [1]; Hongchao Cai [...]

Measurement of liquid’s evaporation rate is important for basic research, industrial, environment protection, daily life, and so on. There are kinds of evaluation methods for evaporation rate, such as mass sensors, charge coupled device camera (CCD), laser interferometer, optical fiber, capacitance sensor, and so on. Here, we show that microwave near-field sensing using a high-sensitivity resonant coaxial transmission line probe can be used to monitor the evaporation rate of both liquid droplet and liquid level. Due to the evanescent field around the tip of the coaxial probe, the proposed method is sensitive to mass, size as well as composition variation of the liquid under evaluation. With a coaxial probe working at ~1.8 GHz, we demonstrate evaporation rate evaluation of both pendant and sessile droplets as well as liquid level. The effect of air flow and temperature on evaporation is also presented. Besides, the low-cost version of the proposed method is verified. The proposed technique has potential applicability to many fields related to evaporation.

ABSTRACTMacroautophagy/autophagy activation in renal tubular epithelial cells protects against acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the role of immune cell autophagy, such as that involving macrophages, in AKI remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that macrophage autophagy was an adaptive response during AKI as mice with macrophage-specific autophagy deficiency (atg5−/−) exhibited higher serum creatinine, more severe renal tubule injury, increased infiltration of ADGRE1/F4/80+macrophages, and elevated expression of inflammatory factors compared to WT mice during AKI induced by either LPS or unilateral ischemia-reperfusion. This was further supported by adoptive transfer of atg5−/−macrophages, but not WT macrophages, to cause more severe AKI in clodronate liposomes-induced macrophage depletion mice. Similar results were also obtained in vitro that bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) lacking Atg5largely increased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in response to LPS and IFNG. Mechanistically, we uncovered that atg5deletion significantly upregulated the protein expression of TARM1 (T cell-interacting, activating receptor on myeloid cells 1), whereas inhibition of TARM1 suppressed LPS- and IFNG-induced inflammatory responses in atg5−/−RAW 264.7 macrophages. The E3 ubiquitin ligases MARCHF1 and MARCHF8 ubiquitinated TARM1 and promoted its degradation in an autophagy-dependent manner, whereas silencing or mutation of the functional domains of MARCHF1 and MARCHF8 abolished TARM1 degradation. Furthermore, we found that ubiquitinated TARM1 was internalized from plasma membrane into endosomes, and then recruited by the ubiquitin-binding autophagy receptors TAX1BP1 and SQSTM1 into the autophagy-lysosome pathway for degradation. In conclusion, macrophage autophagy protects against AKI by inhibiting renal inflammation through the MARCHF1- and MARCHF8-mediated degradation of TARM1.Abbreviations:AKI, acute kidney injury; ATG, autophagy related; Baf, bafilomycin A1; BMDMs, bone marrow-derived macrophages; CCL2/MCP-1, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2; CHX, cycloheximide; CQ, chloroquine; IFNG, interferon gamma; IL, interleukin; IR, ischemia-reperfusion; MAP1LC3/LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; MARCHF, membrane associated ring-CH-type finger; NC, negative control; NFKB, nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells; NLRP3, NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3; NOS2, nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible; Rap, rapamycin; Wort, wortmannin; RT-qPCR, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; Scr, serum creatinine; SEM, standard error of mean; siRNA, small interfering RNA; SYK, spleen tyrosine kinase; TARM1, T cell-interacting, activating receptor on myeloid cells 1; TAX1BP1, Tax1 (human T cell leukemia virus type I) binding protein 1; TECs, tubule epithelial cells; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; WT, wild type.

Laparoscopic surgery is increasingly used for rectal cancer, but the long-term oncological outcomes for low rectal cancer have not been fully established. We aimed to evaluate the 3-year survival outcomes of laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery in the treatment of low rectal cancer.

At present, the synthesis results of planetary gear train are saved in the form of adjacency matrices. Research on the sketching method of gear train mechanism is lacking. Adjacency matrices are not conducive to the kinematic analysis and evaluation of gear train mechanism. This study presents a new method for automatic sketching of planetary gear trains by generating a gear distribution matrix. The sketching rules of gears and planet carriers are established based on the structure characteristics. The gear is reasonably distributed by analyzing the gear meshing path and gear level. Thereafter, an algorithm of sketching for the planet carrier is proposed to avoid the line crossing between the planet carrier and gears. This study is beneficial in improving the design efficiency of planetary gear trains.

Esculetin (ESC) is a coumarin-derived phytochemical prevalent in traditional Chinese medicine that exhibits anti-acute ischemic stroke activities. Our previous studies demonstrate that CKLF1 is a potential anti-stroke target for coumarin-derived compound. In this study we investigated whether CKLF1 was involved in the neuroprotective effects of ESC against photothrombotic stroke in mice. The mice were treated with ESC (20, 40 or 80 mg·kg−1·d−1, i.g.) for two weeks. The therapeutic effect of ESC was assessed using MRI, neurological function evaluation, and a range of behavioral tests on D1, 3, 7 and 14 of ESC administration. We showed that oral administration of ESC dose-dependently reduced the cerebral infarction volume within one week after stroke, improved behavioral performance, and alleviated neuropathological damage within two weeks. Functional MRI revealed that ESC significantly enhanced the abnormal low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) value of the motor cortex and promoted functional connectivity between the supplementary motor area (SMA) and multiple brain regions. We demonstrated that ESC significantly reduced the protein levels of CKLF1 and CCR5, as well as the CKLF1/CCR5 protein complex in the peri-infarcted area. We showed that ESC (0.1–10 μM) dose-dependently blocked CKLF1-induced chemotactic movement of neutrophils in the Transwell assay, reducing the interaction of CKLF1/CCR5 on the surface of neutrophils, thereby reducing neutrophil infiltration, and decreasing the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and MMP-9 in the peri-infarct tissue. Knockout of CKLF1 reduced brain infarction volume and motor dysfunction after stroke but also negated the anti-stroke efficacy and neutrophil infiltration of ESC. These results suggest that the efficacy of ESC in promoting post-stroke neural repair depends on its inhibition on CKLF1-mediated neutrophil infiltration, which offering novel perspectives for elucidating the therapeutic properties of coumarins.