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Objectives: Primary tumor tissue is often analyzed to search for predictive biomarkers and DNA-guided personalized therapies, but there is an incomplete understanding of the discrepancies in the genomic profiles between primary tumors and metastases, such as liver and lung metastases. Methods: We performed in-depth targeted next-generation sequencing of 520 key cancer-associated genes for 47 matched primary and metastatic tumor samples which were retrospectively collected. Results: A total of 699 mutations were detected in the 47 samples. The coincidence rate of primary tumors and metastases was 51.8% (n = 362), and compared to patients with liver metastases, patients with lung metastases had a significantly greater coincidence rate (P =.021). The number of specific mutations for the primary tumors and liver and lung metastases was 186 (26.6%), 122 (17.5%), and 29 (4.1%), respectively. Analysis of a patient with all three occurrences, including a primary tumor, liver metastasis, and lung metastasis, indicated a possible polyclonal seeding mechanism for liver metastases. Remarkably, multiple samples from patients with primary and metastatic tumors supported a mechanism of synchronous parallel dissemination from primary tumors to metastatic tumors that were not mediated through pre-metastatic tumors. We also found that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway significantly altered lung metastases compared to matched primary tumors (P =.001). In addition, patients with mutations in CTCF, PIK3CA, or TP53 and LRP1B, AURKA, FGFR1, ATRX, DNMT3B, or GNAS had larger primary tumor sizes and metastases, especially patients with both LRP1B and AURKA mutations. Interestingly, CRC patients with TP53 -disruptive mutations were more likely to have liver metastases (P =.016). Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrate significant differences in the genomic landscapes of colorectal cancer patients based on the site of metastasis. Notably, we observe a larger genomic variation between primary tumors and liver metastasis compared to primary tumors and lung metastasis. These findings can be used for tailoring treatments based on the specific metastatic site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Resilience is an important trait for older adults facing adversity. This qualitative study aimed to identify the characteristics that contribute to resilience in a group of community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. Methods: Twenty-five Chinese older adults were invited. Interviews were conducted to collect information about the adverse events in their lives, their attitudes towards adversity and the beliefs underlying their approaches to overcoming adversity. The transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Seven themes emerged from the interviews: equanimity, positive attitudes towards life; meaningfulness, self-reliance, social support, environmental support, and spirituality and faith. Conclusion: Our qualitative analysis found that resilience among older adults in Hong Kong is characterized by internal, external and existential factors. The results may be useful for the development of proactive interventions aimed at assisting older adults to enhance the positive experiences in their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic, complex, unprovoked, and recurrent disorder of the nervous system that affected several people worldwide. Phyllanthus amarus (PA) has been documented to have neuroprotective potential.Aim: To evaluate the potential of standardized extract of PA and its possible mechanism of action against the Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsion and kindling associated post-ictal depression in experimental mice.Materials and Methods: Phyllathin was isolated from methanolic extract of PA and well-characterized using HPTLC, ESI-MS/MS, and LC/MS. Phyllathin containing a standardized extract of PA (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was administered in convulsed and kindled mice, followed by an assessment of various parameters.Results: The spectral analysis confirmed the molecular formula and weight of phyllanthin as C24H34O6 and 418.2342 Da. PA (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated PTZ-induced (p < 0.05) duration, onset of tonic-clonic convulsion, and mortality in mice. It also significantly attenuated (p < 0.05) PTZ-induced kindling in mice. Alteration in brain GABA, dopamine, and glutamate, Na+K+ATPase, Ca+2-ATPase activities, and oxido-nitrosative stress in kindled mice was significantly restored (p < 0.05) by PA treatment. It also significantly (p < 0.05) down-regulated brain mRNA expressions of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and TLR-4. Histological aberrations induced by PTZ in the brain of a kindled rat was significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated by PA.Conclusion: Phyllanthin containing a standardized extract of PA exerts its antiepileptic potential via balancing excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) brain monoamines, voltage-gated ion channels (Na+K+/Ca+2-ATPase) and inhibition of NF-κB/TLR-4 pathway to ameliorate neuroinflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, and COX-2) in experimental mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having a reasonable environmental management system is key to achieve regional green development. This article integrates environmental decentralization into an environmental/economic analytical framework, introducing a fiscal decentralization indicator to explore the mechanism of environmental decentralization and regional green development, and then tests this concept using Chinese provincial penal data. The results show that the spillover effect of green development is significant: Improving regional green development will promote green development in neighboring regions. At the national level, different categories of environmental decentralization have different effects, and these can also affect green development through both direct and indirect paths. There is also a positive interaction mechanism between these two variables. Moreover, the interaction between environmental and fiscal decentralization has a negative effect on regional green development, with the impact varying across regions. These findings play an important role in green development, industrial transformation, and advancement, especially in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rosa damascena and Poria cocos are ingredients commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. R. damascena is used to promote blood circulation as well as liver and stomach function, while P. cocos is used to eliminate dampness and enhance spleen function. Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate possible mechanisms by which R. damascena and P. cocos may promote immune function. Materials and Methods: Phagocytosis and dendritic cell (DC) surface marker expression assays were used to evaluate the effect of R. damascena and P. cocos extracts on human THP-1 monocytic leukemia cell biology. Results: R. damascena and P. cocos extracts both enhanced phagocytosis of latex beads by THP-1 cells, and when combined, phagocytosis was enhanced to a level greater than what might be expected by adding the individual phagocytosis responses together. In addition, both extracts enhanced maturation of THP-1 cells into a DC phenotype as measured by increased surface expression of the costimulatory molecules CD14, CD40, CD80, and CD86. Conclusion: These results suggest that Rosa damascena and P. cocos may promote monocyte phagocytosis and then stimulate differentiation of the cells into DCs thereby bridging innate and adaptive immune responses. Abbreviations used: AKT: Protein kinase B; AP-1: Activator protein-1; Bcl2: B cell lymphoma-2; CD: Cluster of differentiation; COX-2: Cyclooxygenase-2; DC: Dendritic cell; EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor; FOXO1: Forkhead box protein-1; GM-CSF: Granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor; HLA: Human leukocyte antigen; HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography; IL-1β: Interleukin-1β; IL-4: Interleukin-4; M1: Classically activated macrophage; M2: Alternatively activated macrophage; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinase; NFκB: Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; NLRP3: NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3; ϕ: Phagocytic index; p53: Tumor protein p53; PARP: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase; PMA: Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; PRR: Pattern recognition receptor; STAT: Signal transducer and activator of transcription SD: Standard deviation; Syk: Spleen tyrosine kinase; TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the photo-oxidation aging performance of PVC-coated membrane material in atmospheric conditions under tensile stresses, the relationship between physical and mechanical properties under accelerated weathering test and outdoor weathering test is studied with the same cumulative UV radiation energy. And then, both tensile strength and whiteness index were measured and compared to characterize the property change of membrane material after aging under four different tensile stresses (0%, 5%, 10% and 20% of the breaking strength), respectively. In addition, FTIR spectrometry was applied to characterize the chemical components of the samples under different weathering conditions, and the carbonyl index was extracted. The results show that there were significant differences of tensile strength and carbonyl index between two kinds of aging conditions, whereas with the increasing tensile stresses, the whiteness index represented a consistent increasing deviation of accelerated weathering from the outdoor weathering. However, the relationship have been built between both whiteness index and tensile strength retention of accelerated weathering and those of outdoor weathering conditions after a Schwarzschild’s modification. Therefore, the service lifespan of PVC-coated membrane materials can be evaluated by accelerated weathering tests under tensile stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]