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Background: Highly emetogenic chemotherapy induces emesis in cancer patients without prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fosaprepitant-based triple antiemetic regimen for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with solid malignant tumors, determine risk factors and externally validate different personalized risk models for CINV., Methods: This phase III trial was designed to test the non-inferiority of fosaprepitant toward aprepitant in cancer patients who were to receive the first cycle of single-day cisplatin chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) during the overall phase (OP) with a non-inferiority margin of 10.0%. Logistic regression models were used to assess the risk factors of CR and no nausea. To validate the personalized risk models, the accuracy of the risk scoring systems was determined by measuring the specificity, sensitivity and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), while the predictive accuracy of the nomogram was measured using concordance index (C-index)., Results: A total of 720 patients were randomly assigned. CR during the OP in the fosaprepitant group was not inferior to that in the aprepitant group (78.1% vs. 77.7%, P = 0.765) with a between-group difference of 0.4% (95% CI, -5.7% to 6.6%). Female sex, higher cisplatin dose (≥ 70 mg/m 2 ), no history of drinking and larger body surface area (BSA) were significantly associated with nausea. The AUC for the acute and delayed CINV risk indexes was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.66-0.71) and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.61-0.70), respectively, and the C-index for nomogram CINV prediction was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.54-0.64). Using appropriate cutoff points, the three models could stratify patients with high- or low-risk CINV. No nausea and CR rate were significantly higher in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Fosaprepitant-based triple prophylaxis demonstrated non-inferior control for preventing CINV in patients treated with cisplatin-base chemotherapy. Female cancer patients without a history of alcohol consumption, with larger BSA and received high-dose cisplatin might be more vulnerable to CINV. Three personalized prediction models were well-validated and could be used to optimize antiemetic therapy for individual patients., (© 2022 The Authors. Cancer Communications published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. on behalf of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.)

Objective: This study examined the bidirectional relationships between sleep quality, loss of control (LOC) eating, and night eating in Chinese adolescents using longitudinal data over an 18-month study period., Method: Four-waves of data measurement (Waves 1-4), at 6-month intervals, were conducted with 2566 adolescents aged 11-17 years at baseline. A set of questionnaires were used to assess night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality at each wave of data collection. Cross-lagged models were applied to analyze the bidirectional relationships between night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality., Results: Results indicated that higher night eating scores consistently predicted poorer sleep quality and higher LOC eating scores at Waves 1, 2, and 3. Furthermore, poorer sleep quality predicted higher night eating scores at Wave 1 and Wave 3, and higher LOC eating scores predicted higher night eating scores at Wave 1 and Wave 2., Discussion: These findings highlight that night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality were interrelated across time in Chinese adolescents. Improving sleep quality and reducing LOC eating might be promising in the prevention of night eating in adolescents. Similarly, reducing night eating might be promising in improving sleep quality and reducing LOC eating in adolescents., Public Significance: This study explored the bidirectional relationship between night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality in Chinese adolescents using cross-lagged models. Findings indicate bidirectional relationships between these variables and highlight the potential utility in incorporating sleep, LOC eating, and night eating interventions in eating pathology prevention designs for adolescents., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

As one of the most studied ribonucleic acid (RNA) modifications in eukaryotes, N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A) has been shown to play a predominant role in controlling gene expression and influence physiological and pathological processes such as oncogenesis and tumor progression. Writer and eraser proteins, acting opposite to deposit and remove m 6 A epigenetic marks, respectively, shape the cellular m 6 A landscape, while reader proteins preferentially recognize m 6 A modifications and mediate fate decision of the methylated RNAs, including RNA synthesis, splicing, exportation, translation, and stability. Therefore, RNA metabolism in cells is greatly influenced by these three classes of m 6 A regulators. Aberrant expression of m 6 A regulators has been widely reported in various types of cancer, leading to cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance. The close links between m 6 A and cancer shed light on the potential use of m 6 A methylation and its regulators as prognostic biomarkers and drug targets for cancer therapy. Given the notable effects of m 6 A in reversing chemoresistance and enhancing immune therapy, it is a promising target for combined therapy. Herein, we summarize the recent discoveries on m 6 A and its regulators, emphasizing their influences on RNA metabolism, their dysregulation and impacts in diverse malignancies, and discuss the clinical implications of m 6 A modification in cancer., (© 2021 The Authors. Cancer Communications published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. on behalf of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.)

Alginate lyase is important in marine alginate degradation, and its enzymatic hydrolysates are excellent antioxidants. Here, we cloned a new alginate lyase, that is, Alg823, from the Gram-negative marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora ASY5. The optimal temperature and pH of Alg823 were 55°C and pH 8.0, respectively. After 30 min of incubation at 50°C, Alg823 could maintain over 75.0% of the maximum enzyme activity, suggesting its thermostability. The recombinant alginate lyase retained more than 80.0% of the maximum enzyme activity after it was treated at pH 6.0-10.0 and 4°C for 24 hr, indicating its excellent pH stability. Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Na + , and K + could promote enzyme activity. Alginate oligosaccharides obtained by degradation with Alg823 displayed an excellent ability to scavenge ABTS, hydroxyl, and DPPH radicals. Alg823 showed potential for novel applications in alginate oligosaccharide production because of its pH tolerance and heat adaptation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Alginate oligosaccharides produced by alginate degradation possess favorable properties, such as low molecular weight, high stability, and co-dissolution with water. These oligosaccharides also have many biological activities. As such, they have been widely explored. Alginate oligosaccharides are prepared via three methods, namely, physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods. In chemical method, operational processes are difficult to thereby possibly damaging the unique structure of polysaccharides and causing environmental pollution. Although physical methods can overcome some of the shortcomings of chemical methods, their reaction is still difficult to control, and products are complicated. Conversely, enzymatic methods can has advantages of mild conditions, single product, and less pollution. Furthermore, oligosaccharides prepared by enzymatic methods are more biologically active than those prepared by other methods. Thus, finding novel alginate lyase with high activity and stability is important for research and commercial purposes., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The ecdysone receptor (EcR) is the hormonal receptor of ecdysteroids, which regulates insect growth and development. In this study, we cloned and characterized two isoforms of EcR in Monochamus alternates named MaEcR A and MaEcR B. The cDNAs of MaEcR A and MaEcR B have open repeating frames of 1,695 and 1,392 bp, respectively. The deduced proteins have the same C-terminal sequence and varied in N-terminal, and are consistent with reports on other insect species, particularly with the receptor of another coleopteran, Tribolium castaneum. The isoform-specific developmental expression profile of EcR in the epidermis and the midgut were analyzed with quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in the pupal stage. RNA interference (RNAi) with common or isoform-specific regions induced developmental stagnation. When treated in the later larval stage, RNAi with either the common sequence or an EcR A specific sequence caused more severe effects and most larvae died prior to adulthood. The EcR B specific sequence caused less severe effects and about half of the treated larvae became adults, but some showed developmental defects. RNAi with both isoforms at early pupal stage attenuated the expression of 20E-regulated genes E74, E75, and HR3. The study demonstrates the role of EcR in the transduction of ecdysteroid response in Monochamus alternatus., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

A collection of EST clones from female tick Amblyomma americanum salivary glands was hybridized to RNA from different feeding stages of female tick salivary glands and from unfed or feeding adult male ticks. In the female ticks, the expression patterns changed dramatically upon starting feeding, then changed again towards the end of feeding. On beginning feeding, genes possibly involved in survival on the host increased in expression as did many housekeeping genes. As feeding progressed, some of the survival genes were downregulated, while others were upregulated. When the tick went into the rapid feeding phase, many of the survival genes were downregulated, while a number of transport-associated genes and genes possibly involved in organ degeneration increased. In the males, the presence of females during feeding made a small difference, but feeding made a larger difference. Males showed clear differences from females in expression, as well. Protein synthesis genes were expressed more in all male groups than in the partially fed females, while the putative secreted genes involved in avoiding host defenses were expressed less.

Background: To investigate the clinical features of thyroid cancer in aging patients and to present the results of treatment. From this we can provide bases for earlier diagnoses and better treatment of thyroid malignancies in older patients., Materials and Methods: In this study a retrospective analysis was performed with 204 thyroid cancer patients aged 60 years or older (132 women, with a mean age of 68.3 +/- 6.6 years; 72 men, with a mean age of 67.0 +/- 5.3 years)., Results: Of the 204 patients, 142 had well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas (96 papillary thyroid carcinomas, 43 follicular carcinomas, three Hürthle cell carcinomas) and three medullary carcinomas. Sixty-nine (33.8%) of the 204 patients died after treatment. Of these, three patients died of causes not related to thyroid cancer. For well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas, male gender, follicular carcinoma, and a larger tumour size indicated a poor prognosis. Of the 59 non-well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas, 39 were anaplastic thyroid carcinomas, nine metastatic cancers of the thyroid, seven lymphomas, and four squamous cell carcinomas. After treatment, 40 (67.8%) of the 59 patients died. In multivariant analysis of the differences in clinical parameters between aging and younger thyroid cancer patients, the current status, tumour size, follow-up period, sex, and stage at diagnosis were independent factors. From this data the delayed diagnosis of aging patients with thyroid cancer was of note when compared with younger patients., Conclusion: Thyroid cancer in older patients is not a benign clinical disorder. Early diagnosis and urgent aggressive treatment are recommended courses of action for this type of cancer, especially for non-well-differentiated thyroid cancers.

The transient response method was utilized to evaluate the rate constants of reaction over immobilized enzyme. Glucose oxidation catalyzed by the immobilized glucose oxidase in a fixed-bed reactor was selected as an example. A theoretical model including the effects of axial dispersion, film diffusion, and intraparticle diffusion was established for the reactor. The individual rate constant of each elementary step of this enzymatic reaction was determined through direct fitting of the experimental response data to the model.

Five different types of reactors were employed for glucose isomerization using shrimp shell as the support on which to immobilize the glucose isomerase. The Michaelis-Menten constants and effective diffusivity of glucose in the immobilized enzyme bed were experimentally determined and used in a theoretical analysis of the radial-flow reactor. The fractional conversions of the radial-flow, fluidizedbed, and packed-bed reactors with the same -residence time were found experimentally to be almost the same. This result reveals that the use of radial-flow and fluidized-bed reactors for this immobilized enzyme system is highly feasible.