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Machine learning (ML) accurately predicts the shear bearing capacity of steel tube‐reinforced concrete (STRC) shear walls, aiding optimization design. However, creating a database for STRC shear walls experimentally is time‐consuming and costly. The aim of this study is to propose a method for high‐accuracy prediction of STRC shear wall shear bearing capacity using a small‐sample dataset. This study employs generative adversarial network (GAN) data augmentation techniques to address the issues of insufficient ML model training and low prediction accuracy in small‐sample databases. Based on the stacking framework, a fusion model (Stacking‐XRL) combining extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) is established to predict the shear bearing capacity of STRC shear walls. Results show that after augmenting the training set with GAN, the prediction performance of K‐nearest neighbors (KNN), backpropagation neural network (BPNN), RF, light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), XGBoost, and stacking‐XRL models significantly improve, with average increases of 10% in R2 and average decreases of 30% and 25% in MAE and RMSE, respectively. The proposed stacking‐XRL fusion model outperforms tested models, existing formulas, and Abaqus numerical simulations for the shear bearing capacity of STRC shear walls. Model interpretation reveals that the shear span ratios as the most important factors in predicting shear bearing capacity, followed by axial force ratio and whole section configuration steel tubular index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The genomic and molecular ecology involved in the stepwise continuum progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) from adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) to minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and subsequent invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) remains unclear and requires further elucidation. We aimed to characterize gene mutations and expression landscapes, and explore the association between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and significantly mutated genes (SMGs) during the dynamic evolution from AIS to IAC. Methods: Thirty‐five patients with ground‐glass nodules (GGNs) lung adenocarcinomas were enrolled. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and transcriptome sequencing (RNA‐Seq) were conducted on all patients, encompassing both tumor samples and corresponding noncancerous tissues. Data obtained from WES and RNA‐Seq were subsequently analyzed. Results: The findings from WES delineated that the predominant mutations were observed in EGFR (49%) and ANKRD36C (17%). SMGs, including EGFR and RBM10, were associated with the dynamic evolution from AIS to IAC. Meanwhile, DEGs, including GPR143, CCR9, ADAMTS16, and others were associated with the entire process of invasive LUAD. We found that the signaling pathways related to cell migration and invasion were upregulated, and the signaling pathways of angiogenesis were downregulated across the pathological stages. Furthermore, we found that the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of FAM83A, MAL2, DEPTOR, and others were significantly correlated with CNVs. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that heme metabolism and cholesterol homeostasis pathways were significantly upregulated in patients with EGFR/RBM10 co‐mutations, and these patients may have poorer overall survival than those with EGFR mutations. Based on the six calculation methods for the immune infiltration score, NK/CD8+ T cells decreased, and Treg/B cells increased with the progression of early LUAD. Conclusions: Our findings offer valuable insights into the unique genomic and molecular features of LUAD, facilitating the identification and advancement of precision medicine strategies targeting the invasive progression of LUAD from AIS to IAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Better predictors of patients with stage II/III gastric cancer (GC) most likely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy are urgently needed. This study aimed to assess the ability of CDX2 and mucin markers to predict prognosis and fluorouracil‐based adjuvant chemotherapy benefits. Methods: CDX2 and mucin protein expressions were examined by immunohistochemistry and compared with survival and adjuvant chemotherapy benefits in a prospective evaluation cohort of 782 stage II/III GC patients. Then, the main findings were validated in an independent validation cohort (n = 386) and an external mRNA sequencing dataset (ACRG cohort, n = 193). Results: In the evaluation cohort, CDX2, CD10, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 expressions were observed in 59.7%, 26.7%, 27.6%, 55.1%, and 57.7% of patients, respectively. However, only the expression of CDX2 was found to be associated with adjuvant chemotherapy benefits. Most importantly, CDX2‐negative patients had a poorer prognosis when treated with surgery only, while the prognosis of CDX2‐negative and CDX2‐positive patients was similar when receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Further analysis revealed that patients with CDX2 negative tumors benefited from chemotherapy (5‐year overall survival rates: 60.0% with chemotherapy vs. 23.2% with surgery‐only, p < 0.001), whereas patients with CDX2 positive tumors did not (pinteraction = 0.004). Consistent results were obtained in the validation and ACRG cohorts. Conclusions: Negative expression of CDX2 is an independent risk factor for survival in stage II/III GC, but subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy is able to compensate for this unfavorable effect. Therefore, active chemotherapy is more urgent for patients with negative CDX2 expression than for patients with positive CDX2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy holds great promise for the treatment of malignant cancer. However, the lack of sufficient tumor neoantigens and incomplete dendritic cell (DC) maturation compromise the efficacy of immunotherapy. Here, a modular hydrogel‐based vaccine capable of eliciting a powerful and sustained immune response is developed. Briefly, CCL21a and ExoGM‐CSF+Ce6 (tumor cell‐derived exosomes with granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) mRNA encapsulated inside and sonosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) incorporated in the surface) are mixed with nanoclay and gelatin methacryloyl, forming the hydrogel designated as CCL21a/ExoGM‐CSF+Ce6@nanoGel. The engineered hydrogel releases CCL21a and GM‐CSF with a time gap. The earlier released CCL21a diverts the tumor‐draining lymph node (TdLN) metastatic tumor cells to the hydrogel. Consequently, the trapped tumor cells in the hydrogel, in turn, engulf the Ce6‐containing exosomes and thus are eradicated by sonodynamic therapy (SDT), serving as the antigen source. Later, together with the remnant CCL21a, GM‐CSF produced by cells engulfing ExoGM‐CSF+Ce6 continuously recruits and provokes DCs. With the two programmed modules, the engineered modular hydrogel vaccine efficiently inhibits tumor growth and metastasis via diverting TdLN metastatic cancer to hydrogel, killing the trapped tumor cells, and eliciting prolonged and powerful immunotherapy in an orchestrated manner. The strategy would open an avenue for cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG)‐induced changes in choice impulsivity and the neural correlates in individuals with obesity (OB). Methods: The study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging with a delay discounting task in 29 OB tested before and 1 month after LSG. Thirty participants with normal weight matched to OB with gender and age were recruited as the control group and underwent an identical functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. Alterations in activation and functional connectivity between pre‐ and post‐LSG were investigated and compared with participants with normal weight. Results: OB exhibited significantly reduced discounting rate after LSG. During the delay discounting task, hyperactivation in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, right caudate, and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex decreased in OB after LSG. LSG additionally engaged compensatory effects through increased activation in bilateral posterior insula and functional connectivity between caudate and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Those changes were associated with decreased discounting rate and BMI as well as improved eating behaviors. Conclusions: These findings indicate that decreased choice impulsivity following LSG was associated with the changes in regions involved in executive control, reward evaluation, interoception, and prospection. This study may provide neurophysiological support for the development of nonoperative treatments such as brain stimulation for individuals with obesity and overweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although many studies have compared the measured resection (MR) technique to the gap balancing (GB) technique, few studies have investigated the hybrid technique. In this study, we compared imaging and clinical outcomes of the MR, GB, and hybrid techniques in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: From January 2016 to January 2019, we conducted a retrospective study on 90 patients who underwent unilateral primary TKA; 30 received the MR technique, 30 received the GB technique, and 30 received the hybrid technique. Radiological outcomes, including joint line level, mechanical alignment of the lower limb, positions of the femoral and tibial components, and rotation of the femoral component, and clinical outcomes, including the visual analog scale score for pain, the Knee Society Score, and the range of motion, were assessed among the three groups. One‐way analysis of variance and Dunnett's test were performed for normally distributed data. Kruskal–Wallis H test and Dunn–Bonferroni test were conducted for non‐normally distributed data. Results: No significant difference in the mechanical alignment (p = 0.151) and the positions of the tibial and femoral components (p = 0.230 for α angle, p = 0.517 for β angle, p = 0.686 for femoral flexion angle, and p = 0.918 for tibial slope angle) was found among the three groups. No significant difference in the elevation of the joint line between the MR and the hybrid groups was found (2.1 ± 0.3 mm vs 2.1 ± 0.1 mm, p = 0.627), but the GB group (2.8 ± 0.2 mm) differed significantly from the other two groups (p < 0.001). Although rotation of the femoral component in the GB group was larger than that of the MR and hybrid groups, the difference was not significant (1.8° ± 0.2° vs 1.7° ± 0.3° vs. 1.7° ± 0.2°, p = 0.101). The clinical outcomes were not significantly different (p > 0.05), although the results in the hybrid group were slightly higher. Conclusion: The hybrid technique helped to restore the mechanical alignment of the lower limb and realize optimal positions of the femoral and tibial components without significant differences relative to the MR and GB techniques. The hybrid technique was more helpful for maintaining the original height of the joint line, which was similar to the MR technique. Additionally, although the improvement in the clinical outcomes in the hybrid group was slightly higher, it was not significantly different among the three groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since industrialization migration has been a continuous phenomenon, it invigorates innovations and technologies. Due to this reason, several research questions aroused that either the migration has any causal effect on employment opportunities for native people from global developed economies. Moreover, the role of migration affects the national income of the economies due to internal mobility and expansion of the cities. An instrumental variable model with a fixed effect is used to analyse the data. The study has used twenty years annual data set start from 2000 to 2019. The data have taken from World Development Indicator (WDI) and the Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD). The results explore that employment opportunities at the individual level are affected by the presence of a foreign workforce. Moreover, migrant population pressure could be a possible reason for the decrease in available work opportunities for the native labour force. However, the national income does not get affect by the incursion of migrants from outward boundaries of the international cities. The overall findings of this study concluded that global migration matters seriously but at the individual level and particular kinds of work opportunities have stressed due to immigration, but the overall impact is subtle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and accurate post‐earthquake damage evaluation of regional reinforced concrete (RC) bridges is a key issue for assessing the seismic resilience of cities and communities. Especially, RC bridges are susceptible to the aggressive environment, which can induce time‐dependent aging effects such as corrosion, and thus, it should be considered in the assessment. This paper presents an approach for regional seismic performance assessment of RC bridges in a life‐cycle context based on machine‐learning techniques. The life‐cycle seismic demand and capacity of the bridges are, firstly, obtained by the elaborated numerical model, which includes the deterioration induced by the aging corrosion effect. Then, the tagging‐based damage state (green, yellow, or red) is easily obtained by comparing the pairs of demand and capacity through machine learning. Four hundred and eighty bridge models are generated to develop the machine‐learning models and the performance of the machine learning models is evaluated. Results show that the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model has the best performance, which has an accuracy of 81% in predicting the damage states. The proposed approach is demonstrated with a single bridge example and bridges in a sample region. It is shown that the machine learning model can accurately predict the post‐earthquake damage states of the single bridge, and it can also rapidly assess the damage states of the bridges in the sample region. Approximately 30% bridges in the sample region will experience damage states shift after 100 years, which highlights the importance of considering the aging effects on the post‐earthquake damage assessment of bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging technique for the palliation of inoperable malignant biliary strictures (MBSs). We aimed to systemically investigate the long‐term outcome of RFA in a large cohort of patients. Methods: We recruited 883 patients with various MBSs who underwent endoscopic interventions at two large‐volume centers; 124 patients underwent RFA and stenting, whereas 759 underwent stenting alone. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:4 propensity score matching (PSM). The main outcome was overall survival (OS). Results: Following PSM, patients in the RFA group showed significantly longer OS (9.5 months; 95% CI: 7.7‐11.3 months) than those in the stenting alone group (6.1 months; 95% CI: 5.6‐6.6 months; P <.001). In stratified analyses, the improved OS was only demonstrated in the subgroup of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (11.3 months 95% CI: 10.2‐12.4 vs 6.9 months 95% CI: 6.0‐7.8; P <.001), but not in the subgroups of gallbladder cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and other metastatic cancers (all P >.05). The survival benefits were noted only in the patients with non‐metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (11.5 vs 7.4 months, P <.001). Conclusions: The survival benefits of endoscopic RFA appear to be limited to patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma without distant metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG)-induced changes in connectivity between regions involved with reward/antireward and cognitive control and the extent to which these changes persist after surgery and predict sustainable weight loss.Methods: Whole-brain local functional connectivity density (lFCD) was studied in 25 participants with obesity who underwent resting-state functional MRI before (PreLSG), 1 month after (PostLSG1 ), and 12 months after (PostLSG12 ) LSG and compared with 25 normal-weight controls. Regions with significant time effects of LSG on functional connectivity density were identified for subsequent seed-based connectivity analyses and to examine associations with behavior.Results: LSG significantly increased lFCD in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD) and in the habenula (Hb) at PostLSG12 compared with PreLSG/PostLSG1 , whereas it decreased lFCD in the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PreCun) at PostLSG1 /PostLSG12 , and these changes were associated with reduction in BMI. In contrast, controls had no significant lFCD differences between baseline and repeated measures. MD had stronger connectivity with PreCun and Hb at PostLSG12 compared with PreLSG/PostLSG1 , and the increased MD-left PreCun and Hb-MD connectivity correlated with decreases in hunger and BMI, respectively. PCC/PreCun had stronger connectivity with the insula at PostLSG1-12 .Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of reward and interoceptive regions as well as that of regions mediating negative emotions in the long-term therapeutic benefits of LSG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi‐anvil and laser‐heated diamond anvil methods have been used to subject Ge and Si mixtures to pressures and temperatures of between 12 and 17 GPa and 1500–1800 K, respectively. Synchrotron angle dispersive X‐ray diffraction, precession electron diffraction and chemical analysis using electron microscopy, reveal recovery at ambient pressure of hexagonal Ge−Si solid solutions (P63/mmc). Taken together, the multi‐anvil and diamond anvil results reveal that hexagonal solid solutions can be prepared for all Ge−Si compositions. This hexagonal class of solid solutions constitutes a significant expansion of the bulk Ge−Si solid solution family, and is of interest for optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cholangiojejunostomy (CJ) is a popular operation; however, no specific anastomotic device is available. A novel magnamosis device for CJ was developed in 2017; here, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of the device. Methods: Between January 2017 and December 2019, 23 patients who underwent CJ using a novel magnamosis device were enrolled. For the CJ: the parent magnet was placed in the proximal duct, and the purse–string suture was tightened over the rod of the parent magnet. The magnamosis device was introduced into the jejunum, and the mandrel penetrated the jejunum at the anastomotic site, before insertion into the rod of the parent magnet. After rotating the knob, the distance between two magnets was shortened enough to achieve coupling. Results: Sixteen patients (69.6%) underwent open CJ, while 7 (30.4%) underwent laparoscopic CJ; 21 patients (91.3%) underwent choledochojejunostomy, and 2 (8.7%) underwent right or left hepatic duct jejunostomy. The mean time for completion of CJ was 9.2±2.5 min; it was significantly shorter for open CJ than for the laparoscopic way (8±1.2 min vs. 11.8±2.5 min, P<0.05). Only one patient (4.3%) suffered bile leakage after operation and was cured by conservative treatment. The magnets were discharged with a postoperative duration of 66.7±47.2 days, with a 100% expulsion rate. After a median follow-up of 15 months, only one patient (4.3%) developed inflammatory anastomotic stricture. Conclusion: The novel magnamosis device is a simple, safe, and effective modality for CJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stromal cell‐derived extracellular vesicles (MSC‐EVs) turn out to be a promising source of cell‐free therapy. Here, we investigated the biodistribution and effect of nebulized human adipose‐derived MSC‐EVs (haMSC‐EVs) in the preclinical lung injury model and explored the safety of nebulized haMSC‐EVs in healthy volunteers. DiR‐labelled haMSC‐EVs were used to explore the distribution of nebulized haMSC‐EVs in the murine model. Pseudomonas aeruginosa‐induced murine lung injury model was established, and survival rate, as well as WBC counts, histology, IL‐6, TNF‐α and IL‐10 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured to explore the optimal therapeutic dose of haMSC‐EVs through the nebulized route. Twenty‐four healthy volunteers were involved and received the haMSC‐EVs once, ranging from 2 × 108 particles to 16 × 108 particles (MEXVT study, NCT04313647). Nebulizing haMSC‐EVs improved survival rate to 80% at 96 h in P. aeruginosa‐induced murine lung injury model by decreasing lung inflammation and histological severity. All volunteers tolerated the haMSC‐EVs nebulization well, and no serious adverse events were observed from starting nebulization to the 7th day after nebulization. These findings suggest that nebulized haMSC‐EVs could be a promising therapeutic strategy, offering preliminary evidence to promote the future clinical applications of nebulized haMSC‐EVs in lung injury diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The argument concerning the exact minimum number of examined lymph nodes (ELNs) has continued for a long time among various regions, and no consensus has been reached for stratified pathological T stages for data to date. Data from 4607 pN0 patients with gastric cancer were analyzed. Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed the similar overall survival (OS) outcomes among the 3 groups (ELNs ≤ 15, 16 ≤ ELNs ≤ 29 and ELNs ≥ 30, P =.171). However, the ELNs ≥ 30 group had a better disease‐free survival (DFS) outcome compared with the others (all P <.05). An increased ELN group (ELNs ≥ 30) showed an improved OS only for pT3 patients (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.397, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.182‐0.866, P =.020), while an improved DFS for pT3 patients (HR = 0.362, 95%CI: 0.152‐0.860, P =.021) and pT4 patients (HR = 0.484, 95%CI: 0.277‐0.844, P =.011) in the multivariate analysis. A well discriminated and calibrated nomogram was constructed to predict the probability of the OS and DFS, with the C‐index for OS and DFS prediction of 0.782 (95%CI: 0.735 to 0.829) and 0.738 (95%CI: 0.685 to 0.791), respectively. This study provides new and useful insights into the impact of ELN count on reducing stage migration and postoperative recurrence of pN0 patients with gastric cancer in 2000‐2017. In conclusion, a larger number of ELNs is suggested for surgeons to prolong the prognosis of pN0 gastric cancer, especially for pT3 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the high false‐positive rate of conventional low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) for lung cancer diagnosis, the efficacy of incorporating blood‐based noninvasive testing for assisting practicing clinician's decision making in diagnosis of pulmonary nodules (PNs) is investigated. In this prospective observative study, next generation sequencing‐ (NGS‐) based cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) mutation profiling, NGS‐based cfDNA methylation profiling, and blood‐based protein cancer biomarker testing are performed for patients with PNs, who are diagnosed as high‐risk patients through LDCT and subsequently undergo surgical resections, with tissue sections pathologically examined and classified. Using pathological classification as the gold standard, statistical and machine learning methods are used to select molecular markers associated with tissue's malignant classification based on a 98‐patient discovery cohort (28 benign and 70 malignant), and to construct an integrative multianalytical model for tissue malignancy prediction. Predictive models based on individual testing platforms have shown varying levels of performance, while their final integrative model produces an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.85. The model's performance is further confirmed on a 29‐patient independent validation cohort (14 benign and 15 malignant, with power > 0.90), reproducing AUC of 0.86, which translates to an overall sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 85.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obese individuals exhibit brain functional abnormalities in multiple regions implicated in reward/motivation, emotion/memory, homeostatic regulation, and executive control when exposed to food cues and during rest. However, it remains unclear whether abnormal brain responses to food cues might account for or relate to their abnormal activity in resting state. This information would be useful for understanding the neural mechanisms behind hyperactive responses to food cues, a critical marker of obesity. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS‐fMRI) and a cue‐reactivity fMRI task with high‐ (HiCal) and low‐caloric (LoCal) food cues were employed to investigate brain baseline activity and food cue‐induced activation differences in 44 obese participants (OB), in 37 overweight participants (OW), and in 37 normal weight (NW) controls. One‐way analyses of variance showed there was a group difference in the left hippocampus/amygdala activity during resting state and during food‐cue stimulation (pFWE < 0.05); post‐hoc tests showed the OB group had both greater basal activity and greater food cue‐induced activation than the OW and NW groups; OW had higher activity in the hippocampus/amygdala than the NW group, which was only significant during resting state. In the OB group, resting‐state activity in the left hippocampus/amygdala was positively correlated with activation induced by HiCal food cues, and both of these measures correlated with body mass index (BMI). Mediation analysis showed that the relationship between BMI and hippocampus/amygdala response to HiCal food cues was mediated by their resting‐state activity. These findings suggest a close association between obesity and brain functional abnormality in the hippocampus/amygdala. They also indicate that resting‐state activity in the hippocampus/amygdala may impact these regions' responses to food cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the patellar morphology of trochlear dysplasia and normal knees in different genders and in different severities of trochlear dysplasia on CT scans. Methods: A total of 75 patients with trochlear dysplasia (110 knees) treated at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from December 2013 to December 2018 were included in an experimental group, and an age‐matched and sex‐matched cohort of 46 patients with normal trochlear shape (61 knees) were randomly selected into a control group. The experimental group was divided into a female experimental group (Group FE, 47 patients, 72 knees) and a male experimental group (Group ME, 28 patients, 38 knees); the control group was divided into a female control group (Group FC, 31 knees, 24 female patients) and a male control group (Group MC, 30 knees, 22 male patients). Furthermore, according to the severity of trochlear dysplasia, Group FE was divided into a female low‐grade dysplasia group (Group FL, 20 knees) and a female high‐grade dysplasia group (Group FH, 52 knees); Group ME was divided into a male low‐grade dysplasia group (Group ML, 16 knees) and a male high‐grade dysplasia group (Group MH, 22 knees). All participants had undergone CT scans in the supine position; the patellar width and thickness, the lateral patellar facet angle, the Wiberg angle, and the Wiberg index were measured and compared. Results: In trochlear dysplasia knees, the mean patellar width and thickness and the lateral patellar facet angle were significantly smaller; the mean Wiberg index was significantly larger than in normal knees, regardless of gender (P < 0.05); and there was no statistically significant difference in the mean Wiberg angle (P > 0.05). In the female groups, the mean patellar width and thickness and the Wiberg angle were significantly smaller; the mean lateral patellar facet angle was significantly larger than those in the male groups (P < 0.05); and there was no significant difference in the mean Wiberg index (P > 0.05). In the low‐grade dysplasia group, the mean Wiberg index was smaller than that in the high‐grade dysplasia group (P < 0.05), regardless of gender; however, there was no significant difference in the mean patellar width and thickness, the lateral patellar facet angle, and the Wiberg angle in low‐grade and high‐grade dysplasia (P > 0.05). Conclusion: On CT scans, the patella in trochlear dysplasia had a smaller width, a thinner thickness, a lengthened lateral facet, and a more flattened articular facet. In addition, the patellar articular facet was more prominent in female patients. With the severity of trochlear dysplasia increased, the lateral patellar facet became longer. In addition, the abnormal stress distribution on the patella influenced the patellar morphology in trochlear dysaplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Administration of bisphosphonates following total joint arthroplasty might be beneficial to reduce aseptic loosening. However, their effects on peri‐implant bone formation and bone–implant interface strength have not been investigated yet. We used a physiologically loaded mouse implant model to investigate the short‐term effects of postoperative systemic alendronate on osseointegration. A titanium implant with a rough surface was inserted in the proximal tibiae of 17‐week‐old female C57BL/6 mice (n = 44). Postimplantation mice were given alendronate (73 μg/kg/days, n = 22) or vehicle (n = 22) 5 days/week. At 7‐ and 14‐day postimplantation, histology and histomorphometry were conducted. At 28 days, microcomputed tomography and biomechanical testing were performed (n = 10/group). Postoperative alendronate treatment enhanced osseointegration, increasing maximum pullout load by 45% (p <.001) from 19.1 ± 4.5 N in the control mice to 27.6 ± 4.9 N in the treated mice, at day 28 postimplantation. Alendronate treatment increased the bone volume fraction by 139% (p <.001) in the region distal to the implant and 60% (p <.05) in the peri‐implant region. At 14‐day postimplantation, alendronate treatment decreased the number of osteoclasts per bone perimeter (p <.05) and increased bone volume fraction (p <.01) when compared with the control group. Postimplantation, short‐term alendronate treatment enhanced osseointegration as demonstrated by increased bone mass, trabecular bone thickness, and maximum pullout load. Alendronate decreased peri‐implant osteoclasts while preserving peri‐implant osteoblasts and endothelial cells, in turn, increasing bone volume fraction. This data supports the postoperative clinical use of bisphosphonates, especially in patients with high risks of aseptic loosening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Upper gastrointestinal precancerous lesions (UGPL) is the major preventable disease in non‐high‐incidence area. A prognostic nomogram was constructed to predict and identity susceptible population of UGPL before endoscope screening. Methods: We recruited 300 ,016 eligible participants for upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGC) screening aged 40‐74 years from two cities in Hunan province from 2012 to 2019. Individuals at high risk of UGC on basis of questionnaire estimation underwent endoscopic screening. Participants in two cities accepting endoscopy were used as training and external validation cohorts, respectively. A nomogram was developed based on independent prognostic factors of UGPL determined in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 35, 621 with high risk for UGC, 10, 364 subjects undertook endoscopy (participation rate of 29.1%). The detection rate for UGPL was 4.55%. The nomogram showed that age, gender, mental trama, picked food, and atrophic gastritis history in a descending order were significant contributors to UGPL risk. The C‐index value of internal and external validation of the model is 0.612 and 0.670, respectively. The calibration data for UGPL showed optimal agreement between the nomogram prediction and actual observation. Furthermore, high‐risk and low‐risk group divided based on score from the nomogram predicted a significantly distinct detection rate. Conclusion: The nomogram provides screening workers a simple and accurate tool for identifying individuals at a higher risk of UGPL as primary screening before endoscopy among Chinese population in non‐high‐risk areas, thus reducing the incidence of UGC by improving the UGPL detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Pulmonary peripheral glandular papilloma (GP) and mixed squamous cell and glandular papilloma (MP) have very similar histological features to pulmonary ciliated muconodular papillary tumour (CMPT)/bronchiolar adenoma (BA). The underlying genetic relationships between GP/MP and CMPT/BA have rarely been characterised. We aimed to reveal the relationship between them. Methods and results: We performed a clinicopathological review and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) study of two GPs and five MPs. Histologically, GPs/MPs showed similar cellular and architectural features to CMPTs/BAs, such as bilayered epithelium, bronchiole‐associated lesions and skipping (discontinuous) growth pattern. One MP showed partial and inconspicuous endobronchiolar growth and more glandular structures, which was very similar to the appearance of CMPT/BA. BRAF V600E mutation was detected in four papillomas (57.1%, one GP and three MPs). Conclusions: Overlapping morphological features and comparable mutation profiles support that peripheral GPs/MPs and CMPTs/BAs are on the same disease spectrum. We propose expanding the concept of CMPT/BA and including GP and MP in the CMPT/BA family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effects of patellectomy on the bony and cartilaginous morphology of the trochlear groove in growing rabbits. Methods: Forty‐eight 4‐week‐old New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group underwent a sham surgical procedure, whereas the patellectomy group underwent patella excision surgery. Half of the rabbits in each group were sacrificed 3 months postoperatively; the rest were sacrificed 6 months postoperatively. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed on collected samples. Measurements included the bony and cartilaginous sulcus angles of the trochlear groove. In addition, the thickness of the articular cartilage at the deepest sulcus position (central thickness) and at the mid‐position of the medial and lateral facets was measured and compared between groups. Results: Three months after surgery, histological images revealed significant differences between the control group and the patellectomy group in cartilaginous sulcus angle (144.2° ± 1.5° vs 151.9° ± 2.4°, respectively; P < 0.001). No obvious difference in bony sulcus angle was found between the groups. Six months after surgery, significant between‐group differences were observed in cartilaginous sulcus angle (136.3° ± 2.5° in control group vs 160.7° ± 3.0° in patellectomy group, P < 0.001) and bony sulcus angle (136.2° ± 2.2° in control group vs 160.4° ± 2.6° in patellectomy group, P < 0.001). However, there were no significant intra‐group differences between cartilaginous and bony sulcus angles in either group. Three months after surgery, significant between‐group differences were detected in articular cartilage thickness at the three different positions (medial facet: 324.3 ± 14.0 μm in control group vs 391.7 ± 98.8 μm in patellectomy group, P = 0.029; central position: 362.1 ± 13.6 μm in control group vs 730.3 ± 76.8 μm in patellectomy group, P < 0.001; lateral facet: 324.6 ± 12.7 μm in control group vs 358.5 ± 38.7 μm in patellectomy group, P = 0.009). No between‐group differences in cartilage thickness were found at 6 months. Conclusions: Abnormal mechanical stress (patellectomy) during a rabbit's development can cause flattening of the femoral trochlear cartilage, followed by changes in the subchondral osseous layer. Abnormal mechanical stress is a crucial factor in the development of trochlear groove dysplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA‐425‐5p (miR‐425‐5p) has been reported to be involved in the tumorigenesis of several tumors, but its function in breast cancer is still unknown. In this study, miR‐425‐5p was found significantly upregulated in breast cancer cells, and predicted a poor prognosis for breast cancer patients. Overexpression of miR‐425‐5p could significantly promote breast cancer cell growth. Further studies showed that overexpression of miR‐425‐5p upregulated the protein levels of Cyclin D1, Cyclin D3, CDK4, and CDK6. However, inhibiting miR‐425‐5p downregulated their expression and induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. In mechanism, overexpression of miR‐425‐5p increased the phosphorylation of PI3K p85 and AKT, but inhibiting miR‐425‐5p displayed opposite effects. Moreover, miR‐425‐5p bound to the 3'UTR of PTEN mRNA, and downregulated the expression levels of PTEN in both mRNA and protein levels in breast cancer cells. Collectively, the results above demonstrated that miR‐425‐5p was involved in the tumorigenesis of breast cancer by inducing PI3K/AKT signaling and indicated that miR‐425‐5p could be as a potential target for breast cancer therapy in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in functional connectivity (FC) within and interactions between resting-state networks involved in salience, executive control, and interoception in participants with obesity (OB).Methods: Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging with independent component analysis and FC, alterations within and interactions between resting-state networks in 35 OB and 35 normal-weight controls (NW) were investigated.Results: Compared with NW, OB showed reduced FC strength in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus within the default-mode network, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex within the salience network (SN), bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-angular gyrus within the frontoparietal network (FPN), and increased FC strength in the insula (INS) (Pfamilywise error  < 0.0125). The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex FC strength was negatively correlated with craving for food cues, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex FC strength was negatively correlated with Yale Food Addiction Scale scores, and right INS FC strength was positively correlated with craving for high-calorie food cues. Compared with NW, OB also showed increased FC between the SN and FPN driven by altered FC of bilateral INS and anterior cingulate cortex-angular gyrus.Conclusions: Alterations in FC within and interactions between the SN, default-mode network, and FPN might contribute to the high incentive value of food (craving), lack of control of overeating (compulsive overeating), and increased awareness of hunger (impaired interoception) in OB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐DRB1*12:01:12 differs from HLA‐DRB1*12:01:01:01 by one nucleotide in exon 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploitation of the efficient and highly stable catalytic performance provided by bi‐functional catalysts is important for practical water splitting. Herein, Co3O4@Ni3Se4 core‐shell nanorod arrays on nickel foam (Co3O4@Ni3Se4/NF) are successfully synthesized as long‐term and efficient bi‐functional catalysts for water splitting in 1.0 M KOH. The satisfactory Co3O4@Ni3Se4/NF catalyst exhibits excellent activity with low overpotentials of 260 mV and 180 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for OER and HER, respectively. In addition, its overpotential is only higher than the initial overpotential within 10 mV when the Co3O4@Ni3Se4/NF has been used after 30 hours at OER and HER. Significantly, the cell based on bi‐functional Co3O4@Ni3Se4/NF||Co3O4@Ni3Se4/NF couple shows a low potential of 1.735 V at 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline electrolyte and remains a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for 30 hours without serious attenuation, indicating that the as‐prepared catalyst has huge potential in practical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obese individuals exhibit brain alterations of resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) integrity of resting‐state networks (RSNs) related to food intake. Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment for combating morbid obesity. How bariatric surgery influences neurocircuitry is mostly unknown. Functional connectivity density (FCD) mapping was employed to calculate local (lFCD)/global (gFCD) voxelwise connectivity metrics in 22 obese participants who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging before and 1 month after sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and in 19 obese controls (Ctr) without surgery but tested twice (baseline and 1‐month later). Two factor (group, time) repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess main and interaction effects in lFCD/gFCD; regions of interest were identified for subsequent seed to voxel connectivity analyses to assess resting‐state functional connectivity and to examine association with weight loss. Bariatric surgery significantly decreased lFCD in VMPFC, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus, and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC)/dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and decreased gFCD in VMPFC, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and right insula (pFWE < .05). lFCD decreased in VMPFC and PCC/precuneus correlated with reduction in BMI after surgery. Seed to voxel connectivity analyses showed the VMPFC had stronger connectivity with left DLPFC and weaker connectivity with hippocampus/parahippocampus, and PCC/precuneus had stronger connectivity with right caudate and left DLPFC after surgery. Bariatric surgery significantly decreased FCD in regions involved in self‐referential processing (VMPFC, DMPFC, dACC, and precuneus), and interoception (insula), and changes in VMPFC/precuneus were associated with reduction in BMI suggesting a role in improving control of eating behaviors following surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols or laparoscopic technique has been applied in various surgical procedures. However, the clinical efficacy of combination of the two methods still remains unclear. Thus, our aim was to assess the role of ERAS protocols in laparoscopic abdominal surgery.Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in various databases from January 1990 to October 2017. The results were analyzed according to predefined criteria.Results: In the present meta-analysis, the outcomes of 34 comparative studies (15 randomized controlled studies and 19 non-randomized controlled studies) enrolling 3615 patients (1749 in the ERAS group and 1866 in the control group) were pooled. ERAS group was associated with shorter hospital stay (WMD − 2.37 days; 95% CI − 3.00 to − 1.73; P 0.000) and earlier time to first flatus (WMD − 0.63 days; 95% CI − 0.90 to − 0.36; P 0.000). Meanwhile, lower overall postoperative complication rate (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.51-0.76; P 0.000) and less hospital cost (WMD 801.52 US dollar; 95% CI − 918.15 to − 684.89; P 0.000) were observed in ERAS group. Similar readmission rate (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.52-1.03, P 0.070) and perioperative mortality (OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.53-3.34; P 0.549) were found between the two groups.Conclusions: ERAS protocol for laparoscopic abdominal surgery is safe and effective. ERAS combined with laparoscopic technique is associated with faster postoperative recovery without increasing readmission rate and perioperative mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the biomechanical and histological changes in a rabbit model after reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with solely autologous tendon and with autologous tendon combined with the ligament advanced reinforcement system (LARS) artificial ligament. Methods: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed in 72 knees from 36 healthy New Zealand white rabbits (bodyweight, 2500–3000 g). The Achilles tendons were harvested bilaterally. The left ACL were reconstructed solely with autografts (autologous tendon group), while the right ACL were reconstructed with autografts combined with LARS ligaments (combined ligaments group). The gross observation, histological determination, and the tension failure loads in both groups were evaluated at 12 weeks (n = 18) and 24 weeks (n = 18) postoperatively. Results: Gross examination of the knee joints showed that all combined ligaments were obviously covered by a connective tissue layer at 12 weeks, and were completely covered at 24 weeks. Fibrous tissue ingrowth was observed between fascicles and individual fibers in the bone–artificial ligament interface at both time points; this fibrovascular tissue layer localized at the bone–artificial ligament interface tended to be denser in specimens obtained at 24 weeks compared with those obtained at 12 weeks. The tension failure loads of the knees were similar in the autologous tendon group and the combined ligaments group at 12 weeks (144.15 ± 3.92 N vs. 140.88 ± 2.75 N; P > 0.05), and at 24 weeks (184.15 ± 1.96 N vs. 180.88 ± 3.21 N; P > 0.05). Conclusion: Reconstructing the ACL in rabbits using autologous tendon combined with the LARS artificial ligament results in satisfactory biointegration, with no obvious immunological rejection between the autologous tendon and the artificial ligament, and is, therefore, a promising ACL reconstruction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedyotis austrosinica L. Wu & L.H. Yang is described as a new species from southern China. It is similar to H. pulcherrima, but can be separated by its herbaceous weak to ascending habit with dense pubescence on the surface of most organs, 4‐angled to subterete stems, longer petioles, and longer stipules with 5–9 apical linear lobes. The new species is distributed in Guangdong and Guangxi in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Although cognitive dysfunction is a common neurological complication in elderly patients with diabetes, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear, and effective preventive interventions have yet to be developed. Thus, this study investigated the preventive effects and mechanisms of action associated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G- CSF) on cognitive dysfunction in elderly diabetic mice with cerebral small vessel disease. Methods This study included 40 male db/db diabetic and wild-type ( WT) mice that were categorized into the following four groups at the age of 3 weeks: db/db group ( DG), db/db+G- CSF group ( DGG), WT group ( WG), and WT+G- CSF group ( WGG). The mice were fed normal diets for 4 months and then given G- CSF (75 μg/kg) via intraperitoneal injections for 1 month. At 7.5 months of age, the cognitive abilities of the mice were assessed with the Y-maze test and the Social Choice Test; body weight, blood pressure ( BP), and blood glucose measurements were obtained throughout the study. Brain imaging and blood oxygen level-dependent ( BOLD) contrast imaging analyses were performed with a small animal magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) system, autophagosome levels were detected with a transmission electron microscope ( TEM), hippocampal neurons were assessed with hematoxylin and eosin ( HE) staining, and protein expressions and distributions were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses. Results (i) The body weight and blood glucose levels of the DG and DGG mice were significantly higher than those of the WG and WGG mice; (ii) social choice and spatial memory capabilities were significantly reduced in DG mice but were recovered by G- CSF in DGG mice; (iii) the MRI scans revealed multiple lacunar lesions and apparent hippocampal atrophy in the brains of DG mice, but G- CSF reduced the number of lacunar lesions and ameliorated hippocampal atrophy; (iv) the MRI- BOLD scans showed a downward trend in whole-brain activity and reductions in the connectivities of the hippocampus and amygdala with subcortical structures in DG mice, but G- CSF clearly improved the altered brain activity as well as the connectivity of the hippocampus in DGG mice; (v) HE staining revealed fewer neurons in the hippocampus in DG mice; (vi) TEM analyses revealed significantly fewer autophagosomes in the hippocampi of DG mice, but G- CSF did not increase these numbers; (vii) there were significant reductions in mechanistic target of rapamycin ( mTOR) and LC3-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate ( LC3)- II/I levels in the hippocampi of DG mice, whereas p62 was upregulated, and G- CSF significantly enhanced the levels of Beclin1, mTOR, and LC- II/I in DGG mice; and (viii) G- CSF significantly reversed increases in nuclear factor κB ( NF-κB) protein levels in DG but not in WG mice. Conclusions In this study, aged diabetic mice were prone to cognitive dysfunction and cerebral small vessel disease. However, administration of G- CSF significantly improved cognitive function in elderly db/db diabetic mice, and this change was likely related to the regulation of autophagy and NF-κB signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calix[4]pyrroles act as powerful receptors for electron-rich neutral guests and anionic guests in organic solvents. For the electron-rich neutral guest pyridine N-oxide, calix[4]pyrrole, with a deep cavity, provides an appropriate environment. The ability of calix[4]pyrrole to host binding guest molecules is the result of hydrogen bonding, π-π, C-H...π and hydrophobic interactions of the cavity. The novel title complex, C52H40D12N4O4·C5H5NO·C2H3N, based on d12- meso-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)- meso-tetramethylcalix[4]pyrrole, has been assembled using an excess of pyridine N-oxide and is the first deuterated complex of calix[4]pyrrole. A single-crystal X-ray study shows that the receptor adopts a cone conformation with the N-oxide fragment encapsulated deep within the cavity. 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to probe the molecular binding formation in CD3CN. The results are consistent with the single-crystal X-ray study in identifying that the pyridine N-oxide molecule occupies the cavity of the calix[4]pyrrole molecule. UV-vis spectroscopy revealed that the calix[4]pyrrole receptor molecules are able to form 1:1 inclusion complexes in CH3CN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methacrylated hyperbranched polyglycerol ( HPG-MA) is successfully synthesized through transesterification by controlling the ratio of HPG to glycidyl methacrylate ( GMA). The concentration of the dye or phase transporter, temperature, contact time, and molecular weight of phase transporter were taken into consideration to evaluate the removal ratio and transfer capability. With malachite green optimized as a model dye, HPG-MA could reach a maximum adsorption of 990 mg/g at the feed concentration of 1 g/L, and the removal ratio is 99% compared with ~20 h for other reported phase transporters, which indicates that HPG-MA is a novel phase transporter. HPG-MA can absorb dyes in aqueous solutions, which can be ascribed to the existence of a cavity structure and abundant ether groups. We believe that HPG-MA can have potential applications in the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions due to its high adsorption capacity and eco-friendly nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman spectroscopy was employed to investigate six Imperial China Engraved Coiling Dragon stamps non-destructively. The results have shown that (1) the main colors (yellow, green, scarlet, brown, vermilion, and blue) on the six stamps were all prepared from inorganic pigments, including chrome yellow, chrome orange, Prussian blue, red lead, magnesium sulfate hydrate, and ultramarine blue. (2) Raman spectrometer has been allowed for successfully identifying the molecular structure of the pigments printed on the six examined stamps, suggesting that such a dual analytical approach could satisfy the need for pigment identification on stamps. (3) The finding that certain pigments were intentionally mixed to produce a whole different hue or color, the mechanism of which could be explained by theories of chromatology and metamerism, also provides new insight into the future conservation, authentication, and restoration of the early printings. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common neurological disease in infants with persistent neurobehavioral impairments. Studies found that neural stem cell (NSC) therapy benefits HIE rats; however, the mechanisms underlying are still unclear. The current study investigated the efficacy and molecular events of human embryonic neural stem cells (hNSCs) in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) rats. Methods: PKH-26-labeled hNSCs were intranasally delivered to P7 Sprague Dawley rats 24 h after HI. Neurobehavioral tests were performed at the indicated time after delivery: righting reflex and gait testing at D1, 3, 5, and 7; grid walking at D7 and 14; social choice test (SCT) at D28; and Morris water maze from D35 to 40. Protein expression was determined by Western blot analysis. Brain damage was assessed by cresyl violet staining and MBP staining. hNSC distribution and differentiation were observed by in vivo bioluminescence imaging and immunofluorescence staining. Results: (1) hNSCs migrated extensively into brain areas within 24 h after the delivery, survived even at D42 with the majority in ipsi-hemisphere, and could be co-labeled with NeuN or GFAP. (2) hNSCs reduced the upregulation in cytosolic IL-1β, p-κBα, and NF-κB p65 levels, whereas enhanced nuclear p65 expression in HI rats at D3 after the delivery. (3) hNSCs decreased HI-induced brain tissue loss and white matter injury at D42 after the delivery. (4) hNSCs improved neurological outcomes in HI rats in the tests of righting reflex (within 3 days), gait (D5), grid (D7), SCT (D28), and water maze (D42). Conclusion: Intranasal delivery of hNSCs could prevent HI-induced brain injury and improve neurobehavioral outcomes in neonatal HI rats, which is possibly related to the modulation of NF-κB signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SiC/Al composites have been fabricated by a vacuum hot pressing (VHP) process in order to study the effect of interface evolution on the global thermal conductivity (TC). By optimizing the VHP parameters of sintering temperature and time, the three different kinds of SiC/Al interface configurations, that is, non-bonded, diffusion-bonded, and reaction-bonded interfaces, are formed and identified by measurement of relative density, X-ray diffraction, scanning and (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy. The VHPed composite sintered at 655 °C for 60 min is fully dense and presents a tightly-adhered and clean SiC/Al interface at the nanoscale, the ideal diffusion-bonded interface being the most favorable for minimizing interfacial thermal resistance, which in turn results in the highest TC of around 270 W/mK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of shock metamorphism of olivine might help to constrain impact events in the history of meteorites. Although shock features in olivine are well known, so far, there are processes that are not yet completely understood. In shock veins, olivine clasts with a complex structure, with a ringwoodite rim and a dense network of lamellae of unidentified nature in the core, have been reported in the literature. A highly shocked (S5-6), L6 meteorite, Asuka 09584, which was recently collected in Antarctica by a Belgian-Japanese joint expedition, contains this type of shocked olivine clasts and has been, therefore, selected for detailed investigations of these features by transmission electron microscopy ( TEM). Petrographic, geochemical, and crystallographic studies showed that the rim of these shocked clasts consists of an aggregate of nanocrystals of ringwoodite, with lower Mg/Fe ratio than the unshocked olivine. The clast's core consists of an aggregate of iso-oriented grains of olivine and wadsleyite, with higher Mg/Fe ratio than the unshocked olivine. This aggregate is crosscut by veinlets of nanocrystals of olivine, with extremely low Mg/Fe ratio. The formation of the ringwoodite rim is likely due to solid-state, diffusion-controlled, transformation from olivine under high-temperature conditions. The aggregate of iso-oriented olivine and wadsleyite crystals is interpreted to have formed also by a solid-state process, likely by coherent intracrystalline nucleation. Following the compression, shock release is believed to have caused opening of cracks and fractures in olivine and formation of olivine melt, which has lately crystallized under postshock equilibrium pressure conditions as olivine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal cancer is a disease that affects the population worldwide with high morbidity and mortality. Melatonin, an endogenously produced molecule, may provide a defense against a variety of cancer types. In particular, the ability of melatonin to inhibit gastrointestinal cancer is substantial. In this review, we first clarify the relationship between the disruption of the melatonin rhythm and gastrointestinal cancer (based on epidemiologic surveys and animal and human studies) and summarize the preventive effect of melatonin on carcinogenesis. Thereafter, the mechanisms through which melatonin exerts its anti-gastrointestinal cancer actions are explained, including inhibition of proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis, and promotion of apoptosis and cancer immunity. Moreover, we discuss the drug synergy effects and the role of melatonin receptors involved in the growth-inhibitory effects on gastrointestinal cancer. Taken together, the information compiled here serves as a comprehensive reference for the anti-gastrointestinal cancer actions of melatonin that have been identified to date and will hopefully aid in the design of further experimental and clinical studies and increase the awareness of melatonin as a therapeutic agent in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compelling evidences indicate that relative telomere length (RTL) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) can predict the clinical outcome of several cancers. However, to date, the prognostic value of leukocyte RTL in gastric cancer (GC) patients has not been explored. In this study, relative telomere length (RTL) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) was measured using a real-time PCR-based method in a total of 693 GC patients receiving surgical resection. The prognostic value of leukocyte RTL was first explored in the training set (112 patients) using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Then an independent cohort of 581 patients was used as a validation set. To explore potential mechanism, we detected the immunophenotypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma concentrations of several cytokines in GC patients. Patients with short RTL showed significantly worse overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) than those with long RTL in all patient sets. Furthermore, leukocyte RTL and TNM stage exhibited a notable joint effect in prognosis prediction. Integration of TNM stage and leukocyte RTL significantly improved the prognosis prediction efficacy for GC. In addition, we found that patients with short RTL had a higher CD4 + T cell percentage in PBMCs, CD19 + IL-10 + Breg percentage in B cells and plasma IL-10 concentration, indicating an enhanced immunosuppressive status with short leukocyte RTL. In conclusion, our study for the first time demonstrates that leukocyte RTL is an independent prognostic marker complementing TNM stage and associated with an immunosuppressive phenotype in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in GC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims There is still no effective way to save a surviving healthy mind when there is critical organ failure in the body. The next frontier in CTA is allo-head and body reconstruction ( AHBR), and just as animal models were key in the development of CTA, they will be crucial in establishing the procedures of AHBR for clinical translation. Methods and results Our approach, pioneered in mice, involves retaining the donor brain stem and transplanting the recipient head. Our preliminary data in mice support that this allows for retention of breathing and circulatory function. Critical aspects of the current protocol include avoiding cerebral ischemia through cross-circulation (donor to recipient) and retaining the donor brain stem. Successful clinical translation of AHBR will become a milestone of medical history and potentially could save millions of people. Conclusions This experimental study has confirmed a method to avoid cerebral ischemia during the surgery and solved an important part of the problem of how to accomplish long-term survival after transplantation and preservation of the donor brain stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction mechanism of Lead ions catalyzing complexation reactions between TIPP and metal ions was investigated by researching the kinetics of the formation of metalloporphyrins by UV/Vis-spectra, and verified by exploring the formation of metalloporphyrins catalyzed by acetic acid. Kinetics studies suggested that the fluctuations of reaction rate indicated the formation of metalloporphyrin was step-wise, including the preequilibrium step (the coordination of the pyrrolenine nitrogens to Mn+) and the rate-controlling step (the deprotonation of the pyrrole proton). In the pre-equalization step, a sitting-atop (SAT) structure formed first with the complexation between larger radius of Pb2+ and TIPP, changed the activation, then Pb2+ left with the smaller radius of metal ions attacking from the back of the porphyrin ring center. In the rate-controlling step, two pyrrole protons dissociated to restore a stable structure. This was verified by adding acetic acid at different reaction times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A versatile one-pot strategy for the preparation of reversibly cross-linked polymer-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) via surface reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is presented for the first time in this paper. The less reactive monomer oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylate (OEGA) and the more reactive cross-linker N,N′-cystaminebismethacrylamide (CBMA) are chosen to be copolymerized on the external surfaces of RAFT agent-functionalized MSNs to form the cross-linked polymer shells. Owing to the reversible cleavage and restoration of disulfide bonds via reduction/oxidation reactions, the polymer shells can control the on/off switching of the nanopores and regulate the drug loading and release. The redox-responsive release of doxorubicin (DOX) from this drug carrier is realized. The protein adsorption, in vitro cytotoxicity assays, and endocytosis studies demonstrate that this biocompatible vehicle is a potential candidate for delivering drugs. It is expected that this versatile grafting strategy may help fabricate satisfying MSN-based drug delivery systems for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]