Search

Objectives: There is substantial concern about traditional transperitoneal laparoscopic radical cystectomy (TLRC) due to multiple postoperative complications. In contrast, extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical cystectomy (ELRC) appears to cause a lower rate of morbidity. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of ELRC and TLRC for bladder cancer (BCa). Methods: The clinical data of patients undergoing laparoscopic radical cystectomy for BCa from April 2018 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, as ELRC and TLRC groups. The postoperative follow‐up data of 275 patients were collected and the incidence of postoperative complications and other perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: Surgery was successfully completed in all patients without conversion to open surgery. There was no significant difference in the duration of cystectomy surgery (67.32 ± 23.53 vs 72.17 ± 25.72 min, p = 0.106), intraoperative blood loss (178.06 ± 110.4 vs. 174.56 ± 127.40 ml, p = 0.413), or the number of lymph node dissection (15.1 ± 5.7 vs. 14.5 ± 5.1, p = 0.380) between the two groups. The length of stay (11.6 ± 3.8 vs 14.7 ± 5.6 d, p < 0.001), time to resume food intake after surgery (2.3 ± 0.9 vs 3.0 ± 1.3 d, p < 0.001), and the incidence of ileus (p < 0.001) in the ELRC group were significantly lower than in the TLRC group. Conclusions: ELRC is a safe procedure that can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, shorten postoperative hospital stay, reduce the duration of recovery of patients, and, therefore, should be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS) refers to a malignant tumor with potential invasiveness and metastasis; however, the current chemotherapy of OS is lacking. Thus, the alternative drug for treating OS is urgent to explore. Calycosin (CC) is evidenced in our previous study to play the anti‐OS benefits for suppressing cancer cell proliferation. Consequently, further investigation of CC‐medicated anti‐invasive and metastatic effects against OS is needed. In the current study, the clinical samples of OS patients were collected for biological and staining assays, such as enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction. Meanwhile, the cell line and tumor‐bearing nude mice were employed in assessing antimetastatic effects of CC against OS through biochemical tests and immunoassays. As a result, the OS patients exhibited upregulated neoplastic expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cellular mRNAs and proteins of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa‐B alpha (IκBα), and epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (ECT2). In cell‐line study, CC‐treated human OS cells exhibited induced cell apoptosis, reduced cell proliferation, and cellular MMP2 and PCNA concentration, inhibited cell migration, lowered expressions of IκBα ECT2 mRNAs, and proteins. In tumor‐bearing nude mice study, CC‐treated mice resulted in the dose‐dependent reductions of tumor weights and intracellular MMP2 contents. As shown in further assays, neoplastic expressions of interleukin 6 protein, IκBα, ECT2 mRNAs, and proteins were downregulated dose‐dependently in CC‐treated tumor‐bearing mice. In conclusion, these investigative findings suggest that CC may play the potential anti‐invasive benefits against OS through suppressing metastasis‐associated IκBα/ECT2 molecular pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to reveal the stabilization mechanism of micropore embryos formed during cold stretching in high-density polyethylene films, samples are subsequently subjected to temperature elevation and strain holding at 25 °C, respectively. The corresponding structure evolution is tracked. It is found that after strain holding at 25 °C and subsequent strain recovery, inhomogeneously distributed cavities are produced, most of which can be healed as temperature is elevated to 110 °C. Consequently, only a small number of nonevenly distributed micropores are formed during the subsequent hot stretching. While for thermal pathway, micropores and fibrils can be formed as temperature is elevated. The hot stretching membrane exhibits uniformly distributed micropores and the micropores are well interconnected, indicating that micropores stabilized via temperature elevation are permanent and homogeneous. The results reveal different stabilization mechanisms of micropores via the thermal and mechanical pathways with regard to the distribution as well as the amount of permanent micropores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to establish the relationship between structures of precursor film and its capability of pore formation, high density polyethylene (HDPE) precursor films are prepared under varied draw ratios and die temperatures, which are further subjected to stretching to generate microporous membranes. Structures like long period, lateral size of lamellae, orientation parameter, and fibril content of the precursor films are obtained by small/wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), and morphologies of the microporous membranes are examined with scanning electron microscope. It is found that the content of fibrils and orientation parameter of lamellar stacks in the precursor films play counter effects on the capability of micropore formation. A critical window to balance the conflict is revealed with an optimal fibril content of about 6.4%, at which maximal porosity and most homogeneous porous structures are obtained. A schematic model is proposed to account for the role of the fibrils and the oriented lamellar stacks during pore formation, which may guide the production of high-performance HDPE microporous membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tough and self‐healing hydrogels are typically sensitive to loading rates or temperatures due to the dynamic nature of noncovalent bonds. Understanding the structure evolution under varying loading conditions can provide valuable insights for developing new tough soft materials. In this study, polyampholyte (PA) hydrogel with a hierarchical structure is used as a model system. The evolution of the microscopic structure during loading is investigated under varied loading temperatures. By combining ultra‐small angle X‐ray scattering (USAXS) and Mooney–Rivlin analysis, it is elucidated that the deformation of bicontinuous hard/soft phase networks is closely correlated with the relaxation dynamics or strength of noncovalent bonds. At high loading temperatures, the gel is soft and ductile, and large affine deformation of the phase‐separated networks is observed, correlated with the fast relaxation dynamics of noncovalent bonds. At low loading temperatures, the gel is stiff, and nonaffine deformation occurs from the onset of loading due to the substantial breaking of noncovalent bonds and limited chain mobility as well as weak adaptation of phase deformation to external stretch. This work provides an in‐depth understanding of the relationship between structure and performance of tough and self‐healing hydrogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]