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BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis between malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and benign pleural effusion (BPE) remains a clinical challenge. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of the serum and pleural fluid (PF) miRNA panels in distinguishing MPE from BPE. METHODS: Fourteen candidate miRNAs which were shown aberrant expression in lung cancer based on previous studies were tested by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in 20 MPE patients and 20 BPE patients. Significantly aberrantly expressed miRNAs were further assessed by qRT-PCR in all patients enrolled in this study. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluated the diagnostic performance of the miRNAs. RESULTS: miR-21, miR-29c and miR-182 were found to be significantly aberrantly expressed in the serum and PF of MPE patients. The AUCs for the combination of miR-21, miR-29c and miR-182 in serum and PF were 0.832 and 0.89 respectively in distinguishing MPE from infection-associated PE including tuberculous pleurisy and parapneumonia PE, and 0.866 and 0.919 respectively for differentiating MPE from heart failure-associated PE, which were superior to AUC of each individual miRNAs. CONCLUSIONS: miR-21, miR-29c and miR-182 in serum and PF could be useful biomarkers for diagnosis of MPE.

The outer dimensions and 3D model of ring forgings in industrial production are the important parameters to ensure the quality of the products. In order to realize the measurement of the outer dimensions and 3D model of the ring forgings, a measuring method for the ring forgings combining with a CCD camera and a 2D laser scanner is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the image information of the ring forgings is obtained by the CCD camera. The radiuses of different sections for ring forgings are acquired by pixel calibration and edge detection. Secondly, the point cloud data of different sections are obtained by laser scanner with the movement of the transmission mechanism. Then, the position discrimination method of straight line fitting is used to reduce the error data. And the radius matching method is used in the further processing of the point cloud data based on image detection, and the point cloud data with high accuracy is further extracted. Finally, the 3D point cloud data and 3D model of the ring forgings are obtained by rotating the 2D point cloud data. The outer dimensions of forgings are derived from the 3D model. The experiments were carried out with two different ring forgings. According to the experimental results, the feasibility of the method proposed in this paper is verified.

The use of magnetic particles and carbon materials, particularly those with compatible dielectric and magnetic loss, is crucial in managing microwave pollution. However, the mismatched impedance of currently available absorbers constrains their practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate the potential of a metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived composite whose impedance matching is optimized through spraying and immersion of MOF precursors in carbon nanotube socks followed by carbonization. The composite presents extremely strong microwave absorption with a reflection loss of -30 dB, a thin thickness of 1.5 mm, and a wide frequency bandwidth of 7.8 GHz. The excellent absorption can still be maintained even at a fairly low temperature of -40 °C. Such results are primarily attributed to the synergistic effect between the hierarchical architecture and multiple components that greatly optimizes the impedance matching. We believe that the composite is a promising microwave absorber that can help to solve the critical electromagnetic wave pollution.

Flexible lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have received tremendous interest because they can provide essential flexible power for the emerging wearable electronics. However, the realization of the flexibility of LIBs is often related to flexible substrates with high electrical resistance, which results in voltage loss of the battery and is unfavorable for their practical applications. In this work, we demonstrated the use of tab engineering to mediate the resistance of flexible batteries for high current output. The resistance of the obtained pouch cell can be decreased sharply and the output current can be significantly increased by a continuous tab with desirable power and energy density. The surprising performance of the flexible LIBs allows the tab on the current collector providing enough channels for electron transfer, thus enabling electrons to be transferred quickly and enhancing the electrochemical reaction kinetics. Such a flexible battery with sufficient output current could possibly solve some of the most critical problems for their practical applications in wearable electronics.

In order to improve radio over fiber (RoF) system performance and reduce system complexity, a novel RoF system scheme with continuously tunable optical carrier-to-sideband ratio (OCSR) was proposed. Using polarization multiplexing technology, the OCSR can be tuned from −36 dB to 26 dB by adjusting a polarization controller (PC). The effects of polarization angle of PC, modulation index and extinction ratio on OCSR were studied by theoretical analysis and experimental simulation, in which the results of theoretical calculation and experimental simulation are in good agreement. It is found that the receiver sensitivity can be improved 7.8 dB by tuning the OCSR from 10.41 dB to 0 dB. The power penalty is 0.07 dB for the 0 dB OCSR after 40 km transmission, which means the impact from the fiber link can be ignored.

Person re-identification(Re-ID) has attracted increasing attention in the field of computer vision due to its great significance for the potential real-world applications. Profited from the success of convolutional neural networks(CNNs), existing multi-layer approaches leverage different scales of convolutional layers to learn more discriminative features, improving the Re-ID performance to some extent. However, these methods do not further explore whether all the scales of convolutional layers are positive for person re-identification. In this work, we propose a novel non-full multi-layer(NFML) network, which can jointly learn discriminative feature embeddings from positive multiple layers with the manner of combining global and local cues. Moreover, considering few works focus on how to effectively handle the feature maps, a simple yet effective feature progressing module named Pooling Batch Normalization(PBN), consisting of pooling, reduction and batch normalization operations, is introduced to optimize the model structure and further improve the Re-ID performance. Results on three mainstream benchmark datasets Market-1501, DukeMTMC-reID and CUHK03 demonstrate that our method can significantly boost the performances, outperforming the state-of-the-art methods.

The objective of this study was to compare different screw lengths combined with different fluoroscopic views to detect intraoperative dorsal screw penetration in distal radius fractures treated with volar locked plating.From April 2014 to October 2018, one hundred and eighty patients were included. We divided the patients into four groups. Intraoperative AP and lateral views were taken and sizes of the screws were chosen based on actual measurement (Group A, 45 patients). AP, lateral and tangential views were taken and sizes of the screws were also chosen based on actual measurement (Group B, 45 patients). Intraoperative AP and lateral views were taken and the selected screws were 2mm shorter than actual measurement (Group C, 45 patients). AP, lateral and tangential views were taken and the selected screws were 2mm shorter than actual measurement (Group D, 45 patients). Prominent screws were changed intraoperatively according to each view. A computed tomography (CT) was taken postoperatively to identify residual prominent screws.The number of dorsally prominent screws exceeding 1mm was 6 of 301 in Group A (2.0%), 15 of 290 (5.2%) in Group B, 2 of 289 in Group C (0.7%), and 2 of 282 (0.7%) in Group D. All these prominent screws (25 screws) were exchanged for shorter screws during surgery. Group A and Group B had significant difference in detecting intraoperative dorsal screw penetration (p0.05). Group C and Group D had no significant difference in detecting intraoperative dorsal screw penetration (p0.05). Postoperative CT identified 12 additional prominent screws with≥1mm dorsal penetration in Group A, 2 screws in Group B, 1 screw in Group C and 0 screw in Group B respectively. Significant difference was found between Group A and Group B of CT results (p0.05) while no statistical difference was found between Group C and Group D of CT results (p0.05).Tangential view helped identify screw penetration. If tangential view was not available intraoperatively, screw penetration could also be avoided by downsizing the distal locking screw by 2mm shorter than actual measurement.

The most powerful and crucial concept today is that of a sustainable digital economy. This research aims to investigate the predictors of a sustainable digital economy in China. In addition, the mediating roles of social reforms and economic policies were investigated between good governance and a sustainable digital economy. This cross-sectional research considered Partial Least Square – Structural Equational Modeling (PLS-SEM) as an analysis technique. The data was collected from 317 managerial staff of the e-commerce industry in China via a self-structured questionnaire. A random sampling technique was applied in the data collection process. Results showed that good governance has a positive impact on the sustainable digital economy, social reforms, and economic policies. Additionally, an increase in social reforms and economic policies led to a sustainable digital economy in China. Social reforms and economic policies were found to partially mediate the relationship between good governance and a sustainable digital economy. This research contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying components of a sustainable digital economy and examining whether good governance may aid in the attainment of a sustainable digital economy. Nowadays, research on the sustainable digital economy has got attention from policymakers and researchers around the globe. These outcomes suggest several ways to improve the sustainable digital economy in China. This research is not without limitations such as cross-sectional and based on respondent's responses. Several research avenues were discussed and can be influenced on many factors for future perspectives.

Objectives: This study is aimed to examine the potential association between childhood trauma (CT) and personality traits among unaffected first-degree relatives (FDR, children or siblings of patients) of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The study consists of three groups: total 85 patients with MDD, 35 FDRs and 89 healthy control individuals (HC). The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used to assess childhood trauma and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire used to assess personality traits. Results: By comparison made in personality traits, MDD patients exhibits some significant disparities to FDR and HC (pConclusion: CT was associated with N, P and L, with a closer relation to N in unaffected FDR. Besides, the type of CT, the most relevant to N, was discovered to be EN. Thus, FDR of MDD who experienced CT should be prioritized. Key words: childhood trauma; personality; major depressive disorder; first-degree relatives

This meta-analysis was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid (TXA) in the elderly patients undergoing intertrochanteric fracture surgery from the current literatures. The electronic literature database of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library were searched in October 2019. The intraoperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, postoperative drainage and total blood loss, postoperative hemoglobin, length of stay, transfusion rate, mortality rate, thromboembolic events and wound complications were extracted. Stata 14.0 software was used for our meta-analysis. A total of 11 RCTs (3 new RCTs in 2019) with 1202 patients met our inclusion criteria. This meta-analysis showed that administration of TXA can reduce intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.009), hidden blood loss (P = 0.000), total blood loss (P = 0.000), length of stay (P = 0.003), transfusion rate (P = 0.000) and the occurrence of wound complications (P = 0.006). Furthermore, administration of TXA was associated with an increase in the postoperative Hb level at day 1, 2 and 3 (P = 0.000, P = 0.000 and P = 0.000, respectively) after surgery. However, no significant difference was found between the TXA group and control group regarding the occurrence of thromboembolic events (P = 0.978, including deep vein thrombosis, P = 0.850; pulmonary embolism, P = 0.788; cerebrovascular accident, P = 0.549; myocardial infarction, P = 0.395) and mortality rate (P = 0. 338). Our meta-analysis suggested that administration of TXA is effective in reducing intraoperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, total blood loss, length of stay, transfusion rate, wound complications and enhancing postoperative Hb without increasing the risk of thromboembolic events and mortality rate in intertrochanteric fracture surgery. More large multi-center and high-quality RCTs are required for further research.

The use of light and flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, particularly those that can be processed into films, is crucial in managing the radiation pollution caused by modern electronic devices. However, the limited flexibility, weight, and thickness of the currently available shields constrain their practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate the potential of single-layer copper particles integrated with a carbon nanotube (CNT) film made from compressed CNT macroscopic tube (CCT) for EMI shielding. The single-layer copper particles infiltrated into the CCT film (CCTF), thereby mitigating the delamination of the CCTF-Cu interface and resulting in lightweight and excellent flexibility. The obtained film also exhibited a significantly increased EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 84 dB within a broad frequency range of 2.6–26.5 GHz. Consequently, an extremely high unit mass SE of 151724.1 dB g−1 and unit volume SE of 17973.9 dB cm−3 were achieved. The values were approximately three times higher than that of the highest performance as previously reported. These findings were primarily attributed to their integrated architecture that causes most of the survival waves reflected and absorbed by their interior. Overall, these films can potentially solve some of the most critical problems of wearable and portable electronic devices.

Embedding of optical fiber sensors into materials to detect and monitor the deformation and damage of structures has attracted much attention recently. However, the embedding of optical fiber sensors into metallic materials is usually difficult due to lack of suitable technique, which does not damage the optical fiber during metal processing. In this paper, we introduced a very high-power ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) for producing metallic structure optical fiber sensors. Single-mode optical fibers (SMFs) were successfully embedded in aluminum (Al 1100) matrix by this technique. Tensile strain experiments were performed by a fiber optical white-light interferometric sensing system, and the effect of consolidation contact pressure of UAM on the output strain-applied strain relation was examined systematically. As the appropriate contact pressure of 1300-1350 N was taken, and the excellent and reliable out strain-applied strain relations were obtained. These results demonstrate that the UAM produced optical sensor like a “nervous system” is capable of monitoring the health condition of metallic structural device.

A simple and compact cascade fiber optic sensor for simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain is proposed and demonstrated in this letter. The structure consists of a short section of a PANDA fiber and a cascaded fiber Bragg grating (FBG). A Sagnac interferometer was formed in the PANDA fiber by tip coating the gold film. The sensitivities of the PANDA fiber and FBG for the temperature and strain are different, which makes the sensor to have the ability to measure strain and temperature simultaneously. Experimental results show that the maximum errors for the temperature and strain measurements are 0.22 °C and 21.7 μϵ , respectively. Based on its simple fabrication process and compact size, the sensor described in this letter could be a competitive candidate in remote sensing for the simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain.

Purpose This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to investigate the outcomes of orthogonal plating method and parallel plating method in the treatment of distal humerus fracture from the current literatures. Methods The electronic literature database of Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched in November 2018. The data operation time, union time, Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), range of motion (ROM) of elbow, arc of elbow flexion, arc of elbow extension, rate of excellent and good results and complications (including heterotopic ossification, transient ulnar nerve neuropathy and ankylosis) were extracted. Stata 14.0 software was used for our meta-analysis. Results A total of 8 studies including 6 RCTs and 2 cohort studies met our inclusion criteria. This meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding operation time, MEPS, ROM of elbow, arc of elbow flexion, arc of elbow extension and rate of excellent and good results at final follow-up (P = 0.50, P = 0.39, P = 0.87, P = 0.18, P = 0.58 and P = 0.59 respectively). However, the present meta-analysis demostrated that parallel plating method had significantly shorter union time than orthogonal plating method (P = 0.018). As for the complications (heterotopic ossification, transient ulnar nerve neuropathy and ankylosis), there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.89, P = 0.08 and P = 0.29 respectively). Conclusion Our meta-analysis suggested that both orthogonal plating and parallel plating method could achieve satisfactory outcomes with the similarly low complications in the treatment of distal humerus fracture. More RCTs are required for further research.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder, and the onset of which is preceded by a stage of ultrahigh risk (UHR) for developing psychosis. Therefore, analyzing individuals with UHR is essential for identifying predictive biomarkers for the onset of schizophrenia. The current study aimed to identify such biomarkers based on a voxelwise whole-brain functional degree centrality (FDC) analysis. Conjunction analysis showed that, compared with healthy controls, both UHR subjects and patients with schizophrenia showed significantly increased FDC at the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and significantly decreased FDC at the right fusiform gyrus (FG). The subsequent partial correlation analysis showed significant correlations between the disorganization symptoms and FDCs at the MPFC and the right FG for both UHR subjects and patients with schizophrenia. These findings suggest that FDC within the MPFC and the right FG could be candidate biomarkers for the onset of schizophrenia.

Background Results of previous studies on the safety and efficacy of adjunctive reboxetine for schizophrenia have been inconsistent. Aim The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and tolerability of reboxetine as an adjunct medication to antipsychotic treatment in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods Two independent investigators extracted data for a random effects meta-analysis and assessed the quality of studies using risk of bias and the Jadad scale. Weighted and standardized mean differences (WMDs/SMDs) and risk ratio (RR)±95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results Nine RCTs (n=630) with double-blind design were identified. Reboxetine outperformed placebo in improving negative (9 RCTs, n=602, SMD: −0.47 [95% CI: −0.87, −0.07], p=0.02; I2=82%), but not the overall, positive, and general psychopathology scores. The significant therapeutic effect on negative symptoms disappeared in the sensitivity analysis after removing an outlying study and in 50% (6/12) of the subgroup analyses. Reboxetine outperformed placebo in reducing weight (3 RCTs, n=186, WMD: −3.83 kg, p=0.04; I2=92%) and body mass index (WMD: −2.23 kg/m2, p=0.04; I2=95%). Reboxetine caused dry mouth but was associated with less weight gain overall and weight gain of ≥7% of the initial weight. All-cause discontinuation and other adverse events were similar between reboxetine and placebo. Conclusion Adjunctive reboxetine could be useful for attenuating antipsychotic-induced weight gain, but it was not effective in treating psychopathology including negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

It remains a remarkable challenge to develop practical techniques for controllable and nondestructive doping in two-dimensional (2D) materials for their use in electronics and optoelectronics. Here, we propose a modulation doping strategy, wherein the perfect n-/p-type channel layer is achieved by accepting/donating electrons from/to the defects inside an adjacent encapsulation layer. We demonstrate this strategy in the heterostructures of BN/graphene, BN/MoS2, where the previously believed useless deep defects, such as the nitrogen vacancy in BN, can provide free carriers to the graphene and MoS2. The carrier density is further modulated by engineering the surroundings of the encapsulation layer. Moreover, the defects and carriers are naturally separated in space, eliminating the effects of Coulomb impurity scattering and thus allowing high mobility in the 2D limit. This doping strategy provides a highly viable route to tune 2D channel materials without inducing any structural damage, paving the way for high-performance 2D nanoelectronic devices.

One central task of developing nonvolatile phase change memory (PCM) is to improve its scalability for high‐density data integration. In this work, by first‐principles molecular dynamics, to date the thinnest PCM material possible (0.8 nm), namely, a monolayer Sb2Te3, is proposed. Importantly, its SET (crystallization) process is a fast one‐step transition from amorphous to hexagonal phase without the usual intermediate cubic phase. An increased spatial localization of electrons due to geometrical confinement is found to be beneficial for keeping the data nonvolatile in the amorphous phase at the 2D limit. The substrate and superstrate can be utilized to control the phase change behavior: e.g., with passivated SiO2 (001) surfaces or hexagonal Boron Nitride, the monolayer Sb2Te3 can reach SET recrystallization in 0.54 ns or even as fast as 0.12 ns, but with unpassivated SiO2 (001), this would not be possible. Besides, working with small volume PCM materials is also a natural way to lower power consumption. Therefore, the proposed PCM working process at the 2D limit will be an important potential strategy of scaling the current PCM materials for ultrahigh‐density data storage., By first‐principles molecular dynamics, this work proposes a phase change memory (PCM) process at the 2D limit that is achieved in a monolayer Sb2Te3 for the first time. This will be a potential strategy for improving the performance of PCM technology to realize high integrated density, fast speed, low power consumption, or even artificial intelligence applications.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) up-regulates the expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in some extracranial malignancies. However, whether it could increase PD-L1 expression in intracranial tumor is still unknown. Here, we explored the relationship between HIF-1α and PD-L1 expression in glioma, and investigated their clinical significance. In glioma patients, HIF-1α and PD-L1 were overexpressed in high grade glioma tissues and were significantly associated with poor survival. In glioma cells, PD-L1 expression was induced under hypoxia condition, and the enhanced PD-L1 expression was abrogated by either HIF-1α knock-down or HIF-1α inhibitor treatment. Furthermore, ChIP-qPCR analysis showed the direct binding of HIF-1α to PD-L1 proximal promoter region, providing evidence that HIF-1α up-regulates PD-L1 in glioma. In glioma murine model, the combination treatment with HIF-1α inhibitor and anti-PD-L1 antibody caused a more pronounced suppressive effect on tumor growth compared to either monotherapy. Immunologically, the combination treatment improved both dendritic cell (DC) and CD8+ T cell activation. Overall, our results demonstrated that positive correlation between PD-L1 and HIF-1α in glioma, and provide an alternative strategy, inhibiting HIF-1α, as combination therapies with immunotherapies to advance glioma treatment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13045-021-01102-5.

Background Colorectal cancer is the third most common diagnosis. Oxaliplatin is used as first-line treatment of colon cancer. However, oxaliplatin resistance greatly reduces its therapeutic effect. SRPK1 involves in pre-mRNA splicing and tumorigenesis. How SRPK1 mediates drug resistance in colon cancer is unknown. Methods The expression of SRPK1 was analyzed in the TCGA and the CPTAC pan-cancer samples and detected in colon cancer cell lines and tissues by IHC and western blot. The MTT and TUNEL assay were used to verify the anti-apoptosis ability of colon cancer cell. The activation of NF-κB was determined by luciferase assay and qRT-PCR. AKT, IKK, IκB and their phosphorylation level were verified by western blot. Results We found that SRPK1 expression was the second highest in TCGA and the CPTAC pan-cancer samples. The mRNA and protein levels of SRPK1 were increased in tissues from patients with colon cancer. SRPK1 was associated with clinical stage and TNM classifications in 148 cases of colon cancer patients. High SRPK1 levels correlated with poor prognosis (p SRPK1 overexpression enhanced the anti-apoptosis ability of colon cancer cells, whereas SRPK1 silencing had the opposite effect under oxaliplatin treatment. Mechanistically, SRPK1 enhances IKK kinase and IκB phosphorylation to promote NF-κB nuclear translocation to confer oxaliplatin resistance. Conclusions Our findings suggest that SRPK1 participates in colon cancer progression and enhances the anti-apoptosis capacity to induce drug resistance in colon cancer cells via NF-κB pathway activation, and thus might be a potential pharmaceutically target for colon cancer treatment.

The ceaseless increase of pollution cases due to the tremendous consumption of fossil fuels has steered the world towards an environmental crisis and necessitated urgency to curtail noxious sulfur oxide emissions. Since the world is moving toward green chemistry, a fuel desulfurization process driven by clean technology is of paramount significance in the field of environmental remediation. Among the novel desulfurization techniques, the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) process has been intensively studied and is highlighted as the rising star to effectuate sulfur-free fuels due to its mild reaction conditions and remarkable desulfurization performances in the past decade. This critical review emphasizes the latest advances in thermal catalytic ODS and photocatalytic ODS related to the design and synthesis routes of myriad materials. This encompasses the engineering of metal oxides, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, polyoxometalates, metal-organic frameworks, metal-free materials and their hybrids in the customization of advantageous properties in terms of morphology, topography, composition and electronic states. The essential connection between catalyst characteristics and performances in ODS will be critically discussed along with corresponding reaction mechanisms to provide thorough insight for shaping future research directions. The impacts of oxidant type, solvent type, temperature and other pivotal factors on the effectiveness of ODS are outlined. Finally, a summary of confronted challenges and future outlooks in the journey to ODS application is presented.

Backgroud and study aims Esophageal stricture is a serious adverse event occurring after circular endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) involving the whole esophagus. However, there is still a lack of effectively preventive methods. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of application of acellularized dermis matrix (ADM) for the prevention of post-ESD esophageal stricture. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the use of decellularized dermal matrix (ADM) in the prevention of post-esophageal ESD strictures. Patients and methods A pilot, single-center, prospective study was conducted. The study enrolled seven patients who had high-risks with extended resection of developing post-ESD esophageal stricture. After undergoing ESD, we attached different size of ADM patches to the mucosal defects using titanium clips then fixed with a metal mesh stent. The stent covered with metal mesh was removed at the median time of 27 days after the endoscopic procedure. Follow-up and repeated outpatient endoscopic screening were performed at appropriate scheduled times. Results The average longitudinal diameter of the resected specimens was 58.3 mm (range 38-90 mm). There were three patients developing strictures postoperatively at a mean time of 87 days (range 42-140). The median number of postoperative endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) in patients with stenosis was 2 (range 2-9). There were no deaths during a median follow-up period of 6 moths (range 1-12). Conclusions This study was performed to assess the efficacy and safe method of relieving the severity of esophageal stricture after ESD through transplantation of ADM.

With the rapid development of science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI) systems are becoming ubiquitous, and their utility in gastroenteroscopy is beginning to be recognized. Digestive endoscopy is a conventional and reliable method of examining and diagnosing digestive tract diseases. However, with the increase in the number and types of endoscopy, problems such as a lack of skilled endoscopists and difference in the professional skill of doctors with different degrees of experience have become increasingly apparent. Most studies thus far have focused on using computers to detect and diagnose lesions, but improving the quality of endoscopic examination process itself is the basis for improving the detection rate and correctly diagnosing diseases. In the present study, we mainly reviewed the role of AI in monitoring systems, mainly through the endoscopic examination time, reducing the blind spot rate, improving the success rate for detecting high-risk lesions, evaluating intestinal preparation, increasing the detection rate of polyps, automatically collecting maps and writing reports. AI can even perform quality control evaluations for endoscopists, improve the detection rate of endoscopic lesions and reduce the burden on endoscopists.

Background Endoscopic resection of duodenal subepithelial lesions (SELs) is a difficult procedure with a high risk of perforation. At present, dealing with perforation after endoscopic resection of duodenal SELs is still considered a great challenge. Aim To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of an over-the-scope clip (OTSC) in the treatment of perforation post-endoscopic resection of duodenal SELs. Methods From May 2015 to November 2019, 18 patients with perforation following endoscopic resection of duodenal SELs were treated with OTSCs. Data comprising the rate of complete resection, closure of intraprocedural perforation, delayed bleeding, delayed perforation, and postoperative infection were extracted. Results The rate of complete removal of duodenal SELs and successful closure of the perforation was 100%. The median perforation size was 1 cm in diameter. Seventeen patients had minor intraoperative bleeding, while the remaining 1 patient had considerable amount of bleeding during the procedure. Seven patients had postoperative abdominal infections, of which 1 patient developed an abscess in the right iliac fossa and another patient developed septic shock. All 18 patients recovered and were discharged. No delayed bleeding or perforation was reported. The mean time taken to resume normal diet after the procedure was 6.5 d. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 9.5 d. No residual or recurrent lesions were detected during the follow-up period (15-66 mo). Conclusion Closing a perforation after endoscopic resection of duodenal SELs with OTSCs seems to be an effective and reasonably safe therapeutic method.

Although liver transplantation is considered to be the best choice for patients with end-stage liver diseases, postoperative immune rejection still cannot be overlooked. Patients with liver transplantation have to take immunosuppressive drugs for a long time or even their entire lives, in which heavy economic burden and side effects caused by the drugs have become the major impediment for liver transplantation. There is a growing body of evidences indicating that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation, a promising tool in regenerative medicine, can be used as an effective way to induce immune tolerance after liver transplantation based on their huge expansion potential and unique immunomodulatory properties. MSCs have been reported to inhibit innate immunity and adaptive immunity to induce a tolerogenic microenvironment. In in vitro studies, transplanted MSCs show plasticity in immune regulation by altering their viability, migration, differentiation, and secretion in the interactions with the surrounding host microenvironment. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current understanding of immunomodulatory properties of MSCs in liver transplantation, to elucidate the potential mechanisms behind MSCs regulating immune response, especially in vivo and the influence of the microenvironment, and ultimately to discuss the feasible strategies to improve the clinical prognosis of liver transplantation. Only after exhaustive understanding of potential mechanisms of the MSC immunomodulation can we improve the safety and effectiveness of MSC treatment and achieve better therapeutic effects.

Direct optical ferroelectric switching (FE switch) has the advantage of being ultrafast over the traditional FE switch, which relies on domain nucleation and growth. However, how to realize nonvolatility in such an optical FE switch poses a serious challenge. Time-dependent density-functional theory molecular dynamics study reveals that subpicosecond nonvolatile FE switches can be realized in GeTe and ${\mathrm{PbTiO}}_{3}$. While optical tuning of the transition barrier and initiation of a directional atomic motion are crucial, the dephasing of the excited state holds the key for the realization of nonvolatility.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely accepted as an effective treatment for early esophageal cancer. However, post-ESD esophageal stricture remains a thorny issue. We herein review many strategies for preventing post-ESD esophageal stricture, as well as discuss their strengths and weaknesses. These strategies include pharmacological prophylaxis, esophageal stent and tissue engineering and regenerative medicine treatment. In this review, we summarize these studies and discuss the underlying progress and future directions of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine treatment.

Cholelithiasis refers to the gallstone that occurs in the gallbladder. The main component is cholesterol...

Many robust studies have investigated prepulse inhibition (PPI) in patients with schizophrenia. Recent evidence indicates that PPI may help identify individuals who are at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR). Selective attention to prepulse stimulus can specifically enhance PPI in healthy subjects; however, this enhancement effect is not observed in patients with schizophrenia. Modified PPI measurement with selective attentional modulation using perceived spatial separation (PSS) condition may be a more robust and sensitive index of PPI impairment in CHR individuals. The current study investigated an improved PSSPPI condition in CHR individuals compared with patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and healthy controls (HC) and evaluated the accuracy of PPI in predicting CHR from HC. We included 53 FESs, 55 CHR individuals, and 53 HCs. CHRs were rated on the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes. The measures of perceived spatial co-location PPI (PSCPPI) and PSSPPI conditions were applied using 60- and 120-ms lead intervals. Compared with HC, the CHR group had lower PSSPPI level (Inter-stimulus interval [ISI] = 60 ms, P < .001; ISI = 120 ms, P < .001). PSSPPI showed an effect size (ES) between CHR and HC (ISI = 60 ms, Cohen’s d = 0.91; ISI = 120 ms, Cohen’s d = 0.98); on PSSPPI using 60-ms lead interval, ES grade increased from CHR to FES. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for PSSPPI was greater than that for PSCPPI. CHR individuals showed a PSSPPI deficit similar to FES, with greater ES and sensitivity. PSSPPI appears a promising objective approach for preliminary identification of CHR individuals.

Improvements to the current generation and distribution of electricity via demand side management (DSM) and storage systems are prevalent facing increasing energy demand and environmental implications of electricity generation. In this paper, a multi-level optimization model, which incorporates energy demand scheduler (DS), energy storage (ES) and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels amongst households, was developed so as to lower the peak-to-average ratio (PAR) of energy demand and reduce electricity bills. This model consists of three levels: (1) household consumption optimization (solo opt) using convex programming, (2) grid consumption optimization (base opt) via a game-theoretic framework, and (3) ES/PV allocation optimization using genetic algorithm (GA opt). This framework searches for the optimal allocation of ES/PV in a heterogeneous residential population subdivided into consumer groups by household sizes and income levels. A case study was performed with model parameters determined by referencing state-averaged electricity bills and electricity usage data from Texas, US. The results showed that GA opt can achieve bills savings of ~11% and a PAR reduction from 1.53 to 1.30 by allocating a non-trivial optimal combination of ES/PVs to the households. Another GA opt approach was adopted by minimizing PAR and found that PAR can be effectively reduced from 1.53 to 1.00 with bills savings of ~4%. Most significantly, it was observed that the optimal allocation differs from the free market equilibrium due to positive externalities and synergies when combining DSM together with ES/PVs.

Background Making decisions in alignment techniques in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. This study aims to identify the potential patients who were suitable for the kinematic (KA) or mechanical alignment (MA). Methods We reviewed 296 consecutive patients (296 TKAs, including 114 KA-TKAs and 182 MA-TKAs) who underwent unilateral TKA using a computer-assisted navigation from 2016 to 2018 in our prospectively maintained database. The minimum followup was one year. Clinical outcomes including the range of motion (ROM) and knee society score (KSS) were compared between KA-TKAs and MA-TKAs. Multiple regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between alignment techniques and KSS at the 1-year followup. Interaction and stratified analyses were conducted according to gender, age, body mass index (BMI), preoperative hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle, ROM and KSS.Results ROM and KSS at the 1-year followup didn't differ between MA-TKAs and KA-TKAs (all p>0.05). Alignment techniques did not associate with postoperative ROM (Adjusted β=0.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.3, 1.6; p=0.752) or 1-year KSS (Adjusted β=2.2, 95%CI: -0.7, 5.6; p=0.107). Patients with a BMI more than 30 kg/m^2 achieved better 1-year KSS when using MA than KA (p for interactionConclusions Patients with severe varus deformity may be suitable for the KA technique, whereas MA should be used in obese patients.

AIM The extent and specifics regarding cognitive dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) or major depressive disorder (MDD) and their unaffected first-degree relatives (FDR) have not been addressed in any single study. The present study compared the cognitive function of patients with BD or MDD, their FDR, and healthy control (HC) individuals. METHODS The study population comprised adults (aged 18-55 years) with BD, adults with MDD, FDR (children or siblings of patients with BD or MDD), and HC (n = 105, 109, 85, and 95, respectively). The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status was used to assess neurocognitive functions, with five domains and 12 tests. A Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale brief form was applied to evaluate IQ. Status of mood was assessed using the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Scale. RESULTS The mixed model indicated significant variation among the four groups in cognitive function. Cognitive impairments, compared to HC, progressively greater from least to most were found in: FDR, MDD, and BD (F = 32.74, P < 0.001). Years of education correlated with cognitive performance (F = 17.04, P < 0.001), as did IQ (F = 240.63, P < 0.001). The total score for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression negatively correlated with cognitive function (F = 5.78, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION Among the study groups, patients with BD had the most severe deficits, followed by MDD patients and FDR. Cognitive deficits could not be associated with a specific psychiatric disorder, but differences in degree were noted.

BACKGROUND Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is the standard treatment for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). However, the dose-volume criteria for adjacent anatomically normal organs at risk (OARs) remain controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of higher than conventional doses of static and dynamic IMRT on the locoregional control of NPC, patient survival, and brainstem radiation toxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients (n=186) with stage III and stage IVa NPC underwent high-dose static and dynamic IMRT treatment (68-76.96 Gy) with or without chemotherapy for 34-57 days. Overall survival (OS), the presence of distant metastases, and brainstem toxicity were assessed. One-year, three-year, and five-year follow-up was performed. RESULTS High-dose IMRT alone or in combination with chemotherapy resulted in a 100% objective response rate and significantly improved OS rates, with one-year, three-year, and five-year OS rates of 94.1%, 89.8%, and 88.2%, respectively. The local recurrence rate (17.6%), and distant metastasis to the lung, liver, and bone (17.2%), and mortality (n=22) were reduced. Chemotherapy was the only factor that was significantly correlated with patient survival. Brainstem toxicity was reduced in patients treated with static IMRT (0.07%) and dynamic IMRT (0.08%). There were 26 additional factors that were not found to significantly affect brainstem toxicity. CONCLUSIONS High-dose static or dynamic IMRT combined with chemotherapy improved survival and reduces distal metastasis with a very low occurrence of brainstem toxicity in patients with locally advanced NPC. These findings might provide therapeutic guidance for clinicians when planning optimal dose-volume IMRT parameters.

Purpose The objective of this study was to explore whether there were any differences between the theoretical operative treatment of distal radius fractures according to AAOS guideline on basis of measurement of radiographs and the treatment they actually received in our institution. Methods From April 2015 to February 2018, a total of 693 patients with 697 fresh close adult distal radius fractures were evaluated retrospectively. Fractures were respectively grouped into categories by AAOS criterion and actually treatment. After gleaning demographic information and measuring radiographic items, all results were put into a database. Single factors analysis, Chi-square test and further logistic regression analysis were performed to determine correlations between actual and theoretical treatments. Results In all 240 fractures fulfilled at least one AAOS criterion for surgery, only 61 fractures actually received operation. And in the conservative group recommended by AAOS, 52 of 457 fractures actually were proceeded with surgery. There were slight correlation between AAOS guideline and actually operation (Phi = 0.181). From multivariable logistic regression analysis, Only one of three AAOS criterion was proved probable indicator of clinic treatment. Three factors, namely age, intra-articular step-off as well as with other fractures, were proved probable actually surgery indications (P Conclusions AAOS surgery criteria of distal radius fractures were partially instructive, but not so precise predictors for actually operation. In the clinic, the choice of operative treatment correlated with multiple factors.

A crystalline silicon (Si) surface was modified using nanosecond laser pulses in an argon atmosphere. The laser-modified Si (M-Si) samples have a higher performance and thermostable absorption in the broadband range (400–2400 nm) than conventional Si. The concentration of carrier electrons in the M-Si layer is at least five orders of magnitude greater than the carrier concentration of the Si substrate. Using the N+–N− junction formed between the M-Si layer and the Si substrate, visible and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) M-Si photodetectors are made. The N+–N− photodiode has good rectification characteristics and a high photoresponse to the subbandgap NIR light at 1310 nm. At the same time, the M-Si photodetector at a low reverse bias shows a large gain to the VIS-NIR light above the bandgap. By comparing the response time of the M-Si photodetector to the light of 900 and 1310 nm, the response speed of the device to the photon above-bandgap energy is faster.

Immunosuppression is an important mechanism for the development of sepsis pathology, and is the key to the high mortality of sepsis. However, patients appear to be immunocompromised before sepsis onset due to lack of enough attention. Present sepsis models cannot fully mimic the onset of sepsis in patients. Hence, effective treatments in animal experiments could not be transformed into clinical application. In the present study, we improved the animal model of sepsis and used cyclosporine A immunosuppressive mice to make it closer to immune status before the onset of sepsis, followed by the intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) CMCC (B) 44,102 standard strain to produce the immunocompromised sepsis model. This trial systematically evaluates the new immunosuppressive sepsis model. Compared with routine sepsis models, the release of inflammatory factors in the new sepsis model was insufficient, blood bacteria were more cultured, diffuse intravascular coagulation (DIC) was more severe, lung, liver and kidney damage were heavier, and mortality rate was higher. In conclusion, the new sepsis model can mimic the patient's pre-onset immunocompromised state, is suitable for the development and evaluation of new methods of sepsis, and solves the controversy of sepsis treatment, providing new ideas and direction.

Lurasidone, an azapirone derivative, is a novel second generation antipsychotic with potent binding affinity for dopamine D2, serotonin 5-HTDouble-blinded RCTs reporting on the short-term effects of lurasidone were included. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with their 95% confidence interval (CI), and number needed to harm (NNH) were computed.The meta-analysis had 8 RCTs with 16 active arms that included 2373 patients with acute schizophrenia who were randomized to either lurasidone (20-160 mg/day; n = 1570) or placebo (n = 803) groups. Lurasidone was superior to placebo with regard to change in total psychopathology [SMD: -0.34, (95%CI: -0.48, -0.20), P0.00001], positive symptoms [SMD: -0.47, (95%CI: -0.57, -0.36), P0.00001], negative symptoms [SMD:-0.34, (95%CI: -0.45, -0.22), P0.00001], and general psychopathology [SMD: -0.36, (95%CI: -0.48, -0.24), P0.00001]. Results were consistent for total psychopathology in 11 out of the 13 subgroups. Lurasidone resulted in higher weight gain [SMD: 0.15, (95% CI: 0.06, 0.24), P = 0.001] and BMI [SMD: 0.17, (95%CI: 0.07, 0.28), P = 0.002] than placebo, but the differences were not clinically significant. Lurasidone group had less frequent inefficacy (NNH = 14) and discontinuation due to any reason (NNH = 17), but was associated with more frequent vomiting, akathisia, dystonia, parkinsonism, somnolence, dizziness, sedation, nausea, and weight gain of ≥7% of the initial weight (NNH = 11-50).This meta-analysis of 8 short-term studies supported the efficacy and safety of lurasidone in the acute phase of schizophrenia, particularly at the higher dose range of 80 mg/day.

Background Childhood trauma (CT) has been found to contribute to the onset of schizophrenia and auditory sensory gating deficit is a leading endophenotype for schizophrenia. However, the association between the CT and sensory gating in first-episode schizophrenia remains elusive. Methods Fifty-six patients and 49 age and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) for CT and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for symptoms severity. Sensory gating was tested using the modified paradigm, perceived spatial separation-induced prepulse inhibition (PSS-PPI), and the perceived spatial co-location PPI (PSC-PPI or classical PPI). Results Comparing with healthy controls, the patients had significantly higher score on sexual abuse (t = 2.729, p

Objectives Mucocele of the minor salivary gland is usually caused when the duct is injured, mucus leaks into the tissue space and the mucous gland are obstructed, which lead to cystic lesion formation and dilatation. Currently, there are multiple therapeutic methods available with various outcomes. This study aims to provide clinical evidence of polidocanol sclerotherapy for the treatment of mucocele of the minor salivary gland. Methods In this study, we injected polidocanol into 112 patients who were diagnosed with mucocele of the minor salivary gland and evaluated the treatment efficacy and safety systematically. Results Of the 122 cases, 102 cases were cured, eight cases showed remarkable remission, and two cases had partial remission. No recurrence was found during follow-up, and none of the cases showed an invalid effect, resulting in a total cure rate of 91.07%. No severe side effects were observed during treatment or the follow-up period. No significant difference in efficacy between different genders was found (P = 0.490). Polidocanol sclerotherapy for mucocele on the lower lip was more effective compared to mucocele on the inferior surface of the lingual apex (P = 0.035). Conclusion Polidocanol sclerotherapy showed satisfying curative effects for mucocele of the minor salivary gland without causing side effects of anesthesia, trauma, or severe pain.

AIM To evaluate the long-term efficacy of endoscopic resection (ER) for small (≤ 4.0 cm) gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) originating from the muscularis propria layer. METHODS Between June 2005 and February 2015, we retrospectively analyzed 229 consecutive patients with gastric MP-GISTs who underwent ER with a follow-up at least 36 mo. The main outcome measurements included complete resection rate, complications, and long-term follow-up outcomes. RESULTS ER included endoscopic muscularis excavation in 179 cases, endoscopic full-thickness resection in 32 cases, and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection in 18 cases. The median size of GISTs was 1.90 cm. Of the 229 GISTs, 147 were very low risk, 72 were low risk, 8 were intermediate risk, and 2 were high risk. Short-term outcomes showed the complete resection rate was 96.5%, and 8 patients (3.5%) had complications. Of the 8 patients with complications, only one patient required surgical intervention. Long-term outcomes showed 225 patients were actively followed-up until composition of this manuscript. The remaining 4 patients were lost because of unrelated death. During the follow-up period (median, 57 mo), no residual, recurrent lesions, or distant metastasis were detected in any patients. Binary logistic regression analysis showed tumor size was a risk factor associated with a high mitotic index (≥ 5/50 HPF) of GISTs (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION ER seems to be an effective and safe method for gastric MP-GISTs ≤ 4.0 cm, and, for some intermediate or high risk GISTs, adjuvant therapy and/or additional surgery might be required to reduce the risk of recurrence or metastasis.

Phase-change memory (PCM) material is the promising material system for nonvolatile-memory technology. Performance optimization of PCM device urgently requires the deeper clarification of its material “Gene”. In this study, through first-principles calculations, p-orbital-aligned atom chains are identified to play important roles in governing optoelectronic reflectivity in amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5. These atom chains make the electronic state of the amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 hold strong electron-polarized components, thereby governing the optical property. The present study offers a new understanding of “Gene” for PCM materials which benefit the material design and the performance improvement of PCM devices.

External electric fields can be used to manipulate the electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials. 2D InSe semiconductors possess high electron mobility and wide band gap tunability. Therefore, they have been proposed for use in ultrathin electronic devices. Here, using first-principles calculations, we study the charge polarization, structure, electronic structure, and gas adsorption of an InSe monolayer under vertical electric fields. We find that both the structural evolution and charge polarization rely on the directions of the electric fields. The hole effective mass at the valance band maximum can be decreased by fields that offer a possible route to increase mobility. In contrast, the fields have little impact on the effective mass of electrons at the conduction band minimum. Therefore, high electron mobility in InSe is retained under the fields. Besides, electric fields could alter the absorption intensity for gas molecules. Therefore, gas sensors could be an expected application. More importantly, this work systematically points out some key steps for setting up electric-field calculations in the popular VASP code, such as the cancellation of the symmetrisation of the charge density, avoiding electrons spilling out into the vacuum under high fields.

Background This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with overall survival (OS) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. Method Records of patients with diagnosed ESCC were reviewed. Leukocyte counts and patients' characteristics were extracted from their clinical records to calculate NLR. Correlation between NLR and baseline characteristics with overall survival (OS) was then analyzed using Cox regression. The patients were then separated into higher and lower NLR groups according to median NLR. OS was further compared between the 2 groups. Results A total of 1281 patients were included in the study. Cox regression analysis showed a significant correlation of NLR with OS of ESCC patients. The median pretreatment NLR was identified as 2.86. Higher NLR was associated with worse prognosis in terms of OS. Conclusions Pretreatment NLR is independently associated with OS of ESCC patients. Therefore, NLR may be used as a predictive indicator for pretreatment evaluation and adjustment of treatment regimen.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have attracted considerable attentions from electronic-engineering community due to their unique electronic properties. Especially, the inherent advantage of scaling semiconductor into atomic thickness has raised the prospect of possible extension of the Moore’s law. To achieve 2D electronics, a full comprehension of semiconductor defect physics and chemistry is indispensable due to its controlling electrical performance of 2D materials and functionalizing their devices. In this review, first we explain why 2D semiconductors is important for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Second, we elucidate how native defects or intentional impurities affect and control electrical characteristic in 2D semiconductors, such as carrier concentration and their conductive type. In this section, experimental pictures of defects and several updated theoretical methods to evaluate carrier ionization energies of defects and their conductive type are introduced in detail. Third, typical device experiments are shown to demonstrate a direct role of defects to functionalize 2D electronic device. Furthermore, a database of popular defects and their electrical properties in current popular 2D semiconductors is summarized for references. Last, we discuss the challenges and potential prospects of defect engineering for 2D devices. The present paper offers important viewpoints from semiconductor defects to design the emerging 2D electronics.

Background It is reported that prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficiency of startle reflex in schizophrenia is associated with positive symptoms and is hereditary. In this study, the perceived spatial separation (PSS) induced-prepulse inhibition paradigm based on the priority effect effectively was used to explore PPI levels of genetically high-risk (GHR) of schizophrenia and clinical high risk (CHR) without family history of psychosis Methods We examined startle magnitude and PPI in38 CHR (No family history of psychosis), 28 GHR (Siblings or children of schizophrenia), and 44 healthy controls (HC). Modified acoustic PPI paradigm included PSS-PPI and perceived spatial co-location PPI (PSC-PPI) with inter-stimulus interval (ISI) of 60 or 120ms. The Structured Interview for Psychosis risk Syndromes (SIPS) and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to measure psychotic symptom and neuropsychological state of individuals Results Using gender, age, and smoking as covariates, Covariance analysis for modified PPI level results revealed that there were significant differences in PSSPPI60 (F = 6.25, p = 0.03) and PSSPI120 (F = 6.57, p = 0.03) paradigm between the three groups. Compared with HC, PSSPPI paradigm detected PPI defects of CHR individuals at 60ms ISI (F = 14.25, p ＜0.001) and 120ms ISI (F = 14.01, p ＜0.001). PPI deficiency was not detected in GHR individuals. PPI level in both groups were unrelated to demographics, clinical characteristics, and cognition. Using GLM analysis, the interaction between grouping and experimental paradigm had no significant effect on PPI level at 60ms (F = 1.88, P = 0.16) and 120ms (Z = 1.66, P = 0.19). Discussion It seems that mere heritability of psychosis is not enough to produce PPI defects, which may be related to the progression of psychosis

Background Rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene gene fusions are rare in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We compared the efficacy of pemetrexed-based chemotherapy with other chemotherapy regimens in patients with NSCLC with different RET fusion subtypes. Patients and Methods A retrospective, multicenter study of patients with pathologically confirmed stage IIIB/IV lung adenocarcinomas was conducted. RET rearrangements were detected using next generation sequencing. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with RET-rearranged NSCLC and the efficacy of chemotherapy regimens. We also evaluated the efficacy between groups of patients with and without KIF5B-RET–rearranged lung cancer. Results We evaluated 62 patients with NSCLC and RET rearrangements, including 41 with KIF5B-RET, 15 with CCDC6-RET, and 6 with other rare fusion subtypes. Of these 62 patients, 50 had stage IIIB/IV. We also evaluated 40 patients with first-line chemotherapy information available. The median progression-free survival was significantly different between those receiving pemetrexed-based chemotherapy and those receiving other chemotherapy regimens (9.2 vs. 5.2 months; P = .007). The median progression-free survival for patients with KIF5B-RET fusion and non–KIF5B-RET fusion was not significantly different statistically (7.8 vs. 11.2 months; P = .847). For second-line chemotherapy, a statistically significant difference was found between the chemotherapy regimens (4.9 vs. 2.8 months; P = .049). Survival follow-up data were available for 38 patients with advanced NSCLC. The median overall survival was 26.4 months. The overall survival of the patients with RET-rearranged NSCLC who had received pemetrexed-based chemotherapy versus no pemetrexed-based chemotherapy was 35.2 versus 22.6 months (P = .052). No difference in survival was observed between the patients with KIF5B-RET and non–KIF5B-RET rearrangements. Conclusions Pemetrexed-based treatment should be considered first when selecting the chemotherapy regimen for patients with NSCLC and RET rearrangements.

We studied the diagnostic value of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography (HCDU) examination in combination with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody testing in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with finger joint damage. From January 2015 to December 2015, 80 patients diagnosed with RA with finger joints damage were enrolled in this study. Patients were examined with HCDU. Serum anti-CCP antibody level was tested using ELISA, and results were compared with the healthy control group. Results obtained by ELISA demonstrated that the positive rate of anti-CCP antibodies was 73.8% in the study group, and 10% in the control group. The negative rate was 26.2% in the study group, and 90% in the control group. HCDU examination suggested that the predominantly affected joint by bone erosion of RA with finger joint damage was MCP3 (16.7%), followed by PIP3 (14.1%), MCP2 (13.5%) and PIP2 (12.8%). The slightest affected joint was thumb metacarpophalangeal joint, followed by thumb, little finger metacarpophalangeal joint and proximal interphalangeal joint. The sensitivity of diagnosis of RA with finger joints damage with both HCDU and CCP antibody examination showed a significantly lower level compared with examination with each one of the methods alone, while specificity showed a significantly higher level. Thus, a combination of HCDU examination and anti-CCP antibody testing can be considered useful to improve the early diagnostic rate of RA. HCDU examination is a sensitive, secure, atraumatic and easily-operated diagnostic method for early RA patients with finger joint damage. When combined with anti-CCP antibody testing, it will provide a better chance for RA patients, and give them hope for a better treatment and improved prognosis.

As a burgeoning two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor, InSe holds unique electronic properties and great promise for novel 2D electronic devices. To advance the development of 2D InSe devices, the exploration of n-type and p-type conductivities of InSe is indispensable. With first-principles calculations, we investigate the properties of native defects and substitutional impurities in monolayer InSe, including formation energies and ionization energies. As the traditional jellium scheme encounters an energy divergence for charged defects in 2D materials, an extrapolation approach is adopted here to obtain convergent energies. We find that In vacancy is a deep acceptor and Se vacancy is an electrically neutral defect. All the studied substitutional dopants at In or Se sites have high ionization energies in the range of 0.41-0.84 eV. However, electrons may transport through the defect-bound band edge states in XSe (X = Cl, Br, and I) as a potential source of n-type conductivity.