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The smelting behavior of direct reduction iron powder containing Ni and Cu from co-reduction followed by a magnetic separation of copper slag and nickel laterite was investigated in this paper. The results show that the perfect ternary alloy with 90.66% Fe, 5.24% Ni, 1.20% Cu and minor impurities can be prepared by smelting under optimum conditions at 1550 °C for 30 min with 1.1 slag basicity. The corresponding recoveries of Fe, Ni, and Cu were 92.77%, 96.27% and 96.24%, respectively. In addition, basicity has a significant effect on slag fluidity. The optimum basicity of slag is approximately 1.1, which is beneficial for both metal recovery and desulfuration. Compared with the direct reduction iron powder, the Fe-Ni- Cu ternary alloy contains a higher metal content and less sulfur from the smelting process and is a superior material for producing weathering steel. Hence, it is very feasible to use an electric arc furnace to smelt direct reduction iron powder to produce a high quality Fe-Ni-Cu ternary alloy.

OBJECTIVE: Bone metastasis is a common complication of prostate cancer. This study investigates serum bone sialoprotein (BSP), prostate specific antigen doubling time (PSADT), and extracellular matrix protein Spondin-2 levels in prostate cancer and the diagnostic significance of their ROC curves in bone metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 85 cases of prostate cancer patients, including 43 cases with bone metastases and 42 cases without bone metastases, were enrolled. Serum BSP, Spondin-2, and PSA were tested by ELISA and Electrochemical Luminescence method. PSADT was calculated upon multiplication formula. The diagnostic significances of BSP, Spondin-2, and PSADT on bone metastasis were evaluated by ROC curve. RESULTS: Serum BSP, Spondin-2, and PSA levels were highest in prostate cancer with bone metastasis, followed by no bone metastasis, hyperplasia, and control (p < 0.05). Gleason scores of BSP, Spondin-2, and PSA were highest in low differentiation, followed by moderate differentiation and high differentiation (p < 0.05). ROC curve revealed that diagnostic efficiency was in PSADT, Spondin-2, and BSP in the order. Their sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of bone metastasis were 79.07, 88.37, 86.05%, and 71.54, 81.30, 83.74%, respectively. Their joint detection elevated the sensitivity to 97.67%, the negative predictive value up to 99.11%, and AUC to 0.973 (95% CI 0.942-0.998). PSADT + BSP exhibited better efficiency among two indicators combination as AUC reached 0.963 (95% CI 0.935-0.992). CONCLUSIONS: Serum BSP, Spondin-2, and PSADT upregulated in prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis. Their joint detection can improve the diagnostic sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: ZNRF2 belongs to ubiquitin ligases of the RING superfamily, and has been recently shown to be regulated by Akt to interact with a Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTor). Nevertheless, a role of ZNRF2 in tumorigenesis, especially in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is unknown. Here, we assessed ZNRF2 expression in NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined ZNRF2 levels by Western blot using NSCLC specimens, compared to the paired non-tumor controls. We also examined the effects of ZNRF2 on cell growth and cell survival in the presence of fluorouracil. RESULTS: We detected significant higher levels of ZNRF2 and mTor in NSCLC tissues, compared to the paired non-tumor controls. Moreover, ZNRF2 and mTor levels strongly correlated in NSCLC tissues. High ZNRF2 levels were correlated with poor prognosis of the NSCLC patients. In vitro, overexpression of ZNRF2 increased NSCLC cell growth and suppressed apoptotic cell death in the presence of Fluorouracil, while depletion of ZNRF2 decreased NSCLC cell growth and increased apoptotic cell death in the presence of fluorouracil. ZNRF2 appeared to augment mTor and its downstream targets CyclinD1 and CDK in NSCLC cells. CONCLUSIONS: ZNRF2 may be a promising target for treating NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth, reproduction and abundance traits of the invasive icefish Neosalanx taihuensis Chen, 1956 were investigated monthly from July 2009 to May 2011 in Lake Erhai on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, south-western China, in order to explore the changes in life-history traits after translocation. The results indicated that the icefish exhibited obvious plasticity in growth and reproduction traits. Growth of the fish in Lake Erhai was faster than that in native waters and in other translocated reservoirs. By fitting the von Bertalanffy growth model to the data, it was estimated that icefish obtain an asymptotic size of 96.12 mm, a K of 1.61, and a t 0 of -0.26; the calculated overall growth performance index φ′ was 4.17. The strategy of reproduction changed from multiple- to single-spawning. The spawning period was from October to December with the absolute and relative fecundities of 1250 ± 169 eggs per ind and 2557 ± 245 eggs per g, respectively. Plasticity in icefish growth and reproduction in Lake Erhai greatly facilitated its population establishment, making it one of the most abundant fish species. The icefish invasion in the lake may be one of the reasons for the decrease or extinction of native fish species populations, and some measures for the control of this invasive fish are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of real-world eribulin in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Methods: From December 2019 to December 2020, patients with advanced breast cancer were selected from Beijing Chaoyang District Sanhuan Cancer Hospital, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Baotou Cancer Hospital, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, and Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test were used for survival analysis, and Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) of 77 patients was 5 months, the objective response rate (ORR) was 33.8%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 71.4%. The ORR of patients with triple-negative breast cancer was 23.1%, and the DCR was 57.7%; the ORR of patients with Luminal breast cancer was 40.0%, and the DCR was 77.8%; the ORR of patients with HER-2 overexpression breast cancer was 33.3%, and the DCR was 83.3%. ORR of 50.0% and DCR of 66.7% for patients treated with eribulin as first to second line treatment, ORR of 29.4% and DCR of 76.5% for patients treated with third to fourth line and ORR of 28.6% and DCR of 71.4% for patients treated with five to eleven line. The ORR of patients in the eribulin monotherapy group was 40.0% and the DCR was 66.0%; the ORR of patients in the combination chemotherapy or targeted therapy group was 22.2% and the DCR was 81.5%. Patients with a history of treatment with paclitaxel, docetaxel, or albumin paclitaxel during the adjuvant phase or after recurrent metastasis had an ORR of 32.9% and a DCR of 69.9% when treated with eribulin. The treatment efficacy is an independent prognostic factor affecting patient survival ( P <0.001). The main adverse reactions in the whole group of patients were Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ neutrophil decline [29.9% (23/77)], and other adverse reactions were Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ fatigue [5.2% (4/77)], Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ peripheral nerve abnormality [2.6% (2/77)] and Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ alopecia [2.6% (2/77)]. Conclusions: Eribulin still has good antitumor activity against various molecular subtypes of breast cancer and advanced breast cancer that has failed multiple lines of chemotherapy, and the adverse effects can be controlled, so it has a good clinical application value.

Objective: To explore the dynamic changes of vestibular autorotation test (VAT) before and after vestibular rehabilitation treatment in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH). Methods: A retrospective study was carried out,48 patients who were diagnosed with UVH and under vestibular rehabilitation in department of otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from January 2019 to January 2021 were enrolled. Among them, there were 21 males and 27 females, with an average age of 46.9 years old, including 25 cases of Meniere's disease, 13 cases of sudden deafness with vertigo and 10 cases of vestibular neuritis. The course of disease ranged from 5 days to 10 years. Demographic characteristics, detailed case data and routine examination were collected for the patients. The horizontal gain/phase, vertical gain/phase, and asymmetry of VAT at different frequencies before and after vestibular rehabilitation were collected. The absolute value of the difference between the measured value of 2.0-5.9 Hz before and after rehabilitation and the standard value were statistically analyzed. Results: Before vestibular rehabilitation, the incidence of abnormal gain was 62.5% (30/48), the incidence of abnormal phase was 56.3% (27/48), and the incidence of asymmetry was 16.7% (8/48). After 4-6 weeks of vestibular rehabilitation, the incidence of gain abnormality was 22.9% (11/48), the incidence of phase abnormality was 31.3% (15/48), and the incidence of asymmetry was 12.5% (6/48).The horizontal gain at frequency of 2.0-3.9 Hz showed statistically significant difference compared with before vestibular rehabilitation ( P <0.05), and the horizontal gain at frequency of 4.3-5.9 Hz showed that there was no significant difference ( P >0.05); the horizontal phase at 5.9 Hz showed that the difference was statistically significant ( P =0.043), and there was no significant difference before and after rehabilitation treatment at 2.0-5.5 Hz ( P >0.05); the vertical gain at 4.3 Hz showed the difference was statistically significant ( P =0.020), and the remaining frequency showed no significant difference ( P >0.05); No frequency of asymmetry and vertical phase showed the difference before and after rehabilitation was statistically significant ( P >0.05). Conclusion: VAT can be used to monitor the change trend of multiple frequency bands before and after vestibular rehabilitation in UVH, in order to provide reference for the formulation of personalized rehabilitation strategies.

Objective: To analyze the clinical efficacy of multisensory training and rehabilitation treatment in patients with balance disorders. Methods: From January to December 2020, 95 patients with balance disorders in the Vertigo Center of Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were enrolled. All patients were treated according to the treatment guidelines of Chinese Medical Association or expert consensus. Those with poor recovery or unsatisfactory treatment results underwent multisensory training and rehabilitation for 1 month after a comprehensive evaluation. The scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), Somatization Symptom Self-Rating Scale (SSS), 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD7) were evaluated and compared before and after the treatment. Results: Totally, 95 patients were enrolled. There were 34 males and 61 females, aged (44±14) years. VAS (2.1±1.1 vs 5.9±2.5, P <0.01), DHI (15.6±7.7 vs 33.1±13.2, P< 0.01), SSS (1.5±0.6 vs 2.4±0.8, P <0.01), PHQ9 (6.0±2.7 vs 8.6±4.3, P =0.01) and GAD7 (5.2±2.6 vs 9.5±2.8, P <0.01) decreased after treatment, while BBS (53.4±10.0 vs 34.8±10.7, P< 0.01) and ABC (89.6±8.0 vs 55.7±21.8, P <0.01) increased. Conclusion: Multisensory training and rehabilitation therapy can effectively enhance the vertigo control rate and balance ability in patients with balance disorders, reduce the risk of falling, promote their mental and psychological state, and thus improve the quality of life.

Objectives: To compare the clinical effect of alternative-level and all-level Arch mini-plate fixation in patients undergoing unilateral open-door laminoplasty. Methods: Clinical data of 134 patients administrated in the Peking University International Hospital for multistage cervical spondylotic myelopathy from March 2015 to March 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 63 males and 71 females with an average age of (62±8) years and a mean disease course of (18±7) months (3-37 months). All the patients underwent posterior cervical unilateral open-door laminoplasty with Arch titanium plate fixation. All the patients were divided into two groups according to the different amount of titanium plates used during operation as follow: group A, Arch plates were fixed at the door sides of C 3 , C 5 and C 7 ( n =68) and group B, Arch plates were fixed at the door sides of C 3 , C 4 , C 5 , C 6 and C 7 ( n =66). Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospitalization days and the cost of consumables, the Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) score, cervical dysfunction index (NDI), the rates of improved JOA score, cervical curvature index, C 2-7 Cobb angle, cervical range of motion, sagittal diameter of vertebral canal, opening angle of laminar, hinges bone healing and surgery related complications (axial symptoms, C 5 nerve root palsy, screw loosening, laminar re-closing, cervical kyphosis, etc.) were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results: There was no complications during the operation, and the mean follow-up was (20±8) months (14-48 months). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, course of disease and compression segments (all P >0.05). There was no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay too (all P >0.05). The cost of consumables in group A was (34 970±1 325) yuan, and it was (57 450±2 161) yuan in group B, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P <0.01). The JOA and NDI score were significantly improved 3 months and 1 year after operation in both groups (both P <0.05). The sagittal diameter of each segment of the spinal canal at C 3 , C 4 , C 5 , C 6 and C 7 were all significantly increased in both groups 3 months and 1 year after surgery (all P <0.05). The C 2-7 Cobb angle and cervical curvature index were all significantly reduced in both groups 3 months and 1 year after surgery (all P <0.05). The cervical range of motion in both groups was significantly reduced 3 months and 1 year after surgery compared with that before surgery (both P <0.05). The range of motion of the cervical spine in group A was significantly higher than that in group B ( P <0.05). The opening angles of C 4 and C 6 segment lamina in group A 3 months and 1 year after operation were significantly lower than those in group B (all P <0.05). At 3 months after the operation, the hinges healing rate of C 4 and C 6 in group B was significantly better than that of group A (both P <0.05). At 1 year after the operation, there was no difference in the hinges healing rate of C 4 and C 6 in the two groups (both P >0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups ( P >0.05). Conclusions: The safety and early clinical efficacy of alternative-level and all-level Arch titanium plate fixation in posterior cervical unilateral open-door laminoplasty are comparable, alternative-level fixation can effectively reduce the cost of hospitalization. The open Angle loss and lower early hinges healing rate of the non-fixed segment in the alternative-level fixed group does not lead to laminar re-closing in early period of post operation.

Objective: To investigate the accuracy and clinical efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw placement under O-arm navigation and traditional fluoroscopy in patients with thoracolumbar fractures without neurological symptoms. Methods: From July 2016 to July 2018, 72 patients with thoracolumbar fractures in Peking University International Hospital without neurological symptoms were divided into two groups, group A and group B. In group A, 36 patients underwent the surgery of percutaneous pedicle screw implantation under traditional fluoroscopy and 168 pedicle screws were inserted. In group B, 36 patients underwent the surgery of percutaneous pedicle screw implantation under O-arm guided fluoroscopy and 164 pedicle screws were inserted by the same surgeon. The general condition, operation condition, radiation dose, fluoroscopy time of single screw, screw placement time and accuracy, visual analogue score (VAS) score, Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI), kyphosis Cobb's angle, anterior edge height of 1 week and 6 months after surgery were compared. The data were compared with paired t test between the two groups. Results: There was no significant differences between the two groups in general condition, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, VAS, ODI, kyphosis Cobb's angle, and anterior edge height of the injured vertebra (all P> 0.05). The operation time was (99±14) min in group A and (75±10) min in group B, the average screw setting time was (15.8±2.6) min in group A and (11.8±3.3) min in group B, the fluoroscopy time of each screw was (38.0±2.0) s in group A and (28.5±2.8) s in group B, the radiation dose of each surgery was (563±163) cGy/cm(2) in group A and (378±70) cGy/cm(2) in group B; the above-mentioned data of group A were all superior to those in group B and the differences between the two groups were all statistically significant ( t= 8.48, 5.73, 16.30, 6.25, all P< 0.05). Rampersaud grading in group A was better than group B, and the differences between the two groups was statistically significant(χ(2)=12.2, P< 0.05). Conclusion: The O-arm navigation system could not only provide high-definition navigation images and achieve high-precision navigation operations, which is more accurate than traditional pedicle screws placement, but also contribute to the reconstruction of spinal stability and reduce radiation dose, pedicle screws placement and operating time.

Objective: To analyze the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of human brucellosis (HB) in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Ningxia) from 2012 to 2018 and the correlation between HB and the number of livestock stocks, so as to provide reference for the development of preventive measures. Methods: Data on the incidence of HB was collected from the Infectious Disease Report Information Management System of Ningxia, 2012 to 2018. Data related to HB incidence in Ningxia from 2012 to 2018 was then analyzed by global spatial autocorrelation and local spatial autocorrelation analysis methods through the geographic information system (GIS). SPSS (23.0) Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the incidence of HB and the number of cattle, sheep and pigs. Results: From 2012 to 2018, the incidence of HB showed an overall increase in Ningxia, with an annual growth in 2012-2015 but declined between 2015 and 2018. Results from the global autocorrelation analysis showed that the distribution of HB in the counties and districts of Ningxia appeared non-randomly, with Moran's I value as positive in 2012, 2013 and 2016 indicating the distribution was positive in space. Through local autocorrelation analysis, results showed that "H-H" concentration area was mainly concentrated in central while the "L-L" concentration area was mainly in the northern part of Ningxia. As for the results from correlation analysis between HB and animal husbandry, it showed that the incidence of HB was positively correlated with the number of sheep in stock ( r =0.692, P =0.000). Conclusions: The epidemic situation of HB expressed different degrees of aggregation. Areas with high incidence were mostly concentrated in central Ningxia, and with certain degree of correlation with the number of sheep in stock. Corresponding measures should be taken to control the different aggregation situation. Programs on quarantine and immunization for sheep should also be strengthened.

Objective: To explore the role of autophagy in PM2.5-induced inflammation in human nasal epithelial cells and related mechanism. Methods: Human nasal epithelial cells were exposed to different concentration of PM2.5 for different times, and the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain-3 Ⅱ (LC3 Ⅱ) and Beclin1 proteins were measured by Western blot. The typical autophagosome and autolysosome were observed by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To observe autophagic flux, mRFP-GFP-LC3 plasmid was transfected to nasal epithelial cells and the punctate staining of mRFP-GFP-LC3 were determined by confocal laser scanning microscope. The expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in cell culture supernatant were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To assess the role of autophagy in PM2.5-mediated inflammation, autophagy related gene Atg5 and Beclin-1 were silenced by siRNA knockdown, and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed.GraphPad Prism 6.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: PM2.5 exposure increased the expression of LC3 Ⅱ and Beclin-1 proteins in a dose- (in PM2.5 group with concentration of 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 μg/ml, the expression of LC3 Ⅱ was 0.021±0.001( x ± s ), 0.037±0.002, 0.058±0.005, 0.075±0.006, 0.085±0.004, respectively, F= 126.8, P< 0.05; the expression of Beclin-1 was 0.002±0.000, 0.003±0.000, 0.005±0.000, 0.007±0.001, 0.008±0.001, respectively, F= 137.3, P< 0.05) and time-dependent manner (in PM2.5 group with exposure time of 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 h, the expression of LC3Ⅱ was 0.160±0.007, 0.222±0.003, 0.251±0.015, 0.483±0.029, 0.585±0.035, respectively, F= 215.3, P< 0.05; the expression of Beclin-1 was 0.059±0.002, 0.080±0.002, 0.087±0.002, 0.183±0.007, 0.228±0.005, respectively, F= 137.3, P< 0.05) in human nasal epithelial cells. TEM analysis showed typical autophagosome and autolysosome in cells after PM2.5 exposure for 24 h. PM2.5 significantly increased the number of yellow and red dots representing autophagosomes and autolysosomes respectively, indicating autophagic flux was elevated. Moreover, PM2.5 enhanced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α, which was dramatically prevented by Atg5-siRNA and Beclin-1-siRNA. Conclusion: Autophagy plays an important role in PM2.5-caused inflammation response in nasal epithelial cells, which can induce release of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and TNF-α and advance the inflammatory reaction.

Objective: To investigate the effect of PM2.5 exposure on nasal inflammatory cytokines and nasal mucosal pathology in a rat model of allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: Twenty-four healthy female SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups by random number table method, with 8 rats in each group: normal control group (NC group), ovalbumin (OVA) induced AR model (AR group), and AR model group inhaled to PM2.5 at 200 μg/m(3), 3 h/d, for 30 d (ARE group). Nasal symptoms including sneezing, nasal rubs and nasal secretion were recorded. Levels of OVA specific IgE in serum, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-ɑ (TNF-ɑ) in nasal irrigating solution were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The histopathological changes of nasal mucosa were observed by HE staining. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: The number of sneezing, nasal rubs and the amount of nasal secretion in the ARE group were significantly higher than that in the AR group and the NC group (number of sneezing (15.38±1.68) times/15 min vs (11.63±1.13) times/15 min vs (1.75±0.71) times/15 min, number of nasal rubs (27.75±2.12) times/15 min vs (21.25±2.96) times/15 min vs (5.25±1.04) times/15 min, amount of nasal secretion (18.90±2.07) mg vs (13.83±1.81) mg vs (3.78±0.41) mg, F values was 236.089, 224.139, 183.971, respectively, all P< 0.001). Statistically significant differences in OVA specific IgE, IL-6 and TNF-ɑ levels were observed in ARE group exceeded AR group and NC group (OVA specific IgE (25.42±2.51) ng/ml vs (18.07±1.07) ng/ml vs (1.47±0.26) ng/ml, IL-6 (123.30±18.86) pg/ml vs (63.49±11.29) pg/ml vs (16.87±3.29) pg/ml, TNF-ɑ (162.50±38.15) pg/ml vs (72.96±11.28) pg/ml vs (27.52±4.15) pg/ml, F values was 481.604, 138.277, 63.938, respectively, all P< 0.001). HE staining showed that the nasal epithelial cells of NC group were intact and neatly arranged. Nasal mucosa epithelial cells were arranged in disorder in AR group, with tissue structure swelling. Partial shedding of nasal epithelial cells, mucosal basement membrane thickening, submucosal tissue interstitial edema, vasodilation and gland hyperplasia were found in ARE group. Conclusion: An increase inflammatory factors level such as IL-6 and TNF-ɑ aggravates pathological damage of nasal mucosa in a rat model of AR by exposure to PM2.5.