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Objectives. The postoperative early recurrence (ER) rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is 50%, and no highly reliable predictive tool has been developed yet. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a predictive model with radiomics analysis based on multiparametric magnetic resonance (MR) images to predict early recurrence of HCC. Methods. In total, 302 patients (training dataset: n = 211; validation dataset: n = 91) with pathologically confirmed HCC who underwent preoperative MR imaging were enrolled in this study. Three-dimensional regions of interest of the entire lesion were accessed by manually drawing along the tumor margins on the multiple sequences of MR images. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression were then applied to select ER-related radiomics features and construct radiomics signatures. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify the significant clinico-radiological factors and establish a clinico-radiological model. A predictive model of ER incorporating the fusion radiomics signature and clinico-radiological risk factors was constructed. The diagnostic performance and clinical utility of this model were measured by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analyses. Results. The fusion radiomics signature consisting of 6 radiomics features achieved good prediction performance (training dataset: AUC = 0.85, validation dataset: AUC = 0.79). The predictive model of ER integrating clinico-radiological risk factors and the fusion radiomics signature improved the prediction efficacy with AUCs of 0.91 and 0.87 in the training and validation datasets, respectively. Furthermore, the nomogram and ER risk stratification system based on the predictive model demonstrated encouraging predictions of the individualized risk of ER and gave three risk groups with low, intermediate, or high risk of ER. Conclusions. The proposed predictive model incorporating clinico-radiological factors and the fusion radiomics signature derived from multiparametric MR images may be an effective tool for the individualized prediction of postoperative ER in patients with HCC.

Objectives Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc. is the dry infructescence of P. strobilacea, a Juglandaceae plant and is a traditional Chinese medicine with great development potential and utilization value. This study summarizes the research progress on the traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, extraction methods, pharmacology and toxicology of Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc., and provides potential therapeutic uses and drug development prospects for this plant. Key findings Phytochemical studies showed that this plant mainly contains volatile constituents, phenols, terpenoids and a carbohydrate. The pharmacological activity of Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc. includes antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, anti-tumour effects and antioxidant effects. This plant is especially effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis. Summary In this review, the phytochemistry and pharmacological effects of Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc. are described in detail, which will have guiding significance for the future development of this drug.

Primary pericardial angiosarcoma is a rare malignant cardiac neoplasm with early metastasis and poor prognosis. There are currently no guidelines or effective therapeutic strategies. Here we report a case of a 22-year-old man who presented with chest pain, suffocation and transient syncope over the course of 4 months. Further workup showed a large mass in the right pericardium, histopathologic examination revealed angiosarcoma. The patient subsequently received a total of 8 cycles of chemotherapy (paclitaxel and doxorubicin). This patient has an overall survival of 1 year to date. The current examination methods and reported cases revealed that early detection of primary pericardial angiosarcoma with imaging examinations is critical for prognosis.

Context Re-yan-ning mixture (RYNM) is a new national drug approved by China's State Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of colds, simple pneumonia and acute bronchitis. Objective To determine the mechanism of action of RYNM in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia. Materials and methods Using the network pharmacology approach, the multiple components, component candidate targets and multiple therapeutic targets of RYNM were screened and functionally enriched. Also, we established a rat Streptococcus pneumonia model to verify the results of network pharmacology enrichment analysis. Forty male SPF Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups of 10 rats: control (normal saline), model (normal saline), levofloxacin-intervened and RYNM-intervened groups. IL-10, NOS2, COX-1, IL-6, TNF-α and NF-κB in serum and BALF were detected by ELISA. Western blot detected IL-17, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2 and Bcl-2. Results The network pharmacology approach successfully identified 48 bioactive components in RYNM, and 65 potential targets and 138 signal pathways involved in the treatment of Streptococcus pneumonia with RYNM. The in vivo experiments indicated that model group has visible inflammation and lesions while RYNM and levofloxacin groups have not. The RYNM exhibited its therapeutic effects on Streptococcus pneumonia mainly via the regulation of cell proliferation and survival through the IL-6/IL-10/IL-17, Bax/Bcl-2, COX-1/COX-2, NF-κB and TNF-α signalling pathways. Discussion and conclusions The present study demonstrated the protective effects of RYNM on Streptococcus pneumonia, providing a potential mechanism for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia with RYNM.

As gene-editing technology has become more and more popular in the life sciences, CRISPR has brought good news to scientific researchers because of its efficiency, convenience, and wide application. Its wide application has also promoted the development of basic scientific research, agriculture, basic medicine, and clinical treatment. However, how the CRISPR/dCas9 system is effectively delivered to the target organs or cells is still unknown. This paper briefly introduces the CRISPR/dCas9 system and then lists some common delivery methods and their characteristics.

Background: Combination therapy has become an attractive option in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether additional use of prostacyclin analogs could exert any additional benefits over background targeted therapies in PAH patients.Methods: Searches were performed on PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 1 October 2021. Randomized controlled trials were included if patients had been treated with prostacyclin analog-containing combination therapy and compared with the use of other PAH-specific background therapies. The bias risk and statistical analysis of the enrolled studies were performed with RevMan 5.1. Sensitivity analysis and funnel plot were used to evaluate the stability and publication bias, respectively. PROSPERO registered number CRD42021284196.Results: Ten trials involving 1828 patients were included. Prostacyclin analog treatment was associated with greater improvement in clinical worsening (risk ratio [RR], 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57–0.86), 6-min walk distance (mean difference [MD], 37.17 m; 95% CI, 3.01–71.33 m), NYHA/WHO functional class (RR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.21–2.05), mean pulmonary artery pressure (MD, −9.23 mmHg; 95% CI, −17.44 to −1.03 mmHg), and cardiac index (MD, 0.41 L/min/m2; 95% CI, 0.26–0.55 L/min/m2) than the control group. No significant differences in pulmonary vascular resistance (MD, −137.22 dyn·s/cm5; 95% CI, −272.61 to −1.84 dyn·s/cm5) and all-cause mortality (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.57–1.61) were found between the prostacyclin analog group and control group. Of note, more adverse events (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02–1.13) occurred in the prostacyclin analog group but no significant increase in serious adverse events (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.75–2.11).Conclusion: Additional prostacyclin analog treatment exerted benefits on clinical worsening, exercise capacity, functional class, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and cardiac index in PAH patients, but it was associated with overall risk of adverse events.Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021284196, identifier CRD42021284196.

In order to improve the effect of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on the selectivity in anti-tumour therapy, the α-linolenic acid conjugated hydroxychloroquine (AHQ) was designed, which was aiming to enhance anti-tumor effect. Basing on the in vitro data of AHQ, we chose colon cancer as the model disease. Herein, we assumed the combined therapy with 5-fluorouracil(5-Fu), which was the corner-stone on the treatment of colon cancer. After the successful synthesis, aqueous solubility, stability of ester bond and in vivo acute toxicity analysis of AHQ, the in vivo bio-distribution of AHQ in the tumour bearing mice model was constructed to verify the increased selectivity in the tumour tissue. The AHQ was demonstrated better tumour selectivity in the HT-29 bearing mice model than HCQ. The synergism effect and best proportion between AHQ and 5-Fu against HT-29 and HCT116 cell lines were 1:1 and 1:8, respectively. The combined group could enhance HT-29 cell apoptosis significantly via arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase comparing with both AHQ and 5-Fu, while it improved the HCT116 cell apoptosis significantly via arresting the cell cycle in the S phase compared to AHQ. Basing on the prominent consequence in the HT-29 cell line, we naturally chose HT-29 xenograft mouse model to continue the study. The combination group showed excellent effect on suppressing tumour growth by up-regulating the expression of LC3-Ⅱ and P62, and inhibiting the pathway of Akt/mTOR in autophagy process.

Retraction of ‘Hydroxychloroquine based chemical drug for combination therapy with 5-Fu for inhibiting the pathway of Akt/mTOR in autophagy process on colon cancer’ by Zhi Liao et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d1tb00135c.

A compression-molded green composite material comprising of bacterially synthesized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB-co-3HHx)] and short kenaf fibers (KF) was prepared in the present study. Accordingly, P(3HB-co-3HHx) was produced by the Cupriavidus necator Re2058/pCB113 using the palm oil as the sole carbon source, while the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymer with ∼99% purity was recovered from the bacterial cells using a newly reported solvent-free biological recovery method. Experimental results showed that P(3HB-co-3HHx) containing 30 wt % KF possessed the highest flexural strength and similar or better comparable mechanical performance compared to that of the low density polyethylene (LDPE), LDPE/KF composites and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Water absorption and soil burial tests were also performed to evaluate the durability of the P(3HB-co-3HHx)/KF composites. As compared to that of the pristine P(3HB-co-3HHx), it was determined that P(3HB-co-3HHx)/KF composites demonstrated higher water absorption percentage and showed higher percentage of weight loss during the soil degradation study. Burkholderia sp., Streptomyces sp., Amycolatopsis sp. and Streptacidiphilus sp. that involved in the biodegradation of P(3HB-co-3HHx)/KF composites during the soil degradation study were successfully isolated and characterized. These species had the capability to degrade the composite material in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Since December 2019, COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), posed a serious threat to human health. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-2019 has become a global pandemic. In China, Reduning injection (REDI) and Xuanfeibaidu formula (XFF) is widely used in treating COVID-19. However, there is no evidence-based medical evaluation that XFF combine with REDI is effective for COVID-19. METHODS: The following databases will be searched: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Medline/PubMed, and Cochrane from October 1, 2019 to September 1, 2020. The suitable articles will be comprehensively and systematically searched without limitations of regions or language about REDI with XFF for COVID-19. The meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 and STATA 14.2 software. RESULTS: This meta-analysis may help provide clarify on the effect of REDI combined with XFF to treat COVID-19. The result will be published at a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review aims to provide new evidence of XFF combined with REDI for the treatment of COVID-19 in terms of its efficacy and safety. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202090039.

Background: The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new acute respiratory infectious disease that has become a major global public health event. In China, the combination of Huashi Baidu Formula (HBF) and antiviral drugs is used in the clinical treatment of severe patients with new coronary pneumonia, but there is still a lack of evidence-based medical evaluation. Methods: We search for research in PubMed/MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, Cochrane Library, Embase, China Biomedical Database (CBM), and Chinese Science Citation Database (CSCD). For “Huashi Baidu Formula” and “COVID-19,” we screened suitable articles without language restrictions on keywords, and recorded and analyzed the screened literature with RevMan 5.3 and STATA 14.2 software. Results: This systematic review and meta-analysis will evaluate the efficacy and safety of HBF combined with antiviral drugs in the treatment of COVID-19, and provide the rationality of clinical drug application. Conclusion: Our findings will provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment and guidance programs for COVID-19. INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202080098.

The aim of the study was to investigate the value of preoperative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), using and comparing mean and minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. Preoperative MR images of 318 patients with HCC confirmed by surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent preoperative DWI on a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner. The mean and minimum ADC values of the tumors were measured. Interobserver agreements were assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The ADC values were compared in HCCs between with and without MVI. ROC curves of ADC values were obtained and then compared in distinguishing HCCs with MVI from those without MVI. There were 211 HCCs with MVI and 107 HCCs without MVI. ICC for the measurements of the mean and minimum ADC values between both observers was 0.88 (95% CI 0.85 – 0.90) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.85 – 0.90), respectively. The mean and minimum ADC values of HCCs with MVI were lower than those of HCCs without MVI (P = .00, .00, respectively). With a cut-off value of 0.98 × 10–3 mm2/s, the minimum ADC (MinADC) showed a sensitivity of 62.56% and a specificity of 65.42% in predicting MVI, whereas the mean ADC provided a sensitivity of 79.15% and a specificity of 50.47% with a cut-off value of 1.19 × 10–3 mm2/s. No significant difference existed between MinADC and mean ADC for their diagnostic performances in the prediction of MVI (P = .48). DWI could preoperatively provide quantitative parameters for predicting MVI of HCC.

This paper concentrates on attitude tracking control design for spacecrafts with actuator faults. By introducing a Nussbaum gain technique law to handle unknown healthy indicators, we propose a Lyapunov function-based feedback control design. It is proved that with the developed controller, the solution of the closed-loop systems is bounded, while the tracking issue can be realized. The efficiency of the developed control design is further shown by a numerical simulation.

Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are expensive partly due to the recovery and purification processes. Thus, many studies have been carried out in order to minimize the cost. Here we report on the use of mealworm, which is the larva of mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) to recover PHA granules from Cupriavidus necator. Mealworms were shown to readily consume the freeze-dried C. necator cells and excrete the PHA granules in the form of whitish feces. Further purification using water, detergent and heat resulted in almost 100% pure PHA granules. Comparison with chloroform extraction showed no signs of reduction in the molecular weight and dispersion of the PHA molecules. Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements revealed that the biologically recovered PHA granules retained their native spherical morphology. The PHA granules were subjected to a battery of tests to determine their purity and properties in comparison to the chloroform extracted PHA. This study has demonstrated the possibility of using mealworms as a biological agent to partially purify the PHA granules.