Search

To predict mutations in TP53 and PIK3CA genes in breast cancer using ultrasound (US) signatures and clinicopathology.In this study, we developed and trained a model in 386 breast cancer patients to predict TP53 and PIK3CA mutations. The clinicopathological and US characteristics (including two-dimensional and color Doppler US) were investigated. Statistically significant variables were used to build predictive models, then a combined model was developed using the multivariate logistic regression analysis.Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that calcifications on US was an independent predictor of TP53 mutation (p0.05), whereas diameter on US and US type were independent predictors of PIK3CA mutation in breast cancer (all p0.05). Meanwhile, Luminal B/Human epidermal growth factor receptor two-positive (HER2+), HER2+/estrogen receptor-negative (ER-), and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes were strong predictors of TP53 mutation (odds ratio [OR] = 3.13, 3.18, 3.44, respectively, all p0.05). HER2+/ER- and TNBC subtypes were negative predictors of PIK3CA mutation (OR = 0.223, 0.241, respectively, all p0.05). The areas under curves (AUCs) for PIK3CA mutation in the training set increased from 0.553-0.610 to 0.741 in the multivariate model that combined US features and molecular subtype, with a sensitivity and specificity of 80.6% and 58.7%, respectively. The application of the multivariate model in the validation set achieved acceptable discrimination (AUC = 0.715). For TP53 mutation, the AUC was 0.653.US is a non-invasive modality to recognize the presence of TP53 and PIK3CA mutation. The models combined with US features and molecular subtype have implications for the practical application of predicting gene mutation for individual decision-making regarding treatment planning.

Yunxia Huang,1,* Yi Guo,2,* Qin Xiao,3,* Shuyu Liang,2 Qiang Yu,4 Lang Qian,1 Jin Zhou,1 Jian Le,1 Yuchen Pei,5 Lei Wang,4 Cai Chang,1 Sheng Chen,4 Shichong Zhou1 1Department of Ultrasonography, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Electronic Engineering, Fudan University and Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 5Precision Cancer Medical Center Affiliated to Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shichong Zhou, Department of Ultrasonography, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 21-64175590, Email sczhou@hotmail.com Sheng Chen, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 21-64175590, Email 0456177@fudan.edu.cnPurpose: The emergence of genomic targeted therapy has improved the prospects of treatment for breast cancer (BC). However, genetic testing relies on invasive and sophisticated procedures.Patients and Methods: Here, we performed ultrasound (US) and target sequencing to unravel the possible association between US radiomics features and somatic mutations in TNBC (n=83) and non-TNBC (n=83) patients. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) were utilized to perform radiomic feature selection. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis was utilized to identify the signaling pathways associated with radiomic features.Results: Thirteen differently represented radiomic features were identified in TNBC and non-TNBC, including tumor shape, textual, and intensity features. The US radiomic–gene pairs were differently exhibited between TNBC and non-TNBC. Further investigation with KEGG verified radiomic–pathway (ie, JAK-STAT, MAPK, Ras, Wnt, microRNAs in cancer, PI3K-Akt) associations in TNBC and non-TNBC.Conclusion: The pivotal network provided the connections of US radiogenomic signature and target sequencing for non-invasive genetic assessment of precise BC treatment.Keywords: triple-negative breast cancer, radiomics, somatic mutation, signaling pathway

The viscoelastic behavior and the dynamic mechanical properties were studied for wood-melamine-urea-formaldehyde composites prepared from fast-growing poplars using in situ polymerization. The changes in stress relaxation (SR), storage modulus (E′), and damping parameter (tan δ) were considered. The relationship between the dynamic mechanical properties and the modifier concentration was also studied. The SR value decreased as the modifier content increased in all the samples examined. The urea content had a greater impact than the melamine-urea-formaldehyde mixture content on the SR value of the wood samples. A similar trend was observed for E′. The modified wood samples exhibited a higher tan δ. The results confirmed that a better interfacial interaction between melamine-urea-formaldehyde and wood fiber contributed to the improvement of mechanical properties in the fast-growing poplar wood.

Soil mulch composite films composed of biodegradable materials are being increasingly used in agriculture. In this study, mulch films based on wheat straw fiber and an environmentally friendly modifier were prepared via in situ polymerization and tested as the ridge mulch for crops. The mechanical properties of the straw fiber film were significantly enhanced by the modification. In particular, the films exhibited a noticeable increase in dry and wet tensile strength from 2.35 to 4.15 and 0.41 to 1.51 kN/m, respectively, with increasing filler content from 0% to 25%. The contact angle of the straw also showed an improvement based on its hydrophilicity. The crystallinity of the modified film was higher than that of the unmodified film and increased with modifier content. The changes in chemical interaction of the straw fiber film were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the thermal stability of the unmodified film was improved by in situ polymerization. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the modifier was uniformly dispersed in the fiber film, resulting in an improvement in its mechanical properties. The modified straw fiber films could be degraded after mulching for approximately 50 days. Overall, the superior properties of the modified straw fiber film lend it great potential for agricultural application.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of four phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resin treatments with different molecular weights at four different concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20%) in treated beech wood. The mechanical properties of untreated and treated beech wood were evaluated. After impregnation with PF resin, all modified beech wood at all PF resin concentrations exhibited an increase in weight percent gain compared with that in untreated beech samples. PF resins with lower molecular weights more easily penetrate the wood cell wall, leading to increased bulking of the wood structure, which in turn improves the dimensional stability of the wood. The PF resin treatment with a molecular weight of 305 g/mol showed better impregnation ability than that of the other PF resins. The impact bending strength of PF-treated wood was considerably reduced because PF-cured resins formed inside the wood and are rigid and brittle. Additionally, PF resin treatments at all concentrations decreased the modulus of elasticity of the wood. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy revealed that the PF resins were comparatively well fixed in the wood samples. The results indicate that the large molecular weight PF resins are more uniformly distributed in the fiber lumens.

To the value-added application of the soda lignin by improving its reactivity and antioxidant activity, a self-made Pd/SO42−/ZrO2 catalyst was used to catalyze the degradation reaction of soda lignin. The catalyst was loaded with the palladium of 1.47 wt.% while retaining the super acidity of SO42−/ZrO2. The reaction condition was determined as follows: the dioxane-water solution was selected as the reaction solution, the addition amount of the catalyst was 5 wt.% of the soda lignin, the system was heated at 100 °C for 4 h under a hydrogen pressure of 3 MPa. The reactivity of the catalyzed-soda lignin compared to the soda lignin before the reaction was significantly improved: the values of phenolic hydroxyl groups and total hydroxyl groups were increased by 35.3% and 97.1%, respectively, and the value of methoxy groups was decreased by 13%. Approximately 63.3% of the β-O-4 bonds were cleaved, which resulted in a reduction of the weight average molecular weight from 8200 g·mol−1 to 4900 g·mol−1. At the same time, the EC50 values of the catalyzed-soda lignin on DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS+ (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radicals scavenging were decreased by 20.6% and 32.6%, respectively, and the reducing power of catalyzed-soda lignin at the absorption value of 0.5 was increased by 10.5%. The Pd/SO42−/ZrO2 catalyst works by breaking the β-O-4 linkages and degrading the methoxy groups. The catalyzed-soda lignin exhibits the possibility of being used as the antioxidants, grafting precursors, adhesive additives, and raw materials for lignin/polymer composites.

Recently, Ailanthus altissima wood has received increased attention in China. Although Ailanthus altissima has a number of advantages, such as fast-growing character and high density, the low dimensional stability is a restraining factor. Chemical modification could be a feasible way to overcome such drawbacks. The aim of this research was to study the physical and chemical properties of Ailanthus altissima veneers treated by urea-formaldehyde pre-polymer impregnation and compression drying. The results showed that this approach not only significantly increased the dimensional stability of wood, but also enhanced the bending strength and compressive strength parallel to the grain. The FT-IR analysis showed that the intensity of hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl (C=O) absorption peaks decreased, which indicated that the NH-CH2-OH of the pre-polymer reacted with the wood’s carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. The positions of the XRD peaks did not change, which indicated that the structure of cellulose crystallinity was not noticeably affected by the chemical modification. The TGA showed that the thermal stability of modified wood was improved, while FESEM showed that the wood cell wall and vessels were impregnated with chemicals.

Poplar wood (Populus euramericana cv. “I-214”) has been impregnated by pulse dipping at 0.7–0.8 MPa for 30 min with a mixture of methylolurea and sodium silicate, and the sol modifier has been cured within the wood micropores by in situ gel polymerization by kiln drying, so that a Si-O-Si framework was formed. The treated wood acquired higher mechanical strength and its hygroscopicity was lowered. It was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction that sodium silicate crystallized within the interfibrillar region of the cell wall. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that reactions occurred between the wood-OH, Si-OH, and N-CH2-OH from methylolurea to form C-O-Si and C-O-C bonds. As visible by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Si-O-Si framework was embedded in the pretreated wood. Moreover, SEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed that the modifier formed layers from various thicknesses ranging from a thin layer on the cell walls up to big amounts filling the lumen.