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Background: Cancer antigen 15-3 is a protein that clinicians commonly measure to monitor outcomes and response to treatment in patients with breast cancer. However, cancer antigen 15-3 can also be elevated in other, benign and malignant conditions. Case presentation: A 73-year-old White woman with history of breast cancer presented to her primary care physician with right hip pain, and laboratory testing revealed elevated cancer antigen 15-3. Further workup with radiographic imaging revealed a large mass in her right kidney. The renal mass was subsequently removed, and the cancer antigen 15-3 level returned to normal. Conclusions: Elevation of cancer antigen 15-3 owing to causes other than breast cancer recurrence can be a potential diagnostic pitfall during a patient's follow-up. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the limitations of cancer markers and to utilize a combination of diagnostic tests for patient evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer nanocomposites are a class of composite materials containing polymer continuous phase as matrix and inorganic nanoparticles as fillers. Combining the advantages of both polymer and nanofillers, polymer nanocomposites can yield some desirable functionalities that cannot be achieved by the individual components, thus exhibiting tremendous potential for a variety of applications. However, their performances markedly depend on the dispersion and distribution of nanofillers in the polymer matrix. Recently, in situ emulsion polymerization has been demonstrated to be a powerful approach for the preparation of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites with good dispersion and homogeneous distribution of nanofillers. In this review, the fundamentals of polymer nanocomposites and their preparation strategies are briefly discussed, and then are comprehensively summarized recent advances in the design, preparation, functionalization, and applications of polymer nanocomposites via in situ emulsion polymerization. The particular focus is placed on the strategies for achieving homogeneous and good dispersion of nanofillers within polymer matrixes. Moreover, the current challenges and future opportunities of in situ emulsion polymerization to polymer nanocomposites are discussed to motivate future contributions and explore new possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we introduce a cutting-edge gas sensor exploiting surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in a novel D-shaped photonic crystal fiber (PCF) configuration, tailored for methane detection. The sensor’s innovative design incorporates dual-core polished gas access microstructures, optimizing methane-gas interaction surfaces. A gold nanofilm was strategically selected to induce SPR, augmented by a polysiloxane-doped cryptane E overlay for heightened methane sensitivity. To meticulously evaluate sensor performance, we employed a combination of finite element analysis (FEA) and rigorous numerical modeling. These analyses revealed the profound impact of structural parameters on sensor attributes. Our findings highlight a remarkable methane sensing capability, evidenced by a sensitivity of 11.52 nm/% and a figure of merit (FOM) reaching 0.409 within the tested 0–3.5% concentration range, accompanied by a linear response profile—underscoring the system’s precision and reliability. This pioneering sensor technology, distinguished by its affordability, simplicity, and real-time monitoring capabilities, charts a new course in the realm of gas leak detection systems, poised to make significant contributions to future safety and environmental monitoring endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we present the Database of Word-Level Statistics for Mandarin Chinese (DoWLS-MAN). The database addresses the lack of agreement in phonological syllable segmentation specific to Mandarin by offering phonological features for each lexical item according to 16 schematic representations of the syllable (8 with tone and 8 without tone). Those lexical statistics that differ per phonological word and nonword due to changes in syllable segmentation are of the variant category and include subtitle lexical frequency, phonological neighborhood density measures, homophone density, and network science measures. The invariant characteristics consist of each items' lexical tone, phonological transcription, and syllable structure among others. The goal of DoWLS-MAN is to provide researchers both the ability to choose stimuli that are derived from a segmentation schema that supports an existing model of Mandarin speech processing, and the ability to choose stimuli that allow for the testing of hypotheses on phonological segmentation according to multiple schemas. In an exploratory analysis we illustrate how multiple schematic representations of the phonological mental lexicon can aid in hypothesis generation, specifically in terms of phonological processing when reading Chinese orthography. Users of the database can search among over 92,000 words, over 1600 out-of-vocabulary Chinese characters, and 4300 phonological nonwords according to either Chinese orthography, pinyin, or ASCII phonetic script. Users can also generate a list of phonological words and nonwords according to user-defined ranges and categories of lexical characteristics. DoWLS-MAN is available to the public for search or download at https://dowls.site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple modular redundancy (TMR) fault tolerance mechanism can provide almost perfect fault-masking, which has the great potential to enhance the reliability of real-time systems. However, multiple copies of a task are executed concurrently, which will lead to a sharp increase in system energy consumption. In this work, the problem of parallel applications using TMR on heterogeneous multi-core platforms to minimize energy consumption is studied. First, the heterogeneous earliest finish time algorithm is improved, and then according to the given application's deadline constraints and reliability requirements, an algorithm to extend the execution time of the copies is designed. Secondly, based on the properties of TMR, an algorithm for minimizing the execution overhead of the third copy (MEOTC) is designed. Finally, considering the actual situation of task execution, an online energy management (OEM) method is proposed. The proposed algorithms were compared with the state-of-the-art AFTSA algorithm, and the results show significant differences in energy consumption. Specifically, for light fault detection, the energy consumption of the MEOTC and OEM algorithms was found to be 80% and 72% respectively, compared with AFTSA. For heavy fault detection, the energy consumption of MEOTC and OEM was measured at 61% and 55% respectively, compared with AFTSA. • A TMR fault tolerance mechanism is applied to heterogeneous multi-core real-time systems. • Four energy-efficient algorithms are designed with deadline and reliability constraints. • The proposed algorithms outperform existing task replication approach in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliability is a crucial index of the system, and many safety-critical applications have reliability requirements and deadline constraints. In addition, in order to protect the environment and reduce system operating costs, it is necessary to minimize energy consumption as much as possible. This paper considers parallel applications on heterogeneous distributed systems and proposes two algorithms to minimize energy consumption for meeting the deadline and satisfying the reliability requirement of the applications. The first algorithm is called minimizing scheduling length while satisfying the reliability requirement (MSLSRR). It first transforms the reliability requirement of the application into the reliability requirement of the task and then assigns the task to the processor with the earliest finish time. Since the reliability generated by MSLSRR is often higher than the reliability requirement of the application, and the scheduling length is also less than the deadline, an algorithm called improving energy efficiency (IEE) is designed, which redefined the minimum reliability requirement for the task and applied dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) technique for energy conservation. The proposed algorithms are compared with existing algorithms by using real parallel applications. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms consume the least energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper proposes an efficient high-order harmonics correction method for phase measuring profilometry. • The addition of the ideal phase and the residual harmonics is converted to the multiplication based on Hilbert transform. • Simulations and experiments have validated the proposed method compared with conventional methods. Gamma nonlinearity severely affects the accuracy of phase measuring profilometry (PMP). Through averaging two phase maps with inverse errors, conventional methods including double phase-shifting (DPS) and Hilbert transform (HT) only compensate the fundamental harmonic while leaving high-order harmonics. To address this issue, this paper presents an efficient high-order harmonics correction (HHC) method. The averaged phase is encoded into factitious fringes on the computer. Then we directly apply HT on these factitious fringes to generate transformed fringes, while the addition of the ideal phase and residual harmonics is converted to multiplication. Finally, the residual high-order harmonics are suppressed, and the corrected phase is calculated using the phase-shifting algorithm. In comparison to conventional DPS and HT methods, the proposed HHC method can efficiently correct the residual high-order harmonics, thereby enhancing the measuring accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric elastomer actuators exhibit butterfly-shaped hysteresis effects under unbiased periodic input signals. In comparison with single hysteresis effects, butterfly-shaped hysteresis effects are more complicated, which include two single hysteresis loops, and the directions of both loops are different. Hence, it is a great challenge to build a hysteresis model to describe the butterfly-shaped behavior. To this end, a butterfly-shaped relay operator is newly proposed as an elementary operator to construct the butterfly-shaped Preisach model, and the weighting functions/weights of the developed model are positively defined, which facilitates the construction of the unique inverse model and the controller design. To further improve the modeling accuracy, a piecewise-defined butterfly-shaped Preisach model considering the variation of asymmetric nonlinear hysteresis effects with different input amplitudes is proposed. Experiments with the fabricated elastomer actuator-actuated system are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the developed modeling approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urothelial carcinoma usually shows divergent differentiation and variant histology with squamous and glandular morphology being most common. In this report, we present a case of divergent malignant melanocytic differentiation in a high-grade urothelial carcinoma. A 98-year-old East Asian woman with an anterior bladder wall mass underwent resection, which revealed a high-grade poorly differentiated tumor. A minor component of high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma and carcinoma in situ is also present. The majority of the tumor cells are morphologically and immunohistochemically consistent with melanoma, a minority of cells are positive for urothelial markers, and rare cells coexpress both melanocytic and urothelial markers. Cells that express melanocytic markers or urothelial markers are intimately admixed together. Taken together, a diagnosis of high-grade urothelial carcinoma with malignant melanocytic differentiation was rendered. This is the first report in the literature of malignant melanocytic differentiation in a high-grade urothelial carcinoma, a finding that may have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite of persistent anti-drug regulations and policies, China has encountered a large boom in narcotic drug addicts. Drug addicts can be found in distinct social groups, from the rich to the poor. Classic drug research theories have paid less attention to drug addiction issues in transitional China's context. This study introduces a socio-structural transition perspective to explore the increasing and wide-spreading drug addiction problems in contemporary China. Based on in-depth interviews with drug addicts, social workers, and local policemen in Fujian, we collected 13 addict cases with detailed life experiences. Two structurally distinct groups were identified among the addicts. The impoverished descender addicts, struggling with much frustration in the disadvantaged situations, are associated with the class-based drug initiation patterns. Meanwhile, the affluent upstart addicts, gaining easy money with the traditional moral commitment left behind, are related to the consumer-based pathways to drug abuse. Moreover, these distinct addicts have commonalities in contemporary Chinese contexts. At the macro level, they fail to adapt themselves to the rapid structural transition process in both the material and spiritual ways, and thus are lost into the drug-related deviant social positions with weakening social controls and exposure to deviant peers. These findings further indicate the complex associations among deviant social consequences, social classes, and socio-structural changes in historical process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyze monosomal karyotype (MK) occurrence and the relationship between MKs and complex karyotypes (CKs) and to determine the prognostic significance of MKs in MDS patients based on conventional cytogenetic (CC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses. Methods: CC and FISH analyses were conducted for 216 primary MDS patients. Follow‐ups and statistical analysis were conducted. Results: A total of 25 (11.6%) patients with MKs were identified by FISH and CC analyses, and 23 (92%) of these MKs were also CKs. Only 19 patients (8.8%) with MKs were identified by CC analysis. Patients with MKs had higher bone marrow (BM) blast counts (P = 0.006), incidence of very high risk according to International Prognostic Scoring System‐Revised (IPSS‐R) (P < 0.001), leukemic transformation (P = 0.003,) and death rates (P < 0.001) than those without MKs. Overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) of MK or CK patients which were additionally detected by FISH and CC analyses had no statistical significance with those MK or CK patients detected by CC analyses separately. Multivariate analysis indicated that MK (P < 0.001), blast in BM (P < 0.001) and age (P = 0.028) were inferior independent prognostic factors in OS, whereas CK (P = 0.003) was the inferior independent prognostic factor in PFS. Conclusion: The MDS FISH panel may provide additional information for defining MKs beyond CC analysis. MK was an important indicator of OS in MDS patients, and CK indicated inferior disease progression but did not influence OS according to CC and FISH analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The embedded systems generally require to be low-powered and highly reliable. In order to achieve the low-power design goal, dynamic voltage frequency scaling (DVFS) technique has been widely employed in various embedded application scenarios. However, DVFS reduces execution frequency, which increases transient faults of the processor dramatically. As a result, the reliability of the application will be severely reduced. In this paper, we aim at minimizing energy consumption with reliability goal for parallel application on heterogeneous embedded systems. Since the reliability of the application is the product of the reliability of all the tasks that belong to the application, the reliability goal of the application is transformed into the reliability goal of each task. Considering that some systems may not support DVFS techniques, two methods are proposed to transform the reliability goal of the application into each task for non-DVFS and DVFS, respectively. Based on the reliability goal transformation methods, two energy-efficient scheduling algorithms with the reliability goal are designed. Experiments with real parallel applications demonstrate that the proposed algorithms have significant improvements in energy efficiency compared with the state-of-the-art algorithms. Highlights • The reliability goal of the application is transformed to that of each task. • The reliability goal transformation methods for non-DVFS and DVFS are both proposed. • Two energy-efficient scheduling algorithms with the reliability goal are designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) is a rare malignant hepatic tumor that occurs primarily in children. Only a limited number of cases have been reported in the literature due to low incidence of one per million, and reports of metastatic lesion of UESL are even rarer. We hereby describe the case of a 13-year-old male who presented with a palpable mass with imaging findings suggestive of a large complex tumor in the right lobe of the liver. He underwent extended right hepatectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The tumor was confirmed to be UESL by postoperative pathology and immunohistochemical staining analysis. Four years later, surveillance imaging revealed a small lung nodule in the left lower lobe. Complete removal of the lung tumor by wedge resection was performed, and a histological diagnosis of metastatic UESL was made. The patient also received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and is currently in a good general condition and tumor-free in the present eight-month period. This case is presented with emphasis on clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings of the primary UESL and lung metastases with the aim of collecting more data and expanding our understanding of this rare malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation (QMA-EUR) addresses that the entropic uncertainty of measured particle can be reduced by the aid of another particle acting as quantum memory. Especially, the measurement precision for two incompatible observables can be improved. In this paper, we have studied QMA-EUR in the qubit–qubit and qubit–qubit-spin chain models and examined quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainties (QMA-EUs) and their lower bounds (LBs) of the spin-qubit measured subsystem in the case of spin-qutrit and spin-qubit acting as the quantum memories, respectively. The numerical results show that spin-qutrit memory subsystems can effectively suppress the amounts of QMA-EUs and LBs of the spin-qubit measurement subsystem, which indicates that it can broke the limits of entropic uncertainty relationship without quantum memory subsystem. But, the suppression effects are very different in both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic spin coupling cases. In general, one can get lower values of QMA-EUs and LBs by adjusting the thermal equilibrium temperature and relevant coupling parameters in the case of antiferromagnetic spin coupling case. Furthermore, we compared the regulation effects of reducing the values of QMA-EUs and LBs when the quantum memory subsystem is severed by spin-qutrit and spin-qubit, respectively, in the same model parameters condition. It is found that effects of spin-qutrit memory subsystem on reducing QMA-EUs and LBs are inferior to that of spin-qubit memory one. This comparative analysis result indicates that the dimensions of quantum measurement subsystem and quantum memory subsystem have a significant effect on the reducing the QMA-EUs and LBs in the entropic uncertainty game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study aimed to generate mutant mice containing the Acvrl1 gene flanked with LoxP sequences to allow conditional deletion of Acvrl1 by the LoxP/Cre system. Such mice may facilitate the development of brain arteriovenous malformation (BAVM) models. Methods The CRISPR/Cas9 technique was used to edit Acvrl1 . Two single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) with recognition sites on intron 3 and 8 and a donor vector that was homologous with the targeted gene and contained two LoxP sequences were designed and constructed. The in vitro -synthesized sgRNA, Cas9 mRNA and donor vectors were injected into mouse zygotes, which were then transferred into pseudopregnant mice. Neonatal mutant mice were identified by genotyping and sequencing. Results Two mice with a floxed Acvrl1 allele were generated at a success rate of 8.7%. The target mice, which were healthy and fertile, were obtained through interbreeding. Conclusion CRISPR/Cas9 is a reliable gene-editing tool, and is able to efficiently modify Acvrl1 and create the target mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Intraoperative ultrasonography is widely used in neurosurgery for the management of intracerebral hematoma and brain tumor. However, the clinical value of this method in the surgery of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has not been reported. In this study, the application of intraoperative ultrasonography for AVM surgery was evaluated prospectively. Methods This prospective clinical study comprised 41 patients who underwent microsurgical resection of cerebral AVMs at our institute. After routine craniotomy, ultrasonographic imaging with color Doppler ultrasonography and real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic angiography if necessary were applied as navigated images on the monitor during the operation. Results Ultrasonographic imaging made it easier to understand the vascular architecture during the operation. Color Doppler flow imaging clearly delineated the shape and margin of the AVMs. Intraoperative real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic angiography enabled the surgeons to categorically identify AVM feeders both on the surface and deep in the tissue. Conclusions Microneurosurgery with intraoperative ultrasonographic image guidance was a safe, effective, and reliable method for identifying the afferent and efferent vessels and for confirming the complete resection of AVMs. These benefits of image-guided microsurgery were mostly apparent for deep-seated AVMs that were not visible on the surface of the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rub-impact fault model for dual-rotor system was further developed, in which rubbing board is regarded as elastic sheet. Sheet elastic deformation, contact penetration, and elastic damping support during rubbing of sheet and wheel disk were considered. Collision force and friction were calculated by utilizing Hertz contact theory and Coulomb model and introducing nonlinear spring damping model and friction coefficient. Then kinetic differential equations of rub-impact under dry rubbing condition were established. Based on one-dimensional finite element model of dual-rotor system, dynamic transient response of overall structure under rub-impact existing between rotor wheel and sheet was obtained. Meanwhile, fault dynamic characteristics and impact of rubbing clearance on rotor vibration were analyzed. The results show that, during the process of rub-impact, the spectrums of rotor vibration are complicated and multiple combined frequency components of inner and outer rotor fundamental frequencies are typical characteristic of rub-impact fault for dual-rotor system. It also can be seen from rotor vibration response that the rubbing rotor’s fundamental frequency is modulated by normal rotor double frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a finite element model of dual-rotor system with pedestal looseness stemming from loosened bolts. Dynamic model including bearing pedestal looseness is established based on the dual-rotor test rig. Three-degree-of-freedom (DOF) planar rigid motion of loose bearing pedestal is fully considered and collision recovery coefficient is also introduced in the model. Based on the Timoshenko beam elements, using the finite element method, rigid body kinematics, and the Newmark- β algorithm for numerical simulation, dynamic characteristics of the inner and outer rotors and the bearing pedestal plane rigid body motion under bearing pedestal looseness condition are studied. Meanwhile, the looseness experiments under two different speed combinations are carried out, and the experimental results are basically the same. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results, indicating that vibration displacement waveforms of loosened rotor have “clipping” phenomenon. When the bearing pedestal looseness fault occurs, the inner and outer rotors vibration spectrum not only contains the difference and sum frequency of the two rotors’ fundamental frequency but also contains 2X and 3X component of rotor with loosened support, and so forth; low frequency spectrum is more, containing dividing component, and so forth; the rotor displacement spectrums also contain fewer combination frequency components, and so forth; when one side of the inner rotor bearing pedestal is loosened, the inner rotor axis trajectory is drawn into similar-ellipse shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an important cause of hemorrhagic stroke. The etiology is largely unknown and the therapeutics are controversial. A review of AVM-associated animal models may be helpful in order to understand the up-to-date knowledge and promote further research about the disease. We searched PubMed till December 31, 2014, with the term “arteriovenous malformation,” limiting results to animals and English language. Publications that described creations of AVM animal models or investigated AVM-related mechanisms and treatments using these models were reviewed. More than 100 articles fulfilling our inclusion criteria were identified, and from them eight different types of the original models were summarized. The backgrounds and procedures of these models, their applications, and research findings were demonstrated. Animal models are useful in studying the pathogenesis of AVM formation, growth, and rupture, as well as in developing and testing new treatments. Creations of preferable models are expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through filling CS 2 into the core, a liquid-core photonic crystal fiber(LCPCF) with a fully circular air hole structure was designed. The finite element method(FEM) and numerical analysis are combined to simulate the structure and optimize the parameters of the fiber. When λ = 1550 nm ,the geometric optimal parameters are Λ = 0.75 μ m, d 1 / Λ = 0.86 , d 2 / Λ = 0.96 , and d 3 / Λ = 0.20 . Meanwhile, the LCPCF can achieve a large negative dispersion of - 2697.06 ps/nm/km and a high nonlinearity of 50677.77 W - 1 km - 1 . The numerical aperture and light acceptance are 0.674 and 65.37%, respectively. By comparison, we believe that this LCPCF has obvious advantages in optical communication compensation and supercontinuum generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential equation-based hysteresis model is an efficient approach to predict the hysteresis effect with less modeling parameters. Available differential equation-based hysteresis models mainly focus on describing the single-loop hysteresis effect and fail to describe the butterfly hysteresis effect. In this article, a butterfly fractional-order backlash-like hysteresis model is proposed to describe the butterfly hysteretic behavior. To this end, a twist mechanism is developed to transform the single-loop backlash-like hysteresis model into the one that is capable of representing the butterfly hysteresis. To further improve the modeling accuracy, a fractional-order expression is integrated into the butterfly backlash-like hysteresis model. In addition, considering the buckling threshold characteristic of the elastomer membrane in dielectric elastomer actuators, a buckling threshold selector is designed and incorporated into the model as well. Experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fatty liver is a significant risk factor for liver transplantation, and accounts for nearly half of the livers rejected from the donor pool. We hypothesized that metabolic preconditioning via ex vivo perfusion of the liver graft can reduce fat content and increase post-transplant survival to an acceptable range. We describe a perfusate medium containing agents that promote the defatting of hepatocytes and explanted livers. Defatting agents were screened on cultured hepatocytes made fatty by pre-incubation with fatty acids. The most effective agents were then used on fatty livers. Fatty livers were isolated from obese Zucker rats and normothermically perfused with medium containing a combination of defatting agents. This combination decreased the intracellular lipid content of cultured hepatocytes by 35% over 24h, and of perfused livers by 50% over 3h. Metabolite analysis suggests that the defatting cocktail upregulated both lipid oxidation and export. Furthermore, gene expression analysis for several enzymes and transcription factors involved in fatty acid oxidation and triglyceride clearance were elevated. We conclude that a cocktail of defatting agents can be used to rapidly clear excess lipid storage in fatty livers, thus providing a new means to recondition donor livers deemed unacceptable or marginally acceptable for transplantation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background and Aim: We previously reported that hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) for liver preservation is feasible, but hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction and significant liver damage remain major obstacles in its application when the preservation is extended to 24 h. The underlying injury mechanism is not well understood. The present study sought to investigate the role of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in the pathogenesis of liver injury after prolonged HMP. Methods: Livers isolated from Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to continuous machine perfusion with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min/g liver at 4°C for 24 h. A specific TXA2 synthase inhibitor, OKY-046 (OKY), was added to UW solution during the preservation period and to the Krebs–Henseleit buffer during reperfusion. The performance of the livers after preservation was evaluated using an isolated liver perfusion system with Krebs–Henseleit buffer at a flow rate of 15 mL/min at 37°C for 30 min. Results: Prolonged HMP induced a significant release of TXA2 into the portal circulation as indicated by markedly increased levels of TXB2 in the perfusate during reperfusion (at 30 min, 1447.4 ± 163.6 pg/mL vs 50.91 ± 6.7 pg/mL for control). Inhibition of TXA2 synthesis with OKY significantly decreased releases of TXA2 (69.8 ± 13.4 pg/mL) concomitant with reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) releases (at 30 min, HMP + OKY: 144.9 ± 27.9 U/L; HMP: 369.3 ± 68.5 U/L; simple cold storage or SCS: 884.4 ± 80.3 U/L), decreased liver wet/dry weight ratio (HMP + OKY vs SCS and HMP: 3.6 ± 0.3 vs 4.4 ± 0.1 and 3.9 ± 0.2, respectively) and increased hyaluronic acid uptake (at 30 min, HMP + OKY vs SCS, HMP: 33.1 ± 2.9% vs 13.9 ± 3.6%, 18.6 ± 2.4%, respectively). Liver histology also showed significant improvement in tissue edema and hepatocellular necrosis with OKY compared with HMP without OKY. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that TXA2 is involved in the development of hepatocellular injury induced by HMP, and inhibition of TXA2 synthesis during preservation and reperfusion protects liver hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells from injuries caused by prolonged HMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver transplantation is often the only effective treatment for end stage liver diseases resulting from cirrhosis, hepatitis, progressive jaundice, and biliary atresia. Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) preservation may enhance donor pool by extending preservation time and reclaiming marginal donor livers including those from non-heart beating donors (NHBD), as demonstrated in the kidney. However, current HMP protocols have not been successful in improving extended preservation of livers and the major cause of preservation injury remains unknown. An intravital microscopy study was conducted to understand the flow dynamics of sinusoidal perfusion during 24 h HMP with cold modified University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Fluorescein isothiocynate (FITC) labeled albumin was utilized to visualize microvascular space and FITC labeled red blood cells (RBCs) were used to visualize flow dynamics during HMP. A heterogeneous flow pattern with regions of red cell stasis was observed after 24-h HMP. To examine the cause of red cell stasis, intravital and confocal microscopy studies of endothelial cells (ECs) structure labeled with DiI acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI acLDL) were conducted. These studies suggest that morphological changes in EC structures occurred during 24 h HMP, which may cause obstruction to the sinusoidal flow. Histological findings confirm these results. As a result, heterogeneous flow pattern, red cell stasis, and edema occur, which may lead to the failure of these tissues following extended HMP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present study, a novel Cu4SnS4/reduced graphene oxide (CTS/rGO) composite was successfully prepared using a simple one-pot heat-up method. Post-synthetic ligand exchange (LE) and annealing process were performed to further increase the dispersibility and the conductivity of the prepared composite. An unexpected phase transformation from CTS to Cu3SnS4 with an enhanced absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region were observed after LE. Furthermore, the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) by the CTS/rGO composite was investigated. The CTS nanoplates with 10 wt% rGO treated through LE (CTS-10%rGO-LE) exhibited the highest (99.92%) degradation rate of RhB after 90 min of visible-light irradiation, which is approximately 10 and 1.28 times that of the pure CTS and the CTS-10%rGO treated using annealing (CTS-10%rGO-A). The enhancement of the photodegradation activity could be ascribed to the in-suit growth of CTS on rGO and the subsequent LE treatment, which effectively reduced the agglomeration of CTS and increased the electron-transfer ability of the composite materials. The CTS/rGO composite also exhibited high chemical stability of the photodegradation of RhB after four recycles. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra reveal that ·OH and h+ are the main active species in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB with CTS-LE and CTS-10%rGO-LE photocatalysts. The in-suit growth of the CTS/rGO composite with a subsequent LE treatment has the potential to serve as an efficient photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The overall survival (OS) for patients with recurrent glioma is meager. Also, the effect of radionecrosis and prognostic factors for recurrent glioma remains controversial. In this regard, developing effective predictive models and guiding clinical care is crucial for these patients. Methods: We screened patients with recurrent glioma after radiotherapy and those who received surgery between August 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses determined the independent prognostic factors affecting the prognosis of recurrent glioma. Moreover, nomograms were constructed to predict recurrent glioma risk and prognosis. Statistical methods were used to determine the prediction accuracy and discriminability of the nomogram prediction model based on the area under the curve (AUC), the C-index, the decision curve analysis (DCA), and the calibration curve. In order to distinguish high-risk and low-risk groups for OS, the X-Tile and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curves were employed, and the nomogram prediction model was further validated by the X-Tile and K-M survival curves. Results: According to a Cox regression analysis, independent prognostic factors of recurrent glioma after radiotherapy with radionecrosis were World Health Organization (WHO) grade and gliosis percentage. We utilized a nomogram prediction model to analyze results visually. The C-index was 0.682 (95% CI: 0.616–0.748). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, calibration plots, and DCA, the nomogram prediction model was found to have a high-performance ability, and all patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups based on OS (P <.001). Conclusion: WHO grade and gliosis percentage are prognostic factors for recurrent glioma with radionecrosis, and a nomogram prediction model was established based on these two variables. Patients could be divided into high- and low-risk groups with different OS by this model, and it will provide individualized clinical decisions for future treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the Chinese experiential aspect expressed by -guo is an important research topic in both Chinese theoretical linguistics and the semantics-pragmatics interface more broadly. Previous studies propose that the semantics of -guo has the property of what is called repeatability, and/or discontinuity. In this article, I show that previous theories do not adequately explain the distributional pattern of -guo. The semantics of -guo therefore remains unclear. Based on a comprehensive observation of the experiential aspect marker -guo , I propose that (1) -guo semantically is an existential quantifier indicating a non-empty set of a type of eventuality in a certain time frame which is presupposed to be before a reference time, and with this new proposal, the so-called perfective -guo described by previous studies can be explained in the same framework, and thus the two -guo s can be unified; (2) the discontinuity property can be accounted for from a pragmatic perspective under the notion of Question Under Discussion (Roberts, 1996). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mesangial damage represents a crucial event in the pathogenesis and progression of many renal diseases. Using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to repair the damaged mesangium has been shown to be a very promising therapeutic approach. However, the precise roles MSCs play in the repair process are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the phagocytotic function of MSCs using fluorescent latex beads during the mesangium repair process. Methods: Mesangial cells (MCs) were cultured as a single layer in 48 glass-bottom well plates. Confluent MCs were made quiescent for 48 hours. Then they were incubated with glomerulopathic light chains (GLCs; 10 ug/mL), which were purified from the urine of patients with renal biopsy-proven light chain-related amyloidosis (n = 3) and light chain deposition disease (n = 3) for four days to establish an in vitro mesangial injury model. Subsequently, green fluorescent protein-labeled MSCs together with the florescent-labeled latex beads were added to assess the phagocytotic activity of MSCs. The entire process was monitored by fluorescence microscopy, and sequential photos were taken with the 6D Life Cell Imaging System (Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Thornwood, NY). Samples were collected 10 days after the introduction of the MSCs (day 14), and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Within 24 hours, MSCs migrated to the damaged mesangial areas and transformed into a macrophage phenotype (CD68+, CD29−). During the repair process, florescent-labeled latex beads were engulfed by the transformed MSCs observed by fluorescence microscopy and further confirmed by TEM, indicating active phagocytotic function of MSCs. Conclusion: MSCs undergo both morphological and functional transformations as they proceed to repair the damaged mesangium. In contrast to previously believed paracrine fashion as the primary mode of MSCs repair, we provided strong evidence that phagocytotic activity of MSCs is an important mechanism involved in mesangial repairing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare rapidly progressive condition of immune dysregulation characterized by a hyperinflammatory response and uncontrolled T-cell and macrophage activation. Concomitant involvement of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is even more rare and presents a challenge for clinical management. Clinical Course: We present a 76-year-old man with fatigue, shortness of breath, thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis. CT revealed splenomegaly, enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, and PET study showed bone marrow hypermetabolic activity. Hematology work up established diagnosis of AML, concomitant HLH and tumor lysis syndrome. Considering the primary problem is AML, CHEMOTHERAPY with Cytarabine was initiated. Due to continuous increasing bilirubin, liver biopsy was performed. Later the patient developed septicemia and expired. Pathology Findings: Microscopically, it revealed extensive cholestasis, bile ductule proliferation, and ballooning degeneration. The iron stain demonstrated 4+ iron and hemosiderin depositions. Within hepatic sinusoids, there were increased immature monocytic cells in single cells or in clusters, with slightly open chromatin, irregular nuclear contours, and relatively abundant cytoplasm, which were positive for CD14, CD68, and negative for CD34, CD56, and MPO. CD3 highlighted T-cells in portal tracts and occasionally in sinusoids. In hepatic sinusoids, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was seen, with macrophages or monocytes engulfing red cells. The findings are consistent with acute myeloid leukemia with monocytic differentiation, involving hepatic sinusoids, with concurrent hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Molecular studies including JAK2V617F mutation analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization for BCR/ABL1, and cytogenetic analysis were unremarkable. Discussion: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis can be found in up to 10% of AML patients going through chemotherapy and frequently leads to rapid mortality. Since clinical treatment for leukemia and HLH is drastically different, recognizing the morphologic changes and the immunophenotypic features of the infiltrates are critical for a rapid diagnosis and a prompt institution of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adolescents and adults is poor, and recurrence is an important cause of their death. Changes of genetic information play a vital role in the pathogenesis and recurrence of ALL; however, the impact of molecular genetic mutations on disease diagnosis and prognosis remains unexplored. This study aimed to explore the frequency spectrum of gene mutations and their prognostic significance, along with the minimal residual disease (MRD) level and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), in adolescent and adult patients aged ≥15 years with ALL. Methods: The basic characteristics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, MRD level, treatment regimen, and survival outcome of patients with untreated ALL (≥15 years) were collected, and the correlation and survival analysis were performed using the SPSS 25.0 and R software. Results: This study included 404 patients, of which 147 were selected for next-generation sequencing (NGS). NGS results revealed that 91.2% of the patients had at least one mutation, and 67.35% had multiple (≥2) mutations. NOTCH1, PHF6, RUNX1, PTEN, JAK3, TET2, and JAK1 were the most common mutations in T-ALL, whereas FAT1, TET2, NARS, KMT2D, FLT3, and RELN were the most common mutations in B-ALL. Correlation analysis revealed the mutation patterns, which were significantly different between T-ALL and B-ALL. In the prognostic analysis of 107 patients with B-ALL, multivariate analysis showed that the number of mutations ≥5 was an independent risk factor for overall survival and the RELN mutation was an independent poor prognostic factor for event-free survival. Discussion: The distribution of gene mutations and the co-occurrence and repulsion of mutant genes in patients with ALL were closely related to the immunophenotype of the patients. The number of mutations ≥5 and the RELN mutation were significantly associated with poor prognosis in adolescent and adult patients with ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader protein YTHDF1 has been implicated in cancer; however, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-associated HCC (NASH-HCC), remains unknown. Here, we investigated the functional role of YTHDF1 in NASH-HCC and its interplay with the tumor immune microenvironment. Hepatocyte-specific Ythdf1-overexpressing mice were subjected to a NASH–HCC–inducing diet. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were profiled with single-cell RNA-sequencing, flow cytometry, and immunostaining. The molecular target of YTHDF1 was elucidated with RNA-sequencing, m6A-sequencing, YTHDF1 RNA immunoprecipitation-sequencing, proteomics, and ribosome-profiling. Ythdf1 in NASH-HCC models was targeted by lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated small-interfering Ythdf1. YTHDF1 is overexpressed in tumor tissues compared to adjacent peri-tumor tissues from patients with NASH-HCC. Liver-specific Ythdf1 overexpression drives tumorigenesis in dietary models of spontaneous NASH-HCC. Single-cell RNA-sequencing and flow cytometry revealed that Ythdf1 induced accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and suppressed cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell function. Mechanistically, Ythdf1 expression in NASH-HCC cells induced the secretion of IL-6, which mediated MDSC recruitment and activation, leading to CD8+ T-cell dysfunction. EZH2 mRNA was identified as a key YTHDF1 target. YTHDF1 binds to m6A-modified EZH2 mRNA and promotes EZH2 translation. EZH2 in turn increased expression and secretion of IL-6. Ythdf1 knockout synergized with anti-PD-1 treatment to suppress tumor growth in NASH-HCC allografts. Furthermore, therapeutic targeting of Ythdf1 using LNP-encapsulated small-interfering RNA significantly increased the efficacy of anti-PD-1 blockade in NASH-HCC allografts. We identified that YTHDF1 promotes NASH-HCC tumorigenesis via EZH2-IL-6 signaling, which recruits and activates MDSCs to cause cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell dysfunction. YTHDF1 may be a novel therapeutic target to improve responses to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in NASH-HCC. YTHDF1, a N6-methyladenosine reader, is upregulated in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its role in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment in NASH-HCC remains unclear. Here, we show that Ythdf1 mediates immunosuppression in NASH-HCC and that targeting YTHDF1 in combination with immune checkpoint blockade elicits robust antitumor immune responses. Our findings suggest novel therapeutic targets for potentiating the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in NASH-HCC and provide the rationale for developing YTHDF1 inhibitors for the treatment of NASH-HCC. [Display omitted] • YTHDF1, a m6A reader, is upregulated in human NASH-HCC tumors compared to peri-tumor tissues. • Liver-specific overexpression of YTHDF1 in mice exacerbates NASH-HCC and non-NASH-HCC development. • YTHDF1 drives immunosuppression in NASH-HCC by recruiting MDSCs and inhibiting CD8+ T cells. • YTHDF promotes the EZH2-IL-6 signaling axis that functions to mediate MDSC recruitment. • Targeting YTHDF1 by in vivo siRNA delivery boosts anti-PD1 efficacy in NASH-HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microneedle containing miniature robots offer a promising route for gastrointestinal administration since their capability of transmucosal delivery and controllable drug release. However, many challenges still lie ahead such as the intricate control modes, destitute systematic theory of the locomotion and adhesion behaviors, failure due to peristalsis and fluid flow, and risk of ileus. Herein, an untethered microneedle containing robots is designed for specific colonic administration, which can dispense with control systems, achieve fast self‐orientation and adhesion onto the mucosa (<0.6 s), against physiology of peristalsis, and show low risks of obstruction. Further, the detachable layer between the microneedle and the robots can degrade under a time of 6 min, which ensures safely discharge under a small, excreted force of 20 mN induced by fluid flow. Through the optimism of microneedles, different drug release times can be achieved including 14 min, 2 days, 4 days, and 30 days, respectively. The in vivo experiments also demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the robots. These robots can serve as a versatile platform to treat diseases such as chronic inflammation and cancer of the colon to minimize invasive surgical intervention and patient suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hippo-Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling is a key regulator of organ size and tumorigenesis, yet the underlying molecular mechanism is still poorly understood. At present, the significance of the Hippo-YAP pathway in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is ill-defined. Methods: The expression of YAP in DLBCL was determined in public database and clinical specimens. The effects of YAP knockdown, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated YAP deletion, and YAP inhibitor treatment on cell proliferation and the cell cycle were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing was conducted to detect dysregulated RNAs in YAP-knockout DLBCL cells. The regulatory effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) on Hippo-YAP signaling were explored by targeted inhibition and rescue experiments. Results: High expression of YAP was significantly correlated with disease progression and poor prognosis. Knockdown of YAP expression suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in DLBCL cells. Verteporfin (VP), a benzoporphyrin derivative, exerted an anti-tumor effect by regulating the expression of YAP and the downstream target genes, CTGF and CYR61. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that deletion of YAP expression with a CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system significantly restrained tumor growth. Moreover, downregulation of IGF-1R expression led to a remarkable decrease in YAP expression. In contrast, exposure to IGF-1 promoted YAP expression and reversed the inhibition of YAP expression induced by IGF-1R inhibitors. Conclusions: Our study highlights the critical role of YAP in the pathogenesis of DLBCL and uncovers the regulatory effect of IGF-1R on Hippo-YAP signaling, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Patients with chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer commonly develop exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and may not be adequately treated with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). Aims: To estimate the frequency of diagnostic testing for exocrine insufficiency, and appropriate use of PERT, in a commercially insured population in the US. Methods: We utilised a nationally representative administrative database representing 48.67 million individuals in over 80 US healthcare plans to assess testing for and treatment of exocrine insufficiency in patients who received a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (n = 37 061) or pancreatic cancer (n = 32 461) from 2001 to 2013. We identified the details of any testing for exocrine insufficiency and PERT use. We defined appropriate PERT use as a dosage of ≥120 000 USP units of lipase daily. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of appropriate use of PERT. Results: In patients with chronic pancreatitis, 6.5% had any testing for exocrine insufficiency, 30.4% filled a prescription for PERT, and 8.5% were prescribed an adequate dose. In those with pancreatic cancer, 1.9% had testing for exocrine insufficiency, 21.9% filled a prescription for PERT, and 5.5% were prescribed an adequate dose. Number of comorbidities, testing for exocrine insufficiency, pancreatic surgery and duration of enrolment were independent predictors for use and appropriate dosing. Conclusions: Testing for exocrine insufficiency, and appropriate dosing of PERT in patients with chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, is infrequent and inconsistent in an insured US population. Efforts are needed to educate medical providers on the best practices for managing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation (QMA-EUR) in two-qubit Heisenberg XX spin chain model with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction and external magnetic field. It shows that the DM interaction |Dz| and the spin interaction |J| can efficiently suppress the entropic uncertainty of Pauli observables (σx and σz), even make the entropic uncertainty close to zero. The external magnetic field that acts on the two spin sites along z-direction leads to two different effects on entropic uncertainty under the different thermal equilibrium temperature. Furthermore, the dynamic features of entropic uncertainty with DM interactions and spin interactions under intrinsic decoherence condition are investigated. We find that when the Werner state acts as initial state, the larger purity parameter can yield smaller value of entropic uncertainty at the initial evolution time. And the entropic uncertainty of the XX model with DM interaction in z-direction is independent of external magnetic field B . We also verified the entropic uncertainty is anti-correlated with the quantum discord of the spin chain system in full evolution time. Meanwhile, DM interactions and the spin interactions can make the evolutions of entropic uncertainty and its lower bound oscillate with evolution time, and the increasing of strengthen of DM interactions and spin interactions can lead to an increasing of oscillation frequency, and the variations of amplitudes are different for these two kinds of interactions. Especially, when the strength of spin interaction is larger, the trends of entropic uncertainty and its lower bound can be changed from oscillation to smoothness, which can be regarded as there is no DM interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation is an upgrade version of the original entropic uncertainty relation with help of the quantum correlations between the measured subsystem and memory one. In this work, we analyze quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty (QMA-EU) and steered quantum coherence (SQC) for an arbitrary two-qubit X-state, and then we get analytically an explicit relation between the QMA-EU and SQC. As an example, we consider the two interacting two-level atomic systems coupled to independent dissipative environments and investigate dynamics of QMA-EU and SQC of atomic systems in terms of the various values of atomic coupling parameters, environmental factors and frequency detune between the two-level atoms and environmental modes. The results show that the QMA-EU for Pauli observable set is anti-correlated to the SQC in an arbitrary two-qubit X-state, strictly. As well, the sum of QMA-EU and SQC is merely related with the reduced quantum entropies of the subsystem. In the dissipative environment, the QMA-EU and SQC of two-qubit atomic system still exhibit strict anti-correlation relationship in all the evolution time, which is quite different from the connections between QMA-EU and quantum correlation measured by concurrence. Furthermore, the QMA-EU can be suppressed and SQC can be improved with increasing of coupling parameters and detuning amount in non-Markovian environments, effectively. The optimal atomic state can be denoted by the values of the trough of wave during the oscillation of QMA-EU and SQC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze the imaging characteristics of Xp11.2/TFE3 translocation renal cell carcinoma and explore the relationship between the pathological features and imaging findings. Materials and Methods: Imaging, pathological, and clinical data of 28 patients with Xp11.2 RCC were studied from August 2013 to November 2019. The imaging characteristics and morbidity of different group were also explored meanwhile. Results: Patients ranged from 3 to 83 years old and the median age was 47 years. Bilateral renal tumors were detected in 1 patient and unilateral in the rest 27 patients. Out of 29 tumors, 13 were in the left kidneys and 16 in the right. Tumor size ranged from 2.2 cm × 2.5 cm to 20.0 cm × 9.7 cm. Tumors were cystic component/necrosis (29/29,100%), renal capsule breakage (16/29, 55%), capsule (18/29, 62%), calcification (15/29, 52%), fat (4/29, 14%), and metastasis (10/29, 34%). Tumors showed moderate enhancement during renal corticomedullary phase and delayed enhancement during nephrographic and excretory phase. The solid parts showed hypointense on T2WI. The imaging characteristics did not have significant correlation with the age, the incidence of adolescent and children group was higher than adult group. Conclusion: Xp11.2 RCC is a well-defined mass with cystic component, the solid part of tumor showed hypointense on T2WI. Xp11.2 RCC showed moderate enhancement during the renal corticomedullary phase and delayed enhancement during the nephrographic phase and excretory phase. Xp11.2 RCC has a higher incidence in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Gliosarcoma is a histopathological variant of glioblastoma, which is characterized by a biphasic growth pattern consisting of glial and sarcoma components. Owing to its scarcity, data regarding the impact of available treatments on the clinical outcomes of gliosarcoma are inadequate. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to analyze the prognostic factors of gliosarcoma. Methods. By screening the clinical database of neurosurgical cases at a single center, patients with gliosarcoma diagnosed histologically from 2013 to 2021 were identified. Clinical, pathological, and molecular data were gathered founded on medical records and follow-up interviews. Prognostic factors were derived using the Cox proportional hazards model with backward stepwise regression analysis. Results. Forty-five GSM patients were included. Median overall survival was 25.6 months (95% CI 8.0–43.1), and median relapse-free survival was 15.2 months (95% CI 9.7–20.8). In multivariable analysis, total resection (p = 0.023 , HR = 0.192 , 95% CI 0.046–0.797) indicated an improved prognosis. And low expression of Ki-67 (p = 0.059 , HR = 2.803 , 95% CI 0.963–8.162) would be likely to show statistical significance. However, there might be no statistically significant survival benefit from radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide (n = 33 , 73.3%, log-rank p = 0.99) or adjuvant temozolomide (n = 32 , 71.1%, log-rank p = 0.74). Conclusion. This single-center retrospective study with a limited cohort size has demonstrated the treatment of gross total resection and low expression of Ki-67 which are beneficial for patients with GSM, while radiotherapy or temozolomide is not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Burn injury (BI) is associated with insulin resistance (IR) and hyperglycemia which complicate clinical management. We investigated the impact of BI on glucose metabolism in a rabbit model of BI using a combination of positron emission tomography (PET) and stable isotope studies under euglycemic insulin clamp (EIC) conditions. Materials and methods: Twelve male rabbits were subjected to either full-thickness BI (B) or sham burn. An EIC condition was established by constant infusion of insulin, concomitantly with a variable rate of dextrose infusion 3 d after treatment. PET imaging of the hind limbs was conducted to determine the rates of peripheral O2 and glucose utilization. Each animal also received a primed constant infusion of [6,6-2H2] glucose to determine endogenous glucose production. Results: The fasting blood glucose in the burned rabbits was higher than that in the sham group. Under EIC conditions, the sham burn group required more exogenous dextrose than the B group to maintain blood glucose at physiological levels (22.2 ± 2.6 versus 13.3 ± 2.9 mg/min, P < 0.05), indicating a state of IR. PET imaging demonstrated that the rates of O2 consumption and 18F 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose utilization by skeletal muscle remained at similar levels in both groups. Hepatic gluconeogenesis determined by the stable isotope tracer study was found significantly increased in the B group. Conclusions: These findings demonstrated that hyperglycemia and IR develop during the early “flow phase” after BI. Unsuppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis, but not peripheral skeletal muscular utilization of glucose, contributes to hyperglycemia at this stage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The shortage in donor livers has led to increased use of allografts derived from donation after cardiac death (DCD). The compromised viability in these livers leads to inferior post-transplantation allograft function and survival compared with donation after brain death (DBD) donor grafts. In this study, we reconditioned DCD livers using an optimized normothermic machine perfusion system. Methods: Livers from 12 Yorkshire pigs (20–30 kg) were subjected to either 0 min (WI-0 group, n = 6) or 60 min (WI-60 group, n = 6) of warm ischemia and 2 h of cold storage in UW solution, followed by 4 h of oxygenated sanguineous normothermic machine perfusion. Liver viability and metabolic function were analyzed hourly. Results: Warm ischemic livers showed elevated transaminase levels and reduced ATP concentration. After the start of machine perfusion, transaminase levels stabilized and there was recovery of tissue ATP, coinciding with an increase in bile production. These parameters reached comparable levels to the control group after 1 h of machine perfusion. Histology and gross morphology confirmed recovery of the ischemic allografts. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that metabolic and functional parameters of livers with extended warm ischemic time (60 min) can be significantly improved using normothermic machine perfusion. We hereby compound the existing body of evidence that machine perfusion is a viable solution for reconditioning marginal organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize the gut bacteriome, mycobiome and serum metabolome profiles in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with normal/overweight individuals and evaluate a potential microbiota-related diagnostic method development for PCOS, 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene sequencing using 88 fecal samples and 87 metabolome analysis from serum samples are conducted and PCOS classifiers based on multiomics markers are constructed. There are significant bacterial, fungal community and metabolite differences among PCOS patients and healthy volunteers with normal/overweight individuals. Healthy individuals with overweight/obesity display less abnormal metabolism than PCOS patients and uniquely higher abundance of the fungal genus Mortierella. Nine bacterial genera, 4 predicted pathways, 11 fungal genera and top 30 metabolites are screened out which distinguish PCOS from healthy controls, with AUCs of 0.84, 0.64, 0.85 and 1, respectively. The metabolite-derived model is more accurate than the microbe-based model in discriminating normal BMI PCOS (PCOS-LB) from normal BMI healthy (Healthy-LB), PCOS-HB from Healthy-HB. Featured bacteria, fungi, predicted pathways and serum metabolites display higher associations with free androgen index (FAI) in the cooccurrence network. In conclusion, our data reveal that hyperandrogenemia plays a central role in the dysbiosis of intestinal microecology and the change in metabolic status in patients with PCOS and that its effect exceeds the role of BMI. Healthy women with high BMI showed unique microbiota and metabolic features.The priority of predictive models in discriminating PCOS from healthy status in this study were serum metabolites, fungal taxa and bacterial taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is a promising alternative energy resource, whereas marine NGH exploitation suffers from various potential geo-environmental concerns. The existence of a production wellbore not only provides channel for gas extraction, but also causes specific boundary conditions for the occurrence of geo-environmental risks. Almost all kinds of geo-environmental risks during NGH production initiate from time-dependent deformation of the near-wellbore strata. In this paper, the pressuremeter test (PMT) method was firstly introduced to investigate the lateral creep behaviors of the NGH-bearing sediment. The PMT probe was used to apply outwards lateral stress onto the hydrate-bearing sediment to simulate the horizontal stress state of the near-wellbore reservoir during drilling, completion, and/or hydraulic fracturing, during which the pressure inside the wellbore is higher than the reservoirs static pressure. The results indicated that the decelerated creep accounts for more than 70% of the lateral strain before the effective stress reaches the long-term strength. The hardening modulus of the sediment was proven to be increased from the magnitude of ∼102 MPa–∼103 MPa, when the hydrate saturation increases from 2.2% to 50.0%. The PMT creep test results can be used for interpretation of the in-situ horizontal stress and geomechanical parameters such as pro-plastic pressure and ultimate pressure. Based on the fact that PMT test results complies with the previous results from other techniques, a field-applicable PMT technique for NGH reservoir test is suggested to be developed in future study, and a systematic hypothesis and workflow for NGH reservoir modelling is also proposed in this study. • The pressuremeter test was firstly used to characterize creep behaviors of the near-wellbore hydrate-bearing sediment. • Decelerated creep accounts for more than 70% of the lateral strain under relatively low loading stress. • The in-situ horizontal stress and geomechanical properties of HBS could be interpreted via pressuremeter test. • Geomechanical-related techniques are suggested to be incorporated into field survey for marine NGH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent global upsurge in Monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreaks underscores the critical need for rapid and precise diagnostic solutions, particularly in resource-constrained settings. The gold standard diagnostic method, qRT-PCR, is hindered by its time-consuming nature, requirement for nucleic acid purification, expensive equipment, and the need for highly trained personnel. Traditional CRISPR/Cas fluorescence assays, relying on trans-cleavage of ssDNA/RNA reporters labeled with costly fluorophores and quenchers, pose challenges that limit their widespread application, especially for point-of-care testing (POCT). In this study, we utilized a cost-effective and stable fluorogenic RNA aptamer (Mango III), specifically binding and illuminating the fluorophore TO3-3 PEG-Biotin Fluorophore (TO3), as a reporter for Cas13a trans-cleavage activity. We propose a comprehensive strategy integrating RNA aptamer, recombinase-aided amplification (RAA), and CRISPR-Cas13a systems for the molecular detection of MPXV target. Leveraging the inherent collateral cleavage properties of the Cas13a system, we established high-sensitivity and specificity assays to distinguish MPXV from other Orthopoxviruses (OPVs). A streamlined one-pot protocol was developed to mitigate aerosol contamination risks. Our aptamer-coupled RAA-Cas13a one-pot detection method achieved a Limit of Detection (LoD) of 4 copies of target MPXV DNA in just 40 min. Validation using clinical MPX specimens confirmed the rapid and reliable application of our RAA-Cas13a-Apt assays without nucleic acid purification procedure, highlighting its potential as a point-of-care testing solution. These results underscore the user-friendliness and effectiveness of our one-pot RAA-Cas13a-Apt diagnostic platform, poised to revolutionize disease detection and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Invasive and non-invasive CBT measurements were concurrently assessed and compared. • Non-invasive CBT measurement can serve as a general reference for sleep research. • Body fat rate and heat flux significantly affect the reliable of non-invasive CBT measurement. • Further optimization is possible in the algorithms for non-invasive CBT measurements. Core body temperature (CBT) emerges as a pivotal physiological marker in sleep research, and the commonly employed invasive CBT measurements significantly disrupt the sleep process itself. Non-invasive CBT measurement offers a viable solution to this challenge but lack validation. In this sleep study, simultaneous invasive and non-invasive measurements of CBT were conducted on 14 subjects. Ingestible capsule was chosen to represent invasive measurement, while external GreenTeg patch was selected as representative device for non-invasive measurement. Quantitative comparisons of two measurements were conducted from four perspectives: correlation, consistency, difference, and stability, and results indicated: (1) A significant correlation was observed between two real-time measurements, and correlation became stronger as ambient temperature decreased. (2) Consistency of most data group can be acceptable as most of them fell within the 95% agreement range. (3) Non-invasive instrument exhibited substantial error for unstable core temperature, yet displayed relatively small error for stable core temperature. (4) Stability of difference between two measurements was poor during 64.3% of the time intervals, and this performance deteriorated further in unstable state. In summary, existing non-invasive measurement can serve as a reference for sleep research, but caution is warranted when applying it to real-time and unstable analyses. Additionally, feasibility of algorithm optimization makes the future of non-invasive measurements promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive trinucleotide repeat disease with no effective therapy. Expanded GAA repeats in the first intron of the FRDA gene are thought to form unusual non-B DNA conformations that decrease transcription and subsequently reduce levels of the encoded protein, frataxin. Frataxin plays a crucial role in iron metabolism and detoxification. To discover small molecules that increase transcription through the GAA repeat region in FRDA, we have made stable cell lines containing a portion of expanded intron 1 fused to a GFP reporter. Small molecules identified using the competition dialysis method were found to increase FRDA-intron 1-reporter gene expression. One of these compounds, pentamidine, increases frataxin levels in patient cells. Thus our approach can be used to detect small molecules of potential therapeutic value in FRDA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is one of the late complications in survivors after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and the gonadal hormones might be involved in the pathogenesis of this pathological process. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of SD by questionnaire, to explore the relationship between SD and the comprehensive gonadal hormones in patients post HSCT. We identified 72 survivors of hematological diseases who underwent HSCT. The sociodemographic characteristics and medical histories of participants were ascertained by a modified version of a questionnaire named "PPSAS-HSCT" in our study. Blood samples were regularly assayed for the global gonadal hormones. Forty-four percent of the females and 51% of the males reported a loss of interest in sexual activities. Ninety-two percent (23/25) of females exhibited decreased serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, and 74% (35/47) of males had elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. The males with a higher level of oestradiol/testosterone (E2/T) had more symptoms of SD after HSCT. Patients with GVHD who received glucocorticoid (GC) therapy exhibited a lower level of testosterone and more serious SD, especially in the female population. SD and abnormal gonadal hormone homeostasis were present in more than half of the survivors after HSCT. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and glucocorticoid treatment were confirmed to have a significant impact on the levels of testosterone among females. A multimodal intervention for the survivors after HSCT and a better consciousness of the medical staff are necessary for improving the quality of life of the recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the difference of serum pepsinogen (PG) baseline levels in different regions of China and its influencing factors.Methods: From October 2016 to October 2018, asymptomatic health checkup people who underwent nasal endoscopy in nine health management centers in different regions of China were collected. Lifestyle questionnaires were conducted, and serum PG and gastroscopy were performed. The differences in PG levels in baseline population (OLGA-0 grade) were studied according to geographical subregions of China. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis.Results: 1922 patients were included in the final analysis. Compared with the non-atrophy (OLGA-0) group, PGR levels in atrophy group (OLGA-I to IV) were significantly decreased with the atrophy degree (p < 0.05). A total of 1590 baseline people (OLGA-0) were included in the study, including 254 from South China, 574 from East China, 210 from Southwest China, 332 from Northeast China, and 220 from Central/Northern China. There were significant differences in baseline PGI levels among the five regions (p < 0.05). The PGII levels were also different among the five regions, except for Central/Northern versus Southern China. PGR (PGI/PGII ratio) levels in Southern China were higher than other four regions. Further studies were conducted on the related factors that might affect the baseline PG level, which was affected by nationality, dietary habits, smoking, Helicobacter pylori infection and other related factors.Conclusion: Influenced by many factors, the baseline PG levels are different in different regions of China. In the follow-up studies of PG cut-off value, different PG cut-off value based on region may be more effective in the screening of gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of brainstem metastatic tumor is challenging. This study aimed to evaluate overall survival and quality-of-life in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brainstem metastases who were treated with the Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgery. From August 2007 through August 2016, a total of 32 patients with 34 brainstem metastases of NSCLC were consecutively enrolled and treated with the Cyberknife radiosurgery (CKRS) at The Huashan Hospital. The study was limited to patients with NSCLC, which was confirmed by postoperative pathological examination. Patients were treated by CKRS as an initial treatment or a second treatment after whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT). Quality of life was assessed by the SF-12 score and neurological examination. Four out of the 32 (12.5%) patients received WBRT before or concurrent with CKRS treatment. The mean survival time after CKRS was 10.0 (95%CI: 6.0–14.0) months. Karnofsky performance score was not the independent predictor of survival after radiosurgery as analyzed by log-rank test (p = 0.392). Age, however, was a significant predictor of improved survival as analyzed by multivariate analysis (p = 0.024). SF-12 physical component scores demonstrated no significant change after treatment. The CKSR is a non-invasive, safe, and effective modality in the treatment of patients with brainstem metastases of NSCLC. Better therapeutic outcomes of CKSR for brainstem metastasis might be achieved in the patients older than 65 years old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand production has become a common phenomenon in the exploitation of unconsolidated natural gas hydrate reservoirs, which will hinder the long-term production of natural gas hydrate reservoirs. However, there are few literatures reported on the influences in reservoir physical properties such as permeability and porosity, and production laws caused by sand production. This paper provides a numerical model, coupled with reservoir sand-gas-water multiphase flow processes, which is capable to simulate the process of sand production in natural gas hydrate reservoirs. The simulation results indicate that sand settlement is mainly concentrated near the wellbore due to the high concentration of migrated sand. The decrease in reservoir porosity and permeability caused by sand settlement has a significant impact on production. The impact of sand production on reservoir fluid fluidity shows that fluid flow is inhibited near the wellbore, while fluid flow performance increases far away from the wellbore. The numerical model and analysis presented here could provide useful insight into changes in reservoir physical properties and production laws caused by sand production in the natural gas hydrate-bearing marine sediments using depressurization method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]