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l-Aspartate is an important chemical in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Herein, a dual-enzyme system was constructed to synthesize l-aspartate from maleic anhydride at 50 °C, which can reduce the byproduct production. Maleate transformed from maleic anhydride in the solution was converted into l-aspartate via fumarate catalyzed by maleate isomerase (MaiA) and thermostable aspartase (AspB), respectively. Because MaiA is a rate-limiting enzyme, enzyme activities of various MaiAs were compared, and the efficient and thermostable maleate isomerase

Objective To determine the predictive value of intraoperative motor⁃evoked potential (MEP) on the muscle strength of patients undergoing glioma close to motor area under general anesthesia. Methods A total of 49 patients were included in this study from October 2019 to March 2020. The transcranial electrical stimulation (TES), direct cortical stimulation (DCS) and subcortical stimulation (SCS) were used to locate the motor cortex and corticospinal tract (CST), and to assess the functional integrity of motor system. A decrease of ≥ 50% of the baseline amplitude of TES or DCS was regarded as an alarm criteria. Muscle strength was evaluated with "gold standard" the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale before and after operation. Results Combined application of TES⁃MEP, DCS⁃MEP and SCS⁃MEP had better results in judging the integrity of motor conduction pathway. The sensitivity and specificity of TES⁃MEP were 2/5 and 100% (44/44), the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 2/2 and 93.62% (44/47), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of DCS⁃MEP were 1/1 and 10/10, the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 1/1 and 10/10, respectively. There were 5 cases (10.20%) with new dyskinesia after operation. After 3 months of follow⁃up, muscle strength of one case returned to normal. The sensitivity and specificity of TES⁃MEP were 2/4 and 100% (45/45), the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 2/2 and 95.74% (45/47), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of DCS⁃MEP were 1/1 and 10/10, the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 1/1 and 10/10, respectively. Conclusions This study indicates a high false negative rate after TES⁃MEP, DCS⁃MEP results were more consistent with postoperative motor function results, but the utilization rate was low due to the lack of exposure to the precentral gyrus cortex. Combined application of TES⁃MEP, DCS⁃MEP and SCS⁃MEP are more effective in judging the integrity of motor conduction pathway. DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2020.11.006

Purpose This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features, treatment, and feto-maternal outcomes of pregnancy complicated by malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs), to increase the awareness on this condition. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with MOGCTs during pregnancy, who were treated and followed-up at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to December 2017. The demographic characteristics, pathological features, treatment and prognosis were analyzed. Results The histological subtypes varied in 14 patients (dysgerminoma, n=1; immature teratoma, n=4; yolk sac tumor, n=6; and mixed germ cell tumors, n=3). Ten (71.4%) patients, including three who opted for conservative therapy until childbirth, one who only received salvage chemotherapy during pregnancy, and six who underwent cystectomy or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy during pregnancy, desired fetal preservation. After undergoing surgery, four patients chose surveillance instead of timely adjuvant chemotherapy. Eight patients delivered their babies, and the preterm delivery rate was 50.0%. One newborn died of premature birth. The median follow-up period was 44 (range: 13 to 86) months. During the current study period, 12 patients had survived and did not report any diseases. However, two died due to disease progression. Conclusion Pregnant women with MOGCTs had favorable outcomes. However, when a malignant tumor is suspected, surgery cannot be avoided. Thus, instead of timely postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, close surveillance may be an acceptable alternative for pregnant women with low-risk MOGCTs.

Lu JJ, Xu Y, Zhao Z, et al. Onco Targets Ther. 2017;10:3579–3589. At the authors request, the Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. The authors raised concerns after discovering the duplication of cell migration and invasion images in Figures 1 and 2. Specifically, Figure 1E, A2780, Migration, Normal appears to have been duplicated with Figure 1E, A2780, Migration pLVX-Con. Figure 1E, SK-OV-3, Invasion, Normal appears to have been duplicated with Figure 2C, SK-OV-3, Invasion, pLVX-Con+, pLVX-ILK-, Emodin-. The authors provided original data and requested to retract the article. All the authors agreed that the retraction was necessary for reasons of scientific accuracy. The Editor agreed with this decision. Our decision-making was informed by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retraction. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

PURPOSE: To investigate the in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes and identify factors that might affect live births in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer (EEC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH). METHODS: This retrospective study was performed in a tertiary hospital. Patients (n = 123) with EEC or AEH, who underwent IVF/ICSI treatment between January 2010 and December 2019, were divided into a live birth group and a non-live birth group. Clinical characteristics and IVF/ICSI outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients (28 with EEC and 95 with AEH) underwent 215 ovarian stimulation cycles, resulting in 121 fresh embryo transfer (ET) and 108 frozen-thawed ET. Among 229 ET cycles, 91 (23.7%) of 384 embryos were implanted and 86 pregnancies were achieved, including five ectopic pregnancies (5.8%), 28 miscarriages (32.6%), and 53 live births (61.6%). The clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in each ET cycle were 37.6% and 23.1%, respectively. Fifty-one patients gave birth to 57 live neonates, and the cumulative live birth rate was 41.46%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that maternal age, histological type, thin endometrium, and time after complete remission (CR) to IVF cycle started were significantly associated with live births. CONCLUSIONS: The live birth rate after IVF/ICSI is promising in infertile patients with EEC and AEH. A shorter interval between CR and IVF/ICSI treatment might be a positive factor, while age > 35 years, endometrial thickness

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of fertility-sparing treatment for young women with grade 2 presumed stage IA endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma (EEA). Methods: We performed a retrospectively review of eight patients affected by grade 2 presumed stage IA endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma who underwent fertility-sparing treatment in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2011 and 2018. Results: The median age of patients was 26 years (range, 22–35 years). Complete response (CR) was found in seven of the eight cases. The median time to response was 3 months (range, 3–9 months). Among patients who achieved CR, three had recurrence and were treated with second-line fertility-sparing therapy. Two of the three recurrent patients achieved CR, and one patient subsequently conceived. Pregnancies and successful deliveries were achieved in two of four patients. The average follow-up period was 31 months (range, 21–77 months). Conclusions: Fertility-sparing therapy is a feasible treatment option in patients with presumed stage IA, grade 2 endometrial cancer. Although our results are encouraging, they are based on very limited numbers, and patients should be informed the risk of tumor progression during treatment. Further evaluations are still required before recommending fertility-sparing therapy to endometrial cancer patients with more advanced disease in routine practice.

Jingjing Lu,1,2,* Ying Xu,1,* Zhe Zhao,1 Xiaoning Ke,2 Xuan Wei,1 Jia Kang,1 Xuan Zong,1 Hongluan Mao,1 Peishu Liu1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Handan Central Hospital, Handan, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: Although our previous studies have confirmed that 1, 3, 8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone (emodin) inhibits migration and invasion in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here, the aim was to investigate the effects of emodin on EOC cells and to study further the mechanism underlying this process, both in vitro and in vivo.Materials and methods: Cell proliferation was evaluated by the methylthiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Cell migration and invasion abilities were tested using the transwell assay. The expression of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated factors were measured with western blotting.Results: Exogenous ILK enhanced the proliferation, migration and invasion properties of A2780 and SK-OV-3 cells. After treatment with emodin, the survival rate of cells was gradually reduced, including those of SK-OV-3/pLVX-ILK and A2780/pLVX-ILK cells, with increasing emodin concentrations. The migration and invasion abilities of A2780 and SK-OV-3 cells were effectively increased by the transfection of pLVX-ILK, which could be abrogated by following this with 48 hours of emodin treatment. Treatment with emodin significantly downregulated the expression of ILK and EMT-related proteins. So, emodin suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion in ovarian cancer cells by downregulating ILK in vitro. SK-OV-3/pLVX-Con and SK-OV-3/pLVX-ILK cells were used to generate xenografts in nude mice. Tumors grew more rapidly in the SK-OV-3/pLVX-ILK group compared with the control group, and this could be significantly inhibited by emodin. Also, the expression of E-cadherin was downregulated, while the expression of Slug, MMP-9 and Vimentin were upregulated in the SK-OV-3/pLVX-ILK group, and this could be reversed by following treatment with emodin. Emodin did not demonstrate target toxicity on hepatocytes, nephrocytes and cardiomyocytes.Conclusion: Emodin suppresses proliferation, migration and invasion in ovarian cancer by targeting ILK. Keywords: emodin, ILK, epithelial ovarian cancer, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, Slug, xenografts in nude mice

Yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are a major histological subtype of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors with a relatively poor prognosis. The molecular basis of this disease has not been thoroughly characterized at the genomic level. Here we perform whole-exome and RNA sequencing on 41 clinical tumor samples from 30 YST patients, with distinct responses to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. We show that microsatellite instability status and mutational signatures are informative of chemoresistance. We identify somatic driver candidates, including significantly mutated genes KRAS and KIT and copy-number alteration drivers, including deleted ARID1A and PARK2, and amplified ZNF217, CDKN1B, and KRAS. YSTs have very infrequent TP53 mutations, whereas the tumors from patients with abnormal gonadal development contain both KRAS and TP53 mutations. We further reveal a role of OVOL2 overexpression in YST resistance to cisplatin. This study lays a critical foundation for understanding key molecular aberrations in YSTs and developing related therapeutic strategies., Yolk sac tumours are a type of ovarian germ cell tumours. Here, the authors perform exome and RNA sequencing of clinical samples of 30 patients, characterize the mutational landscape of these rare tumours, and identify molecular features associated with resistance to cisplatin-based therapies.

This paper integrates VR technology with BIM and applies it to sports architecture design study, with regarding to the characteristics of large volume, great investment, high technical requirements and complex functions of sports architecture. VR’s advantages on immersion, perception and interaction meet the design requirements of complex space of sports architecture, break through the bottleneck in the current design process and provide an inspection method for the design scheme to eliminate blind spots. This paper focuses on the design optimization methods of space form, sight, path and signposts of sports architecture based on VR technology. By using VR to represent a built environment, the building information can be displayed hierarchically according to the research objective. By applying VR technology as a study tool to represent a building, architects can examine the space, experiment on design factors through virtual spatial experience. And a closed-loop design framework of “design-simulation-perception-feedback-design” facilitates to provide a basis for design decision-making, which will offer an innovative idea for the development of architectural design methods.

Internal reconnection event (IRE), which is characterized by a perturbation in plasma current Ip, loop voltage Vloop, Hα radiation and magnetic perturbation dBp, was observed in the SUNIST experiment. It is found that, the fluctuation before IREs is characterized by a structure of m = 2/n = 1, then changes to m = 4/n = 1 during the IREs; and, after IREs, the mode number changes to m = 3/n = 1. An analysis in the evolution of equilibrium parameters during IREs shows that a positive spike appears in the evolution of the plasma's elongation and a negative spike in the poloidal beta of plasma. A collapse in the pressure profile, corresponding to the occurrence of IREs, is also found.

Rationale Ovarian yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are the second most common histologic type of ovarian germ cell tumors. Most patients are adolescent and young women, while cases in postmenopausal women were rarely reported. Due to its rarity, we know little about the treatment and prognosis of postmenopausal patients with ovarian YSTs. We reported 3 cases of mixed ovarian YST in postmenopausal females reviewed the related current English literature. Patient concerns The ages of the three patients were 61, 58 and 77 respectively. The three patients came to the hospital because of the abdominal discomfort or tenderness, and the third patient also has vaginal bleeding. Diagnoses Imaging examination revealed pelvic mass with cystic and solid components. The elevated serum AFP level and pathologcial examination confirmed mixed ovarian YST. Interventions All patients received surgery and chemotherapy. Two patients received PEB (cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin) chemotherapy initially and one patient received TC (paclitaxel carboplatin) chemotherapy. Outcomes One patient relapsed 8 months after diagnosis and underwent re-cytoreductive surgery. The three patients all survived at last follow-up. Lessons The diagnosis of postmenopausal ovarian YST is relatively difficult and it can coexist with other germ cell or epithelial tumors. Postmenopausal ovarian YSTs are aggressive, and may have a worse prognosis compared with those in young patients. More aggressive treatment is needed. When YST mixed with epithelial cancer components, adjuvant chemotherapy regimen should include platinum-based chemotherapy aiming at both epithelial ovarian cancer and germ cell tumors.

There is a large amount of micro debris ranging between millimeters and micrometers in space, which has significant influence on the reliability and life of spacecrafts through long-duration integrated impacts and has to be considered in designing a vehicle’s suitability to the space environment. In order to simulate the micro-impacts on exposed materials, a plasma-driven micro-particle accelerator was developed. The major processes, including the acceleration, compression and ejection of plasmas, were modeled. By comparing the theoretical simulations with the experimental results, the acceleration mechanism was clarified. Moreover, through a series of experiments, the optimum operation range was investigated, and the acceleration ability was primarily determined.

In this paper, the edge plasma parameters. including the electron temperature (T-e), electron density (n(e),), plasma potential (phi(p)), radial electric field (E-r) and the corresponding fluctuations in the Sino-united spherical tokamak (SUNIST) have been systematically measured using Langmuir probe arrays. The characteristics of the edge electrostatic fluctuations and the turbulence-induced transport are experimentally investigated. The results show that a naturally formed E-r x B-phi poloidal velocity shear layer (VSL) exists near the radial location of the limiter. Wavenumber spectrum analyses show that edge fluctuations have a radial propagation character of the drift wave turbulence, with a characteristic radial phase velocity u(phr) similar to 0.7 kms(-1) in the scrape-off-layer and u(phr) similar to 0.9-1.4kms(-1) at plasma edge, suggesting! that the. edge turbulence may originate from the core and propagate to the edge in an intermittent pattern. A radial profile of the toroidal flow velocity Mach number has been observed whose maximum is just located at the VSL position, which may imply a possible relation between the poloidal shear flow and the toroidal plasma flow in SUNIST.

As for the obstacles to direct comparison between superhigh and lower frequencies, we accomplish the accurate comparison between low and microwave frequencies with the 105 ratios of the operating frequencies on the basis of phase comparison between the signals whose frequencies are related by an arbitrary integer. This method is simple and accurate, and will be widely used as a special frequency comparison approach.