Search

Background/Aims: Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) is the most common complication of ERCP. As the clinical effectiveness of topical epinephrine in preventing PEP is elusive, this work attempts to assess its impact on PEP prevention. Materials and Methods: The databases Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective cohort studies (RCSs) on topical epinephrine in PEP prevention (data cutoff, November 2022). Results: This study included a total of 10 research articles, involving 5683 patients, comprising 7 RCTs and 3 RCSs. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that epinephrine had no significant effect on preventing PEP or improving its severity. The meta-analysis results of RCTs subgroup revealed no significant difference in the incidence of PEP between patients receiving epinephrine treatment [alone/in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)] vs. without epinephrine treatment (control group) (P = .23). However, patients treated with epinephrine alone experience a lower incidence of PEP compared to the control group (risk ratio [RR] = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.14-0.56, P = .0004). The treatment with epinephrine+NSAIDs vs. NSAIDs showed no significant difference (P = .95). The meta-analysis results of RCSs subgroup demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of PEP with the epinephrine+NSAIDs vs. NSAIDs (P < .05). Regarding the severity of PEP [mild, and moderate to severe (M-S)] in the RCT subgroup, the incidence of PEP was not reduced with epinephrine treatment (alone/in combination with NSAIDs) vs. control group. In the RCS subgroup, receiving epinephrine (alone/in combination with NSAIDs) reduced the incidence of mild PEP, while it had no effect on the incidence of M-S PEP. Conclusion: Epinephrine was not significantly effective in preventing PEP and improving its severity. The combined use of NSAIDs and epinephrine as a possible preventive measure requires further investigation into its efficacy.

Abstract Background Microwave ablation (MWA) is widely used to eliminate colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). However, the risk of tumor recurrence is difficult to predict due to lack of reliable clinical and biological markers. Elevation of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) provides signals for liver inflammation and cancer progression. The present study evaluated the association between pre-ablation GGT to AST ratio index (GSR) and hepatic recurrence in patients with CRLM after MWA. Methods A retrospectively analyzed 192 CRLM patients who underwent MWA from January 2013 to December 2017. Pre-ablation GSR was classified into high (≤ 2.34) or low (> 2.34) using the upper quartile value. The prognostic value of GSR and other risk factors for liver progression-free survival (LPFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results High GSR was significantly associated with males (P = 0.041), the presence of cholelithiasis (P = 0.012), but not pre-ablation chemotherapy (P = 0.355), which caused significantly increased levels of GGT (P = 0.015) and AST (P = 0.008). GSR showed a significant association with LPFS and CSS through univariate analysis (P = 0.002 and 0.006) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.043 and 0.037). The subgroup analysis demonstrated no interaction between GSR and all variables except for distribution in the sub-analysis of LPFS. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the pre-ablation GSR can be considered as a promising prognostic indicator for poor prognosis of patients with CRLM underwent MWA. Trial registration Not applicable.

ABSTRACTMolecule interacting with CasL 1 (MICAL1) is a crucial protein involved in cell motility, axon guidance, cytoskeletal dynamics, and gene transcription. This pan-cancer study analyzed MICAL1 across 33 cancer types using bioinformatics and experiments. Dysregulated expression, diagnostic potential, and prognostic value were assessed. Associations with tumor characteristics, immune factors, and drug sensitivity were explored. Enrichment analysis revealed MICAL1’s involvement in metastasis, angiogenesis, metabolism, and immune pathways. Functional experiments demonstrated its impact on renal carcinoma cells. These findings position MICAL1 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in specific cancers, warranting further investigation into its role in cancer pathogenesis.

Abstract Primary gastric adenosquamous carcinoma (PGASC) is a rare type of gastric cancer with limited research and poorly understood clinicopathological features. This study investigated the clinicopathological features and outcomes of PGASC. Patients with PGASC from Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and from the published literature were enrolled in this study. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and prognostic factors were identified through Cox proportional hazards regression models. This study identified 76 eligible cases of PGASC, with 45 cases from published literature and 31 from our center. The most prevalent symptoms were abdominal pain and dysphagia, with a median age of 62 years (range: 29–84 years). The primary lesions were predominantly in the proximal stomach, with a median tumor size of 6.5 cm (range: 1.5–16.0 cm). Tumor stages II, III, and IV were detected in 12 (16.7%), 43 (59.7%), and 17 (23.6%) patients, respectively. Most tumors were poorly differentiated in both the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) component and adenocarcinoma (AC) component. The median survival time was 17 months (range: 2–122 months). The 1, 3, and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 60.7%, 31.1%, and 24.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that OS was independently predicted by the proportion of SCC component, differentiation of AC component, and tumor stage. PGASC is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. A high proportion of SCC components, low differentiated AC components, and advanced tumor were associated with worse survival in patients with PGASC. Adjuvant therapy did not improve survival time.

This paper analyzes the current situation and existing problems of coal roadway driving technologies and equipment, introduces the new mode, technology, equipment of coal roadway rapid driving with integrated drilling and anchoring and its underground applications. The bolting technologies and equipment with integrated drilling and anchoring are developed which include the integrated drilling and anchoring bolt, pumpable resin, drilling boom and drill rig as well as bolts cartridge with integrated drilling and anchoring, pump unit and intelligence control system. The new technology simplifies the traditional six-step rock bolting process to one continuous step. Rock bolting can be realized automatically by pressing button once and the operation time for installing a single bolt can be reduced from 5 to 6 minutes to 3 minutes. The technologies and equipment of automatic spraying support are developed which include high-strength, rapid setting, and deformable surface supporting spraying materials with a tensile strength exceeding 9 MPa, elongation at break exceeding 100%, and a bonding strength exceeding 3 MPa. The spraying system with 6-degree-of-freedom manipulator is developed which can automatically and rapidly spray during roadway driving. The dynamic monitoring technology and system for roadway surrounding rock deformation are developed during driving which can achieve a surface deformation monitoring of roadway in environments with dust, multiple interference, and low illumination. The monitoring accuracy can meet the requirements of the surrounding rock stability evaluation. A new partitioned parallel collaborative rapid driving mode of excavation, spraying, bolting and transport is proposed and a complete set of roadway rapid driving equipment with integrated drilling and anchoring is developed. The displacement and stability of the surrounding rock during the driving process at the Caojiatan Coal Mine in Shaanxi Province are monitored. In terms of time, more than 80% of the surrounding rock displacement had already occurred in 2 to 3 hours after the excavation of the roadway. In terms of space, more than 90% of the surrounding rock displacement had already occurred at a distance equivalent to twice the width of the roadway from the excavation face. Therefore, the roadway surrounding rock displacement caused by rapid driving can be completed in a short time, requiring timely and rapid support. The nearly 6 000 m roadway driving project has been completed in the 10-metre-extra-high fully mechanized mining face of the Caojiatan Coal Mine, and over 60 000 bolts with integrated drilling and anchoring are installed. The time for installing a single bolt, the number of supporting workers, and the labor intensity of workers have been significantly reduced. The driving speed, efficiency, and automation level have been significantly improved. The displacement of the experimental roadway roof is small. The roadway surrounding rock stability is good as well as the support effect. The coal roadway rapid driving technology and equipment with integrated drilling and anchoring have achieved a success in underground field test. It has the ability to achieve a monthly driving footage of 1500 to 2000 m for ultra-large cross-section coal roadways.

Prioritizing safety management and operational maintenance within hydropower stations proves imperative for both economic development and environmental protection. This study analyzed the joint effects of differential ground settlement and machinery vibration on the superstructure damages through a real case that happened in a hydropower station located in Sichuan province (China). A combination of on-site investigations, field experiments, and numerical simulations are employed to recognize the abnormal vibrations, replicate soil vibration patterns, and comprehend the underlying causes of settlement. Guided by the identified causes, a judicious selection of the optimal vibration reduction solution transpired, subsequently validated through numerical simulations. The outcomes underscore that during operational phases uneven settlement ensues owing to the presence of a feeble foundation. This differential settlement in turn exacerbates foundation settlement by amplifying vibrations in the generator units. The geological conditions of the hydropower station remain in a perpetual state of evolution influenced by surface geological processes. Consequently, a protracted and scientific assessment of hydropower station geological conditions holds enduring significance for both the realms of engineering construction and operational maintenance.

In recent years, the advancement in ranging accuracy and distance requirements in the ship industry has underscored the paramount importance of controlling ranging error. Beyond a reasonable range, any error may result in irreparable losses, including those pertaining to the safety of the ship and its personnel. Therefore, this study proposes a binocular vision ranging method based on sparse stereo matching and feature point extraction. The method accurately extracts the feature points in the image by optimizing the feature extraction algorithm and fast robust feature matching filtering algorithm. The experimental results showed that in data 1, the non-great suppression algorithm suppressed 5111 feature points when the suppression ratio was 20%. In data 2, the improved algorithm suppressed 1920 feature points when the suppression point feature ratio was 70%, while it was 3950 when the ratio was 20%. The total number of extracted feature points was the most in data 3. Moreover, the improved algorithm suppresses 4060 feature points in 70% ratio, compared to 89050 in 20% ratio. The results reveal that the ranging algorithm has higher accuracy in feature point extraction, which provides an important theoretical basis for the intelligent development of the ship industry.

Micro-stereolithography (μSL) is an advanced additive manufacturing technique that enables the fabrication of highly precise microstructures with fine feature resolution. One of the primary challenges in μSL is achieving and maintaining precise focus throughout the fabrication process. For the successful application of μSL, it is essential to maintain the sample surface within a focal depth of several microns. Despite the growing interest in auto-focus devices, limited attention has been directed towards auto-focus systems in image-based auto-focus microscope systems for precision μSL. To address this challenge, we propose an image-based auto-focus microscope system incorporating visual servo control. In the optical design, a transflective beam splitter is employed, allowing the laser beam to pass through for fabrication while reflecting the focused beam on the sample surface to the microscope and camera. Utilizing captured spot images and the Foucault knife-edge test, a deep learning-based laser spot image processing algorithm is developed to determine the focus position based on spot size and the number of spot pixels on both sides. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed auto-focus system effectively determines the relative position of the focal point using the laser spot image and achieves auto-focusing through visual servo control.

Early pregnancy diagnostic techniques are of significant importance in livestock farming, particularly in dairy farming. This study aimed to screen artificially inseminated cows for potential biomarkers at day 21 of pregnancy using microbiota–metabolomics analysis. The microbiome analysis revealed significant changes (p < 0.05) in the composition and abundance of the vaginal microbiota in cows after pregnancy. Notably, there was an increase in the abundance of [Eubacterium]_hallii_group (p < 0.05) associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids in the pregnant group compared with the non-pregnant group. Furthermore, significant alterations were observed in the serum metabolome, with notable changes in the concentrations of prolyl-hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp) (p < 0.01) and bonactin (p < 0.01). The majority of differential metabolites clustered within the pathways of amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism, with lipid metabolism exhibiting a higher proportion and playing a pivotal role in early pregnancy. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to quantify three key metabolites of the arachidonic acid pathway. The results demonstrated significant decreases in serum concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) (p < 0.05) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) (p < 0.01) and no significant changes in arachidonic acid (AA) (NS) concentrations after 21 days of gestation in cows. Spearman’s correlation analysis was utilized to investigate the interrelationship between the vaginal microbiota and serum metabolites. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that biomaterials such as bonactin, Pro-hyp, LTB4, PGF2α in serum metabolites and [Eubacterium]_hallii_group in the vaginal flora of cows could be utilized as potential biomarkers for 21 days of gestation in cows.

The establishment of food safety demonstration cities is an important carrier of the food safety governance system. This article systematically reviews food safety management system related research. By covering four governance subjects as "party and government sharing responsibility", government supervision, market subjects, social co-governance and 27 evaluation indicators as governance standards such as the creation of production specification and industrial transformation and upgrading. It analyzes food safety demonstration cities in Zhejiang Province by analytic hierarchy process. The result shows that the establishment of demonstration cities by applying secret investigations, on-site inspection, system evaluation, exemplary defense and leveraging certain evaluation process and evaluation standard is an important carrier to achieve the modernization of food safety. Food safety governance system includes "governance carrier-governance subject-governance standard-governance target". The efficiency of food safety governance is highly correlated with dynamic evaluation, public satisfaction and systematic assessment.

Current guidelines indicate that the lead levels in perovskite solar cells are sufficiently low, putting them on par with the safety of other lead-containing electronics. Yet, there remains ambiguity regarding the exact environmental impact of lead derived from perovskite. When this lead enters the soil, it has the potential to permeate plants and, subsequently, our food supply, at a rate that is a staggering ten times more than other lead contaminants from human-induced activities. Given this, it becomes vital to ensure that lead does not pollute our environment as we further adopt these technologies. In this study, we propose a novel method using polymer net bones to anchor the lead, which effectively reduces the risk of lead leaching due to rainfall. Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) integrated with this polymer net bone show improved operational efficiency and hold significant promise in curtailing lead leakage, reinforcing the ecological integrity of perovskite solutions. When enhanced with Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), these PSCs register a notable increase in Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE), scoring 24.7% as opposed to the 22.3% in PSCs devoid of PVA. Additionally, PVA-augmented PSCs outperform in stability when compared to their traditional counterparts.

In order to predict and deeply excavate the food-related products risks through massive detective information, a total of 7704 batches of national supervision and sampling data on food-related products were collected from 2018 to 2020 to analyze the current situation and risk factors. Subsequently, a risk assessment model by analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was constructed and further used to calculate comprehensive evaluation index. The results showed that the mean fraction defective of food-related products was 4.56%, which was all above the unqualified rate of food sampling inspection in the same year. Products with higher risks included 7 categories, such as melamine tableware, paper cups and detergent etc. Their unqualified rates were all above the average level. And lower unqualified rates (less than 1%) were found in other 10 kinds of products, including plastic cups, plastic cutting boards and stainless steel kitchen utensils etc. The rate of unqualified enterprises showed an increasing trend, while nonconforming products and problems were repeated. The evaluation system was composed of 5 first-level indicators and 7 second-level indicators by AHP. The weights of the first class indicators which would affect the safety of food from high to low were 0.354 for chemical substances migration, 0.331 for microbiological disqualification, 0.171 for excessive heavy metals, 0.100 for physical performance and 0.044 for hygienic property, respectively. Secondary indicators were types of food-related products, and higher risk were found in detergent and disinfector (0.252), food contact paper containers (0.189) and plastics (0.177), followed by bamboo and wood products (0.170) and food processing equipments (0.105), while glasswork (0.056) and ceramics (0.051) were relatively lower risk. The results also demonstrated that the comprehensive evaluation index was consistent with the trend of nonconforming rate, and would provide technical support for food-related products safety risk analysis and early warning.

Abstract Objective Conventional survival analysis plays a limited role in patients who have survived a period after initial treatment. The present study analyzed how conditional survival (CS) predicted survival rate over time for nonmetastatic muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients after trimodal treatment. Method This retrospective study from the SEER database included consecutive patients with nonmetastatic MIBC who received trimodal therapy (TMT) between January 2010 and December 2017. Kaplan‐Meier analysis was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS). CS was defined as the rate of surviving y years after already surviving for x years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify prognostic factors. Result A total of 1110 nonmetastatic MIBC patients treated with TMT were included. Given a 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, and 4‐year after TMT, the rate of surviving to 5‐year, respectively, improved by +5.0 (20.0%), +17.0 (32.0%), +30.0 (45.0%), and +52.8 (67.8%) from those calculated at baseline (15.0%). The 2‐year CS rate of patients who had survived 1‐, 2‐, or 3‐year after TMT improved, respectively, compared to 3‐, 4‐, or 5‐year actual survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that adverse variables (T stage, age) of OS and CSS lost their prognostic significance over time. Discussion and Conclusion Conditional survival rate of surviving to 5‐year after TMT kept a relatively stable level over time. In addition, those adverse variables were not always the prognostic factors over time. Only age was always the significant prognostic factor for conditional OS from baseline to 5‐year survival. Our results provided real‐time survival information and prognosis estimates to adjust follow‐up plans for nonmetastatic MIBC patients after TMT.

Silicon effectively inhibits cadmium (Cd) uptake in rice, iron plaque on root surface was the primary link and first interface of Cd entering into rice root. To elucidate the mechanism of iron plaque under silicon treatment on root Cd uptake, the morphological characteristics of iron plaque, mechanisms of Cd adsorption of iron plaque and effect of iron plaque on Cd uptake by rice roots of Yuzhenxiang (YZX) and Xiangwanxian (XWX) rice varieties were studied by employing energy spectrum analysis technique, non-invasive micro-test technique, and isothermal-kinetic adsorption method. Scanning electron microscopy-X-ray energy dispersive (SEM-EDX) analysis showed that denser crystal structure of iron plaque was observed at Si treatment, silicon promoted the thickening of iron plaque and strengthened the isolation of iron plaque to Cd, which reduced the Cd content of white roots of YZX and XWX varieties by 30.2% and 20.9% respectively. However, the blocking effect of iron plaque on Cd was weakened under silicon treatment with iron plaque removed, Cd content in iron plaque of YZX and XWX cultivars was significantly decreased by 36.3% and 18.4%, Cd concentrations in white root and shoot was significantly increased, and the influxes of Cd2+ at elongation and maturation zone of root were increased in multiples. The results of adsorption test showed that the adsorption process of iron plaque was mainly a monolayer adsorption completed by boundary diffusion. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results demonstrated that silicon changed the biochemical composition of iron plaque and increased the density of the carbon-oxygen bound groups on iron plaque, which is the most likely reasons for the higher affinity of Cd adsorption ability of iron plaque observed in the silicon treated iron plaque. This study suggested the silicon-facilitated iron plaque have played critical effects in controlling the Cd accumulation in rice roots by changing the morphology and chemical composition of iron plaque.

Abstract Objective M2 macrophages are associated with a poor prognosis in a variety of malignancies. There are, however, few relevant investigations in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods The expression of M2 macrophages in ccRCC tissues was first discovered using immunohistochemistry in this study. Then, M2 macrophages were created in vitro to see how they affected the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of ccRCC cells. Using qPCR and prognostic analysis identifies important chemokine. Antibody neutralization tests confirmed the chemokine’s involvement and function. Pathway inhibitors confirmed the main pathway of M2 macrophages in ccRCC. Finally, qPCR and IHC were used to confirm the expression of chemokine receptors in ccRCC tissues. Results The presence of M2 macrophages was linked to a poor outcome in ccRCC. M2 macrophages enhanced the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of ccRCC lines in vitro. CXCL13 was identified as the main chemokine by prognostic analysis and qPCR tests. CXCL13 neutralizing antibodies can inhibit the stimulation of M2 macrophages in ccRCC lines’ proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT. M2 macrophages and CXCL13 may activate the Akt pathway in ccRCC lines, and Akt inhibitors decrease ccRCC lines proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT. CXCR5 expression is a poor prognostic factor for renal cell carcinoma, according to qPCR and immunohistochemistry. In vivo experiments further proved that CXCL13 secreted by M2 macrophages can promote tumor proliferation. Conclusions M2 macrophages in the immunological milieu secrete CXCL13, which promotes ccRCC proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the function of the tumor microenvironment in the incidence and progression of ccRCC, and they may point to novel therapeutic targets for ccRCC.

Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of covalently closed circular-formed RNAs and play crucial roles in the oncogenesis and progression of various human cancers. Here we identified a novel circRNA, circPPP6R3, to be highly expressed both in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues and cell lines based on analyzing high-throughput sequencing data and qRT-PCR analysis. Highly expressed circPPP6R3 was positively correlated with higher histological grade, T stage, and M stage as well as advanced clinical stage of ccRCC patients. Functionally, knockdown of circPPP6R3 attenuated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ccRCC cells whereas overexpression had the reverse effects. Mechanistically, the biotin-labeled pull-down assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that circPPP6R3 directly interacted with miR-1238-3p. miR-1238-3p inhibitors had a rescue effect on the proliferative and metastatic capacities by knockdown of circPPP6R3. Moreover, RNA-sequencing analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that circPPP6R3 upregulated CD44, a cell-surface glycoprotein contributed to the cell adhesion and metastasis, via sponging to miR-1238-3p. Further investigation revealed that MMP9 and Vimentin were regulated by CD44 in ccRCC. Our study thus provided evidence that the regulatory network involving circPPP6R3/miR-1238-3p/CD44 axis might provide promising biomarkers as well as a therapeutic approach for ccRCC.

Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) is a new memory technology that can not only realize high-density storage, but also can simulate the neural synapse for use in artificial intelligence applications. In this study, we propose an RRAM device that shows competitive resistive memory characteristics and can similarly be used as a synapse in simulation of the human visual perception nervous system. First, we demonstrate that the polyvinyl alcohol-graphene oxide (PVA@GO) hybrid material-based RRAM device offers competitive resistive memory characteristics, including long retention capability, high durability, repeatability, and mechanical flexibility. Second, we integrate the RRAM (as the artificial synapse) with a light-sensitive electronic component (a photoreceptor cell) to construct an artificial visual perception system, and realize effective emulation of light perception and conversion of light signals into synaptic signals. Under light irradiation at 532 nm, a range of versatile synaptic functions, including short-term plasticity (STP), long-term plasticity (LTP), and paired pulse facilitation (PPF), was imitated. This work provides valuable insight into the development path for next-generation high-density data storage technology, and also offers a new way to imitate the human visual neural network for multi-functional humanoid robots.

Abstract Hepatic fibrosis is a spontaneous wound-healing response triggered by chronic liver injury. Pien Tze Huang (PZH), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been widely used to treat various hepatic diseases in Asia. We used a CCl4-induced mouse model to establish a PZH group of hepatic fibrosis mice treated with PZH and a control group of hepatic fibrosis mice without any treatment. We performed RNA-seq and mass spectrometry sequencing to investigate the mechanism of the PZH response in hepatic fibrosis and identified multiple differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) and proteins (DEPs) that may be drug targets of PZH. Liver functional indices, including serum albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), were significantly decreased in the PZH treatment group (P

This work investigated the removal of cadmium ions (Cd2+) by using biochar derived from Barracuda Grass. The biochars derived from the pyrolysis of roots (BGR), stems (BGS) and leaves (BGL) were characterized and their performance for cadmium adsorption was studied at varying parameters of temperature, time, and alkali (earth) metal concentrations. The maximum adsorption amount at equilibrium of BGR, BGS and BGL was determined experimentally as 8.38 mg/g, 42.12 mg/g, and 30.39 mg/g. Adsorption fitting results revealed that Cd2+ adsorbed on BGR and BGS preferred to be multilayer-covered, and BGL was more likely to have monolayer-covered functions. The kinetic data fitted well to the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.99), revealing the adsorption process was a spontaneous monolayer chemisorption process. The results of alkaline (earth) metals leaching of biochar revealed that the inherent alkaline (earth) metals in biochar made inhibitory functions on the Cd2+ adsorption behavior by occupying the active sites. And in the process of wastewater treatment, the leaching of alkaline earth metals might enhance the complexation reaction between surface groups and Cd2+. This study provides a feasible strategy for the resource utilization of abundant hydrophytic plants in waste management.

BackgroundAlthough many studies reported the effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or surgical resection (SR) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the efficacy of these two strategies remains controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of sequential use of TACE plus RFA (TACE + RFA) and SR alone in treating HCC.MethodsRelevant studies with unmatched and propensity score-matched patients were identified by comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane electronic databases. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager (RevMan) software version 5.4.1. Finally, 12 eligible studies were included in this study, including 11 case–control studies and 1 randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome of interest for this study was to compare the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), major complications, 5-year OS in different tumor diameters between the two treatment strategies, and hospital stay time.ResultsHCC patients who received TACE + RFA had a lower incidence of complication rates and shorter hospital stay time than those who received SR alone. Among these studies using propensity score-matched cohorts, SR had better 3- and 5-year OS than TACE + RFA, whereas there were no significant differences between TACE + RFA and SR regarding the 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS. When the tumor diameter is longer than 3 cm, the 5-year OS rate is better when SR is selected.ConclusionThere was no significant difference in the short-term survival outcomes between TACE + RFA and SR in HCC patients. Moreover, SR is superior to TACE + RFA in terms of long-term beneficial effects but may result in a higher risk of major complications and a longer hospital stay time.

Abstract Relevance Pien Tze Huang (PZH) is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), characterized by a multitude of pharmacological effects, such as hepatoprotection and inhibition of inflammation and cell proliferative conditions. Many of these effects have been validated at the cellular, molecular and physiological levels but, to date, most of these findings have not been comprehensively disclosed. Objectives This review aims to provide a critical summary of recent studies focusing on PZH and its multiple pharmacological effects. As a result, we further discuss some novel perspectives related to PZH’s mechanisms of action and a holistic view of its therapeutic activities. Methods A systematic review was performed focusing on PZH studies originated from original scientific resources. The scientific literature retrieved for this work was obtained from International repositories including NCBI/PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Results The major active componentes and their potential functions, including hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects, as well as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities, were summarized and categorized accordingly. As indicated, most of the pharmacological effects were validated in vitro and in vivo. The identification of complex bioactive components in PZH may provide the basis for further therapeutic initiatives. Conclusion Here we have collectively discussed the recent evidences covering most, if not all, pharmacological effects driven by PZH. This review provides novel perspectives on understanding the modes of action and the holistic view of TCM. The rational development of future clinical trials will certainly provide evidence-based medical evidences that will also confirm the therapeutic advantages of PZH, based on the current information available.

While DNA methylation is thought to play a regulatory role, there are few examples where modification of a single CpG dinucleotide directly affects transcription factor binding. Here the authors show that methylation of a single CGATA element within the c-Kit gene inhibits binding and regulation by erythroid transcription factor GATA-1, both in cells and in mice, suggesting that methylation at this site plays an essential role in erythropoiesis.

BackgroundCurrently, the progress of targeted drugs in the treatment of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) is limited. Cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN), as an alternative treatment, can improve the prognosis of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma to some extent. However, it is unclear which patients would benefit from this tumor reduction operation. As a consequence, we developed a predictive model to identify patients who may well benefit from CN in terms of survival.MethodsWe identified patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma retrospectively from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010–2015) and classified them into surgery and non-surgery groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the baseline characteristics. Patients who survived longer than the median overall survival (OS) of no-surgery group were defined as surgical-benefit patients. Then, we developed a predictive model based on preoperative characteristics using multivariable Logistic regression. Calibration curves and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) were used to evaluate the efficiency of the predictive model. The clinical value of the nomogram was assessed utilizing decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsOur study collected 5544 patients from the SEER database, with 2352(42.4%) receiving cytoreductive surgery. Overall survival (OS) was longer in the CN group than in the non-surgery group after 1:1 propensity scoring matching (median OS: 19 months vs 7 months; hazard ratio (HR) =0.4106, P< 0.001). In the matched surgery group, 65.7% (367) patients survived more than 7 months after the operation and they were considered to benefit from CN. The predictive model performed well on both the training group (AUC=73.4%) and the validation group (AUC=71.9%) and the calibration curves indicated a high degree of consistency. The decision curve analysis curve demonstrated the clinical utility. We classified surgical patients into the beneficial group and non-beneficial group by using the predictive model, then discovered a substantial difference in OS between the two groups.ConclusionsWe developed a nomogram to select ideal mccRCC patients who might benefit from cytoreductive nephrectomy. Clinicians could make a more precise treatment strategy for mccRCC patients.

BackgroundEarly detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) and precancerous lesion is vitally important for mitigating CRC morbidity and mortality. Aberrant DNA methylations in certain promoter regions have been identified to be closely associated with CRC development and progression, suggesting their potential as diagnostic biomarkers for early detection. In this study, we evaluated the performance of methylated CLIP4 in stool specimens as a potential biomarker for CRC detection.MethodsA total of 321 subjects out of 365 enrolled participants were included in the final analysis, including 154 CRC patients, 23 advanced adenoma (AA) patients, 49 small polyp (SP) patients, and 95 healthy controls. CLIP4 methylation level was examined by qPCR with bisulfite converted DNA purified from approximately 5 g stool specimen.ResultsMethylated CLIP4 test showed high sensitivities of 78.3% (95% CI: 55.8%–91.7%) and 90.3% (95% CI: 84.2%–94.3%) for detecting AA and CRC, respectively, with a specificity of 88.4% (95% CI: 79.8%–93.8%). CLIP4 methylation level discriminated AA and CRC patients from control subjects with area under the curve values of 0.892 (95% CI: 0.795–0.988) and 0.961 (95% CI: 0.938–0.983). Further analysis indicated no significant difference in sensitivities among different ages, genders, stages, locations, sides, tumor sizes and differentiation statuses.ConclusionsMethylated CLIP4 showed a strong potential as a noninvasive biomarker for early CRC detection.

Background. Alcoholism is known to cause liver toxicity and is extensively researched. On the other hand, stress, depression, and obesity are interrelated conditions with alcoholism, and their medications would affect the liver itself. In this study, we investigated the effects of the drugs fluoxetine and atorvastatin on the liver and compared with those of alcohol in a mouse model. Methods. Comparisons of animals treated with the three drugs were carried out: serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and albumin were measured; liver tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta-1) levels were evaluated; proliferative cells were detected via immunohistochemistry (IHC) targeting on proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (MCM2); for apoptosis, IHC targeting on activated caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) were employed; and histopathology was also documented in all groups. Results. For ALT, AST, albumin, and liver TNF alpha, only the ethanol group surged to significantly higher levels. For TGF beta-1, both ethanol and atorvastatin groups reached a significantly higher level. PCNA and MCM2 showed increased proliferation in the livers of all three groups, with the ethanol group having the highest number of positive cells followed by atorvastatin and then the fluoxetine group. As for cell death, both ethanol and fluoxetine groups showed significantly more apoptosis than control in TUNEL and activated caspase-3, while in the atorvastatin group, activated caspase-3 positive cells increased significantly, but the increase in TUNEL-positive cells did not reach statistical significance.

Summary: Formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite is a front-runner material for efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its high light-absorption coefficient, narrow band gap, and superior photostability and thermostability. High-quality FAPbI3 perovskite formation typically requires an >160°C annealing process to induce phase transition from the photoinactive yellow phase (δ-FAPbI3) to the photoactive black phase (α-FAPbI3). However, this high-temperature annealing can induce defects in the films and hinders application in flexible solar cells. Here, we report a facile method to fabricate high-quality α-FAPbI3 perovskite films at room temperature, without thermal annealing or vacuum-assisted processes. Combined computational and experimental results reveal the crystallization mechanism of α-FAPbI3 formation at room temperature. We demonstrate PSCs with a power-conversion efficiency of 19.09%, which is the highest efficiency for room temperature PSCs to the best of our knowledge. This study may offer a cost-effective way to fabricate highly efficient PSCs at room temperature.

Imitation of memory and learning behaviors of nervous system by nanoscale photoelectric devices is highly desirable for building neuromorphic systems or even artificial neural networks. In this work, artificial synapses with photoelectric plasticity and memory behaviors based on a charge trapping memristive system was fabricated. Versatile synaptic functions, such as photoelectric excitatory postsynaptic current behavior, short-term memory, long-term memory, short - to long-term memory transition, and photonic learning and forgetting behaviors, were all mimicked by applied pulses of light and electricity. Moreover, the device also has the potential to be used in flexible applications. The photoelectric plasticity and memory phenomenon can be attributed to charge trapping and detrapping, since the used CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with a quantum well structure that act as trapping centers. This work provides a cost-effective method to develop artificial synapse devices, neural networks, and computers with photoelectric operations. Keywords: Photoelectric memristor, Artificial synapse, Space charge limited current, Excitatory postsynaptic current

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of suspension and massage combined easy canning technique on lumbar dorsal myofascial pain syndrome therapy.Methods:A total of 60 patients with lumbar dorsal myofascial pain syndrome were randomly divided into joint therapy group and control group, with 30 cases in each group. The joint therapy group applied suspension and massage combined with easy canning therapy, the control group applied easy canning therapy only. Simplified McGill Scale and Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (MSUS) were applied before treatment, two courses of treatment and one month after treatment to assess the degree of pain in patients, changes in muscle thickness of the ipsilateral psoas muscle and the lumbar muscle.Results:At the end of second therapeutic course, the simplified McGill pain scale scores of both groups were significantly lower than that before therapy, the efficacy of joint therapy group was superior to that of control group (PPP

Background/Aims: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as new regulators and biomarkers in several cancers. However, few lncRNAs have been well characterized in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods: We investigated the lncRNA expression profile by microarray analysis in 5 corresponding ccRCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Lung cancer–associated transcript 1 (LUCAT1) expression was examined in 90 paired ccRCC tissues by real-time PCR and validated by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to examine the prognostic value of LUCAT1 and CXCL2 in ccRCC patients. Loss and gain of function were performed to explore the effect of LUCAT1 on proliferation and invasion in ccRCC cells. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of LUCAT1 in ccRCC progression. Chemokine stimulation assay was performed to investigate possible mechanisms controlling LUCAT1 expression in ccRCC cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to determine serum CXCL2 in ccRCC patients and healthy volunteers. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to examine the clinical diagnostic value of serum CXCL2 in ccRCC. Results: We found that LUCAT1 was significantly upregulated in both clinical ccRCC tissues (n = 90) and TCGA ccRCC tissues (n = 448) compared with normal tissues. Statistical analysis revealed that the LUCAT1 expression level positively correlated with tumor T stage (P < 0.01), M stage (P < 0.01), and TNM stage (P < 0.01). Overall survival and disease-free survival time were significantly shorter in the high-LUCAT1-expression group than in the low-LUCAT1-expression group (log-rank P < 0.01). LUCAT1 knockdown inhibited ccRCC cell proliferation and colony formation, induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase, and inhibited cell migration and invasion. Overexpression of LUCAT1 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of ccRCC cells. Mechanistic investigations showed that LUCAT1 induced cell cycle G1 arrest by regulating the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, and phosphorylated retinoblastoma transcriptional corepressor 1. Moreover, LUCAT1 promoted proliferation and invasion in ccRCC cells partly through inducing the phosphorylation of AKT and suppressing the phosphorylation of GSK-3β. We also revealed that chemokine CXCL2, upregulated in ccRCC, induced LUCAT1 expression and might be a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in ccRCC. Conclusions: LUCAT1 was upregulated in ccRCC tissues and renal cancer cell lines, and significantly correlated with malignant stage and poor prognosis in ccRCC. LUCAT1 promoted proliferation and invasion in ccRCC cells through the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway. We also revealed that LUCAT1 overexpression was induced by chemokine CXCL2. These findings indicate that the CXCL2/LUCAT1/AKT/GSK-3β axis is a potential therapeutic target and molecular biomarker for ccRCC.

[Objectives] To observe the effect of Guanxin-V Mixture combined with Sacubitril Valsartan on cardiac function in patients after PCI for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STE-MI). [Methods] 41 cases of STEMI patients (qi and yin deficiency and blood stasis and obstruction) hospitalized in Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to June 2021 were randomly divided into 21 cases in the treatment group and 20 cases in the control group, and the two groups were given standardized Western medicine treatment as soon as possible after PCI. The control group was treated with Sacubitril Valsartan, and the treatment group was treated with Guanxin-V Mixture on the basis of treatment in the control group. The patients in the two groups were treated for 3 months, and the TCM syndrome score, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, and the incidence of heart failure and adverse reactions in the two groups after treatment were recorded. [Results] After the treatment, the TCM syndrome score and serum NT-proBNP, IL-6 and hs-CRP levels of the two groups significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the levels of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05); the LVEF of the two groups significantly increased (P<0.05), and the level of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Comparison of the incidence of heart failure and adverse reactions in the two groups showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). [Conclusions] Guanxin-V Mixture combined with Sacubitril Valsartan could significantly improve cardiac function in STEMI patients undergoing PCI, and its effect may be related to the suppression of inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemokine ligands and their receptors play critical roles in cancer progression and patients outcomes. We found that CXCL13 was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues compared with normal tissues in both The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort and a validated cohort of 90 pairs ccRCC tissues. Statistical analysis showed that high CXCL13 expression related to advanced disease stage and poor prognosis in ccRCC. We also revealed that serum CXCL13 levels in ccRCC patients (n = 50) were significantly higher than in healthy controls (n = 40). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that tissue and serum CXCL13 expression might be a diagnostic biomarker for ccRCC with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.809 and 0.704, respectively. CXCL13 was significantly associated with its receptor, CXCR5, in ccRCC tissues, and ccRCC patients in high CXCL13 high CXCR5 expression group have a worst prognosis. Functional and mechanistic study revealed that CXCL13 promoted the proliferation and migration of ccRCC cells by binding to CXCR5 and activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. These results suggested that CXCL13/CXCR5 axis played a significant role in ccRCC and might be a therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker.