Rapid solar-driven atmospheric water-harvesting with MAF-4-derived nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon.

Sorption-based atmospheric water-harvesting (AWH) could help to solve global freshwater scarcity. The search for adsorbents with high water-uptake capacity at low relative humidity, rapid adsorption-desorption kinetics and high thermal conductivity is a critical challenge in AWH. Herein, we report a MAF-4 (aka ZIF-8)-derived nanoporous carbon (NPCMAF-4-800) with multiple N-doped sites, considerable micropore characteristics and inherent photothermal properties, for efficient water production in a relatively arid climate. NPCMAF-4-800 exhibited optimal water-sorption performance of 306 mg g-1 at 40% relative humidity (RH). An excellent sunlight-absorption rate was realized (97%) attributed to its high degree of graphitization. A proof-of-concept device was designed and investigated for the practical harvesting of water from the atmosphere using natural sunlight. NPCMAF-4-800 achieved an unprecedentedly high water production rate of 380 mg g-1 h-1 at 40% RH, and could produce 1.77 L kg-1 freshwater during daylight hours in an outdoor low-humidity climate of ∼25 °C and 40% RH. These findings may shed light on the potential of MOF-derived porous carbons in the AWH field, and inspire the future development of solar-driven water-generation systems.

In situ electrochemical potential-induced synthesis of metal organic framework membrane on polymer support for H2/CO2 separation.

Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) membranes act as selective layers have offered unprecedented opportunities for energy-efficient and cost-effective gas separation. Searching for the green and sustainable synthesis method of dense MOF membrane has received huge attention in both academia and industry. In this work, we demonstrate an in situ electrochemical potential-induced synthesis strategy to aqueously fabricate Metal Azolate Framework-4 (MAF-4) membranes on polypropylene (PP) support. The constant potential can induce the heterogeneous nucleation and growth of MAF-4, resulting an ultrathin membrane with the thickness of only 390 nm. This high-quality membrane exhibits a high H2/CO2 separation performance with the H2 permeance as high as 1565.75 GPU and selectivity of 11.6. The deployment of this environment friendly one-step fabrication method under mild reaction conditions, such as low-cost polymer substrate, water instead of organic solvent, room temperature and ambient pressure shows great promise for the scale-up of MOF membranes.

Effectiveness of Sequential Chemoradiation vs Concurrent Chemoradiation or Radiation Alone in Adjuvant Treatment After Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer: The STARS Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: There is no current consensus on the role of chemotherapy in addition to radiation for postoperative adjuvant treatment of patients with early-stage cervical cancer with adverse pathological factors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical benefits of sequential chemoradiation (SCRT) and concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) compared with radiation alone (RT) as a postoperative adjuvant treatment in early-stage cervical cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: After radical hysterectomy at 1 of 8 participating hospitals in China, patients with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage IB to IIA cervical cancer with adverse pathological factors were randomized 1:1:1 to receive adjuvant RT, CCRT, or SCRT. Data were collected from February 2008 to December 2018. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received adjuvant RT (total dose, 45-50 Gy), CCRT (weekly cisplatin, 30-40 mg/m2), or SCRT (cisplatin, 60-75 mg/m2, plus paclitaxel, 135-175 mg/m2) in a 21-day cycle, given 2 cycles before and 2 cycles after radiotherapy, respectively. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point was the rate of disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years. RESULTS: A total of 1048 women (median [range] age, 48 [23-65] years) were included in the analysis (350 in the RT group, 345 in the CCRT group, and 353 in the SCRT group). Baseline demographic and disease characteristics were balanced among the treatment groups except that the rate of lymph node involvement was lowest in the RT group (18.3%). In the intention-to-treat population, SCRT was associated with a higher rate of DFS than RT (3-year rate, 90.0% vs 82.0%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.35-0.76) and CCRT (90.0% vs 85.0%; HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.44-0.96). Treatment with SCRT also decreased cancer death risk compared with RT (5-year rate, 92.0% vs 88.0%; HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35-0.95) after adjustment for lymph node involvement. However, neither DFS nor cancer death risk was different among patients treated with CCRT or RT. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this randomized clinical trial, conducted in a postoperative adjuvant treatment setting, SCRT, rather than CCRT, resulted in a higher DFS and lower risk of cancer death than RT among women with early-stage cervical cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00806117.

Short term effects of small incision lenticule extraction surgery on corneal endothelium.

AIM: To assess the effects of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery on the corneal endothelium at 1d to 1mo postoperatively. METHODS: A retrospective, observational study was conducted on 47 patients (47 eyes) who received SMILE surgery. Patients were grouped according to contact lens wear condition. The corneal endothelium was examined preoperatively and at 1d, 1wk and 1mo postoperatively. The corneal endothelium was analyzed for endothelial cell density (ECD), percentage of hexagonal cells, and coefficient of variation (CV) of cell size. RESULTS: There were no significant decrease in the ECD, percentage of hexagonal cells or increase in CV at 1d, 1wk and 1mo postoperatively (P>0.05). However, there was a small increase of ECD by 2.88% in contact lens wearers (78.26±113.62 cell/mm(2), P<0.05). CONCLUSION: SMILE has no significant adverse effects on the corneal ECD and morphology during 1mo follow-up time.

Establishing a Nomogram for Stage IA-IIB Cervical Cancer Patients after Complete Resection.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish a nomogram by combining clinicopathologic factors with overall survival of stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients after complete resection with pelvic lymphadenectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This nomogram was based on a retrospective study on 1,563 stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients who underwent complete resection and lymphadenectomy from 2002 to 2008. The nomogram was constructed based on multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard regression. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were measured by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), stromal invasion, parametrial invasion, tumor diameter and histology as independent prognostic factors associated with cervical cancer survival. These factors were selected for construction of the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.77), and calibration of the nomogram showed good agreement between the 5-year predicted survival and the actual observation. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a nomogram predicting 5-year overall survival of surgically treated stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients. More comprehensive information that is provided by this nomogram could provide further insight into personalized therapy selection.

[Analysis of the security, pregnancy outcomes, and the tumor recurrence related factors of young patients with cervical cancer treated with different radical trachelectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the security, pregnancy outcomes, and the tumor recurrence related factors of young patients with cervical cancer treated with different radical trachelectomy (RT). METHODS: Thirty-two young patients < 40 years of age with early cervical cancer from May 2004 to July 2012 admitted in Tumor Hospital Xiangya School of Medicine of Central South University were divided into two groups based on different operation methods: vaginal radical trachelectomy (RVT) group and abdominal radical trachelectomy (RAT) group.The clinical data were analyzed by One-way Anova and multivariate Cox stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: The operation duration, number of lymph node dissection, the height of the cervical resection, postoperative hospitalization time, incidence of vascular injury and incidence of postoperative lymphocele were respectively (250 ± 82) min, 15 ± 6, (2.31 ± 0.21) cm, (9.2 ± 2.9) d, 1/18 and 1/18 in RVT group, while (263 ± 60) min,16 ± 8, (2.32 ± 0.26) cm, (10.3 ± 3.5) d,0 and 1/14 in RAT group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The blood loss (281 ± 201) ml in RVT group was significantly lower than that in the RAT group (492 ± 320) ml (P < 0.05). The length of Vaginal hysterectomy [(2.61 ± 0.50) cm] and the width of parametrial resection [ (2.38 ± 0.36) cm] in RVT group were significantly less than those [(2.95 ± 0.10), (2.81 ± 0.22) cm] in the RAT group (all P < 0.05).The pregnancy rate between RVT group (3/18) and RAT group (2/14) were no significant difference (P > 0.05).One-way Anova analysis showed that the recurrence of early cervical cancer was related to tumor size in diameter (F = 4.911, P = 0.047), while there were no correlation with age, clinical stage, histological type and surgical approach (all P > 0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that tumor diameter size was an independent risk factor for tumor recurrence (ß = 0.259, P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: RT for young patients with early cervical cancer is feasible.Pregnancy outcomes after RT need to be study in the future. Tumor size in diameter is the major risk factor for tumor recurrence.

[Multicenter randomized controlled clinical study for the operative treatment of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the operative treatment for first-treated patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors who need preservation of fertility. METHODS: The clinical data of 105 patients who were treated with fertility-sparing surgery in 11 hospitals from 1992 to 2010 were collected to evaluate the outcomes of different primary surgical operative procedures. All 105 cases were performed the surgeries that preserved fertility and divided into three groups according to the surgical approaches, comprehensive staging surgery group: 47 cases (44.8%) received comprehensive staging surgeries that including the ipsilateral oophorectomy + omentectomy + retropertoneal lymph node dissection ± appendectomy + multiple biopsies;oophorectomy group:45 cases (42.9%)received ipsilateral oophorectomy ± biopsy of contralateral ovary ± omentectomy;tumor resection group:13 cases (12.4%) received enucleation of the mass with preservation of the ovary. Differences were compared among the three groups of patients in the surgery-related indicators, complications, fertility and prognosis. RESULTS: (1) Surgery-related indicators:the average blood loss of the comprehensive staging surgery group, the oophorectomy group and the tumor resection group were 496, 104 and 253 ml, the mean operation time were 176, 114 and 122 minutes, respectively, and there were significant differences among three groups (P = 0.011, P = 0.000). (2) Complication:the surgical complication rates of the three groups were 17% (8/47), 0 and 1/13, with significant differences (P = 0.015). (3) Reproductive function status: the pregnancy rate and birth rate of the three groups were no significant differences (9/19 vs. 7/19 vs. 2/3, P = 0.515; 8/19 vs. 5/19 vs. 2/3, P = 0.636). (4) PROGNOSIS: the recurrence rate of the three groups were significant differences [13% (6/47) vs. 0 vs. 2/13, P = 0.013], but the death rate with no significant differences [6% (3/47) vs. 0 vs. 0, P = 0.129]; The five-year survival rate of three different groups were 89%, 100% and 100% (P > 0.05), while disease free survival rate were 85%, 100% and 83% (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with comprehensive staging surgery, oophorectomy group have higher surgical security and satisfactory prognosis, considerable pregnancy rates and birth rate. The tumor resection security may be reliable, but the prognosis is poor.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of memantine hydrochloride in rat plasma using sensitive fluorometric derivatization.

In this study, we investigated a simple, sensitive and reliable liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection method for the determination of memantine hydrochloride in rat plasma which was based on derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl). For the first time, FMOC-Cl was introduced into derivatization of memantine hydrochloride in rat plasma. The amino groups of memantine hydrochloride and amantadine hydrochloride (internal standard) were trapped with FMOC-Cl to form memantine hydrochloride-FMOC-Cl and amantadine hydrochloride-FMOC-Cl compositions, which can be very compatible for LC-FLD. Precipitation of plasma proteins by acetonitrile was followed by vortex mixing and centrifugation. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C(18) column (DIAMONSIL 150 × 4.6 mm, id 5 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The retention times of memantine hydrochloride-FMOC-Cl and amantadine hydrochloride-FMOC-Cl compositions were 23.69 and 40.27 min, respectively. Optimal conditions for the derivatization of memantine hydrochloride were also described. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 25 ng/mL for memantine hydrochloride in plasma, the linear range was 0.025-5.0 µg/mL in plasma with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9999. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra-day and inter-day assays were 4.46-12.19 and 5.23-11.50%, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of memantine hydrochloride in rat plasma samples.

[Comparative study of different chemotherapy approaches for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the advantages and disadvantages of intravenous chemotherapy and intraperitoneal chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: All of the 226 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer were treated by maximum cytoreductive surgery or non-effective cytoreductive surgery and received 6 - 8 courses of postoperative regular chemotherapy (chemotherapy regimens, TP: taxol and cis-platinum or carboplatinum; PC: cis-platinum and cyclophosphamide; PAC: cis-platinum and adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) during Jan 1998 - Jan 2006. We systematically compared the characteristics of patients in intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) group and intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) group. We measured the incidence rate of the response, side-effects, the recurrence time of intraperitoneal tumor and survival time of the two groups respectively. RESULTS: For the first phase after operation (three courses of treatment), the response rate of two groups were 75.8% and 52.8% respectively. For the response rate of IPC was higher than that of IVC (P < 0.01). The second phase after operation (all courses finished), the response rate of two groups were 93.9% and 87.7%, respectively (P > 0.05). After maximum cytoreductive surgery, the recurrence rate of IPC and IVC were 47.0% and 59.4%, respectively (P > 0.05). After non-effective cytoreductive surgery of IPC and IVC groups, the recurrence rates were 84.8% and 86.2%, respectively (P > 0.05). The recurrence time of intraperitoneal tumor of IPC and IVC groups were 24 and 18 months, respectively (P = 0.001). The overall survival time of groups IPC and IVC were 32 and 30 months (P = 0.188). There were some differences in the side-effect between IPC and IVC. The rates of chemotherapeutic phlebitis of IPC and IVC were 34.0% and 10.8% respectively (P < 0.01). The rates of serious gastrointestinal reaction of IPC and IVC were 33.8% and 25.8%, respectively (P = 0.236). There was no significant difference in bone marrow depression, intestinal adhesion and intestinal obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: IPC can extend the disease progression free survival than IVC, without increasing overall survival period. IPC can also reduce the side-effect of chemotherapeutic phlebitis. However, IPC is used limitedly, and can not substitute for IVC. Combination of IPC with IVC may enhance their effectiveness and reduce the side-effects.

[Analysis of 16 patients with early cervical cancer treated by laparoscopic vaginal radical trachelectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacies of preserving fertility treatment in patients with early cervical cancer. METHODS: Sixteen patients with early cervical cancer treated by laparoscopic vaginal radical trachelectomy and pre- or postoperative chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively, focusing on the treatment indication and management of high risk patients. RESULTS: The median age was 29 years (range 26 to 34 years). Eleven were nulligravida and 4 multipara. All patients had a desire to maintain fertility. For clinical stage, 2 were stage Ia2, 13 stage Ib1 and 1 stage Ib2. Fifteen patients had squamous cell carcinoma and 1 had adenosquamous cell carcinoma. Mean operative time was 3 hours and 12 minutes, and mean blood loss was 320 ml. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. With mean follow-up time of 13 months, one patient had recurrence (6%), and no one became pregnant. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to preserve fertility in the treatment of patients with early cervical cancer, but treatment indication should be considered carefully. The management of high risk patients should be investigated extensively.

[A multicenter randomized clinical trial of weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin vs three weeks paclitaxel and carboplatin as first line chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of combination regiments of taxol given weekly plus carboplatin and taxol given every three weeks plus carboplatin. To observe the toxicity of the two regiments. To observe the two-year survival rate in the two groups. METHODS: Total 125 eligible patients in 13 centers of CGOG were entered into the two arms of this randomized clinical trial, of whom 51 were entered into weekly taxol group and 74 entered into 3 weeks taxol group. RESULTS: 81.6% (102/125) of patients had satisfactory decreasing of CA125 level after optimal cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. 86.3% (44/51) of patients is in weekly group and 78.4% (58/74) of patients in three weeks group (P > 0.05). Relapse frequency is 29.7% in every three weeks group and 19.6% in weekly group (P > 0.05). Median interval to relapse is 15.7 months in every three weeks group and 13.6 months in weekly group (P > 0.05). One-year survival rate is 95.2% in every three weeks and 93.9% in weekly group (P > 0.05). Two-year survival rate is 78.7% in every three weeks and 85.3% in weekly group (P > 0.05). Grade III and IV myelosuooression is 45.9% in three weeks group and, 27.5% in weekly group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: (1) The two regiments had equal efficacy. (2) Myelosuppression was less frequency in the weekly group than in every three weeks group. (3) Weekly taxol therapy has mild toxicity and is more suitable for the old and feeble patients. Weekly taxol therapy can be conveniently administered in outpatients department.

[Effect of preoperative chemotherapy on bulky cervical cancer by internal iliac arterial infusion].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on bulky cervical cancer by internal iliac arterial infusion. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-six patients with bulky cervical cancer were randomly divided into two groups: chemotherapy + radiotherapy group (C + R group, n = 105) and radiotherapy group (R group, n = 81). Patients in C + R group underwent internal iliac arterial infusion chemotherapy by using Seldinger technique internal iliac arterial or epigastric arterial catheterization. Combined regimens were prescribed including cisplatin as the major drug. Meanwhile 192Ir high-dose-rate intracavitary radiotherapy was performed, with A point dose at 12 - 24 Gy/2-4 times (C + R group). Patients in R group were only given radiotherapy. Both groups of patients received radical hysterectomy two weeks after radiotherapy. RESULTS: The tumor regression rate of C + R group was 97.1%, significantly higher than 79.0% in R group (P < 0.01). The effective rate for clinical Ib stage cancer in C + R group was 100.0%, significantly higher than 78.3% in R group (P < 0.01), but for clinical IIa, IIb stage cancers, the effective rate between two groups had no obvious difference (P > 0.05). Postoperative pathologic examinations showed the percentage of cervical tumor residue, parauterine invasion, pelvic lymph node metastasis in C + R group was lower than those of R group (P < 0.01). The 2-year recurrent rate in R group (23.5%) was higher than that of C + R group (6.7%, P < 0.01), but 2-year survival rate between two groups had no obvious difference. CONCLUSIONS: Internal iliac arterial infusion chemotherapy can effectively reduce tumor volume, decrease lymph node and subclinical metastasis rates and postoperative recurrence rate; it can also improve radical resectability of patients with stage IIb cervical cancer. But the effect on long-term survival rate needs to be further evaluated through long-term follow-up of patients.