Uranium capture by a layered 2D/2D niobium phosphate/holey graphene architecture via an electro-adsorption and electrocatalytic reduction coupling process.

As an energy-efficient and eco-friendly technique, capacitive deionization (CDI) has shown great potential for uranium (U(VI)) capture recently. However, extracting U(VI) with high kinetics, capacity and selectivity remains a major challenge due to the current surface active sites-based material and co-existing ions in aqueous solution. Here we rationally designed a layered 2D/2D niobium phosphate/holey graphene (HGNbP) electrode material, and originally demonstrated its efficient U(VI) capture ability via an electro-adsorption and electrocatalytic reduction coupling process. The less-accumulative loose layered architecture, open polycrystalline construction of niobium phosphate with active phosphate sites, and rich in-plane nano-pores on conductive graphene nanosheets endowed HGNbP with fast charge/ion transport, high electroconductivity and superior pseudocapacitance, which enabled U(VI) ions first to be electro-adsorbed, then physico-chemical adsorbed, and finally electrocatalysis reduced/deposited onto electrode surface without the limitation of active sites under a low potential of 1.2 V. Based on these virtues, the HGNbP exhibited a fast adsorption kinetics, with a high removal rate of 99.9% within 30 min in 50 mg L-1 U(VI) solution, and a high adsorption capacity up to 1340 mg g-1 in 1000 mg L-1 U(VI) solution. Furthermore, the good recyclability and selectivity towards U(VI) were also realized.

Deep learning magnetic resonance imaging predicts platinum sensitivity in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: The aim of the study is to develop and validate a deep learning model to predict the platinum sensitivity of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) based on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: In this retrospective study, 93 patients with EOC who received platinum-based chemotherapy (≥4 cycles) and debulking surgery at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from January 2011 to January 2020 were enrolled and randomly assigned to the training and validation cohorts (2:1). Two different models were built based on either the primary tumor or whole volume of the abdomen as the volume of interest (VOI) within the same cohorts, and then a pre-trained convolutional neural network Med3D (Resnet 10 version) was transferred to automatically extract 1,024 features from two MRI sequences (CE-T1WI and T2WI) of each patient to predict platinum sensitivity. The performance of the two models was compared. Results: A total of 93 women (mean age, 50.5 years ± 10.5 [standard deviation]) were evaluated (62 in the training cohort and 31 in the validation cohort). The AUCs of the whole abdomen model were 0.97 and 0.98 for the training and validation cohorts, respectively, which was better than the primary tumor model (AUCs of 0.88 and 0.81 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively). In k-fold cross-validation and stratified analysis, the whole abdomen model maintained a stable performance, and the decision function value generated by the model was a prognostic indicator that successfully discriminates high- and low-risk recurrence patients. Conclusion: The non-manually segmented whole-abdomen deep learning model based on MRI exhibited satisfactory predictive performance for platinum sensitivity and may assist gynecologists in making optimal treatment decisions.

The role of estrogen deprivation therapy in premenopausal women with primary unresectable intracardiac leiomyomatosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intracardiac leiomyomatosis (ICLM) is a rare life-threatening form of intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVLM). The incomplete resection and recurrence are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to identify that whether estrogen deprivation therapies, including bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO)-based surgery and gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) administration, could bring benefits to patients with primary unresectable ICLM. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE (Ovid) was searched (up to May 2021) for studies reporting individual patient data on demographics, clinicopathological features, treatment, and follow-up information. Exclusion criteria were patients who may have been included in two or more publications. This study was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients from 70 papers were included. Several reports showed that the tumor in the right atrium and inferior vena cava shrank dramatically after BSO-based surgery, or GnRHa administrated preoperatively in premenopausal women. The rate of complete resection was 64.04% in patients with ICLM, which was 85.25% in no/slight adhesion and no pulmonary nodules group, while 22.22% in firm/extensive adhesion and/or pulmonary nodules group (p < 0.0001). Meanwhile, the recurrence rates in patients with complete resection and incomplete resection were 4.29% and 37.84% respectively (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, complete resection with BSO had the lowest recurrence rate of 3.13%, incomplete resection with BSO had a progression rate of 45.45%, while incomplete resection with ovarian preservation had the highest progression rate of 75.00%. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence rate of ICLM was closely related to firm/extensive adhesion in IVC or above, and/or pulmonary nodules. BSO-based surgery might reduce the recurrence rate no matter ICLM could be completely resected or not. In addition, estrogen deprivation therapies could decrease tumor burden as a primary treatment, and further make a secondary complete resection feasible in premenopausal women with initially unresectable ICLM.

Use of Laparoscopic Slip Knot with Purse-String Suture in Surgical Management of Unruptured Heterotopic Interstitial Pregnancies.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using laparoscopic slip knot with purse-string suture technique in the surgical management of unruptured heterotopic interstitial pregnancies compared with other surgical strategies. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data on 13 patients with unruptured heterotopic interstitial pregnancies who underwent laparoscopy in our hospital between May 2012 and August 2018. The control group consisted of 10 patients who underwent cornual resection or cornuostomy with conventional sutures and knots. The study group consisted of 3 patients whose surgical plans involved use of the slip knot with purse-string suture technique followed by cornuostomy. We evaluated the surgical records and video to comparatively analyze their operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS The average volume of intraoperative blood loss was 76.67±25 ml in the study group and 215.00±110 ml in the control group. On average, the intraoperative blood loss volume in the study group was 138 ml less than in the control group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the live birth rate and operation time between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The duration of hemostasis in the study group was 11 min shorter than in the control group, while the duration of cornual electrocoagulation in the study group was 18.5 s shorter. Both groups achieved thorough hemostasis without the help of vasopressin and avoided use of embryo-killing drugs such as methotrexate. Neither group required second surgery or developed postoperative complications such as uterus rupture or persistent ectopic pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS This strategy is safe and reliable for gestational sac clearance while simultaneously preventing any potential harm to the intrauterine embryo. It is particularly suitable for unruptured HIP patients who have a strong desire to preserve their intrauterine embryos.

Long noncoding RNA MALAT1-regulated microRNA 506 modulates ovarian cancer growth by targeting iASPP.

MALAT1, an important cancer-associated long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), contributes to the development and progression of several cancers. Disordered expression of MALAT1 has been observed in several cancers, including cervical cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. However, the exact effects and molecular mechanisms of MALAT1 in ovarian cancer progression are still unknown. Here, we investigated the role of MALAT1 in human ovarian cancer cell lines and clinical tumor samples, in order to determine the function of this molecule. In our research, lncRNA-MALAT1 was specifically upregulated in ovarian cancer cell lines and promoted ovarian cancer-cell growth through targeting microRNA (miR)-506. Knockdown of MALAT1 inhibited the proliferation and DNA synthesis of human ovarian cancer cell in vitro. In addition, miR-506-dependent iASPP regulation was required in MALAT1-induced ovarian cancer-cell growth. These findings indicated that MALAT1 might suppress tumor growth via miR-506-dependent iASPP regulation. Taken together, our data indicated that MALAT1 might be an oncogenic lncRNA that promotes proliferation of ovarian cancer and could be regarded as a therapeutic target in human ovarian cancer.

[Cisplatin inhibits proliferation of cervical carcinoma cell line by up-regulating Stat1 expression].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of Stat1 gene in the proliferation and chemotherapeutic sensitivity of cervical cancer HeLa cells. METHODS: The protein expression of Stat1 in the Hela cells exposed to gradient concentrations of cisplatin (DDP) was detected by Western blotting with or without small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated Stat1 gene silencing. The effect of Sata1 silencing on the sensitivity to DDP and cell proliferation of the cells was tested using MTT assay and BrdU assay, and the expression of c-Myc was detected by Western blotting in the cells treated with siRNA and DDP. RESULTS: The expression of Stat1 in Hela cells exposed to DDP increased with the DDP concentrations, reaching 1.5 folds of the baseline at a DDP concentration of 5 mg/L and 2 folds at 10 mg/L. Stat1-siRNA effectively reduced Stat1 expression in Hela cells, promoted the cell proliferation, and enhanced the expression of c-Myc; DDP inhibited the cell growth and down-regulated c-Myc expression. Stat1-siRNA rescued DDP-induced inhibition of cell growth and c-Myc down-regulation. CONCLUSION: The expression of Stat1 is associated with DDP sensitivity in cervical cancer cells, and Stat1 silencing can increase the sensitivity to DDP and c-Myc expression of the cells.

[Successful delivery in a women with natural pregnancy and severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a case report and literature review].

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome-complicated natural pregnancy (SOHSSp) is a rare clinical entity and can be easily misdiagnosed as ovarian tumors. We report a case of SOHSSp in a 26-year-old women with successful delivery, and reviews the clinical data and the diagnosis and treatment of this case. The patient underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy and was followed-up for 1 year with a favorable prognosis.

[Huge primary teratoma in the preperitoneal space: a case report and literature review].

Huge primary teratoma in the preperitoneal space is an extremely rare clinical entity and can be easily misdiagnosed as tumors of the intraperitoneal or pelvic origin. We report a case of primary huge mature teratoma in the preperitoneal space in a 74-year-old women, and reviews the clinical data and the diagnosis and treatment of this case. The patient underwent complete resection of the teratoma, which was the optimal treatment option. The patient was followed-up for 10 months and no signs of recurrence were found, suggesting a favorable prognosis.