A "Zn2+ in Salt" Interphase Enabling High-Performance Zn Metal Anodes.

Zinc metal is a promising anode candidate for aqueous zinc ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, low cost, and high safety. However, its application is currently restricted by hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), by-product formation, and Zn dendrite growth. Herein, a "Zn2+ in salt" (ZIS) interphase is in situ constructed on the surface of the anode (ZIS@Zn). Unlike the conventional "Zn2+ in water" working environment of Zn anodes, the intrinsic hydrophobicity of the ZIS interphase isolates the anode from direct contact with the aqueous electrolyte, thereby protecting it from HER, and the accompanying side reactions. More importantly, it works as an ordered water-free ion-conducting medium, which guides uniform Zn deposition and facilitates rapid Zn2+ migration at the interface. As a result, the symmetric cells assembled with ZIS@Zn exhibit dendrite-free plating/striping at 4500 h and a high critical current of 14 mA cm-2. When matched with a vanadium-based (NVO) cathode, the full battery exhibits excellent long-term cycling stability, with 88% capacity retention after 1600 cycles. This work provides an effective strategy to promote the stability and reversibility of Zn anodes in aqueous electrolytes.

Bayesian variable selection in joint modeling of longitudinal data and interval-censored failure time data.

Joint modeling of longitudinal data and survival data has gained great attention in the last two decades. However, most of the existing studies have focused on right-censored survival data. In this article, we study joint analysis of longitudinal data and interval-censored survival data and conduct Bayesian variable selection in this framework. A new joint model is proposed with a shared frailty to characterize the dependence between the two types of responses, where the longitudinal response is modeled with a semiparametric linear mixed-effects submodel and the survival time is modeled by a semiparametric normal fraility probit sub-model. Several Bayesian variable selection approaches are developed by adopting Bayesian Lasso, adaptive Lasso, and spike-and-slab priors in order to simultaneously select significant covariates and estimate their effects on the two types of responses. Efficient Gibbs samplers are proposed with all unknown parameters and latent variables being sampled directly from well recognized full conditional distributions. Our simulation study shows that these methods perform well in both variable selection and parameter estimation. A real-life data application to joint analysis of blood cholesterol level and hypertension is provided as an illustration.

A case of cardiac undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in late pregnancy: A case report.

Cardiac tumors are uncommon and most of them are benign. Although cases of malignant cardiac tumors are rare, it is still necessary to improve awareness in both clinical and pathological diagnosis. Since cardiac tumors often have a high degree of malignancy, it is vital to determine what form of intervention can increase recurrence-free survival and overall survival. In this paper, we report on a 42-year-old woman in the third trimester of pregnancy who had a cardiac undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. According to her medical history, the patient had never had a cardiac tumor or any other disease. She was treated surgically and a left atrial mass was removed immediately after cesarean section. No other treatments were applied after the surgery, and, unfortunately, the tumor reoccurred 6 months later. We reviewed some literature and found one case in which the patient was treated using radiotherapy and survived for another 2 years after the third tumor recurrence. This suggests that neoadjuvant therapy effectively improves the survival rates of such patients.

Exosome is a Fancy Mobile Sower of Ferroptosis.

Exosomes, nano-sized small extracellular vesicles, have been shown to serve as mediators between intercellular communications by transferring bioactive molecules, such as non-coding RNA, proteins, and lipids from secretory to recipient cells, modulating a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Recent studies have gradually demonstrated that altered exosome charges may represent a key mechanism driving the pathological process of ferroptosis. This review summarizes the potential mechanisms and signal pathways relevant to ferroptosis and then discusses the roles of exosome in ferroptosis. As well as transporting iron, exosomes may also indirectly convey factors related to ferroptosis. Furthermore, ferroptosis may be transmitted to adjacent cells through exosomes, resulting in cascading effects. It is expected that further research on exosomes will be conducted to explore their potential in ferroptosis and will lead to the creation of new therapeutic avenues for clinical diseases.

Cadonilimab with chemotherapy in HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: the phase 1b/2 COMPASSION-04 trial.

Treatment with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy and chemotherapy prolongs the survival of patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. The benefit from anti-PD-1 therapy is enriched in patients with programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS)-positive or CPS-high tumors compared with patients with PD-L1 CPS-negative or CPS-low tumors. In this phase 1b/2 study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of cadonilimab, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative unresectable advanced or metastatic gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoint was the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) for phase 1b and the objective response rate for phase 2. Secondary endpoints included disease control rate, duration of response, time to response, progression-free survival, overall survival (OS) and safety. The primary endpoint was met. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed during dose escalation in phase 1b; the recommended phase 2 dose was determined as 6 mg kg-1 every 2 weeks. The objective response rate was 52.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 41.6-62.5), consisting of complete and partial responses in 4.3% and 47.9% of patients, respectively. The median duration of response, progression-free survival and OS were 13.73 months (95% CI = 7.79-19.12), 8.18 months (95% CI = 6.67-10.48) and 17.48 months (95% CI = 12.35-26.55), respectively. The median OS in patients with a PD-L1 CPS ≥ 5 was 20.32 months (95% CI = 4.67-not estimable); in patients with a PD-L1 CPS < 1, the median OS reached 17.64 months (95% CI = 11.63-31.70). The most common treatment-related grade 3 or higher adverse events were decreased neutrophil count (19.1%), decreased platelet count (16.0%), anemia (12.8%) and decreased leukocyte count (8.5%). No new safety signal was identified. The current regimen showed promising clinical activity and manageable safety in patients with gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma regardless of PD-L1 expression. Chinadrugtrials.org.cn registration: CTR20182027.

Impact of low-dose aspirin exposure on obstetrical outcomes: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of low-dose aspirin (LDA) on obstetrical outcomes through a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: A systematic search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases from inception to January 2024 was conducted to identify studies exploring the role of aspirin on pregnancy, reporting obstetrical-related outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB, gestational age <37 weeks), small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW, birthweight < 2500g), perinatal death (PND), admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 5-min Apgar score < 7 and placental abruption. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated for the combined outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed by risk for preeclampsia (PE), LDA dosage (<100 mg vs. ≥100 mg) and timing of onset (≤20 weeks vs. >20 weeks). RESULTS: Forty-seven studies involving 59,124 participants were included. Compared with placebo, LDA had a more significant effect on low-risk events such as SGA, PTB and LBW. Specifically, LDA significantly reduced the risk of SGA (RR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87-0.95), PTB (RR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89-0.97) and LBW (RR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89-0.99). For high-risk events, LDA significantly lowered the risk of NICU admission (RR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-0.99). On the other hand, LDA can significantly increase the risk of placental abruption (RR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.23-2.43). Subgroup analyses showed that LDA significantly reduced the risk of SGA (RR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.97), PTB (RR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88-0.98) and PND (RR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.48-0.88) in pregnant women at high risk of PE, whereas in healthy pregnant women LDA did not significantly improve obstetrical outcomes, but instead significantly increased the risk of placental abruption (RR = 5.56, 95% CI: 1.92-16.11). In pregnant women at high risk of PE, LDA administered at doses ≥100 mg significantly reduced the risk of SGA (RR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.66-0.91) and PTB (RR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.97), but did not have a statistically significant effect on reducing the risk of NICU, PND and LBW. LDA started at ≤20 weeks significantly reduced the risk of SGA (RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65-0.89) and PTB (RR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: To sum up, LDA significantly improved neonatal outcomes in pregnant women at high risk of PE without elevating the risk of placental abruption. These findings support LDA's clinical application in pregnant women, although further research is needed to refine dosage and timing recommendations.

Thermally Robust Solvent-Free Liquid Polyplexes for Heat-Shock Protection and Long-Term Room Temperature Storage of Therapeutic Nucleic Acids.

Nucleic acid therapeutics have attracted recent attention as promising preventative solutions for a broad range of diseases. Nonviral delivery vectors, such as cationic polymers, improve the cellular uptake of nucleic acids without suffering the drawbacks of viral delivery vectors. However, these delivery systems are faced with a major challenge for worldwide deployment, as their poor thermal stability elicits the need for cold chain transportation. Here, we demonstrate a biomaterial strategy to drastically improve the thermal stability of DNA polyplexes. Importantly, we demonstrate long-term room temperature storage with a transfection efficiency maintained for at least 9 months. Additionally, extreme heat shock studies show retained luciferase expression after heat treatment at 70 °C. We therefore provide a proof of concept for a platform biotechnology that could provide long-term room temperature storage for temperature-sensitive nucleic acid therapeutics, eliminating the need for the cold chain, which in turn would reduce the cost of distributing life-saving therapeutics worldwide.

Combined hysteroscopic Bigatti shaver (IBS) and resectoscope removal of a heterotopic cesarean scar pregnancy in the first trimester.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of heterotopic cesarean scar pregnancy reduction using a combined hysteroscopic integrated Bigatti shaver (IBS) and resectoscope with the preservation of a normal gestational sac in the uterine cavity under simultaneous transabdominal ultrasound guidance. DESIGN: Video article. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENT: A 30-year-old woman, G5P2A2L2, with two previous cesarean deliveries and a history of fertility problems, was admitted with a heterotopic cesarean scar pregnancy at 7+2 gestational weeks. Ultrasound examination showed a dichorionic diamniotic pregnancy. The first gestational sac (1.7 × 1.7 × 0.6 cm) was located in the previous hysterotomy scars, with a thin layer of myometrium measuring 0.2 cm in thickness and a rich blood supply. The second chorionic sac (2.8 × 2.4 × 1.8 cm) was observed at the uterine fundus. Normal cardiac activity and yolk sacs were observed in both gestational sacs. The couple strongly desired to preserve the intrauterine pregnancy. INTERVENTION(S): After Institutional Review Board approval was obtained, a hysteroscopic IBS combined with a bipolar resectoscope was used to remove the heterotopic cesarean scar pregnancy while preserving the intrauterine gestational sac under simultaneous transabdominal ultrasound guidance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The heterotopic cesarean scar pregnancy was completely resected using hysteroscopy, and the gestational sac in the uterine cavity was successfully preserved. RESULT(S): Trophoblastic tissue was confirmed using histopathological examination. The patient had an unremarkable postoperative recovery. Subsequent serial ultrasonography confirmed a single ongoing pregnancy with normal growth parameters and a normal placental site. CONCLUSION(S): The inability of an IBS to perform coagulation can be offset by its combination with the bipolar resectoscope. Hysteroscopic IBS combined with resectoscope to remove a heterotopic cesarean scar pregnancy offers a short operation time and minimum blood loss. It could be an optimized approach for the management of heterotopic cesarean scar pregnancy in the first trimester when an intrauterine pregnancy needs to be preserved.

Cannabinoid CB 2 receptors in primary sensory neurons are implicated in CB 2 agonist-mediated suppression of paclitaxel-induced neuropathic nociception and sexually-dimorphic sparing of morphine tolerance.

Cannabinoid CB 2 agonists show therapeutic efficacy without the unwanted side effects commonly associated with direct activation of CB 1 receptors. The G protein-biased CB 2 receptor agonist LY2828360 attenuates the maintenance of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic nociception in male mice and blocks the development of morphine tolerance in this model. However, the specific cell types involved in this phenomenon have never been investigated and whether this therapeutic profile is observed in female mice remains poorly understood. We used conditional deletion of CB 2 receptors from specific cell populations to determine the population(s) mediating the anti-allodynic and morphine-sparing effects of CB 2 agonists. Anti-allodynic effects of structurally distinct CB 2 agonists (LY2828360 and AM1710) were present in paclitaxel-treated CB 2 f/f mice of either sex. The anti-allodynic effect of the CB 2 agonists were absent in conditional knockout (KO) mice lacking CB 2 receptors in peripheral sensory neurons (Advillin CRE/+ ; CB 2 f/f ) but preserved in mice lacking CB 2 receptors in CX3CR1 expressing microglia/macrophages (CX3CR1 CRE/+ ; CB 2 f/f ). The morphine-sparing effect of LY28282360 occurred in a sexually-dimorphic manner, being present in male mice but absent in female mice of any genotype. In mice with established paclitaxel-induced neuropathy, prior LY2828360 treatment (3 mg/kg per day i.p. x 12 days) blocked the subsequent development of morphine tolerance in male CB 2 f/f mice but was absent in male (or female) Advillin CRE/+ ; CB 2 f/f mice. LY2828360-induced sparing of morphine tolerance was preserved in male CX3CR1 CRE/+ ; CB 2 f/f mice, but this effect was not observed in female CX3CR1 CRE/+ ; CB 2 f/f mice. Similarly, co-administration of morphine with a low dose of LY2828360 (0.1 mg/kg per day i.p. x 6 days) reversed tolerance to the anti-allodynic efficacy of morphine in paclitaxel-treated male CB 2 f/f mice, but this effect was absent in female CB 2 f/f mice and Advillin CRE/+ ; CB 2 f/f mice of either sex. Additionally, LY2828360 (3 mg/kg per day i.p. x 8 days) delayed, but did not prevent, the development of paclitaxel-induced mechanical and cold allodynia in either CB 2 f/f or CX3CR1 CRE/+ ; CB 2 f/f mice of either sex. Our studies reveal that CB 2 receptors in primary sensory neurons are required for the anti-allodynic effects of CB 2 agonists in a mouse model of paclitaxel-induced neuropathic nociception. We also find that CB 2 agonists acting on primary sensory neurons produce a sexually-dimorphic sparing of morphine tolerance in males, but not female, paclitaxel-treated mice.

A novel approach to evaluation of tumor response for advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma using the intertumoral heterogeneity response score.

Treatment response and prognosis estimation in advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma are challenged by the significant heterogeneity of the disease. The current Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, despite providing a basis for solid tumor response evaluation, do not fully encompass this heterogeneity. To better represent these nuances, we introduce the intertumoral heterogeneity response score (THRscore), a measure built upon and expanding the RECIST criteria. This retrospective study included patients with 3-10 measurable advanced lung adenocarcinoma lesions who underwent first-line chemotherapy or targeted therapy. The THRscore, derived from the coefficient of variation in size for each measurable tumor before and 4-6 weeks posttreatment, unveiled a correlation with patient outcomes. Specifically, a high THRscore was associated with shorter progression-free survival, lower tumor response rate, and a higher tumor mutation burden. These associations were further validated in an external cohort, confirming THRscore's effectiveness in stratifying patients based on progression risk and treatment response, and enhancing the utility of RECIST in capturing complex tumor behaviors in lung adenocarcinoma. These findings affirm the promise of THRscore as an enhanced tool for tumor response assessment in advanced lung adenocarcinoma, extending the RECIST criteria's utility.

Feasibility and tolerability of eribulin-based chemotherapy versus other chemotherapy regimens for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: a single-centre retrospective study.

Background: Patients with Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) face a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Current data on eribulin usage to treat TNBC is scarce. Therefore, we sought to compare the feasibility and tolerability of eribulin-based regimens with other chemotherapy regimens in patients with TNBC. Method: This retrospective study was conducted at Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital and included 159 patients with TNBC enrolled between October 2011 and January 2023. Patients underwent treatment with eribulin-based and other chemotherapy regimens. The study's primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), while its secondary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety. Tumour response was assessed using RECIST V.1.1 criteria. Results: Of the 159 participants in the study, 42 individuals (26.4%) received treatment with eribulin, whereas 117 participants (73.6%) were administered alternative chemotherapy regimens, which included nab-paclitaxel-based therapy (n = 45) and platinum-based therapy (n = 51). The follow-up period for all patients ended on 31 December 2022, and the median follow-up time was 18.3 months (range:0.7-27.5). Following propensity score matching (PSM), eribulin-based treatment resulted in longer median progression-free survival compared to platinum-based (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.41, p = 0.006), nab-paclitaxel-based (hazard ratio = 0.36, p = 0.001) and other chemotherapy (HR = 0.39, p < 0.001). Also, eribulin induced a remarkable prolongation of the median overall survival duration in all three comparative groups. The group receiving eribulin treatment showed significantly reduced incidences of any grade of anaemia, peripheral neuropathy, nausea and vomiting, and hair loss compared to other chemotherapy groups. Conclusion: For the salvage treatment of advanced TNBC, treatment with eribulin produced longer median PFS and OS than other chemotherapy regimens, with a well-tolerated safety profile. Therefore, further investigation of eribulin-based treatment in larger randomized trials for patients with advanced TNBC is warranted.

The FBXW7-binding sites on FAM83D are potential targets for cancer therapy.

Increasing evidence shows the oncogenic function of FAM83D in human cancer, but how FAM83D exerts its oncogenic function remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated the importance of FAM83D/FBXW7 interaction in breast cancer (BC). We systematically mapped the FBXW7-binding sites on FAM83D through a comprehensive mutational analysis together with co-immunoprecipitation assay. Mutations at the FBXW7-binding sites on FAM83D led to that FAM83D lost its capability to promote the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of FBXW7; cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro; and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo, indicating that the FBXW7-binding sites on FAM83D are essential for its oncogenic functions. A meta-evaluation of FAM83D revealed that the prognostic impact of FAM83D was independent on molecular subtypes. The higher expression of FAM83D has poorer prognosis. Moreover, high expression of FAM83D confers resistance to chemotherapy in BCs, which is experimentally validated in vitro. We conclude that identification of FBXW7-binding sites on FAM83D not only reveals the importance for FAM83D oncogenic function, but also provides valuable insights for drug target.

Chemically tailored molecular surface modification of bamboo pulp fibers for manipulating the electret performance of electret filter media.

The surface chemical composition of materials is essential for regulating their charge trapping and storage capabilities, which directly affect their electret performance. Although chemical modification of materials to alter electret performance has been investigated, the mechanism through which electret properties are regulated more systematically via chemical customization has not been elucidated in detail. Herein, p-phenylenediamine, benzidine and 4,4'-diaminotriphenyl, which have different conjugated strength functional groups, were selected to chemically tailor the surface of bamboo pulp fibers to regulate the electret properties and elucidate the regulatory mechanism more systematically. The results showed that the charge trapping and storage properties of materials could be regulated by introducing functional groups with different conjugated strengths to their surfaces, realizing the regulation of the electret properties. Moreover, the charge trapping and storage ability could be tailored more specifically by regulating the number of functional groups. By chemical customization to provide electrostatic effects to the materials, the purification time was reduced by approximately 45 %-52 %. More importantly, a relatively systematic mechanism was proposed to elucidate the effect of the conjugate group strength on the charge trapping and charge storage properties of the material. These findings will provide guidance for the investigation of chemical modifications to regulate the electret performance of materials.

PRETREATED LYOPHILIZED HUMAN AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE GRAFT COVERING FOR RETINAL DETACHMENT WITH POSTERIOR RETINAL BREAKS ABOVE CHORIORETINAL ATROPHY IN PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA.

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical results of vitrectomy with untreated or pretreated lyophilized human amniotic membrane grafts covering in treating retinal detachment related to posterior retinal breaks above chorioretinal atrophy in pathologic myopia. METHODS: Nineteen patients with retinal detachment related to macular hole (MH) located above macular atrophy and/or posterior paravascular retinal breaks (PRBs) located above patchy chorioretinal atrophy in pathologic myopia were included. The eyes of these patients underwent vitrectomy with untreated lyophilized human amniotic membrane covering (n = 10) or perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL)-assisted pretreated lyophilized human amniotic membrane covering (n = 9; grafts were pretreated in 0.125% indocyanine green and 50% hypertonic glucose solution for 15-20 minutes). The closure of the MH or PRBs, reattachment of the retina, and best-corrected visual acuity were measured postoperatively. RESULTS: Postoperatively, graft dislocation or shift was only found in two eyes (20%) in the untreated group. The closure rate of the MH or PRBs was 80% (8/10) and 100% (9/9) in the untreated group and the pretreated group, respectively. The occurrence rate of excessive gliosis was 40% and 11% in the untreated group and the pretreated group, respectively. In both groups, best-corrected visual acuity was improved and the retinal reattachment rate was 100% at the final visit. CONCLUSION: Perfluorocarbon liquid-assisted pretreated lyophilized human amniotic membrane graft covering was effective in treating retinal detachment related to MH and/or PRBs situated above macular atrophy or patchy chorioretinal atrophy in pathologic myopia. This technique appeared to reduce graft dislocation or shift, promote the closures of MHs/PRBs, and reduce the occurrence of gliosis.

Existential distress and associated factors in advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Advanced cancer patients often experience existential distress (ED). However, the factors associated with ED remain unclear. This study investigated the current state of ED and identified the associated factors in Chinese patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 352 advanced cancer patients from 3 tertiary hospitals in Fujian, China. Participants were invited to complete the Existential Distress Scale, Number Rating Scale, Self-Perceived Burden Scale, Quality of Life Concerns in the End-of-Life Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the level of existential distress among advanced cancer patients in China and identify the associated factors. RESULTS: A total of 352 advanced cancer patients were recruited for this study. The average score for ED was 8.48 ± 7.12 among the advanced cancer patients. Multiple regression showed that the associated factors included depression (ß = 0.32, p = 0.000), self-perceived burden (SPB) (ß = 0.18, p = 0.001), the presence of a spouse (ß = -0.10, p = 0.050), and reception of government subsidies (ß = 0.17, p = 0.001). The factors accounted for 30.1% of the total variance in ED (F = 8.472, p < 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Among the advanced cancer patients queried, ED was found to be positively influenced by depression, SPB, and reception of government subsidies and negatively influenced by the presence of a spouse. Depression was the most important risk factor, and thus future ED interventions should target depression.

A real-world study of the effectiveness and safety of apatinib-based regimens in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This investigation sought to examine the efficacy and safety of low-dose apatinib used alongside chemotherapy in the clinical management of patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) within a real-world setting, whilst comparing the outcomes with those treated solely with chemotherapy. METHODS: This case series study analyzed clinical data and treatment outcomes of 163 patients with metastatic TNBC who underwent rescue treatment at the Medical Oncology Department of Clinical Oncology, Fujian Cancer Hospital, School of Fujian Medical University, China, between October 2011 and January 2023. All the patients underwent rescue treatment with either chemotherapy alone or apatinib (250 mg/day) combined with chemotherapy. The study's primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS), whereas the secondary outcomes included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety profiles. RESULTS: The study was designed to compare two groups [1]. Out of the 163 TNBC patients who participated in the study, 107 individuals (65.6%) received treatment based on chemotherapy, whereas 56 patients (34.4%) were given treatment based on a combination of low-dose apatinib (250 mg/day) and other treatments, including chemotherapy. After propensity score matching (PSM), the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who received apatinib-based treatment were 50.0 and 90.0%, respectively, while they were 6.7 and 20.0%, respectively, for the chemotherapy-based group (P < 0.001). The group that received apatinib-based treatment showed superior results in both PFS and OS compared to the group that received chemotherapy. The median PFS and OS for the apatinib-based group were 7.8 and 20.3 months, respectively, while they were only 2.2 months and 9.0 months, respectively, for the chemotherapy-based group (P < 0.001) [2]. Patients who were administered combo therapies, including PD-1 inhibitors, were excluded. In total, 97 patients received chemotherapy alone, while 34 patients were treated with apatinib in combination with chemotherapy. After propensity score matching (PSM), the ORR and DCR for the total group who received combo therapies were 44.4 and 81.5%, respectively, while they were 11.1 and 22.2%, respectively, for the chemotherapy alone group (P < 0.001). The group receiving both apatinib and chemotherapy displayed notable advantages over the group solely receiving chemotherapy in regards to PFS and OS for the entirety of the population. The PFS was found to be 7.8 months in comparison to 2.1 months (P < 0.001) and the OS was 21.1 months in contrast to 9.0 months (P < 0.001). Apatinib combined with chemotherapy induced grade 3/4 hematological toxicities, including neutropenia (8.8%) and thrombocytopenia (2.9%). Additionally, non-hematological toxicities were commonly observed, such as Hand-foot syndrome (35.3%), proteinuria (26.5%), hypertension (61.8%), higher alanine aminotransferase levels (26.5%), and fatigue (35.3%). The most frequent non-hematological grade 3/4 toxicities were Hand-foot syndrome (2.9%) and hypertension (5.9%). The study did not report any fatal adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of low-dose apatinib with chemotherapy has proven to be more effective than chemotherapy alone in treating metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Additionally, the occurrence of grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicities was significantly lower compared to the recommended dose of apatinib.

Rheological and radioactive decontamination properties of ethyl cellulose sols in green solvents at a temperature below 0 °C.

Strippable film decontamination has been considered one of the best prospects for radioactive surface decontamination due to its high decontamination effect and less secondary pollution. However, research into strippable films has until now focused on radioactive decontamination at room temperature. Therefore, it is vital to seek a suitable degradable material for preparing strippable films in removing contaminants in an extremely cold region, as it will face the problem of the freezing of the detergent. Ethyl cellulose (EC) is a kind of degradable biopolymer which is easily dissolved in volatile green organic solvents to form a sol below 0 °C which is advantageous for forming a film. Therefore, it would be the best choice for preparing a strippable film detergent. In this study, EC sols were obtained by placing EC powder into the green solvents anhydrous ethanol and ethyl acetate. The steady and dynamic rheological behavior of EC sols was investigated with a rotary rheometer with the temperature ranging from -10 °C to 0 °C to disclose their spraying performance. Moreover, the radioactive decontamination effect of EC sols and the mechanism were also investigated. The results showed that the EC sols were pseudoplastic fluids which obeyed the Ostwald-de Waele power law below 0 °C. Furthermore, the viscosity of EC sols could be reduced by stirring, which is convenient for large-area spraying during decontamination below 0 °C. At -10 °C, the comprehensive decontamination rates of all plates were over 85%. Therefore, EC sols could be used as a basic material for strippable film decontamination below 0 °C.

Comprehensive Assessment of Lower-Face Volume Reduction Using Laser-Assisted Liposuction as an Additive Procedure in Asian Rhytidectomy.

The most important factor that distinguishes a youthful appearance from an aged one is the shape of the lower face. This study aimed to examine the outcome of volume reduction of the lower face using laser-assisted liposuction (SmartLipo) at the time of rhytidectomy in Asians. There were 20 patients (Group 1) for whom only extended deep-plane rhytidectomy were performed, while extended deep-plane rhytidectomy with laser-assisted liposuction was performed on 42 patients (Group 2). This study was performed retrospectively. The FACE-Q questionnaire was given to evaluate the subjective result of the patient. Efficacy was evaluated by measuring the fat quantity at the midpoint and anterior border of the masseter muscle on each side by using an ultrasound scan in Group 2. Then, the correlation between the change in the quantity of fat and the FACE-Q was investigated. The overall satisfaction, and satisfaction for the lower face, jawline, and the area under the chin were significantly higher for Group 2 for which the procedure was concurrently performed in comparison to Group 1. In Group 2, change in the fat was reduced by 21.2% (Rt.) and 22.5% (Lt.) at the mid-point and 24.5% (Rt.) and 26.4% (Lt.) at the anterior border of the masseter muscle. Changes in the fat quantity and lower face satisfaction displayed a significant correlation. With a greater reduction in fat quantity, the score of lower face satisfaction was higher. In addition, with a higher level of satisfaction for the lower face and jawline, the overall satisfaction score displayed a higher positive correlation. Laser-assisted liposuction was useful for the additive procedure at the time of rhytidectomy and improved patient's satisfaction after surgery.

A novel tree shrew model of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a leading cause of respiratory failure, with substantial attributable morbidity and mortality. The small animal models that are currently used for ARDS do not fully manifest all of the pathological hallmarks of human patients, which hampers both the studies of disease mechanism and drug development. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the phenotypic changes of primate-like tree shrews in response to a one-hit lipopolysaccharides (LPS) injury resemble human ARDS features. METHODS: LPS was administered to tree shrews through intratracheal instillation; then, the animals underwent CT or PET/CT imaging to examine the changes in the structure and function of the whole lung. The lung histology was analyzed by H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining of inflammatory cells. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that tree shrews exhibited an average survival time of 3-5 days after LPS insult, as well as an obvious symptom of dyspnea before death. The ratios of PaO2 to FiO2 (P/F ratio) were close to those of moderate ARDS in humans. CT imaging showed that the scope of the lung injury in tree shrews after LPS treatment were extensive. PET/CT imaging with 18F-FDG displayed an obvious inflammatory infiltration. Histological analysis detected the formation of a hyaline membrane, which is usually present in human ARDS. CONCLUSION: This study established a lung injury model with a primate-like small animal model and confirmed that they have similar features to human ARDS, which might provide a valuable tool for translational research.