Podophyllotoxin via SIRT1/PPAR /NF-κB axis induced cardiac injury in rats based on the toxicological evidence chain (TEC) concept.

BACKGROUND: The study of cardiotoxicity of drugs has become an important part of clinical safety evaluation of drugs. It is commonly known that podophyllotoxin (PPT) and its many derivatives and congeners are broad-spectrum pharmacologically active substances. Clinical cardiotoxicity of PPT and its derivatives has been raised, basic research on the mechanism of cardiotoxicity remains insufficient. PURPOSE: In present study, our group's innovative concept of toxicological evidence chain (TEC) was applied to reveal the cardiac toxicity mechanism of PPT by targeted metabolomics, TMT-based quantitative proteomics and western blot. METHODS: The injury phenotype evidence (IPE) acquired from the toxicity manifestations, such as weight and behavior observation of Sprague-Dawley rat. The damage to rat hearts were assessed through histopathological examination and myocardial enzymes levels, which were defined as Adverse Outcomes Evidence (AOE). The damage to rat hearts was assessed through histopathological examination and myocardial enzyme levels, which were defined as evidence of adverse outcomes.Overall measurements of targeted metabolomics based on energy metabolism and TMT-based quantitative proteomics were obtained after exposure to PPT to acquire the Toxic Event Evidence (TEE). The mechanism of cardiac toxicity was speculated based on the integrated analysis of targeted metabolomics and TMT-based quantitative proteomics, which was verified by western blot. RESULTS: The results indicated that exposure to PPT could result in significant elevation of myocardial enzymes and pathological alterations in rat hearts. In addition, we found that PPT caused disorders in cardiac energy metabolism, characterized by a decrease in energy metabolism fuels. TMT-based quantitative proteomics revealed that the PPAR (Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor) signaling pathway needs further study. It is worth noting that PPT may suppress the expression of SIRT1, subsequently inhibiting AMPK, decreasing the expression of PGC-1α, PPARα and PPARγ. This results in disorders of glucose oxidation, glycolysis and ketone body metabolism. Additionally, the increase in the expression of p-IKK and p-IκBα, leads to the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 from the cytosol, thus triggering inflammation. CONCLUSION: This study comprehensively evaluated cardiac toxicity of PPT and initially revealed the mechanism of cardiotoxicity,suggesting that PPT induced disorders of energy metabolism and inflammation via SIRT1/PPAR/NF-κB axis, potentially contributing to cardiac injury.

The relationship between prognosis and temporal muscle thickness in 102 patients with glioblastoma.

Temporal muscle thickness measured on 3D MRI has recently been linked to prognosis in glioblastoma patients and may serve as an independent prognostic indicator. This single-center study looked at temporal muscle thickness and prognosis in patients with primary glioblastoma. Overall survival was the major study outcome. For a retrospective analysis from 2010 to 2020, clinical data from 102 patients with glioblastoma at the Department of Oncology Radiotherapy of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University were gathered. Fifty-five cases from 2016 to 2020 contained glioblastoma molecular typing data, of which 45 were IDH wild-type glioblastomas and were analysed separately. TMT was measured on enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance images in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.Overall patient survival (OS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and survival curves were plotted using the log-rank-sum test to determine differences between groups, and multifactorial analyses were performed using a Cox proportional-risk model.The median TMT for 102 patients was 6.775 mm (range: 4.95-10.45 mm). Patients were grouped according to median TMT, and the median overall survival (23.0 months) was significantly longer in the TMT > median group than in the TMT median group (P 0.001; Log-rank test). Analysing 45 patients with IDH wild type alone, the median overall survival (12 months) of patients in the TMT > median group was significantly longer than that of patients in the TMT ≤ median group (8 months) (P < 0.001; Log-rank test).TMT can serve as an independent prognostic factor for glioblastoma.

Biological functions and therapeutic potential of SRY related high mobility group box 5 in human cancer.

Cancer is a heavy human burden worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Identification of novel cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is important for developing cancer treatment strategies and reducing mortality. Transcription factors, including SRY associated high mobility group box (SOX) proteins, are thought to be involved in the regulation of specific biological processes. There is growing evidence that SOX transcription factors play an important role in cancer progression, including tumorigenesis, changes in the tumor microenvironment, and metastasis. SOX5 is a member of SOX Group D of Sox family. SOX5 is expressed in various tissues of human body and participates in various physiological and pathological processes and various cellular processes. However, the abnormal expression of SOX5 is associated with cancer of various systems, and the abnormal expression of SOX5 acts as a tumor promoter to promote cancer cell viability, proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT through multiple mechanisms. In addition, the expression pattern of SOX5 is closely related to cancer type, stage and adverse clinical outcome. Therefore, SOX5 is considered as a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, the expression of SOX5 in various human cancers, the mechanism of action and potential clinical significance of SOX5 in tumor, and the therapeutic significance of Sox5 targeting in cancer were reviewed. In order to provide a new theoretical basis for cancer clinical molecular diagnosis, molecular targeted therapy and scientific research.

Essential oils with anti-breast cancer activities from Aralia chinensis L. (roots, stems, and leaves) via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses and molecular docking.

Aralia chinensis L. is a traditional Miao ethnic medicine known for its pain and inflammation relief and its ability to dispel wind and dampness. This study aimed to assess its antitumour activity and identify the chemical constituents of A. chinensis essential oils. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyse the volatile oil composition, which identified 35, 35, and 24 constituents in essential oils from roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. Network pharmacology predicted the possible key targets of common components in breast-cancer treatment, which revealed AKT1, SRC, EGFR, STAT3, and MAPK3 as high-priority targets with high active-constituent affinity. CCK-8 assay confirmed the inhibitory effect of the essential oils on MCF-7 breast-cancer cells, with oils from Aralia rhizomes, stems, and leaves inhibiting cell viability by 77%, 64%, and 62%, respectively. The active components of Aralia essential oils show promise for breast-cancer treatment by targeting AKT1, SRC, EGFR, and other key factors.

Variant-specific antibody response following repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection.

The ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants poses challenges to the immunity induced by infections and vaccination. We conduct a 6-month longitudinal evaluation of antibody binding and neutralization of sera from individuals with six different combinations of vaccination and infection against BA.5, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86. We find that most individuals produce spike-binding IgG or neutralizing antibodies against BA.5, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 2 months after infection or vaccination. However, compared to ancestral strain and BA.5 variant, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 exhibit comparable but significant immune evasion. The spike-binding IgG and neutralizing antibody titers decrease in individuals without additional antigen exposure, and <50% of individuals neutralize XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 during the 6-month follow-up. Approximately 57% of the 107 followed up individuals experienced an additional infection, leading to improved binding IgG and neutralizing antibody levels against these variants. These findings provide insights into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on immunity following repeated exposure.

Neuro-cardiac-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation: Unveiling the modulatory effects of low-frequency and high-frequency stimulation on heart rate.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is pivotal in the field of major depressive disorder treatment. Due to its unsatisfied response rate, an increasing number of researchers have turned their attention towards optimizing TMS site localization. Since the influence of TMS in reducing heart rate (HR) offers insights into its regulatory impact on the autonomic nervous system, a novel approach, called neurocardiac-guided TMS (NCG-TMS), has been proposed to pinpoint the brain region eliciting the maximal individual reduction in HR as a personalized optimal stimulation target. The present study intends to systematically explore the effects of stimulation frequency, left and right hemispheres, stimulation positions, and individual differences on HR modulation using the NCG-TMS method. In experiment 1, low-frequency TMS was administered to 30 subjects, and it was found that low-frequency NCG-TMS significantly downregulated HR, with more significant effects in the right hemisphere than in the left hemisphere and the prefrontal cortex than in other brain areas. In experiment 2, high-frequency NCG-TMS stimulation was administered to 30 subjects, showing that high-frequency NCG-TMS also downregulated HR and had the greatest modulatory effect in the right prefrontal region. Simultaneously, both experiments revealed sizeable individual variability in the optimal stimulation site, which in turn validated the feasibility of the NCG-TMS method. In conclusion, the present experiments independently replicated the effect of NCG-TMS, provided an effect of high-/low-frequency TMS stimulation to downregulate HR, and identified a right lateralization of the HR modulation effect.

Asprosin contributes to vascular remodeling in hypertensive rats via superoxide signaling.

OBJECTIVE: Proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contribute to vascular remodeling. Asprosin, a newly discovered protein hormone, is involved in metabolic diseases. Little is known about the roles of asprosin in cardiovascular diseases. This study focused on the role and mechanism of asprosin on VSMC proliferation and migration, and vascular remodeling in a rat model of hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: VSMCs were obtained from the aortic media of 8-week-old male Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Asprosin was upregulated in the VSMCs of SHR. For in vitro studies, asprosin promoted VSMC proliferation and migration of WKY and SHR, and increased Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) activity, NOX1/2/4 protein expressions and superoxide production. Knockdown of asprosin inhibited the proliferation, migration, NOX activity, NOX1/2 expressions and superoxide production in the VSMCs of SHR. The roles of asprosin in promoting VSMC proliferation and migration were not affected by hydrogen peroxide scavenger, but attenuated by superoxide scavenger, selective NOX1 or NOX2 inhibitor. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was upregulated in SHR, TLR4 knockdown inhibited asprosin overexpression-induced proliferation, migration and oxidative stress in VSMCs of WKY and SHR. Asprosin was upregulated in arteries of SHR, and knockdown of asprosin in vivo not only attenuated oxidative stress and vascular remodeling in aorta and mesentery artery, but also caused a subsequent persistent antihypertensive effect in SHR. CONCLUSIONS: Asprosin promotes VSMC proliferation and migration via NOX-mediated superoxide production. Inhibition of endogenous asprosin expression attenuates VSMC proliferation and migration, and vascular remodeling of SHR.

Effect of tocilizumab plus corticosteroid on clinical outcome in patients hospitalized with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging viral hemorrhagic fever with high fatality rates. The blockade of pro-inflammatory cytokines presents a promising therapeutic strategy. METHODS: We conducted a randomized clinical trial at the 154th hospital, Xinyang, Henan Province. Eligible patients with severe SFTS disease were randomly assigned in a 1:2 ratio to receive either a single intravenous infusion of tocilizumab plus usual care; or usual care only. The primary outcome was the clinical status of death/survival at day 14, while secondary outcomes included improvement from baseline in liver and kidney damage and time required for hospital discharge. The efficacy of tocilizumab plus corticosteroid was compared to those receiving corticosteroid alone. The trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry website (ChiCTR2300076317). RESULTS: 63 eligible patients were assigned to the tocilizumab group and 126 to the control group. The addition of tocilizumab to usual care was associated with a reduced death rate (9.5%) compared to those received only usual care (23.0%), with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15 to 0.91, P = 0.029). Combination therapy of tocilizumab and corticosteroids was associated with a significantly reduced fatality (aHR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.56; P = 0.002) compared to those receiving corticosteroids alone. CONCLUSIONS: A significant benefit of reducing fatality in severe SFTS patients was observed by using tocilizumab. A combined therapy of tocilizumab plus corticosteroids was recommended for the therapy of severe SFTS.

A case of acute lung injury in a peripheral blood stem cell donor mobilized with pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

Pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF) has been introduced for the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs). However, no cases of acute lung injury (ALI) in healthy donors have been reported, and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We first reported a case of ALI caused by PEG-rhG-CSF in a healthy Chinese donor, characterized by hemoptysis, hypoxemia, and patchy shadows. Ultimately, hormone administration, planned PBSC collection, leukocyte debridement, and planned PBSC collection resulted in active control of the donor's ALI. The donor's symptoms improved without any adverse effects, and the PBSC collection proceeded without incident. Over time, the lung lesion was gradually absorbed and eventually returned to normal. PEG-rhG-CSF may contribute to ALI in healthy donors via mechanisms involving neutrophil aggregation, adhesion, and the release of inflammatory mediators in the lung. This case report examines the clinical manifestations, treatment, and mechanism of lung injury induced by PEG-rhG-CSF-mobilized PBSCs.

An E3 ligase TRIM1 promotes colorectal cancer progression via K63-linked ubiquitination and activation of HIF1α.

Accumulating studies have shown that E3 ligases play crucial roles in regulating cellular biological processes and signaling pathways during carcinogenesis via ubiquitination. Tripartite-motif (TRIM) ubiquitin E3 ligases consist of over 70 members. However, the clinical significance and their contributions to tumorigenesis remain largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the RNA-sequencing expression of TRIM E3 ligases in colorectal cancer (CRC) and identified 10 differentially expressed genes, among which TRIM1 expression predicted poor prognosis of CRC patients. We demonstrated that TRIM1 expression is positively associated with CRC pathological stages, and higher expression is positively correlated with infiltrating levels of immune cells and immunotherapy biomarkers. TRIM1 expression promotes the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptional analysis showed that TRIM1 is responsible for metabolism promotion and immune suppression. Mechanistically, we found that TRIM1 binds HIF1α and mediates its K63-linked ubiquitination, which is required for HIF1α nuclear translocation and subsequent activation. Ubiquitination occurs at Lys214 in the loop between the two PAS domains of HIF1α, and mutation of Lys214 severely disturbs the function of HIF1α. Besides, HIF1α ubiquitination enhances its binding with proteins involved in cellular trafficking and nucleocytoplasmic transport pathway. Collectively, our results indicate TRIM1's role in predicting prognosis and reveal how TRIM1 functions to upregulate HIF1α expression and promote tumor cell proliferation.

Role of Clinical Features, Pathogenic and Etiological Characteristics of Community-acquired Pneumonia with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Early Diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the etiological characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) combined with type 2 diabetes (T2D), providing a reference for early clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease. METHODS: We selected a total of 93 patients with CAP and analyzed their metagenomics nextgeneration sequencing (mNGS) data. The case group comprised 46 patients with combined CAP/T2D, and the control group comprised 47 patients without diabetes. We analyzed the pathogenic findings of the two groups. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in age between the two groups (P = 0.001). Leukocytes (P = 0.012), blood platelets (P = 0.034), fibrinogen (P = 0.037), D-dimer (P = 0.000), calcitonin ogen (P = 0.015), ultrasensitive C-reactive protein or C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0.000), serum amyloid A (P = 0.000), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.003) were higher in the case group than in the control group. Albumin was lower in the case group than in the control group. All differences were statistically significant. The infection rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae (P = 0.030), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P = 0.043), and Candida albicans (P = 0.032) were significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with those without diabetes, the infection rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans were higher in patients with combined CAP/T2D.

Preparation of Aminated Sodium Lignosulfonate and Efficient Adsorption of Methyl Blue Dye.

The aminated sodium lignosulfonate (AELS) was prepared through a Mannich reaction and characterized via FT-IR, TG, SEM and XPS in this study. Subsequently, the adsorption capacity of AELS for methyl blue (MB) was evaluated under various conditions such as pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial concentration and temperature. The adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of AELS for methyl blue were investigated and analyzed. The results were found to closely adhere to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting a single-molecular-layer adsorption process. Notably, the maximum adsorption capacity of AELS for methyl blue (153.42 mg g-1) was achieved under the specified conditions (T = 298 K, MAELS = 0.01 g, pH = 6, VMB = 25 mL, C0 = 300 mg L-1). The adsorption process was determined to be spontaneous and endothermic. Following five adsorption cycles, the adsorption capacity exhibited a minimal reduction from 118.99 mg g-1 to 114.33 mg g-1, indicating good stability. This study contributes to the advancement of utilizing natural resources effectively and sustainably.

Dendritic cell-cytokine killer combined with microwave ablation reduced recurrence for hepatocellular carcinoma compared to ablation alone.

BACKGROUND: Several international practice guidelines have recommended local ablation as the first-line treatment for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the synergetic anti-tumor impact of dendritic cell-cytokine killer (DC-CIK) combined with microwave ablation (MWA) for HCC. METHODS: This retrospective study included 1,141 patients from the American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I-II HCC, who were treated with therapeutic MWA. The immunotherapy group encompassing 40 patients received additional immunotherapy with DC-CIK, whereas the control group consisting of 1,101 patients was treated with MWA alone. Propensity score matching (PSM) with ratio of 1:3 was employed to balance selection bias. The oncological outcome and immune status were measured after combination therapy. RESULTS: The immunotherapy group patients exhibited significant longer disease-free survival (DFS, primary HCC: p= 0.036; recurrent HCC: p= 0.026). For patients with primary HCC, the recurrence frequency was reduced (p= 0.002), and recurrence interval (19 months vs. 9 months, p< 0.001) was prolonged in the immunotherapy group. Subgroup analysis revealed that patients ⩽ 60 years old, moderately-differentiated HCC, or co-infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) had a significant benefit over DFS in the immunotherapy group. After combination therapy, the serum CD3+ (p= 0.049), CD8/CD28+ (p= 0.045) were elevated. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with DC-CIK and MWA can significantly reduce the recurrence and prolong DFS, especially for patients ⩽ 60 years old or with moderately-differentiated HCC or co-infected with HBV.

A simple nomogram for predicting aspiration associated with dysphagia in hospitalized patients after stroke.

BACKGROUND: Aspiration is a common complication of poststroke dysphagia (PSD) and is associated with poor prognosis and mortality. There is no uniform criterion for determining aspiration associated with dysphagia. The aim of this study was to identify early predictors of aspiration, leading to the development of a simple nomogram for identifying aspiration risk associated with dysphagia in hospitalized patients after stroke. METHODS: Demographic information and clinical characteristics of 330 patients with PSD in the training cohort were utilized to develop a nomogram. The LASSO regression method was used to screen variables, and logistic regression was used to construct the nomogram. Internal validation was performed with bootstrap in the training cohort, and external validation was performed in the validation cohort of another 82 patients. The area under the curve (AUC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram. RESULTS: Seven variables were selected based on LASSO and multivariate logistic regression. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.834 (95% CI, 0.790-0.878) in the training cohort, 0.806 (95% CI, 0.791-0.880) in the internal validation cohort, and 0.882 (95% CI, 0.810-0.954) in the external validation cohort, which indicated that the model had good discrimination. The calibration and DCA curves showed that the nomogram had good accuracy and clinical utility. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we established a nomogram that can be used to identify the risk of aspiration associated with dysphagia after stroke, and patients may benefit from early screening and preventive care.

Maltodextrin-binding protein as a key factor in Cronobacter sakazakii survival under desiccation stress.

Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) is a notorious pathogen responsible for infections in infants and newborns, often transmitted through contaminated infant formula. Despite the use of traditional pasteurization methods, which can reduce microbial contamination, there remains a significant risk of pathogenic C. sakazakii surviving due to its exceptional stress tolerance. In our study, we employed a comparative proteomic approach by comparing wild-type strains with gene knockout strains to identify the essential genes crucial for the successful survival of C. sakazakii during desiccation. Our investigation revealed the significance of envZ-ompR, recA, and flhD gene cassettes in contributing to desiccation tolerance in C. sakazakii. Furthermore, through our comparative proteomic profiling, we identified the maltodextrin-binding protein encoded by ESA_03421 as a potential factor influencing dry tolerance. This protein is regulated by EnvZ-OmpR, RecA, and FlhD. Notably, the knockout of ESA_03421 resulted in a 150% greater reduction in Log CFU compared to the wild-type C. sakazakii. Overall, our findings offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying C. sakazakii desiccation tolerance and provide potential targets for the development of new antimicrobial strategies aimed at reducing the risk of infections in infants and newborns.

Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index is a Prognostic Predictor for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated With Intravenous Thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether baseline systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is associated with 3-month poor prognosis and early neurological outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 221 consecutive patients were enrolled in the retrospective study. The primary endpoints were poor functional outcomes or death at 3 months. Secondary endpoints were early neurological deterioration (END) or symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage within 24 hours. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses was performed to assess the overall discriminative ability of SII in predicting the 4 endpoints. We also performed the Spearman correlation test to evaluate the relationship between SII and stroke severity. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between SII and endpoints. RESULTS: The cutoff values of SII were 504.99×10 9 /L for predicting a 3-month poor prognosis (sensitivity, 70.9% and specificity, 69.6%), 524.47×10 9 /L for predicting 3-month death (sensitivity, 78.9% and specificity, 59.9%) and 504.99×10 9 /L for predicting END (sensitivity, 70.7% and specificity, 62.6%), respectively. A positive association between SII and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was observed ( rs = 0.306, P < 0.001). Multivariable analyses indicated that SII was independently associated with 3-month poor prognosis [odds ratio (OR) = 5.384; 95% CI: 2.844-10.193; P < 0.001], 3-month death (OR = 2.592, 95% CI: 1.046-6.421, P = 0.040) and END (OR = 3.202, 95% CI: 1.796-5.707, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Increased baseline SII was associated with END and 3-month poor outcomes, and may act as a potential prognostic predictor for acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Systematic review and metanalysis of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Hematological parameters have been associated with prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present meta-analysis investigated the utility of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the prognosis of patients with NPC. Methods: Multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science, were systematically searched for studies assessing the association between NLR and NPC from 2011 to 2021. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to estimate effect size. Use of a fixed effect or random effect model was based on heterogeneity stability was tested by sensitivity analysis, and the risk of bias was assessed by funnel plots. Random effects models were used based on the actual results. Because the NLR grouping criteria for the included studies differed, subgroup analyses were performed. Results: A search of the electronic databases identified 14 studies, encompassing 6693 patients, that met the selection criteria. NLR higher than the cutoff value was significantly associated with poorer OS [HR 1.760, 95% CI 1.470-2.120, p <0.00001] and PFS [HR 1.850, 95% CI 1.430-2.390, p = .006]. Sensitivity analysis showed that the results of the meta-analysis were relatively stable, and funnel plots were used to exclude the risk of bias. Conclusions: Elevated pretreatment NLR in peripheral blood is predictive of poorer OS and PFS in patients with NPC. NLR is an easily measured and important prognostic factor in patients with NPC.

Zinc Oxide-Loaded Cellulose-Based Carbon Gas Sensor for Selective Detection of Ammonia.

Cellulose-based carbon (CBC) is widely known for its porous structure and high specific surface area and is liable to adsorb gas molecules and macromolecular pollutants. However, the application of CBC in gas sensing has been little studied. In this paper, a ZnO/CBC heterojunction was formed by means of simple co-precipitation and high-temperature carbonization. As a new ammonia sensor, the prepared ZnO/CBC sensor can detect ammonia that the previous pure ZnO ammonia sensor cannot at room temperature. It has a great gas sensing response, stability, and selectivity to an ammonia concentration of 200 ppm. This study provides a new idea for the design and synthesis of biomass carbon-metal oxide composites.