Immune cell patterns before and after neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade combined with chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) combined with chemoradiotherapy offers high pathologic complete response (pCR) rate for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC). But the dynamic tumor immune microenvironment modulated by such neoadjuvant therapy remains unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 41 patients with locally advanced ESCC were recruited. All patients received neoadjuvant toripalimab combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Matched pre- and post-treatment tissues were obtained for fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) and IHC analyses. The densities and spatial distributions of immune cells were determined by HALO modules. The differences of immune cell patterns before and after neoadjuvant treatment were investigated. RESULTS: In the pre-treatment tissues, more stromal CD3 + FoxP3 + Tregs and CD86+/CD163 + macrophages were observed in patients with residual tumor existed in the resected lymph nodes (pN1), compared with patients with pCR. The majority of macrophages were distributed in close proximity to tumor nest in pN1 patients. In the post-treatment tissues, pCR patients had less CD86 + cell infiltration, whereas higher CD86 + cell density was significantly associated with higher tumor regression grades (TRG) in non-pCR patients. When comparing the paired pre- and post-treatment samples, heterogeneous therapy-associated immune cell patterns were found. Upon to the treatment, CD3 + T lymphocytes were slightly increased in pCR patients, but markedly decreased in non-pCR patients. In contrast, a noticeable increase and a less obvious decrease of CD86 + cell infiltration were respectively depicted in non-pCR and pCR patients. Furthermore, opposite trends of the treatment-induced alterations of CD8 + and CD15 + cell infiltrations were observed between pN0 and pN1 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our data demonstrate a comprehensive picture of tumor immune landscape before and after neoadjuvant ICB combined with chemoradiotherapy in ESCC. The infiltration of CD86 + macrophage may serve as an unfavorable indicator for neoadjuvant toripalimab combined with chemoradiotherapy.

Implications of perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy for health-related quality of life among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study in Anhui, China.

BACKGROUND: Empathy is a critical component of nursing care, impacting both nurses' and patients' outcomes. However, perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are unclear. This study aimed to examine pregnant women's perceived empathy from their spouses and assess the relation of perceived empathy on HRQoL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, performed in the obstetric clinics or wards of four well-known hospitals in Anhui Province, China, included 349 pregnant women in the second or third trimester; participants were recruited by convenience sampling and enrolled from October to December 2021. A general information questionnaire, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a purpose-designed empathy questionnaire and the Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) were used to evaluate the pregnant women's general information, perceptions of empathy and HRQoL. Data were analysed using SPSS 22 at a threshold of P < 0.05. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, Student's t test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were used for analysis. RESULTS: The pregnant women's total empathy, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were 41.6 ± 9.0, 41.6 ± 7.6, and 47.7 ± 9.1, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that the purpose-designed empathy questionnaire items were significantly positively correlated with perspective taking and empathic concern but were not correlated with the personal distress dimension and were only partially correlated with the fantasy dimension. Maternal physical condition during pregnancy, planned pregnancy, and occupational stress were predictors of the PCS score (ß = 0.281, P < 0.01; ß = 0.132, P = 0.02; ß = -0.128, P = 0.02). The behavioural empathy item of our purpose-designed empathy questionnaire and empathic concern were important predictors of the MCS score (ß = 0.127, P = 0.02; ß = 0.158, P < 0.01), as well as other demographic and obstetric information, explaining 22.0% of the variance in MCS scores totally (F = 12.228, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women perceived lower empathy from their spouses and reported lower HRQoL. Perceived empathy, particularly behavioural empathy, may significantly impact pregnant women's MCS scores but has no effect on their PCS scores. Strategies that foster perceived empathy from spouses among pregnant women are essential for facilitating healthy pregnancies and potentially improving maternal and child health.

Can the low and high b-value distribution influence the pseudodiffusion parameter derived from IVIM DWI in normal brain?

BACKGROUND: Our study aims to reveal whether the low b-values distribution, high b-values upper limit, and the number of excitation (NEX) influence the accuracy of the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameter derived from multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the brain. METHODS: This prospective study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained from each participant. The five consecutive multi-b DWI with different b-value protocols (0-3500 s/mm2) were performed in 22 male healthy volunteers on a 3.0-T MRI system. The IVIM parameters from normal white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) including slow diffusion coefficient (D), fast perfusion coefficient (D*) and perfusion fraction (f) were compared for differences among defined groups with different IVIM protocols by one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The D* and f value of WM or GM in groups with less low b-values distribution (less than or equal to 5 b-values) were significantly lower than ones in any other group with more low b-values distribution (all P <  0.05), but no significant differences among groups with more low b-values distribution (P > 0.05). In addition, no significant differences in the D, D* and f value of WM or GM were found between group with one and more NEX of low b-values distribution (all P > 0.05). IVIM parameters in normal WM and GM strongly depended on the choice of the high b-value upper limit. CONCLUSIONS: Metrics of IVIM parameters can be affected by low and high b value distribution. Eight low b-values distribution with high b-value upper limit of 800-1000 s/mm2 may be the relatively proper set when performing brain IVIM studies.

Monoexponential, Biexponential, and stretched-exponential models using diffusion-weighted imaging: A quantitative differentiation of breast lesions at 3.0T.

BACKGROUND: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) plays an important role in the differentiation of malignant and benign breast lesions. PURPOSE: To investigate the utility of various diffusion parameters obtained from monoexponential, biexponential, and stretched-exponential DWI models in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: Sixty-one patients (age range: 25-68 years old; mean age: 46 years old) with 31 malignant lesions, 42 benign lesions, and 28 normal breast tissues diagnosed initially by clinical palpation, ultrasonography, or conventional mammography were enrolled in the study from January to September 2016. FIELD STRENGTH: 3.0T MR scanner, T1 WI, T2 WI, DWI (conventional and multi-b values), dynamic contrast-enhanced. ASSESSMENT: The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was calculated by monoexponential analysis. The diffusion coefficient (ADCslow ), pseudodiffusion coefficient (ADCfast ), and perfusion fraction (f) were calculated using the biexponential model. The distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC) and water molecular diffusion heterogeneity index (α) were obtained using a stretched-exponential model. All parameters were compared for malignant tumors, benign tumors, and normal breast tissues. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the ability of these parameters, in order to differentiate benign and malignant breast lesions. STATISTICAL TESTS: All statistical analyses were performed using statistical software (SPSS). RESULTS: ADC, ADCslow , f, DDC, and α values were significantly lower in malignant tumors when compared with normal breast tissues and benign tumors (P < 0.05). However, ADC and f had higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values (0.889 and 0.919, respectively). DATA CONCLUSION: The parameters derived from the biexponential and stretched-exponential DWI could provide additional information for differentiating between benign and malignant breast tumors when compared with conventional diffusion parameters. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 4 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1461-1467.

miR­625­5p suppresses inflammatory responses by targeting AKT2 in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease; however, whether microRNAs (miRs) could be used in the treatment of asthma remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of miR­625­5p in the inflammatory response of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). Inflammation in the HBEC line, 16HBEC, was induced using different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which demonstrated that 1 µg/ml LPS was an appropriate concentration for further experiments. The association between protein kinase B2 (AKT2) and miR­625­5p was verified using a luciferase reporter assay. LPS was added to 16HBECs following the administration of miR­625­5p mimics or miR­625­5p inhibitors, and cells with silenced or overexpressed AKT2 levels. miR­625­5p was expressed at a high level in LPS­activated 16HBECs. Overexpression of miR­625­5p inhibited interleukin (IL)­6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α secretion in 16HBECs. Inhibition of miR­625­5p enhanced LPS­induced IL­6 and TNF­α secretion. miR­625­5p negatively regulated the expression of AKT2 in 16HBECs. A dual­luciferase reporter assay system confirmed that miR­625­5p directly targeted the 3'untranslated region of AKT2. Transfection with a small interfering RNA against AKT2 inhibited inhibitor of κB phosphorylation. In brief, miR­625­5p may protect LPS­induced HBECs by targeting AKT2 and inhibiting the nuclear factor­κB signaling pathway. Therefore, miR­625­5p may function as an inhibitor of asthma airway inflammation in HBECs by targeting AKT2.

Preparation and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of Pt-Graphene/TiO2 Composites from Water Splitting.

Hydrogen is considered as a promising energy source with its high energy yield, renewable, environment friendly properties. TiO2 modified with noble metal and nonmetal is widely used. In this study, Pt and graphene (GN) were used to modify TiO2 nanoparticles. GN/TiO2 (TG), Pt-TiO2 (PT), Pt-GN/TiO2 (PTG) was successfully synthesized by modified Hummers' method, alcohol thermal and photodeposition method, respectively. The characterizations of the synthesized catalysts by UV-vis/DRS, components analysis, XRD and TEM analysis were conducted. Results showed the maximum hydrogen production rate was approximately 4.71 mmol h-1 g-1 when the Pt content was 1.0 wt.%. Higher and lower than 1.0 wt.% of Pt loading content both result in low efficiency of hydrogen production. The situation of graphene is similar to Pt. The optimal ratio for grapheme is 10 wt.%. The highest hydrogen production rate is 6.58 mmol h-1 g-1 by 1.5 wt.% Pt-5 wt.% GN/TiO2 (1.5PTG5), which is about 1.4 and 2.2 times higher than that of Pt-TiO2 and GN/TiO2 binary composites, respectively. The utilization of low-cost graphene can reduce the use of noble metal Pt in photocatalytic hydrogen production. The mechanism of Pt-GN/TiO2 for the improved photocatalytic activity is proposed. 0.1 g L-1 is found to be the optimum catalyst concentration for optimal hydrogen production.

Effects of Different Sacrificial Agents and Hydrogen Production from Wastewater by Pt-Graphene/TiO2.

The Pt and graphene (GN) were used to modify TiO2 nanoparticles. GN/TiO2, Pt-TiO2, Pt-GN/TiO2 were successfully synthesized by modified Hummers' method, alcohol thermal and photodeposition method, respectively. The characterizations of the synthesized catalysts by different characterization techniques, including N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technique and element analyzer (EA), respectively. In addition, different sacrificial agents (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, i-propanol, n-butanol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol and glycerol) have been investigated. There is clearly a linear relationship between hydrogen production rate and the polarity of monohydric alcohols. According to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood results, the surface pseudo-first order rate constant k = 15.06 mmol h-1 g-1 and the adsorption coefficient k = 0.50 mol L-1 were obtained. The feasibility of hydrogen production from wastewater obtained from terephthalic acid industry was studied. After reusing the catalyst under the same experimental conditions, the hydrogen production rate has only slightly decreased for 3 more cycles, which indicated the stability of the synthesized catalysts.

A Porous Metal-Organic Framework [Zn2(bdc)(l-lac)] as a Coating Material for Capillary Columns of Gas Chromatography.

The wide diversity in the structure, pore size, high surface area, adsorption affinity, and selective penetration renders metal-organic frameworks (MOF) attractive as highly efficient adsorbents for chromatographic separation. We report the results of chromatographic separation of four families of biochemically important compounds, viz., linear alkyl hydrocarbons (aldehyde, acid, and ketone), aromatic hydrocarbons (aldehyde, acid, and alcohol), cyclic hydrocarbons (ketone, alcohol, and ester) and aromatic hydrocarbons (ether, ester, and ester with alcohol) with two phenyls, employing the porous MOF [Zn2(bdc)(l-lac)] (l-lac = l-lactate; bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) as the retention material of the capillary column. Its good performance relies on the robustness and chemical and thermal stability of the framework, the permanent porosity, and, most importantly, the host-guest interaction sites. The results from this work will also help in understanding the intermolecular forces based on host-guest interaction between the MOF and analytes.

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MR imaging parameters predict pathological classification in thymic epithelial tumors.

We evaluated the performance of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters for preoperatively predicting the subtype and Masaoka stage of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). Seventy-seven patients with pathologically confirmed TETs underwent a diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) sequence with 9 b values. Differences in the slow diffusion coefficient (D), fast perfusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) IVIM parameters, as well as the multi b-value fitted apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmb), were compared among patients with low-risk (LRT) and high-risk thymomas (HRT) and thymic carcinomas (TC), and between early stage (stages I and II) and advanced stage (stages III and IV) TET patients. ADCmb, D, and D* values were higher in the LRT group than in the HRT or TC group, but did not differ between the HRT and TC groups. The mean ADCmb, D, and D* values were higher in the early stage TETs group than the advanced stage TETs group. The f values did not differ among the groups. These results suggest that IVIM DWI could be used to preoperatively predict subtype and Masaoka stage in TET patients.

Comparison between ultra-high and conventional mono b-value DWI for preoperative glioma grading.

To compare the efficacy of ultra-high and conventional mono-b-value DWI for glioma grading, in 109 pathologically confirmed glioma patients, ultra-high apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCuh)was calculated using a tri-exponential mode, distributed diffusion coefficients (DDCs) and α values were calculated using a stretched-exponential model, and conventional ADC values were calculated using a mono-exponential model. The efficacy and reliability of parameters for grading gliomas were investigated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and intra-class correlation (ICC) analyses, respectively. The ADCuh values differed (P < 0.001) between low-grade gliomas (LGGs; 0.436 ×10-3 mm2/sec) and high-grade gliomas (HGGs; 0.285 × 10-3 mm2/sec). DDC, a and various conventional ADC values were smaller in HGGs (all P ≤ 0.001, vs. LGGs). The ADCuh parameter achieved the highest diagnostic efficacy with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.993, 92.9% sensitivity and 98.8% specificity for glioma grading at a cutoff value of 0.362×10-3 mm2/sec. ADCuh measurement appears to be an easy-to-perform technique with good reproducibility (ICC = 0.9391, P < 0.001). The ADCuh value based in a tri-exponential model exhibited greater efficacy and reliability than other DWI parameters, making it a promising technique for glioma grading.

Astrocytic tumour grading: a comparative study of three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labelling, dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion-weighted imaging, and diffusion-weighted imaging.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labelling (pCASL) may have similar efficacy in astrocytic tumour grading as dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion-weighted imaging (DSC-PWI), and the grading accuracy may be further improved when combined with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. METHODS: Forty-three patients with astrocytic tumours were studied using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), pCASL, and DSC-PWI. Histograms of ADC and normalized tumour cerebral blood flow values (nCBF on pCASL and nrCBF on DSC-PWI) were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean 10 % ADC value was the DWI parameter that provided the best differentiation between low-grade astrocytoma (LGA) and high-grade astrocytoma (HGA). The nCBF and nrCBF (1.810 ± 0.979 and 2.070 ± 1.048) in LGA were significantly lower than those (4.505 ± 2.270 and 5.922 ± 2.630) in HGA. For differentiation between LGA and HGA, the cutoff values of 0.764 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s for mean 10 % ADC, 2.374 for nCBF, and 3.464 for nrCBF provided the optimal accuracy (74.4 %, 86.1 %, and 88.6 %, respectively). Combining the ADC values with nCBF or nrCBF could further improve the grading accuracy to 97.7 % or 95.3 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: pCASL is an alternative to DSC-PWI for astrocytic tumour grading. The combination of DWI and contrast-free pCASL offers a valuable choice in patients with risk factors. KEY POINTS: • pCASL shows positive correlation with DSC-PWI in astrocytic tumour grading. • ADC values based on ADC histograms can be an objective method. • Combination of DWI and pCASL or DSC-PWI can improve grading accuracy.

[Mass Transfer Kinetics Model of Ultrasonic Extraction of Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols].

OBJECTIVE: The dynamic mathematical model of ultrasonic extraction of polyphenols from pomegranate peel was constructed with the Fick's second law as the theoretical basis. METHODS: The spherical model was selected, with mass concentrations of pomegranate peel polyphenols as the index, 50% ethanol as the extraction solvent and ultrasonic extraction as the extraction method. In different test conditions including the liquid ratio, extraction temperature and extraction time, a series of kinetic parameters were solved, such as the extraction process (k), relative raffinate rate, surface diffusion coefficient(D(S)), half life (t½) and the apparent activation energy (E(a)). RESULTS: With the extraction temperature increasing, k and D(S) were gradually increased with t½ decreasing,which indicated that the elevated temperature was favorable to the extraction of pomegranate peel polyphenols. The exponential equation of relative raffinate rate showed that the established numerical dynamics model fitted the extraction of pomegranate peel polyphenols, and the relationship between the reaction conditions and pomegranate peel polyphenols concentration was well reflected by the model. CONCLUSION: Based on the experimental results, a feasible and reliable kinetic model for ultrasonic extraction of polyphenols from pomegranate peel is established, which can be used for the optimization control of engineering magnifying production.