Novel model based on ultrasound predict axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Whether there is axillary lymph node metastasis is crucial for formulating the treatment plan for breast cancer. Currently, invasive methods are still used for preoperative evaluation of lymph nodes. If non-invasive preoperative evaluation can be achieved, it will effectively improve the treatment plan. OBJECTIVE: Constructed a predict model based on ultrasound examination, which forest axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, and validated this model. METHOD: Patients admitted to Xiamen First Hospital from April 2018 to August 2021 with complete case data were included in this study. Patients who had undergone breast cancer resection and axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy were divided into a training and validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. In the training cohort, patients were divided into metastatic and non-metastatic groups based on whether axillary lymph nodes had metastasis. The parameters of the two groups were compared, and statistically significant parameters were included in multivariate analysis. Then, a Nomogram model was constructed, named Lymph metastasis predict model (LMPM). Calibration curves, receiver operating curve (ROC), and decision curve analysis (DCA) were plotted between the training and validation cohort, calculate the risk score of each patient, identify the optimal cutoff value, and test the predictive efficacy of LMPM. RESULT: Two hundred seventy-three patients were enrolled in final study, the average age 49.7 ± 8.7, training cohort included 191 patients, the diameter of breast cancer, the lymph node peak systolic flow velocity (LNPS) and the cortex area hilum ratio (CH) of lymph node were exist significant difference in metastatic and non-metastatic group. Multivariate analysis showed cancer diameter, LNPS and CH included in LMPM, the cutoff value was 95, the calibration curve, ROC, DCA in training and validation cohort show satisfactory result. CONCLUSION: The predict model-LMPM, can predict axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, which is useful for developing personalized treatment plans. However, further validation of the model is required by incorporating a larger number of patients.

Causes of Death in Long-Term Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Survivors.

Purpose: To assess the causes of death (COD) and long-term survival after nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) diagnosis. Methods: Using linked data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, patients with NPC diagnosed from 1990 to 2010 and followed up >5 years were identified. Chi-squared test, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard model were used for analyses. Results: Among the 3,036 long-term NPC survivors, 1,432 survived for >5-10 years and 1,604 survived for >10 years. The most common COD was primary NPC (36.9%), followed by other causes (28.7%), other cancers (15.3%), cardiac disease (12.9%), and non-malignant pulmonary disease (6.2%). With a median follow-up of 125 months, deaths from NPC decreased with increasing time from diagnosis, while death because of cardiac disease and other causes increased. In those aged <50 years, death due to NPC remained the main COD over time, while cardiopulmonary disease-related death was the leading COD in patients aged ≥50 years. In White patients, death due to NPC decreased, and death due to cardiac disease increased over time. Death from NPC remained significant in Black and Asian patients even 15 years after the diagnosis of NPC, while death due to cardiac disease significantly increased after 9 years of diagnosis in Black patients. Multivariate analyses showed that the independent factors associated with inferior NPC-specific survival were older age, Asians, American Indian/Alaska Native, regional stage, distant stage, and diagnosis in the early years. Conclusions: The probability of death from primary NPC remains significant even 15 years after the NPC diagnosis. Our study advocates continued surveillance for NPC survivors beyond the traditional 5 years. Individualized follow-up strategies are required for patients with NPC of different ages and races.

Prodigiosin of Serratia marcescens ZPG19 Alters the Gut Microbiota Composition of Kunming Mice.

Prodigiosin is a red pigment produced by Serratia marcescens with anticancer, antimalarial, and antibacterial effects. In this study, we extracted and identified a red pigment from a culture of S. marcescens strain ZPG19 and investigated its effect on the growth performance and intestinal microbiota of Kunming mice. High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed that the pigment had a mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of 324.2160, and thus it was identified as prodigiosin. To investigate the effect of prodigiosin on the intestinal microbiota, mice (n = 5) were administered 150 µg/kg/d prodigiosin (crude extract, 95% purity) via the drinking water for 18 days. Administration of prodigiosin did not cause toxicity in mice. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that prodigiosin altered the cecum microbiota abundance and diversity; the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio significantly decreased, whereas Lactobacillus reuteri significantly increased. This finding indicates that oral administration of prodigiosin has a beneficial effect on the intestinal microbiota of mice. As prodigiosin is non-toxic to mouse internal organs and improves the mouse intestinal microbiota, we suggest that it is a promising candidate drug to treat intestinal inflammation.

An acidic-groups detection method and its application to analysis of Chinese humic acid samples.

The method of non-aqueous conductivity titration (NACT) of organic weak acids was applied to quickly and accurately determine the phenolic-hydroxyl and carboxyl-groups contents in humic acid. By varying the pH of the humic-acid sample, the concentration of the titrant, and the nitrogen-gas flow rate, the optimal titration conditions were determined to be a sample pH of 4, titrant concentration of 0.05 mol/L, and nitrogen-gas flow rate of 80 mL/min. Applying the detection method to p-hydroxybenzoic acid showed that its phenolic-hydroxyl content was 758.82±111.76 cmol/kg and carboxyl content was 744.44±51.11 cmol/kg. The theoretical phenolic-hydroxyl and carboxyl-groups contents of the p-hydroxybenzoic acid were 723.96 cmol/kg respectively, indicating that the method can accurately quantify the carboxyl and phenolic-hydroxyl groups in the sample. The NACT was used to measure the phenolic-hydroxyl and carboxyl-groups contents in humic acid quickly and accurately. In addition, 29 humic acid samples from 8 provinces of China covering the main humic-acid producing areas were collected and analyzed for acidic-groups content using the reported method.

Skeleton Genetics: a comprehensive database for genes and mutations related to genetic skeletal disorders.

Genetic skeletal disorders (GSD) involving the skeletal system arises through disturbances in the complex processes of skeletal development, growth and homeostasis and remain a diagnostic challenge because of their clinical heterogeneity and genetic variety. Over the past decades, tremendous effort platforms have been made to explore the complex heterogeneity, and massive new genes and mutations have been identified in different GSD, but the information supplied by literature is still limited and it is hard to meet the further needs of scientists and clinicians. In this study, combined with Nosology and Classification of genetic skeletal disorders, we developed the first comprehensive and annotated genetic skeletal disorders database, named 'SkeletonGenetics', which contains information about all GSD-related knowledge including 8225 mutations in 357 genes, with detailed information associated with 481 clinical diseases (2260 clinical phenotype) classified in 42 groups defined by molecular, biochemical and/or radiographic criteria from 1698 publications. Further annotations were performed to each entry including Gene Ontology, pathways analysis, protein-protein interaction, mutation annotations, disease-disease clustering and gene-disease networking. Furthermore, using concise search methods, intuitive graphical displays, convenient browsing functions and constantly updatable features, 'SkeletonGenetics' could serve as a central and integrative database for unveiling the genetic and pathways pre-dispositions of GSD.Database URL: http://101.200.211.232/skeletongenetics/.

Cloning and characterization of the granule-bound starch synthase II gene in rice: gene expression is regulated by the nitrogen level, sugar and circadian rhythm.

A full-length coding domain sequence of a gene analogous to granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS; ADP-glucose-starch glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.21) was cloned and defined as OsGBSSII based on a Nitrogen (N)-starvation-induced cDNA library constructed using the rapid subtraction hybridization method. The deduced amino acid sequence of OsGBSSII was 62-85% identical to those of GBSS proteins from other plant species. The exon/intron organization of OsGBSSII was similar to that of OsGBSSI. OsGBSSII was mainly expressed in leaves and its protein was exclusively bound to starch granules in rice leaves, which suggests that the amylose in rice leaves is synthesized by OsGBSSII. N-starvation-induced expression of OsGBSSII could be repressed by supplying nitrate, ammonia or amino acid (glutamic acid or glutamine), glucosamine (an inhibitor of hexokinase) or dark conditions. These results indicate that N-starvation induction was dependent on the photosynthetic product and hexokinase in rice leaves. Sugars induced the accumulation of OsGBSSII transcripts in excised leaves through glycolysis-dependent pathways. OsGBSSII gene expression is regulated by the circadian rhythm in rice leaves.

Identification of genes enriched in rice roots of the local nitrate treatment and their expression patterns in split-root treatment.

To identify nitrate-induced genes in rice roots, a nitrate-induced root subtracted library was constructed using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method and a split-root experiment. Based on forward and reverse screening, 37 known genes and 55 novel genes were identified to be up-regulated in nitrate-supplied side roots. The known genes are involved in nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation, sugar transport and organic acid metabolism, signal transduction, protein synthesis and degradation, plant resistance, hormone metabolism and cell division. Most of these genes were stronger up-regulated in nitrate-supplied than in nitrate-deficient side roots, which suggests that nitrate may regulate expression of these genes. Expression pattern analysis also revealed that a fast cycle of assimilated N metabolites occurred between root and shoot. Transcriptions of some nitrate-induced genes were also up-regulated in nitrate-deficient side roots, which indicates that nitrate and/or in coordinating with N metabolites from shoots, regulate the transcription of many genes. The enhancement of carbon (C) source partition, the expressions of genes for signal transduction and transcription regulation, auxin transport and ethylene synthesis, and cyclin-dependent kinases may be responsible for the stimulated lateral root growth by nitrate.