[Mutation characteristics of osteosarcoma: a single center study of 64 cases using next-generation sequencing].

Objective: To investigate the distribution and characteristics of gene mutations in osteosarcoma, and to analyze the frequency and types of detectable mutations, and to identify potential targets for individualized treatment of osteosarcoma. Methods: The fresh tissue or paraffin-embedded tissue samples of 64 cases of osteosarcoma that were surgically resected or biopsied and then subject to next generation sequencing, were collected from Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, China from November 2018 to December 2021. The tumor DNA was extracted to detect the somatic and germline mutations using targeted sequencing technology. Results: Among the 64 patients, 41 were males and 23 were females. The patient age ranged from 6 to 65 years with a median age of 17 years, including 36 children (under 18 years old) and 28 adults. There were 52 cases of conventional osteosarcoma, 3 cases of telangiectatic osteosarcoma, 7 cases of secondary osteosarcoma, and 2 cases of parosteosarcoma. The detection rate of gene mutations was overall 84.4% (54/64). There were 324 variations in 180 mutated genes, including 125 genes with copy number variations, 109 single nucleotide variants, 83 insertions or deletions, and 7 gene fusions. The most common mutated genes were TP53, VEGFA, CCND3, ATRX, MYC, RB1, PTEN, GLI1, CDK4 and PTPRD. Among them, TP53 had the highest mutation rate (21/64, 32.8%), single nucleotide variant was the main mutation type (14/23, 60.9%), and 2 cases carried the TP53 germline mutation. VEGFA and CCND3 showed copy number amplification simultaneously in 7 cases. Conclusions: The high-frequency mutation of TP53 suggests that it plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of osteosarcoma. VEGFA, CCND3 and ATRX are mutated genes in osteosarcoma and worthy of further studies. Combination of pathologic diagnosis and next generation sequencing with clinical practice can guide individualized treatment for patients with refractory, recurrent and metastatic osteosarcoma.

Tunable spin Hall shift of light from graphene-wrapped spheres.

Graphene has taken impressive roles in light manipulation and optical engineering. The most attractive advantage of graphene is its tunable conductivity that could be dynamically modulated by various means. In this paper, we show that the spin Hall shift of light is dynamically tunable via changing the Fermi level of the graphene-wrapped spheres. Such tunability is prominent when different modes interfere with each other, such as at the interference of electric and magnetic dipolar modes or at the interference of electric dipolar and electric quadrupole modes. The circular polarization degree in the near field clearly demonstrates the strength of spin-orbit interaction, which is associated with spin Hall shift of light in the far-field. In addition, the spin Hall effect is shown in far-field detection plane and should be observed in experiment. Our results provide insights into how the spin Hall effect could be tuned and add new perspective in designing optical super-resolution imaging techniques.

Topologically-tuned spin Hall shift around Fano resonance.

The topological magnetoelectric effect is associated with the photonic spin-orbit interaction. However, due to the proportionate fine structure constant of the topological term, the topological magnetoelectric effect is usually weak. In this paper, we demonstrate that the axion term enables manipulation of the spin Hall shift of light around Fano resonance. And, the excited surface plasmon near the nanoparticle's interface could enhance the topological magnetoelectric effect for several orders. Numerical simulation of near field and far-field scattering confirms our theoretical results. Our work may pave the way to exploit the topological magnetoelectric effect in practical applications, such as optical sensing and nanoprobing.

Realizing optical bistability and tristability in plasmonic coated nanoparticles with radial-anisotropy and Kerr-nonlinearity.

We theoretically study the optical bistability and tristability in plasmonic coated nanospheres containing the nonlinear plasmonic shell and the dielectric core with radial anisotropy. Based on self-consistent mean-field approximation, we establish the relationship between the local field in the shell and the applied incident field, taking into account the Lorentz local field. One or two optical bistabilities and even optical tristability can be observed. Especially, there are two critical geometric parameters between which two optical bistabilities exist. Physically, two optical bistablities result from the excitations of two surface plasmonic resonant modes in the inner and outer interfaces of coated nanospheres, which are well reflected from the spectral representation with two poles. Moreover, the involvement of the radial anisotropy is quite essential to realize the optical tristability. Further discussion on the field-induced tuning of the reflectance reveals the macroscopic properties of this nonlinear optical structure, which provides a potential candidate for designing multi-stable optical devices at the nanoscale.

Reconfigurable sensor and nanoantenna by graphene-tuned Fano resonance.

With the rapid developments in compact devices, the multi-function and reconfigurability of nanostructures are highly appreciated, while still very challenging. A majority of devices are usually mono-functional or hard to switch between different functions in one design. In this paper, we proposed graphene-wrapped core-shell nanowires to realize real-time reconfigurable sensors and nanoantenna by tuning the Fermi energies of graphene layers at the surfaces of core and shell, respectively. Owing to the electromagnetic coupling between the two graphene layer, two corresponding Fano resonances of scattering can arise in the Terahertz spectrum, which arises from the interference of bright modes and dark modes. Around the Fano resonances, the scattering can be considerably resonant (as an antenna) or suppressed (as a sensor). Interestingly, the field distributions are distinct at the suppressed scattering states for the two Fano resonances. The presented reconfigurable nanostructures may offer promising potentials for integrated and multi-functional electromagnetic control such as dynamic sensing and emission.

Enhanced broadband spin Hall effects by core-shell nanoparticles.

Spin-orbit interaction of light is ubiquitous in any optical system. However, the relevant spin Hall effects are usually weak for the light scattering from nanoparticles, making it challengeable to detect directly in experiment. In this paper, we demonstrate enhanced broadband spin Hall effects by using core-shell nanoparticles. The electric and magnetic dipoles can be tuned by the core-shell nanostructure with great freedom, and are excited simultaneously in a broadband spectrum, resulting in robust enhanced spin Hall shifts. Moreover, the coupling of the electric dipole and electric quadrupole gives rise to enhanced spin Hall shifts at both forward and backward directions. Numerical results from far-field and near-field verify the strong spin-orbit interaction of light. Our work offers a new way to exploit spin Hall effects in superresolution imaging and spin-dependent displacement sensing.

Tailoring optical pulling force on gain coated nanoparticles with nonlocal effective medium theory.

We study the optical scattering force on the coated nanoparticles with gain core and nonlocal plasmonic shell in the long-wavelength limit, and demonstrate negative optical force acting on the nanoparticles near the symmetric and/or antisymmetric surface plasmon resonances. To understand the optical force behavior, we propose nonlocal effective medium theory to derive the equivalent permittivity for the coated nanoparticles with nonlocality. We show that the imaginary part of the equivalent permittivity is negative near the surface resonant wavelength, resulting in the negative optical force. The introduction of nonlocality may shift the resonant wavelength of the optical force, and strengthen the negative optical force. Two examples of Fano-like resonant scattering in such coated nanoparticles are considered, and Fano resonance-induced negative optical force is found too. Our findings could have some potential applications in plasmonics, nano-optical manipulation, and optical selection.

Effective nonlinear optical properties and optical bistability in composite media containing spherical particles with different sizes.

We study the effective nonlinear optical properties of composite media in which identical nonlinear nanospheres are randomly embedded in the linear host medium. In the weakly-nonlinear case, we aim at the effective linear permittivity and effective third-order nonlinear susceptibility with effective medium theory combined with the linear Mie theory. We show that large enhancement of optical nonlinear susceptibility can be achieved at the surface plasmon resonant wavelength, which can be tuned by changing the size of nanoparticles. Our numerical results are compared with those in the quasistatic limit or/and from Comsol simulations, good agreement is found. In the strong-nonlinear case, based on nonlinear Mie theory and self-consistent mean-field method, we study the optical bistability of the composite media. The optical bistability and tristability are found, and the bistable threshold fields are found to be strongly dependent on the sizes of nanoparticles and the incident wavelength. Such nonlinear nanocomposites with large optical nonlinearity and tunable bistable behavior are envisioned for use as nonlinear optical nanodevices such as optical nanoswitches, optical nanomemories and so on.

Possible pro-carcinogenic association of endotoxin on lung cancer among Shanghai women textile workers.

BACKGROUND: Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) is a widespread contaminant in many environmental settings. Since the 1970s, there has been generally consistent evidence indicating reduced risks for lung cancer associated with occupational endotoxin exposure. METHODS: We updated a case-cohort study nested within a cohort of 267,400 female textile workers in Shanghai, China. We compared exposure histories of 1456 incident lung cancers cases diagnosed during 1989-2006 with those of a reference subcohort of 3022 workers who were free of lung cancer at the end of follow-up. We applied Cox proportional hazards modelling to estimate exposure-response trends, adjusted for age and smoking, for cumulative exposures lagged by 0, 10, and 20 years, and separately for time windows of ⩽15 and >15 years since first exposure. RESULTS: We observed no associations between cumulative exposure and lung cancer, irrespective of lag interval. In contrast, analyses by exposure time windows revealed modestly elevated, but not statistically significant relative risks (∼1.27) at the highest three exposure quintiles for exposures that occurred >15 years since first exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The findings do not support a protective effect of endotoxin, but are suggestive of possible lung cancer promotion with increasing time since first exposure.

Lung cancer and occupational exposures other than cotton dust and endotoxin among women textile workers in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVES: Numerous epidemiological studies of lung cancer among textile workers worldwide consistently indicate reduced risks related to cotton dust exposure, presumably due to endotoxin contamination. Our objective was to investigate associations with other exposures potentially related to lung cancer, including wool and synthetic fibre dusts, formaldehyde, silica, dyes and metals, that have only been studied to a limited extent in the textile industry. METHODS: We conducted a case-cohort study nested within a cohort of 267,400 women textile workers in Shanghai, China. We compared work assignments and exposure histories of 628 incident lung cancer cases, diagnosed during 1989-1998, with those of a reference subcohort of 3188 workers. We reconstructed exposures with a job-exposure matrix developed specifically for textile factories. Cox proportional hazards modelling was applied to estimate age/smoking-adjusted relative risks (hazard ratios) and risk gradients associated with job assignments and specific agents other than cotton dust and endotoxin. RESULTS: No associations were observed for lung cancer with wool, silk or synthetic fibre dusts, or with most other agents. However, increased risks, although statistically imprecise, were noted for ≥ 10 years' exposures to silica (adjusted HR 3.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 13) and ≥ 10 years' exposures to formaldehyde (adjusted HR 2.1, 95% CI 0.4 to 11). CONCLUSIONS: Exposures to silica and formaldehyde, although not widespread among the cohort, may have increased lung cancer risk. Silica is an established human lung carcinogen, whereas there is only weak prior evidence supporting an association with formaldehyde. Both exposures warrant consideration as potential lung carcinogens in textile manufacturing.

Dust and chemical exposures, and miscarriage risk among women textile workers in Shanghai, China.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate possible associations between miscarriage and occupational exposures in the Shanghai textile industry. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of miscarriages among 1752 women in the Shanghai textile industry was conducted. Reproductive history was self-reported by women and occupational work histories were collected from factory personnel records. Occupational exposures were assigned by linking work history information to an industry-specific job-exposure matrix informed by factory-specific textile process information and industrial hygiene assessments. Estimates of cotton dust and endotoxin exposure were also assigned. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were estimated by multivariate logistic regression, with adjustment for age at pregnancy, educational level, smoking status of the woman and her spouse, use of alcohol, and woman's year of birth. RESULTS: An elevation in risk of a spontaneously aborted first pregnancy was associated with exposure to synthetic fibres (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.00) and mixed synthetic and natural fibres (OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.30 to 8.42). No increased risks were observed for women working with solvents, nor were significant associations observed with quantitative cotton dust or endotoxin exposures. Associations were robust and similar when all pregnancies in a woman's reproductive history were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to synthetic fibres may cause miscarriages, and this possibility should be the subject of further investigation.

Occupational risk factors for pancreatic cancer among female textile workers in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether occupational exposures to dusts and chemicals in the Shanghai textile industry are associated with risk of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A case cohort study nested in a cohort of 267,400 female textile workers in Shanghai, China was conducted among 180 incident pancreatic cancer cases and an age stratified randomly selected comparison subcohort (n = 3188). A complete occupational history of work in the textile industry was obtained for each woman, and was linked to a job exposure matrix developed for the textile industry to estimate exposures to specific dusts and chemicals. Cumulative exposures to cotton dust and endotoxin were reconstructed from historical and contemporaneous measurements. RESULTS: After adjusting for smoking status, a trend of decreasing risk of pancreatic cancer was observed for increasing cumulative exposures to cotton dust and endotoxin with a lag of 20 years. The hazard ratios for women cumulatively exposed to >143.4 mg/m3 x years of cotton dust and >3530.6 EU/m3 x years of endotoxin were 0.6 (95% CI 0.3 to 0.9) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.3 to 0.9), respectively, compared to unexposed women. There was little evidence that exposures to other textile dusts and chemicals were associated with risk of pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to cotton dust and endotoxin in the textile industry may have reduced risks of pancreatic cancer in this cohort. These associations should be replicated by others before making a firm conclusion of their possible effects on pancreatic cancer.

Reproductive history, occupational exposures, and thyroid cancer risk among women textile workers in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVES: Thyroid cancer risk has been previously associated with increased age at first pregnancy and history of miscarriage. Occupational risk factors for thyroid cancer, with the exception of radioactive iodine, have not been well investigated. We conducted a case-cohort study nested in a cohort of 267,400 female textile workers in Shanghai, China, who had been followed for cancer incidence during 1989-1998. METHODS: The analysis included 130 incident thyroid cases and 3,187 subcohort non-cases. Reproductive history was determined by questionnaire at baseline. Historical exposures were reconstructed from work history and information on factory processes and exposures. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for reproductive factors and occupational exposures. RESULTS: Associations were observed between thyroid cancer and employment in jobs with 10 or more years of benzene exposure (HR 6.43, 95% CI: 1.08, 38) and formaldehyde exposure (HR 8.33, 95% CI: 1.16, 60). Administration workers also had an increased risk (HR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.25). No associations between examined reproductive factors and thyroid cancer were observed in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Despite statistically imprecise risk estimates, the findings suggest potential associations with some occupational chemical exposures in this cohort of textile workers.

Occupational risk factors for nasopharyngeal cancer among female textile workers in Shanghai, China.

AIMS: To investigate whether occupational exposure to dusts and chemicals in the Chinese textile industry are associated with risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. METHODS: Sixty seven nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cases identified during 1989-98 and a random sample (n = 3188) of women were included in a case cohort study nested in a cohort of 267,400 women textile workers in Shanghai, China. A complete occupational history of work in the textile industry was obtained for each woman. A job exposure matrix developed by experienced industrial hygienists was used to assess exposures to specific dusts and chemicals. RESULTS: Risk of NPC is associated with cumulative exposure to cotton dust. The hazard ratio for women cumulatively exposed to >143.4 mg/m3 x years of cotton dust was 3.6 (95% CI 1.8 to 7.2) compared with unexposed women. Trends of increasing risk were also found with increasing duration of exposure to acids and caustics (p = 0.05), and with years worked in dyeing processes (p = 0.06). Women who worked at least 10 years in dyeing processes had a 3.6-fold excess risk of NPC (95% CI 1.0 to 12.1). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to cotton dust, acids, and caustics, and work in dyeing and printing jobs in the textile industry may have increased risk of NPC in this cohort.

Colorectal cancer incidence among female textile workers in Shanghai, China: a case-cohort analysis of occupational exposures.

Previous studies have suggested increased risks of colorectal cancers among textile industry workers, potentially related to synthetic fibers. To investigate risks of colon and rectum cancers in relation to these and other textile industry exposures, we conducted a case-cohort study nested within a cohort study of female employees from the Shanghai Textile Industry Bureau (STIB). Cox proportional hazard regression modeling was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for colon and rectum cancers associated with duration of employment (e.g., 0, >0 to <10, 10 to <20 years, > or =20 years) in various jobs classified according to process type and exposures to specific agents. Our findings indicate that certain long term exposures may pose increased risk of colorectal cancers, especially dyes and dye intermediates with colon cancer (> or =20 years exposure versus never, HR=3.9; 95% CI: 1.4-10.6), and maintenance occupation (HR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.0-5.7) and metals exposure (HR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.6) with rectum cancer. A decreased risk of rectum cancer was associated with exposure to natural fibers such as cotton (HR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.9), and a trend of decreasing rectum cancer incidence was observed by category of cumulative quantitative cotton dust or endotoxin exposures, when exposures were lagged by 20 years.

Breast cancer in relation to induced abortions in a cohort of Chinese women.

The possible influence of induced abortion on breast cancer risk was assessed in a cohort of 267 040 women enrolled in a randomised trial of breast self-examination in Shanghai, China. Based on answers to a baseline questionnaire, subsequent breast cancer risk was not significantly associated with ever having an induced abortion. After adjustment for potential confounders, the relative risk estimate was 1.06 (95% C.I.: 0.91, 1.25), and there was no trend in risk with number of abortions. Analysis of data from more detailed interviews of 652 cases and 694 controls from the cohort yielded similar results. There was also no overall increase in risk in women with induced abortion after first birth. Few women had undergone an abortion after 13 weeks gestation or before their first child. Although increases in risk were observed in such women, they were not statistically significant and could have been due to recall bias. Abortions as they have been performed in China are not an important cause of breast cancer.