Measurement of bony anatomical parameters of the distal ulna based on healthy adult data: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: This study sought to conduct several three-dimensional measurements of the distal ulna in healthy Han Chinese, providing the anatomical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of hand trauma, distal ulnar disorders, and the design of wrist prostheses. Methods: 50 Han Chinese men and women that underwent computed tomography (CT) scans of the distal ulnar carpus were included in the present study. A three-dimensional digital model of the distal ulna was reconstructed using Mimics software. Moreover, the anatomical data of 10 indicators were measured using MIMICS software. Each index data was measured by 2 investigators independently, and the average value was taken. The data were stratified and compared between left and right sides and men and women. Results: A 3D digital model of the distal ulnar bone with a realistic shape was reconstructed. The 10 anatomical parameters measured are as follows: The length of the ulnar styloid process (posterior anterior), The length of the ulnar styloid process(anterior and posterior); the transverse diameter of the ulnar head; the anteroposterior diameter of the ulnar head. The radial inclination angle of the ulna; the ulnar inclination angle; the distal space between the ulna and radius; the ulnar notch angle of the lower radius. The anterior and posterior diameters of the ulnar notch of the lower radius, and the superior and inferior diameters of the ulnar notch of the lower radius. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference after stratification by laterality and gender. Conclusion: our findings can providing the anatomical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of hand trauma, distal ulnar disorders and further improve currently available wrist joint prostheses. Type of Study: Observational, Cross-sectional study, LOE: Level II.

The prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in non-small cell lung cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels and the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery is a problem that requires more research. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic value of TIL levels in patients with NSCLC who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with NSCLC who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery in our hospital from December 2014 to December 2020 were selected for a retrospective analysis. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to evaluate TIL levels in surgically-resected tumor tissues. Patients were divided into TIL(low-level infiltration) and TIL+ (mediumto high-level infiltration) groups according to the recommended TIL evaluation criteria. Univariate (Kaplan-Meier) and multivariate (Cox) survival analyses were used to analyze the impact of clinicopathological features and TIL levels on prognosis. RESULTS: The study involved 137 patients, including 45 who were TILand 92 who were TIL+. The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of the TIL+ group were higher than those of the TILgroup. The univariate analysis showed that smoking, clinical and pathological stages, and TIL levels, were the factors influencing OS and DFS. The multivariate analysis showed that smoking (OS, hazard ratio (HR): 1.881, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.135-3.115, p = 0.014; DFS, HR: 1.820, 95% CI: 1.181-2.804, p = 0.007) and clinical stage III (DFS, HR: 2.316, 95% CI: 1.350-3.972, p = 0.002) were adverse factors affecting the prognosis of patients with NSCLC who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. At the same time, TIL+ status was an independent factor for a good prognosis in OS (HR: 0.547, 95% CI: 0.335-0.894, p = 0.016) and DFS (HR: 0.445, 95% CI: 0.284-0.698, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Medium to high levels of TILs were associated with a good prognosis in NSCLC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. The levels of TILs are of prognostic value in this population of patients.

The relationship between LRP5 rs556442 and rs638051 polymorphisms and mutations and their influence on bone metabolism in postmenopausal Xinjiang women with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway plays a crucial role in bone development and metabolism. The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5), an important receptor in the Wnt signaling pathway, promotes the osteogenesis of osteoblasts and curbs bone resorption by osteoclasts. OBJECTIVES: To determine the expression of LRP5 polymorphisms (rs556442 and rs638051) and their relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism markers in postmenopausal patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Xinjiang, China. MATERIAL AND METHODS: According to dual-energy X-ray (DEXA) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results, 226 postmenopausal women from Xinjiang were divided into the following groups: normal glucose tolerance (NGT) + normal bone mass group (group A), NGT + abnormal bone mass group (group B), T2DM + normal bone mass group (group C), and T2DM + abnormal bone mass group (group D). RESULTS: Femoral neck BMD was lower in group B women with the AG/GG genotype (mutant type) compared to women with the AA genotype (wild-type) at rs556442. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were lower in group D women with the AG/GG genotype (mutant type) compared to women with the AA genotype (wild-type) at rs556442 and rs638051. The factors influencing BMD (lumbar spine vertebrae 1-4 (L1-L4)) were triglyceride (TG) levels, body mass index (BMI), menopausal transition age, and age for rs556442 patients, and TG levels and menopausal transition age for rs638051 patients in group D. The factors affecting BMD (hip) were TG levels, BMI and age for rs556442 patients, and TG levels and age for rs638051 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The LRP5 gene mutations are linked to bone metabolism disorders in postmenopausal women with T2DM and abnormal bone mass. High BMI and TG were positively associated with BMD, while increased age and menopausal transition age were negatively associated with BMD.

Reduced Graphene Oxide/Silicon Nitride Composite for Cooperative Electromagnetic Absorption in Wide Temperature Spectrum with Excellent Thermal Stability.

The fabrication of a sandwich-like composite that consists of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and Si3N4 ceramic (RGO/Si3N4) was achieved through the combination of modified freeze-drying approach and chemical vapor infiltration process. Due to a hierarchical structure and a high ratio of ID/ IG (1.27), the RGO/Si3N4 exhibits an unprecedented high polarization relaxation loss (PRL), which accounts for 32% of the whole dielectric loss. The outstanding PRL endows the RGO/Si3N4 composites with unique temperature-independent dielectric properties and electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption performance. Even at a low absorbent content of only 0.16 wt %, the effective absorption bandwidth of RGO/Si3N4 composites can cover the whole X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz) at broad sample thicknesses ranging from 4.3 to 4.6 mm and temperatures ranging from 323 to 873 K. The mechanism for the enhancement of PRL and conductive loss was explicitly investigated. The outstanding absorption performance toward EM waves indicated that the resultant porous RGO/Si3N4 composite can be a promising candidate for the applications under elevated temperature.

Flexible and Thermostable Graphene/SiC Nanowire Foam Composites with Tunable Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties.

Three-dimensional (3D) flexible foams consisting of reduced graphene oxides (rGO) and in situ grown SiC nanowires (NWs) were prepared using freeze-drying and carbothermal reduction processes. By means of incorporating SiC nanowires into rGO foams, both the thermostability and electromagnetic absorption of the composites were improved. It was demonstrated that rGO/SiC NW foams were thermostable beyond ∼630 °C (90% weight retention in air atmosphere). As expected, rGO/SiC NW foams in the poly(dimethylsiloxane) matrix achieved effective absorption in the entire X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz) with a thinner thickness (3 mm) in comparison with those of the pure rGO foams. It is revealed that SiC nanowires with abundant stacking faults, twinning interfaces, and bridged junctions play an important role in the enhanced electromagnetic absorption performance, in addition to the contribution of interconnected graphene networks. Hierarchical rGO/SiC NW foams not only are efficient absorbers in the critical environments but also can be applied in photocatalytic and thermal-management fields.

Carbon Hollow Microspheres with a Designable Mesoporous Shell for High-Performance Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

In this work, mesoporous carbon hollow microspheres (PCHMs) with designable mesoporous shell and interior void are constructed by a facile in situ stöber templating approach and a pyrolysis-etching process. The PCHMs are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectra, Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption and desorption system. A uniform mesoporous shell (pore size 4.7 nm) with a thickness of 55 nm and a cavity size of 345 nm is realized. The composite of paraffin mixed with 20 wt % PCHMs exhibits a minimum reflection coefficient (RCmin) of -84 dB at 8.2 GHz with a sample thickness of 3.9 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 4.8 GHz below -10 dB (>90% electromagnetic wave is attenuated). Moreover, the composite of phenolic resin mixed with 20 wt % PCHMs exhibits an ultrawide EAB of 8 GHz below -10 dB with a thinner thickness of 2.15 mm. Such excellent electromagnetic wave absorption properties are ascribed to the large carbon-air interface in the mesoporous shell and interior void, which is favorable for the matching of characteristic impedance as compared with carbon hollow microspheres and carbon solid microspheres. Considering the excellent performance of PCHMs, we believe the as-fabricated PCHMs can be promising candidates as highly effective microwave absorbers, and the design philosophy can be extended to other spherical absorbers.

Ti3C2 MXenes with Modified Surface for High-Performance Electromagnetic Absorption and Shielding in the X-Band.

Electromagnetic (EM) absorbing and shielding composites with tunable absorbing behaviors based on Ti3C2 MXenes are fabricated via HF etching and annealing treatment. Localized sandwich structure without sacrificing the original layered morphology is realized, which is responsible for the enhancement of EM absorbing capability in the X-band. The composite with 50 wt % annealed MXenes exhibits a minimum reflection loss of -48.4 dB at 11.6 GHz, because of the formation of TiO2 nanocrystals and amorphous carbon. Moreover, superior shielding effectiveness with high absorption effectiveness is achieved. The total and absorbing shielding effectiveness of Ti3C2 MXenes in a wax matrix with a thickness of only 1 mm reach values of 76.1 and 67.3 dB, while those of annealed Ti3C2 MXenes/wax composites are 32 and 24.2 dB, respectively. Considering the promising performance of Ti3C2 MXenes with the modified surface, this work is expected to open the door for the expanded applications of MXenes family in EM absorbing and shielding fields.